Chapter 14: The Talented One

The next twenty-four hours were just like he told me. I was thirsty for blood constantly. Shane’s mom would give me a cup without a problem whenever I asked. She was very sweet. I soon found out her name was Stephanie.1

After the twenty-four hours were passed, I became colder and paler. I look in the mirror, and I didn’t see myself. It was very strange.2

I soon found out I had three special talents- To cause pain with my mind, to know if someone is lying or telling the truth and to speak to people in their minds.3

I was sitting next to Shane on his bed, with my cheek on his shoulder. His arm was on my shoulder. I heard his voice but I didn’t understand what he said.4

“What was that? Did you say something?”5

“Huh? No. I didn’t say a thing.”6

That was strange. What could she be talking about? I heard him say. But it didn’t sound like he was speaking aloud.7

“Shane, what did you just think?”8

“Err, nothing. Why?”9

What the heck is she talking about! Is she going crazy? Shane shouted what I thought he was thinking.10

“No, I’m not crazy. I think I just read your mind.”11

Ha. Yeah right. That is the most rare talent you could get! I think she’s imagining things. Shane thought.12

“No! I’m serious, Shane. I heard your thoughts! You think I’m imagining things but I’m not, Shane! This is probably one of my talents!”13

“Samantha, hearing thoughts of others’ is very, very rare. And if you get that talent, then you don’t get any others. You get that one or you trade it for three others. So I highly doubt you have that talent.”14

“Shane, I heard your thoughts!”15

He scowled and grabbed my hand. “Come with me.” He said as he pulled me to Stephanie’s bedroom. 16

Her room was almost empty. It contained a little dresser, a couch a TV on the wall across from the couch and shelves on another wall with books, movies and CD’s. Stephanie was sitting on the couch watching a movie, which seemed to be playing a musical. 17

Oh! I love that part! Stephanie thought.18

Stephanie turned around and scowled in her head. The TV shut off but no one had hit the “off” button on the remote control or the TV.19

“Yes?” Stephanie asked.20

“Mom, Sami thinks she can read minds. She doesn’t believe that it’s impossible.”21

Shane said, as he quickly glanced at me, smiled then looked back at his impatient mother.22

“It’s possible, Shane. It’s happened to someone a long while back. And he had the same exact talents as Samantha has. Maybe they’re related in some way. His name was Kevin Young. He was very, very talented. He started out with four talents- causing pain with his mind, to know if someone is lying or telling the truth, speaking to people through their mind, and reading minds. He soon gained more and more talents. The rulers killed him because someone had found out that he was a vampire. He died with thirteen talents.”23

“Wow.” Shane said, mouth wide open in shock.24

She’s lying. That’s impossible. Shane thought.25

Samantha, can you hear me? Stephanie asked in her thoughts.26

I nodded quickly and Stephanie smiled.27

“Samantha, they call Kevin the “Talented One” and there are myths, that may be true, that there were other “Talented Ones”. They don’t let people know though. They stay hidden so that people don’t adore them or try to kill them because they are luckier than others are. You may be one of the “Talented Ones”, Samantha. You are very unique.” She said, smiling.28

Shane scowled in his head. I love Samantha but this is going too far. I doubt Samantha is listening to me right now.29

“Yes I am, Shane.” I grumbled. “Why don’t you believe me? I can read minds. Why is it that you’re mad at me because of it?”30

Jealousy. Stephanie laughed in her head. 31

I laughed with her. “You’re probably right, Stephanie.”32

“Please… Call me “Steph”.”33

I nodded and turned to face Shane. He looked angry. I think he was mad at me. He turned to face me.34

Samantha, honey? Could you hear me? He thought.35

I nodded in agreement. He sighed and took a deep breath.36

Can I watch my movie now? Steph thought.37

“Steph, you could talk, you know…? But, yes… You could. Me and Shane will leave now.” I said grabbing Shane’s hand and pulled him to his room.38

We faced each other. He was a little less than a foot taller than I was. Wow. You’re a talented one. He thought.39

“Yeah. But it’s gonna get annoying to have to hear everyone’s thoughts all the time.” I said aloud.40

“You could shut it on and off. You just have to figure out how. It’s probably pretty easy.”41

