If it wasn't for the fact I was here to be getting 'rid' of my 'disease' I would actually enjoy being in New York.

But there wasn't much time for pleasantries when my current title was the Queen.

Or when my parents were around.

It was a typical nice sunny day as we left the towering hotel nestled in the streets of the famous state and headed to the sleek black limos with driver's awaiting us.

Corey walked at my side; his glowering green eyes shielded by black sunglasses, the collar of his black leather jacket half-upturned and the jacket itself unzipped, showing a black T-shirt messily tucked somewhat into his black jeans and his hair in the usual carelessly disheveled state.

We had literally only woken up less than ten minutes ago.

Though, there was a wake-up call early this morning at six but who had thought either one of us would manage to wake up at that time?

We woke up; for ten seconds.

Then we fell back asleep and were awoken by the knock at the room door by my parents, who were ready to leave.

We pulled on some clothes and met my parents outside to head out of the hotel, both us still only partially aware and both of us longing for a cup of coffee.

One of the things we had in common was the fact we both dreaded waking up, at any time really, but especially in the mornings.

My eyes roamed the streets from behind white-framed sunglasses with dark gold lenses, the classic wayfarer style by Ray-Ban, same kind Corey was wearing only his were solid black.

My fingers weaved underneath my shades, rubbing my dry eyes for a moment, then I turned my attention to my nails; picking at the black varnish.

Drake lit up a cigarette from my other side, looking just as tired as he spoke; "Tonight, Bells, we're going to have some fun."

"Mm, let's make it through the day first." I replied, my soft voice coming out wry, with a bit of rasp in it.

Drake squinted foreword, cigarette between his lips. "Let's make it through this morning first. It's fuckin' eight 'o clock. In the morning! I can't even remember the last time I was up this early when I hadn't been up all night."

I laughed under my breath at Drake's typical humor.

"Am I the only one that's craving coffee so fucking badly right now?" He questioned, walking backwards and speaking dramatically.

"No." Corey and I both answered simultaneously, our voices both coming out with the same trite, dragging tone.

Drake smiled, looking over at us with amusement."That's what I thought. When we're done with your exorcism we should go get something to eat."

My eyes went from the limo we were approaching to him, my dry, pale lips parting. "Exorcism? That's a joke right?"

He shrugged; turning and walking correctly now as we got to the cars.

Drake, Hazel, Corey and I shared one as my parents rode in another.

The limo ride was a bit longer than I expected; roughly a half-hour ride, placed with idle-chatter and Corey and Drake's constant cloud of smoke filling the back.

Corey and I sat close together on one side, with Drake moving about from one side to the other and back again, sitting on the floor at a few points in time.

My right hand rested on my leg when Corey laced his fingers tightly with mine, his other hand preoccupied with the cigarette he was smoking.

My attention was brought away from Drake who was sitting on the floor, his thumbs on the screen of his i-phone as he looked up restaurants to go to for breakfast, and to Corey who was looking ahead, an expression of careless boredom over his features.

My heart quickened; the never-undying emotions of love, admiration and excitement he always conjured up from me, stirring strongly.

We hadn't said a word to each other this morning as of far, and had barely acknowledged one another with a glance.

He turned his head in my direction, titling his sunglasses down so I could get a peek at his gorgeous eyes, and his lips turned up in a small smile as he spoke softly to me; "I love you."

My cheeks warmed; my breath tight in my throat at his first words to me of the day and the way he chose to convey them.

"I love you too." I replied gently, matching his smile.

"Good." He looked back ahead, putting the cigarette to his lips.

I glanced down for a moment at our hands that were intertwined snuggly then Drake spoke, moving to sit beside me, on the edge of the seat, showing the screen to me.

"We should go here." He claimed, both of eyes on the restaurant page he'd pulled up.

The car ride went by and we reached the church claiming to be able to cure me.

The limo's parked in the lot outside of the tall-standing antique church and we all shuffled from the vehicles and to the entrance.

I had a strange feeling approaching the church, a feeling of dread and of angst.

My dad opened the church doors, large wooden ones, and revealed the large spread-out of dozens of cushioned wooden benches, tall ceilings and large stained-glass windows with sunrays beaming in for light, all leading up to an altar with candles and a very large cross.

I inhaled slowly, feeling more nervous as my eyes took in the place.

Both of my parents walked straight ahead, up the aisle, though I didn't see anyone.

I apparently wasn't looking hard enough because I then saw a man step out from the shadows, dressed in a long black robe.

Corey and I were behind the others, both of us stepping slowly and hesitantly while Drake took a seat at one of the benches in the back, Hazel dutifully sitting down next to him and smiling brightly as he looked over at her, resting his arm on the wooden back.

Both Corey and I stopped walking, not making it very far from the door.

"I don't like this place." He said, taking his sunglasses off and hanging them on his shirt whilst his eyes gazed around.

