by Kara Joy
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.
Originally Published in 2009 on Lulu. The novella has been revised and updated extensively.
Copyright © 2019 by Kara Joy.
Cover design by Designrans.
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.
Dear Readers,
Thank you for supporting me through the purchase of this novel. This was the first novella that I self-published through LuLu in 2009. I took down the novel in 2012 with plans for revision and expansion. It's been a long time coming, but I finally have this book republished.
This book is written in first-person because that is how I first wrote it. I thought of changing it to the third person but I wasn't to keep it as close to the original as possible. This is and will always be the only fiction novel that I write in the first person. Any future books in this series will be written in the third person. I thank you for understanding.
I hope you enjoy Annabella and Orion's story.
Much Love,
Kara Joy
Contents
Copyright
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Title Page
Prologue
My story starts just like any other story, except for one fact. I am a Vampiress. The last royal vampire left to take the throne. You see my world is different. My family was massacred by the Invaders, who wanted to take the throne from my family. So I live with a family of Protectors that has been assigned to my family for centuries. If the Invaders were to find out that I was still alive, my life would be in danger. For if I live they can not fully rule our people.
My name is Annabella Lavada, but I go by Anna. I live in Walla Walla, Washington, with the Protector's, my family. For centuries, they lived at the Sanctuary since I was born. I am young compared to the other vampires since I am only about one hundred years old.
I am entering my first year of college at Walla Walla Academy. A private academy. My family is very different from the other families since I am a half-vampire and my family is a mixture of vampires and werewolves. Many people believe the myth of the vampires and werewolves as enemies but we make it work every day.
My adopted mother, Arianna Phoenix, is the beauty of the group and the leader by far. A vampire at the age of thirty-eight, and she is married to Augustine Phoenix, my father, a werewolf at the age of forty. Together they have four sons. Orion and Skylar are both half-breed vampires; Griffin and Quincy are half-breed werewolves.
Chapter 1
After one hundred years you would think that I would not be scared of school. Every first day of school was nerve-racking and we had been living in this town the longest. I am starting my third year at Walla Walla Academy; at least I had friends this year. Being a half-blood, not fully a vampire, I was able to attend school during the day, in the sunlight. It just meant that the more sun that I dealt with, the higher the consumption of blood I would need. It was the same for my vampire brothers. Our half-blood kept away the suspicion and made them better protectors. My nervousness was getting ridiculous. I had already been through all of this stuff, too many times. I looked over to Arianna, my mother, who was sitting on the bed watching me pace.
“I can't believe how scared I am about my first day of school.”
“Anna, haven't we already been through this?” Arianna teased me, as a gave her one of my favorite glares.
“Can't I at least lose my protective shadows?”
“Sorry, darling. You need to have a Protector with you at all times. You know that.”
“But...”
From downstairs, Orion's shout drifted through the open door. “Annabella, hurry up. You're going to make us late!”
Hearing him, I grabbed my book-bag and dashed out of the room. “I hate it when you call me Annabella. You know it's Anna.” I rolled my eyes as I passed all four of my protector and headed out to the Hummer that we always drove to school. I looked at my new blood-red mustang with longing eyes. I'd already fought with Orion to take the car to school but he wouldn't allow it. “Too flashy,” was his always reason behind his favorite word, “no.”
As my brothers and I drive into the parking lot at the school, a thought quickly passed through my mind about clutching my hands to the seat and refusing to out. I know that they would all be able to pry my hands off the leather and drag me out of the Hummer and into my class, but a girl could hope. That was until I saw his black eyes looking at me. I bravely started to move towards him as Orion grabbed me around the waist and helps me down from the Hummer.
I knew that my heart was racing. I had been In love with Orion since I could remember, but he doesn’t seem to see me at all past having to protect me all the time as my personal guard. He was one of the most gorgeous men alive. A young Johnny Depp had nothing on Orion. Orion is tall with a head full of dark hair, jawbones that could cut glass, and dimples that could rival the Grand Canyon. His dark chocolate eyes could make me melt and his smile, oh, his smile always makes my heart skip a billion beats.
“Anna, sweetheart, you coming? We're going to be late.” Griffin called back to where I was still standing, like a statue. I started to move but his hand grabbed my arm, stopping me.
“You need to calm down, your heart is racing like a hummingbird.” He chuckled as a gave a little growl.
My stupid heart. The one part of my body that is always betraying me. I tripped as I ran off to my class. I knew that they all could hear my heart speed up. My stupid heart, it always betrays me. The warning bell rang as I ran to get to my class on time. As I got to English class, I finally saw my group of high school friends sitting there. Lady was my “age” at sixteen she was a preppy goddess and was always dressed her best in fancy dresses. Lady was dating my brother Quincy. Rachel was the tomboy and the one I was the closest to. She was dating Skylar and I knew that it was getting very serious. Mercedes was the newest friend in our girl pack at age seventeen she bewitched Griffin in her ever-changing style.
