Chapter One

I was super excited about Vlad coming the next day. I could tell my parents were too; energy radiated in the air. "Kennedy," my mom stated in a motherly way, "we need to go to the grocery store, come on." I sighed, "Why can't I stay home? It's not like I'm going to burn the house down or anything." Stepping up beside me she said in a motherly tone, "I know but I need help in picking out Vlad's favorite foods." Reluctantly I gave in. Climbing into the car I thought about how unfair it was that I had to go wherever my parents went. If my dad wasn't at home my mom was certain that someone was going to break into the house and kill me and her. Whenever we went out to the store or something my dad ALWAYS came, I couldn't stay at home by myself. Like I said, she was paranoid.

The Pennsylvanian city flew by my window, it was almost sunset. I had always been sensitive to the sun so the windows in my house and in my family's vehicles were tinted black. I also had this rare condition where it looked like I had vampire fangs. To help with my condition I had to drink this really yummy dark red liquid all the time that was supposed to help with my skin condition (or so I thought at the time). I had been gullible and naive at the time, but it was what I had lived my whole life believing. Living in Pennsylvania was way different than New Zealand and Vlad and I missed it terribly. We had taken a vacation there last summer and I was ecstatic. Images of my beautiful homeland slipped by in my head, but sadly they ended when my mom's sleek Mercedes pulled into a parking spot and cut off. Sighing I got out of the car and stretched, the spring breeze was pleasant against my skin.

Pulling my beanie further onto my head I quickly sidestepped a rain puddle and entered the grocery store with my parents. Wincing at the bright light of the grocery store I walked around with my mom picking out the foods I knew Vlad loved. He could eat a lot so whenever he came home we always had to go shopping in advance. Walking around I was getting anxious. I wanted to go home and go to sleep so the morning would come faster. Thankfully we didn't linger too long in the grocery store and managed to make it out of there before the end of the century. As we were leaving out of the store I saw a little girl sitting in her mom's buggy. She smiled at me and with her cute little blonde ringlets it was hard not to smile back. When I did I had to remember to hide my teeth because I knew that if anyone saw them they'd jump to obvious conclusions. But I wasn't a vampire; they just didn't exist.

Walking through the parking lot I shivered; it was cold. Snuggling into the warm heated seats of my mom's car I was so anxious I was about to blow up. Sighing as her car creped along the winding highway I thought about all the things Vlad and I were going to do. We always had fun when he came and I didn't feel lonely. I always did whenever he wasn't there but when he came home I felt-I don't know complete. Pulling into the driveway I smiled, not caring to show my teeth, because it meant that I was closer to seeing Vlad. Rushing inside I quickly took a shower and brushed my teeth. Snuggling into bed I closed my eyes and drifter off to sleep. Vlad would be here in the morning.

I drifted off into a peaceful sleep. Waking up to sunshine pouring into my window I shot out of my bed as fast as I could. Looking at the clock I groaned, he would be here in five minutes. I wouldn't have time to eat or anything before he got here. But I decided to shove on some clothes in a hurry and rushed to brush my teeth anyways. Glancing out of my window that faced the road I was a big charter-type bus pull alongside our road. Grinning as I realized that Vlad was here I ran down the stairs two at a time, thankfully not breaking my neck. By the time I had managed to get down the stairs he was walking across the lawn (luggage in tow) very briskly. Throwing open the door I ran to meet him. He dropped the bags he was carrying as I jumped into his arms and hugged him tightly. He hugged me back and spun me around in a circle. Sitting me down softly I looked up into his big green eyes and grinned. "Is it possible that you've gotten bigger?" I asked jokingly. "Is it possible that you've gotten smaller?" he joked in return.

With the sun shining down in between one of the massive oaks in the yard on his head I just about choked because of how good he looked. Wait-I couldn't think of him that way. He was my brother for goodness sakes! But I couldn't doubt it with him standing there with a crooked grin plastered on his face. I guess I had the same effect on him because for a second he kind of looked dumbstruck. Before the moment could get awkward my mom called from the house, "Get in here before you catch a cold." Same old mom. Slinging one of his smaller bags across my shoulder he began to protest but I cut him off with a sideways glance of my eye. Sighing, he grabbed the rest of his bags and followed me into the house.

