ZONEVILLE PART II:The rage

AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR

I've been alone the whole morning going around in my head about all the information I got from mum's diary last night.
I cried myself to sleep.
Unbelievable.

This place has changed me a lot, I've been turned into a cry baby. I mean yeah is normal that I would feel as I felt last night after reading all that but if I was still me, I wouldn't have cried.
I would've held it in till I felt the need to hold my breath so I could feel that stinging pain in my lungs again. Now I just cry, cry unstoppobly.
I didn't like that, it made me feel weak, vulnerable. I was never like that. I don't like this side of me.

Jeremy left before I woke up which I didn't like but we already agreed of texting each other every now and then just to let each other know we were ok, wherever we where.
And he did.

After a quick breakfast I went to the secret room. He made a mess last night opening boxes and puIling things out to examin them. Do I have to fix all this now? 

I got in and started cleaning up. He sure didn't care about the mess he was making, papers all over the place, what was he looking for? After a while I decided that I couldn't take it anymore so I sat on the floor, in the middle of the room.
It turns out I was automaticly facing myself. My portray. Mom thought she was beautiful when she saw her, I wonder what she thought when she saw me coming through the door that first day I stepped into this house.
I remember Jeremy's shocked face and unconfortable stare when he picked me up from the airport.
Thinking about it now makes me smile. It seems so far away, that memory feels like in another time, in another era.
So long ago...

Mum called me Gabrielle because of Gabriella, and she gave me my own medallion back.
Ha! Was all this planned? Some stupid joke from de angel of destiny or something? Is somebody pulling strings? How is it possible that I come back, with the same name, the same medallion and the same vampires.

This was making me angry. Is history repeating itself?
There's something I've tried not to think about since the last time we went to Penelope's house.
The portray inside my medallion.
I've been carrying that my whole freaking live and I still do it but I don't know why. I don't know why I carried it before either, when I was still Gabriella.
In my dreams and visions -at Jenny's grams- I always had it with me. I even remember the night I died, when I looked myself in the mirror, I saw me smile while holding it in my hands and then when I followed him, Christopher -just a few hours before my engagment announcment- to where he was feeding, I saw clearly that I knew what he was and I didn't care.
But then with Leonard in the car and in the meadow.... I needed to stop thinking at that point, I was getting angrier by the second.
Why was I so dificult to understand. I always said that nobody could understand me and I thought it was them the ones that weren't trying, but no, it's me.
The problem is me.

The phone rang breaking my trail of thoughts so I run towards the office. It was Jenny and then Brook.

We all chatted on the phone for a while.  Jenny was complaining about Renzo all the time, -saying things like "wasn't anybody more easygoing available to look after me?"- I ignored that, and Brook- that by the way seemed distracted- seemed to have some sercret, something that I wasn't aware of. Whenever Jenny mentioned Renzo, Brook hissed at her and when I was about to ask her about who was protecting her I heard a knock on the door.
 "What's that?" Jenny asked "somebody is knocking on the door"
"don't open it" said Brook alarmed and then I think I heard her talking to someone else "are you ok Brook?" I asked and she repeated "Don't open the door".
"Have you girls seen anything else happening?" I asked and they both said no, so slowly I walked towards the door and opened it.

"Aaah Gabrielle finally" said Miranda before throwing her arms at me and locking me into a hug. What was she doing here?
"What are you doing here?" I said astonished. She leaned back to look at my confused face and said "first, you greet me and then you ask" I could hear Jenny and Brook from the phone yelling, asking what was wrong "I'm fine I'll call you later" I hanged up. I finally manage to compose my face and pulled Miranda in the house so I could close the door but not before I checked that nothing or nobody was out there. We went to the living room and I asked her to tell me how she was, I wanted to know what she was doing here but she asked me for a glass of water first, she said she was almost lost.
I shuddered at the thought of her alone in town.

So I went to the kitchen and got the glass. when I was about to fill it with water somebody knocked at the door again and she went to take it, I didn't think it was gonna be nothing I actually joked asking her if Zoe was coming too and then I heard my name, somebody was asking for me, I froze. Nobody ever came here looking for me and a million thoughts came to mind but mostly one in special.

Vampire.

I left the glass fall on the floor as I darted out the kitchen but he was already in, my heart almost stopped but it restarted as I saw Christopher standing at the entrance beside Miranda, it was still a vampire but at least it was one I could bear to be with in the same room without attacking us. "Can I have a word with you?" He said and walked towards me without hesitation. "I'll be in the living room" Miranda said after glaring at us and I walked towards the kitchen. He was already wolking towards me, what was oi suppose to do? If I tell him to get out Miranda would later ask me about it and I couldn't tell her anything.

I started picking up the broken glass that was scattered on the floor and soon after I started a pricked my finger. GREAT! Just a drop of blood came out but wouldn't that be enough? I stared at that drop fearing the fact that I had a vampire beside me and my memories went back to Leonard in the car the way he reacted to my cut. Would Christopher do the same? Would he resist? He took my hand -fulfilling like this my fear- but instead of what I thought he would do, he quickly opened the tap so fast -that at first I didn't know what he was doing- and put my finger under it, drying it later cautiously with a napkin. I shuddered at his touch and then he put his cold finger on top of mine, covering my cut, it felt as if I had a soft ice cube on it.

I stared at our fingers unmoved one underneath the other and I quickly shoved mine away and got back to picking the scattered glasses. He tried to help but I didn't allow him to. He stayed in silence -looking at me- after I finished and shoved them into the rubbish.

I didn't wanna turn to look at him and I'm that's what he was waiting for to start talking. I then caught his reflection on the mirrored cup board and he was in deep thought still looking at me, I was growing impatient, what did he wanna tell me? And then he broke the silence  "Do you love him?" I knew exactly what he meant and I could feel an edge of pain in his voice but I wanted to push him away so I tried more or less being rude.

"I don't see how that's your business" I said without turning, I could still see his reaction though, through the cup board.

He winced "It is my business cause I love you" he said making ME wince this time, I tried to keep calm " you do? Ha!" I said a bit more tempered that I intended to, I wasn't sure of why but I tried I really tried to push him away " Let me through!" I finally said turning to face him. I didn't want to stay alone with him anymore but he wouldn't move instead his face started growing darker by the second, I could see it clearly as his eyes were now locked into mine " What is it you like about him that always makes you leave me behind!" He said, he's eyes still on me but as if they were bringing back a painful memory. I didn't like his tone, he was now putting it on me I couldn't believe it. He continued "it happened before and is happening now I demand an answer of you, why do you keep going to him!" He said and a sudden rage roared through me "YOU gave up on me!" I suddenly said infuriated, "yes I did love him but I loved you more and you never did anything to take me away from him. YOU just accepted it" I stopped talking in shock for what I just said why did I say that? I didn't wanna say that, I don't even know what I'm talking about!!! He stared at me for a long few seconds that felt like minutes after he said "Grabiella" in a whisper his eyes now cautious but warm "is that true?" He kept saying but I didn't know why I said what I said and I was not Gabriella now " No" I said answering his question "I'm not Gabriella and you should leave now, please" I was shaking by now but he wouldn't move. He's eyes were still locked into mine, I tried to hide everything I was feeling now, it was like a hot wave carrying all sort of feelings and memories. Not my memories though, not Gabrielle's at least. I hoped he wouldn't read all that in my face but I was asking for to much, he was already trying to reach me "is that how you feel Gabriella?" He said again with a frown but his eyes were melting on mine. If it wasn't because Miranda came looking for me I don't know what would have happened. "It's everything ok?" She said glancing from me to Christopher "yes" I said at once stepping out of the way "and he's leaving" I looked at Christopher "for now" he said and turned towards Miranda, he never looked away from my face "it's been a pleasure meeting you Miranda" "same here" she said with a shy smile and he walked out the door. As soon as he did, Miranda grabbed me by the elbow and almost dragged me into the living room till she sat me on the couch. I knew this would happen.

