Gary smiled as he looked out of the window and saw the sun streaming down. Summer was now starting to kick off and the temperature was slowly rising. He rushed out of his room and down the stairs, heading out towards the lake. Most of the school knew he was a vampire so he didn't bother to run at a human pace, instead he was a blur to most eyes. He arrived at the lake in a few seconds and took in a deep breath, smiling as the different scents hit his tongue. The sun glittened on the water, making the surface shimmer intisingly [spl]. He chuckled and pulled off his shirt and trousers, before diving into the water. He assumed that it would have been freezing to humans but his vampire body didn't notice the temperature change. He laughed happily as he dived down under the water, swimming right down to the bottom of the lake, and back up again.

Alex stepped slowly out of the forest, pulling his shirt back over his head to cover the blood. He had just finished a task for the Dark Lord, and his master was very pleased. Very very pleased. As he stepped into the sunlight a splash of water caught his ears. He turned and made his way over to the lake. He noticed the clothes on the glass and picked them up, recognizing Gary's scent on them almost immediately. He bit his lip and sat down on the grass basking in the sun, waiting for Gary to re-appear.

Gary chuckled to himself again then paused and turned around, Alex's scent hitting his nostrils. A large grin spread over his face and he quickly made his way over to the bank. "Hey!" he called, "Fancy a dip?" He noted the tired look on Alex's face, and his smile faded slightly. "Are you ok? Are you bleeding?" he asked, frowning with worry. He could smell blood on Alex's but couldn't quite work out if it was his or not.

"I'm fine," Alex said, "No, I'm not bleeding." Alex bit his lip and slipped down his trousers and then pulled the shirt over his head. Quickly removing his shoes and socks he dived head first into the freezing lake. The blood instantly washing away, yet the stain was still on his shirt. He wasn't bleeding, much, but he had accidently run into a ministry official snooping around the grounds and...well...lets just say his snooping days are over.

Gary frowned but smiled as Alex joined him in the water. He swam over and wrapped his arms around Alex's neck, "So what happened?" he asked, knowing that something had happened, whether Alex was going to admit it or not. You didn't just get covered in blood from nothing. He smiled softly, to show that he didn't mind what it was. In fact, he was quite interested to see what the Dark Lord had made Alex do.

Alex turned and kisses Gary on the neck, the cold skin feeling wonderful mixed with the water. "I...I killed someone. But I had a reason!" he said hurriedly, "See...we, the Dark Lord and his followers, we have a plan. But when I went into the forest to meet Avery I saw someone from the ministry. So I...I killed him. He was going to ruin everything! I had to. So really, it was helping the Dark Lord and Dumbledore," he reasoned, "No one likes a tell-tale." Alex bit his lip and looked down at the squirming tattoo. "But I have to wait till next week to meet someone about the plan," he said bitterly, as though he had been waiting forever to begin and this foolish official ruined it all.

Gary chuckled, "Don't worry, Alex! You don't need to explain yourself to me. You are talking to a vampire who has killed hundreds of people before. Things have changed since i was away, i don't mind about those sorts of things as much as anymore. I'd quite happily start up a diet of human blood, but it's easier to stick to animals when i'm at school. My eyes go red otherwise," he said, chuckling again. He pressed his lips to Alex's and smiled.

Alex smiled back and dived down under the surface. As a werewolf he was able to hold his breath underwater for much longer than as a human. Hie ears picked up the singing of the merpeople, it was beautiful down here, so quiet. But the eeriness made the lake feel dead. Something swam past him in a hurry, Alex frowned as he tried to look to where the thing has come from, but his couldn't see anything except a dark shadow. What was it?

Gary chuckled and followed after him, holding onto Alex's hand. The merepeople were singing softly and it made the whole place feel even more magical. He had always loved the lake, even though some people found it eery and strange. But the calmness of the water mixed with the strange music of the merepeople, was soothing to him, rather than eery. He pulled on Alex's hand gently and swam down deeper, knowing that Alex would be able to hold his breath for longer now.

Alex's eyes began to sting a little from the water, but he continued to follow Gary, lower and lower. He looked around him, the shadow was still there. It looked strangely familiar yet so different. He chewed on his lip, still keeping his lungs full of air. He closed his eyes for a moment and the shadow disappeared but only a few moments later it was back. Bigger than before.

