A/N: HEY! Sooo here I am with yet another fic. I'll get the rest of White Dove up over the next few days and the second chapter of Murder in the Attic should be out by friday. IF you're a fan of Supernatural I write fanfictions the link to my is on my profile. I write other stuff its just a LOT worse than my SPN stuff cause its old...R&R guys I REALLY need the constructive critism here.

Purging

Chapter One

I pressed the cold, stone, black heart to my lips in a desperate effort to suppress the jittery emotion brewing in my chest. The bubbling the book I was reading invoked caused me to bounce and twist in my place on my carpeted bedroom floor. I couldn’t take my eyes off of him for a second; the image was far beyond the beauty of mortality, far beyond the creatures that were born from my imagination. He was unnatural and therefore enticing; I knew it was sick, my obsession, but life without this wasn’t something I was willing to face. Something I knew I couldn’t stand.
“Kiss him damn it,” I whispered.
“Joey, you having a fit?” my head snapped up at the sound of the voice that broke the spell that had been holding me in my fantasy.
“No, he’s just got her! Inches, Lor! Not even that!” I looked back at the text I’d been reading. “He took my face in his hands, passion and blood lust burning in his eyes. A voice, I no longer listened to, yelled at me to run from him at the back of my mind. His breath was cool on my cheeks and smelled so wonderful I was weakened. ‘Do you trust me?’ he asked. I made a sound that should have been ‘yes’ but it was more of a low moan.’” I looked up at Lor waiting to see her gray eyes flash with lightening demanding more.
“Hmm, vampires or werewolves this time?” she asked bored. I jumped up and grabbed my sister’s shoulders, shaking her slightly as I spoke.
“Mine heart belongs to them!” I told her, knowing my eyes had just caught fire with enthusiasm.
“Truly, Jolene, grow up. Werewolves, vampires, pixies, magic its all child’s play.” Lor pulled free of my grip rolling her eyes. “Next you’ll be telling me Peter Pan was here to visit last night.”
“Whatever,” I sighed she wouldn’t ever be able to understand the world I needed to live in. “I’ve got to get to work. Will you be home when I get back?” I wasn’t lying I did need to get to work but I had plenty of time to finish this chapter and an argument but things had been too good since she took me in to mess them up over vampires.
“No, I don’t think so. Emerson and I are going out,” she smiled her full too perfect lips tugging into a gentle crescent. “I think he’ll finally ask,” she told me excitedly.
“Don’t hold your breath,” I mumbled book marking my novel and sticking it in the tiny book bag I carried as a purse.
“Watch the lights if you take the car, Vampire, I can’t afford another ticket right now!” she called after me and I fled down the hall toward the stairs out of the apartment building.
I’m the youngest of three, will be 18 this fall, and am sort of Mom and Dad’s mistake. They got careless one anniversary and nine months later welcomed me into the world. Lorraine’s the middle child at 28, then there’s Jason. Jason’s married with two kids and another on the way at thirty. After Mom and Dad died, five years ago, I went to live with Jason and Alyce, his wife, but with the new baby their already tight budget wasn’t going to be able to stretch far enough to cover us all, even with my part time job. So I volunteered to go live with Lor, even though we didn’t get along and Jason and Alyce protested thoroughly.
Lor and I were close once a upon a time, but I handled Mom and Dad’s deaths differently than she did, instead of dealing with it I tended to escape into books, replacing the reality of Narnia and Middle Earth for the reality of an orphan in 2002. It didn’t help that Lor attracted a lot of male attention with her full pouty lips, stormy grey eyes, clear olive skin, and her perfect hour glass figure. She had a bubbly sweet personality, but despite her honey blonde hair she was intelligent and sensible. She was a news anchor but her true interest lied in political talk shows. Basically she was my polar opposite.
I sport waist length inky black hair, though naturally it’s a chocolate brown with streaks of auburn, and gold, behind thick lashes lay deep russet eyes. Where Lor had long lean legs, I’m petite, which I joke is a gift meaning I don’t have as far to fall in my frequent battles against gravity. Lor was born with a dancer’s grace and I’ll forever envy that. Its not like I’m horrifically disfigured or anything, but I’m plain. Plain Jo.

