text: Rashel Jordan Normal Dead Life The Beginning 
   
   
   Prologue  
   
   
    “Come on, Anastasia Psyche Spiros! You can do better than this!” my friend Valary Irvine  yelled as we raced on the empty, open road. My other friend, Ines Bonheur, or Nessie, was too busy laughing from adrenaline to say anything. It was Saturday night, and we were all alone, so we decided to go as fast as we could in my car down Old Oak Road. This road was lined with trees, and was also famous for its forest full of white-tailed deer. I knew it was too late even before Val screamed for me to stop. The deer jetted across my line of sight and I knew it was too late. But, it was plain instinct to push the brakes with all my might and turn. And then, the trees were everywhere. Soon, all I saw was the tree inside the front of my car. The last thing I heard was Ines screaming my name as the darkness swept over me.  
   
   
   
   
   
   Undead  
   
   
             I remember the night of my death like it was yesterday. And that’s probably because it was yesterday. Ines said that we had crashed and I died. And then, I just kind of… woke up. No pulse, no blood flow, or anything.  When I got home that night, since I was wearing black, you couldn’t really see the blood. So, my parents don’t even know I’m dead. It was weird because this morning my mom said I looked a little pale an asked how I felt. And you know what I said? I said, “Mom, I feel dead.” And went to my room. And my mom didn’t even know the difference, since everyone thought I was Goth (Can’t a girl like black?), she thought I was joking. One thing I learned about being dead was that I couldn’t gain weight. I know, I know, I’m dead, why would I gain weight?. But, I had to make sure.  
  Anyway, Val and Ines said it was really creepy when I came back, like I died and then fog suddenly appeared and washed over us and when it was gone, my eyes opened. They’re still freaking out, I think. I have absolutely no idea how to tell my family. How does that even come up in a conversation? But yeah, I guess this is my dead life now, if that made any sense. 
  “Psyche! Come down for dinner!” my brother, Zackary yelled. I groaned. I really didn’t want to eat. But, I trekked downstairs anyway and sat down next to my brother. 
  “So, does anyone have anything exciting to say?” mom asked. 
  Oh, yes, I died yesterday. Yeah, like they would believe that. 
  “I asked Sabela to the prom yesterday.” Zack said. Oh, Sabela Maria, my brother’s girlfriend. The most popular (and stuck up) girl in school.  
  “And what did she say?” dad asked. I rolled my grey eyes and poked at my lasagna. Sabela practically bathed in Zack’s popularity. If she wasn’t dating Zack, she just be another one of those wannabe cheerleaders. 
  “She said yes. I also heard that little Psyche here was asked to the Prom, too.” Zack added. I glared at him, but he just grinned. Both of my parents looked at me with wide eyes, like they couldn’t believe it.  
  “Why didn’t you say something!?” mum asked. 
  “Because I didn’t say yes.” I muttered. The hope in my mother’s eyes died. 
  “Why?” my dad asked. 
  “Why not?” I said back. 
  “It’s not like she can’t get another date, mum” Zack said. My mum blinked in confusion. 
  “Oh, Psyche didn’t tell you? She gets asked out on a daily basis.” Zack smiled. My dad gasped. 
  “Is this true?” mum and dad whispered at the same time. I nodded slowly. Sometimes, my parents creep me out. I guess it’s one of those types of nights… 
  “Well, I’m done, so… bye.” I stood up and dumped my food and put my plate in the sink and bounded up the stairs. 
           One I was in my room, I jumped into the shower and turned my radio on. My favorite song had just come on and I started to sing along. 
            I had to stop because I got stop in my eyes. Once I rinsed my eyes and my hair, I got out and dried off. Then, I put my pj’s on and slipped into my bed. Right before I went to sleep, I turned on my alarm clock. 
   
    
   
   
   
   
   Are you pregnant???!!!  
   
