~ Chapter One ~
Nightmares
I woke up screaming, again. It was the same vivid, reoccurring nightmare I had been having for months. I waited a moment or two to slow my breathing, half afraid that if I sat up I would find that my nightmare had come true. I decided to sit up in my bed anyway. I leaned over to the nightstand and fumbled for the light switch on my lamp, I flicked it on. I sat up; looked around and saw nothing out of place.
I sighed a breath of relief. The ancient dresser with all my past-due library books sat in the corner. Across from me was the computer desk where a purple glitter lamp sat, I forgot to turn the thing off last night again. Next to it sat a pile of unfinished homework. I turned to my nightstand again and glanced at the time, 2:47. Aralee, my mother, was still sleeping in the next room and I didn't want to wake her by getting up and making noise. I was lucky that she had slept though my screams.
I slid my feet out from under the covers and shivered as my bare feet hit the cold hard wood floor. I walked across the room to grab my favorite book, Abarat. It was the book I always read after I had a nightmare, and the pages were worn thin from constant reading. I quickly retreated across the room; book in hand, into my warm and comfortable bed.
Usually reading a good book makes me drowsy, but this morning I was wide awake. After the first few chapters I gave up trying. I was reading but unable to take it in. I dropped the book on the floor next to my bed. Right now I only seemed to be thinking of one thing.
I reflect on the nightmare that had come to haunt me these past few months. It always starts in a dark alley next to a busy street. I feel what seems an unquenchable thirst. I crouch in the darkest corner. I am not alone for long before someone arrives, a different person, a different face. They walk in keys out and jingling to open their apartment door. For some odd reason I am drawn to them and creep slowly towards them. Suddenly I am in fast motion, and I leap, catlike, at them. It takes only seconds to reach my victim’s exposed neck, and the sickly-sweet taste of blood fills my mouth. I drink in deeply and take my fill, and leave the body a pale empty shell and my thirst quenched...
I wished that I could get rid of this nightmare. I could never get back to sleep after having it. I shuddered and pulled the covers closer. Maybe I should take Aralee's advice and lay off the vampire books for a while, but tonight was an exception and I slowly drifted off in a dreamless sleep.
The incoming sunlight woke me the next morning; the alarm clock had broken again. I was supposed to wake up at 6:45. I glanced at the clock that now read 8:00. I was going to be late for school again.
I groaned as I rolled out of my bed. I walked to the dresser and hurriedly exchanged my white floor length nightgown for jeans and a wrinkled tee-shirt. Today I really didn’t care how I looked. Picking up a brush, I ran it through my shoulder length hair wincing every time I hit a knot. Pulling it up into a quick ponytail, I grabbed my bag and shoes, and ran down the stairs, taking them two at a time.
Aralee was already sitting at the table eating her breakfast. She looked at me, smiled, and pointed to an already made breakfast of bacon and eggs.
“Thanks,” I mumbled sleepily. I quickly scarfed down breakfast. Grabbing my car keys and my bag, I hopped towards the door attempting to pull on my shoes. With a bye to Aralee, I was out the door.
I jogged towards the new blue Toyota that had been given to me by Aralee for my sixteenth birthday. I threw my books into the passenger seat and cranked the car; I backed out of the driveway with a squeal and was off.
I glanced at my watch, the time a reminder of how late I was. I should be arriving at school already. I drove along the old, back roads I knew so well. It was so much quicker than going through town getting stopped by every single red light.
Finally I pulled into Elsewood High fifteen minutes late. Ms. Newton was not going to be happy. I walked into the classroom quietly hoping she wouldn’t notice. That hope was quickly dashed to bits.
“Alyss, you’re late again, for the third time this week. If you walk into my room tardy one more time, I’m sending you to the principal’s office.”
I blushed as I heard the snickers of fellow classmates behind me. I slid into my desk next to my best friend, Karisa. She looked at me and shook her head. She was never late for anything.
Pretending to be interested in Ms. Newton’s lecture I thought about what I was going to do about junior prom. I still needed to get a dress, and schedule an appointment with my hair dresser, along with another million things...
My thoughts were interrupted by Karisa. She had thrown a note across the aisle, and it had hit my arm. I unfolded the paper, careful not to make a crinkling noise. She wanted to know what I was going to do about prom. I looked at her and shrugged my shoulders as the bell rang.
“You need to figure out what you are doing for the homecoming dance.” she said. “It’s not like you haven’t been asked, there are six guys out there waiting for your answer.”
