Chapter 1.

Dating Season

"Skye!" I heard my name and looked over from my spot on the ladder to see Claude, the half-vampire who was in need of the vials that would change him into a pure-blood, his cousin –Alexander Sterling- was dating my friend Raven Madison the … used to be only dark-clothing wearing girl in town that was until Claude's gang and Alexander moved into town, I had thought that Claude betrayed me before … but I guess it was all a misunderstanding or something … I felt my face pinch at the memory of Claude kissing me to prove that he was still trustworthy. "Are you sick? What's up with your face?"

"I looked in a mirror." I said reaching my arm out to plant my piece of taped banner on the wall, pursing my lips I ground my teeth together.

"You look like you're really concentrating." Claude called up to me I heard the humor in his tone.

"Cause … I … am…" I said not really listening much once my hand brushed the wall I pushed forward and it stuck. "There!" My ladder began to shake and I screamed falling backwards only to land in Claude's arms.

"Earthquake." He said with a wide smile I only giggled and lightly slapped his cheek. "So what are all these banners for?"

"Can't you read?" Above our heads the banner read in florescent pink letters and a dark black background :

EVERYONE'S PROM!

THEME: DRACULA'S CASTLE!

I smiled and shook my head to Claude who was still looking at the sign once he had taken this all in he looked into my eyes. "So we're going together right?"

"Nope, I don't go to dances with dates, and remember Claude … I'm not dating until I'm out of high school." He rolled his eyes and swung me over his shoulder. "Claude!" I screamed slamming my fists on his back while he strutted through the halls like it was nothing. "Put me down right now before I personally send you to your grave with a stake through your heart!"

"Oh please you don't have the heart to kill someone."

"Shut up … I might be a cereal killer in disguise."

"And I'm mortal."

"Half." I sang to him making him grunt in disgust. "Now put me down, we're still looking for a band for the everyone's prom."

"What is an everyone's prom?"

"It's not just a senior prom or a junior prom, it's a prom for everyone! I came up with the idea and it stuck and since everyone was trying to do the boring theme's like legally blonde or late sunset passion I wanted to go more … you." Claude set me down and arched his slender brow.

"Then why are the letters pink? Why not red?"

"B-Because …" I looked down to my toes and smiled. "I really like pink."

"That's right … no matter how many pieces of black clothing I get you, you always have something pink to add to it."

"You bet I do!" I flashed my flirty pink nails with the perfectly designed black coffin on them.

"How'd you do that?"

"I bought some cheap set at the dollar store and put them on my nails … pretty cool right?"

"Yeah." He took both my hands in his and pulled me against him, oh no he was going through the daily -insert cheap saying here- bit. "But you know that that polish could never shine like your eyes."

"Back off!" Raven shouted and shoved him away smiling wide to me and hugging me tightly. "I saw your awesome banner's Skye! I can't wait for the prom!" She was gushing like most of the girls at school usually do, that was a major hint that she was excited. "This is going to be so awesome! I'm going to win that prom queen spot no problem!" Raven punched the air above her head then paused looking to me with her eyes sparkling. "And Alexander will be my King of Darkness …" I heard her let out a sigh of romance.

"Skye!" I heard Becky now as she and Matt approached, Claude was rubbing his cheek while Raven glared at him. "I saw your banners! They're awesome! I can't wait to go! Raven you and I can go out shopping and you can help me pick out the right stuff to wear."

"Yeah!" Those two were inseparable I just knew it. I rolled my eyes staring down the halls and noticing that almost the entire student body was staring at the banners I worked over-night on.

"I'm so lucky to be going to prom with you." Claude said while running his black-nail polished fingers through his white hair.

"Skye!" Raven pointed at me with her black nail-polished index finger an angry glare casting over her face.

"I'm not going to prom with him Raven relax! There's no need to bust a blood vein."

"But then …" Becky thought aloud pressing a finger to her chin. "Who are you going with?" I gulped, hoping this wasn't going to be one of those dances where Raven and Becky try to get me to go ask someone to go with me, the thought of it made me gulp hard as the two girls eyed me, they were.

"Oh look at the time I had better get going!" I shouted and dashed down the hall and out the doors … only December and already this was the tenth time they'd tried to hook me up.

"Hey Skye." I looked up and saw Trevor Mitchell … the jock who hadn't started taking notice of me until I wore the clothes that Claude bought for me a month ago. "I saw your banners, I can't believe that you came up with that idea, it's pretty cool."

"Thanks I'm glad you like it."

"You know… there are rumors going around the school …" –bull crap! More like "I stuck my nose in places they shouldn't be"- "… And they're saying that you've never had a real date before." I pursed my lips what was this? Dating season?

