Sunrise

An hour later, I slipped back inside the house before anyone was awake and shut and locked the door behind me. I silently crept back to my ratty sleeping bag, lying down on top of it and shut her eyes.

I slept for a moment or two before opening my eyes. As I stretched and yawned quietly I noticed with a start I was already dressed for school.

I really ought to take a night off, I thought before Morigan screamed.

Playing the role of the docile waif, I raced upstairs and reached her room after Branton, Jasmina and Moria.

Morigan was screaming from the safety of the bed, while she pointed across from her.

"It's a bug!" she screamed as I looked over toward the corner where she pointed. There a glass container sat with a large roach scuttling inside.

I covered my mouth so not to laugh. I forgot about that!

"She did this!" Morigan hissed pointing at me. Branton and Jasmina angrily turned toward me.

"Angel." Branton growled as Jasmina dashed to comfort her distraught sister. "What have I told you about tormenting Morigan!"

I avoided his eyes secretly laughing with glee as Morigan began sobbing.

"Branton, calm down. You're upsetting Morigan more." Moria said as she edged toward her daughters.

Branton sighed and dragged me roughly downstairs by one arm. I didn't fight him even though I could probably bench press about ten of him. Besides, I was a *weakling*. He he.

"Stop bothering Morigan, do you hear me?" Branton growled once he tossed me on the couch.

Crocodile tears rolled down my face as I nodded, despite knowing I would do it again the next time I could.

"Good. Now for your punishment." Her brother told me, "You're to do Morigan's chores for three days, plus your own."

I solemnly nodded. It didn't matter to me. I did all the chores anyway.

Branton smiled and ruffled my chin length hair. "Since your ready for school, how about me and you cook some pancakes."

My eyes genuinely lit up as I rubbed my hands together in anticipation and darted into the kitchen. Branton smiled and followed a minute later.

At breakfast, everyone ate his or her chocolate chip pancakes in relative silence. I caught the menacing glances being shot at me by Morigan and Jasmina. Moria flipped through a sewing magazine while Branton read the newspaper.

"The forty-niners are doing pretty good this year." He muttered. "Another *vampire* attack. Crazy people."

I perked up my head from my plate. I loved hearing these stories. Every vampire hunter had to know where these attacks were happening.

"Not another one." Jasmina sighed.

"Yup. This time the victim was saved by some little girl."

I ducked my head to conceal my smile as Moria snorted, "I think these *victims* have been drinking too much."

"Or snorted some bad stuff." Morigan added.

"Morigan!" her mother scolded but I didn't hear any of this. A faint memory began to stir.

Warmth was everywhere. A loud thumping surrounded me, then there was a scream and something began to happen. A strange substance began to invade my tiny unborn body. I felt stronger, full of energy but weak.

I knew what this was. This was when Mommy was attacked and killed. Where I was changed into what I am today.

"Angel, wake up." Morigan snapped bringing me suddenly back to reality, "Momma asked you a question."

"Would you like for me to make a white pair of overalls for you?" Moria asked me again. I nodded vigorously and gifted her with a smile.

Branton looked at his watch and jumped to his feet, "It's almost seven. I have to leave!"

"You girls are going to be late for school" Moria told her daughter and I.

Branton raced out the door as Morigan raced upstairs to get ready for school.

A few blocks down and a few minutes later Morigan and I reached the bus stop for the neighborhood. Some kind soul of the block even built an enclosed area for the children to stand under when the weather was bad.

"Morigan!" a girl cried shortly before almost the entire groups flooded to Morigan's side and knocked me to the ground.

"Need a hand?" A familiar voice asked as a hand drifted into view. I turned and saw Madelyn holding out the helping hand.

I smiled, grabbed the offered hand and stood up.

"I just *love* Morigan's fan club over there" Madelyn told nodding toward the group. I ducked her head to hide my smirk.

"How you doin'?"

I shrugged and pointed to Madelyn.

"I'm okay. I'm really excited about graduation." Madelyn replied, "All my friends are coming. There's Jenny, Tom, Bonnie and Elena. Even Stefan and Damon are coming. In fact."

"Madelyn!" Julian shouted running up to everyone. Damon was walking a short distance behind him.

"Hey Julian, Damon." Madelyn greeted as Julian came up and handed her a folder.

"You forgot your research paper." He told her.

Madelyn smiled, leaned up and gave Julian a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you."

"*I* was the one who found it." Damon said as standing beside me.

I kept my face down praying he wouldn't notice me. I also prayed he wouldn't recognize me from last night.

"Well then thank you." Madelyn replied with an exasperated smile.

"No kiss?" Damon asked flashing a smile briefly.

"I only reserve kisses for my boyfriend." Madelyn replied playfully sticking her nose up in the air.

