Only Fire

Chapter 3

"Why did you throw it away?" Zane asked in his deep voice with a hint of... disappointment? No, that wasn't right. I must have labeled his emotion wrong. The feelings that immortals felt were different than those of humans. They were pretty much nonexistent.

My mind raced through the storage box of memories trying to comprehend why he would show up in the middle of the night to accuse me of throwing something of his away. He then revealed the black cell phone when he lifted his hand that concealed it. So, this was what he was talking about. I erased that memory when I tossed it into the garbage can.

Moonlight reflected off his hair, and when he took his cold hand to run it through the silver strands, it caused a stray sparkle that I did not miss from my spot across the room. He did not attempt to look at me. His eyes just focused out the window as if staring at the mysterious moon as he questioned my actions.

"I told you I don't need it," I said. I was not about to give in to the iciness of the undead.

He whipped his head around in my direction to stare at me with those lifeless eyes. The motion was so fast that I thought his head might pop off and roll across the floor. Of course, that would only happen if he was a zombie. Zombies were the rotting undead, and vampires were the preserved undead. Either way, they both reeked of death. 

A stray giggle escaped my mouth as I imagined Zane's head rolling across the wooden planks. That must have angered him. Before I could blink, I was thrown against the wall.

"No one laughs at me and lives, Firebird!" Zane growled.

 With his arm against my throat, he pressed me further into the rigid beams. The slightest provocation would always send these vampires into a rage.

"Back off, icebox!" I hissed through gritted teeth. 

He didn't scare me; he annoyed me. Right now, I just wanted him off of me. I snapped my fingers, letting the spark distract him for a moment. The itty-bitty flame lit on my middle finger, and I slowly raised it to his face, ensuring he had a full view while I smirked inwardly.

"You know I could set this whole place on fire before you could make it out. I suggest you let go of me." 

My eyes burned into his, and he knew what my tiny flame could do. They all knew. He lowered his arm from my throat in defeat. I rubbed my neck where his arm had been, hoping to rub away the tingles. 

Zane marched to the couch and plopped down, muttering something.

"What did you say?" I asked. My hearing was not like a vampire's. Unfortunately, I could not hear a word Zane had muttered.

"Nothing," Zane mumbled like a sulking child but was quick to recover. Do all vampires have immature tantrums? I thought it was just humans... and me.

"Why does it mean that much to you that I take your... gift?" I asked.

"It doesn't."

He was lying, and if he were willing to break into this shack in the middle of the night to fight with me for throwing it away, he would not leave me alone until I took it. I then thought of an idea. I slowly walked to my kitchen and leaned against the small table.

"Are you willing to make a deal?" I asked. Zane's ears perked up. Vampires love a deal.

"What kind of deal?" he asked, rubbing his chin in the most curious of manner.

"I'll take the phone since it means so much to you that I have it."

"And you will always keep it with you."

My jaw fell open as my eyebrows furrowed. I had to blink a few times to confirm that the person who stood in front of me was indeed Zane and not someone pretending to be my parent. This was my deal, and I hadn't yet stated my part before this vamp already said his. I was taking his gift, wasn't that enough?