"Well … well, I can explain this … you see it's just that ... um…" Oh what the hell was I thinking? Why didn't I just bolt out of there and scream obscenity's to him?

"You never found the right one did you?" Trevor reached his hand out to me and smiled. "Well, here's the best chance to take right now, I promise you that if you say yes then you'll have men pouring themselves all over you." What he forgot to say was "Oh and you'll die an early death from my fan-club." or "oh, but the guys will only like you because they'll think you're easy." Though no matter the person I didn't want to upset someone.

"Can I get back to you on that answer? I need some time to … work-out my emotions." I smiled and nodded, that was good very good … now I just had to avoid him.

"I'm sure it won't take long, I mean it's me after all."

"Nah … it won't … I'll make sure to find you when I have the answer okay? Oh and watch out for Becky and Raven they're trying to set me up on a date, now I have to go cause I have major party-planning to-do and then there's home work so … see you!" I shouted dashing away from Trevor who was laughing at me.

![]!

"Done …" I sighed and looked at the finished piles of books and the sketch for the perfect prom dance. "I can't believe I'm free!"

"Skye, honey …" My mom opened my door and smiled to me. "We heard about how you're going to prom with Trevor Mitchell, I'm so glad for you!"

"What?" My voice was shrill and angry. "I thought you said that I wasn't allowed to date until I was out of high school?" I grumbled trying not to act too immature.

"I know I did but I was only kidding, besides Trevor is such a sweet boy –." Says his mother "- And I'm sure that you'll be able to trust him." Or marry him and have a sweet perfect 70's family like I've always wanted. Like that was going to happen!

"Mom, I'm not going to the prom with him … I'm going alone."

"Oh you shouldn't go alone!"

"I'll have Becky and Raven!" She cringed when I said the name of the girl who was enough to be the garlic to her and she was the pearl-wearing, virtuous, church-going vampire. "I'm going for a walk to see if I still have to do anymore Christmas shopping."

"Skye …" My mom whispered and held out her hand to me. "If you really want to date you can, I was just kidding about it."

"Better not tell Claude that …" I mumbled to myself and giggled as my mom cocked her head.

"What?"

"Nothing, I'll see you!"

![]!

I was seated beneath a tree drawing as I sang to myself, my breath flying from my lips as if it too were the clouds that hung in the sky blocking the moon from showing it's face here at night. "What I love most about river is you can't step in the same river twice, the water is always changing always flowing … But people I guess can't live like that we all must pay a price, to be safe we loose our chance of ever knowing what's around the river bend …" I sang it softly fearing some immortal fool would sneak up on me and start singing along … like Jagger did only that was to the Phantom of the Opera. "I look once more just around the river bend … beyond the shore somewhere past the sea, don't know what for … why do all my dreams extend just around the river bend?" I stopped thinking of how good this song was, I loved Pocahontas!

"Alone?" I sat up straight and bit my lower lip as my heart pounded rhythmically in my chest.

"Jagger I swear if you don't-!"

"It's not Jagger." I looked up and saw Alexander standing there also alone.

"Oh, sorry … I have run-ins with him allot."

"So it seems." Alexander chuckled and stood before me, I pursed my lips and looked around … this was pretty awkward. "How has your Christmas shopping been going?"

"Great I got everyone a present including you!" Alexander seemed to be shocked by my last statement then smirked.

"Me?"

"Of course, I can't remember if I got Matt something … probably not … I should do that." I thought aloud and shrugged.

"That's very kind of you Skye but you didn't have to."

"I already did and I'm not taking it back." I crossed my arms over my chest with a grin on my face, Alexander rolled his eyes while staring beyond me and scowling. "What?"

"Jagger." He mumbled clenching his fists and walking past me, I quickly stood up and walked with him, leaving my things there beside the tree.

"Alexander, I have no quarrel with you so how about we settle this like reasonable immortals and you let me take this pretty little thing off your hands."

"I'm not going to Jagger, what do you really want with Skye anyway?"

"To love her and make her feel wonderful all over." I shuddered and had to bite my lip to try and keep myself from screaming out obscenity's. "Besides that I don't think you've told her or Raven about how you were being hunted."

"What?" I shrilled grabbing Alexander's shoulder and shaking it. "You're being hunted? Oh my goodness you have to tell Raven! Is that why you aren't here with her tonight?"

"I've already told Raven everything … but I can't let her get caught up in the terrible mess if the hunters show up." Well … that was kind of nice, knowing that everyone but me was aware of this situation!

"Oh but here's the best part …" Jagger purred with amusement. "It's not just Alexander it's also his entire family!" Jagger was having a lovely time with this and it showed so much. "So that means the stupid half-blood has no chance!"

