Ray went back to Jersey on  that night, too, and his first thought was about his friends. He spent just two days apart from them but he really missed them already. While he was on the plane, he couldn’t think of anything else but Sarah. He recalled every moment of that night during the assembly; he was still moved he became the head vampire of Jersey, but the memory of him meeting Sarah was even stronger. He knew he always wanted to be with her, but after a while he became satisfied with his life with Hannah by his side. He loved Hannah but he never forgot Sarah, either, and now, as he met her all of his emotions towards her came back. Ray wanted to be with Sarah again, to hold her in his arms, to love her with all of his heart but Sarah was too important vampire to be seen with him and also, Ray had Hannah, who did so much for him.
He tried to forget about Sarah or at least about his emotions towards her and concentrate on his tasks now, as he was the head of his community.
First he wanted to meet his friends to tell them the news, but he really couldn’t find them anywhere. He was looking for them everywhere they could possibly be but he had no luck. Then he gave it up and headed to an old, beautiful building. Ray opened up the wooden gate with iron ornaments on it and entered the warm house illuminated by candles. He smelled the flowery fragrance of oils and went inside further with excitement.
In the living-room he found Hannah lying on the sofa, her head tilted back letting her fiery red hair fall about the armrest; her eyes were closed but Ray knew if she opens them he’ll see the most amazing icy blues in the world. She had a beautiful black dress on leaving her shoulders free to be seen and her snow-white thighs were left wihtout any covering as well. Ray couldn’t do anything else but stare at the perfect body. Soft melody was heard from the background and his excitement just grew with every moment. Then his body answered to the invitation of the woman’s body. He went closer, leant down to the perfect face and pressed his lips gently against Hanna’s dark red lips, crack open. After a few minutes of kissing they pulled apart, the beautiful blue eyes opened up and the woman smiled invitingly at Ray. He was amazed by how her make-up stayed perfect after their kiss, he loved her red lipstick. Hannah started to carress his face with glistening eyes and pulled Ray on top of her. They kissed each other passionately and made love the whole night through… The only problem was that Ray didn’t see Hannah that night. He made love to Sarah, at least in his mind he saw her under his own body…

Bob just stood in Katie’s doorway trying to find out why Kate didn’t want to let Millie in.
- Bob, won’t she be mad if she realizes she’s at my flat after her waking? You know, it’s ok with me but what about her?
Bob sighed in relief and smiled.
- Don’t worry, Kate, everything will be ok. She won’t be mad, you’ll see tomorrow…
Katie rose an eyebrow and looked at Bob questioningly but when she realized she won’t get any further explanation, she flung the door open and let Bob in with Millie in his arms.
She led Bob to Millie’s former bedroom untouched since Mill left and helped him laying Millie on the bed. They stood above Mill and watched her sleep a bit then they went out to the kitchen and Kate asked Bob if he needed a coffee.
- No, thanks. I don’t need as much coffee as the Ways do. – he smiled and Katie smiled back.
They sat down at the kitchen table and Kate place a tea in front of Bob then gulped from hers. They sat in silence, thinking.
- So, where did you find Mill? – asked Kate while looking up from the cup.
- In a bar… She drank a lot, I’m glad I’ve found her. I don’t even wanna think about what could’ve happen to her if I didn’t go there. There were lots of drunk men around her and they all wanted to have her… - Bob’s body was shaking from the thought that Millie could be hurt by those men.
Kate looked at him worried then put her hand on Bob’s with sympathy. Bob felt the soft, worm skin on his and it calmed him; he looked up and his eyes met Kate’s brown ones and a weak smile appeared on his face.
- Don’t worry, Bob, she’s in a safe place now, and she’s really lucky to have you by her side.
- Thank you, Katie. For everything. She’s really lucky ’cause YOU are by her side.
After that they talked about other topics, finished their tea and when Bob realized how tired Katie was, he stood up and started to say goodbye.
- Katie?
- Yes?
- Can I have just one more look…
- Of Millie? – Kate interrupted.
- Yes. – he sighed.
- Sure, Bob, you know the way to her room. – said Kate smiling.
Both of them went in and watched Millie while she was sleeping. Bob’s eyes were glistening and Kate saw the longing on his face.
- Would you like to stay here?
Bob looked at her with confusion; he didn’t understand what Kate meant by that.
- Would you like to sleep here, with Millie? – Kate corrected herself.
- Wouldn’t that be problem for you? – asked Bob surprised. – Isn’t it a problem if I stay here?
- Of course, not! I see you wanna stay by her side and I understand it. Bob, you’re always welcome here! And… you’re not the first vamp to sleep here. – she finished blushing.
- Frankie?
- Yeah… I think that was the pont when our friendship went wrong with Mill…
- I’m so sorry, Kate!
- It’s not your fault, it’s no-ones fault. It just happened somehow. – she said sadly.
- I’m sure, everything will be fine with you, girls. – he winked.
Kate said goodnight and left the room to have some more sleep and Bob laid next to Mill, wrapped his strong arms around her body and soon everything went silent.

