Darkness, Obliged

By Joshua Allen and Sam Sestak

Imagine this: you, living with your homicidal cousin, the "little kid", and your aunt, get chased out into a forest and knocked out just to wake up in a new world, with more than enough surprises. That's what happens to me, Xylina Ulrica, a not-so-average 17-year-old, whisked off to a new world, filled with surprises, creatures beyond my belief, and a secret to my life. You won't believe what I meet here, including a wolf who's smarter than she seems and a prince of an unknown land. I get dumped into a world at war filled with fights between dragons, vampires, and werewolves! I have to fight for my life and others and figure out who I really am. Cause, believe me, so far I'm lost. Come on! Join me and my newfound friends on the adventure of a lifetime, avoiding the darkness that is prepared to consume this world and learning what it truly means to be Darkness, Obliged.
Visit my web site at www.darknessseries.com

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: May 9, 2011
• ISBN: 9781452075068

Joshua Allen

He is a loving father of three children, two step children and with a wonderful wife. He has always enjoyed story telling with a special message of "good" as his children grew up. The most satisfying feeling is when the children would ask for the story be told again and again. He knew that an educational message on the true value of diversity could be told in an entertaining way for children to understand, learn and appreciate.

Book preview

Darkness, Obliged

Sam Sestak

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AuthorHouse™

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.authorhouse.com

Phone: [phone]

© 2011 Sam Sestak. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 5/2/2011

ISBN: 978-1-4520-7504-4 (dj)

ISBN: 978-1-4520-7505-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4520-7506-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2010919545

Printed in the United States of America

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any Web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Table of Contents

1

Xylina, The Girl

2

Orion, The Prince

3

Deimos, The Horse

4

Misha, The Soldier

5

Night, Of The Blood

6

Snow, The Wolf

7

Drakon, The Dragon

8

Eira, The Primary

9

The Vistrin, Dragon Army

10

Icerin, The Arctic Leader

11

Oulixeus, The Leader

12

Xylina, The Werewolf

Epilogue

Fireworks!

1

Xylina, The Girl

Morning. Yes, that cursed time of day. Day. Evil day. I despise daytime. Night… Night is my best friend (literally).

I leaned up growling at nothing slid out of bed. I glared at my window—other window. The one on the other side of my room. I had a nice and convenient window next to my bed that led out to my large back yard which stretched out into a thick forest. Thrilling. The other one just lead out to a road and some old ladies’ houses. The rest of my room was covered in posters held up by thumbtacks (which don’t enjoy staying in the wall) of all types of animals, especially wolves, and every wolf calendar from the year I came here hanging on the opposite wall. I stretched my arms and my elbows popped.

Ow… I mumbled to myself. Another day, another pop. I cracked my neck, it popping so loud that I felt as if it shifted within my body. God damn popping!

Watch your language young lady!

I’m a senior Aunt Holly! I don’t have to ‘watch my language’!

I meant to be a good influence on your younger brother! I growled.

"I am NOT related to that thing! I yelled back. I’m more related to your dead Chihuahua than to that sad excuse for a human!" then I heard crying. He’s fifteen and he’s crying. Dang, I’m grounded again.

Xylina! You made him cry again! my aunt yelled. And yes, she said Xylina. It’s pronounced z-lean-a. Yippee. It means something in some language, but I truthfully don’t care what it means.

And lucky me I’m stuck with my stupid aunt, my cousin, and that stupid kid. I sometimes can’t stand my aunt, and HATE that kid, but my cousin’s… okay… sometimes… although he’s never around. Yesterday he got a bail out of jail from some anonymous source. He didn’t do anything severe really… just killed our neighbors (they thought he just broke in)… but he’s done worse. Seriously. Way worse. Really. Don’t ask. My aunt on the other hand is about forty-five/forty-six (I truthfully don’t know), and has light faded pinkish hair that goes down to her shoulders. She looks older than she is, since she has all those wrinkles on her face. She really cares about all of us, way too much if I’d have to say anything, but is smart enough to stay out of my cousin’s way. The stupid kid? Heh, you’re getting no information out of me about him, ‘cept that he’s… never mind. I don’t care. Stupid little no good rotten child…

I don’t, I opened my door, CARE! I screamed out my door and down the stairs. I slammed my door, knocking a few of my posters off of the wall. I leaned back resting on my hands until I felt a sharp pain in my left hand. I lifted my hand and saw a thumbtack stuck in it and blood draining down my hand. Perfect. Of course the poster behind me falls. Not the one to right of me or the one to left or the one ten miles away! No! Behind me. It would be behind me. I quickly pulled out the thumbtack and stuck my wound in my mouth. Groaning, I dragged myself to my bathroom next to my room, not once taking my hand from my mouth. I don’t like blood. I don’t like vampires. I despise mosquitoes. I love spiders (when they’re not sucking my blood out). I’m not a big fan of bats. I’m more a fan of wolves. I mean, so cute! Seriously! Who could say no to that face! I washed off my hand and stared at the wound. Still bleeding. Huh…

XYLINA ULRICA! my aunt yelled.

What?!

GET DOWN HERE!

I’m in the bathroom!

Well get the hell out of there and down here!

"Watch your language!" I yelled at her.

