Chess

"She is a vampire." He said, and waved his hand in the air. "There is power all around us. Only Witches, Warlocks, and other mythical creatures can access it. That includes Vampires." He said. "She used the power to bring me back from the dead. But there were.... side effects." He said. "I'm not sure what her personal side effects were, but the major side effect was that now lots of the people who are buried in Dale can not move on, just because she wouldn't allow me to move on." He said. "Make more sense?" He asked.

Anne nodded slowly. "But those things...aren't supposed to be real," She said quietly. Anya had finally found her feet, and along with it, her voice. "But you're real, just as we are," She said quietly, and Anne fell silent.

Dimitri's arms was still wrapped around Ember. His sleeping faced looked peaceful. It was only in his sleep would one notice all the worry that had been on his face while awake. Somehow during the night Dimitri had moved in such away so Ember would be more comfortable, and it would easier for him to breath. He was on his side, back almost pressed against the wall, and Ember was laying on the bed beside him, his arms still around her, as if to protect her from her nightmares. He was mumbling something softly in his sleep, not wanting to wake up, not wanting to release Ember. He never wanted to let go to let go.

~!!~
Andrew was in his room. His eyes were closed, but he wasn't asleep. He was holding the cross he had given Sage close to his chest, he didn't know weather to be happy or sad. Happy he had her back, or sad that he had ruined everything. Sad because he would never be able to see her face again, at least not clearly. Happy that she still loved him. In the end he was both. The thing that made him the sadist was that she deserved so much better, and yet she still loved him, but that, too, made him happy. He was very confused.

~!!~
Milo was in the study. Yesterday when Anya left she looked so sad. He knew she most likely blamed herself for his death, but he did not. He blamed his brother's jealousy. Then he was thinking of Anne, she always had that very sad look on her face. He missed that smile she gave him when she tried to give him her coat when she was still alive. He looked out the window, unsure what to do.

Ember slowly opened her eyes, and looked at Dimitri’s sleeping face. The events of the previous night crash over her like a tidal wave, and she closed her eyes tightly, as if that would change what life had thrown at her. It didn’t.

She could feel his arms wrapped around her, and felt strangely safe, like he was protecting her. But that was just it; she wanted to be the one protecting him, not the other way around. But she had long ago figured out that what she wanted had no merit.

She didn’t want to move, for now she saw how worried he must have been. Asleep, he looked so…peaceful. She reached out a hesitant hand, but before she could do anything a very familiar voice reached her ears.

“EMBER MAE FATE!!” It was her mother. Ember’s eyes widened and she sat up on the bed quickly, almost causing her to fall off. She looked at the window, and saw her mom in her own bedroom, looking across at her with narrowed eyes. She had never seen her this mad. “You come home right now!!!! What are you thinking?!” Ember realized what this looked like, and knew that she was going to be in a lot of trouble, which didn’t exactly motivate her to get out of the bed.
~!!~
Anne was sitting on the bed in the room she was now staying in in the manor, her knees pulled up to her chest. She was staring out of the window, where she could see much of the town. She could even see her own house, but she no longer thought of it as home. She wanted to, but Tony was falling apart; she could see this, and it scared her more than anything else. She looked sad, like she had finally given up. Perhaps she had, but then what was she to do now? Stay here? She felt out of place, and Milo still frightened her slightly, though now she knew why he had the first time she’d seen him.
~!!~
Anya was sitting at home on her bed, thoughts spinning around in a dizzying whirlwind. Noah had killed Milo because of her; she was the reason for his death. It was all sort of ironic, in a way. He had killed for her, but she had died.

And Milo had died the same day as her, it sounded like from what she had heard. She hadn’t heard much, though. She stared down at her hands, her hair falling over her face. She didn’t know what to think.
~!!~
Sandra couldn’t find Anne anywhere. She pulled open her front door. “ANNE!” She called, but of course she received no response. Worry was deep set in her heart, but what could she do? She couldn’t report her missing; she was dead. She wanted to tell Tony, but she didn’t. She hesitated before knocking on his door, tears already spilling into her eyes.
~!!~
Ella was sitting on the couch downstairs, a drawing pad on her lap. She was biting the top of her pencil, looking deep in thought. Lately Alex was acting like everything was back to normal, except of course for Jasper and Caden being here, but Ella knew how hurt she still was. But she also knew her sister was too proud to show it.

