Eternally Loved

Chapter 1

I shot awake at the sound of my little brother, Tony, screaming. My heart racing, I throw off my covers and rush into his room. Just as I opened the door, I felt something crash into me, knocking me to my butt. “Pep?” I heard my little brother whimper. “Tony? Is everything alright?” I asked, squinting through the dark to see him standing before me, shaking. “Come here, munchkin.” I frown, holding my arms open. He sits in my lap, nuzzling into my chest as he sniffled. 

“Another nightmare?” I asked, standing up with him in my arms, gently rocking him in my arms. I felt Tony nod and I sighed softly. “What was it about this time, munchkin?” I asked, sitting back down on his bed. “I saw the vampires again. They were gathered around a cliff, chanting something. Then, a comet in the sky touched the moon, and-and the sky turned red, but then a man came out of nowhere and stopped the vampires, knocking some sort of amulet out of one of their hands. But a vampire jumped off the cliff after the amulet and right towards me.” He sniffled.

“It was only a nightmare, munchkin. Vampires aren’t real.” I soothed, tucking him back into bed. “But, you’re real.” He pouted, looking up at me from under his plushie covers. “Yea, I’m real.” I gave him a malicious grin. “Real enough to do this!” I laughed as I dug my hands into Tony’s side, tickling him. Tony squealed, trying to dodge my fingers, but was unsuccessful. “I-I give! I give!” Tony managed to squeak out in between laughs. I stopped, laughing myself as I pulled away from him. 

“Alright, munchkin. Go back to bed, you’re starting school in the morning.” I murmured, leaning down to kiss him gently on the forehead. As I stood up, I heard Tony call out my name. “Yes?” I asked, turning back around to face him. “Could you….” He didn’t need to finish his sentence for me to know what he was trying to ask. I gave him a soft smile and walked back to his bed, before scooching him over and laying down by him. “Thanks, Pep.” He said, turning over to face me. “No problem, munchkin. Just get some rest, alright?” I grinned, messing up his hair. 

I closed my eyes, and fell asleep.

*****

“Tony! We’re gonna be late!” I called up to him. I heard his shoes slamming into the stairs as he rushed down to me, nearly crashing into me as he did so. “Come on, munchkin. Mom’s waiting.” I said, gently herding him towards the car, where our mom was impatiently tapping her fingers on the steering wheel. 

Mom dropped me off first, since my school was closer and started earlier than my little brother’s did. I kissed my mom on the cheek, and messed up Tony’s hair, before hopping out of the car and heading into the high school. 

As I was putting my stuff into my locker, a boy walked up beside me and leaned up against the wall of lockers. “Well, well, well. What have we got here?” A scowl spread across my face at the familiar voice. “Alexander.” I growled out, looking at the male smirking down at me. “Pepper Thompson.” He licked his lips, looking down at me appreciatively. I scoffed at him in disgust, slamming my locker closed and walking away from him. 

I had met Alexander and his little brothers when our father took us to his work. We never met Lord McAshton, but we did meet his grandchildren. Alex was one of them, and from day one he’s been nothing but a foul cockroach. “Hey, hey! Where do you think you’re going Pepper?” He asked, grabbing my wrist. “Let me go, McAshton.” I snapped, ripping my arm from his grasp. 

“Feisty, aren’t you?” He chuckled, pinning me against the locker. “I like that.” He chuckled lowly. I could feel his breath on my neck, and I felt disgusted. I swiftly ducked under his arms, and dashed away to my class.

“Sometimes, I hate this place.” I muttered to myself as I sat down at my desk.

*****

“Hiya, munchkin.” I chuckled, knocking on the open door to Tony’s room. He was currently sitting at his desk, drawing on some papers. “Hi, Pep.” He looked up at me, smiling slightly. I knew that look. I gave a sigh, walking over to him and sitting down on the corner of his desk. “What happened?” I asked softly, looking at him in concern. “McAshton brothers.” He pouted. I sighed, my gaze drifting down to the pictures on his desk. “Hey, what’s all this?” I asked, picking up one of the pictures. It was the face of a vampire, but the creature had red skin. I furrowed my brow at this.