Chapter 6 – Surprise guests
When I got home I immersed myself in the tub until I could close my eyes and not see the glassy dead eyes of the history/literature/football coach. Afterwards I got through the Book for vampires. I had thought I was somewhat of an expert on the matter but obviously I was wrong. The bruise on my neck and the dead teacher do agree with it. Let's see what the Book has on them
Vampires
Humans who have consumed vampire blood and died within 24 hours of doing so will rise undead. The nature of the human's death is irrelevant however the body must be preserved and able to function. Upon mortal death, the undead body will awaken in a state of transition. In order to complete the transition, within the next 24 hours the person must consume an exceptional amount of human blood, or else they will die.
History
During the early Middle Ages of Europe, an old world family abandoned their homeland, soon after a severe virus, known as the plague, spread throughout their village.
With the help of a local witch named Ayana, the family traveled to America where they settled in a beautiful unnamed hamlet. However, during their presence in the community, the Original mother, Esther, had an affair with a werewolf, of whom they shared a child. However, after the untimely death of Esther's youngest child Henrik, Esther was later convinced by her husband to transform their family into the first known vampires.
Food
Blood is the main component of a vampire's diet. Whether it be animal or human or even vampire blood if a vampire fails to drink blood, their body will become severely weak, and will ultimately disintegrate into mummification. Blood (especially human blood) will not only satisfy a vampire's thirst, but will also increase and their physical capabilities. The longer a vampire abstains from blood the more likely the vampire will lose all sense of their humanity and rationality until they finally give into their bloodlust. Due to their acute senses, a vampire can detect whether or not a human has recently consumed alcohol or drugs, because their blood tastes unclean and can leave a vampire with a nasty aftertaste.
Nature
Vampires themselves are extremely feral, predatory creatures, and far more savage and beast-like than their human appearance suggests. They growl, hiss, snarl, and curl their lips back baring their fangs as signs of aggression when provoked. When they sense danger, they will immediately evade the area.
The bite of a vampire can sever the limbs of both animals and humans, as vampires are known for having extremely sharp and strong teeth. Despite their nature, vampires are also capable of human emotions, such as compassion, love, and self-control. However the emotions of vampires are far more intense than the emotions of humans; anger, happiness, hate, love, etc. are more powerful and much more overwhelming than when they were human. Whenever a vampire is faced with a powerful feeling (such as hunger) their faces transform into a paler complexion, while blood rushes to their eyes with small veins protruding around the area. Their canine teeth will lengthen into fangs, giving them a more predatory look to scare off or threaten their prey.
Powers and Abilities
Some of these powers are more potent when the vampire gets older and feeds on human blood.
Super Strength - Vampires are much stronger than humans and grow stronger with time. Even new vampires who are still in transition can toss a fully grown human across a room with great speed and force. Their strength is also more powerful then werewolves that are not in wolf form.
Super Speed - Vampires can accelerate their movements to cover short distances in an instant, faster than the human eye can see. When running across long distances, they appear as vibrating blurs of motion.
Emotional Control - The supernatural ability to control and manipulate the emotions of one's self.
Dream Manipulation - Vampires can control dreams and subconscious. The vampires can produce and modify dreams, bestow nightmares or lucid dreaming. Other effects of this ability is the distortion of reality and trapped in the dreams.
Heightened Senses - They can hear whispered conversations, even ones in far off buildings, smell blood, and see in total darkness.
Mind Compulsion - Vampires have the ability to control minds, plague people's dreams, and alter/erase human memories.
Immortality - A vampire stops aging once turned. Upon their transformation, vampires then on become immune to all conventional illness, disease, virus and infection. The only known disease or infection that can kill a vampire is a werewolf bite.
Healing Factor - Vampires can snap their finger bones back into place after being broken and have been seen to fully recover from gunshots, stab wounds, and torso impalement.
Weaknesses
Decapitation: The act of dismembering or removing the head of a vampire will result in permanent death.
Fire or Sunlight: The act of exposing a vampire to fire or sunlight will result in permanent death.
Vervain: The act of exposing or ingesting a vampire with vervain causes a vampire to become severely feverish and weak. Also, if a vampire's skin is exposed to vervain, it can result in burning them. Also vampires can't compel anyone on vervain.
Wood: The act of wounding a vampire with wood will cause the vampire to become severely weak and if a vampire takes a wooden stake through its heart it will result in permanent death.