"Tell me everything, who's he? Is he your bf? He's so hot. Oh my gos I sound totally like Zoe now" "breath" I said to her as she seemed to need it "he's an impossible so don't think about it"

"why? Wow the room irradiated static when I went in"

"please forget about it. Please" I insisted "now, what brings you here? really"

"I was worried about you honey, the last time we spoke you were very confusing and you looked a bit freaked out too. We haven't spoken since then, I figured I should come down and surprise!" She screamed making me jump "you were right though this place is creepy" we spent most of the evening catching up, well almost. I could barely talk about my life. She cried with me when I talked about Elizabeth and dad. It felt so nice to have her here with me but I was afraid at the same time. She shouldn't have come, it was dangerous. Jeremy came home late evening and he obviously got a surprise when he saw Miranda there. I introduced them and she apologised for coming without previous notice, Jeremy just smiled -the same way he used to- and ordered pizza for dinner. I asked him where he went but he just ignored my question. He was acting a bit strange lately, I thought I wouldn't have to worry about him and the council but his sudden escapes from home made me wonder curiously what he was up to.  While I had a quick shower Jeremy and Miranda submerged themselves into a tell-me-about-Gabrielle's conversation. Ugh!!

When I got downstairs I heard another voice at the door, a male. I guessed it was the delivery and it was, but as I walked closer I realised about that certain characteristic on his face that made me rigid. He was pale. a pure snow white. Damn it Vampire!.

I run towards the door pushing Jeremy out of the way when the vampire was giving him back the change, I took the pizza from his hands and close the door saying "thank you" for the deliver.

"Why did you do that for?" Jeremy said looking at me very confused, oops now what do I say??? There must have been a fly around cause I heard a buzzzz around me which made me suddenly say "bees" ha! "There were bees around him, I hate bees, I'm allergic to them" I said and I thought I had it under control but Miranda's sudden "since when?" Made me paralyse, she knew very well those things didn't bother me "are you ok?" Said Jeremy touching my forehead "of course, I'm fine, I'm happy. My best fried is here and we have pizza!! shall we go?" I didn't give them time to react as I was already pushing them towards the kitchen. Miranda was still looking at me with her brows lifted, she surely wouldn't let this pass. I could already be expecting a quiz about my behaviour.

Dinner was quick easy to deal with as they were still talking about me. Jeremy asked her everything he could, from my favourite movie to how many friends I had. He glared at me -an I KNEW it glare- when Miranda confessed that my character was so difficult to deal with that I just had her and Zoe as friends and that was because we grew up together otherwise I would have become a loner "ha!" Jeremy said when he heard the loner word coming out of her mouth. He was proud of his intuition. He already guessed on my first day of school that I was a possible loner.

It was time to go to bed and I feared Miranda, very much. As I predicted once we were in my room she started shooting questions. "What's that silly thing about you being afraid of bees? Why did you react like that back there? Who was that cute guy? Do you still have those nightmares you told me about?" She stared at me waiting for my answers but I could not speak to her about it. She would leave in 2 days anyway, she didn't need to be afraid while staying here.

She guessed by my silence that I wasn't gonna talk and she sighed "you know you can trust me right?" I nodded "well whenever you want to talk about it just let me know" I nodded again and soon after that we fell asleep.



TO BE CONTINUED......

ZONEVILLE PART II:The rage

ELIZABETH

Mother's love

I was in my room by now.

Jeremy was into the secret room in mum's office when I got home. I went to check on him and he was reading and checking out every file, every relic and every portray he saw.

I didn't even want to have dinner; I went right upstairs after checking on him.

I lie on my bed facing the ceiling, letting my thoughts wonder around. I couldn't get Sarah -now dust in the air- out of mi mind. The way she looked at me...she wanted me dead and all those vampires out there were waiting for their chance too.

Talking to Leonard, knowing a bit more about him made my heart thumb anxiously and I had to admit that that was the part of him I liked -strangely- he always talked. He did it as if there was no difference between us; he just talked freely telling me everything. He never edited -I think- he was not afraid of what I could think. Christopher in the other hand never said the whole story; he never spoke so freely he never was...

I stopped there as I realized I was starting to compare. I shouldn't be comparing, in fact I shouldn't even be allowing Leonard to get that close and I shouldn't allow any of them to get that close. What was I thinking!! He almost kissed me again! And I was about to let him do it! Idiot!!! But he was out there and I couldn't help but wonder what was happening out there.

He didn't seem distressed or afraid as he told me to walk into the house but still there was something out there that he didn't want me to be close to.

I let my mind wonder again, trying to brush the stupid worry away, I shouldn't even care...but I did.

Knowing that Mr. Kent was a vampire too, was shocking; it made no sense to me. Is true that Christopher and him, seemed more attune than anybody else in school but he looked so…human, I could have never guessed. Make up he said? I couldn't help but start laughing and it also made me wonder if there were more vampires in this town that I wasn't aware of. 

I decided that they were too many things to think about at the moment and I needed a rest from all that so I took mum's diary and started reading again. This time paying more attention to the entries and avoiding reading embarrassing things.

I continued a bit farther from where I left it last time. Everything was the same for almost a year and a half. Her diary was monopolized to their wonderful relationship, which I was really happy about.

Then I stopped in a halt at the page where she commented about their first couple argument. She complained about daddy not trusting her enough to start making assumptions. Daddy was angry at her as he named all the guys that claimed to have had something with her while in the relationship. Her writing was disorganized by these paragraphs, it looked like she wasn't paying much attention to what she was writing and some things didn't make sense at all. She was furious. Annoyed at the fact that dad doubted her. And then I found it. The start point of all her problems, problems I wanted to know about to understand her. Meredith was engaged by now to a Californian business man when she received the call.

Johan

• Meredith says that we have to leave today. I haven't even had a chance to say goodbye to Johan. I don't wanna leave him and Meredith is not telling us what's going on!! She even had an argument with Trevor -her husband to be- but she wasn't going to back up on her decision. I had Jeremy with me while we packed our stuff, tears in our eyes so we heard them. She finally said "my dad is in the hospital at the moment, we need to go" I gasped at that thought. "You don't need to pack all your stuff!! You are coming back" he said but she didn't reply. The house was in silence for a while I even told Jeremy to stop moving, I wanted to listen “cause you ARE coming back, right?" Trevor insisted and after a while "I can't" she had said and I had to close the door, I couldn't listen anymore. Dad is in the hospital, we need to leave now and we are NOT coming back that just meant one thing, he's been attacked. I have to go now I'll write on the plane.

Woow I felt a rush at the moment, so that's why she left without a word. Me and my stupid prejudices.

• Meredith is worried; I can see it in her face even if she tries to hide it. Dad must be really hurt but I feel fine. I guess it hasn't gotten to me yet. The pain.I'm sure once we hit Zoneville I'll start breaking down. Jeremy is sleeping beside me, he's been crying since we heard Meredith talking to Trevor. Poor Jeremy, hope dad is ok, I don't think I could handle loosing him too. We wouldn't be able to handle it. I wonder how Johan is, I tried to call him but my battery died. I'll call him again after I see dad.

• Dad is been badly hurt. He's in a coma now, I can't stop crying. The doctor says they are just waiting to disconnect. DISCONNECT!!! They are going to disconnect my DAD!!! Are they mad? Why? Why he must die too? Why did mother have to die? Why is all my family dying!!!? There's something terribly wrong with this town.Meredith left with the council like 2h ago. I'm at the waiting area of the hospital with Jeremy. He's cried himself to sleep; it really hurts me seeing that he has to go through all this again, I wish I'd  

You wish what?! I started yelling to the diary… Keep reading Gabrielle keep reading I thought.

• Couldn’t today get any better? I just came from dad's funeral. Sorry I haven't been writing these past few days but I wasn't in the mood, I'm sure you understand. Well yeah dad's gone too and I feel like another crack is opening in my heart. I can't stand it!! But the worse thing is that I think I'm pregnant, what am I gonna do?! Like I said, any better?

Oh god I've been waiting to get to this part but now I wasn’t sure if I wanted to know. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes trying to hold in the tears. Ok, I said breathing through my mouth. Grandpa died and she found out she was pregnant, I sighed. Keep reading Gabrielle keep reading.

