I watched as my aunt Crystal and Natalie cooed over the dresses, dozens of white and cream puffy things. Some of them glimmered in the light, some of them were subdued and tasteful. Scarlett was standing beside me, watching on with matching dismay. Worse yet, Ariella had joined us. I think Scarlett might have forced her and I don't think it was a wise thing to do. She looked like me, pissed off that it wasn't her, about to burst into tears, maybe even go a little psycho and take a knife to the dresses. I needed to get away and I think that Ariella has just become my reason. Out of earshot I spoke quietly to Nat, knowing she would be happy with my little plan.

"Hey, I'm going to take Ariella for a drink."

"Oh that is a good idea but you will miss out Iv."

"It's ok Nat, she's not happy, we can pick my dress another day."

She gave me a sympathetic smile and a quick hug. I turned and saw Ariella and her disinterested scowl, Scarlett and her boredom.

"We are going for a drink."

"That's a great idea Ivy, you two have fun."

Scarlett pushed her daughter out the door.

"Don't bring her back sober thanks." she muttered as she pushed me out the door.

It was the most painfully quiet walk down the corridors of mid jump that I had ever experienced. Even my first outing here with Danny was less painful. But still I took it in my stride and tried to be a consoling friend. Even though we weren't really friends.

"Where are we going?" she said quietly.

Her pretty blue eyes were sharp and watched me with caution. The skin on her face was deathly white, like she hadn't been feeding, her long dark brown hair made it much worse.

"There is a club downstairs that is pretty good. You can't tell anyone that I know about it let alone go there. Nat and I made it a Friday night thing before she got together with Elston."

"Oh."

I had been near Ariella on the battlefield when we fought the slayers, I knew she had one very loud voice when she wanted to. She was feisty like her mother, loud and full of life. But now she was quiet, her voice was soft and timid. Nat was right when she said that Ariella had withdrawn into herself. Even her clothing had changed. Once she got around in the latest fashion, looking picture perfect. Fitting for a princess who was dating a prince. Now she looked like some washed-up has been and it also looks like she doesn't care. We took the elevator to the area that was commonly referred to as the hive. Aptly named because on a Friday and Saturday nights it was a hive of activity. The entire floor was clubs of varying types. Taverns, night clubs, strip clubs, anything that could keep a bored dark being happy. And that was what kept Nat happy, one little strip club in one dark little corner of mid jump. Ariella looked at the blaring sign, even though it was well lit everywhere else in mid jump, down here it was dark so the neon lights stood out. The tool box. It was full of the most gorgeous dark beings that ever graced this fine universe, except for Jonah of course. I pulled out my phone and sent him a quick text telling him if he heard any dastardly rumours about me being on the sub-ten level of mid jump it was a lie and that there was no way that I was taking Ariella into a male strip club. He sent me back a winky face and a message that he hoped I came back ready for a fun filled night and that he would be waiting to help me with any needs that I may have.

The place had only just opened for the night; it was Friday but the place was almost empty. The lights were on but it was a muted glow cast over the wood floor. As we entered there was the usual tables and chairs that surrounded the cat walk and stage, to the left was a long bar. The place wasn't big; I think they would be hard pressed to fit fifty women in here. There was a hen's night going on and all we could hear was the cackles of some already drunk women. Ariella sat there with a bored look on her face. This I had to step up. Getting drunk when you are a vampire is really difficult, we have a high tolerance and therefore anything that would do the job has to be of some worth. I left Ariella sitting at the table, perched on the stool, watching the women stuff notes into one of the stripper's g string. There were a few guys behind the bar, wearing tiny shorts, their muscles honed and perfect. They saw me approach with a glint in their eye and wide beaming smiles. One of them moved closer, thankfully he looked nothing like Lucian. In fact, he was stunning. Wavy blonde hair that sat perfectly cut around his flawless tanned skin, amazing hazel eyes, I squinted in the dull light. He was a werewolf.

"Afternoon gorgeous, what can I get you?"

"Several things actually. You see my friend behind me?"

He casually moved slightly with an even bigger grin.

"Yeah. Mighty fine."

"Indeed she is. She has also just ended a relationship and is still in that post break up phase."

"Oooh, he was an idiot for letting her go."

"Agreed, so what I need is something that will help her to forget her problems, something liquid and something rock hard."

"Darlin' I can give her both of those things."

"You my good man, are a legend."

He grinned at me with a wink, rounding the bar and wandering over to Ariella.

An hour had passed and I got to find out that appearances were deceiving. The tool box was in fact very large. Apparently Nat and I had only ever gone as far as what was termed the foyer. Beyond the archway that I thought led to the bathrooms was a whole world of debauchery. There were little rooms for private shows, there was a whole lot more gorgeous men in here and a whole lot more flesh on show. Ariella was now drunk and had come out of her shell. She had her private dance with mister dazzling smile which lasted a whole lot longer than it should have. I did not go in, so how far mister dazzling smile went I don't know. But by the grin on Ariella's face, I'd say it was more than removing his clothes. And now there was one drunk Ariella dancing on the stage with mister dazzling smile who, thankfully was still wearing his shorts.