You have NO authority to yell that at me! Of course, I have no authority. I never do. Ever. Alpha Female just isn’t for me. I growled, gripping the sink and digging my nails into the bottom of it. I slammed my hands on the sink and angrily growled my way out of the bathroom and back into my room. I slammed the door and walked over to my dresser. I opened my top drawer and pulled out one of my favorite wolf shirts. It just had a wolf howling at the full moon but the coolest part was that IT GLOWED IN THE DARK! Awesome, eh? I love it. If you don’t, you suck. Burn. Now! Spontaneous combustion! Fire!!

Suddenly, extremely loud heavy metal music came blaring from down the hallway. Oh joy… Dave’s home…

Ha! I know this song! I sang while pulling out a pair of black sweatpants. I wake up to a new song every day. I just happen to know this one. Maybe tomorrow he’ll play a good song too. I mean if he’s still home.

I walked out of my room grabbing my bag and slinging it over my shoulder then walked straight down the hall and passed Dave’s, knocking on his door and yelling, Good to know you’re home Dave! I started to walk away until I heard his door open and felt my arm being grabbed. I looked back to see Dave, my cousin if you didn’t realize it yet, glaring down at me. Why? Dave was about 6’5-6’6, and his hair, naturally brown, had been spiked, the spikes dyed orange with the tips dyed red. He wore his cameo tank top with his tan cargo shorts and chains and his bike chain bracelet (which he stole off of some kid’s bike) and his diamond dagger necklace (which he stole out of some museum somewhere… twice). His lip, nose, and eyebrow were pierced. He also had a big black Chinese dragon tattoo that started at his neck, wrapped around it, and then down his back (I think I never saw it fully before, you know, for good reason). He also had an upside-down pentagram tattoo on his left arm with black lines coming off of it and something written in some language around it. Thousands of scars covered him everywhere, literally, especially his one big scar right below his left eye. He got that fighting a policeman, at age six.

Morning? I questioned his odd stare. He pulled me backwards and into his room shutting the door and standing in front of it. I stood in the middle of his all black room (except for pictures of his Satan cult everywhere) in the only light in his room from the window (he has no actual light in his room) and stared back, folding my arms and trying to look impatient. Although I wasn’t. He was going to make me late again, then I’d get in-school suspension, they’d keep me after since this’ll be my fourth or fifth time… the guidance counselor will be all worried since they don’t wanna kick me out and they don’t want me to stay… and Dave would be the one stuck picking me up and dragging me somewhere to try out my dirt bike riding. Or try and get me to do something I really don’t want to name right now.

Oh yeah, he and his drunken friends take me home at three in the morning normally. Here’s to no sleep! Luckily, I would have Night there. At least he understands.

Dave waited for the music to stop before speaking, Z—

Xylina, I corrected. I don’t like him calling me Z.

Whatever, I have a question, he said.

What? I asked now actually impatient. The last time he asked me a question it was something I’d rather not repeat. But, just to clarify, for you crazy thinker people out there, I said no. Luckily, he didn’t argue. He seemed to have a backup plan. He always does. That’s why he’s been home so often. Always him and his backup plans. Although they’ve always helped me out…

I… well… Spit it out, man. There’s this girl… always a girl… She’s my new girlfriend. Got it? I nodded. And… well… He put his hand behind his head and stared down at the ground, Well, she wanted me to finish her math homework, since I graduated…

You did not graduate. Remember? You flunked out of high school, I pointed out.

I know! But she doesn’t! I want her to like me more, she’s nice, ya know?

Nope.

She asked me to do her math work but I couldn’t get to it since…

You we’re too busy ‘planning’ right? He nodded.

And I was hoping you would do it for me.

And what will I get out of it? I asked.

You? he paused, You won’t get killed.

I thought about it for a second and nodded.

Alright. I’ll do it. Although you know that I suck at math right?

Yeah. But you got into Pre-Calculus while I was still in Algebra I.

You were still in Algebra I when you were a senior, for both years you were a senior.

So what, I’m stupid! I get that! I just rock at planning!

Then why didn’t you ‘plan’ your way out of high school? I said. He growled and glared at me.

You’re lucky I got a date. Or you’d be screwed bitch, he snarled. Here. He walked over to his dresser and pulled out the homework, three pieces of paper, and threw them. They floated and landed in front of me then he pelted a pencil at me. I gasped and ducked. The pencil just missed my face and stuck into the wall. I yanked it out. It made a heck of a hole.

Alright. Now, I’m gonna make Mom leave with the munchkin and then you can do the work. Got it? I nodded. Yet again I wasn’t alpha. Although I never am round here.

Wait! I yelled.

What?

How exactly will you get your mom to leave?

Hmm… let’s see… I just got bailed out of jail because I robbed- (killed) "our neighbors and I’ve killed a bunch of people without getting caught. Even though she doesn’t trust me she won’t go against me. He pulled his switchblade out of his pocket and opened it, holding it limply in his hand, She knows that I could kill her if I wanted, and even though I do, I won’t. So I’m pretty sure I can make her leave." I nodded. That was more than true. He slammed the door then I heard him fly down the stairs. He yelled at them to leave and after the slam of a door, they were gone.

Since there was math homework in front of me, I decided to actually do it. I looked down at the first problem.

