Chapter 1

Kay was walking through the park trying to clear her mind. She was tired. Tired of the town, tired of the people and most of all tired of Charity. It broke her heart to have to watch them together every single day.
No matter how weird Charity got, everyone was there to support her. Kay knew that if she was ever like that they would lock her up and throw away the key.
The air was cool and fresh against her skin. Oddly no one was out in the park this night. The park never frightended her before, but it did this night. She sat on the bench and closed her eyes anyway. Before she knew it, she was asleep.
She woke up three hours later with a start. She jumped up and looked at her watch. It was past midnight. 'Oh no!' she thought, 'I'm almost late for curfew.' She started walking and all of a sudden she felt like she was being watched. Just then she felt an arm clamp around her waist and a hard object digging into her back.
"Just give me all your money and I'll let you go," she heard a voice hiss. She was so frightended she could barely speak, "I don't have any money. I'm just a kid."
"No money, huh? Well maybe you'll just have to pay me another way." She felt the man's hand on her breasts and she started crying uncontrollably. Then in a blink of an eye he was gone.
Kay turned around and saw the man running away. She spun in a circle to see who or what he was running from. There was nothing around her. She started to run out of the park and then she saw him. He was standing in the shadows wearing all black and he was stunning.
Even compared to Miguel he was goregous. "Hello," the stranger said. his
voice flowed over her like rich chocolate. "Hi," Kay said softly. 'She looked just like her,' he thought. "Are you all right? I think I might have scared him off."
"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you. Listen, I really have to be going." He watched her walk away quickly and chuckled to himself. He opened the locket in his pocket and stared at the picture. "Soon, Katherine. Soon you will be mine." The picture in the locket was very old. It had been taken many, many years ago. The woman in the picture looked just like Kay Bennett.

Chapter 2

Kay made it back to her house quickly. Surprizingly her parents were still awake. "Dad! Dad something terrible happened to me tonight in the park!" Sam shot up like a rocket and went to his daughter. "What happened sweetheart?" Kay told him what happened, but she left out the part about the dark stranger.
Sam called the station and gave his men strict instructions that this man was to be apprehended before the sun rose. Kay went to her mother and Grace held her for a while. "Good thing your on spring break, hon. I wouldn't want you to go to school like this." Kay didn't know what to say. She was just glad that her mother was actually showing love towards her.
Grace and Sam made Kay go to bed. Sam promised to wake her if they got any news. Kay fell asleep, but it was filled with troubling images and things from the past. Then it all cleared away and the dark stranger was there holding a a bloodred rose. He was saying something to her, but she couldn't understand what. Then she heard it, 'Soon....'
Kay sat up in bed breathing heavily. She looked around the room expecting to see the stranger. There was no one there. Kay relaxed and laughed at herself. Then she saw it. A perfect bloodred rose sitting on her window sill. She started trembling and almost screamed, but then she thought may be one of her family put it there to make her feel better.
She put it out of her mind and showered and dressed. She went down stairs and there was a note from her dad. It said, "Kay, everyone has gone to the shop. I want you to take it easy. Don't worry about anything. Here is some money for lunch. Love, Dad."
Kay sat on the couch to watch TV, but she couldn't keep her mind on anything. She decided to go outside and and tend to her garden. No one outside he family knew she had her own private garden and she wanted to keep it that way.
After she had done all that she could in the gardenm she amde some lemonade and grabbed her favorite book and curled up under the tree that she planted with her dad when she was five. After a while she grew hungary, so she decided to go to the book cafe to get some lunch and bring it back.

