*Annabell's POV

  Darkness, again. There was a familiar light in the dista I was alone here. No, that's nht. I am not alone. Someone is standing in front of me. Then they disappear, only to appear again, right behind my back. Stone cold and hard arms imprisoning me in their inescapable grasp. Slowly suffog me. No matter how much I try, their grip is tightening. "...won't help you... I will have you!"  With the st of my breath I mao speak. "Jasper, please... help me..." In that moment the monster vanished and suddenly I was in Jasper's gentle embrace. I felt the waves of calm he was sending me and I was grateful he is by my side. I returned his embrace. "Thank you." I breathed out, but I knew he heard me.

  *

  Movement woke me up. I didn't like the idea of being here in an unfamiliar room alone so I followed Jasper. When I found an iron railing at the top of the stairs I uood that this must be a house at least of the same size as was my own. Trip dowairs took me awhile and I almost gave up before reag the floor, pying with the idea I'll sit here and wait for someoo help me either dire. How I hate spiral staircases! I thought clutg the railing as if my life depended on it. Because as far as was ed, it did. My head inning. I didn't see them but I never found them safe to walk on. Oep closer to the more narrow side of them and I'll break my nebsp;  I finally made it all the way to what I hoped was a ground-floor. I am not stepping on such stairs again! I heard Jasper and some woman's voice. "Good m Jasper, we prepared breakfast for the girl. How is she?" said that woman. "I let her sleep, but she seems better. By the way, her name is Annabell." Answered Jasper.

  Feeling a pang of pain in my heart I slowly made my way towards the voices. "How do you know her?" Asked Jasper, not sounding too friendly. "That's quite a long story..." Started Peter as I finally got to the doorway of the room they all were in. Jasper stht in front of me but must have been fag an opposite dire because there was no sign of him notig me. "I am sure, our little devil over there would like to tell it herself." Finished Peter, pointing out my presenbsp;

  "How...?" I heard Jasper's shocked, unfinished questioer ughed. "Well, you should learn to listen out for her heartbeat. Or she'll sneak around you without you even notig." He was expining, unaware, that it isn't correymore. "She learo ceal her presence just as a kid. And I see you perfected it even further, dear." I felt satisfa. Then I sensed Jasper turn away again so I moved closer to him. I missed his gentle hands when I woke up. However he whispered, nearly hissed at Peter and probably was uhe impression I 't hear him. "Annabell isn't ours." That pissed me off. I put a hand on his arm to get his attention. I felt him twitch a little as he obviously had no idea I ged my position. "I am mine." I said, trying to imitate his too let him know I heard what he said, that I don't like the way he was talking to Peter and that I have pletely different opinion oter.

  He didn't say anything, nor moved so I smiled to reassure him, I am not that angry and then shifted my attention to the two at the other side of the room. "I heard something about breakfast, Pete. I'm starving." I tried to find the table and when I did, it was easy to find a chair, so I sat down. With a pleading expression I asked, " I eat it here, please. I don't think I'd make it back to that room." I'm not stepping on those stairs again! "Who in the world came up with a spiral staircase? It makes me dizzy and I feel like falling." I pined.

  "Of course you eat here, hon." Said the woman. And sat something oable in front of me. I found peared to be a toast and a gss on a tray. I took a bite. "Mmh, yum, my favorite! You remembered? Thank you." It was a french toast, one of the best things you have for breakfast and there was e jui the gss. I was so happy. "How could I fet, sweetie?" Said Peter most certainly smiling.  Jasper still didn't move. I turo him and tried to find another chair. But before I reached it, his hand found mine a beside me. "Well since, in spite of that you didn't bother to keep in touch, your memory seems to be fine, Pete, I have no obje to you telling the story." I reassuringly squeezed Jasper's hand and hoped it calms him, then I got bay delicious breakfast.

  Peter told them the story of our first enter with each other. I had to smile, remembering how hard it was to vince him, that I wasn't lost and that I am not afraid of him. As well as how he almost got beaten by Chris. "Guess history tends to repeat itself..."  "...When we cleared that, old Chris let me in on her little training..." Training... resonated in my mind. Suddenly I couldn't breath. "He trained you well, but it won't help you, just like it didn't help him." No! No! No! I felt my blood freeze in my veins. "That... 't be..." Did mom know that? She told me he died because he was old. I always found it strange as even at our st training he seemed strong and full of life. He... murdered Chris... and mom k. Now he's after me. That realization shook with the core of my being. Chris was a vampire, he wouldn't die just like that. How... did I fet that? I vaguely noticed a pair of hands pullio a gentle embrace. There were wetting to my mind like through a thick fog. "Annabell... please... what's wrong?" But I couldn't prehend their meaning nor find my voice to try and respond.

  I felt like I was floating and then I realized I'm aloh Jasper again. Keeping a gentle, yet tight hold of my trembling body, he was rog me on his p as if calming a child. I subsciously k should be impossible but his embrace felt warm. Snuggling against him I found my voice at the same time my tears started to wet my cheeks. "That monster murdered Chris. I knew he didn't die of old age. He was a vampire too, he wouldn't die. She lied to me! And now he's after me..."

  Even with Jasper's help it took me quite a while to calm down. Then I made a decision. He must die. We were in unison on this. "Even if I have to kill him myself, he's gonna die." I liked the resolution in my voice. I k was only thanks to Jasper.

  "That's not gonna be necessary, angel. But yes, he will die." I was his grateful to have anyone by my side. And I k's only because that somebody is Jasper. Suddenly I didn't know what to do with myself. How to express what I felt. Even though he could feel it too. I was overe with a suddeo put it into something more physical. I reached for his head, put my hands on each side of his fad pressed my lips against his.

  Immediately I felt the fire of desire run through my body, its fmes ing me when Jasper responded just as passionately. He deepened our kiss and his hands traveled ay body, pressing me even mainst his firm muscur body. It felt like it was the most natural thing to do. "Ah, Jasper..." Escaped my lips when he gave me a ce to breathe.