The minute I stepped out of the car, the cold wind pierced my face. Snow covered the landscape, which consisted of trees, blanketed in the white crystals. A frozen stream separated the forest from the camping and picnicking area where we stood, with a small, lonely bridge standing over the still water.        

We were way outside town, the camping area, which used to be famous, but was now deserted, forgotten, just like the past. The eerie silence made the place creepy, even though it was two in the afternoon.

I had no idea why we had come here. My parents hadn't spoken a word during the whole trip, whenever I caught sight of Mom looking at me in the rear view mirror, she had a sad, pained look on her face, her eyes glistened with tears. The situation was even more unusual with Alan, a weird, religious guy sitting next to me. He was known in our town as the guy with answers to all paranormal activities but I thought he was a fake and my parents agreed with me, or I at least thought they did. He was in his mid-thirties with a forlorn face, a beak shaped nose, black slicked hair and a skinny physique.  The look of pure hatred he gave me the whole way there made me want to punch him. What did I ever do to him? I wondered to myself. I've hardly talked to the guy, yet he acted like I tried to kill his puppy. 

 "Come along, Nora Jules Hagen.", Alan said, interrupting my thoughts. The bozo knew my middle name and actually used it! What was this, the medieval times? I grudgingly trailed after him, as my parents led the way. Dad had his arm around Mom while she was sniffling, her eyes downcast. With Dad's white blond hair, grey eyes, muscular body and Mom's strawberry blond hair, dark brown eyes and a lean physique, they were a cute couple. It was a wonder that I was their daughter because I looked nothing like either one of them, an oddity with icy blue eyes and brown hair.

Mom sniffled again and I looked at her, wondering what had put her in such sorrow. They stopped in the middle of the bridge and waited for me to catch up. Dad and Mom, both had pained and sad expressions. Mom's eyes were red from crying.

I stepped towards her and asked, "Mom what's wrong? Why are you crying? What's going on?"

 When she didn't respond, I turned to Dad but he dropped his gaze, his eyes downcast. Mom sniffled again and turned away, as Dad stepped forward but still didn't meet my eyes, he said in a tired voice, "Nora...........look Nora, this is for the good of the world."

"What is for the good of the world?" I asked, flabbergasted. Tears filled my eyes as I pleaded, "Mum, Dad? What's going on? Why are we here? Please tell me what's going on? You're scaring me!"

I sounded like a small child, but I couldn't help it, I was freaking out. Hearing me plead, Mum burst into tears and ran towards the car. Dad went after her. Her cries made my heart clutch with sadness. I stepped forward to go after them, but a hand grabbed and pulled me back roughly.          

I looked behind me to find Alan staring at me with disgust. He had remained quiet during the commotion.      

"Let me go!" I growled, attempting to escape.

He ignored me and kept his firm grip on my arm. Dad had taken Mom behind the SUV, so I couldn't hear what they were saying. After a while Mom climbed into the car and Dad made his way towards us. Alan let go of my hand when Dad reached us, I looked at him questionably but he ignored me. I was about to ask what was happening but, before I opened my mouth I was interrupted.

"Shall we start it then, Mr. Hagen? Time is precious." Alan said.

 Start what? I wondered.

"Yes, I guess it's time", Dad sighed than looked at me, his grey eyes full of pain and guilt, he said, "Nora, don't make this more harder than it is."

I started to speak again but he leaned in and hugged me. I grew rigged. I have never been much of a hugger. After a minute though, I relaxed and hugged him back still confused at what was going on.

Suddenly I felt a sharp pain in my side. I gasped out loud, my eyes widening. Dad stepped back and croaked, "I'm sorry".

I looked down and saw a knife lodged in my side. My dad, the man who had raised me, cared for me, just helped a guy stab me! Pain and betrayal filled my eyes as I stared at him in complete shock.

Alan was saying some kind of prayer but I didn't hear him, as I continued staring at my father. I staggered back and grabbed the rusty railing behind me, a sudden cold rush hit me like a bullet, leaving me weak and cold all over. I still tried to ask, though. I had to ask. "W....w....why?"

 Dad looked away from me, guilt crossing his eyes. I clutched my stomach in agony, but not screaming or shouting. Alan stepped forward with not a sign of sympathy or guilt on his face. He grabbed the hilt of the knife, I gasped again and whimpered as he yanked it out. I fell to my knees, the world swirling around me.