Chapter 3

The Book Cafe was busy and Chad told Kay it would be a little bit before he could get her order. She made herself comfortable and then she heard the most annoying sound in the world. "Miguel!! Tell me!" "No, Charity. It's a surprise. You'll just have to wait." Kay rolled her eyes. She tried to sneak out the door without them seeing her and she was almost home free when Chad yelled her name. "Kay! Yo, don't forget your lunch!" Kay hurried over to the counter and then tried to run out the door. Miguel grabbed her arm. "Kay! Were you trying to avoid us?" Kay looked at him and then at her cousin. She started to make up a lie then decided not to. "Yeah, Miguel I was." Miguel looked dumbfounded, "Why? Is there something wrong?" Kay was saved fro having to answer that. Just then her Dad burst through the door and yelled her name. "Kay! I'm so glad your here. I need you to come to the station. I think we got the guy." Sam pulled her out the door and into his squad car. Miguel looked at Charity and said, "I wonder what's going on? Why did she have to go to the police station?" Charity just shrugged and went back to the Cd's. Miguel was worried. At the station Kay was trying to be brave. "Dad, I don't know if I can I.D. this guy. I didn't even see his face." "But he talked to you, right? You might be able to I.D. his voice. Are you sure you can do this?" "Yeah, lets get it over with." Sam led Kay into the line-up room and told the deputies to start. They had all the guys say, "Give me all your money." As soon as the guy said it Kay knew it was him. She would never forget that voice. Sam lead Kay back to his desk. "Hey dad, who caught the guy?" Sam smiled, "Luis did." Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald heard his name and made his way over to Sam. "Did I hear my name over here? How are you holding up Kay?" "I'm doing fine. Thank you so much for catching that guy." Kay got up and gave him a hug. "Don't tell me your already after a younger girl, Officer Lopez-Fitzgerald." Luis turned around and smiled, "Of course not Mrs. Lopez-Fitzgerald." Luis walked over to his wife and kiss her. "Hey Sam. Do you mind if I take my lunch hour with Sheridan now?" "Go ahead, Luis. You've earned it."

Chapter 4

"Just a second, Luis. I want to talk to Kay for a minute." Luis went out to the car to wait for Sheridan. "Kay, can I talk to you for a second?" Sheridan and Kay went to the back of the station. "What's wrong Sheridan?" "Nothing Kay. I just wanted to talk to you alone. How are you holding up? Luis told me what happened." "I'm fine. I was a little shaken up, but I think I'm okay now. I feel better knowing that man is in jail." "I understand. But hey your safe now. I mean, it must be a comfort living back home with your parents. It's better than the dorms right?" "Oh yeah definitely. It's so nice to have a break from college." Sheridan hear a car horn and laughed. "I'm being paged. Take care Kay. Oh! I almost forgot. I want you to come to dinner tonight at our house. Pilar's coming over and so are Miguel and Teresa." Kay had mixed feelings. "Well, I'll try to." "Ok. I hope you can come. See ya, hon." Later that night, Kay was getting ready for dinner. Miguel would be there and she wanted to look good. 'Man I hope Charity isn't there,' Kay thought. She didn't have her car because she flew home for spring break, so she started walking to Sheridan's and Luis's new house. As she was walking she heard something behind her, but she couldn't figure out what it was. She turned around sharply and saw nothing. Kay was feeling a little spooked, so she half ran- half walked to the house. Teresa opened the door and ushered Kay inside. As soon as Kay walked through the door she felt enveloped by love. The Lopez-Fitzgerald house was the essence of family. A family that Kay ached to be a part of. There was lots of noise and laugher, something that Kay's family lacked. Everyone was there except Miguel. Everyone was sitting around the table waiting for him. "I say we start without him," Luis said while reaching for the casserole. Sheridan smacked his hand away. "Be nice and wait for your brother." Everyone laughed at them. Luis looked over at Ethan, "What are you laughing at, Crane? I bet your just as hungry as me." Ethan looked at Teresa and laughed, "Don't drag me into this. I don't want to get in trouble with the boss." Teresa punched him playfully and then gave him a kiss to make up for it. Kay smiled at them. 'I wish I had love like that,' Kay thought. Just then the door burst open and Miguel arrived. "Come on! We're in here waiting on you," Luis yelled. "Hang on! I'm coming." When Miguel walked into the room, he took Kay's breath away. Just the sight of him made her heart swell. He took the empty seat next to Kay. Pilar said grace and they all dug in. Miguel watched Kay out of the corner of his eye. He couldn't forget what she started to say in the Book Cafe. Why did she have to go to the police station? He intended to ask her after dinner. During the course of the night Kay began to relax and laugh and tell stories with the others. He saw her come alive with his family. Charity was always reserved and aloof when she was around them. Kay acted like she had been part of their family for years. After dinner everyone went into the family room to have coffee. Miguel decided to ask her what happened now. "So why did you have to go to the police station, Kay?" Kay looked over at Luis and then back at Miguel. "You don't know?" "No, I've been gone all day." Kay told Miguel what happened the night before, and what happened at the station. "Oh my God. Kay, I had no idea. How are you doing?" Miguel wrapped his arm around Kay to comfort her. "I'm fine now, Miguel. I should be going though. I still have to walk home." "Oh no your not. I'll drive you home. I don't want something else to happen to you." Kay said goodbye to everyone and followed Miguel out to his car. Miguel opened Kay's door for her and made sure she was in and shut it. They were silent on the way home. It wasn't very far, so they were there in no time. When Miguel pulled into her driveway she reached for the door handle. "Kay, wait." Kay held her breath and turned to him, "Yes, Miguel?" "I just wanted to say that I had a good time tonight." Kay smiled and Miguel felt his breath catch, "I had a great time too. It's been a long time since I felt this good." He smiled back at her and said goodnight. Kay stood in the driveway and watched his tail lights disappear. She was too happy to go back into her house so she went around to the patio and sat to look at the stars. "Hello Katherine." Kay looked behind her quickly. It was the dark stranger. "What are you doing here? This is private property, go away." "Now Katherine, is that any way to talk to your beloved?" "My beloved? What are you talking about? Who are you?" "My name is Dimitri, as if you didn't know." "Listen mister, I don't know who you are, or what you want so please just leave. My father is the chief of police and he'll arrest you." Dimitri laughed, "I can see you are not ready. I'll be back for you." Then, right before her eyes, the man vanished. Kay became scared and ran into the house.

