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My hand involuntarily jerked forward going straight into the fire. I shut my eyes waiting for the flame to singe and burn my skin but...

I opened my eyes.

The fire danced around my hand and arm as if my arm were a being licked. I pulled my hand out slowly but it followed like an obedient dog. An, also involuntary, smile spread across my face.

This felt normal, in a way. Like... I'd done this before. I lifted my arm and watched the fire burn around my hand and arm tickling me with each stroke.  My body started turning around and my eyes landed on a screaming man in the distance. I couldn't make out his face but I could see the greyish large wings of... An owl? A bird? Whatever it was, it started lifting into the air and floating off into the smoke filled sky. I stepped forward but a hand stopped me. My head turned toward the person and I gasped.

The hooded man chuckled.



****



"Miss Gardiner!!"

I was startled awake by a small shove; my head turned toward Ian next to me but he only shook his head and laughed. Mrs. Cortez narrowed her eyes at me. "¿Qué dije?"

I gulped and shook my head trying my best to forget about the dream. 

It's Wednesday. 

I've been having dreams like that since Saturday night. Except this one... 

This one was different. I'd never touched the fire before and the hooded man had never appeared.

My Spanish teacher tapped her foot repeatedly waiting for me to answer.

What did she say...? Oh! She asked me what she just said! Crap, that doesn't help...

"Um...¿Puede repetir a ti mismo?" I asked.

She frowned. "I'm disappointed to see you sleeping in my classroom. I've never had to repeat myself with you."

I cleared my throat. "Sorry,"

She raised an eyebrow and turned back to the electric whiteboard. A small piece of paper moved in front of my notebook. I opened it and read, "What's up with you? X"

I glanced up at Ian and wrote back. "I haven't been sleeping well lately ;("

I passed it back and watched him read it. He wrote back, "Have you gone loco?"

I chuckled and Mrs. Cortez turned her head toward me. I cleared my throat and continued pretending to write down notes.

Class finished as quickly as it started. Only because I slept through half of it.

Ian walked with me toward my locker. He came back today from... God knows where. "So, where have you been?" I wondered out loud.

"Oh, well my dad came over last week. My mom was still a bit baffled at his arrival and my uncle sort of threw him out on his ass."

I nodded slowly and wished I'd never asked. It wasn't any of my business to pry anything out of him.

"Sorry," I mumbled.

He waved it away with a smile. "No worries."

Jayden suddenly popped up with a grin. "Mr. Lamb," He bowed to Ian.

"Sir Lockwood," He bowed back.

I rolled my eyes and opened my locked.

"What are thy duties today, Mr. Lamb?" Jayden said with a crappy English accent.

"Thou shalt not tempt fate, Sir Lockwood," Ian said also with an English accent slightly better than Jayden's.

"Thou art pitiful," I mumbled imitating them. Of course, my accent was so much better.

Ian and Jayden turned to me in outrage.

"Excuse you!" Ian said normally.

"Yeah! You're not part of this. And we are so not pitiful." Jayden nudged my arm. 

I closed my locker and started toward my next class. Jayden followed but Ian went toward his class.

"Jay, can you come with me to the mall after school?"

He shrugged. "Sure, if you don't mind buying me a muffin."

I halted to a stop and stared at him. "A muffin?"

He looked at me as if I were crazy. "Yeah! I've been craving a muffin for hours. And I'm wondering if they'll have any at lunch."

"When has the cafeteria ever had muffins?"

He shrugged. "They did it in the 9th grade."

I sighed and walked into calculus. Mr. Duncan scowled at me. "Ah, Mis Gardiner; I'm hoping you won't be falling asleep in my class again."

I shook my head and smirked. "No Sir, I got enough sleep in Spanish."

He shook his head and brought the class to order.

The seat where Gabriel usually sat was empty. He told me he had "Stuff to do," and so did Tristan. So at the moment I'm unprotected.

Sucks to be me doesn't it?

I sent Gabe a quick text to let him know where I was going after school and he told me to act normal and not be too paranoid. But I mean, naturally how could I not be?

The day went by quickly and soon enough, Jayden and I were getting out of my car and walking toward a freaking bakery to get his muffin.

He chuckled. "I can't believe you're actually buying me a muffin."

