Prologue

I was running.

My legs were heavy and stiff, my nose pink and cold, my ears feeling as if they were frozen. I tried to run faster, my feet protesting against my tired efforts, but doing as I willed just the same. I didn’t stop, even if it felt as if my lungs were about to burst. Sheer determination kept me going, even if the physical aspects urged me to at least slow my pace a little bit. I was not going to do that. Not here; it was too dangerous. I had to get away.

The cold wind stung my eyes; I knew he was near. The wind blew harshly, making my dark hair whip at the sides of my face. It hurt, but I managed. Suddenly, it was as if branches were everywhere. I had to get out of my way to dodge each and every one of them, because I knew that one hit from even the smallest branch would distract me, therefore slowing me down. At least getting them out of the way would at least only slow my pace a little bit.

I huffed, listening to everything as I ran. I realised that there was nothing to listen to: it was all dead silence, except from my tired breathing and my heels digging into the cold snow. I did not stop: I knew better than to be deceived by the peaceful silence that surrounded me. Only the woodland animals made their own little sounds, scattering here and there due to my presence and his. I was not to be fooled by the somewhat eerie silence that surrounded me.

I leaned on a tree, and then took off my shoes. It would be easier to run with my bare feet digging through the cold ice than to have the heels of my shoes sink into snow. Even if I felt that my feet would instantly freeze, they didn’t. My dress was ruined, and so was my hair. I sighed. I should not think about such trivial things.

Again, I was on the move. I ran faster now, even if my feet felt as if they were about to come off. The heat supplied by my wildly beating heart kept my feet moving faster. My breath came in short pants, and I willed myself to run faster, even if I thought that my lungs were going to burst. I had to get away from him, and from everyone else like him.

The night, which has been previously full of splendour and glamour, had been turned into a nightmare. One minute, I had been drinking the most wonderful wine from Spain, with my friends and all the other nobles, and then everything changed. I had not been able to sense the sudden change of emotion: Hunters hide their emotions well, after all. I blinked, and suddenly, hounds had broken all those windows and ruined the whole get-together. I remembered how we all shouted as friends turned into enemies, and nobles turn into people we barely know. I had remembered, most of all, dancing with the man who was giving pursuit at the very moment.

Oh, how I remembered his undaunted silver-blue eyes. How I remembered how his golden-streaked ebony hair gleamed under the chandelier above our heads! He had spoken to me so clearly and calmly, and had hesitated when he was ordered to kill me when I escaped. Was this all just a ruse to lure me out? To make me believe that I had to trust this person who was one of the many that intended to kill me at the moment?

I found a tree and climbed up, not really minding the sharp pains that stung my cold, bare feet as I used them to ascend the tree. I shivered, and then looked at the direction from which I came from: the estate had been completely destroyed. I could see the wild fire that the Hunters started. I held back a sob: showing such weakness in hours of complete failure was not how I had been taught. Sobbing was a human emotion. I was not human, even if I showed signs that I was. Of course, that was my body’s instinct.

Then, I heard a twig snap a few feet from me, on the snow below. I looked down, and there he was. He was alone, and I was sure of it. He had no other companions: I knew him well. If he would go “hunting”, he would bring a few friends for the fun of it. He obviously didn’t bring any: I could not hear a thrumming soul within a few miles.

“Elizabeth,” he called out. No, I would not come out. I know knew what he really was: he wasn’t the person I thought he had been way back when. I bit back a whimper: my heart called out to him as well as his called for mine. Even if I didn’t want to, I knew that I yearned to be next to him and stay there. I wanted to hold him and tell him that I loved him so much, but I knew I couldn’t. “Elizabeth,”

Then, before I knew what was happening, he looked straight at me, as if he knew I had been here all this time. He opened his mouth and, instead of calling out to his fellowmen, he said: “Come down here, Elizabeth. No one will hurt you,”

I knew the tone he used, because I knew him so well. I knew that he was serious, and those last words were a promise. Slowly, I began climbing down. Instead of having to go through all that pain again, I jumped: I knew that he would catch me, and he did. He did not put me back down on my own two feet, but carried me, just like that. His eyes travelled from my bloodied face to my blistered feet. His eyes were raging: he wanted to know who did this to me. Of course, both of us knew that it was his fault from the very beginning. I did not want to point this out to him.

Suddenly, before he could say a word, footsteps emerged from out of the blue. We were surrounded in the blink of an eye. I felt fear and anxiety creep up to me in a slow crawl. Would he betray me? Would he hand me, the filth, to his comrades and brothers?

No, it was apparent that he intended to keep me in his arms, just like this.

“Good work, lad!” I heard his father say. He looked like him…only that his father looked like the older version. “I truly am grateful to have you as my son! Now, hand that piece of filth over here, and our men will do the rest.”

“No,” he said, his tone defiant and sure, not caring any less about anything at all. Was he really risking his life for me? But I was nothing compared to him! In my eyes, he was a god, while I was a thing like his father said I was. Did he not understand that his beautiful life would be in jeopardy as well?! “No, father. I wish to keep this girl that you call ‘filth’. I do not want her blood to be spilled on my family’s honour,”

Obviously, he did not care about his life at all. I wanted to tell him that I was nothing---a low-life---compared to him, but I knew better: he wouldn’t listen. He was as stubborn as I was when it came to the rules. But why would he care about my life?!

“My, my,” his older brother said. “Jayce, I’ve certainly not seen you like this since the death of your beloved Rose.”

“Scum!” his father shouted at him, holding a gun in hand. Instantly, I was afraid. I was shaking in fear. “How dare you disgrace me like this! I take back every compliment I had given you! I’d rather have a dead son than have him with that…that thing in his arms!”

He did not move; he did not even talk. I could see that this hurt him quite well, but he certainly did not show it much. I just knew that he was sad about this: being disgraced by his own family in front of their own servants and workers. His frown got deeper, marring his beautiful, god-like features only slightly. Even in this dreadful situation, he still held himself well.

Not even a whimper could muster its way from my bosom as I heard the gun’s safety click. We were dead. What’s worse, I would cause his death. Even if I knew that it was ironic how I tried to stay away from him earlier, I didn’t want to be separated from him anymore. Not this way, at least.

Then, the gun shot echoed throughout the forest, silencing everything else. I couldn’t hear anything anymore. One moment, I was looking into his face under the moonlight amidst the enemy’s presence, and the next, I was enveloped in his body. I felt warm liquid trail down my cheek, and it soon covered me. I made the crucial mistake of turning him over.

We were on the ice, and it was a horrifying sight: his blood seeped on the ice, red contrasting white in a manner that I did not want to think about. His blood covered me. I held my bloody hand to my mouth, idiotically trying to revive him in my mind by inhaling his scent, and accidentally inhaled the steely scent that was his blood. I gagged, and then sent his father and brother murderous looks. Even if I knew that it was probably my fault that we were in our current situation, it wasn’t me who killed him, and it wasn’t I who held the gun that ended his life.

His father sent back my glare, and I knew that I would forever hold a grudge against him. I would always remember how his dark blue eyes seemed to shine with madness under the light of the stars. Even though my legs were weak and were to the point of freezing, I stood straight. My knees didn’t even so much as quiver. I stared them straight in the eye and said the words that would bind me to Jayce’s soul forever:

“I swear by my blood that I shall kill whoever lays so much as a hand on my beloved,” I said, my words strong and hard, but my spirit quivering. “I will never die as long as every last Hunter is dead.”

“Woman, why do you have such courage?” the father asked. I just narrowed my eyes at him. He laughed. “Such strong words, so little spirit. No matter. I will kill you anyway.”

He paused, holding the gun’s barrel to his forehead. Again, another stupid thought entered my mind: I wanted him to accidentally pull on that trigger and kill himself. I knew, though, that this wasn’t likely. Hunters were very experienced when it came to holding murderous weapons. He smiled evilly at me and said: “And such strange choice of your last words, my dear, but I’m afraid that that was the only chance you’ve got.”

His gun fired, and pain exploded in me before everything went black. For the first time in so many years of staying so young, I died.

