I walk down the street. I look either way and spot no vampires. I see a man down the street and decide to just go for it. He looks at me as I walk towards him. Then I register him. Mr Wiggins. ‘Oh hello Cammie.’ I smile sweetly at him. Then he registers what I’m about to do. He shakes his head. ‘Cameron please no.’ I shake my head and open my mouth to show my fangs. ‘No I’ll be stripped of my hunter status.’ He begs. ‘How will they know?’ he shrugs. ‘Fang marks?’ he suggests. I laugh. ‘Give me your wrist.’ I command. He shakes his head. ‘Just do it.’ I say a bit softer. Reluctantly he extends a wrist exposing a pulsing vein. His heart pounds as I pick it up. I bite into it taking a sip then drop it. He squints at it and see’s the two pin prick marks close. His eyes go wide. ‘Why didn’t I feel that?’ he says getting curious. ‘It’s a calming chemical in our venom.’ I reply trying to shake conversation. ‘Oh. Before you bite me you should know Mayoress or Princess Sierra has put a reward on you.’ That makes me pause. ‘What?’ he smiles. ‘A reward for your safe return. This is open to all races Human, Were and vampires. you have to be alive or whatever you are.’ The information shocks me. ‘Why?’ I say trying to extract information from him. ‘She is distraught with your ‘disappearance’ she has even made a public appeal. I guess she has a soft spot for you. Shame for anything to happen.’ He smiles. ‘Enough talking’ I decide and quickly bite. His whole body relaxes as my venom works. When I pull out he stands fully. As he starts to hobble off he turns and says ‘I don’t suppose I will see you at school tomorrow?’ I shake my head and he stumbles out of view.
As I get to my house I notice lights are on. I see movement at the window. I move closer to see guards in the kitchen. There is a map sprawled across the table and everyone is concentrating on it. ‘There is no sign of her here. Team A searched it.’ One of them says. The others agree. I move on round the side of the house. I scale the building and to my room. There is a lump in the bed I silently swing in through the window. I creep over to see who is in my bed and am surprised to see its Sierra. She turns over and I catch a glimpse of blood stained cheeks. I flit to my chest of draws and grab a few sets of clothes. Next I go to my wardrobe and grab a bag. I shove the clothes in and walk back to the window. Without thinking I grab a pen I scribble on a scrap of paper. To Princess I’m fine Cammie
I place the pen next to the note and walk to the window. I’m just stepping out when the pen clutters to the floor. Sierra sits upright. ‘Cammie?’ she croaks. I stand on the ledge watching. She gets up and walks to the desk where I left the note. She picks it up and reads it slowly. She clutches it to her chest. Another tear rolls down her face. She goes to my bed and sits down. I risk one more look before going to jump down. I feel another person beside me before I have chance to jump. ‘Cammie?’ James asks. I shake my head. ‘Let me go James.’ He has bloody tear marks on his face too. ‘Why Cammie?’ he pleads. I shake my head and jump down. ‘Goodbye James’ I call. ‘Cammie’ he shouts. I shake my head but it’s too late Sierra sticks her head out the window and looks to James. He says nothing except point to me. Sierra’s eyes follow. She clasps her hand to her mouth. I turn around and walk out the garden. ‘No Sierra.’ James says to her. I break into a run.
I hear a heartbeat beside me and stop. I turn to see a large brown wolf. ‘Cole’ I say softly. The wolf stops meters away. ‘I have to go’ I tell him softly. The wolf whimpers and steps forward. He presses his muzzle into my palm. His skin is warm against mine. ‘I’m sorry.’ I manage to say before turning around. ‘Goodbye.’ I whisper before flitting into the forest. I walk around for a bit to make sure I’m not followed then make my way to Riley’s house. I knock on the door and she answers promptly. ‘Cammie are you ok?’ I nod and step inside. ‘Why did you take so long?’ she asks. ‘There was a slight problem with my meal. He happened to be a teacher slash hunter. Then when I got to my house I found Sierra asleep in my bed. To make matters worse a friend found me outside my bedroom window. He alerted Sierra. Luckily they didn’t pursue. Then finally Cole the teen were I told you about followed me. I told him goodbye. Then did a few laps around the forest to ensure I wasn’t followed.’ She nods understandingly. ‘Do you have a newspaper?’ Riley nods again then reaches under her coffee table. She brings out the newspaper and hands it to me. I look at the front cover and sure enough there is a picture of me on the front. The heading Missing girl. Reward if found. I don’t bother reading the article and hand the paper back to Riley. ‘Can I use your shower?’ I ask. ‘Yeah follow me.’ I pause a minute then follow. She brings me to a small room at the end of the hall. ‘Here’ she says before turning around and walking back to her living space.
I let the water run as I strip down. I step gingerly into it and wash my body. I’m surprised at the amount of dirt that washes off. Then I move onto my hair. I grow frustrated at the tangles but finally get them out. Stepping out I grab a towel off the rack and dry myself. I rummage through my bag and grab a pair of jeans. I pull them on then find my old faded Muppet’s t-shirt. I step out the bathroom and walk to the living area. It’s there I find Jane sat on the couch with Riley. I stop and back up a step. I knock into a vase that causes them both to turn around. ‘I trusted you’ I hiss at Riley before running to the nearest window. I yank it open and drop to the ground. I run for the forest but am stopped by something holding my shoulder. I turn to find Sierra. I turn again and run.
