Chapter 1：The vampires heart.

When Vale wakes he lays still for some time. What is he to do today? The days seem to blur together as time continues. How many century has it been? Or has it been millennia? Being alone all the time wasn't something he had imagined this life would be like. At first it was parties every night and the freedom from society's ideas on how to live was so amazing. As the people changed over time so did he, he no longer wanted to party and feed endlessly. What to do now? Should he end it all and go into the dark abyss? These thoughts have been so loud lately and Vale was beginning to feel he should give in, but not today. He heads for the shower with his mind running wild with depression and self loathing.

Marie has been up for hours, but bed is far from her mind. Today is Halloween and her best friend has paid for them to go to a super exclusive party. Genevieve has been in Maries life since she was ten. After her parents were in a car crash she was put in foster care. The family she moved in with chose to adopt her after a few months. Gen and Marie had become instant friends when they met at school and were so happy to find they lived right next to each other. Many people believed they were sisters rather than friends because they were so close, and it was true they considered each other more of a sister than friend. Gen knows Marie is more of a homebody than a party animal, but is trying to play matchmaker all the time. At 25 Gen is married and totally happy. They are even planning for a baby in the next year. Marie would rather be at home and hasn't met a guy that really struck her interest, but Gen is about to spend Halloween night trying to find one.

Marie sits on her couch flipping through the channels when her phone finally dings. Gen is late as usual. She grabs her phone and keys, places them in her pockets and heads down to meet Gen and her husband, locking the door behind her.

"I told you she wasn't going to dress up!" Gen yells as she slaps Mathews arm.

"You know she doesn't like to." Is all he can respond as Marie buckles up in the back seat.

"Why didn't you dress up a little more at least? Maybe a little black dress or something?" Gen looks back and pouts at Marie.

"Darling sister, you know this is as fancy as it gets" she cant help but chuckle at Genevieve.

"Ready sis?" Mat laughs

"As I'll ever be" with that he drives off as Gen perks up talking about who will be there and how she managed to get the tickets.

Vale pulls up to the mansion that is covered in fake spider webs and scary movie senes being projected across the front entrance. Max meets him out front as he hands his keys to the valet.

"Dude! Perfect timing!" Max points to the image of Dracula rising from his coffin while laughing.

"Do these jokes ever get old man?" Vale smiles and hugs his friend.

"Naw man, they just get better!" Max slaps Vale on the back and they head inside where the music is blaring while laughing.

Marie, Gen and Mat arrive at the party and Mat hands over his keys to the valet. Marie takes a moment to look at the woman screaming as Dracula approaches her and chuckles. That's a classic, Gen grabs her arm as she is barely containing her excitement and bouncing. Marie and Mat look at each other and laugh as they walk with Gen holding on to both of their arms.

Vale is ordering a drink as he people watches. There are so many people here that no matter where you look something is happening. A man accidentally bumps into a woman who screams and slaps him as he apologizes, a man follows a woman closely calling "baby wait" as he follows her towards the door. That is when he spots her, she is dressed simply enough but it can not hide her inner beauty. She is wearing jeans with an embroidered bouquet across one side and a simple black off the shoulder top. Her thick brown hair falls gently down her back as she holds onto another woman laughing. Her laughter reaches him and it sounds like music to his ears. Vale decides he must find a way to talk to her.

Gen almost falls at the entrance as she is wearing ridiculously tall heals. Marie grabs her before she totally loses her balance and laughs and Gen curses.

" You should have worn flats stupid!" Marie is still laughing

"Girl I'm sexy as all get out, so leave me alone!" Gen reply's with attitude, then begins to laugh with Marie.

"I have a change of shoes in my pocket" Mat winks. She always does this, wear ridiculous shoes and switch to flats halfway through the night. Good thing her husband adores her.

Marie shakes her head as Mat and Gen head for the dance floor, she heads for the bar.

"Can I get a coke?" She asks the bartender. He places a can on the bar for her and she slips to a corner and begins watching the people around her.

"Hey" she turns to see a tall man standing beside her quietly.

"I'm sorry I didn't see you there!" She goes to move.

"It's ok. You can stay here, I wont bother you!" He says quickly before she can get away.

"Oh, ok." Marie feels terrible taking his space but stays as this will be the best place to hide from Gens Cupid act. She remains quiet for a while and glances at him from the corner of her eye. He is a handsome man, dressed casually in jeans, tshirt and high tops. "What is your name?" She asks, what's the harm in talking?

"Vale, Yours?"

"Marie, nice to meet you!"

"Same, you came with someone?" Silly question, he's been stalking her since she came in.

"My sister and her husband! You?"

"No I'm friends with the host." Her eyes are so beautiful. Green with a gold shimmer.

"That's cool! Does he do this every year?" Silly question, Gens been trying to get in for the last 2 years.

"Yea. He's a cool guy, likes to have fun!"

"Who is he?" Marie could never figure out through Gens blabbering who the host was.

"Oh, Max. He races motorcycles!" Does she really not know?

"That must be fun!"

"I wouldn't know, I've never raced one."

Vale and Marie continue to chat as the party rages on. Gen and Mat are now searching for Marie. When they find her, Gen smiles from ear to ear. She has never seen Marie laughing and chatting so happily, she always looks uncomfortable, like she is waiting for the moment to escape! Mat and Gen decide to leave her be and head back to the dance floor.

By the end of the night Marie and Vale have exchanged numbers. Vale not wanting to say goodbye, offers to drive Marie home. She looks for her sister and brother-in-law but can not find them. "I cant go until I tell my sister I'm going home!" Marie yells over the music.

"I'll wait here!" Vale responds

Marie goes into the dance floor and searches for her sister. Finally! She finds her and tells her she has a ride home so she is going to leave. Her sister looks worried and then excited. "Is it that cutie you were talking to earlier?!"

"I'll talk to you later, have fun" Marie shakes her head and makes her way back to Vale. "Let's go!"

When Vale pulls up to Maries apartment building they sit quietly for a few minutes.

"You want to come up?" Marie finally gets the courage to ask.

"I would love to spend more time with you but I do need to get home." He smiles sweetly. "Can I call on you another time?"

"Yes, any time" Marie responds and heads up to her apartment. She lays in bed and thinks about Vale as she drifts off to sleep. Tonight was definitely a treat!