Vivian felt sore all over. Her head throbbed as she came too, feeling dizzy. There were a couple things she noticed as she gained consciousness slowly. First thing was that she wasn't in her bed. Vivian could feel that she was sitting up, legs down and feet touching the ground. Second, there was no blanket on her and the air was rather cold, which is the opposite of her bedroom. When she began opening her eyes, images formed of surroundings that weren't familiar to her. It made her heart race as she slammed awake, taking in a deep breath and eyes focusing.

She was in some type of office, a large wooden desk sat in front of her with a leather chair behind it. There was a huge window looking out to moonlit gardens below, deep red curtains tied up on the sides. Vivian sat on a couch of leather, the fabric cool against her jeans. When she turned her head she noticed a figure standing in the corner, and immediately sprung up from the couch.

"Stop." A voice said, deep and rich. Vivian froze mid lunge, feeling a panic swell in her body as it didn't listen to her. "Sit back down." The voice spoke again, and Vivian again followed like they were commands. She sank back down into the couch, heart racing and hands shaking.

Vivian looked over to the figure again, this time actually taking them in. It was an unfamiliar man wearing a deep red suit, brown hair slicked back, and red eyes watching her. She felt her insides turn as she looked at him. "What's going on?"

"That's what I would like to know." He said, moving from where he leaned against a bookcase. "You're resisting a mindwipe I hear."

The woman sat there, dumbfounded and panicked all at once. "A what?" Vivian went to stand up again

"Sit down and stop moving." The man said as he stood in front of her, and the tone made her insides shiver. Vivian obeyed, feeling tears well in her eyes as she lost control of her body. "I want to know why you're resisting a mindwipe."

Vivian stared at the man standing in front of her, unsure of what was going on and what she should do. Who was this man? Where was she? Could she be in another nightmare? That had to be it. This had to be a nightmare, and all she needed to do was wake up. She closed her eyes and willed herself to wake up, but when she opened her eyes again, the red-eyed man was still looking down at her. "This is real." She said, less a question and more a statement.

"Yes, it is." The man replied, crossing arms over his chest. "But you're not going to remember any of this, so it's not like it matters."

"Are you going to try or not, Niccolo?" A familiar voice spoke, pulling Vivian's attention to the other side of the room. There, leaned against a bookshelf, was Kit, just as beautiful as before. Vivian felt her skin crawl as she remembered the way ripped off that creature's head. She felt sick to her stomach.

"I will, just calm down." Niccolo said, waving the other man off. "I want to get to know her a little before wiping her."

"What are you talking about?" Vivian managed to get out, looking between the two. "Where am I?"

Niccolo uncrossed his arms and leaned against the desk. "You are in my home. And you have stumbled into a world that is not your own."

"I-I don't understand." Vivian shakes her head, looking at the brown haired man.

"That's fine, you're not meant to understand." Niccolo replied, pushing off the desk and moving towards her. "But I would like to understand why you're resisting a mindwipe. It's not like Kit is weak or unable to properly perform it. So it has to be you."

Vivian just shook her head, unable to understand what was going on and how she was involved in any of it. The two red-eyed men didn't seem hostile, but they were able to control her with just their words. That was something she could not explain, or even begin to understand. Even though Niccolo had confirmed this was real, she still felt like she was in a dream. A nightmare.

"Are you human?" Niccolo asked, moving a chair to sit in front of her.

"What kind of question is that?" Vivian replied, feeling like she was going crazy if this wasn't a dream.

"Answer the question." The brown haired man used that tone that made her feel helpless.

"Yes, I am." She responded, the words coming out of her mouth before she could even think about it.

"Are you aware of what we are?"

"No." Vivian answered, looking between the two red-eyed men. "Are you demons?"

"Something like that." Kit said from the other side of the room, pulling Vivians eyes to him. Niccolo also looked over to Kit, giving him a harsh look. "No, we are not demons."

"I'm the one asking the questions." Niccolo said, pulling attention back to him. "How were you able to resist the mindwipe?"

"I don't even know what a mindwipe is." Vivian replied, shaking her head.

"Answer the question." He said, using that tone.

"I don't know!" She yelled, feeling frustrated.

The man across from her just looked at her for a moment, as if he was thinking. "Do you have any questions, Kit?" Niccolo finally said.

