Heya,

Sorry that it took so long to update... Been a long week without a computer and all.

Anyway: I saw I had six new fans which makes me REALLY happy! That's so great ;) And because I had no computer it feels like that just happened overnight. Thank you all so much for reading and liking my story!

Vote and comment ;)

Love, Robin

A little uncomfortable I sat in the passenger's seat of Missy's car. She'd allowed Nathaniel five minutes in private to say goodbye to me, the whole argument would have been funny if not for the fact that I was on the losing side...

After all, Missy was seven years Nathaniel's junior and she totally strong armed him to do as she said. Of course it didn't help that Nathaniel knew she was right and wasn't really putting up that much of a fight.

He'd taken me aside, straight into his office and attacked my lips as soon as the door closed. That was the reason I was uncomfortable now... Missy was wearing that knowing smile on her face and it was very unsettling.

We were nearly there when she said suddenly: 'I know this is private for a lot of people but we're friends right?'

Confused I nodded, 'Of course we are...'

'How does your mark look?'

I stared at her. Mark? Did she mean the hickey?

'Yeah your Soulmate mark...' Missy clarified.

I was still staring but I really didn't know what she was talking about. I knew Nathaniel had said something once about how the hickey wasn't a real mark, because that should be permanent. But I was pretty sure I didn't have anything like that.

'He hasn't marked you yet?' Missy's eyebrows climbed up in surprise and then she was suddenly pulling her shirt up to show her left hip.

Just above the line of her pants there was a marking, it looked silvery lined with black. With elegant lines and dots they shaped a heart encircled with pretty swirls and music notes entwined. It seemed almost alive and flowed with her skin... The colors like nothing ink could do.

'This is mine, not all marks actually have a heart. They are unique for each couple and reflect a little of their personalities, that's why a lot of couples hide them. They are afraid to reveal things about themselves to others...'

Nathaniel was going to give me a mark like that? How would he do it? I scrunched up my face as I tried to imagine it. Would it involve him biting me? No Elliot didn't have fangs and he'd marked Missy so that couldn't be it.

Missy smiled, 'The heart reflects how passionate we both are... The swirls indicate scents and steam, they're for Elliot's talents as a cook amongst other things while the music notes are for me.'

'It's very beautiful Mis... It just... it seems a little weird that just the females get the mark? It's like marking territory or something,' that seemed a little off to me. I didn't want to go around with this big sign saying I was Nathaniel's while nobody could tell he was mine.

Missy laughed, 'You get to mark him too Amy. Elliot has the same mark as I do but his is right over his heart. You should start thinking about where you want yours and where you'd want to mark Nathaniel.

It's important you get that mark soon, werewolves can smell you're marked. They'll leave you alone after that, it's very sacred in their culture. In every culture really, least in the vampire culture though.'

'Werewolves?' of course there would also be werewolves out there... Silly not to expect that!

'Yeah Devon's one actually and so is Mr. Reynolds, Devon is going to be the next alpha in town when his father dies. Nobody likes him though,' I shivered as I processed that information and remembered my dream about Devon changing into a wolf.

I told Missy about it and she smiled, 'You seem really sensitive to all kinds of supernatural stuff. Like the mindreading too, Nate told me how good you are at talking to him mentally already... Seems like you picked up on what he was unconsciously.'

We'd reached the big house and I hesitated in getting out, 'How do you make that mark?'

A knowing look appeared on Missy's face again and then she smirked. 'You'll know Amy... Don't worry about it.'

As I marched up the steps to the house and pulled out my keys I felt Nathaniel touch my mind gently: 'Be strong a ghrá mo chroí. You know how to reach me if you need anything.'

I waved as Missy drove away and then stepped into the house. Only just in time remembering that I was supposedly sick... Slumping my shoulders and fake coughing once I shuffled up the stairs to my room without saying hello to anyone.

There I hurriedly changed into PJ's and crawled in bed with a book. If my stepmother would come looking for me I looked credible enough now and I knew that Hay would find me in my room if he wanted me.

