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

Chapter 15 – Telepathy, Telekinesis, Same Diff.

My eyes fluttered open. I was still on the ground on Tegan’s property, and Alec was still next to me, his arms still around me. I tried to pretend like I was still asleep. As if he read my mind, he whispered “Good morning” in my ear. I groaned.

“Is there anything I can do for you?” he asked. Yes, actually there is. Stay here. Hold me. Never let go. Something along those lines would be great.

“No, not really.” I replied sleepily. “My mom’s probably worried sick.” I said, a bit worriedly, but I didn’t move.

“Jade told your mom that you were there when Ms. Dennis “Tripped and fell on a rock that cut open her throat and killed her”. She said you were traumatized and your friend took you away for awhile.”

“What to the police think?”

“Exactly what Jade told them. She even planted evidence. She’s a great friend, you know.” I nodded.

“What about Tegan?”

“She’s agreed to keep her mouth shut, though she thinks you lied to her.”

“About what?”

“That I’m not sure about.” I sighed.

“What time is it?” I asked, and I wish I hadn’t, because he moved his arm off of me to get his phone out of his pocket.

“Eight thirteen. Why?”

“I’m late for school.” I stated. He put his arm back around me.

“We should do something. Start the weekend early, go somewhere. Take your mind off of what happened.”

“I’d like that.” I said. In truth, I’d like anything that Alec said that involved the word “we”, but that was beside the point. I wanted to forget about what I did, and staying around here wasn’t going to help anything.

“Where are you going?” I had gone back home to get the basic essentials that I would need if I was going away for a few days, and once again, Dave was questioning everything I did.

“Away. And since my mom’s okay with it, then I’m free to do so. You have no power over me.” I stated, trying to make it clear that I really didn’t care what he had to say.

“You have no right to speak to me in that tone.”

“You’re not my father!” I screamed. I tried to remember the last time I’d seen my father, before he ran off to pursue his career as a vampire hunter… But that’s another story for another time.

“Kieyra, I-” but before he could finish, I was out the door and into Alec’s car (because apparently, no matter how long you’ve been living in a hole, you still find the time to learn how to drive) and on my way to who knows where.

“Just out of curiosity…Where are we going?” Alec chuckled.

“I have no idea.”

“That helps.” I said sarcastically, though I really didn’t care where we were going.

“Where would you like to go?” Wherever you are.

“I don’t really care.” I admitted.

“Then should we just drive until you see a place you’d like to stay?” He asked. If we were going to do that, we would pull to the side of the road right now and stay there forever.

“Sounds good.” I smiled and leaned my head on the icy car window.

I must’ve fallen asleep, ‘cause when I opened my eyes, I don’t think we were even in Canada still.

“Where are we?”

“Niagara Falls, USA.”

“Why are we in America? I’m not supposed to leave the country.” Which was true, because I didn’t have a passport.

“Relax. There’s a motel over there. We’ll stop there and figure out what we’re doing.”

The motel was pretty crappy, so their best room was tiny and smelled a bit like fish. In the room were two beds, a dusty lamp, a TV with free cable, a mini fridge, and a tiny closet. If this was the best room, I wondered what the worst room looked like.

Later that night, somehow the topic of Damien came up, and I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of supernatural powers him and his ‘goons’ had.

“Can Damien see what people are doing, like, when they’re doing them?”

“No, he has people for that.”

“Can he see the future?”

“No, he has people for that.”

“Can he, like, cause excruciating pain with his mind?”

“Again, he has people for that?”

“Well, can he read minds or something?”

“He had people for that.”

“Then what can he- wait, did you say had?”

“Yeah.” He shrugged.

“What can you do?” I asked, a little suspicious now.

“Stuff.”

“What stuff?”

“Does it matter?”

“Now it does.” 

“Why do you want to know?”

“Why won’t you tell me?”

“‘Cause you’d be mad.”

“Why would I be mad?”

“Kieyra-”

“No, tell me. No more of that crap. I’m tired of it. Now tell me.”

“But-”

“No. No buts. Whatever it is, it’d be worse if you don’t tell me.”

“You’re gonna hate me. Please.”

“Tell me. I’m not gonna stop asking until you do, because the more you keep secrets from me, the more I really am going to hate you.”

“Alright, fine. I’m Telepathic. That means I can read minds.”

“I know what it means.” I snapped.

“And if you can read minds, then that means you can read my mind, which means…” my face turned red. I was angry, embarrassed, and a little confused all at the same time.

“You know everything.”

“It’s not my fault.” He said. I couldn’t even stand to go through this level of embarrassment; quite frankly I wasn’t in the mood. My eyes were watering. I bolted for the door, but Alec grabbed my hand and pulled me back.

“Stop it. Hear me out, okay?”

“Everything I thought about, dreamed about, fantasized about… that stuff was supposed to be private.” I couldn’t even look him in the eyes.

“I didn’t mean to hear or see any of that-”

“You could see it too? Oh god.” He chuckled.

“This isn’t funny.” He shook his head, still smiling.

“Oh, and by the way, you left out some crucial information in your thoughts and fantasies.”

“What information?”

“The part where I want to keep holding you and never let you go, the part where I  want  you to be wherever I am, the part where I want to stay with you forever. The part where I like you back.” I honestly couldn’t say anything. Was there anything to be said?

“Kieyra?” Alec asked, concerned. I tried to speak, but all that came out was weird noises that couldn’t be translated into English.

“What?”

“Please don’t make me say it again; it was hard enough the first time.”

“You…Like me? Since when?”

“Since I met you.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“How do you expect me to tell you something like that?”

“Like you just did, without me getting all mad at you. It’s that simple.” Geez. I have never understood boy logic, and probably never will. I sat back down on my bed.

“What can I do?” I asked, changing the subject back to weird vampire powers.

“How should I know?”

“You’re the mind reader.” I shrugged.

“Try something.”

“How?”

“I don’t know. What are you good at?”

“…Being lazy.” He rolled his eyes.

“Define that.”

“Getting what I want without having to break a sweat. Being able to get what I want from the comfort of my own couch.” He sat on my bed beside me in silence for about fifteen minutes before he finally got an idea. He left, and came back a minute later with, of all things, a feather. He placed it in front of me.

“Move it.” I gave him a strange look before picking the feather up, twirling it around in my fingers, and putting it back down.

“Is that supposed to be extraordinary? Because anyone can do that, just so you know, unless it’s some magic feather.” He rolled his eyes.

“Without touching it.”

“How am I supposed to do that?”

“Just try.”

“Fine then.” I sat cross-legged on the bed and stared at the feather. Nothing. Five more minutes and still nothing.

“You’re not trying.” he said. I frowned

“Yes I am!”

“Concentrate.”

“I am.” I growled, annoyed.

“What you’re concentrating on is waiting for something to happen. You have to try to do it yourself.”

“How do I do that, Mr. I-Know-Everything?”

“Just try. You’ll figure it out.” I turned back to the feather and focused really hard, not even blinking. My legs were starting to get stiff, and when I moved to a different position, still staring at the feather, I swear I saw it move a little bit. I turned to Alec. He shrugged.

