I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I am doing this for Kiel. I am doing this for Kiel. Oh, they better have cake in that damn party. And it better be chocolate. The party was tomorrow and Derek had already called me to tell me that an invitation to attend the celebration was extended to Glinda (with no response from her). Oh what I would do without him. Now I just had to work my magic on my aunt.

I opened my eyes and stepped in.

Okay. Step one. Be nice.

Okay, what do I do first then? Say good morning, of course.

So I walked up to Glinda, after grabbing a plate from the pile placed in the center of the table, and I smiled at her. She was eating toast and she stared up at me when I smiled at her.

"Good morning." I said in my sweetest voice. The whole room went quiet.

I looked around. What happened? Did Big Foot make an appearance? I looked around and every damn eye was on me. Some mouths were hanging low as well. I raised my eyebrows at them...and they just kept staring. What the hell was up with that?

I ignored them and looked at my aunt who had a very suspicious look on her face. Seriously, if I wore nothing to breakfast people wouldn't notice, but God forbid I be nice, the whole room stares.

How messed up was that?

"May I sit next to you?" I asked. Glinda stared.

"Are you serious?" a snide voice asked and I turned to look at Cara's surprised eyes.

Oh, how I'd missed her obnoxious presence.

I was about to be sarcastic, when I realized that wouldn't help me right now. So I looked confused and said, "Yes, I am."

Cara stared, then she got up and stepped away, "Are you like possessed?"

No, that would be you sweetheart.

"I seriously don't know what you're talking about." I said and looked back down expectantly at Glinda.

"Yes, you may." She said and tilted her head to the Witch next to her, who nodded at her and got up to leave. While leaving, said Witch threw me a distrustful expression. Gee. What the hell?

I stepped toward my aunt and sat my small ass down and smiled at her, setting my plate down in front of me and looking to see what was on the table for today. Lots of toast.

I grabbed five slices and got down to buttering them up. I hummed as I mixed the right amount of butter and stared at the jam, judging how much of it would be perfect to maintain the consistency. I needed it to be perfect. I looked at Glinda who was staring at me.

I grinned, "Beautiful morning." I said.

"I hear it's going to rain," I heard from behind me. I turned to grin at Gin, who returned the gesture before staring at the girl next to me real hard. The girl blinked at Gin, before hauling ass away from me. Gin slid in next to me and I looked back at Glinda.

"So..." I said.

Glinda looked at me, seeming expectant of what I would say next.

"Hey, I spoke to Derek yesterday-" Gin started and I turned to give her my total attention, she seemed a little surprised by the speed with which I whipped my head.

I whip my head back and forth. I was in full on remix mode. Oh damn, now it's going to get stuck in my head.

"Oh yeah? What'd he say?" I asked, innocently.

Gin met eyes with Glinda and I saw a look like 'what the hell is going on' pass between them. I winked at Gin and she pursed her lips. I mouthed go on at her and she nodded, thank God, and continued talking.

"Yeah, he said that we were cordially invited to the twenty first celebration of Kiel Fang's birth," she paused, "He said it exactly like that actually."

I looked at Glinda, "That was really nice of them don't you think?" I asked, smiling.

Glinda's eyes snapped up to meet mine, "I know what you're doing and my answer remains the same." Then she just...disappeared.

My fingers dug into the butter knife I was holding. I didn't have much time and I really wanted to go.

"I have good news," Gin said from next to me.

"There is no good news," I grumbled, "No light at the end of the tunnel. There is only-"

"Kiki seriously," Gin said and I looked at her.

"The order will come in today." She said, looking extremely proud of herself. I grinned and hugged her.

"Thank you so much." I said. I had asked her to order stuff for Kiel because I didn't want Glinda to find out about the big ass purchase I was making on him. If Glinda saw the bill she'll probably bust a vein and then some, so I was making Gin (whose parents were on their hundredth honeymoon and care the least about Gin's bills) pay for it and I would give her my credit card and she could purchase whatever (clothes or shoes or whatever) and Glinda wouldn't blink an eye. Because they weren't out of the ordinary whenever Gin took my shopping. I handed Gina my credit card.

Before she took it from me, I pulled it away a little, "Nothing kinky. Buy things normal people would buy."

