Once Upon a December Moon 
 

Chapter 1
 

     "darn it!" Zane didn't like the idea of having a human girl living with him. He had been asked to take care of their new classmate, Rinslet Metherlance, by their teacher. She was supposed to be there any minute and he would soon have to take her to school and introduce her to everyone so that she could make some friends. Why did he have to do this? Especially considering that he was NOT human in the least. He was a pure blood vampire. In fact, the only reason he was going to school at all with humans was because of tradition. And this girl was to stay with him because of tradition too! "Tradition, tradition. Why doesn't tradition go jump off a building somewhere?" He sat and waited for this mystery girl to come. "I hope she has good blood at least. If there’s a human living with me, then she’s gonna have to expect to be fed on at least once." Zane sat there staring at the door as though he were trying to burn a hole through it with his dark green eyes. He ruffled his chestnut brown hair and just waited. "Nothing else to do but sit here. “Sigh.
 

     "Kill me." Rinslet was about to jump out the window of the train. "Don't worry, everything will be alright. You'll just be staying with him. No big deal." Wingtip gave a reassuring smile to her master, hopping on her lap to get her attention. "But it's a HUMAN!" said Rin without the slightest bit of evidence that she was looking on the bright side. "I mean, what if he finds out? That would make the council kill me. Or lock me up and throw away the key forever. I can't be discovered by a human! NEVER!!" That last word made Wingtip jump. She fluffed her snow white feathers and sat back on Rin's lap. "It's okay. I'm sure he won't find out anything as long as he doesn't barge into your room or something. And most of all, if you stay CAUTIOUS! I know how clumsy you can be with those kinds of things. That's why I was sent with you." Rin sighed.
 

"Fine, if you say so."
 

"I do say so"
 

"Fine then."
 

"Fine"
 

     Silence..."That was a stupid." laughed Rin. Wingtip chirped. It was her way of laughing. Rin gazed out the window then and realized that it was time to get off. "Run!" wingtip flew to Rins shoulder and they both jolted out the train with lougage at hand.
 

About ten minutes later, they two reached the house of Zane Aurelius. Rin walked up to the mansions gate and rang. "Who’s there?" Came an answer. "Rinslet Metherlance. I'm supposed to stay here." The person on the other end was talking to someone an then, "Come in." The golden gates opened and Rin and Wingtip walked in. They came to the door and it opened before Rin had a chance to knock. She looked up and saw a tall old butler. His fiery red eyes piercing her as he stared at the person he would soon be serving. Rin instantly found that this man, with eyes of fire and silver hair combed back neatly, was not human at all. "Come in please Miss. Rinslet Metherlance. My name is Stein." He bowed and stepped aside to show her the way in. Rin stepped in and felt a wave of power rush at her. This was not the home of humans. This was the home of darker creatures. The home of vampires.
 

     Zane was still staring at the door when she walked through. He looked straight at her from his seat. Her eyes were mismatched. One was a misty gray, the other a sweet sky-like blue. Her hair was a long wave of light rich brown with gold mixed in. It went all the way down to her elbows. She really is beautiful, thought Zane. Her eyes were now fixed on him. Zane stood up and found that her eyes were level with his shoulders. "Hello. My name is Zane Aurelius. Follow me and I'll show you to your room." Rin looked at him and hesitated for a second. Then she smiled. "Hello Zane. I'm pleased to be here." Yeah right, thought Rin. Zane looked at her for a second, then his eyes fell on Wingtip.
 

"What's with the dove?"
 

"None of your business.
 

"Oh really?"
 

"Really."
 

"Tell me it has a cage then"
 

"No, SHE doesn't have a cage."
 

"Why not? Won't IT fly away?" Zane smirked.
 

"No, SHE won't fly away because she knows better and is obviously smarter than YOU."
 

     Rin had long ago lost the sweetness she was trying to fake and was now half glaring at him while her voice had gained an edge to it. Cute. Real cute, thought Zane. He thought that living with a feisty human girl like this might be more fun than he thought. "Follow me will you?" He turned and walked up the giant Victorian staircase and turned to the right fork and walked straight up. Rin was considering how cool this vampire looked in his jeans and black T-shirt. She especially liked his green eyes and chestnut hair. Well, the way his hair was ruffled up was so cute to her. She smiled to herself. He obviously didn't realize what she was and that she could read his every thought. She then felt her heart flutter a bit. He thinks I'm beautiful! Rin looked down in embarrassment. "Don't even think about it." Wingtip sent Rin her thoughts. "After all, he's a vampire. You don't want to repeat the same tragedy right?" Rin immediately shut down all thoughts of the vampire. Zane took a turn at the corner to the left and then stopped in front of a wooden door that had carvings in it. He opened the door for her with a smile that made her heart flutter a bit. It was as though he was a thief and was smiling at the thought of finding his treasure.
 