As if to prove her point Derrick, from Ms. Newton's class walks up to me and asks "So do you have a date for the prom? I would really like it if you came with me."
"Umm... I'll get back to you on that; I am not really sure what I am going to do about the junior prom yet.”
"Okay then I will just give you my number, if you decide you want to go with me just call." Derrick said as he scribbled down a number and handed it to me.
I looked at him; he had startling green eyes that made me look twice. I stared at him but before he could notice, I averted my eyes down towards the black and white checkered floor.
As he walked away, I knew I wanted to go to the prom with him.
“Hey,” I shouted, he turned his gorgeous eyes on me, “You want to go the prom with me?
He grinned, “If you insist,” Derrick said teasingly as he walked away and disappeared into the crowd.
Karisa clapped her hands with excitement, “I can’t believe you just did that, I could never have the courage to do it.”
We both broke out giggling, my mood light. We headed our separate directions for our classes; Karisa to art and myself going to history.
The day seemed to drag along so slowly after science. I plopped down in an abused chair next to Karisa at lunch. Tyler, Alexis, and Courtney were also sitting there in a semi-arc; the table was round with seat poking out the sides.
I poked at my cold pizza, and of course Alexis noticed. "Hey are you going to eat that? If you don't want it, I do," she said as she rubbed her stomach.
"Yes, you can have it all," I replied as I slid my plate towards her.
"Thanks!"
Karisa was chatting with Courtney about a history test they had next block. They were quizzing each other; I knew the answer to all of them though. I was a freak, I had a 99 average in every class, and I never even studied. All it takes is for me to hear or see something one time and I remember it. My teachers are amazed at it.
"Alyss, what do you think is the most interesting event in history?" asked Alexis, running her fingers though her long brown hair, her brown eyes sparkling.
The Salem witch trials had to be it. It was an interesting topic that I had read much on. A time in history where people believed there was magic. I find it ironic that people want to believe in love and miracles, a type of magic, but when there was a chance that it might exist, they wanted to kill it off.
"The Salem witch trials", I replied.
"Oh, mine is the Enlightenment" she said.
My thoughts wandered as I stared at the white and black striped cafeteria walls. Finally I came to rest on the subject of prom night again. The theme this year was Alice in Wonderland. I had my eye on a gorgeous blue dress. I couldn’t wait for it to get here. I was so excited about going with Derrick, he was sweet and polite. He had manners; he being handsome was just a bonus.
"ALYSS", I heard someone shout. I hated it when my thoughts got interrupted. Of course it was Karisa. "You’re staring out into space again, I kept trying to get your attention without shouting but well..." she trailed off not wanting to make me angry.
"Tyler wanted to ask you something." Karisa added. I turned to look at Tyler and I heard him mutter something under his breath.
"Well, what is it Tyler?” I ask
"Just wanted to know if you had a date for the prom and well..."
“I was going to go with Derrick. I'm sorry."
"That’s fine, I guess..."he flushed a bright red and looked down at his lunch plate.
I really did feel sorry and hoped I hadn’t ruined his self-confidence; I wanted him to ask someone to the prom…just not me. That had to be really embarrassing to be turned down in front of most of his friends.
At the table beside me I heard a commotion and turned around to see what the problem was. It was the preps table, of course.
"Oh you want to sit here," a girl I think her name was Rachael asked, "You can sit here as soon as you get a life, go sit over there with the other losers." She pointed to us as she said it. They laughed at the girl as she stood there turning a brighter red by the second, setting off her blonde white hair and pale blue eyes.
"You can sit with us, you're too good for them, I said, “They are just a bunch of wannabes." I glared at Rachael and her friends.
Rachael started to say something but then stopped, she huddled with her other friends and they started talking. I didn't care; let them do their worst, what could they do to me? Beat me with their Vera Bradley bags? I laughed at the thought.
"Thanks, a lot," the girl said, "My name is Rebecca, and this is my first day here."
"You're welcome, and my name is Alyss by the way." I stood up and introduced her to Karisa, Courtney, Tyler, and Alexis. She ended up sitting next to Tyler, good maybe they could get along. I picked up my bags as the next lunch bell rang, and headed towards my next class.
