Chapter 16- The Annoying Return

Apparently, when your parents say “You know, everything you post on facebook can be seen by everyone who’s facebook friends with you”, they really mean it. Press one little button and everyone starts asking questions…

All I did was change my relationship status. THAT’S ALL. But apparently (according to my friends) it’s a federal offence for me to be in a relationship. Of course, Tegan can be dating a horse (long story), Roxy and Emily can be married (again, long story), and those so-called “Mean Girls” at my school can be engaged to each other, but the moment it’s not a joke…You get the point. And even if you don’t, well that sucks for you, because I’M HAPPY and that’s all that matters.

I know I shouldn’t be as happy as I am, considering the fact that I was born to be a human sacrifice and all that crap, but ever since the weekend I’ve been completely ecstatic, which might have been the shock of Alec’s confession wearing off and the reality of it setting in, the reality being that there WAS a guy in the world who liked me, and he happened not to be a short, skinny dude with braces, freckles, and a low social standing.

Then there was “The Parent Reaction”, which consisted of my mom asking me why I didn’t tell her, or why I wouldn’t tell her who he was. Dave was furious, but only because he did find out who Alec was, and since he remembered him from 1711 when Isobel died…Let’s just say I was grounded for two weeks.

But, as I said before, I DON’T CARE, because I AM HAPPY!

Hap-hap-happy, tra-la-la-la-la…

When I came to school on Monday, I seemed as if I didn’t have a care in the world.  When Jade saw me, she ran over to me, giggling.

“What?” She smiled and shook her head.

“Oh, you know what.”

“No, actually, I don’t. What is it?”

“Let me think…His name starts with an A…He’s tall, dark and handsome…getting an idea?”

“Alec? What about him?”

“Let me put it this way.” Jade went over to the frosted window, drew “K+A= (heart)?”, and then drew two boxes, wrote “yes” over the first one and “no” over the second one. I drew a checkmark in the “yes” box. Jade smiled and clapped her hands while I wiped the frost off of the window.  Then she gasped and giggled.

“What is it?” I asked, confused. She pointed behind me. I turned around, but all I saw was the numerous teenagers that smelled like a mix between sweat and that disgusting Axe “guy body spray”.

“Ugh. Come with me.” Jade took my arm and led me down the hall. I still couldn’t see anyone. Then she took me down the hall that led to the foyer, following something that I still couldn’t see. Then, once the hall partially cleared, I noticed there was one student who wasn’t going to class (besides me and Jade).

A tall student with dark hair and ocean blue eyes.

A student who smiled the moment our eyes met.

Alec, I thought. He waved. I shook my head, smiling. I walked over, slamming his locker closed with my Telekinesis. Jade was amazed.

“Whoa-whoa-whoa. Whoa. Did you just do that?” she asked me. I shrugged.

“Magic trick.” I turned to Alec.

“What are you doing here?” he smiled.

“Well, I had nothing better to do with my time, so I came here. DO you have a problem with that?” I’d never really pictured Alec as a student at my school. Actually, I’d never pictured Alec as a student at any school. Just then, there was a noise coming from the intercom.

“Could all students please report to the gym immediately for a special assembly? Thank you, and have a good day.” As everyone stampeded out of their classrooms, Alec took my hand (dig that.) and we went into the gym.

“As you may know, one of our staff members, Ms. Dennis, unfortunately passed away last week.” Our principal, Mr. C. (I can’t remember how to pronounce or spell his last name), was standing in front of the entire student body with a microphone.

“She was one of our most valued staff members here.” He continued, wiping his eye with a Kleenex. I squeezed Alec’s hand, afraid I might burst into tears again.

“We can leave, if you want.” He whispered so quietly only I could hear.

No. I’m fine.

“Whatever you say.”

 “She…she loved birds. You know what, in honor of Ms. Dennis, all classes today will be held outside, so we can all enjoy nature. And the birds.” Mr. C. ran away crying like a little girl.

“That was fun.” I murmured. Tegan glared at me.

“Why is she mad at me?” I asked Alec.

“She’s mad because she a, thinks you have a new best friend, and b, she thinks you lied to her about not feeding on humans.”

“But I didn’t”

“I know. I’ll try to reason with her later.” Mrs. Gruber, our VP, came to the front of the gymnasium.

“All classes will proceed outdoors. You are all dismissed. But if anyone knows anything else about Ms. Dennis’ death…” whatever Mrs. Gruber said after that was lost in the noise of everyone hurrying out of the gym.

As Tegan Levi was approached by Alec, she turned her head in disgust. Whatever Kieyra’s new boyfriend has to say doesn’t matter, she thought.

“Tegan, can we talk for a minute?”

“Again? I get it. No talking about what happened last Wednesday. Whatever.”

“Actually, it concerns Kieyra.”

“Doesn’t it always?” Tegan rolled her eyes.

“She feels bad about what happened.”

“Of course she does,” she said sarcastically, “Poor little Kieyra does everything possible just to get attention. I know. I’ve been her friend for seven years.”

