Chapter 3:

For a moment, there was complete silence.

"What the hell are you talking about? Are you mentally insane or something? I mean no offense, Gloria but do you think I'm stupid enough to believe you? I'm getting out of here!"

I jumped out of my chair and strode angrily towards the door. In the blink of an eye, Gloria was in front of me, barring my way out. I was shocked at the speed of her movement.

She smiled sadly "Dear, it's true. How do you think I managed to get to the door this fast?" In a blur, she was by her desk. She lifted it above her head with one hand. "How do you think I'd be able to lift this up?" She opened a small little cupboard in her desk and pulled out a clear bag filled with red liquid. Blood I realized with a sickening jolt. Gloria opened her mouth wide and as I looked on, I noticed her front teeth were slowly growing. As I gazed on, horrified, I saw them turn into fangs. Slowly, Gloria lowered her mouth onto the bag and punctured it with her fangs. And she started to suck the blood. In a matter of minutes, the bag was empty and Gloria's mouth was stained red. She wiped her mouth with a napkin from her coat pocket and gently asked me "Do you believe me now, Arisa?"

I slumped to the floor. It was real. She really was….a vampire. All the evidence, the proof was in front of my face. But then….what did she need me there for? Was I…was I a vampire too?!

"I'm sure you must think that you are a vampire." Gloria said, reading my mind. "But the thing is, you're not. You see, your mother was a wonderful woman, known to all the vampires. For yes, there are more like me." She added at my look of growing horrification. "Anyways, your mother was truly amazing. She held a lot of respect in our hearts. It was heartbreaking when she passed away. My child, your mother…was the high vampire priestess. And now, it is time for you to assume that role."

Another silence ensued. "So…you're telling me….my mother was a vampire and that she was your – your HIGH PRIESTESS?!" I shouted in disbelief.

Gloria shook her head gently and her golden curls shook. "Oh, she was no vampire. She was a mortal. It was just that she was a mortal with extraordinary powers. The only mortal with powers that can match that of the strongest vampires. This power runs in the blood, you know, on your mother's side. And now, you have inherited it. It is an amazing gift that you have gotten."

My head was still spinning. My mother…a high vampire priestess?! This couldn't be possible! My mother was the most unlikely person to ever fit this role. But as I kept thinking about it, certain pieces started to make sense. Her being a high vampire priestess would explain all the secret meetings she would have with people, where she would make me promise to not tell my father and all those books on vampires that she used to own. My mother had explained that they were for pleasure but now, there seemed to be a more fitting explanation.

Gloria's bubbly voice brought me out of my reverie. "You must attend night school with the other vampires. You will not be actually attending the classes with them. A separate tutor will be assigned to you. I'm sure you'll make many friends here and will make a lot of progress." Her tone softened and she smiled at me kindly. "Arisa, dear, I know this is a big change for you. I also know that you will handle it well and that you'll make us all proud. You'll make your mother proud."

She gently pulled me up by my arm and walking me to the door, said "Tomorrow, at 7 pm, a chauffer-driven car will come to pick you up and drop you off here. I will meet you myself. At 2 am, when classes finish, you will be driven back."

Without my knowledge, we had already walked all the way to what seemed to be the exit. She turned to face me. "It's wonderful to finally see you Arisa. You truly are as beautiful as your mother." She smiled sadly and opened the door, motioning for me to get into the car that was waiting at the front steps.

I walked down the marble stairs and got into the car. As it drove out, I looked at the building and was shocked to see that it resembled a late 1800's castle. It was big and breathtakingly magnificent. Soon it was out of view and I focused on all that had happened.

We finally reached my condo. I thanked the driver and headed up to my place. I stumbled in and fell on my bed, massaging my head. So much had happened. So many changes, so many new discoveries. I wasn't sure I could handle it all. I closed my eyes and knew no more….