Chapter 5

She ran to her room and sat on the bed for a minute. 'What is wrong with that guy? Why does he keep calling me Katherine?' Kay wondered, 'Maybe I should ask Charity if she can see anything with her "powers"' Kay didn't know what to do, in the end she found herself in front of Charity's door. She knocked softly. "Come in, Kay" 'That's spooky,' Kay thought. She opened the door and saw Charity sitting at her table. "Hi Kay. What's wrong?" Charity could sense danger. "Um, I don't know. There is this guy that won't leave me alone." Kay went on and told Charity what all happened to her. "Well, do you still have the red rose from your window?" "Yes, let me go get it." Kay brought Charity the rose and she took it. Charity closed her eyes and held the rose tightly. Images came flying at her. Images of death, darkness, and longing. These thoughts frightened Charity. "This man is very old Kay. He has seen many things. Darkness surrounds him, and he has been waiting for you." Just then the visions ended. Charity opened her eyes and saw a very confused Kay. "All I can tell you Kay, is don't go outside alone in the dark. That's were he waits for you. He thinks you are his long lost love. He is also very dangerous, and has powers centuries old." "What does all that mean? H didn't look that old. Are you saying he is a ghost?" Charity shook her head slowly. "No, I'm saying he is a vampire." Meanwhile... Miguel was getting ready for bed. He couldn't get Kay out of his mind. She was so beautiful tonight, laughing and talking with his family. And that smiled she gave him before she got out of the car! He laid down and drifted off to sleep.
<< Miguel pulled into the driveway of a small white house, with flowers all around. There were toys littering the yard and a big shaggy dog sunning itself on the porch. Miguel got out of his car and the dog jumped up and ran over to him barking. Just then the front door opened and a beautiful woman with long dark hair rushed out to him. She threw her arms around him and he could smell her scent. She smelled like sunshine and flowers. She reached up and kissed him and ran her finger through his hair. When she pulled back she had a beautiful smile on her face, and he said, "I love you, Kay." She laughed and smiled, "I know you do. I love you too Miguel." They went into the house and Kay lead him out to the back yard. In the biggest tree in the yard, there was a tree house. "Guess who's home?" Kay yelled up at it. Then two little brown heads popped out the window, "Daddy!" The children hurried down the ladder as fast as they could. Anthony and Michael were the spitting image of their father, and each other. The twins both had dark hair and eyes, like Miguel.
>>>>>>dream>>>>>
Miguel woke the next day and knew who he was meant to be with.