Stepping into the house he was greeted with hugs from my mom and dad, he didn't seem as thrilled as them. As I said, I was the only one who could make him smile. I didn't think much of it then but now that I think back I realize how clueless I really was. Following him up to his room I helped him deposit his luggage and hugged him again. "I'm so glad you're back. It's so boring without you here," I said earnestly. Looking down at me with his massive 6 feet 5 inch frame he gave me one of those smiles that only I could bring out. "No one at my school could ever compare to you either," he said. Smiling I took his hand in mine and pulled him downstairs behind me. My mom was cooking breakfast thankfully because I was starving. Sitting down at the table, Vlad beside me, my mother sat down a steaming plate of eggs in front of me along with one of my daily glasses of the red liquid. It was sweet and tangy and as I gulped it down Vlad gave me a squeamish look. Sitting it down and wiping my mouth on my wrist I cast a glance at him. "What?" "Oh, uh nothing," he replied looking down at his food. Looking back at my glass I said, "Do you not think that my drink is good or something? Try it." Extending my glass towards him he shook his head and said, "No, I-I'm good. Its just being in a car for so long makes me sick." Shrugging my shoulders I sat my glass down and presumed eating. My mom cast my dad a worried look for some reason unbeknownst to me. My dad shifted his head to where I could see the snake-like and four jagged Xs tattoos that adorned the back of his neck. I had always wondered what they meant but I didn't question it.

Finishing our meal Vlad and I headed back upstairs to my room. Sitting down on my bed, Vlad beside me, I turned to him. "What shall we do first?" Smiling he seemed to think about it for a second before he said, "Skateboard?" Nodding I replied, "And why did I have a feeling you would say that?" He sarcastically pushed me in the arms lightly and replied, "Because we know each other too well." Smiling I went over to my skateboard collection adorning one of my walls I pulled off one of my skateboards. Vlad had already left and gotten his. "Shall we go?" I asked. "We shall," he said.

Following him to my miniature skateboard park outside my mom said, "Wear your helmet!" Rolling my eyes we continued outside; of course we ignored her. Stepping onto my skateboard I felt a surge of adrenaline pump through me. I always loved the rush of skateboarding, it was just enthralling. Vlad seemed to feel right at home and began skating away. Following him I did an ollie and flew down a ramp. Vlad seemed to be enjoying himself but he did seem a bit rusty; probably because they weren't allowed to skateboard at his school. We kept this up for most of the afternoon until my mom called us in for lunch. We quickly crammed the food into our mouths and ran outside to continue what we had been doing. Both of us had fallen a few times but nothing major. I always felt bad whenever I saw either one of us scrape something but I couldn't do anything about it. Or maybe I could…

A few hours later Vlad did a trick on his skateboard and from the way his foot landed on it I could tell he was going to fall on the ground. Well he did and I heard an audible crack as his thumb broke in half. He didn't show any pain on his face but once I saw the bone poking out of his skin I could tell he was hurt. Rushing over to him I extended my hands towards his. I had healed something before but I didn't know if I could do it again. Whether it was a miracle when I did it the first time I didn't know but seeing Vlad hurt was too much. Reaching out with my mind I let it touch a place where all of the good things in my life were stored. Brushing this place made me feel good. Grabbing a hold to the sweetness I figuratively pushed it into Vlad's wound. It felt sweet and wonderful-like everything good in life. Slowly his bone seemed to move back under his skin and it closed up. Stopping the flow of magic I looked down at him, shocked. Shock was present on his face too. "What in the world did you just do?" he asked staring at me in amazement. Before I could answer my mom called from in the house, "Come inside, your father and I have to tell you something." Glancing down at Vlad he gave me a look that said "we'll talk about this later". Grabbing my skateboard I walked back into the house with Vlad.

