The Divinity Saga: Part I

Snowed In PT1

Right after dinner we skipped the bonfire and went straight to sleep. Everyone was exhausted. My grandma talked our ears off about her trip and her old friend Manuel, and about how she found out Elsa was missing. We all tried our best to act surprised. Nana asked Atia about her life, and Atia happily gave her the cliff note version. We all laughed and told stories, Nana embarrassed me of course. Atia told her the story about how we met. After Atia calling Nana Ms. Martinez all night, she practically forced her to call her Nana. Chrissy didn’t talk much, she was sick. She kept excusing herself from the table to throw up. I told Nana that she had gotten food poisoning from the night before, but it was probably from her terrible hangover and being love sick. She decided to sleep in the guest room downstairs, I guess she figured me and Atia needed our alone time.

I fell asleep starving, which was the worst. We hadn’t fed since yesterday and I would’ve taken killing an animal at this point, but that just seemed cruel. I don’t know why but I couldn’t picture myself killing a poor defenseless animal, but I could kill humans all day long. It’s all I daydreamed about, night and day. Even during conversations, my every other thought was killing someone. 

I woke up to my heartbeat practically pounding out of my chest, and my body covered in sweat. A few seconds later, my alarm started blaring. I reached over within a second and turned it off before Atia woke up.

Last night's nightmare was frightening yet eye-opening. I remembered things I didn't before. Images of Star flashed through my dreams as I could feel nothing but pressure and venomous pain. It was a dark memory with no story, only pain. I couldn't shake the feeling that Star was apart of whatever happened to me.

 I grabbed my towel and headed for the shower. I needed to get my thoughts together to figure out how I was going to tell Atia that her best friend could be the reason that I am what I am. I knew it seemed like a step too soon but it was the only lead I had to finding out what really happened to me, and whatever it was, I was going to find out.

I sat down on the shower floor curled in a ball trying to piece together the rest of the puzzle that didn’t make sense. In frustration I began to cry. It started off as a silent sob,  and quickly crept into loud weeping. 

I stopped, remembering that Atia was still sleeping. I covered my mouth and continued to whimper softly hoping the sound of the water would drown out my cries. I knew Star possibly didn’t like me, but I had no idea that she hated me so much that she would have me killed. It’s crazy how someone who you go to school with, and see down the hall at their lockers, and even go to their parties at their homes, could hurt you in this way. She was a stranger but so familiar, everyone knew her. She was like an icon of who you wanted to be like in high school. Why couldn't she have just ruined my social life, and make school a living hell until we graduated. I could handle that, but she had to end my life, take away my humanity, all that I lived for. She made it impossible for me to be in the same room with the people I loved and adored without wanting to rip their throats out. She gave me a fate worse than death, she gave me immortality. But why?

I stood to my feet and turned off the water, I wrapped myself in my robe and walked into my room. I could hear my nana’s heartbeat downstairs. She was awake probably about to cook breakfast. I could hear the distant chatter of her and Chrissy conversing. 

I looked over at my bed and saw Atia still asleep. I tiptoed into my closet to look for clothes to wear and closed the door. Since I've been dressing as if it was summer time in California I decided to wear a red long sleeve shirt, black jeans, and my favorite jacket. I got dressed in my closet. 

I walked out and sat at my vanity. I looked at Atia through my mirror as I got ready. I know I wasn’t in love with her. That was impossible right? But she made me feel alive, as alive as I'll ever feel and  she made my heart skip a beat, even though it didn’t beat like everyone else's. She made it possible to feel love as a normal human would. I didn’t see her as a vampire, or a monster. I saw her as a perfect soul who didn’t deserve the pain she was once in, the pain that I feel now. A pain I would take that from her if I could. 

My feelings grew deeper for her every time she smiled, or held me. I know I haven’t known her forever, but I wanted forever with her, and since I was going to live forever, why not spend it with her? 

I decided to wear my hair down today. I released it from its tight bun and ran my fingers through it. I grabbed my comb brush and began to brush the knots out until it was perfectly soft and perfectly straight. I grabbed my eyeliner and applied it. That’s all I wanted to wear today, basic. I looked horrible. I looked tired and my eyes were a hint of red. I needed to feed  soon. I turned around and walked over to my bed. 

“Do you want me to take you home to get clothes?” I softly tapped Atia. 

“Yes please” She stretched.

“Let’s go downstairs for breakfast first.” I smiled and leaned over to kiss her. 

