#Samantha Booth

[klc-archive]

“I almost cried with laughter when I read the first script and then I met Keith-Lee Castle, who plays the Count and just looks like a rock star, and I knew it was going to be cool.” -  Donna Grant (Magda)

Daily Record interview with Donna Grant (Magda) By Samantha Booth.

Sinister, calculating and scheming is how Scots actress Donna Grant describes her character in the BBC’s new kids’ show Young Dracula. In fact, vampire mum Magda sounds quite despicable - but that’s exactly why the 30-year-old actress from Inverness was so desperate to play her.

The mum-of-one said: “I just couldn’t resist playing her because she is such a fantastically nasty character. She is a vampire and like all vampires she thinks she is better than everyone but Magda really does take it to another level. She is just so brilliantly evil.

The show is about Count Dracula’s move to Britain with his two children after his wife, Magda, has run away with a werewolf. And in tonight’s episode Magda returns to her family - although I am not saying if they welcome her back or not because, not only is she not the best mother in the world, she also broke the Count’s heart.

"But he loves her for her evil - so in a way she can do no wrong.”

Donna was intrigued by the role of Magda from the minute she heard about it and as soon as the show’s producers set eyes on the Scot, the role was hers.

She said: “I think it was a combination of me getting into the part  and because they thought I had the right look. They offered me the part on the spot.”

Since then Donna has been filming the show in the Brecon Beacons in Wales and has thoroughly enjoyed every minute if it. She said: “I almost cried with laughter when I read the first script and then I met Keith-Lee Castle, who plays the Count and just looks like a rock star, and I knew it was going to be cool”

"And it really has lived up to all of my expectations.

"The show has been great fun to film and some of my outfits have just been fantastic - I have a wedding bouquet with dead bird skulls in it.

"I know it is meant for children but I really think some adults will love it too.

"It is incredibly well written and because the whole Goth thing is pretty cool at the moment I think it could be a huge success.”

Growing up in Inverness with her mum and grandparents, Donna always wanted to act. She had an idyllic childhood, spending a lot of time out riding on her family’s horses, but when she left school as a teenager she was desperate to get out into the world and, in particular, she had her sights set on London.

She said: "I absolutely loved growing up in Inverness and, if I could, I would bring my own daughter Scarlet up in that way too – but I have to be in London just now for my work.

"But when I was 17 I was just desperate to get out and get started living and working. "I didn’t even want to go to university. I just wanted to get stuck right in.”

Luckily for Donna, some photographs she’d had taken by an Inverness photographer found their way into the hands of a London talent scout. The next thing Donna knew, she was being invited down to the city for a meeting with a top agency.

She said: “It was always acting I had wanted to do but modelling found me, so what could I do? The agency liked me and before I knew where I was, I had moved down to London and was thrown into this mad world of modelling.

"At the time it was the easy option but I quickly discovered it also meant I could make lots of money, travel and meet really interesting people so I wasn’t going to walk away from it in a hurry.” Donna did every kind of modelling, from catwalk to billboards.

She worked for a time in Japan and Germany, shot ads for Agent Provocateur and Baileys and appeared in several television commercials. BUT just because she was finding a certain level of success as a model, it didn’t mean Donna had forgotten her dream of becoming an actress.

And in 2001 she finally got her first acting job in a film called Is Harry On The Boat?, following the loves and lives of a group of young holiday reps in Ibiza and co-starring Danny Dyer and Davina Taylor.

Donna said: “It was brilliant fun to film and I’m still friends with a lot of the people I met out there in Ibiza.”

It wasn’t long until Donna found herself having to take time out from acting to have her baby daughter Scarlet, who is now three years old.

A bit of a rock chick at heart, she met Scarlet’s dad Chris McCormack, guitarist in hard rock outfit 3 Colours Red, when his band at the time, Grand Theft Audio, were supporting The Cult in concert at the Brixton Academy in London.

The pair had a whirlwind romance, married and had baby Scarlet. Donna said: “I have always been into my rock music and through modelling I did hang about with a lot of rock types at the time. So I was instantly attracted to Chris and we ended up having a whirlwind romance. Sadly, things just didn’t work out and we are now in the middle of divorce proceedings. But we really are still best friends.”

Donna now lives a much quieter life with Scarlet in north London and loves nothing better than the chance to return to Scotland to see her family and get out into the hills.

She said: “I love coming back up to Scotland and I am so excited because I just booked my tickets for Christmas so I’ll be spending the holidays at home.

"Drinking wine, eating lots of nice food and going for walks in the hills - it will just be wonderful. My life is a lot quieter now than it was a few years ago but that’s the way I like it. Where I live in London is a bit like a village so I do get the best of both worlds down there and I do like it, but nothing beats coming home.

However, I don’t think I would have settled down as well now if I hadn’t had my wild time when I was younger. It was a load of fun at the time and I met loads of amazing people. I even met some of my heroes, such as Joe Strummer from The Clash, although my most star-struck moment came when I met Chris Morris from Brass Eye. I really admire him and think he is so funny and clever but when I met him I just didn’t know what to say. I mean, because of my modelling, I am quite used to meeting famous people but when I came face to face with him all I could do was make a bit of a whimpering sound. I just thought that he is so witty and cutting he’s just going to chew me up and spit me out whatever I say. Can you imagine what he would have said to me if I had said I really liked his work? And I know I said I lead a quieter life now but my uncle has just opened up a new venue in Inverness called The Ironworks and we have Dirty Pretty Things playing there at New Year - so I might not be able to resist digging my rocker gear out once again. Especially as I will have my mum on hand to babysit.” A rock ‘n’ roll loving mum in rocker gear … Magda would be proud.

[alexpeteronoja]

The Real Housewives of Abuja (RHOA) Season 1 (Episode 1 Added)

The Real Housewives of Abuja (RHOA) chronicles the opulent lifestyles of six powerful and prosperous Abuja residents. Arafa, Comfort Booth, OJ Posharella, Princess Jecoco, Samantha Homossany, and Tutupie are among the women as they manage their affluent relationships, families, businesses, and lives in the influential city of Abuja and elsewhere. Expect fascinating social situations and…

[jossamology]

⸻ until dawn halloween headcanons!

in honor of halloween here's a halloween-themed headcanon set for each until dawn character.

samantha giddings.

sam chooses a diy nature-inspired costume like a woodland fairy, using biodegradable glitter and repurposed fabrics. think leaves, twigs, and soft, earthy greens.

she insists on going to a local pumpkin patch to pick out the perfect pumpkin and spends hours carving designs.

while the others plan for parties, she hosts a low-key gathering with candles, cozy blankets, and homemade pumpkin spice lattes.

loves classic horror but gets super into psychological thrillers. hereditary is her top pick, and she’s the one pointing out foreshadowing before everyone else catches it. josh washington.

josh goes all-out building a haunted maze in his backyard, complete with hidden speakers, fake cobwebs, and scare actors he hires just to freak his friends out.

dresses as something horrifying, like a blood-streaked serial killer. full commitment to fake blood and smudged makeup.

has a camera ready to capture each friend’s reaction when they’re scared out of their minds. keeps a scare montage video just for fun.

he's surprisingly good at carving pumpkins, but his designs are intricate horror scenes, almost like horror movie posters in pumpkin form.

ends halloween by watching obscure, disturbing horror movies that leave everyone else uncomfortable. mike munroe.

shows up dressed as a suave vampire or some other classic monster, aiming to look cool and a little dangerous.

takes his friends to a haunted corn maze and enjoys it way more than he lets on, constantly teasing the jump-scare actors and testing his bravery.

organizes a frat party bonfire in the woods with s’mores and ghost stories. he’s the one lighting sparklers and throwing on extra wood to make the flames bigger, he drinks to much and forgets he's the host of the party.

pulls classic halloween pranks, from fake spider webs to jumping out of dark corners. the type to keep a scary mask in his bag just to mess with people.

after a few drinks, he’s belting out rocky horror picture show songs around the bonfire with zero shame.

jessica riley.

jessica’s costume is elaborate, trendy, and slightly dark, like a glamorous vampire or a witch in haute couture. she’s all about looking spooky-chic, she went shopping early for the best costume.

stays in to watch mean girls with a couple of her girl friends referencing every qoute.

spends half of halloween snapping aesthetic photos of her outfit, snacks, and décor, making everything look flawless.

gets her halloween nails done a week before and flaunts them on her social media platforms.

matt taylor.

he’s the guy bringing pumpkin spice lattes and fall-flavored treats for everyone, unapologetically embracing the season.

suggests doing a couples costume with emily, probably as a famous horror duo. secretly excited about how they’ll look in photos together.

convinces emily(and maybe the whole group) to go on a haunted hayride, keeping a brave face while sneaking glances to see if she’s scared.

volunteers to help with halloween décor, placing spider webs and fake spiders around. he’s got a collection of led bats and ghost lights.

emily davis.

dresses as a chic witch, complete with a designer hat, intricate lace gloves, and knee-high boots. halloween is just another reason to look flawless.

sets up a dark, enchanted photo booth with crystal balls, black roses, and velvet. her instagram feed is a whole halloween masterpiece.

makes sure to get billions of stunning couples photos with matt, each one more perfect than the last. their matching costumes and chemistry are on point, making everyone else a bit envious (and they know it).

emily hosts a halloween themed sleep over with velvet pillows, and black satin sheets for an ultra-cozy but gothic sleepover vibe. the girls chat and laugh till they fall asleep, each secretly keeping one eye open.

chris hartley.

dresses as a ghostbuster or some iconic horror nerd costume, complete with all the gadgets. he’s fully committed to the nostalgia factor.

brings his gear and talks about doing a "ghost hunt." sets up his phone to record “paranormal” activity around the bonfire.

insists on watching horror classics with everyone, pausing every now and then to geek out about the movie effects or the backstory.

after everyone else goes to bed, chris and ashley stay up playing with the ouija board, half-joking but also half-believing they might make contact. they end up spooking themselves and get so scared swearing to never use it again.

ashley brown.

dresses as a character from classic gothic literature, like mina harker from dracula, complete with vintage lace and dark, dramatic makeup.

she knits little ghost ornaments and diys her own creepy decor, like mason jars filled with “witch’s brew” and spiderweb doilies.

loves telling ghost stories, candle in hand, with just the right amount of dramatic pauses and eerie expressions.

ashley, catching her breath and laughing nervously, gives chris a playful whack on the arm for scaring her so bad. “not cool, chris!” she says, but she’s grinning as he pulls off the mask, clearly proud of his successful prank.

insists on having a stash of halloween candy just for herself. she’s all about chocolate, especially reese’s and kit kats, and jokingly guards her stash from the others, even hiding a few extras in her bag.

hannah and beth washington.

hannah and beth take turns posing in different eerie setups around the cabin, snapping dramatic photos of each other in candlelight, near fog machines, and with props like antique lanterns. they especially love capturing a few shots that look like something out of an old haunted portrait.

both love the idea of exploring the mountain at night, so they plan a late-night “ghost hunt” under the full moon. they bring flashlights and spooky stories to tell along the way, daring each other to walk just a little bit farther into the woods.

beth and hannah sneak into the room with a giant rubber spider and place it right on josh’s chest. when he stirs and opens his eyes to find it staring back at him, he lets out a yell that has the girls stifling laughter from behind the door.

they have a slight obsession with candy corn and will spend halloween night indulging in it, trading their favorite types of candy and making candy corn-themed treats, like popcorn balls or cupcakes.

[its-vannah]

Girl, Put Your Records On | Eddie Roundtree x Reader

A/N: I haven't seen any fics with him, so I had to make one. I love his character so much.

Blurb: Being the daughter of a music producer has its perks, and one of those is meeting Daisy Jones and The Six's Eddie Roundtree.

Warnings: Just fluff and a hit of angst, implied intercourse (no detail)

Daisy Jones and The Six Masterlist

Being the daughter of a music producer had it's perks. For starters, you were able to listen to new albums and singles before anyone else. While the rest of the world waited for upcoming releases, you were already taking the record out of its sleeve and putting it on the phonograph.

Not to mention all the artists and bands you were able to meet. Your father was constantly popping open a bottle of champagne to celebrate his clients to celebrate their upcoming albums and tours.

Although you were too young to drink yourself, it was nice to feel included. Being there with your father, surrounded by new and interesting people with dozens of stories to share.

But being the daughter of a music producer has its downsides, too. On the smaller scale, sometimes your favorite songs wouldn't make the cut. When you were younger, it hit harder. But as you got older, you just accepted it and moved on.

That wasn't the only down that the role came with, however. You were a young, beautiful, kind girl with a heart of gold and a lot of love to give. Not many men in the industry had any problem taking advantage of that.

There was a thrill to it, for them. Sneaking around with their producer's daughter with the possibility of getting caught at any moment. You were sixteen when you had your first love. He told you all the right things, did all the right things. But the night before he left, he tried to convince you to "live in the moment" while leading you to his van.

It didn't take long for you to realize what was happening, so you freed yourself from his grasp, shoving him back and walking back inside your home.

He was too old for you, anyway. He was twenty, and you were still a kid. It wasn't right, but it was the seventies and he was gaining popularity. It didn't matter what he did, he had every girl in America wrapped around his finger. You, however, had made the choice not to be one of them.

A few years later, when you were nineteen, an up and coming group walked inside your father's studio. He was hesitant about letting them record, but he trusted Teddy and gave them a shot, alllowing you to sit inside the sound booth to hear them play.

You could see the nervousness written all over their faces as they got ready to play. They wanted to impress Teddy, and you didn't blame them. He wasn't easy to read.

Reclining in your seat beside Marcus, who gradually increased the volume on the lead vocalist and lowered the sound of the guitars, you smiled as you listened to them play.

By the end of their demo, you were on the edge of your seat waiting to find out whether or not they'd get an offer.

While Teddy went to discuss it with your father, you stepped out of the sound booth and made your way towards the group.

Smiling, you held out a hand to the only woman, who was closest to you when you walked in, introducing yourself, "Hey, I'm Y/N."

Karen gave you a gentle smile, shaking your hand, "Nice to meet you, I'm Karen."

The drummer, who was fiddling with his drum sticks, hollered over her, "That's Karen Karen."

Raising a brow, you couldn't help but release a small laugh, "Karen Karen?"

The blonde shot him a look, "Fuck off, Warren."

Warren grinned, nodding his head as a way of greeting you.

Beside him, the lead vocalist looked over at you, "Is there something you need, Samantha?"

"It's Y/N," You corrected, "And I just wanted to say I like your sound. It's different. I think you guys have a good chance of getting a deal."

One of the guitarists, the one with curly hair who had been ogling Karen for the past half hour, smiled up at you from his seat on the amp, "Thank you, Y/N. Our main focus is creating music that people l-"

"For the love of God, Graham, shut up," The vocalist grumbled, turning back towards you, "Look, it's nice to meet you, but we're a bit busy here."

Graham held his hands up in surrender, returning to fiddling with his guitar, mouthing "sorry" to you.

The fifth member of the group, who had been nervously tapping his foot flashed his bandmate an irritated look, "C'mon, Billy, she's just being nice. At least people actually like our music."

"Eddie, all I'm saying is that we need to spend less time socializing and more time figuring out what we do if we don't get this deal."

On that note, you cleared your throat, "You'll get the deal."

Simultaneously, Eddie and Billy spoke over one another, the former asking if you really thought so and the latter asking how in the hell you knew.

"I know Mr. L/N well, and so does Teddy. Look, the last few bands Teddy has invested in haven't been doing too great. But I really think you guys have a chance. I know you guys do."

Eddie gave you a lopsided smile, "They liked us in Pittsburgh, I don't see how this is any different."

Billy glared back at him, "If you'll excuse us, I think we have a few things to discuss."

Nodding, you turned to exit, giving the band one last smile. But before you could step out the door, Teddy came back in with your father in tow.

Teddy looked at the band, "We're giving you a shot, don't blow it."

The band, who Teddy had earlier referred to as The Six, erupted in smiles, hugging each other and patting one another on the back.

Your dad wrapped an arm around you, addressing the band, "I see you've met my daughter?"

Billy's eyes widened a bit. He thought you were just some random kid. But you had been in the sound booth, he should've known better.

Warren, who was very obviously high, nodded, "Yeah, she's hot."

Wincing, Karen glared at him, "She's been very kind, Mr. L/N."

Your dad eyed Warren, kissing you on the head before congratulating the band one last time, kissing you on the forehead, and walking back to his office.

Once he was out of sight, Eddie took one of Warren's drumsticks out of his hands and smacked him on the head with it, muttering, "Dumbass, that was her dad."

The drummer's mouth formed an "O", "You think he knows?"

"Jesus Christ, Warren," Karen said, shaking her head before turning to Billy, "And you, you need to get the stick out of your ass."

A look of pride settled on Eddie's face. You could tell the two of them didn't see eye to eye just from the small interactions you had with them.

Moving towards the exit, you waved them goodbye, "I'll see you guys around."

Warren and Graham waved happily, Karen and Billy nodded, and Eddie tilt his head to the side with a smile.

Once you were out of earshot, Karen looked back at Eddie, "Jealous, are you, Roundtree?"

"Piss off, Karen."

Warren looked between the two of them, connecting the dots, "Psst, Karen, I think he's jealous."

Rolling her eyes, she flashed him an irritated smile, "Yeah, I figured that out, thanks."

------------------------------------------------------------

Billy: As soon as we got the news and packed up, I ran to the nearest phone to tell Camila. She had always believed in us, and now everything was falling into place.

Karen: I think I went back and got drunk in my room afterwards. We may have gone out to eat, I don't remember. We had been living gig to gig, I was just happy to have an income.

Camila: It was the first time in a while that Billy really seemed happy with how the band was going. He had always believed in it, but I really think it helped him to see that everything was coming into place. That we wouldn't be living in a shack forever.

Warren: I don't even remember being in the studio. I was in my twenties, I was doing anything I could get my hands on. Drugs, alcohol, women. I was just along for the ride.

Karen: I could still kill Warren for telling the producer's daughter, Y/N, that she was hot in front of her dad.

Warren: We all thought it. Especially Eddie. I was just the one who said it.

Eddie: There was something about Y/N that was different. She wasn't just a newfound fan, she believed in us from the start. She and Camila were the first people to have our record in their hands. As for Warren's comment to her dad... She was beautiful, still is, I just think he could've handled it better. A lot better. By not saying anything.

Graham: It was nice to know that someone outside of the band and Teddy believed in us. Moving out to LA meant that we were starting over. In Pittsburgh, nearly the whole city had heard of us. At least, the people our age.

Eddie: That day was a turning point for the band.

Camila: There was no going back after that. They started recording and within a month, they were on their first tour.

------------------------------------------------------------

You came to every recording session The Six had, excitedly listening to their songs and giving input. You studied the way Marcus moved the volume and reverb, making a mental note of it. What he did had always fascinated you, and he was willing to teach you. It was one of the perks of being F/N L/N's daughter. People bent over bsckwards to make you happy.

