BloodRed

They drove me home even though I said I could ride the bus. Apparently, since I’m a vampire I have to stick with the vampires. I told them I won’t be doing that and they’re still unhappy about it. “Do you want to come tonight?” Mika asked.

I shook my head as I got out. “No thanks. I’m still full from what I had yesterday.”

Mika sighed and came with me to the door. “I’m glad there’s another girl in our group,” she said. “It sucks being surrounded by boys.”

“You’re married to one of them,” I pointed out.

“True.”

“How long have you been alive for, Mika?” I asked.

“Jem and I have been around for about three hundred years. Robin was turned two hundred and ninety years ago. Joined us two hundred and fifty years ago. I married him a week after he joined.”

“Why?”

“He’s handsome, brave, and his gift can fix my mistakes. When I saw him I just knew I wanted t spend internity with him. I love him even with his flaw.”

“It’s a pretty big flaw,” I muttered.

She smiled. “It is. But I’m confident he’ll change.” She started walking back to the car. “Bye, Kelsey.”

“Bye, Mika.” I went in. The place smelt like wet dog. I instantly knew what it was. I moved slowly toward the living room. Someone with brown hair and brown eyes looked at me. I realized who it was. “Justin?”

He smiled. “Hey, Kells.”

“You left,” I blurted. “Twelve years ago, you left. What are you doing here now?”

He stood. “I had to leave. Kells, I’m not human.”

“You’re a werewolf, I know,” I said curtly.

He nodded. “And you’re a vampire.”

“So?”

“I left because I became a wolf. I didn’t want to bring you into the supernatural world.”

“Now I’m involved.”

“Yes.”

“A werewolf tried to kill me.”

He winced. “Rogue. A lot of people have left the pack.” He scowled. “Besides, a vampire actually killed you.”

I glared. “Robin thought he needed to do that to keep me safe.” Wait. When did I start defending Robin?

“You’re friends with him.”

“No, I’m not. I don’t talk to him. Mika and Jem are the only ones I’m friends with.”

He held up his hands. “This isn’t why I came here.”

“Then why did you come?”

“Because my pack leader wants to see you.”

“Why?” I asked suspiciously.

“He didn’t tell me.”

I hesitated. “Does this wolf have a name?”

“Hex.”

“She isn’t going anywhere without me,” a velvety voice said.

I whirled. “Jem!”

He looked at Justin coldly. “Is that clear?”

Justin’s jaw tightened and his eyes turned hard. “Is there a reason you need to come?”

“I don’t trust you mutts. One of you already tried to hurt her. I’m not letting her walk into a pack of them.”

“Fine,” Just growled. Je headed for his car.

Jem led the way to his. We got in. I could tell he was pissed. “Hey, if a problem shows up, I can use my gift,” I said, trying to lighten the mood. If I can just makes him not mad, I can get information out of him. Like how the hell he knew about Justin.

His jaw was clenched. He started following Justin as he pulled away. “Not funny, Kelsey.”

“I wasn’t trying to be,” I said defensively. “I was just trying to lighten the mood. When did you show up at the house?”

“I never left.”

I frowned. “Why?”

“I could hear his thoughts.”

“Oh.” I sighed. “Justin and I had been friends when we were five. He left when we were six.”

“He’s different.”

“So am I,” I pointed out.

“You didn’t have a choice. Robin took that from you.”

“He probably didn’t either. Werewolves can be born or made. I know that much. I didn’t get a chance to ask if he had been born one or not.”

“Werewolves and vampires don’t get along.”

“I can tell,” I muttered.

He glanced at me. “If I hadn’t shown up, would you have gone with him?”

“I don’t know. You showed up while I was still questioning him.”

He sighed. “I got mad.”

“You’re still mad.”

“Maybe ‘pissed’ would be a better word.”

I smiled. “Maybe.” He was calming down.

“I just don’t think it’s a good idea to go there alone.”

“I’m not going alone. You’re coming.”

He smiled a little. “Just be prepared to stop a fight.”

I frowned. “Huh?”

“Hex and I don’t get along.”

I snorted. “You don’t say?” I paused. “Werewolves and vampires. I wonder what will pop into my life next.” Then a thought occurred to me. “We’re lucky my parents aren’t home.”

He rolled his eyes. “Your parents are so laid back that I doubt they’d say anything.”

“How did you know that?”

“You think about them a lot during class.”

I laughed. “You should be glad it was them I was thinking about.”

He raised an eyebrow. “What else would you be thinking about?”

Inappropriate stuff about you, I thought but quickly pushed it out of my mind. But from his slight smile, I knew he had heard that thought. I blushed. “Killing Robin. Who I like in this world. Supernatural stuff. My life.” Oh, and about embarrassing myself. UGH!

He laughed. “Okay. I see your point. Your point. Your parents go on yearly trips?”

I rolled my eyes and sighed. “They call it a yearly trip but they go on big trips like this three to four times a year. So it’s not really yearly.”

“I see.”

Justin pulled into a garage and parked. Jem parked behind him. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. It helped calm me though vampires don’t need to breathe. I looked at Jem. “Let’s do this.”

“Don’t leave my side,” Jem said.

I nodded and we got out. Justin led us to an open area and we were surrounded instantly.

“Well, I remember inviting one of you. The other isn’t welcomed,” the male in the middle said. He had red hair and brown eyes.