RAMI

***

I found myself in the mansion full of vampires. 17 total vampires, including myself and the mosquito who saved my life. Eleanor, spinning outside in the garden, laughing as the sunlight shined on her. The other vampires are just as ecstatic to be able to walk under the sunlight. Yesterday, Drew and I made the cure at Silverstein. She made one for everyone and put them on water bottles, just as she did to Idris before, and she also gave me the formula and steps on how to make it.

These 16 vampires around me. They are going to be my new company for the next few weeks. They will be helping me adapt to my new body, how to control it and how to resist the temptation of human blood. Never in my life had I never imagined myself running with vampires. Yet here I am, all geared up and ready to go.

"You're wearing that?" The leader of the clan frowned upon my choice of clothing, shoving his hands on his pants' pockets. "We are going to go everywhere in Europe and you're going to take that?"

The yellow shirt he refused to wear is staring back at him brightly. "I wore it just for you, mosquito."

Idris dramatically covered his eyes. "I can't even look at it. I am going to be embarrassed to be seen with you."

"Ah, perfect." I smiled, licking my fangs. A mannerism I've began to have. "I'll make sure to tag along with you every second."

He ran by my side and together, we watched as Eleanor and a few of his clan enjoyed the sun. This is the first time they are enjoying the sun without getting burned. All their lives, these pure blood vampires were born to stay out of the sunlight and now, they're ecstatic about something that some humans complain about. The strong sun. It's times like this that makes you appreciate the little things in life. What you may have, others might not. Some people are privileged and some would die for what they have. I feel like being a vampire does not only come with a new body and new abilities, but also a new perspective of life. And whatever this new perspective, this new life has ahead of me, I cannot wait for it.

***

ANDROMEDA

***

My new phone buzzed for the umpteenth time as I threw Silverstein's newest experiment in a safe cabinet. I carefully put away the scientific equipment I've used, wiped the desk from any chemicals I've dropped, and put my notes and reports in my office. It's still a little plain right now, but it's only my second day of officially working in Silverstein. I'm not an actual scientist yet as the job requires a degree, but I am Doctor Maxine's assistant. Rami promised to return at the end of summer, after he goes on a self-discovery adventure with Idris and his clan. For now, it's just me working in Siverstein, assisting a scientist. I can't mess this up. Hopefully, if this goes well, I will become a successful woman in science in the future.

"Ouch!" I hit my hips at a corner of the hard desk as I rushed out of the third floor. Rubbing the pained spot, I waved at Doctor Maxine as I passed by her office. She waved back with a smile before returning to her paperwork. I ran towards the elevator and slipped between the silver doors just before they closed. I repeatedly pressed on the 1st floor button while tapping my foot impatiently.

As soon as it opened, I sprinted through the lobby and grabbed a bag of M&M's from Enoch's desk.

"Hey!"

"Hi! Bye!" I called out before exiting the research center. I shoved my bag and lab coat in the seat next to me before turning on the engine and stepping on the gas of my newly cleaned car. My phone buzzed yet again, making me curse loudly, and curse even more as I was stopped by the red light.

I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel and drove quickly at the park. Maybe switching to a viper car isn't a bad idea.

"Okay. I'm here." I said to myself, quickly fixing my hair and outfit before picking up my bag and getting out of the car. Looking around the park, I found a blue blanket at a shady spot, along with lots of food and a grumpy werewolf. I threw my belongings to the ground and laid down on the blanket, my face warmed by the bright sun.

"You're late."

Lysander complained, moving his head directly over me, blocking the sun. I spun around so my stomach is on the blanket. Lysander brushed a strand of my hair and raised a brow. His hand found the buttons of my work clothing, which I smacked away immediately.

"I was a little busy." I explained, picking up a strawberry. "Working on Silverstein's newest experiment. Experiment 18."

"Which is?"

I glanced at him worriedly, hesitating to reply. Lysander noticed my expression and narrowed his eyes. I took a deep breath and blurted out, "Witches."

The werewolf furrowed his eyebrows with confusion, completely shocked. I nodded and slipped out a giggle, then it evolved into a loud cackle.

"I'm just kidding. Witches? In this era? That'll be funny." I ridiculed, taking my heels off as I got comfortable in the big blanket. My eyes scanned everything Lysander had laid out on the blanket and frowned. I gave him a list of what he needed to bring and he failed to get the most important thing. "Where's the chocolate syrup?"

The werewolf propped on his elbows. "I must have forgotten it."

"Wow, you left it on purpose. This date is cancelled." Just as I got on my knees, I was pulled back into the strong arms of my werewolf. I tried to hold in my giggles as he tickled me. "No. I'm mad at you." I have definitely hanged out with Rami too much that I'm beginning to catch the dramatic humor. Lysander rolled his eyes before digging through the basket. He pulled out a chocolate syrup and held it up. "Kay, you're forgiven."

As I poured the syrup on a plate full of strawberries, I felt Lysander watching me. When I raised a brow at him, he didn't falter his stare. He just licked his lips and smirked at me.

