Threatened (A House of Night story)

The First

I awoke with a gasp, my fingers clutching the sheets of my bed desperately. My hair stuck to my face and neck due to the sweat that covered my body. Even though I was sweating, my body was shivering greatly.

"That definitely was a weird dream..." My grip on the sheets loosened and I swiped a hand across my forehead to rid it of sweat along with pushing my hair out of my face. My mark burned slightly when my fingers made contact with it. I winced at the pain of it and tried to encourage myself to get out of bed. It felt like I slept for five minutes but a quick look at my phone told me it was seven in the morning. I have slept for more than nine hours and yet, I was still tired. A loud grumble also told me that I was hungry. I haven't eaten for more than a day, I realized.

Hastily, I kicked the covers off and rolled out of bed rubbing my eyes of sleep. If what they told me yesterday was true about day being night then...everyone should be sleeping by now. I was awake in the middle of the day! Night? This flipped schedule was going to become a problem...

I rummaged through the dresser beside the closet for something comfortable to wear, realizing I was still in yesterday's clothes. I grabbed a spaghetti strap and some pj shorts because let's face it, I needed to attempt sleep again after grabbing something to eat. With a quick change, I was out of my room and away from the dream. Something told me meeting two goddesses at once was not healthy. I rubbed at my mark again, frowning as I trotted down the stairs careful to keep quiet. Not one of Nyx's children...

Even though I was new to this whole fledgling thing, it still didn't change the fact that I was going to be a freak once again. Only I wouldn't be able to move so easily again to escape the blame. Not like my human life. A frustrated groan escaped my lips as I rounded the corner leading into the kitchen area.

I caught myself mumbling out my frustrations as I rummaged through the cabinets for something decent to eat (sadly, there wasn't a lot of junk food. Everything was supposed to be healthy alternatives). So instead, I settled for cutting slices of apple and putting them in a small bowl I found in one of the cabinets. As my hands set the slices into the bowl, my eyes traveled up looking at the morning sky through the window. Instantly, a wave of dizziness overtook me making me stumble while I clutched onto the counter for support.

"Oh boy..." My body weakened as the world began to spin, my legs shaking as they struggled to support my weight. With a slip of my hands I fell to the floor with a thud. My eyes stared up at the ceiling concentrating on staying awake to no avail as darkness consumed me once again.

For the second time that night, I awoke only this time I found myself looking up at the many faces of female fledglings. Some snickered and snapped pictures while others cast worried glances my way. I realized I was still lying on the kitchen floor.

Shit.

Another snapshot grabbed my attention, pulling my gaze towards the girl closest to me and it was no other than Seraphiel smirking wickedly at my shortcoming. "Wow getting back at you was easier than I thought." I hoisted myself up to my elbows not daring to go any farther in case another wave of dizziness overtook me. I decided to ignore her comment as I concentrated on getting up until a girl decided to step up and began to help me. I did my best to keep the annoyance off my face. I didn't like being helped but I was grateful for it anyway.

Apparently not liking my reaction, Seraphiel threw another fireball at me and this one hit home. "I knew you were a freak since I saw you. Not hard to tell with the stupid piercings and that hair but wow a black mark?" My eyes widened when I realized my mark was exposed, open for all to see. Once the girl stepped away making sure I was able to stand on my own, I reached up to cover it again with my hair, in turn hiding one of my eyes as well since my bangs were cut diagonally.