Chapter 1
"Hey, Avery!" Shouted Kayla, she was running toward me across the school’s parking lot. It’s Friday and the bell just rang. "Wait up!" Kayla is my cheer squad co-captain, she always lets everyone know what she's thinking and does not care about what other people think.
Kayla Marie Jones, is her full name, she is about 5'5 with golden highlights in her brown hair and green eyes. Kayla is 15 with the personality of sour patch kids, sour to anyone who is not, as she says "Worthy of her company." I've known her since kindergarten so I know her sweet side best. She knows how beautiful she is and is not afraid to flaunt it.
"What time is the squad sleepover Saturday? I couldn't remember if it was 5 or 6."
Crap...I completely forgot…
"6" I replied. Okay, so now I know what I'm doing all day Saturday.
"You forgot, didn't you…" sometimes I forget she can see right through me.
"Yep, and now my Saturday is filled with running around the mall trying to find everything in time. You'll help me won't you?" I pleaded.
"Of course, I can't leave my bestie hangin'!"
"Thank you so much…"
"You can count on me," she told me as we walked to my black Jeep Wrangler.
I'm Avery Miller. I'm 16, single, and a true blonde. I have sky blue eyes that my father calls his baby blues. My blonde hair has always been naturally golden and has always had beach waves shaping my heart shaped face.
I am cheer captain of SHS, Suncrest High School, I've never had straight A's on my report card. I forget things I was told 1 hour ago and people call me an airhead.
Kayla hopped in the passenger seat of my Jeep and immediately cranked up the radio. I pulled out of the lot and I immediately turned the radio back down.
"You're no fun," she pouted.
"Oh well, you love me anyway,"
I cruised down Mainstreet and turned right on Gold St. to head for Suncrest Hills where some middle class family's live. They work hard and love harder.
Everyone's family in the hills and mess with one, you mess with all of them.
I turned left into the Jones's driveway of a big old fashioned ranch house with a wraparound porch.
"I'll pick you up around 10 tomorrow," I said.
"See you then," she replied.
I waved goodbye as Kayla slid out of the seat.
As I backed out, in the forest across from her house I thought I saw something all black move between the trees. I'm probably just seeing things, so I continued to head back up Gold st. and turned up Diamond st. or (as some people call it) snob street.
To get in, you have to pull up to a small screen by the big golden gates, state your name and address, then you are allowed in.
I live in a big estate farther up in the mountains.
I parked in my usual spot in our 4 car garage by my mother's silver Chevy Malibu and my brothers black Chevrolet 2500 truck. My father won't be home until later.
I got out of the Wrangler, grabbed my backpack, and headed to the side entrance to the house.
I was greeted by my double merle australian shepherd, Harley, he is 2 years old and I got him for my 14th birthday. My brother's dog, Chevy, came barreling in behind him. Chevy is 3, a double merle aussie as well, and my brother got him the same day I got Harley. They both have blue eyes and are white with light brown spots, but Harley has one ear completely brown.
"How's my big boy's?" I crooned to them, "Where's mom?"
They both turned and took off toward the kitchen and I followed after them. I opened the door and found my mother and brother hovered over a paper on the island in the middle of the kitchen.
I walked over and sat my bag on the chair on the way over.
"Hey, Ave," my mother said.
My brother barely glanced at me, he had a sparkle in his eye not a lot of people would notice in the moment, but I noticed right away, and punched him in the arm.
"Owwww, mom Avery hit me," he whined as he held his right arm.
My brother everyone is none other than Ethan Miller. He has broad shoulders and long legs. His toned body makes all the girls at school swoon, but Ethan ignores them. He has blonde hair and my mom's emerald green eyes. He stands at 6'2 while I stand at 5'6. I did not win the genetic lottery in height. I'm the shortest in my family, the tallest of us is my dad at 6'6.
Ethan is 17 and is the smartest guy I know, if I had half his smarts I can tell you that I would be on the honor roll in school.
He is the best brother I could ask for and he loves to give me a hard time.
"Oh Ethan, man up," I told him.
I look over at mom to see her shaking her head with her short light brown hair with golden highlights swayed against her neck. My mother's name is Britney Miller formerly Brown. She is 5'10 and is always in a pressed business suit.
"Hey, I'm man enough," Ethan said, "You just punch hard…"
"Whatever," I said. "What's that?" I motioned to the paper between them.
"A news report from last weekend," My mother began, "Two teens were taken in LA and there is no lead on what happened. They were out in the open, both Male, and both of Asian descent. It's like the disappearance a month ago, but they were both female and both chinese."
My mother is a CPD, California Police Detective, and is specialized in kidnapping and missing persons.
My father is COP, Chief of Police, and does the muscle work for my mother.
"How are they similar?" I asked.
"With both of the cases they were taken at night on the same day, out in the open with no traces to where they could be."
"What do you think happened?" Ethan spoke up, "Do you think that they're related? Somehow…"
"I'm not sure what happened, they have to be related because there is no trace to either. They were taken on the same day, but it was also a full moon…"
"So you think vampires took them?" Ethan said to try and lighten up the mood.
"Ha ha, you wish," I replied.
"I'm not sure what to think," my mother spoke up, "I'm on the verge of thinking it's demons. Ohhh I must be desperate…" She sank against her elbows that were balanced on the island.
"Not desperate, just…" I trailed off.
"Just looking for justification." Ethan ended.
"Maybe...just be careful out at night, I don't want you two disappearing as well." My mother looked both of us in the eyes before she walked off to her office.
"Don't worry we will!!" Ethan yelled after her. He turned to me, "Really Ave, be careful they may not be close right now, but you never know. I don't want anything to happen to you."
"That goes for you too big brother, I'd have to pick up your slack," I said as I walked away out of his reach, but his monkey arms picked me up and carried me out the glass doors to the patio.
It's the end of January, and the wind has a bit of a chill to it.
He started walking towards the Olympic sized pool across the lawn.
"Let me go ya big oaf," I told him.
"’kay," he said and dropped me in the pool.
Ok, I thought, how about I teach you a lesson.
I was face down and I slowly felt myself rise, I let my hands float to my sides and held my breath. I felt my back breach the surface, I hoped he took the hint soon because I can hold my breath for a while, but not forever.
Then between the strands of my hair, I saw something splash in the water.
I was watching the air bubbles float to the surface and saw a bright flash. The next thing I knew it was night, I watched the two boys of Asian descent walking back from a friends house, both had glasses and were short with round bodies.
There was a dark blue flash and a cloaked figure stood in front of them. From where I stood, I could tell they were male with brown hair, dark eyes, and about my age. He wore all black, the cloak, his shirt, jeans, and combat boots.
The two kids looked scared one second, but the next their dark brown eyes swirled white and then all three disappeared.
I woke with a jolt, I was looking at the bubbles and Ethan's blonde hair swaying in the water as his emerald eyes stared into mine.
I broke into a smile and his face turned down in a frown. He flipped me over and once he broke the surface I started laughing.
"Not funny," he said stubbornly.
"You deserve it," I replied.
"Fine…"
We were holding onto the side of the pool with our hair slicked back and clothes clinging to our bodies, Ethan has a white shirt on with his black jeans. Meanwhile, I am wearing my favorite top and high waist jeans. We both looked like we were just in a wet t-shirt contest.
Ethan pulled himself out and I held out a hand, and he pulled me up behind him.
"Okay, I deserved it, but I do have one question for you…" He started.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Can you tell me why your eyes were glowing?"