Chapter 6

After eating breakfast Miguel went over to the Bennett house. He had something he had to tell Charity. He knocked on the door and Grace answered. "Hello Miguel. Charity is upstairs in her room, you can go on up if you want to." "Thanks Mrs. Bennett." Miguel was nervous. How was he going to tell Charity that he was in love with her cousin? He took a deep breath and then knocked on her door. "Come in." When he opened the door she was sitting on her bed reading. "Miguel! I didn't know you were coming over today." "Yeah, I have something to tell you Charity. This is really hard for me and I don't want to hurt you." Charity frowned, "What's going on, Miguel?" Miguel told her about his dream and how he had been feeling lately. "I'm sorry Charity. I do love you, but as a friend." Charity had tears in her eyes and was confused. Miguel got up to leave. "Wait! Come here, Miguel." "What is it Charity?" "Give me your hand." Miguel held out his hand and Charity grabbed it and concentrated. She saw bright light and the color red. It was love, Miguel had so much love in his heart and then she saw Kay. For some strange reason, Charity wasn't mad. She could see that Miguel was truly in love and she didn't want to take that away from Kay. Charity let go of his hand and stood up. She wrapped her arms around him and said goodbye. "I'm happy for you Miguel. I really am. I hope I can find that love someday." "Don't worry Charity. You will." After that Miguel left and went to find Kay. He found her at the beach. He sat down beside her and they sat in comfortable silence for awhile. Then he turned to her. "Kay, I need to tell you something. I don't know if you feel the same way, but I think I love you." Kay's breath caught in her throat. She had to be hearing things. "What did you say?" Miguel laughed, "I said I think I love you." Kay didn't say anything for a minute and Miguel thought that he might of made a big mistake, then all of a sudden Kay threw her arms around him. "I love you too Miguel. It seems that I have loved you all my life." Miguel kissed Kay with all the passion and love in his heart and he knew he had made the right choice. They sat in each others arms and watched the sea. "Wait. What about Charity?" Miguel told her what happened. "Wow. I never knew how great she is. She's a great friend." "Yeah. Uh oh." "What?" "The sun is setting. I need to get you home." "Miguel, I don't want to go home yet. Let's go somewhere." "OK. You hungry? Let's go to the Lobster Shack." They got a table right away and they had a great dinner. Meanwhile... Jessica Bennett was sitting at home reading a book when the doorbell rang. She got up to answer it and there was a strange man standing there. "Hello. You must be Jessica. My name is Dimitri, I'm a friend of your sister's from college. I thought I'd stop by and say hello." Jessica didn't think he looked like he went to college, but her dad was upstairs and so was her mother so if anything went wrong she could yell for them. "Well she's not here right now, but you can come in and wait for her." Jessica held the door open and waited for him to come in. "Aren't you going to invite me in?" Dimitri asked. Jessica thought he was weird, "Ok. Come on in." He then came in and sat down to wait for Katherine. 'It is so easy to fool these mortals,' he thought. He didn't intend on waiting for her. He just wanted to get invited in so he could come and go as he pleased. After about 20 minutes he left. "Goodnight Kay." Miguel leaned on and kissed her goodnight and Kay got out and went inside. 'I can't believe this is happening,' she thought. When she went inside Jessica was downstairs and she told Kay about Dimitri. "You let him in here?!" Jessica didn't know why her sister was so mad. "Yeah." Kay went over to Jessica and grabbed her shoulders, "Listen to me, don't ever let him in here again. He's very dangerous. Do you hear me?" Jessica was frightened but she nodded her head. Kay went on up to bed and made sure all her doors and windows were locked. She even put a cross above her bed. But that night when evil came calling, nothing was going to keep it out.