Chapter 1

I didn’t know how many years had passed since I lived again. I didn’t know how long my old body stayed buried in the snow, preserved. I didn’t know how long my soul stayed in the sanctuary we call Shadowfield. I only remembered white light from my time there, and I remembered being extremely happy.

Now that I’m alive, I was not quite sure how to handle things. As a child, my memories had not fully surfaced: surely, this must be a sign of weakness. Others say that this was normal for average Drinkers, but I wasn’t average: I have lived many times before, and this lifetime had been the first in which I have not regained my memories before the age of 10. I have recently acquired them, though, and as Elizabeth, I am relived. If I hadn’t regained my old self, I would have to remain a pathetic Drinker whose soul never returned. I shivered at the thought. I remembered, though, how the first vibrant memory rippled through me one unfaithful day when I crossed the street.

I shivered, thanking my blazer for the first time. If it not had been for the many layers of our winter uniform, I would have frozen to death. I still remembered how cold it was when I last saw Jayce. I missed him so, ever since our last encounter in France during my previous lifetime. I would never forget that.

My phone vibrated strongly in my pocket, and I was shocked to death. Reminiscing made me forget about reality. I tugged it out, angry for a moment, but relived the second I saw who was calling. And to think that I had expected the past to stay as it was! My past was part of what humans now call “history”. Humans were such ignorant fools.

“Yo.” I said, walking briskly past students, not paying attention to anyone or anything. A guy came up to me as I sat down on our group’s bench outside the gate, but I waved him away. My friends came flocking to me like birds to their seeds. I laughed mentally at this. I motioned for them to stay silent, and they did. For such a small group of nine or so students, we made a lot of noise most of the time that we were together. I enjoyed watching how they wasted their short, pathetic lives on going up that worthless thing they call the “high school social ladder”.

“Change your line, will you, Leah?” Eris said over the phone. I could hear loud music in the background, and instantly knew that she was in her car. I looked around: no one at the corner yet. Maybe she was at a stoplight somewhere. “Well, whatever. Where are you?”

“I’m already in school,” I said, my tone a little dead, sounding as if it was something I wasn’t happy about. It was, but I was only interested in the amusing how the students act around here, as if there was some higher power that controlled the less-popular students. “Can you go a little faster, or are you just slow?”

I heard her scoff in the background. Now (finally), her BMW came into view. “Slow? SLOW?! I’m slow?”

I was laughing. This laughter wasn’t one that I used in the different formal get-togethers I’ve been to in the past, used for fake mirth. This was the laughter for pure amusement…a true and honest laugh. This life has taught me how to laugh just so, and I feel grateful for that.

Eris parked her car next to my Cadillac CTS-V, as always. I sighed, letting out a small puff of air. I scowled at this, because I’ve always hated the cold ever since that night I died with Jayce. She got out of the car with style, flipping her long, bronze hair that glimmered under the sunlight. Her usually hazel eyes were covered by ridiculously dark sunglasses which, in turn, were half-covered by her bangs. She stepped out of her car delicately, and then hung her blazer over her right shoulder. Her bag was already slung on the same shoulder. She locked her car and sauntered over to us; the boys she passed seemed to either wither or die when she gave them a glance. Just like always.

Sometimes envied her for her looks. I, in my part, was not really someone who cared about such trivial things. When I look into a mirror, for example, I rarely criticise the way my long, dark hair flowed down past my shoulders and ended with soft, dainty curls. I didn’t really notice my eyes, shadowed by those curled bangs that seemed to always get in the way, covering my dark blue eyes ever-so-slightly. I didn’t really care about how Eris’ and Megan’s bra sizes were WAY bigger than mine, not to mention the fact that they had über-sexy bodies, while I was plain old me. I personally thought that my legs were my only assets, but others said the opposite. Still, though…

She sat next to me, not taking her shades off. I laughed as she blew a kiss to a random (and cute) guy. He smiled back. I laughed at him: so pathetic.

“You’re an evil person, Eris.” I said as I observed the guy’s girlfriend turn red with irritation at her boyfriend’s stupidity. I mean, duh, he could’ve picked a prettier girlfriend. ‘Nough said.

“What?” she asked innocently as we observed Megan’s Porsche---a car I envied her for---speed right next to Eris’ car. Eris and I noticed how Megan looked: a scrunchie was very unusual for her. We all knew that she hated scrunchies. She didn’t like to tie her strawberry blonde hair, nor did she like to cover her brilliant black eyes that seemed like endless tunnels. She liked to show off her smooth, fair skin though. Of course, she couldn’t do that in school since it was against the rules, but outside…

She strutted her way over to us like the model she was. I wanted to laugh again, and I didn’t know why. As the young ‘uns say, I’m “high”. I chuckled as Eris and Megan started their usual banter. This time, it started with clothes.

“I really think that this school shouldn’t have such lame uniforms.” Megan complained, tugging at her skirt so that it hitched up slightly, but not to her liking, as it only showed more of the almost-black stockings. “The school needs a fashion department, for God’s sake!”

“Megan, this uniform is better than others.” Eris retorted, crossing her arms in front of her large chest. Honestly. Their bra sizes were just about twice as big as mine (even though I admit that mine had a good enough size…and besides, I don’t even know why I’m concerned with this.). “Look at the ones in public schools! They look like nuns. NUNS!”

We all laughed heartily.

“Nuns! Imagine Megan as a nun!” Rayne exclaimed, imitating Megan. We all laughed until our sides burst. I felt as if I could literally roll on the ground. I was clutching at my sides. “Ha ha! My stomach hurts!”

We laughed again.

Suddenly, Rayne stopped.

She was sitting beside Eris, and she was looking at something. No, scratch that. She was staring. That was odd: Rayne was the one brimming with pride. She never stared at anyone. Ever.

We all looked to where she was looking at: there were loud, growling sounds coming from around the corner. Suddenly, a black, expensive-looking bike sped into view. The rider was female. It was evident, because under her helmet, her past-shoulder, layered black hair was whipping behind her. Her face was covered in a full-face tinted helmet, so none of us recognised her. She wore this black motorcycle-riding outfit thing that accented her toned body. She rounded the corner so sharply that her knee almost scraped the ground. She hitched the front of her bike upwards, obviously showing-off, then parked right in front of us. She put her foot down and killed the engine.

I could almost hear her sigh as she locked her bike.

She took off all her knee pads, elbow pads and whatever it was she wore when she rode the bike. She even took off her pants and her jacket; we all literally thought she was stripping.

Oh God, I thought.

Then, we saw her green sweater, and immediately found out the thing that we all dreaded most.

She was the new girl: the girl that enrolled halfway into the second sem…in senior year, of all times! I expected her to be with two more transferees. Word got out that she and her companions were going to be popular. I didn’t know it was like this. By the look of her, and her alone, I could tell that she would become famous the second she stepped inside the school grounds.

She opened the hatch under her seat and took out her bag after putting her gear inside. Then, she took out proper school shoes and put them on. Her feet were simply perfect. She sighed and took off her helmet. Oh holy J.C, she would be Eris’ and Megan’s target, for sure. They would kill for her looks. She was so pretty that I could label her as “otherworldly”.

It wasn’t just that, though. As a Dark Drinker---a creature who feeds on souls---I could literally see her dark, black soul underneath her brilliant spring green eyes, flecked with silver at the edges of the iris. She messed her hair with her hands, but she looked so pretty her hair doesn’t matter anymore. She cocked her hip to one side as she tucked her helmet under her arm while she slung her bag over the other. Honestly, how flirtatious can you get? Every person with testosterones was staring intimately at her.

She turned her head to the side, her hair following the direction of her head. Then, we heard it: two more rumbling sounds. She seemed to listen intently, not even noticing us in front of her, then…

A red blur followed a black one. I felt as if my breath was caught in my throat. I didn’t even see it coming: the black Ferrari Enzo and red GTB Fiorano. It was as if they burned the road. Their cars drifted right after the other behind the girl’s bike. Their doors opened slowly, and they shut them as in the same teasing manner, their backs turned all the while. From the back, the red Ferrari’s driver was blonde; the other had blonde-streaked ebony hair.

