The Gambler

The serum

I woke with a start, swinging my arms in a frantic flail, trying to combat the vampire that was attacking me.

A pair of strong arms wrapped around me and I calmed instantly.

It was just a dream.

"Dream" I gasped for air and opened my eyes, coming face to face with a concerned Grayson.

He sighed and laid back down, releasing me.

"You freaked me out" he muttered and I sat up. "I'm sorry- wait you're still here?"

I looked at the clock and felt like crying when I saw that it was 4 am.

School was in 3 hours.

"Yeah of course I stayed" he grabbed my hand and pulled me back down to him.

"Go back to sleep" he muttered and I nodded, slowly drifting off once again in his arms.

•••••

"How was school" tyler sounded agitated as I got in the car.

I avoided eye contact with him and he stared straight ahead.

"Oh it was ok. I'd rather be with you" and that wasn't a lie, for your information. I would be much happier hanging out with tyler than being at school. Even Grayson stopped going. He went for a few weeks and then stopped all together.

He began driving slowly.

"I'll take you home?" he finally looked at me and I shrugged.

" I figured we could go hangout, anywhere really-"

"Today isn't a good day" he grumbled, coming to a stop at a stoplight.

"Why not?" I was slightly disappointed. I didn't want to go home and face Erica and my mother.

He looked over at me and his eyes softened.

"Well I suppose you can come over. But I have things to take care of later so you'll have to leave soon."

Interest filled me at how serious he sounded. Could it be vampire stuff?

"What kind of things?" I encouraged him to speak and he laughed at my curiosity.

"Elizabeth" the seriousness entered his voice again and I felt afraid quickly.

"You should understand that I'm leader of a very powerful and large er well pack I suppose. And I have to keep everyone in order. When things go wrong I have to remind them all that I'm in charge. I have somebody that has done wrong therefore I have to take care of it and that's not something I want you to see"

He cleared his throat awkwardly and shifted his hands on the steering wheel.

I nodded silently and fiddled with my hands.

After a few minutes we arrived and he opened the door for me, leading me towards the house.

When I entered I was greeted by people here and there, certainly more than I'd ever seen here at once. It's weird how once everyone has returned this place comes to life.

My eyes instantly scanned the room for Grayson, when I found him I couldn't help but smile. He was holding a little girl in the air by her feet, she was laughing hysterically and he smirked at her.

"Grayson!" a women's high pitched shriek filled the air and he let the girl go, sitting her on the floor.

"Oh my" tyler breathed tiredly and sighed.

" I wish they weren't here" he mumbled. I looked up at him and he eyed the women, little girl and Grayson.

"What is it?" He ignored me and began walking forward, I reached for his arm but he turned to me quickly.