Finally, the dismissal bell rang for the end of school. I walked pulling the car keys out as I went. I drove home a lot slower this time; there was no need to hurry. The dirt roads had trees on both sides, the tops leaning over towards the middle, joining to make a canopy. Out of the rear view mirror I watched with delight as I saw the dust and brightly colored leaves rise up behind me. Rolling down the window I listened to the crunch of broken twigs and aged leaves and the wind that whistled by. It was beautiful scenery.
My thoughts turned towards my father, I had never seen him, and he had made no attempt to contact me. I wish I could say I don't care but I do, I want to know him. The only thing I knew about my father was a name; Alessandro. Aralee told me that I was named after him, and I was thrilled to have something in common. I just felt I had a connection with him. Constantly I find that I am telling myself that it’s just silly to have a connection to a man I don't even know, but I can't lie about how I feel.
Sooner than I would have liked I pulled into my driveway. Aralee wouldn't be home until eight, I usually stayed after school longer, or went to the library but today I wanted some time to reflect and remember that night so long ago...
~ Chapter Two ~
Remembering the Past
It was ten years ago, and it was a stormy midnight. I was reading in my room with the flashlight on and the door closed because Aralee only allowed me to stay up until 9:30.
I heard four distinctive knocks on our wooden front door. I instantly closed the book thinking Aralee was about to peek in. I overheard a defined male voice and Aralee’s. Faintly I heard the two talking.
“I don’t know what you're talking about.” Aralee said.
“Yes, you do, and as much as I want her in my life, for now I will let you have her, but when she turns eighteen she becomes mine, she will need to understand what she is.” it was the stranger’s voice.
“No! You will never have her, she is mine and you will not force her, it’s her choice.”
“I’m afraid not, it is what she was born to become, and please keep your voice down, don't wake the child.”
They continued the conversation but they lowered their voices and I couldn't hear them for a while, but I kept my ears alert.
“Stay away from her,” Aralee hissed “Now leave and don’t ever come back!”
The door slammed shut and a sob escaped from Aralee. Then I heard her footsteps heading up the stairs. I quickly turned off the flashlight, and slid both book and flashlight under the bed. I pulled the comforters over my head and feigned sleep. She opened the door and walked over to the bed. She stroked my hair, and whispered a tearful “I love you”. She exited the room and cracked the door behind her.
I decided never to bring the subject up in front of Aralee. I let her assume that I had never heard the exchange, but tonight I needed to know what went on. Finally I came to a decision that when Aralee got home from work I would sit down and talk to her about it.
Looking at the grandfather clock I noticed that, it had just turned six, I counted the seconds. Tick tock tick tock. She should walk in any time now. Tick tock tick tock. The sound got annoying and I popped my headphones into my ears and listened to the classical music on my MP3.Where was she? Usually she was right on time or came home a little early. My worrying stopped as she walked through the door twenty minutes late.
“Aralee, where were you I snapped,” I said annoyed that she hadn’t even bothered to call that she was going to be late and that I had been upset about nothing. I yanked the earphones out of my ears.
“I must have got stopped at every traffic light in town, and it was crowded from the Friday night football game. I was going to call you but my phone died,” She held up a blank, dead cell phone as proof. “Sorry if I had you worried,” she said apologetically.
“It’s okay, I was just wondering where you were,” I said calming down.
Watching her settle down I almost backed out of asking her about that night but I stuck with my decision, I wanted, no needed, to know.
I approached the subject. "Aralee remember went I was seven?"
"Yes, I do. You were so sweet and cute with your pigtails"
"No, Aralee, I mean there was a certain night ten years ago I want some answers to."
Aralee turned pale, she looked shocked and that I knew about the event.
""How... how...?"
"I was awake. I heard the whole thing. Well, most of it. I want to know what happened." Suddenly, a crazy idea came to my mind. "That man... was he my father?" I choked out, my eyes watering.
Aralee sat there a while, and she thought. She finally spoke, "I was going to tell you about it on your eighteen birthday, so you could decide what you wanted. But apparently you have known about it for ten years. I still am not going to tell you until your eighteenth birthday, because..."
"Mom, it's okay. I have waited ten years; I can wait two more weeks until I turn eighteen. You don't have to tell me now." I said comforting her. I was impatient sure, but I could not hurt Aralee, she was my mother after all, and this did include her too.
"I swear I wasn't going to keep it from you forever, please don't be mad. I still see you as my little girl," she tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "And, knowing you, I doubt you'd believe me, anyway."
"So, we will talk the day I turn eighteen"
"Yes" Aralee was relieved she looked so thankful. I could wait, I could. I did not want to force the information out of her.
