Even after a month or two passed, Samantha always awoke in her bed confused. Finally, after a couple days of awakening to Caleb laying next to her, she decided that Austin, Ryan, and Bitten were not a dream. Though, there was still the thought that she'd wake up in her familiar room and she'd go downstairs to Taylor and Jake making pudding-filled cupcakes. She felt Caleb's soft breath on her neck and his arms draped over her chest as she regained consisousness from the previous night. She opened her eyes and the now normal glitter of disappointment and then the pang of happiness flew over her.
She looked around her room. Black silk sheets and curtains, the only stone wall was were the beds' head board rested, the other walls were glass, a black chandilier, a glossy black fireplace, an elm wood wardrobe, and the dark green carpet, all of it was still true. Caleb felt her moving and he opened his eyes.
"Good morning my beautiful vida." Caleb said sweetly, giving a cute yawn.
"Good morning my amor," she replied, smiling at him.
She stripped herself from her pajamas, teasing Caleb as he refused to leave every time she changed.
"Come on, Sam!" Ryan called from the common room.
Samantha jumped and slipped her black robes on over her clothes and shoved her wand in her pocket. Caleb kissed her cheek quickly before he dissolved and Samantha glided down the stone steps to the common room.
"Took you long enough," Ryan remarked, rolling his amber eyes. "Caleb again?"
"Not this time, Ry-Ry." Samantha mumbled "I just didn't want to get out of bed."
"Sure." Ryan teased
"Where's Austin?" Samantha asked, ignoring Ryan's comment.
"At the cafeteria, saving us seats." Ryan answered.
"Should we go then?" Samantha asked
Ryan nodded and they glided to the cafeteria.
XXXXXXXXXX
As Ryan and Samantha walked into the cafeteria, Austin noticed them instantly and waved them over. The three of them didn't say a word until they got their breakfast and all three of them were sitting at the Full-Fledged table.
"Did you sleep well, Sammy?" Austin asked, spooning a bite of frosted flakes in his mouth.
"Mhm," Samantha replied, swallowing a gulp of apply juice in her mouth. "Yourself?"
Austin shrugged. "Best I could without you," he whispered
Samantha felt Caleb's breath on her neck and she nodded at Austins' words. Caleb put his hands delecatly on Samantha's shoulder and she shrugged comfortably as he gave them a small squeeze. Samantha giggled-child like. Ryan and Austin looked up from their breakfast's and eye her with hazel eyes of suspicion. Caleb eyed both of them with jealousy, more at Austin than Ryan.
"Is Caleb here, Sam?" Ryan asked softly and Samantha nodded.
"Caleb?" Austin asked confused
"I thought I told you about him?" Samantha replied, turning to Austin who shook his head. "Caleb's my guardian angel."
"Ah, I see," Tanner said in understand meant "What's our first class for the day?"
"Defence against the dark arts." Ryan answered, looking down at the schedual.
"Alright," Tanner nodded and took one last swig of grape juice.
They finished eating breakfast and threw their bowls and plates down the dishes shute. Caleb kissed the back of Samantha's neck as he dissolved and they threw their messenger bags over their shoulders. Together and silent, they walked to the third floor.
"Welcome students," said a soft voice when everyone was in the room and seated. "Once again to Defence against the dark arts."
Everyone watched as Professor Nero walked up the middle isle of tables. He was young for his eternal age. He was tall. with jet black hair, white skin and a small amount of freckles, a very lighly curved figure, and large, brown, deer-like eyes. Once he was up to the front of the room, he turned on his heels and held his hands pray-like to his chest. Everybody in the room was still and silent as they looked up at their professor. After a few minuets of akward silence, Professor Nero cleared his throat.
"Excuse me," he began with a melodic voice. "I have to get some things ready."
As soon as Professor Nero left, mindless words errupted. After a few minuets, Samantha felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned away from the conversation she was having with Austin and Ryan and looked up at the stranger. Her eyes lite up, but she forced them not to be obviously excited.
