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"As we work to create light for others,
we naturally light our own way."
~Mary Anne Radmacher

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Evan:

I felt the warm sheets around me and smiled. I didn't want to open my eyes yet. It was a beautiful slumber. I was free. I didn't have to think about my adoptive parents or about the safety of my sister. My adoptive parents are gone. Dead. Poof! Disappeared off the earth.

But then... I found myself thinking about school. My eyes shot open. Oh, shoot! What time was it?

I looked at the clock which said ten in the morning. I groaned. If I rushed my chores, I can attend my third class. It's very important that I maintain my attendance... and the classes and my assignments!

I brushed my teeth with a fresh toothbrush in one of the cabinets, did my morning business, and took a shower using Roxanna's shower gel. It was then that I realized that I had neither my clothes nor my books and stationery. I sighed uneasily and eyed my soiled clothes. 

Roxanna takes this legit moment to enter the room, "Good morning, Pet! You're not going to school today." She told me with a straight face.

I held on to my towel tightly around my waist and laughed awkwardly, "Why not?" 

She amusingly eyed my towel and spoke seriously, "because you have to give me your payment and I don't think you can attend school after that. You'll have to rest the whole day to gain back your blood."

My eyes widened in shock. I didn't think it would come to this so quickly. My heart was beating in my throat. 

She pinched the bridge of her nose. Tremors rocked her body as she laughed silently. She shook her head, "I was just kidding! Gosh!" 

I fumed, "That. Wasn't. Funny!"

She laughed out loud, "You should've seen your face."

I scowled at her, "So, why shouldn't I go to school?"

She grinned, "One, you don't have your stationary. Two, you don't have clothes-" She laughed lightly as I felt my face burn. "The third reason and the most important one, the police have covered up your family's death as an attack by wild animals when you guys went camping last evening in the mountains. The entire town and your school know that you are badly injured and the only survivor of that incident. The guards and the butler was killed along with the Villis couple. So, you are to stay at home for the rest of the week."

"For the rest of the week?! But, my assignments, notes, and classes... If I need to get into college. I must maintain my attendance and grades!"

"I didn't think my little Evan's a nerd!" She teased me.

I glared and pointed my finger at her, "I am not little!"

She looked at me with a glint, "I know. In fact, you're huge."

At this point, I wanted to dig a hole and bury myself alive. I gritted my teeth in embarrassment. 

She just continued talking as if she did not just get me flustered, "I had the Officer Chief talk to your headmistress and your teachers. They will compensate for your attendance and postpone your assignment submission dates. You don't have to worry at all. You just need to concentrate on acting as if you're injured and sick. Which, in turn, means that you're going to stay indoors for a while."

I let out a breath, "What about my clothes?"

She smirked, "If Hallie wasn't staying here, I'd rather you walk around naked!"

I shook my head as the heat rose to my cheeks. I murmured, "Of course, you would!"

She laughed hearing my comment. I decided to grab my soiled clothes. I wouldn't want to walk around naked.

She caught my wrist in a flash and sighed, "I'll grab you some clothes from your old home. Stay here."

She disappeared and I found myself counting seconds. When I counted ten, she appeared back and placed a bunch of clothes gently on the bed. Show off!

"Where's Hallie?" I asked her.

"Well, I had her taken into the same school as yours. They know that she's your sister. They've been informed that she was home-schooled for a long time. They took her in," She shrugged.

"You mean, she's attending classes? Didn't they question where she was the whole time? Non-existent all this while??" I put my hands out indignantly. 

She shrugged again, "I've had it handled. Relax!"

She then walked towards the door and looked back at me. She then proceeded to shut the door gently behind her. 

I let out a breath of relief. Somehow, she's been very gentle with me. I made a mental note to thank her for everything.

I threw on my clothes and walked out to search for Roxanna only to find her cooking pancakes. I wondered if she ever ate food...

I cleared my throat although she probably knew that I was here. I decided to speak, "Umm, Roxanna? "

 "Yeah?" She was topping the pancakes with cream and chocolate syrup. 

"Thank you," I told her. 

A magnificent smile took over her features and whispered, "Anytime. But, what was that for?"

"For everything... I never thought I'd be able to get out of that situation," I told her sincerely.