“God, he’s here again,” Cole moaned. “He comes in, the girls drool, he leaves. He don’t spend a dime, just stares at all the damn books.” Cole, was one of my very few friends here. I’d lived with Lor eight months, and been working at Bookworm’s Haven for six of those months, I’d spent near every day with Cole and his sister, Phoenix. It amused the life out of both, Phoenix and I, that he was so upset by the presence of the stranger.
“You’re just jealous, Co-co.” Phoenix teased.
“Whatever, bitch. I’m going to shelve,” he dismissed himself. Bookworm Haven had a very varied selection, since it was all pre-owned books, and we got new books in daily so there was always shelving to do.
“Jo, why don’t you go help him?” Phoenix flashed her bleached white teeth batting fake gold lashes. She was all about the gold. “Mr. Mystery not Cole.”
“Why? He knows the store better than I do.” The costumer in question was a few inches taller than me, and very handsome, like someone straight out of a teen romance novel, the best part being he was around our age. I made a point of staying out of his way though, something about him set off all sorts of alarms.
“Because I’m running the show tonight and I said so. Because you’ve been here almost a year and haven’t made any effort to talk with anyone unless someone had a gun to your head.” She smiled at the elderly man, Mr. Richards, beckoning him forward to check out, “Come on, Jo-Jo, what are you afraid of, he won’t bite?” I glared at her but was forced to keep composed as Mr. Richards took Phoenix’s invite. “Go, Jo,” she urged again. So I went, wringing my hands, chewing my lip, rehearsing lines in my head.
“Excuse me, sir, may I help you?” I asked he had a blank stare fixed on the young adult fiction books. “Sss-Sir?” I asked again slightly louder this time. He snapped around so fast I jumped, nearly swallowing my tongue in the process.
“Sorry, Jolene didn’t mean to frighten you.” He smiled and suddenly he was forgiven. I’d never heard him speak before and God, his voice was beautiful like silk, and it nearly made up for calling me Jolene.
“You know my name?” I was dumbfounded.
“Why of course,” his smile widened the sort of smile that makes hoards of fan girls scream his name. “I’ve seen you often enough, shouldn’t I know it?”
“Oh,” I answered kicking myself for being so retarded.
“What was it you were asking?”
“I asked if you needed help.” Had I known his name I would have relished the chance to tact it on here.
“Yes, actually,” I smiled showing my willingness to help in any way possible. “I’m looking for a good fantasy.”
“Lord of the Rings, Narnia, Harry Potter,” I listed the top three series by habit. “If you don’t mind bad translations, Cornelia Funke has some good stuff.”
“She does, I’ve read them in German and English. It’s a pity they made her books so childish in their translated forms.” He sighed, “But, alas, I’ve read all of those.” I racked my brain for another book to offer, there had to be more, with all I read there had to be a least one book that would suit him.
“Do you mind romance?” he grinned devilishly and I fought not to blush.
“What would life be without a good romance?”
“Dull and unfeeling,” I answered though I knew it was a rhetorical question. “Silver Kiss isn’t too romancy its about a vampire that wishes to kill his brother, or by the same author is Blood and Chocolate about a werewolf girl finding herself.” these were two of my favorites that I’d read so many times my copies had fallen apart.
“Read them as well, maybe I should change genre.”
“No, it’s a good place to be right now.” I bit back further protest when he eyed me.
“You like the monsters?” I wasn’t totally sure it was a question, but felt compelled to answer him anyway. I had a strange feeling that I’d do most anything he asked of me.
“They’ve got some intrigue,” I allowed not admitting to the yearning I felt to be like them.
“Yes, they do, but they’re hideous creatures. Too many people romanticize them, they don’t tell the full truth; let the horror sink in.”
“Even the bad ones are interesting, though,” I argued. “a near human giving into the animal within, going feral.”

“You’re passionate about this, I see,” he said amused. “Don’t tell me you relate to them. The monsters and you are worlds apart.”
“I don’t know,” I said with a soft laugh. “Maybe, we all have a beast within beating its cage to get free.”
“Maybe,” he nodded. Our eyes met; and he held me in his gaze for the longest moment of my life. “Its closing time, my Jolene.” he whispered reaching out to brush a stray lock from my face, tucking it behind my ear. His cool finger tips hovered at my neck. “Stay safe,” then he turned from me and left.

I managed to stay out of Phoenix’s path the rest of my shift, as we closed. Lor wasn’t at the apartment when I got back, not that I expected her. So, I showered and devoured a bad TV dinner, watching the weather channel. I was climbing in bed when she called to say she was staying with Emerson tonight. I fell asleep thinking about fantasy books, I was determined to help him find something to read.
School was its usual boring drawl, at lunch Becca, my certified shadow, babbled about weekend plans with her boyfriend. I feigned interest but couldn’t have been happier to hear the bell. Phoenix and Cole were early, as always, their dad owned the coffee shop next door, and unless they had classes they were working for him. Cole was studying at DeVry to do something with computer animation. Phoenix was at the community college ‘tasting’ classes. She was just biding time until she took over her dad’s place.
I wasn’t sure why I was disappointed when my shift ended and he didn’t come. It wasn’t like I had a book for him. I had no reason to watch the door the way I did. But I couldn’t help it. I trudged home shoulders hunched over, the only ting that hoped to lift my spirits was I had time to finish reading my book tonight. Maybe the vampire would finally kiss the girl.
Shortly after ten I was pulled from my book by a head line on the news. “Suspected rapist found with throat slashed.” I smiled to myself, served the bastard right, and then was caught by a little voice who asked ‘what if he was innocent?’ We’d know soon enough, the blessing of DNA testing, didn’t leave these things unsettled very long anymore.

