Chapter 17I heard my car pull up and luckily it hadn't been that long. I wiped my tears as I got into my driver's seat and clicked the button to close my door. “Jarvis, take me to a place where I can see the ocean from a rolling hill or cliff.” I said. “Yes ma’am, Otter Cliff is nearby.” He said. I had no idea where Otter Cliff was, but it would do. I relaxed some as my car started to head in that direction. My tears had stopped falling now, and I looked over at my dash screen, meeting eyes with Damien, whose face was plastered all over it from my previous research of him. I groaned and swiped the screen to remove the data. I was trying to get away from him, but it seemed that he was everywhere. My thoughts were running rampant with what just happened, and the things he said. I could still feel his kiss, his lips sending lightning dancing through my body. Why did it do that? Why would it? I had never felt anything so intense in my entire life and I was baffled at why it would even ha
Chapter 18We pulled into The Academy and my head was still in a daze from my realization. I didn’t want to accept it, but I knew that wouldn’t matter. Fate had made its choice. I threw my keys to the valet who was an attractive little brunette but I paid her no mind. I just walked towards the door, and hoped I could get inside without anyone bothering me. The realization that I had was huge, and I wasn’t sure how to cope with it just yet. I walked past the front desk, and forced a smile at the blonde boy behind it who was gawking at me. And headed up towards my room. “Jarvis, run me a hot bath.” I said to my phone before I got to my door, knowing that he would be doing it when I arrived. Before I stepped inside my room, I turned around and took a look at The Academy. There were Hunters bustling about, some coming and some going. I noted the decor plastering the walls, and the intricate staircase I had just walked up. I looked down below the balcony where my room sat, and noted the Hu
Chapter 19My nerves were shot when my car pulled into a small cemetery that backed the ocean under the cover of a large cliff and many large trees. I looked out my windshield in awe as we passed old sandstone headstones and some neat looking statues and benches. It had always been somewhat of a strange obsession of mine since I was a child. I wanted to see every single cemetery, I loved how each cemetery had a differing layout. I loved how each cemetery told a story with its inhabitants and you could tell how old a cemetery was by the headstones it produced. The sandstone headstones, for example, told me that this particular cemetery had been here a very long time. I thought I was the only one who knew this, but I had spent many hours of my life in cemeteries across the United States while Hunting. It gave me an excuse to explore. I saw Damiens Ferrari not too far down the path and Jarvis pulled up right next to it. My heart was hammering in my chest, partially from excitement at whe
Chapter 20Show me? What did he mean by that? I suddenly was nervous but my curiosity was more prominent. I reluctantly set my hand inside his and he pulled me over to him, placing me in his lap so I was facing him in a straddle position. His thoughts were very apprehensive, and he was contemplating what to show me first. Though he didn't give away a single detail, and that in itself made me wonder, yet again, if he knew I could read his mind. Then he surprised me by pulling me into a deep kiss. The lightning spilled from his touch, dancing across my lips and throughout my body. Suddenly I wasn’t sitting with Damien in the cemetery anymore. I was standing next to him watching an event unfold. He had a hold of my hand and was determined not to let me go. This place was familiar but I couldn’t place it in my mind. We were in an alley and it was just after sunset. You know that time when the sun has gone down and the beautiful colors are spilling into the sky but it’s not quite dark yet?
Chapter 21It had been quite some time that Damien allowed me to cry in his arms. When I was finally done, and I didn’t think I could cry another tear, he let me go. I got to my feet and I looked at the man sitting on the ground before me. The snow had covered us and the ground at this point, and was still falling wildly. “What do I do now?” I asked Damien. I had no other family, no friends, no one to call. I was lost and orphaned in a back alley, with a strange man comforting me. “Who can I call for you? Where is your father?” Damien asked me. I shrugged, I had never met him, I had no idea who he was. I don’t even think he knew about me if we are being honest. “I don’t have any family. It was only me and my mom.” I said. The look on Damiens face was that of sadness. “Where do you live? Let me take you home to gather your things.” He asked. “We are staying at The Academy in town.” I said, and watched as Damien froze. He just realized we were Hunters, and the way he looked at the bla
Chapter 22We were standing outside the door to one of the many rooms within The Academy. I could see Damien knocking on the door and I laughed a little because he was so damn daring. A Vampire, just waltzing into The Academy like he was one of us. Not that anyone could really tell at a first glance, as the Vampires had mastered the art of blending in. But there was still a sort of ethereal beauty about Vampires that I don’t think they really knew how to cover up. At least not if you knew what to look for. We were trained to spot the subtle differences in The Academy. Not that I ever needed that type of training, all I had to do was touch someone and I could know instantly. It had me wondering if anyone else had the same enhancement I did. Not that I would ever tell them though, even if they did. My attention was pulled back to the door as it opened and a 13 year old me stood in the doorway. I was shy and timid, very different from what I am now. The light caught the obsidian stone ha
Chapter 23He came around the corner shortly, and I held my knife up. “Why are you following me?” I demanded, but even I could see that the gifted mate bond was taking effect. My 14 year old self didn’t know what to think. I didn’t lower the knife, but I could see that the thought process in my mind regarding what I was planning to do, and what I was going to do was completely changing. “Snow, lower the knife, I’m not going to hurt you.” Damien said. I took a few breaths in, and then lowered the knife, seating it back in my holster. I facepalmed myself again while watching this unfold, this gifted mate bond really made me do stupid shit. “Who are you?” I asked. “My name is Damien, and I was following you because I wanted to buy you something for your birthday. Were you planning on going to the boutique?” He asked. I nodded. “Well, lead the way.” He said and put his arm out, gesturing for me to go first. Never in a million years would I have entertained a complete stranger, but this gi
Chapter 24He wrapped his arms around me and held me there for a bit before pulling away. "I know you are confused, little one, but please just trust that I have your best interests in mind, always. Now let's get your paperwork done." He said. I nodded and took a seat next to him while I started filling out the paperwork. "It asks me if I can put an emergency contact on here in case something goes wrong... I have no one, do you think I could put you?" I asked him. He smiled at me. "Of course, my name is Damien. And my number is 909-663-8197." He said, as I scribbled his information down. "Thanks." I said, and kept writing. I watched Damien watching me as I filled out my enhancement paperwork. He was enamored, floored, just by being in my presence. I knew I felt the gifted mate bond, and clearly he did too. I didn't understand it, of course. How could I? I didn't even know this man, and while I know I had an inkling that he was a Vampire, my 15 year old self never said anything about i