She pouted, "Fine." She said and grabbed the card from me. I said a silent prayer for the poor card, I'd just basically thrown it to the sharks.

Before chasing Glinda, I still had one more thing to do. I pressed a hand to my friend's shoulder. She looked at me.

"Are you okay?" I asked, referring to what happened in the airport. Her eyes closed for a second and when she opened them I saw a vulnerability that shocked me. She blinked and it was gone. She nodded at me.

"Fine." She said.

"Do you want to talk-"

She shook her head vehemently, "No." she paused, "Not yet."

Feeling like a downright biotch for being so involved in my own problems, I almost gave up on following Glinda, deciding that my best friend needed me more. Gin seemed to sense that and slapped me on the butt (what little was poking out of the bench, anyway).

"No pitying me." She warned. "Now go."

Collecting two slices of bread from my plate, pressing a hand to Gin's shoulder to let her know I was there for her if she needed me, I went to Glinda's room, hoping that was where she was and not like in the Himalayas or something.

I walked towards her room, gobbling the bread in my hand like some bread eating equivalent of a cannibal.

I knocked on her door and I heard a tired "Come in." from inside.

I stepped in and shut the door behind me quietly. I blinked, it had been so long since I came here. I'd almost forgotten how it looked. Annnnd, nothing had changed, it still looked like a Unicorn had threw up in here. There was so much gold, save for the wooden furniture. Glinda was sitting at her desk, tapping her fingers on the dark wood. Gold sparks flew from her fingertips and I could tell that she was agitated.

"My answer is still the same."

If I had a penny for every time she said that...

"I know...I was just wondering," I paused and looked to see if I had her attention. Yup.

"How do you do the, um, poof thing?" I asked.

She looked at me with surprise and a loud Britney Spears song echoed throughout the room. I blinked and chuckled, "That would be me, sorry." I said and pulled out my phone and cut the call.

Damn, that had been Derek.

Glinda cleared her throat, "Poof thing?" she asked.

I made a blowing up gesture with my hands, "Yeah, where you go... poof."

She sighed, tucking a few strands of hair that had escaped from her bun, behind her ear. I noted with regret that her hair had strands of grey in it, most of which was probably because of me. Her eyes had small crinkles near it and her skin looked a little dry. She looked tired. My fault again?

"The transportation spell?" she asked, seeming to understand what I was talking about.

I shrugged, "Yeah, poof spell." I said.

"It's a very tiring spell. It can knock you out good if you transport long distances." She warned.

I grinned, "Is that supposed to make me want to know about the spell less? Because it's not working." I said and went to sit on the edge of her bed to face her.

She threw me a tired smile, "I should have known."

"Yes, I'm very disappointed in you." I said in a serious tone.

She threw me a no nonsense look and I sigh, "Yeah, you say it better."

A moment of awkward silence prevailed and I cleared my throat, "So," I asked brightly, "Will you teach me?"

She sighed and stood up, "If that's what it takes for you to leave then, yes."

"Aw," I said, pressing a hand to my heart, "I knew you loved me."

"Yes, yes." She said and beckoned me closer.

I stood up and went to stand next to her.

"Close your eyes," she said and I immediately did.

"Are you making faces at me now?" I asked with a grin.

"You need to have a concrete image of where you want to transport yourself to," she said, ignoring my joke. She is not good for my ego. Especially the fragile ego of my humor. Mess with my life, mess with my face even- I don't care. Don't laugh at my jokes and you just made it to #1 on my shit-list.

"For now," she continued, "Imagine the space in front of my door."

I nodded and thought of the entrance to her room. Hopefully I don't face plant with the door.

She then told me the incantation that I was to use. Holding the picture in my mind I whispered the incantation she told me. For a few seconds, nothing happened and I was having a very oh shit moment. Then I felt like my whole body was being wrenched into the teeniest, tiniest hole ever. My skin burned as if from friction, my lungs struggled to breathe and my heart stuttered. Then as soon as it started, it was over. Gasping, I opened my eyes. My vision blurred a little and I felt a little breathless and I'd broken into a sweat. But otherwise I was fine...ish.

I realized I had transported to my own room.