   Pandora jumped on Frankie kissing him passionately and then greeted Mikey and Gerard, too. Then her face showed her curiosity and turned to Frankie.
- I thought you said you have four friends…
- Yeah, Bob and Ray, but they couldn’t come now…
- Ohh… - Pandora acted like she was sorry but actually she was angry, she wanted to meet all of them, especially Ray…
As the guys went further inside they had strange feeling. They looked around and saw lots of vampires staring at them; their glances followed the boys everywhere and they found it awkward. The brothers looked at each other confused and they didn’t understand how Frank could feel comfortable like that.
Frank didn’t see anything from the world around him as he was too busy with entertaining Pandora.
They then talked together a bit but Frank didn’t really pay attention to his friends, still.
While Pandora was away to bring some mugs of beer the Ways asked Frank about Pandora and her friends, if he felt uncomfortable there or not and Frank pulled a confused face. He didn’t understand what his friends’ problem was, he didn’t notice anything from what they’ve said and he told them they act strangely, not those guys…
Then Pandora came back, handed them their beers and nuzzled close to Frankie. She started to move close to Frankie’s body, not paying attantion to Gerard’s and Mikey’s embarrassed glances.
She grabbed Frank’s long coat and almost ripped that off of him while taking it from him. She then grabbed his black shirt by it’s collar and pulled Frankie to the dance floor while kissing him passionately.
They started to dance together in a sexual way; it was the dirtiest dance the guys have ever seen. They almost dropped their beers; they were shocked by the sight of them. Frankie forgot about everything, where he was, what he was doing, he just enjoyed the moment.

The Ways, on the other hand, couldn’t believe to their own eyes, they have never seen Frank like this and actually they didn’t like how he acted now at all. They liked the almost innocent, kind but cheeky Frank who they’ve always known, not this man whom Pandora made of him. They couldn’t believe how she was able to change him like this if they’ve met just twice so far…
Soon they started to feel really uncomfortable there as the party got hotter. They saw nothing else but fused bodies, pairs making out everywhere wether it’s a hetero or a gay couple. They weren’t saints at all but they found the whole thing disgusting: blood and almost or actually fucknig vampires everywhere, it was just like an orgy and they didn’t want to participate…

They went to find Frankie as he disappeared in the meantime, they wanted to take him home as they knew it wasn’t his media actually.
They were walking further into the crowd but didn’t get far. A short pink haired girl jumped on Gerard and started to lick his cheek. Her breath smelled from alcohol and she couldn’t control herself as she obviously took drugs. Gerard pushed her far away from himself and turned back to Mikey to check on him. He saw Mikey a few steps away, but he also had company. A young, drunk man touched his manhood and an older woman already opened her mouth to taste his neck. Gerard saw that Mikey didn’t get the strength to get rid of all of them so he went to help him. They sighed in relief when they were free again but it didn’t last too long. Soon more overmedicated vampires formed circle around them; olders and young ones, girls and guys, and they all wanted them. They all wanted to taste them, to have sex with them…
Gerard and Mikey changed glances then one of them caught sight of Frankie in the crowd. He was already under the effect of some kind of drug and he also made out with a few vamps.
The brothers realized that they couldn’t do anything at that time so they left Frankie there and escaped by using their powers…