Chapter 7

Recap: Miguel broke up with Charity and him and Kay are together. Jessica let Dimitri inside their house and now he could come and go as he pleased. Kay had a terrible time sleeping. She was having horrible nightmares and tossing and turning. While she was sleeping, there was a dark figure hovering outside her window. The latch on the window opened all on its own. With a wave of his hand, Dimitri opened the window. He floated in and sat down next to Kay. "Sweet Katherine. You have been gone from me for so long. Now it is time we reconnect." Kay woke up and felt a cool breeze blow over her. She looked at the window sharply and saw that it was wide open. She bolted out of bed and ran over to it and slammed it shut. She was feeling very strange. She felt weak and hungry. She got ready and went to the book cafe to meet Miguel. "Hey gorgeous. What's going on?" Miguel noticed that Kay was a bit pale and looked tired. She kissed him hello and sat down at the table with him. Chad came over and took her order. They talked about school and their futures. When Kay reached up and put her hair in a pony tail, Miguel saw something on her neck. "What happened Kay?" Kay looked puzzled, "What are you talking about?" Miguel leaned over and got a closer look. "It looks like two little pin pricks on your neck." Kay looked at him in horror and ran to a mirror. "Oh my god!" Miguel ran over to her and turned her around. "What is it Kay? Tell me what's the matter." Kay slowly made her way back to the table and sank down in the chair. She told him about the conversation she had with Charity. "Come on, Kay. You don't really believe in vampires do you?" "I don't know Miguel. I trust Charity. I mean she has always been right with her visions, why would this be any different?" "I just don't know. Let's go find out some more about it." They went and got Charity and then they all went to the library and started researching. After a few hours they were ready to give up. Miguel was frustrated, "None of these books agree on the same thing. This one says a cross can hurt them, this one says crosses don't do anything. How are we supposed to fight this if we don't know how?" Charity patted Miguel's hand, "Don't worry we will find some way to save Kay." "Wait you guys. All of these books DO agree on one thing. If you kill the master, then all the others will be cured. Like on the Lost Boys. We've all seen that movie. We can do it." "That movie was really scary Kay. And it was just a movie. I don't think we could fight a real vampire." Charity said. "Charity's right Kay, but if we found him during the day while he was asleep then it wouldn't be a problem." "Good idea Miguel." Kay looked at her watch. "Oh no! It's almost six! We can't do anything now. It's too late." "Your right, but you can't stay at your house. He's been invited inside. He can come and go as he pleases. Kay you can stay at my house. Charity when you get home put a cross on every window and door. We don't know if they hurt Dimitri or not, but it might." They all left the library and headed home. Dinner was just about to be served when they walked in the door. "Kay! I didn't know you were coming over for dinner. Come on, have a seat." Pilar greeted her. "Thanks. Do you find if I call my parents really quick?" "Go ahead." Kay called her parents and told them that she was spending the night with Theresa. She couldn't say she was with Simone cause she was away. They had a wonderful dinner, and Kay acted like she was leaving for home, but she doubled back around to Miguel's window and snuck inside. Kay laughed as she was climbing through the window, "I feel like I'm sixteen again. I always wanted to crawl through your window Miguel." Miguel smiled as he pulled her through, "Oh yeah? What were you going to do once you got in my room?" Kay pushed him down on the bed and laid down beside him. She smiled, "Why don't I show you?" Kay and Miguel shared a beautiful night of passion and romance. And ffor the first night in a long time, Kay had a wonderful night of sleep. Meanwhile... When Dimitri tried to get into Kay's room again, he fought it blocked with a cross. He looked inside and saw that Kay wasn't even there. He was furious. "I will get you Katherine. You can't get away from me."

Chapter 8

The next day they searched all over Harmony trying to find Dimitri's hiding place. Just before dark, they found it in the oldest part of the cemetery. There was a above ground vault, that looked like it had been pried open. Miguel found a crowbar laying on the ground and managed to open it just enough to slip inside. Kay went in with him. Just as Miguel lifted the lid of the coffin, Dimitri jumped out. He pushed Miguel aside and Miguel hit his head on the corner of the coffin. He slumped to the ground. Dimitri grabbed Kay and pushed the top of her shirt down, baring her neck. He bit in and drank deeply. "Now you will be by my side forever." Kay was limp and weak, and Dimitri lay her down on the ground to wait for her transition.
He looked over at Miguel laying on the floor, "Maybe I'll have a little snack first." Dimitri reached down and yanked Miguel off the floor. He pushed his head aside and started to drink from him. All of a sudden, Dimitri felt an intense pain. He looked down and saw a wooden stake protruding from his heart. He looked up sharply at Miguel. "Sorry pal, Kay is mine," with that Miguel rammed the stake into him further. Dimitri collapsed on the ground and promptly burst into flames. Miguel ran over to Kay. He watched as the bites on her neck faded away and he could feel his own wound closing. Kay woke up and saw what had happened. She threw her arms around Miguel and hugged him closely. She leaned back and looked into his eyes, "Did I ever tell you how much I love you?" They both laughed and lived happily ever after.