Chapter 1

I walked down the dark corridor, tears staining my dirt caked face and sobs racking my 5-year old body. I heard the screams coming from behind the large, closed doors. I broke into a run out of fear the scary men would find me again. I turned the corner and ran smack into a very tall person. I almost screamed when a hand clamped over my mouth.

A deep voice whispered to me "Don't scream. I'm not gonna hurt you. Are you one of the girls' daughters?"

I only nodded my head, since he hadn't removed his hand yet. It's a good thing he didn't. I didn't trust my mouth not to scream my mother's name.

He frowned and his eye brows knit together. "What's your name?" he asked

I narrowed my eyes and clenched my jaw. I did that when I was mad. I stopped crying and he lowered his hand slowly. "Glowe. Call me Onyx. And yours?"

He smiled then said "Well ,well, well. Feisty." I glared at him colder. He chuckled but stopped fast, then he covered my mouth and picked me up. He ran down the hall with me slung over his shoulder. He ran out the now un-locked double doors I was brought in and out into the dark alley. He jumped in the back of an air-conditioning van. Right before the van lurched forward, he said "The names Daren, sweetheart." And laughed lightly.

(9 years later)

I leaned against the alley walls and smoked my cigarette (I'm not recommending smoking for any 14 year olds!). Daren always told me it would calm me and my anger issues. So far, it's worked.

I flicked my bud in a puddle. It sizzled but the glow burned out. I popped a piece of gum in my mouth and chewed it slowly. I blew a bubble and it popped softly but it echoed off the walls. When I popped my bubbles, that was the signal that it was time. Drakor began walking down the alley quietly from the right end and Vian followed. Daren and Silver came from the other end and Enen as waiting at the front door in case this guy tried to run. I pushed off the wall from where I stood and walked to the door across from the dumpster. I grabbed my switch blade out of my pocket and picked the lock. I opened the door and ran down the concrete hall silently.

I didn't hear any foot steps behind me because, well, Daren and Drakor were vampires and Silver and Vian were shape-shifters. They never made a sound. Enen was a witch so he always stood guard. As for me, I was lamia, apparently, full blood vampire.

I snaked down the halls, making no noise, and turned the corner at the end. I halted and reversed around the corner faster than you could say "Two Guards". I put my hands on each wall and the guys stopped behind me. Drakor gave me a WTF look. I held up two fingers and tapped my ear then at the corner. They all cocked their heads to the side and Daren cursed mentally. I could always tell when he did. We backed up into an empty room and sat in the darkest corner, not that it would matter. The guards were vampires. Made ones, by the glance I got. We could hear the foot steps turn down the hall and they yelled something in what I think was Dutch. They noticed the open door. Shit Drakor, I thought. He left the door open. I gave him a F You look and before anyone could grab me, I jumped up and opened the door quietly. I clanked together the heads of the two guards and they slumped to the ground, unconciouss.

"We gotta go." Daren said.

"I know. Come on." I said and took off the way we were heading origanally.

"Wait up!" Vian yelled.

I sprinted down the halls, listening for screaming or other guards. I finally heard it. The tortured screech I was waiting for. I rounded the corner and it was the second door and on… the right. I burst into the room and saw the girl jump and scream in the corner, not seeing me yet. Her captor was tall muscular, but that's no problem, I thought. So am I. He turned around, a evil smile spread across his mouth, but what stopped me in my tracks was his face.

"Dotten?" I said cautiously.

He widened his disgusting smile and added more evilness while his eyes glinted in the poorly lit room. "Why hello, sister." He said with a purr in his Dutch accent he inherited from father.

I growled and his foot flew at my face.