Over the course of their time recording, you went out for drinks a few times with them.

You met Camila, who you adored, and quickly became friends with. You wouldn't have changed any of it for the world.

Well, except one thing.

From the moment you met Eddie Roundtree, your heart hadn't stopped fluttering, skipping a beat every time he walked into the room.

Warren constantly teased the two of you about it, suggesting different ways to release the tension between the two of you.

Karen kicked him under the table, giving him a look that sent fear down his spine.

It made the moment awkward for a minute, but the band could sense it was bound to happen.

Eddie was used to being pushed around by Billy, who was by far the most popular and well-known member of The Six. But for once, he was first place. With you.

The two of you often nursed a glass of champagne, talking to one another at the bar while Graham attempted to flirt with Karen, who wound up finding another guy to hook up with, and Warren fell into a crowd of women.

He took a sip, looking down at you, "What's it like, getting to hear new music before anyone else? Not just ours, but in general."

"It's incredible. Don't get me wrong, being in the studio so much has its ups and downs, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. There's nothing else I can imagine myself doing. That's why I want to work in the sound booth."

"You do?"

"Yeah, Marcus offered to teach me a while back. I just wanted to wait until you guys went on tour. I just want to focus on The Six, just taking it all in."

Eddie bit his bottom lip, "So... You and Marcus...?"

You shook your head, "Are friends. My mother is friends with his. We grew up together, he's just a few years older. He's protective, like how I imagine an older brother would be."

He nodded, "So, are you seeing anyone?"

"No," You let out a shaky breath, not meeting his eyes, "Are you?"

"No, are—I already asked you that," He said nervously, swirling his glass in his hand, "Do you... Have an interest in... You know, seeing anyone?"

"It depends on who it is," You said, heat rising to your cheeks, "And you? Anyone on your mind?"

He set down his glass, looking at you, "There is."

Meeting his eyes, you turned your back to the counter, leaning on it for support, "What's she like?"

"You have a mirror?"

You burst out laughing, "Is that your best line, Eddie? C'mon, you can do better than that."

He put his head in his hands, embarrassed.

Pressing a hand to his back, you used your other to pry his head away from his hands, "Don't worry, you can make it up to me."

Raising a brow, he tilted his head, "And how can I do that?"

"Pick me up on Friday at six."

"That's the day before tour starts."

"I know."

He nodded, "Wear something nice."

"Don't I always," You tease, stumbling into his chest.

He lifted the glass from your hands, "You know what I mean. I do, however, think you've had enough of this. C'mon, I'll drive you home"

------------------------------------------------------------

Warren: I was so happy to see Eddie leaving with Y/N. He was growing up, leaving the nest. It was about time he got laid.

Eddie: I drove her home. She had driven herself, but I was worried with her having three glasses. Truthfully, I just wanted to see her get home safe. And she did. I dropped her off at her door, walked her up, and waited until she got inside before I left. Once I got back in the car, it hit me—I had a date with Y/N.

Karen: I think he was more excited about the date than the record deal.

Eddie: It had just been a big few months. Moving to LA, getting a deal, meeting Y/N. Things were finally going my way.

------------------------------------------------------------

Eddie: Long distance relationships weren't easy by any means. I was the one who had to call, since we were constantly moving around. It strained us a bit, but she was able to go to a few of our concerts and I got to see her, take her out a few times.

Karen: Y/N visited us while we were in the northeastern part of the states. She stayed with us for a week and a half. And I never got any damn sleep while she was with Eddie. They could've been quieter, but I guess it was young love.

Eddie: She had her own hotel room during her time staying with us. Her dad set it up. We'd just stay in mine talking to one another.

Warren: Eddie swore nothing happened in his hotel room when he was alone with her, but I was on the other side of the wall. Look, I was pretty high, but it'd be hard to forget that. I may have been the one to call her hot, but he was the one that took it three, four steps further. Good for him, though.

Eddie: It was only when we got back from the tour that things started to go downhill with me and Y/N.

Camila: After I gave birth to Julia, Billy checked into Rehab. I was on my own for a while. But when the band came back, they were there to help me. Julia enjoyed time with Uncle Graham and Eddie, and Y/N whenever she was off work.

Graham: Eddie and I were there a few times a week just helping out and checking in on Camila and Julia. I loved that kid more than anything. We'd just sit out in the grass and I'd sing to her.

Eddie: Camila needed all the help she could get, especially with Billy not being there. Not that he would've done much anyway, to be honest. I tried to be there for her and Julia in any way I could. I didn't realize that it would tear Y/N and I apart.

------------------------------------------------------------

"Eddie, I barely ever get to see you. Can't you go one day without seeing Camila and Julia? You can stay with me. It's better than that shack."

"That shack is my home, whether it's shit or not, Y/N," He grumbled, "Camila needs all the help she can get with Julia. She's only a few months old."

"Her mother is with her, Eddie. She's got her mom, Graham, the whole band really. It's not that I don't want you to be with them, I just want to see you. I never get to see you."

Eddie sighed, "Y/N, they mean everything to me."

"They're your bandmates, I get it, I just—"

"Y/N..."

It was written all over his face. He wasn't just talking about The Six.

------------------------------------------------------------

Karen: We'd all known, except for maybe Billy and Camila, that Eddie was in love with Camila. We just thought that he had put those feelings aside when he met Y/N.

Warren: Out of all the girls Eddie had dated, which hadn't been much, she was my favorite. She was fun, she kept up with us, she was passionate about music and the band. When they broke up, I nearly snapped the guys neck. And I'm not a violent guy. She just deserved better than whatever the hell that was.

Eddie: Camila and Billy were married. I would never have come in the way of that. At the same time, it wasn't fair to Y/N. I loved her with my whole being, but I still had some unresolved feelings for Camila that started stiring when Billy was gone. It's wrong, and I know that, but it wasn't fair.

Graham: Eddie was an idiot for what happened. I remember when he came back from their first date. He swore up and down that they'd get married one day.

------------------------------------------------------------

When the band broke up, everyone went their separate ways. Karen continued touring, this time without Daisy and The Six. Warren got married and started working on boats, which became a passion for him. Billy stepped away from music and settled into life with Camila and his daughters and Graham continued working in the music industry, starting his own family. Daisy recovered from her addictions, and wound up adopting kids of her own.

These all took years to play out. But not for Eddie.

As soon as the band was over with, the first thing he did was buy a ticket to LA and knock on Y/N's door.

He explained everything and told her he loved her, he always had.

------------------------------------------------------------

Y/N Roundtree: Eddie proposed to me the night he showed up on my doorstep. He told me he couldn't imagine a life without me. I was touched.

Eddie: But she said no.

Y/N: I loved him, but I told him it would take time. We still had so much we didn't know about each other. It had been ages since I had seen him. I didn't even know that the Six had split up until he told me. He was back in LA that fast after the split.

Eddie: We did get to know each other, though. And I proposed almost a year later. We got married a few months after that. And the rest is history.

Y/N: It was a quiet ceremony. Eddie didn't want Billy there, and thought it may be a bit off putting for me to have Camila there. But I knew how much he cared about her and the girls, so we extended an invite.

Camila: Billy and Eddie never really saw eye to eye, and with Billy finally getting comfortable with family life, I didn't think it would be good to thrust him back into that.

Eddie: Y/N was a little upset they chose not to come, but understood. If you invite half a family, it doesn't exactly work.

Billy: I was surprised Eddie found the balls to get married.

Y/N: It wound up just being Eddie's immediate family, mine, Marcus, Warren, and Graham. Daisy showed up a few days earlier to congratulate us on our wedding, bringing a guitar with her as a gift. She just didn't think being back in that environment would be good for her. There would be too many questions.

Daisy: Just because the band was over doesn't mean the music couldn't continue. Eddie was a good guitarist and Y/N knew everything about managing sound and rhythms, so I figured it was an appropriate gift. I was really happy for them.

Eddie: Karen was touring at the time and wasn't able to make it, but she visited once the tour was over and stayed a few days.

Y/N: I preferred having a smaller wedding, with the people we knew the most.

Warren: They had great alcohol. I wasn't high during the reception, so I was actually able to enjoy it. I even met my wife there.

Graham: It made me long for a relationship, honestly. But it also made me realize I need to focus on myself first. I didn't want to just settle to settle.

Y/N: Our son was born a year and a half after we got married and music was automatically a big part of his life. He'd sit on Eddie's lap at not even a year old while Ed played the guitar. I still have pictures of them back then on the mantle.

Grant Roundtree, Eddie and Y/N's oldest son: I remember when I decided I wanted to pursue music. Dad sat me down and explained what happens when you achieve fame and how to handle it. Mom told me that I needed to take it one step at a time and really enjoy my childhood.

Farrah Roundtree, Eddie and Y/N's daughter: Grant never stopped playing that damn guitar mom gave him.

Grant: Sometimes I played just to drive Farrah and Eli crazy. I never stopped.

Eli Roundtree, Eddie and Y/N's youngest son: I wanted to be just like Grant when I was younger. He was my cooler, older brother. He even taught me how to play the guitar and I could carry a tune, but my stage fright got in the way of anything beyond that.

Eddie: Grant went into the music field, Farrah pursued modeling and is now acting, and Eli is just now graduating from high school, planning to attend college this fall.

Y/N: I'll always be grateful for Daisy Jones and The Six, but I've got to be honest—I'm even happier it ended when it did.

Eddie: Everything happens for a reason, and for me, it couldn't have ended at a better time.

[lilghostiequinni]

Drum Beat

Main Masterlist Lando Masterlist

Pairing: DJ!female reader x Lando Norris

Warnings: None

Summary: You were just doing your set in Maimi when it was interrupted by this amateur DJ who just won a race.

Requested: NO / yes

Working with the crowd had to be one of your favorite things about being a DJ, as well as doing the music sets.

You also found ways to work requests into your set, which can be difficult, but also why you give a sheet to take requests at big gigs that stop before the show or allow walk-up requests from people at smaller gigs such as clubs and bars.

Someone came up and requested a song you had never heard of, so you looked it up and showed the woman who asked it to make sure it was the right song, which it was, then asked if you could do a mashup of two songs instead and showed you the second song when you agreed.

It started playing the beat, and when the singing began, you added your own beat that complimented the song, then brought in the second song.

After the mashup, you continued with your set, getting in the zone. When someone comes up to you, you barely acknowledge their existence, waiting for them to request.

When they don't say anything, you turn to them and say, "What can I do for you?"

"Do you think I could try? I've DJed just about everywhere in the world," This man says.

You look to your friend, who also owns the club, and just give him a look; he looks to the man, than you, and gives a subtle nod.

"Sure, don't break anything. I could use a break and a drink," You tell him before giving him a quick rundown of what's on your board.

The man nods, "I'm Lando, by the way."

"Cool," then you walk towards the bar.

It's ten or fifteen minutes before you go back to the booth.

"You didn't tell me your name," Lando tells you when you return.

"I have the feeling that if you really wanted to know, you could find out," You tell him as you all but kick him out of the booth when you see people waving him down in the corner of your eye.

You then get back to your set for the night, Lando not once making it back up to you.

It was a few weeks later that you saw Lando again, this time not in Maimi but in Monaco, where your family lived.

"Muse, are you stalking me?" Lando says, after you literally ran into him when you went to look at your phone for one second.

"Muse?" You question, looking at him.

He just chuckles as you register the rest of what he said.

"No, my parents live up the block," You told him before trying to get around him to leave.

"Let me walk you. I live up that way," He says, offering his arm.

"I guess," You then handed him a couple of the bags you had rather than take his arm.

A/N: The song in the beginning is 33 Max Verstappen and Lando Norris mashup

Tags: @poppyflower-22 @samantha-chicago @barcelonaloverf1life @tallrock35 @ellen3101 @llando4norris @mcmuppet @issi-loves-dannyric @hellothere9597

If you want to be removed from a tag list, let me know so I don't keep tagging you. If you are striked through, I don't know if you want to be tagged, but just let me know if you want me to continue or stop

[michelleleewise]

🌹Her Romeo🌹

Pairing: Avenger Loki x insecure! Female reader

Warnings: anxiety, jealousy, mild arguing, self deprecating thoughts, bottled feelings, bit of steaminess but nothing graphic, Thor being the best, Samantha being a whole warning,

Summary: you try to temper down your suspicions as Loki's rehearsals become more frequent

A/n- graphics by @harlequin-hangout

Part one -- Part two-

You walked down to the common room, looking around seeing Thor sprawled out on the couch watching a show "hey, thor?" You said seeing him lift his head "y/n, how are you?" He asked sitting up "I'm ok, i was wondering of you wanted to join me for lunch?" You asked fidgeting with your fingers "I could never say no to food." He laughed standing up slipping his jacket on "after you ma' lady." He said holding his arm out guiding you first. You walked into the elevator when your phone beeped, pulling it out seeing a text from Loki "I will be going to Samantha's to go over our lines, I will see you when I get home." You didn't respond putting it back in your pocket.

"Are you alright y/n?" Thor asked startling you "y..yeah, im fine." You said looking down "I do not have to be my brother to know that isn't true y/n." He said placing a hand on your shoulder "it's...don't worry about it." You said. The elevator dinged, you quickly rushed out heading to your car, Thor following close behind you. The ride to the Cafe was thankfully silent. You wanted to talk to him, tell him how you were feeling but had no idea where to even begin, so you pushed it back down when your phone beeped again. You parked the car, getting out Thor walked to the door holding it open as you unlocked your phone seeing a notification on your Instagram.

You furrow your eyebrows pushing the app, the picture popping up slapping you in the face as you stared at it. "Y/n, what are..." Thor trailed off glancing over your shoulder seeing what you were seeing. Looking down seeing the caption "my romeo...his juliet." In bold letters splayed across the bottom, Loki's name in italics next to it. Your eyes traveled back up seeing Samantha, her long red hair draped over her shoulder smiling pressing her cheek to Loki's, a large smile making his face light up next to her. "I will get us a table." Thor said walking from behind you. You cleared your throat, turning your phone off you put it in your pocket feeling your eyes burn. "Y/n, over here." You looked up seeing Thor waving at you.

You slid into the booth in front of Thor, clearing your throat you took a sip of water from the glass in front of you "y/n." Thor said when the waiter came over. After placing your order you looked down at the table picking at your nails "i...I don't know what to do." You said quietly "it was only a picture y/n, I don't think..." you cut him off looking up at him "he's been going over to her place every day for weeks, to "work lines". You air quoted "He does get very involved in what he is working on, I don't think he even realizes it." Thor said watching you "and how "involved" was he with his costars?" You asked seeing thor shake his head "it was different then, he was unattached." He explained making you shake your head.

"Y/n, I am certain he loves you, and no one is going to come between that." He said patting your hand "I would suggest you speak to him, tell him how you are feeling." He said. Shaking your head again "I'm annoying enough as it is, I don't want to make him feel bad for doing something he loves." You said sighing "you are not annoying, and I am certain he will understand." He said "trust me, you do not want this to build. It will only make you feel worse." He said. You nodded knowing he was right. "Ok, I'll talk to him tonight." You said seeing him smile "wonderful, now tell me how has work been?" He asked shifting the subject, and honestly your were grateful for it.

You sat on the couch, turning your phone over in your hand seeing it was just past midnight. Your thumb hovered over the button to call him but something inside you made you hesitate. "Your overthinking y/n, he's not doing anything." You scolded yourself setting the phone on the table. You stared at it biting your lip willing it to ring, but nothing happened. You hadn't heard from Loki since the afternoon and you could feel the pit in your stomach growing the longer he remained silent. Your mind couldn't help wander thinking back on the last three weeks. Loki not getting home until late at night, the distance that seemed to be growing between you when you were together, the fact he hadn't touched you intimately in that time made your eyes burn.

You got up walking to the kitchen needing something to distract you. Turning the water on your started to wash the dishes when you head the door open making you freeze. Quickly shutting off the tap you listened into the dark room "yes I made it home." You heard Loki whisper as the door clicked shut. "Yes, I had a nice time as well." He continued making your stomach turn. "Yes, I'll see you tomorrow darling, pleasant dreams." You heard him say when his footsteps came closer to the living room. You turned the water back on trying to forget what you heard "y/n, love what are you doing?" He asked walking into the kitchen. "The dishes." You said quietly continuing your task feeling him come up behind you

"I did not expect you to wait for me love." He said wrapping his arms around your middle. "Who said I was?" You snarked putting a bowl in the drainer when Loki reached up turning the water off. "Hey, I was..." you turned in his arms looking up when his lips crashed into yours. You gasped in surprise, feeling Loki's tongue slip past your lips massaging yours, your fingers digging into the front of his button him when he pushed his hips into yours making you moan into the kiss. "How long has it been..." he trailed off peppering kisses down your neck "since I had you in the kitchen hmm?" He asked nipping your collar bone "aahh...t...too long." You groaned feeling his cock pressing into your stomach.

"Well, I must rectify that." He growled, gripping your thighs he lifted you up setting you on the counter "urgently..." he purred wrapping your legs around his waist. He gripped your thigh, his nails digging into your flesh as his other hand traveled up cupping your breast. You tipped your head back, gasping feeling him suck hard on your pulse point, knowing he would leave a mark as you drug your nails down his back. "L..loki..." you moaned rocking your hips forward into him. "Mmm...darling.." he moaned making your eyes shoot open, the pet name bringing everything back.

"You are so beautiful." He breathed, kissing back up your neck "If I profane with my unworthiest hand, This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this." He whispered into your skin sending a shiver down your spine. "My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand, To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.." he said, pulling back looking at you cupping your cheek. You stared into his eyes, you wouldn't say you were huge into shakespear but you knew. You nudged him back, sliding off the counter signing "did I say something?" He asked as you walked past him. "Didn't you have your fill of that with her?" You snarked walking into the living room.

"What is that supposed to mean?" He asked following you "nothing, I'm going to bed." You said grabbing your phone walking towards the bedroom "no, we need to talk about this." He said sternly when you turned looking at him "you wanna talk? Fine...maybe I don't like being reminded in the little amount of time I've had with you lately of all the time your spending with another woman." You said crossing your arms "love, it's only to rehearse, nothing.." you cut him off "yeah, and that's usually done at the theater...on stage...not at her house." You said glaring at him.

"What do you want me to do? I'll do whatever you ask." He said stepping forward "you prefer she come here?" He asked as you shook your head "tell me and it will be done." He said as you looked back up at him "do whatever you want to Loki, goodnight." You said walking into the bedroom closing the door. You gripped the handle, everything in you wanting to go back out and apologize...to hug him and tell him everything was ok but your mind wouldn't let you. You dropped your hand walking to the bed you climbed in pulling the covers up around your chin. Decided you would talk to him tomorrow.

