Tainted Innocence

Chapter 1

Katarina Durante sidestepped the skateboarder, her eyes never leaving the book she was reading. As interested as she was in exploring the depths of Serenity Falls, this wasn't the day to do so. She was already incredibly angry with her family for making the move, but according to them, it had been preordained and out of their hands. When she'd asked about whose hands the move had been in, the bloody Devil himself had decided to grace her with his presence.

"You aren't still miffed with me, are you?"

Hearing Cain Hawthorne Rietveld's voice made her blood curdle more than it should have, but she didn't rise to the bait like one of the other girls might have. Her friends had already expressed their deep, profound hatred for Cain, but she had a soft spot for him. She'd known him since she was a child; she couldn't very well throw all of her history with him away.

"Oh, come now, Katarina," Cain went on, putting his arm around her shoulder. "I only did it because you so desperately needed a change in scenery."

"I did not need a change in scenery," Katarina argued, trying to move out of reach. "I was perfectly fine staying in Haverford." She attempted to get back to reading, but it was harder to do when he was staring at her so intently. "Honestly Cain, can't you leave me be? I would much rather read than converse with you."

Cain clicked his tongue, shaking his head. He bent his head down and brushed his lips against her ear, making her internally shiver. "You know you love me," he whispered. "You have been in love with me since the day we met."

Katarina jerked away from Cain, quickening her pace. The things he said sometimes were enough to make her want to murder him. She wasn't in love with him; she'd just known him forever. That was the only reason she was so vulnerable when it came to him. Some of her earliest memories had always involved the constant presence of Cain Rietveld. It was unnerving really.

Still, every time his dimple came out, her heart melted. That one long dimple was enough to haunt her dreams. She'd lost herself before in his smile solely for the fact that he flashed it so rarely. There were his smirks that he reserved for the members in her family and then there were his genuine smiles that few people had actually seen. She was one of those few people.

"Is there any chance you're going to leave me alone?" Katarina asked quietly, turning around to stare at Cain. Her eyebrows were raised only slightly, enough to get his attention. She knew he wasn't fond of the whole "interrogation" tactics her siblings and elders used. They were apparently barbaric, though she wouldn't know any better. She did her absolute best to keep away from the interrogation process.

"Have you picked up your family's tricks then?" he inquired, walking over to her leisurely. "Or are they genetic?" He looked like he wanted to scowl, but she wouldn't know any better. In his case, it was very easy to mistake one emotion for another. There was no point in ever studying his moods since he changed them so often.

"You know," she began, turning away, "a psychiatrist would have a lot of fun studying you. Trying to figure out why you're so bipolar."

"Oh, dear Katarina, you have no idea how many trials I would put one of those crack-jobs through," Cain declared, stretching out his arms. "They're far too narrow-minded to understand the phenomenon that is me." He grinned and her heart skipped a beat, causing her to look away quickly. "Plus," he said loudly, "I invented all of these illnesses. Before psychiatrists and therapists existed, it was all me. I was able to wreak havoc freely."

"And then someone decided it was time to trap your soul in a painting," Katarina cut in, a smile tugging at her lips. "A very smart, talented person, that is."