Healsoknew that they werenot killers, but he didn’t know if they were going to attack him. He had come into their territory after all, and he knew full well just how territorial his kind could be.Astrangled cry snapped his gaze back to the woman as she turned and fled. Startled looks came over the faces of the two that she shoved past, but they didn’t make a move to stop her. The other one took a step forward, his body rigid as his hands clenched into fists at his side.
“I don’t think you should be here,”themansaid coldly.
Stefandidn’t think he should be here either, but he wasn’t going to tell him that. He was stronger than most of his kind, but with so many of them here he knew that he would be in for a hard battle.A battlehe would not walk away from unscathed, especially if he had to protect Jess and Delia from them.
“You are the creepiest people I have ever met!” Delia cried angrily. “I want to see my mother!”
“Delia shut up!”Stefanhissed. His gaze darted to the young girl by the porch,Deliawas easily within their reach,and ifthey wanted to hurt her they could have her in seconds. The last thing he needed was for her to draw even more attention to herself. He needed all of his senses at the moment, andDelia’syelling was not helping.
“Stefan!” Jess cried, at the same time that Delia startedshoutingangrily.
He purposely shut them out as hetunedhis senses to the air around him. Detecting the approach of others, he turned so that his body was halfway between the porch, and the shadows at the edge of the house. He knew immediately that there were four of them.
They came running around the corner, skidding to a halt as their eyes landed upon him. He halfcrouchedprepared to fight to the death as a soft hiss escaped him. Their eyes widened in surprise, and then narrowed dangerously. The three on the porch took a step toward him, hostility radiatedfrom every inch of them.Stefan’smuscles bunched in anticipationof a fight.
Jess and Delia took a frightened step back. Delia began to scream hysterically, causing Stefan to wince at the harsh sound of her grating voice.
“Stefan!”Surprise snapped through him as one of the newcomers called his name and took a step forward.The animosity that had surroundedthe manmoments beforevanishedinstantly. Stefan remained rigid as he straightened slowly, his eyesintentupon the tall, blond man that had spoken his name. For a moment he couldn’t recall who he was, then recognition sprang forth, and a small laugh escaped him.
“David?”Stefanasked in disbelief.
“Yeah, what the hell are you doing here?” Davidgrinned at him as hestrode forward, extending his hand. Stefan accepted it and shook it briskly.
“What the hell is going on?” Jess demandedangrily, her hands planted on her hips as she glared at them.Her eyes swung to Stefan, a moment of fear flashing through them before she took a step closer to her sister.
“That’s what we’d like to know,” one of theothernewcomers muttered.
David peered over his shoulder, his eyes widenedas he finally noticed the two humans gathered behindStefan. “Who the hell are you?” he demanded.
“Kathleen’s kids,” the tall man at the front of the porch answered.
David’s eyes widened as he spun toward him. “What?”he gasped.
“Yeah, don’t ask. Who the hell is that?” he asked nodding toward Stefan.
David blinkedin surprise, shaking his head slightly as he glanced quickly between Stefan and the group gathered on the porch.“This is Stefan. I met him when I went tocollege in Pennsylvania. He’s the one that told me about what was going on withLiamand Sera.”
Stefan’s eyes widened as his mouth dropped. “Are thesetheirkids?” he asked in surprise.
David nodded as he grinned at Stefan.“Some of them. That’s Ethan, Aiden, and Ian,” He said, nodding to the group still gathered on the porch. “Those are my friends Mike, Doug, and Jack. I told you about thembefore.”
“Yeah, I remember,”Stefanreplied dully, his gaze quickly searching the three men on the porch. He had heard of vampire children, had been told that they were normal looking, but he had never actuallyseenone. It was completely amazing. “Who was the girl?”heinquired.
“Thegirlwas our sister, Isabelle,” Ethan, or at least he thought it was Ethan, replied coldly.
Stefan’seyebrows rose at the fierce tone inthe boy’svoice, but he refrained from saying anything. “What is going on?” Delia asked shrilly.
“Someone’s going to have to take care of them,” Stefan said, waving a hand at the humans behind him.
“Not me,” Jack announced. “I had enough ofdoingthat with Kathleen years ago.”
“What did you do to my mother?” Jessnearly shrieked.
“What are going to do to us?” Delia cried, backing steadily away from the porch, her gaze darting wildly around. Her fear was palpable as it radiated through the air.
“That’s all you guys,it’s a perfect training sessionfor honing your powers of persuasion,” David said, grinning as he noddedto the men on the porch. “Why don’t we go somewhere a little less chaoticand catch up?” he asked Stefan.
“That sounds like a very good idea,” he replied.
