"It's only blood," I said, staring at the deep crimson color that had saturated the bottom of my shirt. My blood, at that, so it shouldn't have bothered me. But a part of me needed to remove and burn that shirt, making it a distant memory. 

I started the shower and let the hot streams of water flow over this body, erasing the memory of Zane's dark eyes. Vampires don't scare me, but I had never seen those colors before during a bloodlust. If only I had known Lucy had been cut. I wouldn't have pushed him. Maybe it's been a while since his last feeding?

I wrapped up in a warm towel and headed for the bookcase that lined the wall in the bedroom. The only thing I treasured. Most of the books were old literature and modern romance reads. I was a sucker for a happy ending. 

I hid two books in plain sight as they were the most important. I lifted the loose wooden panel on the wall beside the bookcase. Within the small cubby, I pulled out the two books.

The first was dusty, old, and bound by leather. The book looked like it would fall apart at any moment. On the front was an imprint of a feather. Every phoenix was given theirs at birth, and they had to guard it with their life. I carefully placed that book back into the small cubby, replacing the wooden panel with ease so no other eyes could gaze upon it. I kept the other and got dressed. I made myself comfortable before the fire and opened the pink notebook with a pen, ready to conquer the page.

My diary was as sacred as my phoenix guidebook. This book contained every thought, every memory, and every action I had ever taken from the moment I took my human form at sixteen. It was utterly forbidden and illegal. If I were ever caught, the punishment would be severe. When it was time, the diary would go up in flames along with the house. The guidebook, on the other hand, was rebirthed with us.

Deep purple haunted me as my pen etched the memory out on the page. If I could write it on paper, I could lock it away in the walls and not within my brain. Screams of chaos swirled around in my memory as I recalled the nightmarish scene. I could only be grateful I ran when I heard the first notes of Kathryn's song. Otherwise, this diary entry would not exist. But, maybe, I should have stayed just this once...

As the sun set, the time told me to dress for my night shift at the coffee shop, where the second part of my purpose awaited. Besides, a girl's got to eat.

Up All Night Coffee was nestled in the center of the small town. The downtown area consisted of only ten buildings, and the coffee shop was the only one open at night. The evening mainly served as a study hall for students or a vampire's hangout. The bell chimed as I opened the glass door and made my way inside. I sat my stuff in the back room, took the brown apron off the hook, and wrapped it around my waist.

When the moon was out, the coffee shop was always slow. Only three of us needed to work. Tonight, it was me, Kathryn, and our shift manager, Sybil. Sybil is in her early thirties. Her long black hair was consistently tied in a neat bun on the top of her head. My purpose in this life was to play cupid and Sybil was who I chose. Somehow, I had to get her and Mr. Schwertz to meet. Then I could burn.

I silently slid behind the counter, hoping for a quiet evening.

"Ember," Kathryn said. 

She spoke. And it was to me. I felt my eyes widen as I gazed at her without saying a word. I slowly backed up against the counter afraid of what actions she may take next, but she kept cleaning off the counter as she spoke to me.

"I know you like to keep to yourself," she said. "But when someone speaks to you, the polite thing to do is at least tell them hello."

"Hel...lo, K..K... Kathryn," I stuttered out. She looked up from her cleaning and smiled-a genuine smile.

"You ran, didn't you," she said. "I was hoping you would."

"I didn't stick around if that's what you mean."

"They shouldn't push you like that," she spoke quietly and gazed over at the far corner table. My eyes followed hers and spotted the coven of vampires from school, all except Zane, staring at me. I hadn't even noticed them.

"Thanks," I muttered. 

Kathryn was taking my side. To say I was surprised was an understatement. I glanced at the four vampires wondering where the strands of silver could be-my mistake. Antonio motioned for me to come over. As a barista, I had no choice.

I braced myself taking in a deep breath and left the warmth from behind the counter to walk over to their icy table. 

"Do you want to place an order?" I asked. A malicious grin formed on his face to show me his sharp fangs. I guess he thought they would intimidate me.

