Liana groggily opened her eyes, still heavy from her forced sleep. The vervain slowly burns out of her system but without feeding on blood, healing will take forever. She is laying on the cold, hard, concrete floor of the cellar. Liana turns her head towards the footsteps approaching the locked door. The scent and beating heart tells her it's Sam.

He slides the small slot open to look into the room. Sam had learned his grandfather locked Liana in the cellar the night Sam was beaten and broke his curse. He was angry with his grandfather and told him so, but the old man refused to believe Sam or release Liana. He could see she was weak from the Vervain and lack of blood. Yeah, that was something he did not expect to find out. His mother, Lucy, had sat Sam down and told him of his heritage and what Liana is and her place in the family. That sent him over the edge towards his grandfather. Lucy told him what had happened the night he was beaten and what to expect the next full moon in the upcoming week.

Sam swallows the lump in his throat, "Hey, Liana." "Sam? How long have I been down here?" Liana's voice hoarse from dehydration and being starved. "Two days. Grandpa left for the day. I came to get you out," Sam moved to unlock the door but Liana spoke. "No, don't open the door." Sam stops midway through unlatching the door, "What?! Why?!" Liana tries to swallow, her throat dry and raw, "I would hurt you. I'm starving." Sam releases the latch, "So, I'm supposed to leave you in here when you did nothing wrong? Leave you to wither and die?" Liana couldn't stop herself from smiling at how much the boy cares, "There's a cooler hidden in the back of my closet. Bring a couple of bags and slide them through the slot." Sam left the cellar to grab the blood bags. He needed to hurry if he was to get Liana out of there before grandpa comes home.

After consuming the blood bags, Liana felt much better and was able to leave the cellar without attacking Sam. She did notice her daylight ring was missing. Liana knew she could charm a new one but that was her original one from when she first turned. She will be getting it back from that old man. Liana carefully moved through the house avoiding streams of sunlight coming through various windows on her way to her room so she could charm another daylight ring. Then she proceeds to shower and put on clean clothes. Liana wanted to sit down with Sam and plan for the full moon.

Freshly showered and in a clean outfit, Liana heads downstairs. She sits on the armchair across from Sam on the couch. Sam's leg was bouncing from nerves. Liana sighs, "I was going to ask how you're doing, but that is a stupid question. Instead, I'm going to ask if you have any questions?" Liana watches the boy shift in his seat, he is a ball of nerves wanting nothing more than to pretend the other night didn't happen, but he cannot.

Sam blurted out, "Is it going to hurt?" Liana pursed her lips; she knew she couldn't lie to him. "Yes, it will be excruciating. Every bone in your body will break and reshape into a wolf." Sam chin quivered, his eyes burning with unshed tears, "Is there something you or mom could do to stop it?" Liana shook her head, "No, not that we know of. From what I remember of your great uncle Peter, the more he accepted the wolf, the faster the shift was. He would tell me the pain wasn't so bad after about a year. When he would fight the shift, fight the pain, it would drag out for hours. So, if you accept the pain, accept the wolf, it shouldn't be as bad." Sam scoffed, "Wonderful." Liana noted the sarcasm. "Just know, I will be there. You will not go through this alone. I don't know about Mike, but I will be right next to you," Liana watched Sam's shoulder slump.

Then Sam grew tense, "But what if I bite you? Mom said a werewolf bite is fatal to vampires." Liana nodded, "It is. But I also have magic. If you try to bite me, I can just knock you out." Sam relaxed as much as he could considering the circumstances. Liana slaps her thighs as she stands, "Welp, I'm going to get out of the house and go to the Boardwalk. Do you want to come with me? Snack on really greasy foods and go on rides until we're sick like old times? Whoever gets sick first has to do the other's house chores?" Sam gave a small smile as he stood, "You're going to lose." Liana smirked, "We'll see."

Liana dropped the smirk, "Fair warning, your senses are going to be heightened. Your sight, sense of smell, and the possibility of recognizing other supernaturals. I'm surprised you haven't said anything about my scent. I have been told I smell like dead flowers." Sam laughed a little before inhaling and scrunching his nose, "Yeah. Like dead Roses. What about me? What do I smell like?" Liana chuckled as she watched Sam sniff himself, "Wet dog. Like whenever Nanook rolled in a mud puddle. Speaking of, where is your pup?" Sam sighed in defeat, "He's hiding. He's afraid of me now." Liana pats Sam on the shoulder, "He'll come around. Nanook could smell both your and Mike's wolf and that I'm a vampire. He loves you, and he tolerates me and Mike." Sam nods, "Yeah, I guess."

