Scarlett had just gotten back to her motel room, when she heard strange movements at her window. “What the fuck are you doing here?” Scarlett asked. “Please don’t be so harsh with me,” Robert begged her, as he held a red rose in his hands. That night Robert was really well-dressed, he wore black pants with a red t-shirt and a red jacket. “Why?” Scarlett answered while she went in search for a stake. “You know, you could break my fragile heart.” “Oh really?” “Yeah.” Robert smiled sweetly and for a moment Scarlett forgot Robert was a vampire, but just for a moment. “You have to go,” Scarlett answered in a hurry while she wondered why she couldn’t stake him. He was right in front of her and he seemed helpless. She always went for the battle even when she knew she could avoid it. She was a fighter. So why right now didn’t she want to fight with him and she was even happy he was there? “Okay, I’ll go.” “Wait,” Scarlett said without even thinking about it. “Yeah? Did you change your mind?” Robert asked happily. He didn’t know why but what started out as a game had become something more serious. “How did you find me?” “Have you forgotten I’m a vampire – seer?” “Right. Stupid question.” “It’s okay.” “That rose is beautiful,” Scarlett said after a minute of uncomfortable silence. “It’s for you.” “For me?” “You seem surprised,” Robert commented. He also noticed Scarlett’s embarrassment and she seemed so different from the girl he met the night before. He thought that when she was embarrassed she was even more beautiful. “I think you should go,” Scarlett said, breaking the spell. She had to get Robert away from her, she couldn’t allow herself to f…, no wait, she couldn’t even use that word. Scarlett Leary doesn’t fall in love. That was her philosophy. “I’m going, but I’ll be back,” Robert said before leaving Scarlett to her doubts. **************************************************** “WHAT!!!!! Robert, let me ask you a question; have you completely LOST your FUCKING mind?” “Please Andy, don’t be angry with me,” Robert pleaded with his friend. “Well it’s not that easy.” “But I just followed my heart.” “Your heart doesn’t beat, Robert,” Andrew said. He was cynical, he never believed vampires who fell in love. “That’s harsh. It’s not my fault if you don’t believe in love.” “Vampires don’t fall in love,” Andy stated. “But I do, I just fell for the most beautiful and sweet vampire hunter I’ve ever seen,” Robert said in a faraway voice. “Jeez do you hear yourself?” “Yeah, I hear myself and unfortunately I hear you too.” “Well, I’m just being realistic.” “God Andy, who’s the one who broke your heart to make you feel this way?” “Nobody. I’ve never fallen in love.” “I don’t believe you. I’ve known you for only sixty years but it’s been enough time to learn something about you.” “Really?” Andrew asked surprised by his friend’s wisdom. “Yeah. Somebody really hurt you in the past,” Robert said before opening the door. “Where are you going in the middle of the night?” Andrew asked. “Out.” ***** Meanwhile Lulu’s life was going on just like one of her friends. “Lulu, wait.” “Hi Rita,” Lulu said to her friend as they met up in the school’s hallway. “How are you?” Rita asked since they hadn’t seen each other for five days. “Okay. What about you?” “Great. Too bad you couldn’t be at Baribal when I sang,” Rita said, still enthusiastic about that night. “Yeah and I’m really sorry but I had a few minor problems.” “Are you okay? You seem to have a lot of aches and pains.” “I’m okay, really.” “I’m glad,” Rita said even if she didn’t believe her friend. In fact she knew something was wrong but, she didn’t know what. “Look who’s here!” “Nick, Manola, hi!” Lulu greeted and hugged her two friends.” “Hi to you too. So, what have you been doing these last few days?” Nick asked his friend. “Oh nothing special. What about you, guys? Tell me something good, please.” “Actually I’ve got some big news,” Rita stated enthusiastically. “So shoot, don’t put me on tenterhooks.” “Okay, Baribal really liked me and they want me to sing again tonight!” “That’s wonderful!” Lulu screamed excitedly and hugged her friend. While she was hugging Rita she was unaware of someone behind her until she heard her voice. “Scarelett what are you doing here?” Lulu questioned. “I need to talk to you, it’s an emergency.” “Lulu who’s your friend?” Manola asked. “You’re right Manola. Sorry guys, this is my friend Scarlett. Scarlett meet my friends.” “Nice to meet you. Now can we talk alone, please?” Scarlett said harshly, leaving Lulu’s friends stunned. “Of course, come with me.” “Girls, who the hell is that psycho?” Nick wondered. They didn’t know if they were more surprised by Scarlett rudeness or by her being Lulu’s friend. “I don’t know but I’m going to check it out,” Rita said following Lulu once she was sure the girl couldn’t see her. ************************************************************ Another night fell on Red Bluff and it seemed there was a person who was in search of answers. “Raf, I’m really happy to see you,” a mysterious woman said. She was blonde and she appeared to be in her forties. “Mary, It’s been a while. I received your message and came as soon as possible,” Raf said hugging the woman he hadn’t seen for so long. “Please