Coveted [New/Revised Version]

DADDY DEAREST KNOWS BEST

     "Wait!" Sky hurried up the hall after his brother. He caught Valentine as he stopped to don his jacket and get his keys. "What about the girl?"

"Iris?" asked Valentine.

"Yes. Her."

"What about her?" He shrugged out of Sky's grip and into his jacket. "She just needs a ride home. The last I checked you own a car too. See where I'm going with this?"

"Yeah," Sky waved that away impatiently. "But I wasn't the one who brought her here. Why'd you do that again? All that did was cause trouble."

"I had a plan that was working fine until you guys showed up."

"What? Dine and ditch?"

"Nice," Valentine grunted. "Just give her the ride."

"I'm not cleaning up your mess this time."

Valentine arched his eyebrows in amusement. "Don't tell me you're afraid of a teenage girl."

He stiffened and stared cheekily at Valentine. "I'm not."

"Hm. You have faced worse under more distressed circumstances." He agreed. "You should get her back home soon. She does have a family who'll notice if she doesn't show up for dinner."

"Now, why didn't that lovely thought cross your mind weeks ago?" Sky shot back.

Valentine looked daggers at him. Squealing tires outside interrupted whatever he was getting ready to say. He turned sharply on his heel and rushed out the front door. Sky stared after his departing brother in disbelief. He could not believe he actually left him to drive Iris home.

He banged his head against the door then let his forehead rest against the cool wood. Valentine was impossible at times and there was so much Sky wanted to tell his little brother this very minute. His mind trekked back to their arrangement. One year, he'd promised. No matter how small, Sky never went back on promises.

Even if he did inform Valentine, there was nothing to do about it now. The whole purpose of taking this break was to provide some stability in his younger brother's life. He might be a vampire but he was still a kid. Kids needed to grow and Sky didn't want to force his brother to grow up any faster. The toll of their parents' execution was enough.

Besides, there was still the Zairian matter at hand.

No vampire trespassed on Jayden territory. Of course, killing Zairian wasn't his first option. However, from the dodgy way Aaron said he'd "see about" setting up a face-to-face had Sky skeptical. It was a long shot to begin with. He lived long enough to know that probably wouldn't work with this Zairian character.

There was something in this town he wanted. Leaving simply because Sky asked nicely was unlikely. Vampires were stubborn by nature. Some couldn't help it. The medieval kinds were an especially real pain in the ass.

Sky took a breath and closed his eyes. He realized much too late how horrible of an idea that was. Memories of his earlier ordeal flashed in his mind. Sky's eyes were open but the damage was already done. His body still ached and his brain flooded with images, smells, sensations.

A distinct ringing sounded in Sky's ears as he regained consciousness. His vision was bleary at first but then it started clearing and he found Chantelle squatting down in front of him. A pinprick's pressure throbbed in his gums. He wasn't sure if he was hungry or merely vying for her blood. It didn't matter. Frailty prevented him from baring his fangs.