You grabbed your bag, digging your keys out heading to your car. You wanted to talk to Loki this morning but woke up to and empty bed and him no where to be found. A note left on the counter telling you he would be back this afternoon the only evidence he was there. You sighed jumping in, the engine roaring to life as you maneuvered out of the car park starting home. You knew Thor was right, you knew you needed to sit down and tell Loki how you felt but it was easier said then done. Your mind running a mile a minute as you parked outside your apartment building "just talk to him y/n...he'll listen...he always does." You said to yourself grabbing your bag heading inside.

You unlocked the door, tossing your bag down you walked the small hallway towards the living room "loki, are you here?" You called out when you heard voices coming from Loki's office. You quietly walked towards it, seeing the door slightly ajar when you heard a woman's laugh. Stepping up to the door you held your breath listening "oh Lo...I love spending time with you." She said making you close your eyes "it has been a delightful experience." You heard Loki's voice through the door. "So, when does she usually get home?" She asked making you clench your jaw "I am expecting her anytime now, would you care to stay for dinner?" He asked. "Mmm, I would love that." She practically purred. You took a step back feeling anger spreading through you you went to the bedroom quietly closing the door.

You sat on the bed, pulling your phone out you text Thor "hey, what are you doing tonight?" You typed, biting you lip waiting for him to respond "hello y/n, I have a date this evening, is everything alright?" He typed making huff "yeah, everything is fine." You typed back looking down "are you sure, I can cancel." He responded "no, it's ok. Have fun." You typed setting your phone down when the bedroom door opened "oh Darling, when did you get home? I was waiting for you." Loki said smiling walking in "you seemed pretty entertained to me." You huffed walking to the closet "love talk to me, please. I told Samantha we needed to do our practices here so I can be here with you. I don't know what else you want me to do." He said walking up next to you.

You sighed looking to the floor "nothing Loki, everything is fine. Go be with your guest." You said turning seeing her in the doorway "Hey y/n, nice to see you." She said smiling unnaturally at you "you too." You responded heading towards the bathroom "give me a minute please." He said to her as he closed the bedroom door "love, please." He said turning back to you. You closed your eyes not wanting to do this with her here "Loki, everything is fine. I just have a headache so I'm going to take a bath and get ready for bed." You said grabbing a towel "you are certain you don't want to eat? I can make you something." He said watching you "yeah I'm not really hungry, maybe later." You said offering a small smile hoping he would buy it. "Very well, I will send her on her way and be in soon." He said opening the door "whatever you want Loki." You said closing the bathroom door.

You filled the tub, sinking into the water closing your eyes. You just needed this stupid play to be over and everything will go back to normal...soon.

@vbecker10 @mochie85 @lokisgoodgirl @springdandelixn @kinky-faerie @xorpsbane @midnights-ramblings @simping-for-marvel @holdmytesseract @kkdvkyya @slpnbty2001 @lokixryss @vane28282 @violethaze @coldnique @aniar4wniak @nate-ate-hate @buttercupcookies-blog @brattymum96 @dukes2581 @your-taste-on-my-lips @mybabyh @blog-the-lilly @irishhappiness @sinsandguilt @filthyhiddles @lovebyloki @kikster606 @javagirl328 @misunderstoodself @highkeysimpingforloki @eleniblue @commanding-officer @athalialaufeyson @stupidthoughtsinwriting @lokiandbuckysdoll @loopsisloops @joyful-enchantress @jaidenhawke @silverfire475 @high-functioning-lokipath @kittiowolf210 @slytherclaw1227 @joyfullymassivewhispers @wolfsmom1 @libbybeaz @lokikissesmyforehead @goblingirlsarah @thomase1

[shakespearefreak]

I took Samantha to our local ballet's version of The Nutcracker last night! She brought her own ticket (to the bemusement of the usher 😂) and the mini-nutcracker she received from Santa last year. We had so much fun: Sam got tons of compliments and attention, I picked up a new ornament for my tree at the merch table, and the show itself was nothing short of magical. ✨ The only real disappointment was that one of the Mouse King's subjects 🐭 was out in the lobby at Intermission, interacting with the audience, but we missed getting a photo with him because I took too long at the merch booth. 😕 Ah well, hopefully I'll have better luck next year.

[matchesarelit]

Imagine If You Will...

(Spencer Agnew Drabble)

So... the Mountain mall wasn't the worst place to work, the crowds were anything but chaotic, but tucked away in the info booth you found yourself often able to focus on simple directions and parking validation, for the most part, that is of course until the Dew™ released a new flavor, and distributing samples became part of the job description.

Smosh Masterlist

A/N: Obvs no affiliation with mtn dew

Swinging your feet back and forth, you swiveled in aimless circles, the tepid weather outside mixed with the lack of any seasonal sales had left the mall all but empty. The heavy thud of a box sounded from the other side of the desk, as Samantha dropped the package off, In your months working under these specific fluorescents this box was the first of its kind. Yet the packaging was anything but non-descript; cold neon greens and the little mountain graphics coated not only the cardboard but the bright pink tape that bound it.

Reaching across the bench to pull it over, you sliced it open revealing another layer of wrapping, once again neon green, the tissue paper was nicely tied with a ribbon, yet seemed to be about to burst.

Finally reaching product after sifting through the copious amounts of padding you were somewhat confused by the abundance of cans, 'Is this... our yearly bonus?' your words were muttered somewhat in jest but were laced with confusion nonetheless. Tugging some sort of invoice from her back pocket, your colleague read out 'Sampling Product', her finger forming bunny rabbits over the phrase.

"So we're giving out samples now? I guess its somewhat informative...?" You mused still not truly convinced.

"It does mention it adds a fiver to our hourly rates for the next couple months.' she added with her eyebrows raised.

"Well then" you muttered hands on your hips, suddenly much more impassioned over the news "Better get to it then oh-" As you ferreted through the box you retrieved a few tees; the 'i' information symbol on the front and the Mountain Dew advertising on the back- honestly not too horrendous...if you ignore the familiar neon green of the fabric.

The next day, you'd donned the bright shirt and as you began to stack a little tower of cans, on the smallest of folding tables, you watched the stores slowly open up for the day ahead. The weather was once again mild inside and outside the shopping center, but the day dragged on. You would swear it took hours for the long hand of the clock to shift even slightly, and even worse by the time it hit ten you'd already received four separate complaints about your attire and the shelling of so called 'sugary garbage' ... Cause yes Dorris I chose for this mall to be owned by Mtn Dew, me the person at the info desk at nine AM on a Sunday...

Nevertheless, customer service frustrations aside, the day passed easily enough, a few samples were taken with mixed reactions, a couple four-packs bought, but otherwise it was business as usual.

"Excuse me-uh am I able to try some of this" The man on the other side of the desk was peering through his curls to look between you and the signage sheepishly. Trotting out from the behind information desk to the small folding table with a nod, you grabbed one of the tiny sample cups, filled it and handed it to him as he exchanged a quiet 'thank you'. Expecting the exchange to end there you turned to retreat to your station, only for him to speak up once more catching you in the act...

"So um-'Ultimate'...what flavor is that?" Sizing him up somewhat as you reached for a can you relented, curious of his reaction to the overzealous biography printed on the back of the can, "The description we get from the can is 'Chaos Berries grown on mountain alcoves, watered with traditional dew.'"

He looked back at you somewhat vacantly, seemingly lost in the avant-garde flavor description, so in an attempt to shock his system you countered with a giggle; "But to me it just tastes like lime." After your confession he found his words quite quickly in turn.

"I was just thinking the same thing - the lime thing- not the um- Chaos Berries" His tone was jovial but still immensely hesitant.

"Do you like it? In my experience that's all that really matters," Suddenly feeling it important that the conversation continues you found some words you weren't entirely sure fit together as you stuttered on; "I-Its like I always say; the real chaos berries are the friends we tasted along the way." Okay. So they definitely didn't all go together, at least not in the same analogy, and yet in place of his confused stare he was now looking at you with a warm smile. You thought it must have been the sweetest smile you'd ever received, his eyes were crinkled slightly on the edges in good natured amusement and overall it left nothing for you to do but return it as best you could.

"Well um thank you, I- should um-" He motioned to a random store as he waved goodbye briefly before starting off after a solid minute of silence between the pair of you. You waved to him briefly before retreating to your seat to find a small queue in front of your desk waiting for assistance. Quickly returning to work with a fresh warmth in your cheeks, you tried your best to focus on the task at hand for the hours to come.

[bitter69uk]

Recently watched: Rent-A-Cop (1987). When Burt Reynolds and Liza Minnelli were originally teamed for the 1975 film Lucky Lady, the result was a notorious and expensive mega-flop. So, I could kiss on the lips whoever approved reuniting the duo for crime thriller / romantic comedy hybrid Rent-A-Cop, the acme of gleefully enjoyable 1980s schlock. When a police sting operation goes horrifically wrong, gruff tough-as-nails Detective Tony Church (Reynolds) joins forces with kooky free-spirited escort girl Della Roberts (Minnelli). Della, you see, witnessed the carnage and is the sole person who can identify masked gunman Adam "Dancer" Booth (played by James Remar. Sex and the City fans will recognise him as Samantha Jones’ on-off boyfriend Richard Wright). But not if Dancer kills her first! Or, as Rent-A-Cop’s tagline summarizes “There’s a killer on the loose and the lady is the target.” Inevitably – after some wacky hijinks - the sparring odd couple of Tony and Della gradually fall in love. Aside from a cameo appearance in The Muppets Take Manhattan, this represents Minnelli’s first screen role after a gap of five years following her highly publicized stint at the Betty Ford Clinic. Awash in sequins and mugging furiously, this is certainly Minnelli at her most “Minnelli”. Della’s sex work is depicted as a wholesome lark (she offers her johns the gamut of “his mommy, Little Bo-Peep, or Helga the Bitch Goddess”. It should be noted that the same year, Minnelli’s peer Barbra Streisand also unconvincingly played a prostitute in Nuts). Anyway, Rent-A-Cop abounds with “what-the-fuck?” moments: Dancer inexplicably performs a sweaty homoerotic Flashdance-style number in front of a mirror.  A bewigged drag queen at a nightclub accosts Della with “I love your muff!” Guest star Dionne Warwick portrays Della’s madam. Weirdly, Rent-A-Cop is set in Chicago and exteriors were shot there but the interiors were filmed in Rome’s Cinecittà Studios.  Reynolds and Minnelli were both nominated for the 1988 Golden Raspberry Awards for Worst Actor and Worst Actress (Minnelli won).

[perfectlywrongformend3s]

You’re not sorry-Jughead Jones

A/n:  This is going to be based on a song...so I hope you guys enjoy! And thank you all for the love and support. 

Song: You're not sorry

Written: Taylor Swift

-Samantha

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'All this time I was wasting hoping you would come around, I've been giving out chances every time and all you do is let me down, And it's taken me this long baby, but I've figured you out, And you're thinking we'll be fine again, but not this time around.'

Your POV

I was sitting in my regular booth at Pop's waiting for Jughead to show up. I was getting kind of worried since he's normally earlier than I am. This is not normal behavior for him. He probably lost track of time and didn't realize he did, so I'm praying he gets here before I have to head home.

" Hey Y/n." Pop said

I turned to see him right next to me. I gave him a small smile. " Jug still not here?" he questioned

I sighed and messed with my fingers. I could feel my eyes watering, but didn't want to show it so I quietly told him. " Um, if he comes in can you just tell him I'll see him tomorrow in school?"

He gently put a hand on my shoulder. " Sure, have a nice evening Y/n." he softly said before walking away. I took one last sigh before making my way to my car to head home.

Jughead's POV

I looked up from the paper I was studying over for Betty when I saw the time. My eyes' widened when I saw it was past ten. Betty glanced up in confusion. " Juggie, what's wrong."

I didn't even spare a glance at her since I was rushing to grab my things. " I don't have time Betty. I'm late."

She just sat there, so I spun around. " Betty, I'm sorry, but you have to leave. Not that I don't trust you...I just don't want anyone in my trailer."

She slightly nodded and packed her things. She took her time getting to the door which made me grow annoyed. " Betty, let's go!" She moved faster, when we were both outside I immediately got on my bike to head to Pop's.

Time Skip

I parked and ran inside to find her not there, which made me panic before Pop looked over with a disappointed look. " She told me to tell you she'll see you in school."

I sighed and nodded. I slowly walked to the door to head back to my trailer.

Your POV

'You're looking so innocent, I might believe you if I didn't know, could've loved you all my life if you hadn't left me waiting in the cold, And you've got your share of secrets, And I'm tired of being last to know, Oh, And now you're asking me to listen, 'Cause it's worked each time before.'

I wasn't paying attention to anyone around me since Jughead still hasn't come talk to me. I felt someone sit next to me, but didn't care to look who it was. I felt a tap on my shoulder so I turned to see Kevin giving me a concerned look. I took out one of my earbuds to listen to him. " Are you okay?"

I smiled to make it look like I'm okay. " Yea, I'm really fine Kev."

I knew he didn't believe me, but he didn't say anything. That's why I like Kevin, he knows when to stop cause he knows I'll talk when I want to.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I would have normally sat with the group, but since I've been ignoring Jug I'm sitting in the Blue and Gold. I was about to start some homework since I didn't feel like eating a huge lunch, but I saw a familiar notebook. I know it's wrong to snoop, but I want to know what he's been up to. What I saw was shocking it brought tears in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.

" Y/n/n?"

I froze from hearing his voice. I didn't know what to do or say. " Um, what are you doing in here?"  he asked

I turned around slowly with the notebook still in my hand. His eyes scanned over me until they dropped to the item in my hand. He started walking closer to me. " Don't come any closer." I said softly

He froze and nodded. " It's not what it seems like. I'm just helping her find her sister okay."

I didn't know what to think. " Are you sure?" I asked unsure

He nodded in response. I pretend to believe his words without him knowing. Before either of us could say anything Betty came in. She had this glow coming from her which only made me not believe his words even more.

" Juggie, you ready to go." She questioned

He turned his head and nodded. " You know I love you right Y/n/n." he said

I smiled and softly said..." I love you too." I watched them both leave and I just knew something was going on.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'You had me crawling for you, honey, And it never would've gone away, no, you used to shine so bright, but I watch it fade.'

It's been about five weeks since Jug and I went on an actual date. He's been hanging out with Betty which is driving me insane. Ever since Betty asked for his help that's all he ever talks about. I can feel the spark between us failing. Our world is fading while his world is shining with Betty.

" Babe, guess what." he said coming up to my locker

" If this is about Betty, I don't want to hear it, Jug." I said annoyed

I heard him let out a scoff. " What's your problem?"

I just let out a laugh. I felt him glare at me, so I turned to face him. He raised his brow to get me to talk. " You do realize you have a girlfriend right." I stated

He nodded " What does that have to do..." I cut him off. " Which means I don't want to hear about Betty. Hell if you like her that much then date her." I couldn't look at his face anymore so I walked away.

' So you don't have to call anymore, I won't pick up the phone, This is the last straw, There's nothing left to beg for, And you can tell me that you're sorry, But I don't believe you, baby, like I did before, You're not sorry, No, no, oh-oh, You're not sorry, No, no, oh-oh.'

Jughead's POV

I was sitting in the booth at Pop's waiting for the group to show up and all I could think about was Y/n. I couldn't figure out if she wants to talk when she's ready or if she said all that to me because she is done with this whole relationship. I was so deep in my thoughts that I didn't hear the bell ring. " Yo, Jug"

I looked up to find Archie sitting right across from me. Before I got a chance to say anything he spoke up. " You alright dude?"

I sighed before saying anything. " Yea, I'm fine. Don't worry about me."

I knew he wouldn't believe me, but didn't say anything about it.

Your POV

I was walking up to Pop's when I noticed the whole group sitting in a booth. I took a pause and let out a deep breath. I finally got the courage to walk through the door. " Hey Y/n, what can I do for you?" Pop asked

I smiled while walking up to the counter. " Um, just my regular." He smiled " You got it."

When he disappeared it didn't take long for the group to come up to me. " Y/n/n, it seems like forever since we saw you." Roni said

I turned and smiled. " Sorry Roni." I really do feel bad for ditching them all, but since Jughead wants to get with Betty I've been avoiding the whole group. Before anyone else could say something I heard..." Can we please talk?" Jughead said

I looked over at him. I took a deep breath before following him outside. I was just waiting for him to start talking. He let out a sigh, then ran his hands over his face. " The things you said at school, did you mean any of that?" he asked

I sighed..." Jug, whatever is happening with Betty..." I paused to get my words put together. " It's ruining our relationship. You're spending almost all your time with her where most days you're ditching me."

I didn't really want him to see me cry so I looked down until I heard these words. " I'm sorry." he whispered

I let out a laugh. I looked up at him and told him. " You're not sorry." I turned to go get Pop to put my food in a to go bag, but before that I turned back around with tears falling down my face I stated. " Also Jug, we're done. Enjoy your life with Betty."

I turned back around so I didn't have to see his face.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 I don't know how sad this will be, but hopefully it's sad enough for you. Request any time. Please enjoy!! 

-Samantha

[ladyeckland28]

The Lost Girls

Inspired by the Lost Boys film

The cast

@samcrosfaith as Samantha

@raceyrhymes as Rhymes

@smallzster as Alicia

@marleyelona as Chloe

Emily Chen 18 (adopted daughter)

@solesofwonder as Yvonne and Trisha (Emily's mother's)

@horrorseventhree as Joe

@glennriley49 as erm...himself

@ladyeckland28 as Headmistress Blackwood

The neon lights of the fairground pulsed against the night sky, a kaleidoscope of color bleeding into the inky darkness. The air was thick with the scent of cotton candy and grease, punctuated by the shrieks of thrill-seekers on rides and the tinny music from carnival games. West Hollow's annual summer fair was in full swing, drawing crowds from the sleepy town and beyond.

Near the outskirts of the fair, where the glow of the lights began to fade and the roar of the crowd became a distant murmur, a group of young men stumbled between attractions. Their laughter was too loud, their movements uncoordinated – telltale signs of one too many beers at the fair's beer garden.

"Jake, my man," slurred one of the guys, throwing an arm around his friend's shoulder. "This fair's dead. Where're all the hot chicks at?"

Jake, the apparent leader of the group, smirked. His eyes, glassy from alcohol, scanned the thinning crowd. "Patience, Brea-man. The night's young."

As if on cue, a group of girls emerged from the shadows cast by a defunct Ferris wheel. They moved with an otherworldly grace, their pale skin luminescent under the sparse lighting. Each was dressed in black, a mix of leather, lace, and fishnet that clung to their curves like a second skin. Their hair, dyed in various shades of midnight, framed faces adorned with dark makeup and knowing smiles.

The guys fell silent, their drunken bravado momentarily forgotten as they stared at the gothic beauties.

"Holy shit," whispered Braden, his arm falling from Jake's shoulder. "Are you seeing this?"

Jake nodded, a wolfish grin spreading across his face. "Oh yeah. Looks like our luck just changed, boys."