I ran to Glinda's room, knowing she was probably freaking out. When I stumbled into her room she looked ready to have an aneurism. When she saw me, she pressed a hand to her heart.

"Where did you go?" she asked.

With a sheepish expression I said, "My room."

She nodded, like that made sense, "Your mental image must not have been strong enough, so the spell must've picked the place that was the most detailed in your mind and transported you there."

Oh good. "I wouldn't want to be transported to the seventh circle of hell, so I guess that's good." I said. I felt like I needed to nudge her with my elbow and say 'That was a joke, and this is your cue to laugh'.

"You okay?" she asked.

I nodded and grinned, flexing my puny hands, "Yeah. Healthy as a horse. Are you sure the spell is draining? Or is it just your old age catching up to you?"

My aunt gave me an amused look and shooed me away saying, "Be on your way now, I have lots of work to do."

I sighed and left, murmuring a thank you to her.

I headed straight to Gin's room. I didn't knock, I just entered. When I went and flopped down on the bed next to her, she turned to give me her attention, dropping her book aside.

"What's up, broody?" she asked.

I muttered something unintelligible and Gin offered to do my nails for me. I shrugged and she bounced away to return with three boxes full of nail color. Okay, I'll admit, I was a little intimidated now.

"Um, Gin..." I started, hoping to point out that I had only twenty nails no matter which way you count it.

She shushed me and made me chose a color. I chose black and she waved her hands in the air and picked out a blood red nail color for me.

"What's the point of asking me my opinion when you're going to overrule it anyway?"

She smirked, "The pleasure is pointing out how wrong your choice was."

I muttered under my breath as she painted my toe nails and fingernails. Good thing I don't bite my nails, the habit would have probably driven her insane or something. Hmmm, maybe I should then?

"Oh, Glinda taught me the poof spell."

Gin gaped at me as she closed the polish and placed it aside. "You're kidding."

I puffed my chest up, "I do not kid."

"You have to teach me!" she said, and I nodded promising to do so once I called Derek back. Pulling my phone out with my left, because my right was confiscated by Gin.

Derek answered the phone with a "Yo."

I snickered and replied in kind.

"Kiel doesn't know that you've been invited, so it's going to be a surprise. For Christ's sake, don't go tell him or something." Derek said.

I snorted, checking out my nails as Gin did them, "Are you instructing me or yourself?" I asked.

"Myself," he verified and I snorted.

"So what are you going to wear?" Derek asked.

My heart just stopped for a minute. I straightened. Oh God. I didn't have anything to wear. Pressing a hand to my forehead, I sighed.

"Forgot didn't you?"

"Shut up." I muttered, trying to come up with some quick damage control.

"I'm going to ignore you said that and I'm now going to ask you to check your room."

I stilled and waved my hand in front of Gin's face. She stared at me and I mouthed, my room. Raising her eyebrows she followed me as I ran as fast as my short legs could take me. When I opened the door to my room, I gasped. On the bed was a box.

I was almost scared to open it.

I went and sat on my bed. Gin sat on the other side. Both of us were throwing the flat box mistrustful expressions.

"Open it." Derek said.

"It's not going to like...blow up or anything right?"

"Wha-?" Derek started but Gin plucked the phone from my hand.

"Is there like someone's hand or leg inside?" she asked.

Ew, gross. I threw her a look and she said, "What? It's possible."

"He says, 'Oh, open the box already,'." Gin told me.

I lifted the edge of the black velvety cardboard box open and gasped.

Gin jumped off the bed, my phone thumping uselessly on the floor. I looked up at her and chuckled, she was in a battle ready position.

"It's a dress." I said, pulling out the red colored satin from inside the box. It flowed down to my toes and it was an off-shoulder. I squealed and started jumping, clutching the dress to me. Gin made grabby hands at it and I gave it to her and picked up my phone from the floor.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I said.

"So am I prettier or not?" he asked, and I chuckled. Of course my answer that day that Gin was prettier had affected his gentle ego.

"I will say this only once and if you ever say that I said it, I will deny it and burn you at the stake."

"Yes or no?" he asked, seeming to not care about my threat.

The problem with size is that no one takes you seriously. Until you stand at the end of their beds...with a knife. I grinned at the visual.

