Chapter 1

It was raining hard that day, or as I call it my birthday. I turned 15 on that day. I didn't expect it to be sunny or anything. It rained all day and well into the evening. I sat in the Great Hall—which wasn't so great—reading a book my only friend had bought me. Her name was Alice. She was the nicest person there and the only one who wasn't mean to me. Ever since I came to the orphanage the other children were mean to me. They'd lock me in closets, pull my hair, kick sand in my face, push me, and call me names, put stuff high up so I couldn't reach them, and so on. One girl wasn't mean to me at all and stood up for me. That was Alice. I asked her why she was so nice to me. All she did was tell me that I was a person, not some animal that could be made fun of.

That's where she was wrong. I was a little different than everyone else, a freak if you will. The thing is I can make dangerous weapons with my thoughts. I don't know how I could, I just did. I learned that when I made a knife appear in my hand when I was mad at Mr. Campbell. No one saw me, but I guess they could sense something off about me. That's why they stayed away and made me miserable. They didn't today though. I couldn't understand why they didn't bother me that day. I pondered over it while a read my book. Alice came in, her face flushed. We all looked up at her with surprise. She took several deep breathes before speaking.

"There's a man in the Dean's office. He's looking to adopt," she finally said.

An excited mummer spread through the hall. I just rolled my eyes and turned my attention back to my book. Alice hopped over to me and took the book away.

"Hey," I began, "give that back. I'm on a really good part!"

"Didn't you hear me?" she asked. "I said that a man's here to adopt."

"So? What's your point? It's not like he's going to pick me, not when he can pick a normal kid instead of me," I replied.

I knew how it went. They'd come in and pick the youngest, cutest kid in the whole bunch. I was never picked for anything, not even adoption. I guess even adults could tell that I was different. That didn't bug me at all. I didn't care if I didn't get adopted. I looked up when the door opened.

The man standing there was odd looking. He had grayed, thinning hair and beautiful green eyes that shone like emeralds. He had on a cloak hiding what he was wearing. His eyes scanned the crowd, looking at each of us individual. His eyes fell upon me last. I felt a shiver go up my spine. The dean came in then. His name was Mr. Campbell. He was a cruel man that helped make my life miserable. He smiled up at the man.

"Hear are the little darlings, sir," he said in his high pitched voice.

Mr. Campbell made us stand in a line. I made sure to get the end of it.

"Go on and pick which one you want Mr. Savior," Mr. Campbell said stepping back.

The man then went down the line looking at each child. It wasn't long till he reached me. I looked up at him. He was extremely tall. Of course I was only 5'2''. He looked down at me and met my eyes. He turned and walked down back to Mr. Campbell.

"Have you chosen a child Mr. Savior?" he asked eagerly.

"I have, and please, call me Chris," he replied.

They talked in whispers. Then Mr. Campbell looked at me in surprise. The others began to whisper. Mr. Campbell and Chris walked back towards me.

"Pack your things Miss Dana. You have a new family," Mr. Campbell said dryly.

I stared in disbelief. Someone had actually picked me to be their new daughter. I looked from Chris to Mr. Campbell to Alice to the other children. Alice was the only one that had a happy look on their face. I didn't expect the others to be happy. Someone picked me over them, not the other way around. I couldn't help hide the smile trying to creep on my face as I followed Mr. Campbell and my new father out of the Great Hall. I quickly went to my room to pack while the adoption papers were signed. Alice met me in our room. She didn't say anything till all of my packing was done.

"This is the greatest birthday present you've ever gotten isn't, Dana?" she asked, not looking up to meet my gaze.

"I like your presents a lot better. This is just an odd turn of events. I never thought I'd get adopted. I mean, why would anyone want to adopt me?"

"Yes, why?" I heard a snotty voice question.

It was Clara, my worst nightmare. She was the one that hit me all the time. Every girl here was afraid of her just because she took boxing lessons and could take down the biggest and strongest boy in the orphanage. She didn't scare me though. She could hit me all she wanted and I still wouldn't fear her. That's why I was her favorite punching bag. She stood a few feet in front of me, blocking my exit. I knew she'd try to get at least one good punch in before I left forever. I could hear her knuckles crack as she advanced.