I pulled my jacket off in the warm Carolina heat but tightened my scarf. "Yeah, well you wanted a muffin and I asked you to come here as a favour so thanks-"

Jayden interrupted me with a hug. "Alex, shut up. You know I would have said yes anyway. Your turn."

I ordered the blueberry muffin and a cookie for me. When I handed over the money the guy at the cash register paused. I raised a brow at him. He was staring down at something.
I looked down at what he was looking at and groaned.

The rash on my arm and hand... Well let's just say, it's red, its rough and it looks disgusting. But still, it's rude to stare.

I cleared my throat and he jumped.

"Sorry," He mumbled.

"Yeah, keep the change."

Jayden and I walked out but Jay was unusually quiet. 

"What?" I asked him.

"What's up with your hand?" He asked.

I shrugged. "Just a rash. No big deal." Even though it was apparently so much more than a rash.

He nodded and took a huge bit out of his muffin.

The reason I needed to go to the mall was to see if maybe they sold 'The Book of Enoch' in a book store. The book still hadn't been returned to the library yet so I had to settle on looking for it.

But as soon as I got there and asked whether they had it, they told me they didn't sell it. Suddenly, there was this weird cold feeling crawling up my spine.

"Yo!" Jay said in my ear. "What's up with you?"

I clenched and unclenched my hands. "Nothing; they just don't have the damn book I'm looking for."

We walked out and he started babbling about what Tracey asked of him yesterday. "She asked me out. Seriously, I would never think she would though. I mean, we've known each other for how long now...?"

A blond woman walked past me and did a double take. She slowed down and started staring at me with wide blue eyes. She carried on walking but she kept looking back.

Odd.

Jayden stopped and walked into Hollister telling me he'd be right back. I rolled my eyes and sat on the bench outside scrolling through my phone.

A blond man walked out of a Nike store and started looking around.

His eyes landed on me for a brief second but then he looked again. His blue eyes also widened, but his was more obvious.

He looked like he wanted to come over here but Jayden blocked my vision. "Hey, who you staring at?"

I shook my head. "Nothing, come on let's go into Abercrombie. I think my brothers working."

I ignored some of the eyes I could feel on me as we walked into Abercrombie. I love Abercrombie. It's always like a night club in here, it was a bizarre phenomenon really.

My brother came over to greet us. "Hello Jay and hello ugly."

I scowled. "Shut up. Get me a discount?"

He laughed. "Hell no." He turned to Jayden. "Jay, do you want a discount?"

"Sure thing!" Jay said and then he was off.

I sighed and rolled my eyes. "Thanks a lot Anthony. I'm gonna look around anyway."

"Don't steal anything Alexis!!" He laughed and greeted the other people coming in behind me.
I started looking through piles of clothing on the first floor and found a nice black polo.

Whispering filled my ears but I ignored it.

That was until I got tapped on the shoulder.

I turned toward the person and mentally scowled. Another blond. But this time it was three male blonds.

The one in front of me stared at me. I cleared my throat and he smiled. His bright blue eyes bore into me.

"Can I help you?" I asked him.

He shook his head slowly. "No,"

I shifted uncomfortably. "Then, um, what?"

He tilted his head in the cutest of ways. All three of them were swim suit model beautiful. One of them had grey eyes and neatly groomed hair, the last one had blue eyes with flecks of grey and hair that shot out in all directions and the one I was talking to now had bright blue eyes and also neatly groomed hair.

"I just wanted to see your face," He said with an oddly familiar smile.

I cleared my throat. "Is that a pick up line?"

He chuckled. "Not at all," He held out his hand. "Such a pleasure to meet you, Alexis."

My heart stopped and that horrible cold feeling crept up my spine again. I stared at him. "How do-"

"I heard that man over there say your name," He pointed to Anthony.

Have I met this guy before? And how old is he, 20, 21? Why does he look so... Familiar.

"I'm sorry but have we met before?" I asked him.

His perfect mouth curved into a smile. "No... Not at all."

My eyes narrowed. I opened my mouth to say something but a hand dropped on my shoulder with a firm grip.

"Alexis, darling! I've been looking everywhere for you!" Maryanne stood in between me and the blond.

