text: Joanna The Gods and Goddesses Lover I would just like for it to be known that this is my first attempt at a decent enough story and I do try to make it as interesting as possible and if you like it then I thank you for support. 
   
   
     
   
  Chapter 1 
  It All Began With a Dream 
  The desire. The rush. The intensity. You can’t escape from any of it. It will follow you until you accept it. You can’t deny it. It is your birth right. When the moon engulfs the earth and all is in hell, blood shall take place of the earth and fear will be our ruler. 
  My face felt hot. Like on a summer day when the air conditioning is broken and all you have is an old fashion fan to cool you down. I was standing on a black surface no one around. A woman appeared in front of me. She had long black-olive hair. She looked-from my distance- very pale and her features really stood out. Her eyes were as dark as night and yet, even in the surrounding darkness, her eyes somehow sparkled. The face didn’t even look like that of a human; it looked as if she was a marble statue. She had a long white dress that appeared to be torn into shreds at the bottom. The top had lacy designs around the neck-line all the way to back. It had long sleeves which were also in shreds. I saw her ruby red lips moving as if she was trying to tell me something. I was too far away that I couldn’t make out everything she said. All I could her were four simple words that sent a violent chill down my spine: “There will be blood.” 
  I asked her for her name and all did was smile her perfect shaped lips at me and suddenly vanished.”Karina?! Karina! Come on, Karina! Wake up! I’m so sick and tired of waking you up myself when your alarm clock is going off like crazy!” I didn’t recognize the voice that seemed so upset with me. All I knew was that it felt familiar and warm. It was nice.  
  “Get up already! If I’m late to work just because you’re having a good dream I will never forgive you! Do you hear me?!” I still didn’t understand why this person was so upset with me. I knew I was forgetting something and it would all come back to me if I just woke up, but part of me didn’t want to remember and just stay in sweet slumber. Suddenly, I felt a slight tugging on my leg. I escaped the first attack but the second attack was fiercer. I couldn’t move my legs no matter how hard I struggled. 
  "I am getting you out of this bed if it’s the last thing I do!" The familiar voice started becoming more rasp and cold. Almost like a growl. Then, finally, when I didn’t have the strength to fight it off, I let the strength take me away. My head started to throb and pound like a non-stop drum. When I opened my eyes there was this blinding light that shone brighter than anything I’ve ever seen. My eyes ached and it was killing my eye sight. Suddenly, there was a tug on my arm so strong that it lift me straight to my feet. “Ok look, how long do you intend on staying asleep, you start school today don’t you now hurry up and do as you’re told. Man, why are you so hard to deal with?!" 
  Then there was nothing and the harsh voice disappeared behind a large slam! I felt so dizzy and weak and searched for water to help me wake up. “GOD, I hate mornings. Why does big brother always have to be so reckless?" I started walking towards the bathroom down the hall and turned on the faucet. I filled my hands with water and splashed my face and raised my head to look at the mirror." Man, I look like hell that was destroyed by a tornado and trampled by a stampede of horses." I quickly took my shower and got dressed in my new uniform. I had to change schools because I changed towns. Before we moved, it was me, my brother, and my mother. My father died in a bank robbery it’s a pathetic way to die, getting stabbed in the back while trying to be the hero and I never really forgave him for that. He left us with very little and because of that mom had to work 2 jobs and barely had time to see us. It made me feel like both of my parents died and all I had was my brother. After awhile, I couldn’t take it anymore and I begged my brother if we could live somewhere else and not tell mom. At first he thought I was being overly dramatic but one night he heard me crying and telling God to please give me back our dad so he can fix mom and we can be a family again. Then the next morning we left while mom headed out for work." I think it’s been over 5-6 years since that day, and yet I still feel no guilt nor regret from leaving that house." I ran out the door with breakfast in my mouth trying not to spit out my toast. I finished my toast while I was only 5-6 minutes to the school so I decided to just walk the rest of the way. “Looks like my high school isn’t going to be an easy life, is it, Dad?" I said to myself. I looked at the watch and realized I only had a couple more minutes to get to school. Geez, I can be such an idiot sometimes. 