"Samantha Alice Chapman." The stranger smiled
"Yes, but, it's Sam though..." Samantha replied
"Right, well, you probably have no idea who I am though...Right?"
"I know who you are alright, Sterling Dimitri Chapman."
"They told you about they, didn't they?" Sterling chuckled. "Did they tell you everything?"
"What do you mean?" Samantha asked nervously, her eyes changing to icy blue.
Sterling smiled in disbelief. "Taylor changed Jake into a vampire, did you know that?" Samantha shook her head slowly. "I would've thought they'd say something about that. Taylor changed him years ago. They told me that same story and why I had to live with Xander. That kiss, they lied about it. Well, it was a kiss, plus a bite." Sterling explained, looking up at the ceiling dreamily.
Samantha looked at her brother, wide-eyed and shocked.
"You seem upset?" Sterling remarked, looking down at his sister, and eying her evilly.
Samantha nodded slowly. "How could they keep that from me?" she half whispered
"Simple, so Taylor and Jake could protect their precious you. They didn't want you knowing till you got your letter. Did they tell you that?"
Samantha gave a small shrug. "I see," Sterling sighed and back at the ceiling.
"Sterling?" Samantha asked whispering
"Yes?" he replied, whispering as well as he looked back down at her.
"Is there anything else they didn't tell me?"
"Sorry, Sam, I can't say. I promised I wouldn't till I thought the time was right, and now's not the time."
Samantha nodded in understand meant. Sher smiled at her brother and he touched her wrist, the one that bore the cresent burn mark. When their skin came in contact, Samantha shivered. It was cold, freezing...Like his skin was made of ice.
"Why are you cold?" Samantha whispered softly
Sterling's eyes oozed hazel as he shrugged and walked away. Samantha blinked and turned around, meeting Austin's gray eyes.
"Who's that?" he asked with suspicion
"My brother," Samantha answered.
Austin nodded and turned his head forward. Then quickly whipped it back around.
"Y-you're serious?" he whispered
Samantha nodded and shortly after, Professor Nero came back into to the room and began talking. Naturally of course, Austin and Samantha weren't listening.
"I'm serious," Samantha whispered
"You must be so happy?" Austin said, facing forward and trying to give the appearance he was paying attention.
"I guess," Samantha sighed softly
"You guess?"
"Yeah I mean, out-of-the-blue I find out Jake's a vampire and now Sterling waltzes into my life..." Samantha cut herself off
"Yeah..." Austin silently sighed
"Ms. Chapman, is there something you wish to share with the class?" Professor Nero asked angrily, his eyes burned emerald and narrowed in on Samantha and Austin.
"No sir," Samantha mumbled embarrassed
Professor Nero sighed heavily and went back to writing on the black board. Sterling turned around and looked at Samantha and Austin. His eyes were dark and sinister, almost evil-looking. They turned from a soft lavender to a deep bleeding black and Samantha felt an abnormal quiver shake down her spine. Caleb came up from behind her and gently place his hands on her shoulders.
She sighed contently and Sterling smiled with a sinister smirk, showing his sharp, snow white fangs. Samantha looked at him wide-eyed and glanced up at Caleb. Sterling's lips twisted into a sneer, reclaiming his sister's attention. Sterling rolled his eyes and snickered under his breath as he turned back around. Samantha blinked rapidly and looked up at Caleb.
He motioned his eyes down to her wrist. When she looked down, there was a small slip of paper. She looked back up at him and he nodded softly. Samantha picked up the scrap and read it.
Watch yourself my princessa... He may be your brother, but I don't trust him.
Samantha flipped the slip over on the blank side and wrote: Okay.
Class ended five minuets later and Samantha, Austin, and Ryan glided down to the cafeteria before Transfiguration class. As soon as they sat down at the Full-Fledged table and Austin was about to bite into his vanilla bismark, Samantha began to speak.
"I had a nightmare last night," she began softly.
