Hometown

"The Dark Stranger"

© VeGirl 2014

To shake the feeling of being watched, I decide to meet Eddie's request and take a few days off to go see my mother and father in Phoenix.

I like the freedom of the open road as I blast down highway 17 south. The sky is deep blue as always and the sun blasts its heat down. I send a thanks' to the lord almighty for aircondition in my car, or perhaps the engineer designing it.

Eventually I roll my car into a stop on my parents' driveway and a wave of heat meets me as soon as I open the door. The dry heat seems to be even worse that the few miles north where I live.

With my overnight bag on my shoulder I ring the doorbell before I open and step inside. "Honey, I'm home!"

"Sam?"

I see my brother peek around the corner just before my parents shows up behind him. "Nick, you're home!" I hurry up and throw my arms around my brother. "I didn't know you'd be here," I mumble as he holds me tight.

"Yeah... Emily and I broke up and I moved back here to stay a couple of weeks until I get a new apartment," he says with an embarrassed look. "But I'm glad I am, so I get to meet you, sweetie."

He releases me so I can hug my parents as well. They seem a little on edge and cast me worried looks just like everybody else around me. What is it with everybody, or am I getting neurotic, reading in too much?

"Are you okay since our last talk, sweetie pie?" my mother asks worried.

I'm not really sure what she means, but I decide to go along. "Sure, you don't have to worry." I smile and see how she relaxes before me. "I love you Mom."

Tears fill her eyes and she hugs me hard.

It is little later, after I have been properly fed, when Nick and I sit on the back porch, watching the sun set that I got the idea why she was so worried. Nick lay his arm around my shoulder. "I'm so glad that you are okay and that you didn't totally freak out when they told you that you're adopted; well, you and me both." He adds.

I furrow my brows, trying to recall that particular conversation, but come up with nothing. Adopted! "Yeah I'm okay, how about you?" I feign a cool collected expression.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I guess I've always known."

"Yeah, me too," I reply and realize that is actually true; I have always known that there's something else out there, but this particular reason was lost on me. "Do you remember how it was earlier?" I ask carefully.

"I was young when they took me in, so I don't remember anything else before that, and that life doesn't matter to me." He smiles warmly at me, the brotherly way that makes me feel safe. "I know that I'm the younger brother, but I remember when you got here. You were a mess and I knew we had to take extra care of you." His tone of voice is caring and considerate and my eyes well up. "Oh, come here!" He encages me in those strong arms of his and I realize how much I have missed him.

"I'm so glad I got you for a brother," I sob into his shirt, making a mascara-smudged wet stain color it dark. "I remember you defending me in school against the older guys. You've always been my guardian angel."

He chuckles soft now, making me laugh the tears away. "You needed it. You were like some lost little bird that had fallen out of the birdsnest." He holds me on an armslength smiling soft at me and I smile at him, feeling more whole that I have done in a good while.

* * *

Nick decides that he and I are going out the next night. I haven't decided how long I will stay here, so I take him up on his offer. A few of his highschool friends are having a party and he invites me along. "You look like you could need a good time."

"Why, do I look like a wreck, you mean?" I mock, making him snicker.

"No sis, you look amazing! But I feel like a wreck, so oblige me." He smiles and looks my hair over. "I really like your new due."

I share his smile and take the passengerseat in his car while he drives us to the outskirts of town. The house looks more like a mansion and music is blasting as we walk inside.

"Hey Daniel!" Nick calls as soon as we walk inside, and a blond guy turns and rewards us with a huge smile.

"Hey man!" He grabs Nick's hand and they bump their shoulders in what is supposed to be a manly hug. "Great to see you."

"Yeah thanks' I brought my sister." Nick informs the guy who has already ogled me twice. "This is Sam."

"Hi Sam, how nice to meet you," he says in a sweet voice, but despite his good looks and what he probably consider charm, I feel creped out as he once more ogle me.

