Dwayne holds my hand, as silent as ever.

His entire being demands respect as he stares at David who smirks and looks him up and down with cold eyes. The twirling of my head slowly ebbs away, the color slowly but surely yielding to my skin's innate hue.

"Max says he doesn't wanna see us, Dwayne." David runs his fingers through his white-blond mullet, flattening the top before fixing the stray strains of the elegant disheveled style with a few ruffles with his fingerless biker gloves. "I think he's found that woman the witch told him was coming."

His eyes dart to me, a controlled unhingedness deep within them.

I nod. "He was plagued with dreams and I told him what the cards told me."

I want to stop and scream how the man had twisted the entire reading to fit his own delight, how nearly everything in the cards was negative including the ones pointing towards his past. It's only so much that one can do to fake a silver lining in the darkest black and somehow he'd done it.

"Old man believes in fancy painted cards now. Odd. He always called the art of divination a load of bullshit but look at where desperation for companionship can lead you." David chuckles to himself before yanking out a pack of cigarettes and a rusty lighter from his leather pocket. "Angel, tell me something."

"Yes, David." I remain stern.

"Why does he value your opinion so much? Y'know over the other witches, over his sons that he created, huh? Are you telling him what the cards say or what he wants them to say?" David lights the cigarette with a flick of the rust-stained lighter, offering it to his brother.

"David, she's only doing-."

David shoves the cigarette closer to Dwayne's lips, his burning emotions hiding behind his clear blue eyes. "I was asking the witch."

Dwayne bites his lip, shoving the cigarette away. "Max got what he asked for, we can't dispute that."

My mouth remains clamped as the two engage with each other. I wanted to see Star, not David, wherever she could be. I hold my gift for Laddie, wrapped in a small box and made with magic and love.

"But we do have to ask questions, right." His boots crunch on the cement. "Why would an archaic vampire look for love life prophecies from a young witch who has only been officially established in her coven for what? I don't know, a year, not even that?"

My frustrations ignite in a hideous blaze.

"I'm right here and as long as I'm here-."

David's smirk turns into a dangerous grin as the cigarette dances between his thin lips, blue eyes on me like lasers.

"Then why haven't you made your defenses clear, Angel?"

"Leave her alone, David." Dwayne's voice lowers.

"Angel?" I pull myself away from the circle and take in the figures moving across the railing overlooking the sea and flanking the attractions and shops of the boardwalk stacked with people craving a little fun before normal life comes crashing in with the rise of the sun.

"Star!" My fingers leave Dwayne's as I cross the glossy planks wet with ocean spray, enjoying the joy of seeing my sister and Laddie. I know she feels it too but it's always been hard to get a physical reaction from her but what could I say after all she's been through?

"Oh, I've missed you." I say, taking her hands into mine after an embrace.

"It's only been two days." Her doe eyes nearly melt me into a mess of tears.

"Two days far too long. After everything with Ruth, I fear for you, I fear for Laddie and the guys." I grip her hand tighter. "We have plans but it's a risk if we go through with them."

"You don't have to fear for me." Laddie's high-pitched voice catches me by surprise as I had almost forgotten about him in the wake of finding my sister, and for that guilt washes up inside of me.

"Of course, we do, Laddie, our birthday boy." I lean down after giving his gift to Star.

"But I'm older." The young boy pouts, wrapping his tiny blue jacket that reminds me of something that a military marching band member would wear but he's never without it so to me it's like an extension to the boy. A part of him.

"By a year, which isn't much but still it's a big deal."

The boy pouts, reaching for Star's ringed hand. "A big deal for witches but not for vampires."

I laugh as Star spares a weak smile. "We're all eternal but witches value our birthday more because, with each year, we become wiser."

"Tell that to Darla." Star prods me with the joke. "With each year she just becomes meaner than a wet hornet."

"And vampires don't?" Laddie asks. "Why don't we become wiser?"

"Yeah Angel, why can't we?" David's boots clamping down on the earth comes first before he throws his arm around Star who doesn't move a inch.

I lift my chin to meet his eyes. "I didn't say all vampires. Maybe not you, but I'm sure Laddie will be the wisest with all the years he has in front of him."

"He's just a kid." David snorts, dropping the rest of his cigarette on the ground and stumping out the small flame that tries to catch hold of the ipe wood.

"Jealous, are we?" I tease. "Hey, maybe you'll learn from him."

David's lips part in surprise but instead of striking back with a hard-hitting joke, he chokes out a fake laugh in an attempt to amend for his damaged ego.

Laddie's eyes dart around, before landing on me. "What if I'd rather be strong than wise?"

"Why can't someone be both?" Dwayne asks.

"A vampire is only as wise as his wit and his strength. A wise vampire with none of that would have it better as a witch or vampire hunter bait. Leave the wiseness to the witches, Laddie boy, if you want to live."

Laddie holds on to Star, a wave of fear in the boy's eyes but to match the aura of David, he lets go of Star's hand and musters up a brave face.

"What about Dwayne, huh? He's smart! And Max, he's weird and scary but he's still a smart vampire."

A flush of pale red crosses Dwayne's lightly brown cheeks.

The young boy keeps going, unaware of how much he'd flattered Dwayne. "Kimora is really nice yet I'm always outsmarting her-."

Star twirls locks of her hair, fighting back laughter. A rare scene but nevertheless, a good one to see. "We don't talk about our friends like that."

"But Star, Paul is like that too."

"Stop." Star gently shoves him before pulling him close again much like a mother. Sometimes I wonder if she's happier here or would she rather have her old life back. I don't know.

I don't think I'll ever know.

"Don't think too hard about it, bud." Dwayne reassures the boy.

David tilts his chin. "I'm sure that won't be a challenge."

Before anyone can jump at his throat, the lead vampire turns on his heels after dropping his arm from around Star's neck and walks off towards the carousel horses spiraling in golden lights like something straight out of a fairytale.

"What does he mean?" Laddie looks up at Star with large brown eyes, perplexed. She looks down at him with relief that it had gone directly over his head.

"Nothing worth interpreting." Dwayne's eyes follow the leader who stops in the middle of a group of humans so deep in conversation that they don't notice him with a wicked gleam in his eye.

I touch his hand. "We'll be fine. You better go keep an eye on him."

"Trust me, I know." He points at Star. "And you keep Laddie out of trouble."

She nods her head as the boy starts to protest. "You don't have to remind me, Dwayne."

My grin grows as he turns away.

"How about we open your gift, Laddie?" I take the boy's small hand into mine, trying to channel my inner Kimora or Paul, since it's taking them far too long and who knows when David will finish with his shenanigans.

They're supposed to be here with the collar but as unreliable as always, they've gotten sidetracked by something that shines.

Laddie's eyes brighten, all signs of downcast sadness from being patronized gone.

"Right now, Angel?"

"Angel, right now?" Star lays against the rails.

"Well, we don't have any else stopping us and who likes waiting on their birthday?"