Hey guys bah humbug, I am so freaking tired. I love that we're nearly at 7k!!!

Keep up the good work you guys and if you ever can, spread the word to others about my books :D

So I was thinking. I might make a trailor for this book?? It's lame though because it'll just be pics, no gifs, and I really want a trailor and a new poster or banner of the cover.

IF you are interested, please let me know, message me or leave a comment!!!

Venus's POV***

I cover my eyes with my hands, waiting for Moira to come out of my bedroom. "You ready?"

"Have been for the past hour," I groaned. I could almost feel her obnoxious smile as she waltzed into my narrow hallway with her . . . attire. Her black dress has a sweetheart neckline and clings to her body, showing off her stunningly lanky figure. The dress seems like it's made of latex and barely reaches just below mid thigh. In her "defense", she's clad in fishnet stockings with tears down the sides with small high heels covering her feet.

"If she wants to judge me then she can kick me the hell out. I'm only there for the alcohal," She reminds me for the 400th time. I had finally convinced Moira to come with me to Brooke's gathering and tonight was the night. After 30 minutes of bargaining, she agreed to come but only if I took on kitchen cleaning duty for the next few days.

I personally believed Moira was only wearing one of her most rebellious outfits only to test Brooke's buttons. I rolled my eyes at her.

"Um, that's what you're wearing?" Moira asked me, disapproval coating her words. I looked down at myself. I was wearing a simple tee shirt, leggings and my grey moccasins. Meanwhile, Moira looked like she was ready to attend a Satanic ritual that would seemingly involve a rave and drugs. Of course I'd never say that, but I sure as hell can think it.

"Well, you know how it is. Money is tight and I don't have time to go shopping for fancy outfits," I replied, getting defensive.

"Oh come on! You have a killer body, much better than my skeleton's figure, so at least do what I always try to do, and show it."

I frowned, unsure of how to answer her.

"Seriously, don't be a chicken."

"I am not," I defend myself, sitting up from my couch. "Easy Crouching Tiger-San, but you need both an outfit and attitude adjustment."

I know I won't be able to shake her disapproving words from my mind so I reluctantly agree to change. I begin to dig through my nearly empty closet. I worked so much I didn't even need to really buy that many clothes. I had a few jeans, some sweats, and some plain tee shirts.  I frowned. Didn't I have anything that looked  . . . well like I hadn't just crawled out of a dumpster?

I picked a sheer black tank top, and my dark leggings, following with a cardigan and my black toms. This was definitely as good as it was going to get.  I considered putting my hair in a side braid, but then remembered I looked like a prepubescent 8th grader while Brooke looked glamorous and attractive.

I settled for leaving it down, just for tonight.

I walked out and saw Moira crinkle her nose, but let out a small smile.

"Well, not my first choice of clothes, but definitely much better. I can actually see your tits!" She exclaimed. I was used to her dirty words, so I threw my small clutch at her, making her laugh.

"If we had it your way, you'd dress me up in a cleaning rag as long as it was black and had rips."

She flipped me off before the two of us left for Brooke's little party.

-

"No, I'm not going in there. No fucking way, I didn't sign up for this," Moira hisses, crossing her arms as the driver looks for a place to park. Her defiance flows off her waves as the cab hurriedly finds a spot beside the curb, obviously desperate to rid us of his car.

"You have to, and we're already here."

"She's a spoiled little rich girl, I'm sure she has a lot of friends. I mean seriously, look at her house!"

I don't agree nor disagree with Moira as I follow her dark eyes to the mansion. It's white, with many, many windows. I can vaguely hear the music inside, noticing that there weren't as many teens as I thought.

"Don't be a chicken," I mock her, using her words against me. She balls up her fists, causing me to smirk.

"Worse comes to worse, maybe I'll invite Reese. Just let her try and stop me and I'll put her on her ass."

I rolled my eyes at her ridiculous statement, and found myself thinking of Demetri. If she knew how huge his house was, then I wondered if she'd be saying the same things in front of me.

I got out of the car and she followed, slamming the door harder than necessary.