“It’s not like that.”

“Yes it is. It always is. It’s either about Kieyra, or what she did or didn’t do last weekend, or what she gets to do on summer vacation, or what guy’s been stalking her for the last month…forget I said that last one. All I’m saying is that I don’t get it.”

“You don’t get what?”

“I don’t get why it is that if I do something outrageously horrible, I get grounded ‘till I’m thirty, but when Kieyra does something terrible, she gets to go to Niagara Falls.”

“It’s hard to explain.”

“Try me. I’ll listen to anything if it proves that what I just said is wrong. Go on. Defend your girl. Be her knight in shining armor.” Tegan mused.

“It’s all part of a plan.”

“What kind of plan?”

“A plan to kill Damien.”

“Can you elaborate on that?”

“Meet me at the Carleton Place Library after school. I’ve already asked a few others to come. I’ll explain there.” Tegan was reluctant, but then agreed.

“What exactly does this have to do with Kieyra being a shallow dirt bag?”

“She isn’t a shallow dirt-bag.”

“She sure has been acting like one.”

“But she’s not. If you only knew what she was thinking, what her thoughts were like…”

“You say that as If you can read her mind or something.”

“What if I could?”

“Humor me. What does my supposed best friend think about?”

“Sometimes cheese, but mostly she thinks about life. She thinks about how she hates that you’re mad at her, and how she hates herself and what she is. She thinks about how much easier life would be-and I’m not paraphrasing, she actually thought this-if she was dead, if she just let herself be sacrificed. She thinks the world would be better that way.”

“And do you think the world would be better that way?” Tegan asked.

“Of course not. But apparently, that won’t stop her from trying to kill herself.”

“She tried to kill herself?”
“Yes, and she would have succeeded if I didn’t stop her. Look, I care about her. If you do too, then you should stop judging her. It’s not all about what’s on the outside, you know.”

Outside, the teachers were trying desperately to gather their students. I started to head towards Mrs. Stewart, my teacher, but Alec, who was tightly gripping my hand, pulled me back. He motioned for me to stay quiet and we snuck out back where there were no teachers. At first I was smiling, but then my smile faded and my expression went blank, because what I saw was the most impossible, horrible thing I’d ever seen.

What I saw was a figure, coming towards the school with long, reddish-brown hair, brown eyes, and the most evil grin I’d seen in a long time.

What I saw was Sylvie French. Alive. Coming towards us, looking perfectly fine, as if nothing had happened.

“What is it?” Alec asked, concerned. But what I wanted to say couldn’t be put into words, so I just tried to explain by thought.

She’s supposed to be dead. I killed her.  Alec looked at me, wide-eyed.

I pushed her down The Hole. She broke all her bones. She died. Unless…

“Unless Damien turned her.” Alec said, finishing my thought. Proving this theory, Sylvie ran at full vampire speed towards us and shoved me, causing me to fly about ten feet away and hit the brick wall with a loud THUD. She walked gracefully over to me and smirked.

“Miss me?”

“Are you okay?” Alec helped me up and hugged me.

“Physically? Fine. Emotionally? Not so great.” Sylvie had gone over to the large crowd of kids that were amazed at her safe return home. She was getting all the attention again.  Just what I needed.

“She’s probably here to spy on you. She’ll blend in; no one will suspect anything.”

“It’s not fair. Why does she have to be here?”

“Damien probably heard about your little suicide act and wanted to keep an eye on you to make sure you didn’t get yourself killed before he could sacrifice you. I’m guessing you’re safe. But just remember, nothing you say is secret anymore.”

“Nothing I think is secret anymore.” I reminded him.

“It’s only not a secret from me. I’m the only one who can hear your thoughts, trust me. I was Damien’s only person for that.”

At the end of the day, I explained to Jade about Sylvie. She seemed surprised, since Sylvie had apparently tried to befriend her. Jade told me that she had to go to the library for something, so I was left to walk home alone. As I was walking through the park near my house that I used as a shortcut, Sylvie appeared beside me. She sent me flying across the park, then pinned me to the ground. I rolled on top of her, gaining partial control. I went to punch her in the face when searing pain washed through my body. I fell off of Sylvie. She stood up, still glaring at me.

“Every vampire has their own power, Kieyra. You should know that.” I would have said something, but I was still writhing in pain on the ground. Finally, she stopped and I struggled to catch my breath.

“Kieyra, let me tell you something. When I want something, I get it. And do you know what I want?” I shook my head. She pulled me to my feet.

“I want Alec.” She whispered into my ear, “And just remember what I can do to you before you object. With that in mind, I suggest you give me what I want.” Sylvie disappeared. Something touched my arm and I screamed.

“Kieyra! It’s just me, Alec. What happened? What did she do?” I turned around and buried my face in his chest.

“What is it?” he asked. I was so scared and shocked at the same time that I started to cry a bit.

She can cause pain just by looking at you. Hurts like hell.

“What did she want?” I couldn’t bring myself to say it. I didn’t want to. I couldn’t.

She wants you