She stood to her feet and gathered her things as I slid my phone in my pocket, and slung my bag over my shoulder simultaneously.

"I could get used to waking up to you." She flirted as we walked downstairs.

"I-"

“Good morning you two!” Nana greeted us warmly as we entered the kitchen.

“Good morning Nana.” We said together smiling. 

I walked over and kissed her cheek as she flipped eggs in the skillet. Atia sat down at the table in my seat, which I didn't mind at all. 

Chrissy smiled at me and then at Atia and winked.  

I shook my head no, but of course Chrissy and her dirty mind thought otherwise. I exited her dirty tension and walked over to the cabinets to collect plates to set the table with.

“Good Morning Sunshine, feeling any better?” Atia said to Chrissy. 

“Good Morning T, No. Still kind of nauseous.” Chrissy said taking a sip of her orange juice.

“Still hungover?” I nudged her as I sat a plate in front of her.

“I guess so.” She whined. 

I leaned over Atia to set her plate in front of her. Her heart began to race a little faster. I couldn't help but smile. 

Nana walked over with the skillet in her hand, she put eggs on our plates, and walked back to grab bacon, and pancakes. 

“Smells great.” I lied, what I really wanted to say was smelled putrid.

 I wanted blood, warm sweet blood dripping from the corners of my mouth. 

“I know you don’t eat meat so you get extra pancakes” She smiled as she walked over to me, and slapped three pancakes on my plate.

'No, I  don’t eat meat. I just feed off of humans.' I thought to myself.

“Thanks Nana.” I said pretending to be chipper. 

“And you girls help yourself to all this yummy bacon” She put a platter of bacon in the middle of the table. 

She walked back into the kitchen and grabbed her bowl of oatmeal and dry toast and joined us at the table.

Chrissy dug right in, grabbing 5 pieces and slapping them on her plate. She cut into her pancakes and didn’t say a word until her plate was clean. I knew Chrissy could eat but I had never seen her eat like that.

Atia scarfed down her food. I know she didn’t want it but she ate it anyways, for Nana’s sake. But I barely touched mine. My appetite was somewhere else. I took a few bites of my pancakes and eggs and walked my plate into the kitchen to wash and sat back at the table. 

“You girls know it's supposed to snow badly today.” Nana said as she swallowed a piece toast. “There’s a good chance of a snowstorm.” She warned us. “So Rayleigh, come straight home.” She looked at me. “You girls are more than welcome to come too. We can drink hot cocoa and sit by the fire. I’ll even bake warm apple pie, your favorite snowstorm dessert Rayleigh, you girls would love it” She bribed us. 

“I’m in!” Chrissy smiled at Nana and  Nana smiled back acknowledging her acception to her invitation.

“Make that two of us.” Atia added. 

They all looked at me. 

“What?” I asked, “I live here, do I really have a choice?” I smiled and rolled my eyes.

“Not really.” Nana joked. 

I looked down at my watch it was 6:39a.m and I still needed to get Atia home in time to get ready for school. 

“Okay, Nana we have to go.” I stood up from the table pushing my chair in. “Dame Amor.” I said to Nana waiting for her to stand up.

She stood up and hugged me tight. 

“Aww.” Chrissy teased. 

“Lets go.” I smiled as I pulled away from her. 

Chrissy and Atia stood up and we walked over to the door. 

“Wait, I forgot something upstairs, I'll meet you guys in the car.” Chrissy said as she ran up the stairs. 

“I love you.” I yelled to Nana before Atia and I walked outside.

Atia and I looked to the sky and the snow was already falling. My car windshield was covered in snow, and the wind was already so strong. Nana was right. It was a  strong possibility that there would be a snowstorm, I just hope that we made it home safe first. I unlocked my car doors and we jumped in.  

“I’m starving!” I complained as I turned on my windshield wipers and blasted the heater for Chrissy.

“Me too, we need to hunt soon.” She agreed as she put on her seatbelt.

“After school?” I smiled.

“It’s a date.” She smiled back. 

I heard Chrissy’s heartbeat begin to race, before I knew it she was out the front door, and running to the car.

“Hey, sorry.” She said breathlessly as she climbed into the backseat. 

“Its fine” I said holding my breath. 

All I could hear was her heartbeat pounding my ears, her blood rushing through her body.

 I turned on the radio to try and drown out the sound.

