Prologue
I'd been sick for so long.
My mother Renee was convinced I'd been stealing from "her stash", and she screamed to anyone who'd listen that my prolonged illness was a result of her hiding her drugs so her "worthless whore of a daughter" couldn't get to it.
Maybe she was right, maybe somehow my subconscious was preventing me from remembering what I'd done to cause this. Maybe I was the horrible person she said I was, maybe she was exactly right about me.
I was the common denominator here.
Me.
The cool air that blew across my fevered skin was welcomed, and the feeling of cold fingertips caressing my skin threatened to pull me from the trance like state I was in.
"What's happening?" I murmur and I feel the faintest of kisses on my pulse point, "Who..."
"Shhh... let me love you." He whispers.
"No." I plead and suddenly red eyes are peering into my own, and when I open my mouth to scream a freezing hand covers it.
"I would never hurt you." The man whispers.
The man.
With red eyes.
Inhuman eyes.
"What are you?" I ask when he moves his hand.
"She needs more." A musical voice tickles my ears. Quiet, sweet and feminine, "She's going to remember."
"If you'd just let me drain her it wouldn't matter." The male hisses and I try to push him off of me, failing miserably in my weakened state.
"He doesn't want her dead, he wants her changed. This is your chance to get back into his good graces." The female voice is hurried, "Put her back under."
"I need her."
"You'll have her my sweet brother, I've already seen it. You have to do exactly what I say to ensure your future." She says firmly.
"No. Please." I drawl, my words slurring and my vision blurring.
"It'll only hurt for a second." He whispers as his icy fingers trace my lips.
"The time isn't right." The female argues and I fight against the heavy fatigue, "The wolves need to be eliminated first. She'll lead us right to them."
"I don't care about those vile creatures!" He almost shouts.
"They will destroy us if left unchecked. She's the key to everything." The female pleas.
My eyelids droop and I realize I'm losing the battle I've unwittingly been dragged into. I wonder if it's my mother's doing - did she find out anout the test? Did she get herself in money troubles again? My body trembles in fear, and when I feel the pressure of lips on my pulsepoint and the tiniest prick of something sharp against my neck, I lose consciousness completely.
"Get up!" I jump at the loud voice as I try to sit up in bed, my grogginess almost muting the light in the room, and I squint as I meet her ice blue eyes. Renee pulls the cord of my blinds to let the bright sunshine in, "You're going to school."
Her words are slurring, even though it's barely morning I can tell my mother is already drunk or high.
"I'm awake."
"You need to stay out of my stash, you little bitch-"
"Mom, I don't do drugs!" I make the mistake of raising my voice, and before I can even open my mouth to apologize I feel the sharp pain from the back of her hand hitting my jaw.
"You're going to stop talking to those people in Washington." She hisses as she grasps my jaw in her clammy hand, "Do you understand me?"
"Mom, I'm not talking to anyone in Washington." I lie through tears and she digs her fingers into my face, "Please stop. If I go to school with bruises they're going to make me talk to the counselor again."
"You've been talking to Phil, haven't you?" She jerks my face closer to hers.
"No."
"Stop lying to me!" She screams and we hear a horn honking, signaling that my friend is here to pick me up for school, "Get the fuck out."
She pushes me and I stumble against my nightstand before she walks out of my bedroom. I hear her stomping downstairs before my will breaks and I begin to quietly sob.
"Two days." I whisper as I run a hand across my graduation gown, "Two more days and I'll be home."