"Yes." I said.

"I knew it." Derek said and I could imagine the grin on his face. I just hoped he never told Gin what I said. She was currently rubbing her face against the material of my dress, like a cat. She looked three seconds away from purring.

"Thank you, Derek." I said, again. I'm so glad he got red. Christ and Buddha know I would've done the same.

"You're most welcome. See you tomorrow?" he asked.

"I'm working on it. If she still says no, I have no choice but to sneak out." I said. I don't want to sneak out. I want to go with her. I want her to come with me. I want her to meet Kiel and adore him like I do. Yes, I wanted her approval. You would too, if she was the only living relative you had left.

"Awesome, as long as you come. Oh. Did you buy him something?"

"Obviously." I said.

All I heard was silence for a few seconds.

"What did you get him?" he asked.

"I won't tell you. It's a surprise." I said.

Another moment of silence.

"Are you sure...you got him something?" Derek asked again.

I frowned. What the hell did that mean?

"Yes. Of course I am. What do you even mean?" I asked.

"Nothing...I was just." He seemed to take a deep breath in. "Nothing."

I paused. What just happened?

"Is everything okay?" I asked, looking up to meet Gin's raised eyebrows with a shrug.

"Yeah. I just..." he stopped.

"You just?" I prompted.

"It's nothing." He said. I cleared my throat, thinking of something to fill the silence.

"So...how did you even get this in here?" I asked, even I could hear the slight strain in my voice.

"Oh, I have sources." Derek said and the strain was clear in his voice too.

I laughed, "So is this source also like invisible or something?"

"You know it, sister." he said.

He cleared his throat and said, "So, I'll see you soon."

"You can bet on it," I paused, "At least I hope you can." I added with a frown.

"You will be there." He said and hung up.

I looked up at my best friend who just shrugged when I told her what just happened.

"So, tell me more of the poof spell." She said. I smirked.

Oh, this was going to be fun.

--

--

Many painful hours later, Gin and I sort of got the hang of the whole transportation thing. I think I was a few pounds lighter. Easiest way to lose a few calories. I probably even left a part of my hand or leg somewhere.

The farthest I'd tried was to transport from my room to the front entrance of our house. That one had left me tumbling on my feet a little for a few seconds, but it was not too bad actually. I'm pretty sure that the amount of sugar in my body was keeping my energy levels from dropping too badly.

See? Who said sugar was bad? Or that it would rot your teeth?

Okay, it would probably rot your teeth.

It was late evening and I hadn't seen Glinda leave her room. I had been waiting for a while now and she was still 'stuck in work'. I didn't have too much time, I only had till tomorrow evening. So, I walked into Glinda's room, not bothering with knocking because she wouldn't say come in as she was busy.

"Kiera-" Aunt Glinda started.

"I know your answer is still the same, believe me you'd made that damn clear-"

"Language, Kiera." My aunt said with her usual air of authority.

"Sorry," I said, tucking my hair behind my ears. That seemed to startle her and she stared. Score!

Time for the kill.

Oh, shut up brain. I should seriously stop watching TV.

"Please? I really want to go to his part-"

"Kiera, we have been over this. I said no."

I stomped on the anger that bubbled within me, but sparks of gold still flew from my fingertips. My aunt's eyes dropped to my arms and I fisted my hands.

"Aunt Glinda," I said, "Please? Just give them a chance-"

"I did and you almost died."

Frustration welled up in me. Okay this was getting old real fast.

"I didn't die. Because my friends put their lives on the line to save mine, while I just stood and watched," -with a bow and arrow.

Probably best not to mention that now.

"You wouldn't have been in that situation if I hadn't sent you. I shouldn't have trusted them."

I shut my eyes, when I opened them, I could do nothing to squelch the heat that had started to form in my palms in response to the anger and frustration I was feeling.

"What did they ever do to you?" I asked, because she was speaking as if she'd been wronged...more than once.

She didn't reply. She just stared at me.

"Aunt Glinda, pleas-"

Glinda raised fluidly to her feet, stalking up to me.

"Did you pause to consider that I'm worried about you? And that I don't want you to get hurt? And I'm ready to be the bad guy if that's what it takes to make you stay."

