Novel_Affection

"Who are you?" the boy asked. His eyes are wide, full of adrenaline and glowing red. I feel something else from him, something very few people feel during their lives as vampires. I feel compassion. This boy does not want to attack, he simply wants to protect. He wants to protect her.

I smile at his naivety. There is no room for compassion and love in the vampire world. It is every person for themselves. If only I wasn't so hypocritical. My sole purpose for being in Seattle is to feel that warmness of love again. Ever since I turned, all I have known is bitter coldness. I don't want that for myself anymore.

"I'm Bree." Her voice startled me. "We don't want to fight. We want to know why you are here." Her pale face appears next to the boy's shoulder. Bree's eyes gleam in the moonlight. She steps out from behind the boy. She is slim and not much taller than I am; maybe 5"3.

CONCERN

Bree sucks in a gasp. Her eyes grow wide. Diego reaches an arm around her in support, as she looks a little faint. "Bree?" he says, with a voice loaded with concern. She straightens herself up and composes her expression.


"Are you alright?" I ask. She nods slightly and attempts to smile. "I think we can help you," she replies. Diego looks puzzled. Then I feel a hint of acknowledgement from him. His grin broadens. "You don't think..." His sentence trails off. Bree nods again. "How can you help me?" I'm eager now to understand. If they can help me find Fred, help me make amends, I will owe my life to them.


"There is a 'Fred' in our coven." Bree seems uncomfortable with that final word, though I'm not sure why. My eyes light up and I am filled with hope. "Can you describe your 'Fred' to us, Maia?" Diego looks at me, his wide eyes encouraging.


"He's tall and muscular, well he was the last time I saw him. He has thick, blonde hair. I can't imagine that's changed." I'm not sure how much of his physique would change as a vampire. It has been so long that I don't know what to expect. Bree and Diego exchange glances.


"Anything else you can tell us? Any defining features?" Bree says. I sigh. I am unsure as to how much these two know about the vampire world and if they even know at all about 'talents'. I decide to explain anyway.


"Fred has a 'gift'; I suppose that's what it could be called. He can sort of repel people from him; disgust them." Bree grins. "It's him."


I feel light like nothing could stop me now, as Bree and Diego lead me to their coven. I am elated but also terrified. I sense the excitement from Bree, but angst from Diego, though I have no idea why. Diego seems so mysterious; I can never quite decide why he is feeling how he does, despite the help of my 'gift'.


We leap across rooftops and fly through dark streets. The sun will be up in a matter of hours. In less than five minutes I could see him. We could reconcile for all that had happened between us. I miss him so badly. I just hope that when we meet, he will feel the same.


As we reach the edge of a large expanse of water, Bree turns and gestures for me to follow. They both gracefully dive off the edge and I quickly jump in after. It is difficult to track in water, so I will have to stay close. The water is murky and disgusting. When we finally reach the other side, it is a relief. I'm not sure how much more of that I could've taken! We run through a forest and then through a grassy field. The speed at which we run dries us off in a matter of minutes, though my jeans still cling uncomfortably to my legs.


Finally, I see Bree slow up ahead and sense we have reached the end point of our journey. It is now that I am so glad that vampires cannot throw up, because if we could I would be very ill right now. Being a vampire doesn't stop the butterflies in my stomach. Adrenaline pulses through my body. I catch up to Bree and Diego.


Bree turns to look at me, with a smile on her face. "We're here."


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CHAPTER 3 - THE ARRIVAL