.: KALA :.

Stark and I just stood in the room staring at each other for what felt like an hour. Even though I knew that wasn't true, but it felt as though time had stopped. He continued to stare at me, but not in a creepy way. Some of his face was still hidden in the shadows, but from what I could see he was very chiseled. His cheekbones were high and his chin was squared off, as were his shoulders, he also had a clef and his eyes were a deep brown.

He took a step forward, making me gasp. The part of his face that was hidden was now revealed to me. In the middle of his forehead was a crescent moon outlined in blue.

I must have been staring at him for a long time because he asked, "Do I frighten you?"

Looking him over once again, I decided he wasn't frightening, but very intriguing. "No not really." I replied never looking away from his eyes trying to read if this was some sort of joke.

Stark smirked a little at me, but did not come any closer than he already was; three other people could probably fit in-between us. After a couple of seconds in an awkward silence I blurted, "Why do you have a moon on your forehead?"

All of the sudden, a huge grin spread across his whole face and he laughed quietly to himself. "Well I have been Marked by my Goddess, Nyx." Upon seeing my confused expression he barely muttered, "I'm a vampyre."

"What!" I asked taking a step back and finding myself against the cold wall. Now I was scared. I remembered hearing about vampyres from my uncle who despised them and all they stood for; he was also a member of the People of Faith. I thought that vampyres couldn't make contact with humans and stayed within a secluded school...

"Don't be scared!" Stark was looking at me now, all signs of the cheeky smile gone from his face. His arm was outstretched toward me in a gesture to touch me, to reassure me, but he didn't try to come any closer than he was.

"Where am I?" I blurted out as the fear struck me once again. The unknown of this place could have all kinds of dangers.

Shifting his eyes to the floor, I could barely make out his reply. "The House of Night," I could sense that he was embarrassed to speak the truth. "Listen, please don't freak out. I can't hurt you.. Vampyres don't drink human blood unless we are weak."

My pulse, as well as my breathing, had calmed down significantly. Looking at this incredibly good looking boy, I knew he wouldn't hurt me. In fact, something about him made me feel safe and secure. "I think I'm okay." I took a deep breathe to reassure and stable myself, "I'm Kala, just in case you wanted to know." I smiled at him.

I was being walked home by a vampyre! My brain was still trying to wrap around this new concept. I mean, it was just so new. I still felt very comfortable around Stark; he made me feel as though nothing could hurt me. I know that he was the one to save me from those creatures, even though he hasn't told me.

Before Stark and I left, he explained to me that technically I was not supposed to be within school grounds and getting caught could end badly, for the both of us. Sneaking out was the fun part. The running was the most exhilarating experience for me; I felt free for once, which is something I haven't felt in a very long time.

Now as we were walking through the woods it was quiet, but comfortable. "Stark?" I asked into the darkness.

"Mmm?"

"How do you become 'marked'?"

"You are just chosen, I guess. You are approached and told that you have been chosen and the mark will appear. From there it's telling family members and close friends and after than you need to get to the House of Night or things could get fatal."

"Like you could die?"

"Sadly, yes. A friend of mine almost didn't make it after she was Marked. All because her parents refused to believe vampyres were real. It was against their 'religious' beliefs." I could tell that he had some hatred towards the over the top, bible-bangers. He would hate people like my uncle... and father. "You actually are pretty relaxed with this whole vampyre idea." I could see his smirk even through the dark.

I smiled back, he was adorable. "I always knew that supernatural creatures, like you existed. I just never thought one would be walking me home at three in the morning!"

"Yea, well not all 'supernatural creatures' such as myself, are good beings." His tone was bleaker and darker now.

A shiver went down my spine as I remembered the creatures that got me to where I was right now. Thinking back on it, I was kind of thankful about what happened tonight; I got to meet a handsome vampyre.

Through a break in the woods, I could make out the back of my house; which unfortunately still had the living room lights on. "That's my house up ahead. Annd it looks like my parents are still up." A sigh of frustration escaped my lips.

Stark laughed quietly to himself as we continued to walk slowly towards my house. Finally Stark stopped at the edge of my backyard. "This is you stop."

We both stared up at my house for a couple seconds. I turned towards him and looked at the ground knowing that this was our goodbye. Without really knowing what I was doing, I threw my arms around Stark. At first, he was stiff and caught by surprise by this sudden action, but finally I felt his warm arm snake around my waist as he returned the hug.

"Please be safe." He mumbled into the top of my head.

"I'll do my best." I cheekily replied back as I felt him pull away from the embrace.

We made eye contact for a good minute before he back tracked into the woods. Within two seconds, he was good. The woods behind my house leaned towards me and beckoned me to follow his footsteps, but I was afraid; for the night still carried memories of my nightmare- the nightmare he saved me from.

Get inside! This voice in my head wasn't my own. "Get inside!" The voice repeated, but outside of my mind.

"Stop ignoring me and get inside!" I turned around and came face-to-face with my very angry looking father.

"Dad! Let me explain –" I began.

"NO!" his voice boomed against the quiet of the woods. "It's three in the morning and you're just now coming in! You have a lot of explaining to do to your worry stricken mother!" His face was tomato red. "March upstairs now!"

I didn't dare question my father when he was in this much of a fit. So like the obedient child I was, I bit my tongue and walked up the porch.

.: STARK :.

If only that man knew what she had been through that night! Anger was boiling throughout my whole body. She could have died tonight!