Okay, well, I know this doesn't seem like a romance novel yet...but it will be!

I promise!

Well, I hope you all enjoy Chapter Three!

**Edited as of Sept. 19**

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CHAPTER THREE

Nora forces me to go to school the following day. “Wake up, Sophia!” she shouts, shaking my shoulders until I groan. “Time for school!”

“I’m not going to school,” I mumble. “I’ve had enough school.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I see her eyes blaze. “Sophia, I won’t allow you to miss out on high school. Your Birth Mother made me swear to you that I would make sure you continued to have a good life,” she says sternly.

Nora—always the motherly type.

Sighing, I curl in on myself. I try to come up with some memory of the woman who had made me who I was today, who supposedly saved me when I was a second away from death. But I can’t see anything. It is like there is a heavy fog shrouding around that one specific memory.

Abruptly, Nora rips the covers from my body. I shiver, clothed in only a thin tank and shorts. The winter air finds its way through the open window, chafing my already chilled skin. I grope blindly for the blanket. “I’m not giving it back,” she announces, and I growl, peeking through the slits in my eyes. “Get up!” she orders, yanking me to my feet. I wobble, and she grabs my shoulders, holding me straight. I yawn widely, stretching my arms high above my head. “That’s better,” Nora praises. “Now, I’ll be downstairs. Get washed up.” I watch as she flounces away, her red hair swinging free of its pony.

I practically crawl to the bathroom and flick on the shower, turning it on high. I watch my reflection as the water slowly heats up. There are dark, black circles rimming my eyes, which are a dreary gray-green today. My lips are full over fluorescent-white teeth that glimmer in the artificial light. My canines are long signifying that I am starving. My dark, ebony-black hair frames my slightly oval-shaped face, the strands reaching to the middle of my back. My frame is small, my shoulders protruding oddly from my back. My fingers resemble white spiders, the bluish-black veins lining the knuckles as I flex them.

Eventually, my reflection fogs over from the steam and I heave a sigh, pulling back the curtain on the shower and stepping inside, closing the curtain behind me. The water hits my body with scorching heat, the water droplets hissing as they touch my chilled skin. The steam increases as I scrub my hair with the shampoo that reminds me of blueberries.

My mind wanders, and I think again of my Birth Mother. Nora had told me many times how beautiful she had been, one of the Blessed. She told me long ago that all vampires had once looked like gods, but as time went on, that gene slowly faded and now, only the few were born with such amazing good-looks. I wasn’t one of them. I was just average, appearing the same as I had been when I was human.

Those are memories that I find I can’t remember either. Sometimes I dream of brief scenes of my once human life, but those as well as my Birth have long disappeared. I find this frustrating, wanting to have these memories. I know some of my brothers and sisters who do remember their Birth and their human lives, and I sometimes envy them. It would be nice to be able to revisit these memories once and a while, finding solace in them.

Once I am done showering, I leave the tub, wrapping a plush violet towel securely around me. Leaving the bathroom, I tuck my hair behind my ears when suddenly Carmen appears. I smell him before I see him—that scrumptious smell that I can never put a name to. It attracts me, and I freeze. He appears out of the gloomy hallway, his blonde hair hanging in his eyes. I still sometimes get so caught up in his Blessed, good looks that I forget all else around me. I should be used to it, Carmen having been my friend since the beginning. But it is still unsettling when I see his golden orbs and chiseled face as if carved by the gods themselves.

“Sophia, did you have a nice shower?” He flashes me a smile that produces a glimmer from the light reflecting from his perfectly shaped teeth, and I can’t help but grin back.

“Yes, I did.” But I quickly frown when I see the wicked gleam in his eyes as they travel over my frame covered in only a towel. I growl, making his eyes snap back up to my face. I step pass him and into my bedroom. Carmen pursues, leaping agilely over me and onto the opposite bed. I shake my head and traverse to my closet, grabbing a pair of faded jeans and a forest-green sweater. I turn to face him with raised eyebrows. “Do you mind?”

