This is a sequel to my first story, The Spilt Blood The Spilt Blood: The Angel’s Secret I was scared. The night closing in, and the air was cold, and dry. The snow was forcing downward, onto the ground hard. My mom had told me never to go into the forest, but I was so curious. I was cold, and I forgot to put on a jacket. I was wearing knee high blue jeans, and a white shirt that was too big on me that had a band name on it. It was ridiculous on why I wore these clothes, even though I didn’t live in Miami anymore. I now live in Michigan, as I did my mom and my older sister, until she died from hypothermia two years ago when I was 15. This was the exact forest where she died, and I’ve always wanted to face this danger. I am seventeen now, and I should’ve known better, but I lost my way. My heart was pounding and my pulse rising. I searched and search for the shores. That was the only way I would know if I was getting close to home or not. When I find the shores, I’ll be able to find a path to take me home. But nothing could prepare me, for what was going to happen next. I made it, to the shores of Lake Michigan. The ice froze over the lake, and it did not look stable. I stood on a small cliff like structure and looked down at the ice. I stood fairly close, but I was sure of it, that I wouldn’t fall in. “Don’t move,†a voice informed me that came from behind as if it was right against my ear. I turned around, and looked at a boy, who seemed to be my age. He was so beautiful, it must’ve been illegal. His smile seemed beautiful, and his pale skin glistened. He held out his hand. “Please, come over here, before you fall off the edge and into the water,†he said calmly. I wasn’t sure if I could speak. I probably would’ve said something to embarrass myself in front of this wonderful boy. He had brown hair, which was a bit shaggy, and he wore blue jeans, and a tan jacket, zipped up. “Who are you?†I asked, being calm and sweet like. His smile grew more heartwarming. “My name is Angel,†he said, still holding out his hand. That sounded so perfect, for someone so beautiful. His name was fit for someone like him, and yet, mine was inherited, by my grandmother. “Please, come over here,†he said once more. I nodded slightly, taking one step, which could’ve cost me my life. I put the divided weight, onto one foot, and caused the rock to break. I fell back, and headed towards the water, with my back facing the surface. I closed my eyes, waiting to hit the water, until his hand grabbed mine. He was about ten feet away from me, and somehow he was able to react so quickly to run over here and grab my hand. “Hold on!†he shouted at me, as he held my hand, easily trying to pull me up. He pulled my other hand with his other and pulled me up easier. I felt one of my shoes soaking wet. Once I got up to the ground, I lay there gasping from what could’ve happened. I looked down at my wet sneaker, and pulled it off, trying to warm up my ankle. “Here,†he said, pulling a cloth from behind his pocket. There was a red essence on it, which looked like dried blood. He tied it around my ankle, and pulled it over the surface of my foot to keep it warm. “Thank you,†I said, then saw him make a grin across his face. He held out his hand once more, to help me up, and I gratefully took his hand, and allowed him top pull my body up. “You’re more than welcome,†he said, smiling, flashing his first four pearly white teeth. He took my hand, and led me down the shores, helping me look for the path to take me home. “What is your name?†he asked me, as soon as he found a different path to take. I smiled and answered “Santeria is my name†He looked closely at me, and frowned. I made a hurt expression then. “I’m sorry†he said, realizing that I looked sad. “It’s just that name, it sounds so familiar,†he said looking softly at me. I sighed and I hated to talk about it, but I pushed myself to. “My mom… she named my sister Sierra, and wanted me to have a matching name, so she called me Santeria. My sister died a few years ago, in this exact forest,†I said. He looked surprised. “I almost saved a girl a few years ago, named Sierra,†he said. I looked at him softly, tears forming in my eyes. “She fell through the ice, before I could see the vision happen,†he explained. I felt confused. “What vision?†I asked my voice almost to a whisper. He looked back at me, his expression unreadable. “I can see small visions of the upcoming times. I saw in my head, you falling over the shores, but I made a difference, and set you a course for life. I could’ve set your sister one, but I was late in checking up on my visions,†he said. My hear felt shattered. It was not his fault though. If he didn’t even try then I would never have seen her for the last time. “Thank you,†I said, the tears now running down my cheek. He brushed them away softly with the back of his hand. “What for?†he asked me, pointing my face at his. “For bringing my sister back, so we could see her one last time,†I said. He sighed, and frowned once more. “Please do not fret. It was not your fault,†I said, hoping he wouldn’t feel so bad. He looked at me, wondering with a curious face. “From the eyes of a human, you blame no one,†he said, placing his hand gently on mine. I noticed the blood rushed up to my cheekbones giving them color. He smiled, and looked at me. “You called me a human. Are you not one?