Chapter 3
The next day at school Katrina still couldn't believe it.
She was sore from the fight. There was a sharp stab of pain in her side every time she moved and a large bruise on her forehead. Her knees and shins were black and blue but luckily she wasn't bleeding anywhere. Last night she had been able to sneak in through her bedroom window without being seen by anyone.
Gabriel. He must have done something to her, different to what other vampires had attempted to do. Her mind worked efficiently and easily against all kinds of mind control she was aware of but this was something new. Gabriel had forged some sort of twisted connection between them and Katrina had never before thought that possible.
School that day was just a place to think about what had happened and how she had to fix him. She had to hunt down this vampire, force him to explain how he had distracted him, and then shove a stake through his heart.
Her mind was swept away into the new world, but it wasn't the same. She didn't have contact with Gabriel. It was in their skin. Whatever was creating this odd link was flowing through their skin. Katrina could still feel the after effect of the experience and it scared her. It made her feel weak and vulnerable, like a helpless child impossibly lost in the cold, cruel darkness.
Racing home, she stormed straight up to her bedroom. She wrenched open the door and came face to face with her mother.
Katherine Redfern was a tall woman, with long fair hair and huge violet eyes. Her skin was like porcelain, her body looked so fragile. But she had determination that couldn't be matched and at intelligent, beautiful head on her shoulders.
"Katrina!" said Katherine with a note of panic in her voice, " how did you get those bruises?"
"Oh," Katrina self consciousness brushed her gigantic bruise on her head with her hand, " I fell."
Katherine scowled, unconvinced.
"Down some stairs. At school. Yesterday." Lied Katrina quickly.
"Well are you ok?" asked Katherine softly, " have you being drinking your father's medicine."
Katrina shook her head. She hadn't bothered to get any for a few days. No wonder she was feeling dizzy and sick, finding it hard to take in a deep breath.
"Take some today," Advised Katherine. Katrina nodded rocking a little on her feet.
"Mom I'm ok," Katrina tried to convince her mother. Katherine hugged her, pulling her close to her body and rubbing her back comfortingly.
"Me and your father miss you," she said sadly, " We hardly see you of late."
"I have…a lot of work to do. Being a junior is more challenging than a sophomore." Said Katrina, trying to sound convincing. Katherine nodded, and brushed the hair away from Katrina's eye.
"My tiny baby is growing up," she said softly, and started to move out of the room. Katrina caught her hand suddenly.
"Mom," she said gently.
"Yes?" asked her mother, her huge eyes full of love.
"Nothing mother," said Katrina with a miserable smile, " everything is fine."
"Good," replied Katherine with a smile. Katrina let go of her hand and her mother left the room, hips swaying. She waited until her mother was down the hall and then closed the door.
Katrina slumped down onto the bed and closed her eyes. She breathed in deeply, amazed at what she had been about to do. At how she was about to reveal the real reason why she was missing so much.
But she couldn't just lie on her bed all night, pondering Gabriel. She had to go to work.