Shade pov

I wake up, the room dark. I was in some kind of wooden chair with arm rest. I feel something binding my arms, legs and waist to the chair. I try to pull my arms free, but it was useless.

"That won't work vampire." A male voice said.

"That's our mistress' web and you won't be able to tear it." Another male voice said. I look around but can't find the owners of the voices.

"Where am I?! Who are you?! Why did you take me?!" I yell at them.

"Our mistress will explain everything." The two said in unison. I hear padded feet walk farther away. So I must be alone now. I look around the dark room, my vision adjusting to the darkness. I see something on the wall in front of me.....many sharp objects. Are those torture tools!? I heard distance clicks, like a sharp sword hitting cobblestone floors. A light turns on and I can see the wall of torture tools.

"Great you're awake! I can now finally get the info I need from you." A female said behind me. The giant spider woman walks around me and stops in front of me.

"Please.....why did you take me.......where am I.......and who are you?" I ask, voice barely audible.

"Keh.....well I am Queen of the Arachne, Arachnos. But sssssadly, I am the lassssst of my speciessss. I took you because I need to know the way to the human dimenssssion. Only the vampiressss know how to get there." Arachnos explains.

"Sorry to tell you, but I don't know how to get to the human dimension....." I say.

"That issss a lie! All vampiressss know how! Fang, Claw....get me a knife from the wall!" Arachnos hisses. Two orange furry things crawl over to the wall. From behind they look like orange werewolfs, but when they turn around, they look like cats. Are they werecats? One brings a knife to Arachnos. I begin to tremble. "I know you vampiressss will not tell unlessss I try to persssuade you." She held the blade and presses it into my right arm. "Tell me now."

"But I really don't know...." I said. She glares at me and slowly pushes the knife deep into my arm. I clench my teeth to prevent a scream. She removes the knife and next stabs my left arm. "I don't know! Pleas just kill me!" I yell. She removes the blade and stabs my stomach. I couldn't hold in my screams anymore.

"Take her to the dungeonssss. Chain her up. We sssshall continue tomorrow..." Arachnos said. She drops the knife and leaves. One of the cats pick up the knife and cut the webs binding me to the chair. The other grabs my arms and drags me out. The cobblestone floors rough against my legs as he drags me. Soon I hear a metal door screech as it opens. I look up and see the other cat with metal shackles in his hands. They chain me up. My arms are over my head and I can barely sit on the floor. I have to sit partially on my knees just to not hurt my wrist. They leave me in the torch light.....I start to feel sleepy. I wonder......how is Victor now that I'm gone? I fall asleep.....Victor on my mind.

I open my eyes and see the living room of Victor's house.....my new home. Victor was standing over by his father who was sitting on the couch.

"The analysis of the web shows it is Arachne web. We are now analyzing the orange hairs. Hopefully those hairs reveal the monsters helping the Arachne. Then we can find Shade." His father said. Victor began to pace back and forth. "Calm down Victor."

"How can I? A dangerous monster took away the girl I love. And how are the Arachne still around!? I thought they were wiped out!?" Victor says as he stops pacing.

"I thought we killed them all, but it seems one survived.....I don't remember seeing the queen's corpse." Victor's father said. I walk over to them.

"Just get Vlad to work faster. I fear that Arachne is after the secret to the human dimension." Victor said. He is looking for me. He is also worried....he is right to worry. I rub my arms. I walk over to his side. I place my ghostly hand on his arm. "Huh? Shade?" I look up at him and see him looking in my direction, his hand resting on top of mine.

"Victor?" His father said, a questioning look on his face. Victor looks toward him.

"What all can the search ability do?" He asks. Victor's father thinks for a minute.

"Well it mainly allows the user to see the ones they think about in real time, but there are few occasions that the user could show their presence. I believe one of our ancestors could even manifest themselves like a ghost. The person the searcher is watching could also sometimes feel them if they touch them." He explains. I lower my hand. So there is more to this ability I have. Victor turns toward me.

"Shade.....if you are still here, I am coming for you. Even if I have to rip that Arachne to pieces." Victor says. I reach out to him again, but my vision is fading to black. A pain struck me in my thigh.

My eyes shot open and I see Arachnos standing in front of me, a knife sticking out of my thigh.

"Are you going to tell me or are you ssstaying quiet?" She hisses.

"I really don't know.....I haven't even been here a month yet....." I say. She looks down at me.

"Ssso you are sssaying that you were once human?" She asks. I nod. She pulls the knife out of my thigh. She brings the knife down into my other thigh. "Then I can ussse you asssss a bargaining chip." She turns to leave. "You two can have ssssome fun torturing her if you want. Jussst don't kill her."She leaves and I'm alone with the two werecats.

"Ooo~ we can have some fun Fang!" One said.

"This will be so fun! Claw let's cut her up!" Fang said.

"Oh yes! Such fun to make others bleed!" Claw said. They both held knives in their hands.

