Awakening (Awakening, #1)

Chapter 9

It's a lie. That vampires can't be out in the sun without either glittering like a disco ball, or simply disintegrating into thin air. I've been lying on the lawn in the back of Violet's house for what I think has been at least two hours. She told me she would be right back; but I still smell her near.

"Enjoying the view?" I ask.

She scoffs. "Hardly." But I catch the hint of blush stain her cheeks as she says this. 

"Oh, you don't think the sky looks nice? I think it looks great. All the warm and cool colors mingling together, giving birth to a painter's palette on a perfect, endless canvas." It's amazing, really. How the words just flow through my mouth and into the open air.

It's also amazing how I've so quickly come to terms with this whole Awakening deal. It doesn't seem too bad. But it must have some bad things to come along with it, if someone chose to do this to me of all people.

"I like that," Violet says. "Very poetic."

I warmly smile at her then. She returns it with ease and that makes me smile broader. Violet chuckles a little bit. I think she should know how thankful I am for her and what she's done for me. How appreciative I am that she took me in with her pack even though I'm completely different than all of them.

"Thank you," I say with furrowed brows, deep in thought.

She stays silent, waiting for what I say next. I try and think of something deep to say because I feel like thank you just isn't enough. Sadly, I just come up with nothing. "For everything. For all of this; taking me into your home when I could bring you trouble. I'm such an unknown variable in this situation and yet you let me stay here knowing what could happen if the wrong people find out. Despite the fact that I hardly remember what all led to me being on the floor of that hospital, or what led to this-" I'm on my feet in less than a second with my arm out hovering over Violet's chest, guarding her.

"Mate, relax, hm?" It was the Irish guy from the group with the jet black hair. He has his hands up in defense, but I don't know why-

Oh. Yeah, the fangs.

Just to double check, I put my finger in the side of my cheek and feel them protruding. I'm slightly embarassed though. I withdraw my finger and there's a tiny bead of blood on the tip of it. I stare at it for longer than necessary and quickly wipe it on my pants.

"Sorry." I say shortly. I'm a little breathless, but I'm okay.

Violet clears her throat and puts her hand on my arm and says softly, "It's okay. No worries. You still have alot to learn."

The boy with the thick accent clears his throat too, and says "I'm Aiden. Just think eye-den. But everyone just calls me Izzy. This one," he gestures to Violet, "only calls me by my name the good Lord graced me with when I'm in a heap a trouble, eh Vi?"

She laughs and ruffles his hair, even though he has at least a good four inches on her. He playfully pushes her, and I just stand by. A few moments later in the middle of Izzy and Violet's conversation about the weather, the rest of the guys come outside and into the woods. It seems like they all spend alot of time here. But I can understand why; it's beautiful, magical even. 

Even the most damaged of persons could come here and escape from the harsh realities of the world we live in.