At twelve that night I awoke again to the nightmare, except this time though I recognized the alley, it was the one that was a block from our house. This time it seemed more realistic than the others. I broke into a cold sweat...
The alley was next to Courtney’s house and an apartment complex. I passed it every day going to school. For the next few days I took the longer route instead of going by that alley. I avoided it like the plague. I made excuses to Courtney for not being able to come over and help her study. She ended up coming to my house instead.
Prom night was there before I knew it. I examined myself in the mirror. I watched myself with fascination as I turned my head, making the gems in my hair sparkle.
Downstairs I heard the doorbell ring. Hurriedly I grabbed my phone, and rushed down the stairs. Derrick was standing in the door frame, regarding me with his bright green eyes.
“You look… great,” he told me as he walked me to his car.
Blood rushed to my face from the lavish praise. Derrick opened the passenger side door for me and I slid in. After he made sure I was comfortable, he shut the door and hurried to the driver’s side. He started the car, and we exchanged information about ourselves as we drove along.
The prom was going to be held in the Elsewood cafetorium. How romantic, I thought to myself sarcastically. Derrick burst out in laughter.
"What's so funny?" I asked bewildered.
“Nothing, nothing, I was just thinking was all.” He replied.
We faded into silence and listened to the songs on the radio. Every few minutes I would glance at him, being careful not to get caught. I didn’t want him to think I had some kind of staring problem.
It seemed to take no time to get to our destination. He got out and opened the door for me and we walked to the line. I grinned idiotically and him, and he smiled. The line was long was long, and it was a little chilly. Derrick noticed my discomfort and put his arms around me. That felt a little better.
We finally got in, the music blaring popular tunes that I had no interest in. I listened to classic mostly. I moved my feet to the beat.
The song turned slow, and I was surrounded by a crowd of intertwined dancers. I moved closer to Derrick, idly thinking about his hair seemed to shine a bright gold as we moved. Looking into his eyes I felt lost, they were so deep…
The slow dance came to a halt. Regretfully, we pulled away from each other. I sighed, that had surely been a piece of heaven. Derrick sighed too; I hoped he felt the same. The next slow dance that came on, I noticed how gracefully he moved. I saw Haley and Tyler whirl by and I felt joy. This had to be the most perfect night of my life.
We left two hours into the dance and he drove me home. As we were driving though town he asked, “Are you hungry?” I was about to reply when my stomach rumbled. We broke out in laughter.
“I guess that’s decided then,” he said. He pulled into Wendy’s five minutes later. The car filled with the delicious smell of fresh food. How had he known that I loved this place?
Ten minutes later I was standing at my front door, with our fingers interlocked.
“Tonight was one of the best nights I have ever had, “he said with affection.
“Mine too,” I agreed.
He leaned over and gave me a kiss on the lips. I blushed; finally I had received my first kiss. Derrick looked at me one last time and walked back over to his car. I waved as he drove away.
I went to sleep that night and had pleasant dreams about the dance. The next morning I awoke to my alarm clock. Yes! I finally woke up at the right time. This had to be a good omen for the upcoming week.
……………………………………………
Finally though my curiosity won out over my fear, I decided to visit the alley that I saw in my nightmares. Monday after school, I drove slowly by. There was a stranger leaning against the walls. I got out of my car, despite all the warnings Aralee had given to me in the past about strangers. Slowly I walked over to the stranger, he seemed to glow a soft white.
He spoke “I've been expecting you.”
I knew that voice it sounded oddly familiar. It hit me, I knew the voice, it belonged to the stranger that had talked to Aralee ten years ago. That would mean...if my guess had been right...
“Who, who are you…” I stuttered.
Could this truly be who I thought he was? I started to hyperventilate.
From behind his back he pulled out a burlap sack. I panicked and began to back away. He lashed out and brought the bag over my head. I struggled, but it was in vain. Inside of it, I groped for air, as it was constricting around my throat. I should have listened to Aralee, I thought as I passed out.
When I came to in a dark room, I tried to move and with success, my capture had not bound me but I couldn't see. Sitting up I thought this has to be another one of my nightmares. Then I heard the voice. His voice.
“I apologize that I had to use harsh methods to get you here but it was the only way I could talk to you. Your mother would not let me talk to you, so…”
“Who... who are you...? How do you know my mother? What do you want to talk to me for?”
