"Daddy!" I screamed, tears falling freely from my eyes as I watched him erupt into flames. I stood in the door way of mom and dad's bedroom door, observing him whle he was standing in front of the bed, not moving, just watching me.

"Cynder." He said smiling sadly, "Come 'ere, Cynder." He knelt down on one knee, and made the, 'come here' motion with his index finger. I ran over to him and threw my arms around his neck, sobbing silently into his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around me and said, "You know I love you to death, right?" I only nodded, not being able to form any words, "Well, I-i've got to leave and you'll be here with mommy-"

"No, no, no. I want you here. With me. Where are you going?"

"I'll be at a place you'll learn about very soon," He pulled away and looked at me dead in the eye, "But, I'll be able to visit you, probably." I cried harder and clung onto him more tightly. "I love you, Cynder. I love you. I love you and don't ever forget that."

I felt like my heart was being squeezed by someone's unrelenting fist, "What did I do? Why are you leaving?"

"You didn't do anything, Cyndy. Don't ever think that I'm leaving because of you; I'm leaving 'cause I have to, not because I want to." He clung onto me tighter whispering, I love you's over and over again.

I felt my grip loosen and I opened my eyes only to see black smoke in the air where he once was, and golden dust where he was kneeling. I fell to my knees and held my head in my hands. The door swung open behind me, slamming on the wall. "Alright, you little shit." My mom's voice filled my ears from behind me. But, something was different about her tone... it wasn't her normal happy-go-lucky voice I've grown to get used to. This one took on a much harsher and colder underlining to it. "Now that daddy's gone and our contract has been broken, I've gotten a lot of pent-up stress to release." I heard her approaching me, but didn't turn around. "Look at me when I'm talking to you." I shook my head and let my hands fall to my sides, still staring at the floor. "I said look at me!" She pulled me up off the ground by my arm and threw me on the bed, "I never wanted you, and I certainly don't want you now."

"Go die in a hole." I said quietly.

"What was that?" She said, leaning her face down to mine. I refused to meet her eyes and stared down at the bed. "I said, what did you say?" She yelled, I looked up at her and seen her hand raised up like she was going to hit me. My eyes locked on her hand and she smirked, her hand was mere inches away from my face when-'

I sat up, gasping for air, my heart racing. I backed up against the wall and grabbed the nearest pillow and curled my knees up against my chest and placed my pillow on top of my knees, and heaved a deep sigh. The day my father 'went away' was something that will haunt me for many years. That was the day my mother started abusing me. The day she started bringing new men home everynight. The day... everything went to shit. But now I know better, and I understand where he is, and why he left. My dad was banished to hell because he fell in love with a human. You see, demons are supposed to take lives, and follow other humans around to make their lives a living hell. But when a demon falls in love with a human, they'll want to do everyhing in their power to make sure they live. They'll want to be around to protect them for eternity. When a demon falls in love with another demon, it's okay. But falling in love with a human is strictly prohibited.

I heard a banging on my door and a muffled, "Hey, new girl, come on, it's breakfast time." It sounded like the guy I heard last night. I lifted my head and glared at the door, "Dude, come on, they won't serve us food 'till everybody is at the table."

"Just leave me alone," I yelled back to him. I really don't feel like dealing with humans, I just want to be left alone.

"Fine. Suit yourself, but when you have the hole house after you, I won't say I didn't warn you." I heard his footsteps fading and stood up, I put my hair up in a loose ponytail and peeked my head out the door, no one was walking out in the halls anymore.

I wonder if they have a library here, I thought. I snuck out the door and proceeded to explore the orphanage. After a few lefts' and rights' and endless stair cases', I finally found the library. I walked in and carefully shut the door behind me, and felt the walls for a light switch, I felt nothing so I held out my hand, pointing at the ground and whispered words in Daemon, and a lit candle in a candlebra appeared and lit up a small section of the floor. I smiled and picked up the candle and walked over to a bookshelf. I ran my finger over the spines of the endless books and stopped when I seen a book called, Beautiful Creatures. Looks interesting enough, and by the cover name, it seems I can relate. I thought and pulled it out of the shelf. I walked over towards one of the many couches that littered the area and sat Indian style, I set the book in my lap and began to read,

"There was only two kinds of people in our town. "The stupid and the stuck," My father had affectionately classified our neighbors. "The ones who are bound to stay or to dumb to go. Everyone else finds a way out," There was no question which one he was, but I'd never had the courage to ask why. My father was a writer, and we lived in Gatlin, South Carolina, because the Wates always had, since my great-great-great-great-granddad, Ellis Wate, fought and died on the other side of the Santee River during the Civil War.-"

I must've been reading for a good hour and a half before the door opened and the lights flickered to life. I muttered an 'ow' and blinked a few times before looking up at the door. To my surprise, L was standing in the doorway in an unusual slouched position with his thumb in his mouth/ I smiled a bit and gave a small wave, "Oh, hey, L."

