Chapter One
CHAPTER ONE
A full moon hung over Salem the night before Benjamin Phillips was supposed to start his freshman year of college. Naturally, Benny was patrolling the Salem Willows, keeping an eye out for any signs of trouble. What he found was a different sort of trouble.
Daniel Eckerd lived across the water from the park. In true Danny form, he'd opted to hold a gathering in the park instead of resting before starting school. He was sitting between three exceptionally attractive young women who seemed to very much be enjoying his company.
"Come on over, Benny!" Danny called cheerfully. "I'm sure the girls won't mind you joining us."
"I'm a little bit busy, Danny," Benny replied.
"Live a little, Benjamin!"
"You're drunk, Danny."
"Maybe a little bit," Danny admitted with a grin. "Drunk on love, buddy!"
"Nope... Just drunk," Benny said knowingly. He motioned toward the bottle of beer in Danny's hands, knowing full well it wasn't the first, second, or even third drink that his friend had consumed that night.
Danny shrugged and said, "I've got more in the cooler. Sit with us."
Benny sighed. "Ladies, may I borrow him for a minute?" He asked. He pulled Danny to his feet and led him to a more secluded area.
"Why, Benjamin Phillips, are you going to try to have your way with me?" Danny joked. "Look at you, taking advantage of me while I'm drunk and vulnerable."
"I know what today is, Danny," Benny said gently.
"Me too! It's Drunkerday!"
"It's the anniversary."
"Whose anniversary? Yours and mine?" He hiccuped.
"I miss Erin, too... She wouldn't want you to do this to yourself, Danny."
Danny sobered up quickly. "Don't," he said sharply.
"Come on, Danny... You can't keep doing this to yourself. Erin loved you."
"Stop saying her name!" Danny sighed. "I came out here to have a good time, not be reminded of the past."
Benny sighed, wishing their friends Johnny Winston and Mitch Marshall were around. Working together, the three of them could usually talk Danny off of the ledge when he was about to go too far.
"I'm sorry," Benny said gently. "What do you need, Danny?"
"A drinking buddy!" Danny replied cheerfully. "You can share the company of the pretty girls with me."
He knew he was supposed to be patrolling, but Danny couldn't be left alone. "Alright," Benny agreed. "For a little while."
"Yes! That's what I'm talking about!" Danny eagerly dragged Benny back toward the girls.
By the time they arrived, Jonathan Winston had shown up. He smiled as he spotted Benny and said, "I had a feeling you might need some help."
"Johnny! Welcome to the party! There's a girl for each of us. Which one do you want?" Danny asked, making two of the girls giggle.
"Whichever one would choose to enjoy my company," Johnny replied. "They aren't property, Danny, and you are drunk."
"Maybe a little," Danny said again.
"Maybe a lot," Benny corrected him.
"So? It's a party," Danny insisted. "Boys, let me introduce you to the girls! The blonde is Donna, the brunette is Linda, and the redhead is Pam."
"Hi, girls," Benny replied charmingly. Donna and Linda stared at him like he was the centerpiece of a gourmet buffet. They giggled as they waved at him. Benny grinned. He was used to girls reacting that way to him and didn't think much of it.
Johnny smiled at the girls politely. "Donna and Linda are heading to Boston for college, but Pam's going to be in school with us," Danny explained.
Johnny looked at Pam with interest. "I guess we'll be friends, then," he said. "Johnny Winston," he added, shaking her hand.
"Pamela Norris, but Pam is fine," she replied with a bright smile.
"What are you studying?"
"Literature," Pam replied. "I want to be a teacher, and I figure that's a great place to start."
"Have a drink, buddy!" Danny said, passing a beer to Johnny.
Johnny shrugged and accepted the drink, popping the cap off and taking a decent swig of its contents.
Seriously, Johnny? Benny asked in surprise.
It's a hard day for all of us, Benny, Johnny replied. This appears to be what Danny needs... Besides, we start college tomorrow! Maybe this is exactly what we should be doing.
You're usually the responsible one, Benny pointed out.
