by Allegra Skye
saved
(book #1 of the Shadow Vampires)
allegra skye
Copyright © 2011 by Allegra Skye
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior permission of the author.
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
"I must be myself.
I cannot break myself any longer for you, or you.
If you can love me for what I am, we shall be the happier."
--Emerson
PROLOGUE
Keira Blaine was born second. From the first breath she took, she lived in her twin sister’s shadow. Amanda was bigger, beautiful, perfectly formed. The minute Amanda was born, her parents held her in rapture, tracing her exquisite, delicate features, thrilled with every inch of her.
They barely noticed Keira, born about five minutes later. She was unnecessary after the arrival of the perfect twin. She was picked up by a nurse and placed in a baby crib, awaiting her parent’s welcome. It never really came.
“There’s another one here,” the nurse finally said to her parents.
But it seemed too overwhelming for them to realize that two daughters had been born, identical twins, but not really. Keira was smaller, scrawnier, with green eyes that always looked frightened. She kept reaching out for her twin sister to hold onto, but they were completely separated at birth. Her mother never even allowed the two of them to sleep in the same room.
Keira always felt lonely for the sister she’d been so close to in the womb.
But, lonely or not, the twins grew, two very different sprouts on the same tree, with two entirely different destinies….
CHAPTER 1
Keira remembered everything. Right from the start, she had a fantastic memory; nothing anyone did ever slipped by. So the first day of school, at Bertram High, was particularly vivid for her. It was nothing at all like the school she’d gone to in the previous town.
It was shocking for her to start in a new school during her senior year. Keira didn’t like it, but Amanda, her twin sister, was excited to try something new. Their father, a doctor, had just received a job running the emergency room in one of the best hospitals in Illinois, and the family had to move to be close to his work.
So they all packed up, left the town the twins grew up in, and moved one hundred and fifty miles away to Everstock, a fancy suburb in Northern Illinois that her mother had always wanted to live in. Her father bought a big, white house, on top of a hill, and they unpacked quickly. By the time they moved in, school had already started, a few weeks ago.
Keira and Amanda walked to school together the first day, a cool breeze reminding them that Fall was coming. Amanda chatted easily; Keira, silent, just listened. She was nervous. She actually never had much to say, but Amanda didn’t seem to notice. She just continued to fill the empty space with chatter, anything she could think of.
Now she was going on about how much she looked forward to meeting new friends, to joining clubs, playing sports, going to parties, checking out the new guys…. She was excited that they were the new kids in town, and that the spotlight would be on them.
It didn’t surprise Keira. Amanda was always happy to meet new people. As she grew up, she’d become more and more beautiful, with long blonde hair, sparkling blue eyes, a perfect figure and a gurgling laugh. Everyone always wanted to be her friend. She was always surrounded by tons of girlfriends and boyfriends. She smiled easily, knew the right thing to say, chatted with everyone and fit right in. People were happy just to be around her.
It was never like that for Keira. Keira liked to study. She did better in school than Amanda, and she always hung back in Amanda’s shadow. Most of the time, people hardly knew she was there. Keira never knew just what to say; she preferred being quiet, to mull her thoughts over in her own mind. When her mother would tell her to brighten up and stop looking so glum, she’d just stare at her and wonder how.
For the first day of school, Amanda looked fresh and happy, dressed in jeans that fit her perfectly and a great new tee-shirt her mother got her. They didn’t have one in Keira’s size, so her mother had picked up a plain, navy one that Keira didn’t much like. Even though they were twins, they never really looked alike. Ever since they were little, they dressed differently. Keira was shorter and thinner than Amanda. She usually didn’t fit into the same clothes. Her body never developed the same way. She didn’t have that lovely, graceful figure that filled out in all the right places. No matter how much she ate, Keira felt she always looked scrawny. When she looked at herself in the mirror, sometimes her cheeks even seemed sunk in.
Bertram High was about half a mile from their house, spread out on a large campus. As they got closer, it seemed really overwhelming. It had a huge main building and smaller buildings spread out in the rear. Behind the buildings, she could see tennis courts, a soccer field, a large football field, a track and bleachers. She remembered her mom telling her that Bertram held 4,000 kids, that it served both Everstock and the smaller towns on the edge of the neighborhood, across Junction 101, towns that were poorer, filled with transients and kids who worked while they went to school. She remembered her mom telling her there were 953 kids in her class. She’d swallowed at the thought of it. Her old school only had 200 kids in her class.
They reached the school and saw lots of kids milling around the building. Keira took a deep gulp of air, wondering how long it would be before she and Amanda were separated, and she’d be on her own. First they had to check into the principal’s office to get their class list, passes and directions. A part of her wanted to turn back already.
