• Ever since the crisis at the wedding, Wren had not seen Mike around Dayton. The weather had yet to permit her to venture outside and find him; though she had no idea why she would be out looking for a pure blood. As a vampire, she was careful to stay clear of the ultraviolet rays that seemed to have, for the past few days, taken residence in Dayton. The weather channels did not predict a cloudy nor rainy day for the next few weeks, so she kept to herself and her art during the day.

    When night fell and the small town was covered in darkness, Wren would creep out of her small house and join the not-too-busy nightlife, occasionally stopping for a drink at the crowded bar at the corner. The dark alleys were always welcoming, even if the people that often hung out in them were not. Everywhere she went, a dirty look was flashed her way. She hadn't realized that her sudden appearance at Mike's wedding would be suspicious, considering the history that they had together.

    She would rebuff all of the nasty looks with a snarl or a roll of her eyes. She was scared of no one, yet everyone was scared of her.

    In the end, science was no match for Mother Nature, and she finally let a cloudy sky greet the whole town of Dayton when it woke up one day. Wren was ecstatic. Today was the day of the funeral. Everyone had been talking about it, and it was only natural that Wren attend. She knew Mike would be there. It would probably be the last time they could ever meet, as her father had informed her of his fate, but due to her own safety, she would have to make sure she stayed hidden and that he didn't see her.

    Wren arrived while the funeral was in session. A group of people clad in black clothes surrounded a gravestone and a coffin. There was an air of sadness and gloom that could suffocate any normal person. The cloudy sky cast a shadow across everyone's face, and the effect was devasting. The fact that she was late didn't bother her at all. She didn't care much for the person that had died; she was here for something else.

    Wren hid behind a tree not to far away. She peeked from behind, slowly sticking her head out. Then she saw him. Mike was standing the farthest away, almost outcast from the group. His head of messy raven black hair was even messier now, and his dark gray eyes looked sunken. The skin on his body was a pale white, almost casting a glow even on this dark and sullen day. He looked even more like a vampire than she did. But he was a pure blood. Still a vampire, yet so different. She knew his kind. They feasted on power. Animal nor human blood was good enough for them. They wanted vampire blood, the ultimate power source.

    At the end of the funeral, Wren stayed hidden behind the tree. Her presence would not be welcomed, that she was sure of. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Mike kneel down in front of the gravestone. He fingered a line of words engraved on it: Tiffany Dream, 1982-2008, beloved daughter, sister, and fiance.

    Then she watched him reach into his pants pocket and pull out to brand new, still shining golden bands. He fingered them carefully, as if they were the most valuable items on the planet, and slowly dug two smalls holes in front of the stone and buried them.

    Mike patted the dirt 3 times, and then finally turned around to leave. But he was met by two figures in black, and with a nod, he let them lead him to the road where a long limosine was parked. On the side of the vehicle was the sign of Wren's vampire clan, a snake with bat wings. That last glimpse Wren saw of Mike was his head being lowered into the vehicle. Their eyes suddenly met for a second, and then his face was gone.

    Wren reached up to feel her cheeks, and when she brought her hand back into her vision, it was wet. She blinked twice. She hadn't realized she'd been crying.