Chapter One
I breathed in the cool night air as I stepped out of the taxi to my new home in Fell's Church.
My grandmother was waiting for me at the doorway, a big smile on her small wrinkled face, her two blue eyes sparkling under a fringe of wild white curly hair., I knew she would have two cups of steaming hot cocoa on the table and I would have to tell her all the news she missed back home in Chicago, it was always like this when I came to visit her every summer, but now I wasn't visiting, I was staying here for good.
"Sophie I've missed you so much!." she exclaimed hobbling up the path to greet me.
We briefly hugged, I breathed in her warm, familiar smell of chocolate and tobacco.
" I've missed you too gran." I said brushing my wavy auburn hair out of my eyes.
" Come on in dear, I have some hot cocoa ready for you."
I laughed and followed her in, her old cat Maggie, greeted me at the door, brushing its horrible white fluffy body against my legs.
I shivered and stepped away from it, I had always hated cats, they are horrible dirty things.
I brought the cases quickly down to my room, I looked around, It was still the same, it's lilac walls, the paint peeling in some places, my single bed in the corner with its green and white knitted blanket, a nightstand next to the bed and a massive oak wardrobe facing the bed.
I smiled and put the cases over in the corner, the floorboards squeaking in old age. I looked out of the window into the endless darkness and hurried over to close the curtains, as I did I swore I saw something move outside, jumping in shock, I went over and sat on the bed.
After I had recovered from my near mini-heart attack, I tried to convince myself it was probably just because I was so tired from the journey. I jumped off the bed and walked up the narrow hall to the warm kitchen, to get my well-needed cup of hot cocoa.
" Are you alright dear, you look a bit pale." Gran said looking at me from underneath her glasses.
She was sitting by the stove, with Maggie on her lap, hot cocoa in one hand and a book in the other.
"Um, yeah I'm fine, just a bit tired." I said pulling out a chair, from the old oak table and taking the hot mug in between my hands.
" Drink up your drink and get to bed, then. I've warmed up a hot water bottle if you want it it's out in the laundry room." she smiled.
" Aww, thanks Gran, but you don't have to run round doing things for me, I'm seventeen now." She looked at me warmly but sadly
" I know Sophie, I know but I still think of you as my little five year old Granddaughter coming to stay for the summer." she looked a bit upset, I got up quickly from the table and hugged her, trying to forget about Maggie in her lap.
" Ok Dearie, now you'd best be off to bed, your first day at school tomorrow." she said kissing me on the forehead. I kissed her on the cheek.
" Okay night Gran."
"Night darling."
I quickly washed up my mug and got my pyjamas on, it had been a hot day here in Fell's Church, the nights were cooler, but Gran had the stove and the heating turned up full blast, that it was sweating in the house, no need for a hot water bottle.
Gran never thinks its warm, even tonight she probably thinks its a bit chilly, I think the cold has got to her old bones.
I took the hot water bottle anyway and threw it under the bed. I turned on the little lamp on the nightstand and flopped down onto the bed, exhausted, I didn't feel like pulling back the covers, I was too hot and too tired.
I woke up sweating from how hot it had become, I rubbed my eyes, and looked at the small digital clock next to my bed, four am, only three and a half hours , until hell, until I was known as the new kid at Robert E. Lee High School.
The only thing I was looking forward to was seeing Elena again and meeting her new boyfriend. I sat up in bed and decided I was going to go and try to turn off this heating, it was way too hot.
As I swung my bare feet over the side of the bed they touched something warm and fluffy on the floor, the first thing that came into my mind was my slippers, but I hadn't unpacked them yet. Then another thought struck me, slightly shaking, I slowly leaned over to look at the floor, I muffled a scream.
It was Maggie, my heart was racing. How the hell did that horrible fur ball get in here?. I didn't know how I was going to get her out of here, I definitely wasn't going to pick her up!
I gently pushed her out the door with my foot, even though I hated her, I knew how much that old cat meant to Gran, so I didn't want to hurt it. I turned round and was just about to get back into bed, when I heard an unfamiliar voice behind me.
" Hello, are you okay?" the voice sounded menacing.
I slowly turned around shaking, my heart speeding.
A gorgeous young man, who looked in about his early twenties, was standing in front of my window, lounging against the wall. He had the most beautiful dark hair, pale skin and his eyes were as black as midnight, they looked menacing and cold, he had this strange dark beauty.
He was dressed in head to toe in black. Soft black boots, black jeans, a black sweater with of course a black leather jacket.
He gave me this menacing yet charming smile, while he waited patiently for my reply.
" H-h-how did you get in here?" I stuttered.
" Well, your dear Gran was outside letting out that cat and.."
"I don't want a news report," I said interrupting him.
" Just tell me how you got in my room." I demanded getting impatient.
He looked taken aback, he mustn't be used to being interrupted.
" Well, Granny let me in." he replied, smirking.
I relaxed my tense shoulders, as he said this, maybe it was one of her friends.
" We had a little bite to eat." he said, smirking even more, like there was some kind of private joke.
I just glared at him, why did I care? And why was he in my room?
"What do you want?" I demanded through clenched teeth.
"Well, your polite aren't you?" he said sarcastically.
" What do you want?" I demanded again.
"Are you friends with my Grandmother?"
He smirked, his lips twitching, he must be resisting a laugh.
"Well, you could say that" he said and then a menacing, laugh exploded from his beautiful lips, that looked like they were carved on an old sculpture.
Even though he was becoming extremely annoying, he was inhumanly beautiful. My cheeks were burning, my fists clenched, he was becoming so frustrating.
" Could you please stop laughing and get out." I said struggling to not lose my cool with this beautiful stranger. He seemed amused by my anger.
"Well could I at least introduce myself first?" he asked coming closer. I took a step back.
"Whatever" I mumbled.
"Damon Salvatore." he said holding out his hand.
I reluctantly shook it.
"And you are?" he asked that smile on his face again.
"Sophie Hudgens." I replied.
"Well Sophie, I'd best not disobey your wishes." He said smirking, he stroked my neck, tracing the veins.
"What are you doing?" I said staring at this strange person named Damon.
"Just admiring your beautiful skin, it's so soft." he said giving me a cruel smile.
The smile was so beautiful yet dangerous looking, it made my stomach do somersaults.
"Can I have a taste?" he asked. "Of what?" I asked.
I was extremely confused. He looked me right in the eyes, two pools of darkness, making me dizzy and his lashes were gorgeous, so long and dark.
"Can I have a taste of your blood?" he asked staring right into my eyes. Before I knew it I was in some kind of trance.
"Sure, of course you can." I said smiling sweetly. I felt, his razor sharp teeth pierce my skin and the sudden jolt of pain and then numbness.