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"Tell me now, please?" Michael whispered into my ear. "We've been silent for twenty minutes and I can feel you getting anxious." He snuggled his face into my neck as he tightened his arm around my stomach. 

I continued running my hands through his hair as I stared up at the ceiling. I'd thought of a plan and I wanted to explain it to him but it was hard to say out loud. So I took a deep breath and started:

"I'll walk into my brother's room. I'll try not to go near him but... I can't promise it. I just want to hug him," Michael softly pressed his lips to my neck in comfort. "I'll ask him what I can because I don't want to push him for anything. It'd be best you didn't come into the room until I call you."

"What if he knows straight away?"

"Then... We get what we can from him." I mumbled unconfidently. 

Michael sat up, making my hands drop from his head to my sides. "And then you want me to do it."

"Yes." I sat up beside him and took his hand. "Having my brother know about this isn't what I wanted. I didn't want any of my family getting involved. If erasing or changing the events of last night in his mind is what it takes then that's what needs to be done. I'm sorry if I'm asking a lot of you, Michael. I seem to be doing that a lot."

He shook his head with a smile before squeezing my hand. "The thing about loving you is that I'd give my life to protect you. You're barely asking anything of me. So I will do this for you." 

I let out a relieved sigh and dropped my head onto his shoulder. "Thank you." 

"You're welcome. Do you want breakfast?" He asked me obviously trying to change the subject. "You know, to rejuvenate from last--"

"Please, let's not get into the teasing and little quirky remarks before it's even nine o'clock in the morning." I said quickly.

He spun away from me on his knees to face me. "Oh, come now Evangeline, let me say something about it." He started crawling forward with a predator and yet playful smile. "Let's start from the beginning shall we?" I fell back from my knees with narrowed eyes until I shuffled up to the headboard. "You know just how to make a man want you."

"What?" I squeaked with burning cheeks. "What have I--?"

"Oh, you're so oblivious." He crawled in between my legs. "Would you like me to explain the faces again? Or do you want me to get serious and talk about the feel of being insi--"

"Neither!" I begged. "Please, don't--"

"Alright, alright." He stopped inches from my face. "But can I say one thing?"

"What?" I asked cautiously. 

His eyes turned from playful to serious. "It was the most amazing night of my life... Or, existence whatever way I put it, it's still true. I feel stupid for not listening to you sooner."

"You make me sound like I begged you for it."

He raised an eyebrow. "Oh please, Michael! I want you! Oh, Michael!" He tried mimicking my voice. "Oh I love you, please make love to me-"

He grunted with laughter after I hit him in the stomach and pushed him away from me. "I'll cook my own damn breakfast." I stood up, grabbed my phone and started toward the door. "And I didn't even say that." I said before walking out of the door.

"Wait, wait," He was already halfway down the hall when I was casually walking downstairs. 

I ignored his pleading and boyish giggling while I walked into the kitchen. 

"Dimples come here!" I rolled my eyes when he slipped his arms around my waist and pulled my back to his chest. "You know I was joking,"

"And you know I'm hungry. Just because you're still full doesn't mean I can't be."

"Speaking of full, I wanted to talk to you about that."

"After I've eaten."

"Before."

"After."

"While I cook?" He suggested.

"Deal."

He pressed his lips to the still sensitive spot on my neck. I sat at the breakfast table on the island and watched as he took out the eggs, ham, mushrooms, sweet peppers and milk from the fridge. "How're you feeling?"

"I'm fine." 

He wasn't watching his hands as he cracked two eggs into a bowl. "And how did you feel?" His green eyes were very vigilant. They darted quickly over my facial features and once to my neck.

"I felt fine. It felt good."

"Good?" He grabbed the wooden spoon from the pot. "In what way?"

"Well, probably not in the way you're thinking, but it was the most peculiar and fascinating feeling I've ever felt. I mean it made me feel... High."

"I don't exactly like how you've compared it to drugs."

I rolled my eyes. "You know what I mean."

"Actually, I don't. I haven't felt it in the way you have. That's why I'm asking. I want to see if it's similar to how I felt when I was doing it."

"How did you feel?"

He put the bowl to the side and exhaled sharply. "Want my vampire answer?"

