Prologue

In the dusk's failing light, something moved in the shadows. Something in the likeness of a human. Its swift, predator-like gait was all wrong, however. The scarlet gleam in its moonlit gaze was beyond animal, beyond hunger.
Its eyes locked on a young woman no older than twenty. She rushed toward a small bakery along the failing city slum lamps. On her hip was a pistol, fully loaded. The human-like beast hissed. Suddenly, he dropped from the roof he'd been pacing to stand before her.
"You are mine!"
And he pinned her to the wall and bit deep. Blood spilled into his mouth. The creature slurped it up greedily, like a starving kitten at its mother's milk. Somebody shouted. Panicking, the man-like beast fled.
As he disappeared into the night, two shadowy figures approached the fallen girl. As the taller pointed a gun into the moonlight and scanned the rooftops, the shorter knelt to examine the man-beast's victum. Taking out a glow-light and shining it onto the marks against her neck, the examiner gasped.
"What is it?" A male voice asked. It came from the one looking at the roofs. "Did she get blood?"
"Yes. But this time, he saved us a lot of time." The kneeling one answered in a undoubtably female voice.
"What? How?"
"I recognize her as a girl on the Class A list. She didn't get enough blood."
"Good." He sounded relieved. "Those things are dangerous."
She got into his face.
"Get over there and give her blood. Your part of the pact is to help us find people like her.

"
"What? But -"
"Do it or you will be left to die, vampire."
"Damn!"
She moved aside and he replaced her. Using his fang, he drew a slim line of blood along the vain in his wrist. Nervously, he put it up to her mouth. Instantly, the victum grabbed it and began to suck desprately.
He gave a sound that resembled a moan.
"You're sick."
"Shut up." He whispered. "You don't understand it. Besides...she's Awakening."
"Already?"
He didn't answer. The air seemed charged.
"Uh...keep an eye on her from the shadows. I'll test dad's theory. Meet you at that resturant you work at. I'll clear the streets and change...we've got to make this work."
"You mean get her on your family's side?"
"Yeah. See yeah."
She vanished into the darnkness of the night. He let the girl feast for a few minutes longer before dragging his wrist away. Then, before she could wake up, he too leapt to the rooftops. From there...he would see everything. Perhasp after he refueled he would see her feed...

Chapter One

First Blood

The moonlight was strong when I slowly came too. Everything was agonizingly painful to move. Though my head was throbbing and every one of my muscles were pulsing with pain, it wasn't anything like the fire in my throat. It felt as if I'd swallowed a lit match.
Where am I? What did I do to feel like this, anyway?

I reached for my gun. It was there, thankfully. As was my wallet.
That's odd. Wasn't there a guy...?

I looked around carefully. Even the full moon seemed too bright to my eyes. I was in the middle of the city. But it wasn't a part of it I was familiar with; everything was far less...clean.
The last thing I recall is being pinned by some punk ass in the ally close on the way to the bakery and...fangs...

With a quivering hand, I reached up and gently touched the sharp pain on the base of my neck. It was met with a cold liquid. Pulling my hand away, I saw the crimson stain on my fingers as if it were daylight.
Before I could completely flip out and loose my mind, a bizarre yet enticing scent distracted me. In fact, it was suddenly all I could think about. Rising on trembling legs, I trailed after the amazing smell.
When it led to a young woman around fifteen, I froze. It was true...he'd...
I'm already a monster. Why should I try to live?

"Hey." The girl looked up. Her eyes were bright green, and her long black hair uncombed. She was in rags that barely covered her. I noticed the girl was shivering. "Can I use that jacket? Please? It's really cold out..."
It is? Huh. I'm not cold at all.

Shrugging out of it, I wrapped it around her.
"Are you hungry?" I asked quietly.
Her face lit up. "Yeah. Do you have anything to spare?"
I shrugged. "Not on me. But I can take you out to eat. And perhaps get some new cloths."
"What? Really?"
"Sure. I just got paid." I lied. I didn't want to bite her.
Maybe if I die, I can die helping her. Why shouldn't I?

