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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 Midwalk 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 changers, 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 night stalkers and changers too. Besides, this could be lycans, werewolves, werecats, dark users… the list goes on and on, Alyssa. 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 changer 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.
Chapter Two
The diner isn't what I was expecting. You'd think a small town would have small business, but I've hardly had a chance to breathe, due to the ridiculous volume of customers.
"Thanks," I murmur to the guy who hands me a ten for a tip.
"My pleasure. You new around here?" he asks, his eyes staring into mine with an obvious agenda.
I check his eyes for sparks of blue to infuse, showing me his true identity, but they stay brown as he stares at me. His hair is too light to be a night stalker, and his thudding heartbeat is too quick to be a changer. I could be wrong, but judging by his pitiful posture and terrible wardrobe, I'd say I'm in the clear.
Just a horny human.