Gary smiled then paused, staying in the water rather than swimming down. He turned to look at Alex and cocked his head to the side, frowning. Something seemed to be troubling him, and yet, he couldn't tell what. He looked around the water to see if it was the giant squid or some other creature but the lake was calm and clear. Most creatures knew to stay away from him, sensing that he was more powerful than them. He tugged on Alex's hand gently and began to swim to the surface, wanting to know what was wrong.

Alex broke through the surface and coughed a little to get the water out of his mouth. He immediatly swam to the bank and pulled himself out, his back was bleeding and his front also. He tried to brush the blood away but it just bled more. What was happening? Suddenly his arm seared with pain and he collapsed to the floor. He took a few deep breaths to calm himself down, squeezing his eyes tight shut. When he opened them again the blood was gone, there were no marks on him at all, not even scars or scratched. He looked up, confused, the shadow still moving in the water. Scared he hung his head in his hands. As he did blood trickled between his fingers and over his lips, he could taste it. Pulling his hands away he saw there was nothing. No blood, no shadow, no scratches, nothing.

Gary jumped out of the water after Alex and crouched infront of him, holding onto the boy's slim wrists. "Alex? Alex, speak to me. What's going on? What do you see?" he asked, knowing that there was clearly something which was frightening him. He wondered if something had happened whilst he was fighting the official, a curse or something. 'It could just be strain,' he thought, remembering the breakdowns he used to have.

"Blood," he whispered, "I'm covered in it!" he whimpered covering his eyes again. Where had it all come from? He gasped in pain as the tattoo squirmed around his arm. His could feel his blood running down his back, his hot skin making it feel sticky. "Please, get it off me!" he begged pulling his wrists out of Gary's grasp and trying to brush the blood away, but the more he did the more covered he got. He saw the shadow, it was getting closer.

Gary grabbed ahold of Alex's arms again, holding them firmly. "Alex, Alex, look at me!" he said, his voice stern. He pushed Alex's chin up so they were looking each other in the eye. "There is no blood, it's only me and you. No one can hurt you. Trust me, ok? Nothing is happening." He stared at Alex, willing him to believe his words. If this was the Dark Lord's doing then he hated him.

"But there is!" Alex insisted trying to pull his arms away, he was getting blood on Gary. Wait. He looked up and looked at his boyfriend, but it wasn't Gary. It was him. The man he had killed. He gasped and pulled away. Blood dripping over his body. You killed me for no reason, and this shall be your punishment a voice in his head screamed. The shadow moved up out of the water as the Dark Lord stood - a vision - right next to him. The Dark Lord would be visible to the both of them, but he wasn't really there. The Lord placed his hand on Alex's back and the hallucinations stopped. Gary looked like Gary and Alex was no longer screaming about blood. It was over. Fine. The werewolf turned only to see the Dark Lord walked away and then mould back into the shadow and finally disappear.

Gary's eyes widened when he saw the Dark Lord standing behind Alex. He bit his lip and glanced between the two of them. "Alex?" he asked, hesitantly, once Voldermort had disappeared. "Alex, there's nothing there ok?" He took a few nervous steps towards Alex, hoping that he wouldn't lash out at him. He ran a hand through his hair, still staring at Alex, glancing at the spot where the Dark Lord had been standing a few moments ago.

Alex looked up slowly, Gary was right, there was nothing wrong now. He bit his lip and rested on his legs, afraid that they might start again if he made any sudden movements. "It's gone," he said finally, "It's over." He wasn't exactly sure why or how. But the most he knew was that the official had cursed him and the Dark Lord had saved him. Again. He smiled slightly and tried to stand up, but he was too weak. In a few moments he would be fine.

Gary breathed a sigh of relief and sat down next to Alex, placing a supporting arm around his shoulders. "I think we should go to the Hospital Wing. You don't look so good," he said, stroking Alex's cheek gently. He had gone clammy and that made Gary worry even more.

"N-no, I'm fine. Just give me a minute..." Alex whispered trying to stand again, but his legs refused to work. He sighed and slumped back down on the grass. He still had the faint taste of blood in his mouth but it would soon go. "I'm sorry. I ruined your swim didn't I?" he smiled pulling Gary next to him as he snuggled into the boy's chest.