Chapter 3: Gregory's POV

Anna rang the doorbell and Tony practically ripped the door open. Standing behind him was a girl who the about my age. Well, when I was human.

"Rudolph!" Tony exclaimed.

"Oh, Tony, love, I missed you," said Anna dramatically.

The girl started shaking with what I assumed to be was silent giggles so I bared my teeth and growled. Nobody laughs at my sister but me. Although I hadn't felt like doing that lately since Marie has been on my mind.

"The girl turned to me. "Let me guess. Gregory?"

I growled again. Something didn't smell right to me. Then I saw it: her cross pendant. Only witches wear them. They treat them like its their coat of arms, telling the whole world what they are, if only the whole world would open their eyes and knew what to look for.

She introduced herself to my parents and something about her last name didn't set right with me. I don't know why but the name Noel sounded so familiar. It was a name I remember being mentioned a long time ago, either by one of my parents or by Marie maybe.

My parents left and I stepped into the house, lost in my thoughts. Analise turned Twilight on while she went into the kitchen to read and wait for the food to finish in the oven. Finally I couldn't stand watching the movie anymore. I mean who in their right minds makes vampires glimmer in the sun?

I moved silently into the kitchen and sat down across from Analise who was sitting at the far end reading her book. I waited, thinking.

Finally she set her book down and practically fell out of her chair. "What the hell?! Don't sneak up on me, Gregory! What are you? A friggin' vampire?"

She startled me with the question and I almost panicked. Then I realized she was talking about how I snuck up on her and quickly regained my composure. I scoffed at her. "And what are you? A witch wannabe?" She laughed but I continued. "Just look at your outfit. Black hair with green tips, a purple velvet choker with off-black lace and a cross pendant—I've come to learn that only witches wear those—your off-black tank top with off-black lace on the edges of the blue straps and a blue stripe, and off-black straps." I got up in her face and tried to look menacing. "Those don't work by the way." I wanted to yank it off her neck to show her what I meant but only got as far as touching it. As soon as I touched it my arm felt like it was engulfed in flames and I quickly yanked it away.

"I'm not a wannabe," she said in a bored tone as if she knew what the cross did to me. I realized this wasn't an act or a disguise she was hiding behind. Only the Sacred Cross of Helios could make me feel like I was burning without any flames or sunlight. "You don't know my real family. I'm adopted. My real family is made up of witches. My great, great grandmother, Marie Blair—" Marie? Surly she wasn't… "—passed this down through my real family. My aunt gave me this before she died and I was sent to the adoption agency. But I turned my back on my witch heritage and vowed to avenge my father who was a vampire hunter."

Right then the timer went off. I don't think I have been more thankful for timers than right then. But I wasn't hungry either.

I had to get out, to think and clear my head, maybe scream and screech a bit. I was panicking!

"I-I'm going outside. I-I need fresh air." I knew I sounded shaky but I couldn't help it. Marie was the only girl—only person—I trusted besides my human parents. I used to trust my best friend with my life but, well, we won't go there.

I felt sick to my stomach. I could feel Rudolph and Ana's eyes on me as I rushed out the door. I felt like howling in rage. I trusted her. I thought I knew here. I loved her. I trusted her and she betrayed me! She was a witch. How could she not tell me this!

The door slammed behind me and I took off at a sprint toward the woods. Once I was sure nobody was around I leapt into the air and transformed into a bat. The air was full of the screeching of a bat for the next half-hour.

"Calm thyself, Gregory," commanded a soft, musical voice that drifted on the wind.

"Why Marie?" I screeched. I could feel her presence all around me, in the trees, in the breeze, in the atmosphere itself.

"I love thee, Gregory. I did not care that thou was a vampire. I didn't want thee to be scared off by telling thee I was a witch."

"Marie," I sighed sadly. "I wouldn't have cared."

"Gregory, I was part of a family. I had parents. Thou hadn't met thine family yet."

I screeched in protest.

"I grew up around the prejudices of vampires and I knew that if I introduced thou to them thou would be staked on the spot. I didn't want that to happen to thee. Besides, I had always been enthralled by vampires. When every other little girl I knew wanted to be a princess when they were five and six, I wanted to be a vampire."

"Marie—"

"You should get back. I am always with thee, my love."

I knew she was right so I turned around and started flying back.

"And Gregory."

I stopped and listened.

"Know that things are not always what they seem. I see darkness quelling on the near distant horizon. You must be carful, Gregory. You must protect them."

And then I felt Marie's presence disappear in an instant. It was as if somebody had thrown the light switch from "On" to "Off". Then I felt it: The warm breeze instantly turned icy as if tainted by the darkness Marie had just talked about.