“You so like her,” Destiny said smugly.

“Shut up, shut up, shut up. I don’t like her.” Nora’s cheeks flushed.

“You do.” She poked her.

“Stop!” Nora swatted her hand away.

“It’s okay Nora, I won’t tell her,” Destiny said.

“Just don’t tell my moms, they would so freak out.”

“I thought you said you weren’t gay,” Destiny pointed out.

“I like anyone pretty. It doesn’t matter their gender. If they're pretty, I’m helpless.” Nora sighed in defeat.

Destiny laughed.

“mmm, why can’t I just be normal,” Nora whined as she ran her hands down her face.

“She’s coming! Look alive!” Destiny slapped her in the back.

Nora perked up just as Tryx walked up to the table.

Tryx let out a heavy sigh before plopping down in front of Nora.

“You okay?” Nora asked.

“I forgot how cruel public school can be. Geez, I’m exhausted.” Tryx complained.

“Were you homeschooled?” Destiny asked.

“I have been for the past few months, but I wasn’t always. I used to go to public school before my mom withdrew me for family reasons. I guess you could say I’m out of practice.”

“I’d die if my moms tried to homeschool me,” Nora said.

Tryx giggled.

“We should all hang out,” Destiny said.

“Today?” Nora asked.

“Why not? It’s Friday and we have nothing better to do. We can go to the movies or something.”

Nora looked at Tryx.

“Okay, sounds fun.” She smiled.

“Okay,” Nora smiled back.

“Nora can give you her number,” Destiny said.

“Right!” Nora fumbled her phone.

“I’m gonna go get lunch!” Destiny quickly left the two alone together.

Tryx took Nora’s phone out of her hand, their fingers brushing together. Nora blushed.

“You and Destiny are close,” Tryx commented as she eyed Nora’s screen saver which was her and Destiny’s faces mushed together making silly faces.

“She’s my best friend. We’ve known each other since we were babies. She’s practically like a sister to me. We do almost everything together.”

“I wish I had something like that…” Tryx eyed the screen for a moment longer before imputing her number and handing Nora back her phone.

“You and your sister aren’t close?”

“Define close, all she does is pick on me constantly. Sometimes I wish I was never born or that I was adopted or something,” She looked off in thought.

“Don’t say that!” Nora slammed her fist down.

Tryx flinched and looked at her.

“Don’t let other people ruin the life you have. It’s your life, never wish it wasn’t. If you weren’t born I wouldn’t be talking to you right now. Every day is a new chance for you to turn things around, you just have to take it.”

Tryx blinked at her in surprise.

“Sorry, it’s just that stuff really bothers me. When my mom left I went through some pretty rough times. And I thought some pretty dark stuff, but I was able to get through it because I didn’t let what happened to me define me. Who cares what others think about you, it’s not them that matter, it’s you.”

“You really think so?” Tryx eyed her.

Nora nodded.

“Thanks… Nora. That means a lot to me.” Tryx smiled at her.

“You don’t have to do it alone anymore. You got me now, and Destiny. We can be your friends. Sure all three of us are pretty different from each other and everyone else but that’s just cause we are misunderstood. We don’t have to be like everyone else to be happy.”

“That’s probably the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”

“That’s me, Nora Nice Pants.”

“I thought it was cool pants.” Tryx teased her.

Nora giggled, her cheeks flush.

Tryx flinched when her phone vibrated. She looked down at a new text from her mom,

‘Don’t forget to invite her over later. So we can trap her. Don’t mess this up.’

She frowned at it and ignored it.

“Everything okay?” Nora asked.

“Just my stupid mom, nothing to worry about.”

Nora jolted when Ross and Garret sat down at her table next to her.

“Uh, can I help you?” She said in annoyance.

“Look, I wanted to apologize for yesterday. I didn’t mean for it to get out of hand.” Ross said.

Nora looked away, clenching her jaw.

“Nora really I’m sorry.”

“He is, he told me,” Garret added.

She glanced at Ross through the corner of her eye.