As the two of them headed for the door, Mike came downstairs looking agitated. Sam scoffed, "Finally deciding to get out of bed?" Mike brushed past both Sam and Liana, "Piss off." They watched the older teenage boy mount his dirt bike and quickly ride down the dirt driveway kicking up rocks and dust. Waving the dust away from their faces, Sam and Liana walk down the porch stairs. They shook their heads at Mike's attitude. Liana smirked as an idea came to her, "Want to see something cool?" "Yeah," Sam grew excited. Liana crouches and motions for Sam to jump on her back, "Hold on and try not to throw up." After Sam jumped on her back, Liana vamp sped to the Boardwalk.

Once Liana stopped in a dark part of the Boardwalk, away from the crowd, she set Sam down. Turning to face him, Liana could see he was a little disoriented but not nauseous. "Fun, huh?" Liana asked the newly triggered werewolf. "Can I do that?" He asked. The pair started walking into the open crowd, "Not that fast but your endurance and stamina is higher. And you're a lot stronger too, so watch it. If you're not careful you can accidentally reveal that you're supernatural. So, no fighting," Liana lightly scolded. Sam nodded, "Got it."

The two of them spent a couple hours enjoying the rides and greasy food. Sam lost after the third time on the roller coaster, Liana celebrated not having to clean the yard of scrap metal. Liana and Sam were sharing some cotton candy when they felt like they were being watched. Both tensed up as they became aware. Liana leaned closer to Sam and muttered, "You feel that?" Sam whispered back, "The hairs on the back of my neck are standing. What do you think it is?" "Not what but whom. Don't let them know and just keep walking," Liana replied.

They realized they were heading towards the area Mike parks his dirt bike. When Mike is spotted hanging off Star, Sam inadvertently growls. "Easy Sam," Liana calms the boy down as they get closer to Mike. Then Sam perks up when he remembers why Mike was agitated, "Oh, did I tell you what happened yesterday?" They were now standing in front of Mike and Star. Both Sam and Liana saw Star tense up then become confused. She didn't understand that she was in the presence of a werewolf and a different type of vampire. Liana and Sam could sense she was supernatural, they just didn't know what.

Liana could see Mike was getting irritated again, so she played along, "No, what happened?" Mike clenched his jaw, "Sam, don't you dare." Sam tries not to laugh as he tells the story, "Yesterday Mike borrowed mom's car to run an errand and I went with him." Mike has let go of Star and was glaring at Sam, "Shut up, Sam." Liana and Sam ignore him and continue. "As we were leaving the last place, Mike slammed his fingers in the door." Liana was laughing now, "Did you help him?" Sam snorted and shook his head, "No." Star butted in, "Why not?" Sam is holding in his laughter as best as he could, "I couldn't. I couldn't breathe." Liana was laughing harder and her laugh was becoming contagious. Star was also trying not to laugh, "Why couldn't you breathe?" Mike was red in the face, "He was laughing too hard." Two of the four people were in hysterics to the point of tears, one was trying to smother their laughter behind their hand, and Mike was so angry you would think steam was coming out of ears.

The feel good vibe was disrupted by the Lost Boys riding up to them, boxing them in. Liana straightened up ready to go into defensive mode. She felt slightly uncomfortable around these guys. She turns to Sam and sees he is just as uncomfortable. Sam makes eye contact with Liana, hoping to relay the message that he was ready to leave. She got the hint, smiling to not let anyone see she's uncomfortable, "Come on, Sam. Let's leave Mike to his friends." Sam nods his head and maneuvers around Paul and David to leave with Liana. "Oh, come on, chica. Don't be like that," Paul leaned back on his bike, leering at Liana. The smirk she gives Paul closely resembles her eldest brother's, "Not my crowd."