"Shut up!" I screamed trying to storm towards him when Alexander grabbed my arm and pulled me back. "Claude isn't going to die! That's a terrible thing to say about some one! Alexander isn't going to die either and neither are his parents!"

"Can you see the future?" Jagger inquired.

"N-no …"

"Then you aren't sure, are you?"

"Shut up!" I snarled as Alexander kept his tight grip on my arm.

"Jagger you've done enough here so please go back to your club!"

"Why? I'm not sure I could find a more tasty mortal like this one…" I pulled my arm from Alexander and strutted away back to my tree, gathering my things and walking from the park.

"Stupid … immortal … bloodsucking jerks!"

"Someone sounds angry." I heard someone say in sing-song. I turned around and saw no one, then I bit my lower lip hoping that this wasn't another one of those stupid vampires.

"Who's there?"

"No-no! Not there, here!" There was a tap on my shoulder and I screamed turning to face a boy with coal black wavy hair with a lime green sock cap on his head that had some weird wolf-looking symbol on it, he wore a white torn shirt, black hooded jacket with the wolf symbol on the back only it was white, big black boots, baggy torn gray jeans, and the most interesting violet eyes. "Hello!" He said cheerily, I blinked rapidly.

"Hi?"

"Loki Lockhart, a pleasure to make your acquaintance." He took my hand in his and kissed my knuckles.

"Um … I'm Skye Ciel, nice to meet you."

"The feeling is mutual." I gulped and gently pulled my hand down from his and looked at the ground. "Allow me to introduce my friend, Teak Withers …" I looked to the space beside him and then at Loki.

"Who?" Loki looked beside him then behind him dashing into an alley he pulled his friend from his spot and planted Teak's feet in the space before me. "Oh … hi."

"H-h-h-h-h-hello." He squeaked and blushed harder than he already was, his eyes were the brightest blue with a ring of violet around the pupil, his hair was stunning ivory, sporting a deep red jacket with black fur inside his hood the wolf-thing in red on the back of it, wearing tight black Tripp-pants with straps hanging from them, and deep black converse.

"Hi." Did his face just get redder?

"Don't mind Teak, he's just shy."

"Oh, I see." Loki draped his arm around my shoulder and looked into me eyes a wide grin across his face. "Can I ask what you want exactly?"

"No, you can't cause my business is classified, so is Teak's."

"Well then I guess I must leave you, because I don't feel like getting sacked tonight thank you very much." I strutted off down the side-walk and ground my teeth together, maybe I should start liking girls that way these guys would leave me alone!

-0-

It was the first day of winter break and the exact day of my birthday, my parents were out shopping for presents and "recommended" that I go to the park. I instead went to the graveyard sitting atop a gravestone that was decorated with angels, I kicked my feet and thought for a long time as the snow glittered beneath me.

"I though you'd be here." When I looked up I saw Claude standing there, this was the first time he'd popped up out of nowhere like Jagger or Alexander.

"How would you know where I go all the time?"

"I don't I just wanted to come here too and you were here." He chuckled and stood before me as I stared at my feet which swung in front of me the cold air hanging between us like an invisible wall. "What are you doing?"

"I'm not sure, thinking … maybe."

"About me?" Claude grinned, I laughed and shook my head.

"No … about last night." Claude was puzzled.

"What happened last night?"

"I was out here … and Alexander showed up …" Claude held my shoulders looking into my eyes.

"What did Alexander say to you?"

"You're being hunted …" I whispered and Claude released me storming away and screaming then swiveling back around letting out a large huff. "What so wrong with me knowing about all this?"

"Raven is used to all this mind-boggling vampire stuff! You aren't!"

"So? Practice makes perfect right?" I grinned standing up and walking to Claude while gripping his jacket sleeve. "You want to come with me to the park?"

"Can I take you to the park?"

"What?" Claude leaned down and flipped me into his arms, bridal-style, then grinned wildly at me.

Once we got to the park everyone screamed surprise and then seemed puzzled as they stared at Claude holding me in his arms with my arms crossed over my chest and a peeved expression on my face. "Skye!" Raven shouted and dashed over to me glaring at Claude and pointing to the snowy ground. "Put her down." He obeyed and set me on my feet winking to Raven.

"Now I'm happy! Lets have some cake!"

"What was up with Claude?" Becky asked me.

"Oh, I don't know I ran into him on my way here and he thought it would be funny to carry me to the park!" I scowled at Claude who was laughing uncontrollably.

"Happy birthday." I turned and saw Trevor Mitchell standing there with that five-star soccer boy grin on his face, avoiding him was going to be very hard tonight.