"More than anything." I replied half serious and half sarcastically.

A soft smile tugged at his lips. "Okay. To this day your scent still drives me insane. Up until last night I wanted to taste you in more ways than one. And now that I have... I didn't anticipate just how delicious you would taste. I wouldn't worry. I promise you I won't drink from you again... Unless you ask me to." 

"Ha! Then you better sharpen those teeth, honey."

He raised a brow.

"I'm kidding!" I held my hands up. "You can cook for me now." 

He shook his head as he resumed making my breakfast. 

I was halfway through when my phone started vibrating on the table next to me. The reality of what was to come hit me hard. I slid my finger across the screen and picked up my iPhone. "Mom,"

"Hello sweetie. Did you sleep and get home okay?"

Michael's lip twitched from the side.

"Yeah, I got home fine." I mumbled. 

"...Good. Aaron's doing fine. He woke up like his usual self and ate."

Michael paused and looked toward me. He was his usual self? "What do you mean his usual self?"

"Well, he's eating and smiling, how else do I describe it?"

Michael left the room. "How? I mean..."

"I know, compared to our other patients he's been better. The doctors are being wary because he's had a few episodes."

"Episodes?"

"The descriptions of what attacked him, the sudden silence, but other than those he's smiling and eating."

I stood up and walked into the living room. "When can I see him?"

"Your father and I will be here until twelve so you can come between eleven and half eleven. His doctor doesn't want too many visitors."

"Alright." I looked to the clock. Half ten. "See you in a few."

Michael stepped downstairs in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt as I hung up. "Something's wrong with your brother."

"You think I didn't realise that," I replied before I walked past him upstairs. I heard him sigh before following me up. "Whoever it was that bit him, did something." I shrugged off the pyjama top he'd given me and walked into his closet. "Mom said he is having episodes, though." I dropped the shirt into his wash basket and bent down to my bag Michael had picked up yesterday. "He's talking about what attacked him."

"What do you mean?" 

I picked up my relaxed cargo cargo trousers and stepped into them. What I found interesting is how quickly it took for us to suddenly be so comfortable with me being half naked and dressing in front of him like I've been doing it for years. Well, I suppose there isn't a point in being stupid about it. 

"He's describing it apparently." I spun so my back was to him anyway and clipped on a new bra. I shrugged on a white t-shirt and walked out and into the bathroom to brush my teeth. I looked at my neck for a few brief seconds. There was a lighter than my skin tone, some faded some thin, marks on my neck. I think this is as much as it will go. I don't think it will disappear completely. I ran my fingers over the slightly raised lines before shaking my head and grabbing my toothbrush. "We only have half hour, we have to be fast." I mumbled with the toothbrush in my mouth.

I pulled my hair into a messy bun and grabbed my coat from the hook on the wall downstairs. I picked up one of his scarves and covered my neck. "Can we stop off at the house? I want to pick up the rest of my bags."

"Won't everyone be there?" We walked out together.

"Shit," I muttered. "Yes, Damien leaves soon. But then again I want to say goodbye."

"What about time?" Michael said. "Make it quick, I'll get your bags while you distract them all."

"Okay."

We made it to the house in ten minutes. As soon as I walked in, Damien was walking down the stairs with two bags in hand. His eyes widened at me and he rushed down. "What the hell happened to you last night?"

Laura and Lucas suddenly popped around the corner. "Are you okay?" Laura asked.

I sighed. "I'm fine, but my brother isn't." I explained what happened only briefly, afraid I'd start welling up again. 

Laura engulfed me into a large hug knowing exactly what was going on. She didn't know how I was feeling, but she knew exactly how he was. So I accepted her sympathy like it was water. Damien hugged me too, half sorry and half goodbye because his parents were here. Damien gave me a kiss on the cheek and wished my brother well. 

After Damien left, I said I was leaving too. I ran upstairs and found one bag left, probably for me to take down now so I didn't look too empty handed. I picked it up and looked to the table one last time to see if I'd forgotten anything. 

Only one thing. I smiled lightly as I picked up the picture frame. I'll always love this picture of Michael and me. It was so natural. Seemed like such a long time ago now. I opened my bag at the side and placed it inside. 

