The vampires come
"They would already have arrived at the Conrad's place!" Beth yelled impatiently,"what is taking you so long, Belle! Let's get going!"
I was busy packing the last of my things, lastly my Avril Lavigne cd's. Beth and I were friends with the Conrad daughters. We were going to 'visit'. Well, actually we just wanted to see what the vampire family that would be staying with them, look like. They are some kind of royalty or something in the vampire world. It was one of the largest covens in existence, and the only one that still had an alliance with the werewolf clans. Every year there would be a 'get-together' so that "inter-politics" could be discussed. It was also a time of fun and games. A time to test strength against each other and to learn form each other. It also meant time to pair up or find love, for those who came off age, as we called it. At least, for the werewolves. For us, it was at the age of 17.
Beth was only 16. I turned 18 a month before, but in my case an exception was made, because I had not yet crossed over, or become able to change shape into wolf form and back. Besides, I didn't feel attracted to any of the young men. My brother, William, aged 19, and I, were adopted children to Paul and Sonia Fairweather. They also had other children, besides Beth. Ava would soon turn 8, and then there was Janneth, who moved out as soon as she turned 21. She was a real rebel. She and I always argued. The Conrad's had three daughters. Catherine or Cathy, aged 18 and my best friend. Rosalinde aged 16, and Megan aged 12. They were more friends with Beth, though we all got along pretty well. All of the kids of the werewolf clans got along well with each other. We had to. Going to school and mingling with humans, we had to look out for each other.
Beth was so excited when we finally got to the Conrad's home, that she jumped out of the car before I could say anything. I smiled by myself. Kids…she couldn't wait until she turned 17. Would she find love? I felt a little sad that I was the exception. I hadn't shown any signs so far that I would be crossing over. There is a chance that I never will. My mom had been a werewolf. She died giving birth to me. I had no idea who my dad was. William and I shared our mother, but had different fathers. His father was a werewolf. That meant a double dose of the gene. He had no escape. He crossed over when he was ten. The chances were good that my father had been human, and in that case the children either take the wolf gene or the human gene. I sort-of accepted the fact that I might never cross over. In the meantime I made sure that I was an a-grade student. I stood first in my class. I looked after Beth and Ava as well as I could. Perhaps I would go to college? Being human and all, I wouldn't really be able to 'guard' the clans or anything. I couldn't partake in the activities, because I would get hurt. I usually watched, or sometimes played with Ava and her friends. Being still young, they had not developed super speed and strength yet. This would be my first year to attend. Last year I had taken ill during the festivities. Mom wouldn't hear anything of me leaving the house. They were treating me like a porcelain doll many times. Even Will, my brother, always seems to keep an eye on me.
"Belle!" Cathy yelled and threw her arms around me,"did you bring your cd's?"
"Yup. We can have a blast."
She smiled and winked at me. She had a huge sound system in her room which her parents had gotten her two years ago. Luckily the Conrad mansion is huge, which is understandable. Their father was the pack leader here, and one of the senior members of the clans alliance. He was also a very good businessman. My father worked for him.
Beth and the other girls were cooing about what they would wear and what make-up to put on. Cathy and I just grinned at each other and went to her room, opposite theirs. We listened to some music and talked about school. This had been our final exams just the week before.
"How do you think you did?" I asked Cathy.
"I don't know. As long as I passed. It's not like I'm going to college or anything. You?"
"I did my best…do you think my parents will send me to college?"
"Why would they do that?"
"Because I haven't crossed over yet."
"You still have time. I heard that once there had been a guy that only crossed over at 24!"
"But what will I do in the meantime? I feel so useless!"
"That's not true! You are helping Mrs Fairweather wonderfully with Ava and Beth. Besides, who am I going to do stuff with if you're gone?" We laughed.
Suddenly Cathy became quiet.
"They're here." It amazed me how she could hear the doorbell when music was almost booming the windows out. I felt a bit uneasy.
"Your mom and dad are not going to expect us to meet them, will they?"
"Why? Are you afraid of vampires?" she asked with a wicked twinkle in her eyes.
"Hahahaha, Belle, who lives with werewolves, is afraid of vampires!" she laughed.
"It's not like that! I've never seen vampires before. It makes me a bit nervous. Can they read minds? That kind of stuff freaks me out."
"I'm sure they can't,"Cathy said, still sniggering,"in any case, if mom and dad wanted us to meet them they would have…" Just then someone was banging on the door.
"Cathy! Belle! Mom says she wants to see all of us down stairs!" It was Megan's excited voice.
"Crap."
"Aw, come on! Don't be such a wimp!" Cathy said, turning down the stereo. I glanced at myself in the mirror. She noticed.
"You look fine, not edible anyway!" a grinned and threw a cushion at her.
I felt nervous as we descended the stairs to the spacious living room. I could hear voices as we approached. Beth and the other two were already there.
"Ah, here comes the rest of the squad," Mr Conrad said, winking at us," this is my eldest daughter, Catherine, and her friend Belle Fairweather."
We were introduced to a small party of vampires. They were absolutely the most beautifull beings I had ever seen. I couldn't help but stare at them in awe. Their skin colour was pale, but flawless. They had intense blue eyes. The one, I guess the king, if you could call him that, was first to greet us.
"Good to meet you all. I am Alistair Cortez, and this here is my wife, Almira, my son Jayden and my adviser, Connor. The others you will probably meet soon."
"Nice to meet you, sir," Cathy was saying. I had lost my tongue. I was shaking a little. The young man he had introduced as Jayden suddenly looked intently at me, as if finding something amusing. I held his gaze for a few moments, then looked at the floor. Both him and his father had pitch-black hair. His wife's was red, but I doubted that it was her natural colour, as I noticed some blonde streaks breaking through. Connor, had light brown hair.
I didn't realise I wasn't breathing until we were allowed to leave. I blew out a breath. Cathy's sensitive hearing picked it up.
"You held your breath?" Cathy was teasing me as we got to the stairs,"they're not going to bite you, you know."
I punched her on the arm, knowing of course it wouldn't hurt, no matter how hard I punched. Nonetheless she still said: "Ouch!" and then ran up the stairs laughing.
I pursued her, not realising that everybody in the living room could perfectly well hear what we were saying, having above normal hearing, or seeing the smiles.
"Who did you say this miss Fairweather is?" the queen asked.