During this confrontation, Dwayne was watching Liana closely. He wanted to know why she felt different than a normal human. All the Lost Boys seemed to notice that about her but so far Dwayne was the only one pursuing it. He follows Sam and Liana as they walk away, and his eyes widen when Liana looks back. He could have sworn he saw the whites of her eyes grow dark with her under-eye veins becoming prominent, as well as fangs when she gave a toothy smile. But the action was so quick, Dwayne thought his mind was playing tricks on him. David looked at his second-in-command and slightly nodded signaling that he saw something too.

Edgar and Alan Frog weren't what you called smart. They had basically raised themselves since their parents were constantly high on something. The teen boys did everything a grown adult should, cook their own food, did their own laundry, kept their small apartment above the shop clean, and ran the comic shop their parents bought before they were born. It was barely hanging on by a thread, so closing for even a few hours was risky. But after the scuffle they had with Sam Emerson and then seeing him in town without a single bruise they were paranoid. Edgar was still adamant that Liana was not human and now they both think Sam is not human either. So, when they saw Sam and Liana leaving the boardwalk, they quickly closed up the shop and followed them.

Unbeknownst to the Frog brothers, Sam and Liana could sense them. Sam spoke softly knowing Liana could hear him, "Toads are annoying." Liana snickered at Sam purposely saying the wrong name. They were getting close to the less populated area of the boardwalk where Liana could speed them back home. Liana nudged Sam, "We'll lose them then I'll get us home." They quickened their steps once they turned a corner, then Sam was piggybacked home. By the time Alan and Edgar turn the same corner, Sam and Liana are gone, making the Frog brothers even more suspicious.

A very grumpy old man greeted the two on the porch of the Emerson home. Grandpa was very angry that Sam let the Heretic out of the cellar. He wasn't going to let Liana inside his home. That is until Lucy reminded him that Liana is the only one strong enough to restrain Sam on the full moon. "Unless you want to make your grandson drink poisonous Wolfsbane?" Lucy tapped her foot with her hands on her hips in the "stern mom" pose. Grandpa huffed and turned to his daughter, "She is not welcome inside my home." Liana was in front of the old man instantly, "You forget old man. It's my house. I built the place before you were even born, so technically it's my house. And your name isn't on the deed, it's in Lucy's name." Liana got close enough to whisper in his ear, "I let you live in my home. You will do well to remember that." Liana bumps grandpa's shoulder as she walks up the rest of the stairs and into the house. Sam kisses his mom's cheek and follows Liana inside, not even acknowledging his grandfather.

Lucy is disappointed in her father, "Dad? What is with you, huh? Liana has done nothing but keep us safe. Safe from hunters, and any other supernatural threat we have come across." "What about Sam? He has triggered his curse. What about him?!" Grandpa yells. Lucy doesn't raise her voice and speaks clearly, "That was not Liana's fault. She cannot shadow my boys 24/7. You just want someone to blame for mom's death. Dad, your wife, my mother, died of cancer. That is one of the things that can't be healed supernaturally, and you know it. So, stop pushing the blame and accept that mom is gone. You know damn well she would not want you to dwell on the past."

Grandpa was on the verge of arguing when Lucy put up her hand to stop him from speaking. "I'm not saying to stop mourning. I'm saying that you should know better than this. Cancer killed mom, not practicing magic, and sure as hell not Liana...Cancer. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you can let go, or else you're going to have nothing left but hatred and anger." Lucy didn't wait for grandpa to respond and went inside, slamming the screen door.

Over the next few days, tensions were running high, even more so on the night of the full moon. Liana, Sam, and a reluctant Mike had gone to the hardware store and bought heavy-duty chains, mounting brackets, and steel cuffs. Purchasing all this got some weird looks until Liana compelled the clerks at the hardware store to forget. Liana made sure the cellar was clear of any debris before mounting the chains into the concrete floor near the wall furthest from the door. The length of the chain was long enough for Sam to pace but not long enough to reach the door. Liana figured if Sam was going to attack her, she had enough room to escape and slam the door before the chains broke. But it would take a mature werewolf all of its strength to break these chains. Or so Liana hoped.