Damon glanced at Julian "Perhaps I should take out the competition?"

Madelyn laughed and turned to me, "Can you believe him?"

I shook my head all the while swearing at her.

Damon looked at me with a frown and reach over and gently tipped my chin up, "Hi."

I let out a little squeak that wasn't all faked and hide behind Madelyn.

Damon leaned over Madelyn's shoulder and said, "I saw you last night in the window."

I whimpered, ran and hid behind Morigan.

Madelyn stopped Damon from pursuing, "Angel's *real* shy, Damon. I think you and Julian ought to go back home."

Julian shrugged, "Sounds okay with me."

Damon flashed me a smile "I can wait."

I shivered and ducked behind my puzzled sister-in-law as Damon turned and walked away.

Madelyn gave Julian a bewildered frown.

"Something tells me I should call Stefan and Elena." He told her. Madelyn nodded.

The bus arrived shortly after Julian left and the neighborhood kids climbed aboard. Madelyn took her usual seat in the front while me and Morigan sat in the back.

"Did you see Madelyn's boyfriend?" a girl asked Morigan.

"He's hot." Said someone else.

"And what about the guy who scared Angel?"

Three of Morigan's friends sighed simultaneously.

"I wonder what he wanted with *her*?" Morigan snapped, "I'm more beautiful than *Angel*."

Her group of friends nodded as I stooped further down in the seat. Those flaky bunch of fluffs wouldn't know beauty if it bit them!

"And *what* type of conversation would they have?! He's obviously some sort of model." Morigan exclaimed.

From up front Madelyn busted out laughing, "Damon, a model? Ha, he'd *love* to hear that."

"What do *you* know of the man, Mad Maddy?" Morigan snapped.

Madelyn turned around in her seat, "I know he doesn't like when stuck up snobs insult me."

Morigan's friends gasped in at the same time and Morigan's face turned beat red. Uh oh Maddy.

"You take that back, now!" Morigan exclaimed.

"Okay, I take it back. You give the word snob a bad name." Madelyn replied casually. I tried not to smile in case someone was watching.

With a furious cry, Morigan leapt from her seat and raced Madelyn. She quickly sat beside her and began furiously punching her.

My heart began to race. I wanted to help so badly, but my cover would be blown! Frozen with fear, I finally made a decision

I was up in the seat across from Madelyn and my sister-in-law before anyone could blink. With one hand, I caught Morigan's fist and with the other lifted Morigan straight up and sat her in the seat next to me.

Then I slid next to Madelyn and examined her wounds as the bus pulled to the side of the road. I saw Madelyn's lip was cut and she was unconscious but other than that it was anyone's guess

As the driver radioed for help and began scolding Morigan, I began to cry silently and began rocking in the seat.

Hours later in second period, Madelyn's best friend, Joan Riley, told me that Madelyn wanted me to know she was okay.

"She heard you were really upset about Morigan's attack." gray eye girl told me. I smiled shyly like a good little actress.

Joan tossed her short brown hair over her shoulder, "Why don't you, me and Maddy go to this great club? It'll be great, Madelyn knows these cute guys.."

I blushed and shook my head. I had more important things to do than hanging with Ms Fluff and Madelyn.

Joan sighed, "Okay girlie. But the guys'll miss you."

I laughed, turned and waved good-bye over my shoulder.

Last period came before I knew it and as suddenly as it came, it was gone. The peaceful setting of school was suddenly turned into a wild menagerie of teenagers and adults racing for the exits.

I slowly walked through the crowded halls toward the bus with my head down. With every step I took three students would run into me and almost knock me to the floor. Only my inhuman strength stopped them.

When I finally had enough space to move and reach the exit, the buses were already gone. I held back tears of frustration and trembled with the effort.

"Hey Angel!" Joan cried pulling up to me in her convertible. "Need a ride?"

I smiled shyly, ducked my head and nodded.

"Well come on."

I placed my backpack in the back and then climbed in the passenger seat right before Joan sped off, leaving marks behind her.

"Dial up your folks and pass it back to me." Joan ordered tossing me her cell phone.

Mystified as to why, I dialed my house and passed Joan the phone back before the first ring.

"Hey, this is Joan Riley." Joan said a moment later, "I'm going to take Angel over to our friend Madelyn Olsin's and I wanted to let ya know."

Pause.

"Okay, I'll have her back before dark. Thanks a lot Mr. Taliesin. 'Bye."

Joan turned to me "Okay you're cleared to go party with Maddy and me."

On second thought, maybe this was a good thing. Maybe I could find out more about this Damon Salvatore. Maybe I could rid Madelyn of a toothy houseguest. Or maybe I would miss the first move in a deadly game.

Ah the plot thickens. So.. tell me what you think.