"Where are we going exactly?" I said as I followed Callan into the woods on the outskirts of the city.

"The portal is just up ahead. It shouldn't be long now," he said, pushing a branch away from my head.

"Stupid nature, can't we just go back home and relax in the pool?" Jake continued to whine behind us.

"Always such a pleasure to have you along, Jake." Callan teased shoving him sideways.

"Hey, be gentle asshole. I'm still coming down from last night," Jake yelled shoving Callan back.

I stopped suddenly at the sound of something behind us.

"Can you guys hear that?" I said, pushing them apart. My skin started to crawl with the feeling of someone watching us.

"Can you smell that?" Jake said to Callan.

"Shit, we need to move fast. Ebony, get on my back, we're going to have to run," Callan said, pulling me on his back. "Hold on tight, Jake stay behind us but stay close," he ordered.

"On it," Jake replied nodding.

"What is it?" I said just as I heard a loud, terrifying howl coming from behind us. "Oh shit, is that ...."

"MOVE!" yelled Jake as the ground started to shake beneath us. The next thing I knew, we were moving so fast through the woods that everything become blurry, and I had to close my eyes as the cold night air stung them. I wrapped my arms and legs around Callan so tightly; it was probably a good thing he didn't need to breathe. There goes the howl again; it's close, it's right behind us now. My heart is pounding so fast; it feels like my chest is about to explode open. Callan ran towards the edge of the woods. The ground-up ahead seems to drop off, but Callan keeps running towards it, in fact, he is getting faster.

"Hold on." He yells loudly.

"Callan!" I screamed as he suddenly jumps off the cliff top and we start to fall through the air. I scream even louder as we drop fast through the cold open air. I closed my eyes and wait to feel the ground smashing against me. We seem to fall forever.

"Wow! You scream really loudly." Callan laughed suddenly.

"What the hell? How? What?" I yelled, looking around frantically as I held tightly onto Callan.

"Welcome to the vampire world. I had to take the back portal sorry. The other one you pretty much just walk through." he laughed.

"Holy shit, I nearly wet myself," I gasped out trying to slow down my beating heart.

"Are you ok?" Callan said, not laughing anymore.

"No, we just jumped off a cliff," I laughed. "Wait, where is Jake? He's not here?" We both looked around the dark Forest. "Callan, where is he?" I said frantically.

"He should be here, he was right behind me," Callan said, walking around.

"Oh, god, I feel sick. Where is he? He needs to be here," I cried out looking around.

"Fuck," Callan yelled as he paced with his hands on his head. "This is not good."

"We have to go and get him; he could be hurt," I said.

"It's too dangerous Ebony, Leon was right behind us back there."

"Leon? That was Leon, I heard right?"

He nodded "I could smell him; he was in his wolf form. We can't go back."

"Yes, we can. I'm not leaving Jake; he would never leave me," I said, hitting his chest. "I'm not leaving my friend behind."

Callan closed his eyes and mumbled something under his breath. "Fine, but you know we are pretty much signing our death warrant right now?"

"I'm not leaving him; he came here because of me."

Callan groaned loudly. "What the hell. I've lived long enough, I guess. Get on my back; we are going to need a running start," he said, bending down. I climbed on his back and wrapped myself around him like a second skin. He took a few steps backwards and stopped. "Ok, hold on tight, it's a big jump," he said right before he took off towards the portal.

We were just about to jump through it when we saw something flash through the portal right in front of us. Callan came to a jagged sliding holt right into a nearby tree.

"What the hell?" Callan yelled rubbed his shoulder and stood up.

"Holy shit, did you guys just see who that was?" Jake cheered, standing up and brushing off the leaves.

"Jake!" I called and ran to him. I jumped on him, and he stumbled backwards groaning. "Watch the shoulder, it's coming off again," he said hugging me back.

"Where were you? We were just about to go and find you." I said, hugging him tightly.

"I got cornered just before the portal by Leon, but I hid inside an old tree. Did you guys see who was out there?" Jake placed me on the ground gently.

"Yeah, Leon in his wolf form," Callan said behind me.

"Yeah, but did you see who was with him?"

"Who?" We both said at the same time.

"Genevieve," Jake said nodding and smiling.

"No, my mother is dead," Callan said, "You must have been seeing things."

"I know what I saw dude. She was right by his side as they looked for me. She is alive, and she is working with Leon."

Callan stared at him "You're lying, stop being an asshole. Why would you lie like that?" He yelled pushing Jake backwards. "My mother would never betray us like that."

"I swear to you brother, your mother is not dead. She lied to you." Jake said touching Callan's shoulder. "I wouldn't joke about this man. Not about this."

Callan took a moment to reply, "My mother is alive?" he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "She... That fucken bitch," he yelled. "I can't believe she would do this. We need to find her and prove my father's innocence."

"Trust me. It's too dangerous to go back there now. Leon is waiting at the portal to attack. We need to wait till he leaves the woods," Jake said, looking between us. "I'm sorry dude, but I know it was her."

"Wait, won't Leon just follow us through the portal?" I said taking a few steps backwards.

"Leon was banished from our world a very long time ago. He tried to overthrow the council, he was supposed to be put to death, but he escaped into your world. If he returns it means instant death for him." Callan said. "Jake is right. He will be waiting for us to return."