Kit shook his head, black hair slipping down his shoulder. "No, I do not."

Niccolo stood up from his chair, Vivians eyes following the motion. "Then we shall proceed." Moving the chair back to where he grabbed it from, the brown haired man then stood in front of Vivian. "You will not remember tonight. You went home after work and carried on about your day as you usually would." Niccolo spoke, the commanding tone of his voice making Vivian feel hazy.

At that moment, the room began to glow with a faint white light that intensified as the seconds passed. Vivian felt her skin buzzing, closing her eyes as that same white light from earlier took over the space and blinded her. There was a loud sound, almost like an explosion that rattled against Vivians ears, causing them to begin ringing. It was like the alleyway all over again, only so much more intense.

When the light began to fade, Vivian opened her eyes to a surprising sight. The room looked like a tornado had passed through, books and other various items scattered around the place. Confusion was the first thing she felt, eyes focusing on the two men who were once standing, now collapsed on the floor like some force had knocked them down. The next thing she felt was panic, working its way into her chest and stomach as the two men stared at her with bewildered expressions.

"By the stars..." Niccolo whispered as he pushed himself up. "I've never seen someone resist a mindwipe like that."

Kit stayed on the floor for a moment, looking right at Vivian. She looked between the two before looking down at herself, noticing the way her skin glowed with a faint white light, tiny wisps curling up from her skin. It was like a white fire engulfed her body, but there was no pain or heat. Vivian just felt dizzy, the ringing in her ears subsiding and the force holding her down dissipating. Once she noticed that, she stood from the chair she was trapped in, and instantly regretted it. The whole room tilted one way while her body went the other, reaching out for the chair and falling right back into it.

"You probably shouldn't move for a little." Niccolo spoke, beginning to pick up some of the papers that flew off his desk. "Your body is definitely going to be feeling weak after that."

Kit, who now stood, couldn't take his eyes off Vivian. "Was that...?"

"Aether, yes." Niccolo answered as Kit's question faded.

"Why would she...?" Kit began, but his question faded again.

Niccolo seemed like he knew what the other was about to say. "I don't know Kit, but we're going to figure that out. Bring her to Viktor."

"Viktor?" Kit finally looked away from Vivian and to the other man in the room. "You want to involve Viktor in this?"

Nodding, the brown haired man rounded the desk and set a stack of papers atop it. "They might have more knowledge in this than I do. Have them run tests, find out what she is."

"What I am? I thought we established that I'm a human." Unlike you two. Vivian held back the last part, still unsure if she was dreaming or maybe even hallucinating. "Plus, why would I go anywhere with you two?"

Stolen novel; please report.

"You don't have a choice dear." Niccolo said, meeting her eyes. His expression was serious, making dread fill Vivian like a reservoir. "You're lucky I'm not keeping you here to find out what you are. But we don't need more missing people in Lake Ashton."

Vivian felt a pang of fear run through her at the thought of being trapped here, in this unknown place. "So you're letting me go home?"

"For now. Kit will be keeping an eye on you." The brown haired man sat down in his chair, not bothering to look at either of them as he spoke.

"Are you going to make me babysit her?" Kit argued, seeming like he was definitely not happy with the turn of events. "What about my patrols?"

"You'll still go on your patrols and watch after her." Niccolo continued to sort the items on his desk. "She's clearly not human, and I want to find out what she is and why she's resisting mindwipes. If that means having you watch over her and getting Viktor involved, then so be it."

It looked like Kit wanted to say something else, but he held back. There was a moment of silence, and Niccolo stopped to meet Kit's gaze. Vivian quietly watched the interaction. "Fine." Kit finally said, moving towards Vivian. "Come on, we need to get you home." Vivian watched as the man extended a hang towards her.

She just shook her head, black hair swishing across her back. "I'm not going anywhere with you."

Kit didn't even flinch, just stood there with his hand extended. "Would you rather stay here."

"I don't like either of those options." Vivian responded, unmoving from the couch she sat upon. "Is there a third option where I wake up?"

While Kit stood silently at her question, Niccolo let out a sigh. "This isn't a dream my dear. You're not going to wake up."

"You're lying." She accused, her mind unable to process that any of this could possibly be real. Not the man standing in front of her offering his hand, or the man behind the desk, and especially the creature that attacked her and was killed by Kit. None of this could be real.

