Flame of Frost (The Caelestian Chronicles: Book #1)

Chapter 3 - Sad Truth

Magic — it exists.
This can't be. This isn't happening.
I'm in my room sleeping, and this is all just another weird dream. Mom and Dad will fine when I wake up. There will be no vampires.
Wake up. Wake up!

"Girl." I jump at Austin's voice. "Are you going to just stand there?"

Oh gods, this is all happening.
I open and close my mouth, trembling, not sure what to say or do. Also, the fact that Austin knows my name doesn't help in lessening the fear. I don't do anything when he approaches me, grasps at my wrist again like a shackle, and leads the way out for me. My eyes dart everywhere to look for another entrance.
Austin shoves me out of the small gate made of dark metal just ending above his head.
"Go away and don't ever come back again." He bares his canines to scare me, and by god, it works.

I step back in shock and try to turn back, to go away. But that goddamned invisible tug stops me again. It screams inside my head, keeps telling me that mom and dad are there, in the building.
With vampires? What? How would they get tangled up with vampires?

"Go!" he moves forward.

Turning on my heel, I begin walking away on the footpath adjoining with the gloomy graveyard fence, hoping he does the same.
Though he stands right there, just outside the gate, his lean and muscular arms crossed over his chest. The churchyard ends and a tall wall begins. When I turn to check again, Austin hasn't moved.

He takes a step towards me. Then another. And keeps on taking them, until he's crossed half the path in front of him.
"Why are you just standing? Do you want to die? Go!" His hands point at the empty street behind me.

I resist the urge to flinch. So far he's been scaring me, and I've been scared, which is why I need to act like I'm not afraid. And that's incredibly hard.
You don't care who he is, I tell myself. Strong. You need to be strong. Mom and Dad need your help.
I have to go inside, no matter how big of a danger I am putting myself in. However much bloodthirsty these suckers are, I can't live without my mom and dad.

"Why don't you go back inside?" I cross my arms in defense. "Don't you have any work other than to guard me?"

"What is it with you?" his eyes narrow. "Others would flee like hell."

"Maybe I need something to do?" I roll my eyes. "Maybe I don't care if I die."

"Why do you say that?" his brows scrunch together, eyes shine with, something like pity. It makes me want to stab him in his pretty turquoise eyes. "Dying is never the solution."

Oh my god. Oh my god. He thinks I am suicidal.

"I'm not trying to kill myself, boy," I say through gritted teeth. "I have to go inside. There is something that I... have to get to."

"Do you want something from in there? I'll go inside and check or bring it here." Fear flickers in his eyes. What?

"I don't want anything." I place a fist on my hip, scowling. "It's not something you can give or find."

"Please don't go inside," the vampire whispers, his eyes pleading. "It is not safe."

What kind of vampire is he? How is he so... soft? Nothing like I've read in books.
"I know it is not safe," I snap. "Why do you even care? Go away, let me live my life the way I want."

"I don't want an innocent to die."

"Don't tell me what to do."

"I was just trying to help," he mutters, eyes fixed on the grey slab of stones on the path.