“So many questions, but I will answer them all. First off, my name is Alessandro. Aralee should have told you, but it looks like I am going to have to tell you everything. I am your father. I am sorry this is a bit too much information right now isn’t it?
I had been kidnapped by a nut case I thought. I have only heard about this in the news and in books. This could only happen to me. I looked around me, my eyes had adjusted to the little light I had. A light flicked on. I could see him, he loomed over me and he had to be at least six feet. He had dark black hair and golden eyes, but… I looked so much like him I couldn’t ignore it. We both had the same face and build. I couldn’t believe I was meeting my father for the first time in my memory and it was a bit too much. I had wanted to know for a decade that he was and finding out like this...I faded into unconsciousness.
When I gained consciousness, Alessandro was standing against the back wall, looking very tense. I could see more this time when I sat up, apparently a light had been flicked on. I was in a big room that contained the twin size bed I sat on and a small desk sat across from me.
"I'm going to ask that you don't interrupt me, it will be difficult enough to explain this to you without you interrupting. Or I could just show you," said Alessandro as he stepped into the brightest part of the room.
Alessandro then grinned at me showing a line of pointed teeth, when he stepped out of the dark I could see specks of red in those golden eyes. I gasped; I had read enough books to figure out what he was.
"You're...you're a vampire." I sputtered
"Yes, yes, now that we have that fact out of the way..."he started impatiently
"You kidnap me, tell me you’re my father, and then tell me you are a freaking vampire, and you want me to accept that! You know what I think? I think you are a complete head case..."
"Didn't I tell you not to interrupt me?" he growled.
I calmed down; I wanted to hear his story, even if it belonged to a madman. “Sorry,” I grumbled.
"Where was I?" he asked himself "Oh yes, I was about to say I am the Prince of Darkness, and it seems that you are my only heir."
I couldn’t contain myself. "So you are telling me that I am your only heir? You have had thousands of years to produce one and I am the only one?
"A vampire can produce only one child, so yes you are my only heir."
I thought about it. What did this mean for me? I was a hybrid, half-human, and half-vampire.
"How does this work?" I ask Alessandro. "I look like a human, and most importantly I eat like a human, where's the vampire part kicked in?"
"I was wondering when you would ask that question. You have always had your little oddities, haven’t you? Your excellent hearing, and eyesight, you also have the gift of immortality, but I think you have tested that already, haven’t you? He told me grinning. I blushed and the flashback hit me.
It was nine years ago, I out in the front yard, climbing one of my favorite trees. I was a very clumsy child; I was almost to the top when a branch snapped under my weight. Falling I braced myself for the pain, I was grabbing for any other branches that might slow my descent but they just cracked too. I landed on the ground with a dull thud; I waited for the pain and was surprised when I didn’t feel it. Picking myself up, I examined my body. I had no injuries, and was perfectly fine. I knew that scientifically that this couldn’t be possible but I put it to the back of my mind. I saw it as luck. Aralee was never told about the accident though, I didn’t want to frighten her.
I was scared, apparently I had no choice, and this is why I was having those dreams. After the change well, I didn't know what to expect. I wished the nightmare had stayed a nightmare because it appeared that soon I was about to be living it...
~ Chapter Three ~
The Truth
“Please do me a favor, don’t tell Aralee about our…meeting. I don’t want her stressing over something that she can’t control.”
“Only if you answer my questions first,” I demanded.
Alessandro laughed, “Fine, I will answer any questions you have, fire away.”
“Why have you made absolutely no contact with me for the past seventeen years of my life?” I had wondered this throughout my life and now the answer was within my grasp.
“Because you are half-vampire you will live forever. Aralee on the other hand, is not. She only has her lifetime to be with you, I have eternity to get to know you. I wanted Aralee to spend as much time as she could with you, it only seems fair.”
Never in my life had I thought of that, but of course I had no idea I was going to live forever and that my father was a vampire. I could see this from his perspective, but why hadn’t he at least dropped some hints.
As if he that heard my thoughts, he said “I have sent you a birthday gift every year in the mail, surely you’ve got them? In every gift I sent, I dropped a hint, I have left letters. They are just hidden within the gifts. Look closely enough and you will find them,” He smiled at me as he said this.
I had gotten a gift every year in the mail, but I had never discovered a hidden letter or clue not once. As soon as I got home I would look for one, the only gifts I had left was a wooden jewelry box, a music box, and the book.
“The book was a vampire book,” I said with pleasant surprise.
