Disclaimer: I do not own anything of the Drake Chronicles! This is 100% pure fanfiction.

Lucy

I batted my eyelashes like a flirt. It was the only thing I was capable of doing. Not exactly what I was hoping for on my mission, especially when I was chained to a tree crawling with ants.

If anyone asked, and I was sure no one would, I would without a doubt say that ants were a bigger worry than the five Hel-Blar drooling at whatever little cleavage I might have been showing to distract them from my apparently good-smelling blood.

Oh, yeah. A totally normal night for a twenty-one year old vampire hunter.

Things just haven't been the same since the Drakes left three years ago. I guess I should start from the beginning.

In case you're doubting it, we were happy. You know, Solange travelled the world, we kept in touch, and everything was... right. Until Helena declared that the Drake family were going on a 'trip'.

I knew things were going downhill when Bruno was going with them. I mean, the head of security, going with the Drakes on a vacation in France? Nice try, but that lame trick doesn't work. Not on Lucy Hamilton.

Naturally, I cornered Nicholas right after Helena broke the news but he refused to meet me. Can you believe it? He just shut me out like we haven't been going out for the past year! Hell, even dead pigs knew the Drakes were up to something.

I tried calling Solange, but she simply sounded apologetic and said she didn't know. I trusted her words. She was my best friend.

That was, until I drove to the Drakes' the very next day to find it empty. They had left. Just like that.

I called every single one of the Drake brothers, even gathered up my courage to call Helena. Nobody picked up, not even Connor. He always picked up. That was when I knew they were really steel on this little trip. And I had to figure out why.

Immediately, I speed-texted Hunter, followed by Kieran, Isabeau then Christabel, even Sky, whose number I had stolen from Duncan's phone just to bug him.

Just as quick as I had texted them, they replied. Their tone varied a huge range, but I got the main message: they didn't know of the Drakes' sudden 'trip' either. I contacted Spencer and other vampires I knew of, and even tried talking to some blood slaves, in case they had by any chance overheard an important piece of information. Of course, no such luck. Trust the Drakes to be sneaky about the important stuff.

Well, is that how they wanted to do things? Fine by me.

And that was how I ended up spending the last three years in the Helios-Ra academy, brushing up my skills and building up my stamina with Hunter, Kieran, Chloe and Jenna.

It was fun, but the atmosphere was never the same without Nicholas sneaking in at night to visit me or Quinn being around to flirt on purpose to make Hunter jealous. But somehow, we got used to it. We even accepted the fact that the Drakes were probably never coming back.

If you were wondering how things turned out the way it is now, that's because of our usual Sunday night missions. The one Hunter has been doing for a while - you know, dress up, head to a bar in town, make a fool out of yourself and seduce some vampires while you're at it?

Totally not cool.

"Grr... Can I have her yet, Pan?" the skinnier but all the same ugly looking Hel-Blar purred at who I assumed was Pan, who looked the fittest and obviously had the vibe of the leader of this yucky smelling group of blue vampires.

Weird. Why were Hel-Blar getting more civilised along the years? They weren't wearing collars either, so that was definitely unusual. Wild, yet in control of their hunger. A totally worth flirting-like-an-idiot mission if it mean I could get some information out of them, even if it included acting like a drunk idiot.

"No, you fool! We're supposed to make her panic first. Ever played with food? Don't you know? They taste better that way," another vampire answered for Pan. The others smirked at his words as well, revealing their full set of fangs where teeth should have been, glistening in the moonlight like some rare jewel. A category the fangs certainly didn't fall under.

Apparently, the skinny female Hel-Blar was a newbie at this whole eating human thing. On the good side, that meant one ugly blue creature easier to kill for the team heading to my location now.

The bad side? They were learning to eat, and not kill for pleasure.

"Didn't your mom ever teach you not to play with your food?" I spat, and immediately regretted it.

Pan's eyes flew from glaring at one of his lackeys who were obviously lacking in his glare, and made a face I didn't want to even try describing.

Shit, I scolded myself. Shit, Hamilton. You screwed up the plan. Again.

Apparently, whenever I play bait, I screw up. It must be because my childhood revolved around eight annoying Drakes.

Ah. Totally not the time.

The Hel-Blars' eyes glowered dangerously and I felt their killing intent directed at me.

At least when I screwed up in the past, the team had already gotten rid of half the trouble. Today was so not my Lucky Day. Don't mind the pun.

"Now you can have her, Hope," Pan said smugly.

