Gregory sat in the simple silence of his kitchen. A sleek black suitcase lay in front of him. He hated that suitcase with a burning passion, almost as much as he hated the thirty tailored suits hanging in his bedroom closet. Gregory was miserable and he knew that more than anything else in the world, and sometimes he wondered why he even tried. Why didn't he just give up on life completely? Nearly thirty-five years old, and nothing to show for it. Nothing but…
Just then a small girl stumbled through the door between the kitchen and the living room. Gregory smiled at girl. Yes, that is why he strives on. That child is his only reason for living, and as long as she is around he will be too.
"Ella, what are you doing out of bed?" Gregory asked his daughter as she walked towards him. Her long black hair had began falling out of the loosely fastened braid Gregory had attempted early that evening, and her bright blue eyes were red and puffy. Tears clung to her thick eyelashes, a sign that Little Ella had a nightmare.
Ella climb up into her father's lap and buried her tear streaked face into his shoulder. "I had another nightmare." Her sad little voice had confirmed his suspicion.
"Darling, they are nothing more than dreams. You know that as well as I." Gregory wrapped his arms around her, gently rock back and forth, just as he had every night since the night she was born.
"Yes, I know. But it was the vampires again." Ella pulled away just enough to look her father in the eyes. "They tried to take you from me."
The fear her voice caused mixed emotion for Gregory, but all the same a chuckle escaped the former vampire's lips as he remembered his past life. A life he had lived undeaden.
"Why are you laughing?" Ella demanded, tears falling once more.
"Oh sweetie, I'm not laughing at you. I'm laughing at myself." Responded Gregory quickly at the sight of hurt within his daughter. He hadn't wanted to upset her anymore than she already was, for it pained him to she her so sadden.
"Why?" Her eyes widened. Although she was happy to see her father smile, It was very rare to see her father laugh at anything, especially at himself.
But Gregory shook his head. "Another time, perhaps. It's time for bed." He held his child close and began to stand, careful to make sure he had a firm grip around her small waist before fully doing so.
Ella protested all the way to her room, just as Gregory knew she would. "Daddy, please tell me." Her eyes pleaded, and how could he refuse? And just as any decent father would, he gave in.
"Alright, Alright. BUT In order for me to tell you, you have to be safely tucked away in bed." He tried to compromise.
She pouted, sticking her lip out as Gregory tucked her away, but didn't argue.
A brief mental battle erupted within Gregory's head. Should he really be telling such a story to a child a young as her? And what would Alex, Ella's mother and Gregory's wife of nearly six years, think of him filling their child with this 'insane nonsense', as she had once called it.
And yet, it had been so long since he had spoke of his past life, Gregory felt he must.
"Ready, Daddy!" Ella squealed, bringing him back to the present.
"Alright, Ella, I think it's time I told you." Gregory began slowly, thinking of ways he could explain such a... complex event to a four year old girl.
"Yes?" The child pressed impatiently, crinkling her nose, just as her mother did when she was annoyed.
"Many years ago, before you were born… I too, used to be a vampire."
Ella's blue eyes widened in shock and disbelief. "Really?"