• I still have to take a test but I'm sure I am, I've missed 6 days already and my period is too regular for that. As soon as I take the test I'll call Johan. He must be really worried I haven't had the chance to call him yet. Everybody is downstairs and Meredith, I feel really annoyed with her at the moment. She's been acting really weird saying the council this, the council that. She's always with them. Sometimes she doesn't sleep at home she spends practically the whole day out!! Dad just died and there's something out there how can she leave us alone!!! Jeremy is still a child and I'm carrying one!!! I haven't told her that though, not yet. I'm scared. Trevor came for the funeral and I think he's staying with us. They have argued a lot. Trevor works in California but Meredith wants to stay here, why? Why would she want to stay? We should all leave.

I have to admit that Trevor it's been an angel with us, I don't get how he can handle that tornado like sister I have. I'm glad he's staying. The council is now downstairs and there's one that's been really nice to us, he's name is Byron, I think.

I gasped, NICE? Byron? So he can actually get into our house, he's been invited before. He's been able to get in all along.

Unbelievable!

Meredith has prohibited us to invite estrangers in the house as if there would any in this town where everybody knew each other, absurd. Oh my gosh if I'm really pregnant I'll be in everybody's mouth. I didn't forget how much they like to gossip in here. Have to go now.

• I'm pregnant! Definitely pregnant. I couldn't hide it any longer after Trevor saw me puking, sleeping and tired all the time. He's the one that made me take the test; he actually bought it for me when I refused to go to the hospital for a check up.How was I gonna get a check up at the hospital, next day they would all be talking about it. I already imagined them talking. She's only 18 they would say, not even married they would say she doesn't even have a boyfriend. They would blame Meredith for it as she was the one taking care of me. I can't stand this place.

• Meredith is gonna marry Trevor, they will stay here. I wish he could talk a bit of sense into her and convince her that we should leave this place, but I guess he loves her so much that he'll deal with whatever comes as long as he can keep her. That's nice, I wish I could be happy but I wasn't, not really. I was glad about them getting married, that's fine but I don't wanna stay here. This place freaks me out, it always has. I felt so relieved when dad sent us out that I never expected to get back here. But here I am. No dad, no Johan and pregnant. Great. Which reminds me I haven't called him yet. There's always something happening. Yesterday was St. Martyr's day, that stupid tradition. Somebody else's been attacked. I don't understand this place. What makes us stay here? Meredith says she's got a commitment with this town. I don't get it. Ugh!!!

• Meredith has made me an offer that let me open mouthed. She said that she would make my baby pass as hers so we could live without gossip around. She's getting married soon so there wouldn't be a problem if a baby came around. Like I said open mouthed. I ain't got anything else to say.

• I have stopped going out by now, my stomach is a bit big if you know what I mean. Not really big I'm just 2, 3 months pregnant but people in this town have eyes like magnifiers, they would notice and I'm also a little over weight now, just imagine I can't seem to stop devouring everything I find and I can't seem to stop writing about Meredith lately either can I? But this time is something amazing; I never thought we kept all these things in the house.Jeremy was at school so she decided to show it to me as Trevor went to California too. We were alone and she called me to her office. When I was in, she told me to put my hand in a golden box -she said it was a lock- and when I did, it pricked my finger!! She said something weird about our blood being the only thing able to open the door!! I didn't even know there was a door there!!! How many times have I been in that office checking on mum or dad...but the most incredible thing is what I found behind the door. There's a secret room, a huge room filled with antic stuff. I was shocked that we had such a big space left in the house. There were grams portrayed and the uncles and cousins that already passed away.Meredith said we had to put dad's in, but I wasn't looking much at those portrays I was more interested in a portray of a face I have never seen before. Meredith said her name was Gabriella, and she was our ancestor. She had around her neck the medallion mum gave me, amazing isn't it? It was hers!! I felt warmth towards her instantly; I even have butterflies now thinking about her beautiful face. Does that mean my little baby is a girl? Woow!! A little me can you imagine that? I'm getting emotional again, crap hold on I'll be back with tissues hahahhah.

• I forgot to keep writing yesterday as I ended up in an argument with Meredith. She offered me again to raise my baby as hers. I don't want that, I don't wanna be my baby's older sister that's horrible. How could she even think about that? I'm getting furious now. I better write tomorrow.

• So it's been a week since I wrote sorry, things are not looking good around here. They found one of the missing bodies from St. Martyr's day scattered –literally- in the woods and people are anxious about it. I'm anxious about it, I even feel like puking now. You know, this is the first time that I actually feel concerned about this little baby growing inside me. Zoneville is certainly not a good place for my baby to grow up; I don't want her or him in this place. Not if I can avoid it. I'll call Johan I'll tell him I'm pregnant, he'll help me. He'll take care of us I know he would. I have to let my baby grow without blood staining her future.Gabriella is a really nice name for a girl but it sounds old to me…what about Gabrielle? What do you think? Nice isn't it? If I have a baby girl I’ll name her after our ancestor Gabriella, I'm sure Johan will like it and if it’s a boy…should I call him like dad? I feel really tired now. I’ll write as soon as I can.

·         I’m going crazy, I can’t believe what Meredith just told me, is it possible? No, I don’t believe her. I don’t. It can’t happen those things don’t exist. I won’t believe I won’t.

What is she talking about? What won’t she believe? Her next entry was 3 weeks after and I was intrigued to know…

·                           Vampires!!! That’s what she said they were? It’s been 3 weeks since she had that chat with me, she even showed me proofs of their existence but is still hard for me to believe. Vampires!!! They killed my family, why? What have we done to them so bad that they have this vendetta against us? Meredith said that a vampire killed Gabriella and that’s how it all started. The meaning of St. Martyr’s day is Gabriella’s death and beginning of the vampire annihilation. But they did wrong! They were the ones that killed her why look for revenge when they had what they deserved. I’m starting to panic again. And the council, she says they know the truth. She told me that mum was in, in it too. She knew the truth. The council is just a façade to cover the reality. They are a secret order that protects town from vampires, one member of each family is part of it and when they die someone else takes their place. Some other member of the family that’s how everybody’s been dying, one after another passing down the commitment from elder to son or daughter. She decided to tell cause she's worried. She wanted me  to know in case something happened to her so I could be prepared to protect Jeremy. Why don’t we just leave!!! We’ve lost enough already. I feel the pressure. If something happens to her I’ll have to join and if something happens to me, when Jeremy is old enough, will he have to join too and then Oh my god my baby!!!

·               I’m on the plane now

Hold up, what plane??? Keep reading Gabrielle; keep reading I thought trying to call my breathing

      It took me a few days to convince her but I managed to do it.   She thinks I'm going to abort my baby; I had to lie a lot for her to believe that I was going to do that. Obviously at my state is impossible to abort, it’s already too late. But I manage to leave for a few months that are what I wanted. I had told her that I wanted to take a few days away after aborting so I could do therapy and all that psychology stuff. She couldn’t argue with that. She knew how it felt to loose a baby, she had lost one, not in purpose. In California, they really happy about it but she lost it. I understand her grieve and I know why she wanted to take care of my baby but I couldn’t allow it, I wouldn’t. It’s already hard for me to do what I’m doing but I have to protect my baby. I’m tearing up at the moment. Tears for the baby I’ll never see grow up but this is the best. I’ll enjoy the months of pregnancy that I have ahead and then I’ll give her or him to Johan. I can’t wait to know what my baby is, a girl or a boy?  

I don’t know if mum or dad would approve on what I'm doing but my baby won’t do this vampire hunting thing. I won’t allow it. If I have to do it, I’ll do it when time comes –I hope it never does- but my baby won’t. That’s why I'm making this sacrifice now. I was already resigned to let people talk and speculate about my pregnancy. I didn’t care anymore but then this happened. I really feel like breaking something and I would probably if it wasn’t because I hate planes. And now neither Jeremy nor Meredith was with me to distract me. I never realised how awful it was, the movement and the height. I better close my eyes before I faint.