Getting inside my mom actually looked happy and not so fearful. "Your father is taking me out to dinner tonight. So we want you two to be on your best behavior and if we come back and the house is trashed you both are in major trouble," she said. I was confused. "So you'll let me stay at home with Vlad but not by myself? Do you not trust me or something?" I asked impatiently. "That's not it, dear, it's just…complicated," my dad replied. Yeah, sure. Rolling my eyes I walked up to my room, Vlad on my heels. He lay down on my bed with his knees propped in the air, my head resting on them. "I don't understand why they don't trust me," I said, staring up at the ceiling. "They trust you they're just scared something's going to happen to you," he replied. "Like what? This has to be the most boringly safe city in the world. NOTHING happens here," I said back. "They have good intentions," he whispered, "You shouldn't question them." Sighing I got up and walked over to my dresser. Pulling out one of my many beanie hats I put it on. Sitting up, Vlad smiled. "I will never get your attraction to those things," he said. "They make me feel safe," I replied. From downstairs I heard my mom call out that they were leaving. Good. "What you did earlier…" Vlad began. "It was nothing. Forget about it," I said, a definite tone in my voice. Sometimes if I tried really hard I could get people to do what I wanted. A glazed look came across his eyes and he nodded. Wow.

It was dark by then and I really needed a shower. "I need to take a shower, leave," I said. Sighing he got up, as he left the room with a sarcastic remark of, "Yes ma'am." I got into the shower and let the water seep into my skin. It felt good. After washing I got out and pulled on some pajamas, blow drying my hair. Once I was done doing that I told Vlad that I was tired and that I was going to sleep. He seemed disappointed but didn't let it show. I actually kind of felt depressed. I didn't know why but sometimes I suffered from extreme bouts of depression. I never told my mom, she was paranoid as it was. The only way to get over it was to cut myself. I knew that I shouldn't, but yet I did. I didn't want to die its just the pain from it made me feel better. Pulling out the tiny razor blade from my dresser drawer I held it in my hand. Taking a shaky breath a tear leaked out of my eye. I hated that I felt the need to do it but I couldn't help it. I made sure my door was locked and sat down on my bed.

Drawing perfect even lines across my skin I felt my scalp prickle and the sweet satisfaction it always brought trickle across my skin. But yet the tears trickled out of my eyes anyway and a sob escaped my mouth. I hated that I felt the need to cut myself. Crimson beads welled up inside the cuts until they burst; then flowed down my wrist in a stream of red. A few more sobs came out of my throat before I could stop them. I guess Vlad heard because he was pounding on my door.

"Kennedy, are you okay? I hear crying, why are you crying? Are you bleeding?" he asked, apparently concerned. I couldn't let him see me like this. "No, I'm fine," I lied. "Don't lie to me. I can smell blood. Why do I smell blood?" he asked, shaking the door handle frantically. How could he smell me bleeding? I didn't answer him so he said, "So help me, if you don't open the door by the time I count to three I will break it down." Hoping he was only joking I didn't do anything. He counted to three and did as he said. He broke the lock on the door and stepped into the room. He ran over to me and gasped when he saw my wrists. "What in the world?" he exclaimed. Taking off his shirt he pressed it to my wrists. Seeing him bare-chested made my breath hitch. He was really buff. "Please don't tell mom," I whispered out, looking down at my wrists. If she found out she really would kill me if the cutting didn't. His shirt had stopped the bleeding so I was no longer at risk of bleeding to death. "Don't tell mom," he mocked me. "What should I do? Why did you do this in the first place?" he asked, mad. A cry made its way out of my chest. He must have felt sorry because he pulled me into his arms. "Shh, it's okay. Whatever it is I'll make it better," he said.

Looking up into his big green eyes I believed him. I was mesmerized by how gorgeous his face was. Then, suddenly he leaned down and kissed me. It was full of passion and love. How could I have been so oblivious to his feelings for me before? The kiss lasted for only a few seconds. When a door closed downstairs and my mom announced her arrival home he pulled back. But I wanted more. One look in his eyes and I could tell he did too. But if my mom came upstairs and found us in the position we were in she'd kill both of us and each of us knew it. Quickly he released me and whispered in my ear, "Get cleaned up and go to sleep. We'll talk about this later." He quickly left my room and went to his. Looking down at my wrists I couldn't believe what had just happened. It was just all so sudden. After wiping any extra blood off with his t-shirt I tossed it behind my dresser and snuggled into bed. But I couldn't go to sleep. All I could think about was that Vlad had kissed me…