She looked down at her drawing. It was nowhere near finished, but she was determined. It showed Dominic, Caden, and Jasper. She was planning on giving it to Caden, since she had a feeling Jasper wouldn’t react very well to seeing a drawing of his father with him in it as well. She was working on Jasper’s form right now, and was finding it very hard to draw, harder than she would have imagined. She closed her eyes, trying to picture the real thing; usually that helped her.

Alex found herself standing in front of the old hollowed out tree she and Dominic had come to so many times, and memories flashed behind her eyes. She didn’t know what had brought her here. She wanted to forget about him, but she felt drawn here. She reached out a hand and touched the bark of the tree in silence, closing her eyes.
~!!~
Piper was sitting on her bed, knees pulled up to her chest in silence. Tobias was dead; that one thought rang through her mind. Part of her felt bitter and betrayed, the other sad and mournful. Why hadn’t he come to her when it got worse? She couldn’t have done anything, but she could have been there for him. She wanted to be there for him. But she felt like she had let him down; even as she stood there, watching, begging him, he had still done it. She hadn’t even been able to help him, and that hurt even more.

She had finally figured out her feelings, that she loved him. And now he was gone, and nothing would bring him back. She buried her face in her pillow, her shoulders shaking. A light breeze came in through the window, and she pulled the blankets up over herself, hoping to just disappear.
~!!~
Elianna hadn’t come out of her room much the night before. She was sitting on the bed, staring out her window. Isabel seemed more upset than she was, but that was because Elianna was hiding it; she wanted to be strong for her daughter, but it was hard. She felt somehow responsible for this, like she should have seen ti coming. But she knew Draven felt much worse; she had heard him that day, and tried to talk to him the night before, but he wouldn’t listen. She lay back on her bed slowly, eyes feeling heavy suddenly.
~!!~
Draven was in his room, staring out the window, sitting in his chair like usual. His thoughts were jumbled now; he felt guilt about both his mate’s and his brother’s death now. He buried his face in his hands, trying not to think about anything. He wanted things to be the way they were, whatever that as.
~!!~
Sage was asleep on the same bed as Rainy. She had been found by Leanne, and she had stayed the night at the manor. Summer and winter were in their rooms, no doubt asleep as well. Sage slowly woke up, sitting up and yawning. Rainy was still asleep beside her, so she was quiet as she stood up.
~!!~
Leanne was asleep as well, but in her own room in the same hall as them. She was laying on her side, her hair falling over her sleeping face. All the worry she held about her friends was still evident on her face, however. She had been worried about Sage the most.
~!!~
Gem was sitting on her bed, her mind laced with worry about Christen. She knew he had been acting strange lately, and she was worried. She felt her hands clench into tight fists at her sides; it was all Damian’s fault! She had said that killing him was wrong, that it would make them just like him. But now…now she wasn’t so sure. Almost as if sensing her thoughts, a shadow fell over her bed. She looked up, only to see him. Her eyes widened and she opened her mouth to scream, but his hand prevented it.

“Shhh,” He said quietly. She glared at him and bit his hand as hard as she could, the taste of his blood in her mouth. It was gross. He let go and pulled away, glaring at her. She fumbled for the knife on her bedside table, but he already had it, she saw with some surprise.

“I’m not here for you,” He hissed. “So keep quiet.”

“What are you, an idiot?!” She shouted. She found her feet and stumbled off her bed, and locked her door. She grabbed a candlestick from her beside table and hit the door knob with it. It bent, which would prevent the door from being opened even if it was unlocked. She then turned back to face him. The window was open behind him, but she had a feeling he wouldn’t use it. He was glaring at her, the knife still in his hand.
~!!~
Sam was sitting on his front porch once more, his hands folded together in his lap. His heart felt heavy lately with guilt. He didn’t know what to do now.

Jane was at home, sitting in her wheelchair, looking out the living room window. She has been so sad and lonely lately. She didn't know what to do anymore. She closed her eyes, trying to keep the tears from running down her cheeks. It didn't work. She was suddenly happy that she was the only one home, because when started to cry she Just could not stop. Then she was mad at herself for being so weak.