"What happened?" Ryan asked consurned
"There were wolves, three of them, running. It happened out in the woods." Samantha said, pointing out the glass to the Spirit Forest. "It was cold, no moon, no stars, and no fireflies. They were running in formation, almost in persuit of something. The middle wolf howled and the other two growled in response. They were talking, and I understood. They said, 'keep going...we almost got her...'-
Austin cut Samantha off. "Since when can you speak wolf?" he asked
"I don't know exactly but...Does it really matter?" Samantha asked
"Yes!" Ryan exclaimed "It's not a good sign, Sam..."
"H-how so?" Samantha stuttered nervously.
"Morfin Marvolo, our houses' founder, he had an interesting taste," Ryan began softly "In wolves and snakes. A combination that not meant to be."
"Why? What about them being separate?" Samantha asked
"Then being separate, it's just fine, but if they come together, it can very easily become deadly." Austin answered softly "Morfin Marvolo could speak to both and he was able to control them. Now learning you can speak to wolves, you're only missing half of it."
The three of them went silent. Austin bit into his bismark and Caleb came up from behind Samantha. He stroked her hair softly.
"Go ahead, Sammy." he whispered in her ear. "I'm right here."
Samantha sighed and nodded. She made a small noise, making Austin and Ryan jump.
"I-is there something wrong with me?" she whispered
"No, of course not." Austin answered "It just means your special."
Austin wrapped an arm around her shoulders and Samantha felt Caleb's eyes narrow in on the back of Austin's neck. Samantha looked at Austin and her lips lifted into a small, weak smile.
"So, then what happened in the dream?" Ryan asked
"The wolves caught their pray, a girl. The middle one bit her, they watched her bleed to death as they licked her blood from the ground. Are wolves evil? Do they kill to drink blood?"
"No," Sterling answered, appearing right next to Ryan. "Those wolves, my guess were controlled by something."
"When did you get here?" Samantha seethed through her fangs as she glared at her brother. "Were you eavesdropping?"
"No, I just got here." Sterling answered, looking down at the ebony watch on his wrist. "Transfiguration's about to start."
Austin, Ryan, and Samantha nodded at Sterling's words. They stood up and slipped their bags over their shoulders and Samantha grasped Caleb's invisible hand. They glided swiftly out of the cafeteria and to the first floor.
XXXXXXXXXX
When Samantha, Sterling,Austin, and Ryan walked into the Transfiguration classroom there was no teacher in sight, only students. They all talked amongst themselves and Samantha, Austin, and Ryan sat down at a table. Sterling stood behind Ryan and after a few seconds of silence, he tapped on his sister's shoulder.
"Come with me," he whispered softly. "I gotta talk to you."
Samantha felt Caleb brush up against her and she looked up at him. Caleb placed a soft hand on her head.
"I'm right here, mi dulce amor." he whispered softly and Samantha nodded.
Samantha got up and followed to a dark, almost pitch-black corner of the room. Caleb grabbed hold of one of Samantha's hands and Sterling pressed her against the stone wall. He looked at her and Caleb squeezed her hand.
"What do you want?" Samantha asked in a soft whisper
The corner was too dark. It was hard to decypher his facial expressions, but he was smiling. Samantha looked at Caleb nervously and he kissed her hair in reassurance. Sterling's eyes gave off a small sparkle in the dark and Samantha studied him as best she could in the low light. She felt him get closer to her and he put the weight of his body onto hers.
Caleb's eyes widened in anger, but he couldn't do anything except hold Samantha's hand tighter. Sterling's face was just inches from his sister's and she felt his nose brush up on her cheek and Caleb's deep, slow, icy, calming breaths on her neck. Samantha got up on her tip-toes and looked her brother in the eyes.
"Don't," she whispered, begging
She looked at Caleb scared and he kissed her neck softly
"He's not going to hurt you, Sammy." he whispered and Samantha nodded
"Not physically..." she mumbled in her mind
"You know what I meant." Caleb sighed and kissed her hair.
Sterling tangled his hands in her hair and they looked at each other. Time seemed to stop and Samantha only heard her own heartbeat and Caleb's breathing. Sterling filled the small gap between them and wrapped his arms tightly around his sister, so wrenching and squirming was useless. Samantha could feel Caleb's anger rise as he held her hand even tighter. Sterling's mouth was strangely soft against hers and once he felt that Samantha had relaxed, he moved his hands down her spine and wove his thumbs in the loops of her dark skintight jeans. Samantha began to resist and pull away, her brother easily let her go.