"Why are your eyes red?" She asked cautiously.
"Contacts." It was another quick, simple lie. But it kept her from knowing.
The child followed me as I led her toward a fancy restaurant.
We slipped inside together. The waiter who came saw my eyes and became tense. He handed the girl a menu.
"May I speak with you in the back?" He asked me. I noticed there was more determination in his eyes than fear.
She looked at me questionably.
"I'll be right back. I frequent this place."
Smiling, the girl opened the menu and began to sift through it. I rose and followed him into an ally.
"What the hell are you doing, leech?" The boy demanded. "Playing with your food first?"
"Don't talk to me like that." I growled. It was painful not to stare at his veins. "I'm not gonna touch her."
"Then it's just a chance that your eyes gleam in the moonlight? That you're wondering around the city with a homeless runaway child on a night you're half-starved?"
"Half-starved?" Hope filled me. "You mean I'm already that close to dying? How long does that take?"
He blinked at me in astounded shock. Then his gaze - the color of mud right after a summer rain - found the wound on my neck.
"...You've not fed yet, have you?"
"No. And I don't plan to."
He looked around. "Where is it?"
Mystified, I looked around me. "What? Where's what?"
"The blood-sucker who changed you and set you after a small child?"
I felt my eyes become wide. "You mean that man was supposed to help me? He was supposed to stay with me?"
The man rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, yeah. He didn't?"
I shook my head. "No. I was attacked as a human around dusk and woke up alone a vampire."
"That's...uh...very different..."
I leaned against the wall, trying my hardest not to jump this man giving me answers.
His eyes blazed suddenly with a new light.
"How about I give you some blood and teach you? Hmm? Then you wouldn't need to die the most painful death in the universe and you could help that girl out more than just giving her clothing and a meal."
My first reaction would have been no. But he didn't wait for an answer. He pulled out a knife and slit a thin line down his collar bone. Before I could think, the boy was pinned to the wall. My fangs sank in.
Blood poured into my mouth. Instinctively, I buried them deeper into his neck. He gave a muffled cry of pain.
It was the most amazing feeling in the world as my body forced me to take his blood. The pain and thirst evaporated. My chest loosened.
And the taste...it was amazing...
As soon as I gained control, my fangs were out. I pulled away in horror. The blood running down my chin and his neck no longer drew me. It disgusted me that I'd reacted so.
He slowly fell onto the ally ground.
"I knew it!" The girl's voice made me jump. I whirled around and instantly hated myself. "You're a vampire!"
Then I heard the excitement in her voice.
"Shouldn't you be terrified?"
"Why?" She laughed. "You had several chances to take me out and didn't! You didn't change or kill that person, either. Were you protecting me?"
She's so...hyper...

"Not at first..." I replied. "But I just couldn't take your life...and was so hungry..."
"Why didn't you just hunt somebody else?"
"Because you need clothing, shelter and food."
"Cool. Why didn't you kill him?"
My cheeks grew hot. "I...uh..."
Her eyes became wide. "Oh. I get it. You finish up. I came to ask what the limit is."
"Don't worry about it, kid. Get what you want. Just don't stuff yourself until you puke." It was the boy. His voice was rather weak. I blinked, a bit surprised.
"Won't you get in trouble for that kind of thing?"
He shook his head and grinned. "My dad owns the place. He'll understand. I'll tell him the truth; she's literally starving and has no money. You two are sisters, okay?"
She winked. "Okay sis.

" Then she turned and vanished into the cafe. I turned back to him.
"Okay, mister. You got me into this mess. Now what the hell do I do? This is a human. I'm a vampire. What am I going to do with her? And why the -"
"Later." He grumbled. "Your fangs hurt. And you may not realize this, but I don't feel well.

"
"Oh. Right."
Now what do I do with an idiot that willingly gives a vampire their damn meal?

