Chapter One: Startled changes

B Pov.

You know when people say "Hey, don't worry, everything will go great"? And you always shrug them off, thinking they are talking crap and you really could care less and don't want their support.

Well, this is one of those times that I regret having ever done that.

I sighed as I fiddled with the hem of my suit jacket. If everything I say goes right, I could not only be accepted, AND funded to continue my research, but I may be able to find out how my parents job got them killed.
I looked over at the clock; the hand seemed to move only inches in what seemed like hours.

"Miss Swan" a voice said. I shot out of my seat, startled.

"Yes?" I asked, raising my eyebrow.

The man was about in his late 30's with golden hair that was greying at the edges; he had a nice pinstripe suit on. His face was hard, cold, and pointy in the extreme, and he had a headset in his ear, meaning he was just a telecom guy.

"Your late" he said simply, he looked pissed.

"Excuse me?" I said, holding my voice steady "I've been in here for the last 15minutes awaiting someone to come and send me in, as the receptionist refused to interrupt anyone" I crossed my arms over my chest.

"Yes well, Mr. Medford will see you now" he replied, and stormed off over to his cubicle.

I walked over towards the big brown doors, pulled my suitcase into my side, and held my head high. Taking two deep breaths, I entered the room and walked over towards the man who was a friend of my parents, and possibly the man who can make my dream come true.

"Mr. Newton, thank-you for allowing me to show you my ideas" I said, as I shook his hand.

"My pleasure Miss. Swan. Your parent's were a wonderful asset to this corporation and I hope that you will be also. Please lets get started" he motioned his hand towards the large oak desk and took a seat beside two other people. I placed my briefcase upon the table and set up the slide, initiating it.

Taking two deep breaths, I set off.

"As we all know, mythology has played a major part in today's history. Many things have been proven fact and fiction," I pointed towards exhibit one on my slide: the round table of Camelot. " As we know; archaeology, palaeontology and any type of subject along these lines are based among these guidelines. We plan to discover what was, and what wasn't. For years, dinosaurs were believed as a myth, until Robert Plot, the curator of an English museum, described and drew a thighbone that he believed belonged to a giant man in 1676. Though that fossil went missing, an illustration remained. It was not until 1841, that British scientist Richard Owen came to realize that such fossils were distinct from the teeth or bones of any living creature. The ancient animals were so different, in fact, that they deserved their own name.

Therefore, Owen dubbed the group 'Dinosauria,' which means 'terrible lizards." I paused for a breath, glad to have captured everyone's attention, and continued on, renewed hope coursed through my veins.

" But we also have tales such as the lost city of Atlantis, Excalibur and the tomb of Jesus Christ himself. But what of other tales?" I asked, and looked into the eyes of each audience member. "What of the philosophers stone? What of the ability to touch things and turn them to gold?" I took a deep breath for my next statement. "What of the Well of Eternity?"

Mr. Newton sighed and cradled his head in his hands, while the other occupants leaned closer, captured in my proclamation.

"Nonsense, we all know these are myths, legends," he said, waving his hand dismissively, the first thing anyone but me had spoken in the past 20 minutes.

My head shook in silent reproach." But Mr. Newton, we are all well aware of the tale, are we not?" I asked looking towards the two males at his side, they shook there head, asking me to explain. "The legend is of a fountain that flows with curative waters, that regenerate those who drink it or bathe in it restoring lost youth.

The legend goes, at least, as far back as starting in the 3rd Century. The Legend of Ponce De Leon and the Fountain of Youth is apocryphal in nature and De Leon's name was not associated with the fountain of youth legend until after his death. As the legend goes, Ponce De Leon, dissatisfied with his wealth and bored with his life, launched an expedition to find the fountain, as far back in 1513.

The first connection made between Ponce De Leon and the fountain of youth is in Historia General Y Natural de las Indias 1535 by Gonzalo Fernandez Oviedo, who wrote De Leon was looking for the waters of Bimini to cure his impotence. There are many recountings connecting De Leon to the Fountain, or Well as I believe it." My eyes connected with Mr. Newton, who still looked unmoved.

"I've spent many years studying the ancient dialects and ideas that…that my parents had put together. And I believe, I found something they overlooked." Pausing, I flicked a switch on the projector, showing Example 20. "Pool of Bethesda in the Gospel of John, in which Jesus heals a man at the pool in Jerusalem" I pointed towards the map and outlined Jerusalem with my fingertip.

Okay time to drop the bomb.

I showed example 23, the world map.

"Now if my calculations are correct we can find a point of origin using all these clues". I placed a black dot on Jerusalem, another one on Florida and another one on Transylvania.

"Miss. Swan, I understand Jerusalem and Florida. But, please explain why you find that Transylvania has a right to have a dot placed on it". I almost rolled my eyes, but thinking better of it as it probably would not help me get the funds.

Especially not with my next statement.

"Why vampires of course".