Fan Fiction ❯ Daywalker Arie ❯ The Setup ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: yet again, I DONT OWN ANYTHING BUT A CAR! I especially do not own any movie or any character from any movie! Especially not from Blade or Interview With a Vampire! SO THERE!

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Daywalker Arie - Chapter 2: The Setup

Arie woke up as soon as the sun set. Well not as soon but close enough. Usually she didn't sleep so late, but when one hunted the undead you got into the habit of taking on their hours. Not that the day was wasted. No. She'd been training and hunting down leads on a few of the vampire nests around the area.

Good news was she tracked them down and all the vamps were now extra crispy sun spots on the sidewalks. bad news was it drained her enough that she wasted a few of the night hours on sleep.

Yawning she stretched pushing down the multi colored comforter as she sat up in bed. Rubbing her eyes she looked around her room and nearly screamed when something, check that, someone jumped onto her bed beside her.

"Well, aren't you a perky person after you wake up," the voice was oddly familiar. Drat.

Reaching over Arie flicked on the small beside lamp and stared at Tara as the room was flooded with the soft yellow light.

Tonight she actually was wearing less than the night before. She didn't know it was possible. Here she was in her jeans and her T-shirt she had been wearing all day, and part of the night, all rumpled because she had just fallen into bed and there she was in one of those really expensive silk dress things that exposed way to much skin.

She wasn't jealous, not really, it was probably just one of those girl things clicking on in her brain wishing she could afford to look like that. She'd never been a girly person but you know really, people could have the decency not to flaunt in front of her, especially when she had just woken up.

"Go away," even to her ears she sounded cranky. Yeah, well, she wasn't a nice person when she woke up. So sue me, she thought.

"Well, I have to be on my way soon anyway, I just stopped by to invite you to my party tonight. You have to come," Tara said. She sounded perky. Evil perky people. They should all be shot, or at least detained.

"I don't want to go to a party," she snapped and climbed out of her bed trying to smooth the wrinkles out of her clothes. It was a lost cause.

"you'll come," she said confidently.

"Will not."

"Yeah you will. You will cause if not for anything else, it will be crawling with vamps and you being Miss Stake-through-the-heart, will want to come to snoop."

Damn. She gave her credit, the girl knew how to convince people to do what she wanted. It would be a good idea to see how the vamps did their... well, vampire gathering things. Or whatever they were.

Rubbing at her left eye Arie pushed her hair behind her shoulder and glared at the vampire on her bed.

"Fine, I'll come."

"Great! Here my address," she handed her a folded piece of paper, "try not to kill anyone," she paused after that, "unless you have to that is."

"Yeah, yeah, I promise not to ruin the party."

"You won't, if anything you will steal all my attention away with all your sexiness," Arie looked at her trying to find a hint of sarcasm in her voice. She couldn't find any. Tara just grinned at her and waved as she bounced out of her bed and out the door.

Weird. Yep, defiantly weird.

Checking the paper she shrugged and went to get ready. Well, a party couldn't be that bad could it?

It was that bad. As soon as she got to the house, excuse that, friggin' mansion (damn those vampires), she already felt uncomfortable. She could hear the music and see the people through the windows. She didn't pay much attention but still, it was enough to rattle her.

She wasn't a very party person. Nope. Well, bright side, at least she'd have an ally during this whole fiasco. And pointy things. She could do this. She really could.

Rubbing the back of her neck and rang the doorbell. It sounded cheery. Ok well what did she expect, a death toll?

Tapping her foot absently to the beat of the music she waited to be let inside. The door opened letting warm yellowish light spill out into the yard. That's where it got really bad.

Everyone she could see was in friggin' formal wear. She knew Tara would be, every time she'd seen the vamp she'd been in some dress thing, but she'd thought it would be one of those come as you are parties. Apparently not.

Tara took one look at her jeans and T-shirt, and her sword, thank you but she never went anywhere without it, and shook her head.

She stepped out into the yard with her and shut the door behind her.

"Guess I forgot to mention it was a formal," she said airily and grabbed her wrist starting to pull her around back.

"yeah, you did, but hey I can just go, or just wear what I am."

"Not at my party you aren't Missy, besides you lived as long as I have you learn to prepare for this kinda thing." While she was talking she was dragging Arie around the side of her house and around to the back. There was a small black spiral staircase leading to the third floor balcony.

