His jawline was rigid. I couldn't make out the eyes I thought I knew, but I felt them piercing my skin. I winced as he grinned, his teeth gleaming.

"Take her." He ordered his two servants. I closed my eyes as then seized my wrists add dragged me down the corridor. Their hands were freezing but somehow burned into my skin, like dry ice. My wrists began to throb in pain.

"Here's dinner, my Lord."

I shivered, opening my eyes. She was sitting in front of me on her throne looking devious and angelic all at once. Her dark hair billowed around her, thrown over the arms of her chair. Her cloak was striking, black with royal purple cuffs. A gold chain was poised under her pointed chin- a necklace that was once mine. Her lips wore a dark shade of purple, as did her black eyes. Her face was strained and worn, yet incredibly beautiful.

"We finally meet, Saffirus."

"I… I'm not Saffirus." I choked out, "My name is Nora."

"Ah, but your blood tells me you are Saffirus." She stepped off her throne and walked towards me, crumpled in a ball on the floor, my hands still restrained from the 'men' holding me.

"I'm not! I swear!"

"Well…" Lord Vane licked her lips seductively, "With one taste, I can determine whether or not you are lying."

I squirmed and kicked, but Vane quickly had her hands around my neck. I screamed in pain as she ripped her long nail into my neck. I could feel the blood dripping down my neck, leaking from the gash her knifelike nail left.

Vane licked her blood soaked finger. Her back arched and her head tilted back.

"Oh, Saffirus! You can't hide from me!"

x x x x

"Please tell me you saw him!" Vee whined at me, pouting.

"No, Vee. I wasn't looking." I sighed, nervously checking my phone for a text or a missed call.

Anything.

"He won't call." Vee said, her face suddenly hardening.

"I know."

Vee exhaled heavily. "Get over him! He wasn't that great and honestly, he was ugly."

She was always so blunt.

"Thanks." I got up from the bench, holding my books. The sun was high in the sky, shining over the high school campus.

Vee rose at my side and breathed deeply, "There he is…"

I spun around, hoping to see the boy I'd been dying to hear from.

"There is the future Mr. Vee Sky."

I sighed and spotted a scrawny looking boy with dusty blonde hair and tan skin. He was sucking down a cigarette like it was his last meal.

"What I'd do to be that cigarette…"

"Vee! Gross!" I laughed.

"Sorry! You know I haven't had a boyfriend since Todd. Momma needs some lovin'. "

"Okay, that's nasty. Don't you think calling Todd a boyfriend is exaggerating just a bit?"

"No! Nora, you can be such a downer. Just because Daniel dumped you on your ass for Marcie Millar doesn't mean that everyone else needs to be miserable."

Vee stormed off. Obviously I had hit a nerve.

I continued walking down the campus courtyard. I watched people pass me, meeting up with friends or shuffling to glass in groups. I didn't have a group of friends. I had Vee. I had an ex-boyfriend that didn't want anything to do with me now that he was dating the school slut. I had a father that was never home and a dead mother.

"Excuse me?" a smooth voice interrupted my thoughts.

I turned around and was greeted by the most handsome face I had ever seen.

"You left this on the bench." He smiled and handed me my French book.

"Oh," I must have looked confused. "I thought I grabbed them all."

He smiled again and my stomach flipped. I stared at him, my mind blank.

"Well… You can take it now." He chuckled.

I sprung to life and took the book from his hand. My finger grazed his and his cold skin sent a chill up my spine.

"I'm Nora." I stuttered.

"That's nice." He beamed. "See you around."

And just like that he left me with my stomach in knots.

You didn't look that stupid. I told myself, but I didn't buy it.

Note to self: improve flirting skills.