Chapter One

The year is 2080. The world did not end in 2012 if you were wondering. Instead it happened in the year 2072.

It was a cold stormy night when the white house sent out an alert and we all watched as the president sent out a message to everyone in the world. I remember it clearly.

I stood in the living room of my parent's house. It was just a week after my 10th birthday and I was busy making plans with my mom for the holidays coming up. We stopped in the midst of planning our thanksgiving dinner and watched as the president spoke. Behind him stood a crowd of maybe 20 people who looked rather stunning. I felt this uneasiness in the pit of my stomach. What were so many people doing in the oval office.

That`s when he spoke, "My fellow American`s and foreign nations. I am here today to tell you about the advancement of some fellow races that have now revealed themselves."He looked to his right and indicated a small group of handsome men."On my right side we have the vampire race who have decided to come to us and offer us riches to help with the war in Iraq." He looked to his left where a bunch of scraggly men stood, On my left are the werewolves. They have decided to show themselves to ask that we stay out of the woods." The guy at the head of the group`s mouth turned upward in a rather odd expression that was somewhat of a smile and scowl. Then the president gestured to those behind him. When he did the creatures changed from normal looking individuals to ones with wings that were all sorts of color and sizes and also they had this aura around them that made the oval office get brighter. "These are the faeries that have offered to use their magic to help our crops grow better with less waste. These three groups have joined our nations officially as of today and they will stay with us forever. I hope that you will welcome them to our society as I have welcomed them to our country."

He clicked off and that`s when our show resumed like nothing had changed except that it did. The vampires started camps where they took girl`s or guy`s whose DNA was right and used them for blood or as a means of reproducing. The werewolves just kept poachers out of their woods and stayed in the bars to pick up girls. The faeries have stuck to their word and grew their crops to help us. It was fine for a while until my 16th birthday when my DNA was matched for a vampire. I was taken out of the house after dinner and stuffed in the backseat of a car.

I don't remember anything after that. Except for waking up in a tent. I glanced around to see that thankfully I was alone. I got up feeling dizzy. Chloroform. Old stuff. Surprised the vamps use it. I steadied myself and then exited the tent to see many campfires set up. I wandered around glancing at all the faces. Most were dirty and the few clean ones all looked around confused as I was. It took me a while to realized that I was in a vampire camp. A guard came up and grabbed me by the arm towing me to a big house. I got a few sympathetic looks but most ignored me.

The guard opened the door and tossed me in. "Well, well, well what have we here? Oh yes you are Ethan`s new girl, Ms…"He paused to glance down at a clip board, "Ms. Rayne?"

I quickly looked him over. He had grey hair and a graying beard. He was about 5'6" and slightly pudgy. He wore glasses that set on the bottom of his nose reminding me of an old man or college professor.

"Yes I am Rayne." I spoke calmly trying to not show any fear or nervousness at my situation.

The old man raised an eyebrow and said, "Follow me Ms. Rayne. You`re match awaits to purchase you?"

Hmmm? Purchase? But I followed none-the-less. I mean what choice did I have with the million vamps and their damn guards. He led me to the back of the building into a door and then left closing and locking the door. In the room sat a man. He looked gorgeous but I reminded myself that he is a killer and not to fall for his looks. He has short brown hair that just barely falls on his forehead and these gorgeous blue eyes. His face was guarded as if he had many years of being betrayed. He wore a simple look of khaki jeans and polo with a zip up sweatshirt.

He stared at me for a while as I stared back at him. After a rather long time of us having our staring contest my stomach growled. By the looks of the weather outside it was night again meaning I hadn`t eaten in nearly 24 hours. Ethan, I presumed, sighed and knocked twice on the door. The old man peaked his head in and listened to what Ethan had to say. Than he glared at me and left. I stood for a while staring at his back until he turned and said, "Well I guess I shall introduce myself. I am Ethaniel Smithson. It`s a pleasure to meet-"

"Ahhhh don`t give me the polite bull crap. I know I`m here to either feed you or have your kids. I`m not an idiot." I nearly yelled at him but worked at keeping my voice moderately low and intimdating which was hard due to the fact he`s untouchable.

He smiled obviously amused, "My dear you are not merely here for that. You are here for more than all the others out there. I`m sorry to tell you this but your family has always married a vampire so you carried our gene and that makes you rather valuable to us. Why no one caught it before is beyond me but I am taking you to be my wed and to feed me and bear my children. You will get everything I have and more for that is truly what I want for you."

Umm ok wow. "ugh. Why can`t you just leave me alone. I prefer not to be someone`s property and used like a slave."

"But my darling it is either I get you or the other`s who are far worse than I. I plan to wed you and wait `til you want to be mine and not force you into it like most would. It`s your choice. Me or them?"

I felt my cheeks redden at the thought. Of course he`s right. I`ve heard stories of what happens in some of the castles and none of them are good. I went to question him but the door swung open and the old man wheeled in a tray of food. He looked at me than bowed to Ethan who ignored it and left. I didn`t move toward the food though it smelled great. Instead I stood there waiting for him to make a move. The only movement I got was a raise of the eyebrows.

At that time I gave up and rolled my eyes walking over to the tray and examining the food. On the tray sat many foods I hadn`t eaten since the day of the vamps publicity. I tried not to gulf it down as I ate but found it rather hard not to. When I had finished I wiped my hands and mouth on the napkin and turned to get a better look of the room I was in now. It looked plain with just a bed, two nightstands, a rather small dresser, and a few lamps. Ethan sat on the bed watching me. I huffed and sat on the floor. I prepared to lay down when I felt myself being lifted and layed in the bed.

"I may be a vampire but I do believe women should not sleep on the floor. I respect women for all they endure throughout their lives so you have no need to worry of anything. Now sleep. Tomorrow we go to my palace."