Then, they both turned, and I could tell that we all tried to hold back a gasp.

They were so incredible, heart-stopping, mind-numbing, god-like teenagers. They looked almost alike. They had the same posture, the same faces. Their long, lean arms were muscled. Their hands were stuffed in their pockets, and they leaned only slightly in directions that set them apart. They walked over to the girl with overflowing confidence. She chuckled at them.

“Slow much?” she said with a slight laugh. She had a very heavy American accent. They both grinned. Their eyes lit up: the blonde’s blue eyes caught my eye. The colour of sky blue endeared me so. Instantly, he looked at me, as if reacting to my very emotions.

“Jez, where are your manners?” he snapped as he made his way towards me. Now this guy…he sounded Brit. He knelt on one knee and took my hand. My heart went into overdrive. Why was I feeling like this? Surely, this boy was different from the other boys I’ve met and “hooked-up” with. His sky blue eyes stared earnestly into mine. He kissed my hand, and I almost felt him inhale the smell of my skin. “I’m Dylan Night, miss. I hope that this won’t be the last time we’ll see each other…because I really do like you.”

Without being able to stop themselves, my friends swooned. I would have, but I was too paralysed…too shocked because of how straightforward he was. It wasn’t just because I was flattered by this; it was because of his soul. Just by touching people, I could taste their souls, and this one tasted so…sweet. It was so innocent. I bit my tongue. I would have licked my lips on any other day. I gulped.

“I didn’t even notice them.” She grumbled. She held out her hand. “Jez Night. Nice to meet you.”

Dylan held my hand in his for a second longer, but he released it as he got up on his own two feet. I held out a shaky hand to Jez, and the moment I made contact, I almost gagged with how much darkness was in her. Her soul was so dark, but I knew there was something hidden beneath that…

She took her hand away, as if electrified, and I gave her an innocent look. Inside, I was panicking. Should I not have explored farther into her soul than I should? Should I have not risked discovery? After all, I’ve managed to evade the Hunters for the past, oh, 300 years or so. Was she one of them? The other boy---who was so handsome, in fact, that my heartbeat thrummed in my ears just by looking at him---smiled at me. I was at loss for words now.

He looked familiar. Too familiar. Nostalgia slammed into me in the form of a colossal headache. He looked too much like Jayce…but I never knew I would see his face here. I almost cried. It’s been over 100 years since I last saw him, and I almost thought that he wouldn’t be reincarnated ever again.

“Ryan Night,” he said, holding out a hand. He sounded American as well. I shook it, and tasted his equally dark soul. This time, I didn’t want to venture farther than that, even if I knew there was something else hidden underneath that darkness as well. “I’m Jez’s twin, and Dylan’s half-brother. We’re all in senior year.”

“Oh,” I managed to say. It was a tremendous effort to do so, because I felt as if all words in my vocabulary refused to be said. This was wrong. Everything was wrong. Every time Jayce got reincarnated, he took the name Jayce, and always remembered me WAY before we met. What’s up with the ‘I’m this cool dude named Ryan’ charade? Why is he refusing to recognise me? There wasn’t even a trace of recognition in his eyes, for God’s sake! It wasn’t even on his soul! Had I been expecting too much?

Was it so wrong to expect even the smallest things that make the biggest differences?

“I guess we should get going now.” He said as he started to walk away with his sister, his arm over her shoulders. He and his half-brother towered above her and me. I knew that I was taller than her though, but they were really tall. “I guess we’ll see you guys later.”

Even after they left, a million words were in my head, and yet I cannot say them.

Why did the two of them taste so…dark? It had almost choked me; I have not tasted evil souls since my life during the 1700s, when I had been a fighter. All those years seemed to disappear as I tasted theirs. It was the worst I had tasted, but still…I couldn’t help but want it, along with Dylan’s as well. They were wonderful souls: I’m sure their souls can sustain me for more than a few centuries. They were so strong…more vibrant and more tasty than all the others combined.

“Oh effin’ J.C.” Megan finally blurted out as Rayne and the others walked away, chattering, until only the three of us were left. It snapped me out of my dreadful thoughts. “I will kill for her looks.”

“I call dibs on Ryan!” Eris shouted out, shooting up, suddenly full of vigour and energy. She slid her shades on the top of her head.

“Come on, guys.” I complained as I got up as well, my ass feeling sore and numb for sitting too long. “We’re in Year 12. My birthday’s in a week. Can we stay away from boys, just this once?”

I walked away, and they followed.

“Leah…” Eris whined. “Boys are slinkies---you know, useless---but they’re really fun to watch when they fall down the stairs, aren’t they?”

Oh yes, I could clearly remember last year, and the year before that, and way back into fifth grade, when I recovered my memories. In total from fifth grade until last week: 29 boyfriends…and counting. Eris had---as far as I knew---37, while Megan had about 35. We all broke up with our boyfriends on the same day last week. The three of us were betting on who would get the most boyfriends by the end of our high school lives. My lack of relationships was mainly due to my decreasing interest in the opposite sex.

But that doesn’t mean I’m turning into a lesbo, okay?! I mean, lesbians are, like, ew.

Megan nodded in agreement.

“Oh, and you remember Nathan?” Eris said, her tone acidic as she mentioned our ex-boyfriend. He was the guy that almost tore our friendship apart. The once-amazing guy who seduced Eris after breaking up with me when we were in Year 7, and had been Megan’s ex-boyfriend just last year. We all shivered in disgust. We all hated him forever, so we were never were found in the same place where he was.

Never.

“Leah, I almost forgot.” Megan said as she stopped in front of her locker and knelt to open it. She threw her bag inside. “Did you do your homework in our first period Maths?”

My heart sank, and Eris gaped. We all took the same classes together, and Megan was probably the most responsible one in the lot. I gaped as well.

“Homework?” we said in unison. “What homework?”

“Oh God, Ms. Greene’s going to kill you.” Megan said, an amused tone in her voice. I glared at her as we made our way to my locker and Eris’. “The 50-item homework last week, remember? It was due today.”

I put my bag inside just as Eris put hers in. I stopped, my fingers barely touching the book.

“50 items?” Eris said, in the same state as I was. Then, we panicked. “Holy hell, Megan, you need to let us copy your homework! Goddamn, this is so effin’---!”

“Calm down, Eris.” Megan said as she led the three of us to Building N, where the dreadful math class was held. The silver-plated N2 glared at us. There was no one inside yet, so that must mean we had ample time to do homework. We practically overwhelmed Megan just so she could let us copy. Our hands were like tornadoes.

Just another day in my life.

******************************************************************

A vein twitched in my brow. I scowled, and so did Eris. We sent death glares in Megan’s smug direction. She was laughing at us. The homework, we discovered, was not due today and Megan didn’t even do her homework, for God’s sakes! I hate her. Hate, hate, hate…

I would kill her if my patience wasn’t so big today.

Eris was probably thinking the same things…roughly so, I guess.

I am absolutely pissed off. She made us panic, goddamn it! She scared us to death! The thing that scares all of us is when Ms. Greene is pissed. So, in summary, we all turn into freakin’ angels in her class. Actually, she says that we’re the most disciplined. I could tell: most of the time we could practically hear her shout from across the school when we weren’t in her class.

“Let me get this straight.” Eris said, her tone murderous as the sub teacher dismissed us. “You said that we had homework when we didn’t. We panicked. You did not let us copy your homework. There was no effin’ homework in the first place. Tell me why I shouldn’t kill you.”

Megan and I laughed, and Eris’ lips twitched: she was on the verge of laughing as well. I knew this was going to be a good day. It just had to be.

****************************************

English and Latin passed on quite well. At least, that was my point of view. Eris and Megan got continuously caught for sleeping. I mean, who could blame them? They were always staying up late for their boyfriends. I mean, did the teachers not go through the normal stage we call being teenagers? Didn’t they have boyfriends and girlfriends, for God’s sake? Sadly, I don’t have a boyfriend yet. I sighed mentally at this. I knew that I should really start increasing my chances of having another boyfriend by, oh, being social once again. I really haven’t talked to anyone I didn’t know in so much time that I almost forgot how to socialise. My hope for a new boyfriend plummeted.