  I ran at top speed to get to my class and said hello and good morning to all the teachers I passed and I was just about to make it to class when I opened my class door I ran into something and I was bounced off and I hit the wall. “Holy crap, that hurt. Hey what the hell is your-" I was about to tell off whoever or whatever I ran into when I realized I ran into the most gorgeous guy I’ve ever seen. Even though he was lying on the ground I could tell that he was at least 4 or maybe even 5 inches taller than me. He had short black hair but I could have sworn I saw some blue in it. I was completely hypnotized by his deep blue eyes and his face was like marble. Hell, even his scent was amazing; it reminded me of old vintage clothing. It was like gazing at an angel or a god. His skin looked nearly flawless. He quickly stood up and walked over to me and helped me up. I thought it was strange. His hand it felt kind of cold or maybe warm. I thought he didn’t have a sense of touch at all. Like he was dead. “Hey. Are you ok? I didn’t mean to run into you." I totally lost consciousness once I heard his voice. “Hey, don’t worry about it. It’s my fault. I wasn’t looking at where I was looking. Sorry."I tried not to faint at the sound of his voice. It sounded rugged yet peaceful and warm and, somewhere in there, was a sense of darkness. I wanted to keep holding his hand even though it had no feeling it just somehow felt so right to be with him somehow. I looked into his eyes and notice that there was something there, very deep in there; it told me that there was some sort of lose or discomfort. I wanted to ask him if anything was the matter when the school bell rang. Crap! “Well, I better get to class. It was nice meeting you. Whets your name?" he asked e so quickly 
  "K-Karina. Karina Petrolia. Whets your name?" 
  "Ryan. Ryan O’Dell. As a matter a fact I think we're in the same class together. Well, for home room I think." Alright! Thank you karma. I realized a little while later that he came out of my class room, and he was right he was in my home room class. The teacher wasn’t there so we had a sub (on the first day of school) and the sub didn’t know what to do so he gave us a self-study period. I decided to get up the courage and ask Ryan if we wanted to hang out with me after school. I know it’s stupid to ask a guy you just met today to hang out even though you hardly known each other for an hour, but, to be honest I just wanted to be with him. "Hey, um, Ryan." I stuttered. He was actually taking a cat-nap so I felt sort of guilty about waking him up, but I’m glad he did wake up." Oh, hey, Karina. What’s up? Need anything?" he asked while doing a very big yawn. I was about to ask him when I realized that his hair was a bit messy, so I made a little giggle. Ryan looked at me confused but I stopped laughing and asked him directly. "If you have time after school, would you mind hanging out with me after school?" I wanted to say it fast just to get the rejection over with, but I wasn’t rejected." Sure fine by me. I got loads of free time. Besides, you’re the only person here that I know and trying to make new friends randomly on the first day of school is a bit stupid. Wanna meet by the gate?" It happened again. His voice completely consumed me from the inside out. 
  "Cool! I'll see you then!" I said almost turning into a shriek of happiness. I had to control myself around him. Seeing an handsome guy like that happens once in a million years and just being able to see and talk to him every day is good enough for me. 
  Chapter 2 
  One World Too Many Coincidences 
  I was so relieved when the school bell rang I looked for Ryan and he was already at the door waiting for me." Are you ready to go? I can’t stay like this forever, ya know." he smirked. He acted so stuck up that it was cute 
  "Yea, yea I know I’m coming." I grabbed my stuff and went to the door and we walked together out of the school. We reached the gate, and then Ryan stopped for some reason. “Ryan, what’s the matter? Why did you stop?" I asked. He was silent for a second then out of nowhere he started hitting himself in the head and kept calling himself an idiot over and over again. I rushed over to him and begged him to stop and I asked what’s the matter. "I just remembered that we were supposed to meet by the gate and not at the door." he mumbled. I almost lost my balance. What’s the difference between meeting at the gate and meeting at the classroom door? There’s really no difference if you ask me. I patted him on the back" It doesn’t matter, does it? We're here now so let’s get started on the shopping. Ok?" 
  Ryan smiled and looked up at me with a face that said he totally agreed with me. I turned around and started walking (trying to hide the fact that I was completely blushing). Ryan ran up beside me and held my hand. My face felt so hot, but the funny thing was that his hand had a sense of touch. They were warm. The kind of warmth you need on a cold winters night. It made me feel happy. All of a sudden, Ryan started running-dragging me behind him- I almost fell because he caught me by surprise. "So what’s the first thing on the list?" he asked. I tried to tell him but it was kind of hard to do it while I was running to keep up my balance. So, I summed it up in one word “Dinner". 