"You know we got reprimanded by our master," Antonio said. His arm was draped over the back of the booth while Athena, the blonde bombshell of a vamp, cuddled up to him. I think he preferred blondes. Good.

I leaned down at his table, ensuring no human ears could hear me. My elbows rested on the smooth surface as I slowly placed my chin on my hands. I confirmed my face was directly in front of his, not caring that my bottom was left in a predicament. He could not do anything to me in a public place.

"You deserved it," I whispered, letting my grin stretch for miles as I spoke. 

I slowly rose from the table watching Antonio lose control of his anger. Vampire rage humored me. Antonio tried to stand quickly, bumping the table. But Athena laid her hand on him, pushing him back down.

"Not worth it, babe," she said. He lightly kissed her cheek while keeping his dead grey eyes on me.

"You're right," he said, now without a hint of anger. "This firepit means nothing to anyone and will remain that way till the day she goes up in flames." 

The coven roared with laughter like it was the funniest joke ever. What they didn't know was I couldn't wait to rebirth and start my new life very far away from here.

"So, do you want to order?" I repeated, standing back up and acting as if the exchange of words had never happened.

"Could you bring me ice water, please?" 

His voice echoed like classical music from inside a cave, and I hated classical music. 

Zane slid into the booth beside Cynthia, his intended. She didn't hesitate to move her head from Nox's shoulder (the last vampire in their coven) to curl up next to Zane as he stretched his long arm across the back of the booth. Her long chocolate locks spread over Zane's chest as she leaned her head on his shoulder, and his fingers playfully twisted each strand lustfully. My emerald eyes glared at him. He knew I could not refuse his order.

"Coming right up," I said. 

My smile never faltered, but fire inside my veins exploded with a rage that I never knew I could possess, and he would not have the luxury of seeing that radiate off of me.

I heard the laughter behind me as my heels turned my body away from the scene to complete his order. He knew what this would do to me. I hated vamps.

A gust of air escaped my mouth as I sighed before I opened the dreaded ice box and scooped out a heap of ice, placing it into the translucent glass. I put the glass on the counter and looked up. Those irritating blue eyes were on me like I knew they would be. Fixated on every movement I was making, waiting for a mistake. I gritted my teeth and picked up the cold-water pitcher, pouring it slowly into the glass. Even with my shaky hands, I was careful not to spill one drop. I would not let him see me suffer.

"Do you want me to do that for you?" Kathryn asked.

"No!" I hissed, not meaning to be mean, but the pain was unbearable by this point. I know Zane enjoyed watching me in pain, but I was not a quitter. I would never give up.

"Fine," Kathryn mumbled at my stubbornness. All the while this was happening, Sybil sat at a corner table doing paperwork. However, I did notice her deep golden eyes looked up to watch the exchange.

With easy steps, I carried the ice-cold glass to Zane and sat it on the table before him.

"Here you go, sir," I managed to say through clenched teeth. 

With his dead hand, he pushed Cynthia off him, rising from the booth so he could stand directly in front of me. I quickly hid my right hand behind my back. The moisture from the glass alone had already left blisters on the palm of my hand. 

He stared at me for a moment. He either wanted to say or do something. I watched the internal conflict swirl around in his mind. But in one quick motion, Cynthia solved it for him. She grabbed the glass from the table and poured it over my head. I didn't move or scream. They were not worthy enough to see me in pain.

Instead, my eyes twinkled into my enemies as the water descended my body, burning my skin. Even though the pain felt like a thousand claws were ripping through my flesh, I plastered a pleasing smile with a tight jaw on my pleasant face.

"Now you know how we felt today," Cynthia said.

"I hope you burn," Antonio hissed into my ear suddenly beside me. As the vampires surrounded me, it felt immediately too crowded. I took a deep breath and let the sun take over my mind. "Be kind; you're in public," it kept repeating in my brain.

