-Ivy-

After taking a quick bath in Nick's bathroom, getting dressed in my skinny jeans, black sweater, white coat and rider boots, I get my stuff, say goodbye to Walter and the maids, then Nick and I leave for Leonardo's boathouse.

During the walk there, Nick seems tense. I think I know why though; it must be the spirits out here. But I thought they were friendly. I hesitantly ask what's wrong out of the corner of my mouth. He doesn't reply, which makes me look at him in concern. His eyes are searching all around in front of us in a suspicious sort of way. He turns his head slightly to the right but immediately returns to staring ahead.

"Nick, are you ok?"
"Hm? Oh, I'm fine."
I watch him oddly.

We get to Leonardo's, have a small chat with him about the weather, the party tomorrow night and then we board the boat. Nick double checks to see if I have everything. I assure him that I do. It's cute yet annoying.

It seems Leonardo keeps this boat ready to go all the time. I guess he would have to. He never knows when someone will need him. For some reason though, that's something I half-expected. Still, I forget how life works on this island. Except for Leonardo, everything is planned out; everything has a schedule; everyone is doing something all the time. Such busy lives these people have.

As we're leaving for Esmeralda's place, Nick and I sit down on the cushy white seats and watch the wake from the bow as we cross. He and I are strangely silent–until he takes my hand with a gentle squeeze and looks at me with a sort of loving smile. That beautiful heart-stopping smile...

"Are you feeling alright?" he asks.
"Yes, I'm fine. You?"
He kisses my knuckles, "I'm feeling wonderful."

I tuck my hair behind my ear, furrowing my eyebrows some, "What was that back there? Who or what were you looking at?" He blinks once at me and concentrates on my face, boring those extreme blue eyes into mine. It's becoming too much to handle...again.

"I don't want to explain it. Forgive me." Oh...
"A tragic thing happened..." I questionably say.

"You can say that." He gazes at the water again.
I gulp slowly and join him in doing that.

He looks at Leonardo, leaning in close to my ear, "Alright, I will tell you. I'll be honest. A murder happened there over a hundred years ago." I quickly look at him again. He places his finger over his lips, shaking his head slowly. I blink many times. He pauses, then smirks, "Just kidding." My mouth drops.

He winks at me, slapping his knee, "Just kidding!" he laughs.
I hit him, "You're terrible!"
"I know!" He continues to laugh.

"Ok, but seriously...why did you behave so oddly?"
He looks down, slowing his laughter, "Indians doing strange things with each other."
"Like what?"
"It's personal." He shoots me a devilish gleam. I cover my mouth, blushing. He sits back, wrapping an arm around me and pulling me close, "It will be ok Ivy. Everything will be just fine."

I sigh, "I won't live that down; what you said."
"You are going to have to."
"Yeah, ok." I giggle.

Soon, we arrive at Esmeralda's. She greets us with a wave just before catching the rope from Leonardo and begins to tie the boat. Nick gets off the boat first and extends his hand to me. As a silent joke, I bow before taking it. Leonardo is amused with my actions and laughs a little. We all go inside the house and Nick tells me to wait in the living room. He and Leonardo leave me to talk to Esmeralda in an adjacent room off to my left.

As I hear them talking, I admire how the place is set up. It's nicer than I thought. Like before, I imagined it to be dark and eerie but it's quite nice; very comfy with the western American style. I compliment her on her home and she gives me a warm smile in thanks. "This home was built in 40's, actually. It's been renovated a few times." She glances up and around at the room in a thoughtful way. "Oh wow, that's cool!" I say. A few more moments go by and then I hear Nick say, "Alright then." I turn toward his direction as he comes back. Once again, watching him, I just cannot stop staring at how handsome he is, and the memory of how animalistic he was earlier just keeps playing over and over in my head. I try very hard to hold a straight face and I try not to blush–but it's pretty much impossible to control the last thing.

"Well, Miss Summers," he smiles at me kindly, offering his arm before we go out the door, but once the other two aren't looking, it becomes quite a dark smile. I purse my lips before grinning and look away from him as we walk outside to his car.

He whispers in my ear, "What did I say about hiding your smile?" I slightly look up at him. He's watching me dead seriously. Very, very intense. Oh my gosh. He's so intimidating!
I don't know how to reply.

"Smile more; hide it less." He says as he opens the passenger side. I'm quiet–until finally I say, "And if I don't?"
"You will find out later." He smiles that arrogant smile. Ah great...he's leaving me in suspense again. I give him a type of skeptical face while getting in the car.

He shuts the door and starts going around to his side. As I watch how authoritatively he walks, his words from earlier 'You're mine Ivy' and when he said 'You have no choice. None whatsoever' repeat in my head. This isn't the first time that's happened to me. I'm 'his'–the rich man who lives in a castle and lives an extraordinary life–I'm his. However did I get here? Wow!

He gets in, starting the car right away and looking at me. He won't say anything; he's just observing me. Why does he do that?