~!!~
Christen sat up, and in slow, uncaring movements he walked out of his room and into the hall where he then knocked on Gem's door. "Gem? Are you alright?" He asked quietly, sound uninterested. This has been the result of the changes running through him.

~!!~
Patrick was still awake, watching her sleep, his finger's tracing the marks on his wrist. He was hers as she was his. He loved her as she loved him. He found a smile crossing his lips, and he leaned over and kissed her cheek, the he fell into a peaceful sleep, his arm wrapped around her, keeping her close.

~!!~
The lanky blond found his way down stairs. He smiled when he saw Ella drawing, although he now idea what she was drawing. He watched for a few moments, enjoying the silence. "What'cha drawing?" He asked, stepping near her.

Caden was out, working again. He should look for a job too, but he was enjoying the quiet that staying here offered. He knew they shouldn't stay here. No, these were his father's childhood friends, and Dominic seemed to love Alex. He had every reason to come back, and when he did Jasper did not want to be around. Story Jasper Meyer once tried to renounce his name, not just because he disliked his first name, but his last name was his father's, and he wanted nothing to do with his father. He wanted to change it to just Jasper Ryder, Ryder being his mother's maiden name. Now that he thought about it, he is glad he wasn't able to. He remembered nothing of Denver Ryder, he was so young when she had died, it would feel strange having around her name.

~!!~
Dimitri's eyes opened suddenly when he heard the shouting. When her mother yelled her name, he quickly removed his arms. He sat up, his eyes not showing what he was feeling, although the worry was drawn on to his face again. When her mother yelled at her to get home he realized what it looked like. But that wasn't it. He also saw how Ember was moving slowly. Then it was like he was prompted by some demon. He leaned over making her look at him. He leaned closer and brushed his lips against hers, not caring that her mom was watching, or maybe that was why he did it. When he pulled back he whispered in her ear that she should go. Then he stood up and got as far as his room would allow, pretending to look through his closet for something.

Sam stood up and stretched, surpressing a small yawn; he hadn't been getting much sleep lately. His eyes wandered over to Jane's house and he hesitated before walking over and knocking. He wanted to see her; she always made him feel better, even if his guilt was still there.
~!!~
Sandra felt a small sob escape her lips, and her hand fell to her side. He must not have been home, or not heard her. She fell to the ground, sitting on his front porch and wrapping her arms around her knees, trying to stop her cries.
~!!~
Gem's eyes widened as Damian took a step closer, hearing Christen's voice.

"Run, Christen!!" Gem shouted, her back pressed against the door now. She quickly ducked out of the way, knowing that Damian wouldn't be able to open it anyways. He gave it a good kick, but it wouldn't budge. Gem was watching him with a smug smirk on her face.
~!!~
Ella jumped when she heard a voice, her pencil making an unneeded mark. She quickly erased it, and attempted to cover the drawing with her hands. "Nothing," She said quickly, still afraid of what he would say. She didn't want to make him angry again.
~!!~
Ember's eyes widened as he kissed her, but didn't pull away. The shouting persisted, growing louder now. Ember sighed and nodded and slowly stood up. She walked to the window. "I'm coming!" She shouted, but the yelling continued. She shut the window, and turned to Dimitri. "Sorry," She said quietly. She looked like she wanted to say something else, but didn't.

"Co- come in!" Jane choked out. She was quickly trying to dry her eyes, she didn't how well she did, and hoped who ever was here didn't noticed how red her eyes were.

~!!~
Tony opened the door then. "Sandra, what's wrong?" He asked, sitting down next to her. "Don't cry." He hated seeing her cry.

~!!~
"No." Christen said dully. "He is in there, isn't he?" He sounded angry now. He went to turn the handle, but it would not open.

~!!~
Jasper laughed. "That does not look like nothing." He said.

~!!~
"Ember, the more time you waste the longer your mother will hold you prisoner." Dimitri said, looking over his shoulder. "Go." He said simply, not looking at her. "I'll talk to you later." He promised.

Ella slowly moved her hand, revealing the drawing. So far she had Dominic done, in great detail as well. She did her drawings in pencil, shading it to look like a photograph. Caden was done as well, and she only had the smaller details of him to go.

