A/N Sorry I've taken so long to update this, I'm sure you don't want to hear my excuses :) Not a lot happens in this chapter, so I'm sorry if you find it a bit boring, however I can assure you that I have a lot lined up for this story. I've just got to stop being so darn lazy. Anyway, hope you enjoy.

Chapter 12: Mismatched Conclusions

It was not often I missed, in fact, it was almost unheard of. Now, this is not me suffering from the inability to be modest, but the truth was, if we didn't kill them, they would kill us. Therefore missing was just not an option. Clearly David was not going to take the advantage and kill me, for he has had many opportunities to do just that.

My breath, for the first time, since becoming a vampire, was laboured and heavy. I realised this, and worked on controlling it, wanting to be able to have some form of influence over the situation. Even if it was only my breathing.

He waited, amused at my reaction. A sharp pain drew my attention to my wrist, which was all but healed. I frowned at it; shouldn't it be okay by now? Anyway. I returned my attention to David, "I missed. This time."

He appeared unbothered by my attempt to kill him; a smile spread across his features, "I'm always up for some excitement, you can try me on anytime."

I had the distinct feeling he was teasing me.

"Next time." How I relished the idea, "next time, you won't be expecting it."

A frown replaced his smile, "I know you, Sasha. So I'll always be expecting it." The air seemed to condense around me, an uneasy feeling settling in the pit of my stomach.

"You think you know me." Vampires have always suffered from the notion that they know everything – probably due to their extended ages. But just because they knew about things, didn't mean they understood them.

David paused, and then continued on smoothly, "I do know you and better than you think."

I was so damn tired of his games, "You have to sleep sometime."

He smirked, amused, "So do you."

"The difference is, I don't have to sleep hanging upside down, which is the opportune moment."

David moved closer, his footsteps echoing off the hollow walls, his smirk growing wider, "You try it; we'll see how far you get." He spoke as though he had defeated me with a well reasoned argument.

I stepped backwards, raising a hand, "Leave me alone."

"Do you really think you can escape me?" A dark laugh escaped his lips, although no real humour was palpable.

My jaw clenched at its own accord, "As a matter-of-fact...yes."

He watched me for a long moment, "Fine. But, I'll be close, if you decide to try anything."

Flippantly, perhaps foolishly, I turned away, "Whatever."

There was the sound of movement, and when I looked back, David was gone.

The ground had never seemed so inviting. I walked away from the entrance, knowing escapism was both impossible and unwise, and curled up against the back wall. I willed for sleep, unconsciousness, anything to break me away from this terrible reality.

It was difficult to quite grasp what I had I really gotten myself caught up in a coven of vampires? Had I really allowed one to bite me? Had I really just jumped in head first?

The sad truth was that the answer was yes to all of those questions.

I don't know how long I stayed there, crouched against the wall, the stake held tightly in my hand. Time meant nothing to me; it hadn't in a very long time. I never wore a watch, I never checked a clock. I just lived in the world of darkness that was the night. Five long years had dragged past, and I was still as far away from my goal as I had been then. I still didn't know where my brother's killer was, and I was not getting any closer by being here.

How long would I have to endure here? How long before David would allow me freedom? But...even if I got free, I would still be part vampire. Still half-dead. Still never-changing.

It was a vicious cycle, if I were to leave; I would be stuck like this. By staying, I was only getting drawn further into his tangled web. But what was the best thing to do?

My thoughts were interrupted by the loud callings of what could only be those idiotic vampires. One by one, they entered, Marko and Paul bouncing - yes, literally bouncing – and Dwayne trailing up the rear.

I couldn't bear to look at them.

Paul appeared to notice my discomfort, and loudly called out, "Shame you didn't come, Sasha, you missed the fun." He laughed, and Marko joined in.

Dwayne moved further in and sat down, not that far from me. Both Marko and Paul sat on the fountain, Paul twiddling around with the dials on his radio.

I clutched the stake more firmly, prepared to hurt them if necessary. Heck, I would have done it given any excuse.

I caught Dwayne's gaze on my knuckles, which had begun to whiten due to the painfully tight grip I had on the wood. I ignored him.

Eventually, I saw Dwayne stiffen, out of the corner of my eye, and I knew why, without much deliberation.

Marko just confirmed my theory, "Boss is back." He looked in my direction and smiled evilly.

David swaggered in, enjoying the introduction from Marko, his head held high. I couldn't stand his gloating expression.

He turned to speak to Paul and Marko, both speaking animatedly. I closed my eyes, tuning out their chatter, tears threatening at my eyes. Swallowing hard, I blinked them back, disgusted with myself.

I did not cry. Crying got you nowhere, it was pointless, just a sign of weakness. I refused to allow myself to carry through this action. This was as close as I would allow it to come.

Marko again broke my train of thought, "Well, I'm calling it a night, I'm bloody knackered." Paul laughed and elaborated, clearly just for my benefit, "Same. Killing tourists really takes it out of you."

I refrained from going over there and ripping his heart out, but the urge was there, nonetheless.

