Prologue

Kareem was bored. He was tired of Maine. He had gone so many times that he didn’t care about the place. They had a summer place in Wells that was right near Ogunquit. Their place had a forest behind it. It was a beautiful forest with trees probably a foot taller then the house, which wasn’t really that tall it was just a story high. Kareem had loved the place when he was younger. He used to run threw the forest till dinnertime and most of the time he had been late. But now that he was about fifteen he was getting tired of the place. He wanted to stay home while his younger sisters Lily and Brandea went and kept his mother and father company. But of course that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. He had no sensitivity of his parents letting him stay home all by himself. He did want to just stay home but he knew that it would never happen. It would never happen with his mother and father that was for sure. He knew that much. He knew that he was never going to have a decent summer vacation with his parents controlling it. He just knew his life wasn’t going anywhere. Kareem looked over towards the forest in admiration. He still loved the forest no matter how old he got. He always felt that he just needed to be a part of it. He went down from his bedroom and went out towards the forest.

As he walked through he heard familiar sounds around him. He heard birds chirping and leaves crunching. But now as he stayed around he heard new sounds. Voices.

“No mama,” a girl screamed. “No mama he’s a human spare his life mama. NO MAMA!” Kareem stared ahead of him and fell backward in shock. A full-grown vampire was standing in front of him emerging from nearby trees. “MAMA NO!” the girl screamed. It was the vampire’s daughter. Kareem just stared. Vampires don’t exist. He knew that. Vampires are just things used for storytelling not for reality and definitely not for me. “MAMA PLEASE!” Kareem didn’t understand why the vampire girl wanted him to live so badly. Kareem didn’t feel the need. He was just about ready to get the blood sucked from his veins. Amazingly thought the vampire stepped back as the girl began to cry. Never mind vampires don’t exist. Kareem didn’t even know that they cried. This was the first time he’d ever seen a vampire and ever seen a vampire cry. It was amazing. And it was also the first time one tried to kill him and one tried to save his life. He couldn’t believe how quickly his life was turning so quickly. “Thank you mama thank you mama.” The girl was beautiful now that Kareem saw her. She had long dark brown hair and blue eyes and large vampire wings that were black. A cat was at the mother vampire’s heels.

“Thank you,” said Kareem to the girl not knowing what else to say.

“No problem,” she said. Kareem couldn’t get over how beautiful she was. “I’m Zytka,” she said. “And this is my mother Nala.”

“You will just call me ma’am yah hear?” Kareem nodded. “I don’t want a savage calling me Nala thank you very much.”

“If anyone’s a savage it’s you ma’am,” said Kareem glaring at her. “You don’t see me trying to kill people for no reason.” Nala glared at him furiously.

“I don’t know why I spared your life,” she said after a while. “But I hope it was worth it and so far it isn’t.”

“That was very kind of you to say I guess,” said Kareem who was very edgy now. He was always edgy around rude people.

“What’s your name?” Zytka asked trying to stop the arguing and hatred.

“Kareem Burt,” said Kareem.

“Only savages have two names,” said Nala hotly.

“How many times do I have to tell you that you’re the savage?” Kareem yelled. Zytka looked frightened and Kareem could tell she was scared by her eyes, her beautiful blue eyes that Kareem was already falling into.

“Stop it,” she said not being able to take anymore. “Mama please let’s just go and leave him be.”

“Yes I agree let’s leave the savage,” said Nala and Kareem was just yearning to ask Zytka if he could punch Nala in the face and make her bleed. He knew that the answer would be no but he wouldn’t have minded to at least ask. He glumly stared at his feet and when he looked up they were gone. Kareem stared at his surroundings. Was that real? He asked himself as he walked home. Or was that just an illusion or a dream or something? He had no answer and he was nervous now to find out if it really had been real.