Letting herself be dragged up the stairs Arie took a second to think on her words. "What do you mean prepared for this sort of thing?"

"Oh well," Tara pushed open the glass doors and walked into an elegantly done up room. Damn, it was bigger than any she'd seen. It was all rosewood and silk. There was a huge four poster pushed by an open window near the back, a walk in closet (open thank you, and showing a sinful amount of clothes), and another door leading into what looked to be a bathroom. "See every once and a while someone forgets to dress and I lend out some things." Tara's comment jolted her out of her survey of the room.

"Oh," was all she said.

Letting her wrist go for the first time that evening she walked into her closet and proceeded to toss clothes onto the bed.

"you know, I'm comfortable as I am thanks."

Tara turned her head to look at her. She had on one of those looked that mothers get when they try and make their kids do what they want. Crap.

"Do you want to draw more attention to yourself than you already will?"

Damn. Ok, she had her again. She didn't want to blow her cover. Yet.

Sighing she sat on one of the plush chairs in the room. "Fine then, do what you will, just don't go overboard."

A half hour later Arie was staring stupidly into the gigantic mirror on the wall of Tara's room.

She looked... she didn't even know what she looked like, but she liked it. It wouldn't be an everyday thing but she still wouldn't mind it every once and a while.

Turning herself sideways she looked again at the girl in the mirror. Her hair was curled and piled on top of her head like you see in those movies but can never actually do by yourself, with just a couple strands hanging down to frame her face and tickle at her neck. The deep blue dress she was wearing was silk, real silk, she'd worn it only once before when Blade had taken her out for her twenty first birthday.

The dress hung a ways past her knees but was cut on both sides up to her thighs. It hung all the right places and made her curves very obvious, while not overdoing it. It had a heart shaped bodice that showed off the tops of her breasts with small white ties down the center. It was sleeveless, as most things were in Tara's closet, and it was held together by a few clasps in the back, which she was assured wouldn't come undone.

She wore diamond drips in her ears, and a matching bracelet that circled her upper arm. And last, a pair of those high heeled things that women went nuts over. Those were the only problem with the whole things. She'd be surprised if she could walk in them.

Turning her head she watched as Tara folded her clothes and set them in her closet, along with her sword. She hated taking it off but carrying it around wouldn't do any good.

Tara turned and walks over to her something glittering in her hand. She moved behind her and clipped a small pendent around her throat, the chain stopping so the violet gem hung just above the valley of her breasts. It was big, but not gaudy. Arie touched it gently and looked back in the mirror.

"It brings out your eyes," Tara said, smiling at her. She was right.

"I'll be sure to give it all back when the party if over."

Tara made a noise and waves her hand dismissively. "Keep it, I have enough, besides," she said brushing a hand over Aries hair, " it looked better on you."

Arie blinked and felt herself blush at the compliment. She was about to say something else when Tara grabbed her wrist again and tugged her out of the room.

"Now that you are all dressed up, its time to mingle, if you get into a snit just call for me, or Louie, we're the designated police here," she said with a grin.

"Louie?" Oh god, it was that vampire who had saved her at the club last night. He was here! Would he recognize her? She was surprised to find she really hoped he would.

Tara was looking at her oddly before a slow smile worked its way over her face. Uh-oh.

'Ooo', Tara thought, as she watched Arie's face. 'Someone had a crush..' She'd seen the symptoms, and the girl defiantly had it. And Louie had been acting strange since last night. Could it be the two had met? Oh how fun this would be.

It had been ages since she'd last set someone up. And she dearly loved to meddle. She was a meddler, it's what she did.

Grinning at the thought she led the way down the stairs with Arie. She scanned the faces of the crowd for Louie as she did, and saw, with pleasure, he was among the guests who had stopped talking to watch the two of them descend the staircase.

The music stopped and an awed silence filled the room. Good.

Casting a side glance at Arie, she noted she knew too why everyone was so quiet and fidgeted slightly with one of her earrings. Tara pulled them both to a stop at the bottom step and let her eyes sweep the crowd, grinning as she noticed almost every eye was on her new friend.

She really did need more of a social life, and she was just the one to give it to her.

Lifting her voice to her heard over the murmurs of the crowd she said, "Thank you all for coming, it has been long since I have seen many of you, and I am glad you are here tonight. So, lets all enjoy the party shall we, but before we do I would like for you to all meet my special friend, Arie, she's with us tonight to get to know you all so be sure to show her your hospitality. She's a bit shy so, for all of you who are thinking about picking her up, be gentle."

