The day I was Marked was the day life as I knew it changed forever. Everyone knew about vampyres. Well, almost everyone. My family tried to seclude me completely from knowing that kind of stuff. They were strictly atheist, my father being a scientist professor and my mother being a science major herself.

But I knew about them, as did my older sister, and their belief of a goddess and whatever else they believed in. Even when my parents to hide them from me.

I didn't expect today to be different than any other day. I had just gotten out of my last class of the day, history. My least favorite subject. I usually stayed at school for about an hour or so afterwards to just chill with my friends and get a head start on my homework before I actually got home. It was on my way to the library that I saw him.

The Tracker.

We were the only two people in the hall. I couldn't help but simply stare at him. Part of me knew who he was, or at least what he was. It was obvious in the way he was Marked, a sapphire-blue crescent moon on his forehead, and additional intricate markings along the sides of his face. Another part of me didn't have any idea what was going on. And I swear there was a third part of me who just wanted to turn around and walk away. But for some reason, I couldn't.

I just stood there as the Tracker took a step toward me. He didn't look much older than me, and I was only 15. He hesitated, as if he wasn't sure whether or not I would run away from him. When I didn't turn to run, he continued to walk towards me. He came towards me until we were mere inches apart.

I looked into his deep icy blue eyes that I could easily get lost in. "What do you want?" I asked him in a voice that sounded a lot less scared than I actually felt.

"Melodie Ray," he said, his voice full of power. He addressed my by my full name. Coming from a vampyre Tracker, that could only mean one thing. "Night has chosen thee; thy death will be thy birth. Night calls to thee; hearken to Her sweet voice. Your destiny awaits you at the House of Night!"

He gently touched my forehead, and that's when I felt the searing pain that came along with being Marked.