"I uhm..wanted to give it to Caden, when it was finished," She asid quietly. she was flinching, as if waiting for him to yell or rip it up at any moment.
~!!~
Ember nodded, but didn't move. After a moment she tore her eyes away from him and walked downstairs and outside, back home to accept her punishment.
~!!~
Damian spun back to Gem. "You made a mistake," He said quietly, stepipng towards her. 'You thought I wouldn't hurt you, so you were safe if you locked me in here, right?" He asked. He took a step closer, and she found herself pressed against a wall. He grabbed a fistful of her hair, and she cried out in pain. "You were wrong."
~!!~
Sam opened the door, and almost immediatly saw she had been crying. He flinched, and shut the door behind him. "Hey," He said quietly. It was the only greeting he could think of .
~!!~
Sandra shook her head, and her shoulders continued to shake as she cried. "Anne...is gone," She managed to get out.

Jasper's smile faded. "And you didn't want to show me?" His voice was tight. He nodded slowly. "I- I understand." He was holding himself back, that much was clear, his hands were in fists. He was always easy to anger, but he wouldn't hurt Ella, he had already told himself that. So before he could make liar of himself he turned and walked back up the stairs.

~!!~
"Gem!" Christen suddenly yelled, banging on the door. "Gem!" He kicked the door, again and again, and realized that was no good, he looked frantic trying to find a way to get in.

"Really, brother, picking on little girls?" Ethyl's voice came. She was sitting on the window sill, smirking. "Though, I must say, I am not surprised, nothing is nothing is below even you." She remarked.

~!!~
Jane smiled slightly at him. He was the one person that could make her forget about all of this. "What's up?" She asked quietly, wiping away the rest of her tears.

~!!~
Tony froze. "It's my fault." He said softly. "I drove her away." He said burring his face in hands. "I'm sorry."

Sandra shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. "No," She said quietly. "It's not your fault. Maybe she..." She shook her head. "I have no idea," She whispered, staring at her hands. "But..it's not your fault."
~!!~
Ella watched him go, and suddenly wished she hadn't showed it to him. She slowly set her drawing pad down on the table, her pencil on top. She was surprised to find a tear on her cheek. She wiped it away quickly and stood up.
~!!~
Gem was trying to pull out of his grasp, but she couldn't. His grip was too tight.

Damian scowled at his sister. "Not now," He growled. Gem kicked out at him and he let go of her hair. She ducked out of the way and ran to the door, the first tendrils of fear creeping in. She tried to unbend the handle, but it was no use. "It--It won't open!" She cried. Damian scowled. "You're the one who did it," He said, turning the knife over in his hands thoughtfully.
~!!~
Sam smiled slightly at her, but he had to look down to meet her eyes. "Nothing much. Thinking about you," He said quietly.

Tony looked away. "No." He said simply, standing up, and pulling her to her feet. "Come on." He said pulling her inside.

~!!~
"You did that!?" Christen sounded amazed. "Are you crazy!? You lock yourself in the same room as it?" He gasped. "Move!" He yelled, then kicked the door again, and again, closer to the hinges. Finally it pulled away from the wall, and he was able to push it the rest of the way down.

Ethyl was watching boredly. "Damian, can I have that one?" She asked pointing at Christen. "Dehampir blood is like a sweet treat to me."

~!!~
Jane blinked in surprised. "Is that so?" She mused. "Is that good or bad?" She asked.

Sandra allowed herself to be pulled inside, tears blurring her vision and making it hard to see. She wiped her eyes with the back of her sleeve. "W--What is it?" She asked, her voice sounding broken. She wanted to be strong, if only for Tony, but she couldn't. She just couldn't.
~!!~
Damian glared at his sister. "No," He said simply. Gem jumped away from the door and Damian grabbed her by the hair again. She flinched as he pulled her head up straight, placing the dagger at her throat.

"Christen," He nodded at him, as if only greeting him. "You know why I'm here. Come with me," He said, pressing the knife closer to Gem's skin. She showed no fear.

"Don't," She said quietly. "He doesn't have matches; he can't kill me, not now. Don't go with him, he'll just kill you!" She cried. Damian smirked.