The two blonds took a huge step back apart from the one talking to me. His gaze hardened almost immediately but he didn't look frightened, no he looked pissed off.

I tilted my head in confusion. Did she know them?

She turned toward the blonds while keeping an arm wrapped around my waist.

"Cameron, didn't expect to see you here." She said with a tight smile.

He remained calm and smiled. "Good evening Maryanne. We were just leaving."

Her arm tightened. "I'm sure you were."

Elizabeth popped out from behind a rack of clothing with a mean look on her face. I shrank into Mary's side. I've never seen Liz look so... Scary.

Cameron, the one I was talking to, nodded his head at Elizabeth. "Long time no see."

She nodded back without a word or a smile.

"Well this has been nice," Mary said. "Next time, I hope we can sit down and have a cup of coffee." She said sarcastically.

Cameron frowned.

"Come on, Alexis." Mary started leading me out of Abercrombie. I stared back at the Cameron guy and watched a smile form on his face and his arm rise for a wave. For some reason I felt the need to wave back, but I stopped myself.

Ant raised a brow at me but smiled at Elizabeth. She smiled at him but mimed a sorry. Maryanne stopped and Elizabeth's arm replaced Mary's.

"I'll get the car. Alex, don't make any eye contact with any blonds except for Elizabeth." I laughed nervously assuming it was a joke. But it felt like it wasn't.

Elizabeth kissed my forehead and tightened her arm around my waist. "So, Liz," I said. "You wanna tell me what's with all the blonds eyeing me up?"

She laughed. "We'll tell you everything at the house."

I nodded but then I remembered. "I'm here with--"

"I've already explained to Jayden that you went home in an emergency. He said he'll call you later. He also said something about another muffin?" 

I giggled. "He loves his muffins."

Mary came out of the elevator and replaced Elizabeth.

"Come on, Human," Mary said. "Let's go before these big bad Immortals come and steal your soul."

Now that made me laugh.

But then it made me choke.

Immortals?! Were all of the blonde's immortals?!

Elizabeth went into my pocket and grabbed my car keys. Mary, however, kept her arm wrapped around my waist and led me to a different elevator. The three blonds strolled out of Abercrombie laughing. 

The elevator doors opened and Maryanne pushed me in a little.

The three of them smiled at me and one, I'm assuming is Cameron, waved. 

My hand twitched. 

"Wave if you want to, Alexis. I can practically see your body twitching." Mary said in a hard tone.

So I did.

Cameron grinned wider and I couldn't help but stare as the doors slowly closed.

As soon as Maryanne buckled me in the silver Mercedes like a freaking child might I add we started driving in silence down the now darkened highway. To my luck, there was traffic.
A lot of it.

And then there was rain. Except I like the rain.

Maryanne turned the radio station up and started singing to an old System of a Down song, Chop Suey.

"I don't think you trust, in... my... self righteous suicide. I... cry, when angels deserve to diiiieeee!!" She sung.

I turned it down and she scowled at me.  

"You could learn a lot from that song, princess." She winked. 

"That's it." I scoffed. I turned the radio completely off.

"Hey, Alex," She warned. "Just because you're my brother's girl doesn't mean I won't kill you."

I grimaced.

"You know, I only saved you because I had to. Not that I like you or anything but, those pure breeds do tend to get on my last feather."

My jaw clenched. "Why do you hate me?"

She shrugged. "It's what you become, that I hate. The whole big deal of it pisses me off."

"But obviously, I'm not... Whatever the hell I turn into yet. Why hate me for something I haven't even done?"

Her hands tightened on the wheel. "Because..." She stayed silent.

"Mary, we used to be good friends. I used to think of you as my sister. What happened?"

She shifted in her seat obviously uncomfortable with this conversation. "What happened... Is..."

"What?" I pushed.

She turned her head toward me. For once she looked like the normal Maryanne I used to know and not the blood thirsty one she became. I brought my hand out and rested it on her leg. She stared at it but then the horrible Maryanne returned.

I also looked down at my hand to see my rash covered one.

She moved her leg and my hand fell off.

"Both of us changed, Alexis. Someone in more ways than the other."

I turned to look out the window and watched the rain pelt and slide down it.

I haven't changed. I'm still me.

I looked down at my hand. Even if... I am turning into something... Important to this world and theirs.