He nodded and walked over to me. I scooted over a bit to give him room and he sat next to me in that awkward position again and began nibbling on his thumb, "What are you reading?" He asked.

I flipped the cover page of the book and showed him. He nodded and I flipped it back over, continuing to read. "Anything you need? Or are you here just to read over my shoulder? 'Cause if you were reading the book," I flipped it closed, "Here. I'm pretty much done with it anyways, I'm a quick reader." And held it out to him.

"No, I wasn't reading it, I was just curious as to why you didn't show up at breakfast today," He stared at me with emotionless eyes, "I have my own theory, but I wish to see if it's correct."

I frowned at the memory of my dream, "I just," I sighed, "I didn't feel like sitting with a whole household of new people was all,"

He made a small noise in his throat and nodded, "Make sure next time that you show up for breakfast, you were only let off today because you're new."

I frowned slightly, "So in other words, the cooks forgot about me, right?"

He nodded, "Clever."

I looked at him and gave him a half-hearted smile, "I don't care, honestly. I'm forgotten about a lot," I sighed again and said, "I'm used to it anyway, being the freak an all. Nobody'll get near me, in fear that I'll have some of my, "freak cooties" rub off on them. This leads them to push me from their memories. They choose to forget about me."

He just sat there staring at me, his mouth ocupied by his thumb still, "As was said in your files."

I moved my gaze to the ground and dropped my shoulders, "It's okay though. I don't know if you even have emotions, but if you do, I just want you to know that I don't want sympathy. I mean, look where sympathy has gotten me now. I only told you so you don't say something stupid in the future, but you don't seem like the kind who would. So, I guess I thank you on that," I glanced at him and smiled, "Besdies, I know the reason why you came looking for me."

"Impossible. There is no motive behind me looking for you, because I wasn't looking for you." He said, with his usual monotonous tone.

I smirked, "You can't hide it from me, L." My smirk turned into chesire cat grin, "You like me."

His eyes widened slightly and he looked almost, almost surprised, "I'm afraid you're wrong, if you are using 'like' in terms of 'love'. I do not like you, actually, I do not like anyone. However, the fact that I find you attractive still stands,"

Now my eyes widened in shock, 'I'm attractive...?' "Oh, I see. You want to play a game then?"

A ghost of a smile graced his features, "That highly depends on the game you're suggesting."

I stood up and stretched before smirking slyly and offered, "An old cliche kind of game, really. One that involves two people. It's where two people who find each other attractive try to get the other to fall in love with them first."

"I don't think I've ever heard of this 'game'." He nibbled on his thumb lightly, "And what are the stakes?"

I looked away and stared at the wall, "The winner get's superiority and bragging rights. The loser, however, usually suffers a broken heart."

"I take it you speak from expirence,"

I grinned wickedly at him, "Yes. I'm guite the vetran to this game," I paused and leaned closer to him, "I have never lost,"

He stood and sized me up, "I warn you, I am a very childish person and do not like to lose,"

I narrowed my eyes, still grinning, "As am I, L." After a moment of silence, I chuckled and walked towards the door. Placing my hand on the handle, I turned to look at him and said, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go head to my room and make myself utterly irresistible for you,". I winked and opened the door and ran straight into somebody standing there, falling on my but, "Hey, watch where you're bloody going!" I yelled but looked up to see it was BB standing there. "BB, what the hell are you doing?" I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose, shaking my head.

He grinned that creepy grin of his and stuffed his hands in his pockets, "What? It can't be accidental that I run into you? Or in this case, the other way around?"

I stood up and said, "From what information I've gathered about you, no. Now if you'll just move..." I said and tried to squeeze by him, but he only moved to where he had the entire doorway blocked. "What the freaking hell, BB, Move!"

He shook his head and looked me dead in the eye, "We didn't get to finish playing our little "game" last night."

I rolled my eyes, "BB, dude, as I told you last night, I don't do that stuff with people I just met." I put emphasis on the 'just met' and frowned.

