A Lovehammer Holiday -complete version

[starcrossed]

A special Thank you to all those that participated in creating the sory. This is the completed work that each of you have helped create. I hope thet you will continue in the sequel "Battle to the End" as well as any new voices.

The original version of this thread can be found as "Create The Story".


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A LOVEHAMMER HOLIDAY

Megan Jones ran through her small and dimly lit apartment on a mission. Her long raven black hair cascading around her face like a restless ocean of black.

"Damn were did I put those car keys?"

Papers flew onto the floor, as she desperately rummaged through a pile of overdue bills and work that she had brought home from her pain in the ass job at the Benson and Jones Law Firm. She liked her job as a paralegal, but the work never ended. Lately, she spent more time bringing work home and less time going out and having a life.

Life? She only remembered what having a life was like. The memory was fading fast....

She had less than an hour to get to battle through traffic and get to the Sheraton Towers and Hotel Chicago. Marty Casey and Lovehammers were going to be performing that night. She would be damned if she were going to miss them tonight on New Year's Eve of all nights. She loved LH!

She was fortunate that the drive wasn't far from her apartment. The drive would take her 45 minutes alone on a regular day to get through traffic. This being a event night for the better part of the parting population she knew traffic would be a real bitch tonight. She just didn't want to miss a moment of Lovehammer bliss. She thought she deserved it, things hadn't been going so great for her lately.

"A few traffic tickets would be worth it" ,she thought to herself contently as she thought of LH rocking hard on stage.

Reality came crashing down, literally as a book that had been balancing precariously at the edge of the desk dropped point edge down into her bare foot.

"Damn it!Ouch! Were are those damn car keys???!!".

She was usually as well organized as a library, but tonight was another matter.

She hated Ted Aston for choosing today to break up with her.

They had only been dating for a few months, but had taken to living with each other after only a few weeks.He was handsome and smart. They shared a few common interests and work ethics.

Everything was apparently going well. Although, she hadn't remembered when Ted had asked her to move in or if she had asked him to move in at all. Just one day he started to bring his things over slowly to her apartment.

Being a lady, or more of a doormat, she never made a peep about the matter.

Ted complained constantly that she spent entirely too much time on-line and doing work for the Lovehammers street team. In the end he told her that she was acting like "a love struck child in love with an image that she could never be a part of" and that it was her "obsession or him".

That was simple. The door hit him squarely in the ass as she throw a box of his stuff over his head into the hall, along with everything else she had thrown out just before his exit.

Jerks!!She had always dated jerks!!Good riddance to Ted.

Hoping ungracefully, she cursed as she wobbled precariously on one black velvet stiletto and tried to put on the other.

"Why did I buy these things?"

She knew that she was clueless in walking in heels, but the salesman at the store had insisted that they made her look hot as hell. She didn't know if that was true, but it sounded great and she charged them onto her credit card.

Spotting something shiny near the foot of her bed, she found her keys.

She grabbed her purse and coat as she ran out the door........

Normally Megan was not a superstitious person ,but today she felt like she needs that extra something...in a car she turned on her favorite radio station...this is it!...MC&LH just started playing their Merry Christmas& Happy New Year! She turned up the volume...slapped the shifter into reverse and without looking back stomped on the accelerator...

Racing out of the apartment underground parking, Megan nearly hit several cars as she exited the building like a bat out of hell. She would normally have been appalled by her lack of respect for others property, but she was carefree and living in the moment.

[starcrossed]

The road conditions were better than she had expected and she took advantage of every side street that she knew of. She needed to get to the freeway, but decided to try to get to the event most of the way on the side streets, then take the slow moving freeway the rest of the way. Megan, couldn't afford to get stuck in traffic.

Taking every short cut that she could, she made way to the freeway. Speed was her lover...and her lover worked over time tonight.

Exiting the freeway, she drove into the entrance for the Sheraton Towers and Hotel Chicago.

She didn't want to waste even a moment longer with parking, so she gave the valet attendant her car keys and tried not to squeal to loudly as she made her way into the hotels entrance.

Adjusting her little black dress , she checked in her coat with a young woman who worked at the hotel. Then followed the crowd of diverse people who were going to the same NYE event as she was. Anticipation built to a feverish pitch as she got closer and closer to the entrance.

She realized the event had already begun as she entered the ........

...big mirrored hall and saw her reflection. "Is that me?" she thought.. The distant thumping of music in her ears gave just a hint of the song playing beyond the closed doors. Her focus narrowed on her own image...staring into her own eyes something was familiar yet different. The image opposite of herself was somehow less confident...less real. It was as if she was playing a role, and thus far her performance was less than stellar...

...She thought she would be able to cover up the pain of the break-up. Ted WAS a JERK after all. Most of her Hammerhead Sisters had men who understood their behavior when it came to the band, but Ted just didn't. He was like a selfish little boy who wanted her all to himself all the time, and he wasn't about to wait around while she worked on behalf of the Lovehammers.

As she gazed at her reflection, she realized, despite her best efforts, the hurt she felt from the break-up was still quite evident in her eyes. Blast it, her eyes always gave her away. She tried to shake it off, checked her lipstick and hair for one last time in the mirror, gave herself a confidence boosting smile, and quickly made her way toward the stage.

While walking through the crowd she heard someone call out her name...

...of all people it was Ted...and he wasn't alone. On his arm walked a woman 10 years Megan's junior...

Megan could hardly contain her rage. Ted didn't even like LH!!! He made her feel like crap for her dedication, and now he stood only a few feet in front of her with Barbie's little sister !!!!

Just before she cloud make her way off to compose herself, Ted walked up to her.

"Hey, it's great to see that your out tonight. I didn't think that..."

"What? You didn't think what Ted? That I wouldn't still go out tonight, even though you dumped me this morning? Don't flatter yourself," contempt dripped off her every word.

Ted replied ever to sweetly," yeah, well I'd like you to meet Candy. Candy works in my office and she invited me last minute to NYE with her. Who would have guess that it would have been this event, huh?"

"Well, lucky you," she gain some control as she finished,"You will excuse me. I have a party to enjoy. Candy do be sure to enjoy yourself, Teddy boy here can't stand LH worth a dime."

Candy looked appalled, "Ted you told me you were into them? That's why you told me you wanted to come with me!"

Megan had a smug expression on her face as she turned and walked away. Ted the jerk had to tell little Candy a line to get her to bring him out with her. Made her feel better.

...Her confidence had been effectively boostered by the fact she had just rained on gentleman Ted's NYE parade. As she worked her way through the rocking crowd, she heard another voice call out her name.

"Hey Megan, we're over here!"

She recognized the voice as Rachel's. Rachel and she had met from time to time in the courthouse, since Rachel worked for another law firm in the city. In the past year they had become the best of friends due to their shared obsession with the Lovehammers. The duo had even scheduled their vacation days to catch the band in different cities and logged several frequent flyer miles in the process. As soon as they got their tickets for the NYE show, the pair hit the malls each day during their lunch hour looking for the perfect outfits to wear for the big event.

Megan made her way through the crowd to find Rachel and her husband. They were located close to the front of the stage...

...as she walked, her vision was lost in a flash of white...."what the..." she mumbled to herself. A man with a large, professional camera stowed his equipment quickly away. Before she could give this guy a lesson in manners, FLASH! ...she was blinded again, but this time from the other side of the isle.
Her anger changed to bewilderment.....it was as if....they were taking pictures......of......Me.