’(x*3)/3*7.45+sin (2*4)*pie?’ Pie? Why is pie written out? Isn’t it spelled p-i? Or is it… what? What is sin? Yeah I was lost. Anyone, anyone out there know what sin is? Isn’t that something bad you do that God doesn’t like but my cousin would?

"Huh… Je suis perdu…" I turned on Dave’s huge radio and it blared more loud music. I hummed along with it and tapped my foot (being the band geek I am!) until I felt my phone vibrate. I looked down at it and it was a text. Picking it up and begging that it wasn’t my aunt I looked to see who it was. It was Dave.

Z n kitchen want food? Making pankakes. He spelled pancakes wrong. …Yes txt bak, no f u. That was kind… for him. Just hope he doesn’t burn the house down… again.

I texted back, Don’t want panCakes! B careful! Don’t burn house! I sent it and about three seconds later I heard him slam the pan and yell my name. I ignored him and stared at the problem.

I can’t do this, I said. Then an idea hit me straight in the face. Night! I practically screamed. I grabbed my phone off of the bed knocking the papers back onto the ground and dialed his number (because his othermay ontway etlay imhay exttay. You know, mother won’t let him text. It’s pig Latin. Buy yourself a book about it. And enjoy yourself.)

Ring…

Pick up.

Ring…

Pick up…

Ring…

Pick up!

Ring…

For Pete’s sake Night, pick up! I know you’re home!

Ri—

Pick—

Hello?

Night? I said a bit too enthusiastically.

Yeah? he said a bit confused, Z?

Yeah! Night I need your help!

With what?

I’m kinda… stuck… The song ended. I heard a smash on the other line.

Don’t tell me you’re kidnapped! he hollered, practically breaking my eardrum. I held my ear and shifted my phone to my other ear.

No, moron! And besides, the last time I got kidnapped it was by Dave!

Yeah, but you gave me a heart attack!

You found me, didn’t ya?

In a dark alley! You could have been raped!

Eww! Never! You know I can fight!

Not if you had too many on you!

You’d be there though if I was in too big of a fight! You’re always there. And you always come with me and Dave places.

Yeah I know, he said, So what’d you need help with?

Oh right! That was the reason I called you… heh…

Heh, yeah… I could feel him roll his eyes.

"Well, Dave’s got this new girlfriend who’s in calculus or something and I’ve got like these impossible problems…" I trailed off.

So you want me to come over and do it for you, for his girlfriend?

"Oui, s’il vous plait."

Alright, I’ll be right over. And with that he hung up.

Fine! Don’t say bye! I yelled into my phone and pouted. Then I laughed at myself. I’m such a moron sometimes… and I’m so happy that Night’s not here yet or he’d tell me I’m a moron all the time. But it’s not like I won’t deny it. Then the smoke alarm blared. I jumped up and ran down the stairs to see Dave in our stupid small kitchen trying to fan down his pankakes that were now engulfed in flames.

You idiot! I screamed. I ran into the dining room and grabbed our emergency (necessary) fire extinguisher. I ran back into the kitchen and blew out the fire. Dave opened a few windows to let the smoke out but the smoke alarm didn’t stop. He finally got so angry at it that he ran at the kitchen, leaped into the air, and grabbed the smoke alarm. He ran back to the front window and threw it out. It shattered in the road and he slammed the window shut. He sighed and slumped down onto the ground.

I… HATE those things! You don’t know how many times those things ruined my plans!!

Like to light the principal’s house on fire? I said putting the fire extinguisher back.

"Especially that one! he yelled. I chuckled. You have nothing to laugh at Xylina! Did you finish that work yet?!"

No, it’s hard! I yelled back.

Then go do the work! Now! He pointed at the stairs. I sighed and started walking towards the stairs. Hey wait. I turned back and looked at him. How long do you think that’ll take?

Umm… well, Night’s coming over to help. I said, and Dave smirked, And he’s great at math so… I looked at the clock on the TV. 8:07. I don’t know, 8:30? It matters when he gets here. He still had his stupid smirk on his face.

What? I was afraid to ask.

Heh, so Night’s coming. That’s nice.

What’s that supposed to mean? If anything’s nice to Dave it’s… eep to anyone else.

Oh I’m just saying, Dave said looking off to the side still smirking. Then he looked back at me with a strict face. "If you two have fun, do it in your room!"

Eww no! Never! That’s horrible! We’re just friends Dave!

I’m just saying!

Course you are! I turned back around and walked up the stairs.

I’ll give you guys ‘till 8:30! I’m taking my bike and goin’ to pick up Sabrina! 8:30! Got it?

Yes! I yelled down the stairs. I heard him slam the door and then I walked into his room and stared out the window into the street.

There goes Dave… flooring it and blasting off down the road… sheesh… so many parking tickets… what a failure… (Don’t tell him I said that!)

GAH! Seriously! It’s been like… 8:10… like… 7, 8, 9, 10… 3 minutes!! GAHH! Huh? Hey! Finally! I leapt down the stairs and flew to the door. Before he could even knock I threw the door open and screamed at him. Night!

Hi… Z…? I yanked him inside, slamming the door behind him.

Thank god you came! You do realize you took, I looked at the clock—8:11— Like… four minutes to get here!