“Wind.” He suggested. Thanks for being so supportive. He smiled a little, which reminded me that he could hear everything I thought. I stared at the feather again, this time mentally commanding it to move upwards. As I started to look more towards the ceiling, the feather followed my gaze. I turned around slowly, watching in fascination as it moved with me. Take that, Mr. You’re-Not-Concentrating-Enough. I smirked and looked at the time, causing the feather to fall to the ground. It was nearing 2 AM. I yawned and lied down on my bed. Just to show off, I flicked the light switch off with my mind. Alec smiled. Goodnight. I thought, feeling too tired (and lazy) to talk.

“Good night, Kieyra.” I stared at the ceiling until I couldn’t keep my eyes open anymore, and then the world turned to black.

Chapter 14 - Taking Your Emotions Out on Evil Teachers Does Not Solve Problems, It Just Makes Things Worse

Later that night, Jade and I went to hang out at the library. I hadn’t been to the Carleton Place Library since I was about six or seven, so it was a whole new world to me. Jade brought me here in an attempt to take my mind of to the situation hereafter referred to as “The Alec Thing”, and it would have worked, except for the fact that Alec seems to follow me everywhere. Including the Carleton Place Library.

“Hey.” I didn’t even look behind me.

“Go away.”

“What’d I do?” I turned around.

“You ruined me.”

“What?”

“Nothing. It doesn’t matter.” I started to go find Jade.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Like I said, it doesn’t matter.”         

 “If you say so.” Jade whisked me away from Alec.

“Can we go now?” I asked.

“Sure as hell we can.”

The next day, at school, I couldn’t concentrate at all in class. Not through gym, science, religion, art, lunch, or silent reading (during which I read a book about the affects of smoking, and found out over 50 different poisons that can be found in a cigarette). Finally, I decided just to ditch all together. I faked a stomach ache so that I could go to the office, and then started for the door. Ms. Dennis saw me and stopped me.

“Where do you think you’re going?” she asked.

“office.”

“So the office is outside now?”

“I called home. I don’t feel well.” I lied.

“Then go wait in the office.” When I got into the office, Tegan was there.

“Hey.” She said.

“Hi.” I replied, not looking at her.

“I heard you’re BFFs with the new girl now.”

“Uh huh.”

“Why haven’t you talked to me lately?” she asked.

“I don’t know. I’ve had a lot on my mind lately. What are you doing in here anyways?”

“Sean pulled a prank and blamed me. Lets just say it involved three cans of silly string and a confetti gun.” I laughed. Ms. Dennis stormed in, furious.

“I just called your parents. Neither of them recall you calling home sick.” She said sternly. I bolted for the door. Tegan, Jade (who saw me while getting a drink of water from the fountain), and Ms. Dennis chased me outside.

“You’re not going anywhere, Miss Gordon.” Ms. Dennis growled.

“What makes you think you have any power over me?”

“I  have the authority to suspend you.”

“And you think I care?” I started walking towards the parking lot, but she followed me.

“What the hell do you want?”

“Don’t you speak to me that way.”

“Oh yeah? Watch me.” I was so mad that my eyes darkened and my fangs emerged from my gums. I lunged for her neck viciously, tearing open her throat. Tegan and Jade were speechless. I released my school’s now dead staff member and watched in horror as her limp body fell to the ground. I was so horrified at what I had done that I couldn’t think straight.

“I-I-I’m sorry you guys had to see that.” Tegan and Jade still said nothing. I heard footsteps coming down the hall, panicked, and ran.

I ran right past my house, Jade’s house, and all the way past my old house in Almonte. I just kept running. Past the Mack’s Milk where Brianna McIntyre, the eighteen year old mentioned in the paper, may or may not have been attacked. Past the library that I owed tons of money in fines to. Past Roxy’s house and the Almonte High School. I stopped at Tegan’s house and ran reflexively into the forest there, remembering that that was a place where I had once felt happy. I found a spot where Tegan and I ate watermelon one day during the summer after sixth grade, went down the steep hill that she had warned me not to go down, and found a small pond where I washed the dried blood off of my face. I went back up the hill and sat down. It was a beautiful view of the forest. I lied down on the cool grass, curled up in a ball, and began to cry.

I opened my eyes. I must’ve fallen asleep; it was now twilight and the sun was setting. On the horizon I saw that the sky was a radiant purple with tiny bits of red where the sun was. If I’d remembered to get my cell phone out of my locker before I ditched school and killed Ms. Dennis, I would have taken a picture. Remembering what I’d done, I started to cry again. For that one moment, I hated myself and what I was. I spotted a large, pointy branch that had fallen off of a tree and was now lying dead on the forest floor. And I hated myself so much… I wouldn’t feel this sadness and hatred anymore… I picked up the stick and pointed the sharp end towards my chest. Was I really going to end my life here, in Tegan’s backyard? If the last thing I saw was that beautiful sunset, then maybe now would be an acceptable time to die. I closed my eyes. On the count of three. One, two...three. Just as I was about to stake myself in the heart, the stick disappeared from my hands. I opened my eyes and looked around.

“Who do you think you are, Edward Cullen? A suicidal vampire? Really, Kieyra?”

I spun around. Alec stood there, twirling my weapon of choice around in his hand.

“Jade told me what happened.” He added, his voice a bit more sympathetic this time. The tears were coming back.

“Are you okay?”

“That’s a stupid question, of course I’m not.” I wept. He sat down on the grass and I sat next to him.

“ I didn’t mean to do it,” I said softly, “I swear I didn’t.”

“I know.” He said, trying to comfort me as he locked his arms around me. I leaned my head on his shoulder.

“I thought vampires weren’t supposed to feel bad about stuff.” I said, sniffling.

“You don’t, until you decide to feel emotion. And then you feel everything.”

“Why do you even care?”

“What?”

“Why are you here? You could have let me die.”

“We’re friends. Friends care about friends. And if I can recall, this is the second time I’ve saved your life.”

“Thanks for that.” I’d never been this vulnerable around him before. I’d never cried in front of…well…anyone…in a long time. It was actually kind of…nice, If I thought about it. Nice to finally have a friend I could talk to. Nice to know that someone actually cared. Nice to know that Alec, of all people, cared. And with that in mind, I drifted off to sleep.

Chapter 13- Darn Those Random Questionnaires.

Number of hours it took my mom to realize I was gone: 2 and a half. Number of times my mom apologized to me: somewhere around 80. Number of rounds of 20 questions me and Alec played: 27. Number of times the thing I was thinking of was mutant cockroaches: 14. Number of times Alec made fun of me: 17. Number of times I slapped him: 17. Number of “don’t talk to strangers” looks my mom gave me: 13. Number of times I thought about Alec’s eyes: 32, but it’s not my fault they’re so darn beautiful.

Therefore, Myth About Vampires Having Counting Obsessions = True

Because my mom felt so bad about leaving me in the parking lot of a cheap restaurant, she decided to give me money for lunch every day for the next month. But, since I don’t really eat anything, all that money is going to the “Kieyra Needs New Clothes Foundation.” So, five dollars every day for four weeks minus the weekend would be…100 dollars. Fun! I could buy myself a decent pair of shoes!

Moving on…

When I got back to my school in Carleton Place, I found out there was a new girl named Jade Smith. She had an older brother named Drake and a younger sister named Elena. I know this because my math teacher, Mr. G, assigned me and Jade together for a project.

Suddenly it clicked.

