One

Niamh Vinehart never meant to discover Night World.

After all, the only thing that she thought was slightly weird about her was the fact that she was homeschooled-even at as old as sixteen she had never been to school properly before.

The night was getting dark outside as Niamh drew back the net curtains to stare out of the window. Her butterfly-blue eyes darted swiftly across the icy front yard and found their way up to the stars.

How beautiful it all was. Frozen in place by winter...

"Niamh!" Her baby sister, Emma, tugged on her jeans. "What are you doing?"

"I'm stargazing, Emmy," Niamh lifted her baby sister up onto her lap.

At four years old, Emma was a sturdy little girl with sun blonde curls and big cat-like green eyes.

Although, she had Niamh's feline aura, they were opposites.

Where Emma was like sunshine, Niamh was like nightfall.

Niamh had long dark hair and butterfly-blue eyes and skin like moondust. She was haunting, witchy...and beautiful- even though she didn't know it yet.

"Why?" Asked Emma, trying to nibble on the hem of her oyster-pink dress.

"Because the stars tell stories," Niamh smiled softly. She didn't expect Emma to understand the simple complexity of the stars; it was difficult for even Niamh to see.

"What stories?" Emma asked, her green eyes wide.

"Well-"

"Niamh! Are you in here?" Her mom opened the door and peered in at her two daughters sitting on the mantelpiece, looking up with faintly bemused expressions.

"Here, mom." Niamh said.

"You're father wants to talk to you," Her mom held out the phone in her hand. "It's about school."

"What about it? You're teaching us while Dad's away though, right?"

"Just talk to him." Mom smiled faintly.

::::::::::::

"School!" Exclaimed Niamh. "You're sending me to school? Why?"

"Well, if you're going to get a good job you'll need qualifications." Her dad reasoned from the other side of the world.

"I thought you wanted me to take over the tea house." Niamh said.

"God, Niamh, don't you want to do something more with your life than sell coffee to tourists?"

"Of course!" Niamh answered quickly.

In fact, taking over the tea house was the last thing she wanted for life. But she had thought that if she took it over then Emma could go away and become a lawyer or something.

School.

Niamh recounted endless shows she had watched where everyone was beach-blonde and suntanned. Everyone was gossiping and back-stabbing...

Could Niamh hope to keep up with that?

After all, the only life she had known was that of a small-town, tea house freak.

Niamh hung up mid-way in Dad's 'no-dating' speech.

So on top of still helping run the coffee shop they expected her to keep up with school too?

This was so not a free country.

"Niamh!" Emma yelled from the living room. "I want to talk to Daddy!"

"Sorry, Ems, I hung up," Niamh walked back into the room and met her mother's worried face.

"I don't know what Peter is thinking," She murmured. "Think of all the bullies and the drugs and the so-called 'parties'." She shuddered. "God knows how many teenage mothers there may be in this town."

"Mom!" Niamh protested.

"I'm just telling it like it is, honey. And no boyfriends whatsoever, yes?"

"Yes, ma'am." Niamh muttered.

Mom shot her a withering look. "Are you sulking? Stop being such a child and help me set dinner out."

Niamh glared at the carpet as she followed her mother.

So she wasn't supposed to grow up or be too young?

Sometimes life sucked.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

"What are you staring off into space about?" Freya poked Alex in the back.

"Yeah, Al, you have been quiet." Emberlynn was looking at him too.

Alex sighed. It was a Sunday at the Black Iris and he just couldn't enjoy it.

"Some pretty vampire girl on your mind?" Teased Freya, the gold bangles on her slender, chocolate-coloured arms clattered as her hand rested on his shoulder. Her long, glossy dark hair shone in the alternating light of the club.

"Don't make me jealous." Winked Emberlynn with one of her perfect amber eyes.

Alex regained his composure. "Now, ladies, how could any girl be more beautiful than the two of you?" He smiled as their reaction was completely predictable.

Emberlynn and Freya simpered and grinned. "Cute," Freya congratulated him.

"Just doin' my job." Alex said, swivelling round in her seat.

The club was ablaze at this hour, with the hypnotic lights and the throngs of amazing beautiful people and lots of girls.

As a three hundred and sixteen year old vampire stuck inside a seventeen-year-old's body he should be enjoying this. He was one of the Top Five most feared vampires in the Night World for crying out loud.

Instead he just felt sluggish, unresponding.

It was like something was waiting for him, like there was someone he needed to find to be happy.

Alex glared into the distance.

He didn't need all that soul mate crap.

He never wanted a soul mate and he would never find a soul mate.

That suited him just fine.