Standard procedure - Anna
'You're late.'
receiving a text with those words from your boss was never a good thing, in-fact, if my boss wasn't a childhood friend, I would've panicked and rushed, but instead I took a good few moments to yawn and stretch, and too embrace the piercing sunlight that reached through my bright yellow curtains. Don't get me wrong, I respect my boss and also my good friend Mark, and I appreciate the job allot, but he knows that when I do turn up to work I sure as hell is the best worker around.
My name is Anna McCarthy. I am 22 years of age, although you wouldn't think so. Don't get me wrong, I am mature, and have responsibilities. I am independent and sensible, and ask anybody else I can sure as heck stick up for myself. I'm 5'ft 7 and graced with curves and a slim body, and I'm not so bad in the backside and boozem area I can assure you. I have long brown curly hair, with a fringe that always being pushed back. My skin s sort of pale but it's a nice pale. It's kind of glowing and without one blemish. My eyes are emerald green; if I had to choose they would be my favourite feature. I'm not normal either, in a way that not many people understand. I'm a mix of something special. I am half vampire to be exact.
I know it sounds weird and definitely unusual but here is a quick low down. About ten years ago, vampires became known to the earth. Of course it was a shock to us all. We have all been brought up on stories based on mythical creatures and then told not to believe in them, that they don't exist, that is why everybody was so sceptical of them. Vampires are basically like us, although they obviously can only come out as the nightfall's, even as the sun goes down but they're not as powerful, and they drink blood. I also know what you're thinking, do we just let them feed on us? Heck no. I guess the hospital or people themselves donate the blood, there is a big amount and it is sold everywhere now, in bars, clubs, shops, I'm still not used to it, but my father was a vampire and it is extremely rare that a vampire can have a child, in fact, it was un-heard of before me.
I've only ever seen two vampires, but it was the most exciting moments I'd ever had. The first time, I was on a bus back from the cinema one night, it was incredibly cold and chilly out that winters night. Fog and the bright moon kind of set up the cliché moment for that vampire to get onto the bus, but the fact that it was a girl, who looked about 16 made it less threatening or frightening, and definitely less cliché. The second time was when I was working. I work in a local cafe; it is very vintage and attracts all the youth to my dismay. A woman and a man came into the cafe, hand in hand, but only she ordered a strawberry milkshake with whipped cream, but the man ordered nothing. He was a short man, with bright blonde hair and deep blue eyes, and interacting with him was something I was excited for.
'And can I get you anything?' I asked him, the smile on my face was huge; i was incredibly giddy as a child would be in a candy shop.
'Do you sell blood?' that was the moment my theory on him being a vampire was confirmed and the smile grew so much, I felt the ache in my cheeks.
'Yes, I shall be back with your drinks in a moment'.
I guess not a lot of vampires like the idea of coming to Millbury, but I don't blame them. This city isn't really exciting, it is more relaxed and cute and small. My house is a light cream coloured cottage next to the biggest field in Millbury and next to that is the main road splitting us up from the next town over and to the right of my house is the rest of Millbury. My street, Hardgrave drive is a close street; we all know everybody and get along with each other.
I live with my uncle Garry; he's in his late 40's, a strong and kind man who'd help anybody in town that needed it. He's known by everybody around town as the handyman and kind-hearted uncle who took in his lovely niece three years ago. And that is all true; he did take me in three years ago, right after my parent's accident.
I say accident, but it wasn't, I just sugar coat the whole thing, my parents were murdered on Thursday 21st of May 2009, a week after my nineteenth birthday. I happened to be out of the house that night, out for dinner with an ex-boyfriend, Alex and that is where I received the call. Getting home I wasn't allowed to go inside the house, I was told I wouldn't want to see and I trusted what the police said. Officer Barnes was a family friend, my parents were on the town council allot so Officer Barnes was very fond of me and my parents. An hour later, I was allowed inside, but by that time all that was left were the body bags being taken away which even then, Alex didn't let me stay to see that, as he practically carried me upstairs till it was all cleared away. It left me pretty 'damaged' as my uncle said as for the next few months I didn't have any real socialization with people, not even him. As time progressed I grew back to my formal self, well as much as anybody can when they're without parents. Sarah and Jim were their names, my uncle was Sarah's brother and till they passed, I was very close with him, spending allot of weekends with him and his old music band, even though the band didn't go anywhere, I always had an interest in it.
In regards to the murderers, as scary as it sounds, they're not to be found. I never wish dead on people but as far as they go, I hope they're no longer with us. I say murderers as plural because I find it hard to believe that any old human could take down two people, especially my dad being a very tall man. I definitely find it hard to believe that a human could do this, due to the evidence. It was said bite marks were left on my mum's arms and my dad's neck. But trust me, I am not wanting sympathy ever, I actually never bring it up, the only feeling I have towards it now is anger, and although I am not capable of being a harmful person I've thought about the moment I met my parents killers for the past few years now, it doesn't go well on their behalf.
Back to me being half vampire, I don't drink blood or have to stay in during the night. I eat human food and being awake in the day doesn't burn, although I am more powerful when the sun goes down. By that I mean, my powers are not so well during the day, my ability to hypnotise people, as i put it, isn't very long lasting or effective, but as soon as the sun goes down, it works a charm. A few people know I am half vampire, word gets around. When vampires came out of hiding ten years ago, it wasn't easy due to the fright and general judgement people had. 20% just didn't even acknowledge them, 50% started protests and riots to keep the 'demon's' out of our lives and the 30% remaining did their best to accept them and get along with them. I guess i was amongst the 30% considering I knew about them a couple of years before everybody else, my dad had to tell me why he wasn't allowed seeing me during the day and why he never ate dinner with the rest of us. My child life was far from normal but i accepted it as days passed. Obviously I am aware that it was a vampire that killed my parents but I'm not going to hate them all obviously.
