Deadly Creatures

Chapter 1

"Maybe tomorrow we can find someone to take care of the rest of your furniture," my mother says breathlessly , as we finish heaving my far too heavy couch into the living room. "Or we could finish now since I have to start work tomorrow," I call with a grin. I know she's not tired, but she's very opposed to doing things the human way. Too bad. That's what I plan to be for as long as I can. "I could go persuade some of your handsome new neighbors to help us out," she says while flashing me a scandalous grin. The candles in the house flicker before rising to a flame as the fire starts to spread over her eyes, making me frown in response. "No magic in my house," I caution while standing up and heading back out. "It would be a hell of a lot easier to get your stuff in using magic," she huffs as the candles stop their blazing intent without leaving a smoky trail. "Not concerned about getting it done easily," I chuckle out. "That's sort of the point of my new start." She follows me to the oversized truck I rented, and we start lugging out the next set of furnishings. "It's part of you, Scarlet. The sooner you start accepting it, the better. You're so pow-" "Don't say it," I interrupt, holding a hand up. "If you say it, I'll finish unpacking by myself." She crosses her arms in protest, but I roll my eyes as I head back into the house while carrying my two lamps. As soon as I walk in, a grown of agitation slips through my tight lips. All of my furniture, clothes, and everything else has been put into place. Even my pictures are hanging on the damn walls. "Seriously?" I complain, knowing damn well she's out there laughing. She walks in, a smug look on her face, and I roll my eyes. "What? You can't expect me to spend all day sweating and toiling over all this unnecessary labor when I'm not going to see my daughter for months." Guilt. She always uses guilt. Amazing. "Fine. I'll order a pizza, and you can grab some wine out of the grocery bags I have over-" I look up to see they've also been taken care of. "Never mind. You can find the wine wherever you put it." She lets a bit of a chuckle escape and the television turns on as she passes by. "Really? You're so lazy you can't even use the remote?" "Not lazy, dear, just special… like you." Oh you're special all right. I somehow refrain from letting that snarky comment out. "Get your hair out from behind your ears. You know I absolutely hate that." And she wonders why I'm moving out. Like a small child, I do as my mother says and pull my hair out from behind my ears. It's her biggest pet peeve. After the little stunt she just pulled, I should keep both sides of my hair tucked behind my ears all day. My attention is drawn to the television when four pictures of young girls my age flash across the screen. "If you see these women, please contact the police. They were last seen together on Talbot Avenue.” The television mutes when I press the button, and then I flip the channel quickly, hoping Mom didn't hear. "I guess that means you didn't check to see what other immortals were roaming around here?" Mom asks as she walks back in with her phone at her face, reading. "Fifteen girls have gone missing this month alone. I don't like this." "There are a variety of immortals all over the world, Mom. It's not like I can avoid living among all of them. Besides, they're apparently blood drinkers, which means they'll be moving along soon enough, and this will be one of the safest places around." "It's not safe right now, and you're not immortal yet, meaning you can die as easily as a human." And let the fight begin. "I'm marked, Mom. If someone gets too close, I'll show them what I'm meant to become." She scoffs, "That won't matter. If they give you the chance to show them, they'll just deny it if it comes to war. No one wants another dark ages, so our council will dismiss it as an accident." I sigh as I head over to the pantry to pull out some popcorn. I'm exhausted from the move and the woman I stupidly asked to help me get situated in my new place. "They're probably vampires or shifters, considering the pretty girls they took. I'll just steer clear of pretty boys for a while." She groans while rolling her eyes. "Don't say vampires. It's so... juvenile. And pretty boys aren't the only night stalkers or changers. Pretty girls are vamps and shifters too. Besides, this could be lycans, werewolves, werecats, dark magic users… the list goes on and on, Scarlet. I knew this was a bad idea. Just come home with me." Turning around, I shake my head, meeting her determined gaze with my defiant glower. "No. I'm twenty, and I've already been knocked out of going to college because of your paranoia. You swore one of my professors was a shifter you knew hundreds of years ago." "He was," she growls. Again, I'm forced to huff. She's impossible. "The point is, this world is deadly for anyone, yet humans exist daily, living to be of old age and dying of natural causes. The chances of me actually running into harm are astronomical. Stop worrying so much." She breathes out heavily, and then she vanishes briefly to reappear on the couch. That's one bit of magic I wouldn't mind having. It would save me from trying to afford a car. "It just worries me. Promise me you'll use your powers if one of them comes after you." Finally. "I have no problem using paranormal against paranormal," I say with a shrug. "I just don't want magic to be my life, not yet. I happen to like living like a regular girl. It's… comforting. Now, where's my wine?" She smirks before vanishing again, and I hear a cork being pulled free from the bottle.