All was going well until the start of lunch break.

Suddenly, the girl with the dark soul from this morning was walking towards us, her arm interlocked around her brother’s. I, in my part, was suddenly jealous, even if I knew this was just the way Jez showed her affection for her brother. They both suddenly broke into laughs. It was so hard to imagine that such people could have so much darkness hidden inside them. Dylan was flanking Jez’s other side, barely speaking, looking as if he didn’t belong.

But he did. He belonged with the two of them: he was as beautiful and god-like. He looked at me, and smiled, his lips stretching into a wide grin. He winked at me before continuing to walk with the other two past our spot. Jez shot me a look that either said “what the hell” or “f**k-you”. I honestly didn’t know what that girl’s problem was.

“What a bitch.” Eris murmured as we made our way to our lockers. I opened mine, eager to get Latin over and done with and move on to lunch break, but a note was taped to my locker door. I sighed as Eris peered over my shoulder, and hand shooting out and grabbing it. I made no effort to stop her: I didn’t care anyway. It was just another suitor who---

“Wow.” She breathed as she handed me the piece of paper. “One of your ex’s can’t let you go, can they?”

I didn’t say anything as I opened the note. It read, in neat, cursive handwriting:

Agnsco Veteris Vestigia Flammae

“Well, whatever. I’m going to lunch. Meet me in our spot later, alright?” she said, walking away before I could say a word. All I could do was to stare at the note. I knew what it meant: I recognise the traces of an old flame. But what did it mean? Maybe “flame” meant “love”…I don’t really know!

I remembered this from Latin class, and I laughed. Another ex-boyfriend note? Well, they must have gotten tired of saying lies and labelling them as “blackmail”. Maybe Nathan put it here…? No, that couldn’t be. Even if he said to me that I was the one he really liked and that he did all the things he did just to make me get back together with him, I knew that he hated me. He just had to.

Nathan was, after all, my first real love. All the others had been simple, stupid flings. My relationship with Nathan had gone farther than kissing. But don’t get the wrong idea, okay? I’m still a virgin, but I don’t even want to venture to that part of my life anymore. I did things I didn’t want to do, like vandalising school property or going to unbelievably wild concerts. I said things I never really meant. I went to places I didn’t usually go to. I really hope he wasn’t the one who wrote this…especially since it looked so much like his handwriting.

Then, as I opened my locker, I saw it: the flash of red and black weaving in and out of the crowd, heading towards me. I slowed my actions. Eris had already left with Megan, being the impatient person she is. Oh, I would kill them for this. Somehow, I knew that red and black streak of hair was coming for me. I knew it by heart. His tall form slumped onto the closed locker next to mine. I closed my locker door, and there he was, in his usual laid-back posture.

“Hey.” He greeted. My heart skipped a beat, no matter how much I didn’t want it to. It hurt so much to see him again. Like before, I wanted to cry so much. Instead, I glared at him, and then walked past.

“What are you doing, Nathan?” I asked, trying to get out of his sight, but he still wouldn’t get off of my trail. “Stop following me.”

Instead, he took hold of my wrist. He began dragging me somewhere else. We went against the current of the crowd then went to that spot where no security cameras were. It was near the house flags, at the side of the M building. He pinned my wrists to the wall. My heart thumped painfully again. This was all too fast…all too shockingly nostalgic. This was what he did the day we hooked-up for the first time…the day when we both knew that we really loved each other, after all.

“I can’t.” he said, so unbelievably gorgeous as always, his red-streaked ebony hair perfectly contrasting his dark eyes that seemed to suck everything in and never give anything out. His long, lean, muscled arms were only half outstretched, and they dropped, releasing me. I knew I should run, but it would be better to deal with these kinds of things now than to deal with them later. His broad shoulders were relaxed now, and he smiled only slightly. I knew that smile so well: it was half playful…and part seductive, with a hint of darkness. His skin was Czechoslovakian fair, and his face chiselled and perfect. Oh, did I mention that he was irresistible? No? Well, now, I remember how I tried to resist him, but it’s too hard, even now. I couldn’t deny the fact that he was hot and the school’s top jock.

Top dick, more like.

“Why are you doing this?” I asked, trying to keep my gaze never averting from his, even if I wanted to. I could never look away from those eyes, despite our relationship, which was tottering dangerously close to mortal enemies. “Nathan, you know that we’re through. Besides, I thought you’d had more girlfriends than you’ve ever had after I broke up with you?”

He flinched, but only slightly. His face turned hard and determined, like when he runs a 250-meter sprint, then wins after. He always wins when he has that look on. “Leah, I know your secret.”

I narrowed my eyes at him, but he ploughed on. “I don’t want to say where I heard it from, but I know it. I’m not threatening you, love, because I love you.”

“Why did you pull me here again?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest. “As I recall, I have been pulled by you into this once-sacred and holy place of ours, only to be sabotaged by this thing you call my ‘secret’. Now, you say that you won’t blackmail me. So what’s the deal?”

“I pulled you in here…to do this,” he said, before using his arms to pull me close to him by taking a hold of his waist. I instantly felt the heat start all over again. Then, his lips crashed forcefully onto mine.

I wanted to struggle. I wanted to fight against this will to kiss back. The thing was, I lost. I melted like butter in his kiss. Suddenly, we were making out again. There was this oh-so-painful squeeze in my chest that told me that my heart was breaking. I knew that I could never be with him. After all, he was on the top at my list of ‘Souls I Have Not Fully Devoured’. I have taken a sip from his soul---once or twice, maybe thrice---during times when I really couldn’t resist. As a result, I’ve made him relive the times when his father abuse him. Every time I took a sip, I made him relive those times in his life before he got adopted by his rich parents: the times when his mother and father molested him at his home, how he was forced not to tell anyone else, how he was sold to different people and how those people maltreated him. This was the true reason I broke up with him, and the reason why he was like this.

His soul tasted as sweet as before, luring me into its trap, tasting like sweet candy and a whole lot of delectable meals. I was tempted to take a sip again. I think I sighed in sheer bliss. I wanted to stop so badly, but he and other boys have this effect on me that makes me turn into something in the consistency of jelly whenever they kiss me. His lips parted from mine, and it sent me reeling.

“So…does kissing back mean that we’re together now?”

I don’t know what I did. Maybe it was my attraction to all things forbidden, or my subconscious. Or both. I remembered moving my head up and down feebly. This meant I nodded. Oh, how I hated how I loved him so much that his kisses made me forget everything else.

He smiled, and he seemed to light my world again.

“Good,” he whispered, before proceeding to kiss my neck. His lips sent trails of kisses up my neck, to my jaw, and edging close to my lips. Just as he was about to slam his lips back on mine again, just as I had wanted him to at the time, someone cleared her throat.

I looked over his shoulder to see no other than----cue the drum roll----the new girl. She frowned at us and Nathan---being the naturally good guy he was---smiled apologetically. I mean, really. She couldn’t have picked a better time to interrupt. I scowled my trademark scowl, which was a bit short of letting out a small hiss. She, unlike the others whom I have used it on, seemed to be unaffected by it.

“P.D.A?” she asked. She was with someone, but I could see the top of the blonde-streaked head, so that must mean it was…Ryan. I cocked my head to the side, showing that I did not know what this was. She sighed. “Public Display of Affection, retard. Slow much?”

I almost heard Nathan growl. Now that we were together again, I knew that he wouldn’t let anyone hurt me in any way. Of course, he thought that this was offending me. It was, but I knew I shouldn’t waste my time on people like her. At least, that was what my conscience told me. The other, brutal part of me wanted to tear her head off.

“Come on, Leah,” he said instead, brushing past her. She cast me an angry look. Her eyes sent a look that made me feel as if blocks of ice were sliding down my back. I shivered. As soon as we got a good distance away from them, Nathan held my hand. He knew where my two best friends were having lunch. Before I could stop him (or know what we were doing, for that matter), we were right in front of them. I could practically hear Megan’s eyes roll while Eris’ seemed to pop out of their sockets. If I was in her position, I would have had the same reaction. I didn’t want to meet their eyes. Their gazes simply read, crazy. They thought I was crazy for having him back in my life. It wasn’t my fault!

