Shattered

Chapter One

        Vlad groaned in pain, opening his eyes to a blinding light. His vision adjusted to the sudden light, and he sat up and rubbed his head, looking around. He was sitting in a parking lot, buses driving in and cars being parked. A bunch of kids, ones that looked like they were in high school, were walking to a building in their little cliques, laughing and chatting with each other. 
        Vlad stumbled to his feet, flicking his bangs to one side. He tried to stretch out his wings... but he couldn't. Panicking, Vlad looked back and noticed that his wings were gone. Fear flicked in his heart, and he frowned. "W-where'd they go?" he pondered aloud. He didn't expect anyone to answer, and nobody did, but it made him feel lonely, almost. The teen sighed, and felt his head. No horns. 
        Vlad stepped back, but as he did, he tripped and fell on his butt. It flared with pain, but he ignored it, and got to his feet. He had to find Henry. 
        And there was only one place to look.
        Vlad turned and looked up at the high school. He sighed again and marched up to the entrance, determined to impress his master.

        

        Henry walked into the high school, a big smile on his face. Today, he told himself, he would get his guardian angel. He just had to. Everyone had one. Everyone except for him. 
        He strode though the halls, letting the people shove pass him and run to their friends. He continued to walk, looking around to see if there was anyone, anyone that looked sweet and soft, and angelic, following him. Nobody. He frowned, and sighed. 
        "What are you looking for, Henry?" a voice asked. Henry turned and saw Melissa, her pretty hair tied back into a ponytail. Henry gave her a small smile and replied, "Oh, nothing..."
        Melissa smiled, and tilted her head. "But you look lost," she noted, and Henry shrugged. He felt a flicker of hope for a second, wondering if Melissa was his guardian angel, but then it disappeared when Melissa said her goodbye and skipped to Meredith, asking if she was okay. No wonder they were always together. It was obvious.
        Melissa was Meredith's guardian angel. 
        Henry smiled. He was happy for Meredith. She had someone to help her through this high school drama. Although, deep down he was jealous, he was glad that Meredith had a good friend, and a good angel. 
        He laughed softly, then stopped when he realized that if he didn't pick up his pace now, he would be late to his class. He turned and sprinted full speed to his locker, his backpack bouncing up and down as he ran. He stopped at his locker and fiddled with the lock, turning it to the correct combination.
        But his lock told him otherwise.
        Cursing, Henry tried the combination again, but it wouldn't budge. He looked up at the locker number, making sure it is the right one. It was. He looked back at the lock, and tried again, this time slower.
        Still didn't work.
        The bell rang.
        Henry groaned and craned his head up to the heavens above. "I would really appreciate a guardian angel now, please!" He didn't expect a reply, and he didn't get one. He groaned again, and tried once more, but to no avail. He rested his head against his locker, all hope lost. 

        Vlad walked through the empty halls of the building, feeling lost. He didn't where he was going, and he certainly didn't know where he was going to find Henry. He just knew that his feet had a mind of it's own, and they were dragging him in a certain direction. "Hey," a voice said, firmly, and Vlad's feet stopped in their tracks. He turned to face a teacher, whom had a stern look on their face. "Who are you, mister. Aren't you supposed to be in class?" he asked.
        "Uh..." is all Vlad could say. There was a moment of silence, a long awkward pause, and the teacher asked, "Well?"
        "Yeah, I'm just lost," Vlad quickly said, "You see, I'm new here, and I missed... what do you call it..." he frowned, searching for those two words that he had heard once before. The teacher raised a sharp eyebrow and tapped his foot. 
        "O-open... open house?" Vlad said, hoping his words were correct.
        Then, the teacher's gaze softened. "Well, shouldn't you go to the office, then?" he asked.
        "Um... yes?" Vlad answered, quietly.
        "Go on, then," the teacher said.
        Where is it?! Vlad yelled in his mind, but instead he choked out, "Yes sir." He turned and headed down the hall. Once he was certain that the teacher wasn't looking, he turned a corner, and began running. He passed a few doors that said, teachers names, but he couldn't find one that was labeled 'office.'
        Then, he stopped in his tracks, seeing a tall boy with blonde hair, blue eyes, and perfect skin.... Henry.
        Vlad blinked. He looked frustrated, and he was leaning on his locker, a sad look on his face. Vlad cautiously stepped towards him, then sniffed the air. He held onto the scent, remembering it for later: the smell of gingersnap and cologne. Vlad walked to Henry and stood there for a second. Henry didn't notice him, so he said, "You look like you're having a bad day."
        Henry jumped, and looked over, a surprised look on his face. He stared at Vlad for a moment, shyly tilting his head, examining Vlad's features. "You also seem quiet," Vlad noted after a long pause of silence.
        Henry gasped, then said, "Oh! Uh... yeah, it usually doesn't do this to me. Say, aren't you supposed to be in class?" 
        Vlad chuckled a bit. It was the same question that the teacher had asked.  After a moment, he asked, "Aren't YOU supposed to be in class?" Henry raised an eyebrow, then said, "Well, I have a reason for why I'm not in class: my stupid locker!"
        Vlad smiled with amusement, and Henry snapped, "Well, aren't you gonna help me?" 
        Vlad sighed, "Fine." He walked over, shoving Henry out of the way and playing with the locker, turning it to the combination. It clicked and the locker swung open. He looked up at Henry, who's mouth was agape. 
        "H-how did you do that?" he asked, "I didn't even tell you the combination!"
        Vlad shrugged, smiling. "I have my ways," he replied, and Henry frowned, stepping back. "Who are you?" he asked, "Are you new here?"
        "Yeah. The name's Vladimir. But I go by Vlad."
        Henry blinked, staring at him. He still looked shocked by the locker incident.
        Vlad laughed, and patted Henry's shoulder, asking, "Will you show me to the office?"
        "Uh... I have to get to class..." Henry mumbled. 
        "Then go to your class, explain why you're late, and then ask if you can take me to the locker! It's not that hard!" Vlad said, then added, "Or you can skip class...." he smiled mischievously, and Henry said, "No, I can't, that'd be evil!"
        Vlad blinked and thought, this guy needs some work if thinks that skipping classes are evil. 
        "No, I insist. It'll give you a break. Don't you like a break? I mean, what could possibly go bad if you skip one or two classes?"
        "Um... my mom would kill me, my dad would kill me and the principal would kill me."
        Vlad's eyes widened. Do teachers and parents really do that? "You're exaggerating, right?"
        "Well, duh!!! My parents aren't actually gonna kill me, I'm just gonna get grounded for months!"
        Vlad relaxed. He couldn't imagine anything worse than getting killed by your own parents. Then, he remembered what hell was like and quickly changed his mind. 
        Henry shifted uncomfortably, then said, "Anyways, I am not going to skip class just to walk you to the office!"
        Vlad glared, anger flaring up through his heart. He sighed, and opened his mouth to say something, but then Henry pushed passed him and ran down the hall to his class. This, Vlad thought, is going to take more work than I thought.
        He brushed off his sleeve, then turned and headed the opposite direction of Henry, off to find the office.