I feel a chilled cold but refreshing touch brush away strands of my messy hair in a feather-like touch, and the same scent that I have been dreaming about, craving, but pushing away several times envelops me in a comfortable warm bubble. I snuggle into a pair of strong, defined arms, desperate to breathe in the addicting minty-oceanic cologne.

"Emma...?" A husky and tired voice resonates in my head and I open my eyes tentatively, finding myself captivated by those dark and golden-flecked eyes. His hair is messy and stands out in different directions which only, may I add, makes him look even more attractive than he needs to be. It makes him look unguarded, youthful and vulnerable, traits that she's only ever managed to give him once. His full lips are slightly parted and dark ringlets have appeared under his eyes, evidence of countless sleepless nights. But vampires don't sleep, do they? How come he looks so tired then?

"I thought vampires couldn't sleep?" I ask hesitantly, awaiting a reaction. Jay sighs and pulls me into him closer, and I remember his cocky smirk as he bends his head down, only to be broken off by Hunter's arrival. That seems so long ago, and now it's like I'm looking at a different person altogether.

"You're my bond-mate Emma. You've been sleeping for days, and the bond makes me feel what you're feeling. It's as if I'm taking in part of your drained energy to relieve some of your pain."

My heart picks up in its erratic beating, and I offer a small smile. "You look tired." I whisper softly, reaching for his face with pale and trembling fingertips. He closes his eyes and leans into my hand, and at that moment he looks like a cute little boy, being lullabied to sleep by his mum's soft voice. He looks... human.

"Worrying about you is exhausting." He says playfully, although there's still a layer of tiredness underneath that tone as he places his cold hand over mine. "The hunters have been trying to attack again in minor groups several times this week."

Realisation hits me like a truck. "So... umm... I've been asleep for how long?" I ask hesitantly, watching as he searches my face for a reaction. When I give him none he takes my hand away from his cheek and plays with my fingers in his with a heavy sigh.

"Four days." Silence passes over us and I fiddle with my sleeve nervously, knowing very well what his next question will be. My dreams during these last nights have been filled with haunting images of that time in the field, that's vivid enough in colours and sounds for me to mistake it for reality, a reality that's been playing over and over again in my mind like a record-player.

"How did you do it?" He asks, cupping my flaming cheeks. "How did you kill him?"

-I... I don't know..." I exhale deeply, feeling the overwhelming nauseat feeling clouding over my vision. The image of the ghostly looking man, covered in blood and flesh, melting away, pops several images into my mind, and I restrain the urge to let out the contents of my stomach.

Jay doesn't look pleased with my answer but lets it go with a slight nod, straightening up. He's not letting it go though, and a part of me suspects that I'll be in for another questioning by Hunter. The idea of that already exhausts me. Jay notices my drooping eyes and sighs again, hugging me tighter in his body. "I'm sorry Em... I know you're tired, but I was just so worried okay? I thought I'd lost you..." His voice breaks at the end, and I'm about to comfort him when a shrill voice cuts through my thoughts from outside the bedroom door.

"Where the hell is he!? I honestly couldn't care less if he doesn't want to see me!" Jay stiffens as a feminine voice approaches the closed door, mixed with Drake's desperate attempts to keep her away. The door is swung open and the astonishingly familiar beautiful girl steps inside, hands on her hips and the fiercest look on her face I have seen her have. The girl from the cafeteria. Her sleek black hair falls perfectly down her shoulders and her vibrant red lips are retracted to let pass a pair of glistening white pointy canines.

Jay looks slightly angry from being interrupted, but when he sees the woman in front of her his dark expression transforms into one of shock. He stands up slowly, hesitantly, and takes a tentative step towards her. I sit up as well, getting up onto my feet with shaking legs. I take a step towards them, always hiding behind Jay's protective and broad back.

His voice comes out with a disbelieving tone, "Lily?"

She smiles with amusement and sways her hips as she walks towards him. "Hello little brother..."

I have a second to see the flash of surprise in his eyes before it's replaced by his usual collected look. Lily seems to notice it as well as her lips tug at the corners and she sends me an amused glance. "Is he always this calm?" She feigns ignorance and I can't help but laugh, earning a cool glare from Jay.