"No...please don't!" I beg. They grin at me. They each take a position on my sides. They begin their onslaught. First starting with light cuts and eventually getting deeper. The slashed at my arms, legs, torso and even my head. Tears stream down my cheeks, mixing with the blood and stinging the fresh wounds. I have no idea how long they have been torturing me, but I can't feel anything anymore. They stop for a break.

"I wonder if the trade off will work?" Fang said.

"I hope it does. Or else our race will die off. I haven't seen a single female for a long time." Claw said.

"Let's go get some fish. I'm hungry after our fun." Fang said. Claw nods and they leave me. It's so quiet now. I can hear every little thing. I look down and see a puddle of blood under me. It hurts so much! Why....why me.....I can't take anymore!

I heard quiet steps coming closer. I close my eyes.....knowing it's those werecats coming back to torture me more.

"No.....more....please......" I whisper. I begin to tremble. Two hands are placed on my cheeks. I open my eyes and see Victor in front of me. I never thought I'd be so happy to see him. He stood and began to unlock the chains around my wrist. My arms fall and I fall forward. It hurts too much to move. Victor picks me up and leaves the cell. Damian and Victor's father were waiting by the dungeon entrance.

"Come on let's go. We still have to find the Arachne." His father whispers. They start to go up the stairs. My eyes were heavy. I'm so tired, but I don't want to sleep. We soon enter a foyer.

"Vampiresssss! How did you find thissss place!" I hear Arachnos hiss behind us.

"You left evidence behind at our house. That's not very stealthy of you Arachnos." Victor's father said. She hisses at him.

"Sssso after all thesssse yearsssss you're ssstill alive Ezra? I figured you'd be dead by now." Arachnos said, glaring at Victor's father.

"I'm surprised to see you alive too. I figured you died with your species." He said. She began to hiss again. "Victor take Shade and leave. She shouldn't see what is about to happen. Damian drive them home. I'll be done soon." He glares at Arachnos. Victor starts to run for the door. Damian following close behind. We get through the door and Damian is first in the van. Victor opens the back and lays me on the couch.

"Oh Shade.....look at what they did to you.....I'm sorry. This shouldn't have happened." Victor says as he rubs my cheek. He looks down at me with sorrowful eyes. Oddly it pains me to see those eyes. Damian begins driving home.

"It's not your fault...." I say. He rubs my head.

"But it is.....there are many creatures after the secret we keep. And they try to get us to tell them.....more may try this tactic. I'm sorry, but it may be better to keep a watch in your room while you sleep." Victor said.

"Ok....." I say. I begin to feel my eyes close. I can't fight sleep anymore. I wonder......should I experiment with this ability on Rose and Lucie? It's a good opportunity. I close my eyes, ready for sleep.

My eyes open to a familiar park. The sun is setting and Rose is sitting there with Lucie. They each held a red balloon.

"For the one absent on this day, we can only say this and hope you know. Happy birthday Shade." Rose said.

"Even though you aren't here, you will always be in our hearts." Lucie said. They released the balloons and I watch as they fly away. I look back at the best friends I've ever had. I want them to see me. I focus on this wish. Rose looks in my direction.

"Shade?" She said. I nod. Lucie looks up in shock.

"How are you here?" Lucie asks. I try to tell them, but they can't hear me.

"So you can't talk to us, only appear." Rose said. I nod.

"Are you a ghost now? Does that mean you're dead?" Lucie ask. I shake my head. I point to the balloons and mouth thank you. They smile at me.

"You deserve something to show we care about you." Rose said. I nod. I notice the sun is almost completely below the horizon. I smile at them and wave bye. My sight begins to fade to black.

I open my eyes, but see nothing but darkness. Have I been taken again?! I start to breathe quickly.

"Shhh. Shade its fine. You are at home." I heard Victor's voice to my right. I calm myself and notice my body is wrapped in thick bandages. The only thing not covered was my mouth. "I'm glad you're awake. You must be hungry after all that has happened." He said.

".......n-no......" I say. I feel his hand rest on my hand. My voice is saying no, but my mind......it says yes. My mind wants to feel his lips on mine again....taste his blood again. Has my mind fallen? I don't even know..... I never had any feelings before.

"There is no use refusing. Just relax and accept." He said. The scent of his blood fills the room. His lips press against mine, more softly than the previous times. It's like he thinks I may break like glass. My thoughts kept running, I never even noticed that the blood went down my throat or that Victor pulled away. I move my right arm up, but his hand pushes it back down. "Don't worry, I won't leave you. I'll be right here beside your bed."

".....V-vi...." I try to say his name. He puts his finger over my lips.

"Don't strain yourself while healing. Just rest and take it easy. Tomorrow the bandages come off. So you will see me tomorrow." He said. Tomorrow....the day after my birthday. What a way to spend my birthday....injured in bed and can barely move. I sigh and Victor notices. "Something wrong?"

".....t-to..day.....is.....my.....b-birth....day....I'm now....e-eight...een....." I say. I feel his hand touch my cheek.

"Sorry you had to spend your birthday like this, but happy birthday." He said. I smile slightly and shake my head slightly. "Now rest up, you need it." I close my eyes, sleep coming easier than I thought it would.