Z, relax, it normally takes me six minutes to get here. Calm down! He grabbed my shoulders. I stared into his dark blue eyes and immediately relaxed. I don’t really know why but he just calms me down. I took a deep breath in and then smiled at him. He wore his large blue tennis shoes and his dark blue jeans. He also had his big blue zip up sweater. The pockets were stuffed with… something… and his sleeves were pulled up to his elbows. He had snakebites in and smiled showing his extremely sharp canines (genetic) and exceptionally bright white teeth. He has dark blue hair and bangs curve across his forehead and hang just above his left eye. The rest of his hair goes at an angle down to his shoulders and is utterly straight. I love it. I wish my jet black hair was his color but my hair refuses to get dyed. Seriously, bleach wouldn’t work. Even with Dave’s help, which I regret asking for…

So… you had some work you wanted me to do?

I snapped out of my trance and nodded.

C’mon upstairs! To Dave’s room! I grabbed his arm and ran up the stairs. One big thing that I loved about being around either of my two friends was that I was alpha. I was alpha female. Queen of the pack. Ruler. It was… awesome. We ran up the stairs and into Dave’s bedroom.

What exactly is this math work? Night asked.

Something from Calculus I think. I responded.

We’re in Calc. You should understand it, Night and shut the door.

Should is the key word. I ran over to Dave’s radio and turned it on. Yet again it blared violent music.

A little loud, don’t you think?! Night yelled.

Yeah! I don’t know how to change that!

It’s called volume!

Fine! You tell me where that is! I yelled. Night sighed and picked up the papers off of the floor. He lifted up his pockets of his sweater and then sat down.

What’d you do that for? I yelled.

Pocket knives! He yelled back.

Pocket knives?

Yeah! I’m selling them! I stared at him confused. Then I thought of something.

Hey, can I have one?

I thought you’d ask that. He put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a pocket knife. I looked at the creative design on it. It had a snowy area with a few evergreen trees covered in a light shade of snow and a mountain in the background with the tips covered in snow. The sun was either setting or rising and there was… the reason why he gave me this specific knife. There was a wolf that was running. It was a white wolf with gray on its back and head. Bright golden eyes focused forward. So cute!

I thought you’d like it since well it has a wolf on it, you know? Night said.

It’s great, Night. Really, I said, smiling.

The song ended. One thing about my brother’s huge radio, it skips the beginning of songs and turns itself off when a song ends. Even on the radio. Although he stole it from Wal-Mart… but they have good stuff sometimes… so who knows….

Wonderful, Night said, enjoying the silence. He started working on the homework. Well at least he understands it.

Do you have a calculator? he asked not taking his eyes off of the paper.

Oh, yeah! I rummaged through my bag pulling out one of the schools calculators that they let us borrow and handed it to him. He took it, still focused on that homework. Geez, it’s not even his yet he’s so focused.

So, how many of those pocket knives do you have?

Thirteen.

Thirteen? What?!

I’m selling them.

How’d you get thirteen people to buy a pocket knife?

I didn’t.

I stared at him confused, You… didn’t?

Yep.

Then, what are you doing with them?

"I’m selling them."

I know that! I said. Night laughed. "I meant who are you selling them to?"

One kid.

What?

That one kid in science with the freaky mono-brow who wants to ‘exact his revenge’ on the guidance counselor?

Brandon?

Yeah.

You know you can’t trust him with knives?

I really don’t care. He can kill that guidance counselor for all I care. She’s a freak.

Dude, if he kills her with those pocket knives then they can trace them back to you. You do know that?

No, they won’t. He said that if she really does die or gets really injured he’s gonna take the entire blame.

Really? I asked.

Really, He said. I pulled out my history book trying to finish my outline of Section 5. Slavery in the United States… same as every other chapter we’ve ever done.

Is that why you called me to do this? Night said, without lifting his head up from the work and his calculator. I looked up, not expecting him to talk, and shook my head.

No? he questioned.

Yeah, no. I was hoping that Dave would just lock me in here and I could do my history outline then. I wasn’t able to do it last night.

And why was that?

Uh… I looked off to the side. I was busy with um… stuff…

What stuff? Night said, looking up.

You know, Dave stuff.

Of course. Dave. What’d he make you do now?

Chase…

Chase what?

"No, Chase."

Oh, him. I remember.

Yeah…

He lose his dog?

Twice. First, I caught him. Then he forgot" to lock the door and I had to catch him, again!" I stated dramatically.

Oh, sucks for you. Night looked back down at the work while I continued with my history outline. Truthfully though, I kept looking at that knife. It was so bright and brand new, like it had just been made yesterday, or even today! I loved it. Suddenly I was snapped out of my trance by another pocket knife being slammed down on my history book. I jumped slightly then glared at Night. He had a stupid smirk on his face.

What?

You don’t seem to be that focused on your homework.

So? I have an A in history anyway. What’s the use of doing this now?

It’s only the second grading period.

I have a 98; do you really think I care about one stupid outline?

Every one of Mr. Herrick’s outlines is 100 points.

So?

That could make your grade drop quickly.

There will be more outlines. I can get the points back quickly.

Night shrugged, Just sayin’.