He lowered his voice to a low growl, "I told you, that's not what I meant,"

I crossed my arms over my chest and lowered my voice, "Move, now." I was getting increasingly frustrated with him, sooner or later this was going to get ugly.

He leaned in dangerously close and leaned his arms on either side of the doorframe. He shook his head, narrowing his eyes. I growled, literally, growled, at him and pushed him back against the opposite wall, making a dent and cracks that trailed all the way up to the ceiling. His face held a hint of surprise and excitement when I looked at him. My nails dug into his shoulders making him wince only slightly in pain. Suddenly, his eyes widened and he started grinning like a madman. He dropped his head and peered at me through parts of his hair, "And you say I'm attractive when I'm angry," He purred. Feeling the familiar tingling under my skin, I guessed that my eyes went red again.

I felt my breaths quicken, and I leaned down in his ear to whisper, "Now, when I say move, I mean move. Got it?"

He stayed unmoving for a while, before I finally gave up and released my hold on him. I started walking off when he called, "I will figure you out, Cynder."

Without turning around I called, "Keep fucking dreaming, you bloody asshat."

I smirked and walked into my room, slamming the door behind me. Not two seconds after I got into my room and sat on my bed, there was a knock at my door, 'Who the hell is it this bloody friggin' time?' I thought angrily.

I opened my door to reveal a guy about my age, a little bit taller then me, with black spiky hair and blonde highlights, that reached the base of his neck, he also had green eyes, and was wearing a green shirt with a dinosaur on it that said, "All my friends are dead", with dark blue skinny jeans, and plain white socks. I smiled and stifled a giggle at his shirt.

He held out a hand and smiled, "Uh, h-hi. My name is, Devon. I, uh, I seen what you did to BB back there, and I just gotta say, that was freaking awesome."

I smiled and shook his hand, "Thank you, he's a total ass anyways. Cynder. Cynder Kaideth, otherwise known as 'new girl'. Did uou wanna, uh, come in a talk, or did you just stop by to introduce yourself?"

"Oh, no. I came here to speak to you, actually." He walked in rubbing the back of his neck.

I shut the door behind him and flicked on the light and the fan on the ceiling and sat on the bed, I gestured towards the chair that sat next to the bed. He sat and I started off the conversation by saying, "So, have you known BB long?"

He nodded, "A few years, he's like a freaking terrorist. Constantly chasing after us with that damn knife of his," He flipped over his arm and pointed out a long thin white line on his forearm. "BB's work from last year." He grimaced as if remembering the day it happened.

I sat forward on the bed and lightly traced the line with my finger, "Let me guess, he did it just to get you to fear him, correct?"

He nodded, "And it worked, too."

I frowned, and dropped his arm, "Well, that bastard won't be terrorizing anyone anymore. I'm going to put an end to it."

"You're not scared of him?" He asked with a dumbfounded expression.

"Obviously not. You said yourself, you seen what I did back there."

"Good point," He laughed softly.

I thought for a moment before asking, "So, you're not... scared of me?"

"Scared of you...? no, why would I be? You stood up to that jerk, that's pretty damn impressive."

I smiled; 'He's not scared,' I whispered to myself. I looked up and noticed that he looked a little confused. He cocked his head to the side as if to say, 'what?' "You're the only person I know who isn't intimidated or scared of me. Thank you."

"You're welcome, I guess." He returned the smile and added, "So... how did you get here? I mean, what's you're story?"

I sighed, "Well, it's a touchy subject, but, I guess I can tell you." I took a deep breath and pulled my legs up on the bed, to where I was sitting Indian style, "Well, when I was eleven, my dad died defending me, and my mother from a robber. They ended up stealing everything from us, which made us go broke. Mom was forced to remarry, but she remarried a drunken abuser only a few months after dad's death. She 'supposedly' only married him 'cause he was rich. She ended up drinking and coming home drunk almost every night to cope with dad's death, but when she was drunk, she was also abusive. So, for about five years I had to put up with their abusiveness, until one day, when my step-dad, mom, and I were all in a car going to my aunt's house for me to stay, we were hit by a semi. They ended up dying in the crash, but I survived and a few years later, Wammy found me and took me in." I was able to make up in the few minutes it took me to explain it.

"Dang, I don't even know what to say... All my parents did was leave me here at the doorstep, like they do in those movies."

I smiled, "It's fine, there's nothing you can do about it, what's done is done."

He frowned and threw his legs over the chair leg and looked me dead in the eye, "You make it sound like you don't even miss them."

"That's not entirely true, I just except their death. I miss them deeply. Well, mainly my dad, anyways."

