After experiencing the strange emotions at the gate, I found myself grabbing Alice's hand. And followed Maria into the wooden gate of her new coven. I was completely unsure of what to expect. I felt this strange relief emulating from Maria that I have never felt from her before. Behind the large white doors of the gate was a small community filled with amber-eyed vampires. It was strange seeing that many of them were living here and so peacefully too. I watched as each of them greeted Maria as they passed, did none of them know how dangerous it was having her here? Maria finally came to a small creamy sunset yellow house with dark red shutters. It had a garden filled with colorful flowers along with a birdbath with a gravel walk leading to the bright blue door and a white picket fence surrounding the garden.
"Here it is, home sweet home." Maria smiled as I tried to figure out what in the world she was up to. She opened the door to a small light blue hallway with a picture of the sun in the middle of a cloudless sky. It was highlighted with the words: 'You have to see the sun to start a new day'. This was just plan ridiculous the woman has been around for a couple centuries, she should know the sun rises every day. I was also shocked to see a key ring with the keys to what seemed to be a small van and a clip that said 'You can choose the roads you drive.'
"You drive?" I asked.
"Yes," Maria answered. "Its how I get to my job, and get Flora to school."
"Job," Alice asked shocked, who would be crazy enough to hire her?
"I work nights at a gas station near the coast," Maria answered. "So I can support Flora."
"Who's Flora?" I asked.
"I'm Flora," I turned to see a tiny bushy blond vampire holding our suitcases.
"I created her, after I smelled her blood during that terrible traffic accident." Maria explained. "I almost gave in, but thankfully I didn't. She's been my companion ever since. Isn't that right Flora?"
"Yes," Flora answered as she put the suitcases down. Now I was ready to say, 'who are you and why do you look like that crazy vampire in the south?'
"You can have my room," Flora smiled towards Alice.
"Oh, honey, I was planning on clearing out the sewing room." Maria explained looking towards me. "You don't mind the morning sun, do you?"
"Well we weren't planning on..." I started hoping she doesn't get the wrong idea we were moving in.
"Oh, you can stay at least a week or two." Maria begged. I could feel this strange sense of joy coming from her, as I felt comfort coming from Flora. It was all far too strange for me to comprehend. Why was she acting so strange? This was after all Maria, the woman who once said 'What's the point of letting them live if they are a waste.' She led us to a bright orange room cluttered with books, and magazine with a large poster board in the center.
"Flora, do you mind moving your school project," Maria yelled sweetly as Flora took the poster. "Than can you please help me make room for our guest."
"Yes mother," Flora yelled as I almost choked.
"What is it Jasper?" Maria asked worried as Alice helped her to pick up some of the books.
"What school does she go to?" I asked.
"Good Hope," Maria answered. "It's a small privet school in Prince Edward Island."
"You got a lot of gardening books," Alice pointed out as I notice all the self-help books and tiny quote books that had at least a thousand markers in them.
"They come in handy." Maria answered looking towards Alice. "Would you like to borrow some, dear?"
"No," I answered for her as Flora came out to help clean up, Alice and I didn't want anything from her.
"Well, how about I get you some bear blood, we keep it in storage around here." Maria smiled as she ran off to a bright yellow room, which I would assume was the kitchen. "Makes things easier with so many of us."
"You can have a seat," Flora offered. She seemed like a sweet girl, made me wonder what ability does she have that would make Maria want to keep her around. I knew Maria did not think much of people who were useless to her.
"What's that?" Alice asked noticing a bulletin board with at least a thousand sayings clipped and pasted on the back wall were everyone could see it.
"That's the encouraging board," Flora smiled as she sat next to the large houseplant in the corner. "Maria keeps them as part of her changing process."
"You do know vampires rarely change?" I pointed out to her; she obviously hasn't been vampire for long.
"But we are capable," Flora answered. "That's what Gaston says."
"Gaston?" I questioned.
"He's the coven leader," Flora explained. "He tells every new vampire coming in here that despite change being rare, to us; it is possible. We just have to want it."
"Has he changed anyone here?" I asked wondering if he knew what kind of vampires are joining his coven.
"No, but he changed a couple people," Flora said looking at us with curiosity. "None of them live here though."
"Here you are," Maria said coming out with a smile, carrying a tray of glasses filled with bears' blood. This just kept getting more bizarre by the minute. "And I have great news, we are having a meeting here tonight."
"Meeting?" I questioned, since when did she meet with anybody peacefully.
"Oh, it's a meeting with a few people I would like you to meet." Maria explained. "One of them is the woman who helped me when I first came here. The other is a vampire I've been trying to help resist. I'm sure they would love to meet you, would you please come?"
"We'd love to," Alice answered for me as Maria smiled with delight. This was something I was not looking forward to in any way, shape, or form. All I knew, was Maria was truly putting on a show. And making it so believable that even Alice was giving into her act.