As the first rays of the sun broke over the horizon, Devon parked his car next to Chris's beat up Mustang. Compared to Devon's sleek new Challenger, the old Mustang looked more decrepit. He huddled into his jacket as he made his way toward the apartment building.

Punching in his security code, he pulled the heavy glass door open. He welcomed the blast of heat that warmed his frozen extremities as he made his way down the hushed hall. Most people were still asleep, though the scent of brewing coffee was beginning to fill the air. Leaping up the steps, he jogged to the third floor and turned down the hallway.

Reaching his apartment, he pulled down the spare key he kept above the door and slipped it into the lock. He was exhausted; all he craved was a warm shower and a few minutes of sleep before he had to drag himself into the ridiculous institution of high school once more. Thrusting open the door, the first thing he noticed were the loud snores coming from Chris. He was sprawled face down on the couch, drooling into the pillow he had grabbed from the bedroom.

Devon shook his head as he noiselessly closed the door. Chris had made himself at home. There were fast food wrappers on the coffee table, a couple cans of soda, and the TV was on. Though the furniture was all sleek, modern and expensive, none of it was his. The apartment had come fully furnished, something that was reflected in the high rent prices.

Not like he cared, money wasn’t an issue for him. That was one of the benefits of having lived centuries with little care for human life. He placed the spare key on the table beside the door. Shrugging off his jacket, he headed down the hall to the master bedroom. The room was large with a massive California King size bed jutting into the middle of it. The paintings on the walls were seascapes with boats and lighthouses, they also weren't his. Tossing his jacket on the bed, Devon pulled his shirt off as he made his way into the bathroom. It was large with a big jacuzzi tub, his and hers sinks, and a separate shower stall. Though it looked inviting, he had never used the tub.

Turning the shower on, he set the temperature for as hot as he could stand it before stepping inside. The stinging rays felt good on his sore back and taut shoulders. A night in the car had left him cramped and sore, but it had been worth it to make sure Cassie stayed safe. He stayed in the shower until the hot water ran out. When it finally turned cold he stepped out, toweled off and dressed quickly.

Chris was sitting on the edge of the sofa, his head in his hands as he stared at the floor, when Devon returned. "Rough night?"

His eyes were a little bloodshot as he looked up at Devon. "I've had worse. Nice place you have here."

"Not my stuff. You could have slept in the guest room."

Chris shook his head. "Prefer the couch. Everything ok?"

"Yeah, she stayed put, didn't get much sleep, but she's there."

"Doesn't look like you got much sleep either."

Devon ran a hand through his damp hair. "No."

Chris tossed aside the blanket as he rose and stretched his back. "Thanks for letting me crash here."

"Anytime."

"You going to school today?"

Devon hesitated before nodding. He hated going to that place, it was boring, and the people were cruel and vindictive. But he wanted to see Cassie, and although he knew he wasn't welcome around her, he felt she would need him in order to get through the day. "Yeah, I'll be there."

Chris handed the key back to him but Devon shook his head. "Keep it in case you need someplace to stay again."

Surprise flickered through his eyes before he shrugged and slipped the key back in his pocket. "You know, you're not half bad for a dead guy."

Devon snorted. "Good to know."

Chris laughed as he grabbed his letterman jacket off the back of the couch. "See you later."

"Yeah."

Pausing at the door, Chris glanced back at him. "You know, if I were you, I would use that little gift you have for attracting women. Jealousy can be a big motivator."

"You can't be serious."

"Something has to get through to her, but don't you ever tell her I suggested it," Chris told him.

"Apparently we're going to have many secrets."

Chris laughed as he nodded enthusiastically. "I don't want her to kill me when she finally comes back to her senses. So yep, we are."

Devon couldn't help but chuckle along with him. Chris's eyes were still twinkling as he slipped out the door. Devon clicked off the TV before heading back to the bedroom where he plopped onto the luxurious mattress he had spent few nights in. Though he required sleep, he knew he wouldn't be able to get any just yet. Sliding open the drawer of the nightstand he pulled out one of the books he had borrowed from Luther.