“Indeed it was the most accurate one too on the life of vampires. Did you like it?”
“Yes, I did.” So he had left me clues. I couldn’t wait to see what the letters said.
“There is one more matter to discuss before you leave. Since you now know of your royal heritage you will be guarded more heavily than before…”
He stopped because he must have seen the shock on my face. What did he mean by more heavily than before?
He quickly explained “When you were smaller, there was a war and there are many people unhappy with it, I was worried that you may be a target so I had my spies watch you for me and protected at all times. Of course they gave you plenty of privacy though. You are well known, but everyone thinks you are a myth. There have been a few that have tried to find you though and almost succeeded…”
This was a lot to take in. I was a vampire, and a royal one at that. I had been watched my entire life and protected from a danger I had not even known. There was also the fact that even though I was half vampire, what stayed human? I asked Alessandro, curious and afraid of what he would say.
“Since you are half human you will retain your normal diet, you can of course survive on human blood if you choose. You will also retain your memories. Your heart will stop beating the night you turn eighteen, there is nothing to prevent that.”
“Wait, I thought that a stake through the heart or a cross, or holy water, or sunlight, or churchbells, or…”
He laughed at me, effectively cutting me off. “Those are all myths that makes a human feel safer none of them are true, believe me they have all been tested.”
Living forever…I would go through the pain of losing almost all of my loved ones and friends over and over again. Would I be able to deal with that? I could never die, nothing could kill me.
“One last thing, make sure you meet me at the same alley on the night before you turn eighteen. I want you to be beside me the first night of your reign. So are you ready to get back home yet?”
“Definitely,” I replied.
Thirty minutes later, I found myself next to my familiar blue Toyota. I couldn’t wait to get home. I got my keys out ready to unlock the door when two hooded figures appeared; they started to glide towards me. At first, I thought they were dressed up for some party but realized they were coming right for me with their hands outstretched. It appeared that I had been discovered. I looked for my father but he was already gone. Where were those stupid bodyguards he had mentioned?
I fumbled with the keys, trying my best to get in the car as fast as humanly possible. I was just fast enough; I cranked the car, and hit them with a sickly thud. I wanted to vomit but knew that I had to keep it down. Even though I was disgusted, I never slowed my speed. As I drove away, I looked into my rear view mirror to see the mess, to my surprise and horror there was nothing on the road.
Feeling panicked I sped to the house. I had to tell Aralee; if they knew what area I lived in, they might try to go after her too. When I reached the house, I ran inside and locked the doors. Aralee should have been home by now, but the entire house was dark. This didn’t look to good. To my right I heard an odd noise I turned to face it and screamed…
The same hooded figure that I had hit earlier with my car was holding Aralee. I was too late to warn her. He turned towards me and his hood fell back, revealing startling green eyes that looked oddly familiar. He towered over me and I gasped with shock and surprise as I realized who it was.
“You have got to be joking,” he muttered under his breath as he released Aralee.
“Derrick!” I shouted “What the hell are you doing here?”
He was surprised, confused, and embarrassed at the same time. I watched with satisfaction as he turned several shades of red. In the corner of my eye I could see Aralee drift towards me looking just as confused as Derrick.
“So you are Alessandro’s daughter… you?
I could feel Aralee tense up beside me. Oh whoops, Aralee had to know now that I knew everything. Alessandro would not be very happy.
“Yes, I am. Now what are you doing here, in my house? What are you?” Derrick looked different. Though he was tall normally, he was now seven feet tall, he seemed paler, and his bright green eyes stood out more than before. I noticed that when he moved his raven black caught the light. That couldn’t be right; normally he had blonde hair…
“Um yeah…” he started lamely, “Sorry about the intrusion.” He turned to Aralee, “Sorry ma’am about, treating you that way. I’m really not that bad of a guy…” he faded off into silence.
By this point I had re-evaluated the situation. Okay Derrick had intruded into my home but it was obvious that he meant us no harm. If he had he would have done that by now. I relaxed, we could talk and figure this out.
“So when are you going to answer my questions?” I asked.
“You mean your father hasn’t told you yet?”
“You mean there’s more?” I exclaimed. It was my turn to be surprised.
“He hasn’t told you everything,” he repeated.
“Derrick, please tell me what’s going on I have no earthly idea what you’re talking about. I know that I am a royal half-blood, and that is about all…
He cut me off. “You need to know everything. Alessandro has put you in extreme danger by not telling you all of it.” He walked to the living room and I drifted after him with Aralee. She seemed to have come out of her stupor.
