Children
of the
Night
Book 1 of 12 in the Gifted saga
Jalen Sparrow
To the "Eight" who were
Great models for the characters
Of this saga…
-Jalen, 2010
T
This novel is rated "T" for Teen:
Fantasy Violence, Language, and
Suggestive Themes
Night oo1
Clack, clack, clack…
A pattering of shoed feet filled the cool Colorado night air. It smelt of smog from the supposedly abandoned factories directly outside the town of Luna. It was a quite peaceful town; quaint, mostly crime-free, and friendly. Many came to live here due to the beautiful views of the Rocky Mountains. Others use it as an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Clack, clack, clack, clack…
The sound drew closer, now, a smell, a smell of cologne, very heavy cologne. The boy was hiding behind a large dumpster. His black hair fell disheveled from his scalp, concealing his very pale white skin. He pulled his hood farther over his face. He breathed a deep sigh, then, began counting down from five silently, only forming the words with his lips.
Now!!!
He jumped from his hiding place as he unsheathed his switchblade knife. Letting out a chilling howl, he paralyzed his prey, grabbing them from behind, he pinned their arms to their side and placed the blade to their right jugular.
"I've got you now you stinkin' son of a…what?!" He stopped as he realized who his prey actually wasn't, "You, you're not…"
There was a blast of acidic chemicals in his eyes, he yelled, releasing the victim. After a startlingly quick recovery from the pepper spray, the boy looked up at the prey. It was a girl, a small girl with hair as dark, if not darker than his own. She wasn't half as pretty as most girls he's met, but she was still attractive.
"Whoa!! Ok, sorry, you aren't who I thought you were! I wasn't trying to hurt you or anything! I was hunting a male, about twenty-six-ish, seen him? He's kind of a 'Jack the Ripper' kinda guy…"
She seemed very doubtful of his story.
"That explains so much," Her voice was clearly sarcastic, "thanks very much for explaining!"
"Please, please listen to me! I need you to get out of here. Now. You're in a heck of a lot of danger if you stay any longer!"
Before she got the chance to escape, a thin pale hand caught her from behind. The man held her around the neck in the crook of his elbow while the other hand held both her hands together. His cool breath chilled the girl as he spoke in a cool tone.
"Quite the girl ain't she, 'Wolf?"
The pale boy was silent as he eyed his knife.
"It's too bad that you're so beautiful. If you were a tad displeasing, I'd free you."
"You're going to let go either way," The boy commanded, "She has nothing to do with us!"
"Perhaps. But, she's already sent my heart racing, and there's no way to stop me when it is."
"You mean, what's left of your heart? Don't play human; you have no real heart or soul."
The girl stopped struggling when this was said.
"Ha, I'm not trying to act human; I'm just trying to thrill myself…" He freed her hands and moved that hand to her shoulder, pushing her head out of the way with the other hand, he finished his sentence, "…and get another free meal, the blood bags cost too much at work."
Sharp piercing pain burst through her neck as the man jammed two long fangs into her. Her consciousness waned as the blood was drained through the fangs. The boy muttered something about the "Master" being P. if they weren't back soon, but, the thin cool man ignored him as he feasted. After what seemed like an eternity of pain, which was really only a matter of seconds, he unkindly ripped his teeth out of her. She collapsed onto the sidewalk.
"Dang it," The boy said, "You drank too much again."
"Well, I haven't tasted blood like hers in awhile, it was so delicious! Ahh, the ecstasy it brought me! Oh, and I'm sick of your 'hunt the vampire' training sessions, so, quit it."
"Ok, sure."
The vampire was surprised.
"Wait. Are you serious?!"
"Uh, yeah, as soon as you stop hunting humans, especially women, I'll stop playing my game."
His ally was flushed over with anger.
"The catch. But, there's no fun in hunting animals. They give in too quickly; I love the futile attempts of the human race. Either way, what are gonna do with the girl?"
"Um, get her home I guess. But, that won't be easy thanks to you. She's unconscious and won't wake up anytime soon."
"Yeah, but you have abilities too, why don't you just use those? Or, are you afraid again?"
"I'm not afraid, I'm just very cautious…but, this calls for the 'Gifts' so, this one time I'll use them again."
The boy knelt down next to her, sniffing her, trying to catch some kind of scent. Once he had found one, he threw her onto her back and ran off into the darkness of the night….
Nora awoke the next morning to a blaring alarm and a throbbing head. She groggily slammed a limp arm onto the clock, but as she tried to pull herself from bed, she slipped, and crashed to the hard wooden bedroom floor.
