Disclaimer: All concepts of the Night World and certain characters belong
to L J Smith. But most of the characters here belong all to me. Hahaha!
Note: Thanks to all who reviewed the first chapter. You have no idea how much I appreciate your comments. All friendly criticism is welcome of course. How can I get better without advice? Well here's chapter two . . .
Do you remember?
Fern pulled her jacket tighter around her as she walked up to the main building. It was half way through September and summer was being rapidly replaced by fall. She stared at the golden leaves falling lazily from the trees and settling lightly on the grass, it was a strangely beautiful sight- so simple yet so compelling. She often noticed things like this, the beauty of nature and things. It was something that she found so unspoiled, so untouched by destructive human hands and she always wanted to keep an image in her mind of this beauty before it was wholly wiped out.
The cold wind battered her delicate chestnut curls, causing them to soon cover her face and obscure her view.
Ugh, for God's sake! She thought angrily, just please let me get through this week before I kill myself! But she did have one thing to look forward to soon. Her birthday was on October 3rd. She would be turning sixteen at last. It seemed like an eternity from her last birthday when she was trying to keep an optimistic view on the upcoming school year. But it was all in vain. She hadn't enjoyed a moment of it.
The only relief was the fact that her best friend had returned from Europe the previous week, having spent the entire summer there. Well 'best friend' was a bit much. They were friends-definitely. They had grown up together, but that never seemed enough. Violet was so secretive and quiet. Beautiful but quiet. Fern had hardly been over her house in the ten years of their friendship and she had met Violet's parents like three times. Violet lived on the other side of town so she usually kept herself to herself.
It was a shame because Fern saw Violet differently to other humans-she seemed so much more than others. Fern used to think that she wasn't a human when she used to play with Violet when they were young. Violet was just so beautiful and distant that there was something not human about her. But Fern knew that that was silly now. Of course Violet was human-how couldn't she be?
Fern made her way towards the school building, staring at the surrounding golden trees against the grey morning sky.
Blue eyes beneath the trees.
Fern faltered in her step and grabbed onto a nearby bench. A senior stared at her as if she had two heads or something, but Fern just scowled at him.
Whoa, what was that? She asked herself mentally.
The thought had come to her so quickly and without warning that it had taken her breath away. But it hadn't just been a thought. An image had flashed in her mind, but vanished the next second. She had seen two startlingly blue eyes beneath a haze of golden leaves. She hadn't been able to see who the eyes belonged to, but she had sure as hell seen them.
She looked quickly around. There were no people standing beneath the trees and she had in fact passed the trees when the vision came to her. Okay well that was definitely odd, she thought and straightened herself up and turning towards the school.
The senior was still standing there staring at her.
"What?" She asked impatiently.
"Man, you're weird," he walked off shaking his head.
God humans are so stupid, she thought bitterly, why don't they just get a life? She hated being counted as one of them; it was degrading to herself.
She sighed and hurried up the main stairs to the entrance. One whole more day stuck in a building full of half-minded school kids. She couldn't wait.
***
Fern descended the stairs quickly so she could get away from the place as soon as possible. The school day was over and she could finally go home and have a long bath and forget all about school and the awful day she'd had. All she wanted was for the evening to last forever so that the morning wouldn't come and she wouldn't have to face another tiresome day among such annoying people.
Just as she was bending down to tie a loose shoelace she was knocked over by a clumsy junior who ran into her.
"Hey! Watch where you're going asshole!" she called after him as he continued rushing.
"Yeah, yeah whatever freak," he grinned maliciously and turned to keep going.
God I could just kill him, she screamed mentally, to be so obnoxious and immature. He deserves whatever he gets.
She was getting up and brushing herself down when she heard laughter from somewhere ahead. She looked up to see a boy pointing and laughing at someone sprawled out on the ground. She walked over curiously. It was the kid who had knocked her over! Huh, would you believe it? He was lying face down in the mud motionlessly. He deserved it.
She walked away leaving the boy to get himself up; it was none of her business. But it had been kind of weird. One minute her wishing him harm then the next him falling over. Could she have had anything to do with it? Shut up fern, she scolded herself, it was a coincidence.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw a figure moving quickly among the thick trees. They were too fast for her to see their face, but something was familiar about their movements. She laughed and wondered what they could be doing in the trees.