“We’re stopping by Atia’s, she has to hurry and get ready.” I jokingly hissed at Atia.

"I know, I know." She smiled back. 

“Is Ava riding to school with us?” Chrissy asked.

“Please, she's not driving my car in this weather.” Atia laughed. 

“Smart choice.” Chrissy agreed. 

We pulled up to Atia’s house and I remembered my sickening memory from my first time being here. I nearly killed Ava, the day I killed Elsa.

“We’ll wait in the car.” I smiled as I turned my key over. 

“No.” Chrissy whined. “Its cold out, Can we please go inside?”

“Fine." I playfully sighed.

The girls got out first. Chrissy ran to the house shivering and ringing the doorbell excessively. Ava opened it within seconds and pulled her in and Atia following slowly behind them laughing.

 I took my keys out my ignition and slowly got out the car, I closed my door and leaned against it. I suddenly wasn’t feeling good, I felt weak. Weaker than I ever felt, I even got the chills from the weather. I felt my face losing color and my body losing strength by the second. 

“Tia.” I whispered with all the energy I had in me. 

“Yes?” She appeared in front of me.

“What’s wrong with me?” I asked looking up at her, cold tears streaming down my face. 

“Hunger pains. I have a snack in the house, it will help.” She promised as she wiped the tears from my cheeks.

 “Okay.” I sighed. 

She grabbed my hand and helped me walk to the house, she opened her door and all I could smell was Ava and Chrissy. My eyes began to burn and my throat became numb with pain. I knew my eyes were red at this point. I wanted to kill both of them, and not think twice about it. 

I saw Chrissy and Ava sitting in the living room. I began to shake, and stood behind Atia. 

“Help me” I cried. 

“Ava don’t you have that CD for Rayleigh? Take Chrissy with you so you can show her around.” Atia shouted to Ava, trying to get them out of the room. 

Ava stood up and grabbed Chrissy and pulled her upstairs. 

As soon as the coast was clear, Atia grabbed my hand and guided me to the kitchen, she opened her refrigerator and pulled out the last four silver bottles of blood she had. I watched her as she pulled them out and sat them on the counter. Before Atia could turn around to close the fridge, I quickly unscrewed the cap and chugged the blood. It soothed my throat a little, and made my eyes burn a little less. I felt a little energy being restored to my body as I sat the bottle down and licked my lips. I wasn’t satisfied, but I wasn’t starving either, right now I was grateful for Atia. If she didn’t have these bottles I didn’t know what I would've done and I didn't want to think about it. I knew this bottled blood would hold me over for a while, but how long?

“Better?” She asked me as she opened her bottle and chugged hers faster than I did.

“A little.” I smiled. 

“I better hurry up and get ready before we’re late” Atia said “Come on.”

We walked out of the kitchen leaving two bottles behind. She ran up the steps and into her room, I slowly followed behind not feeling fully recovered.

“I’m going to get in the shower. Make yourself at home.” She smiled taking off my sweater and placing it in her closet.

“Okay.” I smiled back. 

She disappeared within seconds, and as soon as I heard the shower turn on I sat on her bed looking around at her room. It was dark blue and her comforter was a matte crème with blue roses on them to match her walls. I liked her taste. I stared at each memory on her wall wondering what Atia was like as a child, or even before being turned. My eyes locked on a picture on her wall of her and Star, and Star was kissing Atia on the cheek. I instantly became enraged for more than one reason. I wasn’t a jealous person, but I didn’t like seeing Atia with anyone else and it didn’t exactly look like a friendly picture, it looked sort of intimate.

Did I really take Stars girl? Is that why she hated me? Were the rumors true?

I heard the water shut off, and seconds later Atia was walking into her room in her towel. I tried to continue to look around as if nothing was wrong but for some reason I was more angry with Atia now. 

Atia walked over to her closet to get her clothes. I turned to look at her other wall with pictures of her and her mom to give her privacy. Her mother was gorgeous. It made me miss mine. Atia got dressed so fast that when I turned to look at her, she was slipping on her last boot and putting her hair in a ponytail. 

 “You okay?” Atia asked. "You seem quiet."

I nodded in response and glanced back at the picture of her and Star. I wanted to say all that I felt right then and there but it didn’t seem worth it. I needed to save my energy for the long day ahead of me. 

I pushed past Atia and walked downstairs. I slammed the door behind me, unlocked my car and got in. I waited for Chrissy and Ava to come out. Atia could drive herself if she wanted to. 