"Thanks, I was feeling a little hot," I said, barely opening my mouth but keeping my smile.

"You were right, Zane." Nox said as he lifted a strand of soaked hair and stared at me with his grey eyes. "This firebird is crazy." 

Antonio grabbed the sharp points of Nox's spiky blonde locks and pulled him away from me.

"OW!"

"Don't get too close to that bird or you'll catch something," Antonio said. 

I glanced up at Zane through the strands of my dripping hair. No emotions were written on his face as he watched the scene unfold. Just like a vampire, they are either angry or just don't care. He stood there like the frozen icicle he always was, not attempting to help. Not that I thought he would.

"Out, the likes of you!" Sybil's shouts were heard throughout the entire coffee shop. It emptied within a few seconds. Vampires and humans scattered at the sound of her booming voice. Kathryn rushed to my side with a warm towel, trying to dry my soaked body as fast as she could. It was my turn to be the icicle, standing frozen in place.

"Why would they do that?" Kathryn asked me.

"Vamps will always be vamps," I told her. "And vamps will always hate a firebird."

By this point, I was emotionless, too. Sybil ran out with more towels.

"My poor girl, teenagers can be such cruel creatures," she said. Sybil was a human, and humans had no idea.

"It was my fault, Sybil," I hissed out. " I guess I got their order wrong."

"That is no excuse. I will not tolerate that behavior while I am the manager."

"Can she go home? She needs a warm shower," Kathryn asked, trying to cover the rising steam coming off of my body. 

Why was Kathryn coming to my aid? I caused her problems earlier this morning, and now she was helping me. Sirens must hate vampires as much as phoenixes. I need to reread the guidebook and figure that out.

"Of course. Ember, go home."

"Thank you," I hissed out. I kept my face hidden under the towel. I didn't want her to see the blisters, to know I was different. That would cause more trouble.

To fly to the house would have been faster and easier, but unfortunately, it was too dark, and I was too weak. My body trudged its way back to the residence as if on autopilot, stopping for nothing. The moon illuminated the way for me. I gazed up at him. He constantly mocked me in the jet-black sky, but tonight, as his white light glistened off my soaked body, I felt he was comforting me for once.

I first flipped on the lights, making sure the house was empty. As I removed the clothes from my body, I had to take extra care not to rip the skin. This was why I didn't like the cold rain. I cringed as I snapped my fingers. But on the third try, I finally achieved a small flame and flicked it into the fireplace. I needed to dry.

The dryer my skin got, the more the blisters disappeared. Luckily, that's all it took to heal. I draped my body in soft clothing and plopped on the couch. That was when I spotted pink poking out from between the cushions. I grabbed hold of it and pulled out my diary. Fear ran through me.

"I could have been killed!" I spoke. I flipped through the pages, realizing it was just my mistake and that I had never put it up. Nothing had been touched. I made one more entry since it was already out, recalling my night with the hostile undead. Moments later, I returned the book to its hiding spot.

 I sank onto the bed, allowing my weary head to sink into the softness of my pillow. I hoped that my exhausted body had had its fill of today's events, and that it would lull me into a peaceful sleep, ready to face tomorrow anew. I rolled over, and there on my nightstand was the dreaded black cell phone. It stayed still, mocking me, just like the person who gifted it to me.

I grabbed the monstrosity and reared my arm back, aiming it at the wall. I was ready to smash the stupid thing. I should have never made a deal with the vampire. But I couldn't destroy it because he never touched me technically, and if I smashed it without reason, I broke the deal. Then he could touch me whenever he wanted.

The phone chimed as my brain ran through the thoughts of its inner turmoil. I didn't want to look at it because I knew who it was, the only person who had this number. As if my fingers had a mind of their own, they opened the text.

I'm sorry. 

Sorry? I read that once in a book. I believe the character replied "Sorry is just a word. You must prove it with your actions." But once again, my fingers led the way sliding across the keyboard, and I pressed send before I saw what I even typed.

You're forgiven.