"What the..." Megan was perplexed. Who in the world would want to take picture's of her. LH yes...of course...she was no one. At least in her eyes she was no one.

"Excuse me."

Megan turned to an unfamiliar voice as the flashing continued to go off behind her. a woman in a low cut red dress, was attempting to get closer to the stage. Megan was in her way. With a large push, the woman nearly dropped Megan to the ground.

As Megan attempted to gain her footing, she turned and realized that the man with the camera had disappeared. She looked around frantically. She didn't see him. the man had disappeared as mysteriously as he appeared.

Megan's heart gained a quick pace.Who was that man? What did he want with her picture? Somehow, she knew that this wasn't going to be the end of this. There paths would cross once more.

...It's funny how the world can stop spinning. Crowds scurrying about, and sound blaring one moment...then nothing but you and your thoughts. Megan's brain applied the brakes liberally, and she put the day on rewind. Images of punctuated with camera flashes spun in her head.
"FLASH" She revisited her face in the concert hall's mirror...was that really her face? Of course it was, but she just hadn't looked at her self that way in years. She wasted so much time in her last relationship, and felt like she was falling behind. Forget being married...half her friends were already divorced. She always thought she would have done more by now...seen more....been more. A feeling of embarrassment now washed over her for allowing herself to fall into a silly fantasy. "Yea, like I'm worthy of Paparazzi!" .... "FLASH"
"Let's go honey...we don't have all F'ing day!"...she felt a not-so-subtle push from behind...

...Rachel ran to her rescue. "Girl, you're going to get trampled. What is up with you today?"

Megan was grateful to have a best friend that was concerned about her well being, and to think, they were brought together by the Lovehammers. They were both so busy getting ready for the party that Rachel didn't know about what happened with Ted yet. Rachel grabbed Megan's hand and glared at the pushy broad in the red dress. The pair quickly made their way back to where Rachel's husband was standing with three cold beers in his hands.

As they finally got into a position that no one could push them out of, Megan poured her heart out to Rachel. She told her about the big fight with Ted and the break-up and then the icing on the cake of running into him with Candy and raining on his parade by announcing how much he detested the Lovehammers. Rachel and her husband listened attentively to Megan's story. Immediately after its conclusion, Rachel's hubby offered to go take care of Ted like Megan's big brother would, if she had one. She laughed and talked him out of it.

"Well, you've had one hell of a final day of 2006! Let's get ready to welcome a new year," Rachel exclaimed.

"Amen. FREE OF JERKS," Megan said.

As the trio clinked their beer bottles, Megan realized she hadn't told Rachel about the flashbulb incident. She assumed Rachel had seen what happened, but she still felt a compulsion to discuss the matter. Maybe it was her legal mind working overtime, or maybe she just wanted Rachel's take on the weird experience.

Rachel agreed that the mystery man was probably just shooting pictures of one of the bands and Megan happened to get in his way. That's probably why he vanished so quickly.

At least the girls convinced themselves to accept that thought, so they could party in peace. They didn't consider the possibility of something more sinister being underway...

The music rocked all night.

When the Lovehammers took the stage, the roof of the hotel nearly blew off with the cheers from all the fans. Megan and Rachel had found the perfect position right by the stage. All the members of the band were so close she could almost touch them. other women in the audience pushed into Megan, as they attempted to take her spot by the stage. Rachel visibly annoyed just pushed them back; along with a few good curse words and a hard elbow to the gut.

The music roared and the audience screamed loader. the music and the roar of the crowd began feeding off each other into one earth shattering climax.

Megan was always amazed by LH. True, all the members of the group were blessed with lust after great looks, but the talent each of them possessed was awe inspiring.

The evening progressed rather quickly. Megan was happy that she didn't see the strange man with the camera.Rachel must have been right. The guy must have just been taking pictures of one of the bands, and she was in the way. Megan attempted to pushed it into the recess of her mind. It was difficult...another theory ran into her mine. It must have just been a NYE pervert. She heard of men who liked to post photo's of women on the Internet on fetish site's.

"Pervert" Megan thought to herself.

Rachel began to complain about not getting the perfect "pants" shot of Marty. Her husband, Jeff, just rolled his eyes. He could appreciate his wife's interest's, even if it was for her fantasy man.

Megan laughed happily. She envied Rachel and Jeff's relationship, they were amazing together.

The music was still playing a hot mix overhead. Rachel wanted to dance. Megan was feeling better, but the idea of dancing alone did nothing for her.


"Let's dance! Come on Megan...it's freakin' NYE! We just saw the love God's take the stage!!!Let's dance!!!" Rachel begged in a whinny child like voice.

Laughing, Rachel pulled Megan with one hand and dragged Jeff with the other hand, to the dance floor.

"I don't have anyone to dance with. I would feel strange...like a third wheel."

"It's fine. No one care's! Just dance" Rachel said with a no nonsense voice.

"Fine..." Megan decided it would just be easier to dance, than fight Rachel.

Megan let it all go. She began to feel free. She began to feel alive. Megan began to want to dance and enjoy herself.

Taking to the dance floor with her friends, Megan moved along with the rhythm of the music.

Count down to the New Year would be in a few minutes...she didn't care. Megan was in a pure moment of bliss.

[starcrossed]

"Excuse me" an unfamiliar, yet clearly masculine voice sounded from behind her. "Excuse me."

"Yes?"Megan turned to face the voice.

The night had been eventful, but she had no idea how much more eventful it was about to become. She turned to find that the voice was from the most gorgeous man that had ever been placed on the planet. She thought the night must have all been a dream. Megan couldn't believe any man could be that good looking in real life...it had to be a dream.

"May have the pleasure of dancing with you?" His voice was like melting honey.

Megan realized she was starring. Worst of all she was starring with her mouth wide open.

"I...I'm sorry, what did you say?" Megan's mouth felt dry and her palms began to feel oddly wet with perspiration.

The man was at least six feet, with broad shoulders, sun kissed skin, chiseled features, short jet black hair, a perfect smile, and his mouth... Megan's mother had warned her about men with mouth's like his. Handsome couldn't cover it. The word was not enough to describe him. He was perfection come to life.

"My name is Alexander. Justin Alexander. I was wandering if you would care to dance with me?"

Megan desperately tried to find her now lost voice."Ahh....Yes? I mean...yes! I would love...like that very much. I'm Megan", she thought she sounded a bit too desperate.

"It's a pleasure to meet you,Megan" he moved her to a open space on the dance floor, as he spoke to her.

Megan looked for Rachel. Her friend was beaming from ear to ear. Megan couldn't help but think her friend resembled a fox in a hen house at the moment.

The music played. Megan was of average height for a woman, so she had to slightly incline her head to look at Justin when they danced.

Mentally she began to realize how she was acting. She was not some lusty teenager, and yet she was acting like one. The man was a stranger for goodness sake! She knew that lust would lead to dirty things. Things that she knew full well that she couldn't post on the Marty Casey. Org website. That was strictly due to vulgarity and restrictions, which she understood clearly.Thus, she was then forced to edit her thoughts.

Megan danced on...The countdown would be coming all too soon.

