I’m being hunted. Like some kind of animal and then used for a power craving master plan that will help cause an apocalypse. The women that I thought was my mother had no blood relation to me at all, she was a stranger to my life. But I couldn't blame her she never knew herself so the truth had to stay within these walls.
I just wanted normality restored.
“He doesn’t know what you are does he?” My eyes widened, hoping he wouldn’t say anything. Ian could not know he’d hate me.
“What’s he talking about?”
“She’s not what you think she is, boy.”
Ian's father burst through the door just in time with a set of dusty books in his hand, he lit some candles around the demon, then began to speak at a fast pace in a language that sounded like ancient Italian or Latin. It screamed out from the depths of his soul trapped in the body of Brandon. Then a whirling black hole appeared above our heads, the candles flickered vigorously we nearly lost our step but I held on to the shelf. Eerie sounds echoed through the walls, a sudden black smoke came out of Brandon’s mouth, sucked up by the black hole and everything returned to silence.
Brandon opened his eyes slowly then searched the room for a familiar face. I carefully stepped over the threshold, minding the ruined candles and untied him.
Just before we left I looked back to see if Ian was around, a little bit of me died when he wasn’t, I actually thought we had something like a bound or whatever all guys are the same.
Suck it up Emma, because the future holds much worse things to come.
I put on a fake smile feeling him look at me wide eyed with doubt it wasn't hard to guess what he wanted to ask me.
"How did I end up in Ian's house?"
"You were feeling ill so we took you over to Ian's for some rest."
"Oh, I see they don't tidy much since the living room was a mess and them weird things they seriously need a makeover!"
I just nodded starring at the pavement in front of me; I needed to go back the tension of waiting until tomorrow to talk to him was unbearable, but the little voice in my said I shouldn’t and it always won.
By the time I got home (although it didn’t seem like home anymore) I jus lay on the bed re-thinking everything again. Why did dad sacrifice his life for mine? Knowing everything was going to turn out pear shaped because no one can change the fact that I’m Dhamphir it’s running in my blood. The thought creped me out. Did I even have a real mother? There were so many questions circulating my mind, keeping me awake all night so I got up, stretched on the nearest cardigan I could grab in the dark and went down to the basement where all of dad’s things were kept.
I trod down the creaky wooden steps as the single light bulb struggled to flick on. I sat there raiding through dad’s books, pictures of him before he became a vampire, old clothes which still smelt of him and dried blood. I threw that aside and spotted another yellowing box tucked underneath my old toys that no one thought to throw away.
Was that always there?
I tore through the cardboard, glancing behind me as if something was going to jump out at me then sifted through more books until I found a bunch that looked out of place against the rest, too new and untouched. I flicked through a couple pages they’re were notes on vampires, lycans, hell hounds, werewolves, nosferatu and many other supernatural creatures it could teach me everything I would need to know about them, this way I could finish dad’s job for him and hunt down his murderer. Gleaming underneath the books there were dad’s 49 caliber, a bunch of stakes, throwing stars, laminae (blades specially made to kill lycans, hell hounds, nosfuratu, shape-shifters so pretty much everything.) I hid everything under a plank on the bottom shelf of my wardrobe where no one would ever think they were.
I stayed up reading the books until the sun rose and I noticed my mother’s footsteps approaching then immediately hid them under my discarded cardigan.
“Morning mum.” I smiled whilst spooning mouthfuls of cereal into my mouth.
“Your up early.” She said, pouring a glass of Tropicana into a glass.
I murmured something then got ready for school careful to not drop the book and took it to school with me for some more reading and met Leila half way with her siblings trailing behind us. It was difficult keeping secrets from your best friends especially when you've told them almost everything ever since you were in primary school.
I had my earphones in one ear and listening to babble on about world war two I could tell someone had eaten their weetabix this morning. I had a cup of coffee in my hand and a pair of black Ray-bans on I couldn't walk in the heat without them and now found myself more sensitive to light.
We walked to our lockers in the hall, I was turning the combination to my locker when out of no where Brandon decided to grab me by the waist. He looked rather dashing with his aviator Ray-bens on.
“Jesus Christ Brandon you scared the life outta me.” I punched him, returning to opening my locker.