   
                          I almost started screaming bloody murder when my alarm went off. I fell out of bed and wiped my eyes, and picked out an outfit for the day. I picked out black skinny jeans, a white fitted t-shirt that stopped right above my belly button, and my black Taylor’s. I left my black hair down, after I combed it, and added some eye liner and lip gloss. My black cross finished of the look.   
              Once I was satisfied with my look, I got my skateboard, went downstairs to grab an apple, and went out the door. Nessie (Ines) and Val were also out front with their skateboards. Somehow we all chose the same outfit; except Val had a pink top and Nessie had a purple top.  
  “Hey, guys.” I nodded to them as we started off towards school. 
  “So, did you tell your family?” Val asked. I gave her the look she deserved while I pumped my legs twice. 
  “What?” she asked, pumping her legs. 
  “Think, Val. Hey, mum, I’m dead now. How would that sound?” Nessie said. I nodded. 
  “My mum would think I’m just in a phase.” I added. 
  “Oh.” Val said.  I nodded slowly at her as we entered the school parking lot. We jumped the steps into the building and rolled down the halls toward our lockers. When we passed the principal’s office I yelled, “Hi, Zahia!”, and kept going. Once we were at our lockers, we stopped skating. 
  “What do we have today?” I asked. 
  “Earth science, math, gym, lunch, art, study hall, and English.” Nessie said. I cursed mentally. 
  “I didn’t do science homework.” I groaned. Val and Nessie groaned. 
  “Mr. Jackson is going to eat you alive.” Val said. I nodded in agreement.  The poor bloke had just recently gotten divorced from a cheating wife, so he was a little unfair to the girls in class. I waved goodbye to them as I headed to my death. I cracked a smile. Oh, yeah, I thought, I’m already dead.    
   
                    At lunch time, I got in line and smiled. It was a good day for me, no detentions, no ISS, or tardy slips. I sighed and got my tray and put a salad, an apple, and water. I paid for it and sat down at my usual table to wait for Nessie and Val. As I was eating, my best guy friend, Byron Kilburn, AKA Cookie, sat down next to me. 
  “What’s up, luv?” he asked, slinging his arm onto the back of my chair. I smirked at him. 
  “Nothing.” I said. He gasped in mock surprise. 
  “You haven’t gotten in trouble yet? What is the world coming to? Are zombies going to come rushing through the cafeteria doors?” Cookie asked wildly. I laughed. The only zombie here was probably me, or as close as you get. 
  “Ha ha, very funny,” I joked. 
  “So, have you gotten into trouble yet?” I asked, already knowing the answer if his smile was anything to go by. 
  “Detention for destruction of property.” He sighed proudly. I snorted and took a sip of water. When I looked back up, Val and Nessie were just sitting down. 
  “Did you tell him, yet?” Nessie asked. Well, gee, can anyone say mood pooper? 
  “No.” 
  “Told who what?” Cookie asked. I looked at him. 
  “You have to promise not to scream, or tell anyone.” I said. 
  “Oh, my, God! You’re pregnant! Who is it? I’ll kill him!” Byron said, his face contorted into an angry mask. I raised one brow, signaling him to calm down. 
  “Are you pregnant?” he asked after taking a few deep breaths. 
  “No!”  
   Cookie let out a breath of relief. 
  “I’m dead.” I said. He blinked and looked at all of our solemn faces around the table. And then he blinked again. 
  “What do you mean by “dead” “he asked slowly. 
  “Dead, as in, no heartbeat.” Nessie said.  He blinked and then hugged me. Really tight. When he let go I had to suck in gulps of air. 
  “How?” he asked quietly. 
  “Trees.” I answered. He raised one brow. 
  “What can I say? I’m a tree-hugger.” I said with a smirk. He sighed. 
  “You were speeding again, weren’t you?” I nodded. 
  “I told you, time and time again, you were going to get yourself killed.” he reprimanded me. It was my turn to blink. 
  “Well, that went well.” Nessie yawned and bit into her sandwich. Val nodded and dug into her sloppy Joe. Cookie and I shook our heads at the same time and laughed.  
  “I know what my goal is today!” I shouted randomly. My friends all looked at me expectantly.  
  “I’m going to get detention.” I said. They all sighed. 
  “How?” Val asked. I pulled out a can of spray paint. We all shared identical looks of evil. It was vandalism time! 
   
    
   
   
   