“Is this for real?” Megan asked, her eyes darting to and fro from me to Nathan, holding hands.

“Tell me it isn’t. Just please tell me it isn’t,” Eris said, rubbing her temples with two fingers. She stood up, and then shook her head. “Well, Leah, we’ll talk about this later. Come on, Megan.”

Then, they left Nathan and me alone. Eris’ voice promised death. I was sure that she had been two minutes short of strangling me. My sweet, sexy boyfriend, however, seemed to ignore this fact. He seemed to ignore everyone else, in fact, which kind-of annoyed me.

“Now, let’s get back to your ‘secret’, shall we?” he whispered so dangerously close to my ear that I thought he was going to kiss my neck. I sort-of forgot that issue while we were both busy stuffing our faces with each other. “Who are you, really? What are you?”

A chill spread from the top of my neck down to my back. I cringed. I knew that he would know sooner or later. If I told him…who knows what he could do? Even if he was the perfect boyfriend type, he can be quite dangerous when he gets angry. I’m not yet willing to bet on the chance that he might keep this information secret. Besides, school was too public. Everywhere was so public, in fact, that we could never talk about it anywhere.

“I…” I started to say. I hesitated. No, I wouldn’t tell him. It was too big of a risk. “Sorry, Nathan, not today. I’ll…I’ll tell you some other day, alright?”

He sighed. What would he say? What would he do next? “Okay, yeah. Sure. I can wait.”

I felt really sorry for him. My heart throbbed…it ached to tell him everything that I wanted to tell him way back when. I sighed as well. For this, I need to lighten up his mood, right? I put his hand over my chest, just like he did when he was making me fall in love with him.

“Hear that?” I said as my heart beat wildly with the contact. “That’s my beating heart, Nate. Can you feel it? I know you can. It’s beating for you, Nate.”

“I know,” he said, as he hugged me close. I hugged him tighter. Somehow, I wanted to stay like this forever. Was that so wrong?

Was it so wrong to stay close to the one person I’ve loved?

Was it wrong to feel contented, just like this?

Chapter 2

“It’s your birthday.” Eris said over the phone. I groaned. I hated this day.

“I refuse to acknowledge this day.” I said, my tone dead, as I glanced at those digits on my clock. It was 7:05. I should really get up and start rushing, but I didn’t.

“Please rephrase that to: ‘I refuse to go to school today’,” she begged. “I don’t like it when you say that you hate your birthday. It’s supposed to be the day you turn a year older.”

I groaned loudly now, putting a pillow above my head. I bet that my voice was muffled over the phone. “Can you please be the only person that does not recognise this god-awful day?”

“No,” she protested. I could literally imagine her scowling. “Birthdays are supposed to be fun. F-U-N. Do you know that word? I know you used to.”

“I know it,” I said, taking the pillow off and rolling over to open my laptop. It was a good thing that my parents were busy people. If they weren’t, then the worst things could happen…sometimes involving a fire extinguisher or even an ambulance due to an overreacting mother. “But if you don’t stop reminding me, the F-U will be followed by a C-K and a Y-O-U. Do you not understand the meaning of aging?”

I heard her wince playfully, as if hurt. As if. “Ouch. Of course I know the meaning of aging. Lee, it’s part of life. You age, you die. That’s why we need to get as many boyfriends as we can while we look devilishly attractive, not when we look like old prunes.”

“I can do it tomorrow,” I whined. Next year, maybe. Some other time when I wouldn’t hurt over breaking up with Nathan which, in fact, means never. “Besides, I have Nate…”

“Lee, may I remind your lack of this natural thing we, normal people, call good timing,” she said, a hint of laughter in her voice. “And how can you even bear to stick with that son of bitch?”

“As far as I remember, you said that he was ‘hot, sexy and nice’,” I retorted. I heard her laugh sourly.

“Yeah, that was before you broke up with him and he slept with me on the same night,” she said. Ah, brings back the memories. Still, Eris and I resolved that part of the deal. I know that the moment she said it, she instantly regretted bringing it up. And in three, two, one…

“Come on, Lee! You have to throw that magnificent birthday party you organise every year,” she begged for the umpteenth time this morning since she woke me up at, oh, about 5 in the morning. As I had expected, she changed the subject before it got too out of hand. “If you don’t, I swear I’ll…I’ll throw a party for you!”

“What if I don’t come?”

“Then I’ll have to drag your sorry ass to the house I’m throwing your party in, even if you haven’t taken a bath, brushed your teeth, or fixed your hair.”

Oh, sometimes Eris was so scary. When she was like this, it made me want to curl up in a corner and die.

“Okay!” I exclaimed, afraid of her. “Geez! I’ll come, okay? I don’t want to throw a party here. If we get caught, I’ll be grounded for life.”

“Caught by whom?”

“My parents.”

I think we both shivered. Last time, we got caught partying as hard as we could. That means that we trashed the living room and the kitchen in the literal sense. I got grounded for a whole sem.

“That is scary. Well anyways, I’m in school now. Can’t have my phone confiscated now, can I? Anyways, happy birthday, babe. See you tonight at 8, yeah? I’ll have someone pick you up.”

And, at that strange and abrupt note, my best friend hung up on me.

I was left staring up at the chandelier above my head with its dangerous pointy tip. I wondered if it would ever work, since I never used it.

Sigh.

What would I do today? Would I, perhaps, take the pleasure of listening to music? Or playing on my many consoles? Or basking in the glow of the plasma TV in my room, just like the couch potato that I was?

I did none of these things.

I closed my heavy eyes.

****************************************

I woke up to the sound of a crackling fire.

That was odd. I never really touched my fireplace before. Even if I had, then I would have remembered.

The smell of mint encompassed the room. This was off, since I never used mint inside my room.

I opened my eyes, and took in my surroundings.

It was warm, the temperature just how I liked it. I was sitting on a familiar couch, just next to a grand fireplace. The room was eerily familiar, as if I’d been here before. I could almost remember it. The smell of mint was more overwhelming now that I had finally woken up. The walls were adorned with beautiful golden trappings, and there were no windows. Before me was a dainty coffee table, and sitting right across from me was no other than grand ol’ Bill.

William Smith, as he is.

He was the Elder…and my father. Elders were Drinkers who have lived for much too long and have decided to stay in Shadowfield for good. There were about a dozen Elders in Shadowfield, and all of them were powerful, but my dad was the leader of them all. He was a good guy…mostly. When I was a kid, I thought he was trying to kill me. Literally. I would wake up to find a knife to my throat, or a foot about to descend on my face…or something along those lines. Lately, I’ve discovered that his true purpose was to train me…and it worked.

A smile forced its way up to my lips. My heart thumped, anxious of what he would do and say. I knew this had to be a dream: I hadn’t seen ol’ Bill since the incident of 1902. Surely, if he were to come back to the human world, he would look for me. I knew he loved me, but sometimes he spoiled me a little too much. No surprise there: I’m his only child.

I missed him. He looked like the last time I saw him, never changing. His darkened blue eyes were half-covered in his blonde hair. He looks like he hasn’t shaven in a month, though. He had this stubble on his jaw. Of course, as all Drinkers look like, he looked just about at the ripe age of 18. It was weird, really, how your dad looks like the same age you are, when you’re centuries apart. It’s creepy. He, though, held himself more than a normal, everyday 18 year-old would. His posture was straight and erect, his features eternal. He wore his favourite polo shirt (the blue one I absolutely despised) and jeans. If I wasn’t his daughter, I’d say he’d pass as a rich, pompous kid somewhere in Albert Park. That’s if I wasn’t his kid, because I am. Oh, did I mention it’s creepy being his only child?

“Hey, kiddo,” he said, his voice warm and welcoming. “Haven’t seen you in ages. How’ve you been?”