"Oh my god Iv." Nat gasped as she looked up at Ariella "You are so in charge of my hen's night."

Scarlett looked up at her daughter with a grin, when Ariella saw her she started calling her over.

"Ariella darling, don't you think it might be time to go home?"

"Are you kidding?" she climbed down from the stage, wrapping her arm around my neck. "Iv's the party girl we never knew about. But you can't tell no one, it's a secret."

She gave a drunken nod, spying mister dazzling smile who was watching as he leaned on the metal pole.

"God he's gorgeous." she slurred "Better at it than Lucian too."

"Whoa, that's a bit more than we needed to know." Scarlett groaned.

"Iv, you need to pay the man, make sure you give him a good tip."

I sighed, lifting her arm off my shoulder and passing her over to her mother. Wandering over to mister dazzling smile, I wondered how much cheering Ariella up was going to cost me. He sat onto the edge of the stage, waiting for me to draw closer.

"How much does she owe you?"

"Ordinarily, a lot. I will however offer you a discounted rate if you give me her phone number."

"Are you some kind of crazy man?" I said dryly.

He laughed and shook his head.

"No, just a man that likes what he sees."

"Uh-huh. I'll tell you what, you give me your number and when she is sober and remembers all of the naughty things that she has done tonight, I will give it to her. How much?"

"Two g's."

"Jeez you must be a good one." I scoffed.

"For an extra five hundred you can find out if you like."

He shot me another dazzling smile, perfect straight white teeth beyond what looked like very kissable lips. There was no way that I was going to find out, Jonah was my world and I wasn't going to risk losing him for a fleeting moment.

"I have a boyfriend."

"Like I haven't heard that before."

After mister dazzling smile was paid and I had been given his number, we departed the tool box for the level with the gates. Ariella was beginning to look a little green around the gills, I quickly punched in the code to my place. As soon as the door was open, she was running.

"I am not taking her home like that, Lucas will have a meltdown." Scarlett said with one eyebrow raised, staring at her daughter.

The very same daughter that was throwing up into my garden bed.

"Well it looks like you ladies had a fun filled evening."

I could hear the humour in Jonah's voice as he approached from behind. Ariella muttered profanities at him in between upending the entire contents of her stomach. Bertie was not going to be impressed.

"Iv, we are going to get on our way, you right with Ariella?"

Nat had a pained look on her face as she looked to the woman hunched over my roses.

"Yes, she will be fine here, the maids will tend to her."

Nat nodded and hugged me, followed by my aunt. Scarlett looked to me, I could tell she was torn with what to do with her.

"It's fine Scarlett, leave her here, come back for her tomorrow."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, it's fine, trust me."

"Thank you. She needs to be away from the house, I am so sick of hearing her playing the piano over and over again."

"Bring a bag of things for her, she can stay a while."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course we are." Jonah adds "Get her mind off him. We have plenty of things to do around here that will keep her occupied."

The maids tended to Ariella, Scarlett returning within the hour not only with the bag but with Lucas as well. He wasn't impressed that she was so drunk she was decorating our flower bed but accepted that she had a night of fun and forgot about her problems, even if it was a fleeting moment. He and Scarlett sat down with her, even though she was still very drunk and very close to passing out and had a very stern talk to her. Well, if I knew anything about Lucas and Scarlett, it was Lucas that was doing the very stern talking. She had until Monday morning to get herself together, he would return for her and she would be expected to be her former self. Feeling sorry for herself was only acceptable for so long, after that she was to pick herself up and get on with her life. I kind of felt sorry for her, she was mourning the death of a relationship that could have been good, her father was a stern man but still very loving. He only wanted the best for her and if that meant being just a little bit harsh, then that's how he would be. If he allowed her to linger in this morose state, then she could take months to get over Lucian. And really, Lucian wasn't worth it. I don't care if he's a prince or if he will rule the world one day. He is just a person, a person that hurt her badly.

The entire time that Ariella stayed at our house, I barely saw Jonah. It was like he knew the male species weren't high on Ariella's favourites list and chose to be elsewhere as much as he could. He wanted to be a good friend but he was male and at this point in time, Ariella was very much anti-male.

"You are very lucky Ivy." she said sadly.

Her eyes looked out over the balcony as she laid on the outdoor lounge, watching the animals as they passed the compound. We were always inundated with lions; I hadn't seen any of the other big cats in a while.

"A man that remains faithful to you, adores the ground you walk on. You have everything."

"I know you think that it seems that way but I can assure you that appearances can be deceptive."

She sat up looking at me, frowning deep into her pretty face.

"How so?"

"He has a constant need to protect me even though he knows I am strong enough to look after myself. All this time together, yet there is no child. He wants them which is fine but he knows how his grandfather is. Marriage before sex. We had spoken of marriage and decided that we did not want to be rushed, yet he continues to push for a child. I had been fine with not getting married until the very second that Natalie walks in here and says that she's getting married, now I want it. Why? It's just a piece of paper, why does it mean so much?"

She shrugged, neither of us had the answer.

"Life sucks."

"It sure does."