• The streets were crowded like every Halloween night. Children traveled from house to house and their parents were not far behind. Teenager drove to their parties. Everyone seemed to have plans or events to go to, well everyone but Lily True. She was always left out of events such as those. No one ever talked her. She was the “Goth Freak That Talked to ghosts and Believe in creatures of the night”. The people at her school thought she was the local witch and would curse them if they got to close.
    Lily didn’t care. She like being left alone, not being messed with like the other outcasts in the school. No she adored the fact no one would bother her, she could do anything and the others wouldn’t notice. Today was one of her favorite days. Halloween was the best time of the year and this year she planned on trespassing on the private but long forgotten grounds of Maxwell Mansion. Legend says that long ago the mansion was the home of a powerful family. The Maxwell family was said to be murdered in the home but a jealous merchant. The only one to survive was the middle son Taylor, whom committed suicide the following week on the night of halos eve. The legend said that if you go to the mansion you will be murdered by the jealous merchant and your last dying breathe you’ll see Taylor hanging by his neck from the banister.
    Lily couldn’t wait to go. She picked out a new dress for the occasion. It was long and black. The mid section was cut out and replaced by fishnet so it looked like it was a skirt and shirt combo. The sleeves flared out and tied up the arm. Lily decided she was going to wear her favorite bat buckled combat boot with her dress and finish with her bullet bangles. She looked like a bad Hollywood vampire…well without the vampire teeth she thought it would be offensive to mimic her vampire idols.
    She strolled down the street imagining what Taylor would look like. Many said he was a tall red hair Adonis, and others said he was like a god. He sounds gorgeous what ever he was. She veered a left and hopped the gate. Now many would think hopping the gate was easy but it wasn’t, that gate was taller the actual mansion. After her run in with gate Lily continued up the dirt road to the massive house Taylor once called home.
    Lily admired the beautiful trees surrounding the land and the animals that claim the land as theirs. She laughed. The land was so pretty and she was never one for pretty things. She was always about the dark and black. Now this garden that was cluttered in roses and tulips made her smile and laugh. Still she continued to walk towards the house.
    When Lily arrived at the front door she decided to look around the living room first. She turned the handle not bothering to wonder why it was unlocked. Instead she did what she planned to do. Explore the living room, which was covered in cobwebs and dust. Everything was cover in it. She could make out red stains in the walls and flooring. It must be the blood from the Maxwell’s Lily thought.
    -Crash- something fell upstairs, then footsteps. Lily smiled. She was about to see the ghost of Maxwell mansion she was so unbelievably happy. She scurried up the stairs and searched for the sounds.

    Taylor could smell the human blood in the air. So sweet and so young the human must be. It had been years since he’d smelled something so delectable. He took a step forward trying to get a better whiff and knocked over a lamp. He quickly scurried backwards. Then he heard footsteps scurrying up the steps. He wrapped the shadows around him. The footsteps stopped in front of his bedroom door. A gasp echoed through the scarce room. A feminine gasp he realized. She traveled from one side of the room to the other touching every piece of art he managed to collect over the years.
    “So beautiful” the girl whispered to herself.
    Taylor sucked in a breathe. Gods she was beautiful. Her strange blue highlighted hair complimented her entire. Those silver eyes hypnotized his.
    “Please don’t be afraid to come out and talk to me that’s why I’m here.” She shouted.
    Taylor was confused. No one even knew he was still here. Well not living that is but here none the less.
    “How do you know I’m here?” Taylor inquired.
    “I heard the tale of this home and wanted to come and speak with the spirits here,” she answered.
    She thought he was a ghost. The thought entertained him. Ghosts are such a lowly creature in the night world.
    “What do you mean you heard the tale of this house?”
    “I heard that they family hear was murdered, and one of the sons committed suicide.”
    Taylor chuckled. The little Goth girl in front of him was completely wrong. Yes his family was dead but they weren’t murdered. No they were born dead or undead. The specifics were a little cloudy, but beside the point. Instead of correcting her, he decided to just go along with it. Besides she didn’t need to know about his past and history.

    Lily heart was beating so hard that she swore she could see it come out of her chest. Her mind was spinning, trying to compute the events which were currently happening. A ghost, an actual ghost, She was so ecstatic.
    “Are you the boy who killed himself?” she asked without thinking.
    “That’s a little personal don’t you think?” the low smoky voice replied.
    She didn’t say anything she was afraid she would say something stupid. Instead she looked around the room. It was a large room a few paintings and sculpture here and there but besides that it was pretty bare. Dust covered the floor and the paint was chipping off the walls. The windows were clouded by a layer of grim and black curtains lined the frame. The only thing that wasn’t covered by dust was the bed. She took a seat next to the down pillow.
    “Sorry that isn’t any of my business.” She apologized.
    There was a moment of silence. Then the spirit spoke again.
    “Why aren’t you out having a good time like the other humans?” it asked.
    Lily smiled and replied with a giggle.
    “I’d rather come here…besides I rather like being alone. I love that they leave me be. Heck, the whole schools afraid I’ll curse them anyway.”
    “Why’s that?” it asked.
    Lily played with a curl in her charcoal black hair. She evaded her eyes and stared at the ground. She didn’t answer. The one thing she hated was they all thought she was a witch, it was insulting. She heard the spirit sigh.
    “I’m going to come out of hiding,” the voice said, “but no screaming, you got it?”
    Lily nodded. Her eyes grew wide with shock and surprise. A boy her age stepped away from the shadows. He was tall, and lean. He oozed beauty from every pore of his body. His hair was a crimson red, and his silver blue eyes were deep as the ocean. He wore a Black tee with a fishnet long sleeve underneath. His jeans were also black but they had neon green trim along the seams and chains connected from one belt loop to the opposite leg. It was the other side. He wore the same type of boot as she did too. Lily realized he wasn’t a spirit and almost screamed but decided against it. Instead she inched off the bed and slowly made her way to the door. He tilted his head to one side like he was trying to figure out what she was up to. He must have realized she was trying to make a break for it.
    “Please don’t run I’d rather not hunt you down. It’s a waste of time and I don’t have much of that right now.” He said calmly.
    Lily froze. What did he mean but hurt her down. She should be scared out of her mind but she wasn’t. Strangely enough she was excited by the guy standing across from her.
    He turned his head, almost as if he couldn’t keep eye contact with her. There was a large moment of silence. The only sounds were the children echoes from father into town. The boy looked at her again. This time his hypnotic eyes seemed hungry. He licked his bottom lip. Lily face flushed a bright red. She didn’t know why she reacted that way nor did she care to find out.
    “You don’t seem scared…why?” he asked in a raspy voice. “Every other person that came here screamed and ran off. Then again that was centuries ago and back then they were a little more susceptible, but that’s beside that point.”
    Lily didn’t know what to say. She kinda just stayed silent, and tried to make sense of her current situation. She also was trying to figure out why she had the sudden urge to kiss those silken lips of his. This time he blushed. Why was he blushing?

