Vampires Rule // Colby Brock

|~35~|

"Certainly one way to say hi." I laugh nervously, kiss him again for barely a second, then take his hand. He smirks at me and bends down some to whisper into my ear. Even though he's so close, I can only just about hear him.

"I can smell it when you feel like that." My cheeks heat up instantly and my body almost shuts down. I feel my heart racing way too fast and my knees getting weak. "And so can they." He adds, nodding his head to the garage. My cheeks inflame even more.

"I hate you." He grins and walks away, leaving me there against the counter needing . . . something. I lean my head back against the wall, sighing. "You're so paying for this." I mumble, hoping he'll hear it.

Just as I go to face the hoard of evil, teasing vampires, I notice movement in the corner of my eye. Then I hear Tara's clunky boots' footsteps. She and Jake are smiling pretty widely until she sees me, and the smile gets wider. Jake speeds passed me while she runs forward.

"We're okay!" She tells me excitedly. "And now my boyfriend's a vampire."

"Yeah? Mine's a little bitch who's gonna die if he's not careful!" My voice raises towards the end and I hear some laughing from the garage. Tara looks at me curiously.

"What did he— actually, where is said boyfriend?" What Tara's been talking about all day flashes in my mind.

"Garage." Since Tara almost runs, I move quickly to follow. I get there just in time to see her suddenly forcibly wrap her arms around him. The expression on his face is a mixture of uncomfortable, confused, uncomfortable, and confused. I laugh uncontrollably, covering my mouth so that it's not too loud. "That's fucking priceless." I say as Tara pulls back.

"It's just a hug, Colby. You'll survive." She jokes, sitting down on Jake's lap. By the look on his face, I figure that he knows what's just happened. Everyone else is clueless, though, just like Colby himself.

"What for?" Kevin questions, looking between Tara and I curiously. Uh oh. She's going to tell them because she has no filter. And now it's become a little embarrassing to me too. I sit down as Tara opens her mouth to speak.

"She finally believes in love because of him." Tara answers. My cheeks instantly get hot. "Isn't That right, Lydia?" I glare at her while she just grins back.

"I guess that kind of explains the hug." Sam chuckles. I notice that he and Kat are particularly close today . . . and then I see the small bite mark on her neck. Oh. Well . . . I wonder if Colby's going to expect me to let him feed on me one day. It felt horrible when those other vampires—including Annalise—bit me so I don't see how it could be any different just because he's my boyfriend or because I allow it.

I'm so distracted that I don't hear anyone speaking to me until my shoulder is gently nudged. I glance at Colby, who nods towards Corey and Devyn. When I look at them, I realise it's just Devyn trying to get my attention.

"Sorry. I just wanted to know . . . um . . . actually, can we talk upstairs?" Her eyes flick around the room of vampires who can hear us. I slowly nod, following her out of the garage then up into her bedroom. Her and Corey's actually, and it's absolutely massive. We sit down on her bed. "Have you and Colby . . . you know, yet?"

"Have we . . . ?"

"Slept together?" My mouth opens then snaps shut again. I decide to shake my head in case it's not just the word no that comes out. "I just want to say something. It'll be really intense the first time, trust me. But it's also absolutely amazing. The second time it happens, you'll probably get used to it and the third will also be fine."

"What do you mean by intense?" I ask in confusion.

"Well, you'll build an emotional connection like no other before. If you think you're in love now, just wait. Then you'll be so far in you won't be able to get out." She smiles, taking my hand gently in hers. "And I know you had a bad experience with some vampire bites but I promise you, if you let Colby feed on you, it'll be nothing like that."

"I . . . I'm just not comfortable."

"I'm just putting in a good word." Devyn smiles, pointing to her neck. "I've been letting Corey feed on me for a very long time and it's never really hurt. Maybe the first time, a tiny bit, but it's sort of like losing your virginity. Hurts then the pain is gone. I don't want to spoil too much for you." She grins and stands up, holding out a hand.

"Well, thanks I guess." I awkwardly smile and stand without her help but take her hand after. She pulls me back out of the room and down the stairs. Strangely enough, I feel a little bit better about the idea of both of those things now, but it's going to take a lot to convince me to let Colby bite me.

After a good few hours in the garage, I'm exhausted. I need a long sleep. I'm literally falling asleep where I somewhat lie on Colby; my head on his chest, his arm around me. It's hard not to fall asleep when I'm with him like that. But I bring myself back and I get up to leave.

The moment I sit down on Colby's bed, I feel something rush right through me. It's a mixture of energy and exhaustion. The light flickers above my head then something flies out of the closet and lands in my hand. As if I've summoned it. I stare down at the shirt I was wearing when I encountered Annalise the first time and those black eyes of hers flash through my head.

It takes a moment for me to repress that memory. I don't want to think about it. Those eyes still scare me a little and no matter how many times I remind myself that Colby has them and that he's not a threat, I remember the bites. What a fucked up situation.

Wait . . . I just made something fly to me by accident. My eyes flick up to the closet and my eyebrows furrow slightly. I stare at the door, willing it to close. As stupid as it sounds, I want to know how this witch thing works since no one's able to explain it to me. The more I stare, the more I begin to feel this surge of power through my bones. Until finally, the door slams shut.

I did it. I used my power.

Tom (you will find out who he is soon enough)
"She's getting her power." Annalise growls as she throws a table across the room. It shatters into a million pieces, falling to the floor. I lower my hand from her head, stopping the vision.

"She hasn't been taught like I have, An. She'll be no match for us." I reassure her as I place my hand on her shoulder but she bats me away and stands, pacing back and forth in front of me.

"Don't you see?! Something will happen, I can feel it in my bones."

"You're the most powerful vampire out there right now. Why don't you just kill her?" I ask in exasperation. All of our problems would go away if she just died. Or if Annalise just forgot about her, but that won't happen.

"She needs to know the truth first. She's powerful too, and you know that. She could become your coven. It's almost destined anyway." I give her a look and she rolls her eyes. "You know I love you, Tom, but you must understand that I need you for your abilities too. And you two together . . . no one would stand a chance."

"Your plan will not work if you keep going after her friends. Get her back here, tell her the truth, and maybe she'll join on her own freewill."

An just shakes her head. "Colby is her soulmate. She won't leave him for us."

"Take him out of the picture." I suggest. Annalise stops and stares at me with a small frown on her face.

"You mean kill him?" She asks almost silently.

"Yes. You'll have to weaken him a little first and his friends are the way to do that."

"Pick off his friends . . . he'll become easily vulnerable. Yes, yes! See! This is why I love you." She gives me a kiss on the cheek then flops down on our bed. I smile to myself, looking at her.

"I know, An, I know."