...There's a light at the end of the tunnel.....yea, she thought to herself....wait for me....It felt as time was slowing down as she looked up at Justin, and all her insecurities began to creap back... I can hypnotize you ...small talk felt so awkward... keep calling keep calling ...Funny thing though, fear has a way of building to a point where eventually loses its hold.
Screw it! she mumbled to herself and...

she closed her eyes and just let her body feel the music - feel the warmth of Justin's hand on her back - take in the sweet scent of a whiff of cologne and his underlying manly sweat. She was totally in tune with the music and the way he was guiding them around the dance floor. Justin got a huge grin on his face, seeing how much she was simply enjoying herself and as if she could feel his happiness, she opened her eyes and smiled up at him, then spontaneously burst into heartfelt joyous laughter. As the song ended it just seemed so right to give each other a hug - then flustered Megan stepped back, shaking her head, not quite sure . . .

Feeling slightly embarrassed, Megan gave Justin a half-smile and looked down at her feet, mumbling "Thanks for the dance." Thanks for the dance? Ugh. This isn't prom, for God's sake. He's got to think I'm a total idiot.

Justin must have said something, as he was looking at her expectantly with a grin on his handsome face. But a loud roar from the crowd had drowned him out, and she was a bit relieved for the distraction. Lovehammers were on stage, starting the countdown to midnight! She scanned the crowd for Rachel, but she could only see hundreds of unfamiliar faces to the right and left of her. ...8...7...6...5...

Megan just stood there awkwardly, cursing the stiletto heels that were making her feet throb, and wishing she could find Rachel. What was she supposed to do? Stand there stupidly with some random (yet terribly sexy) stranger? Then again, some say that it's considered especially lucky if a tall, dark, handsome man is the first to enter your house after the New Year has rung in. A nightcap at her place later, maybe? 4...3...2...

...But all of a sudden her sixth sense kicked in as the countdown concluded. As she pulled back, Justin moved in for a hug...a very tight one that made her feel uncomfortable...he held her until midnight and gave her a passionate kiss...but something just didn't feel right.

Megan couldn't determine whether he was just a semi-shy, lonely guy on this New Year's Eve, or if she should be concerned. The break-up with Ted still smarted, as much as she hated to admit it. Megan's inner voice also reminded her of her great track record of consistently picking the wrong men when it came to matters of the heart.

Suddenly, she spotted Rachel and Jeff out of the corner of her eye. Megan quickly excused herself as politely as possible and made a beeline for her friends...

Megan's feet still began to throb horribly, but she walked briskly over to Rachel and Jeff.

She couldn't understand why Justin kept staring into her eyes the entire time they danced. It isn't that often these days that she danced with a guy, that wasn't just looking at her breasts jiggle when she danced. Justin gave her a strange feeling. He was different. She just didn't know what made him different. She just felt a need to get away from him and fast. He was danger or at least she felt a sense of danger growing around her. What was going on?

Behind her she could still feel, the heat of Justin's eyes on her back. She could feel him there?

"I'll see you soon..." Megan could swear she could hear Justin's sensual voice caress her every inner thoughts.

"That isn't possible," Megan thought to her self.

She sensed Justin's concern for her and need to watch her. The realization that she could sense this other person began to make her panic. Who feels another person? She turned around just as she reached Rachel. Justin was no longer standing there. He had vanished just as quickly as the strange man with the camera.

"Happy New Year!!! So, how was the kiss with the hottie? Very nice work...saw you playing tonsil hockey and knew my girl was in experienced hands..." Rachel was happy as always.

"Something is really wrong here. We were dancing and it was like he was trying to get into my head..."

"I thought the point was that you were after his 'head'..." Rachel laughed at her own dirty thoughts.

"Rachel!! Get your mind out of the gutter for just one minute, please!!! I think he tried to hypnotize me. I could feel him. I can still feel him...What the hell is going on here? It's like I am in the middle of some crazy story?..." Megan began to panic.

"Hey, everything is going to be alright" Jeff piped in, trying to calm Megan down.

"Look it has been a long day. We have all had a lot to drink. Your just letting your imagination get the best of you" Jeff stated it as a fact.

Rachel placed a gentle hand on Megan's shoulder, "Look, Jeff is right. It's just in your mind sweetie. You read a lot of those mystery novels right? That is all it is...I told you that you should start reading romance novels...at least you would have sex on the brain, instead of scary things!"

Megan followed the pair back into the party. She knew something just wasn't right, but she didn't know what. Somehow she knew that things were about to change and that sent a wave of chills coursing through her body.

"I'll see you soon...." the voice could be heard once more in her mind.

As they re-entered the ballroom, the trio sought the quickest way to get close to the stage again. Accomplishing this feat in the sea of 600 or so people would not be easy. As Rachel and Jeff sought the easiest path, Megan couldn't help but scan the room for Justin. Her soul told her something just wasn't right with the guy. Besides it was weird how he introduced himself. "Who introduces himself with his last name first?," she thought..."other than Bond, James Bond." This thought sent a quick smile across her face. Suddenly Rachel grabbed her hand and propelled them forward.

"I wouldn't want us to get separated again...especially if that guy is some sort of freak," Rachel said.

It was reassuring to Megan. Rachel had heard what she said and comprehended it, despite the large amount of alcohol she had consumed.

Suddenly, she heard Justin's voice again, "I'll see you soon..." She quickly turned around, 360 degrees, but he was no where in sight. She breathed a sigh of relief and went to the nearest bar to get a stiff drink.

The night continued on late into the early morning hours. The ballroom stood completely packed until security started to clear the room.

"Come on Meg..." Rachel was completely wasted, and swayed as she talked with Megan," Jeff and I got a room here. Just crash on the coach...or floor...you can't drive home..you had too much to drink."

Megan was fully aware she was not in any condition to drive. Still she didn't want to crash in a hotel, especially when she knew Rachel and Jeff could use the time alone. They worked very hard and rarely had a chance just to be a couple.

"No. It's alright. I will call a cab."

"Megan, and what about your car?"

"I will just ask for a ride from someone and pick it up . It will be alright here for the night."

"If you won't stay...then give me your key and I will take it to you tomorrow...But I think today is tomorrow...later...I will take it to you later..." Rachel giggled in amusement.

Megan handed the car keys over to her friend, and after saying goodbye walked to the hotel lobby and asked for a cab to be called for her.

*

[starcrossed]

The drive home in the back of the cab felt long. Megan's head felt heavy and a bit clouded. She had drank much more than she had planned that evening. however, with all the crazy events that had transpired throughout the evening, she thought she deserved to let loose a bit.

The cab pulled up to Megan's apartment, she was happy to be home. Stepping out into the brisk night, she paid the driver and started up the long walkway to the main door.

Megan's feet where throbbing. She could have sworn heels were embedded into her flesh. with the begging of a curse on her breath, her right heel gave way beneath her and a load crack could be heard.

"Damn it! Just great..." Without hesitation Megan ripped the broken shoe off her foot, followed by the other.

Frozen walkway or not, the shoes were going to come off. She sprinted carefully across the paved floor and used her key to enter the building.

Megan entered the elevator and pressed the button for her floor. Absently, she toyed with the danging heel of her shoe. Something feel out of the bottom, landing on the floor. Megan reached down to pick it up.

"What the??..." Megan picked up the fallen object in her hand.

The object appeared to be a micro chip of some kind. It was very small and delicate. She was just about to analyze it further, when the elevator doors opened to her floor.

Holding the chip in her hand, she walked to her apartment door. She began rummaging through her pocket, when the door suddenly flew open and she was yanked in.....