"Have a place to stay?" He asked quietly.
"Sure. My folks will be worried...oh..."
"Yeah. Not your old place. A new pad..."
"Right..."
For a while, I watched him as he slowly fell asleep in what was probably a very cold night. When he was completely asleep, I noticed his wound was still bleeding. Reacting more on instinct than thought again, I leaned down to lick it clean. To my shock, the wound healed before I could touch it.
Then I sighed and shook my head. Picking him up, I carried him to a light blue car. I typed in the code automatically and put him inside. Then I shut the door again and locked it. Returning to the girl, I sat down.
She was eating steak. Just steak. With lots of barbecue sauce. And it was so rare that I could still pick up the slight scent of animal blood. She had a root beer for a drink.
"Wow." I said. "Go figure."
"Do you know how long its been since I had a steak?" She demanded - with food still half-chewed in her mouth.
"Please don't chew with your mouth open in this restaurant. It's a very fancy place." I asked quietly.
"Are you loaded?" She asked. "If so, why are you working?"
"Later." I told her. "Eat, and I'll take you get decent cloths. But hurry up about it; we only have three hours until sunrise."
"What? How do you know that?"
I have no fucking idea.

"I'm a damn vampire. Now stop asking questions and eat. With manors."
She took her elbows off the table and picked up the fork.
Oh. My. Fucking. God.

There were definitely stares. But it was all too clear that I wasn't somebody to approach. So we were left alone as she ate. I wasn't approached for the bill or anything. We left. I led the way to the car.
"This is yours?"
"No. It's his." I unlocked it with ease and got into the driver's seat, putting the still-sleeping boy into the passenger. "Now get in back, child."
Watching me with a strange gleam in her eye, she listened. I started the car and headed automatically toward the one place I'd always felt comforted.

Chapter Two

Inheritance

By the time I realized I had turned into my parents' driveway it was too late. It was too close to dawn to retreat. In fact, I was feeling hot and anxious. Dawn was ten, maybe twenty minutes away. Getting out, I woke the other two up.
Please let them be asleep. I will be gone by dusk...just let them not check in my room.

Well...just in case, I led them to the basement instead.
"What the hell?" The girl asked.
"Shut up. This is temporary. I can't make it back to the place I've decided to live at yet. Dawn is too close."
"Fine. Whatever. So you two lovers living here or something?"
"Lover?" The boy asked. "Hell no. I don't even know her fucking name."
"He forced me to bite him. Now shut up

. My sister is right above us and will be up for school soon. There's a cot over there. You take it."
I told the girl. Then I pointed at a comfortable couch. "That couch is alright to sleep on. Don't mind the cat hair, though. My mom keeps the cats down here when we leave."
"What about you?" The girl asked. "Ms.I-won't-kill-my-prey-or-enemy."
"Go to bed."
"Fine."
She stomped off to the cot, got on it and was asleep in no time.
"We'll have to talk later, get to know one another. You'll want to sleep somewhere as far away from the sun as possible, by the way. New vampires are extremely weak to the sun."
"Only new vampires?"
He shrugged. "Depends on the vampire later." Then the boy rolled onto the couch and fell asleep.
After searching around a while, I found a small corner where I could pile blankets upon myself and crowd behind furniture. Then, strangely enough, I felt safe and comfortable. It wasn't long before I was asleep.

*****

It was around noon that the boy rose from his bed. He looked around and saw the vampire. He watched her sleep peacefully. Unlike a person, she didn't breathe. The venom from the vampire who'd abandoned her had stopped her heart soon after he'd fed and fled.
Her skin was already beginning to pale, though it wasn't white as paper quite yet. Her hair, just beyond her shoulders, was a reddish brown - for now. The color wouldn't keep for long, with the kind of vampire he already knew she was going to be.
It's been centuries since this has been attempted. A vampire who hunts her own kind...and forms a clan...

He would drive her into it simply by telling her that's the way it was. And he would gather other vampires like her and tell them the same thing. Hell, she'd end up changing the girl - and probably more than her - eventually.
Sure, it'll be found out otherwise soon. But she'll be fine with it because the real world will be so much worse than the human morals that will stay engraved into her. Maybe the race can change. Maybe...I can change it.

