I AM SORRY IT'S BEEN SO LONG. STUFF HAPPENS AND AND AND... WELL ANYWAY. I LOVE YOU ALL, SO PLEASE DON'T KILL ME.

Ari looked around the room. "Well. Hunting sounds like a good idea... And I have a lot to catch up on with Dai. I'll be back." And then she blurs out of the house, leaving a flurry of feathers on the porch...

...A little blackbird perches on Damon's shoulder. He blinks and turns his head. "What do you want, Ari?" The bird tilts it's head, and then his sister is sitting next to him, head on his shoulder as she hugs his arm to her chest.

"I missed you. Why do you assume I want something?" She stares up at him through her thick black lashes. He chuckles.

"You always want something, Ari. I love you, but you are the most manipulative person I know." He moves his arm in her grip so he can pat her leg comfortingly.

She looks offended. "Dai, I just want to know... Everything that's been going on." She pauses, biting her lip. "...And I'm scared." She whispers faintly.

He blinks, troubled. His arm slips out of her grip, and goes around her slim waist, drawing her closer and then glancing around. "Why are you scared?" He asks tensely. She shakes her head.

"Not scared of anything out there..." Her black eyes fill with tears. "Dai, you were dead. I felt it, I knew. Even if I didn't want to believe it... It was like half my heart had vanished. This big old empty spot... That's what I'm scared of." The tears spill over. "I'm scared to lose you again! I can't go through that again, I'd rather die myself!" She whispers fiercely.

His face softens and he draws her into a hug. Her shoulders shake, and he rubs her back soothingly. "Easy, Ari. You don't have to go through that again. I'm here." He murmurs softly. She muzzles her face into the fabric of his t-shirt and clings to him as if he might just vanish in a puff of smoke.

Twenty minutes later, a reassured Ari is strolling around the streets of Fell's church, easily keeping up a mental conversation with her twin as they both scope out possible prey.
She sees a young man across the street, large build, blonde hair, pale skin.

She skips over.

"Hi!" She chirps. "I'm Ari. Who do I have the pleasure of meeting?"

The guy smiles a little. "Matt Honeycutt." He states.

"Mmmm..." She murmurs. "I like that name. And how old are you, Matt Honeycutt?" She inquires with a seductive grin, batting her eyelashes.

"Nineteen, ma'am." He mumbles.

"Nineteen. So young." She whispers. "I have a brother about your age." She always loved to connect emotionally to her victims. It made her meal so much sweeter.

"Really? Do you live around here?" He looks as if he's thinking hard. "Cause I know I'd remember you if I'd ever seen you."

"You haven't. You've never seen me." She purrs. "You don't know me." She Influences him.

His eyes go cold. "Nope, but I think I know your brother. Your last name wouldn't be Salvatore, would it?" He asks, eyebrows raised.

Ari steps back. "You know Stefan." She states with a laugh. "I'll have to tell him I ran into one of his friends." She bites her lip. "I'm very hungry though. I'm sure you won't mind..." She steps closer, trapping him with her eyes... And then lunges. Her fangs slice into his neck.

And then she calmly strolls away from him, calling back over her shoulder, "Might wanna put a band-aid on that, Honeycutt."

Mmmm? So? Ari/Matt is a good idea? Anyone like the Ari&Dai fluff? I had to bring Matt back. -pets- I'm sorry I used you like that in chapter two and then made you vanish, BB. If the reviewers like you and Ari together, you will be coming back.

REVIEW.