Flipping through the old, worn pages, he ignored its musty smell as he skimmed through the detailed history of The Hunters who had existed for the latter half of the sixteenth century. It was boring, tiring, and of little use as each of them had possessed an ability. He flipped through the pages of the next book as he searched for notes on a Hunter like Cassie, one who didn't possess any ability. He was almost halfway through it when exhaustion claimed him.

* * *

Cassie moved mechanically through the hall. Her legs felt like wooden blocks; her shoulders throbbed from being locked in place. Her hand drifted to the sunglasses perched on her nose. The large lenses helped to block out the harsh fluorescent light filtering through the halls. It had rarely bothered her before, but now it constantly burned her irises and nearly blinded her with its brilliance. She chalked the strange effect up to exhaustion.

Everyone stopped to stare at her as she moved past, but their whispered comments weren't as loud as they had been before the death of her grandmother. Apparently, the loss of a family member was enough to bring her a reprieve from the cruelty of her classmates. She wasn't fooled into thinking it would last long. She would probably become the center of attention again, once the gossip about the destruction of the school bathroom, and hallway, during the homecoming dance became old news.

Stopping at her locker, her fingers spun through the combo with little thought to the numbers. Melissa stopped beside her and leaned against the lockers as she waited for Cassie. She had a feeling either Chris or Melissa was going to be with her every second of this miserable day.

Her skinned crawled as she pulled the locker door open. Grabbing her books she slammed the locker closed. She didn't need a babysitter, and she sure as hell didn't require one. She tugged the hood of her black sweater more firmly around her face.

Keeping her head down she slipped into homeroom, relief filled her when she realized Devon wasn't there. His car hadn't been in the parking lot either. She was glad he wasn't here and she wouldn't have to deal with him on top of everything else, but she couldn't help but wonder where he was and what he was doing.

Her hands fisted on her desk as the brief thought of who he was with tore through her mind. He had claimed to love her, but he was a man after all, sort of, and he had been dumped. She knew he would find someone else soon enough. She tried to tell herself the thought didn't bother her, but it did. No matter how much she tried to deny that, she couldn't.

The morning announcements droned on, but she paid them little mind. Everything seemed so surreal now. Just last week she had been sitting at this same desk with dreams, hope, and love. She had been looking forward to the Homecoming dance simply for the chance to dance in Devon's arms.

Now, just a few short days later, she was sitting here with nothing. No hopes, no dreams, no love. Her grandmother, the one person who had always been there for her, caring for her, loving her, was gone. And she had taken everything Cassie was with her. Cassie was surprised her heart continued to beat in her chest considering how dead she felt inside. How did the world continue to spin? Didn't everyone else know they were supposed to stop? Didn't they know they were supposed to recognize her loss, and acknowledge it by being as miserable as she was?

Her name being called drew her attention to the front of the class. "Here," she mumbled.

Ducking her head once more, she idly played with her pencil as she tapped it against the desk. She felt stuck, trapped in a life she didn't care for anymore. She had no idea why she was here, what did school matter when she didn't have that many years left? It had simply been habit that had forced her out of bed and here this morning. Habit and she had nothing better to do with her day.

Julian and Isla would be hidden away, avoiding the daylight. She couldn't hunt them when they weren't around to be hunted, and if she simply sat at home she would go absolutely insane. She had to be doing something, and no matter how pointless school was now, it was far better than sitting on her ass doing nothing all day.

A ripple in the classroom caused her to bow her head further. He may have been late, but she knew immediately Devon had arrived. She could sense him as he made his way toward the only empty desk in the room, the one diagonally across from her. Cassie's nails dug into her palm.

She could feel the energy rippling off of him, the power he emitted in waves. The waves caused her skin to heat as her heartbeat picked up. She hated the way he made her feel, hated that she always reacted to him, no matter how hard she tried not to. It was just purely a physical thing, she told herself ardently. She didn’t love him anymore; he was the reason her grandmother was dead. She hated him!

