I rubbed my temples gently, trying to clear my cluttered and aching mind.

I was sprawled out on the bed of my hotel room in New York, the ivory comforter wrapped loosely around me as I rested my head on the pillows.

The shades were drawn tightly over the windows to block out the late afternoon sun from getting in.

My sensitivity to sun had kicked up several notches since even this morning and I had a feeling my transformation of becoming a vampire was coming to the peak time.

My throat was dry as all hell. I didn't even know how to describe the feeling; I was just wishing it would go away.

I had a pounding headache, I felt dizzy and weak, and I just hoped it would be over soon.

Corey came over from the round table and sat down on the bed beside me, making me open my eyes back up.

"I know how to make you feel better." He stated, looking down at me.

"How?" I questioned disbelievingly.

He offered me the white mug in his hands. "By drinking this."

I glanced to the dark liquid in the cup. "Coffee?"

He nodded.

"Mm, okay..." I took it from him, sitting up a bit.

I put the glass mug to my lips and took a sip, letting the velvet liquid glide down my throat.

As soon as it had touched my tongue I felt a surge, something inside me flare up.

It didn't quite taste like coffee. At least not any coffee I've had before.

"Um..." I started. "What kind of coffee is this?"

"Special blend." He smiled.

"You little devil." I narrowed my eyes at him. "You did something to this."

"What?" He gave an easy smile and breathed a laugh. "I didn't do anything to it."

He was convincing but I couldn't forget the fact he was an extremely good liar.

"You're lying." I accused but with no real sureness.

"Hand on my chest," He did as he said, placing his palm over his un-beating heart. "I have not lied." He smiled wickedly.

"I'm not drinking this." I stated, pushing it towards him to take back.

"Why? Didn't it taste good?"

I thought back to the taste- and I felt an intense yearning for more.

"What the hell was in that?" I questioned.

He put his hand on the cup, moving it back to my lips.

His bright eyes looked into mine, a devilish glint in them.

"Drink it."

"No." I leaned back.

"Don't you want to feel better?" His voice and eyes softened, showing a caring side. "Please, Honey, drink it. I want you to feel better." He ran a hand over my hair.

I gazed into his eyes; he seemed so innocent compared to just fifteen seconds when he could've passed for the devil.

My refusal weakened considerably and I couldn't bring myself to say no again.

"What the hell did you just do?" I asked, trying to find the will to look away from his eyes.

"What are you talking about, Sweetie?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Why are you being so...nice...and...caring..."

"Well," He breathed a laugh. "I love you. Of course I'm going to be nice to you."

"But you're not usually this nice."

"Hmm." He gave me a smile. "Why don't you just drink you're coffee, Honey, so you can feel better."

It felt impossible to say no but damn it, I didn't want to drink it.

Why didn't I want to?

"Um...fuck," I sighed. "Fine." I took a drink from the mug.

My God, what was in this?

It tasted amazing.

I continued to drink it, seemingly not being able to get enough of that taste. It was unlike anything I'd ever had.

So good, yet almost just because I felt like I craved it so much.

That what was as good as the taste was the feeling of quenching that yearning when I took another drink.

Before I knew it the mug was empty- and I wanted more.

Corey smiled; less innocent this time.

"Very nice wasn't it?"

I bit my lip and gave a nod.

"Feel better?" He inquired.

"I don't know...I think I'm just gonna go to sleep." I scooted further under the covers.

"Hm, okay." He gave me a kiss and I felt my body tingle when our lips touched.

He pulled back just a little more than an inch but reclosed the distance, pressing our lips together again.

The feelings I was experiencing right now were the usual when we did this but it seemed every time it just got more intense than I remembered.

I felt that electric, zinging jolt through me; awaking every nerve in my body and making it feel as if my breath couldn't make it past my throat.

"What are you feeling right now?" I asked when he pulled back again. I was honestly curious what he felt when we kissed. He wasn't very good at hiding that it had a lot of affect on him.

"Very nice things." He breathed then kissed me again, putting his arm on the bed beside me and leaning in more towards me. I idly wondered what happened to me sleeping.

I think he only planned for one kiss.

Really, I'd rather do this anyway.

When he pulled back this time his breathing was heavier than before. As was mine.

"I love you." He said with strong emotion in his voice, that tone you can just feel.

"I love you too, Corey." I smiled softly.

What was starting to get weird about my dreams the past month was they were getting really, really, vivid.

And weird.

This dream was a lot like others I have had the past week or so. Reaver was in it.

This time though, we were in the woods.

Well, I was running through the woods.

Reaver was there too, I could feel it.