“I won’t look, I promise.” He looks sincere, but I know better than that. I point to the door, but he stays stubbornly perched on my bed.

I sigh. “What do you want, Carmen?”

He stands fluidly, and prances over, his eyes locked with mine. “I want to apologize for my behavior yesterday. It was uncalled for.” I cross my arms over my chest, not replying. His eyes take on a beseeching stare as he continues. “I should have never made that comment about your…your Birth Mother.” His eyes have transformed into liquid gold, and his lashes bat apologetically at me.

I tear away from his gaze and glance at my bare feet. “It’s fine, Carmen,” I mumble, staring intently at my toenails.

His hand reaches out with blinding speed and lifts my chin, his touch gentle. “Are you sure?” he asks, his eyes searching mine.

“Yes,” I say firmly.

He stares at me for another moment, his fingers lingering on my skin that is slightly warmer from the shower. I see the longing in his eyes and I twist uncomfortably. He spots this and releases me. I am slightly hurt at this. Even after all the history we have together he still feels the need to keep away. I want the old Carmen back. The one who used to stand by my side no matter what; who loved me unconditionally, even if my love for him was on a different level.

Stepping towards the door, he turns back. “Philip has produced breakfast for us,” he notifies me, and I nod stiffly. “I know you’re hungry,” he continues, pointing at my abnormally long canines. I sigh, glancing at my closet. When I look back, he is gone, and I quickly shut my door.

Changing swiftly, I head for the kitchen. The lower levels are populated, the entire Coven awake and conversing with each other. I enter feeling awkward. I can feel their stares, their questioning looks after yesterdays fiasco with Philip and Rebecca. I pull my hair out from behind my ears and create a barrier between the others and me

I slip into the kitchen and spot Nora chatting animatedly with Carmen. I see how her hand brushes his and their eyes meet. An intense moment follows and I witness that same flicker in Carmen’s eyes that he once saved only for me. This makes my head spin. I had never noticed the growing affection between my two friends until just now. Just moments ago, I had been wishing for Carmen’s affection to return to me. Now I see that will no longer happen as their heads incline towards each other, both their eyes brightening with the heightened emotions.

I falter, tripping on the slight slope in the kitchen. Carmen looks up with surprise, and Nora follows his gaze. I quickly advert my eyes, spotting the handful of Barn Swallows littering the counter. Their broken bodies twist grotesquely, their wings crooked and sticking up in odd angles. I wonder briefly if that is how I look to everyone: broken. I use to be a strong vampire, never without a smile. But I feel myself declining. It had all started on that fateful night after Carmen’s proposal…

Mentally shaking myself, I look up. Philip is standing off to the side, his shoulder leaning into the doorframe. He watches me closely. I reach hesitantly for one of the birds but he gets there first. He cups the bird delicately in his thin fingers. His eyes are a warm caramel today and his mouth tips in an amiable smile. I smile tentatively back, and he motions for me to follow him out of the room.

He leads me to a small study off of the main room and closes the door behind me. He carefully hands me the bird, letting it fall into my cupped hands. “Eat,” he says softly, and I sit in only chair in the room. Philip perches precariously on the desk in front of me. He inclines to the bird with a tip of his head, and I swallow. Gazing down into the lifeless body in my hand, I shiver. Looking to Philip, I know he has done me a favor, leading me away from the Coven so I can eat in privacy. Since the beginning, I have always had a problem with feeding and I usually postpone it to the last minute.

I feel my canines push softly against my lower lip, my body growing impatient, and I know what I must do.

With another quick glance at Philip, I lower my head and begin to feed.

The blood seeps into my mouth, still slightly warm from the kill. It’s salty to the taste and slips easily down my throat, quenching my undeniable thirst. Animal blood is a quick fix for our hunger. It doesn’t last as long as human blood but that is our own solution if we wish to stay invisible to the human population. As I drain the bird‘s blood, my canines shrink until they are back to their original size. I slide my tongue slowly over them, leaving no drop of blood left.