Chapter 1

Zytka

Kareem found himself visiting the forest of every single day following his meeting with Zytka but not once did he see her. He wanted more then ever to look into her beautiful blue eyes and stare at her beautiful figure and even to touch it. He wanted them to be alone. He didn’t want that horrid Nala around. He wanted it to be just them. He didn’t want disruptions. He wanted love and he didn’t care if she wasn’t human he wanted love. He wanted Zytka to love him too. He wanted her to convince Nala to be a decent savage. He realized that if he didn’t call Zytka a savage then he was going to be forced not to call Nala a savage either and that was the last thing he wanted to do. After about two weeks he was starting to lose his mind. He hadn’t even seen a glimpse of her and it was probably because of stupid old Nala. He vowed never to call her a kind woman and he would certainly not call her ma’am. He wanted to make her mad. But he also wanted to see Zytka so he was going to have a lot of trouble. He stood in the same place where he’d met Zytka and her mother. After a few minutes he sat down but just as he was about to he got up as he heard leaves crunching behind him. He turned around and saw a shadow.

“Zytka?” he whispered. The figure drew closer. It was not Zytka. It was a male vampire. Kareem shrank back far away from the vampire. He wasn’t really sure why he was afraid. It was another one after all. How many vampires lived in his forest? He had no idea and he didn’t want to know.

“Who are you?” the vampire asked. “And how do you know my daughter?”

“She-She saved my life from your wife who was on the verge of killing me,” said Kareem nervously.

“Oh,” said the vampire. “So you’re the savage I was supposed to have for dinner two weeks ago huh?” Kareem shuddered and didn’t answer. He was scared of them all now. He was supposed to be their dinner? That was crazy. He knew or at least he hoped that if he were that Zytka would not eat him.

“I-I-I g-g-g-guess so,” said Kareem stuttering like crazy.

“Well,” said the vampire. “I’m only sparing your life because of my daughter. She begged me on her knees for me to spare your worthless life. You savages are all the same and I don’t see why she’s so desperate to save you.”

“Well,” said Kareem. “Maybe because she has a heart and you don’t.”

“Your tongue is very witty,” said the vampire. “You seriously are risking your neck. Pretty soon I won’t be listening to Zytka’s pleads if you keep up this wit of yours. I’m already sick of is and now I know why Nala hates you.”

“Well,” said Kareem defiantly. “I hate her too.”

“Not a good thing to say to her husband err…”

“Kareem,” said Kareem.

“Oh yes,” said the vampire. “You’re Kareem Burt I remember. You’re the savage with two names instead of just having one. I remember now. That was one of the things that Nala criticized you for. How can I forget Nala’s words when she loses her temper? I mean it’s very difficult too. I’ll let you hear her sometime. Anyway why do you come here so often?”

“I’ve always come ‘round here,” said Kareem defensively. “I’ve always stayed around here. I have a summer home here. This is my forest and my family’s. I’ve always enjoyed coming here.”

“Well you seem to do it a lot more now that you’ve met my daughter,” said the vampire.

“So,” said Kareem nervously. “I have a right to come here.”

“I’m not saying you don’t but I just thought it was a bit odd.”

“Can’t you mind your own business?”

“No that’s one of my downfalls in life,” said the vampire. “I never learned to mind my own business and neither did Nala. It’s a family trate we hope to pass on. I hope Zytka is learning it. If she is she’ll be listening right now and I have to say this. You are forbidden to do anything to my daughter. You cannot lay one hand on her and you cannot even see her actually. I don’t want her with a horrid witty savage.”

“I wouldn’t be talking,” said Kareem. He was ready to have real romance. He was ready to have secret love or even dramatic or forbidden. Well the love was already forbidden and it just might end up being secret. But where could they go with parents that always eavesdropped? He had no answers. He stared at the vampire. “Who are you?” he asked hoping he was a bit more polite than he had been five seconds before.

“My name is Zaci,” said Zaci. But like Nala you will call me Sir. I will not have my name used by a savage.”

“Can’t we start fresh and be nice to each other?” Kareem asked.

“You’ve already damaged that option Burt,” said Zaci. “There’s no chance of starting over with you I can assure you of that. You’re doomed with us for life.” Kareem backed away and ran home. He ran out of the forest and ran into Lily.

“What’s up with you Kareem?” she asked.

“Uh nothing,” said Kareem nervously. “Just got a bit nervous. I mean well I thought it was supper and I didn’t want to be late.”