Soon there was a knock on my door and then Jessica burst in. 'Where have you been all day?'

I pretended to be drowsy as I looked at her and then said softly, 'In bed mostly... I called in sick at school, caught a bug.'

The woman frowned at me suspiciously but then her expression cleared, 'You weren't here though. I had the nanny check your room when Eliza called that you were not at school. Explain that? And if you're sick then you wont mind if I check your temperature?'

I shrugged and explained that as I'd been sleeping over at Missy she'd let me sleep because I was sick and she had just driven me home a short while ago. I'd spend the day in bed in her guestroom not here.

When my stepmother went to get the thermometer I hurriedly went to the bathroom and stuck a washcloth under the hot water tap. Running it so hot that it steamed. I took that with me and hid it in my lap under the duvet.

I knew Jessica would be easily distracted so I could pop the thermometer in the hot washcloth, tweaking the temperature just a little. I was lucky because her phone rang and I managed to get the thermometer to the point where it looked like I had just a tiny bit of a fever.

I held it up to her while she was still talking on the phone and as she read the number she nodded, obviously looking a little defeated. When she hung up she told me, 'Fine you're sick. That means you're not going to school tomorrow either.'

The woman watched in satisfaction as my face fell. No Nathaniel tomorrow... The evil woman had known I didn't want that, she sashayed out of my room saying: 'I'll make sure the maids keep an eye on you, if you need anything you can ask them. Oh and I want your phone, you're not talking to your friends till you're better.'

As the door closed behind her I tossed the washcloth out and angrily clenched my fists. They just always knew how to get to me....

Nathaniel touched my mind, 'You alright a ghrá mo chroí? Are you in trouble?' With the thought came a sense of warmth and love.

I went to shake my head and then realized he couldn't see that and angled a thought towards him instead: 'No I'm not... I managed to convince her I really was sick. Correction am sick, but now she wont let me go to school tomorrow. And she took my phone...'

I knew he could feel how upset I was about that fact. It meant I wouldn't be seeing him until Friday...

'I can always sneak in through your bedroom window...' the thought held a dark, sensual promise that made my skin feel a little too tight.

He seemed to know I wouldn't take him up on that offer and send another thought: 'We can talk like this a ghrá mo chroí, it is effortless now. We don't need phones. I can sense you are still full of questions, ask away.'

I shivered but was glad to oblige. 'When you feed... How does that work? Do you go to a bar and pick up a person and just bite them?'

I sensed amusement as he took a moment to formulate a reply. 'I don't like going to bars...The taste of blood infused with alcohol. I don't like it. But yes we do just walk up to our 'victim' and bite them. Every vamp does it differently, some use hypnotism, others just wipe the memory away, others pretend it to be a love bite... Whatever works.'

'And how do you do it?' I wondered if he could use hypnotism. That would be a little scary, I'd never know when he would do it to me...

'I make them sleep Ams,' he said. 'Missy she can compel them with her mind, like I said; she is strongly telepathic. Jake... he makes them feel like they're seriously hung over the next day.'

I took a moment to take in that information, hungover? Making people sleep, that was pretty awesome. That reminded me that I wanted to ask him about the powers.

'You mentioned powers...What was that about? What kind of powers?'

It was quiet for a while again but I could sense that he was thinking of how to reply. It was true, this link between our minds, it was so easy to hear him even though he was a ten minute drive away from me.

'As vampires age, they gain power it works much the same as the immortality fusing with our cells... Except that there is a blueprint in our bodies, one can only gain as much power and talents as one already had the blueprint for.

Some vampires will always remain weak, others gain strength and power rapidly...'

He was quiet again, I could tell that he was lying on his back on his bed. Staring at the ceiling but not really seeing it.

'What powers do you have?' I asked when the silence stretched.

Amusement came back to me, 'Many a ghrá mo chroí. You'll find out over time...'

