*Bonus Ch 245: Safety

[For Reference: Continued from Bonus Ch 240. Skip reading, if you want.]

To keep themselves safe, Ian drove to a public lake. Here at the lake, they could camp out for the night. The way the moonlight sparkled off this very high hill before it mirrored into the water was a breathtaking scenery, which made Ian feel slightly coy.

"You can sleep in the back. I'll sleep in the passenger seat," Ian said, smiling at her in the seat.

Lily lightly smiled that he'd offered her the back, however, she felt cold, so she had something else in mind.

"Why don't we both snuggle together in the back," Lily suggested. "It'll be warmer."

"Y-yeah," Ian's tongue knotted, and his complexion flushed shyly. "Ya, if that's what you wanna do."

Lily chuckled at his adorable stammer, so she teased, "I promise, I won't bite."

Ian gauchely chuckled before she opened the door. He took a breather to chill his racing heart. Then he got out and got in the back with her.

Aside from each other, they awkwardly sat together. Still, Ian could hear his heart pounding in his ears. His throat tightened, and his palms were getting sweaty. He didn't understand how Lily had such a powerful effect on his body.

He peeked over at her and saw she put on a sweater, and then she found his eyes.

"Let's sleep," she yawned and stretched. "I'm tired."

Making adjustments, Ian shuffled and then laid down on the seat for Lily to cuddle on his chest to get warmer.

"Ian, your heart is racing like crazy," Lily giggled.

"I-I guess, I'm still nervous about those vampires," he lied.

"Tomorrow will find, Mitchell," Lily confirmed before she yawned. "Mm, goodnight Ian."

Ian breathed again and calmed his raging hormones from the riot, but soon he felt his eyes were heavy.

~~~

"Come to me," a whisper called. "Come to me, son."

Saturday morning, Ian's eyes flicker to a bright glorious morning. Yet, he swore to have heard someone, but he wasn't sure. "Come to me," until the whisper came again.

Ian comprehended it had to be his father calling him. He went to move but hauled when he found something furry over top of his chest. He slanted his chin lower, only to gape his eyes from seeing Lily was in her wolf. She slept so peacefully. Ian couldn't fight that yearning to wanna pet her head. Exceedingly gentle, he stroked her head and ears.

In her sleep, Lily whimpered like a pup. Then her eyes open to see Ian. She sat up and realized she was a wolf when she looked at her hand to discover a paw. So she got off his chest.

Ian sat up as Lily popped and bent her bones back into a human.

She touched her messy hair and apologized. "Sorry, I haven't figured out how to control my wolf."

Ian chuckled, "It's cool."

"We need to find Mitchell," Lily said, stretching her arms as high as she could.

Ian said nothing and nodded in agreement. Then they got in the front seats and then he drove to the park's hiking trails.

Hurling wind picked up, and Lily crossed her arms underneath her ribcage on the outside of her hoodie to keep warmer. Ian was about to wrap his arm over her shoulder, but then above their heads in a tree was a vampire.

Below them, the vampire stood on a thick limb that had very few leaves left on it, he stared at the juveniles. Lily and Ian stood like still water. They didn't move an inch or flinch one muscle. Tension throbbed up their spines with uncertainty and fear.

"Are you looking for Mitchell?" The vampire gently asked since he could sense their fear.

"Y-yes," Ian nervously replied.

"Follow me then," said the vampire before he jumped to the ground, then he started to walk. Quietly, Ian and Lily followed him, till he stopped, and turned his heels their way.

"Do you know how to use your speedy abilities?" He asks them.

"You mean, like run so fast that everything goes blurry?" Ian asked to confirm what he meant, and the vampire faintly gestured a nod.

"I can," Lily replied, and Ian motioned that he could too.

"Good, because these woods go on for miles before we reach the mansion," the vampire stated, then he took off. "Do keep up!"

Just like that, he was gone. Lily and Ian then ran at an increased speed and found him. They hopped, bounced, and swerved the countless trees. Leaves from the season change blew up as they bypassed.

Ahead they saw the vampire dash out of the woods and stopped. Lily and Ian stopped aside from him. Together, they saw this massive mansion was built just beyond the park and hiking trails.

"This way," the vampire instructed with a hand wave before he leaped again.

Lily and Ian do the same, and then they land inside the mansion. They peeked around and found it was an enormous indoor deck. Many vampires and vampiresses, sat around, chatting until they appeared.

Ian and Lily looked at Mitchell, sitting by a beautiful vampiress. A friendly smile formed on her lips.

"Who's this?" she asked, seemingly pleasant.

"The human-raised juveniles I told you about," Mitchell replied to his darling wife. "I told them to find me if they needed blood."

"Well, they certainly look hungry," Mitchell's wife Elizabeth stated.

"And we need help," Lily sweetly blandish. "Vampires are after me, and they wanna detain Ian."

Mitchell half-grinned to remember Lily had quite the attitude with him, but with his wife, she was the sweetest thing and polite.

"I can feed you, but there is nothing more I can do," Mitchell bluffed with a smile, and knew well, he didn't mean what he said.

A slight slam smacked his chest from his wife, as she scolded him. "Of course, they can stay for a while!" Elizabeth stood and went to them. "He's only teasing. You can stay. You'll be safer with us. Once we can clear out those troublemakers, you can be on your way when you're ready."

Mitchell knew by nature, his wife would nurture a baby bird if it fell from its nest. Though, he had full intentions to make sure Lily and Ian were safe. He knew by their scent, he was allies and best friends with their father's clan.

"Yes, I was only joking. Tonight we are having a campfire for the season," Mitchell offered, "You are more than welcome to join in on the fun."

Lily and Ian excitedly nodded, then they went with Elizabeth. She feeds them blood in a cup. Afterward, she introduced the teens to other vamp teens their age.

[Next Chapter is the main storyline.]