take a seat. Are you hungry? I’ve got pig’s blood,” Mary explained. “No thanks. I’m alright. Tell me what happened, why do you need me?” Raf asked worried. The truth was that Mary was a superior being and Raf worked for her. However, he usually took orders from an intermediary so he didn’t understand why Mary needed to speak with him directly. That’s why he felt this time he was dealing with something very bad. “This time the situation is worst than all the troubles you’ve been in until now.” “What do you mean? It can’t be worst than the vengeance’s demon who wanted to erase the whole American territory.” “Unfortunately it’s worst. In fact this time you won’t be fighting someone who wants to erase the American territory.” “That’s good,” Raf started but Mary’s look admonished him. “You have to fight someone who wants to erase the whole world.” “Fuck! Is it even possible?” “It is,” Mary said cryptically. Raf was now very serious and worried. He had never fought against an enemy so powerful to erase the whole world. “How can someone be so powerful to do something so big that it could cause the end of the world?” “Unfortunately, I can’t tell you more than that. Just be careful and… it really hurts to say this but this time you probably you won’t survive.” *************** It was a tense day at Red Bluff High School after Rita had heard the conversation between Lulu and Scarlett. Rita was elusive and she had avoided her friends all day, especially Lulu. “Tell me what happened?” Manola asked. She had stopped Rita on the way to her classroom. Manola was Rita’s best friend and she wouldn’t allow her friend to avoid her any longer. “What are you talking about? I’m okay.” “Yeah, right. That’s why you avoided me yesterday.” “I didn’t avoid you. I was just very busy.” “Right. So it was just an impression of mine.” “Exactly.” “Too bad that Nick and Lulu had the same impression.” “Why the fuck are you talking about Lulu now!” “Rita calm down!” Manola said. Then she thought better. Rita had been strange since she went back to spying on Lulu and Scarlett. “I’m very calm. It’s just that there isn’t any need to talk about Lulu now.” “You’re angry with Lulu.” “No, I’m not angry with Lulu at all.” “She might have said something to Scarlett that really made you angry,” Manola finished. “That’s not true,” Rita said. Maybe she could confide in Manola she thought. Maybe she could reveal to her friend what she heard the previous day? “Rita, please I’m your best friend.” “Okay I’ll tell you a secret. Yesterday when Lulu and Scarlett went off to talk secretly;I followed them.” “I know that. I was there,” Manola said, eager to find out Lulu’s secret. “Well, what I heard explains why Lulu is so mysterious. She’s a vampire hunter.” *************************** Nightfall was the moment that Lulu preferred most. During the fights with vampires she could free all her wildness. This was where she was different from Scarlett who liked to be more controlled and where she used more of her technique than Lulu. “You’re Lulu, aren’t you?” “Wow, I’m famous.” “Scarlett told me about you,” the vampire said. She immediately found him very attractive. Too bad he would be dust in a second, she thought. “I didn’t know Scarlett liked to talk. Who are you, charming vampire?” “I’m Raf Tizner. I don’t want to hurt you,” the vampire explained. “You’re Raf Tizner? The vampire who denied his race? Scarlett told me about you,” Lulu said. “I didn’t know Scarlett liked to talk,” Raf commented. “You know, you’re the funniest vampire I’ve ever met.” “That’s only one of the many good qualities I have.” “And you’re a modest too,” Lulu smiled. “And you’re beautiful. Scarlett didn’t tell me that,” Raf said making Lulu blush. “Why are you here? I don’t know as much about you as Scarlett, but I know you don’t live here,” Lulu stated. “The woman I work for told me there’s a lot of danger here,” Raf replied. “What kind of danger?” “She didn’t tell me what kind but if I don’t stop it; it will cause the end of the world.” “Oh my God.” “Yeah. That’s why I need you and Scarlett to help,” Raf finished. ************************************************************ Meanwhile things weren’t right at Andrew and Robert’s house. In fact, since the two had fought about Scarlett the atmosphere was tense. Add to that, Robert hadn’t a vision since that night. “My lack of vision is perfectly normal.” “It’s not,” Andrew repeated angrily. The discussion was going on for hours and they were repeating the same things. “You worry too much. You’re a spoilsport. You should be happy for me.” “Happy for your lack of visions?” “Happy because I fell in love?” Robert asked “Robert shut up.” “Why? I want my best friend to know how happy I am.” “So that I’ll be able to tell my best friend how worried I am?” “For what? My lack of visions?” “Isn’t it reason enough?” “No it isn’t. I know exactly the reason,” Robert stated firmly. A surprised look appeared on Andrew’s face when Robert made the comment. “You know why you haven’t had any visions?” Andrew asked and Robert nodded. “Then why are you only telling me this now?” “Because you’ve never given me the time to explain.” “Bullshit, that’s not true. So tell me now,” Andrew stated. “I haven’t had visions ‘cause I’m in love.”