“Same as always, dad,” I answered, trying to keep my voice nonchalant and bored, as I had always been before I drank from Nathan. You see, it was against the rules for not finishing off the life of someone you drank from, be it a sip or even the slightest hint of your tongue touching his soul. “What about you? Everything okay in the office?”

Like the kid he looked like, he slumped back on his chair, as if he’d been waiting for a chance to break his demeanour. “It’s crazy in there,” he said, his tone never changing, always amused. “Always paperwork nowadays. I have to sign lots of acceptance papers her in Shadowfield, since more and more souls are dying.”

“Looks like a Hunter’s job, eh?” I said. I knew what this was getting to. I knew my dad enough to know what kind of message he was giving me. I sighed as he didn’t even straighten up. “Bill, I know you’ve called me here to do something that you can’t do yourself, so spill.”

“How do women do it?” he asked, as if I wasn’t here. He sank to the floor, and there he sat. “Kid, you’re like your mom. You women always know what we’re thinking about.”

“It isn’t too obvious,” I mumbled.

“Well, anyways,” he said, as if he hadn’t heard. I knew he did. “I need you to track down suspicious people for me. They’re not Hunters, but we know they’re not one of us. We want you to find out what they are. Feel free to feed after you’ve gained information. Can I count on you, Leah?”

“Anything for you, dad,” I said as, again, a folder materialised from out of nowhere and onto the coffee table. I decided I would take a look-over of the targets once I get back to the real world. “Besides, you know me. I’m up for any Recon or whatever. If you need me again, call me, alright?”

He stood up and hugged me. “That’s my little girl,” he said. “Sometimes, it really pains me to see your mother in you…but then, I realise how great you are by yourself, and that’s all I need to get through the day.”

I was touched by his words. I couldn’t take it any longer: if I stayed a few more minutes, I might even cry. He stuffed a wad of bills in my pocket, even if he knew that my human parents were as loaded as hell.

I willed myself out of Shadowfield, the tears threatening to cascade down my cheeks already flowing.

*********************************************

Of course, it was just natural that I was crying the second I woke up to the real world. I was sobbing so hard on my pillow that it got wet, and I had to sob openly. When I finished, I had to take a good look around me: everything was the same. There was no dad, no cosy fireplace, no warm feeling in your chest when you’re with your real family. It’s hard, living through decades without seeing your real family. It hurts to think about it.

Still, though, having a pair of loaded human parents came in handy. First of all, the floating bed I had was right beside the glass wall, which was covered with a plasma TV that curved along with the wall (it was custom made). Second, my room was a mix of everything I had ever wanted: technology and history, all in one place. In my bathroom, I had a small indoor pool. It was kind-of fun having insanely rich parents. To me, normal is just a setting on the washing machine.

I took a glance at the clock, and my heart sank: it was 7 pm.

If I wasn’t ready by 8, Eris would kill me. I jumped out of bed. The floor seemed to tilt from under my feet. Ugh, I hate it when that happens. I didn’t even bother to eat brunch: I figured I would ask my “driver” to go to through some drive-thru or whatever. Come to think of it, I wondered who my driver will be. Would it be Nathan? He hasn’t called me yet. He showed no sign of remembering, either.

Ah, typical Nathan.

Time seemed to fly while I was still stuck on deciding on which top I should wear. I heard some arguing outside, and then my door seemed to blast open. My back was turned, so I couldn’t see who it was. Whoever it was, he/she certainly made a lot of noise and fuss just coming here. Guessing it was Eris, I turned (still top-less) and saw Ryan’s flushed face. He was staring. He was wearing this leather bomber jacket that was unbuttoned all the way. There were two chains that held it together, and I could see his deathly-pale skin underneath. His chiselled chest made itself known, so I had to blush. He wore these shiny leather pants, and some Doc Martens to match. I, of course, screamed like hell.

“WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?!” I screeched as he sauntered over to me, the flush disappearing from his face. He, without invitation, flopped down on my bed. I noticed how he looked so much like Jayce when he closed his eyes, and remembered that Jayce was never coming back. There was no chance of him coming back, so I needed to move on.

He had died his final death long ago, when he was killed for the tenth and final time by his own brother.

I hated it. Hatred, anguish and pain made their way to me, and I didn’t know which one to feel first. I saw Ryan glance over at me, and smiled. Oh, how my chest hurt! Remembering how he died in France was too much to bear.

“You should pick the black one,” he suggested, breaking the awkward silence that hung between us. Unknowingly, I took his advice and put it on. I admit, he has a good sense of taste. My shirt hung loosely on several parts and tightened at some. A chain held the shirt together at the back, so it isn’t technically a shirt, but a piece of cloth. I wore this really mini denim skirt that I haven’t used yet, and fishnet stockings to match my ridiculously high boots. He wolf-whistled, and I scoffed. “What? You look hot.”

“I need make-up,” I grumbled as I reached for some eye liner and lip gloss. I messed my hair up to give myself a wild look, and took a good, long stare at myself in front of the mirror.

I’ve got to admit that I looked good.

“Happy birthday, babe,” Ryan said as he held the door open for me. How dare he call me ‘babe’?! I wasn’t his freakin’ girlfriend. “Tonight, I am obliged to be your chaperone.”

I didn’t say a word as I grabbed my bag (which, coincidentally, also had a chain strap and was black leather) and headed out the door. He led the way outside as if he knew the place by heart. I was getting more irritated by the second. He led me to his Ferrari. The scent of leather engulfed the both of us as we stepped inside. He made the engine roar to life, making me jump in my seat. I hated that.

Another awkward silence followed the ride.

I realised, however, that we were on our way to Albert Park.

“Why are we going to Albert Park?” I asked, curious, hoping against the worst. Who knows? I didn’t even know the guy that much. He might even kidnap me, for God’s sakes.

“Eris asked me if you could have your party in our place,” he explained, looking at me, not paying attention to the road. I almost had a heart attack when the car rounded a corner and he didn’t even look. “Don’t you know? I was made to believe that it was your idea.”

I cursed under my breath as we pulled up the driveway of a very expensive-looking house. It was bigger than mine and it looked WAY better in terms of design. It was a few miles from any sign of further civilisation. The loud music could be heard and…wait, did I hear an actual band?! Oh God. Teenagers were lying either drunk or passed-out across the massive lawn, and other couples were making out in the shadows of the trees. The lighting was constantly flashing. It looked like a heavy house party.

Ryan got out of his way to open the door for me. I stepped out, snubbing him full-on. I made my way inside the house. There, at the entrance, Jez was sitting, beer in hand. I heard her scoff. She didn’t even look drunk, despite the many bottles of beer lying around.

“Took you long enough,” she grumbled. She dusted off the crumbs of chips on her black, mini dress. It’s the next best simple dress I’ve seen in my entire lifetime, compared to Eris’ white dress. She wore heavy eye make-up, but she looked more of a Goth goddess than a raccoon. She huffed. “Party’s inside. You boyfriend won’t stop bugging me.”

Suddenly, a cute, blonde male burst out of the crowd inside. Did I mention it was so noisy I could barely hear myself? No? He whispered something in Jez’s ear that made her smile. I mean, really smile, and not smile evilly. It lit up her whole face, and for an instant, lust flashed across her features. I didn’t really believe it, but the blonde’s eyes seemed to be red. I shrugged it off as a trick of light. Ryan led me inside.

There, it was louder than ever. A band---Panic! At the Disco, as I recalled, had been on tour in Australia these days---was playing non-stop on a mini-stage, and people were doing the things that normal, rational people wouldn’t do. The place looked trashed, but it still was the perfect scene for a party. You know those wild house parties you see in movies? Well, this was the Aussie version: wilder and louder, with a real, live, internationally-known band.

“Sorry about that!” he apologised loudly as he led me to the semi-circular couch, where Nathan was drinking his ass off with two other guys who, apparently, Eris and Megan tagged along with them. New boyfriends? Maybe, but it’ll probably last for a few days the way things are going here. “Here! Have fun!”

He was carted off by this pretty brunette. If looked could literally kill, I would have died and gone to heaven. This place was full of beautiful guys and girls, all in a mix. I recognised a few faces, but ignored every one of them as I made my way beside my possibly drunk boyfriend.