Elena Smith- the little girl I met in The Hole. And Drake-that was her brother’s name.

“Hey, um, I was just wondering…Are you related to the Elena Smith that went missing about a month ago?”

“Yeah, actually…that’s my sister. How did you know that?” Jade had this confused look on her face, and behind her glasses her green eyes had a hint of concern in them. She twirled a loose piece of black hair that wasn’t pulled back in a ponytail around her finger.

“I’m the one who saved her.” I lowered my voice just enough that only Jade could hear me.

“How is that possible?”

“Meet me in the forest behind the school after school and I’ll tell you.” Jade looked around suspiciously, chewed on a piece of her hair, and then finally said “Okay”

After school, Jade and I went directly to the forest, where I told her what I was. She freaked out a little, but after five minutes of reasoning with her she was fine.

“So…let me get this straight. You’re a vampire, but you don’t kill people, you kill squirrels, deer, and the occasional bunny. You haven’t killed anyone…yet…and my sister was there when you turned, so if I don’t believe you I should ask her.”

“Exactly.”

“How many people exactly have you told about vampires? How many are you planning to tell? How stupid are you?” That wasn’t Jade’s voice. It wasn’t even female. I spun around. Alec stood there with his arms folded. He looked mad.

“I…um…” this was the first time since I met Alec that I couldn’t think of a snappy comeback. I let out a sigh of defeat.

“I shouldn’t have, I know. I’m sorry.” Alec was taken aback.

“What, no groan, no slap in the face, no eye-roll? Are you sick?”

“God I hope so.” I muttered under my breath.

“I already knew vampires existed, so don’t blame Kieyra.”  Jade defended.

“She’s got a point.” I added.

“Well, I guess you are my friend-”

“Like one of those friends you can’t stay mad at?” I pouted innocently.

“Unfortunately.”

“And unfortunately, I win.” I chortled, skipping around. Jade and Alec laughed. My phone rang. Mom. Joy.

“Hi mom.”

“Where are you?”

“Oh, sorry, I was talking with a friend after school. I’ll be home soon. Bye!” I hung up and turned to Alec.
”I gotta go.”

“Me too.” Jade said, “Where do you live?”

“Moffat street. You?”

“Me too! Lets walk together!”

“Cool. Bye Alec.” I called as we started walking towards my house. He waved goodbye and disappeared. Jade giggled.

“What?”

“You so like him.” I rolled my eyes.

“Is there some guys-and-girls-can-be-friends concept people don’t get?”

“I get the concept. What I don’t get is why when people like each other they don’t just tell each other and get on with their lives.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“Was that a confession?”

“I’m not admitting to anything nor denying anything, all I’m saying is that nothing’s ever that simple, even though it should be.”

“I think that was a confession.” Jade teased.

“Ugh, fine then, since convincing you is pointless, I might as well give up.” I grumbled.

“Total confession.”

“I AM NOT FRICKIN CONFESSING TO ANYTHING!”

“First stage, denial.” She said in a sing-songy voice, turning down the driveway to her house.

“See you tomorrow.” She added, then unlocked her front door and went inside.

All night all I could think of was what Jade had said. Even the next day, during math class, I was trying to figure out if it was possible to deny denial. The only thing that broke my trance was when Jade poked me in the back of the neck with a pencil to ask me what the Pythagorean Theorem was.

“Like I told you yesterday, the formula is A squared plus B squared equals C squared, then you find the square root of C squared to get the hypotenuse. Do you get it now?”

“I think.” Jade said, tapping her pencil on her desk. Just then, a couple of high school girls came into the classroom. Apparently they were taking a survey of all the grade eight and seven girls to find out how materialistic pre-teen and teenage girls are in the 21^st century. We all went into the “student success room” where the evil Ms. Dennis works to do them. I sat next to Jade and looked at the survey. The whole time, though, there was only one thing I could think of every time I read a question.

Question 1: What is your favorite color?

(which, in my opinion, had probably nothing to do with materialism, but that didn’t stop the thought of Alec’s eyes from coming to my mind before I answered “Don’t have one”)

Question 2: if you could choose one thing to look at for the rest of your life, what would it be?

My answer: something beautiful, like a waterfall. (Alec’s face)

Question 3: What is your favorite thing to do?

My answer: spend time with my friends and family. (Be with Alec)

Question 4: What is the one thing in the world you couldn’t live without?

My answer: The people I love, eg. Family, Friends, Pets, etc…(Alec)

I swear, Jade Smith will be the death of me. In a figurative sense, of course, but she’s killing me here.

After I finished answering the non personal and less (Alec) thought provoking questions like “Approximately how much money do you spend a month on clothes, accessories, and makeup”, I handed my questionnaire to Ms. Dennis and headed to my locker to pack my bag to go home.

“So, you seemed…Rather agitated. What’s up?” I started laughing insanely, like someone worthy of a room in a local insane asylum.

“What’s up? I’m having an emotional crisis, and all you can say is ‘what’s up’? Oh god, I’m crazy.” She laughed.

“Does this have something to do with that Alec dude I met yesterday?”

“Yes, and it’s all your fault.” I groaned.

“How is it my fault that you like him?” I didn’t even bother denying it this time.

“Because you made me think about it, and when I think about things I can’t stop thinking about them.”

“Don’t you have friends you could vent to?”

“Oh, you mean those friends I’ve barely spoken to since I got back from London?”

“Hey, at least you have friends.”

“And you don’t?”

“No, not really.”

“We’re friends, aren’t we?” Jade smiled.

“Yeah, I guess we are, aren’t we.”

Chapter 12- Wherein I Stop Using The Word “Wherein” to Start Off Chapters and I Find Out The Truth About How Much My Mother Really Loves Me

The whole car ride home from London all I could think about was this “prophecy” thing. I called Katherine’s phone about fifty times before it said “Your call has been temporarily blocked, try again in a week or so” which, yes, was EXACTLY what it said (which I thought was totally informal, but my opinion never really seems to matter, does it). Nathen kept poking me in the back of the head with a plastic “wand”, but I was forced to ignore it or my mom would throw a fit. The first pit-stop we made was Whitby, which is about 3 hours away from London. We stopped to eat lunch at a place called “Rip Off Rodney’s”, which, I’ll have to admit, is probably even WORSE than a place called “Cheap Charlie’s” my cousin Alexa told me about. Apparently, a health inspector tried to shut down Rip Off Rodney’s, but he got carried away by mutant roaches. I decided to stay outside, ‘cause I was definitely not eating food I didn’t even need to eat at a place possibly infested with mutant bugs.