†I asked him, curious as to why anyone would call another person a human. I noticed a blank look on his face. “Can you keep a secret?†he asked me. I was curious as to what type of secret this would be, but I was too scared to want to know. “I’m not ready for this sort of commitment from you,†I answered him. His expression was unreadable, but it almost looked like he smiled. “My secret, you will know shortly, as soon as the crimson spreads across your hand,†he answered me, moving away from me. I walked towards him, but tripped over a root of a tree sticking out of the ground. I could hear a loud snap as I landed on my hand. “Ouch!†I yelled, turning over on my back, raising my right wrist up to view. He still looked away, and I never felt anything like this before. It felt like a lightning bolt just shocked there, and now it’s pulsating throughout my body. I saw a large wound in the side of my wrist, and one small white spot peeking through, and I knew that was my bone. He finally looked over at me, his eyes weren’t blue anymore. They were also red, or as he called it crimson. He held my wrist in his hand. “OW!†I shouted at him, retracting my hand, with the scorching pain, and my burning throat from the screams, I felt nothing else. “Are you in pain?†he asked me, looking away. I gasped, trying to breathe softly and smoothly. I couldn’t see anything, but his pale face, still glistening in the dark forest trees. I let out a deep breath and looked down. “Yes,†I answered. He did not look happy. He looked more like he was mad. He was straining himself from looking at me. He didn’t even look like he was breathing. “I can smell it,†he growled through his teeth. It sounded like he was growling like a canine. “What can you smell?†I asked. There was only one thing I could smell, and it was the blood coming from my wrist. It smelled foul and it was stomach turning. I felt unsteady, and was wobbling a few inches. “I can smell your blood. Are you okay? You look like you’re going to pass out,†he said once he realized my unsteadiness. He walked over, more like forcing himself, over to me. He looked at my hand, and his eyes grew dark red, the exact color of my skin. “I’m fine… What do you mean you can smell my blood? I thought it was something only I could do. No one else can,†I said. He looked at me and laughed. His eyes grew a little lighter. “Silly little human girl. I am nothing but a bloodsucker. I’m something that you are afraid of. Something every human is afraid of. I…. is a vampire†he said to me, his eyes growing darker. I put my hand over the open wound. I was shocked to know this, and I knew that he was somewhat odd. “I’m not afraid of you,†I said. I was not sure if it was a lie though. I have stood death in the face and laughed, but this is pushing the limit. “You grimace at me?†he asked, looking at my expression, which went along greatly with my pale face. “I’m not afraid of you,†I repeated, in a different tone, which assured him. He didn’t look pleased. He looked at me cautiously. “So my not being human does not frighten you?†he asked. I nodded, hoping he wouldn’t get any more madder, but he did. “I can damn you for an eternity, or I can save you. Take your pick,†he said, then looked away. “What do you mean?†I asked a bit scared now. He looked at me, sadness in his eyes. “This is why I hate my duty. If I save you from death, then I must cause yours. I can damn you to hell, or save you into heaven. Take which one you want,†he said. I looked at him, wondering what he would do if I asked him. But I was sure I could find another solution….and I did. “You’re a vampire right?†I asked, looking at him questionably. HE nodded, keeping a straight face. “Can’t you turn people into vampires?†I asked, looking at him flash his teeth in a growl. “Yes, but I refuse to damn others into the duty I am entitled with. We vampires have rules that we must follow. Those who are bitten by vampires, are the mates of the vampire who bitten them, and are entitled to either damn or save the lives of others. Those who are born a vampire, has no duty. They are free, to save others or damn them if they wish. They can live in the human world, with no fangs, or the urge to kill, if they wish. They can do anything they wish. We vampires are not what we may seem in fairytales though. “We sleep in no coffins. We turn into no bats. We burn from no sun. And the very last, we do not turn any innocent human being into our life slave,†he said, finishing his explanation. “Then damn me to your duty,†I said. He was someone who would understand me. He looked to be someone who would save me from the collapsing world I live in, and he can take away the pain, from me, the pain in my heart. “You are a sy human girl,†he muttered. He stood close by me, placing his cold hands firmly on my neck, and they made me jump slightly. “This is a free will choice, let me remind you. I have no power over this, and you will be forever cursed as my mate,†he explained. Tears formed in my eyes “Just damn me already,†I said, quivering. He put his face close to my neck, and placed his icy cold lips on my neck, and it happened.
