Confrontation

"You shouldn't be here," Andre growled. Hunter smirked at him, "I don't believe you're my mother Andre. You cannot tell me to leave or to stay, it is not for you to decide."

"You're the one who killed this girl, why the hell are you sticking around?" Amanda hissed out, her hand resting on Andre's shoulder to prevent him from attacking Hunter. The smirking vampire turned to Amanda, his eyes glinting as they looked her up and down.

"Why are you so interested - Amanda isn't it?" She nodded, and he took her hand in his, lowering his head to kiss the back of it. She pulled it back before he could place his cold lips on it and he chuckled softly.

"I am Hunter as you obviously know, I like a girl with spunk." Beside him Taylor couldn't help the possessive growl that came from within her throat. Andre pulled Amanda back, separating her from Hunter with his own body.

"Worried are you, Andre?" Hunter asked smugly. Andre went to slap him when a polite, shaky female voice stopped him.

"Please don't fight. Nell wouldn't want one at her funeral," Amy pleaded. All four of them looked over at her. Hunter took her hands in his own, bowing his head. When he spoke his voice was shaky.

"I'm sorry Mrs. Turner. We all miss her so dearly, sometimes with emotions running high words are taken the wrong way. I meant no disrespect Michael," Hunter looked at Andre before turning to Amy Turner.

"How are you holding up?" he sounded generally concerned and Amanda found it hard to believe he was the very same monster that killed Nell, or drove her to it. The woman gave him a small smile and assured him that she was doing better than she expected. Hunter enveloped her in a light hug, "I'm sorry I've never really had a moment to meet you, and I deeply regret having to introduce myself on such a somber occasion. I went to school with Nell, my name is Andrew Nelson. It's a pleasure to meet you after hearing so many wonderful things about you. Nell talked very fondly about you and your husband." Hunter lied so easily, so smoothly, that it didn't take a genius to see that Amy was smitten with him already.

"Well it was a pleasure to meet you, but I fear I must return to the guests," Amy said regretfully after a couple more minutes of talking. Amanda watched her leave slowly, the older woman stealing one last look at Hunter before disappearing into the crowd of people. Hunter chuckled softly and turned to Andre and Amanda, "You might want to be careful of what you try and pull around here Andre. You might get yourself kicked out, and what a shame that would be," his eyes were back on Amanda. She met his gaze and walked closer, pushing past Andre to face Hunter.

"Why are you hanging out with someone like Andre? You've chosen the wrong side Amanda. You're a smart girl aren't you?" Hunter asked, pulling her closer to him. She didn't resist and smirked.

"What would you rather have me do Hunter?"

"Join me Amanda; you'd be amazed what we can do. Your mentor has taught you poorly, you know little to nothing of the joys of being a vampire. Come with me and I can teach you all you need to know." He promised, speaking to her softly. Instead of pulling away Amanda leaned closer, her lips hovering beside Hunter's ear. Andre's face hardened but he did nothing. His bright blue eyes caught Taylor's. The woman looked away quickly. His attention was turned back to Amanda as she spoke.

"You think I should join your side? And what exactly would happen if I did?"

"You would be my queen, we would rule over these pathetic mortals with no problem for eternity."

"Mmm... A queen you say?" Amanda smirked and licked her lips, "your queen?"

"My queen."

"What about Taylor here?" Amanda looked over at the girl, still smirking in a rather sadistic fashion.

"She's nothing to me, I swear it,"

"Hunter would you swear to me?"

"I would."

"Why don't you swear that you will never harm a human again, and that you will never come near me again?" Amanda said as she pulled away, her voice having hardened with every word. Hunter snarled as she pulled away and walked backwards to Taylor. The woman's pride was obviously wounded but she said nothing to him.

"Talk your way out of this one Hunter," Amanda said with a scowl as she turned on her heel and walked out of the funeral home. Andre shot Hunter a satisfied sneer as he followed after her. Hunter watched her go before turning to Taylor.

"I'm nothing to you?" She asked angrily, her face reddening as she balled her white - knuckled hands.

"That wench seduced me," Hunter spat, glaring at the door as if it were the reason he was in this situation.

"Oh I'm sure she is," Taylor said as she started to walk away. Hunter followed after her and caught up to her when she tried to lose him. Pulling her close so her back was on his chest, he wrapped his arms around her middle and whispered reassuring words in her ear.

"Hunter you're the only person in my life who's stuck with me and then some girl comes along and tries to take you from me and you just let her. How the hell is that supposed to make me feel?" Taylor demanded.

"I know, and I apologized. I'm telling you, there's something about her that forces the thoughts out of your mind," he murmured, kissing her neck gently. She sighed and slumped against him, "I don't know. Why did you kill this girl? She had done nothing to you and she had hardly even lived her life out. Ever since Xaldin left you haven't been the same,"

"He's my brother how would you react?" Hunter demanded while he pulled away quickly as if she had just slapped him.

"I know, but you need to move on Hunter. He'll come back, he always does right?" she said softly. He nodded and faced her.

"Let's go, I don't want to have to suck up to anyone else all night, unless it's someone's neck and there's blood coming out," Hunter said softly, checking over his shoulder to make sure there was no one listening. Satisfied that they were alone, Taylor nodded and the two disappeared into the shadows of the night.

Xaldin stepped out from behind a thick oak tree, leaning against its rough bark, his arms folded over his chest. So the rumors were true, Hunter had done the unthinkable. It was forbidden in their covenant, before Xaldin had left at least, to use mind powers to trap and weaken a human. However with Hunter at the helm of the group they had obviously changed it. Maybe he should pay his brother a visit. But then Taylor's words came back to him, 'He'll come back, he always does'. so Xaldin vowed he wouldn't speak to his brother or anyone else of the broken covenant until it was torn completely down. Hunter couldn't continue to break rule after rule and get away with it, the members would not allow it. Xaldin would not allow it. A full moon shone brightly in the sky above, but not for long as clouds quickly wrapped around the orb briefly. When they had released it of its prison Xaldin had disappeared.