Star, Starland Vamp Series, Book 1 Read online

  DEDICATION

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  CH. 1: BODYGUARD

  CH. 2: REVOLUTION

  CH. 3: LOW PROVILE

  CH. 4: FIRST MEETING

  CH. 5: VISITOR

  CH. 6: FRIEND OR FOE?

  CH. 7: DECISION

  CH. 8: THE MIRAGE

  CH. 9: HEART

  CH. 10: TRUTH

  CH. 11: CHANGES

  CH. 12: HUNGER

  CH. 13: CONTRONTATION

  CH. 14: SAFE HOUSE

  CH. 15: VERUS

  CH. 16: TEAMWORK

  CH. 17: TURNING

  CH. 18: TIME TO DIE

  CH. 19: HOME

  CH. 20: TEAM

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  COPYRIGHT

  This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  DEDICATION

  For my wonderful husband, Tommy, who proved his love many times over by doing mountains of dishes and laundry, enabling me to write this book. Also for my wonderful sons, Travis, Troy, and Trace, who, along with their father, are the loves of my life.

  Also, to my mother, Donna Davey, and my father, Todd Cranmer, who always knew I could do it.

  Love you all and thanks for the encouragement!

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  First and foremost, to my husband, Tommy, thank you for all that you do, and for being the best father and husband a family could want. Thanks for believing in me. And thanks to my children, who never cease to make me smile.

  To my mother, Donna Davey, and father, Todd Cranmer who always knew I could do it.

  To Nikki Shah, who hosts writing contests on the Stephanie Meyer Facebook fan page, creating a wonderful forum of writers, and for giving us an avenue within which to hone our craft.

  To Danielle Lee Zwissler, my first publisher with Firefly and Wisp Publishing who believed in my writing, and to all the writers who have become my publishing family at Firefly and Wisp Publishing.

  To my fans on my Facebook pages, Theresa Oliver’s Short Story Page, Theresa Oliver author, and Write More Publications, who first read and loved Star and my other stories. Thanks for believing in my work. You guys rock!

  Thanks to my fans, for without them, this book would not have been published.

  To all my students I ever taught! Keep up the good work! And keep reading and writing! You can do it!

  Chapter 1: Bodyguard

  “You can have a seat, Ms. Star,” Rachel, a pretty receptionist in her mid-twenties, greeted me with a friendly smile. “I’ll let Dr. Abbott know you’re here. He’s expecting you.”

  Nodding curtly, my stiletto heels tapped rhythmically as I walked toward the seat she had indicated. I like high heels. They make me look older. I know, usually women want to look younger, but I’m not like most women.

  Most women aren’t vampires.

  Seated, I looked around the sparse, metallic room and breathed in a sigh, feeling the rush of air fill my lungs. I really don’t need air to live. In fact, I can go for long periods of time without the life giving substance, hours, possibly a day if I have to. But to go without it for an extended period of time feels more and more uncomfortable the longer I go without it, until finally my lungs feel as if they might explode if I don’t breathe in. Breathing deeply now, feeling the air rush into my lungs, feels comforting, life giving.

  But although I don’t need air to live, blood is another thing altogether. Yes, I eat human food and it sustains me for a time, but not for long. But blood? That is my primary source of nourishment. Fulfillment, I guess is more the word. For you see, blood is life giving, too. It flows freely through my veins like a human’s, but my body actually metabolizes it for food, unlike a human. For humans, blood renews itself creating an unending source of life. But within my body, blood isn’t renewed. It’s used. Blood carries oxygen throughout my body like for a human, but it’s also used for food.

  This leads me to my primary source of replenishment.

  Relax, I once fed on humans. In fact, human blood tastes better and is more satisfying than any other source. Luscious, life-giving, human blood carries oxygen and metabolizes better within my body than any other kind, probably because it’s closer to my own, since I once was human. But I swore off human blood long ago. After all, how can I protect humanity if I’m destroying it? It’s an oxymoron, really. A contradiction. You can’t protect the sanctity of life if you’re taking it, so I swore off human blood.