“Monday I’ll be out by the school, wanna ride?” Cole asked me the next evening as I lounged over the counter watching him work the register. I shrugged; Cole and I had been flirting with the ‘more than friends’ line for a while and I really didn’t want to cross it. Not because I didn’t like Cole but because liking Cole would get complicated, he didn’t do well with women. “Come on, Jo, we’ll have time to grab a bite too and you won’t have to walk.” he knew how much I hated walking in the city. Back home with Jason, I walked everywhere here was another story I didn’t like the big city’s effect on the defenses.
“Let him pick you up, have a good time,” Phoenix said passing us with a crate of books Ms. Jones had sold us that morning. “I’ll even cover so you can me late, you two don’t get out enough. It’s all school and being serious adults blech!” I really didn’t have a choice now that she’d stated her opinion on the matter.
“Okay, but you can’t pick me up in the lot. I’ll meet you around the corner.”
“Why?” he huffed.
“I don’t want anyone seeing me getting into the Monster.” Cole gave me a goofy crooked grin.
“Sure, thang,” he twanged.
“Phee did you hear about the rape guy?” I asked following her to put away the great mass of bodice ripping novels.
“Babe, don’t talk like that in front of Fabio.” she scolded me as if I were a child. “But since you’re playing a long for Cole, I’ll let it slid.”
“Well, did you?” I pressed slipping a thick paper back with a well worn cover onto the shelf between its sisters.
“Yea, probably the girl’s pissed off dad or something. My ole man went through the roof when he saw that one was found behind my school.”
“I’ll bet,” I fell silent this was where other girls would compare their father’s reactions. After several minutes of nothingness Phoenix breathed life back into our conversation.
“So, you and mystery man seemed to really hit it off. What happened?”
“Nothing, we talked books then he left.”
“He touched you! I saw it, brushed the hair out of your face. So sweet!” she tired to keep her voice hushed but the girly excitement was taking a bigger hold on her than it had the right to. I rolled my eyes at her. “Does he have a name yet?”
“No, but he knew I’m Jolene.”
“How’d he manage that? Loriane’s the only one that calls you Jolene and she’s not been in here at the same time as him. Everyone just calls you Jo, right?” She started fidgeting with the beads in her hair, she wore her hair as close to the Cleopatra wigs as possible.
“Oh who cares? He doesn’t seem to be coming back.”
“Jo, it’s been two days give the boy some credit. He’ll be back, who could stay away from you?” I snorted at her attempt to cheer me up. We worked on for a good fifteen minutes before we finished and she slid her hand over my knee using me to push herself to her feet. “Just don’t go all vampiress on him; guys don’t dig it when a chick rambles about blood suckers.”