Why would anything bad happen? It was a onetime thing and all of us had been in danger and the Rogues seemed to be targeting the Vamps not us. Granted, we were on the balcony. But still.

"Nothing is going to happen to me."

"That's what your mother said."

I reared back, shocked.

My mother?

What did my mother have to do with this? When did she say that? My aunt rarely spoke of her. And I could tell that she regretted speaking now, because her face took on a careful blankness that I was used to whenever I ask about my mother.

"What does this have to do with my mother?" I asked.

Aunt Glinda seemed to straighten, her will becoming stronger. Like remembering my mom strengthened her resolve.

"You shall not go. I forbid it."

She forbids it? What was I? Five?

"You have no right to do so." I said.

Her eyes flashed dangerously. "I do. And I will."

Offence wasn't working. I backtracked.

"Please? Aunt Glinda, please? I really want to go."

The fight seemed to die in her gold eyes. She dropped one hand on my shoulder. Not really a good sign.

"I know that it doesn't make sense to you. But it's best you stay away from them."

"Is this because I stole your cake?" I asked, my voice sounding miserable even to me. God knows I would hold a grudge against anyone who stole my food.

She laughed, "Sweetheart, I'm not as young as I used to be. I can't consume too much sugar without it upsetting my stomach. Who do you think I bought the cake for?" she asked.

My eyes snapped up to meet hers.

She bought the cake for me? My eyes burned and I swallowed against the lump that was forming in my throat. Go away tears. Go away. Go. Away.

"Thank you," I said, because I didn't know what else to say. I mean I know she cared about me, but to buy me cake. That's really serious, man.

I sighed, rubbing my eyes. "I promised I would come," I said.

And we all know it's bad to break promises. I think.

Glinda shook her head, "Nothing you say will change my answer."

"And if I told you that I liked Kiel Fang and we were together and so I want to be with him on his birthday?" I asked, my heart threatening to beat out of my chest.

Her eyes collided with mine, sharp and piercing.

"I would say no, all the more."

Oh, great. Un-effing-believable.

--

--

That night I stared at my ceiling, officially in mourning stage. I sighed, rubbing a hand through my hair. I checked the clock again.

11:57

I had three more minutes.

I had to go to his birthday. I had to spend it with him.

It was his first birthday since we got together. How could I not go? And cake! I want cake.

11:58

But what could I tell Glinda that allowed her to allow me to go? I didn't want to sneak out, I really, really didn't. There had to be something I could do, but the only thing coming to my mind was Will. And I'll be damned if I asked him anything after how weird he was behaving. It felt like I didn't know him at all. He was like that Katy Perry song. Hot and cold. Not to me, no. But generally.

Okay. He was my only hope.

I was royally effed.

11:59

I had my phone out with Kiel's number ready to be called.

If I asked Will to help convince Glinda to let us go, what would he ask in return? I huffed. Nothing bad I hope.

Maybe he'll just be nice and offer a friend a favor?

I snorted. Yeah, right. He was many things. And he was also a manipulating basket. He would totally use the opportunity for his own benefit. Or to get me to agree that we were romantically linked in front of Glinda. Where was the guy I'd initially known? I liked innocent, clueless Will better. How can someone make a complete three sixty on their character? Or was this his real character and he was just faking that one? If that was true...why would he? What was the point? What did he gain from it?

12:00

I hit dial.

Kiel picked up after the first ring.

"Happy birthday," I said, smiling, before he could even say hello.

"How did you know?" he asked, his smooth voice making me shudder. I could imagine him. With his hair falling in his eyes and hiding the eyebrow piercing from me.

"A little bird told me."

The exact same time, a heard a lot of noise and a cacophony of "Happy birthday, Kiel!" through the line. I stayed silent, knowing that speaking would mean that the Vamps on the other side would hear me. And I'd heard a lot of voices, so it wasn't just Jet and Derek who were in the room. I assume.

I heard Kiel laughing and thanking them, while I smiled. He then whispered to me, "Thank you, I'll call back once they leave."

I didn't say anything and he understood. We hung up.

I was back to staring at the ceiling. Screw it.