·                           It’s definitely Gabrielle. My baby girl is growing big and healthy inside me. I can’t even hold the tears as I see the picture I got from the ultrasound. She's so beautiful already I cant wait to see her

When I passed the page I saw the little ultrasound picture and I couldn’t hold the tears back anymore. She was protecting me, she said so “whatever I’ve ever done and I'm doing now is to protect you”

I actually deserve everything that’s happening to me, how could I not see?!!! She was in pain in terrible pain and I did nothing but hate her. I should be burned at the stake; I don’t deserve to live anymore than any of those red eye vampires does. I could feel the crack in my heart open more, with a stinging pain that didn’t allow me to breathe. How cruel have I been towards her! How damned fool! I didn’t want to read anymore, at least not now. I already knew what followed. She let me at dad’s door step enrolled in a white blanket with my medallion around my wrist and a note. –I never wanted to know what she said in that note but now I'm dying to know- when I recollect enough courage, I’ll search for it. I have it with me; it’s been with me all along. Dad gave it to me on my birthday before his heart stopped beating. You see when I say that all this is weird? How did he know something would happen to him? Why would he give that note and plead for me to take it at that instant? “You don’t need to read it until you are ready, but take it with you please darling” he had said ten minutes before collapsing on the floor.

Everything around me was rotten, I was rotten.

TO BE CONTINUED……. 

ZONEVILLE PART II:The rage

SARAH

She was at her doorstep in no second, she knew something was wrong. How was it possible for her to be where she was now, when she was running from the hospital less than half a second ago.

Her hands were shaking, she was surprised. What was happening to her?

Her thoughts were in that hospital room where she left that poor man dead.
She did that. Still not understanding why. And her eyes, they where red. Blood red.

She needed to see her mum that's why she went home. She couldn't make out what was happening to her, she needed her mum's confort.

To late she realised she wasn't in her normal clothes but in an hospital gawn. Her stuff weren't with her. The keys for the house wasn't with her and the house was in the dark, which meant nobody was there.

Even like that, she wanted to be at home. Probably wait for her mum to return from wherever she was.

She wasn't sure if it was gonna work or not but she tried. Usually in movies they left and extra key somewhere near the house just for emergencies. She never had a problem with her key so her mum never told her about having a spare key somewhere around, still she started looking and soon after that she found it. In the little flowerpot close to the window.

She opened the door eager to get in her home but as she walked, she suddenly stopped.

She leaned her head to the side obviously confused and then tried again. She stopped in a halt as if something invisible was blocking her way in.

She tried again and again, but she was never able to get in. It was making her angry, enfurieting her that she couldn't get into her own house. So she tried once more. She backed away a few metres in a straight line and then run almost in a blur again towards the door but she only bounced back -with a scream- farder away from where she started running -probably because of the speed and strengh she used to get in- making her fall bottom down.

What the hell was happening! She thought. She wanted to cry and she felt as if she was crying but when she touched her eyes surprised that her cheeks were dry she realised that she wasn't crying. She couldn't cry. Why? She sure felt like she was.

The neighbour's porch light switched on and she run away.

She appeared -again in a time record- at Crystal's -her best friend- doorstep.

The lights of the house where on, she found herself shocked when she realised that she could hear Crystal talking on the phone upstairs. But normal ears wouldn't be able to hear that. She also started looking around, panicking as she could hear lots of voices in her head, but nobody was around. Everybody were at their houses. This neighbourhood was more populated than hers and all the lights on the area where on, which made her want to harry and get into a safe place.

Crystal was alone in the house, she could tell as she wasn't able to hear anybody else in that particular house but Crystal. And she could hear her loud and clear, her voice almost shaking as she spoke on the phone with somebody that probably gave her bad news, or shocking news.

She pressed the bell. It sounded too loud for her ears. She felt as if somebody stucked that bell inside her head and it was amplified by a deadly echo that made her wince.

Soon enough Crystal hanged up and walked downstairs "coming!" She said while she let the phone in the living room. When she opened the door she couldn't hide the surprised look on her face when she saw who was standing at the other side of the door.

"Sarah honey what are you doing here?" Sarah was happy to see her friend but her face was blank, she didn't want to walk close the door as she feared that something like what happened at her house would happen here too.

That would frighten Crystal and she needed her friend more than anything else at the moment. She nedded to feel safe. She needed to feel human.
What's wrong with her? Crystal thought and Sarah's eyes that were at the floor quickly flickered to Crystal's face. Sarah shook her head, repliying to Crystal, but what she didn't know is that Crystal never said anything. She thought it.

"Evereybody is like crazy looking for you Sarah!" Crystal sighed "are you ok?" She doesn't look ok, Crystal thought again, Sarah never answered, neither question or thought.
"What are you still doing out there, is freezing cold and look what you are wearing!! Did you escape from the hospital? We need to call your mum" Sarah's eyes brighten a little at the thought of her mum "I was on the phone with her a minute ago, she's about to loose it Sarah, why did you leave the hospital?" Sarah was still in silence looking at the floor, consciously trying to hide her red eyes from her friend, red eyes that suddenly reminded her of St. Martyr's day.
It was written in the history of Zoneville that in St. Martyr's day they would hunt for those with red eyes. They always thought they talked about animals but she wasn't so sure anymore. After all, somebody attacked her and it didn't feel like an animal. In some ways and now her eyes were dark red.
"What are you still doing out there!" Crystal said now walking back into the house. "We don't have all night, I have to call your mum" Sarah remained hesitant at the door.

What's wrong? Crystal thought, is she ok? Is she in a trauma? Oh Sarah, she kept thinking.

"Sarah could you please come in? Now" but Sarah remained at the door now almost shaking. Crystal walked out and put her arm around Sarah's shoulder. Sarah sniffed the aroma of Crystal's skin instintively. It really was pleasant but she shook her head to try to clear it from that thought.

"C'mon honey, let's get in, oh! you are frozen!" Crystal complained while pushing her in.

Sarah moved slowly towards the door frame and surprisely she didn't feel somethig in the way. Something blocking her. So she relaxed and walked in.

"Ok, go upstairs ok? get a few of my clothes while I prepare something hot for you and then we'll call your mum, she's really worried" Sarah nodded and started walking upstairs but not before she heard Crystal's thoughts again, poor girl, she thought as she walked towards the kitchen.

By the time Crystal came back into her room with a mug of delicious hot chocolate, Sarah was already changed and sat beside the window, deep in thoughts. 

"Here it goes honey" Crystal said as she gave the hot chocolate mug to her. Sarah loved hot chocolate but as the aroma got into her nose she suddenly groaned digusted. Crystal didn't miss that.

"Is there something wrong?" Sarah was still trying to hide her eyes, so she answered looking trhough the window "I'm fine".

"Sarah honey, what are you doing here? Why aren't you in the hospital" Sarah wasn't intending to answer that question. You can trust me, Crystal thought "I know I can" Sarah said answering Crystal's thoughts. That made Crystal blink confused "what do you know, honey?" She asked "that I can trust you" Sarah replied making Crystal more confused. I didn't think I said that out loud, did I? Crystal thought "what are you talking about Crystal?" Sarah kept answering her thoughts.

"I haven't said anything" she replied "what do you mean you haven't said anything you just wondered if you said that I can trust you out loud" Crystal that was still standing suddenly sat on her bed, wide eyed with shock "I didn't say that out loud either" she tried to search for Sarah's face but she couldn't.  

"what do you mean?" Sarah said still calm.

 What's wrong with her? Crystal thought again "would you stop saying that something's wrong with me! Nothing's wrong, I'm fine" Sarah snapped, still looking through the window "well something is definetely wrong cause I didn't said that out loud either" Crystal eyes were on her friend, waiting for her to turn. Suddenly she knew that she shouldn't move, her instincts said that to her.

"What?!" Sarah asked while turning, now obviously annoyed and there...Crystal saw it.

"what's wrong with your eyes Sarah!" Crystal said, Sarah stiffened as she realised she's been discovered.

She looks totally different now that I see her in the light, she's so...pale, Crystal thought.