The girls sauntered past, close enough that the sweet scent of their perfume wafted over the group. One of them, a statuesque blonde with streaks of black in her hair, turned her head and winked at Jake.

"Let's go," Jake said, pushing off from the railing he'd been leaning on. His friends followed, drawn like moths to a flame.

The girls led them on a meandering path through the fair, always just out of reach. They'd pause at a game booth, giggling among themselves, only to disappear into the crowd as the guys approached. It was a tantalizing dance, one that led them further and further from the heart of the fair.

Finally, at the very edge of the fairground where the manicured grass gave way to wild beach grass, the girls stopped. There were four of them – the tall blonde, a petite redhead with a pixie cut, a curvy brunette with a septum piercing, and a raven-haired beauty with striking green eyes.

"Thought you boys would never catch up," the blonde purred, her voice carrying a hint of amusement.

Jake stepped forward, puffing out his chest. "We're faster than we look. I'm Jake. These are my buddies – Braden, Chris, and Tyler."

The blonde's lips curled into a smile. "I'm Samantha. This is Rhymes," she gestured to the redhead, "Chloe," the brunette, "and Alicia," the raven-haired girl.

"Nice to meet you ladies," Jake said, his eyes roving over Samantha's form. "What brings you to our little town's fair?"

Samantha exchanged a glance with her friends, a silent communication passing between them. "Oh, you know," she said, turning back to Jake, "just looking for some... excitement."

Braden, emboldened by the alcohol and the girls' attention, stepped forward. "Well, you've come to the right place. We know how to show a good time, don't we boys?"

The other guys nodded, grinning.

Rhymes, the petite redhead, cocked her head to the side. "Is that so? And what kind of good time did you have in mind?"

There was something in her tone, a subtle challenge that sent a shiver down Chris's spine. He opened his mouth to speak, but Jake cut him off.

"How about we get out of here?" Jake suggested, his eyes never leaving Samantha's. "There's a nice quiet spot down on the beach. We could have our own private party."

Samantha's smile widened, revealing perfect white teeth. "That sounds... perfect. Lead the way, Jake."

As they made their way down to the beach, the sounds of the fair faded away, replaced by the rhythmic crash of waves against the shore. The moon hung low and full in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the sand.

Jake led them to a secluded cove, sheltered by large rocks that jutted out from the cliff face. It was a spot well-known to local teens – far enough from prying eyes to engage in illicit activities, but close enough to civilization to feel safe.

"So," Tyler said, breaking the silence that had fallen over the group. "You girls from around here? Don't think I've seen you before."

Alicia, who had been quiet until now, laughed softly. The sound was like bells tinkling in the wind. "Oh, we've been around. You just haven't been looking in the right places."

There was something in her words, a double meaning that Tyler couldn't quite grasp. He furrowed his brow, trying to make sense of it through his alcohol-addled mind.

Chloe sidled up to Chris, running a finger down his arm. "You look tense, sweetie. Why don't we help you boys relax a little?"

Before Chris could respond, Chloe's lips were on his, kissing him with a passion that made his head spin. Around him, he dimly registered his friends similarly engaged with the other girls.

Jake pulled away from Samantha, breathless. There was a hunger in her eyes that both thrilled and unnerved him. "Damn," he muttered. "You girls don't waste time, do you?"

Samantha chuckled, the sound low and dangerous. "Life's too short to waste time, don't you think? Especially when the night holds so many... possibilities."

As she spoke, she began to unbutton Jake's shirt, her fingers cool against his flushed skin. Jake's heart raced, a mix of excitement and an inexplicable fear coursing through his veins.

Nearby, Braden was locked in an embrace with Rhymes. Her small stature belied her strength as she pushed him up against one of the rocks. "Wait," Braden gasped, coming up for air. "I don't even know anything about you."

Rhymes paused, her eyes glittering in the moonlight. "What do you want to know, Braden? That we're not from around here? That we have a taste for adventure? Or perhaps..." she leaned in close, her lips brushing his ear, "that we're not quite what we seem?"

Braden shivered, goosebumps rising on his skin despite the warm summer night. "What do you mean?"

But Rhymes didn't answer. Instead, she resumed kissing him, more insistently this time. Braden felt his concerns melting away under her touch, replaced by a hazy pleasure.

Tyler, meanwhile, found himself transfixed by Alicia's green eyes. They seemed to glow in the darkness, drawing him in. "Your eyes," he murmured. "They're so... beautiful."

Alicia smiled, revealing a flash of something that looked almost like fangs. But that couldn't be right, Tyler thought. Must be a trick of the light.

"Thank you, Tyler," Alicia said, her voice soft and melodic. "They're even more beautiful up close. Would you like to see?"

Before Tyler could respond, Alicia had pulled him close, her eyes filling his vision. He felt himself falling into their depths, all thoughts of resistance fading away.

Chris, who had been lost in Chloe's passionate kisses, suddenly pulled back with a gasp. "Ow!" he exclaimed, bringing a hand to his neck. "Did you just bite me?"

Chloe's eyes widened in faux innocence. "Did I? I'm so sorry, I got carried away." She leaned in again, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Let me kiss it better."

As Chloe's lips met his neck again, Chris felt a moment of sharp pain followed by an overwhelming wave of pleasure. His eyelids grew heavy, his body relaxing into Chloe's embrace.

Back with Jake and Samantha, things were escalating quickly. Jake found himself on his back in the sand, Samantha straddling him. Her blonde hair fell around them like a curtain, blocking out the world.

"Jake," Samantha purred, her face inches from his. "Do you believe in monsters?"

Jake laughed nervously. "What kind of question is that?"

Samantha's smile was predatory. "The kind that might save your life... or end it." She lowered her head to his neck, her breath hot against his skin. "Last chance, Jake. Do you believe?"

Before Jake could answer, a scream pierced the night. He jerked his head to the side, trying to see past Samantha. What he saw made his blood run cold.

Braden was on the ground, Rhymes crouched over him. But it wasn't Rhymes as he had known her. Her face was transformed, inhuman. Elongated canines glinted in the moonlight, dripping with what could only be blood.

Similar scenes played out around them. Tyler lay motionless at Alicia's feet, while Chris weakly struggled in Chloe's iron grip.

"What the fuck?" Jake yelled, trying to push Samantha off. But she didn't budge. Instead, she grabbed his wrists, pinning them above his head with inhuman strength.

"Oh, Jake," Samantha sighed, her face transforming before his eyes. "You really should have believed in monsters."

As Samantha's fangs descended towards his throat, Jake's scream joined those of his friends, only to be swallowed by the crash of waves against the shore. The fairground lights continued to twinkle in the distance, oblivious to the horror unfolding on the moonlit beach.

In the aftermath, as the girls disposed of the evidence of their feast, Samantha turned to her companions. "Well, ladies, that was a satisfying appetizer. But remember, we're here for a bigger purpose."

Alicia nodded, wiping a smear of blood from her chin. "The Lost Girls. It's almost time."

"Indeed," Samantha agreed, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "West Hollow won't know what hit it. Our true hunt begins now."

As the first light of dawn began to creep over the horizon, the four girls vanished into the shadows, leaving behind no trace of the night's dark events. The fairground stood silent, its bright lights now dim and lifeless, unaware that it had bore witness to the beginning of a terror that would soon engulf the entire town of West Hollow.

****

The U-Haul truck rumbled down the tree-lined street, its engine a stark contrast to the quiet suburban backdrop of West Hollow. Trisha gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles white, as she navigated the unfamiliar roads. In the passenger seat, Yvonne consulted a map, occasionally glancing up to scan the house numbers.

"It should be just up ahead," Yvonne said, her voice tinged with excitement and apprehension in equal measure.

In the backseat, Emily sat with her headphones on, her dark-rimmed eyes fixed on the passing scenery. At sixteen, the prospect of starting over in a new town filled her with a mixture of dread and cautious hope.

The truck slowed to a stop in front of a modest two-story house with faded blue siding and a wrap-around porch. For a moment, the family sat in silence, taking in their new home.

Trisha was the first to speak. "Well, this is it. Our fresh start."

Yvonne reached over and squeezed her wife's hand. "It's perfect, honey."

Emily pulled off her headphones. "It looks... old," she said, her tone neutral.

Trisha twisted in her seat to face her daughter. "It has character, Em. And it's ours. No more renting, no more moving every couple of years. This is home now."

Emily nodded, not quite meeting her mother's eyes. "Yeah, I guess."

As they climbed out of the truck, the late summer sun beat down on them. The air was thick with humidity, carrying the scent of freshly cut grass and something else – a faint, metallic tang that Emily couldn't quite place.

A middle-aged woman emerged from the house next door, waving enthusiastically. "Welcome to the neighborhood!" she called out, making her way over to them. "I'm Barbara, I live next door with my husband, Tom."

Trisha and Yvonne introduced themselves and Emily, who managed a weak smile and a mumbled hello.

"Oh, you have a daughter!" Barbara exclaimed. "How wonderful. We don't have many young people in the neighborhood anymore. Not since..." She trailed off, her smile faltering for a moment before brightening again. "Well, never mind that. I'm sure Emily will make plenty of friends at West Hollow High. It's a great school, especially the sixth form."

As her parents chatted with Barbara, Emily wandered towards the house, studying its weathered exterior. Something about the place felt off, but she couldn't put her finger on what. A movement in one of the upper windows caught her eye – a flicker of a curtain, as if someone had been watching and quickly moved away. But that was impossible. The house was empty.

Wasn't it?

The next few days passed in a blur of unpacking boxes and arranging furniture. Emily spent most of her time in her new room, pinning posters of her favorite bands to the walls and arranging her collection of crystals and tarot cards on her dresser.

On the night before her first day at West Hollow High, Emily lay in bed, unable to sleep. The house creaked and settled around her, unfamiliar noises that set her nerves on edge. She could hear her parents talking in low voices downstairs, their words indistinct but their tone worried.

Morning came too soon. Emily stood in front of her mirror, adjusting her choker and smudging her eyeliner. She had opted for her usual all-black ensemble – ripped jeans, a band t-shirt, and combat boots. If she was going to be the new kid, she might as well own it. It was sixth form and it was only for a year. After that it was college and then uni. Her step parents had it all worked out.

"Emily!" Trisha called from downstairs. "You're going to be late!"

With a sigh, Emily grabbed her backpack and headed down. Trisha and Yvonne were waiting in the kitchen, matching forced smiles on their faces.

"Ready for your big day, sweetie?" Yvonne asked, holding out a piece of toast.

Emily took the toast but didn't eat it. "As ready as I'll ever be, I guess."

Trisha pulled her into a hug. "You'll do great, Em. Just be yourself."

The drive to school was short and quiet. As they pulled up to the imposing brick building of West Hollow High, Emily felt her stomach churn with anxiety.

"Do you want us to come in with you?" Trisha asked.

Emily shook her head quickly. "No, I've got it. Thanks, Mom. Bye, Ma."

She climbed out of the car before they could say anything else, squared her shoulders, and walked towards the school entrance.

The hallways were a cacophony of slamming lockers, squeaking sneakers, and overlapping conversations. Emily felt eyes on her as she made her way to the office, whispers following in her wake.

After collecting her schedule and a map of the school, Emily set out to find her first class. She was so focused on the map that she didn't notice the girl in front of her until they collided.

"Oh! I'm so sorry," Emily stammered, bending to help the girl pick up her scattered books.

"No worries," the girl said with a laugh. "I wasn't looking where I was going either." She stood up, revealing a friendly face framed by wild curls. "I'm Zoe. You must be new here."

Emily nodded. "Is it that obvious?"

"Small town," Zoe shrugged. "We don't get many new faces. I'm guessing you're Emily? My mom mentioned a new family moving in down the street."

"Yeah, that's me," Emily confirmed, relaxing slightly. "Um, could you help me find room 205? This map is useless."

Zoe grinned. "Sure thing. That's actually my next class too. Come on, I'll show you."

As they walked, Zoe kept up a steady stream of chatter, filling Emily in on the ins and outs of West Hollow High. Emily found herself grateful for the friendly face, even if Zoe's peppy demeanor was a stark contrast to her own.

The morning passed in a blur of new faces and information overload. By the time lunch rolled around, Emily's head was spinning. She followed the crowd to the cafeteria, tray in hand, scanning the room for an empty table.

"Emily! Over here!" Zoe's voice cut through the din. Emily spotted her waving from a table near the windows and made her way over.

"Hey," Emily said, sliding into an empty seat. "Thanks for saving me from the new kid lunch trauma."

Zoe laughed. "No problem. Oh, guys, this is Emily. She just moved here. Emily, this is the crew – Javier, Mia, and Derek."

Emily nodded to each of them in turn, noting their curious stares. Javier, a lanky boy with an easy smile, was the first to speak up.

"So, Emily, what brings you to the thrilling metropolis of West Hollow?"

Emily shrugged, pushing her food around her plate. "My moms got tired of the city. Wanted somewhere quieter to settle down."

"Moms?" Mia echoed, her eyebrows raising slightly.

Emily tensed, prepared for the usual awkward questions or thinly veiled judgement. But Mia just smiled. "Cool. My aunt and her wife just adopted a baby. They live over in Millbrook."

Feeling herself relax slightly, Emily managed a small smile in return.

As lunch progressed, the conversation flowed more easily. Emily found herself laughing at Derek's terrible puns and joining in Mia's passionate defense of the latest superhero movie. For a moment, she allowed herself to hope that maybe, just maybe, this move wouldn't be so bad after all.

But as she was leaving the cafeteria, a chill ran down her spine. She turned to see a group of girls watching her from across the room. They stood apart from the crowd, an aura of mystery surrounding them. Each was dressed in black, their style a mix of goth and punk that made Emily's outfit look tame in comparison.

"Who are they?" Emily asked Zoe, nodding towards the group.

Zoe followed her gaze and frowned. "Oh, them. That's Samantha and her friends. They mostly keep to themselves. Kind of the local bad girls, you know? I'd steer clear if I were you."

But Emily couldn't look away. There was something magnetic about them, something that called to the part of her that had always felt like an outsider. As if sensing her thoughts, one of the girls – a tall blonde who Emily assumed must be Samantha – met her gaze and smiled. It was a knowing smile, one that seemed to say, "We see you. We know you."

Emily quickly looked away, her heart pounding. She couldn't shake the feeling that something significant had just happened, though she couldn't have explained why.

The rest of the day passed in a haze. Emily found her thoughts returning again and again to Samantha and her friends. By the time the final bell rang, she had made up her mind to try and talk to them.

But as she exited the school, they were nowhere to be seen. Disappointed, Emily made her way to where Trisha was waiting to pick her up.

"How was your first day, sweetie?" Trisha asked as Emily climbed into the car.

"It was... interesting," Emily replied, her mind still on the mysterious group of girls.

That night, as Emily lay in bed, she found herself unable to sleep once again. The house seemed to creak more than usual, and shadows danced on her walls in patterns that didn't quite make sense.

Just as she was about to give up and grab a book, a sound from outside caught her attention. It was faint, barely audible over the hum of the air conditioning, but unmistakable – the rev of a motorcycle engine.

Emily crept to her window, peering out into the darkness. There, at the end of the street, she saw them. Four motorcycles, their riders dressed in black. Even from this distance, she recognized Samantha's blonde hair gleaming in the moonlight.

As if sensing her gaze, Samantha looked up, straight at Emily's window. For a moment, their eyes met across the distance. Then, with another rev of engines, the group sped off into the night.

Emily stumbled back from the window, her heart racing. What were they doing out so late? And why did she feel so drawn to them?

As she climbed back into bed, Emily couldn't shake the feeling that her life in West Hollow was about to get a lot more complicated – and a lot more interesting.

Downstairs, unbeknownst to Emily, Trisha and Yvonne sat at the kitchen table, worry etched on their faces.

"I don't like it, Trish," Yvonne was saying, her voice low. "Did you see the way people looked at us in town today? Like they knew something we didn't."

Trisha reached across the table, taking her wife's hand. "It's just small-town curiosity, love. We're new, that's all."

But Yvonne shook her head. "It's more than that. And those missing person posters we saw? In a town this size?"

"Every place has its problems," Trisha argued, but there was a note of uncertainty in her voice.

"Maybe," Yvonne conceded. "But I can't shake this feeling. Like we've made a terrible mistake coming here."

As if in response, a gust of wind rattled the windows, making both women jump. Outside, unseen, a figure stood watching the house, its eyes gleaming in the darkness. West Hollow held its secrets close, but soon, very soon, the newest residents would learn the truth about their new home – whether they wanted to or not.

*****

The weekend arrived with an unusual chill in the air, despite the lingering summer heat. Yvonne stood at the kitchen window, cradling a mug of coffee and watching as a thick fog rolled in from the nearby woods, shrouding the neighborhood in an eerie white veil.

"Everything okay, hon?" Trisha asked, coming up behind her wife and wrapping her arms around her waist.

Yvonne leaned back into the embrace. "Just thinking. The car's been making that strange noise again. We should probably get it checked out before it becomes a real problem."

Trisha nodded. "I saw a mechanic's shop in town when I was out yesterday. Sullivan's Auto, I think it was called. Want to head over there this morning?"

An hour later, they pulled into the gravel driveway of Sullivan's Auto. The shop was set back from the main road, partially hidden by overgrown bushes and a cluster of gnarled oak trees. The building itself was a weathered structure that had clearly seen better days, its faded red paint peeling in large patches.

As they got out of the car, the only sound was the crunch of gravel under their feet and the distant cawing of crows. The silence was oppressive, making both women unconsciously lower their voices.

"Hello?" Trisha called out. "Anyone here?"

A loud clang from inside the shop made them both jump. Moments later, a man emerged, wiping his hands on a greasy rag. He was tall and lean, with steel-gray hair and a face weathered by time and hard living. His piercing blue eyes seemed to look right through them.

"Can I help you?" His voice was gruff, tinged with suspicion.

Yvonne stepped forward. "Are you Mr. Sullivan? We're new in town, and our car's been acting up. We were hoping you could take a look."

The man's eyes narrowed slightly. "Joe Sullivan," he confirmed with a nod. "You must be the new folks who moved into the old Hawthorne place."

Trisha and Yvonne exchanged a glance. They hadn't mentioned where they lived.

"News travels fast in a small town," Joe said, as if reading their thoughts. He moved towards their car, his limp barely noticeable. "Pop the hood, let's see what we're dealing with."

As Joe leaned over the engine, Trisha struck up a conversation. "So, Mr. Sullivan, how long have you lived in West Hollow?"

"All my life," he grunted, not looking up. "Seen this town through good times and bad."

"And which would you say these are?" Yvonne asked, unable to keep a note of tension from her voice.

Joe straightened up, fixing them with an unreadable stare. "Ma'am, every town has its secrets. West Hollow's no different. But if you're smart, you'll keep your heads down and your doors locked at night."

A chill ran down Trisha's spine. "What do you mean?"