 My eyes focused a little and I saw the hilt of the knife head towards my head. TWAK. It hit my forehead and I fell over. The world started swirling again and I saw the blurry figures of Alan and Dad over me looming over me. They took hold of my legs and arms and lifted me up. The next thing I know, I was flung over the bridge, hitting the icy surface of the water, though I stayed still, the pain leaving me paralyzed, unable to move. 

The water felt like thousand tiny knives stabbing me at once. I tried to muster up enough energy to swim up but I was drained. I tried to move my hand but pain shot through my shot through my body, again, and I decided to simply give up. I saw something dark move towards me and my eyes fluttered close. This is it. My parents betrayed me, my Dad helped a guy stab me and now I am going to drown or be eaten by a shark. Funny thing is that I have no idea why this is even happening. I so hope the afterlife is better than this.

2: Chapter 2

*ONE WEEK LATER*

 

      It has been one week. One week since I was almost murdered. One week since my parents helped Alan stab me and throw me off a bridge. I didn't think I would live through it until Seth saved my life. Seth is kind of a weird guy. He’s a vampire. Yup, an immortal blood sucking vampire. I didn't believe that until he proved it to me by running as fast as lightning. He offered to drink animal blood too, to convince me but my stomach couldn't take that at the moment. And then there’s Amelia Conway whom is a fae, evidence of that was given when she healed my stab wound leaving a tiny scar in its place. Seth is 17 (Or, at least he looks 17. I have no idea how many centuries he has lived) with jet black hair, hazel eyes, pale skin, and a jock’s body, all muscular. Amelia on the other hand is 26 year old fae with red wavy hair, topaz eyes, elfish features, pale skin and a lean physique.

They took me, or well Seth carried me, (I was exhausted so don't judge me unless you've been stabbed and thrown into freezing water), to their camp where after I had recovered a little. I realized that it wasn’t exactly a normal camp. Amelia first creeped me out by telling me that I wasn't all human. To prove they weren't loony she introduced me to the different supernatural species who gave me ‘demonstrations’ of how they were, in fact, supernatural. This news, of course, made me freak out and I planned on running away.. but than reality kicked in when I realized that I didn't have anywhere to go. So I was stuck. And to make matters more interesting and confusing, Amelia told me that they didn't exactly know what supernatural species I belonged to. Whoop dee doo. So I stayed and instantly became the freak of the supernatural camp (that just seems wrong).

   I met the camp leader the next day Zander Vandermeer, a vampire. He's tall with jet black hair, black eyes, pale skin, a thin yet muscular body and a stern face. In other words he scared me. He asked me to explain what had happened on the bridge but I had refused to discuss it and ran out of his cabin. I had spent my previous days in my own new cabin which I shared with 3 more girls. A vampire named Mikayla, a witch named Ivy and a werewolf named Vivian. I didn't know who was who exactly but I knew their “species” and names because Amelia had told me. I heard them whispering sometimes in the lounge, discussing me. They were kind enough, to at least give me my privacy, though.

After moaning and crying for 6 days, I want to get out of my room. So at 7 in the morning, I get up, take my new coat, which had been provided along with some other new clothes. I step out of my room to find the whole cabin quiet, my cabin mates still asleep. The cabin mainly consists of a lounge with a dining table at one end and a couch at the other end with a LCD TV set into the wall. The cabin is rather modern with an air conditioner and a small fridge. Our rooms are situated at right side of the cabin. A bathroom is at the end of the lounge beside the last room. My room is closest to the door so I have no problem in slipping out without waking up anyone.

I step outside and inhale the cool air with a scent of dew still lingering in it. I haven't explored the camp yet, so I don't know where anything is, including the cafeteria, because Amelia has been kind enough to send me food to the cabin since she knew I wouldn't be coming out anytime soon. I circle the whole camp, which consists of two semi-circles of cabins. One semi-circle is made up of only the girl's cabins while the other semi-circle is the boy's cabins. Zander’s cabin is on the east side of the cabins with a smaller cabin beside it, which I assume is for Amelia since she is the second in charge. West of the cabins are two large buildings. One seems like the cafeteria while the other has words written on its door in golden cursive writing, but I can't figure out what they spell, as they are faded. It is a wonder that nobody has ever noticed this camp. How did they keep it hidden, some mumbo jumbo? Another question added to my questionnaire for Amelia. After the camp tour I make my way towards the woods. A rustling sounds behind me and suddenly a shadow falls over me. I whirl around and raise my fist to punch whoever it is. A hand grabs my wrist, stopping it. I closed my eyes when I had swung (okay so that was not the best thing to do but still) so I open them, making direct eye contact with a set of hazel eyes.

