Jezzalyn awoke to the howling sound of her alarm. Groaning, she rolled over and pressed the off button, her muscles protesting any kind of movement. Everywhere seemed to ache this morning, "One would think that choosing space over claustrophobia would combat muscle pain," she thought ruefully. With yet another groan Jezzalyn limped from her bed to her vanity. Sitting on the bench,  Jezzalyn looked over the surface of the makeup table. It was white with black heiroglyphics and runes scattered about the surface and frame of the mirror in permanent marker.

Instinctively, Jezzalyn's hand floated to the eyeliners, all but one seemed to be worn down to a miniscule nub. As she lined her eyes thickly with khol black, soft thudding noises made their way down the basement stairs to her bedroom door.
   "Enter," Jezzalyn said before her mother's fist even touched the wood.

A tall slender woman entered teh dimly lit room. Her name was Felicity and her personality used to be as whimsical as her name. She had a kind face that was astonishingly pretty but plagued by crow's feet and the stress lines of motherhood. Her once lively emerald eyes were now dead and dulled by the gray of sadness. As usual her hair was pulled into a lazy bun that did nothing to tame the wild red-brown curls that surrounded her face. She donned a pair of faded blue jeans and an oversized shirt that belonged to Jezzalyn's dad. Since he had walked out last year, Jezzaly couldn't help but pitty her mother. They were soul mates, but he gave up on everyone for false dreams.
   "Good morning, sweetheart!" Felicity said cheerfully.
   " Hi mom, how was your sleep?" she asked while adding mascara to her look.
   "Restful," was the akward response.

Jezzalyn knew she was lying, her mother was up all night sobbing for today was her soulmate's birthday.
   "Dear, when you are done could you help me with your brother? He is having another bad day," her mom whispered.
   "Of course mom, I'll be up in a couple minutes," she replied.
   "Thank you, " Felicity said and kissed her daughter on the forehead before retreating back upstairs.

Jezzalyn painted her lips blood red and then glanced up at the vanity mirror. Yet again her hopes were crushed in an instant. Right there, reflected in the looking glass, was the queen sized bad adorned in black satin sheets directly behind her. The surface wasn't even blury in the area where her face should be. How she longed to see what she had becom after her bite. All Jezzalyn had ever known was what she used to be. She had the same messy red brown curls as her mom and a kind face, but she had her father's ice blue eyes and full pink lips. Then she had ivory skin, which no one could figure out how to explain.

Screams thundered down the stairway along with little, hurried footsteps. Daniel approached.

   "Jezzy, Jezzy!" He wailed towards her room.
   "I'm right here, Danny!" she hollared back.
He burst into the room, tears streaming down his face, arms stretched out for Jezzalyn to pick him up.
   "Daniel, chill, what's wrong?" she asked scooping the little boy into her arms. The warmth of his skin felt odd against the coolness of her own. This, combined with the comforthing scent of his blood and the gentle thrumming of his pulse, put Jezalyn's sorrows at ease.

She stroked his blonde hair absent mindedly while he sobbed into her shoulder. Daniel was four years old, and possibly the most loving creature on the face of the earth. He had blond hairlike his dad and green eyes like his mom. His face was round with boyhood and his cheeks rosy, making him look like a cherub, and when he smiled, even the coldest of hearts could melt.

Daniel had finally stopped sobbing and pulled away from his sister's shoulder. He held her face in his little hands and studied her for a moment.
   "Miss Jezzawin," He sniffed.
   "Yes, Mr. Daniel?" Jezzalyn replied mock seriously.
   "Mommy is twying to give my wucky men-a-sin again!" he cried.
   "I'm sorry little dude, but the doctor says you have to take it or you can't go to school with your friends," Jezzalyn said while hugging him.
Daniel pushed her away and reached for one of her eyeshaddow brushes.
   "I know it sucks, Bud," she said in a comforting voice, "but you have to listen to the doctor."
   Daniel Pouted, "I know."
   "C'mon, I'll find away to make the medacine not taste so yucky. You like Hot chocolate don't you?" she said in a tempting voice.
   With that Daniel's eyes brightened, 'Oh my gooodness, gosh! i love it!" he squealed.
   Jezzalyn chuckled, "Well alrighty then! Let's get some hot chocolate!"

Elated, Danile skipped up the stairs and ran to the kitchen. When Jezzalyn arrived, daniel was waiting much to patiently for a kid who is supposed to be plagued with ADHD. Sighing, she turned to the counter next to the refridgerator where Daniel's Ritalin bottle sat open. Next to it was a not from her mother thanking Jezzalyn for her help and an apology for leaving so quickly. Jezzaltyn crumpled the note and threw it away.
   "Jezzy, are you still gonna make me hot chok-it?" Daniel asked with impatience.
   "Of course, Danny! Coming right up!" she said while placing a measuring cup full of hot water into the microwave.
Next she crushed the Ritalin pill and mixed it with the hot chocolate powder. Two minutes later, Daniel was situated infront of the tv sipping warm chocolate unaware of his medacine.

Jezzalyn retreated to gher room to get dressed. Earlier in the morning she would have planned a more elaborate outfit, but now that she was short on time she selected a red satin and black lace corset top, a plain pair of blue jeans, worn out Doc Martins, and a red and black top hat.

Grabbing her house key, skate board, and coffin shaped backpack, Jezzalyn headed back upstairs to retrieve her brother and head off to school. Danile went to the Sunnypatch Preschool which was about two blocks past Gibson High School where Jezzalyn went.

Outside the gates of Gibson was the security guard, Mike. He was in his mid twenties and was a long time friend of Jezzalyn's. She and her brother rushed to Mike's glof cart, who waved at the jovially.
   "Running late again, are we?" Mike asked ruffling Daniel's hair.
   "Danny had a bad morning, would you-" Jezzalyn began to say but was cut off by Mike.
   "Take your bag, so you can take your little brother t o school in the most dangerous way possible? Or are you going to finally ask me to take danny to school in a much safer golf cart ride?" he said sarcasticly.
Jezzalyn was alread taking off her bag and Daniel already had his helmet strapped on.
   "The first one will do, thanks," she said tossthing her bag to Mike and hoisting her brother on to her back.
   "The second offer still stands," he yelled at their retreating backs.