  "Why do you have to buy dinner? Doesn’t your mom cook the food?" I almost didn’t want to answer that question, but I had to tell somebody. Besides, I feel like I can really trust Ryan. “I don’t live with my mother that’s why." Ryan stopped running and turned around, still not letting go of my hand."You don’t live with your mom? Then who are you living with, you father?" I sort of flinched at the word "father". I took in a very breath." My father’s dead." I said quietly, almost a hush. I felt Ryan’s body sort of jump. He tightened his grip on my hand. He hid his face from me for a couple minutes. "However" I said to break the quietness" I am living with my older brother, so don’t worry about it." I heard my voice sort of crack. Ryan didn’t say anything for awhile as we walked into town, but he was still holding onto my hand, like a scared little kid holding his teddy bear.  
  The first store was the market. I had to buy meat, lettuce, carrots, broth, and some tomatoes. Big brother wanted to have a simple meat meal, but he needs more than just meat. “I swear my big brother can be so childish sometimes. I hope one day the two of you can meet each other." I grinned 
  "Yeah sure." Ryan’s voice started to turn cold. What did I do to upset I wonder? I really want him to smile right now. Seeing him all gloom and doom it just doesn’t fit him somehow. The entire time I was picking out stuff for dinner, I thought up of ways to cheer him up. 1. Give him a joke 2. Scare him from behind the corner and 3. Surprise him with an invitation for dinner with me and my brother tonight. Out all of them 3 sounded the most promising. I mean if I did give him a joke how will I know if he hates it or if he thinks that was just unnecessary. Scaring him might end up giving him a heart attack because he might have a heart problem and I would’ve killed him. So when we got to the register I asked him directly-with no hesitation- if he wanted to have dinner with me and my brother. I expected just a simple nod or a sure or an ok, but I was way off. Ryan turned his head towards me and looked at me with a scornful face but it slowly turned softer and kinder. He grabbed my waist and lifted me into the air as if I weighed nothing. He smiled his goofy smile a practically hollered “Are you kidding? I would love to come! Should I come now or later?" he started swinging me around and around in circles and people started to stare. “Ryan, put me down! People are watching us! It’s embarrassing!" I hissed at him. He got the message and put me down. People were still watching and I quickly paid the cashier, grabbed my bags and dashed out the doors with Ryan on my heels. 
  When I thought it was safe enough, I stopped running and tried to catch my breath. I stopped for five minutes and realized that Ryan was nowhere to be found. 
  "Aw, crap! Where did he go? He was catching up to me when I ran out the store."  
  I looked around me to see if he was hiding anywhere. I decided to wait for him a few more minutes. After twenty minutes, I decided that he left me and walked back home.  
  “Well that’s a shame. I wanted him to try my cooking. Maybe he wills next time." I muttered 
  as I was walking I stared at my hand and remembered how long Ryan had it in his grasp. The feeling of his hand against mine sent chills down my spine. I never thought that he would actually come with me to the market. If I asked any other guy that he would tell me “Are you crazy?" or “Why would I go with someone who I don’t even know?" Somehow, I didn’t know how exactly, Ryan seemed different from the rest. He’s special. Completely different from the rest. I couldn’t get his face out of my head. What was it about him that I liked about him anyway? Was it his smile? The way he talked to me? The way he looked at me? What was it? I thought about this the entire time I was walking home. I would’ve kept walking if my brother hadn’t yelled out the window. 
  " Hey Karina! Hurry up and get inside! I’m hungry! Where’s dinner?!"  
  My brother is so annoying. I don’t even know why girls love him so much anyway? I turned to face him and waved at him and pointed to the bag in my my other hand. 
  "Its right here, Ken! I hope you like it! We're going to have steak tonight!" I hollered 
  my brother practically drooled out the window like a dog. 
  " Hurry up inside, then. Our company is getting pretty hungry too, ya know?!" 
  "Company?"  
  I didn’t remember then if we had company or not, but I sure wish I did. I walked into the house and closed the door behind me. I took off my shoes and headed into the leaving room. Our living room isn’t that great but it does suit us. It has a red couch to match the wall paper and a small table next to the couch with sunflowers. Every day, we have new flowers from the part-time job Ken works at. 