“Please forgive me.” He begged.

‘Be cautious, they might be tricking or using you. Both of them have supernatural energies. Never be fooled twice.’ Jinn warned.

“Get lost.” Nora crossed her arms.

Ross sighed.

“Who’s your new friend?” Garret changed the subject.

“My name is Tryx.” She said.

“I’m Garret.”

“And I’m Ross.”

They stared at her, unable to look away.

“Okay, you can go now!” Nora snapped at them, her jealously rising.

“Nice to meet you two,” Tryx said.

“Hey, what’d I miss?” Destiny came back.

“They were just leaving,” Nora said.

Ross sighed but he and Garret got up to leave.

“If you ever need anything or want me to show you around. Just ask.” Ross said to Tryx.

“Thanks.” She forced a smile.

Then they walked off.

“They got some nerve,” Nora grumbled.

“I know right,” Destiny agreed.

“What happened?” Tryx asked.

“Nothing, just stupid boys,” Nora said.

Destiny giggled.

After school, the girls met up at Nora’s house.

“Nora you’re grounded or did you forget?” Rooney crossed her arms.

“Please mom,” Nora begged.

“Don’t you mom me.”

“Aunt Darci already said yes, and that she’d even drop us off. Please, Destiny is going. I won’t be alone. Please I already told my friends I would.” Nora begged.

“Next time you’ll think twice about back talking to us then.” She said smugly.

“Ugh! I hate you!”

Joan sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.

“Why do you always have to be a bitch!?” Nora shouted at her before running upstairs to her room.

“What Nora meant to say was, she would really love and appreciate it if you let her come along,” Destiny said to Rooney.

Tryx giggled.

Rooney eyed Joan.

“I mean it’s just Destiny,” Joan said.

“I’m done. You deal with it. Don’t come crawling to me when this goes bad. All you do is spoil her. She needs to learn manners.” Rooney said.

“Roo it’s just the movies.”

“Done!” Rooney walked off.

Joan sighed.

Destiny blinked up at Joan with an innocent puppy dog look on her face.

“Only because it’s you,” Joan pinched her cheek before going upstairs to Nora’s room.

“Yes!” Destiny whooped.

“Nice one.” Tryx admired her.

“Parents love me,” Destiny said cheekily.

“Nora,” Joan knocked on the door.

“Go away,” Nora sobbed.

“Stop the theatrics,” Joan opened the door. “You can go.”

“Really!?”

“Yes, but—”

“Ugh!”

“But, you have to go apologies to your mother first.”

“Fine.” Nora groaned.

Nora stomped downstairs and marched over to Rooney, who was in the office.

“I’m sorry for calling you the b-word,” Nora said with her arms crossed.

“You call that an apology?” Rooney raised an eyebrow.

“Mom!” Nora turned to Joan.

“Now Nora,” Joan said sternly.

“Ugh!” Nora walked closer to Rooney.

Rooney eyed her expectantly.

Nora sighed before saying, “I’m sorry.” Sincerely.

Rooney sighed and pat Nora’s head before kissing her on the forehead. “What are we going to do with you kid,” Rooney shook her head.

Nora smiled at the affection.

“Now go on,” Joan shooed her.

“K, bye! Love you! Be back later!” Nora ran out.

“Is this really a good idea?” Rooney asked Joan.

“We can’t keep her locked up here, besides she’s with friends in a public setting. It’s only for a couple of hours. She’ll be fine.” Joan said.

“Fine, I trust you.” Rooney pecked her on the lips.

“Good,” Joan pecked her again.

The two smiled at each other.

“Okay, listen up. We need to regroup and figure out what our next move should be.” Lyssa said.

The house full of vampires nodded and eyed each other.

“What’s the latest reports?” Lyssa asked.

“Not good,” Rhonda said. “Word got out overseas. Apparently, you are ruffling the wrong kind of feathers. My intel tells me the higher council is prepping an army to come and annihilate all of us. Especially you and Rebecca.”

“My intel is the same,” Kitch said.