"Behave," I warned her. She scoffed and kept silent. As we walked onto the paved driveway, we make it to her house, and knock. The door opens to reveal the one and only Brooke - with her hair in a side braid. I pat myself on the back for not doing it to my hair and just leaving it down and messy.

"I'm glad you guys came, come in," She says with a happy grin, opening the wood door further. I smiled politely and took in her mansion. It's more Victorian, and though it seems darker than her own taste, I kind of like it. It offers comfort for some reason. There's some music playing, and some teens and young adults floating about with wine in their hands.

"Oh, I got you a gift card," I told her, handing her the small Starbucks square. I felt it would be wrong of me not to get her one though I didn't really want to. She widens her eyes and takes it. "Thank you, you really didn't have to."

"Yeah we didn't," Moira whispered but I elbowed her in the ribs to keep her quiet.

"Brooke, who's at the-"

A familiar girl with dark brown hair and a gentle look in her eyes turns to face me as she walks down the hallway. Once she looks at me, her eyes represent the definition of malice and dislike. I feel myself wanting to punch her, but I obviously don't.

"Jess, this is Moira and-"

"Venus. I know. I've met them, sorta." Is all the rude girl has to say. I nearly scoff but I don't.

"Well come in you guys, there's drinks over on the counter."

Moira takes the lead and gives Brooke a skeptical stare. "Aren't you a bit young to drink? You know, underage?" She asked, raising a brow. I gape at her condescending tone but then remind myself this is Moira we're talking about. Her and this Jess girl should get along real great.

Brooke seemed too uncomfortable to answer, so Jess did for her.

"What are you doing to do about, tattle?" She replied with the same amount of sass. I feel like dragging my hands down my face out of upcoming stress. I was wrong; clearly these two wouldn't get along.

"I'm not 12, unlike the people here." And with that, she stalks off towards what I assume is the free alcohol.

"Sorry about her," I say to Brooke, who's light blue eyes sparkle with a bit of sadness. I don't understand why she's so downtrodden, but I let it go just as easily as I can.

"It's okay," She replied with a smile. Jess snorts.

"Anyways, I'll introduce you to some people that are um . . . not 12," She said with an angelic laugh. God why does she even sound so perfect? The thought sickened me. It's like she was made from the Heavens while everyone else here in this town was bred of darkness and mystery. I found myself envying her but then I snapped out of it. I couldn't assume she was perfect. We all had issues we were dealing with while no one looked. 

She leads me, along with a brooding Jess, into her living room. There's 2 white sofas, a glass table in the middle, and a huge wall of books and antiques on the side. Across, is the dining room and kitchen.

She drags me to a spot over near a window to a few guys and a girl laughing over something we weren't apart of.

"Guys, this is my new coworker, Venus."

A guy with light brown hair looks me up and down as if approving before giving me a toothy smile, one I return. His friend has darker hair that swayed up in the front, and the color of them contrast with his pale gray eyes.

"This is Chris," She points to the brunette with freckles, "and this is Jaden." The two smile politely, well, minus Jaden, at least he tried. He someone reminded me of Demetri, what with that grumpy face and blank, emotionless stare.

"Nice to meet you," Chris said with a smile, reaching his hand out to mine. I smile and reciprocate his actions. "Babe," Chris whines. I look behind me, seeing who he's talking to, but then I see him smile at Jaden.

"Hey," Is all the dark haired kid says. Chris shoots him a smile before kissing his cheek. I know it's a small notion, but a small part of it makes my heart warm, and my thoughts fly back to Demetri, again. I need to stop thinking about him, I feel like a crazy person.

"I'll get you a drink," Brooke announced with a happy smile. I nod, and turn my attention back at the couple. "So, you work at the diner with our Brooke?"  Chris asked with a smile.

"That I do."

"That's great, she could use some more friends here in town. I know she has Jess but . . ." He trails off, taking a sip of his yellowed wine. Jaden grasps Chris's hand and squeezes it.

