TWILIGHT AGAIN

PROLOGUE

My head was spinning as I took in what I had become. Vivid flash backs of the incident in Duluth continued to pop up in my mind. There were five of them; Monsters that moved like ghosts and breathed like death. I tried to run away, but everywhere I turned I saw them. I tried shutting my eyes to see if it was just a nightmare, but my body was tossed carelessly around like a helpless doll in the hands of a five year old.

That's when I felt it. Close to unconsciousness, something broke the skin on my arm like knives. Through the stinging and the burning I screamed until I couldn't anymore and I thought I had passed out.

Then I became alert by large cracking sounds and vicious snarls. When it all stopped someone picked me up and seemed to fly away into oblivion. I believed I was dead for a time, but I could still feel my broken bones and the burning in my veins. I was very cold and terrified that I wept. Every time I let out a sob the man pulled me closer and whispered soothing words to me to calm me down. I tried to keep quiet, but every now and then a whimper would escape my lips.

I took me a while to realize we weren't flying anymore when he lay me down on an old bed and left. I cried in agony, for my body trembled at every movement. I felt like I was on fire, and yet I shivered because I was so cold. He came back quickly and wrapped a blanket around me, cradling me in his lap and petting my hair trying to sooth me. It wasn't working. The burning didn't cease in the least bit. I attempted to ask why, but coherent words evaded me. After two days the burning was starting to leave my fingertips and hands. I still couldn't walk painlessly, though I tried.

Whenever the pain was endurable, he tried to explain to me who he was and where I was. I apparently told him my name, though I didn't remember doing so, because he always addressed me so. His name was Dorian Griffin, a scientific doctor from Virginia, but that was all I could remember before I cringed at a jolt of pain.

On the dawn of the fourth day I found that I could move without triggering any spasms. Dorian explained to me again what I had become and it still took a while for it to sink in. I was a vampire. He told me the burning in my throat meant I craved blood. I cringed at the thought. I was a vegetarian! I don't eat animals! Yet he insisted that I would have to 'hunt' that night to avoid going mad. Much to my disgust I went with him just to make the burning stop.

He taught me how to hunt with my new self. My senses were heightened beyond belief. I could see a chipmunk gnawing on an acorn from far away, and hear it as its teeth scratched against its food source. Telling me it was much too small to be prey, we flew through the forest until I came upon an irresistible smell. The scent was like crisp apples in the spring. Gazing upon the beast, I realized it to be a large cat-like animal, possibly a minx or snow leopard.

Instinctively I lunged at it and bit through its neck. As the blood spilled into my mouth, I was surprised that it did taste like crisp apples. I could feel the animal fighting to get away, but my new strength held it hostage to its doom. Feeling it go limp, I was feeling stronger physically, but pitied the cat. The burning had stopped in my throat and I felt… well, not normal, but better.

Dorian praised me for my first meal, though I found it quite silly.

"Hunting is essential for vampires, Valentine. You'll get used to it." He told me I should hunt twice a week and never a human. The thought that I would drink the blood of another human was sickening. Isn't that a form of cannibalism?

For the next few weeks I was getting used to my new body. I could run faster than a car, hear things from miles away, and see unbelievable distances. These all came in handy when I hunted (which I was now getting used to as well). I especially liked snow leopards for their taste that reminded me of apples.

Occasionally I gloomed about my old family. My younger brother Thomas, my mother Anna, and my father Jeremy. I wondered how they were fairing without me. Would they be searching for me? Would they think I was dead?

The other members of the 'coven' were Zuma, Joseph, and Ian. Zuma was tall, slender, and had raven black hair that was wavy a little past her shoulders. Joseph had spiky black hair and appeared to be Asian. Ian had dark blonde hair and was muscularly built. I instantly bonded to Zuma like a sister. She had been attacked by vampires like I was and was easy to relate to. She laughed at me when I asked about crosses and holy water and crucifixes and stakes telling me I wouldn't have to worry about those 'toys'. I couldn't help being relieved.

Joseph liked to study geography. It was really annoying when he rambled on about the Caspian Mountains or the Great Basin. He could always somehow manage to twist a conversation into the geography of some continent.

Ian seemed to be the little brother of the group, only appearing to be around thirteen years old. Like all kids, he was easily entertained and fascinated by my attempts at remaining as 'human' as possible.

After a while, they were all like family to me, teaching me the 'rules' of being a vampire and all the fun things you can do. (Like sneaking up on humans and poking them as Ian enthusiastically explained)

One day Dorian started encouraging us to move west. He didn't tell us why, just that it was important. I would miss living in the Appalachian mountains, but since Dorian was the head of the coven, his orders must be followed.