  My heart beats and my body functions just fine on animal blood, thank you very much. But I don’t like rabbits, squirrels, and Bambi. I prefer big game. They present more of a challenge. I like the fight, the hunt, and the kill. I guess the killer instinct within me never left, even though I’ve sworn off killing humans centuries ago.

  But I don’t kill unless it’s necessary. In fact, I will go out of my way to keep from killing, but just don’t piss me off. Even though I’ve sworn not to kill humans doesn’t mean I haven’t been known to slip upon occasion.

  As for the sun, I don’t suddenly burst into flames, and I don’t sparkle; I shimmer. My skin glows and shimmers in the sun as if I had just slathered baby oil over my skin. My shimmering skin is not enough to keep me out of the sun, but it is enough to draw the attention of the humans. So I cover up in the sun, unless I’m at the beach, of course. Even though we try not to draw the attention of the humans, there are some of us that relish the attention. Hence, super models. Let’s just say that many supermodels and I have a lot in common.

  Even though the sun itself poses no threat, fire is my biggest enemy. When humans are burned, their skin blisters and peels, but when a vampire is burned, that part which was burned disintegrates, vanishing completely with no hope of repair.

  While we’re on the subject, let’s clear up a few myths. Many myths were created with the sole purpose of giving humans the idea that they stood a chance against us, or else they wouldn’t be able to sleep at night. So go on believing and rest easy tonight, safe in your bed.

  Sure.

  Anyway, the myths: (1) Yes, a stake in the heart will kill me, that is, if you can catch me first. Of course! My heart beats, although much more slowly than a human, therefore, it is fallible. It can stop. And if it stops for any length of time, I will die, but my rib cage is as strong as steel, so my heart is well protected. (2) Yes, I have super-human strength and reflexes. I can move at lightning speed, faster than a human’s eye can see. (3) I don’t have fangs, but I do have venom, and my venom can kill or turn a human into a vampire. If I bite a human, I must drain them completely, taking their life, or they will become like me. And they would not be happy with me once they recover. But most don’t mind. (4) Garlic is great over pasta. (5) Coffins are for the dead. I only sleep when my body needs to rejuvenate itself, then I go into almost a coma, appearing to be dead, until I awaken. Once, I gave a coroner a heart attack, literally, when I sat straight up on the table in the morgue.

  He didn’t suffer.

  I’ve been trained in every mode of self defense known to man. I’m a 4th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, but would probably be a 5th degree if I tested. I am a master at Jujitsu, Judo, Karate, and Kung Fu, as well. For a good work out, I do Kickboxing and Kumdo, which means “way of the sword” in Korean.

  As for weapons, I am a master at all types of swords and guns, especially standard military issue weap
ons such as the M-16 rifle, the AA-12 automatic shotgun, Scar-H assault rifle, Barrett 50 cal sniper rifle, M-134 Gatling Gun, and grenade launchers. The usual. Also, I’m well versed in many ancient weapons that are currently obsolete such as the musket, and modern illegal weapons such as the Uzi and Ballistics Knife, a projectile knife primarily used by Russian military personnel.

  Oh, and I’m the military’s greatest, most deadliest weapon.

  I have experience in every war since the Revolutionary War, and yes, I am American through and through. Why am I the military’s greatest weapon? Because I’m a covert CIA operative. I don’t exist, as far as the military is concerned.

  The government caught word of my existence when I got a bit sloppy single handedly wiping out some mobsters in Chicago in 1929. They called it the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, but they promised to keep my identity—along with the fact that vampires exist—a secret. I mean, could you really sleep at night knowing we exist? It would cause mass panic and change the world as we know it.