I quickly smile, "What?"
He smiles back in his fanged way, "You are blushing again, and...it's adorable." I immediately look down with a giggle. He takes my chin in two fingers, "Look at me." I blink at him, lips soon parting. He gazes at my mouth, then he kisses me slowly. In the middle of the kiss, he shifts the car in gear. Moving away from my face with a daring expression, he asks in a low tone, "Ready to go?" I breathe in slowly, "Yeah, yeah I am." He looks ahead with a deep soft laugh, thrilled by how I react toward his behavior.

We're off with his lead foot. I grip a part of the door and try to remain calm.
"Ivy," he chuckles.

"What?"
"Your heart is racing."

I quickly look at him as he repeatedly glances out of the corner of his eye at me.
"How do you know that?" I ask. He shrugs a shoulder, "It's just a feeling." Suddenly, he lets off the gas. Now we're cruising up the lonely road.

I stare at him, "Really?"
"What? You don't like this pace?" he asks.
"You...don't have to slow down that much." While watching me, he presses down on the gas pedal a little more at a time. He's not even watching the road!
I check in front of us many times.

"Nick!" I finally snap. He throws his head back with a big evil laugh and then he focuses on the road.

"Don't worry babe, I've got it under control."
I fold my arms, rolling my eyes to what he says.

We approach my apartment door. Nothing seems out of the ordinary. I unlock it and go in first. He follows slowly behind with my bag, which he insisted on carrying. I didn't want him to do that but he did it anyway.

I tell him to set it on the couch in the living room as I place my keys on the counter and inspect everything to make sure it's how I left it. You can't trust anyone these days–especially in an apartment complex.

While standing here in my kitchen, I stop everything, beginning to feel the familiar sadness I had after the first time I left the island. Knowing he'll be gone...it tears a piece of me away. I don't want to be alone. Why am I so insecure with him? It seems almost unnatural. It's just overnight.

"Ivy..." he comes up behind me and hugs me, "It won't be long."
I close my eyes, taking a deep breath, "...I'm such an idiot."
"Don't you ever say that."
I turn around to him.

"You can't help what you feel. I don't want to leave but I must."
I understand what he says but it's not right to be so clingy like this!

"Nick, I totally get that but-" "Stop." He says. "Watch these." he points to his eyes, "Don't be sad anymore. You must rest, have time to yourself and time with your family, ok?" As he talks, there's something weird happening with his eyes; it's like they're glowing and the room is getting darker. "Nick...your eyes..." Wow...I'm in...complete awe of them; such beautiful blue diamonds shining within the darkness.

He smiles softly, "I know..." I gradually smile back in the same way. He wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me up against him and lifting my chin with the other hand, "Everything will be ok, yes?" I find myself gaping up at him again, and I bite my lip, "Yes," My god...he's like an angel. "Good." he slowly tilts his head, brushing his lips over mine. I pull him closer, kissing him back with more passion; the sort of kiss where it would seem him and I would never let go of each other. But he slips away, and goes to the door.

"I will pick you up tomorrow afternoon. Around 2 o'clock."
I rub my arms, nodding, "Tomorrow afternoon."
"Take care of yourself and have a good time." He says.
"Ok, I will. You too."
He bows his head and leaves.

I bring a hand up to my mouth, staring at the door and stand in silence trying to collect my thoughts. "Ok." I get my phone from my bedroom and turn it on. Immediately, it shows many missed calls from family members, a couple from Eric and some from Gina. Well, who should I call first? Since I made a kind of deal with Gina about convincing my mom to think I broke my phone, I'll call her first.

Because she might be busy... I text her: 'Gina, I'm back home now. Can you talk?' I wait a minute, then put the phone down and shrug out of my white coat.

Here I notice over the last few days, I haven't worried about my makeup like I usually do. What–is Nick changing my attitude about that too?

My phone beeps. I grab it and see Gina's reply: 'Hey hey! If it's not Princess Ivy of Castle Dracula! No, I'm not busy. I'm on lunch break.' I roll my eyes with a scoff and stupid smile, then call her.

It rings twice before she picks up.
"Hey Ivy, what's happening? How ya doin'?"

"I came home for the rest of the day." I smile, "I'm ok. How are you?"
"For the rest of the day? Oh, I'm alright. Thanks for asking."

"Yeah, but I'll be goin' back tomorrow. I have things to take care of here on the mainland."
"So you're staying with this guy now?"

"Well..."
"Ohhh, you're not sure." She laughs.

"No, I'm sure. Quite sure. I am staying with him."
"WHAT?"

"Gina, calm down!"
"Ivy..." she gets quiet, "You just met him. Is this a good idea?"

"He's perfect for me. I strongly think I've fallen in love with him...but I'm not revealing that until he does first."
"He has you under some sort of spell..." she says.

"Maybe so. I just know that he's become everything to me."
"Ok Ivy...if you say so."

I nod to myself, "I do say so. Gina–My mom–what happened between you and her?"
"Well she said ok, though it was a little hard convincing her about everything. She wanted to see you but I insisted that you have it all under control and everything will be ok. Excuse me for asking–is there a reason why you won't tell her and your dad about your boyfriend?" My 'boyfriend' she calls him. Is that what he is? Or more than that?