"Hey." It was the other girl. Looking around, he put his finger to his lips.
Frowning, the girl turned away. It looked like she'd found a book.
He turned back to Alex. Then a thought hit him. She didn't know how to use magic yet. How had she gotten him here?
"How did we get here?" He whispered.
"You don't remember?" He shook his head. "She drove your blue car." She answered just as quietly. "Now, I'm trying to read."
The man shook his head and went over to the rookie. He covered her foot up with a pillow, worried about her burning.
"Now, this seems to be her house. Go find the sister. Change her; she's on the list too. Her parents are too old"
"What? Do you want her to hate me?"
She scoffed. "You don't have to like somebody to get hungry. I'll feed her sister. You feed her. That's the relationship."
"Do you understand what it's like to be bitten from as a vampire?"
"No. I was born a vampire, and I only drink from animals. Thankfully."
He laughed. "You have to come with me. She'll only attatch to her first meal."
They rose and snuck up the stairs. It wasn't long before they found the child Alex called her sister.
The boy covered her mouth and sunk his teeth deep into her neck.
Then he returned to the couch and waited for the sun to go down, hoping that the owners of this house so clearly not hers, since they were in a basement - didn't search for the owner of the vehicle parked in their driveway.
About three hours later, the girl returned with a very pale sixteen year old similar in appearance to Alex.
And I really hope they don't tow my car!

*******

The strength was returning to me as the sun slowly moved across the sky. By the time it had set, I was anxious to leave and fully awake.
And I was famished.
"Let's go get you something." The boy said.
"Great. And on the way, we can add names."
Then my eyes met the waking form of my little sister. Her cat-green eyes met mine. The mark on her neck drew my gaze like magots to rotton meat.
"Sync..." I whispered.
Her eyes were cold.
"What...?"
She pointed at the boy. He didn't even have time to blink before I had him pinned to a wall.
"What the fuck did you do?!" I demanded. "Do you just like the taste of her blood?! And why the hell didn't you tell me you were a vampire!?"
"She was dying!" He screamed. "I thought you knew I was! You've bitten me!"
"What?"
"It's true." She whispered.
Facing her, I could only stare.
"I don't think he knew until he bit me, but I was dying." She looked at her feet. "I was going to tell you...but you disappeared..."
"When...?"
"A few months. Mom and dad didn't want to tell you; they said it was my decision..."
"...What was killing you?"
She shrugged. "The doctor said it was some mutation in my blood he couldn't explain. He'd seen it only in a few other people, and usually they weren't affected at all by it. But for some reason, it was killing me."
"We have to go." The girl I'd met surprised me. "Look, I'm sorry she was dying and that Mr. Waiter here couldn't wait for his next meal, but your folks won't be happy that both their daughters are the blood-sucking undead."
I turned and followed them out to the car. This time, I let the boy drive. The name Jinx kept coming to me, but I didn't know how I would know his name.
"Where to?" He asked, yawning.
"First, let's go to the best clothing district in the county." I replied. "I promised the child some new cloths, and I'd like some."
"Sure. My clan isn't going to take to me back..."
"You're the one doing this." I decided to test the name - and his reaction to it. "It's your fault, Jinx."
He glanced over at me, but didn't say anything.
"How do I know your name?" I asked, puzzled.
"You fed from me. The memories were engraved into your mind. You probably don't recall them flowing into you because of the first taste of blood."
"He's your first?" The girl asked.
"Yes." I stated as if it were obvious. "Keep up."
"R-right. Um...what is your name?"
"Yours first, sweet-heart." I said.
"...It's Sabre." My sister replied for her.
I glanced over. She shrugged. "Same thing, I guess."
"Didn't Jinx change you?"
"Yeah. But she came in and gave me blood."
"What?"
"Well...she wasn't happy when he did it, but he told her and..."
"Whatever."
We road for a time quietly. Then something hit my mind.
"So what were you saying about me knowing you're a vampire, Jinx? Because I bit you?"
"The whole memory thing...and the taste."
"Really? I've never had anybody else's."
"That's actually normal. Most vampires stick with the first person they bite. Very few feed from random people like the one who changed you..."
"Common. What's your name?" Sabre asked.
Should I really keep my name? I mean, I'm not me anymore...

