Hey readers! I was going through my reviews for this story earlier and I remembered just how much I loved you guys and I threw in my perfect mood to write this doozy of a chapter.. and I'm not going to lie… this is my favorite.. out of all 16 chapters.. this is the one chapter I can absolutely call my favorite and I had such fun writing it. I really hope you guys enjoy reading it as much as I did writing. I'm going to try and be consistent.. I'm trying, my loves. I have the whole plan for the story, I know the ending and how this story will leave you guys (I was considering a sequel afterwards.. but we're not there yet) . Anywho, regardless of my story already being planned, please feel free to leave suggestions in the reviews you leave, I may just add whatever it is to my story ;) and don't be afraid to make your comments lengthy! Love me some loooong ass reviewers! Anywho, that's all for now. I will try my hardest next chapter :D

~Mz. Jinky 3

Chapter 16: Weaknesses

Speaking to Danny and Tucker on the phone did nothing but make me feel miserable. Fifteen minutes on the phone didn't change a thing about my being trapped in Vlad's mansion. However, maybe those were his evil intentions? To make me feel vulnerable and hopeless…Well, it worked. I only learned that Tucker and Danny were suffering because of me. And where the hell were they? Were they starving? Did they need the bathroom? I hoped not…

The next day, I decided to ditch on Vlad's lesson for the day and wander through his home for my own (miserable) pleasure. I looked through most of the doors of the second floor and suddenly felt bored with myself. Most of them were bedrooms. Vlad lived alone, though. What the hell does he do with all this room? I shook my head in pity for his lifestyle.

No wonder he wants so much power…He's so god damn lonely, I thought in disgust.

I stopped at the end of the end of the hallway and found myself in front of a large, wooden door. I turned the door slowly and cautiously, poking my head in first before slipping the rest of my body inside. I looked around in wonder and closed the door behind me with my boot. I leaned against the door in confusion and exhaustion. A library. A large library. Large shelves engulfed the room and with books to fill them. The shelves were positioned in rows…sixteen to be exact with the books set in alphabetical order. There was a large fireplace at the left corner of the room with two fat loveseats surrounding it. Three chandeliers were hung upon the ceiling and brightly lit the room.

Huh, a library, I wondered. I didn't know Vlad read books.

I walked across the room and looked through the books in the Aa-Be section. As rational as it seems for a fruit loop like Vlad, it was in the order from author; last name to first. What astounded me most was the Maya Angelou novel, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. I picked it out and sat by the fireplace, tucking my legs under my butt and snuggling underneath my sweatshirt, turning to the first page.

Those two hours reading a simple book set me back to my room. Underneath the covers along with a flashlight to keep my parents from finding out I was still awake at three in the morning. My purple and black sheets partnering with my skull comforter in the late nights of the winter. The wind howling from outside my window and the occasional visit from Danny on nights such as. My knees would be pulled up against my chest as I flipped through the pages of my book, completely in a whole new world of fantasy and horror. Then facing the consequences the next morning, falling asleep in the first through third period classes, and Tucker's failing attempts at waking me before I was caught. Jake reprimanding me for being awake so late at night in the first place and Danny smirking at me for knowing the exact reason why I was. And this repeated. Over and over. And it was how I liked it. How I felt comfortable as a teenager.

I awoke from my stupor and continued to read. Thinking of that stuff now made me sad.

About thirty minutes later, I felt a presence. You know that feeling when you think someone is staring? Yeah, that. That's what I felt.

Footsteps came closer to where was until suddenly the couch sang beside me. I tried my best to be as far away from the being as possible…trying to drown myself into the arm rest.

"I think a thank you is in order," he said. Do I really have to tell who it was? Didn't think so.

I shrugged and kept my eyes glued onto the page it has been for the past five minutes. "Thanks for nothing," I said simply.

I heard his knuckles crack. "Nothing? Are you joking?"

"Does it sound like I'm joking?" I snapped finally turning to him. I stared at the space between his eyebrows; avoiding is eyes. "Why?"

It was his turn to shrug. "Why not?"

This angered me. I shut the book and stood up, throwing it onto the couch as I stomped off.

"You are so unappreciative!" He yelled at me making me pause. "I let you speak to your parents! Your brother!"

I cringed. Did it make me a bad person because I hadn't? That I chose Tucker and Danny over them…? I didn't know.

There wasn't much I could say back. Because I didn't speak to my parents, and I hadn't done what I told Dan would make me happy. Was I a hypocrite? Was I a horrible daughter? Sister? And I couldn't tell him that I had found a way to speak to my friends either…

I lied, "And what exactly did speaking to my parents do? I'm still here! I'm still within a good walking distance from you and Vlad! Speaking to my parents did nothing but make them miserable and increase my own hopelessness!"

"Deal with it, Samantha!"

I breathed in sharply and speed-walked out of the libraryin my anger.

I hate him, I confirmed to myself. I hate him so much.

I began to run. I ran down the hallway, forgetting I got to the second floor with stairs. And as unfortunate as my exits can get I missed the first step of the staircase and tumbled the rest of the way down. My arm, my right leg, my left thigh, and both my feet throbbed after my fall to the second to last step of the staircase. I attempted to stand on my own and failed gravely, only to find myself fall over as a result.

Dan caught me the second time, his arms hoisting me up from the ground by my waist. "Are you okay?" he mumbled.

I panted and after I caught my breath I replied shakily, "N—no. My—My foot. It.."

He placed me down gently on one of the steps and took one of my feet in his hands, I winced in pain.

"Does that hurt?" he questioned looking at my face.

"I—I…" I couldn't respond. I looked at him. His eyes…were blue. And soft and… Danny's..

"Sam?" He let go of my foot and set it down once more. "Can you stand on your own?"

Yes.

I didn't say that.

He took me by the arms again, holding me, and testing my strength.

I only stared. He stared back, still holding me.

I don't know what had gotten into me. And I don't know if I regret it. My judgment seemed blurred and I could only think of one thing.

I grabbed his neck and brought his lips down to my own. The kiss was fast and heated, as he responded only by tightening his grip around my waist and kissing back passionately. I pushed myself closer to his body and felt his teeth nibble upon my lower lip. I moaned, pushing my tongue into his mouth. They swirled together hotly as he picked me up and my legs immediately wrapped around his waist. Our lips didn't part once. I felt him move. Was it down or up the stairs? I wouldn't know. I ran my hands over his hair as his lips claimed my jaw, my chin, my throat, and finally my collarbone where I moaned again. At the time, I hadn't wanted to stop. I could've kept going. We could've…

But we did stop.

And we stared at each other.

I set myself down and wobbled, holding myself up by the bed frame. We were in a bedroom…

My heart thumped at the realization of the moment.

I made out with Dan.

He must've realized himself, for he blinked his eyes and slipped out of the room quickly, slamming the door behind him.

I didn't miss the flash of red in his eyes as he left.