  I love it. The living room has a door that leads to the kitchen. Our kitchen is pretty much simple. A marble counter, a sink near by a small window with cream colored drapes. Next to that are the 2 cabinets that hold all the spices and oils. On the opposite side of the drapes there are two more cabinets but they hold snacks and tea bags that were always sweet (just the way I like it). I looked around to see where Ken was but couldn’t find him anywhere. 
  " Ken! Where are you?! Where’s our guest?!" I hollered 
  " He should be in the living room! If he’s not just check outside! He said he wanted to water the plants!" 
  "Thanks!" 
  I headed towards the garden which was surprisingly around the corner from the living room. I put on my outdoor sandals and put the bags down on the side. 
  "Karina?" 
  I stood up immediately and turned around to see that our guest was actually Ryan! 
  “Ryan? What are you doing here? How did you get here? Better yet, how do you even know where I live?!" I hissed on the last part. 
  But how else was I supposed to act?! I mean come on the guy I have a huge crush is in my house! Ryan was holding a small green watering can that we used on the roses and tulips. He slowly put the can done and walked inside. I was still in so much shock that I couldn’t move. 
  "Karina, listen. While I was chasing you I tripped over a rock and lost consciousness for I don’t know how long and when I woke up I was in your house. Your brother was on his way from work when he saw me on the street and brought me to his house. I had no idea this was your house too! You’ve got to believe me." 
  I could tell that his voice was very sincere and meant every word. I took in a deep breath and smiled at him kindly 
  "I believe you. Come inside. I’m about to fix up dinner and I think Ill need some help." I said 
  Ryan walked inside and slipped the outdoor shoes off. He and I walked to the kitchen and took out all the groceries and got started on making dinner. It turns out Ryan isn’t that bad when it comes to cooking. He’s very good at it, but he had a weak point. Ryan almost cut himself countless of times. We were working on the carrots and celery for the soup. I was cutting the celery and Ryan was cutting the carrots. I had to check on him every 2 minutes. My neck nearly snapped right off my shoulders from all the times I had to look over my shoulder to make sure he’s ok. After about cut 7 I walked over to help him 
  "Ryan, you really are a klutz, you know that? Haven’t you ever cut a carrot before? Here let me help." I said 
  I put my hands on hips and helped him hold the knife correctly and the carrot. 
  "I-its ok, Karina, besides I’m not worth the trouble he mumbled 
  "What are you talking about? You're no trouble at all. Now just follow my hands ok?" I said 
  Ryan just nodded his head and followed my every direction. He messed a couple times but after awhile he finally got the hang of it and when I let my hands go he was still doing a great job. 
  " See?! I told you you could do it. All you needed was some self esteem and a good coach. Now if you don’t mind I’m going to get started on the meat. After you’re done with the carrots just put them in the pot with the celery and watch it until it starts to boil. OK?" When I was finished talking it sounded like I was a chef or maybe just a very bossy cook, but Ryan had no complaints. He just stood there with a big smile on his face and said, loudly, "Yes!" 
  From the preparation of the dinner to the eating of the dinner I was wondering when I would tell Ryan that I like him. Immediately my brain said NOT RIGHT NOW YOU IDIOT!!!!! WAIT A COUPLE MONTHS THEN TELL HIM and I totally agree. When dinner was over, Ken plopped on the couch and started watching the Eagles V.S. Packers game. My brother is a huge fan of the Packers and he really wants to win, but I have my money on the Eagles.  
  "Thank you for the great food, Karina, it was great. As much as I hate to say it I have to go home. I’ll just grab my jacket and head out the door." he said 
  Ryan grabbed his jacket and threw it over his shoulder while still holding it by the strap inside. Man he looked so hot!!!!! 
  "Here I’ll walk you outside." 
  "Sorry about that" he scratched his head 
  "Don’t worry about it" 
  I walked him to the door and opened the door for him and waved to him as he left and he waved back. 
  "Ill sees you tomorrow at school, right?" I smiled at him 
  " Of course. We're friends aren’t we? See you tomorrow, princess" 
  "Yeah se you to- Wait. What-what did you say??!!!!!!!" I was about to ask him again what he just said but he was already gone.  
  "Did he just call me 'princess'?" 
  WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!!!  
   
   
   Publication Date: October 25th 2011 https://www.bookrix.com/-joanna72