Chapter 25

The guys saw Frank’s and Katie’s inward scene but they acted like they’ve seen nothing. Deep inside Gerard didn’t want them to be so close, but he knew that Frank already had an other woman in his life. Pandora. He didn’t know her yet but he thought Frankie can fall in love with really nice girls. He just had to look at Katie, the only problem with her was that she was mortal. But that’s the biggest problem. So now Gerard thought that his ’young’ friend’s life will turn to a better one with Pandora by his side. Little he knew that she may cause the death of all their kind…

Frank asked Katie to meet him next evening, he said he wanted to show something and Katie said yes.
Frank decided to spend more time with Kate; the fact that he has a ’girlfriend’ doesn’t mean that he can’t keep in touch with other girls, mainly if the other girl is Katie, who he spent a lot of beautiful nights with, and for who he had such strange but sweet feelings.

 
Soon Bob stood up and said goodbye to everyone.
In the rest of the night, while Bob still sat with them, Kate saw the concern on his face. She knew that he’s fearing for Millie and she felt bad inside. Before Bob left the café, he gave a light peck to Kate and their glance met for one short minute. They didn’t say anything, they didn’t even have to. Kate knew exactly why Bob wanted to leave and she was glad that Bob wanted to find Millie.

   Millie was sitting at the counter in a stinky, smoky and noisy pub. She clenched her fingers around the glass full of whisky. She already had one double whisky, but she thought that wasn’t enough. That wasn’t enough to forget. She wanted to forget her ex-boyfriend, that night with Tony, her arguments with Kate… But mostly she wanted to undo the last night.

Millie felt really drunk, but not drunk enough to forget about those horrible things. She felt anger, sadness and disappointment, but above all of it that she’s helpless. She knew that she can’t control her life, her acts, her feelings and it scared her the most. She was in Fate’s hands or you can call it God, some kind of upper power or whatever you want. The most important thing to Millie was that she didn’t have the right to live a happy, full life.

   When Bob got out of the café, he pulled his hood over his head and walked down the street. He stopped at the corner as he didn’t know where he had to start the search.
He then closed his eyes and tried to concentrate. His senses vibrated. He smelled a thousand kind of fequences, flavours, heard different noises and felt millions of heart’s beating. Now his only task was to choose the one that belongs to Millie and it wasn’t so hard for him. During the night they’ve spent together, Millie’s every feature burnt into his mind, and the rhythmical beating of her heart got ingrained in his mind as the most beautiful melody on Earth.
Bob stood there for a minute, trying to find Millie. His eyes were closed and he couldn’t see anything, but in the darkness fist sized, reddish orange outlines started to take shape. These outlines shaped something living, something, that was moving or let’s say pumping. Those were the people’s hearts. Bob didn’t see faces or bodies, he just saw hearts, pumping the blood he needed so much, and felt the essence of their personalities. He saw those hearts everywhere through his closed eyes: in the flat, lying on the bed on the fourth floor; in the café around a table (one of which was Katie’s); on the street moving closer to him or passing him, and then finally he found one special, sometimes pumping faster, sometimes slowlier and the personality showing so much sadness, confusion  and still, so much love. That was Millie… surrounded by lots of overused hearts. Bob knew exactly where he had to start to go and he didn’t hesitate at all; this night he used most of his special power – his feet didn’t touch the ground anymore. He moved so fast that no-one was able to notice him; he wanted to be by Millie’s side as soon as possible.