I called Will. Six rings later, he picked up the call.

"Hello?" he sounded absolutely groggy. Good, maybe that means he can't think clearly.

"Will, I'm sorry I woke you this late," no I'm not, "but I need a favor."

"I'm listening." He said.

Taking a deep breath, I said, "I want to go to Kiel's birthday party. Not just me. All of us. I want Glinda and Malcolm to come too."

There was silence on his side, before he spoke, "And how can I help?"

"I've tried talking to her, I can't get her to agree with me," I admitted, "And you're the only person I can think of who-"

"What's in it for me?" he asked.

My mouth opened and closed a few times and I felt like a fish.

Direct, thy name is Will.

"They're your friends too, Will." I said.

"That maybe so, but I don't actually benefit from this." He said.

Manipulative, thy name is Will, too.

"What do you want?" Ya evil scheming cockroach.

"Come on a date with me." He said. I was already saying, "No." by the time he finished.

"Just hear me out," he said.

I sighed, rubbing my forehead. "Fine." I said.

"We'll go to a movie as friends, have dinner and spend the day together. If you're still not interested in me then we don't have to move any forward."

I could tell him right now that I wouldn't be interested, what's the point of saying it after a movie and dinner? Other than of course getting free dinner. And a movie.

"Why are you pushing this so hard, Will?" I asked, "Is it because everyone else expects us to be together that you want it too?" If he says yes, that would be the worst will-you-go-out-with-me that I have ever heard. Not that it isn't already bad. But him saying yes would just add to the factor. Like when a pretty person takes a picture in good lighting. Or something like that.

"No. I like you. I've always liked you." He said. I was about to call bullshit but then I sighed. What do I know about what he feels?

I tried one more time, "But you're my friend. Can't you do me a favor without manipulating me into going on a date with you?"

"You wouldn't say yes in any other situation. So I'm forced to do this."

Oh, he was forced to do this? How sad.

"Fine." I said, "I'll pick the movie."

"I'll pick the restaurant." He said.

"Fine." I said.

"Excellent." He said.

I rolled my eyes. "This only works if I'm at Kiel's party tomorrow."

He snorted, "Consider it done. I don't understand the fascination you have with the Vamps."

Honey, you would have one too, if you were blooded to one.

"They're my friends. There's nothing fascinating about wanting to go a friend's birthday party."

He just made an affirming noise.

"Thank you." I added, since he was kind of doing me a favor. Granted, I would be doing him one too. But at least he agreed to help out.

"It's my pleasure." He said.

I hung up. Yeah, I bet it was his damn pleasure.

--

--

When I got up the next morning, I eyed the distance from my bed to the bathroom door and shut my eyes. The feeling of being wretched through a small hole overcame me and I couldn't breathe. When I opened my eyes, I was in my bathroom.

"God is great, God is wonderful," I said, as I pulled out my brush, squirted some paste on it and stuck it in my mouth. When my phone started ringing, I blinked. Then dashed out the door to answer it.

I answered it with the most warped hello, with the toothbrush in my mouth.

"Kiera?"

Oh, it was Derek.

"'Ssup?" I asked and it came out sounding like a bad word.

"What?" Derek asked, seeming confused.

I spat out the paste in my mouth and spoke into the phone.

"Sorry. What's up?" I asked.

"I was just...is everything okay?" he asked. I blinked. Then I looked at the mirror above my sink. I shrugged. Sure, I looked okay.

"Sure. Why?"

Awkward silence.

"Derek?" I said, a sudden fear spreading through me. My stomach knotted and sweat beaded my forehead.

"Derek." I said, my voice came out more as a whisper.

He hung up. Okay, I was officially freaked out to the nth degree. What the hell is going on? He was acting weird. Weird-er, I mean. And now it was seriously scaring last night's dinner out of me. I dialed Kiel, then hung up, unsure if I should tell him about what Derek said. And God knows if he's alone or surrounded by a million people. I mean, it was his birthday after all. Besides he said he would call me once everything settled down and he hadn't yet which obviously meant he was still busy or something. Swearing, I chucked my phone back onto the bed and strolled back to the bathroom to finish the important stuff that needs to be done.

--

--

"Yoo whoooo," I said, knocking on Glinda's door.