"I can assure you I'm not." Niccolo responded, looking up to meet her eyes. "You should go with Kit, unless you want to stay here."

"No." Vivian said quickly, ignoring the hand being offered to her and standing up on her own. "I want to go home."

Niccolo gestured towards the door. "Then go."

The woman turned and walked towards the door, still hoping Niccolo was lying and she would wake up from this horrible nightmare.

✩

To say this was the most awkward she had ever felt wouldn't be a stretch. Vivian sat uncomfortably inside Kit's car as he drove down the highway. They were somewhere in the mountain pass, the road dark and full of curves that threw her body side to side. It had been silent since they entered the car. Vivian didn't know what to say or how to feel. She couldn't help but think about how she watched this man murder someone, and now she was in the same car as him. It made her shiver.

Her mind did eventually shift to other things, like what was going to happen to her. Sure, this man is taking her home, but Niccolo mentioned something about bringing her to Viktor. She would have to interact with this man again and some other random person. Vivian thought about how she's been having dreams about red-eyed creatures and now she's in a car with one. Those could be contacts, but why would both Kit and Niccolo be wearing them? She remembered when she first met Kit, he had brown eyes, but now they were red. Which were the contacts? Vivian glanced over to Kit, taking in his silhouette. It seemed strange to her how calm he was.

"Do you have any questions?" Kit broke the silence, making Vivian jump in her seat.

The woman scoffed, looking away from him and to the trees zipping by outside. "Of course I do." She responded, crossing arms over her chest. "I just... I don't know where to start."

"That is understandable." The black haired man said in an even voice. "If you figure it out, I will answer what I can."

Vivian turned to look at him again, watching as he kept his eyes on the road. It was too dark to really make out his face, but she still tried to make out his features. There were too many questions bouncing around in her head, making it hard to pick out any particular one. "What... what was that thing you killed?"

Kit didn't respond immediately, his fingers gripping the steering wheel. "It was a rabid." He said, keeping his response short.

The woman just looked at him for a moment. "What the hell is a rabid? Like a rabid animal?"

"Kind of." He spared her a quick glance, his silhouette shifting. "It was a rabid vampire."

Vivian stared at Kit, his words swirling around in her head. She took in a breath, as if to speak, before releasing it. "You're joking."

Kit is silent. He kept his eyes on the road as Vivian started to feel the panic coil around her insides. "The creature that attacked you was a rabid vampire." He finally said, filling the silence.

"So what, vampires are real? What's next, werewolves? Mermaids?" Vivian questioned, sitting back in her seat.

Again, Kit is silent, but this time he looks over at her, holding her gaze. "Would you believe me if I said yes?"

Vivian just looked at Kit, even after his eyes moved back to the road, her eyes stayed on the man. His words rattled around her mind, not processing as everything began to tilt. What felt like a headache came on strong and sudden. It made her close her eyes and rub her temples. "Are you guys on drugs? Is that what's happening?"

"No." Kit replied quickly. "No one is on drugs, I am telling you the truth."

"You expect me to believe those things are real?" Vivian fought, feeling like she was going insane. "Are you out of your mind?"

"I do not expect you to believe me." Kit said, giving her a quick glance. "It is not something easily believed. But I promise I am not lying to you."

Vivian didn't reply, she just kept staring at him. "So... what are you?"

She watched as the man tensed. "Are you sure you want to know?" He asked, something shifting in his tone.

"You're not human? Those aren't contacts you're wearing?" She asked, still refusing to believe anything this man said.

"No, I am not human, and no, these are not contacts. I was wearing contacts before."

Before. Did he mean at the cafe and the fair? She definitely remembers him having brown eyes those two times they met. "What are you?"

Kit looked over to her again, holding her gaze. "I am a vampire."

Vivian's brain didn't process his words. It was like they went in one ear and then out the other. "What?" She asked, blinking a few times as she watched the man look back to the road.

"A vampire."

"No you're not." Vivian accused, feeling angry. It was almost like this man was messing with her. "That's not- that's not possible." She watched the man as he drove, his grip on the steering wheel tighter than before. "You're lying to me."

"I am not."

"Prove it." She dared.

"No." Kit almost seemed offended by her dare. "I am not going to prove that I am a vampire to you."