Joe sighed, suddenly looking much older. "Look, I don't mean to scare you. But things have been... off in this town for a while now. People going missing, strange noises in the woods at night. Most folks pretend not to notice, but..." He trailed off, shaking his head.

"But what?" Yvonne pressed.

Joe's voice dropped to a near whisper. "But some of us know the truth. This town, it's not what it seems. There's something out there, something old and hungry. And it's waking up."

Before either woman could respond, a loud bang echoed from inside the shop. Joe's head snapped around, his body tensing.

"You should go," he said urgently. "Your car's fine, just needs an oil change. Come back next week, I'll take care of it."

"But-" Trisha began.

"Go," Joe insisted, already backing towards the shop. "And remember what I said. Keep your doors locked."

As they drove away, Yvonne and Trisha sat in stunned silence. Finally, Trisha spoke. "What the hell was that about?"

Yvonne shook her head, her earlier unease now a full-blown worry. "I don't know, but I think we need to have a serious talk about this town."

Meanwhile, across town at West Hollow High, Emily was having troubles of her own. She stood outside the headmistress's office, her heart pounding. She'd been summoned during lunch, with no explanation given.

Taking a deep breath, she knocked on the door.

"Enter," came a sharp voice from inside.

Emily stepped into the office, immediately struck by how dark it was. Heavy curtains blocked out most of the sunlight, leaving only a dim lamp on the desk to illuminate the room. Behind the desk sat Headmistress Blackwood, a severe-looking woman with steel-gray hair pulled back in a tight bun.

"Miss Chen," Headmistress Blackwood said, her voice cold. "Please, sit down."

Emily sank into the chair opposite the desk, trying to quell her rising panic. "Have I done something wrong, Headmistress?"

"That remains to be seen," Blackwood replied, fixing Emily with a penetrating stare. "It has come to my attention that you've been... asking questions. About the history of our town, about certain... incidents."

Emily's mind raced. She had been curious about the town's past, especially after overhearing some upperclassmen whispering about a series of disappearances years ago. But she hadn't thought her questions were out of line.

"I'm just trying to understand my new home," Emily said carefully.

Blackwood's eyes narrowed. "Some things, Miss Chen, are better left alone. This town has traditions, rules. Those who don't abide by them often find themselves... unwelcome."

The threat in her words was unmistakable. Emily felt a chill run down her spine.

"Now," Blackwood continued, her voice softening to a dangerous purr, "why don't you tell me exactly what you've heard, and from whom?"

Emily opened her mouth, unsure of what to say, when suddenly the door burst open. Samantha strode in, flanked by her friends – the goth girls Emily had been watching all week.

"Sorry to interrupt, Headmistress," Samantha said, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "But Emily's needed for an urgent student council matter. You understand, I'm sure."

Before Blackwood could respond, Samantha had grabbed Emily's arm and pulled her out of the chair. In a daze, Emily found herself swept out of the office and down the hall.

Once they were a safe distance away, Samantha released her arm. "You okay?" she asked, her tough exterior softening slightly.

Emily nodded, still trying to process what had just happened. "Yeah, I think so. Thanks for the save."

Samantha exchanged glances with her friends. "Look, Emily, we've been watching you. You're not like the other sheep in this town. You see things, don't you? Things that don't quite add up?"

Emily hesitated, then nodded slowly. "There's something... off about this place. I can feel it."

One of the other girls, a petite redhead with multiple piercings, spoke up. "I'm Rhymes. This is Chloe and Alicia," she said, gesturing to the other two – a tall, willowy girl with jet-black hair and a curvy blonde with a sleeve of tattoos.

"We're like you, Emily," Chloe said, her voice soft but intense. "We know the truth about West Hollow. And we think it's time you knew too."

Emily's heart raced with a mixture of fear and excitement. "What truth?"

Samantha looked around, ensuring they were alone in the hallway. "Not here. Meet us tonight, at midnight. The old oak tree at the edge of Willow Park. We'll explain everything."

As the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, Emily's mind was reeling. She barely noticed Zoe falling into step beside her as she headed for the exit.

"Earth to Emily," Zoe said, waving a hand in front of her face. "You okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Emily blinked, focusing on her friend. "Yeah, sorry. Just... a weird day."

Zoe's brow furrowed with concern. "Did something happen? Was it those goth girls? I saw them talking to you earlier."

"It's nothing," Emily said quickly. Too quickly.

Zoe stopped, putting a hand on Emily's arm. "Em, be careful, okay? Those girls... there are rumors about them. Weird stuff. I know you're probably just trying to fit in, but-"

"You don't know anything about them," Emily snapped, immediately regretting her harsh tone. "I'm sorry, Zoe. I'm just tired. I'll see you Monday, okay?"

Before Zoe could respond, Emily hurried away, leaving her friend staring after her with a mixture of hurt and worry.

The hours until midnight crawled by with agonizing slowness. Emily lay in bed, fully dressed, listening to the sounds of the house settling around her. When her phone finally showed 11:45, she eased her window open and climbed out onto the porch roof.

The night was unusually cold for early fall, and a thick mist had settled over the town. Emily shivered as she made her way through the deserted streets, the fog muffling her footsteps.

As she approached Willow Park, she saw four shadowy figures standing beneath a massive oak tree. Her heart pounded as she drew closer.

"You came," Samantha said, a note of approval in her voice. "Good. Are you ready to learn the truth about West Hollow?"

Emily nodded, her mouth dry. "I'm ready."

Rhymes stepped forward, holding out a small, ornate dagger. "Then let's begin."

For a moment, fear gripped Emily. But as she looked into the eyes of these girls – these outsiders like herself – she felt a sense of belonging she'd never experienced before.

With only a slight hesitation, she took the dagger.

Samantha smiled, her teeth gleaming in the moonlight. "Welcome to the pack, Emily. Your life is about to change forever."

As the girls led Emily deeper into the misty park, none of them noticed the figure watching from the shadows. Joe Sullivan leaned heavily on his cane, his weathered face creased with worry.

"So it begins again," he muttered to himself. "God help us all."

Back at the Chen house, Yvonne sat at the kitchen table, a collection of newspaper clippings spread out before her. Headlines about missing persons, unexplained animal attacks, and strange sightings in the woods around West Hollow stared up at her.

Trisha entered the kitchen, yawning. "Babe, it's late. Come to bed."

Yvonne looked up, her eyes wild. "Trish, I think we've made a terrible mistake moving here. Look at all this. Something is very wrong with this town."

Trisha sighed, sitting down next to her wife. "I know. After what Joe said today... I can't ignore it anymore. But what do we do?"

"We need to talk to Emily," Yvonne said firmly. "Make sure she understands the danger. Maybe... maybe we should think about moving again."

Trisha nodded slowly. "Okay. We'll talk to her in the morning. For now, let's try to get some sleep."

As they headed upstairs, a cold breeze swept through the kitchen, scattering the newspaper clippings. Outside, a long, mournful howl echoed in the distance, sending shivers down both women's spines.

In Emily's empty room, the window stood open, curtains billowing in the night air. On her desk, a hastily scribbled note read: "Don't worry. I'm where I belong now."

The mist thickened around the house, as if trying to obscure the secrets that lay hidden in the heart of West Hollow. For Emily, for her parents, and for the town itself, everything was about to change. The old hunger was awakening, and the night was only beginning.

****

The mist swirled around Emily's ankles as she followed Samantha and the others deeper into the woods. The darkness seemed to press in on all sides, broken only by the occasional beam of moonlight filtering through the canopy above. Despite the chill in the air, Emily felt a warmth spreading through her body – a mixture of excitement, fear, and something else she couldn't quite name.

"We're almost there," Samantha said, glancing back at Emily with a reassuring smile. In the dim light, her eyes seemed to glow with an otherworldly intensity.

As they pushed through a dense thicket of bushes, Emily gasped. Before them stretched a small, secluded beach, the waves lapping gently at the shore. To their right, partially hidden by an outcropping of rocks, was the mouth of a cave.

"Welcome to our sanctuary," Raven said, her voice filled with pride.

The girls led Emily towards the cave entrance. As they drew closer, she noticed strange symbols carved into the rocks – twisting, intricate designs that seemed to shift and change when she wasn't looking directly at them.

"Those are protection runes," Lydia explained, noticing Emily's gaze. "They keep out anyone who doesn't belong."

Emily swallowed hard. "And... I belong?"

Samantha turned to her, eyes shining. "You always have, Emily. You just didn't know it yet."

Inside, the cave opened up into a surprisingly large chamber. Candles flickered in niches along the walls, casting dancing shadows across the rough stone surfaces. In the center of the room was a large, circular table made of dark wood, its surface covered in strange markings. Shelves lined one wall, filled with old books, jars of mysterious substances, and various arcane-looking objects.

Ava moved to a small alcove and returned with several glasses and a bottle filled with dark liquid. "A toast," she said, pouring generous amounts into each glass. "To our newest sister."

Emily accepted the glass hesitantly. The liquid inside was thick and had an oddly metallic smell. "What is it?"

"An ancient recipe," Samantha said, raising her own glass. "It opens the mind to new possibilities. Drink, Emily. Embrace your true self."

Peer pressure and curiosity won out over caution. Emily raised the glass to her lips and drank deeply. The liquid burned as it went down, leaving a coppery aftertaste. Almost immediately, she felt a warmth spreading through her body, followed by a pleasant lightheadedness.

"Good," Samantha murmured, stroking Emily's hair in an almost motherly gesture. "Now, let us show you the truth about West Hollow – and about yourself."

The next few hours passed in a blur for Emily. The girls showed her ancient tomes filled with spells and incantations, explaining how the power that flowed through the town had been there long before the first settlers arrived. They spoke of old gods and older magics, of a hunger that slumbered beneath the earth, waiting to be awakened.

As the night wore on, Emily found herself drawn more and more to Samantha. The older girl seemed to radiate an aura of power and confidence that Emily found intoxicating. Samantha, in turn, treated Emily with a mix of affection and possessiveness, always keeping her close, always watching her with those intense eyes.

"You're special, Emily," Samantha whispered at one point, her lips close to Emily's ear. "I knew it from the moment I saw you. You're going to help us change everything."

The words sent a shiver down Emily's spine – whether from excitement or fear, she couldn't tell anymore.

As the candles burned low and the first hints of dawn began to lighten the sky outside, Samantha led Emily to a small, circular pool of water at the back of the cave. The surface was mirror-smooth, reflecting the flickering candlelight.

"It's time for the final step," Samantha said, her voice taking on a ritualistic cadence. "Look into the pool, Emily. See your true self."

Emily leaned over the water, her head swimming from the strange drink and the night's revelations. At first, she saw only her own reflection, pale and wide-eyed. But then the image began to ripple and change. Her eyes grew darker, her features sharper. For a moment – just a moment – she thought she saw something else entirely looking back at her, something with glowing eyes and too many teeth.

She jerked back with a gasp, her heart pounding. "What... what was that?"

Samantha's smile was enigmatic. "That, my dear Emily, was your potential. Your power. And now, it's time to claim it."

The other girls formed a circle around Emily and Samantha. They began to chant in a language Emily didn't recognize, their voices rising and falling in an eerie harmony. The air in the cave seemed to thicken, pressing in on Emily from all sides.

Samantha pulled Emily close, one hand on the back of her neck. "This may hurt a little," she whispered. "But I promise, it's worth it."

Before Emily could react, Samantha's lips were on her neck. There was a sharp pain, and then... bliss. A wave of pleasure and power unlike anything she'd ever felt before washed over her. Emily's vision blurred, the cave spinning around her as she sank into the sensation.

The last thing she remembered was Samantha's voice, seeming to come from very far away: "Sleep now, little sister. When you wake, everything will be different."

* * *

Emily jolted awake, her heart racing. She was in her own bed, sunlight streaming through the window. For a moment, she lay there, disoriented and confused. Had it all been a dream?

As she sat up, a wave of nausea hit her. Her head pounded, and her entire body ached as if she'd run a marathon. Stumbling to the bathroom, she splashed cold water on her face and looked in the mirror.

Her reflection stared back at her, pale and drawn. But there was something different about her eyes – a depth that hadn't been there before, a hint of something wild and untamed. As she tilted her head, she noticed something on her neck. Two small puncture marks, surrounded by a dark bruise.

The events of the night came rushing back in a confused jumble of images and sensations. The cave, the strange drink, Samantha's lips on her neck... but how had she gotten home? Why couldn't she remember?

A movement outside her window caught her attention. Peering out, she saw a figure standing in the shadows across the street – Joe Sullivan, the mechanic. He was watching her house intently, leaning heavily on his cane. When he saw her in the window, his eyes widened, and he quickly turned and limped away.

Emily's stomach churned, a mixture of fear and something else – something hungry. She stumbled back to her bed, her mind reeling. What had happened to her? What had Samantha and the others done?

As she curled up under the covers, trying to make sense of it all, she heard her mothers' voices drifting up from downstairs. They sounded worried, agitated. Emily realized with a start that she had no idea what time it was or how long she'd been gone.

Forcing herself to her feet, she made her way downstairs. Yvonne and Trisha were in the kitchen, surrounded by papers and looking as if they hadn't slept.

"Emily!" Yvonne exclaimed when she saw her. "Where have you been? We've been worried sick!"

Emily opened her mouth to explain, but found she didn't know what to say. How could she possibly tell them about the cave, about Samantha and the others, about the strange ritual?

"I... I'm sorry," she managed. "I went for a walk last night and must have lost track of time. I didn't mean to worry you."

Trisha and Yvonne exchanged a look that Emily couldn't quite decipher.

"Sit down, honey," Trisha said gently. "We need to talk."

As Emily sank into a chair, she noticed the papers spread across the table – newspaper clippings, printouts of old articles. Her eyes caught phrases like "unexplained disappearances" and "animal attacks."

"What's all this?" she asked, her mouth dry.

Yvonne took a deep breath. "Emily, we think... we think there's something wrong with this town. Something dangerous. We're worried about you, about all of us."

"We've been looking into the history of West Hollow," Trisha added. "There are patterns here, going back decades. People disappearing, strange events that no one can explain. And it all seems to center around a group of families that have been here since the town was founded."

Emily's heart raced. She thought of Samantha and the others, of the ancient books in the cave, of the power they had promised her. "What... what are you saying?"

"We're saying that we think it might be best if we leave West Hollow," Yvonne said firmly. "Start fresh somewhere else. Somewhere safe."

A surge of panic rose in Emily's chest. Leave? She couldn't leave, not now. Not when she was just beginning to understand who – and what – she truly was.

"No!" she said, more forcefully than she'd intended. Both her mothers looked at her in surprise. "I mean... we can't just run away because of some old stories. This is our home now. We belong here."

The words felt right as she said them, even as a part of her wondered where they had come from. She did belong here, didn't she? Samantha had said so.

Trisha reached out and took Emily's hand. "Sweetheart, we know this is hard. But your safety is the most important thing to us. And after what happened with the headmistress, and now you disappearing all night... we're scared, Emily."

Emily pulled her hand away, a spark of anger flaring inside her. "I'm fine. Nothing happened. You're overreacting."

"Emily," Yvonne said, her voice tight with worry, "what's that on your neck?"

Emily's hand flew to cover the mark. "It's nothing. I... I fell. Hit my neck on a branch."

Neither of her mothers looked convinced, but before they could press further, there was a knock at the door.

Trisha went to answer it, returning a moment later with Joe Sullivan. The mechanic's eyes immediately locked onto Emily, a mixture of fear and determination in his gaze.

"I'm sorry to intrude," he said, his voice gruff. "But we need to talk. All of us. It's about Emily."

Emily felt a growl building in her throat, an animalistic sound that shocked her. She swallowed it down, but not before Joe's eyes widened slightly.

"What about Emily?" Yvonne asked, moving protectively closer to her daughter.

Joe sighed heavily, suddenly looking much older and more tired. "It's happening again. The cycle. And your daughter... she's been chosen."

"Chosen for what?" Trisha demanded.

But Emily already knew. She could feel it in her bones, in the thrum of power that had been building inside her since that night in the cave. She was changing, becoming something more than human. And a part of her – a growing part – welcomed it.

"You don't know anything," Emily spat at Joe, surprising herself with the venom in her voice. "You're just a crazy old man."

"Emily!" Yvonne admonished, shocked at her daughter's outburst.

Joe, however, just looked sad. "I know more than you think, girl. I've seen this before. The pack, they choose someone new every generation. Someone to carry on their legacy, to feed the hunger that lives beneath this town. But it's not too late. We can still save you, if you let us."

Emily stood up abruptly, her chair scraping loudly against the floor. "I don't need saving. I need you all to leave me alone!"

With that, she bolted from the kitchen and up the stairs, slamming her bedroom door behind her. She could hear raised voices from downstairs – her mothers arguing with Joe, demanding explanations.

Emily paced her room, her mind and body at war with themselves. Part of her was terrified, wanting nothing more than to run to her mothers and beg them to take her away from West Hollow. But another part, a stronger part, yearned for the cave, for Samantha's embrace, for the power she had tasted.

As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across her room, Emily made her decision. She couldn't stay here, couldn't risk her mothers or Joe trying to "save" her from what she was becoming. She needed to find Samantha and the others. They would understand. They would protect her.

Moving quietly, she packed a small bag with clothes and essentials. As an afterthought, she grabbed the family photo from her nightstand, running her fingers over her mothers' smiling faces. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "But this is who I am now."

Easing her window open, Emily slipped out onto the porch roof. The night air was cool on her skin, and she could smell things she'd never noticed before – the rich earth, the distant salt of the sea, and something else, something wild and enticing.

As she dropped to the ground and melted into the gathering darkness, Emily felt a thrill of excitement mixed with fear. She was leaving behind everything she had known, stepping into a new world of shadows and secrets. But deep down, in a place she was only beginning to understand, she knew this was only the beginning.

Somewhere in the distance, a wolf howled, calling to its pack. And Emily, her eyes gleaming with an inhuman light, smiled and answered the call.

****

The moon cast an ethereal glow across the night sky as Emily made her way through the woods, her heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. She was returning to the cove, to the cave where Samantha and the others had revealed their secrets to her. After her confrontation with her mothers and Joe, she had nowhere else to go. She needed answers, and she needed the pack.

As she approached the familiar thicket of bushes, she paused, her keen senses on alert. The night was unusually still, devoid of the rustling leaves and nocturnal creatures that had accompanied her on her previous journey. A sense of unease crept over her, but she pushed it aside.

Stepping through the bushes, she found herself on the familiar beach. The waves lapped gently at the shore, whispering secrets in the darkness. The cave mouth loomed before her, a gaping maw in the rock face. But something was different. The protection runes that had adorned the entrance were gone, leaving the cave looking barren and exposed.

Emily's heart sank. The pack was nowhere to be seen. Had they abandoned her? She took a hesitant step forward, her eyes scanning the beach for any sign of their presence. "Samantha?" she called out, her voice echoing off the rocks. "Rhymes? Anyone?"

Silence was her only answer.

