Chapter One: My "Normal" Life

Present Day

Cypress Forest

Evergreen Village - Portland, Oregon

It's a beautiful morning as I dash through the Cypress Forest, letting the morning breeze caress my face.

I leap up to the tallest tree to see the whole. I was inhaling the fresh forest scent of sunshine and morning dew filled my body with happiness. I love the feeling of living here and witnessing this magical scenery.

I breathe in and out to let the sunshine light on me. The warm, tingling feeling just made my day.

As the wind passed me, I heard a voice calling out to me.

"Aneria…"

That same ominous voice from that time I was a thirteen. I don't know who the voice is inside my head, but I know it's not normal for me. I had nightmares like I was in a field full of death and blood. It was my point of view when I killed a man with large animalistic hands as I pierced his guts. It was terrifying that I didn't tell my parents or anyone about it.

Since I was born, I knew I wasn't normal like other kids. I was born with the blood of a vampire and werewolf. Mom is a werewolf while Dad is a vampire; two non-human creatures had said to be mortal enemies suddenly fell in love and secretly got married.

My parents were raised and taught to hate their enemy, but who would have thought the moment they laid their eyes on one another, both knew they were fated.

It wasn't easy to keep the relationship a secret from their family because both are from a lineage of purebloods. My parents fought to keep their relationship and persuade their families to stop the hate and make peace. Of course, their families think highly of themselves, and because of 900-year-old hatred, they didn't listen. So, the only way for my parents to be together is to elope and leave their homeland, Grimwald - which is not on earth but in an alternate universe. They reside here in Portland, Oregon, living in a small town and living like normal human beings. Then they had me.

Their little Peanut.

Their little Aneria.

I was their little miracle of hope since I carry vampire and werewolf blood running through my veins. I'm proof of making both vampires and werewolves make amends and live in peace with no wars, hate, and anger.

But am I enough to convince those who are hard-headed and ignorant?

After hearing about my parents' family, I don't think I'm the last resort for peace between the two families.

I learned of my heritage when I had a sudden change in my body when I was thirteen. When I accidentally broke the sink in the bathroom or P.E. during a game of dodgeball, Gregory McGregor was making fun of me because of how I looked. I threw the ball with all my strength and hit him right in the face. He had to go home with a broken nose and teeth. I got in trouble and was sent to the principal's office as she called my parents. Mom and Dad weren't angry at me but concerned that day when they were called to the office. I told them about the changes in my body and the urge to run or the thirst for Andy Richardson's blood when I almost wanted to bite his neck in class. It was humiliating and made me look like an even more freak of nature.

As soon as I felt something odd about me, I asked my parents, then they disclosed to me about another world where non-human creatures live. They also explain that vampires and werewolves are superior to other species. The two high-blood families; are the ice entities vampires, The Winters, and the warm and ruffians werewolves, The Ashe.

The two families, The Winters and The Ashe, have been enemies longer than before their hatred grew. Mom explained that her ancestor, Kairo Ashe, a brute warrior, had killed one of The Winters' greatest knights, Dorothy Crane.

At thirteen, an average teenager shouldn't believe in such nonsense, especially coming from her parents, but I was still skeptical after everything that had happened.

Now at eighteen, I got used to these profound abilities. I have everything both vampires and werewolves can do but more advanced. Dad told me never to utilize my abilities before anybody, and he was dead serious.

I love having what I can do, running faster, and my five senses are more prominent than normal humans have; I can hear a drop of water a miles away, and my sinuses are so strong I can smell a fart just on the other side of town. Well, that's a bad example, but I guess having enhanced senses has its pros and cons.

I don't know why my parents are scared of using my abilities, but I have to do it secretly without knowing since it concerns them greatly.

I glance at the bead bracelet on my right wrist that has some ancient symbols on five colorful beads that symbolizes the five elements; fire, water, earth, air and light. The bracelet given to me by Uncle Stan on my fourteen birthday. They are magical restraint item. Uncle Stan, a wizard and best friend of my parents, created this accessory for my protection. The only things I can use are my senses and speed. Strength and combat using my abilities is a no-go.

It sucks, but I can't argue since my parents are worried about me. Now I know who I am and why I'm so different.

"Aneria...Aneria..."

The voice still calls for me in my head. I've been having the voice in my head when the changes In my body start to develop. I don't know who is ominous bellows my name, but I can feel the emotion from the tone of its voice. The feelings of anger, rage, and hated.

"Kill…kill…kill…"

The word kept repeating in my head. I shook that dark and evil content off my head. But there was something that bypassed those words. They linger the feeling of sadness, loneliness, and sorrow. The emotions are getting harder to ignore as it continues to haunt my mind.

"Kill...kill...kill..."

I closed my eyes and hit my head while my subconscious stopped the other voice, but it seemed overpowering that I had the feeling of getting the taste of blood.

"Aneria!"

I almost drifted into madness when the voice of Gideon broke the trance. I peer down to find him looking up at me, his hands over his chest and expression telling me he isn't happy I'm up here and that I'm by myself.

"Gideon, don't do that," I hand over my beating heart. "Scared the shit out of me."

"Why are you here? Alone?" he asks.

I gripped the tree, glanced at the view, and then back at him. "Just enjoying the scenery."

"You know your parents don't like when you are alone here in the forest."

I groan.

"Come down," he demands as if I were a child.

"You know I'm eighteen, right?" I snap at him. "I'm not a child anymore."

"I know you are not a child, but I promised your parents that I would keep an eye out for you."

I let another groan escape my mouth as I jumped down without breaking a leg or two. "You suck, you know that, Gideon," I tell him as I storm off, making a fit.

"Just doing what a bodyguard should be doing, protecting you," he states.

I turned around and flicked the finger at him as it made him chuckle at my childish gestures. His laughter made me pout even more.

Gideon is one of Mom's trusted people. Before I was born, she rescued him from rogues who had killed his parents when he was seven. Since then, he stayed with my parents as their adopted son and left Grimwald. At first, he didn't like Dad because he was a vampire, but Gideon had a change of view that not all vampires are cold-hearted as werewolves were taught to believe.

Gideon was by my side when I was born, acting like the big brother I never had. Then when I learned of my heritage, he started becoming my bodyguard than a brother, which kind of sucks.

Gideon had to go with me everywhere, mainly when I hung out with Millie, my best human friend, Gideon is hiding somewhere, keeping a watch like a hawk.

As we left Cypress forest, we approached close Evergreen Village as it came to view where I was born and raised. I watch the cars go by on the street as shops open for business and the other residents do their daily routines.

"Don't slouch, Ria" Gideon hooked me around my neck playfully. "I made your favorite, Double chocolate chip waffles with chocolate syrup and-"

"And vanilla ice cream?" I smile cheekily.

"And whip cream," he says correctly as my face fell to another pout. "Ice cream for breakfast? No way. Your mom will kill me."

"She won't know," Wiggling my brows, I begged, clasping my hands together. "Please, Gideon, just this once."

I pleaded, as I round my eyes wide then fluttered my eyelashes to intimate him. I've done this many times when I tried to persuade Gideon, and most of the time, it works.

"Fine, but just this once. I don't want your mom to kick my ass," He gave in losing another fight from me.

I tiptoe and kiss him on the cheek. "You're the best, Gideon, and I'll put a good word for you so that Mom can go easy on you during training. Come on. I'll race you back to the house."

"Alright, but you can't cheat." He says sternly. "I know you are faster than most werewolves and vampires but take a down a notch, will you."

I extend my right foot forward, getting ready to run. "I can't make promises I can't keep," I kicked off without counting a head start.