"Not a word to anyone," he whispered threatningly
"Of course not," Samantha whispered back as her eyes bled red.
Caleb wrapped his arms around Samantha and rubbed her back soothingly. A bloody tear trickled down her pale face and Caleb brushed it away with his thumb.
"Are you okay?" he whispered and Samantha nodded but her eyes turned hazel.
"I will be." Samantha promised and Caleb nodded
"Wanna be alone for a bit?"
Samantha sighed softly. "Honestly, no. But, come back right away."
"I promise" and Caleb dissolved away
Both Sterling and Samantha's eyes were fake Carmel as they walked out of the corner and back to their seats. Sterling turned around in his seat next to Ryan and directly in front of Austin and Samantha. Ryan looked uneasy and almost scared as Sterling winked at his sister. Samantha gave him a disgusted look and Sterling's eyes bled black as he sneered and turned back around. Austin side glance as Samantha with suspicion and Professor Grint walked into the room
"Good morning, everybody." she smiled
Professor Grint had long, flowing dirty-blonde hair, pale skin, and deep, round blue eyes. Like Professor Nero, she was young for her age, her tallness didn't matter, you could tell in her eyes as she walked. As she walked around the room, everyone was silent.
"Today, we shall be learning how to turn ourselves into animals. I shall demonstraight." she walked to the from of the room and took out her wand. "The incantation is, Delecorie."
She tapped her wand to the base of her neck and silver sparkles shot out. Seconds later, she was a black raven.
"Wow..." Ryan whispered in astonishment
"What about turning ourselves back, ma'am?" Sterling asked
Professor Grint put her wand to her neck again and mumbled something Samantha couldn't hear. Green and black sparkles flew out of her wand and she was back to normal.
"What did you say, ma'am?" Sterling asked
"You say Delecorie again. not that confusing, Mr. Chapman.
"Sorry, Professor. Just excited."
"It's okay, Mr. Chapman." Professor Grint smiled
She turned to the black board and began writing something Samantha didn't understand. Sterling began to shift in his chair and he turned around. He looked at Austin with icy Carmel eyes. Austin looked back at him with yellow eyes and showed him his elongated fangs threatningly. Sterling shifted his eyes and transfixed them on Samantha.
His eyes turned chocolate brown and he touched the tip of his fangs with his tongue. Samantha's eyes turned icy blue and she shuddered.
"What the hell did you two talk about?" Austin whispered
Samantha looked at him with the most innocent and confused looked she could muster up and shrugged.
"I don't know," she replied, her eyes turning hazel.
Austin shook his head and sighed.
"What?" Samantha asked
"You're not talking to me, so I'm not talking to you." he answered
Samantha gave him a sad look and sighed softly.
"Alright," she sighed, defeated. "I'll tell you."
Tanner shifted in his chair and his eyes turned lavender. "Alright, go on." he urged
"He..." she sighed "We...kissed."
Samantha flinched as if Austin were going to hit her. When she looked at him, her eyes turned red. Austin's eyed glowed dark green, his fangs were elongated and bared, his hands were gripping the table so hard, it looked as if he were going to break it in half. His eyes, green and full of hatred and anger, narrowed in on the back of Sterling's skull.
"Okay, class, now, let's try to do it on your own. Please get into groups." Professor Grint instructed and glided over to her desk.
Everybody got up from their desks and into groups. Samantha, Austin, and Ryan went into a lit corner of the room and began talking. Sterling looked from afar.
"Is there something wrong, Sterling?" Professor Grint asked, suddenly at his side with a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't have a group," he mumbled, not even trying to shrug off his teacher's hand.
"Well, do you mind being with Samantha, Austin, and Ryan?"
"Nope," Sterling replied happily as he strode over to them.
"What're you doing here?" Austin growled, his eyes still as green as they were before.