“Well it’s nowhere close to supper,” said Lily. “I don’t know why you’re so scared. I mean really. Your face is really pale. Is there a murderer in there or something? A madman?”

“No,” said Kareem. “I just got nervous that’s all. Just leave me alone for a while okay Lily? Thanks.” He ran into the house and ran upstairs to his room and sank onto the bed and blasted the rock music into his ears. The one thing he loved about his life was rock. He loved rock more then anything else. The only part of rock he didn’t like was Evanescence. He couldn’t stand them. They drove him wild. The girl was ugly and stupid for one thing and for another she could not sing for beans. Nah he would probably never listen to them even though his younger sisters did constantly. Kareem was kind of scared of Evanescence. Their music was really unusual and creepy. He liked things like Metalica and Story of the Year or things like Coheed and Cambria. Some things like that were much more interesting then stupid Evanescence. He couldn’t express how much he hated Evanescence. He hated them as much as he hated Zaci and Nala. But he loved bands like Story of the Year almost as much as he loved Zytka. They were going to have to come up with a way to meet each other without being caught by the savage parents. Kareem had a job to handle and it wasn’t really going to get solved that quick. He put in his favorite Story of the Year CD and blasted it in his ears trying to block out Zaci’s voice and Nala’s cruel words that made the deepest wound possible to imagine. It wasn’t so much as the words that Nala said. It was more like how she said them and the voice she said them with. Kareem couldn’t believe Zaci fell in love with such a person well vampire. It was just crazy. He bet there were a lot nicer vampires then Nala. Really. There just had to be more pleasant ones. He didn’t approve of the savages and they were being stubborn by not wanting to start over. Well part of it was his fault but all in all he hated it all.

“Kareem can you ge some groceries?” Kareem’s mother asked. Kareem moaned as he finished eating his scrambled eggs.

“Fine,” he mumbled.

“I noticed that you’ve been in the forest a lot more often then you used too,” she commented. “I thought you hated Maine. Did you meet a girl that you have a crush on or something that you meet secretly in the forest without telling us or something?” Gee wiz his mama was a psychic person all right. Kareem nearly flinched.

“Nah,” said Kareem. “Just rememberin’ childhood stuff.”

“Oh,” said his mother. “But you’re still a child Kareem. Just cause you’re fifteen doesn’t make you unchilditized. I mean really. You’re a teen and not a kid I guess but you make it seem as though you’re an adult.”

“And you’re making it seem as though it’s the worst crime committed on the planet.”

“You know what I’m waiting for,” said his mother washing his plate when he finished. “I’m waiting for the day when you’ll learn to have decent manners towards people. That tongue of yours is quite witty. I think you need a girl that has good manners and a girl that might teach you them.”

“That’ll be hard to find mom,” said Brandea. She slurped down the rest of her hot chocolate. She didn’t care what time of year it was and she always had hot coco at breakfast whether it was a hundred degrees or zero. Kareem thought his sister was an odd egg and remembered when he’d called her that. She had thrown a tantrum that lasted the entire afternoon. Kareem remeinded himself constantly to try not to call his sister a bad egg from his mother’s stomach.

“Well missie Brandy,” said Kareem. “I don’t see you with proper manners either so I’d keep your mouth closed.”

“I do to have proper manners,” she retorted.

“Now why don’t I believe that?” Kareem asked himself. Brandea glared at him.

“Well,” said Brandea. “At least I don’t talk back to adults.”

“Well,” said Kareem. “That’s because you’re a cute little girl at the age of seven and they all adore you. You don’t see me slurping hot chocolate do you?”

“You’re supposed to slurp hot coco silly,” said Brandea slurping it again just to bug him.

“Well actually Brandy,” said his mother. “It isn’t really mandatory to slurp your hot coco. You’re not even supposed to slurp it because it’s R.U.D.E.”

“Rude?” Brandea asked. “I’m not rude. Mommy why are you calling me rude? That’s not nice. Mommy you’re being rude by calling me rude.”

“I certainly am not,” said their mother and Kareem was forced to laugh.

“Scolding us is very rude ma,” he said.

