When people wake up from a groggy sleep, it seems like they always hear things around them before they actually wake up.

Which is true.

When I awoke, I heard talking. But it wasn't normal; everyone sounded different, like they were farther away, and speaking through water. After a few minutes, I was finally able to make out words.

"There's a heartbeat," I heard. "And... it smells like blood. But it's almost dead, and very faint."

"What are you saying?" a voice asked. "She's suddenly.. alive? Like, not like us?"

A hand touched my forehead, before being yanked back. "She's burning up."

Loud beeping echoed in my head, but I was helpless to stopping it. It hurt, and the beeping only quickened, almost going to a steady tone, and getting more high pitched.

"Somethings wrong. Hold her down!"

Somethign pinned my hands down, but I didn't even realize I had been moving in the first place. Something poked my arm, and my eyes flew open.

I stared at the bright lights above me as I gasped for breath. Dark hair came into my vision along with a mask. Green gloved hands cupped my face, and I struggled to breath.

"Krys? Krys, can you hear me?" he asked, this thumb stroking my cheek. "Krystalyn, are you alright?"

But I couldn't answer. I choked on air, and the darkness consumed me again.

~~~~~

The next time I came around, it was more sudden.

I sat up, clutching at my throat and gasping. Thee beeping sped up again, but otherwise, it was quiet. Tubes and needles stabbed me, and I furrowed my eyebrows as I tried to stand up. Why were they putting fluids in me? And what was that machine reading?

I tried to pull the wires off me, and a steady beep filled the room. Immediately, loud banging noises could be heard outside, and when I blinked, Claire was there.

I blinked again and shook my head. "When'd you get here?" I asked as Damien appeared as well.

They shared a weird look, but didn't say anything.

The door flew open, slamming against the wall, and I jumped as te Titans stood there, looking panicked.

Cyborg and Raven rushed over, putting the needles back in my arm, and tampering with the machine.

"Don't do that again," Raven instructed, sending me a half hearted glare.

"I don't need them," I told her. "I'm a vampire, I'm already healed."

The room fell silent, and I looked around. "What's wrong?" I asked. "What happened?"

My mind went back to the battle field, and I jumped up again, tearing at the tubes. "Katarina," I huffed, feeling out of breath. "She... is she okay?" I stumbled to the door, and fell; Robin caught me and helped me back.

"Why wouldn't she be okay?" he asked, confused.

"What about Seth? Is everyone okay?" I gripped at Robins shoulders and he nodded, leading me back to the bed. "They're all downstairs. Everyone's okay."

"What happened?" I asked again. "Jeremy... the Fangs? I don't remember, I just..."

The room fell silent, and I looked at them all in turn. "What. Happened?"

"Seth is downstairs," Claire rushed. "I should go make sure he hasn't broken anything."

She was gone. I don't even see her leave, and the only thing that showed her moving was the blast of air that shot me.

"I'll go with her," Damien nodded stiffly, and calmly walked out.

Robin sighed, and helped me over to the bed. "You guys make sure yet don't get into another fight," he directed, and the other Titans nodded, before makin their own way out as well.

"You're scaring me," I whispered, raking my fingers through my hair.

"Krystalyn," he started, "the Fangs got away." He shushed me before I could even open my mouth. "After Jeremy... Jeremy injected that stuff in you, we all tried to get to you. During the confusion, they disappeared."

"What if they come back?" I asked. "You just let them go?"

"We had something more important to worry about," Robin snapped, and I stopped talking. "But, Krys... you've been out for a week. We we're all worried, and-"

"A week?" I asked. "That's impossible. The vampire blood beats all drugs, I should've only been out a couple of days at the most."

"That's what I'm trying to tell you," he growled, glaring. "There is no vampire blood in your system. It's gone, and won't accept any from your brother or sister. It kills you."

"But... but I'm a vampire," I insisted. "If that's true, then... I'm not... I mean..."

Robin glanced at the machine next to us, which was now beeping incredibly fast. "You're not," he said softly, taking my hands. "We're not sure what he enjected you with, but Katarina and Raven are doing everything they can. They took a vial of your blood to try to find out what it was, but... we don't know."

"I'm human," I murmured. "I'm over three hundred years old. What's going to happen to me?"

Robin glanced at the machines, and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "I don't know," he answered softly, and ducked his head. "We don't... we have no idea."

"But it's okay!" Claire announced, and Robin and I jumped.

"Where in the world did you come from?" I asked.

"I just came in through the door," she said innocently. "But anyway, it'll be okay. We just need to find Jeremy, and get the cure. And then you can be a vampire again, and everything will be okay."

Damien appeared next to her, and from the look on his face, I knew exactly what he was thinking.

"Except... you won't look for Jeremy," I stated, staring at my brother. "You don't want me to be a vampire. You want me to remain human?"

Avoiding eye contact, he nodded. Robin took my hand softly, but I ripped away from him, and stood up quickly. I swayed, and black spots clouded my vision, and immediately, I had three sets of hands surrounding me.

"I have enemies," I told Damien. "For three years, I ran all around the world, making friends and twice as many enemies. Do you know what sort of bounty I have on my head? I'm worthless now!"

Damien stepped back, and he was glaring slightly. "I never wanted this to happen to you two. You're the younger sisters, and I was supposed to watch out for you, to make sure you lived happy lives" Running his fingers through his hair, his eyes hardened, and the light blue darkened. Claire and I both instantly flinched back, and suddenly it was like the olden days, when women obeyed every word. "I'm the oldest here, and I am in charge. Krystalyn, I am giving you a chance to live. You used to dream of getting married and having children."

I opened my mouth to object, but he cut me off.

"You can grow old now. And you have friends that won't leave your side," he continued. "We will not go risking everyones lives just so you don't have to worry about getting paper cuts. And you aren't worthless."

"But..." Claire clung to my arm, and looked at Damien with pleading eyes. "We can't leave her. What happens in fifty years, when we can't see her anymore? You can't take my sister away from me!"

Damien turned to Robin. "We need some family time. Get out."

"No." I glared, and pulled Claire closer. "You may be the boss of us, you are not the boss of Robin. Robin, if you would like to leave, you may."

He looked uncomfortable, and after a quick nod, he left the room.

"This discussion is over," Damien spat. "You like him, and he likes you. I am giving you a chance to be happy. Why can't you just take that?"

"This is a superhero team," I said, ignoring the part about Robin. "Without my abilities, what am I supposed to do? Jump City isn't exactly the safest. We have villians running down the street on a daily bases."

"It's safer than being on the radar for creatures like us," he argued.

"How is that supposed to make me feel better?" I demanded. "Claire is thirteen years old. I can't leave her!" I slammed my fist on a nearby table, and it broke in half. The shock of the break made me fall, and Claire rushed forward to catch me.

"Whoa," she muttered.

"Like I said," Damien smirked, "this discussion is over."

I blinked at the table repeatedly, and shook my head. "No, it's not."

"You're human now," he stated, striding over to the door, and stepping out of the room. "Get over it."