“As is mine,” Ahote added.

“It’s not looking good darling,” an Australian vampire picked at his teeth.

“We are looking at full-on Vampire war, something that hasn’t been seen in hundreds if not thousands of years,” Kitch said.

“Our numbers are good, but Valyssa we can’t handle that,” Vinny added.

Bex clenched her jaw and looked away from everyone, opting to stare out the window.

“Plus with Demetris on our asses and him teaming with demons and whatever else he can get his slimy hands on, we are screwed,” Cedric said.

“The council ordered Demetris to take care of it, but since he can’t they will likely send in reinforcements soon,” Lyssa said.

“What do we do?” Cali asked.

“We are cornered, there is nothing we can do but defend ourselves,” Lyssa said.

Deno cursed in Spanish.

“The casualties will be catastrophic. Human, vampire, and whatever else alike.” Cedric said.

The was a tense silence that fell on the house.

Bex slammed her fist against the wall, putting a hole in it. Everyone turned to face her.

“This is all my fault.” She said.

“I mean I wasn’t gonna say it out loud—”

Nico kicked Cedric hard in the leg.

“Oof,” he fell over.

“Rebecca we will figure this out,” Lyssa assured her.

“How many!” Bex stood up to face her. “How many more people have to die because of me!? Enough is enough Lyssa.”

“What are you saying,” Lyssa said.

“You know what I’m saying. I’m saying break our bond, let me turn myself in.”

The house quickly erupted into protest.

“Rebecca don’t be ridiculous!” Lyssa marched over to her.

“I can’t do this! I can’t… watching people die because of me… Lyssa, I can’t do this. It’s destroying me. I don’t even know who I am anymore. I can’t.” Bex sobbed.

The house fell silent once more.

“Rebecca,” Lyssa pulled her into her arms.

“Part of me is so angry, I just want to destroy something, hurt someone. The other part of me is falling to pieces. I want it to end. Please let me do this.” Bex sobbed.

“Never, I will never let you take the fall for this. Even if I have to fight the whole army alone.” Lyssa squeezed her.

“I don’t want you to die,” Bex sobbed into her. “I don’t want you to die Lyssa.”

The room filled with watery eyes and people had to look away from the two.

“I’m right here my love, I’m not going anywhere.” Lyssa assured her.

“I’m so scared,” Bex sobbed.

“I know my love, I know. I’ll protect you, always.” Lyssa rubbed her back.

“Look, let’s not pretend Rebecca hasn’t gotten the short end of the stick,” Cedric said. “They are purposely targeting her because of her connection with Valyssa and her ties to mortals. They think she’s a weak link. They know if they break her, they break not just Lyssa but all of us. Rebecca, you brought us all together. You saved us from the system of shit we were stuck in. We can’t lose you. I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say you are our inspiration, our light. Don’t give up just yet girly, all of us are rooting for you.”

The house gave collected agreements.

Bex pulled back from Lyssa to look at every one.

“He’s right, without you who knows where’d I’d be. You saved me.” Deno said. “I owe you everything. I will happily fight for you. Even into death. Because what we are fighting for is the right cause. It’s long past time Vampires get with the program. Sure things look dire, but I know if we work together we can and will pull through.”

“Yeah!” everyone cheered.

Bex sniffled and wiped her tears.

“Don’t give up before the wars even started, you can do this,” Kitch assured her.

“Thank you,” Bex said to all of them.

Lyssa kissed her on the forehead.

“First order of business is getting the numbers in our favor and finding allies. It was hard, and I almost died, but I convinced the head of the slayer guild in this area to talk with us.” Nico said.

“Good, I’ll go,” Lyssa said.

“We can figure this out, we just have to stick together guys,” Vinny said.

Everyone nodded.

Bex took a shaky breath and wiped her face.

She couldn’t give up just yet, no matter how much she wanted to. People were counting on her, Lyssa was counting on her. She’d just have to hold on a little bit longer.

So long as no one else got hurt, she could hold on a little bit longer.