Atia came walking out the house first, she got in the car and gently slammed the door. I stayed looking forward, not even acknowledging her existence. I didn’t want to talk to her. I just wanted to get to school. We were already about to be late. That was enough to set me off already, I hated being tardy. 

“Are you mad at me?” She asked me.

Chrissy and Ava came out the house laughing and taking their time. I wish they would hurry up so I could avoid her question in a timely manner. I didn’t want to talk to her, until I could really talk to her. 

Chrissy and Ava opened their doors and got in. 

“Sorry Ray.” Chrissy giggled. “We can make it in 5 minutes right?” 

I shrugged and began to drive.

We got to school with one minute to spare thanks to my speeding. I pulled in my usual spot and climbed out. As soon as I heard their doors open, I locked them before they had a chance to close them and walked away.

“Whats with her?” I heard Chrissy ask Atia.

“I think I know.” Atia said. "If you talk to her, tell her I'm sorry."

I walked into the school as fast as I could without running or falling for that matter. The snow was sticking the ground and I was  still very clumsy especially with my new speed. I began to panic because I felt like I wasn’t walking fast enough. Even being a minute late meant trouble, and now I was two minutes late.

Mr. P had his back turned away from the class, facing the TV. Good thing I could move in silence being a vampire. I snuck to the back of class. I held my finger to my lips as everyone whispered hi’s and good mornings to me. I just smiled and walked to my seat. Even though he didn’t catch me, I  still hated being late. Good thing we were watching a movie, that meant it was Mr.P's plowing day.

“I will pass back your pop quizzes when I return.” Mr. P smiled and ran out the door with his customized plow. 

Everyone sat there socializing with each other as I scribbled in my notebook. Chrissy walked in dancing to her seat. Everyone waved and smiled at her, and unlike me she returned the favor. 

“Hey.” Chrissy smiled at me. “You’re not cold? I’m freezing.” She shivered.

“Yeah.” I smiled. 

“Whats wrong with you?” She asked concerned. 

“Nothing” I lied.

If I really told her what was wrong with me, she would probably never talk to me again. I had to sit in a class full of people who I wanted to kill and not kill them. I have to hold my composure like everything is fine, but it wasn’t. Their blood didn’t smell as sweet right now, but sweet enough to want them dead.

“You’re lying.” She accused me. “Well, Tia said she’s sorry.”

“Did she say why?” I asked her. 

“No.” She sighed. “Is this like a 'we had s*x and I wasn’t ready' argument you were having?” She joked. 

“We didn’t have s*x Chrissy.” I hissed. 

“Well, she did something to piss you off.” She laughed, “Are you Pmsing?”

“No, I’m fine.” I hated lying to Chrissy, but some things she just didn’t need to know.

Mr. P walked back into class and over to his desk, and grabbed a stack of papers. I know I failed, I had no doubts in my mind but I was going to make it up, with no questions asked.

"Oh by the way, I graded on a curve." Mr. P placed my test face down on my desk, "Highest score was 89%."

I quickly looked for the answers on the back but it was blank. How was that possible?

"Great." Everyone groaned.

"Here you are." He handed Chrissy a blank quiz sheet with a big red F on it. 

“Really?” she asked rudely. 

“Yes really.” He turned around to look at her. “That’s what you get for being absent without an excuse.”

“That’s f****d up.” She whispered. 

“Now you have an F and Saturday school.” He chuckled.

I sat there looking at Chrissy signally her with my eyes to shut up. 

I regrettably made the decision of flipping my test over. It read 89% at the top of the page with a winky face. I flipped it back over.

“Kim, can I see your test?” Kim was one of the smartest seniors at Portland Oaks.

“Yeah, sure.” She smiled in confidence as she handed me her paper. 

I reviewed her answers and looked back at mine. How were they different but we got the same grade? And why did she get a smiley face by her grade and I got a winky one? I looked at the back of her test to see if everyone got a cheat sheet and didn’t know it, Mr. P would do something like that, putting the answers directly under our noses, but hers was completely blank. With a disgusting feeling inside, I gave Kim her test back. 

“What did you get?” Chrissy looked over at me annoyed. 

“An unfair grade too.” I smirked and shoved the paper in my bag. 

An announcement came over the loud speakers cutting off everyone's complaints about the results.