After a few minutes of sitting outside the restaurant, my phone rang. I half-expected it to be Katherine, but it said “Unknown Number”.
“Hello?” there was a pause
“Is anyone there?” I asked. I heard breathing.
“walk towards the dumpster. Make sure you’re not being followed.” The voice sounded slightly distorted and vaguely familiar.
“Who is this?”
“Doesn’t matter. Now do it or else.”
“I don’t know who you are, but I’m not afraid of you.”
“Don’t be stupid. I wouldn’t want something bad to happen to your family.” I gulped and started walking over to the dumpster.
“What do you want from me?”
“You’ll see. Now, walk towards the park across the field.” I ran at lightning speed to the park.
“Now turn around.” I spun around, half expecting to see Damien. Thankfully it wasn’t.
“You’re a real doofus, you know that?” Alec grinned.
“Yeah, I know.” I walked up to him and punched him hard in the face.
“Ow. For a girl you have an amazing right hook.”
“Thank you.” I smirked. “Now what was it you wanted?”
“I heard about what happened at your family reunion with Katherine.”
“Is there some world-wide vampire network I should know about?” he chuckled.
“Nope, I’m just on speaking terms with Katherine now.”
“Oh. Joy.” I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes.
“She did tell me a few things about the whole prophecy thing, but if you’re just going to be mean…”
“No! Tell me! Please!” I half-begged.
“Okay, well, in the 1700s, when Katherine was 17, she was vain and selfish, coming from a wealthy family. Her parents sent her to live with a poorer family who lived around this area. There she met a man named Javier. Javier was a vampire who had supposedly lost his brother in a house fire.”
“Supposedly?”
“Javier was Damien’s older brother, Kieyra.” I was taken by surprise.
“So…there are TWO freaking evil dudes after me now!?”
“Let me finish. Javier was tired of putting up with Katherine’s mean-spirited attitude, so he hired a witch to put a curse on her so that she would have to live for eternity alongside someone as vain and evil as her, therefore, a doppelganger. Hell, more than a doppelganger. A complete double of her. Like a clone.”
“Then what happened?”
“He turned her into a vampire. Which brings us to the prophecy. When the aforementioned doppelganger reached the age of 17, she would fully take on Katherine’s personality and appearance, and would have no control over her own thoughts or feelings. Then Javier would come back to turn her into a vampire.”
“Is that what happened at dinner last night?”
“Precisely.”
“ There’s only one problem. I already am a vampire.”
“That’s the part I haven’t figured out yet.”
“Oh.” He started laughing.
“What?”
“You have such a great family. They just left without you.” I ran to the parking lot at Rip Off Rodney’s to find my mom‘s car gone.
“They’re probably just around the corner.”
“Whatever you say.” He chuckled again. I rolled my eyes and walked around the block. Nothing. Two more blocks and still no mom or Nathen.
“You done looking yet?”
“Go to hell.”
“Ouch.” I rolled my eyes.
“Sorry, I’m just really pissed right now.”
“You’re apologizing? That’s a first.” I rolled my eyes.
“Don’t get used to it.” I looked around one final time before giving up.
“Okay, how far could they have possibly gotten in five minutes?”
“Well, depending on how tired my mom is and how annoying my brother’s being, I’d say about 3 kilometers, give or take.”
“Should we go see if we can’t catch up to them?”
“First of all, who said there was a ‘we’, and second of all, I want to wait and see how long it takes until my mom realizes I’m gone.”
“Well,” he said, sitting on a bench beside the restaurant, “I’m going to wait with you.” I sat down next to him.
“Fine, but be prepared to sit here awhile.”

Chapter Eleven-Wherein Katherine Crashes a Party and I Get Diagnosed With What I Call "KDD", aka "Katherine's Doppelgänger Disorder"

"Kieyra, Dear, could you please set the table?" Grandpa's sister, my Great Aunt Lisa, asked.
"Sure Aunt Lisa." I made my way over to the HUGE "banquet table",from which i spotted my mom and Nathen.
"Mom! Nate!" I ran over to hug them. They had been invited to come to the reunion, and afterwards they were taking me back home. The reunion was taking place at a high-end restaurant, and after that we were all heading to a rented ballroom for a fancy after-party. We were all required to wear "proper attire", which consisted of a suit and tie for guys and a dress/ fancy shirt and skirt for the girls. I was wearing a dark blue sleevless dress that was about knee-high. I hated it, but Grandma (who helped me pick it out) said i looked "lady-like" in it. I, on the other hand, never liked wearing dresses, nor did i look good in them. Nathen was not very impressed with the dress code either, considering the fact that he kept pulling at his tie, which was probably, like, SUPER itchy.

Already here was Grandma's side of the family (excluding Crazy Harriet, who was probably chatting up a storm with a nurse who couldn't care less) and most of my cousins. It wasn't all that great, though, 'cause all of my cousins hate me. Well, except Mike, but he doesn't exactly know what to think. He's six.

After everyone got there, we started eating the food. It was a potluck dinner, so the food there was mostly gross home made casseroles and meatless meatloaf (don't ask). I was finished my food and bored, so i decided to listen to Jasmine and Nadia's conversation. Jasmine and Nadia were two of my older cousins who had never talked to me, even when i was little. I used to hate them when i was younger because my cousin Alexa always loved to play with them more than me, and i guess that hatred sort of stuck after all these years.

"If the meatloaf's meatless, then what's in it?" Nadia asked Jasmine, slowly taking seconds of the "meat"loaf. Jasmine shrugged.
"Probably tofu or something."
"Better to know now than later." I spoke in a voice that was not my own. i didn't even know what i was saying-it was like some other power was controlling my words and thoughts. Nadia and Jasmine looked at me strangely.
"Just saying." Why was i even talking? Even I, of all people had some sort of filter.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Jasmine asked.
"You're a smart girl, you figure it out." Nadia turned to the adults side of the table.
"Um, Aunt Janette, Kieyra's acting up again." she said.
"Who are you calling acting up, teen angst?"
"Hey, don't push it! I'm older than you!"
"Hmm but quite obviously not smarter." Jasmine scoffed.
"How dare you insult my sister!" My mom heard our quasi-argument and ran over.
"Kieyra, what did i say about respecting your cousins!"
"Who's Kieyra?" WHAT??? I'M KIEYRA! What was i saying?!?!?!
"Okay, who are you then?"
"Katherine." Was that it? Was she controlling me? No. She wouldn't do that. Would she?
"Kieyra, snap out of it." she said, a little calmer than before. I turned to Jasmine, involuntarily, i might add.
"Who is this woman?"
"...your mother!" Jasmine said, a little freaked out.
"I KNOW THAT!!!!" I finally had control back.
"What was that?" I asked.
"I don't know, honey, you tell me!"
"I don't know, i just...I don't know why I said all that, it wasn't me. It was like something was controlling me." i explained, hoping she wouldn't think i was crazy.
"You remember what happened?" i narrowed my eyes in confusion.
"Of course i do. Why wouldn't i?"
"You used to do this when you were little, but you never remembered it after that. You haven't done it since you were seven."
"Aunt Janette, I suggest you take your daughter to a doctor. Like, now." Nadia interrupted. When we got to the hospital, the doctor we saw was in a hurry and didn't know what to say, so he passed it off as a multiple personality thing and sent us away. Then we went to the Family Reunion After-Party. It wasn't much, just my strange relatives dancing around with their sisters, brothers, and children, some of my more sophisticated relatives chatting while drinking wine, and my younger cousins drinking "sparkling grape juice" in wine glasses so they wouldn't feel left out. My older cousins were huddled in the back, talking about something really stupid, and my younger cousins and Nate were sneaking in every little bit of dessert they could off of the snack table. Which leaves me, who was walking around with sparkling grape juice, observing. Just then, I spotted someone hiding near the emergency exit door. I ran to see who it was. When i got there, whoever it was had disappeared. Someone tapped my shoulder.
"Hello, Kieyra. Nice to see you again." i spun around to find Katherine in a waitress-like cocktail dress.  "What are you doing here?!" i freaked.
"Relax, technically i AM part of this family."
"You're supposed to be dead!"
"So many details that can be forgotten..." i rolled my eyes. Same old Katherine.
"Listen, if anyone sees you...well, I don't know what'll happen, but whatever it is, it'll be bad!!!"
"ugh, Kieyra, when did you become such a killjoy?"
"I am NOT a killjoy!" i said defensively.  "and besides, who's the one who controls people so that they get into trouble?" she had a puzzled expression on her face.
"what?"
"you tell me. I'm just sitting down, enjoying my dinner, and then BAM! I think i'm you."
"Kieyra, that wasn't me."
"then who was it? Some other Katherine i need to be afraid of?" she rolled her eyes.
"it's the prophecy. It's part of you becoming me."
"I'm not you."
"But you will be."
"But why would Isobel-"
"it's not part of the curse, it's part of the Prophecy."
"What prophecy!?"
"ugh. i've already said too much. I have to go."
"But Katherine-"
"bye, Kieyra." with that she disappeared, leaving me clueless once again.