[starcrossed]

...Just as Megan was about to scream, a hand covered her mouth and muffled her voice. Her heart pumped so hard she could hear a thumping in her ears. She spun her body around and was shocked to see her would-be assailant...it was...Marty?!
Yes, it was Marty, and he was standing in her darkened room with a cigarette hanging from the corner of his mouth. He began to wisper..."I am going to uncover your mouth...I need you to be completly quiet...nod if you understand"
Megan nodded as she began to get nauseated from the combination of alcohol and adrenalin. Marty reached over and turned-on a nearby television and put the volume on loud...then whispered again into Megan's ear...."give me the chip"
Megan began to answer "What chip", but then Marty reminded her to stay quiet by holding his finger up-to-his lips...and then pointed to her shoe. Out of her daze Megan remembered what he was referring to and handed it to Marty, who took it and held it close to his eye to inspect. Then, as he shook his head in disgust, he laid the chip in his palm ...took the cigarette out of his mouth and placed its glowing end firmly against the chip. A smell, not unlike burning hair filled the room. Marty pushed the ember against its now smoldering surface until he could no longer bear the heat...and let it drop to the floor....

[starcrossed]

"What in the world . . ." the flabbergasted Megan whispered. Marty, in a normal voice - "It's all right now -- they can't hear. But, believe me - you don't want to know the details - for your safety, if nothing else. All I can say is the Lovehammers are totally in your debt now - a lifetime of backstage passes -- all yours. Just forget you ever saw me here tonight."

And he calmly turned and walked out the door.

Megan - "But - hey - I do want to know - and Marty - I have so much to tell you - how your music has changed my life!" --

But it was too late -- he was gone as mysteriously as he'd arrived.

Megan sank down on her couch - her still alcohol-hazy mind reviewing all the mysteries of the evening -- with a final thought "Whatever could all this mean for tomorrow??" she fell asleep.

[starcrossed]

Suddenly, Megan awoke to the sound of the alarm clock in her bedroom..she had purchased a "Screaming Mimi" which could be heard three counties away so she wouldn't oversleep for work. She fumbled around in the dark for the remote, which was lying on the couch beside her, and turend on the television.

"It's 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2006, as Chicagoans are preparing to ring in 2007 at the Sheraton Ballroom tonight with Marty Casey & The Lovehammers and Collective Soul," the newscaster's voice said.

Megan did a double-take. "Did he really just say today is New Year's Eve? It can't be..." she thought.

She wiped the sleep from her eyes and looked down. She was in her pajamas. Then she remembered, Ted and she had a huge fight the night before, and somehow the lucky bastard got the bed. It was all just a dream...a very strange, extremely vivid dream where Marty ended up saving her life.

However, one thing stuck out in her mind; the fact that Ted had dumped her on New Year's Eve. Everything she had thought about him in the dream...that he was needy, selfish, and judged her incessantly for working to Spread the Love...all of it...every bit of it was true.

Megan stormed into the bedroom and Ted was taken aback. He thought she was coming in to make up and show her gratitude for him being her boyfriend. She ripped the covers off of him and kicked him to the curb as quickly as possible, and tossed his stuff out the window onto the lawn below.

No one was going to dump her on New Year's Eve, plus now she had a spare ticket to the NYE event. She had bought one thinking surely Ted would come around, but he hadn't...and with a sly smile she picked up the phone as she realized that the perfect guy to invite was the guy from the record store on the corner. He loved the Lovehammers almost as much as she did.

Maybe it would be a HAPPY NEW YEAR after all.

[starcrossed]

Megan's head still hurt. It felt like a hangover. However, she couldn't find any evidence of drinking in her apartment kitchen. The only rational reason for it was stress and a bad nights sleep, Megan thought.

Drinking a soothing cup of freshly brewed coffee, Megan gathered her clothes and headed for the bathroom. She was ready for a nice long shower.

Megan, couldn't help feeling excited and relieved that all the night's events had been just a bad dream. It was like a breath of fresh air. A breath of air, that swept the jerk Ted out of her life before any major damage was done. She was in control of her life....or at least that is what she thought.

Remnants of steam escaped her bathroom, as Megan dressed quickly to head out to the store. She practiced how she was going to ask Matt out for NYE. Megan had talked with Matt several times, and knew that he was a huge LH fan. More importantly at the moment she knew that he was single and had no plans for the evening as of yesterday.

"Where are those keys?"Megan was filled with a feeling of deja vue.

Then her heart stopped for a single breath, as she spotted a small object on her carpet. She hadn't notice it before, but it was very familiar in shape and size. It was the broken micro chip.

Megan gasped,"This is not happening!"

Taking the chip in her hand, she could clearly see the burn mark that Marty had made in it.

"What is wrong?..." a voice whispered in her head.

"What??Who in the hell just said that?!!!" Megan was shaking like a leaf.

She felt that all to familiar touch, Justin, she felt him everywhere in her head. The bad dream just became a full fledged nightmare.

[starcrossed]

In a moment she realized that it couldn't have been Marty last night. Rumor had it that LH was having a private party later at the hotel. He couldn't have came to her apartment. How would he have broken into her apartment anyway...his voice was too familiar....Justin....

He was everywhere...What was he? How did he get in...What kind of freak was he?

That still didn't explain Ted, or how he came back. Megan reached frantically for the phone. She dialed Ted's cell phone number...it rang several times and then a women's voice answered.

"Is Ted there?" Megan rambled off quickly.

The woman's voice began to break as she spoke. "Megan? Is that you? This is Ted's mother...Honey, last night ....Ted......Ted died in a car crash last night. He told me that you had a fight....he wanted to go with friends..."

Megan dropped the phone...Ted couldn't be dead...She kicked him out a few minute's ago....He was in her bed....She just broke up with him!!!!

What was going on? Megan's world quickly fell apart all around her.

The voice called out softly, "Reality is not what you think..."

[starcrossed]

Megan couldn't think. Her heart began to beat so hard in her chest, that she thought it was going to burst free of it's strained confines.

"Keys?Damn it, I need my freaking' keys!!!"

The apartment felt small around her, and she felt a desperate urgency to get out. She ran to the kitchen, and searched .... nothing. Megan couldn't remember where her keys were.

The dream... the last thing she remembered was fumbling in her coat pocket for her keys. The door had opened before she had a chance to use them.

Running to the closet, she searched for her coat. It was the fanciest one that she had...and she had planned to wear it for only special occasions. The NYE event was one such time.

Megan search both pockets. With a huge sigh of relief, she found that the keys were there. without a second thought she raced out the door, only sparing the briefest of moment's to grab her purse, cell phone and her everyday coat.

Megan did not remember that she had left her car at the Sheraton parking lot, until reaching the parking garage.

"Damn!!!! Nothing makes sense... Rachel has the keys....I need to call Rachel..she'll know...she has to..."her voice was hardly a breath.

Rachel's phone didn't ring, but went directly into a automated message service.waiting for the beep, Megan left a rushed message. She didn't know if anything she was saying made sense, but she only hoped that Rachel would call her back quickly.

Megan decided to walk to the corner store. If Matt was there, maybe he could help her.

The street was an icy and muddy mess. It hadn't snowed in Chicago as expected, but the streets were still a mess from the last bellowing storm that had passed through. The sidewalks were just slightly better. Though most people tried to keep the sidewalks clear, with the holidays not everyone was around to do so. However, Megan was on an mission. and the walking conditions didn't bother her in the least.

"NO!!!!!"

Megan almost bursted into tears, as she arrived at the store to find it closed. A hand-made sign was posted on the door that read "CLOSED FOR THE HOLIDAY. WILL OPEN JAN. 2, 2007".