I shut my history book, and put it into my bag along with my pencil. I rested my chin in the palms of my hands staring off at nothing. I could hear Night scribbling down the answers onto Dave’s girlfriend’s homework and it really started to get annoying. Then when he started shading in something it became annoyingly repetitive. Scratch, scratch, scratch, scratch, scratch, scratch, pause… scratch, scratch, scratch, scratch, scratch, scratch, pause… etc. I sighed aggravated and stood up walking over to the radio and turning it back on. I smiled, yet again recognizing the song. For being an idiot and jailbird/homicidal maniac, he had my type of taste in music.

Hey, Night held out that same pocket knife he hit my book with. He was pointing it at me with his right hand; his other hand clenched into a fist.

What? I asked. He put the papers next to him on the bed and stood up.

Sword fight?

We don’t have swords?

Okay then, pocket knife fight?

What?

Night sighed. It’s like a sword fight but with pocket knives.

Why?

I’m bored. And it’s only 8:25, Dave said 8:30 right? he asked, and I stared at him, confused. I never told him what time Dave said! Did I?

How do you know that?

That’s the normal time that he says. I just guessed.

Good guess then! Are you good at that on tests too?

Yeah, I guess.

I need to cheat off of your tests more often! I yelled. The song ended. Or the radio died. Great. Silence.

So fight?

I shrugged, Sure! he smiled evilly.

Draw your sword! He yelled.

Pocket knife! I pulled out the wolf knife and held it in my left hand. We started sword fighting in the silence until I Night grabbed my wrist without the pocket knife and pushed me into the radio. It turned back on, blaring another good song. We lashed at each other and dodged and clashed our knives. And, because we were a bit too busy to really pay attention to anything, we didn’t hear the slam of the front door and the stomping up the stairs. Then the door flew open and there stood Dave, staring at us like we were morons. We had stopped, Night holding my wrist, my foot trying to take his foot out from underneath him, and our knives together.

"Bonjour?" I said.

Dave sighed and hit his hand to his forehead. When I said, ‘have fun’ I didn’t mean like this.

But this is fun! I said. What? It was!

Whatever, you have that homework done?

Yeah! I grabbed it off of the bed. Here. He looked at it turning it slightly sideways.

Is it right?

I believe so.

It better be, or I’ll have your head.

My head?

I have a guillotine in my closet, remember?

Oh, right. I said, remembering that he really did have a guillotine in his closet. He stole it. From the museum. Twice. (he’s not very good with stealing on the first try)

Now get into my car, I’ll drive you to school, Dave said.

Really? He normally wasn’t this nice.

Would you rather me shoot you or get a ride? That’s Dave.

Ride, I said. I ran into the bathroom and grabbed my hairbrush and brushed my long black hair and got my bangs situated (I guess) so that they went across my forehead. I put my eyeliner on around my green eyes and walked back out and followed Night down the stairs.

Luckily, Dave didn’t have his girlfriend with him, so we sat in the back seat of Dave’s old small brown and red chipped painted car. He drove quickly to the school and practically threw us out of the car and onto the street. We didn’t bother to thank him. It’s not like he cares.

Mrs. Marigolds, our one secretary that never marks us late, smiled when we entered. The other secretary Ms. Haloids, who hates us (with a passion), glared at us. We didn’t feel like signing in, Mrs. Marigolds would put it down, so we left office and went to our lockers. The school wasn’t very well put together; my locker was stuck in a stupid isolated corner by one of the doors to get outside, while Night’s was downstairs on the opposite side of the school. You know, lovely right? Just the luck we get. It’s our happy go luckily school. Yay us.

When we were done with that it was 9:21, second period ended in two minutes. So what did we do? We sat in front of my locker. For two minutes. And they took forever. But, at 9:22 my other best friend, Kyra, or Ky, came up the stairs. She was a short girl with orange hair tied up in pigtails above her head and a lot of eyeliner and black eye shadow on around her brown eyes. She’s nineteen and still in 12th grade. A bit sad, I have to admit, but it’s not like she doesn’t have good common sense, she’s just not smart. At all. Really. But she loves her music. She could play nearly every instrument in the band (her normal instrument being the trombone or trumpet) but couldn’t read music. She learned by ear. She also loved emo and fuzzy things. Like now, she had on her emo teddy bear shirt and a black and red plaid skirt with fuzzy stuff at the bottom and tall black socks plus black shoes. She saw me and exploded.

Z-Z bear! she screeched. She ran over to me and squatted down to hug me. "I thought you were absent! Homeroom was sooo scawy! (Scawy=scary in her vocabulary) Mrs. Sully got pissed off ‘cause you weren’t there!"

Shh!! I scolded. You don’t want to get the principal out here do you?

Sowey. (Her version of sorry) She whispered, But I thought that your cousin might have killed you! she more or less yelled.

I growled, Ahh! Volume! Shh!! I whispered at her.

Sowey, she whispered.

That’s what I thought too, Night said.

Don’t encourage her, I said. Night just shrugged. Seriously! Ky will go on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, until the point in time you really want to slaughter her! And may try…

Finally the bell rang, one long and painful sounding ring, and we stood up for third period. Ky was sad, because she had to go back down the stairs to her cooking class or something, but I told her I’d see her in band.

On the other hand, Night and I headed to AP Biology. I rocked at Biology, and all of my science classes, so I’m in AP! And so is Night! Woo!