"Hi Daniel, nice to meet some of my baby brother's friends. I think I ended highschool long before you started, right? I can't remember you." I give him a sweet smile, to milder the statement that actually was kind of harsh.

"Yeah, perhaps..." He is taken aback a bit due to my rude approach.

"What a lovely home you have," I hurry to say, since I feel guilty for being a jerk.

"Thanks' come in and have a drink will you." Daniel is called away and Nick and I walk inside the crowded space.

People are laughing and dancing, drinking and cheering and I think that this might be exactly what I need.

A girl stops abruptly right in front of me, almost making me bump into her. "Sam?" It is obvious that she recognizes me, but I can't really place her. "It's Kaylee, we went to school together."

"Kaylee?" I feel stunned due to the fact that this girl looks nothing like the popular girl she was in school. I try to find the words to address the matter.

"Wow, you look amazing!" She gives me a good look over, making me feel slightly embarrassed. "That dark haircolor suits you."

"Thank you," I murmur. "You look great as well."

Her eyebrows shoot up in surprise and then she laugh. "That was nice of you to say; untrue, but very nice," she laugh. "Are you back in town?"

I smile wide at her. "Just visiting." That is the moment my darling brother Nickolas comes up from behind and slung his arm around my neck. Kaylee's eyes widen and it is obvious that she is affected by his presence. "You know my brother Nick?" I ask casually.

"I remember you from school." He says with a slight frown. "You were not nice."

She chuckle embarrassed. "No, you're right about that. Highschool was hard."

Nick snickers. "Absolutely."

A girl calls for Kaylee's attention and she excuses herself, wishing the siblings a nice evening and leaves.

Nick turns to me. "Are you ready to rock this place?" He holds out his arm for me to take and I roll my eyes at him before I put my hand in the crook of his arm and snicker, we head towards the bar. My brother manages to get me something better to drink than the beer he prefer and we mingle around for a while.

I who had imagined to perhaps meeting some of my old classmates from highschool, gets utterly disappointed. Nobody but Kaylee seems to recognize me at all, and due to our lack of connection in school didn't make me eager to hang with her on this night. Despite this, I do my best to engage in discussions and accept dance-invitations and to sum it up; I'm having quite a good time.

I am determined to have a good time!

The only thing that has been severely lacking in this party is a really goodlooking hunk to rest my eyes on.

Later in the evening I stand leaned up against the wall. I have met several old classmates that I have nothing at all in common with. I feel like there is something missing, but I can't figure out what it might be. I blame the richly provided alcohol.

"Hello gorgeous, are you here alone?"

I turn and look into the pale blue eyes of a very good looking guy standing by my left. "Looks like it." I smile.

"Lucky me..." He smiles and deep inside me, something tells me that there is something wrong, that I should be on the lookout. His pale blue eyes are totally captivating and I can't seem to do anything but gaze into them. "I'm Damian," he says and those eyes sparkle when he smiles.

"Sam." I smile back.

The guy's smile turns into a smug grin for an instant before it changes into an absolutely charming and old fashioned polite smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you Sam."

I can't help myself but to return that smile. "Likewise," I murmur, feeling edgy all of a sudden.

"Would you care to take a seat with me for a while?" He gestures toward the nearby staircase and I ask myself why not. I nod and we sit down next to each other. "Are you here alone tonight?"

"No, I'm here with my brother, Nick." I point in the general direction I last saw him. "Do you know him?"

"Can't say I do," the darkhaired guy answers and I remember thinking about his old fashioned way of expressing himself. "I'm friends with Vincent," he says and gives me a peculiar look.

"Vincent? Sorry." I smile, not having any clues to who he is referring. "I don't know any Vincent."

His eyebrows are suddenly pressed together and he gives me a quizzical look, before shaking it off. "It is really nice to meet you Sam." His smile is dazzling. Even though my mind tells me to watch out, I can feel myself drawn to him in a compelling way.