"Well...my name was

Alexandra...but..."
"I understand." He said. "And your mentor - the one who changed you - was supposed to guide you. Show you the clan and such."
"Clan?" Now I was nervous.
"Yeah. Vampires live in blood clans."
"Oh."
"But you don't have one because he was probably a rogue who left his. Or maybe he was from a long line of vampires who never had a clan. But either way, you should choose your own name. And start a clan."
"Do I have that right?"
"Of course. Any vampire does. They break away and start new ones all the time, for different reasons. Usually its because they don't agree with new leaders or need more space."
"Oh."
"I've never heard of that..." Sync pipped up.
"I'm a vampire; I know this from experiance. Believe me; they don't let it get out. The vampire who bites you gives you its memories and such. That's a big problem. But let's change your name. I'm the vampire teaching you, so..."
"Don't make it lame."
We drove quietly in the thinning traffic. Though we were getting farther into the county and closer to the next city, Jinx stayed on as many side roads as possible.
My chest was getting really

tight. I glanced at his neck, remembering the taste of his blood, and shivered. It seemed to encourage the burn in my throat to just get worse.
"What's wrong?" He asked. "You getting hungry?"
Is that concern?

"Is this another attempt at forcing me to bite you?"
"Obviously, you liked it the first time."
"So?" I demanded stubbornly.
"There it is." Sabre pointed at the mall. "We can shop there."
Jinx pulled into the parking lot - completely empty, since it was so late. I looked at the clock and sighed. Ten o'clock already. It had taken two hours to get here.
"Would you rather feed from me, who you've already bitten once anyway, or some other person?"
I sighed. "Fine. Why don't you wait for us by the door?" I asked Sabre quietly. "I don't want anybody seeing me feed on him."
Sabre and Sync got out and hurried away. I could still see exactly where they were the entire way through. Then my eyes locked on Jinx.
"Why didn't you just let me die?" I demanded. "My sister will find her way to the place I chose. I may end up killing her, Sabre and other innocent people."
"Not with what I plan to do with you."
"What?"
"Training and blood is everything. Now bite me. I may not be a vampire, but memories are still in the blood. I know how vampires work."
Is he lying to me? If not, why does he keep looking away?

"Why should I bite?"
"Don't make me repeat the lesson about blood lust."
He offered his wrist. Taking it nervously - with a hunger that I despised - I brought it to my mouth and bit down. The explosion of the blood was instant relief. Suddenly, images of dark clothed people with fangs and red eyes filled my mind. Laws raced through my thoughts. As I drank the blood I absorbed the memories of hoards of vampires - twenty or so at a time - attacked groups of hunters.
Including him.
Slowly, as the pains eased and the energy flowed through me again, I removed my fangs. Looking up, I saw him swallowing. Sweat beaded his forehead. He was very pale.
Could he be...?

"Jinx?"
"I'm fine." He gulped. "But I can't do this every day."
I relaxed. It was strange to care about him at all; he changed my sister, after all. I'd known him for no more than twenty-four hours anyway.
"Sorry."
Wait...did he cry out this time?

I could only recall him flinching...
"Where's the girls?" He asked.
"Right there." I pointed directly at them. Sabre was looking back and forth at people distrustfully while looking for us.
"Go get some cloths and bond a little bit."
"Fine." I took his wrist and began to lick the blood. He became tense. When I pulled away and it healed, he blinked and stared at the unmarred flesh. "Rest up, Jinx. And lock the vehicle."
"Of course. Just to tell you...you've fed from me twice. That will mean you'll know if I'm hurt or in trouble."
"Really?"
"Yes."
I shrugged and got out to meet the girls I'd picked up on the side of the street.

It was interesting to shop with Sabre. She was very easily distracted, but watched everybody very carefully with extreme distrust in her eyes. Though we went to many stores in an attempt to get her normal clothing, she seemed more interested in something that hid her. She seemed to prefer baggy shirts with dragons, tigers or bears; durable but loose blue jeans and tennis shoes. I got her hair died - she refused to have it cut - black with red streaks.
Anybody who saw us - especially Sabre - allowed everything for free. It was strange to see this. The humans seemed more terrified of us than the many vampires around us. I kept feeling them. They would stare at me and Sync strangely, as if they couldn't believe their eyes. The moment they saw Sabre, however, they quickly moved away.
What the hell is going on here?