Hope turned to me and smiled once before lunging herself at me, contagious saliva dripping too closely for my liking.

Nicholas

I was not letting that bitch touch my girlfriend.

Well, perhaps ex-girlfriend was more appropriate now, for all I may know.

Still.

I bared my fangs threateningly even though she could not see me. Yet. I flung a deadly sharp stake and it passed through her heart, quick and clean.

The four Hel-Blar were suddenly too aware of my presence. They turned to me at the exact same timing, almost sending me shivers down my spine.

Almost, but not.

Because I knew something they didn't.

Right at that moment, Kieran ran right past me, totally ignoring my presence. More accurately, he had failed to notice me. I'd feel smug about that later. When Lucy's safe.

I stayed in the shadows as I watched Hunter and some other familiar face flash past and take out the Hel-Blar, at the same time freeing Lucy. Kieran even had the time to whack her on the head, muttering something like, 'How many times does this make already, Hamilton. Didn't anything you learn in school for the past three years stay in that big head?'.

Wait. My (ex) girlfriend has been wearing a mini skirt and seducing Hel-Blar for the past three years? I felt my nostrils flare with rage. Hell! Three years, and I'm no better than a bad smelling vampire who probably can't even kiss like I do! So much for trying to make me stay then.

Not like I was completely clear of guilt. Still, I was sure I had a better reason for my actions than what she was doing at the moment.

Feeling the need to rid myself of these annoying feelings, I jumped up from my hiding spot, followed by Solange and Quinn (to save their lovers and get staked at later, duh) and into the fight which had already ended.

The three us paused as the group of humans turned to us slowly, finally realising our presence. Lucy was the first to see me.

And she didn't look exactly happy either.

Well, crap.

Lucy

I thought I recognised the way that stake had a rough edge to it, like it wasn't sharpened properly but was done by a novice instead. But I knew better. That wicked aim and strength meant only one thing.

Nicholas Drake.

The vampire who had (technically) dumped me three years ago is back. And he had just saved my life. And he was in front of my face.

I was not impressed.

At the way my heart did a flip when I saw how he hasn't changed much from three years ago, that is. I could swear I caught him smirking at me.

Hell, no. I was not in love with this asshole any longer. Even if I was, no way was I admitting it in his face. Or anyone else's. Myself included.

"Lucy!" all of a sudden, Solange had her arms wrapped around me. "S-Sol?" I was more than startled, unsure whether I should hug her back or push her away and scream at her. After three years, my (ex) boyfriend and best friend were before me all at once. Nothing could make me prepared for this.

I meekly flicked a glance at Kieran. He was doing his best to look calm, alright. Well, if you'll ignore how stiff his face and shoulders look, sure. Rephrase? He was totally nervous in the presence of his (ex) girlfriend.

After a lot of squeezing and my 'ows', Solange finally released me from her supernatural embrace.

"Before you decide to break up with Nick, hear him out. I'm sure being you, you've already figured that the Hel-Blar aren't acting the same recently. That's all I'll say. Nick'll explain the rest." She gave me a small smile, then turned shyly to Kieran. She didn't even give me a chance to register that.

"...Hey."

"...Hey."

I could not help but roll my eyes.

"I need to talk to you," Solange blurted out. Well, at least I know now she hasn't wasted her three years as she actually got straight to the point once.

"...Um, sure," Kieran answered as confused as I felt. In a split second, the two was gone, probably already somewhere deep in the forest, making out.

Jenna and Chloe had also, at some point of time, left for the academy.

Which means...

I was left with Nicholas and... Was that Hunter and Quinn arguing in the shadows? Well, in their own sense, that was a good thing.

Just as I wondered whether that meant the whole of the Drake family were back, I heard a voice. A voice that was so close it was without a doubt invading my personal space.

"Lucky."

Taking advantage of my diverted attention, Nicholas advanced in my direction and was now so close I could feel his breath on my ears when he spoke. I willed my pulse not to speed up. Obviously, it wasn't doing a good job since Nicholas had a smug grin on his face.

"We need to have a talk too."

I tried not to have goosebumps. It was the hardest thing I've done since they left. His eyes were gentle but fierce and determined.

"Beginning with why you're dressed like this and seducing Hel-Blar."

As I said, hell of a night for a twenty-one year old vampire hunter.

I had not planned to make this into a series, so I'll try to keep it short! Hope it wasn't too... I don't know, not to your liking? I'm not good with spur-of-the-moment stuff. I'll plan for the next chapter!