I groaned, 'That's not fair Nathaniel. You said I could ask you anything...'

'I said you could ask me anything, I never said I would answer them all.' But even as he said those words he continued with: 'At least you know I can put people to sleep. I also can light things on fire with a thought or a touch. Our talents are closely entwined with our personalities.'

I smiled, 'So that's how you lit all those candles last night?'

'Very good a ghrá mo chroí.'

'Nathaniel... Missy told me about the marks. Will you explain?'

Silence. Then I could vaguely sense anger flare inside him but it wasn't very clear, almost as if he was keeping me out.

'She wasn't supposed to tell you that,' came his thought at last.

Suddenly I felt mad about that, 'And why not? I have a right to know! Or were you just going to mark me without my consent?' I didn't know exactly where that came from, Nathaniel had been nothing but gentle and all though he seemed to have a penchant for secrets he'd told me what he was on our very first date.

Nathaniel's reply sounded controlled and a little cold but the words softened me. 'It was my right to tell you Amelia. I wanted to give you time to get adjusted to what I am first... The mark is irreversible, I will not do that to you until you are absolutely sure.'

I instantly felt guilty about the harsh words I'd 'spoken' to him. He'd only been looking out for me... It was obvious that it hurt him to think that I might not want him. He was good at hiding what he felt, I almost hadn't noticed through that thick layer of control.

'I'm sorry Nathaniel.' Sending him the strong feeling of belonging and love and wholeness I felt around him. I hoped it was enough to ensure him that I did not want to be without him.

A giggle suddenly escaped my lips as I realized how far our relationship had suddenly progressed. We'd only had one date yet this whole soulmate concept... We both knew we'd never love another, never.

Nathaniel sensed what I felt and suddenly his amusement seeped through, his worries obviously eased. 'You are so...human a ghrá mo chroí.'

Before I could reply to that Hayden burst into my room. His face flushed, his bronze curls messy and several colorful stains on his white shirt. It seemed he'd been allowed to paint today.

'Amylee! You're home,' he squealed as he jumped up on my bed and dove into my arms.

I laughed as I hugged my little brother, 'Hey Giant. Had fun today?' Then I send Nathaniel: 'I'm sorry I need to spend some time with Hay. Let's finish this later?'

Hayden went to close the door as he told about painting at school and the teacher getting mad at him because he'd made a mess. He looked a little too proud about that so I knew he'd done it on purpose.

Nathaniel touched my mind gently, 'If it's okay with you... I'd like to watch for a moment? I've not had the chance yet to meet Hayden.'

I nodded and then send back, 'Alright. How does that work?'

'Just relax and open your mind, it's fine like this.' A warm spot in my mind and I knew he could see what I saw and hear what I heard.

The rest of the evening I spend talking with Hay while Nathaniel listened in although I knew that at some point he'd picked up a book to read. I read Hayden stories and then we made up our own stories together.

The next day was spend in a similar fashion. Although during the day I was rather bored and lonely. Nathaniel had classes to teach and couldn't talk and I didn't know how to reach Missy or even if I would be able to.

Hayden was at school himself but he was home at two again and stormed up to my room. I think the nanny was very relieved that I didn't mind spending time with him. She seemed hard pressed to put up with all his antics.

Nathaniel send me a warm thought when he finished school, filled with longing that I felt reflected in myself. Already my body seemed on edge... strained like butter stretched too thin over toast. Hayden seemed oblivious to the tension.

Nathaniel shut me out just after seven PM. One final thought telling me not to worry and that he was going over to the next town to feed.

I was sure he told me this deliberately to test if I was okay with it. He didn't want to strain me and scare me away but he also wanted to show me clearly what he was, so I had the chance to decide whether or not I could live with that.

He didn't realize that I had long since made that decision. Nothing he did or said could change my mind about it. Although I knew we didn't really have a choice either, I was sure the strain on my body would kill me if I couldn't be with him. I knew it was the same for him.