“When did you find out?” she asked, “I was going to tell you on your eighteenth birthday, but it seems you have a talent for discovering things for yourself.”
“Sorry, Aralee, I really had no choice in the matter of finding out. It just happened. Is there anything else I should know?”
“I think Derrick has it covered and can explain it better than me.” She said, glancing at Derrick. I think that your father should be here for this too.”
With that said she stood in the middle of our floor and started to dance. She whirled faster and faster until my eyes could not keep up with her. I wasn’t alarmed until she started moaning. I rushed to stop her; I didn’t know what she was doing. In an instant Derrick was there restraining me. I struggled against his hold.
“Stop, Alyss, if you stop her in the middle of magic then you could seriously harm her.” I stopped struggling abruptly. Aralee had magic?
“What do you mean? Aralee doesn’t have magic, she is a normal person. I have been with her since the day I was born and I have never seen anything out of the normal.”
After looking at Aralee though I knew she had magic. Derrick started to reply to me, but was hushed by a sudden roar and a bright light. When the white spots when away, I saw Alessandro, standing before me, how was this possible?
He looked resigned when I could finally see him. He knew he had some major explaining to do, but then again so did Aralee.
“What is going on?” I burst out. “What did you just do?” I pointed an accusing finger at Aralee. Turning to my father I said, “There is more to this twisted story and you didn’t tell me?” I was past furious, my whole life I had lived a lie, and now I wanted the truth.
“I want the truth! The whole and complete truth! Can you at least tell me that?” I sobbed angry tears. This was insane; my life had been turned upside down in a day.
“Alyss, calm down,” Aralee said, “I will explain.”
“I’ll help,” Derrick and my father said.
Aralee gave them a silencing stare and started her story.
It was seventeen years ago that I met your father; I was cavorting in the forest after dark, against the rules. I was out later than I was supposed to be. I was flitting in and out of the trees as all wood nymphs love to do when something stopped me. It was dark but I had great vision, I saw through the trees, a shadow. My curiosity got the best of me so I walked up to it.
He grabbed me from behind, one moment he was in front of me and the next he was behind. I tried to shriek but to no avail. He had me and could do whatever he wished. Slowly I was turned around to face him. I looked up into his eyes and calmed, they had that effect. He let go of me seeing that I would make no sound.
“I didn’t mean you harm, young lady but you startled me.”
I gaped, my mouth hung low for I could see him for what he was. Vampires were supposed to be dangerous but yet he seemed calm.
“Are you not out past your curfew?” he asked.
I sighed, “I’m my own person, I don’t go by society’s rules and what’s proper.”
“Oh,” he blinked as he looked at me. “My name is Alessandro, by the way? What is yours?
“Aralee, I’m pleased to make your acquaintance.”
“The pleasure is mine. I thought wood nymphs didn’t like the darkness,” he said looking curious.
“I find it peaceful and much calmer then the sunlight’s glare.”
We listened to nature’s lullaby for a few minutes, and felt the breeze on our faces. That night was the most calming of nights I had ever had. I closed my eyes to listen closer, when I opened them, Alessandro was gone.
We met every night after that, and well, the rest was pretty normal after that, you know the dating part and all.
“You’re a wood nymph,” I said as pointed to my mother, “You’re a vampire,” I said turning to Alessandro, what are you supposed to be Derrick?
“Actually I am a nefreous, a creature of the night also. I can shift shapes and can control the weather to match my mood.”
“Oh, so we’re all freaks of nature here,” I said. How could they have kept such a big secret from me? Whatever, the truth was I knew everything now, so I couldn’t complain. “So there is pretty much another world out there.” I concluded.
“That’s about it,” my father broke in.
“Any other creatures I should know about?” I asked, afraid to hear the answer.
“Yes, there are shape shifters, nymphs of every element, fairies, and giants.
This was too much. I burst out into laughter; it seemed that I had been so oblivious to my surrounding,” I laughed until I cried then laughed some more. Aralee, Derrick, and Alessandro grew uncomfortable and nervous. They probably thought I was going insane. Probably was insane, or maybe this was another one of my crazy nightmares.
After my laughter died down I felt exhausted, today had been an impossibly long day. Aralee and Alessandro came up to me and hugged me, and I stumbled up the stairs to my bedroom. I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.
