CHAPTER FOUR

I remember when the family went out of the country for the first time. We went to Spain and the view there knocked me off my feet. It was just like the pictures. I didn't expect that especially when they could have been digitally edited.

Spain was hot. There was no clouds to obstruct the view of a fantastic blue sky. The hotel was a lovely beige colour with those really thin curtains that poked out of the balcony. And the pool. Damn. It matched the sky. Colourful umbrellas and relaxing benches dotted around it. I just wanted to stay here. I'd never seen such beauty in my life. All I could do was stare at it and wish I'll be able to recollect it at a later stage.

Until Caim ruined it by nearly pushing me off the balcony into the pool.

I felt the same way when I saw the view out of the lift doors. It was like an underground world. The ceiling was the colour of the current day and provided the light. A huge garden stretched out, longer than what I could see with a path leading from our lift to two destinations. One was to a building that looked like it was for accommodation - it had several stories and a balcony with a glass wall. On some balconies clothes were drying on a line. Some had potted plants and they were so long they draped to the balcony below.

The next building was further in the distance. I wasn't sure how to describe it but imagine looked up at it from above and draw and line halfway through, draw a semicircle then another line, that was the design I saw. The semi circle being completely out of glass.

Flowers of all kinds provided the colour and the sweet aromas… I had no words to describe them.

I stood in shock at this underground world, my mouth gaping probably looking like a right idiot.

"Shall we?" Mattie said offering me his hand.

Then I had a moment. I felt that if I took his hand, will I be able to go back to a normal life? People don't live underground like this. The secrecy and pain Mattie had to go through to even say something was wrong. Absolutely wrong.

He saw my hesitation but kept waiting. Feeling awkward I took it. I'd have to do that won't I? I won't be able to say things I feel is necessary to someone. Feel all the things Mattie did throughout the years especially in the few weeks that have got me here.

The path to that building in the distance was lined with tropical trees which was weird considering the surroundings but provided me a way in which I could calm down and not think too hard of what was to come.

When we approached closer I could see people - loads of people - inside. Some were just like Mattie with paler skin. I couldn't help but stare from one guy to compare with his skin just to make sure. At one point Mattie caught me eye and nodded.

Once we were inside a large and busy canteen area welcomed me. It dipped into the floor and was filled with round tables and chairs - filled even more with the amount of people and vampires that were there and they were all talking and laughing. The view of this place knocked me off my feet but this interaction with so many in one place was something else. Little food stalls had been erected on the left side of this dip, spreading the smell of their cooking.

On either side of me were several floors of doors, so many on both sides. They had a hallway with a look over this dip. The ceiling was made of glass.

"Mattie…" I whispered looking around trying to absorb every detail. I didn't know what to say.

"We're nearly there, Alice."

He lead me to the stairs. At the fourth floor we were out on the hallway with a view of the life below. We stopped somewhere in the middle. None of these room had numbers or anything to identify one from another.

"Here we are, Alice." He said gesturing for me to knock on a deep mahogany door. I didn't know what else to say or do so I knocked.

Inside a voice said we could come in and I opened the door. The person who stood before me in this mahogany washed small office with its bookcases running down the length of the walls, the furthest wall from me a window with its blinds drawn, and desk with a computer and keyboard that was centred in the middle of the room with two black sofas in that company-customer setting, stared right back at me with a welcoming smile.

"Iain!"