"Do you ever like churches?" I questioned, my eyes doing the same.

"Well no but I just have an off feeling about this one, different from the one I usually have."

"Mm..." I looked back at him. "Me too."

"You feel it too?" He inquired, his eyebrows rising with question.

I nodded, biting my lower lip lightly.

"Hmm, vampire instincts perhaps?" He mused with a light smirk.

I laughed quietly. "Perhaps."

I ran a hand through my hair, fingertips sweeping back the waves. "What does that mean?"

"That we should leave." He stated.

I bit my lip, my eyes on him with apprehension at our situation.

He took a step closer to me, using his hand that wasn't linked with mine to slide off my glasses, his eyes meeting mine. "Something's obviously not right. We shouldn't take chances. I wouldn't want anything to happen to you." He slid the glasses onto the lightweight material of my dark, loose-fitting T-shirt.

My lips parted slightly and I glanced down; my minds interest wavering from making a decision and to him; my heart beating swiftly.

His eyes stayed fixed on me, searching my expression.

Mom called my name; "Arabelle?"

My eyes went to her.

"Come meet the priest." She waved me over.

I looked back at Corey for a moment before I headed over towards her, him walking with me reluctantly.

The priest was rather young looking, no older than his mid-twenties, with sweeping dark brown hair, falling around his pallid cheeks with curled ends and very dark brown eyes that currently went to me.

"It's an honor to meet you." He greeted, giving a polite smile.

I nodded, forcing my self to return the gesture.

The priest glanced to Corey, a look of hesitation crossing his face before he quickly looked away. "Well, shall we get started?"

I thought it odd the look he gave Corey but most likely it was his reaction to him being a vampire.

The process began similar to that of the last and after a few minutes I was given a chalice of wine to take a drink from, instead of holy water like the last.

I held the cup in my hands, the dark red liquid quivering slightly from my shaking hands that I tried very hard to steady.

I was concerned about the drink itself; my bad feeling was getting worse.

As I was moving it towards my lips the cup was taken from my grasp by Corey.

I looked over at him, my lips parted with surprise.

The priest stopped the verse he was reciting, a worried look over his face as he looked at Corey. "Is there a problem?"

"Yeah, there's a problem." Corey retorted, dumping the wine out on the floor. "You think I'm an idiot?"

"Wh-what are you referring to?" The priest stammered.

Corey grabbed a wooden cross from the altar and put it against the priest's right cheek, an immediate grimace of pain gracing the man's face.

A bit of smoke curled in the air from the contact of the cross and the skin of his cheek before Corey pulled it away, tossing it and shaking his hand a bit. "He's a vampire." He stated, stepping down from the raised platform.

The priest's eyes were wide, a red cross-shaped burn on his cheek.

Corey continued, looking casual compared to everyone else's shocked expressions as he rubbed his fingers lightly where they'd touched the cross, looking at his hand. "And the wine was poisoned."

He looked up, glancing at everyone before resting his gaze on me. "He was trying to kill you."

A moment of shocked silence passed.

"Holy shit!" Drake's voice echoed from the back, a distant yell.

I had the urge to glance behind me as I ran a hand through my hair, holding back a smile at Drake's singular exclamation.

In the next minute we were ushered from the church, my parents and their body guards inside with the priest, or, actually fake priest.

"Whoa, can you believe that?" Drake said as we walked to the limo.

Corey had his arm wrapped around my waist, seeming less calm than he was inside.

Drake of course was not calm; he was his usual animated self.

I glanced over at Corey, intending to gauge his expression but he was looking away.

Drake stopped walking as we reached the car and looked at me. "Dude, you almost died."

"Yeah," I replied, my sunglasses back in place. "Yeah..."

A moment passed and we both started laughing.

We were both on the same page in thinking this was comical in a cynical sort of way.

"That was awesome!" He held up his palm and I high-fived him, both of us smiling and still laughing lightly.

"So, who wants get something to eat?" Drake suggested. "I'm starving. Near death experiences leave you exhausted, jeez. "

I shook my head lightly, pursing my lips in a smile.

I was feeling rather tired but I don't think it had much to do with my near death experience.

Drake opened the limo door, him and Hazel crawling in.

I turned to Corey; "You okay?"

He looked at me with glistening green eyes and spoke softly; "Yeah,"

I didn't really believe him but figured now wasn't the best time to talk about it.

"Well, you know, thanks for saving my life." I smiled up at him.

He let out a strained laugh. "Anytime."

I bit my lip, my eyes scanning his expression as he looked away, I could see he was upset.

He seemed uncomfortable as he looked back at me. "Now's not the time to talk about it."

I nodded faintly. "Yeah,"

I turned to the limo and got in, with Corey sitting down beside me, our fingers linked tightly.

Drake looked at us with an easy expression. "So...food?"