"Are you from this town, I can't remember having seen you here before." He smiles at me.

My mind has little problem with forming words. "I left this town years ago."

"Lucky for me that you popped in here tonight, then..." His voice is alluring and it feels almost impossible to look away. I was thankful for the attention and a little amazed that I was the one this gorgeous man had chosen to spend his time with me.

"So, you're single?" He flirts and with my pulse quicken as he lean closer.

"I am." My body almost reacts instinctively and I lean closer to him, prepared for his lips to meet mine, when his eyes changes into something vicious. I panic as his cool blue eyes turn dark and malignant while his teeth elongates into fangs. I retreat the best way I can while sitting on my behind, just to end up a few steps, with Damian now hovering over me.

"You are not afraid of me." He looks deep into my eyes and I instantly calm down and watch his face change.

Fangs; what the hell is going on? I think as he leans closer to my neck.

Abruptly I snap out of my calm serenity and jerks away from him. "Get off me!" I yelp and manage to get my feet up between us to kick him off of me.

Surprised he looks at me while his horrid face changes back into the gorgeous man he is. "How did you do that?"

"Do what?" I snarl and do my best to put another few feet of distance between us. "What the hell are you?"

"How did you manage to break the compulsion?" He looks stunned. "I had you compelled, and you just snapped out of it!" His face changes from utterly surprise to bemusement as he study me incredously.

"What do you mean compulsion? Get away from me you freak!"

He flinches before his face lights up and he start to laugh. "No wonder he wants you to himself," he laugh. "You are an edgy little thing, and by the way, you smell delicious," he adds while he takes a seat on one of the lower steps and looks up at me.

"What are you talking about; who wants me?" I snarl annoyed, making sure I have enough distance between this freak and myself. "If he is anything like you, I strongly decline."

This Damian character barks up a laughter. "...and she has a sense of humor..."

"And don't forget; can defend herself!" I mumble defensive.

The mirth run off of him and his bemused expression return. "But how did you break the compulsion?"

"I don't know what you're talking about?"

"Are you not human?"

"Are you?"

He gives me a pointed look. "I thought that was plain and obvious. Vampire; what about you?" he hisses.

"Vampire?" I snarl. "That's preposterous; vampires only exist in movies... or books..."

His expression changes and he swiftly and with a speed I am not prepared for climbs the few steps that separates us, while his face suddenly is the mask of a monster again. Before I can do anything, he has me pinned down while his teeth pierce the skin of my neck. I try to scream but his hand covers my mouth to stop attract attention. Fiercely I kick and claw at him, doing my best to get the bastard off of me while I can tell he is actually sucking blood from my neck.

When he finally let's go of my neck I can see that horrid face smeared with blood and a blissful expression. "Yeah, you taste just as delicious as you smell."

"Get away from me; get out of this house!" I scream with a hand covering my neck. I hear people come closer but before they turn up, he simply disappears. I don't understand; it is as if he simply evaporated into thin air. I scurry up the stair to the closest bathroom where I in the mirror check the wound on my neck.

What I expected to find a huge gaping ugly wolf-bite was actually a minor cut, and the blood which I was prepared to be gushing out, simply trickled. I blink in surprise and check it one more time.

Somebody bang on the door. "Are you okay?"

I try to think of what to say. "Yeah I think so." I answer while considering of the girls reaction if I told her I had been attacked by a vampire. "Yeah, I just got scared, I'm fine now," I try to reassure her.

"Okay..." she says and thankfully leaves me.

I search around in the cupboard and finally find some band aid to put on the surprisingly small wound. It looks silly and I pull my collar up before I pull my hair over to further mask it. This whole event is crazy!

Vampires pfft!

* * * * * * *

Hello my beautiful readers!

I want to thank each every one of you for reading and for all the votes this story has gotten. A special thank to the comments, it is really interesting to hear what you think about this.

Thank you!

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