Chapter 2

30 years later

“Aubrey! You have a letter,” my vampire housemate Katherine said.

“Alright!” I yelled back. I moved to rural New York. When I moved, I changed my name, not wanting to be associate with the war. I was going to night classes at a college close by. I chose my major to be drama, since that was my best class at the House of Night.

I went downstairs and picked up the letter. I looked at the address. Nefert I thought. I opened the letter and read it.

Zoey,

How are you? Good, I’m hoping. I need you to come back. I want to talk to you about something important. Enclosed, there is a plane ticket. Please give me a call when you decide.

Nefert

I pulled out the place ticket and looked at it. Katherine, who was looked over my shoulder as I pulled out the ticket, whistled.

“Someone loves you. Who was the letter from?” she asked.

“Someone from my past,” I answered. I put away the letter from her wandering eyes.

“Ah,” she said. That’s one thing I loved about Katherine. She never asked any questions about my past.

“You going to go?” she asked.

“Yeah,” I answered.

“Are you coming back?” she asked, quietly.

“I don’t know,” I answered quietly. “I better call the person.” I picked up the phone. I went to my room and closed the door. I dialed the number.

“Hello?” Nefert asked. Her voice hadn’t really changed. It still had that lifting quality.

“Zoey! I’m glad to hear from you,” she said with genuine happiness.

“Nefert, I don’t go by Zoey anymore…because of what happened,” I said quietly into the phone.

“I understand. I take it, you got my letter,” she said quietly.

“I did. I just opened it, actually. Can you tell me what this is about?” I asked as I sat down on my bed. I stared at my reflection in the mirror. I had changed so much; my hair is short because I had it cut. My bangs grew and now cover one side of my face. My tattoos stood out on my face, with the swirls and spirals. I didn't realize that Nefert had began speaking again.

“Sorry, I was lost in my thoughts. Could you said that again?” I asked, embarrassed.

She chuckled. “ I said I can’t tell you over the phone. It’s something I need to talk to you in person about,” she said.

“ Is it going to require me to move back?” I asked.

“ It might if you chose,” she said, mystically.

“Alright, I’ll come. For a day or two,” I said.

“When are you coming?” she asked.

“The day after tomorrow,” I said.

“Good, see you then,” said before she hung up the phone. I turned off the phone and sat in silence for a while. I sighed and left my room. I put away the phone and then went to find Katherine. She was outside on the porch. I sat down beside her.

“You are leaving,” she stated.

“For a day or two,” I said.

“What if you stay more than two days?” she asked as she turned to me.

“I honestly don’t know,” I said, rubbing my face with my hands.

“Can I come and visit you?” she asked.

“Of course,” I said, “ we are friends and you were there when I need someone the most.” We hugged then return to the inside of cozy little home.