"Do you really want to take that risk? That I don't have matches in my pocket right now?" He pressed the knife closer to her skin, and a trickle of blood ran down her neck. She flinched, but nothing else.

"You can't kill me, Damian," Gem said. "You made me."

He sighed suddenly. "It would be a waste, but a needed one." Gem realized he was serious, but still showed none of the fear she felt.
~!!~
Sam smiled at her, but didn't answer. He knelt down on the floor to be eye level with her, and all the guilt he had felt was written clearly in his face, in his eyes. "Jane.." He said quietly, but didn't finish, letting his eyes speak for themselves.

He pulled her to the sofa. "Sit." He said pushing her down. Then he ran up the stairs. A few moments later he came back down with a scrapbook. "You once said talking about her would help right?" He asked sitting down next to her. "Well would you mind listening again?" He asked, softly, placing the scrapbook in his lap, but turned it so she would be able to see it too.

~!!~
Christen looked down. His hands were shaking slightly. "I'll go with you." He said slowly.

Ethyl sighed. ":But it would be a waste of the dhampir's blood." She said. "You should at least least kill him like we kill worthless humans." She said smirking. She was looking at Gem. "Or better yet. You created the girl? Tell her to kill him. After all, just look at them, they seem to care for each other, and not as friends."

~!!~
"Samuel." She said, frowning, not caring that he didn't like his whole name. She touched his cheek. "This isn't your fault." She said, brushing his black hair out of his face. "You were right; I am reckless." She whispered.

Sandra struggled to wipe her tears away with the back of her sleeve, sniffling and looking up as he came in again. The smallest of smiles crossed her face. "Of course I wouldn't mind," She said quietly, looking down at the scrapbook. "I'd love to hear."
~!!~
Sam shook his head. "But I don't want to be right," He whispered, pain cracking his voice. "I don't. And it is my fault. If I hadn't come over, you wouldn't have..." He couldn't finish.
~!!~
Damian slowly released his hold on Gem, and shoved her forward. She stumbled into Christen, almost knocking them both over. Gem manged to catch her balance and spun back around to face Damian, just as a sharp pain exploded in her head. He had never used this gift on her before, and she hadn't been expecting it. She fell to her knees, and felt as he pressed something into her hand; the dagger. She shook her head quickly, and uncurled her fingers.

"Don't want to kill him that way? Fine. Drink his blood; drain him, and wach him die," Damian said, and took a step back as Gem's mind slowly wrapped around what he watned. She pushed herself to her feet, her face inexplainably sad. "I..won't," She cried, but it did no good; her feet took a step towards Christen, then another.

Christen felt frozen. "Gem." He said softly. "Make her stop!" He yelled at his father, but he didn't move.

~!!~
Jane leaned forward, and took his face in both of her hands. "Sam." She said, with a frown. "Stop, don't you see? You aren't helping by blaming yourself." She smiled sadly. "It is as much my fault as yours. You did nothing wrong be visiting.'

~!!~
Tony smiled lightly, and opened the scrapbook. It started with his and Anne's baby pictures. "Uhh, we can skip these." He said, and quickly flipped through the pages looking for something other then those.

Sandra smiled slightly, trying to hold back her tears as she watched him. Her hands were shaking, but she quickly clenched them together and watche dhim in silence.
~!!~
Sam smiled slightly, as much as he could. "But...you can't do what you want to anymore," He said quielty, looking at her wheelchair. "What will you do now?"
~!!~
Gem shook her head. "Christen, please, run," She whipered. "I can't...stop," She cried. Damian watched in silence, and didn't even look amused this time. Gem suddenly reached out and grabbed Christen's arm.

"Run," She cried, her last plea.

"What is the point?" Christen asked. 'What is the point, he will only make you chase after me." He said. 'And he can't get you to kill me, he will kill me himself. If I had a choice of my death, this would be it.' He said, looking down at her, he was so much taller then her. He leaned against the wall, then he slid down the wall, pulled her along with him. There was tears in his eyes.

~!!~
"Kiss you." She said. "That is about all I can do know." She said and leaned forward as much as her handicap would let her, and pressed her lips to his. She was suddenly glad that he had bent down to be eye level with her.

