Nicholas

I cursed, a mixture of English and French. My father, Liam, would be so proud to see that I have mastered a language enough to negotiate with the vampires in that country.

Not tonight.

The thick smell told me everything I needed to know - Vanessa. I cursed again as smoke jabbed at my eyes, making them watery. The only reason I wasn't ripping her throat out yet was because it was Lucy's body she was possessing.

How could I have been so blind?

Solange and my brothers had warned me countless times; don't get too close to her, we can't trust her, but I turned a blind eye to their advice. She told me she was also separated from her lover, that she felt my pain, and I was obliged to share my story with her.

And this is the outcome? Well, Lucy was right about me being a dumbass jerk, then. As she always is.

I hissed at the golden eyes smirking at me. Lucy's face was twisted into something I couldn't recognise, and it made my blood boil all the more. She lied to the Drakes, to me, killed countless of her own kind. I begun to doubt whether she was even stating the truth when she said Haugbui were a rare and small group.

Before I had time to ponder, Duncan's bike broke into the window, he and Sky landing gracefully as shattered glass fell around them, and Duncan's prized girl crashing into wall outside the room. The fact that he didn't bother parking his bike emphasised on the graveness of the Haugbui attack.

Christabel shrieked and Connor hurriedly used his cloak to shield her. The cloak with our family insignia on it which all of us Drakes wore. I remembered the time I put on the necklace with the very same insignia for Lucy -

My nostrils flared at the thick perfume smell. I decided that I was definitely never leaving Lucy out of my sight even she tried to stake me. I counted three daggers in the inner pockets of the jacket I always wore, five stakes - 3 strapped to my belt, 2 in my boots.

I got into the fighting stance Mom drilled into each and every one of me and my siblings, and we hissed in unison at Vanessa, who was seemingly already chanting a next spell.

- If I survived tonight, that is. And I totally plan to, because I still have to kiss Lucy senseless.

Lucy

I barely dodged the flames that spilled out from her fingertips. First, she set my house on fire, and now she's using it against me? Damn, was she going to get it. Magic or not, vampires die if something sharp drives through their chest.

I pulled the pin holding my now shoulder length hair together and let my hair fall about messily. This was no time for grace; I needed whatever weapon I could get.

What did she call herself again? Haugbui? Was that a new kind of vampire? Just what we needed; more insane breeds trying to kill me and the people I love. I was beginning to love my life more and more, all right.

This was especially so after hearing Vanessa's most disgusting snort upon seeing my pathetic weapon. I just remained silent, sneering my best sneer. Let them underestimate you, Kieran's old advice rang loud and clear. Let them think you're weak, human, and let them get close. That's when...

Vanessa closed in, her long, straight amber hair making her stick out like a sore thumb in the darkness. When she was within close combat range, I launched. Vampire or not, I managed to catch her off-guard, and stabbed her with my pin.

And of course, it wasn't enough. It barely got through her chest before she flung me with her supernatural strength.

Damned... For the billionth time, I cursed the fact that I was human, and the fact that I was an unprepared human. I would probably die first in war. But hey, I survived once, so I can this time too, right?

It's just one vampire, and one Lucy Hamilton. The only difference was that she had no Drake brothers or any worth-mentioning weapons on her. Oh, and not to mention, she was fighting inside her mind, probably. Totally fair.

Wait, "inside her own mind"?

I finally broke into the cheeky grin I had when I caught Quinn's stash of porn and tattle-taled to Helena. Finally, an advantage.

Isabeau

I stood before the Drake house, chanting furiously. My eyes kept taking side glances at my body laying on the ground, vulnerable, despite the fact that Logan was guarding it loyally. In fact, especially because Logan was guarding it. Without Charlemagne, I didn't feel safe. However, Kala was sick, and needed protection, which was why I sent him back to the caves two weeks ago.

I was honestly considering regretting that choice.

I tried to focus, searching for Lucy's presence. Our linked souls should have made my search easier than others, but all I felt was in fact, nothing. I tightened my grip on the scrap of cloth Logan had found on the ground earlier, belonging to Vanessa, the one who was in the Drake house now, fighting Logan's brothers.

My first meeting with Lucy and the times we've spent together, specifically our past three years, flashed past my mind and strengthened my resolve. She picked the wrong person to mess with.

A spot blinked for a split second, and I smelled the smell Nicholas described to me a dozen times, and I charged.

My body moved on its own, my charm guiding me, until I realised I was no longer in my own space. This was someone else's space, someone dangerous, strong, ancient... and bad-smelling. The sound of Lucy's shout reached my ears, and I rushed towards it, not caring that I was getting further away from the light, from my body...

And I certainly didn't hear Logan's warning about being surrounded by more of those Haugbui. Because right before me was Lucy, her body engulfed in flames, and a vampire I can only think was Vanessa, tossing back her head and laughing hysterically. I wasn't even certain if it was her. It could just be an hallucination. It happened, when one has been gone from their body too long. But I didn't have time.

More importantly, Lucy didn't have time. Not with a vampire who appeared comfortable with something bright like fire.

So I did the thing I was most accustomed to with insane vampires - I threw a stake at her.

Well, guess there's not much action inside this chapter, more about inner-stuff. Next chapter will have more action, promise! I think I'll end this in about 2-3 more chapters, because it really wasn't supposed to be anything more than a oneshot at first. Though, it may take a month, because exams. Hella. Wish I was studying at Helios-Ra academy instead.