I don't care to get involved with their talking, and if I do, I'm definitely going to need that drink. I'm not disappointed when Brooke plops a fat glass of wine in my hands before running off to some of her other friends. I look around and notice that Moira is making some of her own friends at the dispense of her liver considering she's now on her 2nd drink after just arriving.

I shrug, and take a sip of mine. It's rich, matching the outlay of this house. "This is good," I mumbled. Jaden smirked.

"That it is. We don't love Brooke for her money, but hey it does come with perks I suppose," Chris said with a laugh.  A light shade of pink lingers on his freckled cheeks and it hits me that he is much more drunk than he thought.

I let out a small laugh and drink more of this all too fancy wine.

"So, where are you from, Venus?" Chris asked, sobering up . . . well, from his laughter anyways.

"Well, Chicago originally. You guys?" I hop off the topic as soon as we jumped on it.

"Idaho, both of us."

"Oh," I say, sipping more of the wine.

"How'd you guys meet?" I asked. I wasn't sure I cared for the story, but I had no one else to talk to.

Jaden lets out a ferocious smirk, one that'd make a girl go weak at the knees, and apparently Chris too for he nearly swoons, but still laughs.

"Well, that's one hell of a story."

And so he tells it, and in the end, I'm almost holding my stomach due to my laughter.

"And then the damn fool pulls me into the lake with him," Chris finishes with a hearty laugh. Jaden follows suit, leaning against the walls. I laugh hard at the story, something I haven't done in a while. I had to admit, this was nice. And I'm only admitting it because I'm lightly buzzed. I don't have time for parties and such, but this wasn't too bad.

"Hey, look who it is!" Someone shouts. The three of us turn to stare at the opening door to reveal a boy with blonde hair and yet again, another brooding look on his face. Why did everyone in this god forsaken town have such dark attitudes? I mean, first Demetri, then this Jaden guy, and now this blonde beauty?

"Who's that?" I asked. The boy's eyes scanned the room, and when they land on me I shiver at the intensity. He has messy hair, and a light scruff on his chin, telling me he's not all boy.

"His name is Tristan Winters. He's an orphan, had a rough upbringing I guess," Someone next to me slurred. I looked at the girl, not sure who she even was, but appreciated the answer nonetheless.  I frowned, wondering if anyone knew the upbringings me, Moira, Will or any other inhibitor of the town had.

"How so?" I tested. The girl hiccuped, smoothing down her cherry red hair. "Parents were killed in a car accident, and he was raised by a bunch of different foster homes. But for now he's staying with some old dude, Harper, Harry, something like that," She said, her words are now distorted.

His eyes are stuck on me when I force myself to look again. His frown is evident on his strong jaw and he looks almost disappointed. His brief once over nearly knocks me down, but I have to remind myself a bunch that I'm just buzzed and hallucinating. I rip my eyes off him.

"Oh shit . . " Chris muttered, and the girl next to me gasps, her drink lightly sloshing in her glass. I turned my head to look back towards the door, and see three familiar faces behind Tristan.

Reese, Landon Silver, and Demetri.

I'm aware Reese is most likely here because Moira must have called him, Landon is Brooke's father, so where did that leave Demetri? I watched them walk in and close the door behind them. A part of  me wandered if Landon didn't know about this party, but he seemed nonchalant as he made his way towards the staircase next to them.

Reese was about to go with him, when his eyes suddenly landed on Moira and a large grin spread across his face. I watched him walk towards her and take her in his arms. I rolled my eyes, and then looked about to find Demetri.

I feel his eyes on me before mine find him. I follow the numbing feeling and I realize he's stopped short on the stairs, and is staring right at me. I almost want to hide under the couch at his intense gaze, something I wasn't sure I could ever get used to when we saw each other.

Landon whispered something in Demetri's ear, grasping his attention and the two fled upstairs.

"What the hell are those two doing here?" Chris asked, mainly to himself.

"W-what?" Was all I could manage. I'm still shocked he's even here. Why is he here?

"Demetri Williams. He's like, some big business man," The drunk girl to my side added. I looked at her, wondering if I'd ever get her name or something. She too read my thoughts. "I'm Taylor, by the," she hiccups, "Way." I smiled at her. "Venus."