"Aunt Glindaaa..." I said, placing my ear to the door. I heard a male voice inside and my eyes widened. Then I smirked.

"Ready or not here I come." I said and opened the door and stalked in.

To my disappointment, utter, utter sadness it was just Malcolm. And they were both dressed. And sitting with a lot of distance between them. Lame. They both stared at me.

"What?" I asked, "I announced myself."

I usually wouldn't have, but I need to do a lot of ass-kissing to go to tonight. So they got lucky. This time.

Malcolm nodded a good morning at me and I stalked over to him and dropped down next to him on Glinda's bed. Suddenly I felt like Goldilocks in the bed that was too soft. It bounced with my weight and Malcolm bounced with me. I squished the urge to giggle, and looked up at Malcolm sheepishly.

"Sorry," I said. Malcolm startled and looked at me.

Seriously? You'd think I never apologize. I do, though I have to say, sometimes it comes out sarcastically. But the point remains the same. I do apologize. From time to time.

"So whatcha talking about?" I asked them, looking from Malcolm to Glinda and back.

My aunt raised an eyebrow at me and Malcolm turned to look at me with slightly narrowed eyes. I straightened, folding my hands across my chest.

"What? Whatever it is you heard, I didn't do it." I said, looking between the both of them, and this time I honestly didn't do anything. Except maybe getting blooded to a Vamp. That's not my fault though. That damn Vamp was too hot.

They rolled their eyes in unison and I a few minutes of internal freaking out I was doing.

I pointed my finger at them, "That was weird. You sure you're not like..together?"

The eyebrows stayed raised as I flicked my eyes between the two of them.

"I mean, what's he doing in your room anyway?" I asked my aunt, standing up and crossing my arms to look at them down my nose (metaphorically, since I couldn't do it in reality).

"Young lady-" I started and Malcolm intercepted my speech (I had been so excited to give it, damn).

"We're not together, Kiera." He said.

I scrunched my nose, "Why are you saying it like that? You'd be lucky to be with someone like my aunt."

See? Ass-kissing.

It was also true.

"She's got a point." Aunt Glinda said, turning those accusing eyes to Malcolm.

Malcolm blinked, before narrowing his eyes at my aunt.

Okay, seriously? Is nothing going on between them? They had the whole old married couple thing going on. Also, ew.

"I'm here to speak about Young Master Fang's birth celebration invite." He said.

I blinked. Young what? Ohhh, he meant Kiel. I forgot they called him that.

I made a mental note to make fun of him with that. A smirk curled around my lips, before coughing to cover it up as my aunt and Malcolm were giving me weird looks.

"So who's winning?" I asked.

Both Glinda's and Malcolm's eyes met with an unheard clash, I almost winced. They were doing some sort of eye-sparring thing. Gee-sus.

I fanned myself, "The sexual tension here is a little stifling."

Two pairs of eyes whipped to me.

"So is the hatred. Tone it down, please." I said, patting the air.

They both looked away and Glinda's arms raised to cross themselves across her chest.

"My answer remains the same. I won't stop you and Will from going. But no one from the Daughters of the Moon will be participating in the celebration of Fang's birth."

I winced when at the way she said Kiel's second name.

"Aunt Glinda, please?" I said.

Malcolm stood, his own arms crossing as well. "It would be a very clever move. The next generation of Heirs seem to have a better more cooperative relationship than any of us do. It would be in our best interest to nurture that-"

"What for?" Glinda asked, tossing her arms in the air.

"For a lot of reasons, Glinda." He said and his eyes sparkled dangerously. He seemed to be trying to let my aunt know something without saying it out loud. She seemed to get it. Because gold sparks flashed from her hand and her jaw tightened with anger.

"I cannot believe you would take that and throw it in my face," she spat.

My eyes widened in shock. Whoa. Dude, what just happened?

"I'm not throwing it in your face," he said, "I'm saying maybe this time you should take a different decision."

My aunt looked like she was ready to spit fire.

May day. May day.

"Okay," I said, putting my arms up. "Aunt Glinda. Please? Please. I will do anything. I'll owe you one. I'll even buy you a low sugar cake. Please?" I asked.