“Well,” said his mother. “Misbehaving is rude to. And you and your sister have the wittiest tongues I’ve ever come across. Why can’t you be more like Lily?” Kareem made a coughing fit. That was it every time. Why can’t you be more like Lily? The quiet, kind, caring, gernerous, smart, pretty, non-witty Lily. Of course. Lily was perfect and he and his sister were not. He didn’t see his mother praising him. Why did he have to be the servant that had to get the groceries?

“And no I am not getting the groceries mom,” he said as he went upstairs.

“Since when did you make the rules Kareem?”

“Well,” said Kareem. “I won’t do anything you say unless you stop cooing over perfect little Lily. Lily this

Lily that. I’m sick of it mom. Really it does get old and I’m tired of it now.”

“Me too,” said Brandea standing beside Kareem. “I’m not doing a thing you say until you stop praising Lily Burt.”

“Well, well, well,” said their mother. “I think you are thinking wrongly. Both of you are. Get to your rooms. NOW!” The children did not move an inch. Kareem put a hand on her shoulder and she smiled at him and they stayed put. “GO!” she shouted at them but they didn’t move. “Do I have to get your father?” Kareem didn’t even answer. He stayed right where he stood at that moment and did not move a muscle. He wasn’t even sure that he was breathing. After a while Kareem got bored of his mother standing there waiting for them to go to their rooms and he went to the door and left the house. He wondered how weak his mother was. Really weak from what he could see. He was not really keen on standing there for hours till his father came home. He wished he hadn’t left because now Brandea was stuck with his mother. His thoughts went back to Zytka. He loved her so much and he couldn’t even tell her because of Nala and Zaci. He couldn’t say anything. He couldn’t even show it. He had no way of doing anything. He had nothing to do now either. He turned around and walked back to the house so that he could go into the forest. As he entered there was someone sitting on a stump. It was Zytka! He couldn’t believe it.

“Zytka!” he whispered.

“Kareem!” she whispered back and she got up and hugged him tightly. “Oh Kareem.” Kareem was stunned. Did she love him as much as he loved her? “I thought I was never going to see you again,” she said hugging him so tightly Kareem could hardly breath. “I thought about you all the time. I really think it’s love at first site Kareem. I really do. I love you Kareem.” Kareem stared at her in disbelief. He hadn’t expected this. He was dumbfounded.

“I love you too Zytka,” he said quietly. “I always have ever since I laid my eyes upon you.” Zytka glowed with admiration for him.

“Really?” she asked. Kareem nodded and smiled at her.

”Really,” he said and before he knew it they were kissing and he was overwhelmed with so many emotions that could not be expressed all at once. But it was all like a dream after it ended.

“Oh no,” Zytka whispered. There was movement nearby. “They erally are eavesdroppers. Go!” Kareem ran at full speed. It was just like Romeo and Juliet only he hoped that he wasn’t going to die. He wanted a happily ever after ending and he was going have to say a lot of prayers to get that. He panted as he entered the house forgetting his row with his mother and he ran upstairs.

Chapter 2

The meeting with Jade

So far during the summer he’d seen Zytka three times. The first time was with the mother and the past two times they had been alone. Kareem was enjoying this more then anything else. He wondered what babies looked like as part human and part vampire. He guessed that they would probably look really odd. The thing was that he just couldn’t get enough of Zytka. She was like an obsession that never went away. She was like an obsession that never left. You couldn’t get rid of Zytka. The more he got of her the more he loved her and he was just going wild. He continued walking down the street to where the ice cream truck was parked as the man handed kids their ice cream while it played it’s annoying tunes. Kareem rummaged through his pockets to see if he had any change. He had some money so he went up to get a ice cream cone.

“Oh no,” said a girl behind him. “Oh crap I forgot my money!”

“How much do you need?” Kareem asked her.

“Seventy-five cents,” she answered. Kareem rummaged through his pocket again and found three quarters and handed them to the girl. “Thanks a ton,” she said. Kareem looked at her for the first time. She was tall and slender with blue eyes and dark hair and skin just like his. She was beautiful and she was human and not vampire and thank god for that.

After they got their ice cream they walked around for a while. Kareem remembered how Zaci had said that his family carried the trait of eavesdropping and he prayed that Zytka was being cooped up away from him and his new girl.