Tara grinned at the glare Arie aimed her way just as the music started up again and the crush, now mostly all men, pushed their way to the front.

She slipped away, Arie could handle those, and went to find Louie. He was to shy to get to her himself. She'd just have to help him out.

"You want me to what?!" Louie asked, staring down at Tara. She was mad. That had to be it. Or she was a dirty trickster. Either way she was mad.

"Arie needs someone to protect her. You are it, I'm the host you know, I have to mingle, and Lucian hasn't gotten here yet or I would have him do it." she told him, her face pure innocence. She was a good liar.

He sighed. He doubted he'd be much help, he'd just be drooling over her like all the rest of the men were. his eyes moved to the crowd of men surrounding her. And, unbelievably, he felt jealous.

He'd recognized her the second he'd seen her. She was the woman he'd help rescue. He could never forget her face.

And now he knew her name. Arie. It was a nice name, it suited her.

Cursing Tara and her schemes, and thanking her too, he made his way through the crowd to her side. When she looked at him, he'd swore the earth moved.

Her violet eyes widened as she saw him, and he knew she recognized him just as he had her. With a small smile, and a bow her took her hand and tucked it into the curve of his arm.

Leaning close he whispered softly, "Hello again my lady."

She smiled at him, he could feel her nervousness, but she smiled all the same. It was a beautiful smile too, it made her whole face light up. "Hello to you too."

he stared at the faces around them and watched as they moved away. No one would confront him here. he was free to stay by her side without any interference.

"What are you doing here," she asked him as soon as the last one disappeared into the crowd.

"I live here," he told her, and he thought he saw disappointment in her eyes. his hopes rose a little bit. Was she disappointed because she thought he lived with Tara?

He would have to find out..

"Lucian and Tara didn't want me living alone." He told her, watching her face, and was glad to see the disappointment fade, to be replaced by that light again.

"Oh, I meant here," she said and pointed at herself. Oh, she wanted to know why he was with her.

"Tara sent me to protect you from the swarm of men," he said with a grin.

"Ah," and she grinned back.

"I think a scheme is afoot."

"Mmm," she said and turned her head. He followed her gaze, just in time to see Tara duck around a corner and out of sight. "I do think someone is plotting against us."

"Or for us," he replied without thinking.

She looked at him with a smile. "You know I never did thank you for the other night."

"How about you dance with me and we call it even?"

'Oh, he was smooth' Arie thought, as her heart did a funny little flip thing. Great, she was falling for a vamp. She'd only read about that sort of things in books, you know how they fall for each other in a matter of days. Love at first sight and all that.

She wasn't saying love or anything, but she did like him. And as much as she told herself not to, she found herself in his arms and swaying to the music with him. It wasn't even a slow song, but they did it anyway.

He held her close, his arms gentle around her waist, and her arms around his neck as she rested her cheek against his chest. It was odd not to feel any heartbeat, but it was just fine with her.

He smelled nice, like spices. Giving herself a mental kick she closed her eyes and let herself dance. For this one night she'd just have fun. And unless she was mistaken, he liked her too, so this night she'd let herself be liked and like in return.

Lucian watched the girl in Louie's arms through narrowed eyes. He knew her. She was the one who had cut him the other night. And he had been right, Tara and her were on the same side.

Hmm, he'd have to tell Lestat about that. Pushing himself off the wall he slipped into the crowd to find him. They'd both come in the back way so Tara wouldn't be to quick to notice.

She hated him. She'd nearly killed him a few times, and likewise for him. he never understood it. it was only because he'd asked that she had stopped going after him. but if she found out he had invited him into their home she'd have his head. Literally.

he spotted her in a corner whispering something to the DJ, and pointing off to the side. He turned his attention elsewhere. She was busy, that was good, and he wouldn't be distracted on his way to find Lestat.

he'd be somewhere in the back feeding off one of the girls that constantly followed him around. Sometimes Lucian missed that. Sighing wistfully he pushed into the kitchen, where only a few vamps were sitting around the table playing cards.

He spotted Lestat just where he'd thought he would. In the back, bending over one of his humans. Crossing his arms over his chest he waited. And watched.

There were a few women in the room all centered around Lestat. All wearing the same things, a skin tight black dress, and watching him like he was God or something. He was wearing the same thing ever guy was wearing. A tux.