The second I sat next to him, he kissed me. Of course, without me being able to resist his every kiss, I kissed back. I knew he was drunk: I tasted the heavy colloquial alcohol in his tongue. I dreaded this. If Eris organised the party, that meant it was going to be chaotic and wild. She was, after all, Eris Vandom. Suddenly, our moment was broken by this drunken dude who slung his arm over my shoulder. I turned, irritated, and saw it was no other than Erik Vandom.

I admit, I was quite surprised to see him drunk. He, after all, was the natural good guy…as opposed to his twin, that is. Eris and Erik were complete opposites: Eris was the wild one and Erik…well, he was just so nice to everyone. Did I mention that he had been my first ex? Yeah, he had been. I mean, even if he looked so drunk that his eyelids drooped, he wasn’t real drunkard by heart. Usually, those wild, sea-green eyes held the look of pure kindness, with that wild, brown hair falling over the most vibrant eyes I’ve ever seen. His usually-tanned skin wasn’t so, and it looked a tad bit paler compared to mine, just like Eris’ skin was.

Nathan, looking as flushed as ever, took another swig of his vodka. Erik laughed. Well, assuming that he laughed since his chest heartily moved up and down in synch with his open mouth. As I said, it was too loud. Erik was saying something, but my gallant boyfriend (note the sarcasm) simply pushed him off. He kept his arm around me.

Then, a familiar hand held my wrist. This time, it wasn’t Erik. It was Eris. Underneath the glow of the flashing lights, her face looked slightly flushed as well. Her soul was contradictory: it was calm and controlled…and probably sedated, by the taste of it. It was totally unconscious. Huh. Figures, though: souls usually sleep when people are drunk or when their mental capabilities are even at the slightest bit fazed by the effects of things such as drugs or nicotine.

“Hey!” she shouted over the music. “Let’s go over to Jez! I heard that they were doing something great!”

Either the word ‘great’ meant trouble or gossip, it was fine with me. Having a drunken Nathan by my side wasn’t exactly my dream birthday celebration. He can be quite…violent. I was grateful for Eris’ unbelievable knack for finding trouble/gossip, for once.

She led me past hoards of drunken teens, until we arrived at what seemed to be the very corner of the living room. There was another similar semi-circular leather couch, but this time, only two people were on it. I was amused to see Jez and the blonde dude. In here, almost no light reached, and it was silent, except for the slight sound of the band heard. Were we this far away from the place where we came from? It didn’t look too far. It was dark, and I could see that it wasn’t just a trick of light that the blonde’s eyes were red. As in, glowing crimson red. This shocked me momentarily, but I passed it off as contact lens or something. I admit, Jez had a good taste in boys: this one was a guy I would not hesitate to hook up with, sober or not. She was taking off the top buttons of his shirt, revealing rock-hard abs, and they were both flushed and drunk. I noticed that people here were either only half sober.

One particular brunette caught my eye: she, like me, was the only one who didn’t seem to particularly enjoy herself. She was a dainty little thing, being a head shorter than me. She was a brunette---one of the many---but she wasn’t the one who dragged Ryan away. No, she looked WAY prettier, almost outclassing Jez in terms of voluptuousness and beauty. She had jet black orbs for eyes, and they glinted, like endless tunnels. They were scarier than the ones Nathan has: they held the eyes of a killer, alert and ready. I knew how to recognise the killers: their eyes always held that of resentment, in one form or another. It scared me, even if I knew that I was one of them, too.

“Jez, stop it,” she said, like a really concerned sister. She, like me, was still fully sober. Wonderful. “You’ve had too much. That was your 72^nd drink.”

“Bells!” she exclaimed like a kid, as if she’d only just noticed she had been standing there. “Hey cuz!”

I knew that the brunette tried really hard to suppress a really heavy sigh as the others around me laughed heartily.

“So, Jez, you gonna give up?” the blonde one challenged as another set of drinks was set before them. “Or do I win?”

“No way, babe,” she said, sounding like the seductive temptress I first thought she was. She pinched his cheek and kissed him briefly before downing another shot of the reddish-brown liquid in the glass. Now that I noticed, under all the scent of booze and cigarettes, it smelled kinda like…blood? Well, that was weird. “You won’t beat me this time.”

Luke gave back the kiss before laughing. “I beat you in bed, though, didn’t I?”

I didn’t even want to think about what he just said as they both took down more shots. They got even more drunk than they were just minutes ago. They laughed, while the brunette just sighed and took a shot herself. They didn’t mind her: they were already busy making out. I almost gagged. Even if I did it with some of my boyfriends, it was kind-of disgusting to watch other people do it.

I turned away, but was met by a bottle of beer, courtesy of Eris. So…she dropped me off here just so she could get me drunk?! Oh, she was going to pay for this. She knew what I was like when I get drunk: I become the person that I don’t want to be. I become a slutty bitch who---as I had discovered the day after I first got drunk---can’t wait to get in bed with her boyfriend. Usually, I wasn’t like that.

The band was saying their regards and started to leave. The DJ took over and soon, the room was filled with that crap they call hip-hop or whatever. It was a mash-up, I realised. Well, at least that was something.

I shook my head as I made my way to the spot where Nathan and the others had been. Eris grabbed my arm and pulled me back. I opened my mouth to say something but, since she was drunk, she put the bottle up to my mouth. I didn’t have time to comprehend her actions before I drunk all the contents of the booze. Everything became light and fuzzy. My body was hot. I mean, really, really hot. I started sweating, I think, but I didn’t care. I drunkenly made my way to my drunken boyfriend before grabbing his collar and pulling him towards me and kissing him as hard as I could. Suddenly, his hands were everywhere.

I knew this was wrong, but…I felt so high. I wasn’t myself anymore.

These were my last rational thoughts before drunkenness got the better of me.

***********************************************

I woke up to a shitty Wednesday morning. Or was it afternoon? I didn’t care. All I knew was that I was in bed, feeling like hell. My head felt like splitting, and the little rays of sunlight that shone through the small space for the windows were absolute rays of death. The light was too bright. Everything---even the small, disgruntled sounds I made---was too loud. Everything was spinning. I had to close my eyes again to prevent from throwing up, which I probably did, considering the small amount of bile that I tasted at the back of my mouth. I rolled over on my stomach and put a pillow above my head. I half-slept, which means that my mind rested while the rest of my senses were still alert. I could still hear everything; I could still see the little sunlight that irritated me so much for an unknown reason.

I tried to recall the events last night, but all I remembered was being forced to drink beer. I groaned. Eris was so going to die. I rolled over again, but this time, I didn’t land on a soft surface.

My body connected with the floor. I landed with a thump. It was more painful than it sounded…painful enough to fully wake me up. Good thing the marble floor was carpeted. If it wasn’t, I would’ve broken a couple of ribs and had a breast tumour. Damn my extremely curvy body. I groaned, and opened my eyes.

Well, the sun wasn’t as irritating as I thought it would be, and the room stopped spinning. My jaw ached. My heart sank to my stomach. My body suddenly felt light, but I wasn’t drunk. I felt my muscles contract and poise for a hunt. The hunt. I dreaded doing this, even if I enjoyed the thrill of it.

This ache meant that my soul yearned to devour. It meant that I had to hunt for another soul again, and this wasn’t for the purpose of finding my mate. No, this was for the purpose of feeding.

As much as I loved killing people for the souls they have tainted themselves, I hated myself for taking a life, even if I knew that I only needed it to sustain my own life. When I thought about it thoroughly, it was sickening. When I remembered all the faces of those people whose souls I devoured, I wanted to kill myself instead. When I was young and new to the human world, I frequently took pleasure in devouring souls of children and males…but now, I saw things differently. I knew that I was starting to become quite a pacifist, like my dad, but then I remember that I couldn’t just go and give back people’s souls. Those souls were now lost in me, and some of them were gone. Sometimes, after feeding, I wouldn’t really be myself. It was hard to cope with the latest human’s memories and feelings, and all the other qualities that made him human. It was hard to see myself in his eyes when I sleep…how he sees me as a monster.