She stood there, trying to decide what she should do. She wanted to call the police, yet she did not have a clue what to tell them. She knew that they would think that she was some nut job and send her away. She didn't know what to do... She didn't know who to trust..

"Don't run..." the voice filled her head once more. Then she realized that she wasn't standing alone any more, two very large men dressed in black were approaching her.

Terror filled Megan. At first she couldn't move, but she fought what only could be described as a overwhelming compulsion, and ran as quickly as she could. Fear raced through veins and powered her to move, despite the unsteady legs that held her up.

Megan couldn't think as she moved blindly forward.She raced up street after street,letting her fear guide her.There was not a single person on the streets. She was alone and two very large predators were on her heels, closing in quickly.

Running faster, she made a fast decision to turn into the nearby alley. She couldn't be sure of how far behind the men were. Megan prayed that she could hide there behind the dumpster and that they would not see her. She knew that it was a huge risk to take, being in the alley was worse than being on the street. However, she hoped that her otherwise brash decision would make the two men search for her on the street, and not look in the alley.

Megan hid behind the dumpster.

"God please...."Megan silently chanted a prayer to herself. She would have promised anything, just for her prayer to be answered.

Silence was all around her. Moments passed, but they felt like hours. No sound came...

Then a single word , from an all to familiar voice once more, "Sleep..."

"Justin?" The word never left Megan's lips as she fell into a cavern of darkness.

*****************************************************************


Megan's mind was more clouded than ever, as she began to wake up. she became aware that she was laying on a bed in the center of a completely white room. There were no windows and a single door was at the far end of the room.


"Subject number 847 appears to be unharmed and she is gaining consciousness." A man in a white jacket began speaking into a tape recorder as he turned to exit the room. he wrote notes on a clip board, never turning to face her as he exited.


"Good to see your awake. I hoped I didn't force your mind too hard. That is something that rarely happens, but it does happen." Justin leaned his tall frame casually against a nearby wall , watching Megan's every movement as he spoke. He was all in black, sticking a complete contrast to the surroundings.

Megan couldn't find her voice, she was terrified for her life.

" I am not going to hurt you Megan. You are just in a bit of a predicament. That predicament of course being that you have fallen into a war that shouldn't be happening... I just can't figure out why it was you..."

Fighting the bile that was making it's way into her throat Megan found her voice,"I don't know what your talking about. Please just let me go and I promise I wouldn't say anything."

Justin's eyes warmed slightly. "Megan I am sorry to say that we can't do that...Do you realize that we are the only thing keeping you from being killed. Ted was just the first..."

"You killed Ted?...What did he do?? Why???" Megan felt the bile building once more, as panic that had consumed her most of the day, threatened burst through the frail flood gates of her soul.

" No, I didn't. But, some very nasty mortals trying to live there fantasy games did."

"What in the hell are you talking about?!!!"

"Megan, I need you to listen to me very clearly. I hate repeating myself...and I have never been a big fan of over dramatic women, so here it is..."

Megan felt the words even before Justin could speak them out loud.

" I am immortal. Species known to mortals as Vampire. The war that you have fallen into is not ours, but of mortals like yourself preparing to make there heated fantasies reality."

"What??"

"Please, don't inturrupt...that is just rude." Justin smiled as he continued,"Humans have had a fascination with immortals since long before the fables told to scare children were even created. Within the last fifty year a group called Darkness has decided that they wanted to bring the world of demons to life. Somehow they believe that they will be granted the gift of immortality by freeing them to the mortal world. Like payment for a job well done. In reality it will destroy life completely, even for immortals like myself.'

"But, if your a vampire...your a demon..."

"Tisk.Tisk. Interrupt again and you'll have to stay for detention." A glimmer of mischief danced in Justin's eye's as he continued, "Vampires and other species of the night have been cursed and our soul's cannot be placed to rest. The curse of the vampire is that life must be taken to survive. The punishment for taking a life is never to be at rest. Creating a vampire, well that just curses an innocent with the stench of death. They get to live forever, but the lives stolen before are now passed on...the curse continues. We are not demon's."

Megan found the courage to listen to Justin's words. She knew that she should not believe anything he was talking about, but everything inside her knew that he was telling the truth.

Justin's voice was clear as he progressed," They found a old book of the Forsaken and the Darkness plan's on opening the gate way between worlds. That chip that was planted in your shoe had the last of the ceremony on it. We got that back, but it's just a matter of time before they come looking for it...and you."

Megan spoke firmly, "I don't have it....Marty....you took it and broke it. How can I have something they want if you took it? I don't even know what's on it!"

"Doesn't matter. All they know is you had it and now your a loose end that they can not have around."

"Is that why they killed Ted? "

"Yes."

"Then why or who was in my bed this morning? Was that you?..."

" This morning? Ted was in your bed this morning?..."

"That wasn't you..."

"No. Trust me Megan, if I was in your bed you would remember... I promise."

Megan's heart fluttered. She chided herself, this was not the time to be thinking dirty.

"Megan, you will stay here until we decide with you."

"We? There are more of you?"

" Yes. And before you ask anything stupid about garlic and holy water...we are 'human' in every way...just that we can live forever."

As Justin turned to leave the room, Megan couldn't help but ask on last question.

"Are the Lovehammers like you?"

Never turning toward her, Justin spoke clearly over his shoulder "Maybe you should ask them that. I never was one to ruin a good story."

[starcrossed]

Megan lay there - letting her mind flow from one thing to another - trying to make sense of what she had just heard ---

And -- it did explain some things -- after all - in a short time Marty had inspired people from all over the world to come together via the internet and form a bond of friendship that just wasn't found easily -- and these people were totally willing to do whatever crazy things that Marty and Dino suggested to promote the band - "share the love" -- and then there was Bobby's frequent messages to learn from history and look things up -- there had to be something behind all this --

But - deep in her heart and gut she knew Lovehammers aren't evil - they are a force for good -- so if Lovehammers are part of the vampires that Justin had just told her about - could that mean that in spite of legend and myth -- that vampires aren't evil either???

How could she know -- what should she do??? It was giving her a headache trying to figure it out - so she let herself drift off into sleep to escape.

[starcrossed]

She woke with Lovehammers song lyrics echoing in her brain --

Rise and fall
Climb the walls
Won't stop till I have it all
Persistence, resistance
One man can make a difference

The battle's inside of me
The fight's begun but not yet won
And I won't become one more casualty

(she had thought he was talking about a personal battle - but perhaps it was more about a much larger scale??? Justin called it war -- )

Never giving up
I'm never gonna quit it 'cause I like the way I'm living
Never gonna quit
Life in a coma
(let me out)
Living life in a coma
(let me out)

(Immortality -- what a prize for getting out of the coma - the rut that most of us live in day-to-day) - and Marty just blogged about living life in the moment - someone who is immortal can actually do that, knowing there will always be another day to take a different path -- Megan's mind was shooting off in so many different directions it was making her dizzy -----

Hold on to your head, when your heart is broken
Clouds will clear and the sun will shine once again
Hold on to my hand, if you feel like jumping
I will be here till the end of time
Till the end of time

Bursting into tears, Megan screamed "What is going on here?? Will somebody Please Come Talk to Me before I go insane!!!!

[starcrossed]

Megan's mind was reeling. Suddenly, the door flew open and it was the two goons that had chased her down the alley. They led another woman into the room...it was Rachel.

"Hello, Megan," she said calmly.

"Wha...What are you doing here?" Megan stammered.

