Andromeda

***

The first thing I did when we returned in the wolf cave is take a much needed cold shower. None of us spoke during the trip back, silently agreeing that we all discuss what happened and what will happen after we are rested. I sat on that bathtub, closed my eyes and cried at the fact that I made it out of there alive, all thanks to Rami and Idris. I was honestly thinking that was how I was going to go down.

Afterwards, I caught my two saviors in the living room arguing about something. Rami is frowning down upon the vampire, who is sprawled on the couch, staring back at him with disbelief. "What's up?" I asked curiously, sitting on a stool by the kitchen. One out of four stool remains after the intruders crashed the house. Rami kindly prepared me a meal: microwaved spaghetti. Bless his heart.

"He thinks," Rami pointed a finger at Idris with betrayal in his eyes. "that the best part of the Oreo are the actual cookies."

I gasped loudly, sharing my friend's betraying stare. "What kind of monster..."

Idris rolled his eyes and stood up to face us. "Speaking of monsters, I need a drink."

"Oh, lucky for you I have one more stocked in my room." Rami informed.

"Ah, good. Will you please get me one?"

Rami nodded and began walking towards the second hall, in his room. "Sure. But I still don't like you."

Soon after he disappears in sight, the vampire suddenly flashed in front of me. I raised a brow at him, wanting to ask what's up with him and Rami, though it didn't look like he wants to talk about it. His eyes have turned light red, like rose-colored.

"I need a drink." He whispered urgently. "Blood."

My eyes widened. "Oh! Um..." I fiddled with my fingers nervously. I rolled up my black long sleeve. "Here, I guess." I offered him my wrist, already imagining the pain of his fangs piercing through my skin, just as that one bloodlusting vampire did before.

Idris gently brought my arm down away from him. "Hell no." I glared at him, feeling a bit offended. "No offense darling, but your blood's changed. Your mate has implanted himself in you - and I don't just mean that literally."

I put a hand around my neck and looked at my wrist anxiously, suddenly feeling wary of my body. "What do you mean?" Is there something wrong with me? What did he mean Lysander implanted himself in me and my blood changed? I swear, if he is saying that I'm pregnant or some sort of bullshit, I am going to be one mad scientist. We've been using protection. "I'm about to be on Shark Week in like a few days. I can feel the stomach cramps already." I shared defensively.

"What's Shark Week?" Idris tilted his head. "Oh, it doesn't matter. It's nothing you should worry about, what I said. It's just, when a werewolf mates with their mate, a stronger connection forms between them. A bond. Not in a sense of you're more in love or anything, but I'm talking actual connections. A part of him in you. I don't know how to explain it clearly as I'm not a werewolf. I've only learned this from eavesdropping and observing werewolves back in the days. But anyway, my point is, he will know if I feed on you and I really don't want be in the only living werewolf's hit list. Also, the werewolf's scent is strong on you and it smells awful. I can't."

"Oh." I let out a long sigh of relief. "Well, what about Rami?"

"Oh. No." He smiles sheepishly. "He wouldn't... I wouldn't..." He shakes his head and cleared his throat.

"Why not?"

"I will happily take animal blood, which is what I have been taking for years now. Either animal blood or blood from a dead human."

This spaghetti suddenly do not look appetizing.

"Animal blood it is."

***

Rami, Idris and I are sitting on a copper bridge under the giant trees and over the slow running river beneath us, looking for some poor unfortunate wild animals that will be the vampire's meal.

"So, let's say I fall off this bridge." Rami waved his legs, watching them swing back and forth as he speaks. "Would you be able to catch me?"

"Are you testing me?" Idris smirks before freezing. His pupils dilated as he snapped his head across the bridge. His nostrils flared and his sharp fangs extended slightly. Everything had gone quiet for a good minute before I hear the faintest growl of an animal that sounded like a mountain lion.

Rami shook his head. "There's no way you can - "

"Sit back and relax."

Not a second wasted as the vampire raced against time to catch his food. It was like a speedster just passed us. A strong gush of wind hit us and left us with silence and amazement. Rami and I could not see farther than the bridge as the view of the other side of the land is covered with trees and bushes, but we could hear the loud gnarl of the vampire's victim.