For a solid week my mysterious friend didn’t show up even on days I didn’t work. I was compelled to the scene of our meeting. Monday Cole picked me up, we ran through Burger King, and he babbled about school while we ate. I was glad for us to get to the store where, if nothing else, I could escape Cole. Normally, I’d be at awe with his ingenious computer skills, since I can barely work Solitaire, but today I just wasn’t in the mood to deal with him. I wanted to see if he was here. But I should have known better.
Thursday evening was painfully slow. Phoenix left early for a date, leaving us with instructions to hold out another hour and close up. The news was getting worse; people were turning in earlier, with the dead guys popping up almost nightly with cut throats. Guys at school were joking about land pirates, not that that was a logical guess, since the criminals hadn’t been robbed of anything but a few pints of blood and their lives.
“Jo, want me to walk you home?” Cole asked as he locked the front door.
“Nah, I’ll be fine it’s only a couple of blocks,” I waved off his offer, still sticking close to him not ready to part just yet.
“Call me when you get in then,” he ordered, softening his voice when he saw defiance building in my stance. “So I know you’re alright.”
“Sure thing,” I nodded, I could handle a little knight in shinning armor syndrome. “See you tomorrow night, Cole.” I took off up the street knowing his eyes were on me until I turned the corner out of his sight.
As I walked to an empty apartment in the pouring ran I toyed with the name of the city’s shrouded hero. Footfalls behind me made me speed up, when I was confident in the distance between me and the only other person on the street; I stole a glance at him. I shuffled through the mental list of criminal sketches I’d seen. My follower was average height, leaning hard on heavy set but not there just yet, he had tiny squinted eyes and a three day beard. When I looked at him his lips pulled back in a sickening smirk.
“Girl like you shouldn’t be alone out here,” he warned matching my stride.
“I live just up the street.” It wasn’t a lie; unfortunately ‘up the street’ was still another four blocks.
“Here I know a short cut.” I resisted the urge to tell him the shortest distance between two points was a straight line, instead muttering at quick ‘no thank you’. “Come on,” I was really getting tired of people saying that, as if it were the magic phrase to make me do what they wanted. “It’s easy, I won’t hurt you.” He reached for my arm and I jerked back when someone says they won’t hurt you it’s usually a good sign that that’s the first thing they’ll do.
“I said no.” I repeated my answer more firmly, wishing I’d taken the pepper spray Alyce had given me.
“I heard you, babe,” he shoved me as we passed an alley. I stumbled back into the darkness, determined not to fall. Suddenly my back was against the rough brick, the man didn’t waste time pinning me to the wall. The more I struggled the better his hold on me got. “Shhh, hon. I don’t want to hurt you. I can make this easy, you’ll even enjoy it,” he leered, his breath hot reeking of booze as it raked across my face. I brought my knee up catching him in the groin, in a desperate effort to get rid of this jerk. The shock of my blow gave me the upper hand; I threw my weight forward toppling onto him. I scurried to my feet in a mad panic, and ran out of the alley hitting hard into a body. I screamed thinking my attacker had a buddy, strong arms wrapped around me drawing me in and muttering things that I vaguely realized weren’t vicious
“Jolene?” the gentle voice asked smoothing back my hair, before taking my face in his hands. His thumbs wiped away tears I wasn’t aware of shedding. “Jolene, what’s wrong? What happened?” I collapsed into his chest sobbing, I didn’t care that he’d disappeared for a week, or that I didn’t know him, he was familiar and therefore safe. Though, his body went stiff he held me until I was calm enough to talk. I relayed the whole tale in one breath, my cheeks burning from the hot tears, I hadn’t realized he’d pulled me under an awning and the rain was falling all around us. His face hardened as I told him of my attack, for a moment I feared he’d go back and find my attacker; instead he pulled me from his chest. “Let’s get you home,” he said offering me his arm. “We’ll call the cops from there.” I nodded numbly leading him to Lor’s apartment.
It was a lot closer than I thought, I took him upstairs and he sat on the couch watching me make the call to the police. I told them every detail I could think of when I was put through to one of the officers. Officer Neddly promised to stop by first thing in the morning to get more information and instructed me to lock my doors, call a friend, and go to bed. When I hung up I sank into the couch arms wrapped around myself and noticed for the first time I’d let a stranger into what was supposed to be a safe place. I had opened myself up to get hurt.
“Jolene, where’s your sister?” his voice was soaked in concern, that told me he wished me no harm.
“With her boyfriend,” I answered.
“Oh, is there anyone I can call to stay with you?” I flipped through the short list of people I knew in this city, and came up with no one I’d like to admit this to.
“No,” I yawned, as the warm fuzzy feeling of safety settled in on me my body decided it was ready to crash for the night. “What’s your name?” I was determined to stay awake; as long as I had him here he had to answer my questions.
“Noah,” he smiled. “Forgot you didn’t know me, I’m sorry. That was rude of me not to introduce myself before now.” I shook my head, he was talking nonsense. He’d just saved my life and he was worried about manners.
“No need to apologize, I should be thanking you.”
“What for, Jolene?” he said my name rolling it around in his mouth and savoring it in a way no one else had ever done.
“Jo, everyone calls me Jo.” I corrected him.
“Jolene is much prettier, almost worthy of you.” I felt a blush coming to my cheeks and turned my head to hide it. “You didn’t answer my question, Jolene, why should you thank me?”
“For taking care of me tonight, you didn’t have to do that.” he patted my knee and smiled.
“It was nothing; I’d been looking for a reason to talk to you anyway.” I smiled around a yawn, summoning another question to my lips. Before I could form the first word he put up his hand. “Go to bed, Jolene, I’ll stay here until your sister returns if you like.”
“Are you sure?” I’d feel much better if he stayed but I didn’t want to look weak either. Damsels in distress are so last century.
“Will you rest more comfortably with me here?”
“Yes,” I admitted, he nodded as if that settled it. “Thank you.”
“Go get some rest, Jolene.” Noah seemed determined to use my full first name, and for the first time I didn’t mind the usage. I leaned over kissing his cheek; his skin was cold almost like there was no blood flow underneath it. It sent an odd chill through my body and the alarms that had kept me from him until the other night went off madly again. I rocked to my feet, and with a final look went to put on something warm and dry and crawl into bed. How was I ever going to explain this to Lor?