I tried and it worked. I wasn’t sure how I did it but I didn’t hear his thoughts anymore. The rest of the day, we just relaxed and talked. We talked about vampires and school and finally it was Tuesday. 42

“You ready yet?” Shane shouted on the other side of the bathroom door.43

I opened the door and walked out. Shane pulled me into his arms. “Yes.” I whispered.44

I was wearing a black spaghetti-strapped shirt and skinny jeans that my mom got me. I decided to start dressing better because I had a boyfriend. He would probably like me more if I dressed more like a girly girl. But then again, he was very loving no matter what.45

He let go of me and held my hand. He had both of our backpacks on his shoulders. He led me to the front room and opened the door for me. We got in my car and he drove to school. 46

When we got there, it seemed so unfamiliar even though we were there three days ago. He held my hand and brought me to the back where we met Josh and George. When they saw us, they looked confused. It was probably because we were so pale.47

They tried to hide that confusion when we reached them. “Hey, Shane.” George said. “Hey, Sami.”48

“What up, guys?” Josh said, friendlier than ever.49

“Hey guys!” Shane and me both said at the same time. We smiled at each other. I turned on my mind reading.50

Damnnn! Sami looks smokin’ today! Shane is so lucky. Ugh. I wish I was him. I wonder if I’ll ever find a girl like Sami. Josh thought. I laughed to myself.51

Wow. Sami changed a lot. So did Shane but no as much as Sami. She’s very beautiful. Shane is a lucky man. They’re a very cute couple. George thought. He was very sweet. Him and I could become good friends.52

Jeez. They’re looking at Sami like they’re in love. She’s mine. They better understand that. Or else they’re in loads of trouble. Shit. Sami, love… Are you listening? Shane thought.53

I nodded then smiled widely. “Okay… Well, err… Let’s go in the library. I’m bored.” I said as I turned off my mind reading. 54

The three of us went in the library and sat down. Shane and me held hands.55

“Okay, so you guys all got my message, right? I’m gonna mess with Sarah’s heart. Yesterday, I acted like I really liked her and stuff. Today, I’m gonna do the same. You guys have to go along with it thought, alright?”56

“I’m in.” Shane, George and me said in the same exact time. We all laughed. 57

I heard a door open then close behind me. I turned around and saw Sarah skipping in side the library. She sat down at our table, on the end, next to Josh. Josh smiled at her and she smiled back. She looked at me very evilly and I turned on my mind reading. 58

She’s probably so pissed that Josh and me are back together. I could tell in her eyes. She’s so jealous. And what she doesn’t know is it’s my plan to get Shane. Ha. All I have to do is get alone time with Shane and then, that’s it for her. She’s gone. Sarah thought.59

I sighed. Let’s apologize. I said in Shane’s mind. He nodded.60

“Sarah, we’re very sorry about what happened. We didn’t mean to hurt you so badly. We know you’re not going to accept our apology but it’s the thought that counts, right?” I said as sweetly as I could. I know I didn’t mean those things.61

She smiled weakly. “Thanks for the effort but I don’t need an apology from you. I have Josh, right? That’s all I ever wanted.”62

Ha! Yeah right! It’s Shane I want and Shane is what I’m gonna get! I get everything I want. She thought. 63

I turned off my mind reading, aggravated at Sarah. How could she be so rude and careless? 64

“Sami, if you don’t mind… I’d like to talk to Shane… Alone…” She said with a fake innocent face on.65

“That’s up to Shane, Sarah.” I said, looking up at Shane sadly.66

“Shane,” Sarah said. “Please… I need to talk to you… In privacy.”67

“Anything you say to me, you could say in front of my love and my best friends.” Shane said with a smirk on his face.68

“No, Shane. I really need to talk to you alone. Please…” She begged.69

Shane smiled then looked at me and frowned. He looked back at Sarah. “No.” He said simply but coldly.70

Sarah groaned. “Please! Just five minutes! It’s not a huge deal!” she shouted.71

“Shh…” The librarian hissed. “You are in a library. Please act like it. People are reading and can’t concentrate with your shouting and whimpering.72

Sarah blushed and Shane laughed at her- a mocking laugh. Sarah glanced over at Josh. “Why don’t you ever stand up for me like Shane does for Samantha?” She demanded.73