After getting Sync a very revieling leather belly shirt, skirt and knee-length boots - and long arugement over the thing until Sabre swore she'd bring Jinx into the store to end it - I decided to go with something less modern.
It took a long time to find a tiny store with what I liked. Even most vampires dressed modern, to attempt to blend in. I hated the idea of simply being a part of the crowd, and I had no reason to.
Both of them gave me a side-long 'you're crazy' look as I walked out in a white tunic, a black sash and a black dress pants. A forest green old-fashioned cape draped from my back. The swirling bright designs inspired me. Around my neck was a broach.
"Hello eighteen hundreds..." Sabre said, looking me up and down.
"Hey, you like baggy. She likes whore. I like old. Now let's get you something to eat."
"Shouldn't we check on Jinx or whoever? He may have passed out or something." Sync looked concerned.
"Oh. I would know if he's hurt or upset about something. Apparently there's that kind thing in the blood."
Sabre shrugged. "Fine. But no more fancy stuff."
"Sabre, this is the mall. Fancy isn't here."
So I fetched her a burger from the food court, bought something for Jinx and we headed out; niether Sync nor I were interested in the food - or, strangely enough, the humans. When I thought about it, I realized we'd been here for hours and still had no interest in them at all. It was nearly midnight. Thankfully, malls around here didn't close.
We quickly left for the car. When I saw Jinx was fast asleep, I couldn't help but smile and move him gently into the passenger. I would need to drive, anyway. Directions to our new home was complicated. Getting in, I headed for a place my memories would be safe as well as my two new friends.

Chapter Three

Broken Secretes

Jinx let Alex lift him into the passenger seat. He needed to think - and rest. His own throat burned now, and his chest had become tight. He'd not allowed her to take too much, in case something went wrong.
When she stopped for gas, he went into the gas station and up to the clerk. Jinx asked for his help finding the bathroom. It was so quick, he didn't have time to scream.
"Huh. No clerk here." Sabre's voice surprised him. He rose and walked out of the corner the bathroom was behind.
"Oh. Feeding again?" She looked him over with spite.
"Your doing your job. I'm doing mine. Now, where'd she go?"
"She'd pumping the gas, blood-sucker. I'm getting some soda."
He whiped the blood from his face. "She still think you're human?"
"Not if you don't shut up before she comes in." The girl snapped. "Jeez...stuck with a vamp like you..."
"Well, I don't exactly like it either. Do you think I chose

to work with your kind?"
The bell rang and in walked Alex, along with Sync.
Is her hair already longer? It kind of looks lighter, too.

"Hey. Find everything alright?" She asked. She looked over at the counter. "Was this place open?"
"Yeah. I needed something after being drained."
She put the twenty in her hand into her pocket.
"Let's go, you two. Sunrise isn't far, and we have a ways to go."
Sabre grabbed herself a creamsoda. As I turned and followed Jinx out, I noticed Sync talk to Sabre. They disappeared to a section I couldn't see them. I tried to igrnore the fact that my sister was feeding off from Sabre, who I'd tried my hardest not

too. "I still need to drive." She told him when he went to get in the car. He knew where they were going...
"What?"
"It's kind of hard to reach where I'm going when giving dirrections. I get all mixed up."
He was about to protest when he caught Sabre's eye as they came from the store. Then he sighed and registered for the passenger's seat for a third time. The girls jumped into the car and we took off at full throttle.

