Keepers of the Flame (Trilogy Bundle) - By Melissa F. Hart Page 0,7

to me?

I stopped my pacing in front of the open windows and stared out into the night. As I gazed at the stars, I could feel the cool night breeze stir up my hair and I desperately wanted to be out there. I felt a longing deep down inside me and it gave rise to a desperation I can't even begin to describe. All I knew was that I wanted to be out there, flying through the night.

As a vampire, one of the easiest things for us is flying. However, for me it was more than just a way to get from Point A to Point B. Out there I could forget everything that was wrong with my life. I could forget how different I was from the average girl and even make and effort at embracing my nature. But more than that, it was a way for me to feel close to Mom. And they'd taken that away from me.

I felt the tears trickle down my cheeks and brushed them away with an impatient hand. Crying was futile. I'd discovered that early on in life. It was nothing more than an indulgence and right now what I needed to be was angry. So I clenched my hands into fists once more, and began my pacing.

I had only been pacing for a minute when I heard a knock on my door. Thinking it was Katrina and feeling the need to let her know what I thought of her trapping me in the house, I marched there and pulled the door open, and instantly regretted doing that.

Standing on the other side was none other than Mister Macho himself. That's what I'd decided to call him, at least in my mind. And while I knew he was probably the culprit responsible for my inability to go outside, I wasn't ready to deal with him.

Folding my arms across my chest, I glared at him. “What do you want?” I demanded.

“I thought we should talk.”

Was he serious? “I have nothing to say to you. Now get out of my room!” I slammed the door, but it only bounced back. Confused, I looked down to see he had a foot blocking the door. I felt the fury and frustration of the past couple hours rise up within me. “Get out of my room!” I repeated, almost yelling.

He raised an eyebrow again, and casually leaned against the doorpost of my room, like I hadn't just been yelling at him. “Technically, I'm not in your room.”

His quiet confidence really got to me. I screeched in frustration and turned to march back into my room. Obviously, I couldn't get rid of him, much as I wanted to. I went back to the window and stood staring outside, not bothering to look at him even after I heard the door close. I could sense his presence. It was hard to explain but I was totally tuned to every move he made. I closed my eyes and saw him studying my room. I know I haven't explained about that, but it's something most Born Vampires can do, so it's no big deal.

“Nice place you've got here.”

I forced my eyes open at his voice. I knew he wasn't really complimenting me; still, I turned and tried to look at the room through his eyes. It was done in pale pink accents with lots of frills everywhere. I hate pink. I hate ruffles and frills and all that girly stuff. But Katrina didn't know that, so when I had to come live with her, she'd done the room up in the way she thought would suit me. Most girls I knew would love a room like that. Most girls I knew did love my room. I barely tolerated it, but I hadn't cared enough to make any change.

Apart from the color and the frills, it was an all right room I suppose. There was a nice double bed with pink covers, a foot rug in different shades of pink and a window seat in walnut. It was my favorite part of the room, the window seat. The fridge was there too, but I've already mentioned that.

“Thank you,” I said shortly, the need to be polite a deeply instilled habit.

“We need to come to an understanding if this is going to work,” he said, walking toward where I was standing by the window.

I had this instinctive urge to back away from him, but I forced myself to stay still. He was so confident