Sarah's eyes widened as she realised that Crystal was talking without moving her lips. Could it be that...? No it couldn't be. Is not possible Sarah thought to herself but again there were voices inside her head all the time. Was it possible that she was listening to Crystal's thoughts? She's been saying that she hadn't said certain things out loud so what else could it be.

A sudden thirst made Sarah's fangs grow out again. She winced at the sudden pain she felt and turned towards the window as she realised that this strange thing was happening again.

Soon after she did that in the hospital, she murdered somebody.

Please no, Sarah thought. Not here, not Crystal.
"Sarah you are scaring me, let's call your mum"
"no!" Sarah snapped and in no second took the phone from Crystal's hand and crashed it in her hands. Oh my gosh! Crystal's facial expression was now in between horror and concern as she saw her friends fangs, and red eyes now glaring at her viciously. 

Sarah saw Crystal's face, she was scaring her best friend. She didn't want to hurt her so she better left that place before things got out of control.

She disappeared again in a blur.

**********************************************************************************

The girls were already ahead of me walking towards the door.
"yeah keep going I'll be right behind you" I said as I locked the door of the car.

As soon as I turned to walk I jumped as Christopher materialised in front of me, his eyes furious on me "where are you going!" I glared at him but I had other things to do apart from arguing at the moment "let me through" I snarled 

"you can't" his voice was threatening but I ignored him "let me through" I said again trying to walk pass him but he moved as I did impeding me to go through.

"Gabrielle" he said now his eyes full of concern "is dangerous" what was he talking about? Why was he so worried? "She's been bitten" he suddenly said through clinched teeth "what?" I quickly said not understanding what he meant and I didn't have time to understand either "let me through!" I said again angrily.

He looked at me for a few seconds I could see the indecision in his eyes but he then vanished leaving the sound of his voice like a whisper behind "I'll be watching you".

I shook my head and looked around making sure nobody saw that to be able to confirm how weird Christopher and his family really were.

I walked into the hospital shuddering at the thought of me stepping into a hospital again but it didn't take me long till a got back out as I realised my phone was still in the car -i had to let Jeremy know that we were ok- the girls were already far away from me so I walked outside, it would be just a second, nothing could happen in a second could it? Plus I knew he'd be around watching me -he said so- so I walked out into the darkness of the parking lot. I didn't realise how dark it was until I stood beside my car alone.

I send a text message to Jeremy as soon as I got my phone.

As I closed the door I saw a shadow from the corner of my eye, I replied instinctively as I turned "I'm already going back" thinking he would try to make me go home, but it wasn't him the one that was now standing beside me. 

Her dark red eyes wide, eyeing me with a vicious look "huh-ho" I now realised what he meant by her being bitten, it was so obvious that I wanted to kick myself for not listening.

Sarah now as white as a corpse was standing a few inches away from me, her face contorted as she glared at me, her lips pulling back showing her sharp teeth as she sniffed her nostrils flaring. I took a step back unconsciously and she moved forward as I did.

"Gabrielle" she said as I kept moving backward and she forward following me till we were out of sight, near the trees that surrounded the area.

"You smell really good I never noticed before, mouthwatering" she kept following my slow steps till I couldn't walk no more "how's Ben?" She said wincing as she said his name "if I take you now you won't be able to have him" she chuckled, she was obviously enjoying this, the fear in my eyes, the shake of my trembling hands.  

She was now a vampire and she was looking at me as if I was a piece of meet.

***********************************************************

 Ben was about to call Sarah's and Gabrielle's name out to get their attention. They've been like crazy looking for Sarah and she was out here all the time but he stopped when he saw Sarah launch towards Gabrielle. Are they fighting again? he thought while he chuckled. He didn't have the chance to see how their first fight turned out. He just heard about how Gabrielle punched her in the face last time. Of course he wanted to stop them but Sarah, -a person that just a few hours ago was almost catatonic in a hospital bed- was now so energetic.
That made him happy, if Gabrielle was the reason behind her being so strong then he thought that allowing them to fight for a few minutes wouldn't a problem. But just a few minutes.
He was about to stop them when he saw Sarah moving from one side of Gabrielle's to another side in less than a second. What the heck was that?!! he thought. He rubbed his eyes, did he see properly? "Sarah please, you don't want to do this you need to control yourself" he heard Gabrielle plead. Sarah laughed out loud "oh this I want more than anything in the world, I'm so...thirsty and you smell so good".
Ben observed what was happening wide eyed. He didn't know what to do, his feet wouldn't move. He now understood that something was wrong with Sarah, she wasn't fighting with Gabrielle, she was trying to kill her. He now saw how Sarah almost flew towards Gabrielle and with a move of her hand she sent her flying across the lot and run towards her before Gabrielle's body could touch the ground. Gabrielle screamed and when Ben was about to get involved when he saw two shadows suddenly materialise beside Gabrielle, one of then helping her up and the other in front of her as a shield. Soon after he realised they were Leonard Trivani and Christopher Martyr.
Of course he thought to himself, they are always around the scene of the crime as he told Gabrielle in school, he was right. As he kept looking at the situation he saw how Sarah attacked Christopher but he was much more stronger than she was and he shoved her away without a problem. Suddenly Leonard that was beside Gabrielle run almost in a blur towards Sarah, he locked her arms at the sides of her body in an unbreakable grip while Christopher grabbed her head and with a quick movement ripped it off her body making Ben almost scream in horror.

**********************************************************************************

after Sarah vanished in the air as dust would, Leonard run towards me taking my face into his hands so fast that I didn't have time to react.

"are you ok?" I could see Christopher groaning and wincing behind Leonard. Then I focused on Leonard's concerned eyes and nodded, he then sighed letting his hand fall and hang at the sides of his body.

I then turned towards Christopher "what took you so long! You said you'd be watching" he had and apologetic face but I wasn't being fare, I was the one that disobeyed him in the first place.

Leonard quickly put his arm around my waist and led my shaking body towards the hospital door before Christopher could even reply to my now unanswered question.

I glanced at him as I turned towards the door. I didn't like how I felt when I did. His eyes  were on me, arms folded on his chest as he saw me leaving with his cousin.

I almost forgot Leonard still had his arm around my waist pushing me forward and I shuddered as I remembered how much closer we were the last time I saw him.

I didn't have time to shove him away as he did it himself once we crossed the door and Brook and Jenny run towards me, their faces full of shock as they saw Leonard with me or so I thought.

They greeted him warmly -thing I never expected- but their faces were still in shock as they panted in front of me.

"Sarah's gone" Jenny said "and somebody's been attacked inside the hospital, his body was drained of blood" realisation came to mind, she must have been thirsty as soon as she woke up.

I remembered what Christopher told me about them. The morning after they were bitten they woke up really hungry without knowing what they were. They almost killed someone but thanks to Byron they didn't -i could find a few flaws in that story, things that I would find out later- Sarah in the other hand, was alone in this hospital filled with people with wounds and blood.

"She's dead" Leonard said making the girl's eyes widen in surprise "what?" Brook said "she's been bitten by a vampire" I finally said "she just attacked me, the cousins saved me" Jenny run towards me "oh honey are you ok?" I nodded though I wasn't really ok.

"Oh my god!" Brook suddenly said making Leonard rigid beside me, I guessed he already heard what she was thinking cause he vanished from my side leaving a "wow!" Slip through Jenny's lips.

I looked at Brook instantly "what's wrong?" She looked back at me confused. 

"He just heard your thoughts but I haven't and obviously is something bad so why don't you tell me" I explained, she nodded comprehending now the situation.

"Ben went out looking for you, you were taking long" I also stiffened at the thought of Ben being out there in the dark when Sarah was around "but she liked him, she wouldn't hurt him" Jenny said. "Not all vampires are like the cousins, she already killed, if she was thirsty I'm sure that wouldn't stop her"

Leonard came back in so fast that if we had blinked we could have missed his entrance.

"He's not around, he must have left" relive crossed through me.

"We better go home" I said and we walked towards the car Leonard behind us.

He escorted us and then vanished.

