Xander's POV:

Sleep hadn't taken me yet and I doubted that it was going to any time soon.

I just couldn't get comfortable. Couldn't relax.

The trusty pillow I've kept between my arms as I slept for years now wasn't doing it for me anymore.

Not ever since it got a massive upgrade.

No. She was far more than the word 'upgrade'.

I'd only had the luxury of sleeping with her beside me for two nights.

Actually, one and a half if we're going to be technical.

Only one and a half and now it was like the totality of me wouldn't be satisfied enough if she wasn't here.

Though I did know that that wasn't the only reason I couldn't relax

The other was that I promised her safety and now she was somewhere that I couldn't be there to guarantee it.

I've heard a bit about how they handle that place from Nico, and know that how they get treated can vary between barely humane, and straight-up barbaric.

She didn't seem to care too much, but even with the growth she had since leaving that pet shop, it was times like that where I noticed the hold that place still had on her whether she was aware of it or not.

They grow up believing that being treated like that is normal. To accept things as they came.

She would show signs of it even back when Layla was an issue.

I think the first time she outwardly did the opposite was after that night that I failed her so horrendously after the faith she'd put in me.

After that entire mess, I thought that maybe she'd broken away from that habit.

But then she just so casually mentioned how her life was supposed to end on her twenty-fifth birthday.

A reminder of a fact that had stayed hidden in the back of my thoughts and hearing her say it with such nonchalance sparked up that protective instinct that was set on her into overdrive.

It was how she grew up... And as terrible as it sounds, it wasn't an uncommon way to raise the girls born into this industry.

Hers just had more... specified details added to it, as she so gently told me by the fountain that day.

Which also made me sick the more I thought about it...

I rolled onto my stomach, my groan being muffled by my pillow.

I wanted her to have so much more.

To live the life she deserved after the hell she had to crawl through while I finally got my shit together.

I wanted to help her realize that her life was in her hands.

Even though just thinking about what could possibly lie ahead for her was overwhelming to the point where she couldn't sleep.

I wanted to see her thrive in a world she hasn't had the opportunity to properly know. And I'd just be there to offer what I could.

As long as she wanted me there...

I buried my face deeper into the pillow, catching the faintest hint of her still lingering from this morning.

The action mixed with my previous thought caused a pressure in my chest.

'Try not to miss me too much.'

The teasing yet gentle words played through my mind, the memory being the only thing to help me fabricate that warmth she gave me in multiple ways while she was gone.

Yeah right.

I knew I was going to, but I hadn't approximated the extent.

Nor the extent of how she affected my days.

How apparently I'd subconsciously tune into my hearing just to quickly check in on her while we did separate tasks.

I'd catch myself freaking out for a split second at the silence before remembering that she wasn't here.

I even looked over my shoulder a few times while I was in town to grab our instruments as if we were together and she'd just fallen behind or gotten distracted by something.

It never felt right...

That made me wonder if there was any chance that she missed me too.

I wanted to think so.

She wasn't going to be gone for that long, and it'd be an even shorter time if I could just fall asleep already.

The only real obstacle sitting between that moment was the talk with Nico.

That I decided to have tomorrow...

Going in with only the hope that he'll accept the invitation.

No... He will.

I rolled back onto my side, discarding my usual pillow and reaching for the one Doe laid on the most to pull to me instead.

