Free Midnight Blood (Born Immortal) by Nicole Yanski Page B

more unusual than normal. Eerie. She thought. She walked down the first aisle of headstones, and made a right towards her fathers memorial. She felt alone in the world, as she made her way through the cemetary by herself.
         She hated coming to the cemetary, but she did love the memorial her mother had designed. It was tucked away in the back of the cemetary, surrounded by thick bushes, which bloomed beautiful purple flowers in the spring, and a tall cement wall. Inside the memorial was an elegant black marble angel, that stood about ten feet tall. A black marble sitting bench was placed in the center. Marcus Verona would have appreciated what his beloved wife had done for him.
         Shayna sat down on the Marble bench, and put her hands in her lap.
         “Hi dad,” she said, and twiddled her thumbs, “You’re not coming back for me, are you?” her eyes went to her hands, which were resting in her lap, “I’m scared, and the time is coming soon, I need you here.” she closed her eyes and envisioned Cain, “I met someone,” she said. “His name is Cain, and he’s like you,” she paused, “I guess. He said he would help me through this, I trust him. Also he…” Shayna was interrupted by a noise behind her, and quickly turned around. She was sitting on the bench with her back to the entrance of the memorial. As she turned, she saw tanned skin, and sandy brown hair. Derrick. The way he stood, looking at her gave her the creeps. He stared at her like she was a piece of meat. He always had, even when he was with Melina, but she had ignored it.
         Shayna stood up, and started walking toward the opening of the memorial to leave. She realized suddenly by the way he was standing, that he was intentionally blocking the entrance. She hastily looked around for another exit. The only way out was over the wall. She was trapped.
         “Hi Derrick,” she said as she approached him.
         “Where are you going Shayna?” he asked. “Don’t leave.”
         “I have to go home,” she said. She stood face to face with him, and was pretty sure he wasn’t going to let her pass.
         “I don’t think you need to go anywhere,” he said, and took a strand of her hair between his thumb and forefinger, and twisted it, like she did when nervous. His words were slurred, and he reeked of alcohol. My God! She thought He’s drunk! She shivered in disgust, she didn’t want his dirty hands touching her at all.
         “Come on Derrick, I have to go.”
          She tried to push past him. He grabbed her arm, and pulled her back.
    “You’re not going anywhere,” he said.
         She knew she was in trouble. She opened her mouth to scream, and Derrick’s dirty, motor oil stained hands covered it. He held her close to him, with her back against his chest.
         “I always liked you better,” he whispered into her ear.
         He pushed her further into the memorials enclosure, where they were invisible behind the cement wall. Tears ran down Shayna’s face uncontrollably. She couldn’t believe what was happening.
         When she felt the burning deep inside of her chest, she didn’t know what to think. It was a sensation that she had never felt before. She could feel it building, almost boiling inside of her. Derrick turned her around so that she was facing him,and pushed her up against the angel statue. The angel’s knee was digging into Shayna’s back, and was quite painful, with the weight, of Derrick’s body pushing on her. He put his hand on the back of her neck and leaned toward her with his mouth open.
         Shayna knew she was going to explode. Something was happening inside of her. She didn’t know what, but she wasn’t scared, and she knew Derrick should be. He’s going todie. She closed her eyes. She was going to explode. The deafening shriek that came next, reminded Shayna of a bird. Her eyes shot open, just as the massive hawk’s razor sharp