"Screw it," Benny said aloud. "Pass me a beer, Danny."
"Yes! You've got it, Benny!" Danny replied enthusiastically before passing him a bottle.
As a new song came on the radio, Pam smiled. "This is my favorite!" She declared. She took Johnny's hand and started dancing.
Johnny couldn't help but smile back as he joined her. Despite his often stoic nature, Johnny was quite the dancer, and he eagerly joined his new companion, relaxing as they focused on moving together.
Danny grabbed Linda, leaving Benny to dance with Donna. He soon forgot his earlier concerns as he focused on relaxing with his friends and having a good time.
Maybe Danny and Johnny are right, he thought. We might as well celebrate, because tomorrow starts a brand new chapter of our lives!
~*~
There was blood under her nails again. Clarissa Erikson sighed as she carefully picked it out with her nail file before heading back to her house. She smoothed out her clothes, clearing away any dirt before she released her long blonde hair from its casual ponytail. It fell just past her shoulders. She carefully tucked it behind her ears before entering the house.
Her mother had fallen asleep on the couch watching television again. Lord only knew where her father was. Clarissa easily snuck by her mother unnoticed.
She nearly made it into her bedroom before a voice said, "Busted."
Clarissa jumped and spun around to face her older sister, Liora. "Jesus, Liora! Don't do that!" She snapped.
"You're slipping," Liora said, ignoring her. "You don't usually get caught sneaking in after you've been out slaying."
"Keep your voice down! If Mom hears you-"
"She won't." Liora looked a little bit upset then.
"How much did she drink tonight?" Clarissa asked knowingly.
"Not as much as she would have if I hadn't cast a gentle sleeping spell," Liora admitted.
Clarissa sighed. "I don't understand why they haven't gotten divorced yet. They're both miserable."
"Love is a complicated affair, Clarie."
"Ugh. I've asked you repeatedly not to call me that."
"I've always called you Clarie."
"And I've hated it since I was about six, Li."
"Fine, Clarissa Eleanora."
"For the love of the Gods, Liora, don't use that horrible middle name," Clarissa said with a cringe.
"Do you still object to Clarie then?" Liora asked.
"Yes. Why can't you just call me Clarissa like a normal person?"
"What's the fun of being normal?" Liora replied.
Clarissa was saved from having to answer as their father came home. He smelled vaguely of perfume that their mother wouldn't have ever touched, and his clothes were slightly wrinkled.
He's having an affair, Clarissa realized. It didn't really surprise her, but it was still upsetting. Her mother was too busy drinking her life away to pay much mind to her daughters, but her father at least tried to be there for them sometimes. What if he finally decided to leave his wife for some other woman? Would his children ever see him again?
"Hi, Dad," Clarissa greeted him, keeping a calm exterior.
"Clarissa, what are you still doing up?" He asked in surprise. "Liora, put your sister to bed."
"She starts college tomorrow, Dad," Liora reminded him. "She doesn't have a bed time anymore."
"College... My goodness, where does the time go?" He mused. "My baby girl is all grown up! Next thing I know you'll be married!"
"I'd need a boyfriend first, and that's the last thing on my list of priorities, Dad," Clarissa replied.
"There's always Benny Phillips. He's a wonderful young man, very handsome, and his family is extremely well-regarded in Salem. He'd make a fine husband, and he's your age."
"Ugh, no way, Dad!" Clarissa said in disgust. "I can do better than some arrogant prick who thinks he's God's gift to women. Seriously, the way the girls all fawn over him is ridiculous."
Liora had a knowing smile on her face as she said, "He might surprise you, Clarie."
"Unlikely," Clarissa replied dryly. "I'd sooner go for his friend Johnny. At least he's not full of himself."
"Alright, get some rest now, Clarissa. You're going to need your energy tomorrow," her father said. He kissed the top of her head before kissing Liora's cheek and heading up to his room.
"He didn't even stop to check on Mom," Clarissa mumbled.
"He's just tired, Clarie," Liora replied quickly.
"Sleeping with your mistress will do that to you," Clarissa said dryly.
