"Don't be scared. Just be polite and remember everything you were trained to do. You know more about American manners than I do." Brandon and I stood outside of an enormous mansion on the outskirts of New York. It was a Victorian style home that could have come straight out of a Edgar Allen Poe manuscript.

I bit my lip. No matter what Brandon said I still could not calm down. Here I was again, meeting a new vampire I had to serve. Even worse, this vampire is apparently royal as well. It was strange, I thought that the McClains' were the only royal family over this country. Could Tanner and Finnigan have another sibling? Tanner hid Finn from me for years so it sure is plausible. I shook my head. I can't think about them. I swore I wouldn't that part of me was gone and never coming back. "What if I fuck up. Your future rides on me...I can't take this kind of pressure. I—"

Brandon grabbed my chin and tipped it upwards, so our eyes met. "Shhh. Don't think about me, babe. I can take care of myself."

The door swung open and an elderly man in a suit answered. He looked us over before flashing a fake smile. "Ah, yes. The prince has been awaiting your arrival. Please, follow me."

Brandon and I exchanged glances before he wrapped his arm around my waist and me in. I flinched at his touch, "sorry," I whispered.

He shook his head and smiled down at me. "Don't be," he whispered back.

The plane ride from Sydney to here was an interesting one. There was nothing for us to do but talk. I tried to sleep but after the basement I couldn't. Brandon really was a kind-hearted man, even if he was part siren part vampire. I was glad that I had him by my side.

We walked up a grand stair case and down a long dimly lit hallway. Brandon's grip tightened on me when we stopped at a black door. The man, knocked a pattern on the door twice before turning to us. "They will be with you shortly. It was lovely meeting you." He bowed slightly and walked away before either of us had the chance to say something back.

What was that knock? It seemed like a code. I glanced up at Brandon but he was busy focusing on the door. Maybe it was just me. The door opened but inside was completely dark. "Enter," a low voice commanded.

Brandon shrugged and intertwined our fingers before stepping in to the darkness. My breath shortened, and my heart took off. Visions of the basement flashed back into my mind. "No. No please." I whispered. I glanced around but my eyes weren't adjusting. "Brandon, please I can't do this." I got no answer and I started to hyperventilate.

I heard a grunt and my fingers were now without Brandon's. I turned in the direction of the sound and squinted but still couldn't see a damn thing. The ground began to spin, and I fell onto the floor. When we first stepped inside I could have sworn I felt the cushion of carpet but when my hands brushed it now all I felt was...pavement. I struggled to my feet and began to run back the way we came but something froze me in my tracks. The sound of a metal bat hitting the ground. "Brandon!" I screamed but still no answer.

This couldn't be real. I got out. I was out. Something took hold of my arm and I jumped back. "No. Not again. Leave me alone Derek, please!" I back peddled until my back hit a wall.

"Jess...it's okay. Just do what they ask." I heard Brandon's voice sound from far away. He sounded hurt and weak.

"Someone get the lights, now." The voice bellowed from right next to me. My arm was grabbed before I could bolt for where Brandon's voice was.

A bright, florescent light flooded the room and I shut my eyes tight. "Wanna play a game, love?" I heard Derek say.

"No! Let me go!" I screamed and thrashed.

"Jess, Jess open your eyes. I'm not going to hurt you! It's me! It's Finn! It's Finn."

I opened my eyes to see a wide eyed Finnigan holding both of my arms. No sign of Derek. I glanced to the floor, carpet. "What," I whispered in a daze. Tears streamed down my face. I took in my surroundings before bringing my attention back to the man in front of me. He looked like Finnigan McClain, he sounded like Finnigan McClain, but how could he be? "You aren't real, are you?"

"I am. It really is me." He let go of my arms and wrapped me in his arms, squeezing me tightly into his chest.

I shook my head. What had just happened? "The pavement, the clanging noises, his voice, it was all so real. I-I thought..." I sobbed.

"Shhh, it's okay. I've got you. You're safe." Finnigan's voice was so soothing and warm, just like I remembered it.

"But the man on the phone, it wasn't you. And this...isn't your house. I don't understand." I was so confused.

"Don't worry about any of that right now. Just relax." Finnigan soothed.

I cried in silence for a long time. Finnigan didn't ask any questions or say a thing. He just held me close to him and ran his fingers through my hair.