While driving home I asked the girls why they were so polite and warm towards Leonard, I knew they felt I was wrong about staying away from them but it didn't explain how they reacted when they saw him. Instead of answering, they ignored my question asking me about why did Leonard bring me home fainted two days ago.  

I ignored that too and we were suddenly giggling as we realised neither of us was intending to answer either question. But still I was intrigued. "What will happen with Sarah? People will be looking for her" Jenny asked. I really didn't know either...

"She'll be counted as missing I guess" I said

"is the one in the hospital going to turn into a vampire too?" She kept asking "I doubt it, he was dead already Sarah wasn't"

And we left it at that.

Driving in silence, I could tell we were all thinking about the same thing.

Sarah.

We got home and each of them turned to their respective cars, I groaned at them telling them to stay in my house for the night. Even though they could still attack in the morning I didn't feel good allowing them to leave now.

"Don't worry we are covered" Jenny said with a smile.

covered? I raised one brow "Renzo?" I asked amused by the fact that he was still protecting her. But that was just Jenny "what about you?" I turned to Brook worried "covered" she said too. covered by who?

She got into her car before I could ask anything else and waving through the window she left.

What was going on here? Was it really ok for them to leave? Anyway they left leaving me astonished as they did.

I walked towards the door when Leonard called my attention from the border of the woods, I didn't want to go but I did, my legs moving without a warning.

"What do you want?" I asked at once, ostil again.

I already started shaking, we were alone and I didn't like what that reminded me of.

Waves of electricity already floating around us. "Don't be that reckless again" he said his eyes warm and melting into mine "if Christopher or I wanr you about something, you listen" I didn't like how he said that, it felt like an order to me. He sighed "I don't know what I'd do if I loose you again" his eyes were suddenly sad. I shook my head trying to brush away all the thoughts that were now making their way into my mind.

My leg started bouncing nervously and that caught his attention. He looked from my face to my leg and then smiled widely.

I turned to the side and punched my leg to stop, he caught that too.

MERDA I thought. I needed something else to think about and I needed it quick. I was already feeling that magnetic pull towards him.

And it came. Something to talk about, something I wanted to ask him before I could pull away -from the magnet- and go home.

Sarah.

"About Sarah..." I said my breath already coming fast

"yes?"

"She turned today didn't she?" I thought that was most probable as the now dead patient was found today.

He nodded "I  thought she was supposed to turn over night as soon as she was bitten as you guys did..." I broke off. He was already frowning "you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to" I said as I took in his silence as an I'm not talking about that.

He eyed me for a while, then shook his head, then sighed, then smiled and then sighed again.

How confusing, what was he thinking about? "You don't necessarily have to" he said "to change over night. It all depends of the state of your body" he continued while pacing from once side to another, hands tight behind his back as if a teacher lecturing in front of a classroom "if you are healthy and strong it might take a few days for you to completely turn as your body will resist against it. Sarah was bleeding badly when they found her so the vampire blood had to spread slowly healing her body before turning her"

I waited patiently as I hoped to hear about his story. I suddenly found myself wondering about him, about how he really felt about being a vampire.

Christopher told me once that Leonard found it cool.

I actually forgot that I was mad at him and just waited for the time to come while I seated on the grass.

It felt like that very day I found the truth about my mother. They day she died I already had a hint of the mysteri but I needed the whole truth so I called Leonard knowing or hoping that he would open my eyes once and for all so I wouldn't be in the dark. That day he told me to meet him at the meadow. And now I realised that, that was the meadow he used to take Gabriella to. He told me that day that Christopher didn't know about that place. Gusebooms raised the hair on my arms as I tried to push all those thoughts away and focuse in our conversation.

 "In our case" he finally said "we were ill but not hurt, no cracks or wounds were anywhere in our bodies so we changed quickly" I nodded instinctively.

"Do you enjoy being a vampire?" I said the words before thinking.

He already stopped pacing and his back was towards me. He stood in silence for a while and then he answered "I did When it started. I thought it was great, apart from the fact that I needed blood to survive I did pretty much the same as when I was human. I was exactly the same person with a few more advantages. I was stronger, faster, agile. I thought of it as the best thing that could have happened to me till you..." He broke off.

I understood what he meant and I smiled encouraging him to continue "then I thought of it as a curse, everybody we knew was dying before us. I knew I was never gonna die, Byron already told us on what we were capable of but I never grasped it until it happened. Until years started passing by as quick as hours. We saw the transformation of this town from the shadows, we know the real story about Zoneville not that stupid version they give in history class, that's why I didn't choose that subject this time, they always change it to their convenience. I used to argue with the history teachers every now and then a lo largo de los siglos".

I swallow at that thought, he's been around for quite some time.

"You argue with Mr. Kent too?" He looked at me surprised and then started laughing so loud that I fiered Jeremey would come ot of the house.

"No, no he would never dare to argue with me" what did he mean by that?? "Does he know your secret?" I asked with my eyes wide open.

He laughed again "Gabrielle, he's one of us" my mouth hanged open as I proceesed that information, but that explained lots of things or at least the way he used to talk so polite and ancient with Christopher or the way it didn't bother him that he missed some of his classes. Did Christopher ask him to do the movie thing and switch off the lights that day? No, probably not, I'm just leaving my imagination wonder, right?  

"Christopher didn't tell you?" He asked

"No he didn't"

"Well now you know" I couldn't process that, I didn't understand "but-but he's not pale!" I said, now I was the one talking loud. He chuckled again. "Well he needs to be really thankful towards the modern live" I stared at him confused.

"Make up my dear"

"Oh" was the only thing I managed to say and I nodded. This was actually cool.

Talking to him I mean, surprisingly I was at ease. "So does he agree with history then?" I asked, he just said he used to argue with teachers a lot because of History and it turns out that this year's teacher is a vampire that knows about history more than the authors of that history book.

"No he doesn't, but what to do? Teaching is what he loves. He was a teacher before and he will always be"

"why does he ware make up" I was amused by that.

"Everybody has notice the strange colour of our skin, it was just convenient for us if they thought he had no connexion with my family" I nodded again.

"Did it hurt? becoming a vampire I mean"

"hmm though it didn't hurt me as much as it did to Christopher, I'll have to give him that. I was already unconscious when Byron came to me, Cristopher... he saw it coming".

It was annoyingly easy to speak to Leonard even with this sudden waves of magnetic attraction.

I started picturing them in the 17th century both of them lying in their beds waiting for the bite to come. I remembered the anguish I saw on Christopher's face while he told me about that precise part of the story.

It made me shudder.

When I focused my eyes on Leonard his face was already a few inches away from mine, eyes narrowed with anxiety.

"Are you ok?" He said brushing his fingers on my cheek. I gasped as I relised how close he was.

I did it again.

I nodded trying to snap out of my trail of thoughts when he relaxed and moved forward eyeing my lips. Oh no I thought, not again please but I didn't move.

I was already dizzy breathing faster when his head suddenly snapped to the side, eyes wondering around looking for something.

He straighten up and urged me to get inside the house. I guessed danger was near so I stood up.

"Be careful" I said concerned but he smiled, obviously not worried at all. 

"As long as you stay in that house I won't have to worry so don't worry about me, now go"  and I left.

I saw him still looking at me till I reached the door and then he left.

**********************************************************************************

This time Christopher was the one that launched at Leonard's throat first.

"Don't you dare touch her" Christopher was out of control.

"Don't you get tired of threatening me? I already did" Leonard said with a teasing and mocking smile "Do you wanna know the reason behind those 2 days she burned in fever?" Leonard opened his thoughts towards Christopher so he could see for himself everything that happened 2 days ago.

The way he hold her in his arms, the way she reacted at that kiss was what set him on fire. Christopher's lips pulled back showing his white sharp teeth. His eyes were full of hate towards Leonard but he was in pain, in deep pain.

Nobody could imagine how much he loved Gabrielle and the fact that history was repeating itslef made it hard for him to handle.

"You already lost" Leonard said now serious

"Again"

TO BE CONTINUED.....