"What are you looking at, punk."

"My beautiful mate, who is having way too many chocolate."

My heart jumped with joy while blood rushed to my face. "You can never have too much chocolate." I set down the syrup's container and picked up one fruit drenched in the sweet dark liquid. "Say ahh!" I held the strawberry over his face, and the chocolate syrup form it had dripped down to Lysander's face. "Whoops." I leaned down and planted kisses on the spots that had chocolates. As I pulled away, Lysander's hand gripped on my waist and pulled me on top of him as he lays down on the blanket. His hand traveled up my skirt and I let out a squeal as I felt a pinch from my behind.

"You are a bad boy." I scolded. "And don't take that in a sexy, kinky way. I meant it in a puppy way."

Lysander just threw his head back with laughter. I got off him and grabbed another empty plate, filling it with a sandwich and other little snacks we have. At the moment, there is a man selling hot dogs, passing by and I couldn't help but laugh, remembering Rami. The first time Rami, Lysander and I were here, Rami was trying to explain every little thing to Lysander, including the concept of hot dogs.

Oh, I miss that boy already. I trust Idris will take care of him. They'll take care of each other. I know it, even if they don't show it.

"It's good to be back." I said to Lysander, scanning the park. There are other couples having picnics, there are people jogging and exercising, people taking their pets out to enjoy the good day, and kids playing sports. The only danger I can detect is one soccer ball flying to my face. It happens every single time I am surrounded by a sports ball. "Lysander, have you ever played sports?"

Lysander nodded. "A few."

"Good. If a soccer ball comes this way, you better do your thing. Otherwise, don't talk to me ever again."

"You are a wonderful mate." The werewolf commented, gazing at me with his head tilted to the side.

I put a hand over my heart and awed before shoving food in my mouth. For a few minutes, Lysander and I observed others around us as we ate our snacks. We talked about Rami and Idris, we talked about Eva and Nina's wedding, then he asked what we both wanted to discuss.

"So, what happens now? Now that we can finally have a normal life? With no hunters and scientists trying to ruin our lives?" He wondered, sitting up to look at the pond full of birds ahead of us.

"Now," I intertwined our hands together. "we have a normal life. At least, as normal as a werewolf and a human life can be. I suppose I still need to get used to seeing you eating bears and stuff. But other than that, I say we have a good life ahead of us. We did it. We resisted, we fought and now we get to live the way we want."

Lysander kissed the back of my hand. "This is what I've always dreamed of. Living a happy, peaceful life with my mate. With you."

"It's crazy what we had to go through to get from here." My mind brought me back to the beginning. "I found you caged up by scientists. I stole you from them and then hunters stole you from me, then I stole you back with the help of vampires, who are now our friends, whose leader just stalked me because he saw me in the future make a cure for them, which I did, and now he stole our friend Rami. We fought hunters and kicked government people's asses. We stood up and we won. The fact that Rami and I were neither the fighting, jock types, and we managed to fight them and win, is really blowing my mind. Rami and I are literally just nerds who sit behind TV and read books and never leave our beds unless it's for food and education, wishing we are our favorite fictional characters and now here are are. Crazy. And you know what? It's all your fault."

"Me?"

"Yes, you." I poked his nose. "You just show up and all of a sudden I feel like I'm one of the fictional characters I'd read about."

Lysander smiled. "Well, you did it. You saved me. You made a cure and made vampires' lives better. You took care of an experiment when the government couldn't. You faced vampires, hunters and human soldiers. You did it because you're smart."

This boy never fails to make my heart jump with joy.

"I didn't do it alone. I had lots of help. Eva, Idris, Rami, you, and those other vampires. With help of different people, with different minds, talents, skills, different kinds, we all worked together to save the day. I'm proud of us."

I picked up a caprisun and pierced a straw through it. "Cheers to us for surviving a damn adventure and not dying."

Lysander copied my action and bumped our drinks together. "Cheers."

His eyes are full of love, caring and a whole lot of pride as they fixated on me. And I felt it. All the emotions in his eyes I couldn't once read, I am feeling them. Even if he doesn't say them out loud. Maybe it's the mate thing, maybe it's the bond that Idris and Rami were telling me about, or maybe it isn't. Whatever it is, it's real and it's the strongest thing I've ever felt.

"I'm glad I found you that day." I confessed, not removing my eyes from him. "I'm glad I found you."

Lysander smiled. "And I hate to say it but at that time, I was glad to be 17. Because if I wasn't, I wouldn't have met you."

17.

That's how it all began. He was 17. Experiment 17. But not anymore.

"Look at this."

I crawled to my bag and pulled out a thin folder. Lysander recognized the folder and looked at me with confusion while I opened it. This folder has all his information. Experiment 17, the werewolf. This is what Doctor Rai had shown me when I first learned about him. Slowly, I held up the folder and used my fingers to tear the folder in half. Then, I tore them again, and again, until it was in the smallest confetti bits. Lysander watched my every move and that feeling, that happy, caring and passionate emotion between us only grew stronger.

"Experiment 17: DROPPED."