She turned quiet and grave with that comment. She sprinkled chocolate chips over the cream and syrup and placed it on the counter, gesturing me to eat. She sat before me and put her elbows on the counter, linking her fingers together.

"So, you aren't scared of what you got yourself into? A vampire who helped you to keep you as her constant source of blood..." She murmured.

I gulped and looked at the pancakes warily. The truth of what she said hit me like a truck. All my fears returning with full force. I looked at her and found her analyzing and grasping my expression. I decided to speak the truth, "I don't know... I don't know what I myself into! Just don't let my sister know about this deal..."

She sighed and leaned forward, "You have my word but you're missing the point. Aren't you scared that you can't ever run from me? It's in my nature to become violent and extremely possessive over what belongs to me. I'm not human. You can't expect me to be good and gentle all the time... Especially when it comes to what belongs to me. At this point, even I'm not sure what I've pulled you into."

I didn't understand why she wants to talk to me like this. But, what she said was the truth and it scared me shitless. I'm tired of being so scared all the time. Does this make me a coward? Maybe, I am a coward. I can't seem to face things like a man... But, why is a man expected to be brave and strong all the time? 

I sighed miserably, "I know. I understand. And there's nothing I can do about my situation right now. Maybe, my life is meant to be this miserable! I can't escape. No matter what I do, it'll always be the same, right?"

"At this point, I have two options. One, I could kill myself. But now, even that isn't possible." I laughed humorlessly, "Two, I gotta live and face what I have to. I choose option two. It makes me feel less of a coward!" I ended up sounding angry and sarcastic.

I smiled at her tightly and stood up, "Thank you for the breakfast!"

I walked into the room that Roxanna had given me and locked the door from the inside. I sat down and breathed. 

Within minutes, I heard a knock. "Your pancakes are getting cold."

"I'm not hungry!" I yelled at the door.

I heard a sigh, "Look, I didn't mean to upset you that way. I just wanted you to know... the truth."

I stayed silent.

"Let me in, Evan." Her voice had a dangerous edge to it. I let out a breath and unlocked the door. I didn't want to do anything to anger her. 

She placed the plate of pancakes in my hands. They were still warm. She then pulled me inside and sat me down, "Eat your breakfast." Her expression looked like she was not ready to take any of my bullshit. She looked like she was pissed. 

I lost my appetite. But, I gulped down a pancake as quickly as I could. I choked over my third bite and she grabbed a bottle of water for me.

"Slow down... I don't bite. Yet," She sounded gentle. I gulped down the water and cleared my throat. 

I sighed, "What do mean? What do mean by: 'your belongings'?"

"You're mine, Evan." She uttered those words like they're final and nothing I do is ever going to change that. 

I hesitated before asking, "What do you mean?"

"It means that I won't entertain you getting a girlfriend or even a so-called 'best friend'," She shrugged.

I glared at her, "I did not sign myself off for something like this. I only promised to give you my blood!"

A slow and frightening smirk took over her features, "Well, you must've known what you're getting yourself into. You were making a deal with a crafty Vampire."

I sighed feeling tired of the pressure on my mind, "I have no friends. They're just a bunch of indifferent idiots. Are you going to force me into anything? Like sex?"

Her eyes softened, "I wouldn't do anything that you don't like. I can promise you that it won't be as bad as what you faced with your late adoptive parents."

My shoulders relaxed as if a huge weight was lifted off it. I looked at her, "Really?"

She just nodded her head slowly. I could hold onto anything. Even the slightest hope. I breathed. I wanted to feel free. I didn't want to feel like my hands are being tied again. I just want to feel okay.

"You're okay, Evan. Please relax," Roxanna murmured as if she read my mind. "You're free. I promise."

I nodded and took a bite of the goodness on my plate. After a couple of bites, I decided to ask her, "What about your possessiveness? Violent if your possessive side's triggered... How violent?"

She looked at me, her eyes holding an amused glint. "I wouldn't call it exactly violent... I may just stake my claim."

I didn't understand what she meant but my appetite seemed very good after a long time. I just decided to focus on the pancakes.

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A/N:

So, What do you think? :D

Also, How are you doing? An honest reply, please!

Love,
Jahnavi...♡