*****

It was around three in the morning when I pulled up to a forest at least a half hour from town, with no cell service. I parked the car and got out, quickly followed by Sync. Neither of the other two moved, though both were wide awake. I began to walk toward the thick forest alone.
Jinx got out of the car and rushed over to me.
"Please tell me you just have to really go to the bathroom..." He looked like he was ready to beg me.
"Nope. The car can't reach the place I'm going. You two don't wanna come, that's fine. I'm close enough to town to learn to hunt people and avoid hunters...they seem to hate Sync and I anyway." I crossed my arms. "I know there are different vampires in the world. There are some that can only live off human blood. There are vampires who need animal blood as well. But I don't seem to want either. Instead...I want yours. And Sabre's. I've figured out you're a vampire; that's obvious from you changing my sister. So what the hell is she, and why are you lying to me?"
The surprise on his face was almost insualting.
"Common, Jinx. If you think I'm that stupid, I really don't care. Just leave me and my sister alone in the woods. I'd like to live here comfortably, without trying to desipher your words for truth."
He looked back and waved Sabre over. The child rose out of the car, slamming the door.
"What the hell is going on here?" She demanded.
"It was your

father's idea. Tell her yourself, Sabre. She knows what I

am. Now, I'm going to lock my ten thousand dollar car and be back here in a minute. Nothing had better happen to either of you or

my vehicle while I'm gone."
He left.
I stared at Sabre. "I'm listening."
Is it just me or did she just get really pale?

"Well...see...we've been waiting for the perfect...um...kind of person..."
"Hang on, Sabre. Who's we?"
She blinked and licked her lips.
"Well...truth is...we..."
She looked down and muttered something.
"Damn it Sabre!"
"The 'we' is my family. My family are...half-vampire humans who have broken away and begun hunting vampires. Both of humans and vampires seem terrified of us...even most fellow hunters hate us."
"How...are you...half vampire?"
She sighed. "Vampires found a way to give birth. Find a human woman who was pregnant and change her during her last month. They're only a month early when they're born. But there was a problem; because they were born with the vampire blood as well, the human blood isn't modified at all. But the half-vampire does age. They age half as quickly, though. I may look fifteen, but I've lived for thirty years. I've never gone to a normal school; all I've ever learned was about hunting vampires."
"So why am I involved?" I demanded.
"Well...there's this legend that humans had a defender. I mean, other than the werewolves that they begged the gods for. There were vampires who were completely vampire and protected them. These vampires were changed no older than twenty-one. Usually, they were around sixteen or so. But anyway, they fed from vampires instead of animals and humans. They couldn't tolerate any other kind of blood. Because of their diet...the sun was ten times as powerful. They used the magic of the earth, rather than darkness. It wasn't because it was painful after learning the other. It was because they couldn't

use anything else."
"What? Magic? I still don't get this..."
"Jinx will explain that shit. I don't get it; can't use any of it. I can walk into the sun and need to eat normal food, but I also need animal blood and can't use magic. But that ain't the point, Alex. We chose you - my family, that is - because you...this...thing about your blood."
"What thing?"
"There's a mutated gene in your blood that most people don't have. It reacts funny to the vampire mutation in DNA that causes vampirism."
"What?"
"Vampires are about mutated genetics. That's all. It spreads. But genetics aren't all the same. Sometimes the mutation reacts weird. So they can sustain off a different kind of blood. And yours...just so happens to be vampire blood. You're the first vampire in a very long time to be able to do it. Vampires just don't drink each others blood anymore. But you certainly enjoy Jinx's. And I saw the way you looked at me."
"Hey!" Sabre looked a little upset at that. "I like your blood. She can't have any of that."
"I don't want it. To tell the truth, I'm fine with Jinx's."
"That's another thing; you don't just want any vampire's blood. Honestly, vampires like Jinx who feed from humans don't keep partners. I can't, since I feed from animal blood. But You guys do. Any other blood will do nothing for your systems. And you'll hate the taste. It'll be like drinking a vile of poison. You need

us."
"Sure we do..." Sync looked a little heated about it.
"No, really. For one, there are more than vampires and hunters out there. Forests often belong to Werewolf packs. People see them as either wolves or natives, depending on the area - and sometimes both. But they'll attack a vampire invading their territory. Even if you were on it as a human."
Jinx came up to the group. "The car's locked. Now, the truth better have been told."
"It was, Jinx. Now, I don't care about the werewolves. I've known this cabin since I was a child. Let's see...Sync and I need you two's blood. There aren't humans closeby, so Jinx'll have to get them in town; it's not far from here. What about you? What does a hybrid take?"
She looked down and swallowed. "Well...normal food...and animal blood."
I stared at her. "You're fucking with me, right?"
"No." Sync answered with her.
This time, I glared at my sister. "Just stop doing that."
"I'm sure you know about Jinx." She defended.
"Very little."
"Because I