I walked to the window and locked it with the key before quickly checking all of my drawers to make sure I hadn't forgotten anything. I let out a sign before walking out of my room and locking it. 

"Where's Katherine?" I heard Laura say as I entered the living room.

I didn't answer. Because I didn't know. And to be honest, at this moment, I didn't care. I was surprised she hadn't said anything to me. She told Michael what happened; why not say anything to me?

"I have to go guys. I'll see you both over the holidays anyway, we all live close by." I kissed both Luke's and Laura's cheeks. "I love you two."

It was a quick easy goodbye. I mean, I didn't have time for a sad goodbye. I'd miss them dearly because I knew we wouldn't see each other, especially with everything that's going on. We could still Skype I suppose...

I walked halfway down the road to Michael's car and dumped the bag in the backseat. The drive to the hospital was silent. In my mind, I was trying to figure out what I wanted to say to my brother. I wanted to hug him and ask him if he were alright. I wanted to ask him how he felt when it happened.

Michael parked and turned off the engine. "Will you be okay?"

I nodded hesitantly. "Yes."

He took my hand in his as we walked into the building. With Michael here, I felt one hundred times more confident. And with the way last night happened I felt closer to him. So much more. I intertwined our fingers tighter as we walked upstairs to Aaron's ward. I could feel Michael's eyes on me when I talked to the woman at reception about Aaron. I always hated hospitals, they made me jumpy. I hated visiting my mom at work too. I could never understand what possessed her to ever want to become a doctor.

"Your mother should be coming out of his room now." The older woman at reception said.

"Thank you." I mumbled before taking a seat. Michael didn't let go of my hand as he sat beside me. I lay my head on his shoulder. "Where's Katherine?"

He didn't answer. I could just feel the apprehension.

"What's happened?"

"She was pretty pissed about what happened to Aaron."

"What has she done? Where is she?"

"She does what she does. She's taken it out on herself. She's at her grandmother's house in her state. It's like hibernation for witches except they get stronger, wiser; they get advice from the other side etcetera. It's like she's her own Ouija board except it's safer and not stupid."

"I can't believe she'd do that. How long is she going to be like that?"

"Longest she's gone is three days. She wouldn't do that again, don't worry."

I shut my eyes and sighed. "I didn't know she was beating herself up over it."

As I opened my eyes, I could see my mother and father walking from the hall. They both looked so tired. They'd gone home and changed but I could see the fatigue clear on both of their faces.

Mom looked between Michael and me oddly as we walked toward them. What was she looking at?

Could she know?

I mean HOW?! How do moms do that?! How would she know?! Uh. I hate their intuition.

"How is he?" I asked stopping in front of them.

"He's doing great." My dad said. "You can go in if you want."

"I'll wait out here." Michael squeezed my hand. "I'm sure you'll be fine."

I nodded. "Yeah, okay."

I glanced at my mother from the corner of my eye at her small smile but ignored it. I started down the hall. My heart started pounding in my ears when I made it to Aaron's room. I needed to keep my distance, I needed to remember that. I couldn't go near him no matter what. I took a deep breath and opened the door.

I poked my head in and I couldn't help the smile curve my lips upward. "Aaron,"

"Hey, Evie,"

The colour had returned back to my brother's face. His neck was bandaged along with his forearm. The heart monitor at the side connected to Aaron was at a steady pace. The smile on his face made me smile even more. But of course, there was something wrong. Because none of the other victims were like this. Not one. Laura may have been a little happier but that was because John had given her blood.

"How're you?" I asked as I slowly came in and closed the door behind me. I didn't move to go closer. I couldn't. I could hear the air conditioning near the seat next to his bed.

"Good actually." He sat up straighter. "A little bloodless but hey, what can you do. Bleeding out onto the sidewalk has that effect."

I narrowed my eyes

"Come over here, I want to give you a hug."

I clenched my hands into fists to restrain myself. "I think it's best if I stay over here."

A frown placed itself on his cute face. "Okay. Is it because..."

"No, it's nothing to do with you... It's me." I lied. "I just want to ask you some things about last night."

He rolled his eyes. "You sound like the police. What is it you want to ask?"

I moved along the wall just outside of the air conditioning. "What happened?"