~!!~
"Here." Tony said stopping on a picture of his whole family. They were five. A smaller Tony was in his father's arms, twisted in such away so he could look down at his sister who was in a hospital bed. There was boullons areound her. "This was our fifth birthday." He said. She was smiling widely, holding a cupcake in her hands, half icing was on Tony's face from were she flung it at him.

Gem wanted suddenly to reach up, wipe the tears out of his eyes aqnd tell her she was sorry, that she didn't want this. But her voice was gone. 'Kill him,' Damian's vocie came to her again, and she leaned forward. She closed her eyes tightly, shoulders shaking as she sank her fangs into his skin. His blood flooded her mouth almost immediatly; she had never had human blood before, nor dhampir blood, nor did she ever plan on it. She had only tasted animals and Damian's. She couldn't stop herself, even as the blood continued to flow, flooding into her mouth and down her throat. She wanted to pull away, but she couldn't.
~!!~
Sam kissed her back sofly, placing a hand on her shoulder. He had tears in his eyes, but held them back, if only for her.
~!!~
Sandra laughed lightly, pointing at the icing. She smiled slightly, and pulled her hand away. "She looks happy, "She said quietly. "So do you." She wanted to see him smile that way again suddenly. But she had a feeling it wouldn't happen.

Christen was glaring at Damian. When her fangs sunk into his skin, he let out a cry of pain, but he quickly swallowed it. He looked at Gem, there was something in his eyes, behind all the tears. He gently stroked her hair as she took the life from his veins. Even as she killed him he couldn't hate her. It was her fault anyways. Holding another cry back he he whispered three simple words that held so much power. "I love you." He said. "I love you." He repeated, his voice revealing everything. "I lo-" He said on his dieing breath.

"You killed my son." Prize's voice whispered in Damian's ear, only for him to hear. The feeling of her arms wrapped around him, only for him to feel. "Was I not enough?" She asked softly. "Did you not know, did you not care about the how ghosts can come back for revenge?" She asked. It would feel as if her long red hair was touching the bare skin on her neck, as if she was leaning over his shoulder, from behind. Then the feeling of her lips brushed against his skin. "I know you, and this will not scare you, will it? But that is your mistake, I can do so much more now that I am dead." She said.

~!!~
Jane pulled back after a moment, and pulled his hand off her shoulder. She started playing with his fingers mindlessly. "I am sorry." She said. "I'm boring aren't I?" She said softly.

~!!~
Tony smiled lightly. He turned the page. It was another picture of him Anne. This was the one was of the time he once told Sandra about. They were six, and they were sitting in a hotel room, on bed. Tony had a strange expression on his face, while Anna had a full out grin. They were both in dresses.....

Gem's shoulders shook hard as she felt him stroking her hair. She was fighting within herself, trying to pull away but at the same time she couldn't. It was his words that made her eyes widen. As he stopped speaking, the blood stopped flowing. She pulled back, eyes wide with fear. His blood dripped down her chin. Loved...her? He loved her? But he was...gone.

"Christen!" Gem cried suddenly, taking his limp body in her small arms and holding it close, her cheek on his. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" She cried, but no tears came with it.

Damian jumped, and the only sign he showed that he was even the slightest bit frightened was the tight set of his jaw, the way his hands clenched into fists. He took a step away. "I'm not scared," He said simply. Gem didn't seem to hear him, rocking back and forth silently on the ground with Christen's now limp body. She didn't even seem to realize that Damian was still there.
~!!~
Sam shook his head. "Of course not," He said quietly. "You could never be boring to me, Jane," He said, looking at her "You have to believe that."
~!!~
Sandra attempted to stifle a laugh that she felt building up in her throat, but couldn't. It was a small laugh, but she quickly stopped herself and only kept a small smile on her face. "That's cute," She finally said quietly, her eyes lingerin on Anne in the photograph.
~!!~
Ella walked to the stairs and climbed them slowly. She knocked on Jasper's door in silence, her hands behind her back. She couldn't stand making anyone angry, and she wanted to apologize. She always felt at fault.

"Your sister is pretty." Prize said looking at the girl still sitting on the window sill. A small breeze pass by him, and suddenly a scream escaped Ethyl's lips as she suddenly fell form the window.

