**I own this story and all the characters!**

The Blackest Night

Chapter One: Big Brother

She was running across the greens, her old tennis shoes literally falling apart beneath her feet, her fiery red hair was flying in the wind, and her jeans and black tank-top were stuck to her skin. As she neared the edge of the forest she saw a flash of light to her left in her peripheral. If only I had paid more freaking attention in combat training, then maybe I wouldn't be running from these bozos. She couldn't think of the correct maneuvers to escape these cretins, so she ran. The flash kept growing brighter though, and she felt as if she was slowly losing control of her body...

Artemis shot up out of her sleep, and nearly fell off the tree she had been sleeping in. Artemis Hunt was fairly short only about 5'3. She had bright green eyes that almost glowed in the dark, and hair the color of a fire truck. She was extremely skinny, and had to wear heels practically all the time. Her tank-top and jeans were plastered to her slightly tanned skin. She was lucky that she didn't have all the freckles red-heads normally had, but she had a few sprinkled across her skin. Her hair, which normally reached down to the end of her back, was matted into massive not, and her feet were raw from running. The first thing that came to her mind were the people who had been chasing her only mere hours ago, but then she remembered the light. She also remembered how Selena Knight, her best friend, had met her at the edge of the woods just as they had planned the night before. Selena had platinum blonde hair that reached well below her lower back, she had electric blue eyes, and was nearly 5'7. She had lightly bronzed skin, and an infectious up beat personality. They were both seniors at Brick Ridge High, and even though Artemis was almost 19 and Selena was 18, it didn't mean they couldn't take care of themselves. Artemis decided she should at least attempt to crawl back into her dorm room. The tree she had slept in over 100 feet tall, and the branch at the very top is barely two feet beneath her window. She finished the climb and crawled through the already open window.

"Hey Arty! What took you so long?" asked Selena who had apparently already gotten ready for bed, even though it was just now twelve.

"Um...maybe the fact that you left me in the tree," I replied.

"O, right. I kinda forgot to get you once I was finished showering didn't I? O well, at least your here now."

"So when does our first class start again?"

"Hmm...it says on the schedules that it starts around eight tonight. At least it's after dinner right? I mean last year was awful with it being in the middle of meal time."

"Either way it sucks in my opinion. I mean why do we have to learn the history of vampires if we aren't vampires?"

"Shh! They don't know that remember?"

"O right whoops. I can't believe they haven't figured it out yet. I mean how dumb can you be?"

"Look just be happy they are that dumb. Otherwise we wood be cat food. Now hurry up before they smell you."

"O hush!" and with that Artemis stalked off to the bathroom to shower. Run, run, run, run, run. That is all I do when they find us is run. I should be able to stand up and fight, but ever since my memory disappeared I've been in a whirlwind of confusing situations that keep me from thinking straight. Maybe Selena is right, maybe I should just give up on the prospect of my memories returning. But what if they never come back and I'm running the rest of my life? Slowly but surely she returned to the sleep which she had woken from.

"Get up or we are gonna be late!" Selena yelled at the top of her lungs. "I refuse to be late on the first day of classes, especially since this is our first day as seniors."

"I'm up, quit yelling."

"OK good now get dressed and meet me in the dinning hall."

She got up and walked to the bathroom in their dorm room, and preceded to get dressed. Luckily she had remembered to lay her clothes out the night before so all she had to do was put on her school uniform. Unlike most schools, their school colors were black and dark gray, so their uniforms were black pleated skirts, a white button up collard shirt, and a gray vest. The shoes were left up to the student, so she wore a pair of black stilettos. As Artemis made her way to the dinning hall, she couldn't shake this feeling that she was being followed.

"Nice of you to join me Arty," said Selena in a sour tone. "I thought you might have gone back to sleep, but I guess you didn't."

"Would I be here if I had?"

"Good point."

"So where is our first class?"

"It's in building C room 425 on the third floor. It'll only take a few minutes to get there. Do you want any breakfast?"

"Nope, lets just go ahead and get this over with." Artemis stood up and was out the door in less than a second. They crossed the campus slowly, making sure to keep a safe distance from the other students. You could never tell these days who might bite you, and who wouldn't. By the time they made it to their classroom, classes had begun. They walked in and took two seats at the back and waited for their day to be over with.

Artemis was walking back to her dorm after her last class, when she heard footsteps behind her. Ugh, I haven't I had to deal with enough crap today? Apparently not. Well I can only hope that this will go smoothly. Artemis turned around to face her pursuer. She came face to face with the most handsome guy she had ever seen. "Um...who...um...who are you?" she finally managed to stutter out.

"Hi, I'm Orion Skye, and you left this in the classroom," he said with a sweet almost flirty smile playing on his lips. Orion was really tall, so Artemis was looking up into his gentle emerald eyes, when she noticed how muscular and tan he was for a vampire. His dark brown hair was cut short, and spiked on top. His deep voice reminded Artemis of the sun's warmth and how like just thinking about the sun could brighten the day, his voice was the same.

"O, right, thanks. Um, I don't think I remember you being in my combat skills class."

"I'm not. In fact I just started today, but don't worry, your brother Apollo sent me and Endymion Kingsly. He said that he thought you and Selena could use a little help."

"Wait, what? My brother sent you to look after me? That is a load of bull. There is no way my brother would care enough to do that. I mean he sent me to this place just to get me out of his hair."

"You know that isn't true. He sent you here because he thought you might be better protected from the people chasing you. But if you keep pulling stunts like the one last night, then his intentions will be for nothing." As he said this a look of worry flashed across his handsome features, and it made Artemis' heart nearly skip a beat.

"How did you know about me leaving campus last night?"

"Selena has informed your brother of what you've been doing the past few months. Don't be mad at her though, you know how your brother can be when it comes to getting people to talk."

"Yea, well I suppose it was for good purposes," she said with a laugh. "But she could have at least told me that she was going to. I mean how am I suppose to handle this and school. Not to mention that ever since we started going here I can't remember any of my past. For all I know my brother is dead and your one of them, sent here to take me away." Who is this guy really? I mean what if what I said is true. What if he really is one of them? What if he really was sent to take me away from the only person who is like family to me? And why does he keep looking at me with those sad eyes of his? It's like I mean more to him than an acquaintance should. And why is my brother just now caring enough to send help?

"I can't tell you much more here, but maybe we will get a chance to talk later. Meet me by the woods at 8 A.M. I'll tell you more then, OK."

"Why can't you just tell me now? Why do you have to wait?"

"There may be the wrong kind of people listening now. I've already said to much on the subject. Trust me, if I tell you any more, then you won't be the only one in danger. Now hurry and go to your room, but don't tell Selena that you are going to meet me. She might get the wrong idea."

"Why would she get the wrong idea?"

"Just trust me and don't tell her." With that he left her standing in the crisp night air alone, and in the dark.

Why are guys so freaking complicated some times? I wonder why Selena would get the wrong idea? Ugh why does it have to be so cold tonight. As she walked back to her dorm, she couldn't help but think of his eyes and how they had seemingly peered into her soul.

This is the first story I have written, and I would really appreciate if all the readers would give me a review, good or bad.

If I get 10 reviews, then I will post the next chapter, Crushed.

Thanks!