   
   Edward is a Creep, and Sneezing gets you detention  
   
   
                    Detention was an utter success. It took a lot, surprisingly, to get detention at Lancet High. But, at least I have detention with Cookie now.  We laughed and joked together as we walked into the classroom. Some people waved at us and some said hi. As Cookie and I made our way to our regular seats, we heard the door open and close. 
  “Hey, we’ve got fresh meat in detention!” someone shouted. Cookie chuckled and sat down. I smiled and sat down next to him. I looked to the front of the room and gasped. 
  “What is it?” Cookie asked. 
  “He’s… pretty?” I said, but it sounded more like a question. I mean, how often is it that you can say that a boy is pretty? 
  “Wow, just wow.” Cookie said. I shrugged. 
  The new boy sat in the back, by the window and put his head down. 
  “So, what is being dead like?” Cookie asked. I turned my head back to him. 
  “I’ve only been dead for two days, so it’s not like I know a lot. So far, I know I can’t gain weight, and I can’t be killed again. And that my parents don’t know yet.” I added quickly. 
  “What?!” Cookie shouted. Some heads turned towards us and the others just shrugged it off, used to Cookie’s random outbursts. 
  “What do you mean you haven’t told them?” he asked quietly, turning his head towards mine. 
  “I mean what I said, they don’t know. Neither does Zack.” I sighed. 
  “Why not?” 
  “How would I tell them something like that? They would freak out!” I threw my hands into the air to emphasize what I said. 
  Cookie groaned and flipped his blue hair back. 
  “You have to tell them sooner or later. If you don’t, who knows how they’ll take it.” 
  “Blah, blah, blah. Yes, Mother.” I whispered to him. I looked back at the new kid and found him staring at me. Weirdo, I just had Twilight moment. He was staring at me like Edward. Gosh, I hate that guy. 
  “Creepy alert!” someone yelled. We all turned around and put our heads down as soon as Mr. Creepy, the detention teacher, walked in. He sat at his black desk and pulled out his navy blue laptop. 
  “You will get suspended if I see you talking, if I hear you even sneeze, you will get another detention.” He instructed stiffly. We all knew not to get on Mr.Creepy’s bad side, even Cookie and I. We sat quietly, trying at least, because we kept looking at each other and giggling silently.   
       We all jumped when the bell rang. I looked back at the new kid before I rushed out the door and found him staring at me. Again. I stuck my tongue out at him to show the bloke how much I disliked that. He chuckled and got up. And then Cookie grabbed my arm and led me to my next class. Ah, my life -dead life- was great.               
          There were only 4 more days until Prom. It was decided that Cookie and I would go together, Nessie would go with one of her boy toys (the poor bloke would get his hopes up and get them crushed), and Val would go with our other not-so-close-with friend, Erik Shelton.  
            My day was getting worse and worse. Sabela came over, gushing that she couldn’t find the right dress, so my mother sent me with her to go get a dress, and one for myself, also. So, here I was, sitting in a chair, watching Sabela try on a dozen different dresses.  
  “How about this one?” she asked, strutting around in a bright pink dress that had miles of lace one it. I shook my head. The next thing I know, a dress is hanging in front of my face. I look up and find a saleswoman holding a dress for me. 
  “Try this one.” She said to me. I shook my head. But, jeesh, the woman wouldn’t take no for answer. Just short of throwing me into a changing room, she got me go try the dress on. 
        It was actually pretty. It was black, came just above the knees, and had a racer back strap. And it had one silver bow around the waist. I tried it on and it was like it was made for me. I walked out and didn’t see the woman anywhere. Sabela came out of a room next to me and gasped. 
  “What?” I asked, looking around. 
  “You look… amazing!” she said. I gave her small smile and did a double take. Sabela was wearing a light peach colored dress and had a little lace running up the front. 
  “I think you found the right dress.” I said. She smiled and clapped. The dim-witted twat… 
    As I continued to look for the saleswoman, we bought the dresses and left. 
  “Hey, did you see a saleswoman in there?” I asked as we walked to my car. 
  “No, why?” she said. I shook my head and began the drive back to my house.  
   
   
   
   
   Steak is for awesome people  
   
   
                  After my mum thoroughly freaked out over the dresses and made appointments for us at some top notch salon, I was able to leave the room and go upstairs. When I got there, I called Nessie and Val. 
  “What’s up, chick?” Val said. 
  “Guess what happened at a store I went to?” I said. 
  “What?” asked Nessie. 
  “So, I was helping Sabela pick out a dress-“ 
  “Ew!” Nessie interrupted. 
  “And this woman just came up to me with a dress, but when I went to look for her, she was gone. I asked for her, but no one knew what I was talking about.” I explained.  I heard Val gasp. 
  “Seriously?” she asked quietly. I nodded and then noticed she wouldn’t be able to see it. 
  “Yeah.” I sighed. 
  “That’s something creepy.” Nessie said. 
  “So, who are you going with, Nessie? Were you able to choose one of your boy toys?” I asked after a while. I heard her chuckle. 
  “Maybe.” Val and I sighed in unison. Nessie was incorrigible.  
            Val and Nessie were like opposites when it came to their looks. Val was a tall blond and glittering baby blues, while Nessie was medium height with long brown hair and eyes as black as coal. I was the shortest of the three, with long black hair and grey eyes. Though I was the shortest, I was the most violent. Val was the romantic one, and Nessie was the brains. This was why we were friends in the first place. Nessie kept me from killing Val, I kept Val from going out with every living bloke, and Val kept Nessie from being nonsocial.  
  We balanced each other out. Most times. 
  “Rule 2: Meat is the ultimate way to go.” Nessie sighed into the phone, using one of our rules for life. Meaning that it was time to out together. 
  “Yes, I agree. I could use a steak right about now.” I added. Val sniffed. Did I mention that she was a vegetarian. Nessie and I snickered.  
  “Are we skating to the usual place?” Val asked, in a bad mood because we were about to eat meat. I nodded and noticed she couldn’t see it. 
  “Yeah, see you in five.” I said, and then hung up. I refreshed my make up a bit and picked up my skate board and left the house. Mmm…steak. 
   