ZONEVILLE PART II:The rage

THE KISS OF DEATH

The girls helped me researching about Stephen Martyr. I couldn’t forget my last conversation with Ben when he claimed that all of Christopher’s family were weird –I already knew they were because of what they are- but I didn’t include Mr. Martyr in the package. 

We found a bit of information about Stephen Martyr and his connection with Zoneville. As I read I couldn’t find anything that made me believe he was a freak till a got to certain paragraph were it said that they found lots of skeletons buried at the surroundings of Mr. Martyr’s house. But that was just ridiculous, I mean, they didn’t kill humans, they were vegetarian…sort of. There must’ve been a mistake, I couldn’t believe that. I wouldn’t.

I was driving home afraid of my surroundings as I was going back alone. Brook and Jenny went back to their houses today. Of course I told them not to let anybody strange in their houses, to be alert for their parents. Luckily enough for Jenny, her parents were leaving town for a while visiting relatives so she would stay with her gram's.

I was again driving through that road were something always happened when I was alone, and effectively something did happen as I drove down the road something stopped before my car making me jump in a halt. Soon after that, I realised it was Leonard.
Was he trying to kill me?! I got out of my car infuriated and I pushed him -my hands on his chest- with no use as I ended up bouncing back, he caught me before I could fall making our faces stay just a few inches away form each other.

I quickly straighten up and freed myself from his grasp. "Are you mad!" I almost hit him again but he caught my hand in the air and with a frown he said "we need to talk..." before he could say anything else I replied defensive already “what! About what!" By now he was smiling again, thing that irritated me "first of all about the fact that you specially shouldn't be walking alone" I knew that but what to do.
 He took my hand and dragged me towards my car but to the passenger door then he went to the driver's "keys" he said and I just glared at him "please" he insisted and I threw them at him as harder as I could hoping he wouldn't catch them, but he did.
Smiling again as he got into the car and drove to my house. The ride was in silence which made me wonder what did he want to tell me, why wasn't he talking?

We eventually got home and I got out of the car, he after me keys in hand "you haven't said anything so I guess that was all" I took the keys from his hand well, I tried to as he quickly moved his hand away making me almost fall forward towards him -this was making me angrier-.
He was now looking down at me, staring at my eyes. I straighten up and asked for the keys but he didn't move just stood there suddenly serious staring at me, "I want to go, now!" I said and he gave me the keys.
I already started walking away when he called after me, "One more thing" he said "please" he insisted -as I was still walking- so I turned.
He was still deep in thought till he finally broke the silence "Back in the cafeteria when you were talking with your friends what did you mean by ending up like you did?" he said, his eyes still fixated on mine.
"What?"
"A few days back when Jenny asked you to talk to us you said I have to be away from them to avoid ending up like I did, what did you mean?" I tried to call back the memory now so distant.

I could now feel his breath coming out faster, "Gabrielle? What did you mean?" I now knew what he meant but I couldn't answer, what would I say? I'm Gabriella and I ended up dead?
But I didn't need to say it, he already guessed.
"Gabriella?" He said under his breath, his eyes melting into mine if he could produce tears I swear he would've been crying by now and that hurt me.
As I opened my mouth to speak they were sealed again by his lips. his cold lips on mine made me shiver -but not for the coolness- I wanted to push him away but he locked both my hands into one of his while he stroke my hair, my cheek and my neck in that order with his other hand. Thousands of emotions overpowered me, I didn't know what to do while his cold tongue moved in my mouth, his breath intoxicating me and after a while I couldn't help it, I gave in submerging in this hot and cold glorious kiss .
He eventually let go of my hands and I found myself entangling my fingers in his hair making my body get closer to him. I felt his lips pause for a moment there, probably shocked at a reaction he didn't expect. I didn't expect this kind of reaction from my part either but here I was. Kissing him, as if he was my life, as if I’ve been waiting for him all along his hands now around my waist holding me tight, close to him.

Sudden memories of my past life invaded my mind showing clips -before my now closed eyes- of us together. On the meadow he once took me to, but I wasn't Gabrielle, I was Gabriella. They way I always blushed when he kissed my hand. In the car when he kissed my cheek, I suddenly needed air, I couldn't breath I felt dizzy and with a gasp I shoved him away.
Tears were pouring off my eyes as I thought of the love there was in between us, he tried to approach me but I backed away. My head spinning around as I remembered every single moment we spent together, when I was Gabriella and then it hit me. When I was, I'm not anymore. I'm Gabrielle and I don't want this!! Still tearing up and dizzy I manage to move my lips "I'm not Gabriella!" I manage to say, strong and firm without hesitation "not anymore" my voice was breaking by the time I said that sentence and as my eyes closed I felt myself falling back.

**********************************************************************************

Sarah was walking towards her car in the library’s parking lot. There wasn’t much light around her as a few streetlights were broken. And the sun already hid itself.

She was listening to music on her fabulous I pod so she didn’t see what was coming for her. She was lucky enough to be knocked out before being brutally attacked. The vampire was smiling happy as he sucked her blood out.

He could now hear steps. Somebody was looking for Sarah. The vampires head snapped up. He groaned but he wouldn’t do anything. He already had what he wanted so he vanished into the woods.

“Sarah? You left your notebook” said Crystal, Sarah’s best friend “Sarah! I see your car so I know you are here. Stop fooling around is not funny” she walked towards Sarah’s car when her phone sounded “Halo?, yes I'm at the library…no, she came out but I can’t find her. I don’t know…Saraaah!!! OH MY GOD Sarah!! Help ! Somebody help me please!!!! “What’s wrong Crystal can you hear me? Crystal, Crystal!”

**********************************************************************************

I woke up in my bed two days later or so said the watch on my night stand, my head still spinning around and I remembered exactly why -I shuddered-.
I felt something cold on my forehead and when I reached to touch it, it was a cold and wet compress, I took it off and straighten up.
Jeremy was sat on my chair sleeping, with his head on my computer keyboard, I wasn't expecting this.
What happened to me? I fainted that much I could guess, but for two days?

It was already dark outside. I got out of my bed and covered Jeremy with my blanket, he sure noticed the weight change because he then looked up at me.
"Gabrielle you are awake!" He said with a smile, putting his hand on my forehead, but his smile faded after I asked him "what happened to me?"
"You were burning in fever" really? I didn't feel as if I was sick at all, apart from the spinning around of my head but I knew the reason behind it -every time my mind tried to pull me back to that memory I got dizzy- "so I've been sleeping for two days?" He nodded "Brook and Jenny" I said wide eyed as I remembered that they were in their houses now going to school alone! "Are they ok, are you ok?" I said hesitant, I was afraid of finding bad news, his frown disappeared and the smile came again while he shook his head "yes I'm ok and they left already, they've been here the whole day" I relaxed but my peace didn't last as Jeremy frowned at me again "could you please explain me why was Leonard bringing you home fainted and with high fever" oh god now what?
"what did he tell you?" I asked hoping he didn't mention the kiss "he just said you got dizzy, is it true?" I hesitated as I thought about it, it was the truth, and I did get dizzy. I nodded "and the fever? Where you feeling ill somewhere? I wanted to take you to a hospital but Brook insisted in leaving you here" well done Brook, I wouldn't have liked it, I hate hospitals and last time I was there I spent enough time in bed. Enough for the nausea to last me for 2 years.
Jeremy surprised me again when he told that there were indeed some bad news.
"Gabrielle seat down for a bit" I was already nervous "somebody from your classroom was attacked" my heart stopped beating, even though I didn't know many people at school I felt something tightening in my stomach nobody deserves to die, the first person I thought about was Ben. I couldn't control myself I started shaking.
"calm down honey, she's in the hospital now, they are trying to stabilise her" is a she? I took a deep breath, I felt guilty that I was happy it wasn't Ben but that's how I felt at that moment.

“Who’s she?"

"She's called Sarah I believe is the girl that you had a problem with" oh my gosh Sarah "oh no"

"She lost a lot of blood; they don't think she'll be able to make it"

*************************************************************************

Byron was impatiently standing beside the balcony, thing that was really strange as he always stayed calm, mute.

Things were getting out of hand and he didn’t know what to do.