I looked up at her, fire burning in my eyes. I wasn't going down this time. As she raised her fist, I acted quickly. I ducked under her arm and gave her a good head-butt to the stomach. I heard her gasp, but it was cut short as the wind was knocked out of her. I jumped out of the way as she started to fall. I didn't let her get off that easy. I pulled my leg up and gave her a round-house kick in the back. She fell to the floor with a great thud that shook the room. I put my foot down on her back, put my hands on my hips, and held my head high with a triumphant smile across my face.

"Well, I never knew you could fight like that Dana," Alice said in astonishment.

I looked back at her and just smiled. The door burst open. We all snapped our heads to see a red-faced Mr. Campbell and a curious Chris. I quickly retreated from Clara and stood behind Alice, hoping that she'd protect me from Mr. Campbell's rage.

"What the hell is going on here?!" he shouted angrily.

Clara struggled to her feet, her face almost as red as Mr. Campbell's.

"I came up here to say good-bye to Dana and she attacked me!" she whined.

"That's not true you little bitch! You were the one who was gonna beat me up, like you always have ever since we were little kids!!!" I shouted back.

I put a hand over my mouth. I couldn't believe I'd just screamed that. I looked around the room, my eyes wide. Everyone else had the same surprised look, even Clara and Mr. Campbell. No one ever thought I'd yell like that and tell about the abuse I'd gotten here. I was the one who was quiet and always took the punch.

"I believe I'd like to take Dana home with me now if you don't mind," Chris said, breaking the silence.

He motioned for me to follow him out of the room. I hugged Alice, grabbed my bag, and followed Chris out of the room. He walked far ahead of me. By the time I got to the end of the hall, he was already out the door. I ran after him. Once outside, I looked into the darkness, trying to find Chris. I kept running until I fell. My chin hit the ground hard and I could taste blood in my mouth. Tears fell down my cheeks, but I held in the sobs. Chris walked over and helped me up.

"A little clumsy I see," he joked.

That made more tears spill down my cheeks. He looked at me with concerned eyes as he gently brushed the tears away.

"Don't cry," he said softly. "I was only joking. That's no reason to cry."

"I'm crying because I got hurt when I fell. I don't care if you make fun of me. I'm used to it," I retorted.

Chris let out a sigh and picked me up, cradling me in his arms. I looked up at him through my lashes. He stared down, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. I smiled back, feeling like I belonged. His face then became serious as he lowered me to the ground.

"If you want to be a part of my family," he began, "then you must do something for me."

"I'll do anything. Just don't send me back to that hell hole," I pleaded.

Chris stared off in to space in deep thought. He sighed and closed his eyes. When he looked back at me his eyes were dark.

"Dana, I know this might sound crazy, but I just need you to believe me on something," he said, his tone serious.

"Okay, what is it?"

He looked at me for a long time before answering.

"I'm a vampire. And if you want to stay with me, I need to change you," he said after a long silence.

At first I thought he was crazy and that I should run back to the orphanage. But then, something in the back of my mind told me that he was telling the truth and that I should believe him. I gazed at him for a long time before I could get my words out.

"I…believe you. If you need to change me, go ahead. I mean it's a lot better than going back to the orphanage," I finally said.

Chris gently took my hands in his. I looked down at them. His hands were so much bigger than mine. He reached back and rested his hand on the back of my head. I grabbed his arm gently. He leaned my head back in his palm and lowered his lips to my neck. I shuddered at how cold they were. I felt him mumble to himself. I was about to ask him what was wrong when suddenly, I felt a sharp pain hit my neck. He had sunk his sharp fangs into my veins. I clutched to him as he began to turn me into a creature of the night. I shuddered as I entered a world of eternal damnation. I could feel myself slowly slip into a lonely state of darkness and despair where there was no love…only pain and hell