“Sorry just a habit scarring you is hilarious.” He laughed taking off his shades and revealing those tired eyes.
“Didn’t you get any sleep?” I took off my shades grabbed my books making my way to registration.
“A few hours I was trying to figure out what happened yesterday and I need to tell you something, Ia…” But he never finished the sentence his football squad sort of swooped him away.
I made it in the nick of time before the bell rang, I refused to look anywhere near Leila whilst she applied eye liner on I was uncomfortable with anything coming near to peoples eye.
It all seemed normal for once we were surrounded by the noise of peoples talking it was so overwhelming early in the morning I blanked out the sound around me. His usual crowd laughing hysterically about some weird joke one of them made or gossiping and they say girls were supposed to be gossipers it was very stereotypical.
I headed to my first lesson: history. Yawning continuously. Mornings are the worst, unless I was hyped on sugar or caffeine that would be a whole different story.
I stumbled in class and took my place at the back next to an absent Ian telling myself that he’d turn up later but when the bell rung my hope faded.
The teacher began drowning on his daily rant about the civil war and as usual I didn't feel like doing anything but lose myself in music and sketch but I didn’t have the resources so I settled for roughly sketching in my book.
Ian never turned up for any lessons today I convinced myself it was because he was out hunting with his father but deep down I knew the real reason.
When lunch came I had kept my promise about watching Brandon and I was definite I would not be the only ones watching. I intend to support him but most girls would watch just to see a bunch of good looking guys running around hoping to see one of them strip after a victorious win, how pathetic.
Well, I used to be that girl but not as purvey and on a way less scale but when you actually fulfil that it doesn't seem like a big deal anymore.
I managed to drag Sienna with me and sat in the inner benches so we could enjoy our lunch whilst watching the match in a sunny breeze constantly blowing my hair. I laid down my blazer over the benches for me to sit on, prodded down the steps to wish Brandon good luck, whilst trying to spot Ian I was still not giving up hope. He wasn’t there. Big surprise.
"Hey you came."
"I said I would." I beamed, trying my best to not look like I’d rather be anywhere but here.
He leaned forward pressing his soft lips on mine for at least a few minutes before the referee blew his whistle interrupting us.
"Good luck!"
I spotted a few envious looks when I returned to my seat looking flushed until Sienna started to howl like wolves I told them to stop embarrassing themselves and began unveiling my sandwich. Sienna stabbed at her pasta salad, her dark chocolate hair scuffed up and a devious smile painted on her silk skin.
“So spill why’d you skip school yesterday without telling me? I was standing there like a loner.”
“I didn’t feel too good.” I innocently made up. She scrunched up her hair in a bun and answered, “Right Em, soo convincing.”
“Just shut up!” I said throwing my crusts at her.
After what felt like light years a sudden cheer sounded below us and our school had won the match it was almost the end of lunch, our attention was then focused on the screaming girls hysteric about a boy topless. I got a bit hyped well me and Sienna were a bit giggly because we had too much coke sugar never helped us stay calm.
The both of us stumbled down to the pitch to congratulate the team on the winning success; Brandon sneaked up behind me and lifted me up kissing me on the cheek.
“Well done you played really well.” I guessed as I wasn’t really focusing on the match.
“Thanks, everyone's going to Chocó shake after school to celebrate come.”
“Uh...” I bit my lip. “I don't know.”
“Well your coming, I got to get changed.”
He didn't wait for an actual answer since he already made my decision.
Sienna was talking to Sebastian fiddling with a loose stand of hair nervously trying to keep her cool as usual.
I knew they had something going on, can’t wait to rub it in her face. Sam jumped in front of me and I stood un-fazed, judging from his face that was not the expression he was hoping for. Sam and I went to the same primary school but we hardly knew each other then. He hadn't changed apart from his growth and strength. He continued to stare at me with his big black eyes and baby face; I ruffled his think black hair.
“You scared the hell outta me.” I put on the dullest voice.
“I know!”, he replied hugging me.
For a little boy he was quite strong even though he was the same height as me and always cheered me up when I felt down. Constantly applying comedy into nearly everything he did, I had considered before if he was mentally weird but now I've just gotten used to it.