  Millie knocked back the last sip of her drink and then she was just gazing into nothing. She didn’t want to think of her problems but the pictures of those scenes in her head didn’t leave her alone, she couldn’t get rid of them. She felt drunk enough but she didn’t want to go back to that filthy motel full of coakroaches.
Mill just wanted to order a beer to finish the night with when she felt piercing cold hitting the left side of her body. She knew right at that moment what that was as she’s felt that coldness so many times against her warm skin by now. Millie turned her head left and saw a big, black human-like shape sitting next to her. She also saw blondish locks under the black hood and at that moment she knew she was right.
- Bob?
Bob pulled his hood off of his head and turned to Millie to hug her. Millie almost flew into his arms and held onto him, starting to cry. He wrapped his arms around her tight and whispered into her ear.
- Shh, darling, it’s ok. I’m here with you. – he tried to calm her down and keep her on the chair as she felt dizzy because of the alcohol and couldn’t keep her balance.
- Bob, I’m so glad you found me! – she sobbed – I felt so alone here without you.
- I know, honey. But I’m here now, so don’t cry. – he whispered again – Mill, what happened to you?
- I don’t know, Bob. I just drank too much, I guess.
- No, Mill. I meant, why are you here? I know everything about last night. I know what happened between you and Katie. The only thing I don’t know is why.
Millie lifted her head up to Bob’s level, looked into his eyes seriously, then she turned away.
- Millie, don’t do this, please. You know, I love you, but Kate is also my friend and you can’t ask me to choose.
Millie turned her head back to Bob to face him and asked cruelly.
- Who would you choose if you had to?
- You… - he said weakly without any hesitation.
- You don’t have to choose. – she said sadly.
- What do you mean by this? – he asked with concern.
- Nothing… - she turned away again – I order a beer, do you also want one?
- No, Mill, and you shouldn’t drink more, either. Come, sit with me to a table and I order a diet soda for you.
- Okay, then… - she sighed and took Bob’s outstreched hands.
When they got their sodas, Bob started everything from the beginning.
- Millie, sweety, why did you leave Katie? Was it really that big problem?
- Bob, she knows everything! She knows that we’re together… She knows!
- Yes, she knows, Millie. She knew it from the beginning. But she never told it anyone. And you know what? She didn’t deserve what she got from you because SHE was the one who asked me to take care of you and never hurt you.
- But Bob, it’s not just that… - she whined – She has such a perfect life! Everybody thinks that she’s a saint; she didn’t have such a fucking rude boyfriend as I had; Tony raped me, not her; you, guys, also love her from the bottom of your heart and no-one’s saying she’s a liar.
- Except for you, Millie, right? – Bob asked slowly.
She looked up from her soda and Bob thought that this sentence would cause the end of their relationship.
- Yes, except for me… - she said ashamed – I didn’t say her with the exact words, but yeah, I thought she’s a liar.
- But she’s not…, you know it. And she doesn’t have a perfect life, it’s far from perfect. Kate doesn’t  have friends, her family isn’t around her and she doesn’t have a boyfriend, either. She’s completely alone, Mill… Just look inside of you, didn’t you already know it?
He saw Millie’s ashamed face, saw the tears pouring from her eyes as she listened to him and finally he saw as she nodded with her head, saying yes.
- Bob, - she sobbed – I’m such a bad person. She didn’t deserve it and I knew it every time I’ve hurt her. I don’t even know why I did it to her.
But she was lying again, she knew why she has done that. Millie didn’t have any problem with Katie until she started her affair with Bob. It doesn’t matter how hard Katie tried to hide it, Millie knew that it’s not just friendship the girl felt about Frankie. She didn’t know what it was exactly but she was sure it’s something more than a simple friendship between them and she felt it from Frankie’s side, too. When she fell in love with Bob she knew that it will be a hard relationship. Millie felt ashamed because she had to lie to her best friend and mostly because she was going out with a vampire, with Frank’s best friend. She wasn’t alone, like Katie, anymore. She didn’t know how to solve the problem, so unaware, she thought the offence was the best form of defence.
- It’s okay, Millie. Everything will be alright. – Bob smoothed a red, curly lock aside her forehead and gave a gentle kiss to her.
She hugged him while Bob started to carress her back. They stayed like that for a long time and when finally Millie calmed down, Bob asked her seriously.
- Where will you spend the night, Mill?
Tears formed in her eyes again.
- Well, I rent a room in a motel but…
- You can’t go back there…
- But Bob, I have nowhere else to go… I can’t stay with you, either.
- Yes, I know. – he sighed.
He wanted to spend the night with Millie, every night from this day until eternity. He wanted to hold her in his arms, to protect her, to take care of her dreams. But he knew he will never be able to do that… not until Millie is mortal. But he didn’t want her to suffer like he did.
- Mill, do you still like Katie?
Millie looked into his icy blue eyes and nodded slowly, letting a teardrop escape from her eye.
- Then why don’t you apologize, why don’t you two talk about it? I’m sure she would be the happiest human on Earth if she could get her best friend back…
She was thinking for a few minutes then sighed in relief to say:
- Yes, you’re right… I will do that…