"We should move, no doubt we will be seen here," Jake said, looking around.

"Ebony, I'm afraid there is something you are going to have to do, and you're not going to like it," Callan said, making a face.

"What now?" I sighed.

"Unfortunately, you are going to have to play the submissive role of my adoring and loveable pet," he said, smiling.

"Excuse me? You're pet? Like a dog?"

"Don't give me that shade that is how humans live in our world. Vampires keep them as pets and parade them around on leashes. If you want to see my father, you are going to have to play the role of my obedient, trained and probably mute pet." Callan said, biting his lower lip.

"Oh shit, we're screwed! There is no way Ebony can play the part of obedient MUTE pet. I'm going to be put to death." Jake laughed throwing his hands in the air dramatically.

"So, you're telling me that you want me to play the role of dog and you are my master?" I said, raising my eyebrow at him.

"Yes, and you will have to wear this, sorry" he pulled out a pink collar and matching lead.

Jake burst out laughing and held his stomach as he bent over. "This is too good."

I glared at Callan in disgust.

"I'm sorry; it's just how things are done around here. They will know something is up if you are not on a leash. I'm sorry," he said, putting the collar around my neck. "See, you look beautiful." he teased smiling.

"I hate you right now," I growled crossing my arms over my chest as adjusted the collar around my neck.

"I know," Callan nodded and connected the pink lead. "Good girl." He teased patting my head.

"Can I walk her?" Jake chimed in. I turned and thumped him on the shoulder. "Ouch. Oh, great now it's completely come out of the socket. You happy?"

"Yes," I said, turning and walking forward on my pink lead.

The vampire world was not what I thought it would be. I mean it was dark, but it was dusk not pitch black, and the air was still and smelt like nothing. I guess I expected the smell of rotting flesh or smoke or something, but there was no smell. The land was covered in hills as far as the eye could see and castles were on top of each one. There was no sign of any birdlife or animals, just hills and trees.

"Ok, we are about to enter the town. Ebony, I need you to play the role of an obedient pet right now. You fear me, and you do as I say," Callan said as we stood on the edge of the woods.

"I understand." I nodded reluctantly.

"Ok, let's get this over with," he said, walking forward and pulling me quickly. As we entered the town, I noticed many humans on leads. Most were young females who were dressed in next to nothing, but there was an occasional young male on a lead. They all looked miserable as they were pulled along by their masters.

"Callan Morgan?" a woman dressed in a long red skirt and coat called as we approached her. "I'm so sorry to hear about your mother. Such a dreadful way to go," she was pulling her young blonde male pet behind her. "I don't believe for a second that your father did this."

"Oh, thank you, Harriet. I appreciate your kind words." Callan said, shaking her hand.

"Jacob, how are you? I haven't seen you in these parts for years. You are looking well," she said eyeing up a very uncomfortable-looking Jake.

"Great, I'm great," he said looking away from her, pulling at his jacket and fixing his hair.

"And what is this? Callan, did you get a pet? I thought you were completely against it?" She said, leaning into my face. "She is a pretty one. You must be careful with the pretty ones. They tend to be a little feisty," she said, smiling at him.

"She's still in training. My father gave her to me from the human world. She is unfortunately mute, poor thing can't even make a single sound." he patted me on the head, and it took everything I had not to pull away.

"Maybe we could have a play date? Ethan here is looking for a mate. We could breed them. They would make the perfect litter, yes?" She pulled the blonde male closer to me, and he closed his eyes and took big breaths. This guy was as disgusted as I was with this practice.

"Oh, maybe another time. I'm still training her, and she tends to bite a little bitch when she is scared." Callan looked at me and smiled. "She is learning quite quickly, though. Watch... Sit!" he commanded with a smile. I looked at Jake, who was smiling ear to ear.

"I said sit," Callan yelled. I sighed and did as I was told. "Good girl," he patted my head again. "She still needs a bit of work, but we will get there," he said squeezing my cheek.

"Well, do give me a call and we will set up a date for them. We need to breed them while they are still young." she patted me on the head.

"Will do. It was nice to see you again, Harriet." Callan said, shaking her hand.

"Indeed. Come, Ethan, it's bath time for you," she said, pulling a very scared-looking Ethan away.

"This is absolutely humiliating," I said, hanging my head.

"This is the best day of my life," Jake laughed.

"Come on. We need to move fast before anyone else recognises us," Callan pulled on the lead, making me fall forward. "Oops, sorry," he said, helping me up.

The rest of the trip was spent with Jake yelling commands at me and then laughing as I responded with clenched my fists trying to hold my breath and not get us caught. Jake was having the time of his damn life, and I was horrified at the treatment of humans in this world. It was the longest walk of my life.

"We're here," Callan said as we walked up to a vast stone wall surrounding an elegant old-looking castle. "Welcome to our home," he said as the enormous gates opened in front of us.

"Ebony, you go ahead. I need to talk to Jake about something." Callan said, pulling off the lead and collar.

I nodded and ran towards the light flickering inside the castle.

I saw a dark figure walk out in front of me. The shadow from the castle was too dark, and I couldn't see who or what it was. My heart skipped a beat when I saw his handsome face coming out of the shadows.

"Carter!" I yelled as jumped into his arms.

"My beautiful sunshine. I missed you" Carter said right before I crashed my lips onto his.