Tara had a thing for these formals. he'd never understand that woman.

He was still watching them when Lestat finally lifted his head and passed the girl into the waiting arms of one of the others. She was dead.

It wasn't really a surprise to Lucian but it still made him slightly sick. Lestat hadn't changed.

The women lifted the girl and walked single file out the door, probably to put the body in Lestat's car. Where he hid the bodies he didn't know. And he didn't care to find out.

"She's here," was all he said as Lestat turned to him.

"Was it the one you thought it would be?" he asked.

"Yes, and it appears she's got both Tara and Louie on her side."

"Louie is here?" Lestat looked to the door a strange expression on his face. "Is she a danger to him?"

"In my opinion she wouldn't hesitate to kill him."

Lestat nodded and motioned to the men sitting around the table.

"Wait until she's out of the house and far enough away, then dispose of her," he said, without even a touch of remorse in his voice.

Lucian looked at the men, "I saw her coming from down the street, she'll head back that way, there is an alley down there, far enough from the house but close enough to watch her, she should pass by it, and you can be there."

They all got up and nodded before leaving the same way the women had. It was creepy. None of the people who hung around Lestat ever seemed to talk.

"Where's Lashay?"

"She's out in the party somewhere, teaming up with other women to discuss how horrible men are."

"Ah." Lucian nodded, Tara did it too.

"Do her and Tara know each other?"

"Most likely," Lestat said as he walked to the door leaving to the party. "I've heard her talk about her more than once."

"And she doesn't know you hate each other?"

"I never saw the need to tell her." Lestat shrugged and pushed out the door and into the crowd of people.

Lucian followed. It would defiantly get interesting.

Tara sat back and watched her handiwork. Louie hadn't left Arie's side all night. Of course the few times either of them had tried, she'd sent one of the guests to make sure they stayed together.

A man here and there to rile Louie enough to keep by her so they'd leave, or just to nettle Arie so she'd stick by Louie. She deserved a pat on the back it was all going well.

She could already see the two had clicked. It would be so wonderful if they would stay together. They really suited each other.

She was still smiling when she moved her way out of the crowd when she head the DJ put on another slow song. She'd personally told him to keep it up. Yeah, she was a meddling little demon, but they'd thank her one day.

Looking around, she tried to find one of her girls, when she spotted something that drove the smile from her face.

Lestat.

A growl rose in her throat. The nerve of him coming into her home. He knew he was not welcome. Louie and her had both made that quite clear.

She slid her way around to him and shoved him hard enough on the chest to make him fly right into the wall. he hadn't seen her coming, so it had made it easier.

"What they hell are you doing here?" she asked, her voice icy.

The bastard had the gull to smile at her. "Dancing."

"Get out."

"Why?"

"You are not welcome," she said, her finger already pointing to the door.

"Really? How odd that is.. when I was invited," he replied dryly and slipped away.

She was to stunned to do anything to stop him.

Invited? Who would dare invite that rat? And all at once she saw red.

Lucian.

She was going to kill him.

Snarling, and scaring a few of the people near her she moved off to find him.

Lestat watched Tara stalk away. he'd known that would get the bitch off his back long enough for him to get Arie out of the house.

He turned and moved through the crowd, it was easy to find her, she was one of the most beautiful women there. That, and she was hanging all over Louie.

Not that he wasn't doing some hanging himself. That pissed him off.

Glaring he moved to their side, schooling his features so all that people would see was a leer. He was good at leering.

He pulled her right out of Louie's arms, hiding a smug smile at his stunned expression and swept her into a dance of his own.

"Who the hell are you?" she asked, stopping. She was strong enough that he couldn't make her dance again without a scene.

"Why, I'm the one you'll be waking up with in the morning," he said and gave into the smile this time at her glare. Of course that was before he bent her over and kissed her.

Kissing her though proved to be his undoing. She tasted like fire, and honey, all energy. Groaning slightly he bent her back and slid his hand down to her bottom pressing her so their hips met. He was sure from her startled cry that she felt the growing length of his arousal. Grinning at the thought he pressed his advantage and rubbed himself against her.

He wasn't expecting her knee firmly planted in his groin or the elbow to the back of his head. He was so surprised he let go and fell right to the floor, out like a light.

