Free The Seventh Sister, A Paranormal Romance by Z. L. Arkadie Page A

Unfortunately, tomorrow’s there’s more school. I don’t know how long I can keep showing up there, going through the rigmarole of it.
    At first I’m lying in bed like usual, staring at the ceiling, abhorring the next morning even before it starts. At some point I close my eyes, maybe an hour later. Then my entire body turns real warm and though I’m unconscious, I’m sure there’s something or someone near me. My eyes pop open and blink to find focus. I know for sure that I just saw a white face looking over me, but now it’s, or he, is gone.
    I leap out of bed. Whoever it was moves fast, but I can too.
    Our house is built in a square surrounding an outside patio that has a sliding glass, heat activated rooftop, which melts snow during the winter. I’ve learned to keep it closed all season long.
    “Hey,” I shout while racing down one hallway before hitting the curve and zooming down the next, where I can see him standing in the patio, between the cushiony outdoor furniture circling the fire pit. His head hangs in surrender, arms limp at his sides. My feet stay cautious as I walk through the opened sliding glass door. I look up. The ceiling is opened.
    “Hey,” I say, this time much quieter.
    I’m looking at his backside. It’s extra dark tonight because the stars and moon are covered by snow clouds.
    “Hey,” he finally says back.
    “Who are you?”
    “My name is Vayle.”
    What a strange name but so is Zillael .
    “I’m Zillael. Or do you know that already?”
    “I know that.” He slowly turns until he’s facing me.
    It’s the guy, the one from the other night, the Selell.
    I take a few steps closer to him. He doesn’t look like a vampire, at least what I read about them. He is very pale, anemic looking, but his figure is healthy, vibrant. Usually when you read about them, they’re extra beautiful in appearance. Now that we’re standing here face to face in this setting, a less dramatic one, he is very attractive, but the Wek is more beautiful.
    “What do you want?” I finally ask.
    “I need help, and this is the only place I can go.”
    “Why?” I ask, remembering what Derek told me. He’d gone undetected that night because of me.
    “I don’t know. But…” He hesitates like he doesn’t want to divulge.
    “But what? Please tell me?” I can’t believe I’m begging.
    “I haven’t been thirsty since then.”
    “You mean that night?”
    “Yeah.”
    He looks to be in his twenties. He’s definitely not a high school-aged kid, which is good.
    “Are you normally thirsty?”
    “Ever since this happened to me, yeah.”
    “When did this happen to you?”
    “November the eleventh, last year.”
    “Wow.” I am totally taken aback by that. “I thought vampires were like hundreds of years old.”
    He seems so fragile there, looking at me like he’s lost. I just realized what I said was so stupid and insensitive.
    “Sorry, I didn’t mean it that way.”
    He shakes his head and says, “That’s okay. I think I might live to be a hundred years old, but this is the worst way to do it.”
    I thumb over my shoulder. “Would you like to come inside?”
    After a long pause, he nods.
    “One second,” I say and walk over to push the button that slides the glass back across the patio.
    I lead him to the dining room, which is next to the kitchen and we sit at the table. I would’ve offered him something to drink, water perhaps, but from what I know, vampires only drink blood.
    We’re sitting across from each at the table. Inside, under the lights, he is quite remarkable looking in this setting with his black hair, black eyes and very translucent skin. I wonder if he always looked like this or did he change after what happened to him, happened to him. I would ask, but I’ve already shoved my foot in my mouth so soon already by remarking on his age.
    “Where are you from?” I ask, figuring that question is safe enough.
    “Illinois, but I used to go to the University of