"Oh," Was all that was said to end that conversation, next thing I knew I heard a giant growl emitting from Devon. My head snapped over to him, and he smiled sheepishly. "My, uh, that was my stomach. I'm sort of hungry."

I laughed, "Well, wanna go get something to eat?"

He nodded and threw his legs over the chair and stood up and offered me a hand, I nodded my thanks and smiled and took his hand, he pulled me up in one swift move and we both evacuated the room. We walked silently over to the dining area and found that the table had assorted fruits in several bowls. I grabbed a handful of strawberries from one of the bowls and started eating them. Devon grabbed the blueberries in the other bowl and started catching them in the air with his mouth. "Show off," I chuckled while crossing my arms over my chest. I grabbed his arm and dragged him back to the steps. I stopped at the bottom of the stairs and looked up to see BB standing there; arms crossed and glaring at us. I smirked, "Need another lesson, BB?"

"No, but you need a reminder." He started twirling his knife in his hands and smirked. Then he looked beside me and he frowned, seeing Devon there, my hand now in his. He started grumbling to himself, and walked off.

I smirked maliciously, "Jealousy looks good on you, B!" I called after him. I looked at Devon, and motioned with my head to continue our trek back to my room.

I sighed and opened the door and flipped on the fan, again, but left the lights off, and closed the door once Devon walked in. I walked into the middle of the room and sat down, Devon close behind. He sat down across from me, and I pulled out my phone, it was already 12:43, I stood up and opened the curtains of my window slightly, not enough to blind me, but just enough to see around my room. I went and sat across from him again, and tossed him a strawberry, "Incoming!" I called.

He turned and looked at me, surprised, and started laughing as the berry bounced off of his forehead. "Alright... that was a fail. Throw me another." I threw another his way and giggled when he dived after it, only to miss. "You just have terrible aim."

I tried my best not to smile, and showed mock-hurt on my face, "Y'know that hurts," I pointed to where my heart is, "Right here." He laughed, but was cut off by a knock at the door, "Yeah?" I called out, but there was no answer. "Who is it?" I called, a little bit louder, but there was still no answer. Annoyed, I got up and shot an apologetic glance towards Devon. While I was opening the door I said, "Y'know, you really should say you're name or business here-"

I was cut off by a pain in my right arm, I looked over to see a gash the whole width of my arm, and by how heavy it was bleeding, I knew it was deep. I sucked my teeth and held my arm, but thank's to my 'Ungodly' powers, I would heal in a matter of seconds. I looked up at the offender and groaned when I seen who is was, BB. He was leaning against my door frame, nonchalantly looking at his knife covered in my blood. "You know, your blood isn't like the other kids blood here; it's richer, and darker in color. Which leads me to wonder, what are you?" Devon walked up behind me and glared at BB, who pointed his knife at him saying, "And who's this? You're boyfriend?"

I shook my head saying, "I'm human, just like you, and everyone in this house. And he's not my boyfriend, we're just acquaintences " I made sure to put extra emphasis on 'acquaintances'

I didn't even notice my arm stopped bleeding, and the cut was gone until BB pointed it out, "See? you heal to quickly, that was a deep cut, that should've taken hours to heal, maybe a few days. But in just a few minutes, it's gone. Which leads me to ask again, what are you?"

I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at him, "I'm human."

"Bullshit, explain you're arm then!"

I thought for a moment and said, "When I was little, I had a life-threatening sickness and was stuck in the hospital for a year, but it was a new sort of sickness for them, they didn't know how to cure it. So, they made new chemicals and injected them into me, I was sort of their guinea pig, and as it turns out, one of the chemicals speeded up my healing process."

"Then how about you're eyes?"

"Genetic. Any more ridiculous questions you wanna ask?"

"No, but watch your back."

I scoffed, "ooh, I'm so scared."

He grinned, "You should be,"

I groaned and slammed the door shut, then turned to look at Devon, "Y'know what? I'm going to go teach him a lesson..." I smiled wickedly, "...He said he'd be the one to give me nightmares," Then laughed a low laugh, "Well, I'll make sure it's the other way around. Devon, you should probably go..."

"But I want to stay and help."

I shook my head, "Nuh-uh. I don't want you to be apart of this. If things fail, he'll be coming after you."

"I don't care,"

"Well, I do. No one should get hurt for my decisions." I argued.

We had a long stare-off, until he finally huffed a fine, and left. I sighed and laid down on my bed, crossing my arms behind my head, and began making a mental list of how to make BB's life a living hell.