It was true, though, that I was an abomination. I wasn’t meant to be in this world, because I had the qualifications of a General: a rank lower than the Elders, but higher than the average Drinker. It was just that I didn’t want to go on and be allowed to kill as many people as I could for a game, or go and find the most innocent soul and devour it just for the sake of being ranked a Major. Life as a General is, as to put it simply, consisted of child’s play and games. There was nothing too serious about it unless you wanted to become a Major.

My jaw ached strongly now, and I did my best to resist it. Soon---oh so very soon---I had to feed. Normal feeding consisted of five or more humans to make me last another year at his age and to give me the ability to choose whether I actually aged or not.

“Damn,” I grumbled as I got to my feet lithely, shrugging off all the previous feelings of nausea that probably came with the hang-over. My jaw ached even worse. This meant that I really needed to feed. Ignoring this urge was harmful for Drinkers: we age at an unbelievably fast rate that, after the span of 24 hours, our bodies die out.

I got to my feet, desperate to get more souls. The more vibrant and energetic the soul, the better. This was to ensure longevity of the body which I currently used. I walked calmly outside my house, saying a petty excuse to see my friends to my ever-so-loyal butler. The second he took his eyes off of me, I ran.

I ran so fast…as fast as my legs would go. My strides were long and steady, courtesy of the training. I chuckled lightly as I stepped into the cloud bag near the foot of the mountain: hikers were so very common this time of the year. Without taking notice of how my feet ached due to the ragged surface of the mountain, I climbed up a tree, and started…I don’t know….I just alighted on different branches that were close to each other. This way, I could sense my targets better. I let my senses roam out…farther away…until I sensed two strong souls, fighting against each other.

Suddenly, I heard a growl resonate from the depths of the woods…from the direction in which I was heading to. My human body stiffened in response, but I willed myself to move. I moved on as silently as always, my senses pinpointing the location of my target. To make sure, I leaned against the trunk of a tree, perched, and let my senses roam out again…just in case. A strong surge of spiritual energy blasted right through me, letting me know that I was near my target.

Those clashing bursts of energy came closer at an increasingly fast rate, and soon enough, I saw two blurs of black clash against each other. It was too fast for me to see who or what exactly they were, but I knew they had souls. Even if the souls smelled so dark even from afar, I knew it was strong.

When the blurs stopped on the ground, the sight shocked me.

There, standing opposite of each other, was Ryan and Jez. Both had looks that could kill, both had amused faces…and both were bleeding profusely. From their wounds, I could smell their souls so strongly that I could almost taste them. It was easy to recognise: I knew a familiar soul when I saw one. Jez wasn’t hard to pick out from a crowd either, even if her back was turned on me. Her cascading ebony hair fell in a straight fall down her lithe back, poised for an attack. Ryan’s stance was much more relaxed.

What shocked me most, though, were their canines. Actually, it was past canines: they were fangs. Fangs that protruded from their upper jaws, extending just almost to the upper half of the lower lip, curved lightly like a snake’s. I bet it was as deadly as a snake’s, too. From the looks of it, the fangs seemed to be dripping…blood? That was odd. No, scratch that. It was creepy. What’s worse is that, under the few rays of sunlight that penetrated the leaves of the trees, their skins seemed to glow iridescently…like a ghost’s. I had a million questions swimming in my head. What were they, exactly?

“I think we have to stop playing now, Jez,” he said, his tone calm and bored, but still with a cool demeanour. “We have company. We can’t take the risk of discovery now, can we?”

Jez turned, and they both looked simultaneously at me. She shot her brother an unreadable look…and it seemed almost like she was talking to him mentally. Impossible. But, then again, if that was impossible, would that make me impossible as well? Argh, I hated this. Fear washed through me like a tidal wave as I focused on how deadly they could be. My muscles tensed, and my jaw hurt from such prolonging of my own little fangs. Mine were not as long as theirs.

She shook her head at me and, before I knew what was happening, she was perched beside me, on the same branch. The branch didn’t even so much as quiver at the movement. She balanced herself wonderfully, not even wobbling in the least bit. I could see her eyes now: the colour of liquid mercury. It sent chills down my spine.

I focused on how to get out of this situation. I knew that if I even as much as took a sip from either one of them, it would be enough to have devoured ten or more human souls. That was just a sip from one of the two. If only she could get close enough…then I could strike. But what about Ryan? Of course I had to take a sip from him as well. It was a thing of survival. If I didn’t do it, I would be so far outclassed by them that I would be dead in a second.

“I never really liked you,” she said as she crouched in front of me. I was shocked at her speed: a few moments ago, she’d been a few feet away. Now, she was standing right in front of me. I could smell lavender. “Take a good, long look at me, Leah. This might be the last thing you’ll ever see.”

Wrong, I thought, just as she grabbed my jaw to tilt it upward. As her canines touched mine, I balled my hand into a fist to punch her. She didn’t even flinch. She, however, pulled away. That was the biggest mistake she could ever make. I lunged at her and pierced my little, almost non-existent fangs into her wrist. Any point that had a direct access to the nerves would be nice, thanks.

Like always, I was sent into the deepest, darkest corners of my victim’s mind. She and I would relive her darkest and most horrible memories together. I thought it was just the first kill (which she had obviously done by now), but it wasn’t. Oh, it was far from it.

I was taken back to a place and a time that I didn’t know. The memory was somehow blotted, as if she tried to erase it a million times, but it was still there, as vibrant and as powerful as ever. As usual, my mind merged with hers at the moment of reliving this gruesome day. I had to think what she thought.

Rain thundered down on us. My brother---my twin---was standing right behind me. We were the infamous twins. We were capable of killing anyone or anything. The ground was littered with so many broken bodies, and it was soaked in their blood. My fingers bled with so much use of my bow and arrow. It was silver, like the colour our eyes took on when we were in our full vampire state. His was gold, like our mother’s eyes when she was angry or hungry---or both.

Suddenly, there was this sound like thunder, or two mountains grinding against each other with ear-breaking fiction. I knew better to pass it off as a simple force of nature. No, I knew it was much, much worse than that. I turned my head and saw the most horrifying sight I would ever see.

My mother, who had been engaged in battle, was dying in the undying embers caused by my Uncle. No, was it even possible? I could not think of anything else. Ryan was shouting something like focusing more on the battle…he was shouting to me, reassuring me, that our Mother was going to be alright. She always was, he said. This time, though, we both knew that this was the end for her.

Knowing that the battle was over and won, I dropped my weapons and rushed to my Mother’s side. The embers had died, and they had been passed on to my Uncle, who was instantly reduced to ashes. Mother coughed out blood. Father pushed me away, anxious to get to her side. He cradled her head in his arms, saying things that would normally make one want to live. This time, though, we knew my Mother wouldn’t make it. Being the strong person she was, it’s truly a heart-breaking revelation that she, too, can be vulnerable.

The truth made everything else look like a lie.

I couldn’t help but feel that this was my entire fault. Ryan hugged me and said things that made me want to stop blaming myself, but I just…couldn’t. I knew it was my fault: it just had to be. Whose fault was it? Uncle’s? No, the person to blame was ME, because I was the one she came here for, and that means that I brought her to her death. Without knowing it, I cried, my tears hidden by the pouring raindrops.

I pulled away, not wanting to see anymore, knowing that I probably took more than I should. I let go of her unwillingly, letting her fall down on the ground. Ryan caught her, and his gleaming silver eyes gazed up at me in fury. His face was contorted with so much anger it was hard to recognise him. He laid his sister’s head gently on a piece of wood, and growled angrily at me before knocking me down.

Still buzzing with the energy I had gained, I knew that I would survive the fall. I would have had broken my spine and skull any other day, but I had none. My injuries healed up so quickly that I did not have time to even feel the pain. I saw him lunge at me with a fist, and I instantly feigned to the right before attempting to make him slip by kicking him from underneath his feet. He dodged away easily, hissed at me once, then carried her sister and disappeared from sight.

Shrugging off the last remnants of the bark and soil that clung to my jacket, I ran back to the house, feeling more elated than ever before…but feeling as guilty.