The Gilbert Device The Gilbert Device is a powerful tool enchanted to bring excruciating pain upon vampires.
Heart Extraction: The act of extracting or removing the heart of a vampire will result in permanent death.
Invitation: Vampires cannot enter a home without an invitation by the owner.
Magic: Vampires are susceptible to the powers of witchcraft.
Starvation: Vampires who abstain from blood for extended amounts of time will eventually desiccate into mummification.
Vampire Bloodline: If an Original vampire dies, all vampires descended from their bloodline will slowly perish.
Werewolf Bite: The bite of a werewolf is extremely lethal to vampires.
I rubbed my eyes. Great. Now all I have to do is start killing everything with fangs. That should be a breeze! A noise outside my house had me turning around fast. Night had fallen. I left the room quickly making sure to place the protective crystal back to its place and descended the stairs fast. I opened he front door ready to start exploding or freezing whomever was there.
"Dad?"
Okay, false alarm. I left the house to hug my tired father who was in deep conversation with Sheriff Forbes and another man.
"Hey Bells"
He hugged me close. He looked tired and his stomach growled at me.
"What are you doing here?"
I asked generally. Liz shared a look with the unnamed guy and Charlie just shrugged
"What kind of father wouldn't make sure his only daughter hadn't settled in properly?"
"You ran out of food didn't you?"
I whispered in his ear, he nodded laughing. I motioned to the house.
"I was about to start dinner anyway. Why don't you join us?"
I asked Liz and the other guy. Liz smiled nodding.
"Zach Salvatore"
He extended a hand
"Bella swan"
After living in the Halliwell manor for a whole year I was impressed by their alarm system. A strategically placed crystal above the front door that detected the nature of the guests. It would remain white for mortals or humans and turn red if the guest was anything else. I smiled to myself seeing the crystal keep its perfect white color as my sudden guests walked through the front door.
"There's beer in the fridge dad, serve?"
"Sure baby. Why is your house prettier than mine?"
"Because I made a pit stop to buy dollhouse furniture and used water colors to change what I didn't like before blowing it up again"
It was true, I had gotten rid of the wallpaper that dorned the whole downstairs and instead colored the walls with all the colors of the sunset, soft yellow on the walls, dark orange covers on the new and matching furniture soft red rugs on the floor. I replied cheekily busying myself with a simple dinner for four. I settled for a tray of baked potatoes with orange zest and chicken breasts wrapped in thin bacon slices. Simple and fast. I tossed everything in the oven and I made a green salad putting it in the fridge before joining the others in the living room.
We all made small talk for a while until Liz noticed the hand mark bruise on my neck. After showering I thought I'd be alone so I had worn a simple white tank top that didn't cover it at all
"What happened to your neck?"
She asked in a full cop mode. Great!
"I was attacked as I was leaving the high school today"
I replied looking at Zach in the eyes. How many Salvatores can be in a town this small? He coughed uncomfortably.
"What!?"
Charlie almost jumped up from his favorite leather armchair. I laid out a hand
"It's okay dad. I know how to take care of it"
I replied cryptically. I have no intention of walking around with stakes in my purse but if the book is right, a simple witchcraft or powers should be enough to stop Stefan from coming after me again.
When the oven bing'ed we all sat down to eat. Conversation was light and easy to turn around to Mr. Tanner's death. He wasn't the first. A couple had been killed three nights ago; another couple two nights ago, Vicki Donovan had been attacked last night and Mr. Tanner today.
"Must be one hell of an animal"
I had joked when Liz tried to sell the public story: animal attacks. Charlie stuffed one potato in his mouth and chewed thoughtfully.
"We had a few of those a couple years back. Only ours were strange. The claw marks were above the spilled blood. Isn't it strange how animals kill with exsanguinations these days?"
He asked rhetorically taking a sip from his water. Liz had froze and Zach choked on his lettuce. I was chewing a bite of chicken watching them. In the end Liz sighed.
"I am not authorized to answer that now so can we change the subject?"
"Of course we can. How are your children handling the new school year?"
I changed the topic with an easy smile. Caroline seemed to care about her daily hairdo or her nails instead of school and Stefan spent his time antagonizing the late Mr. tanner or look at Elena like a starved animal. Liz laughed lighting up the general mood.
I wonder how school is gonna be like tomorrow!