We sat down at our desks… in the front row. Our science teacher is nice and all, but not the best with seats. Although no teachers are. Or at least none I know of. The room had one large black desk in the front of the class with a sink and a computer and an eyewash. The eyewash is fun to play around with, which we started to, until then Christian, some evil kid who really hates the science teacher, came in with water balloons. A large water jug filled with water balloons.

Holy crap, one of the guys said.

Dude, Christian how’d you get that in here? one of his friends asked. Might I add that I’m the only girl in this class? Yeah, no other girl wanted to take AP Bio.

Coach let me borrow the water jug. I just said it was for Bio, he said.

Seriously?

He let you do that?

You’re so lucky.

Where’d you get the balloons?

Found them in some kid’s locker in the gym. Just filled ‘em up in there and dragged this up here, Christian said proudly. Ready for a third-period wake up?

He grabbed a balloon. The rest of us ditched our stuff, grabbed some water balloons, and ran to the back of the room. It had two rows of three large black desks connected together and six sinks. Everyone pelted the water balloons at each other; I was smart by neither getting hit nor throwing, just providing ammo for Night (Hand-eye coordination—neither my friend nor ally). Then I got brave and bolted up to the front of the classroom. I grabbed the eyewash thing and aimed it at the closest kid around. Then our watch dog at the door yelled that Mr. Banks was coming. We raced to our seats. We didn’t really have much time to clean up, you know? We sat holding our binders and looking all… special… (and hoping that Mr. Banks wouldn’t question why we were wet… just leaning towards a tough gym class… yeah… exactly…)

Terribly sorry class, Mr. Banks said. I got caught up in… ahh!

He slipped on the water from the eyewash thing and fell backwards. His head smashed on the tile floor. The class laughed until something drifted down the water and hit my foot.

B-B-B-Blood… I stuttered. I started to shake. My breathing became choppy and I felt like I was going to black out. I heard Night’s voice saying my name but, I was frozen. My mouth was open but no words came out.

Z! Stop looking at it! Night yelled. I couldn’t, though. I just stayed there. Frozen. Mr. Banks was unconscious on the ground bleeding to death but no one did anything. Or anything that I could hear or see, seeing as my hearing and vision were dying. Poor guy… I would do something but well, I’m kind of dying here myself. Then I felt some disgusting feeling in my mouth and a stinging in my throat. Oh, crap I’m gonna puke!

I stood up, gripping my stomach and clenching my teeth. Night grabbed my arm and dragged me out of the room and to the nurse. We ran into the nurse’s room and that horrid feeling came back.

Night! I choked out. Let go!

What? No! You need to lie down!

Night! I need to fricken puke!!

He let go of my arm and I bolted into the nurse’s bathroom and threw up. It tasted horrible and I knew it wasn’t anything I ate. I didn’t eat anything today. Then what did I throw up? I looked at it.

B-B-Blood…

I blacked out.

Z? Z? Are you awake?

Huh? I opened my eyes. Kneeling next to me was Night, looking scared half to death, and Dave, standing with his arms folded across his chest and glaring at me. He’s never happy with me….

I was back in my house, laying on the swamp green colored couch.

Z! Night yelled. You’re okay!

Yeah? I said.

That’s great! Night yelled.

Dave scoffed.

Night. Aunt Holly came into the room holding the phone, Your brother’s looking for you.

Oh. Night reluctantly stood up and grabbed the phone. I rubbed my head. Dave came closer, towering over me.

You suck, he said.

What?

You suck. You didn’t get detention! Or suspension! Bitch!

Well sorry, I said.

You should be sorry! I had plans that I needed you for! But you didn’t get detention since you got outta school!

Alright? Maybe I can just skip—

Don’t skip! You’re gonna go to college! And you’re getting a degree in something you like! You can’t skip school!

Okay, okay! I won’t! I yelled putting up my hands for protection.

Good! He glared off in another direction and I looked at the back of the couch. Then I got curious about what Dave was glaring at. I looked up and saw that he was glaring at Night, who was pacing back and forth arguing with his brother on the phone.

Umm… why are you glaring at Night? I asked.

That kid is… weird… Dave said.

And weird is bad?

He’s not weird in the good way Z.

He’s not?

Z. I want to tell you something that might be a bit frightening.

When is something he says not frightening? He crouched down close to my face. You know you threw up blood right?

I wish I didn’t remember, I said.

Well, when you were out you had blood on the side of your face.

Eww… Wait. Had?

Yes, had. Your buddy there, Night, I left him in here by himself for a bit with you, trusting him, and told him to get the blood off of your face.

And?

And I threw him a wet rag and walked away.

So?

So, when I came back, I saw Night… he paused, … licking the blood off of your face.

Eww!! I shot up, That’s horrible! Don’t lie about that!

I’m not lying!

Night would never do that! No one would do that!

I’m not lying!

Yeah, I’m gonna believe the homicidal maniac, I said folding my arms.

You better believe me or I’ll kill you!

Threatening me isn’t going to make me believe you!!

I was trying to be nice—

Well, you failed, I said angrily.

Dave glared at me. Just watch your back okay Z?

