Midnight Blood (Born Immortal) Read Free Page A

Shayna twisted the ends of her hair.
    “Ah, I see,” Sarah put her hands on Shayna’s, “I bet he didn’t ignore you.”
    Shayna looked at her mom, her eyes were tired and full of love for her daughter. “How do you know?” she shook her head, and narrowed her eyes.
    “You’re beautiful Shayna,” she squeezed her hand, “You don’t need blonde hair dye, and gobs of make up. You’re naturally beautiful. Do I have to tell you that everyday?”
    “No, I guess not,” she sighed.
    She did know she was beautiful. She just didn’t care. She knew that every boy at school wanted her, and she knew that it drove them crazy that she wouldn’t have them.             
    “He only asked me for directions to his next class, no big deal,” she smiled at Sarah, “I love you Mom.”
    “I love you too Shayna,” she gave Shayna a hug, kissed her forehead and said, “I’m going upstairs to take a nap in case I do get called in.”
    “Okay,” Shayna said and grabbed her backpack. “I’m going to go for a walk.”
    “Just be back by seven for dinner,” Sarah said, heading up the stairs.
    Shayna grabbed  an apple off the counter, and headed upstairs herself, eating as she walked. She went into her room, and threw her backpack on her bed, grabbed her art bag, and headed back down. She threw the apple in the garbage on her way out the door, and walked towards the edge of the forest where their path was. The path had been there for years. Permanantly beaten into the ground by Melina and Shayna over time.
    Shayna felt so at peace in the woods, away from the house and the town. She only had to walk about a mile in, until she got to the river. This time of year their favorite summer time creek was a raging torrent, and the waterfall was amazing. She entered the clearing and found her spot. Shayna was in the middle of a personal art project. She was drawing the waterfall in different stages of the seasons. Although there wasn’t any snow to draw at the time, the waterfall still raged. She was mezmerized by how it could go from something so calm and peaceful, to a raging killer, in just a few months. She felt one with the waterfall. She was changing too.
    High up in a very large maple tree, a silent, dark figure watched Shayna drawing. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. She was the most magnificent creature he had ever seen. Her scent was so sweet and powerful. He licked his lips and ran his tongue over his teeth feeling the sharpness extend.
    Shayna had an eerie feeling come over her. A feeling like she was being watched. She looked up to the trees, the dark figure hugged the big tree, to hide himself, and Shayna saw nothing. She remembered something her father had told her about cougars, or mountain lions, or whatever. Something about being able to feel them hunting you. The hairs on the back of her neck began to stand up, and she shivered. The DNR had confirmed Mountain Lions were in fact inhabiting Northern Michigan.She decided it was time to go. She had never had that feeling here before….or anywhere for that matter.
    It was dark when Shayna emerged from the woods. She could hear music coming from Melina’s bedroom, she was already home. She opened the back door and an aroma of tomatoes, and basils, and her mother’s secret ingredient filled her nostrils. Sarah kept the secret ingredient locked in an icebox in the basement. Shayna knew what was inside, but she never told her mother’s secret, it was her secret too. Sarah didn’t even know she knew.
    “Smells good,” she told Sarah as she entered the kitchen.
    “Thank you,” Sarah smiled at her, “Will you call down Mel, it’s almost done.”
    Shayna went to the back stairs. “Mel,” she yelled, “Dinner!”
    “Coming!” was the response that was yelled back.
    Shayna went to the cupboard, and got the plates to set the table.
    “How is your project coming Shay?” Sarah inquired.
    “Good.” Shayna answered. “Beside the fact, of not much