She better be okay.

~~~

Doe's POV:

I couldn't tell whether I had fallen asleep or not, just that the sudden sound startled me enough to bring back some awareness.

My eyes opened, the sight before me being no different than what it was when they were closed.

At first, it just sounded like quick labored breaths, the soft whimper that followed telling me that it was Khloe.

I semi-groggily pushed up my upper body, gently feeling around to where I assumed she might be.

Her breathing turned into something more frantic, the stillness of her body making me conclude that the reasoning had to do with a nightmare.

Good to know that I want the only one.

Though, I was glad that, as far as I knew, I wasn't vocal with mine.

Would Xander even tell me if I was...?

Anyway.

I scooted closer to her, figuring I should try to put a stop to it just in case.

And to pull her out of whatever she was experiencing in that dream.

Especially when she began to mutter fearful incoherent words.

I gently grabbed her upper arm, attempting to shake her awake as carefully as possible.

Except the very second my hand made contact, her timid whines blew into a complete, ear-piercing scream while her body jerked away from my touch.

It echoed through the entirety of this room, causing my body to act on instinct alone.

Shit shit shit!

I lunged forward so I was practically on top of her, covering her mouth with my hand while the other still attempted to shake her awake.

Her body tightened beneath me and the screaming stopped, hand clawing at mine not even a heartbeat later.

I hissed at the sting of it.

"Ow, Khloe!" I succeeded in keeping my voice hushed still.

Her grip eased, showing me that it worked.

Thank god...

We both just stayed there, my hand still over her mouth as we both caught our breath from that little mishap.

Shit... did I do that?

Did my touch...? I don't even know.

But it was over now...

I could hear the shuffling and murmuring of girls all around the room.

An uneasy feeling bloomed in my chest as I drew back my hand, Khloe pushing herself up with her arms.

I could make out just the tiniest semblance of her trembling silhouette

"What did I do?" She asked shamefully, her voice vibrating with the rest of her.

I'd only imagine I'd be like that too after having a nightmare and waking up here of all places.

The unfamiliarity of this probably wasn't helping her either.

I eased off of her, sitting back on my knees.

"You just started screaming out of nowhere. Are you okay?"

I had no idea what she had to have gone through to have that sort of a dream, but it had to have been awful.

And I knew that feeling all too well so, I get it.

Here probably wasn't the best place for it to happen, but that wasn't within her reign of control.

She seemed relieved at my gentle question.

"Y-yeah," She sputtered, "Sorry, I just had a uh...nightmare."

I nodded in understanding, not that she could see it.

The rustling of everyone else in here had died down a noticeable amount, yet that lingering worry was still present in me at the quiet.

What she did was loud, but I cut it off pretty quick.

Maybe that was enough... Or it was over so quick they they'll brush it off thinking that they just heard something.

I didn't want to think about what punishment they would have seen fit for something like that.

"Oh," I settled "Well, At least I think I stopped you before you woke up the vampir-"

I knew it was too good to be true.

The door slamming open and into the wall boomed from our right, light taking no time to spill in and illuminate everything.

My heart dropped, knowing my face nearly matched the terrified one on Khloe's.

"Who the HELL just did that!?" The vampire's voice was unforgivably loud, causing more movement from the other girls.

No...

I was partially expecting someone to at least speak up and tell him, but thankfully no one did.

Either way, they just knew the cage that it came from, and not which one of us did it.

Whichever vampire barged in didn't appreciate the silence.

"Really?! No one's gonna fess up to it?"

Shit... anger was only going to add to whatever he had planned for the culprit.

And once he decides he's going to have to hunt them down himself, he wasn't going to be too pleased about that either.

There was no avoiding this.

I swallowed hard, sympathetic fear rising thick into my throat.

I couldn't imagine waking up from a nightmare to a completely different one.

Actually... I could. Far more than I believed Khloe could.

"Turn over," I spoke, my mind making the decision right there and then as I pushed her back against the cage.

She complied, confused as she was.

I had a feeling that I was a lot more... accustomed to whatever this vampire had planned.

That and well... I owed her.

Her vocal forgiveness wasn't enough for me, not after just sitting there and listening to what Xander put her through.

"Fine, I'll find them myself." he hissed, footsteps echoing through the room.

He's going to be looking for fear. For elevated heartbeat and breathing. Even the scent of it if he knew it well enough.

And I needed to somehow outshine hers...

Picture him as Layla.

As if she were the one staking toward me, inevitably finding me once she got close enough.

Oh that worked way to well way too fast.

With my decision, my body went into the preparation mode it was accustomed to with her.

Pulling that instinctive fear that I absolutely despised up with it.

I didn't have to worry about Layla anymore. She was gone so maybe just this once, her grip on me could be worthwhile in its last use.

One last hurrah I guess.

Yeah, that's how I'll look at this.

The vampire was approaching, and Khloe had already curled herself up in the corner, bracing for what she thought was coming.

I faced him as he let out an all too familiar hungry purr, eyes locking onto mine from a few feet away.

"Found you," the purr followed though as he closed the remaining distance.

Yeah. It's me you want.

I flinched and jumped back as he rose his foot, the clang of the metal bars bouncing through the cage.

Oh, God...

My heart thundered in my chest, the adrenaline coursing through my causing my body to tremble.

This was the forgiveness I needed.

Even if she had forgiven me, I couldn't yet forgive myself without repaying for the terror she was put through.

"So you're the guilty one, huh?" It wasn't a question.

My mouth opened, a stabbing hesitation poking at my throat as the thought of Xander just let itself in as always.

He was going to hate that I'm doing this.

Maybe this will be number three on the list of things not to tell him about.

If only...

"I'm sorry," The words were as guiltridden as I could make them.

I needed to keep his attention on me and just hope that Khloe stays quiet.

I don't know what would happen if she were to try to intervene, but the punishment would probably then include both of us.

So, I recalled the words Xander told to me a very long time ago when it came to the begging these beasts thrived on when cornering their prey.

There's a fine line between not enough, and too much.

And although begging never became one of my go-to's, I'd like to think that I could pull it off when it mattered.

"It won't happen again I-I promise. Please... I'm sorry."

I think it worked with the sneer he held as he bent down to face me head-on.

The look twisted my stomach, and he wasn't someone I recognized from earlier today.

No... no, I'll be fine.

Whatever it is, I've survived worse.

I've survived worse with a doctor close by and another vampire that gave somewhat of a shit about me...

"I bet it won't, deary." He taunted, reaching up to unlock the cage and pull it open.

I heard a quick intake from the girl behind me.

Please just stay quiet.

Just let me get this over with and clear my conscience so I can get on with my new life with a clean slate.

Let me do this for you.

As prepared as I was, the gasp I took in when he suddenly reached in and grabbed me by the collar of my shirt was born from genuine terror.

The harshness of it all brought back similar memories.

My knees scraped against the hard floor while he shut the cage door, leaving me to stagger back onto my feet.

Asshole.

"And I'll personally make sure of it," he finally finished his thought.

The feeling of his hand grabbing the back of my neck shot needles down every nerve in my body, a hard reminder of how badly I hated being touched like this.

"Now follow me if you would," he began walking immediately, forcing me to follow

The calm irritableness of his voice kept me on edge.

At least with Layla, I knew what to expect, but I didn't know him.

He was either taking my blood, or it was going to be something else physical.

Whatever it was... I can handle it.

It cant be worse than the fate Xander blocked me from yesterday.

Xander... I'm sorry.

I managed to look backward despite his grip, spotting Khloe.

Her hands gripped tight at the bars, staring absolutely horrified right at me.

I gave her the softest smile I could muster, hoping that she wouldn't feel too bad about it, and thankful that she did what I subconsciously asked of her.

Even though that look told me she deeply regretted it.

I'll explain myself once I get back...

I turned back right as he pulled me through the door, the sound of it closing behind him sinking in the reality of what I'd just done.