I put a hand to my neck, rubbing my throat lightly as I felt a dry, very irritating thirst at the back of my throat.

My eyes were still closed, just coming to a few seconds ago.

I didn't remember when I fell asleep but I felt the weight of books beside me on the bed that I had been reading with Corey.

I blinked several times as I finally opened my eyelids and glanced around the room.

The first thing I noticed was that Corey wasn't lying beside me and I figured he must be out in the kitchen or someplace.

Dragging myself off the bed, I shuffled across the carpet of his room, the sun peeking around the edges of curtains and casting shadows over the floor as I made my way to the door.

I opened it and stepped out into the hall, heading to the kitchen.

Once I entered I saw Mikey, Ivy and Jake all hanging out. Mikey and Jake leaning by the counter and Ivy sitting at the table with her legs crossed.

"Hey there, sleepyhead." Mikey grinned.

I smiled back. "Hi,"

Ivy spoke as I glanced to her; "Corey's at your house. He should be back soon, he left a little over an hour ago to go talk to Reaver."

She answered the question I had been wondering, it was weird how she did that.

"He went to go talk to Reaver by himself?" I inquired, my worry concealed well.

She nodded. "We offered to come but he didn't want us to. He said he wouldn't be gone long. Would you like some coffee?"

I nodded. "Yeah, thanks."

She got up and walked to the coffee maker sitting on the counter, grabbing a mug from the cupboard above it.

I took a seat at the table, biting down on my bottom lip.

"Would you like blood in it?" She inquired.

"Um, no." I shook my head. "No thanks."

She nodded and proceeded to fill up the cup.

Reminded of the aching in my throat, I idly rubbed my neck, my teeth digging into the skin of my lip.

I flinched somewhat when I felt a sharp sting.

I ran my tongue across my lip, tasting blood.

I stopped biting my lip after that, the feeling in my throat worsening.

"Cream or sugar?" Ivy inquired, holding the mug in her long, pale fingers.

Shaking my head, I moved my hand away from my neck as she placed the mug in front of me on the table and took a seat across from me.

"So," Mikey started as I took a sip of the black coffee, enjoying the familiar taste.

"-You wanna get high?"

I smiled, breathing a laugh. "I'm good, thanks."

"Do you smoke?" He questioned.

"...Not yet."

"Do you drink?"

"On occasion." I made a nod.

"Do you do drugs?"

"Uh," I laughed softly. "Not recently."

"Cool. I was into drugs back in the sixties. I was a total hippie."

Jake nodded in agreement. "It's true. He had long hair, listened to The Beatles and John Lennon. Didn't bathe."

I laughed lightly.

Mikey was nodding. "I was totally into it, man. Doing LCD, listening to 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds'. Campaigned for peace. The whole shit."

"That's awesome." I commented, smiling and sipping my coffee.

"You know, I got a CD signed by John Lennon?"

My eyebrows rose. "No."

"I did, you wanna see it?"

"Sure," I agreed.

He strolled out of the room.

"Thank god he cut his hair." Ivy stated.

Jake nodded. "Yes, he couldn't pull off the dreadlocks either."

Ivy laughed at that. "So true. But Corey did."

"Yeah, he was the only one."

Mikey bounded back into the room, handing me a vinyl with John Lennon's signature on the front.

"Wow," I said, looking down at it as I held it in my hands. "That is so awesome."

I smiled. "He's been my idol for years."

"Aw, really?" Mikey grinned. "That's cool. He's my idol too."

I gave the record back to him and he sat it down on the counter. "You like the Beatles too, right?"

I nodded. "I sure do."

"They're awesome. I tried to get Corey into them when he came along, he wasn't alive when they were together, but he didn't take to them too much."

"I can tell." I smiled.

"Speak of the devil." Jake said, moving the curtains on the window above the sink to peer out. "He's back...and he looks pissed."

"Is he hurt?" I questioned, my worry flaring back up.

Jake shook his head. "Doesn't look like it."

I sighed with relief.

I heard a car door shut and we all waited, listening as the front door opened and closed, and the smell of cigarette smoke wafted in.

"What did I say about smoking in the house?" Ivy said just as Corey turned the corner into the kitchen, a cigarette in his hand and his lips set in a displeased pout.

"Fuck off." He retorted in a bored tone, his eyes then going to mine.

She sighed. "Did I mention you're my least favorite brother?"

"Many times. Get out, I need to talk to her alone."

They all three started into motion, their expressions blank as thy left the room.

Corey crossed the room, leaning down to give me a light kiss before pulling the chair closer and sitting down by me.

"You left without telling me." I stated casually.

"I know." He stated. "But I didn't want you to try and convince me not to go."

I frowned.

I probably would have.

"So," I prompted, nervous to find out how it went.

"He'll lift the curse completely."

"Really? That's good."

"But-"

"Oh god," I muttered.

"He'll only do it if you marry him. He wants to be King."

I froze. "Are you serious?"

"I really wish I wasn't." He muttered darkly, glaring down at the table.

"There's nothing else that he wants besides that?"

"No." He took a drag on the cigarette, his eyes still down.

"Well, I'm not going to do that."

"We don't have a choice." He looked back up at me, his eyes filled with mixed emotions. "It's either he lifts the curse and you marry him by your own will or he makes you."

I swallowed, glancing down.

I felt lightheaded and I was starting to get a bad headache.

I rubbed my forehead. "So then, I guess I am doing it."

"I guess so." He replied quietly.

I glanced up, seeing his head down.

I bit my lip idly, my hand finding his and linking our fingers together.

His eyes glanced up to me, a hand on the back of his neck that held the cigarette.

"Arabelle, can I be your slave?"

My eyebrows furrowed. "What?"

"It's the only way I'll be able to stay with you. I can't marry you now. At least if I'm your slave, I'll still see you."

My teeth cut into my lip again. "Okay, I guess."

He took his hand away from mine, putting his fingers to my lips.

"You really have to stop doing that." He stated, his thumb tracing my bottom lip as my teeth let go of it.

"I know."

A thoughtful expression came onto his face. "Let me see your teeth."

I gave him a puzzled look. "Why?"

"I want to see if you have fangs yet."

I pursed my lips.

"Come on, let me see." He prompted, his finger tugging on my lip.

I shook my head, glancing down at his hand.

"Do not bite my finger." He warned. "You'll probably break the skin."

I was tempted.

He noticed, a slight smirk lifting his lips.

"Just let me check your teeth." He pressed, trying to get me to open my mouth.

I bit down on his finger, suppressing a laugh.

He pulled back, grimacing as he looked down at his bleeding finger. "I told you not to."

"Your blood taste weird." I mused.

"Well I told you not to bite me. Show me your teeth."

I sighed, opening my mouth.

"Oh my god," He muttered.

"What?" I asked, looking back at him.

"You have tiny little fangs, like baby fangs. They're so cute."

I closed my mouth, seeing the little smile on his face.

"Great. My once chance to be intimidating and it's blown." I crossed my arms.

He laughed softly. "You're still stronger than most humans. You can still be intimidating."

"Do I intimidate you?" I inquired.

He smiled. "A little."

"You're lying." I stated.

He shrugged. "I'll never tell."

A/N: This one is sort of short and sweet, ya know. But the story will be ending very soon, just so everyone knows.