"They thought that you might want someone to talk to, so my brother called me," Rachel replied.

"Your brother? I didn't know you had a brother! Who!" Megan blurted out.

"Justin," Rachel said coldly.

Megan's eyes grew wide as she realized the "hottie" from New Year's Eve was not a stranger at all to her best friend. He was, in fact, her brother. Megan's mouth dropped wide open. As for Rachel, suddenly it seemed she didn't know her at all. She was a complete and utter stranger who had simply masqueraded as her best friend, and she was as weird as those Others on Lost. Perhaps Rachel was a vampire too. Megan couldn't help but wonder if that was the truth...much less reality...but she was too afraid to ask. In her heart of hearts, she just didn't want to know.

The duo set in silence for about thirty minutes while the goons stood guard outside the door. Megan couldn't imagine that Jeff wouldn't have told her Justin was Rachel's brother, but then again, maybe he didn't know about Justin either. Maybe he was just another innocent victim and had been sucked into Rachel's web of deceit as well.

Eventually, the goons escorted Rachel out, but not before she promised to visit again soon. Megan's mind began to race. Rachel was with her that day at the shoe store.

Rachel was there when Megan bought the black velvet stilettos that killed her feet in her dream, if it was in fact a dream. Megan couldn't be sure of anything anymore. She kept retracing the steps of the day she purchased the shoes in her mind. She kept trying to figure out if anything was unusual about that day.

She remembered the face of the clerk as he brought them numerous pairs of shoes while they laughed and chatted about the NYE ball.

Megan got a phone call from Ted while she was on her lunch hour. That was odd. He never called at that time of day. She remembered it was after she had picked out the pumps.

Ted wanted to know what she was up to and she turned away from the stilettos for a few minutes to chat with him while Rachel sat their putting her work shoes back on...in fact, Rachel carried the shoes to the checkout counter for her.

A look of horror washed over her face as the possibility dawned on her. Could it be? Could Rachel have planted the microchip in her heel?

Megan turned ghostly white and lay down to try to push that concept out of her mind.

[starcrossed]

An hour later, Rachel was back - "Come on - we have a plane to catch -- Lovehammers are in Walnut Creek California for that ARF gig and we're going to be there! Backstage pass, remember?? Let's go!!! I've got fresh clothes and everything you need in this bag."

And she grabbed Megan by the arm and hustled out the door.

[starcrossed]

Megan wondered why Rachel was dragging her out of the white room. Why was it so important that SHE attend the concert? Why couldn't Rachel go on her own?

She grew even more fearful when she saw the two goons were serving as their chauffeurs to the airport. Questions raced through her mind as the goons helped Rachel get her on the plane. She could hear Rachel making excuses for her groggy state to the stewardess as they boarded the craft.

She wanted to ask questions, but as she had fought to escape in the airport, one of the goons caught her and injected her with something...what...she did not know; however, it was making her brain feel all fuzzy. Although she tried to fight it, she slipped into the drug's power and fell into a deep slumber. The song "Undertow" ran through her mind first, and it was quickly followed by "Clinic". At this point, all Megan wanted was to get out alive...and she silently breathed a prayer for the Lovehammers, whatever they may be...

[starcrossed]

Dreams seized Megan in her fitful, drug-induced slumber, and possible answers to the question of who or what the Lovehammers were flew across her mind.

The Kourelis brothers, if they were in fact brothers, were said to be of Greek descent. It would almost make sense to think of Bobby as Zeus, the Greek god of thunder. In mythology, hammers symbolize thunder, and that would make the hammer part of the band's name make sense. The god option would also make his frequent statements about history have some gravity. Perhaps after he was abandoned by his people, he had to chart a new path. Yet, that didn't explain who Dino could be. He was too attractive to be Hephaestos, the god who was known for forging a hammer. In some versions of the Greek myths, Hephaestos brought forth Athena after striking Zeus in the head with his hammer...Megan couldn't help but wonder...

Billy has fingers like fire she thought, perhaps he is a Pheonix. His bright red hair reminded her of the flames the mythological bird would rise from to start life anew, but this would require a death of a sort.

Last but not least, her mind turned to Marty. She could remember every second of the quick exchange they had in her apartment. She wondered if he knew Rachel was not who she thought she was; that she perceived her as the enemy.

The fangirls' comments about how much he resembled Rice's Lestat had wormed their way deep into her troubled mind. "Yet, he is so different from Justin. He can't be a vampire..." she thought. "Silence!" she heard Justin's voice suddenly in her brain. She fought to push it away, but resistance was futile. "Rest," he commanded. The dreams disappeared as quickly as they had came, and her body relaxed upon Justin's command.

Megan didn't remember getting off the plane. She didn't remember changing into the clothes Rachel brought for her, but when she regained consciousness Rachel was dragging her into the club for the show.

The Lovehammers' set was already underway. Marty's blonde hair was shining in the bright spotlight.

"Tired of doing the same thing
Gonna do it again do it again do it again
Try but I can't change nothing
Gonna try it again try it again try it again

It can't be this way
Guess what man this is reality
I understand you man
It's about time I make my own stand"

The lyrics made Megan wonder as she finally began to sober up, was he in fact immortal and tired of eternity? It dawned on Megan that Marty seemed to be a man on a mission...always searching for something that keeps eluding his grasp...like a Knight of the Round Table seeking the Holy Grail.

She felt the need for a stiff drink, but Rachel wasn't letting her out of her sight and Justin wouldn't get out of her mind...

[starcrossed]

And then the hypnotic throbbing beat of Ultrasound started pounding into her -- and Marty came snake-dancing back out onto the stage. Megan's eyes were drawn to his hands - just as he wanted it to be - just like every eye in the room --

We control the video
We control the audio
We control the radios
We control your stereos

Marty looked straight into her eyes - with that look that he has that makes every fan feel like they are the only one in the room with Marty - but something told Megan it was just a little bit different this time - as he repeated --

We control the video
We control the audio
We control the radios
We control your stereos

Why are we alive
Why are we alive
Why are we alive
Why are we alive

That one line kept echoing over and over in her brain -- as Marty maintained total eye contact with her -- the song continued -

Want to see a reason for the voodoo?
Common sense does make it difficult
What's this you say, I'm too controlling?
Words in your body go snap

Why are we alive?
Why are we alive?
Why are we alive?
Why are we alive?

Why can the silence no longer make you laugh?
How come the feelings no longer touch your bones?
Welcome the new child about to take control
Travel with me, watch this new life form grow

You ask why are we alive?
Why are we alive?
Why are we alive?
Why?

Ultrasound
Ultrasound
Ultrasound
Ultrasound

But what Megan heard, in Marty's soft but commanding voice -- Watch your back, my friend - Justin and Rachel are not who you think they are - you will be safe with us - don't forget to come backstage

Ultrasound
Ultrasound
Ultrasound
Ultrasound

Marty screamed out one last Ultrasound!!! - and the connection between them was broken -- the rest of the crowd came flooding back into her perception and Rachel was looking at her with a quizzical expression on her face, as if she had lost something that she thought she had.

