About a month or two went by and it was boring and non-exciting as usual and much to my relief. But, it was weird not seeing Jake around that much anymore. I was kind of starting to wonder about the boy, but I had bigger problems on my plate. Jared’s wedding was just two weeks away and I had no date since Derik was out of town on family business. He had explained that his mom was looking for a good out fit for her date with ‘Mr. Right’. I felt bad for him since his mom wanted his opinion.

David stopped popping out of no where as well, since his mother came into town. That was a new thing I found out. David and Jack were brothers, or at least half brothers and Margret, who was my boss at the music store downtown, was their mother. I also noticed that David was avoiding her. He had that look of hate in his eyes every time she was around. I started to wonder what had happened between them. I was also starting to realize that I missed seeing him as much as I missed seeing everyone else.

I layed on my bed out of boredom staring at the plastered ceiling. Spread out not thinking about a thing, except how extremely bored I was. I could hear my father’s footsteps upstairs as he wondered around in his office. He still was giving me the silent treatment ever since he figured that I wasn't going to break up with Derik and I didn’t think much of it as I turned over to my side. My cell phone rested nicely on the nightstand next to the various junk that I was too lazy to put away.

At the corner of my eye a figure appeared in the doorway of my room. Looking, I saw Jack standing there, hesitating whether he should come in or not. Sitting up, I patted the spot next to me on the bed. Telling him to sit down next to me. He looked as if he had something to say and I had a feeling that I wasn't going to believe a thing he was about to tell me.

After sitting down next to me he let out a sigh as he looked towards the floor pressing his lips together so that they were a thin line on his face. He wore his royal blue hoodie and dark blue jeans making him look more attractive than usual. But it made his white shoes look out of place, making me want to giggle a little bit but I held it in. This is supposed to be a serious situation.

“Do you want to hear something crazy from me or from David?” he said not giving me eye contact. A confused look formed on my face. What more was there for me to know? "You know what? What I need to say can wait. You can hear what David has to say first. I'll just tell you that he isn't as bad of a guy once you get to know him. Okay?"

I stared at him, not sure what to think. Jack pretty much just answered his own question. But what other crazy things can they tell me? I was already told that vampires existed and that I could be one of them. Jack even confessed his feelings to me. What else could there be?

"Why is everyone trying to make me chose David still? I already decided to be with Derik," I told him honestly. Still not sure of the choice that I made.

Jack let out a heavy sigh before he responded, "I really wished that you didn't make that choice, but it has already been done. But the reason why we push you towards him is because every Seadonna has a perfect match or a soulmate.

"We don't know how it works, but its like our blood calls for the person whenever they are near. Or, at least that is how it was explained to me," he finished, "Me being a half breed, it could be different because there aren't many of around."

"Why aren't you treated like Derik if you are half breed like him?" I heard myself ask.

"Because I'm related to a very high power and I showed no interest joining the family anytime soon even if I share the same blood as them," he explained. Making me give a confused look. Jack ended up chuckling as he explained more, "Mine and David's mother is married to the brother of the Queen."

My jaw dropped.

"Sadly her behavior is tolerated for that very reason," came David's voice. Making me look towards my bedroom doorway and see him standing there, listening to our conversation. His forest green beanie was gone, his black raven hair in full view. It was a change that I wasn't used to, but I was kind of liking it.

David walked into my room and up to where Jack and I were sitting on my bed. I noticed the dark circles under his eyes and felt bad for him. When was the last time he got any sleep? Maybe instead of talking to me, he should take a nap. I'm sure what he wanted to tell me could wait.

"Ready to go?" David asked with a smirk. Knowing fully well that I was still in my pajamas because I had no reason to get dressed yet today. I still hated that smirk with a passion.

Getting up from my bed, I went to my dresser and grabbed some clothes to wear. Then headed for my bathroom. One boy watched me with a smirk still on his face while the other glared at him. I wasn't surprised to hear the loud whispers the moment I closed the door. Jack was probably scolding David for teasing me.

After I was dressed, David didn't waste time taking me to his car so he could take me to where ever he planned to go to have our talk. It wasn't long before I learned that it was the only rundown beach in town and the place was packed. People were everywhere and I wasn't sure if it was possible to have a private conversation without someone overhearing.

As soon as the car was parked and turned off, David climbed out of it. Me following close behind him. Still worried about all of the people on the beach. This place usually wasn't this crowded, but it looked like there were at least three birthday parties going on. But David began walking on the path on the beach that led into the surrounding woods. It was as if he had this all planned ahead.

"Expecting this?" I couldn't help but ask.

He peeked at me over his shoulder as he spoke to me, "I stopped by earlier and saw everyone piling in. I had to find a spot private enough for us to talk."