Liora sighed, not bothering to deny the obvious fact that their father was cheating on their mother. "He's a good man, Clarissa," she said softly.
"Good men don't cheat on their wives... I'm going to bed, Li."
Liora hugged her tightly. As much as her sister annoyed her, she gave the best hugs in the world. The scent of sage and lavender filled Clarissa's nostrils as Liora sent comforting energy into her. When she released her, Clarissa was calmer.
"Goodnight, little sister," Liora said with a sad smile before sending her off to bed.
Clarissa got changed quickly and tried not to think about the many things that were weighing on her mind.
~*~
The sun was shining as Mitchell Marshall arrived at the university. He wasn't entirely surprised to see that most of his friends weren't there yet. Benny and Danny tended to stay out late, and Johnny was probably coming with one of them.
Mitch headed toward his dorm. Of the four of them, only Johnny had opted not to move into the dorms, choosing to stay at home with his parents. Benny and Danny were rooming together because, as vampires, they could help each other out if either one had an emergency and needed blood. At least, that was the reason Benny had given Mitch, although he suspected it was actually just because Benny had known Danny longer. They'd been friends ever since they were babies.
Mitch had opted to room with Gregory Porter. He'd known Greg since they were toddlers, but Benny, Danny, and Johnny had never met him. The shy boy had been homeschooled and usually kept to himself, but his mother was friends with Mitch's and that was how they'd met. Mitch was the closest thing to a best friend that Greg had.
He wasn't surprised to see that Greg was already in the room. Like Mitch, Greg wore glasses, and as usual, he was sitting on one of the beds reading a book. He looked up and offered Mitch a warm smile as he spotted him.
"Mitch, you made it!" Greg said in excitement.
"Of course I did, Greg," Mitch replied. "It looks like you've already settled in."
"I got here just after the sun rose and moved in," Greg confirmed.
"I'll introduce you to my other friends when they get here."
"That would be great! I don't know anyone here... It's a little intimidating."
"Don't worry. We're a pretty accepting group. You'll be more than welcome to hang out with us."
"Thanks, Mitch! I appreciate that." He paused. "Where's your stuff, anyway? Are you moving in later?"
Mitch smiled, deciding if they were going to be roommates it was finally time to admit the truth. "I find it's easier to just do this," he said mysteriously before snapping his fingers. His belongings were instantly transported from his bedroom at home to the dorm.
Greg's eyes widened in shock. "You have magick!" He said in wonder.
"I've sensed for a while that you do, too," Mitch replied.
"Nothing like that," Greg said with a laugh. "I'm psychic, sure, but I can't summon items out of thin air. That's impressive, Mitch."
"You're finally experiencing the world outside of your bedroom, Gregory! You'll meet all sorts of people here. Come on, let's check out the campus."
Greg stood up and followed Mitch out of the dorm. As they began walking, Mitch noticed an absolutely gorgeous girl stepping out of a black luxury car that had its own driver. A man who was obviously some sort of servant stepped out of the car and gathered about a dozen designer suitcases with the letters KK engraved onto them in gold letters.
"Take those to my room, Figg," the girl said. "And be careful not to scratch any of them or my father will have your head!"
"Yes, Miss Ko," the man replied nervously. He somehow managed to lug everything into her dorm building on his own.
She looked around with mild curiosity and a hint of wickedness in her eyes. Her features were Korean with a bit of something else mixed in. Her clothes were fancy and stylish, hugging her figure perfectly. She wore a solid gold necklace that read Karen in beautiful, bold script letters. She noticed Mitch studying her and offered him a quick smile before heading into her dorm.
"Do you know her?" Greg asked in awe.
"No," Mitch replied, "but I intend to."
"She must be insanely rich."
"That guy called her Miss Ko," Mitch said. "The Ko family runs several successful businesses, but I've never met any of them. I heard that Karen went to private school, and the others are older than us. Man, she's gorgeous, right?"
"She's definitely beautiful," Greg confirmed. "Although she seems a bit... Snobby. At least judging by how she addressed the guy carrying her bags for her."
