Toxic by K.B. Torres (portable ebook reader .TXT) 📕

Yeah, THAT would go well. Let me hint the sarcasm.
Instead of answering, I just shrugged and asked, "Where’s Seth?"
Luke's face dropped.
Not a good sign.
Seth is our brother, our newest member of the clan. Juliet forced us to watch after him. I could tell by Luke's expression that the next words that come out of his mouth wouldn't be light.
"He...he uh, got staked by the enemy pack. We almost made it here before they got him. For some reason as soon as they neared the hotel, they ran off, frightened." Luke said.
"Oh well... let’s make our way home before Juliet freaks out and explodes. I don't need glitter and shredded things all over the house." With that we walked silently back to our house.

"Dude, can't you sense it? It feels as if there is a radiance of peace by that house. Could an angel be near?" Luke asked as we walked in our makeshift house. The house was ginormous, with plain white walls and tan carpets. In every room was pretty much the same furniture: A study desk, couch, a flat screen TV, and several bookshelves crammed with books, though our personal rooms were, well personalized. When you're a vampire, you have a lot of free time.
"I don't know. Maybe we should study up to look for a match." I shrugged nonchalantly, trying to hide my feelings.
Vampires are indeed, very attractive to mundies. I could have any girl I want, then throw her away the next day. That was how we are wired to think. I had stopped thinking like that a few weeks ago, when I had first discovered the girl in the hotel. She had only seen me 4 times, though I had seen her many, many times. No, not naked, no not undressing. Just sleeping. It amused me to watch her relaxed face.
I snapped out of my thoughts.
Luke grabbed a history book off of a crammed wooden bookshelf.
He opened it up, flying through the needle-thin paper. He stopped, reading a page.
"Here, first person in the chapter who is said to radiate peace." Luke said, pointing to a picture of a naked red-head with a serpent curled around her, even at her crotch and breasts. Of course Luke would stop at this one. Underneath, was a poem, along with a chapter about the girl.
I read the poem out loud.

"Roaming the night,
Waiting, Watching.
Intriguing the few males,
they see a goddess.
Dances with danger,
As the hell music becomes seductive and sure.
As Female, is clothed,
As goddess, Skyclad.
At Hell one way,
At Heaven another.
She: wants Mundane, Is Angelic, Will be Demonic.
This shall be the norm.
The Radiance surrounds strong,
pulls her own blood into bed.
This resurrected rose awaits her champions, her lovers, her mates.
In time her little ones shall come to be due."

I read.
Luke shivered.
"Damn, she sounds worse than Jules." He said, looking both horrified by and attracted to the girl in the photo.
We both laughed.

There was a slam at the front door. Juliet came in ranting, speaking in the fast tongue of Demon language. "How the hell could you?! Let one of our own get staked!" Instead of dealing with her explosion, I just shrugged and made my way to my room. All I could think about was that girl. I swear, her skin was so white and soft-looking, she could have been feathers rather than skin. Her curly hair, so red, just like flames, dancing in the wind. Her lips, they looked soft like a perfect pink shade of velvet. The most hypnotizing thing was her eyes. Those big, owl-like eyes. The first time I saw her, I wanted

her. No, not for blood. I wanted her for...That was the part I wasn't sure about yet. The first time I saw her, I almost went in the house. I wanted to kiss her that much

. One thing for sure, if I can't have her, I'll protect her from any threat, even though the only notable threat is me.

Anastasia

I quickly had got ready, dressing in a white lace shirt under a breast-showing red corset. I wore simple jean skinny jeans and black knee high converse boots. I pulled my red hair back in a gray bandana, throwing on red lip stick and my black sunglasses. As I left the house, I grabbed a black scarf and jacket.