Setting the bird aside, I glance apprehensively at Philip, whose face is unsurprisingly placid. He nods slowly and stands. “Time for school.” He opens the door, and I leave the room. I halt, turning back to say a word of thanks to him, but he is already gone, the hallway empty, and I have to choke back the words I had so wanted to express.

* * * *

On the walk to school, Carmen and the others don’t greet me as they usually do. I fear that Carmen is still angry with me. But he had apologized! We were okay now,I think to myself. Sighing, I suddenly feel angry. He’s ditching me, leaving me to face the school day alone. I can’t think of why he would do that, but it is bluntly obvious that he is.

I think of Nora then, of her giggling with Carmen late last night. This is all her plan! I think wickedly, clenching my teeth together, She just wants Carmen all to herself! Well, fine. I can handle myself. I can handle a day without Carmen and the others.[ /I]

I smile confidently as I enter the parking lot of the high school.

[I]I can do this!

* * * *

The first few hours go fairly well. The humans smell just as inviting as they usually do, but after my recent feed, I feel more energized, more alive; and I notice that I have more control. Normally, I would continuously have to clench my jaw and force myself to spot breathing—a prevention that I no longer have to use around my fellow classmates after my feed.

When lunch arrives, a very human emotion grips me: I have the sudden fearful notion of eating alone. I peek apprehensively into the cafeteria, knowing full well that our table will be empty. I scan the room, watching as all the humans enjoy their food, mouths open, laughter ringing clearly throughout the spacious hall.

I soon spot our usual table. It is empty, like I had suspected. All the chairs unmoved, the tabletop recently cleaned. Again, anger grips me. Why would Carmen leave me all alone to fend for myself? Nora’s beautifully sculptured face enters my mind—her tumbling auburn curls and vibrant violet eyes.

She was also one of the Blessed.

I feel my nails bite into my palms and mentally shake myself. Well, if Carmen can skip school whenever he wants to, why can’t I? A smile curves my lips as the thought enters my mind. My mood heightens at the thought of such freedom, and I quickly sink back into the hallway.

Using my advanced hearing and sight, I easily escape the confines of the school. Immediately when my skin hits the winter chill, I beam. Glancing swiftly behind me, I sneak off into the surrounding woods. Once out of sight, I sprint into an amazingly fast run, the trees coming at me at unbelievable speeds. My hair fans out behind me like a shadow, and my clothes mold to my body as I weave between the oaks and pines at impossible speeds. Snow tumbles down behind me from the branches in my wake, creating a trail of freshly fallen powder, hiding my tracks.

Eventually, I reach my destination. Through a break in the trees, I see the twinkle of sunlight reflecting off of a patch of ice, and quicken my pace. Soon, the trees fade, and I halt.

Before me, not completely frozen, is Lake Michigan. The edges of the immense body of water are crystallized, the once-tumbling waves silenced for the winter. Towards the center I can see the water—black and cold—the only waves still fighting against the winter chill. Its depths are immeasurable, and I am unable to see more than a few feet below the surface. I can see in the woods surrounding the perimeter a few log cabins abandoned until summer.

Closing my eyes, I let the icy winter air blow through the tendrils atop my head. When I open them, I find a spot near the water’s edge to rest. I fold my knees to my chest, keeping my eyes trained on the water near the center, unfrozen and alive.

I don’t know how long I sit there. My thoughts are elsewhere—on the past. The dark-skinned male enters my thoughts, and I wince openly. I had taken an innocent life for my own pleasure, for my own thirst. I think to when Philip had found the body and discovering me not far away, broken beyond repair.

After hiding the body, I had run to this very spot. Guilt was heavy on my shoulders, burdening me with the murder I had committed. Never more powerful than at that moment I had wanted to die. I had wanted to take my own life, so in some desperate attempt, I would avenge the one I had taken. I had thought of his family and the grief I would be putting them through. What if he had a wife? Children?

I shiver as a breeze blows through the branches of the trees above me, shaking loose a few drops of snow. They land on my shoulders, soaking through my sweater and into my skin. I don’t so much as flinch. My body is as immovable as stone, the man’s face flashing through my mind.

I didn’t even know his name…