Arie watched the man hit the floor and spun around heading right for the front door. He'd kissed her. It wasn't even a nice kiss. It was one of those "hey you're easy" kisses. And he touched her, now she felt like she had to wash.

Wiping her mouth on the back of her hand she slammed the door on her way out and strode down the rock path to the sidewalk.

She didn't bother to tell anyone she was leaving. No one needed to know, and she didn't care. She was sure Tara would come after her in the morning and ask what had happened and she'd tell her then. Till then she'd just go and work off some of her anger.

She'd kill the guy next time she saw him. And she had a feeling she would. He made her sick just touching her, and angry at his implication she was easy.

Gah! Men.

She shook her head and closed her eyes clomping her way down the sidewalk and muttering to herself. No one had bothered to come after her. maybe no one noticed she'd left yet.

That thought made her a bit sad. Of course it shouldn't bother her what a bunch of vamps noticed or didn't.

She was going nuts. Maybe she needed more sleep. That was probably it.

She was still working out the problem in her head when she ran into a wall. only it wasn't a wall, it was a person. A very tall person. She lifted her head to look at his face. A very vampire-y person.

She was shoved into the mouth of an alley before she could even react. She had been so caught up in her thoughts she hadn't noticed anything else.

Stupid, stupid, stupid. How many times had Blade told her to always pay attention.

Muttering to herself she watched a few shadows detach form the walls around her and reached for her sword.

Her eyes widened in panic when she remembered she didn't have it.

She was still in the same clothes she had been in when she left Tara's.

It was the thought in her head when the vampires attacked her.

Tara was still working her way through the crowd when Louie grabbed her arms and shook her.

"Where's Arie?" he asked, her voice was oddly strained.

"She's with you," she told him impatiently, she still had to find Lucian and kill him.

"no she's not, Lestat cut in on our dance and flew off somewhere into the crowd and I haven't been able to find either one."

Tara stared at him and jerked away. If Lestat had her something was up. Something seriously wrong.

Raising her voice to be heard over the crowd she called out, "Shut off the music," instantly it went off and everyone shut up, "Has anyone seen Arie?"

Most of the people shook their heads and exchanged curious glances. A small girl around twenty, well twenty looking, she was a vampire, pushed up to her. "I saw her, she left about twenty minutes ago after she kneed the guy she was dancing with."

"She did what?" Tara asked, surprised.

"Yeah," Said another person behind her, "knocked him flat out on the dance floor we put him in the kitchen. Whatever he did she was pissed though cause she made her way out of here pretty fast."

Tara looked at Louie who looked back at her and then rushed to the door.

"Wait!" she yelled at him, "come with me" she ran up the stairs to her room on the top floor. She had to see if Arie had sense enough to grab her sword before she left. Jerking open her closet she stared, horror widening her eyes as she saw the sword lying there as it had been all night.

Arie was out there. Alone. Without her weapon. On the night of a Gathering. Vamps were everywhere, and few of them would hesitate to try and kill her.

Grabbing her sword she flew back down the stairs and out the door, barely noticing Louie with her the whole way.

Arie fought the best she could. She wasn't good with hand to hand combat.

She never had been. knives, sword, guns, give her a freakin stick or something, but bare she wasn't good.

She was breathing hard, her eyes narrowed on the vamps around her. They weren't even trying. They were toying with her. already she was bleeding, and a few ribs were broken. She'd been able to take out one with a small knife she'd found laying on the ground. But that hadn't lasted long. She didn't know where the damn thing flew off to.

Great. Well she wasn't going to die without a fight. She'd take at least two more of them down with her. There had only been four, and now there was three.

Three was lucky right?

All thought flew right out of her head as they all rushed her at once. She kicked and she bit at them, and she fought as much as she could, she heard something break as her hand connected with it. She hoped it wasn't her hand, but she was to caught up to notice if it was or not.

Something drove right into her stomach knocking the wind out of her and she fell to the pavement. She heard a horrible ripping sound and felt something warm slide down her side.

She was bleeding, she thought dully. She couldn't really feel anything any more, she'd read once that when your brain was so overwhelmed it shut down your nerve endings. For that she was glad, because she saw the claws and kicks coming and all she could do was roll up in a ball and hope for the best.

She could feel warm liquid running heavily down her side, and knew she was bleeding. She would make it though, she told herself, and she wouldn't give up, shed just wait till they went away.