"What's he doing here? He gives me the creeps," Chris shuttered. I turned back to him and his boyfriend who had his arm wrapped around him.

"Why does he give you the creeps?" I can't help but ask. Seeing as though I still felt like I knew nothing about Demetri, maybe these two had some answers; whether or not they were rumors, I needed to hear something.

"Well he's not the friendliest of guys," Jaden added while sipping out of his glass.

"He's super hot though!" Taylor giggled, crossing her arms. I chuckle and agree with her.

"He's overrated. He had a girlfriend once, but I guess she turned out to be a major bitch in the end. That was when he left town, and now he's back," Chris said with thought. I frowned.  A girlfriend? Was that why he was in Texas for so long and now he came back?

"What'd she do?" I asked further.

"Well," Taylor seemed to be thinking even though she was plastered. "There are rumors that she tried to secretly sell his company behind his back when he fell ill due to like, Bronchitus or something, then there's the one where she cheated on him with Brooke's dad."

"Then why are they both here?" I asked.

"They're both businessmen, so maybe they're discussing," She hiccups again, "business."

I frowned. I had received the same feeling from Landon and Demetri when I was near them. They each seemed . . . almost dark. They were like dark whispers lulling me into the shadows and though it's my best interest not to follow, I'm not sure than I can. Maybe it's destiny.

My drunk self starts to giggle at the ridiculous thought. Destiny. That's such a weird word. I say it in my head a little more before covering my mouth and laughing. The others around me are drunk enough to the point where even me laughing is enough to make them laugh.

"Excuse me?"

I snap my head towards the kitchen where Moira and Reese seem to be having an argument. Moira's balling up her fists as she crosses her arms and looks away with defiance. Meanwhile, Reese is red in the face and is staring at her with wide and angry eyes.

"I'll be back," I tell Chris, Jaden and Taylor. Taylor nods with a smile and continues to speak to the boys. I made my way over to the kitchen, sitting at the table a few feet away with my back turned. Maybe I could get away with some eavesdropping.

Let me just say, I normally wouldn't be so rude as to invade on other people's conversations, but I'm blaming it on my buzz. Sure I once invaded Brooke and Landon Silver ' conversation at the diner but I had a table right next to them to clean, so I can get away with that.

"I can't believe you brought them here, this could lead to complete chaos if they lose control, you know what happens!" Moira is seething.

"We didn't have a choice! None of us knew she'd be here!"

The two both seemed as stubborn as mules and I began to wonder what they're relationship was like. I shook my head, focusing.

Who? Who'd be here? Who's the we?

"This isn't right. It doesn't feel right now that I know everything that will happen. I feel like I'm just . ." She begins to whisper and I can't hear them very well. All I hear is their light whispers coming out like a small hole in a tire, letting out air.

"Would you move?" Someone oh so rudely loomed over me with a scowl on his face. I looked up to see that Tristan guy. His eyes were shining with annoyance and irritation. I looked over my shoulder to see a beer.

I backed my chair up a little to let him grab it.

"Jesus," he scoffed under his breath before just before tilting his head backwards to let the drink flow down his throat. I frowned.

I turned my head to try and find Moira or Reese but they seemed to have disappeared with one another. I frowned. So much for my eavesdropping.

"Are you kidding me right now?" Tristan growled with disbelief. I switched my attention back to Tristan.

"What?" I replied, just as edgy.

"I said, move." His eyes were dark and he was lifting his palm up as if to slap me. I frowned and watched him hesitate.

"You're really going to throw a tantrum over me not moving from the chair that I've been sitting in for the past ten minutes?" I called him out on his bullshit, which seemed to have stunned him. Shock made itself known on his face, and it took all I had in me not to laugh at him.

"Well.." He didn't reply. He reminded me of that one brat in the sandbox who was a complete dick to the other kids.

He was looking for a comeback or something, he had to be raking his brain for one. He had nothing to reply with.

"You're obnoxious."

I laughed at his pathetic words.