Keira felt sick to her stomach as she walked through the main doors. The crowded hallway was filled with kids talking and calling to each other, going here and there.
The principal’s office was at the end of the corridor. When they got there, Amanda opened the door and walked right in. Keira followed behind, slowly.
The secretary at the desk looked up and smiled.
“You must be the Blaine girls,” she said, in a welcoming tone.
“Yes, we are,” Amanda flashed her dazzling smile.
“Of course, we are expecting you!” The secretary perked up. “And my, you girls are beautiful!”
Amanda tossed her long hair over her shoulders and beamed. “Thank you.”
She was off to a terrific start.
Keira noticed that she hadn’t taken her eyes off Amanda for one minute. All her admiration was for Amanda, not her.
“Welcome to Bertram High,” the secretary continued. “My name is Mrs. Heighen. If you need anything, just let me know. I’m going to give you a list of your classes, maps with directions to classes, the cafeteria, the gym, your lockers and the nurse’s office, in case you don’t feel well.”
She handed them a bunch of papers. Keira immediately glanced at Amanda’s list of classes and compared them to hers.
“We’ve arranged it so that b
oth of you will have lunch and gym together. And you’re also in two other classes together,” she said. “This way you can touch base.”
Amanda took it in stride. It didn’t seem to much matter to her.
“Thanks,” Keira mumbled, grateful.
Mrs. Heighen looked at her, almost surprised to see her. “You’re most welcome, dear,” she said.
Right then, a tall, good looking guy walked into the principal’s office, and stopped in his tracks at the sight of Amanda. Mrs. Heighen noticed right away.
“Tom, this is Amanda Blaine,” she said. “It’s her first day here.”
“No kidding,” he said, approaching.
“Tom’s a senior, too,” Mrs. Heighen said.
“Hi,” he smiled right at her.
“Hi,” Amanda smiled back.
The bell rang out in the hallways, announcing the start of class.
“I’d better get going,” Tom said, leaning over to pick up some paperwork he had come for. “What classes are you in?” he asked Amanda.
She showed him her list.
Keira felt a little queasy. She knew she and Amanda had to go in separate directions immediately for the first class of the day, English.
“Oh Tom,” Mrs. Heighen said, as an afterthought, “this is Keira, Amanda’s twin sister.”
Tom turned and looked over at Keira; he seemed surprised he hadn’t noticed her.
“Hey, welcome to Bertram High,” he said.
“Thanks,” Keira answered, lamely.
Tom leaned over and looked at Keira’s class list. “Your first class is down the hall, that way,” Tom said. “Make a left and then third door down.”
Amanda threw her head back and gave Tom that dazzling smile.
Tom looked over Amanda’s list again. “Hey,” he said, excitedly, “you’re in my English class! I’m heading there now.”
“Great,” Amanda cooed, “let’s get going.”
Of course, Keira thought.
As luck would have it, she took off with Tom, down the hall in the opposite direction of Keira. Amanda didn’t even turn to wave goodbye.
Keira watched Tom and Amanda grin at each other, already chatting easily. She felt momentarily as if she were going to throw up. She’d have to face her first class alone. Amanda already had a friend. That was the way it always went.
*
Keira stepped out into the hall. It was filled with kids everywhere now, laughing and rushing back and forth, and they all knew each other. She didn’t want to be here.
She ambled down the hall alone, her head down, looking at the floor. She didn’t want to see what the kids were like. She wondered if she could ever fit in. Why did her parents have to move in senior year, when everybody already knew each other? Did they even stop to think, for a second, that she would end up completely alone? Did they even care?
Keira slipped into her first classroom and put her pass on the teacher’s desk. The teacher—she saw from the pass that his name was Mr. Wright—was in his mid-thirties, and seemed nice enough. She was eager to slip into a seat in the back row and hide.
But, of course, he wouldn’t let her.
“Wait a minute,” he said, taking the pass.
Keira stood there, restless. The kids were coming in and taking their seats. The room was completely filling up.
“Well, it looks like we have a new student here today,” he announced to the class.
“Keira Blaine.”
Keira wanted to fall through the floor. Why did he have to make such a big deal?
For a second, the room got dead quiet, as she felt everyone stare. Chills went up her arms. Then, she couldn’t believe it, but she heard a few girls giggle.
“Quiet down,” Mr. Wright said.
The giggling got sharper and louder.
Keira looked over to where the sound came from. There were a cluster of girls sitting together, leaning over, eyeing her up and down. They were all perfectly made up and wore expensive, tight clothes. Amanda would fit in with them beautifully, Keira thought.
Keira looked out of the window, wishing she could be anywhere but here.
“Now girls,” Mr. Wright said, “when someone new comes to our school, we welcome them properly.”
The giggling continued. Mr. Wright looked over at the girls. He banged his hand down on the desk.