Luckily, the butler let me drive in my favorite car: a mustang knight rider. When I got my schedule, I found I had simple classes. Math, then Science, then Sociology then lunch. After that, Drama Class followed by Psychology. Last History. When I walked in, some people stared, some people waved, and some just out right ignored me. The teacher looked at me and smiled. "Oh, you must be Anastasia. You may call me Mrs. Black." I smiled weakly. "Hey Emmanuel, over here." A boy at the back called in my direction. I looked behind me and paled, going rigid all over. It was the boy I've been seeing on my balcony at night! He just brushed past me, not even acknowledging my presence. As our arms touched, warm shocks went up my arm, as Emmanuel sat down next to the boy calling him. I carefully made my way to the only seat left, between two girls. One had long black hair with slim, chocolate brown eyes. The other was a pixie-cut blonde with doe-like gray eyes. If I had hoped to be ignored today, I wasn't getting my way. I took off my jacket, slinging it over the seat.
The blonde one turned to me and asked, "Are you THE Anastasia? You know, Anastasia, the girl who has an actor for a dad and a fashion designer for a mom?"
Her voice was slightly nasal, but in a cute way, mixing well with an ambrosia sound. Not annoying, not normal, though for a voice.
I nodded and said, "I'm Anastasia Vixen-Nyx Gray, if you're asking if I’m that Anastasia. God, my name is too long for me. Can't I just be named Kai? Thank you parents of only-child."
The two girls giggled.
The blonde said, "I’m Gabrielle. Call me Gabbe."
The black haired girl said, "I’m Lydon."
Lydon's voice was hushed, though sweet and soft, like music.
At that moment, I could feel a gaze on my back. Who? Why would they stare at me? I turned to see the boy Emmanuel, staring at me. It was the first time I actually saw him. He had raven black hair,which fell at his ears, with slim, ice blue eyes girls melt for. His skin was pale, really pale. His lips were the rosy color girls envied, and guys didn't care for nor want. He was gorgeous. I hated him. Who did he think he was? Frightening me last night, then checking me out today? I hastily looked back at Gabbe and Lydon.
"Oh, are you checking out Emmanuel?" Lydon asked, smiling.
"W-what? No! I-I was just-" I started to stutter, but Gabbe cut me off, her nasally ambrosia voice tinged with annoyance.
"Good. Emmanuel's sister, Juliet, is a major slut. She's slept with almost every guy in our grade, except for Emmanuel and Luke. That's her family. I've heard Emmanuel and Luke are the same, sleeping with any and EVERY girl. I know Luke tried to get Lydon to sleep with him, that's for sure."
"Okay, I guess I'll stay away." I answered.
"I have a feeling Juliet might get jealous of you." Lydon said, her voice slightly sing-song.
"Why? I’m still a virgin." I asked, baffled.
Lydon and Gabbe giggled.
"No, she meant because of your family. Plus, you're really pretty. I've seen like 5 guys stare at you already." Gabbe said between giggles.
"What? I'm not pretty. You made me announce that my parents are famous, that's probably why they're staring. Or because this shirt doesn't exactly cover me. If anyone here is pretty, it's you two."
"No-"
"Stop it, Gabbe. It's not every day a famous kid befriends us. Don't scare her away." Lydon scolded.
"Fine." Gabbe pouted, her face scrunching up.
I giggled. These two are quite interesting. Maybe school won't be so bad...

Emmanuel

When the girl from the hotel balcony showed up in my class, I just brushed past her, trying to mask my shock. I literally felt shocks going up my arm when I brushed against her. I found myself staring at her. She was pretty, really pretty as I remembered. God, the things I wanted to do with her...
Crap, I sound like a love-struck mundane.
I wondered what they were talking about, Anastasia, Gabbe and Lydon. Were they talking about me perhaps? Or something else? I strained my ears to hear her conversation.
"I'm Anastasia Vixen-Nyx Gray, if you're asking if I’m that Anastasia. God, my name is too long for me. Can't I just be named Kai? Thank you parents of only-child."
Lydon and Gabbe giggled at her comment. Anastasia. I've heard of her. Anyone whose anybody does. And I'm Anybody, that's for sure.
"I’m Gabrielle. Call me Gabbe."
"I’m Lydon."
Anastasia must have sensed my staring at her, because she stiffened, taking on an awkward posture. Anastasia turned, seeing my stare at her. She hastily looked back at Gabbe and Lydon.
"Oh, are you checking out Emmanuel?" Lydon asked, smiling.
"W-what? No! I-I was just-" she started to stutter, but Gabbe cut her off, her nasaly ambrosia tinged with annoyance.
"Good. Emmanuel's sister, Juliet is a major slut. She's slept with almost every guy in our grade, except for Emmanuel and Luke. That's her family. I've heard Emmanuel and Luke are the same. I know Luke tried to get Lydon to sleep with him, that's for sure." They were feeding her lies. Sure, Juliet is a slut, sure Luke tried once with Lydon before he found out about her, but I never did that at this school. Well, not anymore. I hadn't since I first saw Anastasia, as if I no longer needed anyone in bed with me.
Luke asked, "Hey, you thinking what I'm thinking? Anastasia. She looks good enough to eat."
Luke licked his lips, staring at Anastasia's somewhat exposed breasts.
I sighed, turning to Luke before saying, "Nah. She's just, supposed to be really famous."
"Then I guess I'll give her a try. It wouldn't hurt to get in between her legs."
I wanted to punch Luke. Or strangle him. Possibly both. But wait...Why was I getting protective over a mundie? I turned back to eavesdrop on Anastasia.
Shoot. I missed some of the conversation.
"Why? I’m still a virgin." Anastasia asked, baffled.
Lydon and Gabbe giggled.
A virgin? A girl like that? No way.
She must be hiding something...Or just not into guys that much.
The bell rang and we were finished with class, the whole time I missed the math lesson.

Just my luck. I have the seat next to Anastasia in Science. Crap. That means Juliet is on the other side of her, since she used to sit next to me. I decided to introduce myself to Anastasia.
"Hi." I said.
Hi? How pathetic of me. Hi, THAT'S one way to sound like an idiot.
Anastasia looked at me through the corner of her eyes, hesitating.
"Hey." She said back, showing little interest in me.
"I’m Emmanuel. I've heard you're THE Anastasia. That true?"
"Yeah."
"Would you like a tour of the school by yours truly?"
She just ignored me, going back to the lesson.
I repeated. She sighed, annoyed.
"Look, I really