Chapter Ten- Wherein Aunt Harriet Starts To Like Me A Little More and I Start Feeling Very Conflicted About a Certain Good-Looking Vampire

Alec Phillips stood in the middle of the Mack’s Milk parking lot. It was around midnight, and there was only one car left. A young woman with shoulder-length blond hair was locking the door and coming out to her car. As she got to her car, Alec stopped her from getting in the driver’s seat. “Excuse me, mister, can I get into my car?” she asked. Alec shook his head.
“Um…who are you?”
“Why do you care?” he said softly.
“Are you drunk?”
“Surprisingly, no.” he put his hands on the woman’s shoulders.
“What’s your name?”
“Brianna.”
“Well, Brianna, I have a problem.”
“Oh? What’s your problem?”
“I’m not a good person, Brianna.”
“What do you mean?” she asked, confused.
“I kill people.” Brianna started backing up. Alec looked deep into her eyes.
“You’re not afraid. You’ll stand right here.” He said. She stopped moving back and stood there.
“Why do you kill people?”
“Because I’m a monster, Brianna. It’s in my nature.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“Because I’m a monster, I can’t be what everyone wants me to be. I can’t be what SHE wants me to be. But I can’t tell her that. No, no I can’t.”
“Who can’t you tell?” Alec shook his head.
“I’m not sure right now Brianna.”
“Are you gonna kill me?”
“Probably. Maybe not. I don’t know. No, Brianna, I am not going to kill you. That’s just going against what I’m proving, that would be wrong to her. Innocent people can’t die. Innocent people shouldn’t die. She shouldn’t die, it’s not right.”
“Who is she?” Brianna asked once more.
“I have NO IDEA Brianna! Is it her, is it Katerina, I DON”T KNOW!!!! Can you help me? Can you help me figure out who it is?”
“I guess. Describe the two girls.”
“First, there’s Katerina. She’s this beautiful, hypnotic woman. But she’s also selfish, and vain, and evil. And then there’s…the other girl. She’s just amazing. But she hates me Brianna, she HATES ME!!!! What’s wrong with me, Brianna, what’s happening to me?”
“I don’t know. I’ve heard love does some crazy things to people.”
“Love? Is that what this is about? Is that what life’s about?” Alec looked deep into Brianna’s eyes again.
“We never had this conversation. You’re free to go.” Alec disappeared. Brianna-oblivious to the previous conversation- got into her car and drove away. 

The drive to London was long and boring, but at the end of it all it was worth it. You know what that means? You guessed it! Grandpa had baked some of his AMAZING homemade bread. Next to human blood, grandpa’s bread is the most amazing tasting thing in the entire world to me.

In other news, I read in the newspaper (yes, I read the news sometimes) that this eighteen year old girl, Brianna McIntyre, is like, totally crazy. She claims to have met someone she was scared of in the Mack’s Milk parking lot last night, but can’t recall who it was and what he/she told her. I think this might mean there’s more vampires in my town.

Anyway…

Something just feels weird, like there’s something about this Brianna girl and what someone told her that I should know. I feel like it’s about me, I just don’t know why. Grandma says it’s because I’m psychic. More like psych-o.


“Could you get me my coffee, dear?” Grandma asked. It was the day after I had arrived, and Grandma, Grandpa, and Great Aunt Harriet were eating breakfast while reading the newspaper. “Sure.” I brought Grandma her steaming hot cup of coffee.
“Don’t ask the devil to bring it, it’ll just cause bad luck.” Harriet rasped. I rolled my eyes.
“Harriet, will you stop that? Kieyra has done nothing to cause you harm.”
“Mariana Wilkins did. Mariana Wilkins told me that her sister’s friend Katerina did.” I paused for a moment.
“Isobel.” I whispered.
“Yes, I believe that was her sister’s name.” Harriet said, her ever-present frown beginning to fade.
“Katerina. Katherine. Isobel.” It all made sense now. “The doppelganger curse.” I came closer to Great Aunt Harriet.
“I’m not Katherine.” I whispered. “I know what Mariana told you about Isobel. It’s all a lie. Katherine cared about Isobel, she told me. Please believe me. I only wish the best for this family.”
“Kieyra…” I turned around to look at Grandma. She held a twenty dollar bill in her hands.
“Why don’t you walk to the White Oaks Mall? It’s only a few blocks away, you could probably walk there. Here, I’ll even pay for your lunch. Be back before ten thirty tonight though, okay?”
“Um, okay…Thanks Grandma.” I said, knowing it was all a plan to get me out of the house so Grandma could lecture Harriet about she “has to stop making up lies about our family”.