"Violet? What are you doing?" Fern called, making her way towards the trees.
Violet emerged looked baffled and slightly anxious. "Uh, hi Fern. Sorry, but I thought I saw someone I knew in there," she replied waving a hand towards the trees, "never mind."
"Right. How come you weren't in today? I had to get through double chemistry without you!" Fern demanded jokingly, moving away from the woodland.
"I-uh-felt ill this morning so my mom said I could stay in bed. But I'm better now," she smiled nervously, fiddling with her silky ebony hair, "I was wondering if you wanted to hang out or something."
"Yeah cool, that would be fun. Where do you want to go?" Fern asked studying Violet's expression. There was something wrong in the girl's eyes, something off-putting. They were the normal icy violet colour that they had always been, but there was a hint of fear in them now. She was about to ask about this when Violet spoke.
"Anywhere. I don't care. But I quickly have to see Mr Taylor about history. Will you wait five minutes?" She asked walking towards the school.
"Yeah sure. I'll be by the gates," Fern called after the girl who was already nearing the building.
Fern turned and continued walking down the path. That was normal Violet- always distant and hurried, not wanting to make unnecessary conversation. Fern sat down on one of the wooden benches by the main gate and studied her surroundings. Most students didn't use this entrance, but instead went through the parking lot and out the back way. But this way was closer to Fern's house so she always took it. This meant that it was relatively quiet, with only a few people walking by.
Within five minutes of Violet's absence there was no body about. All the kids who took this route had already passed and Fern was all alone. But she liked it that way. The quiet and peacefulness of her surroundings didn't need the hustle and bustle of human activity and Fern was content to just sit and think.
She hadn't thought about that image in her mind all day but now that was all she could think about. What had it been? She had never met someone with such drastically blue eyes before-they had seemed unreal in a way. Oh well, she thought, no need to worry about it. It's probably nothing.
"Fern."
Fern jumped at the voice coming from behind. It wasn't Violet's and Fern had heard no footsteps approaching. She turned slowly to face the person.
She gasped. Those eyes, she thought, those blue eyes. But that wasn't all that was startling-the boy standing before her was so amazingly gorgeous that Fern felt her heart skip a beat.
His hair was the same colour as a starless black night, the same pure darkness. It was slightly wavy but not very long, tousled and falling lightly onto his forehead.
His hair should be long, Fern thought without warning. Where had that come from? She asked herself angrily, you've never seen this guy before so don't begin judging his style!
He had a lean, toned body beneath a black sweater and a pair of baggy jeans. He just looked so out of place for some reason, as if, because of his beauty, he should be some where so much better.
But it was the eyes that kept Fern silent. The outrageously bright blue eyes that were so deep and endless-Fern felt as if she could just fall straight into them.
"Fern? Please say something," he whispered, stepping closer so he was barely a foot away from her.
She stood, but didn't back away-she felt no need to.
"How-how do you know my name?" She stuttered, not taking her eyes of his.
"It's really you. Oh God it's really you," he looked as if he might have burst into tears any moment; the look of sheer joy in his eyes was overwhelming.
"I-uh-do I know you?" She asked, trying to dig back into her memory in search of him. But how could she forget someone like him? It was impossible.
"No, but you once did. Try and remember Fern, you said you would wait for me. Now I've found you," he replied placing a gloved hand lightly on her cheek.
She didn't flinch or recoil, but instead shook her head sadly. She didn't know him-she wished she did, but she just didn't.
"Look, I'm sorry," she sighed, "but I've never met you before, so I couldn't have said that. You've obviously got the wrong person, Morgan, or you're just-"
She broke off. Morgan? Where the hell had that come from? It had just come to her, as if she'd known it all her life. She knew it was his name as well as she knew hers was Fern.
He smiled and took hold of her hand gently. "You're beginning to remember. Just dig deeper and you'll know me."
She stared up into his eyes, he was about a head taller than she was but she didn't feel intimidated. In his eyes was a longing so strong that it took Fern's breath away and she just wanted to hold him there and then, there was something so familiar about him and she felt exactly the same as he felt. Pure and genuine longing.
"Where have I seen you?" She whispered, gripping his gloved hand tightly.
