Chapter 1: Harry


I was four years old and playing with my daggers. I know, a four year old shouldn’t be playing with weapons, but trucks are moronic. It’s not like I can get hurt anyway. “Axes, cars, what’s the difference? They both kill people.” I winced as it reminded me of my mom. I heard someone walk in and I got exceedingly hot. “Harry? This is Aria. I want you to meet her.” I heard my dad say. I turned around to see a girl shivering.
I gaped at her as she stared at me. She was cute, even for a four year old. With long curly brown hair, bright blue eyes, a button nose, high cheekbones; guys will drool all over when she gets older. Mate. My conscience said as I heated up even more. I needed to touch her.
She whispered in my dad’s ear, looking at me one last time before leaving the room. My eyes followed her as she left the room, not leaving the door. My temperature kept rising the longer she was gone. My dad sighed and walked over to me. “That was her, wasn’t it?” He sighed, knowing the truth. He went to pat me on the back when he jumped back. “You’re burning up! We need to bring her….” Was all I heard before I passed out.
***

That was twelve years ago. I’m Harry Styles, now, technically, nineteen, and I haven’t seen Aria since that day. From what my dad told me, she touched me and I started to wake up, but she ran out the room and jumped in her dad’s car, which they drove off.
My dad was the leader of our coven and, because he didn’t want to see me in pain, we moved to California, miles from Oklahoma. I had to move away from all my friends, family, but most of all, my Aria.
I found a new life, new friends, new supernatural school, and a new girlfriend a couple months ago. I try to forget my life back in Oklahoma, but I miss my mate. I don’t have the heat shakes anymore, but my heart, body, and soul aches for Aria.
***
I fake a smile as my girlfriend, Scarlett, hands me a present with a huge smile on her face, her straight red hair covering one eye. As she does, she whispers in my ear. “I’m saving my other surprise for later.” She pulls away with a wicked gleam in her gray eyes.
I suppressed a groan as I thought of what she had got me. Maybe she’ll finally let me bite her sweet neck….
I was shook from my thoughts as someone knocked on the door. I set down the present and shuffled to the door. Who else could be here?
I opened it to see a tanned, worn-out man standing at the door. He glanced at me before he spoke. “Is Bradford Styles here?”
“What is your purpose?” I hesitantly asked. I sniffed the air behind him, hoping to find something recognizable. What I found was much worse.
I smelled the familiar scent of Aria, which made my temperature rise by 30 degrees. It gradually continued to rise as her scent lingered on the man as well. I growled at the thought of this old man touching my Aria.
He snorted at me, “So you are Bradford’s kid. He had the same impatience.” I stared at the man, my temperature well above 150. ”D…..” I screamed in agony as the calling for my mate increased to 200 degrees and I burst into flames before I could fully call him.
***
I woke up my bedroom, my alarm ringing and sweat soaking my sheets. I stretched before jumping the shower to calm my nerves. I’ve had that same nightmare since my dad left 3 days ago. “For a short hike.” He had told me. He said he would be back for my sixteenth birthday, which is in a week. I looked around my room. I pondered for a moment throwing on some sweatpants and a tank top and running out the door to jog down the street.
The neighbor’s daughters stared as I passed, literally drooling over me. I rolled my eyes I continued to jog, aware of the eyes on me. I passed a girl with fake glasses who batted her way-too-long-to-be-natural eyelashes at me. I guess she heard the “I like girls in glasses” rumor going around. I shrugged her off and continued on.
I turned around to run back home when I ran into a boy. And just my luck, it’s Zeke Johnson, the most popular guy in school, or he was…... until the school year started. He hates me and calls me emo, but I’m not…..sort of. So I ignored him and kept jogging past him, him huffing and puffing behind me trying to keep up. When he finally caught up to me, he pushed me against a brick wall, the rough surface scraping my partially exposed back..
“Were you flirting with my girlfriend, emo boy?” He asks, his tobacco-riddled breath washing over my face, making me crinkle my nose. I restrained myself from using my inhuman strength on him, even though he doesn’t hurt me, shoved him away, and continued to jog. He followed me back to my house, taunting me in some ways even I couldn’t understand. I ignored him as I unlocked my door and stepped in to get ready for the last day of school.