That was then she heard the most horrible sound, she didn't think it was human at all. Cracking her eyes open she stared, shocked, as Louie tore down the alley and slammed himself into one of her attackers. He didn't even go down with him, just ripped out his throat and landed on his feet near the one by her back.

She didn't see what he did to him, she couldn't move her head to look. But she did hear a sickening crack and the spray of blood across her cheek.

The last one was fleeing towards the mouth of the alley while Louie was busy with the other two. She would call a warning, but she didn't have the strength.

She didn't need to though. She watched, numbed as the vampire jerked to a stop, a sucking sound echoing down the silent alley, and saw him fall to the ground.

His chest had a hole in it the size of a fist, lifting her eyes Arie saw why.

Tara stepped out of the shadows and dropped the dead heart to the ground watching the mess crack and break into ash to be carried on the wind.

"Freakin bastard," she muttered and moved down to Arie's side. The poor girl was beaten badly. Even now she could see bruises, and welts, the dress she had torn to shreds, and blood spilling in a steady stream to the dirty ground.

Lifting her eyes she nodded to Louie who took off like a bat out of hell back the way they had came.

"Where's he going?" a soft voice whispered. Tara looked down at Arie, her eyes were bright as she watched Louie disappear.

"He just went to get the car so we can take you home, honey," she told her gently.

"Oh."

"This will hurt a little honey," and before she could protest, she slid her arms under her and lifted her up as she stood.

A small cry of pain had her wincing slightly but she walked out of the alley, walking as smoothly as she could so she wouldn't hurt her.

At that moment Louie swung his car around the curve and pulled to a stop beside the curb. Reaching behind him he opened the door and Tara slid inside, holding Arie as gently as she could.

Resting Arie on her lap, she took out a small medical bag Louie always kept in the car for emergencies, and started to patch her up.

She was already healing, and nothing felt broke, it would mostly just scar and be sore for a while.

"Where do we take her," Louie's strained voice drew her out of her thoughts. She looked at him, his eyes were on the rear-view mirror watching intently as she worked on Arie.

"To the old warehouse on Lincoln, and hurry, she's starting to shake," with that warning she looked down at Arie. She had lost a lot of blood. She would need her serum, she just hoped they would get it to her in time.

Lestat awoke with a groan, and a throbbing feeling in his groin.

Wincing he rolled up into a sitting position and look in his surroundings. He was somewhere in Lucian and Tara's house, in one of the master bedrooms.

He didn't need to wonder how he got there. He remembered. Though instead of being upset he was intrigued. No woman had ever before turned him down, before he had been acting so his plans would work out but now...

Now he wanted her. She was a challenge, and a mystery. She would do well with him. For a while anyway.

Standing up he stretched and walked out of the room, he heard the party still, which meant he hadn't been out to long.

Usually people left around four or so in the morning, and since it had only been around two when he'd been knocked out, it was safe to assume it had only been for a few minutes he'd been unconscious.

Well, that settled he went to find Lucian, and plan their next course of action.

Arie groaned softly as she was once again lifted from the car, everything on her hurt. Even her teeth hurt.

She watched silently as Tara carried her through the twisting paths of the warehouse to the lab and gently set her in the chair.

She was starting to get twitchy, her hunger was moving into overdrive. She hoped someone found her serum before she went postal, or ran amuck.

That was a funny word. Amuck, amuck, amuck, amuck.

Yeah, she was losing it.

Her eyes followed Tara as she bent down to get something from one of the mini fridges placed in the lab. She stood and turned to look at her as she picked up a high tech looking gun and clipped in the small vile.

It was her serum!

She would be okay now. Closing her eyes she allowed herself to relax.

"Hold her down while I do this," Tara said, her voice was near her ear as she spoke.

"What are you going to do?" she felt strong hands close over her shoulders and keep her in place. Oddly, she didn't feel the least bit threatened, she felt warm. Safe.

It had to be the hunger talking. Yes. That had to be it, she couldn't be having warm gooey feelings for a vampire could she?

She didn't get a chance to answer herself as she felt the sharp jab of a needle in her arm and the fiery sensation as the serum was injected into her bloodstream.

Her body jerked, but it no longer hurt as much, it was just sore. She felt the hands on her shoulders tighten but stay gentle, holding her down until her spasms passed.

She shook once more before everything faded away, and she fell into a blissful sleep.

Arie woke up to the sound of a song. It was sweet and soft, and whoever was singing it was singing right beside her ear, but it wasn't loud or annoying. It was comforting.