He sighed and gently pushed a wisp of chestnut hair from her face. "Long ago. Very long ago," he smiled still stroking her cheek; "You slept so long this time. But I knew you'd come back. Now there's nothing to keep us apart- I wont let you go."
Normally if a complete stranger had said this to her Fern would have freaked out and ran. But with Morgan she felt no need to, she felt safe with him and he sounded so absolutely overjoyed in seeing her.
"I've seen your face. . .so long ago," she said in a barely audible whisper. She nearly had it; she could nearly place where she knew him from. It was a brief meeting far back into the past, but he hadn't seemed to change during the years. But that didn't trouble her-it seemed unimportant.
"Morgan. . ." she lifted her hand to touch his pale, beautiful face, "you came back, I knew-"
"Fern!" A voice shrieked from far away. Fern turned quickly, before she had reached his face. It was Violet beckoning her over, pleading with her to go to her.
What could she want so drastically? Fern thought, annoyed to have her chain of thought broken. Any conclusion she was coming to about Morgan was gone- she still had no idea who he was.
She felt his hand pull out of hers quickly. She turned back round to face him, but only to see him disappear into the trees.
"Wait! Morgan!" She called after him, making towards the trees to follow him. But she was held back by a frantic Violet.
"No Fern! Please, come on-we've got to get out of here," she pleaded, gripping Fern's arm.
Fern sighed. Morgan was gone. And she still didn't know how she knew him.
'I'll come back,' she heard his voice in her head as clearly as she heard her own thoughts. She gasped. How was that possible? Was that really him? In her mind?
She didn't know why, but she decided not to tell Violet about whose last words. She wouldn't believe her anyway.
"Please Fern! Come on! We'll go back to your house," Violet was already dragging Fern through the gate.
Fern pulled out of her grip. "What's wrong?" She demanded, still irritated for being dragged away.
"You can't talk to-to . . .him!" She cried signalling to the trees where he'd vanished.
Fern was shocked. Did Violet know him? "What do you mean? Why not?" She replied quickly.
"We can't talk about it here," she whispered, but continued at Fern's expression, "not here! But I swear that when we get back to yours I'll explain everything. Okay? Everything."
"Fine, but hurry," Fern sighed looking up to the oncoming dark clouds, "it's going to rain."
The two girls jogged quickly down the road and round the corner, it wouldn't take them long to get to Fern's house.
***
"Okay Violet. You've got A LOT of explaining to do," Fern was sitting on her bed, staring at Violet who sat sheepishly on the window seat.
Violet sighed deeply and shook her head. "You're right. And I'm sorry for startling you back there. But when I saw you with him . . .I guess I just freaked out."
"But why? Do you know Morgan?" Fern asked, trying to ignore the howling wind outside her window.
"Oh God, you know his name. I didn't realise you'd spoken for that long . . ." Violet replied almost inaudibly.
"Violet get to the point! Why shouldn't I see him?" Fern cried at the pale girl across the room from her.
Violet always looked so timid, so shy and this time was no exception.
She took a deep breath. "Because he's-he's bad news."
"Bad news? What are you talking about?" Fern whispered, remembering that kind face filled with joy at seeing Fern. How could he be 'bad news'?
"I met him over the summer in Europe and he isn't the nicest of guys," Violet replied staring out of the window, "he's done some pretty awful stuff."
Fern was getting annoyed; Violet never explained things clearly. "What on earth are you-"
"No! Let me finish," Violet interrupted before Fern could continue, "there's something you should know. You know how you've always felt as if you didn't belong in normal life, with normal people in a normal society? Well there's a reason for that."
Violet was silent. Fern was bewildered. What the hell was Violet on about? She couldn't just end it like that. "And???"
"Uh-it's complicated and you must promise not to freak out on me," she replied looking up to Fern who nodded impatiently, "uh-Fern? You're a witch."
That wasn't what Fern was expecting.
"WHAT?!?" She shrieked staring at Violet in horrified amazement.
"And-and that's not all," Violet whispered shaking her head, "that boy Morgan-he's a vampire."
***
Well that's chapter two. PLEASE review and tell me what you think, I beg of you! I wonder what's going to happen between Fern and the mysterious Morgan. . .tune in next time to find out! Lol. I'll update very soon.