They both stood, and headed off to what I presumed was their sleeping quarters. Dwayne and David also stood to leave, but paused, as David gave Dwayne a look. He gave me a fleeting glance, and he too followed Paul and Marko. Now it was just David and I.

David moved towards me, and I flinched, cursing under my breath about the effect he had managed to inflict on me.

"Aren't you coming?" I was certain he was messing with me; that laugh underlining his words was a clear giveaway.

I settled with a simple answer, "No." I prayed he would leave it at that.

"Well, you're not going to stay out here by yourself." Evidently I had given him the answer he had expected, and I was paying the price.

"Why not?"

Like earlier, he laughed mirthlessly, "You really think I'm thick enough to leave you out here by yourself? Well, think again."

Maybe he would forget about that, if I showed him I knew the consequences, "Well, there's no point in me running away, is there? You'll just catch up, so what's the problem?"

"I'm glad you've accepted that. But, you're coming anyway."

Then again, maybe not.

"No." I withdrew into myself, pressing up against the wall, attempting to make myself as small as possible.

David hunched down next to me, "You're not getting a choice. Now. Get up." His tone was commanding and cold.

"No." I pointed the stake at him, trying to make it clear I wasn't about to just admit defeat.

He sighed, undeniably growing frustrated. I doubted he was accustomed to people refusing him.

"I'm not in the mood for your games."

Games? I'd give him games.

Before I could retort, David moved quickly, grasping my wrist, "Do you want this broken again?" His teeth were gritted, and I gathered he had reached the end of his tether. I had pushed his patience too far, it seemed.

His grip was tight, agonizingly tight, and I couldn't help but utter a squeak of pain, the stake falling from my grasp. I wouldn't give in though, "Do it then."

David leaned closer, his face inches from mine, "Don't think I won't." His voice was like frost, cold and unforgiving.

I hissed at him, my anger growing with his heightening temper, "Do it then."

Without another thought, he broke it swiftly and without remorse.

This proved my theory again, I really was an idiot.

Biting back the cries that I longed to utter, I looked away from him and my wrist. The pain was raw, and I couldn't stand it.

"Told you." He stood, dragging me up with him, his hand still gripping my wrist.

It was agony. I had always thought of myself to have a high pain threshold, it kind of came with the territory. But never had I been in a situation where they were hurting me simply for fun. Of course, I had been in countless fights, had my arms, legs and once even my collarbone broken. The point is though; those had been life or death situations. The vampire had always been fighting for its existence. David, however, was in no such quandary, and currently I wasn't even a threat.

David wasn't about to let go, "You're sleeping with us." He proceeded to drag me in the direction the others had taken.

I struggled feebly, not going to submit to him, but unable to do very much in this predicament.

Once inside, I was aware of Marko, Paul and Dwayne all hanging by their feet on a long bar, which ran along the top of the ceiling. It was repulsive, being so near helpless vampires, but powerless to kill them.

David pulled me to him, deliberately harsh, smirking. I bit my lip, preventing myself from crying out in pain, I wouldn't give him the satisfaction. He tightened his grip and I looked away, not allowing him to see my expression. Vainly, I attempted to pull out of his grasp, but it was to no avail.

He broke the silence, speaking quietly, but with an obvious of hint of...well evil, for want of a better word, "Moral of the story, Sasha?"

I briefly considered fighting him, but that wouldn't help me right now, "Don't...don't ask you to snap...my wrist?"

"That, and...?" He still managed to tighten his grip further, waiting for a particular answer.

I knew what answer he wanted, and I had to give it, if I wanted to keep my hand intact. Which I did.

"Don't...don't disobey?"

David loosened his hold, but didn't let go, pleased that he seemed to have broken me.

"Well done. And I wouldn't forget that, if I were you."

I nodded, desperately wishing he would let go. A moment later, he fulfilled my wish.

"Now, up." He nodded upwards, to where the others were.

"I...I can't." I wasn't lying, I couldn't do that. I didn't have those claw like feet, and even if I did, there was no way I could lay like that. Or, rather, hang like that.

David looked at me, and I wondered what he was thinking. After another moment, he shrugged, "Well, then lucky you, come here."

"W-what?" He couldn't mean what I thought he meant, surely?

He spoke more firmly, "I said, come here."

I cringed, "But...why?"

"I'm not going to hurt you. But, if you don't come here, I will."

He didn't have to tell me twice, one broken wrist was enough for one night.

I hesitated for another moment, and then moved closer to him.

Swiftly, he put an arm around my waist, preventing me from moving away, "I'm going to take you up there."

I held onto him with the barest amount of strength I could manage, only using that which was necessary to stay still.

It was the oddest sensation, being upside down like this. The world just tipped on its axis. But, it was not uncomfortable, just strange. The blood did not rush to my head, and I felt just as I had before.

I avoided his gaze, closing my eyes. David's lips brushed my ear, "Well, goodnight." His trademark smirk was present in his voice.

I didn't respond. His arms didn't loosen throughout, even once he was asleep.

Sleep wouldn't come to me; it refused me the pleasure of forgetting for even just a handful of hours. It never came. And I spent a long day, stuck in David's arms, with only my own thoughts for company. This was almost as worse as before. But, it wasn't the worst yet to come.