“I’m Kareem,” he said as they threw their wrappers into the trash.

“I’m Jade,” she said. “Jade Curie.”

“Kareem Burt,” said Kareem and just by hearing her say her own name he had already fallen in love. He took her hand and they continued walking down the sidewalk free street.

They reached a corner and Jade stopped.

“This is my block,” she said. “I better get home.”

“Okay,” he said. “Hey Jade!” he called after her. “You want to go to a movie on Friday?” She turned back and nodded with a smile and went back to him so they could plan a time.

When Kareem arrived home he wanted to kill himself. He had just asked a girl out when all he’d wanted was Zytka. What was he doing? He was going crazy was what he was doing. He was going insane. He was losing his head and senses never mind his mind. He was really going crazy.

Chapter 3

No more Jade

Kareem felt stupider then stupid could get. Zytka hadn’t even found out about Jade and if she did she wasn’t bringing it up. Somehow she was managing to visit him without being caught. He hadn’t found out how yet but he would learn. He realized then that Zytka was risking her life for him. She was sacrificing her future for him. He felt even guiltier then before. Whenever he kissed either girl he felt as though he was going to be sick. He wanted to just throw up. He found himself skipping dinners and not eating breakfast or lunch. His parents were scared. They’d heard about Jade but they didn’t know what was wrong with him.

“Are you sure you don’t want dinner Kareem?” his mother asked.

“I’m positive,” said Kareem.

“You’ll die,” said his mother. “You’ll seriously die of starvation Kareem come on just eat a little bit.”

“NO!” His mother finally left the room. It wasn’t as though Kareem hated his parents. It was just that he was confused and he had nowhere to turn and he had no plan for what he was going to do about two completely emotional girls that would die if he left them. He knew that somehow he belonged with Zytka and not with Jade. Why was he betraying Zytka when Zytka had saved his life? He really wanted to die of starvation. The phone rang and he picked it up.

“Hi.” Jade said it right when she heard a click. “Is Kareem there?”

“This is,” said Kareem.

“Hey Kareem,” she said. “I heard about your fasting. What’s up with that? I mean really I don’t think you’re fat. I think you’re fine. You don’t need to starve yourself.”

“That’s not the reason why I’m starving myself,” said Kareem.

“Why then?”

“Can’t tell you,” said Kareem.

“Why not?” Jade asked stubbornly.

“Because it’s nothing to do with you.”
“I’m your girlfriend!”

“You’re stubborn.”

“You’re witty and stupid,” Jade shot back. Why did this have to happen? Why did she have to bring up the subject? He could smell bad things approaching.

“Is there a problem with that?” Kareem asked.

“Yes,” said Jade. “Right now there is.”

“What’s the problem?”

“You don’t say anything. And you’re keeping something from me. I know it! You can’t lie Kareem! I know you’re keeping something from me! You don’t lie to a girlfriend Kareem! Haven’t you had a girlfriend before me?”

“No,” Kareem lied.

“Well,” said Jade. “I can see that. And you’re not going to have one for a while. You know why?” Here it comes, Kareem thought to himself. She’s dumping me right now. “Because I’m tired of you and we’re through.”

“Halleluiah,” said Kareem and he hung up the phone. He had her off his plate and he was happy. He went downstairs and ate his dinner and he was surprised his mother didn’t die of a heart attack.

“Oh my goodness!” said his mother as Kareem wolfed down his food. “I thought you were going to die of starvation! Thanks heavens some sense got knocked into you Kareem Burt!” Kareem smiled at his mother. To her it looked as though he was a beggar that hadn’t eaten in weeks when it was her own son that hadn’t eaten in a full week. He remembered that he hadn’t recently seen Zytka. He wanted to smack himself. He finished his dinner and his mother gave him some cake that she’d made. It was delicious and she actually let him have a second piece and then a third and then a fourth. Kareem couldn’t even move towards the door so he went to bed well fed.

Chapter 4

Kareem was content now. He had Zytka and no other girl to worry about He hadn’t told Zytka about Jade and he didn’t plan on telling her either. Well it was just as well. She would probably never ever forgive him for it. Half of the summer had been swept away with wonderful love that was to last forever. Kareem walked into the forest to meet with Zytka. She was not there. He was doomed. He was alone in the dark with no one except himself and the wilderness. He had no way to get out. Zytka had always guided him. She had always been there.

