Snow.So pure and white. How can it be so pretty? But this snow...this snow is red. A bad color. Why is it red?

,I thought as I crotched down in the snow;my tiny mitten-covered hands shaking from the freezing cold wind,and touched the dark liquid that tainted the beautiful snow.
Blood.

My eyes widen as the tainted red color smeared my white mittens. Red smells strange.Why strange smell?Where is blood coming from? Red a bad color. Papa said it brings only monsters.

I put the red up to my face,sniffing.
Rust.Like the smell of pennies from papa's coat pocket.

I grimaced and wiped the red liquid on my pants.
"Zora,where are you? Zora? Come back to..."I heard papa calling from a distance, but it became harder to hear with the wind and snow blowing strongly around me.
"Papa! I'm out here. There's red on the snow",I yelled in a cheerful,yet scared tone.But he couldn't hear me. His voice became more distance as the snow storm got worse.
"Papa! Papa,you out there? Papa, I'm...I'm scared",I cried as I tried to walk in the direction of the house, but the snow kept me from doing so.
Then I heard a distance cry from the direction of the house. What was that? Momma and papa?Is momma hurt with baby?

I whimpered and crumbled to the ground, trembling. Where was momma and papa? Are they okay?

"Momma!Papa!",I sobbed as the wind got worse and worse. I hugged myself to keep warm.
Then I heard a branch snap. My heart stopped, then accelerated in an increasing rate. I yelped as I heard footsteps.
"Here,kitty,kitty,kitty. Come on out where ever you are.I just want to have a little fun is all",I heard the deep voice of a man say in an amused tone. I squeezed my eyes shut.
Go away! Go away! Please go away

,I thought as my body trembled at the thought of him getting closer. He chuckled.
"You smell so sweet and pure. Not like your parents. They tasted and smelled the same as every other human I drained dry.But you...you smell strongly of something different. I can just smell your blood flowing through your veins full of life. It's mouth watering. It's as if your blood speaks...no calls out to me",the man said in pants.He was acting very strange(even though I'm not saying he wasn't strange in the first place because he was)like a wild beast as I listened.
Then suddenly the stranger went silent. I couldn't hear anything coming from his direction.
I opened my eyes and looked in his direction. There was no one there. But really I couldn't tell because the snow was clouding my vision.
Then it happened. Someone put their hand over my mouth while their other hand grabbed me around the waist.
A shrill scream spilled from my lips as I began to thrash around in the stranger's solid grip.
No!No!No!Leave me alone!No

,I thought,frighten-ed out of my mind.
My tiny arms and legs did no damage to the stranger.
Then I looked back to try to use my nails to claw the stranger's eyes out. But when I did I stopped.
My body froze as I looked into the bright yellow eyes of some boy.
Not same person

,I thought, dumbfounded. The boy smiled. Then surprised me with the act of touching me gently on the cheek. I flinched.
"It's okay. I wouldn't hurt you, princess. I'm your loyal protector. I wish to save you from harm, princess",he assured me in a soothing tone.
I felt like I could trust him, but not fully. Not yet anyway. I sobbed and he hugged me.
"Where is momma and papa? And the bad man?",I asked in a worried tone."And who are you?"
The boy looked like he could be eleven,two years older than me.
"I'm Micah.Your protector.I'm a wereleopard. And you are the next heir to the world's most power kingdom called Vandinavia.It's the place where all supernaturals like you and me live",he explained,slowly.
I glared at him."I'm not stupid.So stop talking so slowly. But what I want to know is where is my momma and papa. And where's the strange scary man?"
He chuckled."Okay.Sorry,princess."
Then his expression changed."You're parents are dead. But those weren't your real parents. Your real parents died a week after you were born..."
My eyes filled with fresh tears as I processed what Micah was saying.
Micah tried to comfort me,but I pushed him away.
"No.That can't be. My parents aren't...aren't dead. They can't be! They just can't",I denied in a hoarse voice.


Chapter 1

I woke up from the nightmare,screaming and sweating buckets. I inhaled,then exhaled.
"Princess!Princess,what's wrong?"I heard Micah ask in a concerned tone. He came into the room and ran to my side.He pushed my hair out of my face."Was it the same dream,Zora?",he asked, stroking my cheek.

Imprint

Text: The illustration of this book's cover isn't mine. I thank the artist and my apologies.
Publication Date: 09-25-2011

All Rights Reserved

Dedication:
To my best friends,Amber Billings and Annabeth R.The two of them encouraged me to write. And every friend I've ever known. Thanks to those who like to read my books. I try my best to make my books perfect for all readers to enjoy.