I nodded. He walked away. I really don’t know why he’d lie to me like that. Why would Night lick my face? Especially licking blood off of it? Eww… Dave probably just thought it was his tongue when it was just the rag. Although the rag is green… but Dave would be one to think that. Believe me, I would know.

Night came back into the room.

Hey Z, I have to go. Sorry.

Oh, why?

My brother. He’s being stupid and my father’s pissed.

So he took out his anger on you?

Yep, he said. I stood up and followed him to the door.

See you later! I yelled out the door as a cold breeze blew by. Night waved and I watched him walk up the road. I went out and sat on the steps of the porch. It was sunset. I started to daydream about who knows what, and then got tapped lightly on the head. I looked up and saw a tall man in a suit holding out a letter. Where’d he come from?

Yes? I asked.

This letter is for a Miss Xylina Ulrica? the man said. I stood up.

I’m… Xylina Ulrica? I said. How’d he know my name?

Then this is for you my dear, he said and handed me the letter.

Thanks.

I opened the letter and then pulled out this old looking paper. What is this? I looked back up to ask that man what this paper was but he had gotten into some dark blue car and drove away. Okay?

I read the letter:

Dear Miss Ulrica,

I am sorry to say this to you like a letter, it would be better if I was able to tell you in person, but I doubt that you would believe me. And you would have many abundant questions about this warning I am about to tell you. It is getting towards your eighteenth birthday, I presume, and I must start to warn you about something that will become of some importance in your life. The object or date, that I may tell you about will confuse you at first, but make sure that you are not around your family or friends when this time happens. This point in time is the full moon. The full moon is tomorrow, if you have received this letter on the correct date, and I wish for you to be as far away from your friends and family as possible. Just don’t get yourself hurt Miss Xylina. Again, please, just avoid your friends and family at the full moon. Every time. Soon enough you will understand. But when you do, avoid your friends and family. Understand? Hopefully you do, Miss Xylina Ulrica. I believe that I will see you soon. And watch for the full moon. Watch for the full moon.

…Watch for the full moon?

Of course, it’s not signed. It’s probably just some stupid prank from some stupid kid at school. My grade’s just that stupid. Although, I still don’t get how the heck this person knew my first and last name. No one, not even the kids in school, know my first and last name (well besides Night but Night’s just awesome). I went inside and up to my room and set the letter on my dresser.

I looked at the clock. 10:50 PM. Eh, I guess I’m tired enough. I’ll go to sleep. And then I had this weird dream:

Okay Darkness…

Still… dark…

Hey! Here’s some light!

And now a picture…

It’s snowing…

And there’s a mountain in the background…

Plus some snow covered trees…

And snow…

…

Duh.

The sun’s either setting or rising…

Wait…

There’s something there…?

It’s…

A wolf?

Yeah!

Some wolf.

Just running?

It’s white…

With gray on its back…

And bright golden eyes…

It’s…

So…

CUTE!

And what’s it doing?

It’s… running?

Running…

Nowhere…

Running…

Through the snow…

Nowhere…

…

I like that wolfy…

It’s cute….

And now it’s fading…

Fading to black…

What does this mean?

I woke up from the odd dream thinking. Why would I dream about a wolf just running? Absolutely nowhere?

The letter was still on my dresser. Watch for the full moon. Watch? Watch.

2

Orion, The Prince

Okay… still confuzzled about this… watch for full moon? What? Full moon? Yay that means nighttime. Woo! But, watch for it? What, it’s like… tonight, right? And it’s Friday too. Maybe tonight I’ll—

GET UP XYLINA! I jumped. Dear Lord! Scare me half to death! "You’re going to be late and actually get suspension if you don’t get down here NOW!"

Alright! Shut up! I get it! I screamed down the stairs at my aunt. Geez! It’s Friday! They don’t care if you’re late on a Friday! The school’s surprised if you even show up… really. I dressed in a white shirt with a blue wolf head howling on it and mountains in the background and the words Extinction is Forever written below it, plus some baggy gray sweatpants with pockets. I grabbed my bag and ran down the stairs, since me and Night made a plan to meet outside of my house at like… 7:30 and walk to school. I had to hurry (it was 7:29 already). I grabbed a croissant from the kitchen, ignored my yelling aunt, pushed down the munchkin, and slammed the door behind me.

I saw Night standing at the curb, staring off at nothing with his hands in his pockets of his sweater, and he turned towards me as I ran up.

Sorry I’m late… ish… I said as I stopped in front of him.

It’s alright; you’re only like a minute late anyway, he said. I smiled and took a large bite of the croissant roll until… I started choking. I coughed and kneeled on the ground trying to cough it up or swallow it.

Z! Night yelled. Finally I took one big gulp in and the roll went down my throat. I gasped, holding my chest.

You okay? Night asked.

Yeah, fine, I gasped out.

You sure? Cause I know mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

I glared at him.

Yes Night, I moved my face near his smiling, I’m sure. I flicked him in his pale forehead. It left a red mark right in the center. He moved his head back and frowned, looking at me as if asking why I did that. Well, listen to your statement: I know mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. That answer your question? Good. Night helped me up and I stared sadly at my croissant. In gasping for my life, I had put it on the ground, the lovely dirty ground, and I was still hungry. I only had one bite of it! One that I nearly didn’t swallow! And I was so hungry! I’m probably the only one hungry in the morning! And my luck I end up choking on it! Oh well… life sucks. Too bad. Time to commit some suicide.