David remained ahead of me by a few feet, leading the way to where ever he had planned to go to. For all I know, he was just taking me somewhere so that he could kill me. He could have everyone fooled by making them think he was a good guy. But he was Jack's brother and he seemed to trust him. So I had no choice but to as well.

After what felt like walking for ten minutes, I was hot and covered in sweat. David looked like he wasn't affected by the rising heat at all. It made me wonder if he was used to this kind of weather, or if it had something to do with Gene V. The questioned stayed unsaid as he began to slow down his pace.

"We're almost there. I even set up some chairs to mark the spot," he told me to my relief. I wasn't sure if I could walk anymore, "For someone who walks off a lot, you sure are out of shape."

I ended up giving David the middle finger. It wasn't that I couldn't walk this much. It was the fact that there were pretty steep hills on the path. I'm usually on flat ground when I walk off. But David didn't seemed phased by my little gesture. He just chuckled a little as he turned off the path into a group of trees. Making me hesitate to follow him.

After a small battle with myself, I followed. By the time I caught up to him, he was sitting on a chair in a small clearing. Another empty chair sat next to him as if it was waiting for me to join him. With a sigh, I took the seat as David watched my every move.

"What is this crazy thing that you had to talk to me about?" I asked him and making him smile.

"It's not that crazy. But I know Ashley didn't explain things to you. She said you were to overwhelmed last night for more information," he answered.

I nodded my head as I felt my body relax more, "So this is about Gene V."

That made more sense to me more. The privacy of this clearing would make sure no one heard and start thinking we were crazy. I know I would if it was someone else in this situation and not me.

David nodded as he placed his elbows on his knees, "Do you remember all that you were told?"

"Not really. It was a lot," I told him honestly.

He sat up straighter in his chair as he nodded his head some more. I was starting to think that he was trying to be a bobble head for a minute, "A little refresher never hurt anyone," he stated, "Gene V has a lot of mysteries that even we don't know much about. Scientists from the government work along side our family to try to figure out and maybe use it to help cure certain diseases.

"The Gene also appears to have three different stages. The first stage is when it is asleep and not in affect. Kind of like how you are now," he glanced at me when he finished that sentence and then continued, "The second stage is what makes us similar to the mythical creatures vampires. We don't get sick, we can walk and run faster, and some of us has a sensitivity to the sun. Also another cool thing is that out eyes glow one of three colors: blue, green, or ember."

"What is the third stage?" I heard myself ask him.

David shrugged his shoulders, "Your guess is as good as mine. No one has made it to that stage yet. And, if they did, it would have been during Vlad's time and never recorded it for us to learn about it."

My thoughts started to get the best of me. I started to think that maybe the third stage was the stage that everyone learned about. The stage when they fully become the vampires from the myths. Why else would the rumors and stories start during the time of Vlad the Impaler?

"What stage are you?" I couldn't help myself to ask.

David let out a small chuckle before answering, "I was wondering when that question would pop up. I'm at stage two. Happened after Emily died. Or, at least that is what I like to tell people since I was born a pure like Ricky."

The light in his eye faded a bit at the mention of the name. No matter how hard he tried, he could hide the sadness in them when ever the name Emily was said. It broke my heart and he must have loved her a lot to still be suffering from her loss.

"Tell me about her," I told him. Making him look at me, "Tell me about Emily. How you guys met and how she died. Maybe it will help."

David let out a sigh as his elbows met his knees once again. He stared out into the surrounding woods, not looking at anything in general. The sadness fully taking over as he dove into the memories of a woman he once loved, "I was eighteen in human years when I met Emily. She was a troubled girl who was just trying to survive the harshness of society. Her parents were no good and she was forced to take care of herself.

"I was going through a rebellious stage during that time as well. My father was pushing me hard to take his place and I wasn't ready. Ricky couldn't even control me," he told his story as if it all happened just last month, "I decided to go to a normal school one day, just to see how it was. No one cared that I was there unless it was to stare at me. Emily was the only one willing to walk up to me and tell me that I didn't belong there. She treated me differently like I was normal and not some important figure in a family. It was refreshing and I think that was what drew me to her."

"So you hung out with her and fell in love with her," I summarized for him with a knowing smile.

David smiled back at me, "Something like that. But it wasn't easy. Everyone kept reminding me that what I was doing was dangerous. Not just for her but also for the family. Our secret could get out and the government wouldn't be able to protect us anymore."

"So what happened?" I asked.

"I had to tell her the truth or let her go," David then looked me straight into my eyes. Making sure that he had my full attention, "If I could turn back time, I would have let her go instead of telling her the truth. Then maybe I wouldn't be blaming myself for her death."