Hours of Darkness

Chapter 1:

My name is Heath Luck, I'm a vampyre and this is my story.

When I was 18 the love of my life got Marked to be a vampire forever more... or die. Naturally she wanted to be a vampyre and so she did, but that comes later.

Six months before I was marked Zoey got marked and began the change. No one from her human life was supportive of her, except for her Grandma Redbird. I will admit, once she was marked I tried to cut all ties with her but she cut my wrist and drank my blood which caused this imprinting thing. Though, after six months without contact I can feel that the bond is practically gone. I also have to admit not being supportive of Zoey is my greatest regret in my now long life.

I had never been so nervous in my life before that day- the day I arrived at the Tulsa House of Night, where Zoey is. I was given a tour of the school by the most beautiful vampyre I had ever seen; however, now that I know better, I would say that she was pretty average. Her name is Neferet, and at the time the High Priestess of the school. Now Zoey is her successor, but like I said, that comes later.

As Neferet was giving me the tour of her school, all I could think was Zoey- what she would look like; what she would say when she saw me with a crescent moon on my forehead; would we have a chance to get back together now that we are both fledgling or if she had moved on. My internal babbling was short ended because Neferet had stopped under the arch that led to the main hall.

"Heath, I am so sorry but I have to leave you for a moment. One of my fledglings needs me urgently." She smiled at me and I swear she had her own internal light that would never go out

"Um ok, but um, how do you know?" I stammered, again she smiled at me and said,

"Heath, my Goddess has gifted me with an affinity for cats and healing. Did you not see the black cat at my feet before? Well it is his fledgling that needs my help. If you continue down t his corridor and turn left you will find the girls dorm. Wait for me to return so I can introduce you to the prefects."

I felt like I was lost because the hall seemed like it was going on forever. Thankfully, I was not lost for much longer because a girl walked into the room and as she turned I saw her Mark, which was filled in and expanded. I may be new but I did know that having a Mark like that as was unusual. When the door closed the guy started walking towards me and I'm not into guys or anything but I could tell that he would be one of the good looking guys at school- he was tall with dark hair and blue eyes and like all fledglings he had a crescent moon on his forehead. As he passed me, he smiled, nodded and went on his way. I made it to the dorm door where I waited for Neferet to return,

"Heath? Are you ok?" her voice came from nowhere, scaring the hell out of me.

"Umm yeah, I'm fine," I replied once I managed to slow my racing heart.

Again she smiled, stepping around me and opened the door to the girl's dorm. It was definitely a girls room- there were comfy looking couches, clumps of puffy pillows big enough to sit on dotting the room and gas lights around the room.

There was one group of fledglings that stood out from the rest, mainly because it was one of the larger groups but also because I got this feeling, some weird but good electric vibe that radiated from the group. Neferet moved into the room and went to the kitchen where she ordered me to wait while she got the leader. I heard her speak and the others reply but they were whispering and were too far away for me to hear what they were saying. When I heard everyone move I turned around to greet them and HOLY SHIT!!!

"Zoey!" I couldn't help yelling I was so happy to see her. I hugged her around the waist and I did try to kiss her but she kept turning her head away. When I did finally let her go I had a really good look at her and only then did realise that she was the girl I saw in the hall making out with that guy. So it seems that she has moved on.

"Heath? Oh my Goddess! What- how- Heath!" Zoey could not get her words out properly which was kind of funny

"It appears that you know each other." Neferet said, stating the obvious.

"Yes Neferet, Heath was my boyfriend before I was Marked but we had always been friends." She explained to everyone before continuing,

"Heath, welcome to the House Of Night. I am the leader of the Dark Daughters and Sons and High Priestess in training and-"

"-hang on," I said interrupting her, "Don't you have to have an affinity or something like that? And what's up with your Mark?" I didn't want to be rude; I was just curious.

"If you'd let me finish you would know that I have 5 affinities. Something never heard of for a vampyre. As for my Mark, Nyx Marked me to be her eyes and ears for the new world. I am special to her heart. My Mark being filled in and expanded is further proof of her favouring me and my will to stay on Nyx's path," She explained to me. It was clear that she had done that speech many times before.

"That is so cool Zo," I saw her cringe when I said 'Zo' I kept forgetting that she hated it when I called her that, so I quickly moved on, "So what are these affinities you have? And who are they." I nodded to the 5 other people that were standing around Zoey.

"My affinities are for the elements; Air, Fire, Water, Earth and Sprit. Ok, so, this is Damian, his element is Air, this is Jack his boyfriend whose affinity is for technology. Shaunee is Fire, Erin is Water, they will also answer to Twin," I gave her a confused look, "I'll explain later. Last but not least this is my bestie and roommate Stevie Rae. Her affinity is Earth. Everyone, this is Heath Luck, my ex-boyfriend." She finished introducing everyone and their affinities.

I looked at everyone as they were mentioned, then I finally looked at Stevie Rae. She was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. When our eyes met, something strange but powerful happened. It was more powerful then the time Zoey said she would go out with me, more powerful then the first time I kissed her and more powerful then the time we made out. When Stevie Rae and I stared at each other the whole room disappeared, and no one else was there.
That was the day I fell in love with Stevie Rae.