   
   
   
   
   King's Army  
   
   
       It was Prom day. At school, gossip was at its highest, bullying at its lowest. Everyone was hyped up, even the lunch ladies, who were usually grumpy, were laughing and talking. It was creepy. I sat down gingerly and looked around, completely creeped out. Val and Nessie appeared a minute later. 
  “Does anyone else feel… creeped out?” I asked. They both nodded. 
  “I’m a bit disturbed, to tell the truth.” Nessie frowned. As they started a conversation, I thought about the boy from detention. I haven’t seen him anywhere… 
     As if he could read my mind, there he was. Val and Nessie jumped a bit. I looked up at him and blinked when he didn’t say anything. 
  “Can I talk to you for moment?”  He asked, a faint accent lining his words. I frowned, but nodded. He held out a hand and I took it.  
    We headed outside next to my favorite tree. It was big enough to hide me from view of the lunchroom, but I could still see them. He sat down and pulled me next to him. 
  “I know what you are.” He stated. I blinked. Again. And again. I nodded slowly for him to continue. He cleared his throat before going on. 
  “Well, you’re dead. And so am I. The king sent me here to tell you why.”  He explained. I swallowed before talking. 
  “Why?” he knew what I meant. 
  “Some people are meant to be… more. You, you’re Resilient, a Feeder, if you will.” he explained. 
  “What are you?” I asked. 
  “I’m a Pyro, fire’s my thing.” He said, smirking a bit.  
  “Who is the king?”  
  “King Antonio is the king of the Hollow, where most of us reside.” He stated. 
  “What’s a Feeder?” I asked, frowning again. 
  “A Feeder is a person who can collect energy, natural or from someone else, and make it into power. If you feed off of someone else’s energy, you can also get their power for a while. So, if you took power from me, you would be able to use fire the same way I do. But, only for a little while. Most Feeders are dead now, though.” He shrugged as if it was the most natural thing to say. I raised both eye brows. 
  “Why?” 
  “The power overwhelms them, most times. They either go crazy, dyong from to much power intake.” He said. I smiled cynically.  
  “No, pressure, I guess.” I said. He nodded. 
  “My name’s Sebastian, by the way. Here,” he held his hand out to me. 
  “Put it on. When your power awakens, this will help you control it until you can.” He gave me a small chain with a small asteria stone on it. I looked up to say thank you, but he was already gone. Well, at least I knew what I was. And I get powers? Wicked… 
    After I went back inside, Nessie, Val, and Cookie immediately turned towards me and stared. 
  “Spill.” With that one word, I told them what happened. 
  “So, he did the Houdini on you?” Cookie asked after I finished. I nodded and chomped on some fries.  
  “Wow, just wow,” Val sighed, with a dreamy look in her eyes. 
  “How romantic.” Nessie rolled her eyes. Suddenly, "In My Life" by the Beatles started playing. I rolled my eyes. I looked at my phone and saw a text message from Zack. 
  It read: who was that boy you were with? Do I need to kill him? 
   I told him that he was a sort of friend, more like a tutor. I looked at my brother’s table long enough to see him nod at me. 
  “Men,” I sighed, “are always so protective when they don’t need to be.”  
  “Amen to that.” Nessie raised her bottle of Nestea tea in solute. Val hooted in agreement. Cookie only nodded silently. I raised an eye brow at him. 
  “No arguments?” I asked. He shook his head. 
  “When men choose to protect something, we can’t help but stay protecting that certain thing. We can’t help it. Men are programmed to focus on one thing at a time.” He said. I kept one brow raised, but nodded. 
  “So, are we ready for prom?” Nessie asked after a pause of silence. Cookie and I nodded at the same time, Val winked, and Nessie sighed. 
  “Good. Hey, Psyche? Are we still meeting at your place?” she added. I nodded. 
  “Psyche!” someone yelled.   
  “Yo,” I said without turning around. 
  “Sebastian told me to give this to you.” The voice said. I turned around and looked at the girl behind me. She handed me a cloth wrapped package the size of my fist. I opened it once she left.  I gasped and felt my eye widen. 
  “What is it?” Cookie asked. Inside was a small tiara with black diamonds. I showed it to them and they gasped, too. 
  “Who’s ready for the perfect Prom?” I asked excitedly. They all yelled, “We are!”, and waved their arms in the air. Psh, weirdoes. 
    