“Err, I- uh… Don’t laugh at Sarah, man.” Josh hesitated.74

Shane sighed. “Fine… I’ll talk to you in private for three minutes, Sarah. But please understand that I’m going to tell Sami and Josh and George everything you tell me.”75

She nodded and grabbed Shane’s hand. Shane pulled his hand away and Sarah frowned. They walked over to another table and sat down across from each other. I was able to hear them loud and clearly, unlike George and Josh.76

“Okay, what do you want to say to me, Sarah?”77

“Shane, I love you. I want to be with you, not Josh. I know that sounds so selfish and rude but I don’t love Josh like I love you. You’re just so perfect. I don’t see what you see in Samantha. She’s not very pretty and she doesn’t do much with you like I would do with you. Shane, you have to trust me… I’m better for you than Samantha is.”78

“Sarah, that’s not true. I love Samantha. She’s beautiful and sweet and she’s absolutely wonderful. I don’t understand how someone so perfect could love me.”79

“Well, that’s very flattering that you think I’m perfect.” Sarah said with a smirk on her face.80

“Umm… Sarah… I was talking about Samantha. Sorry, Sarah but I don’t like you like Samantha. She’s my everything, Sarah. Without her, my life would be pointless.”81

Sarah scowled. “Shane, listen to me… Samantha is the most embarrassing, ugly, he-she out there! You don’t belong with someone like her! You belong with someone like me- beautiful and nice. I would do stuff that I bet Samantha would never do with you.”82

“I highly doubt you’re nice. With all the stuff you’ve done to Samantha, you’re the furthest thing from nice.”83

“Did you know that Samantha played with Barbie dolls when she was still thirteen years old?”84

“So? You still play with them now.”85

Sarah’s jaw dropped. “I do not! I stopped when I was six!”86

“Whatever. Your three minutes are up.” Shane said, will no hope.87

“No Shane,” Sarah said desperately. She reached her hand across the table and grabbed Shane’s. She held his hand tightly and smiled.88

He smiled back but I knew it was a fake one. He twisted Sarah’s hand and when she whimpered in pain, he let go. The bell suddenly rung.89

Shane got up calmly and walked over to me. He still had both of our bookbags with him and he grabbed my hand and we walked to first period.90

The day went smoothly. Shane had changed his schedule so it would match mine. We probably looked like a very serious and romantic couple the way we were treating each other.91

When the day was over, we drove home in complete silence. He seemed mad at me for some non-apparent reason.92

He parked in the driveway of his house and cut the engine. “Shane?” I asked impatiently.93

“Yes, dear?” He said sweetly. He didn’t seem mad the way he spoke but I wasn’t sure.94

“Are you… Mad at me?”95

“Of course not, love. I thought you were mad at me.”96

“Why would I be mad at you?”97

“Because of what happened today at the library with Sarah. She held my hand twice and I didn’t get mad at her. I mean, I was mad but I didn’t do anything about it. I thought you would be pissed.”98

“No, no, no. I’m not mad at you, Shane. I’m mad at Sarah. She will do anything to steal you away from me.”99

“Yeah, well… None of her tricks are going to work. So you don’t have to worry.” He said. Then all of a sudden, his door opened than closed and he was opening my door. He took off my seat belt and helped me out of the car. He shut the door when he was sure I was out of the way.100

He held my hand and pulled me inside the house. Steph was sitting in the living room, watching the News. It was talking about a murder. They found teeth marks on a girl’s neck. They didn’t have any suspects or leads. But I knew who it was. It was Diana. She did this. But she’s a vampire. So she’s smart. She didn’t leave a single mark on the poor girl.101

Shane’s shoulders stiffened because he also knew it was Diana. His hand tightened around mine and he pulled me to his room.102

“Diana did that, didn’t she?” I asked even though I knew the answer to that question. The only vampires in all of Louisiana were Shane, Steph, Abraham, Diana and I and all of us except for Diana were good.103

“Yes.” He said and he noticed me shudder. “Don’t worry, love. You’re safe. If she ever gets near us, all I have to do is shield the both of us, and we’re perfectly safe.”104

I sighed. “Okay, we need to talk about Sarah. We need to do something about her. She’s the worst.”105