"Noraaaaa!!! Did you fall out of bed again??" Her mother half-screamed up the stairs.
"No!!"
Maybe….
She was startled when a warm sensation was running over her right shoulder. When she went to examine it, she almost screamed. There were two large wounds from which blood was excreted, soaking her white tank top.
So…that wasn't a dream? She asked herself as she recalled the past night's events. Should I call the police? Those two could still be out there…but, they seemed, inhuman. Maybe I should call the FBI instead…
For the time being she left it alone as she grabbed clothing for the day and rushed into the shower…
…After a record breaking five minute and thirty-seven second long shower, she looked herself over in the mirror. Nora Dawson was a small girl, never more than five feet five inches. Her green eyes shone with a light of mystery and excitement, which contradicted her "sulky, life is okay" disposition. Her long black hair had always had a slight wave to it, but, was in all inevitably straight no matter how well she treated it. Her facial features were always slightly pointed, but never to the extremity of some people's. She never considered herself "good-looking" or "attractive," maybe slightly pretty, but, nothing special. The only flaw on her face was a barely noticeable scar across the bridge of her nose form an accident during her childhood. Many relatives and friends of the family always said she looked like her late father, Richard Dawson, who was supposedly killed by a drunk driver one year before her birth. She was currently sixteen years old, living with her mother, Marion, younger sister, Rachel, and older brother, Alex. After applying a thin layer of eyeliner, she threw on a pink short-sleeved low-ish cut shirt with a rose-and-vine design across the front and a pair of tight white jeans. Grabbing her yellow and black backpack, she rushed out the room and down the stairs to breakfast…
…The kitchen/dining room was still full of boxes from the recent move to this house. They lived in Arlington Heights, Illinois, but due to Nora's educational needs, they moved to Luna, Colorado. The table was set with paper plates and plastic silverware, thanks to Alex for being lax in his unpacking duties. Her sister sat at the table looking sullen and cold. Rachel's facial features were much more rounded than her elder sister's which she clearly got from their father. Her bright blue eyes were the only part of her look that didn't scream, "Leave me alone." Her black hair was cropped to shoulder length, her bangs hiding much of her face. Nora sat down across from her, always wondering why they never got along. Her mother was at the stove cooking her eldest daughter's favorite breakfast meal, French-Toast-in-an-American-style. Marion was the most beautiful person to ever live, according to Nora at least. She kept her hair as long and loose as her daughter's. She had the most brilliant yellow eyes and a smile like an angel's.
"Morning dear! How're you?"
"Mm..good, I guess."
"Food will be ready soon, so just have some patience!"
Patience. Her mother always played that card with Nora, always expanding on the importance and benefits of being a patient person. Nora basically made her own rules on what's important in life. Her list was this, starting with the most important:
Friends
School
Family
Job
Guys
Many of her friends back in Illinois found her lack of interest in guys partially appalling. They went all giddy if the most popular guy in school barely glanced their way, Nora ignored it. As she began drifting into her subconscious, trying to decipher what had happen last night, she saw Rachel's lips form the words "look out." But, it was too late; the chair Nora sat on fell backwards. She screamed as the chair smashed into the hard wood floor, the sound echoed throughout the empty house. Once she had recovered from the traumatic experience, she glared up at the assailant. Alex stood over her laughing in his worn-out blue jeans and black under-armor tee. His chin was covered in stubble that never seemed to want to grow anymore than it had. His jaw was very square, much like Orlando Bloom's. His blue eyes sparkled with a glint of mischievousness as he grinned down at his sister. Nora couldn't help but notice that he didn't even try to comb his sandy-brown hair this morning.
"Alex, when did you decide to fill my life with this much torment?"
"When you entered high school of course! Don't know why I chose then, but I did."
He was right. Ever since she entered high school two years ago he filled her days with all kinds of pranks and shenanigans. But, even though he bothered her endlessly, he was a loving brother at heart. Whenever she had guy problems, he was always there to help her out. Alex helped her back up to a normal sitting position right as the food was ready…
…Once the entire family had sat down, Mrs. Dawson began her "first day of the school year" annual talk. Alex was in the clear because he had been out of high school for a year now, Rachel was just starting high school so she got the "homework, guys, and grades" spiel. Nora's went something like this;
"Nora, I chose "Luna High School for the Gifted" for multiple reasons. The first of these being your high intellect and the need for an academic challenge. The second being you 'gifts'…"
Oh no… Nora thought, Here we go…
Ever since she was young, Nora has had the ability to "read" people's true natures, which is really convenient when choosing a boyfriend. Unfortunately, she doesn't have that much control over it yet.