 
Meanwhile, in the café, the guys started to say goodbye and left the girls, Jasmin and Kate, there. Jasmin walked Katie home, while talking about Gerard and Frankie and other very important girly stuff. Frankie led the guys to a hidden, small warehouse where a very ’hard’ party was held. He wanted to introduce them to Pandora…

 
Bob and Millie went back to the motel to pack Mill’s stuff. While Bob was bothering with the payment, Millie felt really sick from the alcohol she drank and it just got worse  as the time passed. By the time Bob got back to Millie, the girl had collapsed onto her suitcases. Bob helped her up, asked her if she could hold on for five more minutes and when Millie nodded, he went back to the motel to call a cab. The cab was there in ten minutes and Bob bundled Millie and her stuff into it. He asked the chauffeur to drive to Kate’s flat then handed him the money.
When they got there he asked the driver if he could help him with the suitcases.
- I’m sorry, man, but it’s not the nicest environs. Someone might break open my car. – the long black-haired driver said apologizing. – But I can wait for you here with her stuff, if you want.
- Thanks, dude, but you can go. I’ll cope with it.
He then took the suitcases out of the trunk of the cab and stood Millie up. When the driver drove off, Bob carried the suitcases to the big, many-storeyed building, then went back for Millie, put her arms around his neck and lifted her body up. He climbed up to the third floor with Mill in his arms and rang the bell next to Katie’s door.
Soon a very sleepy Katie appeared in the doorway, rubbing her eyes and yawning.
- Bob? What happened?
- I’m sorry, Kate, for awake you, but… Could Millie stay here tonight? – said Bob, while looking down to Millie’s sleeping face.
- Bob, I don’t know…

Chapter 24

Next day Katie worked in the music store. The day went slowly, and as she was thinking about last night, it was just worse. She didn’t know what to do; the fact that her closest friends were killers scared her to death, but still, she knew she needed them. They have never hurt her, not like Millie…
She decided that she’ll ignore last night and she’ll act like before, when everything was easy…
The only thing she couldn’t get over was Millie, and how she left her.

 
It was 9 pm when she arrived at the café. She wanted to meet Mikey there, but everyone was sitting there around one table. Everyone, except for Frankie.
Mikey greeted her and sat her down next to him. He leant closer to Katie and whispered something to her.
- I told him everything yesterday. I didn’t find him there, but later we met and he said it was ok. Are you OK now?
- Thank you, Mikey! – she whispered back – Oh, yeah, I’m ok. – she smiled. – I don’t know why I was so psyched out yesterday. I may be just too tired. You know, my job and these meetings at night…
- Oh… We’ve never thought about how exhausted  you can be, I guess. We shouldn’t take you out all the time. – he said with a guilty face.
- No, no, Mikey! I’m glad you invite me. Otherwise I’d be alone. You know, I don’t have friends, just you, guys. – she whispered again.
- Yes, I know… But I’ll never understand why… You’re so kind and have such a big heart… I mean, you… you don’t deserve it.
- Don’t worry about it, Mikey! I’m fine. As long as you’re with me I’ll be fine. – she stopped for a moment, thinking. – And if you have to leave me for some reason, I’ll be fine, still. But to tell you the truth, I don’t wanna lose you.
- You’ll never lose us, sweetie. – he hugged Katie.
- Thank you, Mikey. It means a lot to me.