A real smile broke through as I went to join them.
“Anna! Finally, what took you so long to get here? Did you hear the news? Lady asked excited as she started to sing, “New guy...” I could not help but laugh at her excitement.
“A gorgeous new guy.” Mercedes waged her eyebrows.
“I'll make sure to tell Griffin.”
“Don't you dare. I can look; I just can't touch.” Mercedes joked.
“I seriously doubt that. Remember we are in the land of mundane and boring!”
The final bell rang as I finally slid into my desk beside Rachel. I listened to them speak about this new student that they had seen, but I couldn't seem to get my mind off of Orion. I completely zoned out and started to daydream until a saw a
leather jacket coming up my row. I knew I shouldn't stare but I could not help myself. He briefly stopped to say “hello” to me. I looked up and tried to smile but no words escaped my lips, as he sat in the desk behind me.
I suddenly froze. This could not be the new guy that just transferred in. The ones that my friends had been chatting excitedly about. He was… divine. That was the only way to put it. When he sat right behind me, I thought that I would melt into a puddle, right onto the floor. My friends were right, for once, he was not only gorgeous, and he was dreamy. He was muscled and chiseled; the features would have put Dominic Sherwood to shame. It is like he just stepped out of a fairytale story except for him having short black hair, dressed in all black. Not like the Goths you see around some regular schools. He looked like he just walked off the Abercrombie and Fitch runway. Put a “Prep” in black and you have him.
The minute that the teacher finally shut up and the bell rang, I rocketed out of my chair like a NASA rocket. I could not bear him talking to me again. Mercedes and Rachael were waiting by my locker to ambush me when I went to get my books.
Lady stared at me, “I can’t believe it. He talked to you and you gave him the cold shoulder.”
“Yeah, you are so lucky. He was totally checking you out the entire class period.” Mercedes gushed.
I just rolled my eyes, I could not let them know what I thought of this guy. I would never hear the end of it. “He’s just not my type. I am not interested in dating anyone right now... He isn’t that good looking.”
They were dumbfounded and gave me shocked looks as I started to walk into my Math class. Rachel slid up beside me. “You just lied to them.”
“I know but you know who I'm in love with.”
“Oh right, sometimes I forget.”
“Don't get me wrong, he has a great body and his emerald eyes would make any sane girl always sparkle. Ok! Fine, I want him but I want Orion as well.”
Why would they all be drooling over this guy and jealous of me? He is good looking but my brothers were so much hotter. Of course, he has a great body and those emerald green eyes make you want to shine. Who am I kidding? I wanted him.
I was always really good at picking out relationships and knowing people’s true emotions, it is kind of my gift. I kept it hidden from everyone except Orion. He had figured out my talent, somehow. This new guy, his emotions seemed so mixed every time I tried to read him. As I started to match-make in my head, I read several of my classmate’s emotions until I felt him. My hair stood up on the back of my neck as the leather jacket sat behind me. Again, I could hear him saying hello, but this time I completely ignored him. I knew that I could not be swept away by a human.
Ignoring him, I went back to thinking about my friend’s and my brother’s getting together. I wanted to see them all happy, they all have been protecting me for far too long. It seemed that the Invader’s had forgotten all about me and I no longer needed their protection. They could move on with their lives. Taking a breath, I froze as I felt someone sniffing my hair and I spun around quickly.
“What are you doing?” I was out of breath and I was fuming with instant anger.
“I’m sorry! I was just captivated by your scent,” the new boy said to me.
I had not even noticed that the class had started and everyone was now staring at us. The professor walked over to our table. My head finally caught on to what he had said to me, “scent.” Scent…did he just say scent?
“Is there a problem…” he looks down at his clipboard, “Miss Lavada?”
What was I supposed to say? I was at a loss of words and then the voice behind me started to speak.
“I’m sorry Professor. It was my fault. I got a little carried away with myself.”
“Oh, I see. Well Mr. Warin, please do not get carried away again. I do not permit my students to get out of hand.”
I turned around almost having respect for Mr. Warin. I can not believe that he stood up for me. It was his fault but it was also my fault. I did not need to freak out as I did. How could he smell me? It takes a very skilled person or someone of our kind to smell us. Maybe I was wrong; this new kid could be an Invader. He might know my dark secret. The thoughts started spinning around in my mind until I was in complete “freak out” mode. Before I knew it I blacked out. The next thing I knew I was laying on the cold floor in my Math class.
Several students gasped as the Professor turned around from the whiteboard, “What now?” Seeing me lying there I heard him moving towards where I was laying. “Zack, could you please take her to the nurse’s office?”
