Chapter 1: Marla

I once thought that being a vampyre would mean being a freak. Vampyres had these unusual marks spreading across their foreheads and these powers that I couldn't explain very well, but I knew they had. And humans...well...were humans. The humans never had these markings or supercool powers or the urge to drain one of their blood. And those were the kind of freakish qualities that named one, of course, a freak.

Of course, my opinion of the vampyres had changed when I was Marked. When the goddess, Nyx, had officially blessed me. I was now living at the House of Night, which wasn't nearly as scary as my human friends had described it to be.

"Marla! Get up! Zoey and the gang are waiting for us!"

When Karissa had named Zoey just now, I went into panic mode. I was honestly a little scared of her. She was only a fledgling like most of us, but she had these amazing tattoos that spread, which only adult vampyres should have, but these were different. They'd spread all over her, and they were in a beautiful form of ancient symbols. But it wasn't these marks that frightened me. It was her power over all five of the affinities. Air, Fire, Water, Earth, and Spirit. If I pissed her off, she could blast me with those affinities. Fortunately, though, she never paid much attention to me.

"Also, I heard that Zoey and Stark are through.

"He's her Warrior, Karissa. They can't just break up and be expected to ignore each other. Duh!" I backfired. I thought about how Zoey and Stark were technically never a thing as I quickly put on a little eyeliner and mascara in the mirror. I tried my best to ignore the unusual crescent on my forehead. Personally, I wished I was one of those Red Fledglings like Stark and Stevie Rae only because I thought that red would go better with my pale skin tone better than blue. But I can't always get my way. When I was finished applying the tiny bit of makeup, I hopped out of the bathroom.

"I know, Marla, but get this. You know Kalona, right? The hot fallen angel guy that Zoey killed? She still isn't over him. Maybe that might weaken his Warrior oath to her or something."

Karissa was pretty much madly in love with Stark. Well, you couldn't deny that he was insanely hot. But still. It was majorly obvious that he was in love with Zoey, and plus, he hardly even noticed Karissa. Pretty sad, huh?

"You wish. Come on, let's go."

****

"Are you still afraid of Zoey?" Karissa asked as we entered the cafeteria. (Dining hall is what the fledglings and vampyres called it)

"She's got those powers." I answered as I got a box of Fruity Pebbles at the breakfast line and stared at Zoey's booth. There was her, Erin and Shaunee, (as who we liked to call them "Twins". I mean, Goddess! Their finishing each other's sentences like they could read minds was freaky!) Damien and Jack, (who are, yes, a couple. And yes, they're gay. Got a problem with it?) Aphrodite and her superhot warrior Darius, and last but not least, Stark.

"So what? Zoey's cool. She's really nice. She's so not the type of person who uses her powers against othersOHMYGOD!" Yep. Karissa saw Stark. And now she was hyperventilating. "What should I do? Do I look good?"

"Yes, Karissa, you look great, but Stark is kinda in love with Zoey, remember? He's her warrior, too, so it's not like he checks out other girls."

"There is always a possibility, Marla. Always a possibility."

So Karissa and I walked over to Zoey and the gang's booth, and we were pelted with greetings.

"Hey, Karissa! What's up, Marla?" Shaunee and Erin both greeted together.

"Morning, Marla. Morning Karissa," Damien said, but didn't look up from his Vamp Soc book.

"Hi guys!" Jack smiled at us.

"Hey Marla and Karissa," Zoey finally greeted. She smiled at me quite awkwardly, which made me feel, well, very awkward.