Her casual stance relaxes me and the atmosphere turns into one of teasing around us. I nod my head, letting out in a laughing voice, "A bit annoying, always trying to be funny, overprotective, quite-"

"-hot, yes we get it." He cuts me off, and as I raise an eyebrow he shrugs in reply. His dark bags seem less apparent, as if his sister's sudden presence has blown some life into him. I can't help but feel that little tinge of jealousy seeping through me, but I force it away, mentally slapping myself.

She's his sister, idiot. Don't be selfish!

"I see your ego hasn't shrunk one bit." Lily says, and Drake flips over into a fit of laughter, making her smirk once more. "So... little brother..." She makes her way over to the bed in which by which I'm standing, but Jay takes a step closer to me and stops her from coming closer. She sends him an annoyed glance and shoves him away, and I stare dumbfounded at her strenght overpowering Jay's. He looks equally surprised.

"Hunter called for me. I still owe him. Said that we had a... problem." She smiles, showing of her astoundingly two pointy teeth, causing a shiver to pass through me. She's a vampire like the rest of them, and a seemingly powerful one at that.

"How the hell did you get stronger than me?" Jay exclaims with annoyance, brushing off the invisible dust on his ripped jeans.

"Aww... sad you lost to a girl?" She snaps back sarcastically, and I can't help but feel amused at their childish sibling bickering. But even I'm curious. I look at her with curiosity but her cocky eyes are focused on her brother.

"You know exactly," He hisses, "what I mean." Drake takes a step forward and places a protective hand on her shoulder. I raise my eyebrow at the intimate gesture but no one else seems to notice.

"Calm down Jay... Hunter just called for her to treat your human." He declares and I frown at the name he gives me. Lily spares me a glance and shakes of Drake's hand, who looks at her with disappointment. Again, no one else seems to notice the way that his eyes lighten when he looks at her, and I can't help but feel slightly happy that he may have gotten a second chance at finding love after what happened to his own soulmate.

"This isn't about you Drake." Jay snarls, and I can see his patience slipping away second by second. Luckily, Lily notices as well.

"Drake..." She whispers soothingly, completely ignoring her brother's outrageous attitude, "please leave me a moment with my darling brother. It seems that we might be having to have some re-bonding time." Drake nods and stumps away reluctantly, clearly more than annoyed at his dismiss.

"Now..." She turns to me with flashing eyes, "Where were we?"

-You still haven't answered my question." Jay breaks in from behind. "And I'm more than curious to know." He crosses his arms which seems to do it. She sighs and brushes a hand through her long, silky hair, and for a moment she looks completely vulnerable and throws away the composed and cool facade that she wore minutes ago.

"I've been feeding, Jay." She shrugs, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. I'm shocked at her blatant words, but Jay beats me to it with a powerful rage.

"You've been what?" Jay snarls, taking urgent steps towards her.

-You heard me." She snaps back, and I'm suddenly worried that a vampire fight is going to break out in the middle of my bedroom. The air has taken on a tense atmosphere, and I more than wish, in that moment, to vanish from the room in thin air. This tension is suffocating. "I've been feeding okay?" She continues, eyes flashing red in little intervals, only briefly. She's controlling her rage. "Not from those disgusting blood bags from the hospital, but drinking from the actual vein. Happy now?"

-Why should I be happy about that? You could be killing a thousand humans for all I know!" He exclaims, plastering a deadly mask on his face.

-Relax! I'm not killing them, they never remember anything the moment I'm gone. I had to experience something else Jay! Eternal life gets boring when all you do is live by the rules..." The last sentence is a whisper, and Jay's expression softens as he reaches out for her hesitantly. She shakes her head and waves him off, and he stares, surprise mixed with sadness, before disappearing through the door. She looks like a lonely girl, a girl who's witnessed too much pain in her long life-time. I suddenly understand her urge to discover something new, even as horrible as that 'new' thing may be.

I shut my mouth that I hadn't noticed had fallen open and shift uncomfortably on my feet after experiencing this very intense moment. "Umm... so... I -" I begin.

"Don't." She cuts me off, and I immediately regain silence. She shakes her head and recomposes herself, flashing me a brilliant smile to cover up her long-gone vulnerability. But even I can see the apparent sadness and disappointment in herself underneath that fake smile. The broken pieces of her soul still seem to have a long way to mend.