I slept on and off all night not able to bear the fact that he was in the same bed. I sighed finally getting up at 6:30 and headed to the bathroom. Of course there was no shower but there was a tub and toilet. I did what nature called and then washed up in the mirror feeling absolutely disgusting. I had just got done drying my face when I heard a low knock on the door. I opened to be faced with Ethan. He smiled and said, "It`s time to go Sleeping Beauty. "

I didn`t respond as I followed him outside and to the front of the house on the outside of the fence where we were kept. I glanced back over my shoulder looking at the faces wishing I could be with them rather than leaving. I glanced back in front of me when I heard a car come closer. To my surprise it was a nice Hybrid. I glanced at Ethan raising an eyebrow and asked, "You vamps set up camps to imprison us and now you drive a Hybrid to save the world. You sure do contradict yourselves."

He smiled and merely said, "These camps were not my idea. I don`t fathom why we can`t put you into a nice cottage or something until you have been picked up but rather the lord states that this will make you weak hearted and easier to give in to us." He glanced at me and said, "That`s why I picked you up so quickly. I didn`t want you to stay there for too long. Now shall we go."

I just nodded not understanding how a vamp could be so friendly. But he lead me to his car and even opened the door for me. I got in and he zipped to the other side where he hopped in. After setting the station and making sure I was buckled he put the car in gear and drove off at high speeds. I watched out my window as we drove. Everything was so pretty not like where I used to live in blank red dirt Oklahoma. There were pine trees everywhere and the smell of salt was heavy in the air. I started to doze when Ethan finally decided to speak, "So ummm how old are you?"

I glanced over at him giving him a skeptical yet suspicious look, "I thought you would already know?"

He shrugged and said, "They only tell us your name. That`s it."

"I`m 16. I just turned 16 actually. The day your goons picked me up."

He frowned but didn`t look from the road. It was quiet for a bit before he said, "Sorry. Though they weren`t my goons I still want to say sorry."

I looked at him openly gaping now. "You just apologized? I thought Vampires had no heart."

He laughed full out and said, "Soon enough I shall show you my heart. You`ll see."

We drove in silence for a long while before I finally told him I was hungry. He stopped at a gas station and went in to get us some food. I thought about running and could`ve but I decided to stay and see what was in store for me. He walked out carrying 2 bags giving me a glance that clearly said he was surprised I stayed as well. I shrugged and decided that when he entered to tell him, "I figure being here in the middle of an unknown state with a man who can track me better than a blood hound kinda cancels out any chance of escape."

He smirked at that and handed me a bag. "I got you a pizza and some chips. I didn`t know your preferity in pop though so I grabbed a coke."

Before he finished the line about the soda I had it in my hand and took a big swig sighing contently. He grinned and said, "I must have guessed right."

I blushed and that was all I gave him as a response. We drove more and I was starting to wonder how far away he lived. Finally right before night fall I asked, "How much farther?"

He made a face which looked like he was checking his watch and doing math. "I`ld guess we won`t arrive `til morning if we drive through the night." I yawned and he looked over at me taking me in. "Or we can stop for the night and continue tomorrow."

I nodded thankful for the consideration. When we got to a motel it was close to 10. I was wiped from my day and the damn driving so I asked Ethan if I may shower first and he agreed giving me a bag of items to take. When I got in the bathroom I turned on the water and waited til it warmed up. To pass time quicker I dug in the bag. There were 2 big bottles of styler shampoo and conditioner, soap, a loofa, body wash, clothes, female essentials, and even some condoms. Whoever packed this bag had thought of everything.

I grabbed the bathroom stuff and hopped in feeling grateful to be clean. When I got out I dried and brushed my teeth taking a brush out of the bag to brush my medium length hair. I dressed in a pair of pajamas that looked comfy and seemingly were. Though I admit I thought the tinker bell pajamas I wore were more than adorable. Ethan thought so too for when I stepped out he smiled at me checking me out again. I sat on the bed beside him seeing there really was nowhere else to sit. "So I guess you decided to rummage through the bag I gave you." I just nodded blushing again. "What`s wrong?"

"Umm did you pack that bag, by chance?" I glanced at him through the corner of my eye and received a confused look.

"No why do you ask?"

"Well," I started feeling really nervous about the subject, "Whoever packed it thought we would get close pretty fast. They packed condoms"

I knew he had to hold back a laughing fit by the way his eyes crinkled and his lips turned up and the way he had his lips closed. I narrowed my eyes at him and he spoke, "I`m sorry. My maid, Nersa, wants me to have a wife. Yet she does not realize that it is not only me who has to be committed and that I must find a girl I`m willing to spend forever with for I will not change her otherwise."

I blinked several times before blushing again. He chuckled and put his hand on my cheek making me face him. "Ana I will not force you to marry me. I want you to but I want you to want to." He made a face, "If you didn`t understand it`s fine `cause I didn`t either."

I laughed which made him smile. He looked into my eyes and said, "I know your nervous Ana but I must feed from you tonight. It won`t hurt, I promise."

He looked into my eyes before leaning toward my neck and gently kissing it. My body reacted to his every touch. His hand running up my thigh, his lips on my smooth neck, his hot breath, and then his tongue. I felt so tingly all over and couldn`t help but shiver. He smiled against my neck and said, "I swear it won`t hurt."

I felt his teeth pierce my skin and then I felt nothing but pleasure. Before I knew it I was pinned down on the bed with him on top of me. I felt elated, like nothing could stop this wonderful feeling. Then , all too soon he pulled away. He put his forehead to mine breathing heavy. "I`ll go shower now."

I didn`t even get to respond as I felt him off of me and heard the shower door open and close. I sighed and sat up feeling light headed. So I made my side of the bed and layed down.