     Rin walking into the room and found a huge four post bed with a canopy hanging over it. This was all in a white, gold, and cream coloring. There was also a large wardrobe made of fine wood. A mirror with angels decorated on the edges and also there was the soft white carpet. There were two large windows with golden curtains hanging on each side of each window. There was a big bookshelf that took up a whole wall. An armchair sat waiting for the next reader under it. Rin turned to Zane. She was very happy with this room. She gave him a heartfelt smile and said, "Thank you." Zane at that moment was afraid that the heat he felt in his face was not showing him red. His heart had just skipped a beat! Wow is all he thought.
 

"Then that means you like it right?" Rin nodded.
 

"Alright then, I'll be downstairs if you need anything. And also, don't go into the other rooms without permission. Especially that one." He pointed down the hall to a red-brown door. "That's my room. Knock if you need me when I'm in there."
 

     Then he left Rin in her room to wonder about him and Stein. "Guess I'll unpack and take a nap." Rin moved toward the wardrobe and let Wingtip fly over to the top of the canopy and make her bed up there. Rin had to admit that the top of the canopy was perfect for the snow dove.
 

"So, this is where we're staying huh? Well, We'll have to be careful not to anger the vampire master right Wingtip?" Rin looked up at the bird.
 

"Yes, tradition or no tradition, we have to make sure that his family doesn't learn what we are this stay either." And with that, the bird fell asleep and Rin began to unpack.
 

     Zane was confused. How could a mere human girl make his heart skip? Then again, she did seem to be more than a human. Who or what is she really? He would find out soon enough. First he should ask Stein if he sensed what she was or knew from the rest of her family having stayed here before over the centuries. He went down the staircase and quickly found Stein still waiting at the door. "Is Miss. Rinslet comfortable?" He asked in a way that made it seem like this whole situation was amusing him.
 

"Yes. Stein, do you know what she is? She doesn't seem human." A smile slowly appeared on Stein's face.
 

"I do know Master Zane, but I was ordered long ago by her kind to never utter the name of their species. This is something each generation of your family is tested to see if they can figure out. Every single person in your family has failed this test though Master Zane, and I hope that you can find out by yourself soon. For you are the last one who has the chance to take this test. Once you find out what she is, I am permitted to tell you everything I know about them. Until then I am forbidden. Forgive me Master Zane." Stein bowed apologetically. Zane walked away after thanking Stein. A test huh? Sounds like fun, thought Zane. He smiled to himself at the thought of Rin not being human nor vampire. Then the image of her last smile flashed in his head and his heart throbbed hard, yearning to hold that smiling face close to his. She was too beautiful for him is how he saw it. He wondered how long he could last with his self-control.
 

One month later.
 

     Rin awoke in her bed yawning and stretching. Sleepily, she rubbed her eyes and got out of bed. She went to the mirror and brushed her long hair. Suddenly, she felt that she wasn't alone. She twirled to see Zane leaning against the door smiling at her wearing jeans and a black T-shirt with the words “My Chemical Romance.” He also had a grayish black jacket. It was only then that she noticed the two gold earrings on his left ear. Small though they were, they almost glowed in the sunlight. Probably so that he can stay in the sunlight. Rin was embarrassed and though there was a trace of a smile on her face, she shouted, "Zane!" Then she just smiled at his joke. Well, breakfast is almost ready Princess." Then he walked way with that thief-like smile of his. Once he was gone, Wingtip flew down and whispered into Rins ear. "Careful, you might fall too hard and break a bone." She said his with a little joking tone in her voice.
 

     Rin came into the kitchen dressed in jeans, a sleeveless white tank top with dull blue designs on it, and white, ballet dancer-like sneakers. She had her grayish black messenger bag hanging at her waist. She was panting, obviously having hurriedly dressed and then run downstairs into the kitchen.
 

“Good morning Stein.”
 

“Good morning Miss Rinslet. Would you like breakfast today?”
 

“Yes, please. What’s there to eat?”
 