Note: Thanks to all who reviewed the first chapter. You have no idea how much I appreciate your comments. All friendly criticism is welcome of course. How can I get better without advice? Well here's chapter two . . .
Do you remember?
Fern pulled her jacket tighter around her as she walked up to the main building. It was half way through September and summer was being rapidly replaced by fall. She stared at the golden leaves falling lazily from the trees and settling lightly on the grass, it was a strangely beautiful sight- so simple yet so compelling. She often noticed things like this, the beauty of nature and things. It was something that she found so unspoiled, so untouched by destructive human hands and she always wanted to keep an image in her mind of this beauty before it was wholly wiped out.
The cold wind battered her delicate chestnut curls, causing them to soon cover her face and obscure her view.
Ugh, for God's sake! She thought angrily, just please let me get through this week before I kill myself! But she did have one thing to look forward to soon. Her birthday was on October 3rd. She would be turning sixteen at last. It seemed like an eternity from her last birthday when she was trying to keep an optimistic view on the upcoming school year. But it was all in vain. She hadn't enjoyed a moment of it.
The only relief was the fact that her best friend had returned from Europe the previous week, having spent the entire summer there. Well 'best friend' was a bit much. They were friends-definitely. They had grown up together, but that never seemed enough. Violet was so secretive and quiet. Beautiful but quiet. Fern had hardly been over her house in the ten years of their friendship and she had met Violet's parents like three times. Violet lived on the other side of town so she usually kept herself to herself.
It was a shame because Fern saw Violet differently to other humans-she seemed so much more than others. Fern used to think that she wasn't a human when she used to play with Violet when they were young. Violet was just so beautiful and distant that there was something not human about her. But Fern knew that that was silly now. Of course Violet was human-how couldn't she be?
Fern made her way towards the school building, staring at the surrounding golden trees against the grey morning sky.
Blue eyes beneath the trees.
Fern faltered in her step and grabbed onto a nearby bench. A senior stared at her as if she had two heads or something, but Fern just scowled at him.
Whoa, what was that? She asked herself mentally.
The thought had come to her so quickly and without warning that it had taken her breath away. But it hadn't just been a thought. An image had flashed in her mind, but vanished the next second. She had seen two startlingly blue eyes beneath a haze of golden leaves. She hadn't been able to see who the eyes belonged to, but she had sure as hell seen them.
She looked quickly around. There were no people standing beneath the trees and she had in fact passed the trees when the vision came to her. Okay well that was definitely odd, she thought and straightened herself up and turning towards the school.
The senior was still standing there staring at her.
"What?" She asked impatiently.
"Man, you're weird," he walked off shaking his head.
God humans are so stupid, she thought bitterly, why don't they just get a life? She hated being counted as one of them; it was degrading to herself.
She sighed and hurried up the main stairs to the entrance. One whole more day stuck in a building full of half-minded school kids. She couldn't wait.
***
Fern descended the stairs quickly so she could get away from the place as soon as possible. The school day was over and she could finally go home and have a long bath and forget all about school and the awful day she'd had. All she wanted was for the evening to last forever so that the morning wouldn't come and she wouldn't have to face another tiresome day among such annoying people.
Just as she was bending down to tie a loose shoelace she was knocked over by a clumsy junior who ran into her.
"Hey! Watch where you're going asshole!" she called after him as he continued rushing.
"Yeah, yeah whatever freak," he grinned maliciously and turned to keep going.
God I could just kill him, she screamed mentally, to be so obnoxious and immature. He deserves whatever he gets.
She was getting up and brushing herself down when she heard laughter from somewhere ahead. She looked up to see a boy pointing and laughing at someone sprawled out on the ground. She walked over curiously. It was the kid who had knocked her over! Huh, would you believe it? He was lying face down in the mud motionlessly. He deserved it.
She walked away leaving the boy to get himself up; it was none of her business. But it had been kind of weird. One minute her wishing him harm then the next him falling over. Could she have had anything to do with it? Shut up fern, she scolded herself, it was a coincidence.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw a figure moving quickly among the thick trees. They were too fast for her to see their face, but something was familiar about their movements. She laughed and wondered what they could be doing in the trees.