[starcrossed]

...Megan told Rachel that she wanted to hang-around after the concert to see Marty and the guys.
With all that transpired she half-expected Rachel to somehow keep her from this meeting...but she didn't. Not only did Rachel not stop her, she said it would be a great idea...but unfortunately she couldn't join her. Rachel then reached into a bag she was carrying and pulled-out what looked like a book. "This is a Fan Book I put together for Marty...would you mind giving it to him?" asked Rachel. Sure, said Megan and took the book from her...it had a black linen cover and an industrial-looking strap around it to keep it from inadvertently opening.
Megan didn't want to prolong her parting-of-ways, so she abruptly turned her back to her friend casually saying "catch-you-later", and made her way to the stage's side entrance.
With her back to Rachel, she held the book out of her view and tried to work the band holding it closed, but had no success. Trying not to crease the cover, Megan bent a corner over enough to see that there were pictures in the book...but couldn't quite make them out.
Frustrated, Megan placed the book on the floor...took out her lighter...and bent the corner back again. This time she could better make out an image within, that happened to be in the upper corner. It was from the New Year's concert...she could tell from the theater seating in the background...and in the foreground was a bleached-out image of a person obviously from a camera's flash being too close to its subject...but she couldn't make out the face. Megan held her lighter closer this time, and she recognized the person...it was a picture of her........

[starcrossed]

Nothing made sense anymore. Reality was swiftly becoming an elaborate maze, that Megan desperately wanted to escape from.

The audience cheered and danced to the music, completely oblivious to what terror Megan was facing.

Rachel was once her dearest friend. Megan realized that it now appeared she was Megan's enemy. Megan felt sick to her stomach.

She walked slowly through the vast crowd of people that were at the venue. She didn't have any idea of which direction to take to get to the backstage. Yet, somehow her feet kept moving in a steady direction. Megan knew it must be Justin.

She was alone. in a crowded theater Megan had never felt so alone. She didn't know what else could possibly happen. She didn't want to give in any more to her fears. She would not trust anyone. Megan had only herself to believe in.

Megan mentally struggled through the tangle of webs in her head. Megan knew that she needed to gain control of her thoughts. However, She couldn't no matter how hard she tried.

The amount of drugs that had been injected into her system were hurting her in more ways than disorienting her mind. She could feel something inside her. Justin's voice did nothing to help the situation. The voice he commanded in her mind drowned her soul so deeply under the surface of self preservation.

Megan held the book close to her body, as she made her way to the backstage. She held her pass in hand, and showed the security guards, who quickly allowed her to enter the private area.

Why the Lovehammers?She couldn't understand what the Love hammers had to do with anything. How could any of this be happening?Vampire's didn't exsist...or she had thought that safely for so many years.

She made her way through the backstage of the theater. A elaborate dance was still being performed, as the concert was still continuing on stage. Megan tried to stay out of the way of busy bodies that rushes past her.

She made her way to the Lovehammers dressing room door. Megan could have thought that this moment would have been her best, yet she found that only fear filled her heart. if the Lovehammers were anything but human, she had no idea of what waited for her behind the door.

Justin's voice pressed her with a large mental shove. Megan knocked at the door. Within seconds it was open and she was pulled inside by the arm.

" Don't look so scared." The voice was soft and gentle,Megan looked up to find the most memorizing eyes she had ever seen.

"Marty?" Megan's voice was a whisper.

"Yeah. Look, I don't want you to be scared. I know that you must be really have a lot of questions..."

Megan interrupted,"Where is the rest of the band?"

Marty smiled, "Sorry, they weren't here to meet you. We really don't have a lot of time."

"What are you?"

"Not anything that goes bump in the night. At least not without a few too many drinks in me anyway..." Marty tried to lighten the situation the best that he could.

"I feel sick."

"Here sit down for a minute."

"What are you?"

"The same as you are. Human. Mortal. We are no better off at the moment than you are." Marty pulled up a seat near Megan as he tried to explain,"You can't trust anyone. This war that these 'things' have going is dangerous. My band and I , just got caught in the middle of it. It is like a story on one of my fan threads. I just don't have any control over it. I am not ...it is a bad dream...for all of us. Just do what they ask and don't ask too many questions."

Megan looked at the man she dreamed a thousand times about. She had so many things to say to him, but the only thought in her mind was how to get out of all of this alive.

"Rachel gave me a book for you."

"It isn't for me. I am just to take it and leave the book in one of my guitar cases here in the dressing room. I don't know who it is for. I don't care. I can't get involved anymore than I am already. I have my family to think about. The same goes for the rest of the guys. This isn't something that we planned!" Marty was lost in his thoughts for a moment, before turning to Megan. "You have to leave."

"Why could I hear your voice?"

Marty was already leading Megan to the door. He stopped suddenly, " My voice? When?"

"When you were on stage. I heard your voice. It wasn't the first time...."

"Don't...It wasn't me." Marty pushed his hand through his golden mane of hair."Look, I can't make this better and I wish that I could, but you have to understand that that voice wasn't me. You can't trust whatever it tells you..You can't trust anything."

Marty closed the door behind Megan. She knew that things were only going to get worse.

*******************************************************************
At the same moment in a different realm....

"And what are you going to do? Just stand there and watch, while our only chance to stop the war is going to be killed?" Keane stood firm.He was a huge force at over seven feet in height and 450 lbs. Always outspoken even to his commander.

"She has to call for me. I can't help her unless she calls for me." Cloud made it clear that she wasn't interested in interfering at the given moment. She had lived within the Outer Realm for too long to rush into anything without having a firm plan.

"She doesn't know that we exist!"Keane was shouting now!

" My name has been imprinted on her soul. I am her guardian.She has to call for me. That is the rule. You know that. when the time is right her soul will call for me." Cloud was a beauty in every way. She held a forceful grace that commanded attention. Yet, with her beauty was also a tremendous power. The true hidden strength of her nature. She was a true immortal.

"Since when do you follow rules? Go and help her, or in her death will be the uprising of a new demon world!"

" All I need is a single word... her last breath if it has to be. I will be there when she calls."

********************************************************************


Megan had not even left the building when Rachel came to stand beside her. "Good Dog. I see you took the book to it's rightful owner?"

"I took the book where you requested. Rachel, please be careful of how you call a dog you..."

"Now what kind of talk is that? I thought we were friends?"

"No we are not. I don't even know what you are!"

"Move. Don't just stand around, keep moving!"

"What the hell are you Rachel? Are you a Vamp..."

Rachel slapped Megan across the side of her face, " Justin is a freak of nature. You were right to think of that. I try to be civil...he make's me, but I hate him for what he is!!!!"

"Then why are you helping him?" Megan's face hurt down to her bones.

"Who said I was helping anyone? It's all about Rachel. Always has been always will be."

"Jeff..."

"Don't worry about my dear sweet hubby. He's nothing to worry about...now." Rachel's voice held a unsettling cheerful giggle.

"Justin.."

"Doesn't know a thing," Rachel gave a sigh as she continued, " You see honey. My brother can control you, but he can't control me. I made a huge promise to some friends of mine and the pay off is big. Justin can't and won't know a thing, until it is too late."

"He is in my head."

"Do you hear him right now? Bet you don't. Want to know why? I commanded it. Then poof done. Justin thinks I have calmed you down, so I asked him to give us some 'girl time' to bond."

The entire time they had been moving into the parking lot. Rachel stopped in front of a large white van.

"Get in.Now." Rachel had not even finished speaking when the side door flew open. Megan recognized the two men instantly. the were the two men that had chased her in the ally. The same men that had brought Rachel to see her in the first place. Megan had thought that the men were just big goons, but now she realized they worked for Rachel.

The lot was full, but only a few people had left the inside of the theater. The lot was empty of people. Megan stood alone with Rachel. The van was wide open. Megan thought of screaming to gain attention, but just as she was about to inhale , a loud click could be heard.