The walk to the mall wasn’t very far. Once I got there, I treated myself to a low-fat strawberry frozen yogurt and a pair of really pretty gold high-heeled shoes. That’s when I bumped into him.
“Alec, what the hell? Are you following me?”
“Um, no.” I raised my eyebrows in disbelief.
“Maybe a little. Mostly, though, I’m here to check out that Great Aunt of yours. I think she knows something about Isobel and the curse.”
“Why do you care so much about the curse?” he shrugged.
“Cause.”
“Cause why?”
“Well-”
“And here comes the vague ‘no reason Kieyra. It doesn’t matter. It’s none of your business’.” I mocked. He sighed heavily and sat down on the bench beside us.
“I’m sorry about that. I don’t mean to be so secretive, I swear. There’s just so much that you can’t know, so much you wouldn’t understand…”
“Try me.” I sat down next to him.
“Okay, I’m trying to find out more about Mariana Wilkins. Have you heard that name before?”
“Yes. Is she related to Anna and them?”
“Yes. She was the first Wilkins vampire. She was the one who turned Isobel’s husband and kids. It was Isobel’s original plan when they got captured. Mariana, David and the kids made it out but Isobel- well, Damien killed Isobel.”
“I know. Anna told me. Go on.”
“Well, I think Mariana knows something that we don’t. Something about the curse, and Katherine, and you.”
“Why does everything lead back to me and Katherine?” he laughed.
“What?”
“You have NO idea.”
“That’s not fair.”
“That’s life.” I smiled.
“I have a proposition.”
“Oh? And what would that be?”
“Let’s try to be friends, just for one day. Do you think you could do that?”
“Only if you promise to stop making snarky comments every time I say something.”
“Only if you promise to start answering my questions.”
“Fine then. I promise to answer your questions.”
“Then I promise to stop making snarky comments.”
“Then it’s settled. For the next few hours, we are officially friends.” He said. We got up.
“So as friends, what should we do first?”
“I don’t know. What do friends usually do at a mall?” Alec asked. I laughed, remembering that Alec hadn’t really been in modern civilization much.
“You don’t get out much, do you?”
“Nope.”
“Well, neither do I.” we laughed.
“What’s your excuse?”
“I don’t really…socialize much.” He laughed.
“A girl like you?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked. He shrugged.
“Ah ah ah. You promised, no vague non-answers.”
“Well…you know…you’re a girl…you have a face…you…have hair.”
“Yeah…I’m aware of that.” I laughed.
“Hey! Kieyra! Mom look it’s Kieyra!” I turned around. My cousin Alexa was standing there with her little brother Mike and my Aunt Margo.
“Um…excuse me for a second.” I ran over to my cousins.
“Hi Alexa. Mike, Aunt Margo.”
“Hey Kieyra! So, who’s your boyfriend?” Alexa teased.
“He’s not my boyfriend.” I said defensively.
“Are you sure about that?” Aunt Margo asked.
“Yeah…why?”
“He’s totally staring at you.” I turned around. Alec was looking at me. Once he saw me looking, he looked away. I blushed.
“Well, I have to get some shopping done. I’ll leave you with your boyfriend.”
“He’s. Not. My. Boyfriend.” I growled.
“I’m just teasing. See you later, Kieyra.” Aunt Margo smiled at me and left.
“What was that all about?” Alec was standing right behind me.
“…You heard everything she said, didn’t you.”
“Yep.” He laughed.
“It’s not funny.”
“You’re right. It’s HILLARIOUS.”
“Oh, you shut up.” I elbowed him really hard in the side.
“Um, OW!” I smirked. We started walking around the mall.
“So, why did you quit working for Damien?” I asked. He shrugged. I shook my head.
“Nope, you promised. Real answers.”
“Fine then. I did it for you.” I looked at him strangely.
“What?”
“You told me to pick a side. I picked yours.” He shrugged.
“Well, thanks, I guess.”

After a few hours, I went back to Grandma’s house. I was informed that Great Aunt Harriet was now in a senior citizen’s community/ village thing. That was kind of a relief.

Also, I was reminded that my thirteenth birthday was in a few weeks, and that we were having a “Pierce Family Reunion.” I clearly stated that I was a Gordon, not a Pierce, and that I didn’t exactly fit in with most of my relatives on my mom’s side of the family, but Grandma reassured me that “everyone is welcome in this family” and “just because your last name is Gordon doesn’t mean that you don’t have Pierce blood in you” and a whole bunch of “God loves everyone the same” religious crap. After that, I was kind of reluctant to argue anymore.

Chapter Nine-Wherein I Get Treated Like a Ten Year Old and Have Secret Conversations With Really Old Vampires

“I don’t need a babysitter!” I protested. It was two days before I was leaving to go to Grandma’s house and everyone was going out for dinner and bowling. Everyone except me because of my “irresponsible behavior”. Even Anna’s “eternal grounding” was lifted for tonight.
“Yes, you do.” Dave said. Dave turned to Stella, my babysitter. “Don’t take your eyes off of her.” he warned, and then left. “This is so unfair.” I muttered. I started to go upstairs but Stella stopped me. “Ah, ah, ah, Dave told me to not let you out of my sight.” I rolled my eyes. We sat down on the couch. Stella turned on the TV and started flipping through the channels. It was Thursday, and almost 7 o’clock. Great. That meant Stella’s favorite show “Vampire Diaries” was on. Not that I didn’t like the show, I really did. It’s just, I’ve had way too much vampire in my life lately.
“Would you mind if I watch-”
“Go ahead.” I sighed. What I really wanted to say was “Yes, I would mind. Greatly. I’m really not in the mood to watch a show that reminds me that I’m not human or even my own person for that matter. The only thing I like about that show right now is the way British people say doppelganger and it comes out ‘doppelgangah’ ”, but I really just didn’t feel like it.

“Oh my GAWD he’s just so BEAUTIFUL!!!” Stella gawked at one of the dudes on the show. I rolled my eyes. The one thing I love about watching TV with Stella is that she always shouts out funny things at the TV. She noticed the way I was looking and smiled. “You’ll get it when you’re older.” she said.
“Um, I get it.” I said.
“Ow old are you? Twelve?”
“Yeah.”
“You’re a tween.”
“Almost thirteen.” I muttered under my breath, “One more month.” How old does she think I am, 10????? Geez. Us twelve year olds have feelings too. Teddy bears and puppies aren’t the only things that are cute in the world to us. The phone rang. Since our phone line was plugged into the satellite box, I could see who was calling on the TV screen. It was an unknown number, but I thought I’d seen it before so I answered the phone. “Hello?”
“I’m bored. I wasted 3 hundred years of my life wondering what I’d do when I escaped and I’m honestly BORED.” Katherine. I laughed.
“Where are you calling from?”
“Local bed and breakfast. Small but cozy.”
“At least you’re not cooped up in a house with a babysitter.” I said.
“Have been for years, remember?”
“Right. Why do you keep calling me, anyways?”
“I don’t know. You’re the only one who doesn’t hate me.”
“Who said I didn’t hate you?” Stella was looking at me funny.
“Who said you did?”
“Point taken.” I turned to Stella, who was still staring at me. “Oh, mind your own business.” I said to Stella. “Who are you talking to?” she asked.
“My friend Katherine , if it’s any of your business.” I said.
“You’ve never mentioned her. What’s she like?” Nosy much.
“Hey, how long until everyone gets back?” Katherine asked.
“Few hours, why?”
“I’m coming over. I kinda want to scare the crap outta your babysitter.”
“Okay then. Bye.” Katherine hung up. A few minutes later, there was a knock at the door.
“Who’s that?” Stella asked.
“Katherine.” I replied. “You got a problem with that?” Stella shook her head. I went to open the door.
“Took you long enough.” Katherine walked in.
“I like you’re house.”
“Um...thanks.” she laughed.
“Yes, I’m being nice to you. Get used to it.” She walked into our living room.
“You must be Stella. I’m Katherine.” she said in her innocent voice.
“Nice to meet you. You look familiar.” Stella turned back to the TV. “OH MY GOD you look like her!” Stella yelled pointing to the TV. Katherine glanced at the TV. The girl Stella was pointing at was the character that was based on Katherine. Katherine rolled her eyes. “Impostor.” she mumbled. She walked back to me. “Why are you here?” I asked.
“I told you. I was bored.” She said.
“Well, I’m going to London, Ontario in two days, so what’re you gonna do then?” she shrugged. “Follow you.”
“WHY?????”
“Ouch. I’m hurt.” I rolled my eyes at Katherine’s twisted humor. Just then, I heard the door swoosh open. Katherine turned around, looking straight into Dave’s furious eyes. Stella, meanwhile, was still watching TV.
“You said-”
“I thought they were coming later.” I told her. My mom stood there, staring at Katherine.
“David who is this and why does she look like my daughter?” mom asked, bewildered.
“Janette, it’s hard to explain.” Dave said. Mom started shaking her head.
“No, Dave. No more secrets. Why does she look like my Kieyra?”
“Because I’m the doppelganger.” I cut in. Mom turned her attention to me.
“What, sweetie?”
“I said, I’m a doppelganger. THE doppelganger. HER doppelganger.” I pointed to Katherine.
“And who is she, honey?”
“She’s Katerina Petrova.” my mom looked at me like I had four heads.
“No, mom, not the character on a TV show. The REAL Katherine. The one she’s based on.”
“Well, this is too much drama for one day. Goodbye, Kieyra.” Katherine disappeared.