~!!~
Jane let go of his hand, and looked down, trying to hide the tears forming in his eyes. "I can't do anything, Sam." she whispered. "I'm stuck in a wheelchair, doesn't that matter. "I will never be able to do anything, I can very rarely leave my own house." And the tears fell.

~!!~
Jasper opened the door. "You know you don't have to knock, right?" He said. "It is your house after all." He was frowning slightly.

Ella sighed, and nodded. "But we--I--want you to feel at home here too, for however long that is." She was silent, then spoke again. "I'm sorry, about showing you that drawing. Or for drawing it in the first place. I should have known you wouldn't react well...I was out of line" She always felt the need to apologize for things, even when it wasn't her fault. It was just in her nature.
~!!~
"That doesn't change how I feel about you," Sam said quietly. "None of it does, and none of it ever will." He saw her tears and wrapped his arms around her tightly.
~!!~
Sandra kept her eyes on the photo, and felt tears in her eyes again. She swallowed and looked at Tony now, struggling to hold them back.
~!!~
Damian looked at Prize, his face revealing nothing. "That wasn't necessary," He finally said. "Though I'm not sure if I should thank you or not."

Gem looked up now, her eyes filled with utter and complete hate. She gently set Christen's body down, and looked at Damian. "GET OUT!" She screamed. "Now!!!!"

When he didn't move she picked up the fallen dagger and threw it at him with as much force as she could munster. It hit its mark, but aimed a bit too low. It stuck out of his stomach now, and he grasped it and pulled it out, his blood now on the blade and slowly staining his shirt, his face twisted in pain.

"Really, you shouldn't." Prize said. "Thank me I mean."Looking out the window down at the small, still form of Ethyl. "There are way to twist her dieing mind as so she thinks it was her hero that killed her." She said, smiling. "Then you will have two ghosts to haunt you." She glanced at Christen. "Perhaps three." She said. She then pointed out the window. "Her neck snapped." She said simply. "Better get her before the sun comes out and burns her skin too bad for her to recover."

Ethyl had indeed snapped her neck. She laid on the ground in a heap. Her long black hair falling over her small face hiding the look of shock that was frozen there.

~!!~
Tony didn't look at her. "It's not funny." He said, and turned the page. He ran a his fingers over a picture of them sitting in front of their elementary school. He was noticeably bigger then Anne in this one, all the students were. He held her hand, he was smirking. She just looked frightened. "That was our first day in kindergarten." He said. "I told her that the teachers eat small children, and that I was safe since I was already so big. That fact all the kids were bigger then her scared her even more. She was certain that she was going to get eaten." He said quietly.

~!!~
Jane slowly wrapped her arms around him. "But it matters to me, Sam." She said. "It matters to me." She cried, still hugging him.

~!!~
Jasper gave her a confused look. "You drew a picture," He said. "It;s not like you invited him into the house without even giving me a warning." He pointed out. "That would of have been out of line. But you didn't. You drew a picture. I was out of line for getting mad."

Ella slowly nodded, though the guilt was still there. She stared at her feet, then looked back at him. "Do you mind...telling me? Why you hate him so much I mean," She said quietly.
~!!~
Damian didn't look concerned, nor even a bit worried. He disappeared out the window, leaving Gem there with Christen's body.

Gem slowly knelt down next to Christen's body once more, staring in silence at the blood on his neck. She let out a small cry, then was silent. She closed her eyes tightly, wishing it all would go away. It didn't.
~!!~
Sam held her close, shaking his head. "Everything will turn out okay, Jane," He said quietly, though he knew it was a lie.
~!!~
Sandra was silent, twisting the ends of her sleeves, a nervous habit she had. She looked at the picture and listened in silence, deciding it better to say nothing and let him continue. She looked at Anne's face in the photograph, and felt a tear slip down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away to allow him to continue.

Jasper sighed. "He died when I seven. Murdered. Cadence and I was put into a foster home. I have nothing against him for dieing." He whispered. "But he didn't stay dead." He was looking down. "And he just left us in there."

~!!~
"Sam." She said, pulling away from him. "Why would you say that?" She asked. "Please don't lie o me."

~!!~
Tony turned the page, and kept talking. He just kept turning the pages and telling her the stories, but soon it was clear this was just making him cry. The tears fell onto the pages, but he froceing himself to go on.