Rami looks at me with wide eyes and I'm sure I matched his bewildered expression. "So, are we like friends with Vampire Flash now?"

"Are you friends with Vampire Flash?" I bounced the question back to him, crossing my arms as I suppress a smile. I recalled the first time he met Idris.

Rami huffs with annoyance. "Me? Friends with him? Girl. No. Never."

I giggled and put an arm around his shoulders to hug him. "Thank you, Rami. For saving me back there." My smile dropped when I remembered watching him face three hunters and won. He went to that awful place to save me when he had the chance to run from all this werewolf and military experiment and hunter bullshit. But he didn't. There needs to be more people like this precious human being.

"Yeah, I guess you owe me." The boy ruffles my hair. "When we get back to school and retake Physics, you are going to help me with the homework. Capiche?"

"Capiche."

Just then, Idris returned and sat across from us, crossing his legs and fixing his tie casually. It's like he didn't just speed off like a bullet and preyed on a freaking mountain lion. Not a sweat on his forehead. However, blood lingers on his lips. His eyes are no longer pink, but back to crimson red. His blood covered lips curved up. "So, what did I miss?"

"I just want you to know that you scare me a little but I have mad respect for you." I confessed, giving him a peace sign. "Is that tummy happy now?"

"For now." He nods.

"How does it work? Animal blood in your system?" Rami asked curiously.

"It works the same as human blood. Not as strong, but it does the job."

"So human blood makes you stronger?"

"Correct. That is why many vampires, including Ulysses and his clan, prefer to consume human blood. The stronger they are, the better they can control their powers if they have one. Most vampires don't want to settle for anything less. But my clan and a few other friends from the east, we share the same beliefs and survive with animal blood or dead human blood." I shivered uncomfortably at that. "If any human had just died, we take them. We never run out of resources because unfortunately for you humans, you die easily and quickly."

"Like I said before. Creepy." Rami sang while Idris sent a proud grin.

Sighing, I stood up and leaned my back on the bridge rail. "Let's not waste that blood energy then." I glanced at them back and forth. "Let's talk. The plan to save Lysander."

"Yes. But first, we have to make sure you're okay." Idris scanned me. "You seem to be normal. No injuries, no strange interference in your system other than your mate, but we must be certain you were not injected with anything. Rami and I have seen a lot of weapons and potions there. I fear that they might have used something on you." The vampire shared worriedly.

I thought back to the agonizing hours in the hunters base. I did not leave the cell I was in. I couldn't. I tried many times to escape but it did nothing but burn my hand. "They didn't do anything to me." I was sure of it. "Although, before you came, hours before, I heard some of the hunters talking outside my cell. Something about a thing that wasn't ready yet, because they lacked hunters and they didn't know how to finish it. I don't know. I think they might have done something, if you hadn't arrived there on time. And I'm grateful for what you both did. Thank you."

Idris gave me a small smile before nodding.

"Mosquito and I, we think we know where Lysander is." Rami stated. "In the base, they had a computer tracking the helicopter and it looks like they are in Nevada. I don't know exactly where, but a desert in Nevada."

"A desert in Nevada?" I groaned loudly. "How the hell are we going to deal with the government, anyway? If they took Lysander in a military base, there will be soldiers. With guns. I don't know if you've been keeping up with news lately but people with guns and authority are abusing their power. Especially when it comes to people they don't like. People who are different in any way from them. They see anyone who is different from them as a threat and they will attack."

Idris shrugs. "Well. Lucky for us, we have a pretty good alliance."

"Alliance? With who?"

***

"Evil vampires. That's the alliance."

I enter a house and I am surrounded by at least 30 red eyed vampires. Unlike Idris' clan who all look like teenagers, their ages vary from old and young. There are children. Vampire kids. As soon as Rami and I stepped a foot, they all blared their fangs at us, either from hunger or anger, or both.

Rami and I clung into our stakes even when Idris guarded us.