The giggling stopped.
Keira was grateful to him for a second, but none of it would have happened if he hadn’t made a big fuss about introducing her.
What creepy girls, she thought, probably the popular ones. Her stomach turned.
“Remember what we’re working on?” Mr. Wright said.
No one said anything. Obviously, there was some kind of problem going on here, and he was using her as an example. Keira was afraid to actually look over at the girls. Did they do this to others? Was this something they’d been warned about before? She shuffled back and forth, eager to sit down.
“Keira is a beautiful name,” he interrupted them.
For a second, she appreciate his kindness, But still, she didn’t want to be made a specimen.
She hurried to the back of the room and found a seat, feeling as though she’d been through a war.
She opened her notebook and started doodling, trying desperately to put her mind somewhere else.
Mr. Wright rambled on, but she didn’t care what he was saying. He was talking about some book they had to read. Something by J.D. Salinger, Catcher in the Rye.
Keira just wanted to get through the day and go home. She wanted to see her sister. Thank God, they had the next class together, American History, Room 301. When she got there, the kids would see who her twin was, and maybe she wouldn’t feel so alone.
The class seemed to go on forever, but then the bell rang and everyone got up from their desks, scraped their chairs on the floor and chattering, filed out. As Keira went towards the door, she noticed the group of three girls who had giggled, looking at her again. They made her feel tiny and insignificant, as if she were no one, and definitely didn’t belong. She didn’t dare turn and look right at them. Who were they anyway, to make her feel so badly? She just wished they would all disappear. It made her think of all the other schools she’d been to. But worse.
It was easy to find Room 301, just a few doors away. Keira walked in and Amanda was already there, standing at the teacher’s desk with her pass.
Keira rushed up to her, standing close by.
“Hey,” Keira said, “how’s it going?”
“Great,” Amanda said. “How about you?”
“Could be better,” Keira said, but Amanda didn’t really hear. She was just standing in front of the room smiling, enjoying the attention she was getting.
Two of the three girls from Keira’s other class walked in and stopped at the desk, near Amanda. Amanda tossed her hair back and looked them right in the eye. One of the girls lifted her eyebrows and smiled, impressed.
“Hey,” she said.
“Hey,” Amanda answered. “How’re you doing?”
Keira put her pass on the teacher’s desk and went to the back of the room to find an empty seat. She’d let Amanda sit wherever she wanted. She’d probably end up sitting with those girls, right in the middle of everything. Keira watched more kids coming into class, stopping at the desk, flocking around Amanda. It was an old story. She’d seen it before. Wherever she went, everyone wanted to know who Amanda was, where she was from, how long she’d be here.
Keira went to the back, sat down, and started doodling in her notebook again, making pictures of faces with huge eyes, no necks and lips that were far too plump. Some would say they were ugly faces. But Keira liked them.
CHAPTER 2
At dinner that night, Amanda and her mom couldn’t stop talking about it. For Amanda, Bertram High was way more exciting than their old school, the kids were cooler, and there were already more of them that she liked. Her mom was thrilled. She loved Everstock, too.
Their father sat qui
etly, picking at his steak. Keira felt that he hadn’t had such a great day either, but was afraid to ask.
Her mother and Amanda were talking about outfits, what Amanda would wear to school, what she needed. She needed loafers and a new backpack; she also needed some new sweaters for the fall. Keira hated to talk about clothes. She didn’t like the way she looked, no matter what she put on. She could never wear the clothes Amanda chose; she just didn’t feel good in them. Her mother barely spent any time on what Keira would like to wear. She couldn’t even understand it.
Her mother finally looked over at her father. “Eat your food, Phil.”
He didn’t respond.
Keira felt sorry for her father. He barely got a word in at dinner. Neither did she. Mom and Amanda filled up all the conversation. And they were both noisy and loud.
“It’s taking dad a while to adjust,” her mom said suddenly. “There’s trouble at the hospital, a weird kind of infection the staff are having trouble with. But it will pass, Phil. Cheer up.”
Dad dug his fork into the steak more deeply.
Mom always said everything would pass. But it didn’t. Some things stayed right in your life and kept causing misery.
“We should all be happy, we should be excited. We’re in the big time now,” Mom continued, trying to lift everyone’s mood. “The people in Everstock really know how to live.”
Keira felt angry. Her mother had all kinds of weird ideas about being in “the big time,” and what it meant to really live, who was worthwhile and who was not. Keira didn’t share any of her mother’s views. Deep down, she felt her father didn’t, either, but neither of them ever got a chance to speak up about what they believed.
Her father caught Keira’s glance. “How about you, Keira? How do you like it here?”
Keira couldn’t tell him how embarrassed she’d been when the girls had stared at her and giggled.