Keepers of the Flame (Trilogy Bundle)

The Stone Keeper



chapter One



Hi, my name is Luanne Kylor and I'm a freshman at one of the colleges in California. I live with my grandmother, Katrina. And I'm a vampire. I know you probably weren't expecting to hear that. Well, not many people know, not even my best friend, Claire.

You see, I'm not like any vampires you know. Nothing like what you watch on TV, either. I belong to a race of vampires known as the Pereneans, or the Born vampires. We were not made or created. No one bit me on the neck or anything like that. I was born a vampire. We've come a long way as vampires and have gone through what you might call evolution. Sunlight still bothers us but not enough to do any serious harm, unless you count sunburn. And that thing about killing us with the stake? That is so eighteenth century. Even the silver bullet thing doesn't work anymore. Like I said, we've evolved.

Last year was a hard year for me. A lot of stuff went down in my life. First, I got attacked and almost lost my life, but that's a different story altogether. Second, I met Dylan. Now that is a story worth telling, or it would be, if there were any story to tell.

Dylan is a Vampire Protector and he belongs to the order of protectors. He was assigned as my bodyguard...ehm, yeah, you heard right. That is not unconnected to the almost-lost-my-life story. Anyway, we got close and when things finally calmed down, we shared this wonderful kiss. I still have dreams about that kiss. Sigh. But that was what? Eight months ago, and is Dylan my boyfriend? Heck no. After that night when I finally had my first kiss with the only guy I'd ever wanted to share a kiss with, I haven't seen him again. No, you heard me right. He went off into the night and I've seen neither hide nor hair of him.

I'd love to say that I never heard of him again but that won't be true. He does keep in touch. I get the odd message from him now and then and each month he calls once, without fail. But I wanted more than that from him. Oh well, after waiting so long I've finally decided that I'm done with waiting. I'll be turning eighteen in five months and I've never had a boyfriend. Just think about it for a second. Yeah, I know, it's pathetic. I'm not boy crazy or anything and I'm not even into fashion and all that stuff. But I've never had a boyfriend before. I had to repeat it so that it can sink in.

Which is why I'm in my room right now, in front of my full length mirror, trying on several outfits. Yeah, I finally decided to go out on a date. No more waiting for Dylan. He doesn't want me? Fine. Do you know how many guys on campus are dying to go out with me? Hundreds! Literally thousands! Okay, so maybe I've exaggerated a little bit. Still, I gaze at my reflection in the mirror and yes, I have no problem with that, even though I'm a vampire.

I don't look bad. I'm not too tall, that's true, but I'll blame that on my grandmother. I took her petite frame. I have really long blonde hair, it's almost to my waist and I've been seriously considering cutting it. My face is pretty enough. My eyes are almond shaped and they're gray. Admittedly, it's not as nice as having baby blues, or exotic green eyes, and I would probably kill for Claire's lovely brown Bambi eyes. Still, they’re mine and not bad. My nose is normal and my lips are just fine, maybe a little too full and too wide. But I don't deceive myself. I know the real reason I get asked out at least five times every week is because of my bust. Have I mentioned I have a small frame? Can you imagine what a D cup looks like on that frame? Yeah, you got it. Cutting my hair is not the only thing I'm considering.

“Lu!”

That's Katrina calling. Even though she can just appear in my room, she's good about knocking before she enters, or calling in this case. I waited a beat and sure enough, she appeared in my room.

“What do you think?” I turned to her.

She eyed my outfit without saying a word. I was dressed in a pair of skinny jeans, with a black French-cut t-shirt. She shook her head at me.

“Haven't I taught you anything, child?”

I knew what she meant. I looked at her then, clad in her latest designer ensemble. Katrina was hands down, the most stylish person I knew. No celebrity, mortal or vampire, holds a candle to her. Of course it helped that her face was completely free of wrinkles. There was no strand of grey in her lovely auburn curls and she had the body and face of a thirty year old model. The truth was that she's a little over a hundred and fifty years old, but she would kill anyone who mentioned her age.

“I don't have anything else to wear,” I moaned.

She tut-tutted at me then snapped her fingers. Instantly a very little dress in red leather appeared in her hands. She held it out to me and I reluctantly put it on. I stared at my reflection in fascinated horror. Did I forget to mention that the dress was very little? It barely covered my backside, and clung to my body like a second skin and to make matters worse, it had no straps.

“Is it your goal to get me ravished this evening?”

“None of your lip, young lady.” She ordered and snapped her fingers again.

Another dress appeared, this time a floral affair in pale yellow. It had straps too, or at least a single strap as I discovered when I put it on. It hugged my bust then flared gently, ending just above my knees.

“Perfect,” she stated in satisfaction.

Even I had to admit that it was perfect. I looked lovely and not too formal. It was a first date and we were going to a fancy restaurant, still I did not want to look too dressed up.

“I like it,” I said with a pleased smile. My smile faded slightly as I looked at my hair, caught in its usual ponytail. Hmmm, what to do with the hair?

“You need to do something about your hair, you can't go in a ponytail,” Katrina pointed out.

“Actually, I can. Ponytails are very hip right now,” I said just to be contrary.

She delicately rolled her eyes at me. “Does anyone even use the word hip these days? You're the teenager, Lu. Try to keep up with the times. Now sit down,” she ordered.

I sighed as I obediently sat on the stool at the dressing table. I knew it was pointless to argue. Katrina in her take-charge mode was impossible to resist. Besides, I knew next to nothing about hair and makeup and stuff and I figured there was no harm trusting a woman who had decades of experience in that stuff. I should have known better.

She stood beside me and tilted her head from side to side, making small hmmm sounds. She placed both hands on her hips and walked from my right hand side to my left hand side. After a few moments of that, I began to fidget. How hard could it be anyway?

“Stay still, girl. I'm trying to create a masterpiece here.”

I rolled my eyes but didn't say anything. When she was satisfied, she stood behind me and waved her index finger in an air circle. My long tresses of hair suddenly rearranged themselves into a topknot at the back of my head. There were tendrils escaping from each side and it all looked very sophisticated. I looked at my reflection and thought that if I ever wanted a career as a poster girl, I probably could do well there. Or a porn star. I shook my head to loosen the topknot and it came undone.

“It's too much,” I said.

“You're right. It's for an older woman.” She pursed her lips and studied my reflection again, and then a smile lit her face. “I've got it!”

I sat still as she moved her finger again and the hair arranged itself into a simple French braid. It was fantastic! The beauty of the hair was the simplicity. The braid began from the left side of my head and ended at my nape. It was then curled into a bun just at the nape. It was a classy take on my usual ponytail.

“Oh Katrina, I love it!” I jumped up and gave her a tight hug.

She hugged me back and I could see the soft sheen of tears in her eyes. “You're so beautiful. You remind me of your Mom when she married your Dad. She was so beautiful and I think I fell in love with her afresh. I miss them so much.”

I hugged her again but didn't say anything. I lost my Mom and Dad and my little sister when I was thirteen, and it's not something I liked talking about. Actually, I didn't talk about it, period.

“Thank you, Grandma,” I said softly.

She stood up straight and directed a mock frown at me. “Do I look like a grandma to you?”

I laughed as I shook my head. It was a long-standing joke between us. “You don't even look like anybody's mother,” I teased.

“Oh just get ready! I have things to do.”

I heard her laughter as she disappeared from my room. I stood in front of the mirror once again, this time with a huge smile on my face. I was going to have fun that night and I was not going to allow thoughts of Dylan to get in the way.