The pain rattled through my brain, down my spine and back up again to my forehead, burning and branding me for life with the crescent of Nyx. I knew what it was, everyone did, but it hadn't happened for so long; over a year now…I was the first in a year to be Marked as a Vampyre fledgling. Once again, a freak.
I heard my mothers screams in the background, and her frantic phone calls to my Grandma. It seemed like she'd hung up on mum… strange… I wanted to call out, tell my mum to calm down, that I was fine, but I couldn't find the strength.
She's dialling the phone again…
My hearing is becoming clearer…
I hear the phone ring…
Grandpa answers. His voice is blunt and monotonous. His words pierce me like a knife.
"Your daughter is no longer part of this family. She is a freak. As long as you love her, we will not love you. Goodbye, Cassandra."
"NOOOOO!" I scream, the anger and hurt shocking me into motion. My mum whips her head round in terror. Her eyes are filled with tears as she moves towards me and drops to her knees.
"Isa, baby, everything is okay. I will not stop loving you. Listen to me, we'll get through this. Isa! Listen! Your grandparents are People Of Faith. They are stubborn, nothing will change them, But we, we are more…open-minded! We are strong, and will get through this. I will never stop loving you, my sweet baby girl."
I can't help but smile, though the movement burns my head.
"Can I see it, Mum?" She knows exactly what I mean, so she scrambles through her handbag and pulls out a compact mirror. She hands it to me hesitantly.
"Before you open it, know that I will always find you beautiful."Gee, thanks mum…really made it obvious that it looks awful.
I scratch at the lid nervously, biting my lip. My mum hates me biting my lip but I take advantage of the situation to gnaw contently.
It's time to look, I open the shining silver mirror with closed eyes and position it in front of my face.
"1...2...3." I whisper and open my eyes. I'm drawn to it straight away. Purple betrayal smack bang in the middle of my forehead. It had a certain magical beauty that I couldn't not acknowledge. Somehow it made me relax. For just a second a stared with disbelief. Then I raged.
"Why me! I've been uprooted seven time already. Seven! And now I have to start a new school all over again? Pack all my things and leave. Just like that." I look at my mums hurt face; she felt guilty for the amount of times we'd moved, she always had. I was angry for a different reason now. Angry that I'd let vanity cloud my ability to treat my mother right. "Mum, I'm so sorry… You're right. It's going to be fine. Maybe a new school is exactly what I need." The lie stung my heart, but I wouldn't hurt my mum, the only one to always love me. I had to leave, and I had to leave right now.
I heard my mum coming down the stairs with my suitcase. She threw my skinnies and favourite band tee at me, which reminded me I was still in my school (er, old school) uniform…
Being in the bathroom to change gave me some well needed thinking time. Naturally, I went straight to the mirror. I traced the crescent moon with my fingers. Something struck me as different about my Mark, but I couldn't figure it out. Now that I had stopped being angry, I knew I had to take this time to think things through.
What were my choices?
A) Stay home with my mum, refusing to acknowledge that I've been Marked as a Vampyre Fledging and…die.
B) Take residence at the House of Night; starting tonight…Learn about Vampyres, hoping that I don't reject the Change and… die.
So there was my choice. Die or maybe die. Putting it like that made it more obvious that I had to go. I'd miss my mum, but she'd come and see me, right?
I left the bathroom, left the house, and embarked on the journey toward my new future…