The night has always been full of mystery. It's as if it is alive. Even now, I could feel its soft breath caress my face, playing with my hair. My eyes closed slowly and inhaled the calming scent of the earth all around me as if it were an intoxicating perfume. For that one moment, I felt myself relax and give into my surroundings. I wasn't even part of this world anymore. I was detached from everything. Nothing else mattered.
It only occurred to me then what a normal person would have figured out from the very beginning. I was in a forest. I didn't know how I got there and I didn't really care at that particular moment either. My eyes opened and even in the dark I could see how the ancient trees intertwined together, creating a maze. The grass wasn't damp, but I recognized the smell instantly. It was the same scent you get just after it rains. It filled my lungs and for once I let a small smile spread across my lips. I could almost hear the steady beat of its heart, in complete harmony with my own.
It was then that I noticed a shadow hidden among the shadows. It was different. It moved towards me, growing larger as it got closer. Suddenly I could see his eyes. A perfect golden brown that seemed to reflect the moon's light. He walked to me slowly, but not cautiously. There was a confidence about him that demanded attention. He stepped out of the trees. His pale skin contrasted the black background. He was incredibly handsome. He was a vampire. My body tensed and I quickly scrambled to my feet. He didn't hesitate in the slightest, his lips twitching upward. I tried to focus, gathering the energy I could feel around me. Despite how much a hated using my so-called-gift, I wasn't about to go down without a fight. Anger sparked in me.
He stopped when he was only a foot away from me. And that was it. He did nothing. I expected him to launch himself at me, threatening to rip my throat out with his teeth. But he just stood there, keeping eye contact with me. I watched him cautiously while not moving from my defensive crouching position. Finally, he did something that caught me completely off guard. He offered me his hand.
I could only stare at him wide eyed. Who was he and why was he telling me to take his hand? Without thinking, I got out of my crouch. I didn't take his hand. But I felt myself take a careful step forward. I looked behind the strange man and realized that we weren't alone anymore. Eight other vampires had emerged from the trees as well and were standing close behind him. What shocked me most was that one of those eight was a child. The young girl clung on to one of the vampires. Her curly hair fell in front of her face, her eyes shining brightly. But there was something that separated her from the rest. Even from far away I could see the slight rouge in her cheeks and her vibrant brown eyes. She was still alive, only half vampire. She was like me.
The feel of my own heart beat startled me and I jumped. I was only half vampire. My father had used a human woman and gotten her pregnant. Unfortunately, my birth meant her death. I had never forgiven my father for what he had done. I glanced at the woman holding the young girl. She was standing next to a bronze haired boy. Was it even possible that that those two were her real parents? My eyes grew large again as I saw the bronze haired man nod once at me, as if he was answering my unspoken question. I looked back at the man who first appeared. He was still smiling, his hand still extended to me.
This time I didn't hesitate as I put my hand in his. I wasn't afraid anymore. I wasn't angry. For the first time ever, I felt accepted and cared for. I felt loved. Suddenly I understood. This coven of vampires wasn't a coven at all. They were something more. They were a family, a foreign concept to me.
A fierce growl broke the silence. I stared in horror as I saw yet another coven of vampires jump from the maze of trees. This time I was not fooled. They were not like the family of vampires. They were a kind of vampire I was unfortunately all too familiar with.
"No!" I yelled desperately, frozen in fear. It was if no one had heard me. The coven of vampires didn't even pause as they headed straight for the family. I felt the man's hand start to slip from mine. I clutched onto it as hard as I could, not willing to let him go. "Don't, leave them alone!" I screamed at the newly unwanted visitors. The man effortlessly pulled back his hand and stood with his family. As I watched the dark coven of vampires launch themselves at the family, the night swallowed me whole.
I jerked awake from my nightmare, breathing heavily. I was back in the basement of the abandoned warehouse. A rotten smell attacked my lungs and I couldn't help but cough as I struggled to my feet. I rubbed at my face and realized I had been crying in my sleep. What had happened? Nothing made sense. Who were those people?
"What does it mean?" I whispered to myself. I shook my head, not able to think of a response to my own question.