With a growing sense of dread, she ventured further into the cave. The air was heavy and damp, the flickering torchlight casting dancing shadows on the walls. The circular table was still there, but the candles had burned out, leaving the chamber in semi-darkness. The shelves that had held the ancient tomes and arcane objects were bare, as if the pack had taken everything with them.

"Hello?" Emily called out again, her voice echoing eerily in the empty cave.

As she turned in a slow circle, her eyes fell on a faint trail of footprints in the dust. They led deeper into the cave, toward a narrow passage that she hadn't noticed before. Taking a steadying breath, she followed the trail, her hand trailing along the rough stone wall.

The passage twisted and turned, the air growing colder and damper with each step. The faint glow of torchlight guided her forward, the flames flickering as if disturbed by some unseen force.

"Show yourself!" Emily called out, her voice echoing off the walls.

Just as she was beginning to think she had taken a wrong turn, the passage opened up into a vast chamber. The air hummed with an otherworldly energy, causing the fine hairs on the back of her neck to stand on end.

At the center of the chamber, illuminated by the flickering torchlight, stood Samantha. She was dressed all in black, her blonde hair cascading over her shoulders. Her eyes, a piercing shade of amber, fixed on Emily with an intense gaze.

Emily's breath caught in her throat. "Samantha," she whispered. "What's going on? Where are the others?"

Samantha's lips curved into a mysterious smile. "All will be revealed, Emily. But first, we must prepare."

Emily's confusion grew, but she found herself drawn to Samantha, her fears momentarily forgotten. "Prepare for what?"

Samantha took a step forward, her eyes never leaving Emily's. "For your true awakening, little sister. Tonight, you will embrace your power fully. But first, we must ensure your loyalty."

Emily's heart raced. "My loyalty? Of course, I'm loyal. You're my pack."

Samantha's smile widened, revealing the sharp points of her canines. "Then you have nothing to fear. Come, follow me."

She turned and strode across the chamber, her boots echoing on the stone floor. Emily hesitated for only a moment before following, her curiosity and hunger for answers overriding her uncertainty.

Meanwhile, back at the Chen residence, an atmosphere of tension and worry permeated the air. Yvonne and Trisha sat at the kitchen table, their eyes red-rimmed from hours of anxious discussion. Joe stood by the window, his gaze fixed on the darkness outside as if expecting some malevolent force to appear at any moment.

"Are you sure about this, Joe?" Yvonne asked, her voice laced with doubt. "Vampires? In West Hollow?"

Joe nodded, his face grim. "I've seen it before, years ago. The pack, they're not just a bunch of goth girls. They're ancient, powerful, and hungry."

Trisha shook her head, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and disbelief. "But why would they target Emily? She's just a teenager."

"Because," Joe said, his voice heavy with regret, "they need fresh blood. And your daughter, she's special. I've seen it before. They choose one girl every generation to join their ranks, to carry on their dark legacy."

Yvonne's hands balled into fists. "We have to stop them. We have to get Emily back."

Joe's gaze didn't waver from the night beyond the window. "It may already be too late. But I know someone who can help. An old friend who's dealt with the supernatural before. If anyone can help us save Emily, it's him."

As Joe reached for his phone, the room fell silent, the weight of their desperate situation pressing down on them.

In the depths of the cave, Emily followed Samantha through a maze of passages and chambers, each one more ornate and otherworldly than the last. The air grew thicker, heavy with the scent of incense and something else—something wild and untamed.

Finally, they reached a massive wooden door, its surface carved with intricate runes. Samantha pushed it open, and Emily gasped.

Before them stretched a vast underground chamber, its walls lined with torches that illuminated a scene of macabre beauty. At the center, a bonfire blazed, its flames reaching toward the cavernous ceiling. Around the fire, a group of figures stood, their eyes gleaming with an otherworldly light. Emily recognized the pack—Rhymes, Chloe, and Alicia—their faces transformed by the dance of shadows and light.

But it was the figures surrounding them that truly captured Emily's attention. They were bikers, their leather jackets and rough beards contrasting with the ethereal beauty of the pack. The girls were moving among them, their movements graceful and deadly.

As Emily watched, transfixed, she realized with a start that the bikers weren't moving. Their eyes were vacant, their bodies unnaturally still.

"What's happening?" Emily whispered, her voice shaking.

Samantha's hand found hers, her grip firm and reassuring. "Watch, little sister. Watch and understand."

The pack moved with a synchronized grace, their fangs bared as they descended upon the bikers. The bikers didn't stand a chance. With lightning-fast movements, the girls bit into their necks, drinking deeply. The bikers' bodies went limp, their lives draining away as the girls fed.

As the last of the bikers fell, the pack stepped back, their eyes glowing with a feral light. They moved to the center of the chamber, their faces illuminated by the bonfire's flames.

Samantha turned to Emily, her eyes shining with an unearthly light. "Now, little sister. It's time for you to embrace your true nature."

Emily's heart hammered in her chest. "What do you mean?"

Chloe stepped forward, her eyes gleaming with a mixture of excitement and hunger. "You know what we are, Emily. You've felt the power coursing through your veins. It's time for you to join us fully. To become one of us."

Emily shook her head, her eyes darting between the expectant faces of the pack. "I... I can't. I don't want this."

Rhymes' brow furrowed, her eyes flashing with disappointment. "You can't deny what you are, Emily. You're one of us now. It's your destiny."

"No!" Emily backed away, her eyes wild. "I won't be like you. I won't kill."

Samantha's expression hardened, the warmth draining from her eyes. "Then you leave us no choice."

Before Emily could react, they were upon her. She felt their fangs sink into her neck, their mouths drinking deeply. Her vision blurred, her body going limp as her life force was drained away.

As the pack fed, their laughter echoed off the cavern walls, mingling with the crackle of the bonfire. And in that moment, Emily knew that her life had changed forever. The night had marked her, and there was no going back.

As their laughter faded into the darkness, Emily's eyes fluttered open. She tried to move, but her body felt heavy, foreign. Her vision was sharper, her senses heightened. She could hear the distant heartbeat of small creatures scurrying in the darkness, smell the fear that still lingered in the air.

She was different. Changed.

With a growing sense of dread, she raised a hand to her neck, her fingers brushing against two small puncture wounds. Her breath caught in her throat as she realized the truth.

She was one of them.

As the pack's laughter echoed in her mind, Emily fled into the night, her new eyes reflecting the moon's silvery light. She was running not from her true nature, but toward it. And the night, with all its dark possibilities, spread out before her like a promise.

Little did she know that her journey had only just begun, and that the ancient vampire who had created the pack was about to enter the fray, changing the game forever.

****

The moon hung low in the night sky, bathing the town of West Hollow in an ethereal glow. Inside the Chen residence, the atmosphere was tense and fraught with worry. Yvonne and Trisha sat at the kitchen table, their eyes red-rimmed from hours of anxious discussion, while Joe stood by the window, his gaze fixed on the darkness outside as if expecting some malevolent force to appear at any moment.

"Is this Glenn as good as you say he is?" Yvonne asked Joe.

"We fought side by side before," Joe said quietly. "He's the only one I know who I can trust with my life."

*****

On the other side of town, Emily stumbled through the woods, her body weak and her mind clouded. The events of the night had taken a toll, and she felt the vampire infection coursing through her veins, threatening to consume her completely. She had to find help, and fast.

****

At the Chen residence, the doorbell rang, interrupting the tense silence. Joe opened the door to reveal a tall, broad-shouldered man with a weather-beaten face and intense eyes. He carried himself with an air of authority and experience.

"Glenn, I presume?" Joe said, extending his hand.

Glenn nodded, his gaze sharp and assessing. "That's me. You must be Joe. And the worried parents?" He inclined his head toward Yvonne and Trisha, his expression softening.

"Yes, I'm Yvonne, and this is my wife, Trisha," Yvonne said, stepping forward. "Thank you for coming so quickly."

Glenn gave a curt nod. "Let's get down to business. Joe filled me in on the way over. Vampires, you say?"

Joe nodded. "I'm afraid so. The pack has targeted Emily, and we need to act fast if we want to save her."

Trisha's eyes filled with tears, her voice thick with emotion. "Please, help our daughter."

Glenn's expression hardened, his gaze steely. "I'll do everything in my power. But first, I need to know more about this town and its history. Vampires don't just set up shop anywhere. There's a reason they're here."

Yvonne stepped forward, her voice steady despite her worry. "We've been looking into the history of West Hollow. There have been disappearances, strange occurrences... and it all seems to be connected to a group of families that have been here since the town was founded."

Glenn's eyes narrowed, his interest piqued. "Go on."

"And there's more," Trisha added. "We've heard rumors, stories of an ancient vampire who has been pulling the strings from the shadows. We believe she's the one controlling the pack."

Glenn's gaze flicked to Joe, his expression grim. "An ancient vampire? That changes things. We're dealing with a powerful foe. But don't worry, we'll find your daughter and put an end to this threat."

As they spoke, a figure appeared at the edge of the woods, moving with an unsteady gait. It was Emily, her skin pale and her eyes haunted. She staggered forward, her body fighting the infection that threatened to consume her.

Joe and Glenn's eyes widened in recognition. They knew what was happening—Emily was turning.

"Emily!" Yvonne cried out, rushing to her daughter's side. "What have they done to you?"

Emily's voice was hoarse, her words strained. "I... I don't know. It's like something inside me is fighting to get out."

Glenn's expression was grim as he exchanged a meaningful look with Joe. "I'm afraid the only way to free Emily is to kill the vampires who turned her. Their hold over her will persist until their deaths."

Yvonne's eyes widened in horror, while Trisha pulled Emily close, protective instincts warring with the knowledge that their daughter's salvation lay in violence.

Before anyone could respond, the night air was filled with the sound of approaching footsteps. The goth pack emerged from the shadows, their eyes glowing with an unearthly light. Samantha, their leader, stepped forward, her blonde hair cascading over her shoulders.

"Let the girl go," Joe said, his voice steady despite the danger. "This doesn't have to end in bloodshed."

Samantha's lips curved into a cruel smile. "It's too late for that. Emily is one of us now. She will embrace her true nature, or she will perish."

Glenn's hand moved to the stake tucked into his belt, his eyes flicking between the pack members. "Then it seems we have no choice."

In a blur of motion, the battle commenced. Glenn and Joe lunged toward Rhymes and Chloe, their stakes finding their targets with unerring accuracy. The vampires hissed, their bodies disintegrating into dust as the wooden stakes pierced their hearts.

Yvonne and Trisha, driven by a mother's protective instinct, moved as one. They faced Alicia, their shared determination giving them strength. It was a fierce struggle, but in the end, Alicia fell, her body crumbling to ashes.

Emily, her body still fighting the infection, faced off against Samantha. The older vampire was strong, her moves calculated and deadly. Emily struggled to keep up, her body weakening by the second.

Samantha's eyes gleamed with malicious delight. "You're no match for me, little sister. Embrace your true nature, or perish."

Emily's gaze flicked to her mothers, their faces filled with worry and determination. With a surge of newfound strength, she lunged at Samantha, catching her off guard. The stake in her hand found its mark, piercing Samantha's heart.

Samantha's eyes widened in shock, her body disintegrating into dust. But even as she crumbled, Emily felt no sense of relief. The infection still raged within her, the curse unbroken.

It was then that they heard a voice, cold and commanding. "Well, well... what do we have here?"

They turned to see Headmistress Blackwood stepping out of the shadows, her eyes glowing with an otherworldly light. Her once severe appearance was transformed, her true vampiric nature revealed.

"You," Glenn breathed, his voice filled with recognition. "You're the ancient vampire we've been searching for."

Headmistress Blackwood's lips curved into a cruel smile. "Indeed. And I believe you have something that belongs to me." Her gaze fell on Emily, her eyes narrowing. "The newest member of my pack."

Yvonne and Trisha moved protectively in front of their daughter, their determination unwavering. "Stay away from her," Yvonne warned.

The headmistress's laughter echoed through the night. "Oh, I don't think so. You see, Samantha, Rhymes, Chloe, and Alicia were like daughters to me. They were part of the first settlers in this town, back in the eighteen hundreds. I lived underground in these very caves, watching and waiting. I could have taken everything from those settlers, but I chose to spare them... for a price."

Glenn's eyes narrowed, his hand tightening around his stake. "You demanded their daughters."

"The Lost Girls, as they became known," the headmistress continued, her voice laced with fondness. "Over time, it became harder to control them. Immortality can corrupt even the youngest of minds. But they served their purpose, providing me with fresh blood and continuing my legacy."

Joe's gaze flicked to Emily, his expression grim. "And now you want Emily to join your pack."

The headmistress inclined her head, her eyes never leaving Emily. "She is strong, a true child of the night. With her by my side, we will rule this town and beyond."

Glenn's voice was steady, his determination unwavering. "Not if we have anything to say about it."

With a swift motion, he lunged at the headmistress, his stake aimed at her heart. But she was too quick, her movements a blur as she dodged and countered.

The battle raged, the night air filled with the clash of wood and steel. Emily, her body still fighting the infection, joined the fray, her movements fueled by a mix of fear and determination. Yvonne and Trisha fought with a mother's ferocity, their love for their daughter giving them strength.

In the end, it was Emily who landed the final blow. With a cry of anguish and determination, she plunged her stake into the headmistress's heart. The ancient vampire's eyes widened in shock, her body disintegrating into dust.

As the last remnants of the headmistress faded away, Emily felt a sense of release. The infection within her waned, the curse broken. She was free.

Yvonne and Trisha rushed to their daughter's side, their eyes filled with relief and love. Joe and Glenn stood nearby, their faces etched with the satisfaction of a job well done.

"It's over," Emily whispered, her voice shaking. "I'm free."

Glenn's gaze swept the area, his expression grim. "For now. But we must remain vigilant. There are other towns, other ancient vampires. The fight against the darkness is never truly over."

Joe nodded, his gaze sweeping the now-quiet woods. "You're right, Glenn. But for tonight, we can rest easy knowing that West Hollow is safe once more."

As they stood together, bathed in the soft moonlight, a sense of peace settled over them. The danger had passed, and the town of West Hollow could return to its quiet, unassuming existence.

For Emily, the night's events would leave an indelible mark. She had faced her darkest fears, discovered her true nature, and emerged victorious. As she looked at her mothers, their faces illuminated by the moonlight, she knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them together.

And so, the story of West Hollow and its dark secrets came to a close, the curse lifted, and the town's residents none the wiser. But for Emily, her journey into the supernatural world had only just begun, and the night held endless possibilities.

****

In the quiet town of West Hollow, life returned to its peaceful rhythm. The summer fair came and went, the lights twinkling against the night sky, bringing joy and excitement to the sleepy community. The Chen family, now forever changed, found solace in their shared experiences and the unbreakable bond that had formed between them.

Emily, no longer the new kid in town, had settled into a routine. Her days were spent navigating the halls of West Hollow High, her nights exploring the woods and caves that held secrets known only to a select few. She had embraced her true nature, finding strength and purpose in her newfound identity.

Yvonne and Trisha, forever grateful for the safe return of their daughter, immersed themselves in the local community. They volunteered at school events, joined neighborhood watch groups, and became fixtures at town hall meetings. Their unwavering determination to protect their family and their newfound knowledge of the supernatural world guided their every move.

Joe, his role in the battle known only to a select few, continued his vigilant watch over the town. He kept a careful eye on the woods, the caves, and the shadows that lingered at the edges of town. His knowledge of the supernatural and his unwavering dedication to protecting West Hollow served as an invisible shield against future threats.

Glenn, the skilled vampire hunter, had become a familiar face in West Hollow. He frequented the local diner, sharing stories of his adventures with wide-eyed townsfolk. To most, he was an intriguing stranger with a penchant for the supernatural, but to those in the know, he was a trusted ally and a guardian of their secrets.

Life went on, and the memories of that fateful summer began to fade. The town's residents, unaware of the darkness that had lurked in their midst, continued their quiet lives, blissfully ignorant of the horrors that had been averted.

But for Emily, the events of that summer remained vivid. She found solace in the company of Zoe, her loyal friend who had stood by her through it all. Together, they navigated the complexities of teenage life, their friendship a beacon of normalcy in a world that had become anything but ordinary.

As the seasons changed, Emily's connection to her true nature deepened. She learned to control her newfound powers, embracing the strength and agility that came with her vampiric heritage. The pack, now disbanded, had left a void, but Emily found comfort in the knowledge that she was not alone.

On quiet nights, she would venture to the old oak tree in Willow Park, the place where she had first encountered the pack. She would close her eyes and let her enhanced senses take over, feeling the pulse of the town and the whispers of the night. It was in these moments that she felt most alive, most connected to the world around her.

One such night, as she sat beneath the ancient oak, a familiar figure emerged from the shadows. It was Joe, his cane tapping softly against the ground. He joined her, his gaze taking in the peaceful scene before them.

"It's peaceful here," he said, his voice heavy with the weight of their shared experiences.

Emily nodded, her eyes never leaving the distant twinkling lights of the town. "It is. It helps me make sense of it all."

Joe's gaze softened as he regarded the young woman before him. "You're handling it all remarkably well, Emily. I'm proud of you."

A small smile played at the corners of her mouth. "I have you to thank for that. And my moms, of course. They've been incredible."

Joe's eyes glinted with a mixture of pride and sadness. "They love you, Emily. We all do. And we'll always protect you."

A comfortable silence fell between them, the night wrapping them in its quiet embrace.

Finally, Joe spoke, his voice laced with determination. "There are other towns, other ancient vampires. The fight against the darkness is never truly over."

Emily's gaze sharpened, her eyes reflecting the moonlight. "I know. And I'll be ready for whatever comes our way. We have each other, and that's our strength."

Joe nodded, his expression resolute. "That's right, Emily. We're a team, and together, we can face whatever the night brings."

As they sat beneath the ancient oak, bathed in the soft moonlight, a sense of peace settled over them. The danger had passed, and a new chapter was beginning. West Hollow, with its quiet streets and unsuspecting residents, would continue on, unaware of the heroes in their midst and the darkness that had been vanquished.

But Emily, forever changed, would carry the memories with her. She was a guardian now, a protector of West Hollow and all it encompassed. And in the quiet moments, she would remember the power that lay within her and the strength that came from standing together against the night.

And so, the story of West Hollow and its heroes came to a close, the town forever protected by the love and bravery of an unlikely team. But in the shadows, new threats loomed, and the night held endless possibilities for adventure, danger, and the enduring power of friendship.

[lokisprettygirl]

Brokenhearted (Daemon Targaryen x Female Reader) (Non Canon Modern AU) (18+)

Read Chapter 7 here // Series Masterlist

Chapter 8

Summary: A certain Ghost of the past catches up with Daemon but it might turn into a blessing for him.