She looked at me, "Kiera," she said, rubbing a hand against her forehead, "Listen-"

"Please. I will never ever ask for anything else." I said, stepping up to her and scrunching her cape in my fist.

My aunt's eyes dropped to my fist, when she looked up her eyes had softened.

"Kiera-" she started, but I could hear the wavering decision in her head.

"I promise, promise, promise to be very careful. My friends are really nice. Please trust me, I will introduce them to you. You will love them! I promise! Please? It's such a special day and I want to be there with them to celebrate." I said, my other hand also clutched her cape and tugged on it.

Her eyes scrunched closed and I knew she was going to say yes. She held up a finger, when she saw that I was going to squeal.

"You will not be more than ten feet away from me. You will always be where I can see you." She said.

I squealed and threw my arms around her, jumping up and down. She placed a hand on my back and chuckled. I ran up to Malcolm and pulled his arm out and started to do my version of a tango. I twirled him and danced out of the room.

Yesyesyesyesyesyesyes!

I did various ballet/crumping/Kung Fu Panda moves to Gin's room. When I entered, she was throwing something in the dustbin. She whirled when she realized that someone had entered. My mouth dropped. Her eyes were red and puffy and her whole face was blotchy and wet.

"Gin?" I asked, my brows dropping down.

A sob broke out of her and she ran to me and hugged me, her chest heaving with the sobs that she couldn't control, I was so shocked that for some time all I could do was pat her back. Soon my brain rebooted and I spoke.

"Gin, what happened?" I asked.

She shook her head and leaned back, rubbing her hands against her tear stained cheeks. She looked up in an attempt to stop tearing, but large tears still slid from her sad gold eyes.

"Is it a guy?" my eyes narrowed, when she wouldn't meet my eyes I got pissed off. Because I knew the reason she was upset.

"It's definitely a guy. Who's this ass. I'll go bust his ball-" Gin pulled me back down when I started to stand and cut me off by saying "It's not really that..."

"Then what is it?" I asked, "Because I've been watching you for a while and you've been out of it-"

"I'm not ready," she said in a whisper and my heart just broke.

I sighed and patted the spot next to me and she crawled over and rested her head on my shoulder (which was a feat given her height difference with mine). Her sobbing had stopped and she only hiccuped.

"Will you please tell me who he is at least? I'm having a very blood-lust moment here," I said, flexing my muscles. Very puny, puny muscles.

She just laughed and damn if it still didn't sound sad.

"It's fine. Distract me." She said.

My mind, predictably blanked.

"Want to watch some YouTube videos? That ought to be productive way to use our time," I said.

She shook her head, "I feel like I've seen everything."

"You have never always seen everything," I said with air of mystery.

She snickered. Then somehow brightened, "What did Glinda say?"

I felt guilty saying that Glinda had agreed, given the event that had just transpired. So, I hesitated.

"She said no?" Gin asked, her face drooping again, sadly.

"She said yes." I said.

Gin squealed. "Why didn't you tell me as soon as you came in?"

I just looked at her, sadly.

And she shook her head. "I have got to get you ready." She said and her eyes took on a gleam that creeped the eff out of me.

"Oh, no thanks.. I think I'll just-" I stopped when she gave me the Bambi look. God I effing hate that look.

"Fine." I grumbled. I was tempted to say that I would just wear my PJ's with a messy bun to escapt her tyrant ways while she's playing make up with me, so why did I say yes? Because I was crazy.

One more thing:

I was so screwed.

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Whoa. Okay. Was that good? You will understand the name of the chapter once you see (or guess) the name of the next one. So, ask yourself this, what comes after the lull?:PAlmost seven thousand words. *clears throat* Anyway. I know that this chapter has a lot going on but it doesn't really seem important, trust me, it sets the premise for the next one. And the next one has a LOT of action. Not that kind of action, guys. Get your minds out of the gutter :P Anyway, it's a long ass chapter with probably a few-ish typos. Soweeey for that. And for the late update. Are you wondering what's up with Derek? And what is going on with Gin? It's coming soooon. Comment what you think and don't forget to vote if you liked this chapter! Love you my Unicorns! Oh and eighty two followers? I feel so loved!