• Chapter 1

    “Good evening and welcome for this special news report, I’m Katie Parson. Eight years ago, a girl from the Junior Class of Sheridan High School, disappeared without any concerns. Until an eyewitness had claim, to have seen the girl being attacked by a vampire and was taken into the forest. The Police went on a search party for a month, but did not found body. Another girl from the Junior Class was murdered, but it took place her own apartment four years later. The CSI went to investigate and found that she had two holes on her neck. Last week, there was another incident happened to a college student, but it took place in the outskirts of Lincoln Valley. Who is this murderer and why is he killing these students? Is it a real vampire or some kind of a lunatic pretending to be a vampire? I’m Katie Parson, North Dakota News.”
    The power went out again and I was going to watch the news in living room. As I climb down the stairs, there was neither sound nor light. I guess the news was not exciting, unless mom told me about it. Instead, she was just lie on the couch reading her Twilight book by a burning candle. She glanced up when she saw me come in and smiled, “Oh...hello Anna…you’re looking for something?”
    “Um…no, but can I ask you a question?”
    “What is it dear?” she started to be curious.
    “Can I go to the dance on Saturday?”
    Then mom stared at me in horror, because she knows something bad is going to happen, “Tomorrow?”
    “Yea…I like asked you yesterday?” I was starting to get mad. I cannot believe mom totally forgot about it. I guess she got too busy work to remember everything.
    “No Anna…it’s too dangerous out there, unless you get a ride with someone.”
    “Why do I need a ride? Can’t I just drive to the school?” I asked sarcastically.
    “You have a permit, but you still need to get a ride from someone,” she said in a leisure tone.
    “Okay Okay…I’ll ask Seth then…he just lives right next door,” I point it out.
    “Why don’t you call him first?”
    “Fine.” Jeez, mom so over protected. I sighed as I go upstairs to my room to find my cell phone. “Now where did I put it?” I muttered to myself. “Ah…there it is. I usually put it in my favorite hiding place, in the closet.”
    I called up his home number to hear if he is there or not and as I waited patiently, he finally answered, “Hello?”
    “Hey Seth, its Anna Sincer…”
    “Oh hey Anna…long time no talk…so what’s up?”
    “Oh just bored a usual” I said in a sarcastic way.
    He laughed, “Same old Anna… you’re always bored at home.”
    “How about you? You seem to be cheerful tonight.”
    “Well I just got back from and I got promoted to assistant manager, Yeah!” he said in high spirits.
    “Congrats Seth…maybe someday we can celebrate it at the mall.”
    “The mall?” he asked suspiciously.
    “Yea I was going to say Gary’s Bar, but sadly I’m not allowed to go in there anyways because I’m only seventeen.” I said in a disappointed tone.
    “That’s true.” There was a long pause over the phone. He probably has nothing to say anything else, so I guess it is my turn to ask him.
    “Say, can I ask you something?” I asked.
    “Shoot” he replied.
    “Can you drop me off at the dance tomorrow night?”
    “Hmm…I don’t know Anna I had to work again, but where is it at?” he asked.
    “It’s at the school of course.”
    “Oh that’s right! Hmm…well I guess I’ll pick up you at around eight, because I have to be at work before nine.”
    “Yea sure, that would be awesome and after that can you…”
    “I have to talk to you later, somebody is calling me from the other line,” he interrupted and hung up. I did not get the chance to ask Seth if he could pick me up again after the dance, but oh well, there is always tomorrow.
    Later, I decided to get ready for bed early, I took my usual twenty-minute shower and slipped on my favorite fuzzy pajamas. Tomorrow I will find the perfect outfit hit the dance floor. As I lay down on my bed, I dream about how we met and all the times Seth and I had spent together. We had been friends since he moved to Lincoln Valley. I was seven and he was nine. Every time I went to his house, we used to play hide-and-seek in his backyard, until we started high school.
    He was a freshman and I was in 7th grade. He made some new friends and participated in sports, while I babysit his little brother Ian. Whenever I get the chance to talk to him, he always busy with something. I continued to ask Seth if he is okay, but he does not want me to know. Then, he started wearing a silver ring and it had a silver dragon inside the bloodstone. At first, I thought it was a class ring, but he said it was not. Seth added that it was part his family insignia and handed down from father to son since the medieval times. He also mentioned the ring was very special. What is so special about it? I have kept on thinking about that question every time I saw Seth wearing his ring, but he graduated last year. So I do not think about it as often.
    The next morning I had woken up with tears coming down from my eyes. I must have cried in my sleep again. Ever since Seth graduated, I always cried in my sleep. I wish I could have spent more time with him when he was still in high school. I guess it is too late, but I am not going to think about it right now and try finding an outfit for the dance.
    After hours of trying on so many outfits, I finally found the perfect one. Then suddenly, I heard some voices outside of my bedroom window. I went to look and it was Ian and Seth playing catch in their backyard. I guess Seth was probably taking care of Ian while their parents were at work. I laid my dance outfit on my bed, and quickly put on my regular clothes on to join them, but what am I forgetting something? “Oh yea, I forgot my baseball glove,” I muttered to myself. I grabbed my glove, went downstairs, grabbed a bite to eat, and headed out the door.
    The morning air was a bit chilly, but it was warm enough to play catch. I walked to the door to listen for them and saw that the gate slightly opened. Therefore, I peek inside and it looked like Seth and Ian are having a great time. I hope I am not interrupting anything, maybe I should knock first. I knocked on the door and the sounds were silent. I finally heard a response behind the door, “Who is it?” Seth asked.
    “It’s Anna, may I come in?” I asked.
    “Yea come on in,” Ian said happily.
    “Hi guys,” I asked.
    “Hey,” Seth waved.
    “Anna!” Ian ran up to me and gave me a hug.
    I happily smiled, “Hey Ian”
    “Wanna play catch with us?” Ian asked.
    “Sure,” I answered as Ian went back to his spot and I join in. We played catch for a while and took some breaks from time to time. Then, the three of us started talking about sports.
    Suddenly, I heard a vehicle coming in the driveway. I assumed it was one of their parents, but it was a man wearing a zoot suit. “Seth, I need to speak with you? It’s important,” he said in a formal fashion.
    “Yes sir…um Anna…can you watch Ian for a little bit?” he asked.
    “Yea sure, I can do that,” I said with suspicion.
    “Thanks,” he said as they walked inside.
    As Ian and I started throwing the ball back and forth, I started asking questions.
    “Who was that, Ian?”
    “That’s Mr. Emrys, he is Seth’s boss,” he said.
    “Why can’t he just talk to him at work instead of here?”
    “Well…he’s not just his boss,” he said, as he stops throwing the ball.
    “What is it, Ian?” I started to be impatient.
    “I don’t want to tell, but can you promise me you won’t tell anyone?”
    “Yea sure, you know I can,” I laughed.
    “Mr. Emrys…is Seth’s Mentor,” he said.
    “Mentor?” I asked confused.
    “Yea you know, his Master?” he said as I quickly looked at my watch, it was a quarter after six.
    “Sorry, I have to go…can I talk to you later?” I asked.
    “But you just got here,” he seemed puzzled.
    “Yea I know, but I’m going to get ready for the dance tonight.”
    “Are you sure, because I think Mr. Emrys is almost done talking to Seth,” Ian said.
    “It’s alright…I’m going to see him later,” I said as I started walking home.
    “Okay…bye,” as he waved goodbye, I started to open the door and went inside.