Part 5
She really didn't need the irritation of sorting out yet another new girl. Ellen had protested but the other Daybreakers had, for some reason, decided it was her turn.
"But I have my hands full with Amber's birthday party," she complained.
She could see the others exchanging glances, and knew, not for the first time, they were most likely thinking why she was a Daybreaker at all. She shared a Daybreak safehouse with a perky witch, a sarcastic vampire and a know-it-all shapeshifter. She herself being half witch/half werewolf made up the group.
They knew a number of other Night People were in the town. The town itself having been founded by an important member of the Redfern family. The humans had originally been brought in for food and labour. The town had grown since and more people had drifted in than expected. Out of the way and under Night World influence, the human population tended to look the other way when weird things happened. As with the Daybreak ideals, it was their job to make sure things didn't get too out of hand and protect the humans as best as they could.
Now another Daybreaker was supposed to be coming in. Ellen was supposed to show her around and fill her in.
"It's your /turn/," the vampire, Liliana said, sitting at the kitchen table, flipping through some rock music magazine. "There's more a being a Daybreaker than sitting around and planning /parties/." Liliana's crimson lips curled in contempt.
Scowling, Ellen left the kitchen. She should have known better than to ask Liliana for help. That girl was an even more confusing Daybreaker than Ellen was. Liliana was so - concluded and cut off. So Ellen preferred some human friends and a life. Since when was that a crime?
"Melissa!" She caught sight of the witch about to head out the front door. The witch was one of those annoying types of girls who were nice to everyone, no matter who they were.
Melissa turned, blonde curls settling gently on her shoulders. "No," she said flatly.
Ellen's eyes widened. "I didn't even say anything!"
"I know what you're going to ask and the answer is no," Melissa said. "And don't even think about asking Joe either, cause he'll say exactly the same thing. It's your turn to help the new girl whether you like it or not. It's time you started pulling your weight around here."
Ellen sighed. She should have known. "When's she coming?"
"She's staying with the Connells, and is checking in with them tonight. She'll be checking in with us tomorrow morning before school. Then you," Melissa smiled, "get to show her the ropes."
Ellen sighed. "Fun for me."
"Maybe it won't be so bad," Melissa offered. "I'm going to the club, wanna come?"
"I guess." Ellen hurried back into the house, grabbing her purse before joining Melissa. Places to go in small towns were slim to nil. This one had a three screen cinema, a burger joint, a Pizza Hut, and a Black Iris for Night People. Circle Daybreak had helped them open another hang out for Daybreakers and ordinary humans. Unfortunately, there was no way to keep the Night People out entirely, but at least the humans had somewhere to go where they could be more protected.
"What's her name?" Ellen asked as she and Melissa found themselves a seat after they had got themselves drinks. Ellen couldn't see anyone else she knew, so until she did she was stuck with Melissa for company.
"Pandora. Oh, wait, that's her." Melissa nodded to a girl standing at the corner of the bar.
She had long raven hair and smooth-looking creamy pale skin, attractive features, bright shiny green eyes. She was wearing a short silver dress and was looking around fleetingly.
"You think she's waiting for someone?" Melissa said, head tilted to one side as she watched the girl.
Ellen nodded. "Seems like."
She frowned, wondering what was going on. The girl was supposed to be new in town. Who could she be waiting for? She wasn't supposed to know anyone.
"Isn't that your friend Amber's boyfriend?"
Ellen nodded, watching in surprise as Drayton walked up to Pandora. Her face rippled into a bright smile of utter happiness as she threw her arms around him. They embraced for what seemed like ages, then made out for an ice age.
"Are you going to tell Amber or shall I?" Melissa asked.
* * *
She really didn't need the irritation of sorting out yet another new girl. Ellen had protested but the other Daybreakers had, for some reason, decided it was her turn.
"But I have my hands full with Amber's birthday party," she complained.
She could see the others exchanging glances, and knew, not for the first time, they were most likely thinking why she was a Daybreaker at all. She shared a Daybreak safehouse with a perky witch, a sarcastic vampire and a know-it-all shapeshifter. She herself being half witch/half werewolf made up the group.
They knew a number of other Night People were in the town. The town itself having been founded by an important member of the Redfern family. The humans had originally been brought in for food and labour. The town had grown since and more people had drifted in than expected. Out of the way and under Night World influence, the human population tended to look the other way when weird things happened. As with the Daybreak ideals, it was their job to make sure things didn't get too out of hand and protect the humans as best as they could.
Now another Daybreaker was supposed to be coming in. Ellen was supposed to show her around and fill her in.
"It's your /turn/," the vampire, Liliana said, sitting at the kitchen table, flipping through some rock music magazine. "There's more a being a Daybreaker than sitting around and planning /parties/." Liliana's crimson lips curled in contempt.
Scowling, Ellen left the kitchen. She should have known better than to ask Liliana for help. That girl was an even more confusing Daybreaker than Ellen was. Liliana was so - concluded and cut off. So Ellen preferred some human friends and a life. Since when was that a crime?
"Melissa!" She caught sight of the witch about to head out the front door. The witch was one of those annoying types of girls who were nice to everyone, no matter who they were.
Melissa turned, blonde curls settling gently on her shoulders. "No," she said flatly.
Ellen's eyes widened. "I didn't even say anything!"
"I know what you're going to ask and the answer is no," Melissa said. "And don't even think about asking Joe either, cause he'll say exactly the same thing. It's your turn to help the new girl whether you like it or not. It's time you started pulling your weight around here."
Ellen sighed. She should have known. "When's she coming?"
"She's staying with the Connells, and is checking in with them tonight. She'll be checking in with us tomorrow morning before school. Then you," Melissa smiled, "get to show her the ropes."
Ellen sighed. "Fun for me."
"Maybe it won't be so bad," Melissa offered. "I'm going to the club, wanna come?"
"I guess." Ellen hurried back into the house, grabbing her purse before joining Melissa. Places to go in small towns were slim to nil. This one had a three screen cinema, a burger joint, a Pizza Hut, and a Black Iris for Night People. Circle Daybreak had helped them open another hang out for Daybreakers and ordinary humans. Unfortunately, there was no way to keep the Night People out entirely, but at least the humans had somewhere to go where they could be more protected.
"What's her name?" Ellen asked as she and Melissa found themselves a seat after they had got themselves drinks. Ellen couldn't see anyone else she knew, so until she did she was stuck with Melissa for company.
"Pandora. Oh, wait, that's her." Melissa nodded to a girl standing at the corner of the bar.
She had long raven hair and smooth-looking creamy pale skin, attractive features, bright shiny green eyes. She was wearing a short silver dress and was looking around fleetingly.
"You think she's waiting for someone?" Melissa said, head tilted to one side as she watched the girl.
Ellen nodded. "Seems like."
She frowned, wondering what was going on. The girl was supposed to be new in town. Who could she be waiting for? She wasn't supposed to know anyone.
"Isn't that your friend Amber's boyfriend?"
Ellen nodded, watching in surprise as Drayton walked up to Pandora. Her face rippled into a bright smile of utter happiness as she threw her arms around him. They embraced for what seemed like ages, then made out for an ice age.
"Are you going to tell Amber or shall I?" Melissa asked.
* * *