"Ah, Idris, You bought us a gift?" A man wearing nothing but black jeans sauntered towards us obnoxiously. "They look absolutely tasty. Especially that one." His eyes focused on Rami. "The other one smells like dog so I'll pass. Perhaps someone could have her. Caleb?"

Someone who looked exactly like the man appeared behind us, wearing the same thing. The only difference between the two is the hair. This Caleb dude has blue hair while the other one has purple hair. They both look on their 20's, but I know better.

"Come any closer. I dare you."

I don't want to deal with anymore asshole vampires. I just want to save Lysander. If Idris think he can get these vampires to help, I highly doubt it.

"Oh, feisty."

"She's the tiny human who fried Sterling, I heard." A woman grins. "You've got spunk, kid."

"Idris. What the hell." I hissed over his shoulder.

"You made it out alive. Well done." It's that one blonde vampire that Rami and I saw at the plaza. The leader. He saw Rami and crossed his arms, stopping in front of us. "You're quite brave, aren't you? For a human." The whole house suddenly grew quiet. "The things that you were willing to do, how far you'd come to save another. But if it was a vampire who was taken, let's say Idris, you'd leave him there to die."

I opened my mouth to scream at the asshole but Rami beat me to it. "I saved Drew not because she's human like me, but because she's my friend. I'm going to save Lysander, even when he's not human, because he's my friend. If Idris had been taken - good luck to whoever that may be - I'm sure he'll be fine because they will probably throw him out eventually, but if needed, I will save him too. You, on the other hand, can fuck off."

"Let's kill him!"

Caleb's twin launched towards us at the same time several vampires pranced at us. One friendly vampire and two humans at the center of a circle of evil vampires.

"Everyone, calm down." Ulysses ordered and his followers obeyed. "Idris. Come with me. Humans, make yourself at home." Like that's going to happen under this roof. "Friends, be nice to our guests."

I grabbed Idris' arm before he could follow the blonde vampire. "Are you really going to leave me and Rami with a bunch of evil vampires?"

Idris' eyes darted back and forth me and Rami before nodding. "I need to speak with him. If they try anything, I'm sure you two can handle it. But if you can, try not to piss them off."

"Prick." Rami muttered under his breath.

***

Rami and I are on the couch while vampires surrounded us. Many had left to mind their own businesses but some stayed to watch us like hawks. I tried to ignore them and let my mind focus on Lysander and what we can do to get him back. It hasn't been more than a day since we were separated, but that is enough time for the military to get their hands on him. Lysander is strong. I hope he can fight whatever it is they are going to do to him.

As my mind had images of the werewolf, it was instantly replaced by a completely different scene when a cold hand touched mine. I struggled to breathe as I learned where I was taken to. A long road. I am in a bus and right next to me is the pixie brown headed woman I called my mother, looking at me with pure disappointment as always. On her other side, is my father getting what he always lacked of: sleep.

How can I be here? It's been twelve years. I can't be here.

"You should be more like your sister." My mother sighs. "You could have been with her at the summer camp, making friends, doing things that are good for your future, but instead you're doing nothing. When we visit my sister and your cousins, you better be good."

Hawaii. I was visiting my relatives.

"Mom. The people in camp are mean. I don't like doing the things they do." I found myself replying with the small, shaky voice I had when I was ten. The fear returned to me. I need this to stop. Stop everything. The bus. Yet, I couldn't move. I couldn't talk. I heard that haunting crashing noise and my vision completely shut off. I couldn't see a thing other than darkness. Still, I could hear them. People screaming. My dad panicking. My mom calling my name. I wanted to open my eyes. I really did. I wanted to look at them this time. But I couldn't. I wanted to cry but my eyes wouldn't open. I felt nothing and saw nothing. I just heard my name from my parents' mouth screamed repeatedly.

Then, I was carried out of the vehicle and my vision returned. The bus had crashed onto another, in the middle of a bridge, and fire erupted between the two transportation. That was when I saw other children and few adults standing behind me while my parents and more people remained inside the bus that is beginning to fall off the bridge. Police and firefighters moved as fast as they could but they weren't fast enough. I stood petrified in front of it while the rescuers pulled out as many people as they could from the windows. My parents continued to call my name. I reached out, but I couldn't bring the rest of my body to move. I wanted to save them. I tried to. But I wasn't strong enough. The bus crashed down, taking my parents with it. I wanted to scream but my voice is gone. I couldn't save them. It was my fault. It was my fault. I failed to save them. It was my fault.

