Chapter 1

(Nikolai's POV)

I hid silently in the shadows, watching Her every move. I had been watching her like that for six years, ever since her mother died.

When I had presented the deal to her father, he couldn't have agreed faster. What a stupid human.

She would be mine soon.

I didn't need to rush things. I would have her soon enough.

She was beautiful. She pulled out her house key and unlocked the front door to her house.

"I'm home." She called.

I stepped a little closer. I didn't like not being able to see her. It made me anxious.

I knew that her father was asleep. He always was at this time of day.

I heard her stomping upstairs and slam her bedroom door shut. I climbed up a tree and peered into her window.

I looked at my watch. Only a few more hours....

* * * * * * * * *

(Raisa's POV)

When I got home after school, my father was asleep on the sofa. Again.

"I'm home." I said.

Like it really mattered whether or not I came home.

I stomped up to my bedroom and slammed the door behind me.

I dropped my backpack on the floor and went over to my bed, planning to flop down, go to sleep, and never wake up, but there was a package on it.

It was a small box wrapped in black paper sitting on my bed. Just like every year since Momma died.

I smiled. No one else knew about these gifts. I didn't even know who brought them to me. But they were always there. Every birthday, I either woke up to or came home to find a small gift wrapped in black paper.

I sat down on my bed and cently put the box in my lap. I remembered everything that had come out of the boxes before it. The first one had been a small, fluffy, stuffed black second was a pair of black diamond earings. Then a little black journal, a white gold bracelet, and a rose-shaped crystal.

The puppy was on top of a pile of pillows, the journal-half filled- lay open on my desk next to the crystal. I never took off the earings or the bracelet.

I began to slowly unwrap the box, taking time to savor the moment. Inside, there was a small black card.

In red ink, it said, "Happy Sixteenth Birthday, Raisa."

I smiled. I placed the card next to me on the bed and pulled out a long, black velvet box.

When I opened it, there was a single, heart shaped black diamond dangling delicately from a white gold chain.

"Thank you." I said to who ever had given it to me.

* * * * * * * * *

(Nikolai's POV)

I waited until Raisa was asleep before I entered her room. I glanced up at her clock. 10:28. Only a few more moments, and she would be mine.

I had waited for this for six long years. I grinned at the thought.

I took her black suitcase from her closet and began to pack what few things she had for her. Her clothes, books, CD's, stuffed animals, toiletries, and CD player all fit into the one bag. I took the suitcase and her back pack out to my car and returned to her bedside. 10:35. only two minutes left.

She began to stir. She would awaken soon. Then she would meet her fate.

10:36. One minute left.

Raisa made a small noise and turned over.

10:37. Game over.