"Ask Professor Grint," Sterling replied, taking out his wand. "Are we going this or not?"
Austin growled and suddenly became interesting in the clouds outside.
"Delecorie." Sterling said, putting the tip of his wand to the base of his neck.
Dark red and golden sparkles flew from his wand. A bright gray light circled him and when the light faded, he was a huge black wolf. Samantha felt Caleb's hands on her shoulders and she turned and looked at him.
"Is premonition the word?" Samantha asked him in her mind
Caleb shrugged. "Best word I can come up with, love."
Sterling was as huge as a horse but his wide brown eyes made him look small. He howled and everyone clapped and smiled for him.
"Congratulations!" Professor Grint exclaimed happily
Sterling wagged his tail and turned back to normal. Austin turned and looked at Samantha. His eyes had cooled down a small degree, but his jaw was tense.
"Get Sterling," he demanded softly
Samantha looked at Caleb and he gently squeezed her shoulders. She nodded and sighed as Caleb stroked her hair. Austin looked at Ryan and Ryan nodded.
"Professor," Ryan began sweetly. "Samantha doesn't feel well. We'll just be out in the hall."
"Alright, that's fine, Ryan." Professor Grint replied
Austin mumbled something like: 'I'm gonna kill him' as he opened the two-way glass door and stormed out into the hallway. Ryan, Samantha, and Sterling followed close behind. Tanner closed the door as best he could without slamming it. He began pacing the corridor and the three of them watched.
"Are you gonna exact your rage?" Samantha asked
"Of course, Sammy," Caleb answered softly and kissed her neck.
Austin stopped pacing and turned to Sterling.
"What the hell is wrong with you, Sterling?" Austin shouted, his voice heightened and sounded exactly like Caleb's.
"I-I" Sterling stuttered, obviously scarred.
"Why did you kiss her?" Austin screamed in Caleb's voice, his eyes boiled with pure green hatred. "She's your sister for god's sake!"
"Why would you do that?" Ryan asked sadly
"I-I" Sterling's words still wouldn't come out.
"That's the nastiest thing you can do to a person! Not to mention the most idiotic!"
"I know b-
"Why on earth would you do something like that?" Caleb's voice shouted
"Aus-
"You're going to burn for that!" Austin shouted in a combination of his and Caleb's voice..
Sterling screamed an ear-splitting scream. His fangs elongated and his eyes burned black.
"You have no right telling me where I'm going!" Sterling screamed in a demonic voice. He turned to his sister. "You promised me you wouldn't tell anyone!"
Blood was streaming out of his black eyes and down his pale, angered face. Ryan wrapped a around Samantha and bared his fangs in protection. Sterling made a lung for Samantha but Austin caught him and threw him against one of the stone walls. His fangs elongated and he held his wand to Sterling's neck like a knife. His eyes of hatred finally started to die down. He wanted to so badly, but he couldn't. He collapsed down to his knees, gasping for breath. Samantha took a step toward him, but Ryan stopped her and pushed her back.
Austin looked up at Sterling threatningly. No more blood was streaming down Sterling's face, but his eyes were still black and he was sneering.
"You're weak, VanAlystne." he said calmly, then his voice went more teasing as he pulled Austin up from the floor by the collar of his robes. "Who cares if I kissed my sister? You overreact to small things. You're just jealous her first kiss wasn't with you."
Samantha felt Caleb's skin brush against hers and he held her body close to his. He rubbed his hands on her stomach and kissed the back of her neck and head.
"Are you okay?" he whispered into her and hair and Samantha nodded softly. "I love you Sammy."
"I love you too." Samantha replied softly
"Take that back you foul, loathum, little, evil, cowardly b*****d." Austin suddenly growled
"Oh please! Don't lie right in front of her!" Sterling exclaimed "Have a little more desency than that!"
Sterling's black eyes flickered from Samantha, to Austin, then Ryan, and back to Austin. Ryan's arms re-wrapped themselves around Samantha but his fangs were no longer bared. His eyes were chocolate as he looked away.