How could they protect all those people in town? They couldn’t be everywhere watching for each person but it hurt him to see that people where getting killed before his eyes in his town and house. And there was nothing he could do about it.

Is not like he wasn’t disturbed when they died in St. Martyr’s day but it wasn’t the same. They knew where to watch, how to protect the people in this town –maybe one victim or two were found but not this massacre that is happening at the moment- but now…they are attacking randomly. How could they stop it?

For now he sent each one of the members of his family to protect Gabrielle’s family and friends. Tara was protecting Brook and Camilla was after Jeremy. They didn’t like that but it was an order from Byron so they had to obey.

Renzo already started days ago looking after Jenny and well the cousins…I don’t think there’s a need to tell who they were looking after.

Obviously still fighting even over the amount of hours each one would have looking after her. But Gabrielle was oblivious to this situation.

Of course she knew or guessed that Leonard was somewhere out there, he said he wouldn’t take her out of his sight but still she wasn’t sure. And she didn’t know that Jeremy was being protected all the time either.

Byron just took those precautions because Christopher begged him to do it, for him.

Byron knew how the cousins where suffering about this Gabriella/Gabrielle situation and it also hurt him to see them like that.

He made a promise to Mr. Martyr before he died. He promised that he’d take care of his kids as if they were his own.

Mr. Martyr always lived knowing something was wrong with his child. He couldn’t quite point it out but he knew somehow, that they changed after they recuperated from their illness, and then he also knew about Bryon.

Byron should have been the same age -in appearance- as Mr. Martyr, but while he was dying naturally of aging. Byron was still young and strong.

Byron was part of the council but he couldn’t tell them what he was. They would try to kill him before listening to a proper explanation.
 No definitely no. 
He couldn’t risk it letting the council know about their secret. But they were all unprepared. Renzo said that something bigger was coming that he didn’t know exactly what it was but Byron was almost in the right direction. 
He kept it all for himself of course, but was already planning something. Still they were all unprepared. How will all this turn out?

*************************************************************************

Sarah was still in the hospital bed, unconscious as people came and went from the room. Her mum was always beside her, holding her hand, pleading for her to resist.
Ben went to visit her, his face turned hard as a stone when he saw Sarah in that poor state.

She had needles inserted almost everywhere in her arms. The bags under her eyes were really dark as if she didn’t sleep in days but she’s been sleeping for two days already.

The doctors said she was in a coma, that they didn’t know when she would wake up; she lost loads of blood though. 

He sat beside her and talked to her –doctors always says that we should talk to the patients thought they are in a coma and we think they can’t hear, they still can- about everything that came to his mind.

About how chaotic his live was and even about assignments that they were being asked to bring to class.

He even claimed to her angrily why she had to leave the library by herself at night knowing how danger was hovering around.

It really bothered him everything that was suddenly happening in Zoneville. This was never a safe place but things never got that bad before.

He wondered why it had to be her out of all the people he knew. She, that was always calling for his attention, attention that she never received and he regretted a lot treating her as he did.

He was being unfair wishing that somebody else were in that bed instead of her and he knew it but he was so angry that he didn’t care about how cruel he looked to others. Everybody around him was dying.

First Sam Julian, then Elizabeth Mc Graw. One of his best friends disappeared and now Sarah was in a coma. He didn’t know how but somehow he got to the conclusion that the attacker wasn’t an animal, it couldn’t be. An animal would have been in their hands already, like all those animals they always got in St. Martyr’s day.

And he even thought that all that was fake now.

Those things couldn’t be done by animals. They weren’t that smart to come once in a year to kill people. And now to come, kill and disappear without being caught. That was impossibly impossible. Something was totally wrong.

He paced from one side to the other of the room trying to get something out of everything he was thinking about, a hint, something that could help them.

He tried to remember those two times that he’d been attacked what did really happen but nothing ever clicked for him. He still couldn’t understand and when he couldn’t stay in that room any longer he excused himself gave a kiss to Sarah on her cheek and when he did, he saw what it appeared to be two small rounded wounds on her neck. He didn’t think about it much but it was strange. And then he left.

It was getting dark outside and Sarah’s mum decided to go home, to have a shower and change clothes "I'll be back in a few minutes" she said with tears in her eyes "just make sure you wake up by then". Time passed quickly as midnight approached. Suddenly Sarah started to shake, it was more like a painful shake she looked like in a lot of pain.
Her heart beats increased, her eyes still closed, he gasped for air as her skin started turning lighter and lighter almost as white as a corpse drained of life. Her veins were now easily visible against her skin.
Then before her heartbeats reached the limit on the reader it stopped making her breath faster but even, the reader should've been high still but even though her breath was coming faster it was decreasing, till it stopped making that piiiiiii sound.

A nurse quickly came in and checked the reader, she was still breathing so she thought it was a mistake of the machine and left.
Morning arrived sunnier than ever for a day in Zoneville, another nurse came to check on her but she'd been told about the machine error and Sarah's chest was still moving so she didn't give it much thought either, they would come later to change the reader.
The nurse opened the curtains letting the sun spread throughout the room; it really was a nice day. Even Sarah's mum that was now in the room smiled admiring it.
"it would be nice if you could see this honey" she said taking Sarah’s hand into hers; she winced at the touch of it. Her hands were freezing so she put them underneath the blanket.
After a while she left her side to eat something, she didn't want to but her stomach was now complaining though she'd been there the whole morning not wanting to separate from her daughter but she would eat and quickly come back.
The side of Sarah's forehead that was exposed to the sun throughout the morning started peeling, as when you put a magnifying glass in between the sun and a paper that kind of action would create a flame after a while and that's what was happening to Sarah's forehead.
Her eyes suddenly yanking open and her head leaning away from the sun instinctively. As soon as she did, as soon as her forehead hid in the shadows it started to heal.
She looked around her not aware of were she was but she sure smelt something that she wanted. She straighten up glaring at her arms, needles hanged everywhere, she ripped them off her skin and then surprised looked at her arms when no blood was coming from the wounds.

Wounds that healed really fast. She didn't take it into account; there was something else that she wanted.
It was amusing to her how alert she felt, how aware she was feeling now of everything.
She even covered her ears and kneeled down as if she was hearing strong noises. She winced as she did but there was not noise around or at least not a noise our normal ears could hear.
She twisted on the floor for a while but there was something that she was smelling, something that caught her whole attention making her walk out of the room.
Nobody was in the corridors but it was amusing how careful she was, naturally looking around in a defensive position, she looked like an animal aware of the danger, like when a cat walks down the streets at night and then hides at the minimum movement it senses on his path.
She was alert and looking for something.
She stopped in front of another door, the door was closed. She hesitated for a while just looking at the door, sniffing something then she opened it got in and closed it again.
There was a patient there sleeping, she walked closer to him and then she stiffened, her face looked as if contorted, her mouth opened as fangs started growing painfully, her eyes became wild and red. She didn't hesitate twice she took the bag of blood that was providing a transfusion for the patient and in one second drunk it all.
She run her tongue through her lips enjoying the taste the pleasure of it, but she wasn't fully satisfied.
She didn't know what she was doing it all came naturally, she took the patients hand, palms up watching his veins transport that fluid that tasteful blood that she wanted, she could see the pulse on his wrist and she yanked her fangs in it, draining him out. In no time he was dead.

Sarah looked at him after she finished, she was suddenly afraid, what did she just do? Why did she do it? Where the thoughts that filled her mind.

She had blood in her hands and quickly run towards the toilet in the little room to wash them. She didn’t understand what just happened and then she caught her reflection in the mirror. Her skin was now pure white, her eyes were pure red and her face had a wild animal-like appearance. As she stared at herself she heard the nurses running alarmed towards that room and she darted out of the toilet, what could she do now? Where could she go now? As they got closer she run to the window it looked too high to jump but after giving a last glance to the now corpse lying on the bed she knew that this was her only option, so she jumped falling on her two feet as if she just jumped from her bed to the floor just a few tiny inches. She was shocked but she started running away and then she vanished in a blur.

TO BE CONTINUED……………