"Because you're not."

"Because I do not want to scare you."

Vivian laughed at that. "You think you'll scare me?"

"I know I will."

What felt like a weight dropped in Vivian's stomach, making her feel sick. Kit seemed so serious about this, and it made her stop and think for a moment. What if he wasn't lying? What if she wasn't dreaming? It all seemed so impossible, but so does someone controlling you with their words. She continued to watch him, the car filling with silence. "I want you to prove it."

Kit let out a sigh, clearly annoyed. But at the next pull off, the man turned the car into the dirt and stopped. The only lights around for miles were the headlights of the car. Vivian looked out the window at the sprawling forest outside, the moon hidden behind thick clouds that threatened to drop snow on them. She almost instantly regretted asking, feeling more trapped than before. Vivian turned and stared straight out the windshield, not looking over to the man besides her. "Are you sure about this?" He asked.

Vivian looked over at him, unable to make his expression out in the dark. She watched with stilled breath as he reached up for the lights inside the car and flicked them on. It blinded her for a moment, making her blink away the blurriness as the man came into focus. She looked at him, still taken aback for a moment by his beauty. The illusion quickly faded as she looked into deep crimson colored eyes. This person was claiming to be a vampire, she shouldn't be swooning over him. He's literally crazy.

"I am." Vivian finally responded, realizing that his words were a question for her.

Kit took in another breath, closing his eyes. When he opened them back up, the white was completely gone, filled in with a deep black. It startled Vivian, making her lean away in her seat. But then he opened his mouth, and Vivian watched as teeth grew to long, sharp fangs. Just like the creature that attacked her. Just like the creature she saw in her dreams.

Not even a second later, Vivian threw the door open and ran.

The cold air bit into her skin as she rushed towards the forest, unsure of where to go or what to do in this situation. She had no idea where she was or how far Lake Ashton was, she wasn't even sure what time it was. All she knew was that she had to escape.

The forest swallowed her as she heard Kit's door open, but he was too late. Or, at least she thought he was, until a hand gripped her wrist and stopped her movements. "I knew you would run off." Kit's voice says behind her.

"Let go of me!" Vivian yelled, using her free hand to pry off his. It didn't work, as his grasp was firm. "I believe you, okay? Just let me go!"

"You want me to leave you in the middle of the forest, hours away from any civilization? In November?" He asked, almost as if she was the crazy one.

Vivian still tried to pull her wrist from the man. "What do you care?" She said, looking up to the man holding her in place. "You're a fucking vampire apparently!"

"That does not mean I am heartless." Kit said, using his free hand to grab her other wrist. "Just stop fighting me for a moment and think."

"About what? The fact you're a vampire?" Vivian struggled against his grasp.

"About the fact that I have yet to harm you."

"Doesn't mean you won't!" She fought, unable to pull her wrists free. It wasn't like he was hurting her, but it was frustrating being so easily captured.

Kit looked at her for a moment, his eyes shifting between the two of hers. "Tell me your name."

Vivian stopped completely at the question, confusion taking over the panic. "My name?"

"You have yet to tell me your name." He said, his voice calm and even.

She just stared at him, the clouds clearing for just a breath, allowing her to see him fully in the moonlight. His eyes were back to normal, besides the red irises. "Why do you want to know my name?"

"You know mine, do you not?" Kit asked, and she realized she did. She knew his and the other man's name, but neither of them ever asked for hers. "Is it not fair that I know yours too?"

Vivian was frozen, her wrists still being held by Kit. "Vivian." She finally said, unable to think of a reason why she shouldn't give the man her name.

"Vivian?" Kit repeated, and there was something about the way he spoke her name that made her stomach flutter. "That is a lovely name."

"You're really not going to try to kill me?" She asked, her voice almost as small as she felt in that moment.

Kit shook his head. "No, Vivian. My plan is to keep you alive."

Vivian looked to her hands trapped by his, skin cold against hers. "How can I trust you?"

Again, the man shook his head. "I do not know, that is up to you." With that, he released her hands. Her immediate thought was to run, but he might just catch her again. "Are you ready to go home now?"

Vivian looked the way that she had come from, the car's lights in the distance. Letting out a breath, she moved towards the vehicle. "Yeah, I'm ready."