“It’s me, Seth!” he says looking me straight in the eye. I lower my hand and head and step back. “Are you okay?” he asks.

I shake my head. I haven't spoken to anyone here except Amelia, and I am not about to start now. I brush past him without a word and head towards my cabin. He falls into step with me and glances at me sideways but I keep my eyes trained on the ground.

“Look I know you don’t want to talk……” he sighs, and runs his hand through his hair. “Never mind” He turns away and starts walking back.

I stop, take a deep breath and say “Thank you……Thank you for saving my life” but I don't look up.

He stops and turns to look at me. I look up finally and find that his eyes are full of curiosity.

“What’s your name?” he asks after a moment.

I hesitate but then reply, “Nora. Nora Hagen”.

“Well Nora welcome to Camp Knox. I hope you like it. I'm Seth Rivet”

With that he turns back and goes towards Zander’s and Amelia’s cabins. I watch him go, standing still but then he glances over his shoulder and catches me looking. I quickly turn away, cheeks flaming and enter my cabin. It is almost eight so when I enter, my cabin mates are up. Two of them are sitting at the dining table laughing hysterically. One girl has long black curly hair while the other has straight brown hair with a purple streak at the side. The third girl is sitting on the couch watching TV, her strawberry blond hair resting on the back of the couch. The moment I enter the cabin and the door closes behind me, the black curly haired girl on the table stops laughing and starts looking at me so does the girl on the couch. I suddenly feel nervous.

“Hello?” I say, awkwardly.

 The brown haired girl finally noticed the tension in the room and looks up at me. She glances at her friends than gets up.

“Guys, I think this is the part where we are supposed to say ‘hey’ back!” her gaze than settles on me, she steps forward and holds her hand out “Hey! I am Mikayla Rossado! This is Ivy Martinez!” she gestures towards the black curly hair girl whose cheeks are now red.

“And this is Vivian Blanc” she points towards the blonde who steps forward and shakes my hand.

“Hi!”

Ivy also gets up. “Hey. Your name’s Nora right?” she asks while shaking my hand.

“Yeah, Nora Hagen” I confirm.

“So?” Mikayla asks with a mischievous glint in her grey eyes. She is the tallest amongst us all and of course the palest since she is a vampire.

“Umm ……can I ask you guys any questions?” I ask before they can ask me something I don't want to talk about. They take the message and Mikayla nods enthusiastically while Ivy and Vivian are a little reluctant. I direct my first question at Mikayla, since she seems friendlier than the others.

“How come you aren't that cold? And how can u walk in the sun? Shouldn't u melt or burn or……sparkle?”

Mikayla frowns at the last word but her smile reappeares.

“The caffeine in the coffee helps to keep us warm. As for the burning thing we have a ring or any piece of jewelry which is enchanted by a witch and a fae both.” She answers holding up her right hand where a purple elegant ring glimmers on her index finger.

“WOW cool!” I exclaim and then ask Ivy “you are a witch right? So what kind of spells do you do?”

In the rest of my discussion with the girls I learn lots of stuff like a fae’s wings glow depending on their mood. When she or he is angry, her wings will have a red glow and if she or he will be happy her wings would glows silver. But fae’s learn to keep their wings hidden so they can be safe.

Witches can do spells of almost any kind but one witch specializes in one element like Ivy is specializing in air. I also learn that werewolves are usually serious and stern, but they are adventure loving curious and love competitions. The bad blood I had read about between werewolves and vampires had been a little exaggerated, since Vivian and Mikayla don't exactly hate each other and they are rather friendly with each other. One another thing I learn is that shapeshifters are the fun loving and mischievous species. All good parties are held by them. Mikayla, Ivy and Vivian are nice enough not to bring my freakiness into the first conversation we ever had. Suddenly in the middle of our conversation our cabin door opens and Amelia walks in. when she sees me sitting with Mikayla, Ivy and Vivian, she smiles.

She is talking and making friends. That’s a sign of improvement.

 “Did you say something?” I ask Amelia.

She looks at me in confusion and so do my cabin mates.

“No I didn't.” She answers. except in my mind. I stare at her bewildered.

“What are y-you do-doing? Are you doing s-s-something to my m-mind?” I ask stammering a little.

 “No! Of course not!” Amelia answers looking at me worriedly. Nora can you hear me?

“YES! Yes I can!" I exclaim.

“You can what!?” Vivian asks looking back and forth between Amelia and me.

The color drains from Amelia’s face and she says “Nora can read minds.”