Megan looked toward the direction of the sound. One of the men held a gun pointed straight at her.

"Now. Don't make them kill you, Meg. Get in like a good girl," Rachel's voice dripped with sweetness.

Megan tried to reach out to Justin. Nothing. Megan could feel a huge void. Megan stepped into the van. She didn't trust Justin, but at the moment she would have felt a lot safer with him. Rachel was out of her mind and she seemed to be enjoying every second of it.

******************************************************************

The van traveled for miles. Megan couldn't see anything in the back of the van.The van had no windows in back and the man with the gun, kept it aimed at Megan's head the entire trip.

Rachel sat in the passenger set, looking as calm as if she had just visited a day spa. She had even turned on the radio and was signing to the songs that she knew. Megan hated her.

The van suddenly stopped moving after what felt like hours. The man opened the door and Megan was forced to get out. The bitter cold and silence surrounded her the moment she stepped out of the van.

Megan didn't need to see anything in the darkness of the night, to know that she was in the desert.

"Why did you bring me hear?" Megan already knew the answer. They were going to kill her and leave her body in the desert to rot.

"Well, I thought it would be nice and quiet here. I don't want anyone stopping me from my ritual."

"What ritual?"

"You never let people finish talking. Bad girl." Rachel slapped Megan across the already throbbing side of her face. The faint taste of copper filled her mouth."Now, as I was trying to say. I am going to kill you. Your the key to opening the door for the demons. Once I spill your blood then finish the ritual words, it will be my promise fulfilled. I alone will be granted immortality. Not some curse like my brother, but forever. The other's want to do it in a group ritual, allowing them to all partake in a new world of darkness. That is not going to happen. I want it all."


"Why me? Why the chip? Why everything?"

"Your the chosen one, for whatever luck it might be. it was foreseen by the elders in the group. The chip was to track you, Justin had to have that damn chip their. Ted was an unfortunate loose end. he always wanted what he couldn't have. I wasn't going to share anything with him. He tried to keep you for him self. he made the relationship...it wasn't his to take. It is mine. He had to go. Justin...always trying...I will have my way..."

"You rambling."

"Sorry, I tend to do that... Don't worry. I guess this is the part were I kill you."

Rachel reached into her jacket and pulled out a long dagger. The darkness of the desert night was all around Megan. The only light was from the two high beams of the still running van. the two men grabbed Megan's arms and held her in a steel grip.Rachel approached with the blade, and swiftly drove it into Megan's body.

Megan heard a scream, she couldn't be sure if it was her own. Her body doubled over in pain as she became aware of the hot burning sensation that ran through her belly. The men released her, and Megan's body collapsed into the sand floor.

Megan couldn't breath. the warm stickiness of blood was running down her body. She didn't want to die. Not now. Certainly not like this.

"Please...don't let them ....Cloud..." Megan took a shaky breath.

Megan thought she was dreaming once more. Yet, the sounds she could here were all to real.

The shouts of surprise and of men yelling. The stench of death surrounded the nights air in a vile stench. The cries of the men stopped and the last noise she heard was Rachel screaming.

Megan couldn't feel anything. She wasn't cold or scared. She was just tired. she wanted to go to sleep. Then she felt a hand on her. It was a gentle touch. The pain in her belly seemed to stop. Megan tried to open her eyes.

"Wha..."

"Rest now. You are safe. " The voice was of a woman.

"They are.."

"Dead. Now rest I will get you to safety and I will explain everything better then." The voiced faded and Megan fall into the darkness. It was warm and safe. Megan was finally sleeping.

*********************************************************************

Megan woke up in a clean and over sized bed. She was dresses in fresh clothes, and felt like a new person.

She looked around the room, and found a woman sitting in a chair looking outside a large window.

"Good to see you awake. You didn't look so great for a while." The woman appeared to be in her early thirties, yet her age didn't seem to fit her.

"What happened?"

"Rachel attempted to kill you. I killed her and her men. Brought you to safety. No demon realm open, yet."

"Who.."

"I am your guardian so to speak. You are a very special girl and I was assigned to keep an eye out for you since birth. Granted I couldn't stop most of your problems...that wasn't my purpose. I am how here to help you stop the demon realm from opening."

"The lovehammers...."

"They will be safe." The woman approached Megan's bedside as she spoke," You have one person you can trust on your side now Megan. Justin hasn't chosen sides...his curse control's him better than he has learned to control himself..."

Megan realized that the woman was reading her thoughts. She began to feel panic.

"I am not your enemy Megan. I am here to stop the opening of the demon realm. I am not like any of them. I an not life nor am I death. I simply am. my duty is to protect you, and to stop the war that is coming. Your life is the key to everything."

With that the woman walked back to look out the window. Megan relaxed and let sleep take her once more. She knew that when she would wake, that the battle would begin.Life depended on her. Yet, for the first time in a while, she held no sense of fear in her body.

[starcrossed]

His home in Montana was his refuge away from the nightmare life that he been curse with the past 100 years. But nothing could bring him any joy now. Not the vast and scenic beauty of the landscape that could be viewed from any window of his home.

Too many battles, struggles and sacrifices, only added to the misery that was his everyday existence.

Justin felt the moment that his sister was murdered. He felt every moment inside him. This pushed him deeper into the dark abyss of his struggling soul.

Justin didn't intent to leave the side of the two women on their journey to California. He blamed himself for not being there to protect them. His sister, Rachel had insisted that she didn't need his help. They were only going to the safe house Justin had established for them. Then he would decide the best form of action within the war that waited before them.

"I want to know what happened?" Justin yelled at the young vampire that entered the room.

As a member of his house, the vampires job was to follow orders as strictly as they were given. The men lowered his gaze to the floor.

"Sir. your sister requested that she be aloud to select the two men that were to accompany them. They did get on the plane, but they never picked up the rental car that you requested they have."

"And no one brought this to my attention? Do you even know where they went after getting off the plane?" Justin's temper was about to break. "Do you have any idea what will happen if anything happens to Megan? Do you!!!"

"Yes Sir, but it was only a few hours. Your sister never follows the rules and we just thought that with your history with her that she was just trying to be stubborn."

"I am in charge! Rachel is dead! Somewhere the key is out there in the world and we don't have a clue to were she is!"

"Sir. We thought that Megan was under your control and that she was...."

"I did, but I was just controlling her to follow Rachel's orders. Something happened and everything stopped. I don't feel her anymore.I have tried so many times to touch her m

A knock to the office door caught both men's attention. Justin's elderly servant entered quietly, holding a letter within his hand.

"Thank you Samuel." Justin took the letter and opened it, as the servant left the office.

"Sir?" The young vampire grew worried at Justin's obvious distress.The letter was not good news.

Justin spoke in a monotone voice," reports are that she went to a concert or event in California. Someone spotted them leaving in a white van. Rachel, Megan and...They have some reports that the van was heading toward the desert."

"We will send a search party. We will recover..."

"Leave me."

The man began to walk away, but stopped short,"Sir. Do you believe that Rachel had anything to do with all this...there has been rumors of a spy and your sister hated.."

Justin cut the young mans words sharply with his own," Don't ever speak to me of her that way! She would never betray me. I know that she...she wasn't happy with what I am, but I know that she still loved me. She was my sister. Send out a search party. Find her body and report back to me at once. We can't allow for mortal authorities to find her body first or allow anyone to hurt Megan."

The man nodded and closed the door behind him, leaving Justin alone in his grief.