Around lunch I decided to tell Night about that freaky letter I got. I mean, I’m confused out of my mind from it, so… Night should get it.

Why is school food so icky? I complained staring at the rubber chicken wrapped inside flimsy cardboard. It was supposed to be a chicken wrap, but they failed to make it edible, let alone filling. Again.

That’s why I bring a lunch, Night said sitting across from me. He pulled out his usual food from a brown paper bag: a sandwich, an apple, and a red thick fruit juice or something. I don’t know. To me it looks like blood, ugh, but he says it’s a weird vitamin supplement. I don’t know, it’s a family thing.

Well I’m sorry that you don’t live with a homicidal maniac, I said. I opened my chocolate milk carton. The only good thing in this school is the stuff that doesn’t come from the school. AKA: milk and snacks. I stared down at the undercooked French fries, wondering if I should eat them or not. Glancing up I saw Night chugging his drink.

Geez, thirsty? I questioned. He wiped his mouth with his hand and licked his lips.

Yeah. Very, he said. Aren’t you hungry? You’re normally attacking food.

Oh I’m hungry. But this isn’t edible. I pointed at the food. Night nodded. After a long pause I spoke again.

I wish Ky was in our lunch, I said. He nodded. It was quiet, and the other kids at the end of our table left to throw away their stuff. I decided that, since there were no more eavesdroppers, I could tell him about that letter.

Okay, I wanna tell you something! I said.

What?

You promise not to tell anyone? I said.

Yeah, we have that secrets pledge. I’d never tell anyone, he said. Yay, secrets pledge! After I first became friends with him, we ended up a part of one of Dave’s exotic plans, and basically helped in a murder. Just to say, we were only eight. Yeah, that changes your outlook on life, believe me. We weren’t allowed to tell anyone, obviously, so we had to make up something so that we couldn’t tell anyone except each other. We wrote up a paper saying that no matter what kind of secret we had we’d tell each other immediately and never tell anyone else. We each have a copy of this secrets pledge (mine’s hidden carefully under my bed) and I have yet to break it.

Yesterday, after you left, I was sitting out on the porch and this weird guy in a suit came by and gave me a letter, I said.

A guy in a suit?

I don’t know who he was but he left as soon as he gave me a letter.

Odd, Night said. Continue.

Well, I read the letter, which was addressed to me and everything, and it told me to watch out for a full moon.

Night choked on his food.

You okay? I asked.

Yeah, I’m… He coughed, Fine. Sorry. Breathed in my apple.

I’m confused about the full moon thing. Why would I need to watch out for it? Am I allergic or something? I mean I’ve been out in a full moon before, I think, and it didn’t do anything, I said. Any ideas?

I can’t really think of anything, he said.

What does a full moon affect anyway? The ocean? Uhh… werewolves? I mean, I started laughing, It’s not like I’m a werewolf or something! That’d be awesome though!

Yeah, or a vampire or something, Night said.

Uhh, I shuddered. I hate vampires! They’re like the opposite of me! They like blood, I hate blood, they can kill, I can’t kill… and a lot of other things!

I like vampires, Night said.

You’re psychotic, I said.

Why? Cause I like vampires?

Yeah!

Whatever, Night said rolling his eyes. We got up and threw our trash away then continued on with our day. Walking home wasn’t so fun since Night had some project to work on for our history teacher so I walked home alone. It was boring and cold. Très, très, cold. (Très=very. Look it up. It’s French!) I got home to find no one home (not unexpected). I decided I really didn’t feel like doing my homework at that time, so I would take a nap and, lucky me, I had that dream… again.

Okay darkness…

Still dark…

Hey! Look Light! Finally!

And… that wolf…

The same wolf…

Just… running?

Running through the snow…

Going…. nowhere?

Literally…

Nowhere…

WHAT?!!

What does this mean!?

Maybe I can change the angle of my vision…?

Huh…

Nope…

Just this stupid wolf…

That oddly resembles the one on that pocket knife…?

Running…

Nowhere.

Nowhere…

Morning!

I was rudely awakened by Dave. I groaned and hid my head under my pillow.

Aw c’mon Xylina! Wake up! You’ve been asleep for like five hours! Don’t you wanna come with me somewhere? Okay why’s he talking like that?

No.

Please? Please? That’s not Dave?

No.

Get the hell up before I stab you! There’s Dave. I shot up to see him holding a butcher’s knife! Dear lord, he was planning on killing me if I didn’t get up! Note to self: Get up when Dave says get up. Or… I looked towards the window. Almost nighttime. Just barely any sunrays left. Hmm… full moon tonight…

Now get something warm on. We’re going racing down the parkway, Dave said. I stayed still and kept looking out my window.

You gonna move or am I gonna have to make ya? Dave threatened. I looked over at him, glaring at him more or less, but stayed still. I really didn’t want to go out tonight. And… he wasn’t going to make me.

Get the hell up now! Dave yelled, slamming the knife down on his hand.

No.

Get up before I… what?

I said no. Now leave.

Dave’s face turned dark. What’d you say?!

I said no. Now get the hell out of my room.

Dave started to snarl, "You’re