**

"Explain to me why blondes were staring at me where ever I went please." I collapsed on the couch.

Mary sat on the floor watching TV while Liz sat beside me. 

"I mean, I've never drawn... Attention like that. Like ever."

Maryanne scoffed.

"Yes, well," Liz said. "Would you like me to explain?"

I nodded. "Please,"

She cleared her throat. "Well, you know now, judging by Mary's joke earlier that they are immortal." 

I nodded. Weird how I'm so used to hearing the word 'immortal' now.

"Yes well, you may have noticed you're going through some changes, correct?"

Once again, I nodded.

"Well, Alexis, you're not the only one who's noticed your changes."

I thought for a moment. "Wait a minute, your kind know what I'm going to become... before I do?"

Elizabeth crossed her hands in her lap. "I'm afraid so. You're getting closer; Lex and we aren't the only ones who know it anymore."

I leant back on the couch and shut my eyes. "So what, how long do I have?" I whispered.

"Nobody ever knows how long." Liz whispered.

She said it like it's happened before...

"The elders do." Mary mumbled. I wasn't sure whether I was supposed to hear that so I ignored it.

"Maryanne," Liz warned. "Just be careful from now on, Alex."

I shook my head. "How can I be careful?"

"Best thing is not to go out alone." Mary interjected. "Those Pure's will eat you up."

Liz scowled.

Something crossed my mind. "Wait a minute, these immortals running around the mall... Is it normal? I mean, does everyone know, as in humans, know that they're... You know, there?"

Liz shook her head. "Completely oblivious. Some of us just like... To shop."

I laughed. "Right." I scratched the back of my head. "Why are they blonde? And why do you keep calling them pure?"

Elizabeth shifted in her seat and looked down.

Mary stood up and pointed at Liz. "Blondes'. In our world a blond is what we call... Pure. As in they haven't done anything bad in their entire existence. Remember when I used to be a lighter shade?" She pointed to her hair.

I nodded.

"Well let me just say I didn't dye my hair, princess."

That horrible cold feeling went up and down my spine. But then a thought came to mind.

"If blondes are pure then brunettes or black hair is..."

Mary chuckled. "Damned---"

Elizabeth stood up. "Not all are damned, Mary."

"What about Gabriel?" I blurted out.

Elizabeth remained silent and even Mary did.

Now that frightened me. Gabriel couldn't be damned. He said it the other day but I didn't believe it. 

"Some have been wrongly accused. Our world is..." Liz scrunched her nose. "Very biblical."

Biblical?

The front door opened.

Tristan came in first actually wearing a t-shirt and so did Gabe. I actually took the time to look between Gabriel and Tristan. Tristan was a Pure and Gabe wasn't?

Gabe took one look at me and then snarled at Mary. "What have you done?"

She laughed. "Nothing unfortunately. Ask Tristan, I'm sure he knows."

Tristan started sneaking off but Gabe grabbed him.

"Alright, alright!" Tristan yelled. "A lot of immortals know Lex is... Changing."

Gabe's eyes widened and he looked at me.

"You wouldn't have believed it, Gabriel," Mary said. "Liz and I had to go down to the mall to get her out of an ambush. And guess who was a part of the ambush. Cameron."

Gabe's jaw clenched.

"Um, who's Cameron?" I asked.

"Forget you ever met him, Lexie." Gabe said sternly. "You shouldn't be seeing him again."

Mary scoffed. "Highly doubt that."

Gabriel growled.

I stood up. "Well, this has been fun. Learning that other people, oh I'm sorry, other immortals know what I'm gonna be before I do has been truly fascinating!" I said sarcastically. But then I looked at Liz. "Thanks for helping me," And then at Mary. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it," Mary said. "No but seriously. Don't."

I shook my head and gave Liz a quick squeeze. On the way out to my car, I felt someone's hand grab my arm. I turned around to see a worried Gabriel.

"What?" I asked.

He opened his mouth then shut it.

"Gabe, it's almost 8.30-"

He pulled me into his chest and wrapped his arms around me. I smiled into his shoulder and hugged him back.

"You realize I'm never leaving you again right?"

I giggled. "You're going to have to some day."

He nodded. "That's what I'm afraid of."



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(edited: 2023)