Mitch shrugged before saying, "She's rich. I think that's just how she was raised to talk to her staff... Let's check out the cafeteria. I'm starving."
"Sure," Greg agreed. "Breakfast sounds great."
They walked toward the large cafeteria together, and Mitch tried to put Karen Ko out of his mind, but it was impossible. Whatever happened next, he was determined to get to know the beautiful girl and somehow win her affection.
~*~
Margo Tanner was eager to experience college life. Her life back home had never been overly exciting, but she figured that college was an excellent time to find herself.
She walked into her dorm building and looked around with a grin on her face. She found her room quickly and was surprised to see that the room across the hall from it only had one bed. It was also much larger than any of the others.
"I didn't think there were single occupancy dorm rooms here," Margo said in confusion.
"There aren't," the girl in the large room replied, "but I'm Karen Ko, and I do not like to share. The college and I worked out a deal. My dorm room is actually three dorm rooms and I have a private bathroom. It was the only way I'd agree to move in."
"Wow... I guess they really want you to attend the school."
"Of course they do. I just said I'm Karen Ko."
"Is that supposed to mean something to me?" Margo asked in confusion.
Karen glared at her. "Have you been living under a rock?" She demanded.
"I'm from a small town in Colorado and grew up on a ranch, so kind of," Margo replied with a laugh.
Karen studied her for a moment. "You have the potential to become interesting," she decided. "We're not there yet, but I'll keep an eye on you. What's your name, Ranch Girl?"
"Margo," she replied cheerfully. "Margo Tanner."
Karen nodded. "Enjoy your peasant's quarters, Margo," she said. "Maybe I'll see you around." She closed the door to her room and that was that.
"What a strange, rude girl," an Indian girl with a British accent said with a laugh. "I'm Devi Tiwari, your roommate."
"Hi, Devi! I'm Margo Tanner. I love your accent," she replied.
"We're sharing with another girl, Rhonda Smith. She's already inside." Devi guided Margo into their room.
An African-American girl sat on one of the beds reading a magazine. "Welcome," she said. "I'm Rhonda."
"Margo. It's nice to meet you," Margo replied. "I'm from Colorado. Are you local?"
"Yep! Salem resident, born and raised," Rhonda said. "I'll show you around as only a local can."
"That sounds like fun! I'm definitely up for an adventure."
"Me, too!" Devi chimed in. "Where should we go first?"
"Um, class?" Rhonda replied with a laugh.
"Boo! That's no fun," Devi protested, but her smile showed that she was mostly kidding.
"We'll go out tonight," Rhonda promised. "I know just the place."
"Yay! Girls night out!" Devi cheered. "Maybe we can invite our neighbors."
"You don't mean Karen Ko, right?" Rhonda asked, imitating Karen's tone perfectly.
"Not at all," Devi replied with a laugh. "I meant Clarissa, Pam, and the Ramirez twins. They seem really nice."
"I don't know about nice, but they're cool," Rhonda replied. "Clarissa's awesome, and Lucy's a sweetheart. Lori's a little nuts, but she's fun. I don't know Pam, but I'm sure she's great, too."
"Did I hear our names getting tossed around?" A girl asked as she walked into the room. "Hi, Curly. I'm Lori," she said to Margo, motioning toward Margo's thick blonde locks.
"Margo," she replied. "We were just talking about going out tonight."
"I was thinking of heading to the new pub on Derby Street," Rhonda explained.
"That sounds like a party," Lori replied with a mischievous grin. "I'm in. Clarissa and I will drag Lucy along for the ride. And I guess we'll bring Clarissa's new roommate, too. Dress like you want everybody in Salem drooling over you! See you later, girls!" Lori skipped back to her own room.
"Alright! It's our first day here and we already have big plans for the night!" Devi said with her brightest smile yet. "University is going to be amazing!"
Margo mirrored Devi's grin. The girl's excitement was contagious. Somehow, she made Margo believe that anything was possible.
This is the start of an incredibly journey, Margo thought. I hope I'm ready for it!