"Violet? What are you doing?" Fern called, making her way towards the trees.
Violet emerged looked baffled and slightly anxious. "Uh, hi Fern. Sorry, but I thought I saw someone I knew in there," she replied waving a hand towards the trees, "never mind."
"Right. How come you weren't in today? I had to get through double chemistry without you!" Fern demanded jokingly, moving away from the woodland.
"I-uh-felt ill this morning so my mom said I could stay in bed. But I'm better now," she smiled nervously, fiddling with her silky ebony hair, "I was wondering if you wanted to hang out or something."
"Yeah cool, that would be fun. Where do you want to go?" Fern asked studying Violet's expression. There was something wrong in the girl's eyes, something off-putting. They were the normal icy violet colour that they had always been, but there was a hint of fear in them now. She was about to ask about this when Violet spoke.
"Anywhere. I don't care. But I quickly have to see Mr Taylor about history. Will you wait five minutes?" She asked walking towards the school.
"Yeah sure. I'll be by the gates," Fern called after the girl who was already nearing the building.
Fern turned and continued walking down the path. That was normal Violet- always distant and hurried, not wanting to make unnecessary conversation. Fern sat down on one of the wooden benches by the main gate and studied her surroundings. Most students didn't use this entrance, but instead went through the parking lot and out the back way. But this way was closer to Fern's house so she always took it. This meant that it was relatively quiet, with only a few people walking by.
Within five minutes of Violet's absence there was no body about. All the kids who took this route had already passed and Fern was all alone. But she liked it that way. The quiet and peacefulness of her surroundings didn't need the hustle and bustle of human activity and Fern was content to just sit and think.
She hadn't thought about that image in her mind all day but now that was all she could think about. What had it been? She had never met someone with such drastically blue eyes before-they had seemed unreal in a way. Oh well, she thought, no need to worry about it. It's probably nothing.
"Fern."
Fern jumped at the voice coming from behind. It wasn't Violet's and Fern had heard no footsteps approaching. She turned slowly to face the person.
She gasped. Those eyes, she thought, those blue eyes. But that wasn't all that was startling-the boy standing before her was so amazingly gorgeous that Fern felt her heart skip a beat.
His hair was the same colour as a starless black night, the same pure darkness. It was slightly wavy but not very long, tousled and falling lightly onto his forehead.
His hair should be long, Fern thought without warning. Where had that come from? She asked herself angrily, you've never seen this guy before so don't begin judging his style!
He had a lean, toned body beneath a black sweater and a pair of baggy jeans. He just looked so out of place for some reason, as if, because of his beauty, he should be some where so much better.
But it was the eyes that kept Fern silent. The outrageously bright blue eyes that were so deep and endless-Fern felt as if she could just fall straight into them.
"Fern? Please say something," he whispered, stepping closer so he was barely a foot away from her.
She stood, but didn't back away-she felt no need to.
"How-how do you know my name?" She stuttered, not taking her eyes of his.
"It's really you. Oh God it's really you," he looked as if he might have burst into tears any moment; the look of sheer joy in his eyes was overwhelming.
"I-uh-do I know you?" She asked, trying to dig back into her memory in search of him. But how could she forget someone like him? It was impossible.
"No, but you once did. Try and remember Fern, you said you would wait for me. Now I've found you," he replied placing a gloved hand lightly on her cheek.
She didn't flinch or recoil, but instead shook her head sadly. She didn't know him-she wished she did, but she just didn't.
"Look, I'm sorry," she sighed, "but I've never met you before, so I couldn't have said that. You've obviously got the wrong person, Morgan, or you're just-"
She broke off. Morgan? Where the hell had that come from? It had just come to her, as if she'd known it all her life. She knew it was his name as well as she knew hers was Fern.
He smiled and took hold of her hand gently. "You're beginning to remember. Just dig deeper and you'll know me."
She stared up into his eyes, he was about a head taller than she was but she didn't feel intimidated. In his eyes was a longing so strong that it took Fern's breath away and she just wanted to hold him there and then, there was something so familiar about him and she felt exactly the same as he felt. Pure and genuine longing.
"Where have I seen you?" She whispered, gripping his gloved hand tightly.