In present day, I was continuing with my normal routine consisting of showering, putting my hair into a high pony tail and straightening my fringe. I put on my work uniform of a plain white blouse, high wasted black pleated skirt that came to above my knees to my uncle's dismay. I put on my ankle high brown flat boots, grabbed my shoulder bag and then raced downstairs, meeting my uncle at the dinner table.
"You know you were meant to be at work two minutes ago right?" he said as he tossed me an apple. I remembered the conversation we had last week about eating healthy, obviously that was kicking in now.
"It only takes me 10 minutes to walk there, I'll speed walk, your fault for distracting me with movies last night!" I yelled in a joking way at him. And he mimed the words i just said back at me, moving his head in a dramatic way and making my voice sound whiney and completely unlike how I actually said it. I let out a sarcastic laugh and saluted him with the hand holding the apple and grabbed my keys with my free hand, making my way out of the house. I took a bite out of the big red apple in my hand, never being fond of apples i sneakily threw it in the compost bin, chewed the chunk of apple already in my mouth and then started my walk to arks. Originally it was just called 'Mark's' but due to the M on the sign falling down, it was temporarily called Ark's, i guess the name just stuck.
The journey to work was pleasant as always. I always end up saying hello to roughly seven people and in my rush I avoided long conversations with 3. Walking into Mill square, Mark was standing outside the cafe, arms crossed and staring right at me. Mill square was a cute little version of a town square, it had a library, our cafe, a hardware store owned by my uncle,and a few others, and the biggest oak tree I had ever seen was in the middle of it, it really was a cute sight to see. Mark on the other hand wasn't a sight to see in the slightest.
Mark was about 5'ft11 and likes to dress in jeans and pretty tight t-shirts that are always plain. He then wears cowboy looking boots and oddly enough he makes it work. He has jet black hair that was long, just reaching his shoulders and wavy and he scraped the fringe constantly out of his face. He always had stubble around his chin and his skin was tanned matching his dark brown eyes. He was an attractive man, but I had never thought of him in this way, after all, we have been friends since Garry opened the store across from his bar which was abo
I rushed around the fountain and around the people either sitting at benches or chilled out on the grass surrounding the tree.
"I'm so sorry, but hey I am only 10 minutes late!" I said as I cowered away but gave him a hopeful smile. I then held out my arms as if to ask for a hug, it was the only way to say I was sorry that I knew worked with him.
"It's a good thing we're friends, or I would've fired your ass by now Anna" he said as he scruffed my hair as if I was a child and then walked into the cafe as I followed. The cafe was all a brown colour with large maps and pictures the employee's have gathered in time, stuck all over the wall. Pictures and anything we've collected from being different places around the world, it made everything interesting and it brought up questions from customers which they all loved to hear. I often complained about how I had never travelled, apart from going to Disneyland in Florida when I was 6 and of course I don't have anything to show for it. I haven't gone away since, apart from camping out with a few friends in the field by my house. The only thing of mine on the wall was a photograph of me and mark, but i suppose that is better than nothing.
"Garth!" Okay, so i know my last name is McCarthy, but Garth sort of sounded like it and Lisa said I often reminded her of Garth, being awkward and like an alien with the opposite sex. I've never watched Wayne's world with her again after that. Lisa has been a good friend since a year ago and since then we've been extremely close, we just clicked. Lisa was 6ft and beautiful, and I wasn't just saying that because she's my friend, she was genuinely beautiful. Her long slender legs were perfect, her skin had no flaws, her shoulder length ginger hair emphasised her beautiful skin and her blue eyes were to die for. Her hair was always curled and it looked model material, it was no surprise she had big tips and a new man every month.
"Lisa! How's it been today, sorry I'm late" I apologized for the second time today as I wrapped the apron around the front of me, it tied around my waist and then covered the bottom half of me, it ended just above my skirt which was useful for when kids are being a mess around here.
"No worries, I'm used to you being late, good thing Mark is in love with you, or you'd be outta here faster than last month's new employee".
Lisa was always making comments about me and Mark, she was the type of girl who didn't really believe in guys and girls being good friends, it was a good thing Mark was the only man friend I had. On another note, last months employee, Derek, lasted a day, if you count three hours as a day. It is January, so last year was one of the busiest we get and he couldn't handle the pressure. As we got back from lunch break he had left a note and his apron, we couldn't help but have a laugh about it.
I started work at three today, well quarter past three but who's keeping track, so i was to finish at nine, an hour before closing time luckily, i hated closing. I never understood why we closed at ten pm but surprisingly allot of people enjoyed a cafe late at night, so on Saturdays and Fridays we are open till 12. Of course we sell alcoholic beverages, wine really, we've also started to sell beer now, its slowly turning into a bar. You'd think we get trouble with the coffee drinkers and beer drinkers mixing but like I said, we are all friends here, we live together so we get along. Six o'clock, was when it got dark this time of year and that was exactly when trouble appeared in the form of vampires.
I am knew at this so go easy on me. I have allot more chapters saved on my laptop but I thought I'd see how the first one goes down. Any True Blood fans will be happy to know that it is based on the books and show but the characters and personalities and plots are slightly different. Eric fans may also be happy to know that there is a very tall and attractive vampire based on Eric introduced soon. PLEASE review or rate my story and if I get even one piece of positive feedback I will post the second chapter straight away! The story does get better but obviously I had to spend some time introducing the characters. Don't be afraid to let me know on any confusions or issues you may have! Hope to hear from you soon :)