By dinnertime Sam's body was overheating, and his skin felt like it was crawling. To try and alleviate some of the aches, Sam tried pacing back and forth in his room. Soon he was stripping off his shirt and scratching at his skin. Liana quickly entered Sam's room when she smelt blood, she could see he clawed his chest trying to alleviate his itching, crawling skin. Liana stood in Sam's path and grasped his wrists, "Sam. Let's head to the cellar, it's time." His eyes shifted to Amber, and he growled at Liana when she grabbed his wrists. Sam tried to pull away and continued to growl. Liana spoke louder to pull Sam out of it, "Sam!" His eyes shifted to normal, indicating that Sam has pushed his wolf back for the moment. Liana exhales, "There you are. Come on, it's time." Sam lets Liana led him to the cellar in preparation for his first shift.

Lucy and Grandpa watch as Liana guides Sam to the cellar. Lucy's eyes are red and puffy from crying, and when she sees the healing claw marks on Sam's chest, she has renewed tears. Liana could tell Grandpa was getting angry, so she told him, "Sam did this to himself. He quite literally feels like he's coming out of his skin." Liana continues to guide Sam, who's growling once again, down the steps into the cellar. Lucy follows behind Sam at a safe distance. Once Liana and Sam enter the cellar, Lucy shuts the newly reinforced door and locks it. Liana had reassured Lucy that she could unlock the door with magic if Liana had to escape, even practiced a few times to make sure.

Sam was guided further into the room where he was to spend the night of the full moon. Liana lets go of one of his wrists to bend down and grab the first chain. She cuffs the first chain as Sam starts to struggle out of her grasp. Liana uses her vampiric speed to cuff the second chain then lets go. "Sam? Listen, I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to be right here. Okay?" Liana tries to reassure the werewolf. A growl was the only reply Liana got. "Okay, remember. If you fight the pain, the shift will take longer. So don't fight it," Liana knows that is easier said than done.

It was a few minutes from when the full moon was at its peak that Sam's screams could have been heard for miles if the silencing spell wasn't placed on the cellar. The first bone to break was his right Femur. Then his left Forearm. "Li! Make it stop! Please make it stop!" Sam screamed as his bones continued to break. Liana moved to sit in front of Sam, gently holding his face between her hands, she could actually feel his skin stretching and he was burning up. She told Sam between bouts of screaming, "Stop fighting the pain." *Crack* "AAHH! It hurts," Sam's body spasmed from the pain. Liana still held onto him, "I know. Open your eyes and look at me." Sam's Amber eyes made contact with Liana's Blue/Green eyes, "Let go, Sam. Let your wolf go. It's alright."

He didn't know if what Liana said helped or her soft, compassionate tone of voice. Soon after Liana spoke, his spine snapped, forcing Sam to lay on the concrete floor. Liana moved towards the door as the final phase of Sam's first shift finished. In place of the sixteen-year-old boy was a tawny colored wolf panting on the floor. Liana inched closer, "Sam?" The newly turned werewolf lunged towards the Heretic but could not reach her due to the short length of the chains. Sam kept trying to lunge towards Liana, yanking on his chains, but luckily the mounts stayed in place.

Liana moved to sit next to the door and watched Sam pace like the wild animal he is for the next few hours. At one point during the night, Liana heard Mike being dropped off by the Lost Boys. She snorted when she heard he was literally dropped into his room through his window. Sam stopped his pacing when he heard the quiet laughter. Liana whispered to the werewolf, "Your brother was thrown into bed by his friends." Sam huffed then continued to pace until he exhausted himself.

As a crow of a rooster is heard, Sam shifts back in his sleep. Liana had carefully covered him with a blanket when she noticed he was shifting back to his human form. The Heretic patiently waited for Sam to fully regain consciousness, "You with me, Sammy." A groan was the only response she got. "I hear ya. Come on, buddy. Let's get you to bed," Liana helped Sam stand up, keeping the blanket wrapped around him. Liana used magic to unlock the door, once again guiding the still exhausted werewolf up the stairs. "You can shower after you sleep some more, okay?" Liana softly spoke. Sam's movement was sluggish, his limbs felt heavy and ached, but Liana did not rush him. She helped him into bed, covered him with another blanket, and tucked him in before leaving the room.

Sam's hoarse voice stopped her at the door, "Thanks for being there with me." Liana smiled at the boy, "You know I will always be there." The "Until I can't" is left unsaid with the threat of those who would interfere like grandpa or Mike's new friends or even the Frog brothers; the wannabe hunters. Liana will do her best to keep her promise, even if she has to remove those interferences.