   
   
   
   
   Creepy Next Level  
   
           Ding dong… 
      And they were here. I ran downstairs, careful not to trip in the three inch heels, and opened the door. I heard four gasps when I did. Mine, Nessie’s, Val’s, and Cookie’s. Well, wouldn’t we make a fine splash at the Prom… 
  “You.Look.Gorgeous, luv.” Cookie said, ask he walked through the door to give me a hug.  Nessie and Val said the same things. Val was wearing a dark grey Twist prom dress, and Nessie, being the simple girl she is, wore a simple silver toga-styled dress, but she looked positively amazing. Cookie wore a simple black tux with a silver bow tie and a black rose corsage. He handed me one as well. I smiled and winked at him. 
  “Are we ready?” I asked, after I greeted the others dates. They nodded and then, we were off. 
   
      When I parked outside the school gym, I admitted to myself that I was actually nervous. Why? I had no idea… But anyway, we all got out and started sashaying- well, Val did- towards the gym entrance which was lit up and colored like cotton candy. Once we entered, it got all quiet and creepy-like. I shivered. 
  “Creepy on the next level.” Cookie whispered in my ear. I nodded. Once the crowd had its eye full of us in our… out of place… attire, we swiftly found a table suitable for all of us to fit. 
  “Ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the Prom.” the principal, Zahia, announced on stage. Hoots, yells, an whistles came all over the room.  
  "Come on, let's show them a Prom they will never forget." I said. 
   
   
   
   
   2 Years Later...  
   
  “Are you still thinking about the last night of your life?” Victor asked. I looked away from the sunset to look at him. 
  “No. I’m thinking about how much I hate you.” I spat. The bloke had the audacity to laugh. 
  “Oh, luv, when are you going to admit you belong to me?” he asked softly. 
  “When hell freezes over.” 
  "That might come sooner than you think..." he said ominously. I gave him a look and he gave a belly laugh. 
  "A feisty one you are." he commented. I snorted and shook my head.  
  "Do you remember the day I Turned you?" he asked, stroking my hair. I frowned, slapping his hand away. His words had brought up old memories... 
   
   
  Two Years Earlier: 
   
  I was dying. Some crazy vampire had dropped on me when I was walking home. Cookie had just pulled off when he came upon me. He was like a rabid dog. Most vamps would make two neat holes, but this guy, he was playing tug-a-war with my collar bone at the moment. When he was done, the world was graying in and out. He licked his lips and then wiped his mouth. 
  "You tasted delicious, Feeder. Too bad you haven't Transformed yet, or you would have still been alive." he said, tilting his head to look down at me. 
   
  "I'll finish you off, so you won't have to deal with this horrible pain." he said, his finger trailing down my cheek. I closed my eyes, hoping that I would pass out before his lips touched me again. I felt nothing but cool air for 2 minutes. I cracked my eyes open to see the vampire running away from a man in a dark trench coat. 
   
  "So, you're a Feeder? Interesting..." the man said as he turned to me. 
   
   I felt a rush of desire when I saw he face. He had short brown hair and grey eyes, full sinful looking lips, and a strong chin. His grey eyes had a silvery tint as he looked at me. 
   
  "Do you want to live?" he asked. I resisted the urge roll my eyes at the absurd question and nodded instead. He muttered some words and I felt a tingling sensation in my collar bone and looked down with wide eyes. I stared in awe as my bones knitted themselves together. 
  "How?" I asked. He chuckled as he helped me up. I shivered as my bare skin met his ( a couple days later, I learned what his power was and I was thoroughly pissed off.) 
  "I just helped you along with your Turning. It should happen tonight or tomorrow. But, since I saved your life, I expect you to join my horde." he said. I frowned and narrowed my eyes. I don't like people when they expect things from me... 
  "I don't even know your name." I said. He gave a cocky smile. I again resisted an urge. But, this urge was to punch him in that pretty face of his. 
  "Victor. And yours?" he asked as we started walking out of the alley 
   
   
   
   Publication Date: July 4th 2012 https://www.bookrix.com/-raerae22