Smiling she didn't even open her eyes just turned and snuggled into the warmth she felt behind her. The music paused a second before continuing on again, and she felt arms tighten around her waist pulling her closer.

She curled up and sighed gently. She didn't know where she was but she didn't want to leave.

Opening her eyes she started to look around, but got lost in deep blue eyes.

Louie.

The night's events rushed back into her thoughts and she stifled a gasp as she moved away. She remembered coming home, and Tara giving her the serum, and then... nothing.

She must have passed out. And now here she was with a strange man in her bed. Singing to her.

Despite her best abilities, her heart turned over at that. He had stayed with her, and sang to her. No one but Blade or Whistler had ever been so kind to her.

She remembered once when she was adjusting to her life, she'd had such an awful nightmare. Blade had come to tell her stories to get her back to sleep. It wasn't that she was little or anything, stories and songs just calmed her down.

And here was Louie doing the same thing.

She settled back down into the soft bed. She was upstairs in her room and she watched him. He was watching her right back, and it didn't make her feel uncomfortable at all.. well a little bit.

"How long have you been here?" she asked him quietly.

He never even blinked. "You lost consciousness two hours ago, Tara is downstairs reading through the files on your computer, I have been with you since."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why have you stayed with me, you didn't have to."

Suddenly he looked sheepish and gave her a small smile. "I was worried about you," it was all he said. And it was enough to make her scoot back into his embrace.

"Thank you," she whispered, her eyes closing as she rested her head on his chest. She felt his hand gently stroke her hair and smiled again.

"I did not want you to wake up alone," he whispered to her. She could feel his lips move softly in her hair. "I did not want you afraid we had left you alone."

That was enough to bring tears to her eyes. She didn't get around many people but the ones she did always through her so fearless, and she was. But times like these she probably would have been a basket case. For a while at least.

She turned her head and looked up into his eyes. Lifting her hands she framed his face with her hands and gently brushed his lips with hers.

It had the affect of a lightning strike. She gasped softly and moved a little closer deepening the kiss.

His hands stroked up her back and held her close, returning her kiss with a sweetness of his own.

And in that moment she was more afraid than she had ever been. Her heart shuddered softly, in fear and in elation, because the impossible had just happened.

She'd fallen in love.

Louie kissed her tenderly. He slipped one of his hands free and gently cupped her cheek tilting her head gently to deepen their kiss.

He softly feathered his thumb over her jaw and closed his eyes. She was all softness and electricity. She was sweet but spicy, and it nearly made him insane.

He held her close, like a precious thing that could break if you didn't touch and hold it just right. But she was even more valuable than that.

He had no idea how it had happened, but in the short time she had known her, not even a day in fact, she'd become more important to him than life.

She'd snuck inside him and claimed a heart he long had thought dead, a heart that had not warmed since his wife had died.

A heart he did not think would ever be free of its ice, and yet this small woman had done it.

She'd made him love.

Tara smiled a secret smile, a smile all meddlers are prone to have from time to time, as she paused by the door to Aries' room. The door was closed, and she could feel the tension vibrating along her skin.

Well, no point in spoiling their fun, she thought, and turning on her heel trotted lightly back down the stairs.

Pausing by the lab she scribbled a note to them, sooner or later they would come up for air, and she stuck it to the computer screen. With a last secret smile, she walked back out into the cooling night, and left them alone. For this night they could be happy in each other's arms, because come tomorrow she had a feeling both of them would be twits about it and try to keep themselves apart.

It was a pity more people didn't understand that love couldn't be controlled. Ever. It would pick who you went to, and their hearts had already chosen. It would definitely be interesting to watch though. Both of her strong willed, and strong minded friends, battling it out with love.

Love would win of course, it could not be denied.

They would try though, she'd seen it enough to know.

Louie would deny it because of his wife and the whole 'my heart is dead I will never love again' thing, And Arie would deny it because they were supposed to be enemies. Yep this would definitely be interesting.

She laughed all the way home.

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Ahhh... another chapter down... hehehe What am I saying.. I aint even writin this thing.. I am just editing it. Oh by the way, if you find grammar/spelling mistakes... I am terrible sorry. Jenna...cant type. She is horrid at grammar and especially horrid at spelling. I tried to fix as many mistakes as possible but sometimes there are just some that you miss.. well Bai! yet again! Please Review!