The vampires remained on the street for a few minutes, then one emerged from the group. Niko grimaced.

"It has been a long time since I saw that face."

Pushing him out of the way, I looked at the vampire that was determined to destroy Niko. Letting go of the curtain, I turned to Niko.

"Run."

"I will do no such thing."

"I am asking you to do what is necessary. We need you alive. I don't understand why the Nephilim are coming for me, or how to deal with these vampires. I need you to be here with us."

My voice was low, raw, and filled with hurt. I didn't want to lose him as well. For a few years, I'd spent this life with Brad, trying to avoid the thoughts of how one wrong decision could alter our lives forever. I didn't want to lose him, and now that I had Niko, I was just as worried.

"Niko," the vampire called out. "We know that you're in there. Come out and play, old friend."

Niko sighed.

"I am only putting you in danger if I stay."

"Go into the woods," Brad muttered. "We'll let them in, and I will show them the basement. I put the brick back. It looks like the wall is still formed enough to keep you in there."

"They won't believe you."

"It doesn't matter," I said with a grin. "There's a lock on the door on the outside. Get them in there and lock the door."

"They will break it down. I would advise against inviting them into the house, but if you do, then certainly utilize whatever locks and barricades that you can find."

"And you?"

Niko shrugged at Brad. There was a desperate need to keep the three of us together, but the closer we got to the breaking point, I could see that separating was ideal.

"Is there somewhere to wait until they leave?"

"There are many places."

"Then go. We'll find you when they leave."

The door shuddered when something heavy hit it. Already a crack appeared, splintering the wood.

"Come on," Niko whispered, taking my hand.

We rushed to the back door, quietly slipping through it. Brad pulled his jacket on. The air was so cold that we could see our breath. This place was extreme with its weather.

Crossing the yard, we delved into the forest. We'd made it by a matter of seconds. I turned back to see vampires appearing on each side of the house. They went straight for the back door. Their numbers were few as they had fanned out. I could see one side of the house. Some of the vampires remained there to wait in case we emerged from a window.

"As quiet as you can," Niko whispered.

That was not easy. I'm sure my teeth chattering was louder than the twigs snapping under my boots.

Delving deep into the forest that I was not supposed to go near, we walked through the light undergrowth. Through the spindly grey trees that were starting to lose their leaves.

Underneath my foot was a loud crack. My body tightened. I turned to see the vampires turn to look at the forest.

"They're in the forest," one yelled.

"Run!" Niko whispered.

I never thought that I was any good at sports and definitely not running. In fact, I thought that I looked rather odd when I ran. So, I avoided it at all costs. It was no surprise that even after a few seconds, I was out of breath.

What was surprising was how fast the vampires caught up with us. I almost ran into one, gasping as I looked up. His fangs glistened in the moonlight, grinning at me with a dark malevolence.

The strands of black hair fell into his eyes, and his skin was not as pale as I expected it to be. The myths of vampires were clearly wrong, lies created to hide the truth of what really walked among us.

"Hello, my pretty." he snarled.

Grabbing me, I waited for the inevitable that never eventuated. The bulking creature lifted me from the ground, holding me as if I was a floppy doll in his hands. I wasn't heavy but raising me without even a hint of exertion was unexpected.

He was smiling harder as he opened his mouth. The fangs lowered to sharp points, tapering into a fine point. I gasped, wondering why Niko's fangs weren't that sharp. Was this a different kind of vampire, or was Niko trying to avoid scaring me?

The vampire looked at the pendant. His eyes widened, and the fangs shrank. He hissed, then pushed me away. I fell to the ground, wincing at the pain that reverberated through me.

"Ow," I groaned, rubbing my wrist.

It hurt, likely to be sprained. I could move my fingers, so that was a good sign. Also, nothing was broken, no skin tears, no bleeding. Just a little pain.

Glancing around me, I realized that I was alone. Thankfully, the vampire was gone, as were the rest of them. The problem was that Brad and Niko were gone as well.

"Brad? Niko?" I called out.

Nothing.

Fearing the worst, I got up from the ground and began to search for them. No matter which way I turned, I saw no sign of where they might be. I couldn't even locate the house anymore.

Searching the forest was no easy task. When Brad said not to go in here, I knew and fully understood why. Becoming lost was a mere step in the wrong direction.

I thought that I heard something. When I stopped, I tried to listen harder, if that was possible. It sounded like the wind whipped past me rapidly, but I knew it wasn't the wind. The wind did not snicker.

A thought crossed my mind that these vampires that were whipping past me were trying to lead me to another place. Perhaps the wrong direction, perhaps away from Brad and Niko. They wanted to separate us, let us get lost in the woods, and then we'd be prime pickings for them.