"Okay."

He grumbled something before sitting next to me like how he could have done in the beginning.

"I'm Venus," I introduced myself. He rolled his eyes and took a sip of his beer instead. I frowned at him,  but did the same with my wine glass. I realized I was now on empty. My frown only deepened at this incredibly sad realization.

"Tristan," He grunted. I rolled my eyes at him like how he did me.

"Whatever," I groaned, but a small ghost of a smirk appeared on his lips.

After a few odd moments of silents passed, I began to think about Demetri. I couldn't just sit down here, drinking, while he was upstairs. It only did more to make me feel more like a child. He was up there, doing whatever it was that fancy, rich, businessmen did and I'm at a little party getting drunk off of extravagant wine.

I stood up and left the strange man at the glass table to make my way towards the stairs. I wasn't sure why I was about to go up, but I just felt like I should. It felt like a magnetic pull was luring my body up the stairs. Once at the dark wood staircase, I began to make my way up. I pass a few lurking teens on the stairs as I get to the top of this beautiful house.

At the top, I follow the lure into a dark and secluded hallway.

I come across a slightly opened door with some people talking inside. I look through the small crevice and see Landon, Demetri, Reese, and shockingly enough, Moira. A million questions pop through my head as I watch Demetri pace back and forth with anger. Moira is crossing her arms in defiance while Reese wraps an arm around her waist. Landon looks just as mad but isn't saying anything.

"I don't want to do it anymore," Moira said with a defeated look crossing her face. I nearly fainted. Moira never looked so vulnerable through all the years I'd known her.

"With the new law in place with the Peacekeepers," Landon cast a dangerous glare towards Reese. "You might not have to. Any interference of her judgement fucks the whole thing up. She has to pick on her free will. Which is horse shit, because even if you sway her, the choice would still be hers."

Who were they talking about? Why was Moira so upset?

"I can't keep this up. I can't, it's not fair to me so I'm done," Moira seethed. Reese kissed her cheek and she calmed down noticeably. If anyone else had kissed her in front of anyone, she'd have punched them or cursed them out.

"And what of the other half of the whole thing?" Landon asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Not all of it is accurate. We must wait and see what happens," Reese answered.

"When will she find out about herself and her gifts?" This time Demetri asked. Reese rubbed his temples with his free hand.

"I don't know. We don't have the answer to everything you know."

"Harry does, and so does his charity case," Demetri snapped, stepping up to Reese like he was going to fight him. Why did the name Harry sound so familiar. I brushed it to the back of my head.

"You know I'm not allowed to know the things he does. No one is."

The group all sighed in frustration. 

"I want you to stop meddling with her," Demetri growled. Wait. Growled. Actually growled. Like an animal. I blinked a few times. This buzz was really getting to me.

Landon Silver nearly laughed. "And who are you to make that request?"

Demetri clenched his knuckles on and off, and did same with his jaw. He was standing his ground but wasn't answering. Who were they talking about?

"I'm saying stay away from her."

The group was silent except for a fuming Landon. "Oh why, so you can have her to yourself and your greedy pack of mutts?" Mutts? Who was he referring to?

Again, Demetri fell victim to silence.

"I'll see her as much as I want, as I'm sure you will. You act like the two of you are Destined. She doesn't belong to you, or anyone . . . yet," He smirked. Before  I knew it, Demetri lunged at Landon, and his fist collided with the side of his face. Landon fell back with Demetri choking him.

Reese pulled him back as Moira helped drag Landon away.

"Both of you, cut the shit!" Reese hissed as Demetri stood up, with a ferocious look on his face.

The two stood there, angry eyes concentrating on each other. Reese whispered something in Moira's ear making her gasp. I stepped a bit closer to the door to hear, but when I tripped and hit my face on the door, everyone turned to stare at me.

Shit.

Hey guys . . . so I'm thinking of renaming the book "Destined"? OR "Table 4" OR "The Guardian"

I'm not sure. Which name do you like best? Comment below please so I know what to do!?!

Thank you, hope you enjoyed the update :D