The pencil in her hand cracked loudly in the still classroom. She felt the heads turning toward her but she ignored them. Gathering her things, she rose hastily, not caring that the bell hadn't rung yet. No one stopped her as she hurried from the classroom, but she did hear a chair skid back, and she knew Melissa was following behind her.

She shoved the door of the girl's bathroom open. It crashed against the wall with a resounding thud. Slamming her books on top of the counter by the sink, she spun toward Melissa as she entered. "I don't need a damn watch dog!" she exploded.

Melissa folded her arms over her chest as she leaned against the wall. Her onyx eyes were relentless as she studied Cassie; her black hair fell around her shoulders in silky waves to the middle of her back. "Maybe not, but you're going to have one."

Cassie fought the urge to rip the sink from the wall, something she could actually do giving the mood she was in. She settled for just gripping the sink tight as she took gulping breaths of air and tried to calm her racing heart and shaking body. How on earth was she ever going to survive this? She wasn't, that was how.

Turning the cold water on, Cassie slipped her glasses off and splashed her face in the hopes of reviving herself a little. She turned the water off and lifted her head to look in the mirror. Hands fisting, Cassie had to fight the urge to smash her fist into it to destroy the image she hated so much.

Blinking rapidly, she lifted her glasses from the sink, and slipped them back on. The dark lenses eased the burning in her eyes, but every part of her body ached lately. She didn't know what was wrong with her, well except for the obvious. Shuddering, she grabbed hold of her books as she strove to ignore the bone deep, aching chill that had become a constant part of her.

"No one would blame you if you went home," Melissa told her. Cassie shook her head and pulled her hood closer around her face. It didn't make her invisible, but she hoped it helped to hide her at least a little. "Cassie..."

She sidestepped Melissa and pulled the door open. Blending into the masses, she made her way down the hall with Melissa close on her heels. She slipped into her next class, and was relieved when Melissa didn't attempt to start taking Calculus with her.

It was a lengthy, tortuous day. She felt like she was walking through quicksand as she roamed the halls. Cassie limply slid into her seat at lunch. Folding her arms over her chest, she kept her head down and avoided eye contact with anyone else.

"Would you like me to get you some lunch?" She shook her head in response to Chris's question. "You have to eat."

She shot him a dark look. He stared back at her. "I'm fine," she grumbled.

He shook his head and shoved his tray aside in frustration. Loud laughter drew Cassie's attention to the other side of the cafeteria. Marcy and her group of followers were gathered around one of the back tables, laughing and talking eagerly. Cassie watched them, confused and fascinated by their behavior. Then, they broke apart enough to reveal an opening in the table they’d swarmed.

Cassie's heart lurched and her hands fisted. Devon was in the center of the group, sitting casually in the chair with his long legs stretched before him. He was leaning back against the table, his arm rested on it as he flashed a beautiful, heart stopping grin at Kara. His black hair fell around his magnificent face and illuminated the dazzling emerald color of his eyes. Eyes she could see in vivid detail, even from her position of fifty feet away. No matter how much she didn't want to see him, she still couldn't help but admire how gorgeous he was.

Kara fluttered her lashes at him and practically fell over herself as she leaned forward. Devon shifted toward her and brushed his finger briefly over the back of her hand.

Cassie's chest constricted, rage rushed up in forceful waves that threatened to consume her. Unable to breathe, a fierce shudder began to work its way through her body. Her vision blurred with the red haze suddenly suffusing everything around her. "Cassie," Chris breathed.

She turned toward him as she struggled to keep control of the volatile emotions crashing through her. Chris scanned her face; a small tremor worked its way through him. He reached toward her with a quivering hand.

Cassie threw her arm up to knock his hand aside. Shoving the chair backward it skittered out from under her and slammed into the back of another one. She didn't stop to apologize; she didn't look back at Chris or grab her books. Moving quickly through the cafeteria, she navigated the sea of bodies with ease, mainly because they scattered to get out of her way.

Melissa was coming toward her as she moved past the gawking students. Melissa didn't miss a beat as she turned on her heel and followed Cassie out of the school.