We walked up to form then parted ways still laughing, I was dreading the meeting after school with everyone from our year. I wasn't fond of public organisations like this one luckily I had Sienna with me (Leila had to study).
After school I rushed home whilst texting Sienna what she should wear usually I just throw on whatever according to my mood. We were both clueless so she said she would wait for me at my house and we'd go together.
The sun beamed bright and it wasn't going to be cold. I changed out of my dull uniform into a pair of denim shorts and a white one shoulder t-shirt, I clipped back a strand of hair, slipped into my Birkenstocks, grabbed some money and my phone stuffed it on my pocket then went out to meet Rachel. I reassured her she looked fine but she continued to worry so I gave up, I received a text from Brandon telling me he was nearly there with the guys, the closer we was the more in denial I was about seeing everyone. I hoped my Ray-ban shades would prevent people from noticing me but instead it attracted attention because the girls there were overly friendly. Thankfully Brandon rescued me from the crowd, I lost Sienna somewhere nearly as soon as we reached Chocó shake. He took me upstairs to where they were all sitting by the window, some girls were wearing heels and skirts which turned some heads but not Brandon's surprisingly.
After a mini little introduction to all his friends, which was a tad bit odd, it wasn't too bad I'd prepared for the worst as usual. Brandon wore quarter length trousers with a fitting t-shirt.
I tried to tune into what they were saying and seem at least a bit interested but to be honest I was bored so we went down to the beach just the two of us except we could see his friends spying on us from the window. I saw a glimpse of Sienna with someone but Brandon pulled me away before I could get a closer look.
“Let’s give them something to see.” Brandon glanced back and laughed.
"What do you supp....” Brandon pressing his lips on mine once again it started a vibe through my body tingling me all over. We didn't just attract his friend’s attention but other people in our school were starring too. So we walked away quickly into the soft sand looking behind our shoulders at the whispering crowd.
“Did I mention you look hot.”
“Thanks", I smiled. “You too.”
It was relaxing listening to the gushing of the sea and sinking your feet into the smooth sand, we walked for a while with our hands interlinked. The warm wind swept across our faces and some sand got into my eyes it stung slightly, I tried blinking it away but nothing changed. Brandon spotted my distress and helped me out, he cupped his hands around my cheeks to keep my head still then blew gently, the sand escaped into the air and the sun was about to set in the sea.
“You want to grab a bite? I'm starving.”
“Sure, you can tell your friends to meet us there Sienna probably went home.”
"No I meant just us two.”
“Oh, we better get going then.”
I felt nervous having dinner with Brandon without his friends it would be a lot quieter and romantic. I was not a big fan of romance I was more of a tough love person.
The marine looked over the beach it was hard to get a table because of the view and food served but Brandon still managed to get us a table, come to think of it there wasn’t anything Brandon couldn’t do.
The waiter took down our orders and went along eager to speed out of the way.
“How did you get us a table so fast?”
“Uh…My father owns this place and the hotel called Edwardian in central. That's why the staff were extra polite.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Never came up.”
I couldn't believe it I was going out with the son of a multi millionaire! I had to tell someone but everyone probably already knew I was always the last to know everything. Service was super fast we got our food within minutes it must be fun being the son of someone that rich and famous, this made so much sense how Brandon always dressed in designer most of the time and was never short of cash.
I looked along the sea engulfing the sun it was beautiful this was the best dinner. But a part of me wondered what it would be like of the dinner was with Ian instead but there was huge chance I’d never even see him again.
I turned to stare at my half eaten dinner it was delicious but I just didn’t want anymore the sight of food kind of sickened me.
The Chocó shake was beginning to clear up and I knew school would be buzzing tomorrow with excitement. Brandon fiddled with his remaining food, he had something on his mind but was uncertain whether he should tell me I could sense it.
“You want to spell it out with the food.”
“I don't know it would be easier."
“Whatever it is tell me.”
I was beginning to get worried there were hundreds of possibilities of what it could really be but the first thing that floated to my mind was Dhamphir.
He knows everything somehow; maybe he isn’t human after all. Lie! You seem to be good at that.
Argh! I hate the little voice in my head.
“I’ve been trying to tell you something about Ian well warning you, he’s dangerous if he knows what you… I mean he’s not a good guy.”