"Ivy, you there?"
"Yeah..." I squeeze the phone a little, "No there's not. Don't worry; I'll tell them. It shouldn't be a secret anyway."

"Not anymore!" she says.
"Well thank you for doing that for me. How can I repay you?"

"You don't need to do anything." She says, "I hope the best for you, as always. Anyway, I'm sorry to cut things short, but I have to go back to work."

"Ok then. Have a good day."
"Thanks. You too."
I look at my phone and press the end button.

As much as I love my parents, I think I might be dreading calling them. They worry quite a lot. It's the right thing to do though. No, I'll visit them–tomorrow. Right now, I need alone time.

I go in the kitchen to grab a snack out of the fridge and smell something rotten. "Ugh, yuck!" Checking around in the fridge, I find a bag of old seafood I forgot I had and toss it in the trash. After spraying some air freshener and washing my hands, I get a box of crackers out of the cupboard and go turn the computer on. I have to check my bills and bank. As I wait for it to boot, my mind wanders off into the conversation I just had, and all through it, Nick's face continues to pop up. He brings feelings out of me that I thought I would never have. He's the one I've dreamed about in a sense. He is...like my prince charming or something. I flush, placing a hand over my forehead and chuckling to myself, "Prince charming... How different it is for me to talk that way. It's just how I feel though."

I finish checking everything and look at the clock. It's about 4. Wow, Gina took a LATE lunch. There's no possible way I could go to my parents' place and come back before dusk.

"I'll write in my journal." I get up and go find it in my room. Honestly, I didn't imagine having nothing to do.

Let's see... Where did I leave off? I put pen to paper right away, losing myself in the bliss of writing about 'my prince charming' and what all has happened to me there at the castle. But then there are the dark parts of it...the dangerous 'spirits'. Jennifer and Maria are more than that; they have to be. I stop what I'm doing and look to the window in growing worry. Nick is dealing with them alone. Well Walter is there... No, they concentrated on me and it kept him safe! Stop Ivy, this is crazy. What do you think he did before he met you? Jennifer was there long before you.

"No, god damn it!" I shoot up from my bed, clutching the sides of my head. He's not safe! He's not safe with both of them there. Surely Jennifer is teaching Maria how to be like her! Corneliu is a peacekeeper, but only him against those two? They seem like demons. He might even be one. I don't know what the hell they are but they are very dangerous!

I snatch my phone and search everywhere for Nick's number. Oh, I really hope he still has his phone! "Shit! Where's his number?!" I empty my purse over the bed and scatter everything out but I can't find it anywhere. I collapse on the edge of the bed, a heavy sigh of hopelessness leaving me.

Gnawing on my knuckles, I look at the window again. Please be ok Nick–please.
Suddenly, my phone rings, startling me. I quickly take it, hoping it's Nick. I'm stunned when I see who it is.

I answer, "Mom?"
"Ivy! Your phone is working!" I blink a few times, confused at first. Oh yeah, my phone was supposedly broken. This anxiety ruined my focus. Automatically, I know Gina told her I'm able to use the phone. I'm not happy about that; it wasn't for her to do. But I'm glad to hear from her.

"Yes it is!" I say, "Well no, actually–I got a new one. Same model." I really dislike lying to cover my ass...

"Oh, wow. Was it expensive?"
"No, not really."

"Good, I'm glad to hear that. So everything is ok now?"
"Yeah, everything's fine. All is back to normal. The whole thing of getting a new phone though, it sure was aggravating."

"I bet. You know, Gina called me not too long ago and told me about your phone. I'm surprised you didn't call me."
"I just got it." I slightly laugh.

"Ohh, calling friends before family now, eh?"
"No no, it wasn't meant that way." I say.

"I'm joking." She snickers.
"Oh, sorry. Hey listen, I've got a major thing to tell you. First, where's Dad?"

"He's not home yet." She says.
"Ok. You remember the guy I saw in the coffee shop that I told you about?"

"What about him...?"
"I uh...kinda..."

She sighs, "What Ivy?"
"We're together..."

"What the hell! I mean, what in the world?!"
"Mommm..."

"You said he annoys you and you seemed to really dislike-! Ivy, that's just weird. Did you hit your head or something?"
"No! Mom–please!"

"Who is this guy?"
"He's the executive assistant to the owner of a heavy machinery corporation."

"Oh my god..."
"Yeah, I know."

"You hit gold girl!"
I scoff, "A minute ago you weren't saying that."

"Well you know. Oh, hold on–your Dad just got home."
"Mom, how about I visit you tomorrow and tell you more about this guy then? I have something to tell you." I knew this would catch up to me–I knew it.

"You sure?"
"I'm positive. I've got plenty to talk about."

"You're really making me wonder what you've been up to Ivy..."
"You'll find out." I say, "Now enjoy your time together."

"Alright. I'm about to set dinner on the table; fried chicken, corn and mashed potatoes."
"Sounds delicious! I might cook spaghetti."

"Eat well tonight. I love you."
"Yes mom..." I then laugh, "I love you too."

We hang up and I go find the ingredients to make my spaghetti.
The worry about Nick's safety is not as much as before, but it's still there. I can't wait to be with him again...