He sighed and gently pushed a wisp of chestnut hair from her face. "Long ago. Very long ago," he smiled still stroking her cheek; "You slept so long this time. But I knew you'd come back. Now there's nothing to keep us apart- I wont let you go."
Normally if a complete stranger had said this to her Fern would have freaked out and ran. But with Morgan she felt no need to, she felt safe with him and he sounded so absolutely overjoyed in seeing her.
"I've seen your face. . .so long ago," she said in a barely audible whisper. She nearly had it; she could nearly place where she knew him from. It was a brief meeting far back into the past, but he hadn't seemed to change during the years. But that didn't trouble her-it seemed unimportant.
"Morgan. . ." she lifted her hand to touch his pale, beautiful face, "you came back, I knew-"
"Fern!" A voice shrieked from far away. Fern turned quickly, before she had reached his face. It was Violet beckoning her over, pleading with her to go to her.
What could she want so drastically? Fern thought, annoyed to have her chain of thought broken. Any conclusion she was coming to about Morgan was gone- she still had no idea who he was.
She felt his hand pull out of hers quickly. She turned back round to face him, but only to see him disappear into the trees.
"Wait! Morgan!" She called after him, making towards the trees to follow him. But she was held back by a frantic Violet.
"No Fern! Please, come on-we've got to get out of here," she pleaded, gripping Fern's arm.
Fern sighed. Morgan was gone. And she still didn't know how she knew him.
'I'll come back,' she heard his voice in her head as clearly as she heard her own thoughts. She gasped. How was that possible? Was that really him? In her mind?
She didn't know why, but she decided not to tell Violet about whose last words. She wouldn't believe her anyway.
"Please Fern! Come on! We'll go back to your house," Violet was already dragging Fern through the gate.
Fern pulled out of her grip. "What's wrong?" She demanded, still irritated for being dragged away.
"You can't talk to-to . . .him!" She cried signalling to the trees where he'd vanished.
Fern was shocked. Did Violet know him? "What do you mean? Why not?" She replied quickly.
"We can't talk about it here," she whispered, but continued at Fern's expression, "not here! But I swear that when we get back to yours I'll explain everything. Okay? Everything."
"Fine, but hurry," Fern sighed looking up to the oncoming dark clouds, "it's going to rain."
The two girls jogged quickly down the road and round the corner, it wouldn't take them long to get to Fern's house.
***
"Okay Violet. You've got A LOT of explaining to do," Fern was sitting on her bed, staring at Violet who sat sheepishly on the window seat.
Violet sighed deeply and shook her head. "You're right. And I'm sorry for startling you back there. But when I saw you with him . . .I guess I just freaked out."
"But why? Do you know Morgan?" Fern asked, trying to ignore the howling wind outside her window.
"Oh God, you know his name. I didn't realise you'd spoken for that long . . ." Violet replied almost inaudibly.
"Violet get to the point! Why shouldn't I see him?" Fern cried at the pale girl across the room from her.
Violet always looked so timid, so shy and this time was no exception.
She took a deep breath. "Because he's-he's bad news."
"Bad news? What are you talking about?" Fern whispered, remembering that kind face filled with joy at seeing Fern. How could he be 'bad news'?
"I met him over the summer in Europe and he isn't the nicest of guys," Violet replied staring out of the window, "he's done some pretty awful stuff."
Fern was getting annoyed; Violet never explained things clearly. "What on earth are you-"
"No! Let me finish," Violet interrupted before Fern could continue, "there's something you should know. You know how you've always felt as if you didn't belong in normal life, with normal people in a normal society? Well there's a reason for that."
Violet was silent. Fern was bewildered. What the hell was Violet on about? She couldn't just end it like that. "And???"
"Uh-it's complicated and you must promise not to freak out on me," she replied looking up to Fern who nodded impatiently, "uh-Fern? You're a witch."
That wasn't what Fern was expecting.
"WHAT?!?" She shrieked staring at Violet in horrified amazement.
"And-and that's not all," Violet whispered shaking her head, "that boy Morgan-he's a vampire."
***
Well that's chapter two. PLEASE review and tell me what you think, I beg of you! I wonder what's going to happen between Fern and the mysterious Morgan. . .tune in next time to find out! Lol. I'll update very soon.