Warning: 18+, Smut, sex, filthy smut, degradation, dom sub relationship in bed, reader gets tied, Discussion of mensuration and Pregnancy, arguments and angst, flashbacks of abusive relationship, sexual abuse, Samantha, traumatic distressing content, Daemon is a big time smoker so if it’s something triggering don’t read it, he’s not the best boyfriend, alcohol drinking, mention of past trauma and therapy, cigarette smoking, possessive behaviour, some violence, baby needs therapy, baby is trying

"Hello, my sweet boy"

Samantha smiled as she looked him up and down as if he was a prey, you turned to look at him and he already seemed shaken just by her presence, he didn't answer her so she continued to stare at him. She then got up to step closer to him but you got in the way and glared at her.

"Move out of my way " she said to you so you crossed your arms and moved one step closer to her.

"Get out of my restaurant right now" your voice was low and menacing, filled with contempt for the vile woman in front of you. She was taken aback by your boldness for a moment before she spoke again.

"And who do you think you are?" She cackled like a witch and it took everything for you to not jab the very fork she was eating from right into her stomach,

"Someone you're going to wish you had never met" you stood your ground, there's no way you'd allow her to get close to Daemon at any cost. The disdainful smirk faded from her face and she got visibly upset all of a sudden,

"Look you bitch–"

"Claire call 911, a customer is causing a nuisance again" you raised your voice to cut her mid sentence and she seemed livid now. She raised her hand so you grabbed her arm and twisted it, a yelp of pain escaped her throat and you let her struggle against you for a moment before you allowed her arm to be free again.

"Go on..get the heck out of here now" you puckered your lips to make a mocking kiss sound as if you were talking to an animal which to be fair, that's exactly what she was. The gesture infuriated her further and she stomped on her leg before she tried to walk past you.

You followed her movements and kept yourself between her and Daemon so at no point she'd come in contact with him. Once she was out of the restaurant you kept your eyes on her through the window and you watched her cross the road and disappear out of the sight.

"What was that about?" Claire asked you, she seemed a bit uncomfortable as well.

"Just don't let her enter again, she's absolutely crazy" Claire nodded as you said that.

You didn't want to make a further scene so you walked towards Daemon to make him sit down on one of the secluded booths and poured a glass of water for him. He immediately put his hands on the table and hid his face in between his palms to calm down his nerves but it was in vain.

You didn't know what to say so you squeezed his shoulder in a comforting manner before you caressed his back gently,

"I'll get my stuff and we can leave then okay?" You told him softly and he didn't say anything but as you turned around to go back to the staff area he grabbed your hand in a desperate attempt to seek comfort. Truth to be told he was scared of all those thoughts that were running through his head.

"Don't leave me alone" he placed his head down on your torso as his arms wrapped around your waist, you immediately leaned down to kiss the top of his head, offering him the much needed comfort he needed.

From the distance Samantha was watching the scene and she realized that the information she had received wasn't wrong, he was really moving on and allowing some other woman to love him again, it wasn't just physical anymore, he was getting attached to her and she couldn't tolerate that. He can't forget her.

After a minute or so you pulled him away slightly so he looked up at you,

"I'll just get my bag okay, you want me to fix you a sandwich before we go home?" You asked him so he sighed and nodded so you pecked his lips and went back to the kitchen area.

The way you had stood up for him had warmed his heart, if Samantha was there she'd have called him a weak, fragile man for taking comfort in the arms of a woman who was supposedly physically weaker than him but he didn't want to hear her voice in his head any longer.

Well that was a wishful thinking that he had. He never thought he'd ever see her again, Viserys had promised him that she was taken care of and that she'd never bother him again then why was she there now?

As the other chef arrived you both left for Daemon's apartment. You wanted him to be at a place where he felt the most comfortable, you didn't allow him to drive either because he seemed lost in his head.

You didn't understand why she was there after all these years? What did she want? Was it because Daemon was moving on? But how did she know that? Was she always keeping an eye on him? Several questions were weighing heavily on your mind.

You both were on the couch after eating and showering, you didn't have spare clothes so you had put on one of his shirts.

He was just quietly smoking, not saying anything, you didn't want to disturb him either but you felt really worried about him.

After minutes of quiet you got off the couch and sat down on your knees in front of him so he had his eyes on you, you took the cigarette away from him and gave it a drag before you passed it back to him,

"Do you want to talk about it?" You asked and he ran his fingers through his hair before he sighed deeply.

"Nothing to talk about" he mumbled under his breath so you scooted closer to him and caressed his thighs with your hands in a comforting manner.

"What do you want to do then, what can I do?" You questioned him, you really wanted to ease his fears, he put out the cigarette in the ashtray and tapped on his thigh in a way to gesture you to sit on his lap so that's exactly what you did..

His arms wrapped around your waist as he pulled you closer and grabbed your chin to make you look at him,

"I care about you, you know that right? Do you feel it?" He asked you and you brought your hands up to caress his cheeks but he pulled his head away from you "Hands to yourself angel" he mumbled sternly and you figured he was in a mood of sorts where he wanted to dominate you, he had a public moment of weakness in the restaurant and perhaps her presence had triggered something in him.

"I feel it..i really do" you whispered, keeping your voice low and timid on purpose, he grabbed the back of your neck and kissed you before he clutched your hair in his fist to pull your head back.

His other hand trailed up your thigh and he smacked your ass harshly which in turn made you gasp and moan at the same time.

"I want to fuck you senselessly, and I want you take it like the sweet little whore that you are, I don't want to hear you until I permit you to speak, can you do that for me?" He spoke with authority, his voice was deep and raspy.

"Yess I'll do anything for you"

"Good girl, remember the safe word?"

"Yes sir" he smiled as you addressed him like that.

"You trust me? You want this?"

"Mmmm i trust you and I want you pleasee" he kissed you once more and tapped on your cheek lightly as he spoke again.

"Wait for me on the bed, I'll be there in a minute.. take your clothes off"

You nodded and got off his lap to make way to his bedroom, maybe he needed to release some frustration, you weren't going to question his methods. You knew he wouldn't hurt you or well hurt you without your permission.

He smoked one more cigarette before he finally stepped in the room and reached for a tie in his closet before he walked towards you, your eyes were on him, anticipating his each and every move, he leaned over you and caressed your neck with end of the fabric before he trailed it down from your sternum, you sucked a breath as it kept going lower and lower. As it reached between your legs, you could feel your clit twitching because of how aroused you felt.

His eyes locked on yours as he got on top of you, his stare was intense and so were his expressions.

"Bring your hands together" he said firmly so you raised them up and he immediately tied your wrists together, you gasped as he tightened the knot.

"On your front" you turned around with your hands still tied together. He slapped your cheek one by one making your eyes roll back in your head. Spreading your legs apart he pressed his middle finger inside you and all the way to his knuckles, he tucked your hair to the side before he placed his other arm right next to your head and leaned into you, pulling his finger out he shoved it in again but this time you felt three of his digits in there.

"God .. Daemon" you whimpered as you felt your walls stretching out.

"Shhhh kitten, no speaking..just take it quietly, you're my whore are you not?" He whispered in your ear and you bit on your lips at the whispery sultry sound of his voice,

"Mmm yess sir I am your whore, all yours" his fingers scissored and curled inside you, he quickly found your sweet spot and rubbed it over and over again until you were shivering with the building pleasure, he pleased you in a way you have never been pleased before, you were about to cum when he pulled out of you and turned your head to the side to watch your brows furrowing as the feeling of pleasure subsided slowly.

Your cunt felt sensitive, you just needed one touch, one stroke, one stimulation and you'd be pushed over the edge but he didn't want you to cum just yet. This wasn't about you. He had made it pretty clear. That didn't stop you from whining though-

"Mmmm baby please..touch me"

"I told you not to speak, didn't i?" You whimpered as he gripped your hair and pulled your neck up, his lips latched onto your soft skin and he sucked harshly,

"Mmmm sorry I'm sorry"

"Fucking listen to me kitten, I won't hesitate to leave you all night here, dripping and helpless with your hands tied up" he mumbled in your ear so you nodded instead of speaking this time.

You have never been treated this way before, not even by him, he had been rough with his words and actions alike but this was something next level. He had never denied your orgasm like this before.

He sat up on his knees and rubbed his fingers over your seeping cunt to collect your wetness and then you heard the sound of him stroking his cock, you desperately wanted to turn your head and watch him pleasure himself but resisted the urge to not anger him.

"She never allowed me to treat her like this, not once, but youuu…you're such a good girl for me, willing to be whatever i want you to be" his voice had a tinge of hoarseness to it, his breaths were becoming heavy. He then let out a deep grunt as he pushed his cock inside you slowly, his arms rested on either side of your body.

"Allowing me to use your body for my pleasure, you'd do anything for me won't you?" He asked you condescendingly, even though you couldn't really see him you just knew there was a devilish smirk on his face.

"Mmm yesss sir.. anything" he flipped you on your back and his pretty face came into your view.

He placed his hand on your cheek and used his thumb to open your mouth, you immediately sucked on his thumb and the sight aroused him even further if that was possible.

"And that makes you a dirty little whore.. made just to please men like me in bed" his degrading words made you want to hump against him but again you resisted the urge.

He quickened his pace and leaned over you as he fucked you, no words came out of your mouth except for those whiny whimpers, this was no love making, far from it, but you were not complaining.

Your clit was already sensitive so when he held those nubs between his fingers and pinched it gently you lost all control, your walls clenched around him, halting his movement at once, milking all his cum out, it seemed as if he was surprised too as how quickly he had cum just because you came around him. He threw his head back and rode his high with you, both of you needed time to recover from that mind numbing orgasm.

After sex he was always predictable, he'd clean himself up, kiss you sweetly as if to show his appreciation and then he'd grab his cigarette but he seemed a bit different today.

He was lost in his head again.

He picked you up in his arms as if you weighed nothing and took you to the bathroom where you both showered again and then you were back in his shirt.

"Do you feel okay?" You asked him as you watched him put a trouser on. He checked his phone and sighed deeply.

"Yeah..i have to go, this bloke missed his training this morning and wants to do it now" he mumbled innan agitated tone so you hummed.

"Can I come?" You asked him nervously. He averted his gaze at the question.

"I'll drop you home..it won't be wise to take you there.. I'll get distracted" your heart sank as he said that. Was he thinking about her? Did seeing her bring back those memories of the time he used to be with her? When he used to be hers?

You didn't say anything but got dressed instead and he drove you to your apartment.

When you finally arrived he was staring ahead of him so you placed your hand on his shoulder to get his attention.

"I'm worried about you" you whispered softly and he gulped, he didn't want to hurt you, that was the last thing he wanted to do right now but he really needed to be alone before he snaps at you again for no reason, however he knew his distant behavior was equally hurtful.

"I'm alright, I'm not a child y/n, just go home and rest, think about yourself for once" he spoke firmly and your eyes teared up, maybe he needed space but you couldn't help but feel hurt by his sudden distant behavior.

He leaned into you and at first you thought he was going to hug you but he merely opened the door so you could get out. You didn't say anything after that and stepped out, he immediately drove off once you did.

On the way to the centre he called Viserys, he really needed a few answers.

"Why is she here? You said she was taken care of.. and that ..that I'd never have to see her again soo whyy the fuck is she here" he raised his voice, he was frustrated and rightfully so. But as usual he was taking his anger out on people who meant no harm to him.

"Calm down Daemon, where are you?" Viserys asked him calmly, he didn't want his brother to be so angry especially while he was driving.

"Have to train Chris, meet me there" Daemon hung up after that.

Hello sweet boy

Her voice was still ringing in his head, the sweet voice that he had fallen for, the voice that held the power to reduce him to mere dirt under her boots.

Viserys told him that he had no clue of her whereabouts so it wasn't something he knew of, he was shocked himself that she had come back.

"Brother listen to me, it's been years..don't let her get to you again…she's not worth it"

He tried to convince Daemon to not worry about it and let it go, as it would only bring him pain. However a part of him did fear that she had returned to harm him again.

"You have got a nice thing going on for you, focus on that" Daemon sighed as Viserys reminded him about you, he had done it again, he had shown you how big of an arse he can be at times.

Late at night when he went back home he sat down on his bed to call you but before he could hit your number he heard the buzzer ringing so he made way to the living room and walked towards the intercom. His jaw clenched as he realized who it was. How did she find out where he lived? He gulped as he pressed the button on the intercom to speak to her,

"Samantha, go away or I'm calling the cops" he saw her snickering as he said that.

"I'm just here to talk baby, it's been years and i know you have missed me as much as I have missed you, I still miss you my sweet boy, in every way" his eyes teared up as she whispered softly but he knew better now, he knew better than to get involved in her mess again.

He turned the intercom off and stepped away from his door to go back to his room.

She kept pressing the buzzer but he ignored it. He won't be her plaything anymore, he won't let her mess with his head again.

To avoid hearing the buzzer he placed his headphones on and closed his eyes, and that's when he saw your face, your sweet Beautiful face, sometimes he wished he had never met Samantha, that maybe he had met someone like you instead, or maybe just you, why fate didn't bring you to him sooner? He would have had it all if only he had met you sooner.

He wanted to give you the world, he really did but his issues were skindeep, his heart was not in the right place in this relationship unlike yours, you were so pure, so supportive and you just wanted him to heal but it wasn't easy for him, he pushed you away and then pulled you in as he pleased and like the angel that you were you took him in your protection and gave him everything that he didn't deserve.

He wanted to acknowledge that he wasn't treating you fairly, he was afraid someday he'd turn into Samantha and hurt you the way she had hurt him, he was afraid he'd ruin you slowly the way she had ruined him.

Hurt people hurt people, he had read that somewhere and now he understood what it actually meant .

Daemon knew losing you now when he had gotten himself so accustomed to your warmth would only damage him more than he already was, he didn't want to lose you, he needed you, he really did and he knew he had to fix his behavior if he wanted to treat you better.

He grabbed his phone and finally dialed your number, it took a few rings before you picked it up,

"Hey" you mumbled and he took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry" his eyes were filled with tears as he spoke and as you heard his broken little voice your eyes welled up as well, you feared he was going to do something awful, you didn't know why you had a feeling that he'd leave you and this relationship, you feared that it was becoming too much for him and for once you wanted to be proven wrong.

"Daemon? Where are you baby?" You asked him softly.

"Bed" he mumbled as he sniffled and wiped his tears.

"Okayyy..you're safe?"

"Mmmhmm"

You breathed a sigh of relief as he said that.

"Alright. Listen to me Daemon, you have to talk to me, you can't push me away like that everytime you're in your head, that hurts me, alot. I'll give you your space whenever you need it but I don't want you to be completely alone when you're feeling that way, just let me be around at least" your voice was tender as you spoke. You weren't upset with him but you needed him to know that it really bothered you whenever he closed himself off like that.

"I know I do and I wanted to talk to you, I really did but then I just wanted to run again. I wasn't like this darling.. I used to be a different man and that was the man that a girl like you deserved, but I'm not that man anymore, she made a mockery of all the virtues that I held so dearly once, my dreams, my ability to show love.. she destroyed everything" there was a hint of anger in his voice but it wasn't directed at you, you knew he was trying at the best of his ability.

"I know it's not easy baby..it will take time, years perhaps, all I'm asking is for you to take my hand whenever you are feeling scared..that's it okay? That's all I want you to do, you're not alone and i won't let her hurt you anymore" you didn't want to be his weakness in this relationship nor you wanted him to feel weak, you just wanted to be his strength.

"Alright love..I'm sorry..will you see me tomorrow? I'll make it up to you i promise" you smiled as he said that.

"I will, just try and sleep now okay..I'll see you tomorrow"

It was late at night and it has been a long day so you just wanted him to rest, he was probably thinking about everything at once. You really wished you were there at the moment but if he needed his space you didn't want to get overbearing.

You laid down on your bed with your phone in your hand, scrolling through the pictures you have taken with him in the past few months, you noticed how his eyes always seemed so sad even when he was smiling and it broke your heart.

And now you feared that her arrival would ruin whatever progress he had made with you.

You were about to put your phone down and sleep but you heard the buzzer going off and leaped out of your bed, it was Daemon.

You weren't expecting to see him tonight but you couldn't have been happier that he came. As soon as he entered from the door he grabbed a hold of your cheeks between his hands, kissed your forehead and then he tilted his head to kiss you passionately, no words were said, he only pulled away for a second to breathe before he kissed you again and then again, it was thirsty and needy as if he was starving for it. When he finally pulled away there was a small smile on his face,

"I love you" he mumbled softly and your eyes widened in a mixture of shock and surprise. You were expecting the worst from tonight and It felt good to be proven wrong. His fingers brushed through your hair and then he kissed the tip of your nose. Did he really say that or your ears were ringing?

"I love you" he mumbled again making your heart blossom "Yeah i do" he didn't give you a chance to respond as he kissed you again. Soft feathery kisses, his lips barely brushed over yours, he had never kissed you this way before, so romantically and with such ardent need.

You grabbed the collar of his leather jacket and pressed your body against him as intimately as you could.

"I love you too, so muchhh" you whispered between the kisses and that made him smile. He didn't need the confession, he could tell how deeply you felt for him but his cold dead heart felt warm at those words. You took his jacket off, shirt followed and then you hooked your fingers around the loop of his belt to drag him to your room.

You didn't want to overstep so you laid on your side but you felt his hand on the back of your neck as he pulled you closer to him slowly, you took in the scent of his skin as you nuzzled your face between his neck, your arm draped around his waist, he caressed your head gently and closed his eyes to as he breathed in the sweet scent of your hair.

"Darling?" He called out for you so you hummed in response "You said you believed in me" you put your head up as he said that and kissed his forehead.

"I do ..i believe in you" his eyes teared up at the gesture and your words but then a small smile formed on his lips

"I want to give it a try, I want to fight again" your heart skipped a beat as he said that.

Maybe her arrival was the reason he had this epiphany, perhaps he needed to see her to realize that she no longer had a hold on him, maybe seeing her again was the push he needed to get the clarity that he was in control of his life, maybe that was the catalyst he needed to take that final step towards his healing journey.

You didn't know why she had returned after all these years, you still didn't know why he had given up on his dreams that night but as he slept holding you so close to him you felt a sense of strong protectiveness overcome you.

He wasn't weak, not at all, but he needed a gentle loving support in his life and you wanted to be that person to give him that, you wanted to be his person.

Whatever happens now you'd be there with him, for him, he wasn't alone anymore and you were determined that won't allow her to ruin his life any more.

❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️

Taglist (please check your setting if I’m not able to tag you)

@simbaaas-stuff @ajthefujoshi @witchybitch2 @hypocritic-trash-baby @mariaelizabeth21-blog1 @thefallenangel21n @kmc1989

[bel1ewrites]

Masterlist!

Note that most of what I write has NSFW themes and might not be for everyone! Please do not interact with smut fics if you are a minor. However, feel free to read the fluff and whatnot.

Smut = * Fluff = <3 Angst = ! Dark themes = ^ Blurb = "

Characters are in red, real people are in black.

Requests are open :) (Please try to keep them fairly short!)

