careful what you dream of.

Some days were harder than others. Some days when the little cafe that she worked in was way busier than normal and the scent of fresh blood was stronger than normal, Piper struggled through the day. Most days were manageable though. She had given up human blood a long time ago because she had never been too fond of hurting someone just to survive. James, her boyfriend, and she lived mostly off of animal blood. The occasional bag of blood from the local hospital if James got his hands on one was shared between the two but never anything fresh.

Having just finished a midday shift at the cafe, Piper made her way home, excited to relax for the evening with James. It didn't take more than few minutes to pull up to her house. She had to park around the corner because several vehicles had been parked in front of their home. Piper had thought nothing of it was she walked up the front door.

Piper stepped inside, kicking her shoes off as she went. She placed her purse down on the small table by the front door. "James? I'm home," she called out, turning toward the kitchen.

John hated vampires. Well, he hated most supernatural creatures - but vampires topped the list. He knew they could never change their blood sucking ways - and James was a prime example of that.

The little runt was sucking blood from people left right and centre, leaving them in a critical state. John should of killed him there and then - but there was a deal to be had. Sure, he didn't like the deal, but it was something to give him information about different covens in the area.

And the sound of a door closing was his deal.

He leaned against the kitchen counter, waiting for the girl to walk through. He looked at his hiking boots, scuffed and riddled with mud and discolouration. James stood on the other side of him, arms by his side.

"So, should we say a year?" John asked, seeing the person walk in. "You know, for us to stop tracking you." Completely blanking the girl, he looked back at James.

"Piper..... Yes, a year would be nice." He said, sounding defeated as his head dropped. "I'm sorry Pip...."

"Come on James, show a bit more care than that - I know you're a vampire and shit at empathy, but just imagine what you'll be like without her."

Piper stopped dead in her tracks when she caught sight of John. Her eyes narrowed a bit, sizing him up before she looked to her boyfriend. Her frown only deepened as John spoke, eyes snapping to rest on him. "What are you on about?" Her voice was harsh, not liking that someone had James in such a vulnerable position.

"You don't need to apologize, whatever this is will go away," Piper addressed her boyfriend, giving him a soft smile.

Her blood ran cold at John's next words. It all clicked at once - what and why John was here. Piper's body tensed as she made her way around to James, completely avoiding John.

Looking up to John, Piper forced a smile to her lips. A hunter in their home was enough to make her blood run cold.

"I think it's time that you need to leave now, don't you think?" Piper said, glaring at John as she set a hand on James' shoulder to offer him some sort of comfort.

John crossed his arms, letting out a dissapointed sigh. Rolling his eyes, he looked at Piper and James. "Great performance of emotion, do you want a medal?" He sarcastically commented, glaring at the two.

Ever since he lost his family in that fire all those years ago, John never was nice to a creature. They were all scum in his eyes - especially the ones that hurt others, like James.

"James here has been feeding and leaving multiple women on the brink of death. Did he tell you this? Did he also tell you that he only cares about himself - and that we've made a deal including you?"

The man in question let out a small sigh, looking up at his beloved girlfriend.

"H-Hear me out, Pip... They were going to kill me! Us! We would of been torn apart, and I wouldn't want that in a million years!"

John let out a small chuckle at the scene. Poor James, sinking low to defend his choice of practically trading his girlfriend to a hunter,

"You're lying," Piper spat the words before she even could consider whether John may be telling the truth. She certainly wasn't going to give John the benefit of the doubt, not when he was a hunter in her home.

It wasn't until James spoke up that she started to believe the hunter. A shiver ran down her spine as she resisted the urge to step away from James. If she wanted any hope at getting through this, she knew they had to stay together.

Piper's grip tightened on James' shoulder, bracing herself for whatever may be coming.

"And what exactly is the deal you think you've made, hunter? Enlighten me since you say that it somehow involves me and I don't remember having been here.."

John rolled his eyes once again, shaking his head in the process. Did this girl - no, this vampire not get the hint? "I'm going to skip the dabble and get straight to the point - this 'perfect' boyfriend of yours?" John pointed to James, tilting his head to the right ever so slightly. "He's in a bit of trouble with hunters due to his actions, and as a result - he offered a trade. You for his safety."

James visibly tensed up, as he looked up to Piper. "T-They threatened us, Piper! I thought we were in danger... I'm sorry, but I didn't want to die... I didn't want you to die."

"Blah blah blah..." John yawned into the back of his hand, as he looked at Piper. "I remember James saying, and I quote - "Will this get me out of trouble?" He never talked about you." John said effortlessly, with a shrug of his shoulders as he looked around the kitchen. It looked normal - but the idea of normal went down the drain considering what Piper and James were.

((omf sorry this is so late! ))

(listen, shit happens. it's fine!! )

Piper's eyes narrowed as John spoke, eyes flicking to James, and back up to John. The feeling that stirred in her gut wasn't something she cared for and she wanted briefly to just turn and leave the room. Leave the house. But she had a sneaking suspicion that John wouldn't allow that. Not yet, at least. She set a hand on James' shoulder and leaned down, squeezing hard. "You seem to forget I know everything about you. I know what makes you tick, sweetheart."

Raising back to her feet, she forced a pretty little smile to her lips. Piper wanted nothing more than to not agree with John but so long as she got her way, she would be long, long gone.

"If I'm supposed to be coming with you, I need to pack a bag of clothes. It should only take a few minutes, I don't need to get much," Piper said, her voice sickeningly sweet.