After telling Stella to leave, Dave gestured for me to go into the kitchen with him. “What are we gonna do about my mom?” I asked. Dave sat down on a chair. “We tell her everything. See how she takes it. Then we decide.” I nodded in agreement. After putting Nathen to bed, Dave, Anna, Katie, Sarah and I sat down with my mom in the living room.
“No more secrets, mom. We’re telling you everything. But the first thing you should know is that...we’re vampires.” She looked at us all as if it were joking, but then her expression turned serious. Dave nodded, telling Mom that what I was saying was true.
“And now that you know that, we can all be honest. Starting with Dave, and what happened with Isobel.” Then we talked. We talked about all the vampire stuff. Dave talked about Isobel. Anna talked about Katherine and Alec, and all Damien’s people. I talked about the curse, and how I was a doppelganger. At the end of it all, my mom was kind of...at a loss for words.
“How is this possible?” she finally asked.
“It just is.” Dave said, trying to comfort her.
“My daughter is in danger, supposed to be used in some creepy sacrifice ritual, and I’m supposed to just sit here and let it happen?” I nodded.

Later that night, I had decided that this was all just too much for my mom to take. I was sitting on my bed, writing in my journal when she came in.
“Hey sweetie.”
“Hi mom.” she came and sat on my bed.
“This whole vampire thing... it’s changed you.”
“Mom, I know it’ll take some getting used to, but-”
“You’re just this confident, beautiful girl now. I love what it’s done to you.”I was taken by surprise.
“Um...thanks.”
“You can trust me. You know that, right?”
“Yes, mom, I know that. And I know you’ll keep our secret. It’s just...it’d be better if you didn’t know.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m sorry. It’s just too much...you’re a liability now.” I looked deeply into her eyes.
“You don’t remember seeing Katherine. You came home, paid Stella, helped me with my homework, and fell asleep watching Vampire Diaries with me. Everything that happened was just a freaky dream. Some part of you still knows that I’m in some sort of danger, but you know it’ll all work out in the end.” My mom- in a trance with pupils dilated- nodded and went back to her room to go to sleep. I went over to Dave, who was on the couch watching “Extreme Cat Hoarders”.
“I erased her memory, she doesn’t know anything.” Dave nodded. Our cats Frisky, Snowball, and Andie were curled up in little balls on Dave’s legs and on the edge of the couch behind him. “I hate these dang cats!” he exclaimed, throwing Andie, our cream-colored long haired cat, off of his leg. “That’s what you get for moving in with your cat lover girlfriend.” I said. Dave rolled his eyes. “Look-I’m sorry for whatever I did to make you hate me so much. I just wish we could start over fresh.” Dave laughed.
“What it is that bugs me about you is something no one can change! Every time I look at you, I see the woman who killed my wife. And then I see how you act around Katherine. It’s like you two are best friends and I just can’t stand it!”
“We’re not best friends.” I defended. “And you can’t just change the fact that I’m the doppelganger. And look at it this way, if Katherine didn’t kill Isobel, you wouldn’t have met my mother. What you two have together- it’s something special, okay? I can see it.” Dave looked down at Snowball, who was curled up on his stomach. He petted the cat, then put her on the ground. Dave sighed.
“Look, it’s not that I don’t love your mom, it’s just-”
“You’re still torn up about Isobel, I get it.” Dave nodded.
“Well, I’m tired, and it’s late. I’m going to bed. And don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying right here tonight, I’m packing tomorrow, and then I am going to London.” I was reluctant to talk to Katherine again. I really was wondering why she was being so nice to me and why she kept calling me and coming over. Unfortunately, there was a quite dominant part of me that didn’t want to know the answer, the part of me that was just going along with everything because I was scared. I went upstairs to bed.

I heard the sound of my window opening and someone crawling in. I opened my eyes and looked at the time. 4:07 AM. I groaned. “Who’s there?”
“Katherine.”
“Ugh GO AWAY!!! Leave me alone! Geez, you’re like the little annoying sister I never wanted.” I pulled my pillow over my head.
“And I thought we were friends.” I lifted my head up to look at Katherine.
“We. Are. Not. Friends.” I growled.
“And after all we’ve been through...”
“We’ve been through nothing. You’ve been following me around since I got back home, and, quite frankly, it’s kind of creepy.” Katherine’s eyes were turning black. She was angry.
“Why are you being so nice to me anyways?” I asked, still half asleep. Her eyes returned to her normal brown color and she sat down on my bed next to me.
“ Because-believe it or not- there is a part of me that still feels, a part that misses people and needs friends. After Isobel died-I’m sure you’ve heard that story-I didn’t have any friends. I’ve been alone for 300 years. Then, your little friends came with their pencils and vervain. I heard them talking about you, how you were a vampire doppelganger I thought if you were like me-if we were like, the same person, then we could be friends.”
“We’re not the same, Katherine.”
“I know that now.”
“You’ve been forcing yourself on me.”
“I know. I’m sorry.” she stroked my hair.
“I’ll leave you alone for now. I’m here for you, though. And I’m still coming to London, by the way. You just won’t see me as much. If you need me, text 911 to this number.” she tore a piece of paper out of my journal and wrote something on it. She put the piece of paper on my bedside table and started to go back out my open window.
“Goodnight, kiddo.”

My alarm started beeping. 7:45 AM. I smacked the off button on my alarm clock and sat up. My dark hair was a mess and I had the imprint of the wrinkles of my pillow on my face. Great. I started to wonder whether the conversation with Katherine really happened. I checked my bedside table and, sure enough, the torn piece of paper was still there. I copied the number into my cell phone’s contacts and flushed the piece of paper down the toilet, as to dispose of it so no one knew of our previous conversation. After that I went downstairs, ate breakfast (human food), and went back upstairs to pack. I was just about to pack my journal when I heard a noise. Tap. Tap tap. Tap tap tap. It was coming from my window. I went over to my window and slid it open. “Little help here?” I recognized that voice. That was Alec’s voice. I looked down and saw him hanging from my window sill.
“How?”
“Invite me in.”
“No!”
“Kieyra just do it before your neighbors call the cops!”
“Alright, alright, you can come in, geez.” in a matter of seconds Alec was standing in my room.
“What are you doing here?” I snapped.
“Why is it that you hate me so much?”
“I don’t know, why is it that you show up and leave at the most inconvenient times?”
“if it helps at all, I took your advice and chose my side.”
“Oh, and what would that be?”
“I quit working for Damien.”
“How do you quit working for someone like him?” I asked.
“Not without pain.” He showed me numerous scars on his hands.
“Ouch.”
“Yeah.” He looked at my suitcase. “Where are you going?”
“London, Ontario, to visit my grandparents.” I explained.
“Oh. Well, have fun, I guess.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing.”
“This is why I’m always so mad at you! You don’t tell me ANYTHING useful, you pop in and out whenever you feel like it, and everything I ask you gets a vague non-response!” I heard someone coming up the stairs.
“Look, I’ll explain later, but I have to go!” then he was gone.
“Everything okay in there?” Sarah asked.
“Um, yeah, I was just talking to my friend on the phone. I’m fine.