And when I stopped running to rest and leaned back against a tree he stepped out from the shadows of the dark woods, looking like a fallen angel.

Dressed in his white Victorian style suit, he came towards me, his eyes dark and sinister.

"Arabelle, why are you running from me?" He questioned in his silk voice.

I didn't answer. I didn't know.

"We could be so great together- you and I could rule the country side by side. Rule the world. We would be the leaders of a new era. You and I-" He ran a finger along my jaw line. "Would be perfect together."

He leaned in and placed his lips against mine and my body soared with bliss and...Love.

I loved him.

I kissed him back zealously, wanting more of him.

We pulled away after several moments and he spoke; "Yes, Dear, our love is unbreakable. No one can keep us apart."

My eyes fluttered open and I took in a sharp breath, feeling my senses return to me and finding myself tucked under the covers in a large hotel room, not in a dark woods with Reaver.

As the dream coasted through my mind, coming back in full detail, I felt that feeling deep inside me, love.

But now, in real life, it felt wrong, foreign.

I didn't really love him, did I?

The feeling in my gut begged to differ, I did.

I put a hand to my head, noticing my headache was gone.

And all the rest of the pain as well.

I almost breathed a sigh of relief at that.

Thank god, the pain has stopped.

Brushing my hair from my face, I made a mental note to get my hair done again.

I had seen in the mirror yesterday my roots were getting noticeable and the dark brown roots were looking odd against the contrast of orange curls falling past my shoulders.

I think I'll go back to black; jet-black.

I got out of bed, noticing Corey wasn't in the room, and sat down at the table.

I crossed my legs, playing with the pack of cigarettes on the table top.

I heard the latch of the door and turned my head to look back, seeing Corey walk into the room, a plastic to-go coffee cup in his hands.

He smiled, his eyes roaming over me for a moment.

He sat down in the chair beside me, smelling of cigarettes; Marlboro Menthols.

I'd always loved the smell of cigarettes.

"How does it feel?" He asked, still smiling.

My elbow rested on the table and my fingers idly played with the bronze ring on my index finger. "How does what feel?"

"Being a vampire." He paused. "Or at least, half-vampire."

I tilted my head slightly in question. "I..."

"Yeah, the change is done. You're a vampire."

I looked down at the table. "Huh..."

Now that I thought about it, I did feel different.

But the difference was so easy and comfortable I hadn't noticed before.

I felt lighter, more agile, more sure.

"Is it weird that I actually feel more alive?" I inquired, smiling lightly.

"No." He smiled, revealing his sharp teeth.

"Um, what was up earlier?" I questioned, changing the subject as my mind thought back to that.

"What do you mean?" He replied casually.

"You were acting weird. Why did you want me to drink that damn coffee so much?"

"Because it had blood in it."

My eyes set on him. "What? Why didn't you tell me?"

""Because I didn't think you'd drink it."

I crossed my arms. "I wouldn't have. It's weird you can be that persuasive, though."

"One of the perks of being a vampire."

My eyebrows rose slightly. "What is that like, freaking mind control or something?"

He breathed a laugh. "Not exactly, no. Just...vampires can be charming when they want to. It takes practice, though. I haven't tried it many times but I'm pretty good at it. As you can see."

I nodded.

"So, did you sleep well?" He took my hand in his, smiling coyly. "You were asleep for over 24 hours."

"24 hours?" I blinked. "Holy fuck."

He moved our linked hands closer to him and kissed the back of my hand. "Have any interesting dreams? You've been having a lot of those lately."

"I don't know if interesting is the right word for them..." My mind drifted back to my dream about Reaver, sensations I felt during it blossoming back in reminder and making me feel uneasy at my even stronger new found affection for him.

I had somewhat accepted the fact I liked him, that he appealed to me in some way I didn't quite fully grasp.

But love came as a surprise to myself; I didn't think I could love anyone else beside Corey.

I didn't even think I could really give anyone else enough of my attention to develop affection towards them.

After all, Corey was my everything.

I didn't care about much else.

"Um, I'm guessing it was another bad dream?" He said.

I moved my eyes from the table to him, snapping out of my daze.

"Eh, no, uh, yeah. It was...weird." I finished.

He gave a faint nod, his expression empty. "What was it about?"

I bit my lip. "Reaver."

His chin titled up slightly, his expression still blank but he was noticeably displeased.

"I'm going to be honest with you." I stated.

His eyes fixed on me, seeming tense.

I took in a steady breath. "Um, I think I'm in love with him."

After a very uneasy moment he let go of my hand, standing up, and swiftly left the room.

Only seconds passed between the time he stood up and the door shut behind him.

"Shit," I cursed under my breath before getting up and going to the door to follow after him.