"I'll tell you exactly what I told the police. Something attacked me. I couldn't see what. Only it's black eyes."

"And that's it?" I asked after a moment. "That's all you remember?"

He nodded but something in his eyes told me he was lying. 

"Is that all you remember or all you're telling me."

"It's all I can remember, Evie."

I couldn't keep being protective over him. I had to be blunt. 

"What did they say to you?" I demanded.

"The police? They--"

"No, Aaron. The monsters that attacked you. What did they say?"

Aaron raised a brow. "What did they say? How could they say anything--"

I went to step forward but stopped myself yet again. "Aaron, stop it. Tell me what they said."

And there it was. The blank look in his eyes his friend's sister had except her look was permanent. His blue eyes turned to ice as he said, "They said nothing."

I ignored the air conditioning and walked straight through it. I watched a gust of air hit his face and suddenly realisation crossed his face. "Wait... How... You smell..."

"Aaron you need to tell me what they looked like. You need to tell me if a blonde male was there." I needed to know this for myself. I'd call Michael in a minute. I just needed to know.

Aaron's jaw clenched. "No."

I whipped my phone out of my pocket. "How many were there?"

"Two."

I was right! There were three of them including Tate! Because Tate didn't know a damn thing about it and I was stupid for not seeing that. My finger paused when I went to press Michael's number. I was so stupid. Of course Tate wouldn't do that. 

 I tapped Michael's number and it rang three times before he walked in. "Is everything--"

"There are three of them, Michael I told you." I interrupted. "Not including the one I know."

Aaron's eye twitched. "Michael,"

Both of our gazes turned to him.

"You are unbelievably stupid." 

Aaron surprised us both by saying this. But I don't think they were his words. "Have you no common sense?" He threw his hands up in the air dramatically.

My face contorted with confusion. "He's not speaking for himself is he?" I asked.

Michael's head shook from left to right as he stared at my brother incredulously. Aaron didn't say anything else. He just went off into space. We only had five minutes left and I didn't want Aaron remembering any of what just happened. I didn't want him half brain washed by a crazy rogue vampire.

"Michael, can you just..." I walked to the seat and sat down. "I can't..."

He went to Aaron's bed without question. 

I was sat here with my head in my hands for two minutes. It felt like it lasted forever. The silence in the room, apart from the steadying heart beat monitor connected to Aaron, was killing me. Michael hadn't said a word and from the corner if my eye I could see Michael shifting to stand up straight. 

The monitor had slowed. I glanced at Aaron; he was asleep now.

I lifted my head from my hands. Michael was kneeled in front of me now.  He cupped my face in his hands. "He won't remember what happened here. He doesn't remember being attacked. He'll think he was attacked by a stray wolf that wandered out of the woods." His thumb brushed against a fallen tear. "It's done now. Aaron will be fine."

I sat at the edge of the chair and wrapped my arms around his neck. He helped me stand before sliding his hands over my back to hold me to him. 

"Excuse me?"

I opened my eyes and pulled myself away from Michael to look at the young nurse.

"We need to check on your brother. Will you be finished soon?"

"We are, we were just leaving. Is my mother still here?"

She nodded her head. Michael kept his arm wrapped around my shoulders when we walked out of Aaron's room to the reception area. I felt his lips press to the side of my head just before he said, "I love you. I don't seem to say that enough."

My mother was watching us with a smile. A creepy smile. I didn't break her eye as I said to Michael, "I'm going to speak to my mom for a second. Could you... You know, talk to my dad? Keep him busy because I know this is not going to be pleasant. Stay here a second."

"Okay." He let go of me and I walked over to my parents.

"Dad, can you keep Michael company while I talk to mom about something please?" 

He huffed a reluctant sigh. "Fine." He was still grumbling when he walked off.

I sat down next to my mother. "How're you mom?"

"I'm great, now that I know Aaron's okay. I was also worried we'd have to cancel your friend coming over."

Oh shit. "Oh, no, no, no. I forgot Chelsea was coming on Monday. Oh, mom--"

"You can't cancel now, she'd be devastated."

I sighed. "Okay."

"So... How're things with you and Michael?"

"Fine." I mumbled,