I grinned at the thought of school. I know, creepy right? But today me and my friends were pulling a big prank on the principal, so I was excited. I met up with my other two friends, Stephen and Jordan, at Xavier’s house. He’s the only one of us who has a car (Right now) and he’s my best friend, so we always meet at his house.
“Xav, you excited for school today?” I grinned at him. He smirked back with the same enthusiasm. “Yep, another day filled with entertaining learning from our nonsensical teachers!” He sarcastically said, punching my arm.
We walked to our school of supernaturals with excitement filling each of us. Scarlett met with us halfway and kissed me on the cheek. “Hey babe,” I kissed her on the lips, my friends whistling and calling behind me. Scarlett blushed and started to pull away, but I held her head in my hands, locking my eyes with hers before giving her one final kiss.
She smiled and we continued to walk to school. Conveniently, Scarlett and I had lockers next to each other and we had almost every class together. Scarlett is a faerie, Steph and Jord are twin vampires (Even though they look nothing alike. Steph has green and black hair and green eyes, while Jord has white hair and gray eyes) and Xav is a werewolf. My heart aches sometimes when I smell Xav, but he’s been with me through everything.
I kiss Scarlett one more time before walking to the only class I don’t have with her, Art. I’d always loved it, and Art runs in the family, so.. yeah.
I smiled at the teacher as sat down at my desk which, unfortunately, was in the front row. I started a simple sketch as everyone else started to walk in, slowly forming a face. The art teacher walked to the front, but I ignored the teacher as I continued to draw. The finished sketch was amazing.
The girl’s loose curly hair gently brushed against her face, giving her an innocent look. Her sublime eyes were slightly distant, but clear. Her lips were curled into a small smile as if she was thinking about something funny. This drawing brought a pain to my chest, something I don’t know why. She was beautiful.
Harry! You have a girlfriend! You shouldn’t say that! My conscience scolded me as I continued to stare at the sketch. But this girl isn’t real, so why does it matter? I reminded him, tucking the drawing in my folder.
“Mr. Styles, What was that?” The teacher, Mrs. Artega, asked, breaking my thoughts. She waltzed up to my desk, her eyes clearly full of desire. I glanced at her as shivers convulsed through her body, though she tried hard to hide it.
“Just a sketch, Mrs. Artega. Would you like to see it?” I asked, pulling out my folder and handing the drawing to her. Her hand shook as mine brushed against hers.
She licked her lips as her eyes scanned the sketch, taking it in. I took her in too. She was tall, maybe 5’8, with white-blond curly hair and grayish-blue eyes. But if she is a supernatural…...Succubus. Definitely.
She set the sketch down and whispered in my ear, “I work from 8 to 4 if you need someone. I can tell that girlfriend of yours isn’t keeping you fed.” I rolled my eyes as her charm washed over me. Well that proves the succubus theory. But I don’t need a teacher all over me too.
“I’m sorry, I don’t drink from people like you. So strut yourself back to your desk before I get the principal in here. Again.” I snapped at her, reminding her of her job and settling back in my chair. Fear flashed in her eyes for a brief second before her face hardened. Her lips pursed and her forehead was creased with thought. Then she finally looked at me again.
“Okay. Please do the assignment on the board before sketching, Mr. Styles.” She said stiffly, her eyes no longer showing desire but reject, as she returned to her desk. Some guy beside me secretly high-fived me, as if afraid of being caught. I guess the same thing must’ve happened to him, but he couldn't get away from the charm. I patted him on the back before returning to the assignment on the board.
Please draw something you care for. It could be a person, thing or place. I smiled a pained grin before drawing the girl I used to love, Aria. I drew the only memory of her I had. The four year old incident. Her small arms surrounding her fragile frame, All of the pain I buried away came rushing back, as if this drawing resembled something more than rejection.
My conscience was quiet the whole time, like if it wasn’t bad to think about her. I finished it, setting on the desk, wiping a tear away that was sliding down my cheek. The bell rang, so I began to collect my stuff when both of the papers caught my eye. Both sketches looked exactly the same, except for the clear age difference. My eyes widened as I studied them both more. Was this Aria?
“Harry?” Mrs. Artega stopped me at the door. I sighed thinking this was another attempt. “Yes?” I cautiously asked, preparing myself for the charm. “You’re needed in the office, your father called.”

Notes