Fight For Life, Chap 18

{*Jill*}

It took several hours to convince Roammie, Ember, and Ty that vampires were real and that we were all in danger. Keller, being a vampire, was pretty fine with everything, except that her friends were being accused of killing somebody.

Stark was explaining why this was happening. "Zander may be wanting to lure you out into the open. He's running the police department right now, so capturing you and making people turn against you would be the perfect opportunity to get you."

"But what about my friends?" I demanded.

"He may want to set up a trade; your friends going free for you. He's been doing this longer than you can imagine," he told me in a soft voice.

I shook my head. "Why me?"

"Vampires, no matter what the type, or very territorial. Whether your dinner or a piece of land, vampires would fight to the death for it, unless they make a truce," Val said to everybody. Other vampires nodded.

Both Lil and Jesse were quiet this whole time, after finishing their dinner they sat with the humans on the couch. What would I consider myself now, being half vampires? A mix breed, a mutt?

I shook my head and began pacing. "Why can't you guys just kill them and get this overwith?"

Markus shook his head, sitting on the dining room table with his foot legs hanging off. "Not that easy. He's older than us, so he's stronger, theoretically."

"How would he be stronger?"

"More time to mess with his shape shifting and psychic potential," Stark murmured. "Where's your sister?"

"She's upstairs, probably trying to sleep. She's pregnant, you know," I said.

"We can hear the little heartbeat," Val said with a sweet smile.

Roammie smiled at me. "You sister's pregnant again and she's here? Where's Ryan?"

"Probably screwing his mistress and blaming me for everything. That ass," I yelled, then resumed my pacing.

Stark stopped me by putting a hand on my shoulder. "Relax, would you? It's our job to worry."

I shook my head, then laid my forehead on my shoulder. "How am I not going to worry? I'm blamed for a murder, my friend is a vampire, my sister's husband is cheating on her, and a psychotic vampire wants to bite me and will so anything so he can. Worry is the only thing I can do."

He chuckled and hugged me for a moment before letting me go. Father Christopher had been watching this the whole time, silent. He stood up from his seat on the rocking chair and patted me shoulder. "I must deal this negotiation. What we could exchange for your safety is in question, but I'm confident we can work something out."

People around the room nodded. I sighed and shook my head. "I'm going outside for a few minutes. I need air."

"Stay safe," Christopher called after me.

{*Zander*}

Zander was watching the home from a safe distance. Sometime, Jill would have to come outside and she would be his.

That opportunity would be now. She walked out, straight black hair ruffled like she had been running her hands through it endlessly, and her purple-gold eyes were troubled.

To Zander, she was the most beautiful thing the world had ever created.

It was more than just the predatory thirst for her blood, he actually had a genuine attraction towards her. This confused him. He wanted women, of course, but he actually wanted to know her instead of use her for his own personal needs. He didn't understand this.

Quickly, he was out of the tree and racing towards her at unimaginable speed. You have to hurry, or she'll be gone, Zander thought to himself.

Before he could even blink, he had pinched the nerve at the back of her neck and she was asleep in his arms. He raced away from the home, seeing nobody noticed, and came to a safe spot at the edge of woods.

Zander brushed a dark strand of hair away from her face, marveling how it felt like silk in his hand, and smiled a bit when she curled deeper into his arms, looking for warmth. It was odd, how he was colder than her but she came closer to his side.

God, she's beautiful, he thought in a daze. He thought about Stark, his obvious, annoying feelings for her. I'll make her feel the same, Zander promised himself. She'll fall for me.