Before I could sit up and refuse, an arm gently slid under me and picked me up. It was like I was a feather in his arms and weighed nothing at all. Now I was in fear of my life. I needed Orion or Griffin. They always make me feel safe when I was weak. Their senses were stronger than mine. Plus, I was too captivated with this new student, wondering if he is a friend or a threat, to think clearly.
Chapter 2
I was trying hard to force myself out of the darkness that had swallowed me whole. I could hear and feel but I couldn't get my eyes to open. I hated the feeling as I reached out with my hearing trying to make sure that I knew where I was at all times. Before I knew it, the heard Mr. Warin kick open the nurse’s door and he carried me inside.
The nurse took one look at Zack carrying me and gasped. “Oh my! Bring her in here young man. What happened?” The nurse looks up at Zack, anxious for his reply.
Zack just shrugs, “She started to shake and just passed out.”
I started to come out of the darkness and the dizziness that was trying to claim me to the darkness again. I was finally able to whisper “Griffin Phoenix!”
The nurse looks at me, “Is that your brother?” I nodded in relief that she understood what I was saying, “I will send someone to go and get him, my dear,” she assured me.
For the first time in the last ten minutes since Math class started, I was glad that I was able to find my voice. I needed my brother. I knew that once Griffin was in here that my other brothers would not be far behind. I looked over and Zack was still standing there, leaning up against the wall, with a worried look on his face. As harsh as I could muster, I stared at him and told him to go away.
Zack just stood there staring back at me. He seems to be surprised, maybe a bit amused, but before he could leave, Griffin came busting through the nurse’s door. If I did not know he was a werewolf I would have said that he was angry as bear right now. Zack smiles towards me and quietly slips out the door to return to class.
Griffin was at my side, fury burning in his eyes. “What happened?” He almost barked out to me.
He wrapped his arms around me. I could barely look at him. He looked at the nurse and asked in a calmer tone, “Is she alright?”
The nurse looked at him. “I am not sure what happened. I am sure that she is just fine; the boy said that she passed out. She does seem extremely pale.”
I barely found the strength, I felt like I had been drained, but I tugged on his shirt. “Take me home.” I knew that I would never make it through the rest of the day and I had to talk to Augustine and Orion. They would know what was going on. Had the Invaders finally find me after all of these years? I could not let my family get hurt; we had already lost enough people in battle.
I hoped that I was just jumping to conclusions and being dramatic. They knew so much more about our history than I do and they would know how to handle the situation. The worry was starting to build up inside and I could feel my heart rate speeding up. I knew that Griffin noticed the acceleration as his grip tightened around me. I closed my eyes and took some deep breathes and cleared my mind as my heart rate returned to normal.
Griffin still had me in his arms when he sent a text to my brothers. “We're taking her home,” Griffin announced to the nurse.
“I think that the best. If she keeps feeling dizzy make sure that she sees a physician.” The nurse ordered.
Griffin kept me i
n his arms and carried me to the Hummer where the other three guys were already waiting. I closed my eyes and blocked out the questions as I felt Griffin's chest moving as he talked. I felt us slide into the Hummer as I kept my eyes closed. I could feel Orion in the Hummer and his eyes glancing back to me repeatedly. I wished that they would drive faster. It always seemed like a long drive when I wanted to go quick. The silence was driving me insane, it had to be broken. All the sudden I blurted out, “I think that Invaders found me!” Then I turned onto Griffin’s chest, sobbing.
The Hummer slammed to an abrupt stop and Orion immediately turns to looks at me. I could not meet his eyes. After a few seconds of staring at me. Orion picked up his cell phone and made a call. I knew that the call was to the Pediatrics Clinic, we had to get our Father home to discuss today’s events.
“Dr. Phoenix, please,” Orion asked as he waited for Augustine to answer. “It's Orion. We have an emergency. We need you home as soon as possible.” The moment that Orion hung up the phone, Quincy started to drive again. During the drive, you could tell that he was using his senses to make sure that no one was following us. Everyone was so sharp with their senses yet the worry was almost suffocating. It was making me feel like I was going mad.
“I’m sorry.” That is all I could say and I kept repeating it over and over. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” Griffin gripped me tighter in his arms. I could feel his heart pounding and it calmed me a bit.
Orion looked over at me, “No need to be sorry, that is why we are here. You should have thought to yourself that you were in danger. I would have sensed the danger you feared.” He reached to caress my face and went on, “You know since the massacre that we could communicative back and forth…you can call me anytime you need me, through your mind.”
A blood tear fell from my eye. “I didn’t know we could communicate back and forth and anyways I was too scared to even think of that. I do not even know what happened. I just got scared and passed out. He was there and he was smelling…”