  Getting back to the CIA, they made me an offer I couldn’t refuse—monetary, of course—and promised me the opportunity to save the world. I really didn’t need the money since I was already very wealthy, but the opportunity to save the world? That I couldn’t refuse. I’ve been working for the CIA since it’s indoctrination during WWII, but I’ve been working for the government in some form since the Revolutionary War. Military intelligence has been important to the government since the time of George Washington. Believe me. I should now.

  Like I said before, I work for a covert branch of the CIA that doesn’t exist, and Dr. Sam Abbott is my contact. Or, at least, that’s the name I know him by. This branch is so secretive and covert that we are only called in times of utter emergency to do a job. It doesn’t take many of us. Yes, don’t be so shocked, I’m not the only one. Anyway, a few of us can go in without anyone knowing and create the devastation of a whole army. Ten of us can take down a human army with ease. Then, of course, humans take the credit. That suits me just fine, since our existence must remain secret.

  Also, vampires are not made frivolously. For one thing, most of us do not want to take over the human race. Notice I said most. But every few years, a sadistic idiot comes along that wants to take over the human race and thinks he can rule the world, then we’re called in to take him, or her, down quietly. Does Hitler ring a bell? Another oxymoron. He wanted the perfect human race, but if they only knew what he was … anyway, we were called in to make sure the job was done correctly.

  “Ms. Star?” the pretty receptionist asked, bringing me from my reverie. “Dr. Abbott will see you now.” Dr. Abbott was the fifth human I’ve worked for within my time here. Although my bosses age and gradually die, never once have any of them asked me why I do not age.

  They already know.

  “Very well,” I nodded, giving her a gracious smile. She was used to seeing me now. I remember the first time I smiled at her five years ago. She was young and, even though we were both female, she staggered a bit.

  “Ms. Star,” Dr. Abbott began, rising from his desk; a gentleman. “It’s so good to see you again.” He acted like he hadn’t seen me in a while. This must be important.

  “Likewise,” I said, smiling, “And please, call me Abigail.”

  He didn’t shake my hand. “Do you mind?” Dr. Abbott pulled a digital scanner from inside his desk.

  “Not at all,” I replied, smiling sweetly, then held out my hand. Any other human would have been dazzled, but he was unmoved, all business.

  A moment later, the scanner glowed blue after he scanned my hand. A second later it beeped and he checked the reading. “You’re clean.”

  I sat down politely in a stiff, wooden chair across from his high power desk and daintily crossed my legs. I was not impressed. “Let’s cut the bullshit, Sam. What can I do for you?”

  Dr. Abbott smiled. “I see you haven’t changed, Star.”

  My sweet smile returned. “Abigail, please.”

  “As you wish,” he said, clearly enjoying the dangerous exchange. He knew who I was and how dangerous I could be. “The reason why I’ve called you here today is that I need you for a secret mission.”

  “I kind of gathered that,” I said, matter of fact. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t secretive and dangerous.

  Again, he smiled. “And I need your ultimate discretion.”

  “Of course.” I crossed my hands over my knees. To him, I didn’t look a day over 16. In reality I was changed when I was 18. I look young for my age. “Let’s cut to the chase, Sam. What’s the job?”

  “I see some things haven’t changed,” Dr. Abbott laughed. “Patience never was one of your virtues.”

  “Among others,” I replied, still smiling.

  “Here’s the deal,” he began, running a hand through his salt and pepper hair. “I need you to be a bodyguard.”

  “Bodyguard?” I almost shouted. “I haven’t been a bodyguard for years! Come now, Sam, I’ve been on covert missions, an assassin for the government, but a bodyguard?” It was too easy. I’d be bored stiff within the matter of a week.

  “Yes, a body guard,” Sam replied sternly.

  “No,” I said curtly, rising from my seat.

  “Sit back down,” Dr. Abbott directed, pointing to the chair.

  “You’re treading on dangerous ground,” I said, my green eyes flaring as I pushed a lock of wavy brown hair away from my face.

  “Please,” Dr. Abbott replied a bit sarcastically, gesturing toward the chair.

