Chicago April 11, 1925

*Zoey P.O.V*

I finally convinced Victoria and James to take me back to the town I was born in. Victoria was so reluctant, she says there are "bad" guys here. There is always "bad" guy wherever we go, Victoria says it is because I am special. I mean I'm not like the others.

I am human, and I am a vampire. Victoria said my mother gave birth to me, while being in transition of becoming a vampire. I somehow only got a little of the venom inside my body, thanks to Victoria coming to the rescue and pulling me out of my mother's womb. James and her saved my life, but they said my mother was too far gone for the venom to save her from the injuries I caused her. It was a rare occasion, they tried to help her. I am very lucky they found her, or I would have died along with her. The story gave me shivers and I hated to bring it up. Fortunately, I was growing at a slower normal human pace, I was turning six but I looked as if I was two. The venom is slowing my growth making me grow a human age every three years. James thinks it's because the venom wasn't directly into my veins and is slowly messing with my growth. Either way Victoria loves it because she has always wanted to be a mother and lost the ability to be one when she changed. I know she isn't my really mom, but she is the one who is raising me and the closest thing I had to one. Which is why we are back in Chicago because I wanted to celebrate my sixth birthday in the place where it all began, and she loves to please me.

"Zoey, remember we have to stay inside the hotel until the sun goes down." Victoria says, I wonder back to the bed and lay down. I shake my head in response as I understand. It was frustrating that I couldn't go outside and enjoy the sun because they didn't want to expose themselves. I also loved the way their skin sparkled in the sun, it was like glitter, shinning onto a wall. It used to amaze me, not so much anymore.

"I don't know why you agreed to come back here. You know it isn't safe for her here." James said in a very aggressive tone. I looked down at my hands. I know they've been fighting for over a few weeks because I wanted to come to Chicago. I haven't really told them the real reason I wanted to come back. It was because I wanted to visit my mother's grave. I know it was located somewhere outside the city, from what Victoria and James said one night when they thought I was sleeping.

"Because James, it is her sixth birthday tomorrow, and she wanted to come. Now quit being nasty about this." She snapped back, and got up heading to the bathroom. Probably trying to cool off. Leaving me alone with James. I hated being alone with him, he scared me. He was a tracker which was very lethal weapon to have. I was too young to remember the whole story, but I remember this one girl who escaped him. He caught her scent and chased her, but she convinced a vampire to change her into a vampire. Causing James to want nothing to do with her anymore, she was the first and only person to escape his powers. We both sat there in silences, I wanted to speak up. I mean I was only allowed to use words and full sentences when I was alone with them, they didn't want someone to wonder why a girl who looked as if she was two was speaking full sentences.

"So, what kind of cake do you want for tomorrow," I looked up at James bending down in front of me, his smile always made me cringe, because I know how evil of a person he is.

"I think chocolate is fine." I whisper back, I feel so small around him.

"If only you drank blood, you'd make my life so much easier." he stood up and walked into the bathroom with Victoria.

My diet consisted of human food, I never had the desire to drink blood from a human. I didn't like the idea of hurting someone. Victoria tried to have me drink the blood of a baby doe one time, because the scent caught my attention while running through the woods. It tasted okay, it made me run faster, and I felt stronger but I didn't like the idea of hurting another species, even if it was a deer.

The sun finally set, and I was growing up the courage to ask them to take me to see my mother. I was stalling as I watched the sun fade slowly away.

"Zoe," I looked over at Victoria standing in the door way. Her hair was down, she was dressed as if she was going out to hunt, "are you hungry?"

I shook my head, "no," I was nervous. I wanted to ask but I didn't want her to be upset with me for my choice.

"You haven't eaten all day. What's wrong?" she was concerned as she said down on the bed with me. Grabbing my hand. I looked up at her.

"I was wondering if um we could uh go see my mother's grave." I bit down on my lip, scared to look at her face, afraid of her reaction.

"I figured this was the purpose of the trip." I heard James say coming into the room. I looked up at him, he was carrying a cake in one hand, and a bag of food in the other. I looked down again.

"Well," Victoria said in a cold voice, "I don't see the harm in visiting her. She did bring you into my life. At least we could pay our respect while passing through." She smiled my hair, and kissed my head before going over to James.

"Really?" my voice cracked. I just realized I was holding my breath.

"Yes, we can go but first you need to eat." she pointed her finger at me, pulling out a loaf of bread and some cheese. I stood up and ran over to them, making a sandwich and eating as fast as I can. I licked my fingers clean.

"I am ready." I said with a mouthful of bread. James laughed, and Victoria rolled her eyes.

"Alright let's go then." she grabbed my hand and we headed out.

We had a taxi driver take us to the graveyard. Victoria didn't want us to traveling on foot to long in the city. We climbed out of the cab and she told the man we would be back in a few moments and to wait. She gave him a flirty smile, and the young man shook his head. Too much in a daze to realize that she was just using him and was going to probably kill him later tonight. I shook the idea off and walked through the entrance. Victoria held my hand, she was looking around as if someone was going to come out and attack. We finally found her tombstone.

Lillian Grace Frank

August 12, 1901 – April 12, 1919

Beloved daughter, friend, and mother

Next to her tombstone was another one, with a baby engraved on it. I bent down to look at it.

The baby of Edward Masen and Lillian Frank. May God care for the little angel.

My heart wrenched, they thought I died along with her? I was confused. If they found the body, they would know I wasn't still there. Victoria could sense my confusion. She bent down next to me.

"Sweetie, they probably tried to look for you but couldn't find you. So just assumed you were dead." she rubbed my back. I nodded, it made sense.

"What happened to my father?" I asked, it was the first time I even thought about my biological father, and first time I knew my mother's name, even my father's.

She shrugged, "I have no idea, first I even heard or read his name." She stood up, "We need to get going though, I am hungry, and I bet James is growing impatience." I followed in her lead, wondering back to the cab. Looking back at my mothers and my tombstone.

"I love you mom." I whispered, I could feel Victoria tense up, but continued to walk.

By the time, we got back to the hotel, it was mid-night. James lit the candles on my cake, and they both sang happy birthday to me.

"Blow out the candle and make a wish." James said smiling.

I closed my eyes and thought in my head. I wish to find Edward, my real dad. I blew out the candle and darkness took over.