Just before I fell asleep that night my head filled with that lullaby. Nathaniel's voice softly singing it to me and guiding me into the warm embrace of sleep.

The next morning I was up and dressed, ready for school way before Eliza was done. As she entered the kitchen and saw me she quirked an eyebrow in question. It wasn't hard to pick up on the fact that I wanted very badly to go to school.

Before she could get her own breakfast she disappeared up the stairs again, I heard her call her mother. My heart sunk, she was going to get her mom to make me stay home again.

I couldn't face another day alone so I scrambled for the door. Slinging my backpack over my shoulder. It was still early, if I hurried I could walk and still be in time.

Today was Friday and I had the feeling that if I didn't see Nathaniel today I wouldn't be able to all weekend. I had heard my stepmother say that father was coming home again today and I knew he hadn't forgotten that I was grounded.

Even though I felt like he had no right to do that anymore.... Since I was eighteen. According to him it was his house so his rules.

I was halfway out the drive when Jessica's scream froze me in my tracks. 'Get back here Amelia! You are not going to school when you might still be sick.'

To the neighbors that might have made her sound like a concerned mother but to me it sounded like the wicked witch of the west. This had nothing to do with my health and everything with their plot against me seeing my friends and Nathaniel.

Somehow Eliza had guessed about my feelings for him and possibly his feelings for me too.

I turned slowly, cast Jessica one look and told her; 'I want to go. You can't stop me, I have a right to go to school.' Then I turned and kept walking.

Only to stumble into something solid and warm. I went sprawling to the pavement, my bag tearing open and scattering my books across the curb.

I yelped as the palms of my hands burned when I caught myself with them. Tiny pebbles embedding themselves in the fragile skin and blood already welling where skin had been torn off.

'Amelia Taylor! Didn't I tell you to obey your mother?' A stern voice thundered.

My eyes found the shining black leather shoes, the immaculate suit in unrelieved black. The wide shoulders and the golden rimmed glasses balanced on a firm hooked nose. Blue eyes glaring at me with such cold anger that I wondered why my blood wasn't freezing over.

'Father...' I said breathlessly. 'I just want to go to school, I already missed two days because I was sick, I don't want to miss anymore!' I didn't care that I sounded like a bookworm or a nerd as Eliza would call it.

He frowned and cast a look at Jessica, who stood on the steps at the front door. She wore a green silk robe embroidered in flowers and birds, the fabric ending just above her knees. The robe falling open to reveal her ample cleavage.

The woman was pouting at him and his expression firmed as he turned back to look at me. 'Get inside Amelia, now!' Anger rolled off him like a heavy fog and I scrambled to my feet, gathering my books in my torn back in a rush.

A savage kick to my side send me sprawling across the pavement again. Dazed I lay there for a moment, trying to figure out what had happened as pain blossomed across my side.

My father had kicked me.

I blinked as tears jumped to me eyes and then there was a touch on my mind. 'Ams! You're hurt, hang on. I'm coming for you,' Nathaniel's presence in my head gave me strength.

'No!' I snapped at him, 'I can handle this myself.'

I did not want him here, not where Eliza and Jessica could see him. Not where he could get hurt and not where he could see my sorry excuse of a father. I knew Nathaniel wouldn't be able to control himself.

I felt him accept what I'd said and then he send back: 'You WILL call me if it gets out of hand.' The thought was nearly a snarl and I could vividly see him clutching the steering wheel as he drove to school, his face twisted in anger.

I had to hold back the thought that things had already gotten out off hand and struggled to my feet. Clutching my bag to me as I stared at the man that somehow had the right to call himself my father.

Nathaniel didn't withdraw his presence form my mind, leaving just the tiniest trace so that I knew he was there for me. So that I could draw strength from him.

'Get inside the house Amelia!' my father snarled at me but I knew he didn't sound as threatening as Nathaniel did when he wanted too. Still my heart beat in my chest in fear and anger combined and I didn't fight it as, with a sense of defeat, I walked back into the house.