But I was not attacked. The vampire had me in his hands. I was seconds away from his fangs, yet one look at the pendant and he backed away with fear. What did it mean?

Touching the cool stone, I thought about it and how Niko gave it to me. We were bonded together, so did that mean that it could lead me to him? I hoped it was the case.

Closing my eyes, I lifted my foot and stepped forward. It probably made me look like a complete fool, but I held hope that this would work.

My hearing became more acute as I listened to every footstep I took. Leaves crunched under my shoes, twigs snapped, and the wind whispered its taunt.

I ignored it all and continued to let my feet take me to wherever they landed. Hopefully, it wouldn't be face-first into the dirt.

Hearing a groan, I opened my eyes and searched the area. Ahead of me, I could see a group of vampires. When I stepped closer, they took off. With sniggers rising into the air, the vampires whipped through the trees and left one behind.

Niko was on the ground, gripping his stomach.

I rushed to him, lowering to my knees. He lifted his hand to reveal that blood coated his palm. The shirt had a great gaping wound, much like his stomach. Blood soaked the once white shirt, staining it with the horror of what they had done to him.

"What do you need? I'll find a victim. Bring them here."

Niko smiled, shaking his head.

"My dear Evelyn, thank you for the offer, but it will not be sufficient. They created a wound that cannot be fixed, which was intentional."

"No," I said, tears welling. "You can't do this."

"I'm afraid there's not much of a choice."

"But we need you. You're not allowed to die."

"Again, not much of a choice. Now, help me sit up against the tree. There is much to discuss before the wounds take me away."

Wiping the tears, I wrapped his arm around my neck and shifted his body to the nearest tree. Then I sat down to face him.

It appeared to take a lot of effort now that his energy was depleting, but Niko reached into that little pocket again and pulled something out. Flicking his fingers, Niko urged me forward.

Pieces of the same metal as the frame around the stone were clicked into place. I looked down at it when Niko leaned back. They were what was missing from the pendant. Two diagonal lines with a C between them.

"Without the bars, it is the pendant of a familiar. With the bars, it is the pendant of a leader. I have a confession, Evelyn and I hope that you will not be upset at me, but I gave that pendant to you because I suspected that you were more than ordinary. You asked why the previous tenants were unable to wake me. It was because they had no connection. But you woke me, didn't you? It wasn't just you. Brad woke me as well. Only the blood of my kin can do this. I don't know how but somewhere along the way, my daughter must have aged enough to create a child. You, Evelyn, are a Corbin by blood. That necklace, only a Corbin can wear it. Perhaps this is why you feel so close to me. You know your own kin. You know what feels like home."

I sobbed. Wiping the tears away was pointless, but I did it. It was hard to see through the tears. It was hard to breathe when it hurt so much.

"In the house, you will find things. Search the walls and floors. I hid everything that was vital. To claim the Corbin family line as your own, all you need to do is show them the necklace. However, times have changed, and if you need paperwork, it will be in the house. There will be more items in the house. You will find a box that has pieces of jewelry in it. All of these pieces have the insignia, like that pendant. Brad will be able to find something to wear from the box. He is a good man, Evelyn. You would be wise to make him your second in command."

"Shouldn't the rule go to him? He's older."

"But passing the rule goes in order of birth. Your mother was older. Therefore, it passes to you first. Make him your second in charge, it is a noble position, and it is one that relies heavily on trust."

"But we're not vampires."

"Are you sure about that? You are my family, and I am a vampire. Just because the line has humanity in it does not make you any less of a vampire. Members of our family have died, but that does not mean that they died of natural causes. Think about each and every one of them and tell me that Drakkus did not have a hand in their death."

"Drakkus?"

"The enemy. Be wary of him and do not trust him for even a minute. He will try to charm you, but it will only be for his gain, and in time, it will be your turn to be walled behind bricks. Do not make the same mistakes as me, Evelyn."

Reaching out, I took Niko's hand, gripping it firmly.

"Why can't I save you? What did they do to you?"

He gestured to the blade that was on the other side of his body.

"Do you remember our talk about what myths are correct? Well, it would seem that Drakkus had a vial of holy water delivered straight from the Vatican. The holiest of holy, nothing is greater than when the pope blesses the water. We are evil, Evelyn. The sinners go to Hell, but for us, we are the path they walk on. Not worthy of Heaven or Hell, we endure eternity watching others find peace or damnation. It is torture."

Niko winced, still gripping his side as if he thought that the contents of his body would fall out.

"Now, your father. I don't know who he is, but I can sense that there is definitely something unnatural about you. The fact that the Nephilim are hanging around adds merit to that thought. Be wary of the Nephilim. They are not our friends. They may deliver a message and leave. They might come to deliver more than just a message."

A branch snapped behind us. Hesitantly, I turned to see who it was.