  I slowly sat down. After a moment of silence, I asked, “Who is it anyway?” Maybe it was the president or a dignitary. Once, I had to pretend to infiltrate a drug cartel to be the bodyguard of a drug lord. He didn’t live long.

  Sam’s grey eyes searched mine as I waited. He sighed. “He’s my son.”

  “Your son?” I replied, getting to my feet. “Okay, I’ve heard enough.”

  “Star,” he yelled. “Sit down!”

  Within a second, I was around his power desk with my hand on his throat. “Tread very carefully, Sam.”

  “Let him go,” a male voice called out as he entered the room. It was a voice I knew well.

  “Fredrick!” I shouted, surprised. He was the vampire who changed me during the Revolutionary War when I was dying. He saved my life and quickly became my mentor and friend, and had taken the place of my father since.

  “Abby,” Fredrick said with a smile. “They call me Rick now.”

  “Not Fred?” I asked, letting go of Dr. Abbott like nothing had transpired.

  “No, I never liked it,” he said, moving to my side with lightning speed. “Rick is much more modern.”

  I wrapped my arms around him in a hug. I didn’t have to worry about being careful hugging Fredrick, or Rick, as he now wanted to be called. A moment later I released him, and walked at human speed to the front of the desk, while Dr. Abbott coughed and rubbed his throat.

  “I wouldn’t be asking you this if it wasn’t important,” Dr. Abbott began. Then I looked at Rick and he nodded. So, he was Abbott’s bodyguard. Figures.

  “Dr. Abbott here was just telling me about a job he wants me for,” I explained to Rick.

  “So I’ve heard,” Rick replied. So, he was in on it.

  I nodded, then turned my attention back to Abbott. “Why me? Why not one of your human CIA agents? Or, better yet, a Secret Service agent?”

  “This matter has to be handled delicately,” he replied, then I understood.

  “He doesn’t know about this, does he?” I asked, putting the pieces together.

  Abbott shook his head.

  “And you don’t want him to know about this, do you?”

  “No.”

  “How old is he?”

  “He’s 18.”

  “High school?” I asked, incredulous, sinking back into my chair.

  Rick suppressed a smile.

  “You fit the bill,” Dr. Abbott calmly replied.

  “Meaning,
I look like I could be in high school,” I finished. I looked at Rick, but he was no help. He just shrugged his shoulders, innocently suppressing a smile. I released my breath in a gust. “Why do you need me? Or someone like me?”

  Dr. Abbott knew my meaning. “My son is in grave danger. They’ve found him.”

  I nodded, understanding. “The Others.”

  “Yes. Please protect him at all costs,” Dr. Abbott continued, “but be discrete.”

  “Don’t tell him,” I added, understanding.

  “And keep him alive at all costs and with any means at your disposal,” Dr. Abbott continued, looking deeply into my eyes.

  I understood. He knew what I was and what I could do. He was even willing for him to become a vampire if it was necessary to save him. “I understand.”

  “And one more thing,” Dr. Abbott continued. “Never grab me like that again, if you want to live.”

  I raised an eyebrow, incredulous, and smiled sweetly. “Are you threatening me, Sam? Because I don’t like to be threatened.”

  “Okay,” Rick intervened. “That’s enough.”

  “Just don’t do it again,” Dr. Abbott reinforced.

  “Then don’t order me around.”

  He nodded. “You haven’t changed.”

  I sighed and sat back down again. “Who am I going in as?”

  He knew exactly what I meant. I didn’t mean a disguise; I was a shape shifter. A vampire shape shifter. That was why Dr. Abbott didn’t shake my hand when I came in. A vampire shape shifter must touch the people they wish to impersonate to get their body print. If I wished, I could now impersonate him. That was also why he used the digital hand scanner on me when I came in. When I change into another person, only my fingerprints remained the same. The CIA developed the hand scanner to detect and determine the identity of fingerprints immediately. It was the only way he could be sure it was me and not an imposter.