Chapter Eight-Wherein Anna Gets Grounded For Eternity And I Get Sent To Grandma's House

The moment Tegan’s dad dropped me, Katie, and Anna off I knew I was in trouble. Tegan’s dad had picked us up ‘cause my mom was working and Dave was paying taxes. When we walked in, Dave shouted “Annabelle Mariana Wilkins and Kieyra Mary Lynn Gordon, you two are SO grounded!” He sounded stern. Like, really stern. “For how long?” Anna asked.
“Eternity!”
“Okay...now what’d I do?”
“Come. Here.” We found Dave in the living room. Charlie the guinea pig lay covered in blood and dead in his cage. Dave was gripping angrily onto a piece of paper.
“This...” he started, “This is why you’re grounded.” He handed us the paper to read.

Dear Little Davey,
Did you like my little artwork with the guinea pig? Betcha thought I was locked up, didn’t you? I hear you got yourself a little girlfriend. Over Izzy yet? I doubt it. Well, anyways, you can thank your precious little Annabelle and my pretty little doppelganger for my release. Silly little girl, that Anna is... Speaking of, I’d like to speak to Kieyra sometime soon. You could give her that message, couldn’t you?
Love,
Katerina Petrova

“It wasn’t my fault! Kieyra made me do it!” Anna pointed to me accusingly.
“Okay, that is NOT true.” Anna looked at me, as if to say “what the hell are you talking about!”
“Okay, maybe it is a little bit true.”
“She negotiated with me.” Anna explained.
“You can’t ground me.” I said in a smart-aleckey tone.
“Oh? And why not?”
“Because,” I chuckled, “What’re you gonna tell my mom when she asks WHY I’m grounded? Yes, Janette, I grounded your daughter because she let the woman responsible for my wife’s death out of a tomb and dragged my daughter into it? Oh, and by the way, we’re all vampires.”I smirked. Dave looked at me, then the floor, then the ceiling, then back to me again and sighed.
“Fine. You’re officially un-grounded.” he grumbled. I happily skipped off to my room.

Later that night, at dinner, I was playing video games with Nathen and Katie. Anna would have been playing too, except she was still mad at me for “freaking using” her. Her words, not mine. It was all silent until the phone rang. My mom ran to get the phone.
“Hello? Who? Yes, she’s here. Why? Okay, I’ll give her the phone. Kieyra, it’s for you!”
“Who is it?” I asked. My mom put the phone back to her ear.
“Who is this?” there was a female voice on the phone, and then “Kat, from school,” she said, “She says you two are working on a project together.”
“Oh. Right.” I said, as if I knew what the heck she was talking about. I took the phone from her.
“Hello?”
“Did you get my little message?” One word. Katherine.

“Yeah, um, I did do some of the work on the project. I’m actually gonna go upstairs and read it to you.” I said, loud enough so Dave and Mom could hear. I ran upstairs into my bedroom and turned on the water in the bathroom.
“Nice cover.”
“What do you want, Katherine?”
“I need you to sneak out tonight, meet me at the park across town from your house with the tire swing at midnight. Don’t tell anybody where you’re going or who you’re meeting.”
“And if I don’t come?”
“Then you’ll suffer the consequences. Goodbye, Kieyra.” There was a click and then a dial tone.

It was exactly 11:47 PM and I was ready to go. The only problem was, Dave was pacing outside me and Anna’s doors, and the only window that I could get through and climb out of without landing on something hard and making noise was Nathen’s. The only problem was that Nathen’s room was on the other side of the house, which means I would have to get past Mom and Dave first. Then it hit me. I walked out of my room and started walking to Nathen’s room. “Where are you going?” Dave stopped me.
“Nathen’s room. It’s hot in mine and he has the best air conditioning in the house. Is there any other reason to go into Nate’s room? Dave, come on. If I was gonna escape I would have done so already. My room does have windows, you know.”
“Fine.” He let me past. Once I was in Nathen’s room, I changed into my skinny jeans and long sleeved shirt, put on my high-tops and started silently opening the window. Nathen started to wake up. “Kieyra?” he asked sleepily.
“Shh! It’s a dream, you’re dreaming.” I reassured. Nathen nodded and went back to sleep. Then I made my escape.

“You’re late.” Katherine said. I checked my phone. 12:03 PM.
“My brother almost caught me.”
“I was starting to think you wouldn’t show.” I smiled.
“I’m not scared of you, Katherine.”
“You should be. Anyways, I need you to keep this safe for me.” She handed me a smooth blue rock. I turned it around in my hand a few times.
“What is this?”
“Lapis lazuli, the one Damien needs to break the curse.” I put it in my pocket.
“And you’re giving this to me why?”
“Cause Damien thinks I have it and it’ll throw him off guard.” she said. It was hard to notice in the dark, but Katherine had changed from her filthy dress into a black leather jacket and tight skinny jeans. She had showered for the first time in a VERY long time, and her hair was now even MORE perfectly curly, if that was possible. She was only about an inch and a half taller than me (I'm 5 foot 5). We could pass for sisters. Hell, we could pass for twins. She noticed my constant stare and smiled. “This whole doppelganger thing fascinates you, doesn’t it?”
“Just a little.” I admitted.
“You better go. Besides, I have somewhere to be.” then she disappeared. I went back home and crawled up to Nathen’s room. And then, it all went downhill.


“Well, well, well, look what we have here.” My mom stood with Dave and Nathen in front of the window.
“Um...hi mom. Hi Dave. Hi Nate.” Mom rolled her eyes.
“Where were you? Out “chillin with your peeps”?” I sighed.
“No, mom. I went to go help my friend, the one who called me, with the project. She texted me, and it was late, so I left. I’m sorry mom.” I lied.
“Well, it was for school purposes...you’re not grounded. Yet.” My mom left the room. I left to go to my room, but Dave followed me. “Cut the crap, where were you really?” he asked.
“What in hell makes you think I’m gonna tell you?” he pinned me up against the wall by my neck.
“I. Can’t. Tell. You.” I said, struggling to break free of his grasp.
“And why not?”
“Because I’m a good friend.” He let me go and I went to bed.

The next morning, my mom knocked on my door at seven AM, even though it was a Saturday. “Go away.” I groaned, pulling my pillow over my head. “I just talked to Grandma. I’ve arranged for you to go to her house for a couple of weeks. Maybe it’ll help you to get away from all the stress that this new life is causing you.” Mom’s been going on about this stress thing ever since we moved in with Dave. It’s quite frankly very annoying.
“Moooooooooom!” I whined.
“Don’t you mom me. You’re going and that’s final.”

It’s not that I have anything against my grandparents. Really, I love them. It’s just that for a few years now my Great Aunt Harriet has been living there, and she, like, hates me. Every time I come over she says something mean to me and then goes on about some prophecy/devil nonsense that no one understands. It’s getting worse with age.

Worst. Punishment. Ever.