“Hello and Good morning students of Portland Oaks High. I’m sure you all heard that there could possibly be a snowstorm today. Well that was just confirmed, but don’t panic. Just sit tight, it should pass no later than tonight. If you want to call your family and tell them you are okay, and that you will remain in school until the storm passes please feel free to do so when this announcement ends. Also, I need for the freshman and sophomores to report to the library, and the juniors and seniors to report to the auditorium. We promise to try to make this as comfortable as we can. Teachers please report to the teachers’ lounge as soon as you walk your freshman and sophomores to the library. Juniors and seniors can handle themselves just check in with Mr. Jones when you get to the auditorium. That will be all, thank you.” 

Everyone started to cheer and then little complaints started to surface. 

“Yes” Chrissy said excitedly. 

“No” I groaned. 

That meant I couldn’t feed until after the snow storm, I couldn’t last until then. I needed to feed soon. Chrissy pulled out her phone and called her Mom, she let the phone ring a few times and hung up. 

“She doesn’t care, why call her?” she muttered as tears filled her eyes.

I wanted to say something, but I didn't know what would ease her. 

I reached in my pocket and grabbed my cell phone out and dialed nana’s number. 

“Hey Rayleigh” Nana answered.

“Hey Nana, I just called you to tell you that we’re snowed in at school and we can't leave until it's cleared. So I’ll be home later, but you might have to send Dave to pick me up. But please No Te Preocupes.” I smiled. 

“I don’t like that you’re out in this weather, but okay. Call me when you can. Be safe.” We hung up.

Chrissy waited for me to put my phone away  to dial another number on her phone. 

“Who are you calling now?” I looked at her. 

“Emergency contact. They always answer when she doesn't.” She smiled. "You'll see."

I waited to hear who was going to pick up.

“Hello?” I heard a familiar voice say.

“Hey Nana, Yeah we’re snowed in and we can't leave. So you might have to send Dave the cute limo driver to pick me up, but don’t worry ill be safe.” She promised. 

“Okay.” Nana played along, “I love you.” 

“I love you too.” Chrissy’s voice cracked.

 I know it's probably been forever since she’s heard that from anyone else besides me. Nana genuinely loved Chrissy as if she was her own. I waited for their phone call to end.

“That was cute.” I teased.

“Well, at least someone cared.” She smiled. 

“I cared, could have called me.” I laughed. 

“Let's get to the auditorium” We grabbed our things and headed out the door. I saw Atia walking in the halls, and Star walking directly behind her. I walked to my locker and shoved my bag inside and proceeded to walk to the auditorium with Chrissy hand in hand. 

We walked over to Mr. Jones who had a clipboard in his hands waiting to take attendance. 

“Hey Mr. Jones, Rayleigh Martinez and Christina Torres.” I smiled at him. 

“Rayleigh? You're Peterson’s favorite student, I heard a lot about you” He laughed.

“Okay?” I looked at him.

He kept his smirk on as he wrote our names on paper badges.

“Well you can go take your seats wherever now.” He sighed as he passed them to us. 

“Thanks.” We walked away whispering. 

“Was that weird? Or was that weird?” I asked Chrissy. 

“That was so weird” She agreed. 

We sat down on the stage and watched everyone come in. 

Ava skipped over to us and sat down. 

“Hey girls.” She smiled chipper as always. 

She was acting normal, as if we didn’t have that incident a few days ago.

Being locked in this room all day with all these people is going to kill me, unless I killed them first. 

Atia walked over shortly after and sat next to Ava. The air was awkward, mostly because I had so much anger inside of me she knew nothing about. Part of me wanted to yell and tell her how I felt, and part of me wanted to stay silent. I battled myself on which would be most effective.

“Hi.” She greeted us. 

“Hi” Chrissy and Ava said at the same time smiling. 

“Hey.” I said emotionless. 

I saw Star from across the room. I wanted to go over there and give her a piece of my mind. But, I wanted to wait until the time was right. I felt my body begin to shake, and I could imagine myself ripping her heart out and leaving her dead on the ground, and not dead to where she could come back, dead so that she would burn in hell and I would never have to see her again until I possibly joined her. 

I looked around and everyone was silent. 

Mrs. Morales walked past the auditorium doors, signaling Mr. Jones to come to her. 

“I’ll be back” He smiled. “Bathroom break, Um. Behave yourselves.” He ran out of the room and followed her. Everyone thought they messed around, that just confirmed it for me. 

While faculty was out I decided to take the opportunity to  approach Star.