- Hey, Katie!
- Hiya, Bob!
- I’m sorry for interrupting you, but I really do have to talk about something with you.
Kate pulled a confused face but she knew exactly what he wanted to talk about. She knew the subject, at least.
- No problem, Bob, we can talk now. – she turned to Mikey – I’ll come back soon. – she smiled, then she left with Bob.
Bob led her to a dark corner of the place and looked into Katie’s eyes seriously.
- Kate, I know you don’t really get on well with Millie lately, but still, do you know where she can be right now?
- You see it well, Bob, we don’t get on well, and that’s still not the perfect expression for the situation. – she stopped for a minute and looked deep into his eyes.
- Bob, I don’t know anything about Millie, she’s not staying at my flat anymore. She moved to somewhere else. – she said with noticeable sadness in her voice and on her face.
- B- but what happened? – Bob couldn’t believe to his own ears.
- I don’t know… Yesterday I saw you saying goodbye to each other and I told her how cute you two are. She became angry, I mean REALLY angry, she started to shout and said that it’s not my business, and to leave her alone and other kind things to me. Then she packed her stuff and left. That’s all.
She gave a painful look to Bob, she thought it was just her fault.
- I’m sorry, Bob! If I didn’t say anything, it wouldn’t happen… - she had tears in her eyes.
- Hey, hun, don’t cry! It’s not your fault at all! Don’t blaem yourself… - he whispered into Katie’s ear. – You know I love her, but I have to admit that she acts really weirdly lately. With you, at least. Katie didn’t say anything, just pressed her forehead to Bob’s chest, sobbing.
Bob rubbed her back and tried to calm her down.
- It’s ok, Katie…. Shhh…. I really don’t understand why she treats you like this. She has never told me anything about it.
- It’s not just about me, Bobo… Because now… you don’t know where she is, either. I fear for her and I don’t want you to suffer because of my mistake, either. I don’t want you to lose her. – she sniffed.
- Everything will be alright … Don’t worry, I’ll find her, I just have to follow my cold heart.
They stayed there for a few minutes to calm down.
- Now dry your eyes, darling. Don’t let anybody see you weak. You’re a strong woman, stronger, than anyone else I’ve ever known.
Kate looked up and smiled. She wiped her tears away, took a big breath and let the sadness and anger go away from her body with the used air. She then straightened Bob’s shirt and they went back to their friends.

By the time Katie and Bob got back, Frankie has already arrived and took a seat next to Gerard. Katie didn’t noticed him at first, so she kept on with the conversation with Mikey on her other side.
When Frank looked at her face, he saw the sadness on it, he saw her bloodshot eyes showing she has cried before. No-one else noticed it, just Frankie.
He stood up and walked up to Katie, then stopped behind her. He put his hands onto her shouldrs, leant down to her and whispered to her.
- Hey, Katie!
She juped a little bit but soon she relaxed as she saw Frank’s angelic face next to hers.
- Hi, Frankie! – she was happy to see him, Frank could tell it from her glistening eyes and wide smile.
- I’m sorry for scaring you, it wasn’t on purpose.
- No problem, Frankie.
- Don’t you wanna sit with me? – he asked with a puppy face.
Seeing him like that made Kate smile even more.
- Of course, I wanna! – she replied, then went back with Frankie where he sat before.
When they settled down at the table, Frank turned to her.
- Why did you cry, hun? Is it because of what you saw last night? Mikey told me everything. I’m sooo sorry, Katie! – he was ashamed.
- I didn’t cry, Frankie… - she lied.
- Yes, you did, I see it in your eyes. You can fob the others but not me. I know you too well…
- Ok, then… yes, I cried. But not because of last night. Or I should rather say that it’s not becaus of you, not because of vampires. Frank, when I saw you in the alley with that girl I was fucking scared. I couldn’t believe, that was you… I mean, you’re so different with me. I’ve always known you kill people, but somehow I’ve never thought  about it. Seeing you and that girl there made me think I could be her next time… - she looked away as she was ashamed of she has just said. – I didn’t know what to think about you and the guys anymore but then I met Mikey. We talked a lot, then I was thinking about it and now I’m over it. I totally accept what you are, finally. I know you won’t hurt me in any way, right? – she looked deep into his big, hazel eyes.
He didn’t say anything for a while, he was gazing into her eyes. Then he leant closer and started to carress her face, still not saying anything. Finally he hugged Katie tight and whispered into her ear.
- I’d never hurt you, Katie… - he squeezed his eyes, he felt sorrow deep in his heart. Then he opened his eyes to let a teardrop escape from it, to fall down on the ground, and closed them again, still holding on to Katie.
- Never, Katie…. Never!