know how to control that. I don't need her knowing everything."
"That'll change." Sabre muttered.
"Of course it will." He remarked. "I know that. But I'm hanging onto it as long as I can."
"Are we going or not?" Sync demanded. "I for one know that wolves hunt at night. They won't like a vampire like Sabre haunting their hunting grounds."
"Yeah. And it'll be damn close to dawn if we head out now." I turned and headed for the forest. Sync followed. Sabre swore and trailed behind her. It took only a few seconds for Jinx to be walking beside me.
"Need something?" I asked; I wasn't in the best of moods.
"I'm sorry about all of this, Alex."
"Whatever."
"Really, I am. And to prove it, I've come up with the perfect new name."
Because that makes this all the less painful.

"Fine."
"Cara Bloodfang."
I shivered.
"Don't like it?"
"What does it mean?"
"Bloodfang was the name of my clan before Sabre's folks killed them all."
I stopped. "Kill...?"
"Yes." He hung his head. "And I'm in a pact with them to keep me alive. You have that memory..."
The last memory of vampires and hunters fighting tore through my mind. I shook it away. "What about Cara?"
"It's latin for Strong Woman."
Smiling, I nodded and continued walking. Sync's eyes were hot on the back of my head.
"I like that, yeah. Besides...it doesn't seem right to take the name from anybody else."
"It's because my blood finished the change."
"You bit me?"
He laughed. "Oh, no. I was forced to give you my blood to keep you alive as a vampire. Normally, I let rogue-bitten humans die. They don't like their new life..."
"Who the hell forced you?" I demanded in fury.
It seemed an automatic thing to answer me. "Sabre."
The moment I lunged for her, Sync - my own sister - was had me against a tree.
"Don't you touch her!" Her eyes blazed red like flame.
I instantly relaxed. I wouldn't fight her. Not my sister. "Sync?"
"It's not her fault our blood is what she

needs. Who you should be angry at is that vampire who bit you in the first place! Not

Sabre!"
For a moment, I was about to disagree. Then my temper cooled. "...You're right. I'm sorry..."
Slowly, the girl released me. She looked over at a shocked Sabre and looked at her feet. "So am I. I just...reacted."
"It's perfectly normal." Sabre said quietly. "But the bond is usually stronger than two feedings..."
"Let's go." I changed the subject. I didn't want to hear her say something like four feedings; I'd fed from Jinx three times. Besides, we would be far too close to dawn...

Chapter Four

The sun's rays were painfully close as I shut the door behind me. It shocked me how hot it always seemed to be right before dawn now. And how exhausted I was around the sunrise.
"Let's get some sleep." Sync yawned.
"The basement is the best place for you two. Do you have one in this old wreck?" Sabre looked around.
"Shut up." I rebuked. "This cabin is in damn good shape. Sync and I put it together."
"Hey...you changed names. Do I get a new one?"
"I think that's up to Jinx."
She looked at him.
"Don't look at me. You didn't feed from me. Look at Sabre. And do it tonight. We're tired too."
"Walking for three hours in the forest isn't exactly a stroll in the wall-groomed park, is it?" I laughed. "But, yeah, I built the cellar first. It was to hide from the wolves. They didn't like us here from the start."
"That's actually why we stopped coming." Sync agreed as she followed me toward the trap door. "They almost killed us once. There was this person that came out of the trees and beat the shit out of them."
"Huh..." Sabre looked thoughtful. "Like what kind of person."
I laughed. "We were so delerious we thought the man who saved us had black and red butterfly wings."

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 01.05.2011

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Widmung:
To Joseph Pruitt, Angel McLaren, Tabitha Victoria and Frank Chase Allen, who inspire this tale in more ways than one.