    Taylor face seemed to be on fire. She was thinking about kissing him. That wasn’t something he was use to. Then again she didn’t know he was a vampire. She thought he was another kid that came here for Halloween. All he could do was stare into her starry eyes. They were gorgeous. He slowly took a step forward. He didn’t want to scare her again. She stayed put.
    “Since you won’t answer my questions maybe you can at least tell me your name?” he said in a low commanding voice.
    She sucked in a breathe and answered.
    “Lily…Lily True,” she said in a soft whisper.
    “Lily? It suits you. Something as beautiful as you should have beautiful name to match.” Taylor smiled.
    He took a few more steps towards her. He stopped when they were face to face or in this case face to shoulder. He reached her hand and brought it to his lips.
    “It’s a pleasure to have you in my home, Lily,” Taylor kissed the back of her hand.
    He leaned over to whisper something in her ear.

    Lily’s heart was beating a thousand miles per hour. When his lips brushed the side of her ear she nearly came out of her skin.
    “My name’s Taylor Maxwell,” he whispered.
    Lily registered what he said and jerk out his grip. What was this fool trying to play? Did he think she was stupid? She went to slap him but failed when caught her wrist. His nails dug into her wrist. She started to panic when his eyes changed from blue to red. His grip loosened but he raised it to his mouth. Lily tried to yank it from his grip again but nothing happened. She screamed for him to let go but he didn’t listen. Then a stinging pain exploded from her wrist, and then it faded to a warm comfort. She started to feel weak and dizzy. Her legs gave out and she sunk to the ground. The boy followed. Her eye lids grew heavier and heavier, until she couldn’t fight it anymore. The world went black.

    It took every sense of will power Taylor had to pull away from lily’s wrist. Her unconscious body leaned against his. Oh gods what have I done? Taylor thought.
    He picked up the girl and placed her in his bed. He rushed down stairs and got a wet cloth from the kitchen. He wasn’t going to let this one die like the others. This time will be different.

    Lily woke up with a terrible headache and a major dizzy feeling that spread through out her whole body. She turned her head to the left and squinted. Taylor was in one over chairs near the door. He seemed troubled. He rested his head against the wall and closed his eyes. Lily tried to sit up but her stomach churned and demanded sit lay right back down or loose the contents in her stomach.
    “Don’t push yourself,” Taylor warned.
    Lily breath caught in her throat. She whipped her head around a little too fast. Her head spun. She fell back against the pillow and closed her eyes again. A few moments later she opened them again. Taylor was right there. He rang out a wet rag and place on her forehead. The cool cloth felt good against her feverish forehead.
    “Lily?”
    “Hmm?” Lily answered.
    “I’m really sorry for before. I didn’t mean to…I didn’t mean to bite you, I just couldn’t control my hunger.” Taylor apologized.
    Lily giggled. Taylor gave a strange look. Lily’s biggest fantasy was to be bitten by a vampire.
    “Sorry, it’s just I’ve always been in love with vampires. Now I meet one, I’m just kinda giddy, which doesn’t happen a lot.” Lily explained.
    Taylor eyes widened. He seemed on edge. Lily wondered why he was…well a spoil sport all of a sudden.
    “Taylor, can I ask you something?” Lily asked.
    “You just did,” Taylor smiled.
    She notice his smile was fake, just something to hid what was going on in his head.
    “Funny, you know what I meant,” lily glared.
    “Do I now, be nice I shared that with myself,” Taylor joked.
    “Wow you are so… different than all the other guys I’ve met. I mean personality not physical appearance and well nonhuman traits.” Lily stated.

    Taylor felt the sting of jealousy. He knew he had no right to feel jealousy but he just couldn’t help himself. The thought of her with other men seemed to anger him so.
    “What is it? The question you wish to ask.” Taylor managed to ask.
    Lily remained silent. Taylor tilted his head. He was trying to figure her out.
    “If you will not ask your question, perhaps I can ask one of my own.” He said.
    Now Lily was the one tilting her head. Then she nodded.
    “I wish to…make amends for what I have done. I wish to serve you until my guilt is no more,” Taylor pleaded.
    “What?!” Lily screeched.
    Taylor knew he struck a nerve. He knew she’d react this way be he had to try.
    “I almost killed you, al I want is to protected you.” Taylor explained, “Please allow me to do so.”
    “I don’t want to be a slave master, I don’t care how much guilt you feel!” Lily shouted.
    She sat up. His eyes cut into what seemed like his soul.
    “Forgive me; I was out of place asking something like this.” Taylor looked away.
    He could feel her anger radiating off of her.