“Looking for someone?” Kareem jumped at hearing Zaci’s voice.

“N-No,” said Kareem nervously. “Just taking a nighttime stroll.”

“I see,” said Zaci. “That’s why I saw you err kissing my daughter a few nights ago.” Kareem was too frightened to speak. “I found out about your secret get-togethers and I saw it was my duty as Zytka’s father to err eavesdrop. Do you not remember that I told tyou that I never mind my own business if I can help it ”

“You’re crazy,” said Kareem and he ran. He didn’t know where he was

running. He just hoped he was running the right way. He ran on and on and on and on. He could hear Zaci behind him and it made him run twice as fast. In truth he really did think that Zaci was crazy and that he was a madman. He had no right to spu on Zytka. They had no close relation. She hadn’t asked him to do that. Kareem ran into something solid and fell back and found himself in front of Nala and behind him was a panting Zaci.

“I shall not spare your life this time,” said Nala and she bent over him and Kareem turned over holding himself tightly. He was going to die and he knew it. “Look what you’ve done to my daughter,” said Nala. “I would’ve ben nice to you if you weren’t so rude but I do not want my daughter with a savage and especially not with a rude one.”

“Do you have to call me that right before I die?” Kareem asked.

“You aren’t going to die,” said a voice. Nala looked up and so did Kareem and Zaci. “You aren’t going to kill him mama. If you really want us to be apart I will listen but you will not kill him.”

“That sounds fair to me Nala,” said Zaci. “As long as he stays away from her then I’m all for it.”

“Well I’m not,” said Nala. “He deserves a painful death for what he did to my daughter.”

“Nala listen to me,” said Zaci. Kareem was starting to like Zaci for his courage and for defending him of all people. “We’re going to spare his life. He knows better then to do it again and he won’t do it again and Zytka knows better than to do what she did with him.” Nala did a series of coughs at this. “Come off it Nala,” said Zaci. “Live with it. They love each other but it won’t be physical love anymore. I have already made this clear. If he touches our daughter again then he can die but if he doesn’t then he won’t lose a hair. Let’s go Nala.” They left. Zytka stayed put. “Come now Zytka. We must go.” Zytka didn’t say anything she just stared at Kareem.

“One more moment won’t kill you two will it?” she asked her parents. They looked at each other and then they nodded and left. “It’s our last time together Kareem,” she said and Kareem wondered if he would cry. He had never cried over Jade but he had a feeling that he was going to cry over Zytka. It was probably the best and last wonderful moment of his life. He could salty tears fall from Zytka’s eyes when she kissed him and he knew that she was going to miss him too. “Well,” she said. “I have to go.” She kissed him one last time. “I love you Kareem. I hope we see each other again someday?” She was about to walk away and then she walked back and helped him get home through the dark. “Oh yeah,” she said as they kissed each other good-bye one last time. “You may want to apologize to Jade. I saw her crying at her doorstep. Tears streamed down a million miles an hour. I won’t bother telling you that I know all about you and your little movie trips.” Kareem’s mouth was dry. He had expected this but he hadn’t wanted to hear it when they were departing forever.

“I’m really sorry Zytka,” he said. “I really am. I love you.” Zytka gave him one last good-bye and departed with a gentle smile that Kareem had to cherish in his heart mainly because he didn’t have a camera. “Zytka wait!” Zytka stopped and he ran into the house and dug through his bag. He needed something to remember her with. When he ran back however Zytka was gone and she had not waited. He sat down on a stump and he realized a little while later that there were tears streaming down his cheek/. He didn’t bother whipping them away or it would just make his emotions worse/. He wondered how Zytka felt about all this. How she was never to see him again. He wondered if she would find a husband and love him as much as she’d loved Kareem. Kareem knew that it wasn’t what you looked like that really mattered. It was the love you shared with the person that mattered. Zytka may be vampire, he thought as he lay down in bet that night. But she has the heart of a human and it was not evil. It was the most wonderful heart he would ever cherish.