SAMANTHA CARPENTER

Such a Waste *^

Maybe (Such a Waste pt.2) !<3^

Without Me? !^

No One Else *!<3

Risky Rewards *<3

A Slipping Mind *!

Birthday Challenge *

Ignored *!

Conflicted *^!

Light Weight *

Good Luck, Babe! *!

Booth Five *

MELISSA BARRERA

Scream For Me *^

It's Easy With Her <3

The Whole Thing? <3

(taking requests)

ELLIE WILLIAMS

(taking requests)

JENNA ORTEGA

Puff Pastries, Anybody? <3"

(taking requests)

TARA CARPENTER

The Alcohol Helped !<3

(taking requests)

ELIZABETH OLSEN

(taking requests)

DAISY JOHNSON (QUAKE)

(taking requests)

[hypocrisyofandrewdobson]

I've been doing some digging on the infamous Power Girl Cosplayer incident to find some direct evidence of Dobson being at the convention of the cosplayer and I found out some things:

The cosplayer's identity is Tallest Silver (or Samantha Scharlach), and she was cosplaying at a convention by the name "Oh Wow Comicsfest" in 2013. This convention was running from May 18th-19th of that year, and was held at San Jose California (according to a review of the con that year, it was mostly a place for comic artist to set up vending booths to sell and autograph their works). You can find pictures of her cosplaying multiple comic book characters at the convention via Wikimedia by searching either of her names (including a "Power Girl inspired one"). You would notice in the infamous picture, that there's a sign that shows the name of the very same convention clearly in the background. Whilst there's not any photos of Silver in the exact costume during the convention, there's photos of her in her well-known Power Girl costume dating back to 2011-2012, and given she was changing costumes during the convention it wouldn't be a stretch to guess that she also dressed up in her Power Girl cosplay during the event.

The infamous comic Dobson drew is called "Asking For It", and is archived on a snapshot of his SYAC website on archive.ph. The comic was published on Ausgust 18th 2013, the same year as when Tallest Silver was at Oh Wow Comicsfest. This further implicates that Dobson was at the con, but you could also say that Dobson could have been at any convention or was making up a hypothetical scenario (which he claimed was so from his response to the situation). Do I did a little bit of digging throught the SYAC archives, and I found a BIG piece of evidence;

On May 15th 2013, Dobson posted a comic strip called "It's Puzzling" in which he comments on being excited on going to a convention "this weekend". Need I remind you, Oh Wow Comicsfest 2013 was held on the very same weekend that Dobson posted the comic (hmmmm...). Given the fact that Dobson is more than comfortable travelling outside his home state of Minnesoda to travel to cons (him attending NYCC 2012), and the fact that he always frames most of his comics as being related to his real life, this little comic strip is the biggest piece of evidence (when combined with the picture) that Dobson was really at the convention with that Power Girl Cosplayer and made that stupid wish fulfillment comic based on what he saw, and that he lied in his response about "never being at the convention in the photo".

Now does this mean that there's no chance that he wasn't at the con? No. There were other cons during that weekend as well if you check the archives, and I searched for any direct reference of Dobson being at Oh Wow Comicfest and those other cons, but couldn't find anything (most likely because Dobson is a complete nobody outside the internet). And I haven't been able to find the source of the original picture to see where it fits in the timeline of event, or if it really was at Oh Wow Comicsfest of that year, which would either vindicate or be the final nail in the coffin for Dobson in this viasco. But given Dobson's propensity to lie constantly, I would very much not be suprised if he made this comic strip before he went to Oh Wow Comicsfest and when he made his response in 2020 he forgotten about that damning piece of evidence whilst trying to lie about never being there at the first place.

Impressive amount of research, Anon.

Another big issue is even if it wasn’t Dobson there at the convention, he handled it in the worst possible way and very very few people are willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, based on his attitude and past behavior.

[sweetblinginrose]

sweetchestnut,

(Billy Hargrove x fem¡OCMayfield)

Samantha Danielle Mayfield finally decides to move to Hawkins with her sister and mother, as well as her mother's new husband and his arrogant son, William "Billy" Hargrove. what they are unaware of is that, gradually, these step-siblings will discover that the line between contempt and passion is more fragile than they supposed, and what begins as shared hostility turns into an intense and undeniable attraction that both find themselves unable to resist.

warnings: read at your own risk, as it includes a continuous sexual environment, profanity, mention of death and suicide, step-sibling relationship, sex, and all its derivatives.

words: 2,5k +

author’s note: i have decided to rewrite this story after so long, so i will tag some people who interacted with my old story. if you don't want to be tagged, let me know and no problem i will remove you and not tag you again 🩵.

(if someone wants to be tagged just tell me)

this work is entirely my own creation. that is to say, i have not based it on anyone else's, so any resemblance to any other work is purely coincidental, as i have been using this format for all my stories since 2019. i hope you enjoy the story. if you find any translation errors, something you don't understand, or similar, please let me know.

masterlist next chapter

━━ ✧♡✧ ━━ ✧♡✧ ━━ ✧♡✧ ━━

Chapter One: Shot Throught The Heart - Bon Jovi

Samantha Danielle Mayfield. Yes, Mayfield. She found the surname Hargrove detestable.

Ever since that fateful day when Neil Hargrove took Susan from the arms of the two young girls' father, Samantha has been unable to forgive her mother. She chose to stay with her father indefinitely, firmly resolved not to see her mother's face again, or so she believed. Susan had "betrayed" the Mayfields, fracturing the relationship between Max and Samantha to the point of only allowing them sporadic encounters, plunging both sisters into deep sadness.

As the years passed, they got used to seeing each other only on weekends, and everything seemed to be going well. Until one day, a letter arrived at the Sam residence, which read:

“Hello Sammy,

I am writing to invite you to my wedding with Neil in a few months. We are very happy and wish to share our joy with you. Also, there are some things we need to discuss in person that you should know.

With love,

mom.”

Samantha received the news with displeasure, but over time she understood that everyone is free to decide about their life and that she had to respect it, as nothing would change to please her wishes. So, swallowing her pride, she began the search for a dress for the occasion.

The ceremony went off without incident. Max and Sam were playing cards when Susan stealthily approached her eldest daughter and whispered the dreaded words:

“We need to talk.”

Upon hearing her mother's prepared speech, Samantha burst into tears. She couldn't bear the idea of her mother taking Maxine away from her. Her sister was almost her best friend; separating them was an act of selfishness, wasn't it?

Samantha's reaction was intense. She screamed how great her hatred was for that family, capturing the attention of all those present and ruining part of the wedding. She insulted everyone for the last time and fled in search of a phone booth to call her father, who consoled her, equally affected, trying to convince her that it wouldn't be so bad, that they could keep in touch and visit occasionally.

After the incident, they decided to postpone the move for another year, until early 1984, due to the girl's immature behavior and the deterioration of her father's health, whose lung cancer was advancing inexorably. Months later, at the end of 1984, the girls' father died, unable to fight the cancer that rapidly consumed his weakened body, leaving a huge void in both, but especially in Samantha. She decided not to inform anyone, except her sister through a letter that would arrive a month later, which meant that Samantha lived alone during that time, surviving with difficulty.

The news devastated Maxine, who informed her mother. Susan, very worried, called Samantha repeatedly, not knowing that her daughter had escaped. She called all the authorities in California to find her daughter.

Samantha distanced herself from everything and everyone. She left behind friends and family, taking with her only a letter from Max, some clothes, and the little money she had left. Just the day before Christmas, guided by the offers at the bus stations and the address in Maxine's letter, Sam decided to go to Hawkins, Indiana. Her arrival on December 24, '84, was a Christmas gift for her distressed mother, who interrupted her prayers upon hearing the doorbell. Seeing the familiar face, Susan burst into tears, hugging her daughter tightly and shouting for joy. The commotion attracted everyone present, who ran to witness the emotional reunion between the two redheads and the brunette at the door.

═══════ .˚♡˚. ════════

Six months had passed since the death of their father, and five since her arrival in Hawkins.

Samantha had settled just in time for the start of the second academic term. Despite the widespread interest in befriending her, she only forged ties with a select and quite different group, as most did not pique her interest. Among her new friends was the one she liked best, Keith, the affable young man in charge of the game room, the Arcade, who offered her employment during the school year upon seeing her go there so often, forging a solid friendship based on common interests; two ruby-haired girls, Vicki and Nicole, with whom she shared lunch in the cafeteria and moments of hidden cigarettes under the staircase; and the charming Nancy Wheeler, who became a great ally during Sam's first days of adaptation. Obviously, in the best position was her little sister, Maxine, whom she sneaked into the Arcade and would give everything for. Despite all this, Danielle was quite flirtatious, so she liked to attract the attention of boys, flirt and play with their feelings when she went out at night with Vicki and Nicole. On the other hand, there were people that the brunette couldn't stand, the most notable being her stepbrother, Billy, and his close circle, except for the two redheads mentioned earlier. Exhausted by his arrogant attitude, the girl promised herself that one day she would punch that stupid face. The animosity was mutual. Even when Neil, her stepfather, forced Billy to take the sisters home and bring them from the institute, he occasionally "forgot" his duty, leaving them stranded there, returning on foot. To top it off, the intensity of their two characters caused constant altercations at home, always ending with Neil hitting and scolding Billy or yelling and blaming Susan for the behavior of his eldest daughter, which caused even worse behavior on the part of the eldest, who couldn't stand her mother, but after all, she was the one who had brought her into the world, so she didn't quite like the idea of someone raising their voice to her progenitor.

═══════ .˚♡˚. ════════

Neil and the sisters’ mother had left for California, as they needed to take care of some paperwork related to the Hargrove family’s old residence. It was important to have an in-person conversation with the lawyer. As a result, they would be back in a couple of hours. For Sam, this meant the freedom to sleep all day without anyone bothering her.

At eight in the morning, the couple woke up the kids to inform them of their departure, mentioning that they would return early in the morning. After that, everyone seemed to fall back asleep. The older siblings were tasked with supervising Max, a duty that didn’t seem challenging.

Samantha easily drifted off to sleep. Final exams were over, summer vacation was just around the corner, and the air conditioning in her room promised refuge from the summer heat. She discarded her pants, leaving herself in underwear and an oversized T-shirt, and nestled under the sheets in an idyllic climate. However, the teenager’s perfect plan was interrupted when, in her dream, Billy appeared wearing his ridiculous oversized blue tracksuit. This time, it looked even more comically large, and the music thundered until Sam felt like her eardrums would burst, abruptly waking her up. The strident melody wasn’t part of her dream; it was coming from the room next door, Billy’s room.

The volume was excessive.

Sam tried to ignore it, not wanting to confront Billy today. In fact, she had considered completely ignoring her stepbrother’s existence during this time. She attempted to drown out the sound with her pillows, but after several failed attempts, she jumped out of bed, ripped off her sleep mask, and flung it across the room. It collided with a poster of Tom Cruise, adorned with lipstick marks on his massive cheek. Angry, she smacked the clock that read nine-thirty in the morning.

“Does this idiot have no brain?” she muttered aloud, delivering a blow to the alarm clock. The battery popped out, rolling under the bed.

With resounding steps, she marched toward the door, which she flung open with such force that it slammed against the wall, enlarging the existing hole with each slam. But that was inconsequential at the moment. What truly mattered was throttling Billy until he was breathless. Samantha advanced down the hallway, possessed by rage, until she reached her stepbrother’s door. She pounded on it frantically, demanding that he either lower the music volume or turn it off altogether. After a series of forceful knocks and numerous unanswered shouts, she decided to swing the door open abruptly, not anticipating the scene that awaited her on the other side.

“Billy, I'm so sick of you blasting music at this hour… Oh, shit!” Sam burst into the room, her eyes narrowed in fury, words pouring out rapidly. As she opened her eyes wider, she was met with an unusually peculiar sight…

The increasing wave of moans and lascivious sounds, both male and female, erupted, intertwined with powerful music, completely flooding the house, not just limited to the bedroom. Among these gasps, those of a blonde who shared Billy’s presence stood out. The young woman lay naked, reclined on the bed, which, along with the sheets, seemed to slide down inexorably, although at that moment, surely, that was not her main concern. Although her bust was quite small, it bounced in an unexpected way. They looked like… flan? Billy’s fingers sank into her waist, squeezing with an intensity as if his life depended on it. However, the problem was that Sam had caught Billy in the act of carnal activity, that is, fucking. She had taken in the sweat that soaked his body, slightly dampening his hair, which clung to his forehead and neck; the deep growls that escaped from his lips; the vigorous and fast movement of his hips and the roar that emanated from them; the expression of concentration manifested in his firm bite on his lower lip, and in his eyes, those that said everything, which met Samantha’s just as she opened them, unleashing an involuntary scream from both of them.

“Holy-. Sam! You don’t know how to knock on a damn door? Get the hell out!” he exclaimed with a startled and hoarse voice, covering himself as best he could with the sheet that, as he pulled it, caused the girl who was covered to fall off, not caring at all that his companion was completely uncovered. He quickly threw a magazine, which landed right on the young woman’s shoulder, who closed the door probably faster than the speed of light.

Samantha was frozen, staring at the white wooden door, marked with several scratches and holes from Billy’s punches from inside, reflecting on what had just happened and how to erase that moment from her mind.

“Holy shit…” she gasped. It was the only thing that could come out of her lips at that moment.

“What’s going on?” Max asked behind her, yawning and startling her, almost giving her a heart attack. “I just woke up because of the screams. Are you guys fighting again?” she asked her older sister innocently, assuming that everything boiled down to a usual argument, and without hesitation, taking her side.

Sam nodded and smiled. That was all she did.

“Why don’t you make breakfast today? I… I have to go to the bathroom… yeah.” The young woman sneaked away, reaching the bathroom and locking it, leaning her hands on the sink as she stared at herself in the mirror. She began to lift her shirt and compare herself with the figure of the blonde she had seen because Sam believed her breasts were small, but upon seeing them, she changed her mind. What Samantha didn’t realize was that her distorted perception of her body was leading her to see herself that way, given the taunts she had received from her former friends and, now, Billy, when in reality, she had an enviable figure.

After splashing cold water on her face, she decided to use the toilet before going to breakfast, realizing that she had wet her underwear while recalling the scene with her stepbrother. She couldn’t believe it. It all seemed like a lie to her.

“What’s happening to me?” she wondered, putting her hand on her forehead to check for a fever.

A few moments later, Sam perceived voices coming from the bathroom window facing the street. She interrupted her actions to look out cautiously, still with her panties down, watching as the blonde she had seen in Billy’s room just minutes ago had a heated argument with her stepbrother, who had just received a slap.

“You promised me we would be alone, you jerk,” the girl’s voice echoed in the distance as she got into her car and drove away from the Hargrove residence, extending her middle finger in a defiant gesture through the window, gradually disappearing on the horizon. Samantha felt a deep sense of relief upon confirming that the girl had left. She exhaled deeply and left the bathroom with the intention of savoring the aroma that had attracted her so much: freshly made waffles by Max. However, upon leaving, she came face to face with Billy, who appeared before her wearing only his underwear, exposing his happy trail situated between his V, and a cigarette between his lips. His skin was so covered in sweat that it gave the impression he had just emerged from the shower.

“Move,” he demanded with authority, firmly gripping the girl’s arm and moving her on his own with a gentle but strong push, causing one of her breasts to rub against his damp bicep.

“Don’t touch me, Billy,” threatened the girl, a little uncomfortable with everything that had happened earlier, walking away toward the kitchen.

═══════ TAGS ════════

@suckmystoneysworld @simpfortargaryens @kelsj21 @fifitheflowertotsposts @livingdeadrey @bearomanoff18 @sizzlingpartylightpeach @elenaa199 @lovelyjaelyn2007 @sassyblazecloud12 @strangerthing93 @teddy4suna @g-cf2020 @filthykimmy @paradisepoisons @astro-menace @manzanitaa @eirose94 @waterfi @shelbyraehay13 @elenaa199 @aneareyouok @sassyblazecloud12 @rickgrimesismydaddy1 @kiwi-unique @maydaylovex @eirose94 @sanguwuxyoonbummy @lostdreamingwallflower

[sulfurousdreamscapes]

The shadow of a fish swam past the crossword puzzle, and that was all the impetus it took for Auguste to search his coat pockets for a pencil. He didn't find one, so he looked behind him, at Samantha, who lay spread eagle on the floor, staring at the glass ceiling that kept the two of them from being submerged in the Atlantic Ocean.

"Do you have a pencil on you, dear Samantha?" Auguste asked, his thin, trimmed moustache curling up into a smile.

"Did you finally decide to have a go at that crossword?" Samantha asked, eyes fixed on a shark ripping apart a catfish.

"Yes."

"I thought you were saving it for a special occasion. Such as when we finally get to leave this prison, as you put it."

"Yes, well. That was then, and this is now."

Samantha groaned and made an effort to get up, before deciding not to get up after all. "There should be a pencil in my handbag."

Auguste waited for the catch, but none came. "Do you want me to look in your handbag for the pencil?"

The red cloud of blood dissipated within a minute, and the sea was dark, dark blue again, with shadows swimming past the glass-topped hotel.

August cleared his throat. "I thought you said I could never touch your belongings."

"This is a special occasion."

Auguste stifled a laugh and got up from his upholstered seat. He went across the hotel restaurant and found the handbag right where he'd first spotted it, tucked against the window wall in a booth for six.

"Let's see what's in here."

Samantha groaned. "How long before they realise we're still alive down here?"

Auguste raised a finger to the air. "It's best to consider this a hell we've been consigned to, based on all our previous sins. That's the newest theory I've come up with, and it's the one that makes the most sense to me, I think."

Samantha closed her eyes. "What did you find in the handbag?"

"Lipstick, a notepad… a little horseshoe charm. Where's the pencil, dear Samantha?"

"Look, Auguste, I have to confess something."

"That there is no pencil in the handbag?"

"That handbag isn't mine."

"Oh."

"I was just pretending it was mine. I never even looked inside it, so I don't know if there is a pencil or not."

"Are you sorry? Or…?"

"I'm not sorry. I just thought that since we're trapped in a hotel under the sea, we should have some secrets from each other. My mother always said that secrets make for the best stories."

"It doesn't look like there's a pencil here."

Samantha sat up and rubbed her eyes. "What will you do if you don't find a pencil in here?"

Auguste looked at her from across the restaurant. "Why, I'd go absolutely insane trying to solve a crossword I can't fill in."

Samantha shook her head. "All this time, we had the perfect balance - you with your crossword, me with my handbag. Now we've crushed it all."

"Yes, we've entered a new phase of hell."

Somewhere far above them, a blue whale passed by, casting a massive, dark shadow over the restaurant as it went. For a moment, Samantha wished the glass would shatter and fall in with all the water, just to see how it'd feel to be suddenly taken by the Atlantic Ocean.

Auguste shouted, breaking her out of her daydreaming.

"I found a pencil!"