"Drew!"

All the images vanished and I was forced to look at a pair of shocked and worried blue-green eyes behind round lenses. He only pulled me in his arms and I hid my face on his shoulder as the tears that couldn't escape before now flooded my face. I'm in a house full of vampires. Not in a bus. Not in Hawaii. I am in California. With Rami. "You're okay. It's okay."

I took deep breaths until my chest didn't feel tight anymore. Then, I pulled away from Rami's comforting hold to see what had brought me back.

A child. A girl no older than seven sat in front of me with her eyes full of terror. A woman joined her side to put a hand on her shoulder. The child immediately jumped in the woman's arms, but not removing her teary eyes from me.

"What the hell did you do to her?!" Rami asked in a tone filled with anger.

The woman held the child tighter, stepping away from us. "Lia's power. Every time she touches someone, they see the things that discomfort them most." I clenched my fist, wanting to hit something. "It is a terrible gift, but it helps her get food." That girl. That vampire child touches humans and they see all sorts of horrible things just so she can drink their blood. "We must do whatever we can to survive." The woman smiles sickly.

My feet acted on their own as I stormed out of the house of vampires. Just outside the garage, I paced back and forth while my mind replayed the accident and let the tears escape. I tried so hard to repress that memory. I already accepted its occurrence and results. I didn't let it bother me anymore, for years. I worked hard for it not to be a disincentive. I turned it to a motivation to keep going. To be better. But it keeps coming back to haunt me. I remembered Alana blaming everything on me. 'Why couldn't you just come with me and do what I do? Then they wouldn't have to take care of you and put you first. Maybe if you weren't there, at least one of them could have made it!' That was the last thing she said to me in person. She went off to college while I stayed with my other relatives until my best friend Eva was old enough to let me live with her. My sister and I aren't on best terms today, but we've grown past that accident and move on. She focuses on her career and I focus on my education. The only time we talk is when we call each other during our birthdays, for a few minutes on the phone, making sure we're both alive. I wish I could talk to her right now, since her birthday just passed, but not now. Not when I'm surrounded by vampires and saving a werewolf.

"Hello there."

At my side came the blue haired vampire, Caleb, drinking a glass of wine - well, it looks like wine. This boy is drinking blood like fine wine.

He saw my fixation on his drink and gleamed. "This one was fresh out of a cheerleader. Blood from high school and college students are my favorite. There's just something about them." I smiled at him bitterly while I clench my fist harder.

"Why do vampires have different shades of red in their eyes?" I asked, checking his own. Not long ago, his eyes had a lighter shade of red and now they're darker. The same happened to Idris before. It was pink and then it turned dark red after he had blood.

"You know that battery thing on the corner of your phone?" The boy replied. "And how that changes colors? From green being full charged to red being low battery? It works the same. The darkest shade of red means they just drank and are energized. The lightest means they are running low. Almost empty and close to bloodlust. Not that that's a bad thing. I think it's amazing, honestly. We go nonstop, hunting humans and drinking their blood and we get off from it. Two in one!"

If looks could kill, this vampire would be dead within a second. Unfortunately, I don't have silver daggers shooting out of my eyes, so I punched him in the face, releasing all my anger, before returning back inside. That felt absolutely wonderful.

***

Caleb got back in the house not long after I did, and all he did was shoot me a grin and a thumbs up before joining his twin in another part of the house. After this whole thing is over, I'd like to take a break from supernatural beings. Apart from a werewolf, obviously.

"Finally!" Rami and I almost cried in happiness when Idris returned in the living room with Ulysses and a couple of other vampires behind him. "Can we leave?"

"What's the matter? You didn't enjoy our company?" I didn't even check to see who said that. Every single vampire other than Idris in this place makes my skin scrawl.