"You're a shame to vampires... all three of you. Especially you VanAlystne..." Sterling seethed
Sterling gave Ryan a look of expectance and back into the classroom. Ryan let Samantha go and she walked over to Austin, Ryan as her side. A single tear of blood feel.
"Are you okay?" Samantha asked, quickly whipping her tear.
Austin looked up at her and Samantha saw Caleb's face.
"Just fine" he got up and wrapped Samantha in his arms. In her ear he whispered: "Never go anywhere without me."
Samantha nodded. "I never have before.
"Common room," Austin began sharply. "I'm not going to class anymore today."
Samantha and Ryan nodded in understand meant and agreement. Austin, who Samantha still saw as Caleb, picked her up off the floor and cradled her gently in his arms. Samantha burried her face into his shirt and silently fell asleep.
"Look," Austin whispered softly as they began to walk to the dungeons. "She's out."
Ryan looked down at the sleeping girl in Austin's arms and smiled sweetly.
"So cute." he replied, whispering. "Why though?"
"No idea," Austin whispered.
XXXXXXXXXX
"Austin?" Ryan asked softly, handing Austin a glass of blood.
Austin laid down on one of the couches and his head rested in Samantha's lap while she stroked his hair. She looked down at him and smiled weakly. In her eyes, she still saw Caleb.
"What?" Austin mumbled, sipping from the glass and setting it on the table next to him.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Ryan asked with a bit of suspicion.
"I'm just fine, Ryan." Austin growled
"Okay, I'm sorry." Ryan mumbled
"It's okay," Austin sighed and softly closed his eyes.
Ryan nodded and sat down across from Samantha. She looked at him with silvery-red eyes. Ryan sighed slowly.
"He'll be okay, Sam. Don't worry, Austin's strong." Ryan said quietly so he didn't wake Austin.
Samantha nodded and stopped stroking Austin's hair.
"I know, but... Sterling's eyes, I have a feeling I've seen them before."
"That's just a coincidence. If I tried hard enough, I could make my eyes black too. Same with Austin and yourself."
"I know but, my dream... When he change, his form was a wolf. Do you think that was just a coincidence?"
"Yes, yes I do. Think of you're logic, Sam. It was just a dream and if either one us turned into wolves, you be able to control us. There'd be no way we'd ever hurt you. Of course, I'm not saying you don't have a point. It's just not possible." Ryan answered
"Okay, you're right." Samantha nodded and sighed.
"Are you going to be okay?" Ryan asked after a few minuets of silence.
"Yeah," she sighed. "I'm gonna go call Taylor. Ask him about our brother."
"I'll sit here with Austin. In case he wakes up and asks where you are."
Samantha nodded and gently slid out from under Austin. She slipped a pillow under his head and looked down at him. She no longer saw Caleb in Austin. She turned and glided up the stairs to her dorm. Caleb opened the door for her and escorted Samantha to her bed. She pecked his cheek and he blushed deeply.
He sat on the edge of her bed while Samantha opened her phone and dialed the house phone. After the first couple rings, she sighed softly and flipped it closed. Caleb looked her consurned. She crawled into his lap and Caleb held her close. He rubbed her back and whispered soothing words in her hair. He laid her back down on her side and laid next to her. Samantha heard the steady beat of his heart as she closed her heavy, wet, blood-filled eyes. Called pulled her closer to him and their bodies fit together like puzzle pieces. Samantha draped her body over his so they were like separate pieces of the same skin and Caleb wove his slender fingers through her hair.
He took in Samantha's scent, roses and honey, and sighed with contempt. Samantha smiled and giggled under her breath. Caleb looked down at her and snickered.
"You're not going to sleep Sammy?" he asked
Samantha opened her golden eyes and looked up at him.
"I was asleep." she stated, "remember? I can see everything that goes on when I'm sleep."
Caleb blushed. "I'm sorry Sammy. I forgot."
Samantha gasped. "What?" Caleb asked
"That's the first thing you've forgotten in thirteen years." Samantha smiled
Caleb smiled and kissed Samantha's neck.