     Zane grabbed Rins hand and pulled her to the table. She sat down and stared at him, confused.
 

“Whatever you want is on the table okay?” Rin looked at the table. There was an assortment of cheeses, breads, jams, fruit, juices, water, milk, cereal and a toaster. The table was set for two. She took a piece of Italian bread and cut it in half. She took some goat cheese, cut it into slices, placed it onto the bread and ate. Zane watched this all in fascination. No matter how many times he ate with her, breakfast, lunch at school and home, dinner, he could never get used to the grace she had. As though she were a fellow vampire. When he realized that he was staring at her, he quickly took a piece of toasted bread and spread some strawberry jam on it.
 

“What are you going to do today?”
 

Rin looked up at him with her mismatched eyes and smiled.
 

“I was going to go to the library. Then I was going to ask you if you wanted to come to that movie with Bella, Ben and me. You know, Belles really likes you.”
 

“And I care why? Are you trying to get a double date out of this?”
 

     Ben Carter had been Rin’s boyfriend for the past week. Zane suspected that Rin only said, “Yes,” to him because first, Ben was one of her closest friends and she thought he was cute. And second, she wanted to get the other guys to leave her alone. This of course had not worked. All the guys in the Imperial Academy fell all over her, flirted, complimented, attempted to woe, and followed/stalked her.
 

“No. I just want you to find a girlfriend so you can stop coming into my room in the morning without my knowledge.” Her voice held an innocent tone, yet Zane could still detect the hint of sarcasm in it. He grinned.

“Sure, you do. Just like your relationship with Ben.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing.”

     She looked at him skeptically, trying to see if he was telling the truth. Mind reading won’t help Rin, you should know that by now. Zane had discovered Rin’s ability a few days after she started staying with him. He knew how to lock out his mind completely without thinking it consciously, and he did this with pleasure. It was amusing to him to see her frustration at attempting to read his mind and only getting a sentence like the one he had just thought.

“Fine, you’ll just have to tell me sometime won’t you?”

“No, I won’t tell you what I meant. That’s something you should know all by yourself.”

     She snarled at him, aggravated that he was playing head games with her. All he did was give her his thief smile. The one she loved more than anything. Aren’t you the funny one? She thought. Rolling her eyes, Rin got up and took her dish to the sink.

“Are you coming or not?” She turned to Zane.

“Yes, I’m coming,” To make sure that bastard Ben doesn’t touch you. He got up with his own dish and walked to the sink. Stein was watching this all carefully when Zane whispered something to him and he left. He walked up to Rin when Stein had disappeared.

“I’m coming to the library with you too if you don’t mind,” He put the dish in the sink. Rin backed up a bit as she felt her face become a little redder and her heart beat a little faster. This made Zane smile his dangerous smile again. He could hear this change in her body’s cardiovascular and respiration systems.

“Stop listening on my heart beat would you?” Rin’s thin brown eyebrows came together slightly.

“I can’t help it,” he whispered, then stepped back. “I’ll go get my bag. Stein should have brought it down by now.” And he walked away toward the front hall. Rin just stood there frozen. He had never admitted to one of his “talents”. Not even once.

 

 

     Walking to the library was always a long trip. Water bottles and snacks were packed in her bag as both teens walked and walked. Rin didn’t want to look and check, but she thought Zane was watching her. And indeed he was, watching from the corner of his eye. His golden gaze pierced her and she knew that he was probably just enjoying the smell of her blood so close to him. All vampires loved her smell, the smell of her whole tribe. Their smell was perfect for a vampire and it drew them in. Perfect for what we used to use it for, thought Rin, After all, we used to be the hunters not the hunted. She sighed and turned to meet Zane’s gaze.

“Well, now why would you be looking at me like that?”

“You know perfectly well why.”

“Oh, do I?”

“Yes you do.” They reached the library doors and went in. Zane took Rins hand in his iron grip and pulled her to the elevator. Still refusing to let her go, he pushed the button to go to the top floor. The doors opened and he pulled her out and up the stairs to the roof. Once there he let her hand go. Rin flew back from the release because she had been pulling with all her might and suddenly that pull made her trip and fall backwards. In a flash, Zane caught her midair. She straightened up and stared at him quizzically. He let go of her and backed off a few steps.

“You know what I am and you should know that I know you’re not human.” He stared at her awaiting the answer to his statement. Rin just stood there, frozen. This can’t be happening.