"…and the teachers here specialize in helping 'gifted children' like you with controlling and understanding their powers."
"So, you're sending me to a freak show school?! Thanks a lot that builds self-esteem!"
She dug her fork into the food, expressing her anger at the situation. Her mother ran her delicate hands through her hair.
"No, Nora, it's a normal school. They just have special sessions for the unique students."
Her daughter angrily pushed her chair back and hurried out of the dining room and up the stairs. Tear welled up and flowed out her eyes as she slammed her door shut and threw herself onto her bed.
Dad always mentioned in his study notes on how "special" the "Gifted" are, and that they should be proud of their abilities. If so, why do I feel like a freak and like I'm worth nothing…why do I feel like a piece of crap??
She shuddered as a cold rush of September air filled the room, looking up, she saw a hooded man leaning next to the window. She tried to scream, but, he already had a hand over her mouth, but, he was behind her.
"Don't scream." He warned, "I'm not going to hurt you or anything. I'm here to help."
He brushed her hair off her right shoulder. Pulling away her shirt collar, he examined the wound area. Once he found the bite marks, he felt a sharp pain in his stomach; Nora had thrust her elbow backwards, releasing his grip. She flipped around and snapped a frontal kick up into his jaw, projecting him backwards over her bed. Having a free window of time, she grabbed a baseball bat out of her closet and leapt after him. She swung the bat at him, but, as it was one-third of an inch away from his face, he caught it with his left hand. With his other he grabbed her by the head, slammed her onto the floor, flipped over her, in which movement she lost her weapon; as she stared at the ceiling, dazed, he pinned her arms above her head as he knelt to the right of her.
"Ok, calm down." He said, "I'm not a creeper or anything…but, seriously cooperate. Your life is at stake if you don't."
"Oh! So you're threatening me now? What the heck are you doing here!?"
"I need to examine those bite marks."
She looked up into his hooded face, though she feared what his true motives might be, she felt an inexplicable urge to trust him. After she asked him to, the mysterious man helped her up…just as there was a knock on the door.
"Nora??" It was Alex, "Are you ok? What's with all the ruckus?"
It was her brother, the one person who would completely and utterly over think the situation. As she was about to turn around and tell the man to hide, the door opened. She spun around quickly. The man was gone.
"What're you doing in here sis??"
"Oh, just, um…trying to squash a fly!"
"Are you ok? I mean, you seemed upset after breakfast."
"I, I'm good. Umm…I need to get ready for school now, so can you leave?"
"Oh, uh, sure, ok!"
As soon as he left, the man jumped back into the room from a window. But, as he stood up, Nora gasped as his hood came off. It was the boy from the night before.
"You?! Wait, how'd you find me?!"
"I brought you home; you were unconscious so I carried you back here. But, that doesn't matter right now, let me see you neck."
He pulled the shirt back again, this time, Nora's only reaction was a slight sigh, and the boy chuckled at her.
"What? Are you still scared of me?" He grinned playfully, "Or are you slightly attracted to this ugly mug?"
She tried to slap him across the cheek, but, he caught her hand again.
"Good, the bite marks are still open, making this a less painful experience for you. Extracting the venom will only take a minute."
He carefully slid his canine teeth into the wounds and breathed in, immediately, she felt the cold chill she had that morning escaped her. She couldn't tell completely, but, she felt like she was blushing from him being so close. In another fifteen seconds, he removed his teeth as softly as he placed them.
"Um, thanks, but, I have a question…how were you able to do that, unless you're a vampire or something?"
"In my line of work, you need to be prepared for anything. Now, it seems it is time for school for you. So, I must be off!"
He bowed to her and said farewell in a very suave fashion as he jumped right out of the two story window to the street below. She ran to the window, shouting.
"What's your name?"
He turned and looked her in the eyes. She noticed how his eyes shone with a deep blood red hue. It almost disturbed her, but, yet, it was enticing.
"My name? Is that what you said??"
"Yes! What's your name?"
There was a sudden convenient epic gust of wind which caught in his black trench coat.
"My name is Hito. Okami, Hito."
Nora felt a familiar cold chill, shivering, she looked back at him. Instead of the boy, she saw a wolf, a tall black furred wolf standing on its hind legs. She blinked a couple times, and only the boy remained.
"Excuse me?" He said, "But, may I ask your name?"
She snapped back into reality.
"Nora…Dawson."
"Well, it's nice to meet you Miss Dawson, but, for now, this is goodbye!!"
She watched him go until he disappeared into the streets and alleyways. The entire time she felt the chains of fate tugging them back together…