We managed to arrive by sundown. The long drive was more draining than I had anticipated but the fresh air and the scenery made up for it. Their small two story home was surrounded by wildlife. Trees secluded the home in a green embrace, it seemed so peaceful and yet so eerie in the dark.
Now you can have that small town story every werewolf gets in those books you read. Mark's mocking voice comes through our link, annoying me like always.
Shut up! I retort as I can't come up with anything clever. Which he knows since his laughter fills my mind. Blocking him out I know that would sting him since he hates it when I do that.
"It's not much but it's quite beautiful here, especially this time around," Angie manages to say as the last of her sniffles clear up. It was spring so it meant I'd be going through hell summer in a woodland place. Great, I think to myself, more bugs. The thought gives me shivers more than the cool air flowing through.
"In the back there's a cliff so be careful where you step, might not be high up but it'll be a gnarly fall, might break something along those scrapes and bruises." John says as he shuts the car's trunk. He pulls my two bags up to the small porch.
I follow them inside as I stand awkwardly by the door which is by a small hall that they use to hang coats and keep their shoes by. Feeling conscious I step out of my boots and put them near the door just like them, I mean I am a guest at their home, it's the least I can do. Putting my coat on an empty hanger I slowly make my way to their family room.
I say family because that's what comes to mind when I see it. A whole set of couches lined close on one side as they face the opposite wall that has a huge flat screen with surround sound and a gaming console. It's lined with movies and games alike. I don't peek too much into their collection as I immediately feel intrusive.
"Here, let me give you a small tour to your new home. Please feel free to make yourself at ease here. We love nothing else but to show you that you're more than welcomed here. Umm," Angie mumbles as she tried to remember what else to say since she clearly rehearsed all of that in her head, possibly on our way here. "Ah, this is the kitchen, kinda small but cozy I'd say. I make great food if I don't say so myself," she gives herself a pat in the back earning a groan from her husband as she smiles brightly. "Anyway, you're more than welcome to get anything from here, again our home is now yours."
"Mi casa es tú casa," I say. This earns a shocked look from them but they chuckle as I give them a small smile. It's a spanish saying to make any newcomer feel at home. I guess the shock was from me even speaking as I might seem mute to them.
"Upstairs is the bathroom, which sadly we have to share, but!" Angie exclaims excitedly as she rushes up the stairs. She enters the first room to the left that is big enough to be considered a master bedroom. It has a windowsill and a rocking chair close to the curtained windows. The bed in the room seemed small enough for a young child and not a grown person. It's decorated in pinks, purples, and some blues. There's a bookshelf that seemed to be emptied out. A night stand by the bed holding a small lamp. Angie eagerly runs to some wooden doors that open from the middle and slide to the sides. It lead to a small walk-in closet.
"Ta-da!" She happily shows. "It's your very own closet!" She seems so happy that I don't dare say anything. I'm pretty sure the contents of the baggage John was carrying would fit in a small drawer. Maybe even the night stand. It would most likely be under the bed if it were a little higher off the ground. Clearly this was supposed to be their future kids room and not some orphan that was thrusted upon them.
Taking a deep breath, the dust makes me cough, I manage to smile. At least that's what I tell myself is on my face but I'm not so sure once Angie's face falls. "I love it, thank you." I say genuinely. They didn't even have to take me in and for that alone I'd always be grateful, I'm sure they made some sacrifices before and I'll just be another one on their list.
"If you don't like it we can change it. I can go buy some cans of paint and we can paint it any color you'd like. I might have other kinds of curtains to put up. John can throw the rocking chair out." Angie starts to blubber as she continues to nitpick a room she clearly put a lot of time and effort in.
Crap, I was making her feel uncertain and surely unappreciated as she continue to list things we can do to change it.
"No," I almost but shout, clearing my throat I manage a small smile. I hope so this time. "I kind of like it. It's girly but not that much, kind of chic but not too much. I couldn't have decorated a room better myself."
"The bed was suppose to come today since we called before we even journeyed here but I guess things got delayed." John says for the first time since we got to the room.
"Ah, yes. Sorry about that." Angie furrows her eyebrows as she seems to only now notice the small bed.
"That's okay, I can just sleep on the floor. No, really. I slept on the floor before," I quickly add once I saw Angie's face as she might rebuttal. "Thank you so much for this. I really appreciate it. I'm..." I can't finish because it might come out as rude but I really wanted to sleep. I haven't slept in days and for some odd reason sleep seems to come for the first time. I quietly yawn under my hand as Angie tells John to put my stuff inside.
"We'll leave you to rest then. Tomorrow we can go shopping for whatever you might need." John offers sweetly as he reaches for Angie's hand. Angie seemed to want to say something but settle instead for a goodnight.
After they left I sat on the bed it really was too small for me to even try to sleep in it. My 5'9" butt would not fit even if I crouched.
I stand to open the window opposite of the bed as the windowsill ones don't seem to open. Never had a windowsill but I am sure liking it. There was space underneath for books or trinkets but I had neither. The empty bookshelf next to it look rather sad. Standing I head for the closet, it was bigger than any I've ever had but it's not as big as Ash's. The whole house was the size of one of her walk-in closets.
Locking myself inside I grab the blankets and pillows that Angie clearly left for me I set them on the floor and I let sleep take me.
A cold frame embraced me as I let myself dream.
I was running from the house as I was yet again upset at my father for wanting to pack up and leave. We had just moved to Boston not even six months ago. We had moved from New York. I didn't like it there and the fact we were moving was welcoming. But Boston was different. Instead of staying for three months we stayed half a year.
I was liking it there. It was a city I could see myself growing fond of but alas when I got back from school my father was arguing with my mother of packing everything and heading to another city. She like me was starting to think we might finally settle but that clearly wasn't in my fathers agenda. They kept shouting and I was just getting angrier.
It was an anger that I've never experienced before. My whole body was shaking and sweat was starting to form on my skin. I was beyond livid. Unlike my mother I knew better than to argue with someone that has made up their mind. I storm out as they continue to bicker.
I was running to nowhere in particular but doing anything but argue was better than nothing. My muscles were going at full force more than I've ever done in any physical education class.
Having arguments in my head as what I would have said to my father if I were my mother kept me entertained as I continued to run.
I suddenly stopped, I wasn't sure what made me do it but I just froze in one spot. Looking around I noticed I'm far from the city I was surrounded by abandoned buildings a wasteland basically.
As my breath comes in deep shallows I try to steady it as my heart beats faster and faster. I wasn't sure if it was from the run or something was freighting me. Well that came later when I really saw why I was panicking. At that moment I just thought I tired myself out. Taking every bit of strength I had to just run.
My heart beat wouldn't slow down as my breathing came to calm. Looking around I try to make a decision if I should run back or find a bus stop somewhere.
Mentally kicking myself for being this careless I look around to see where I might be. A strange sound catches my attention as it seems to come from one place but then quickly comes from another. Closing my eyes I continue to try and calm my beating heart but the snarling catches my attention again. Snapping me out of my trance as I continue to look all around me.
Just as I turn something hard crashes into me. The anger and the heat continue to fester just as much as my heart continues to pound against my chest. Anger washes over me as I manage to get up only to feel pain. Excruciating pain all over my body causing me to collapse on the gravel as I try to hug myself, making myself into a small ball as it might alleviate some of the pain. It doesn't help instead I contort as my skin feels like it's a nuisance and my blood feels like it's lava. A pounding in my head begins as it's races against my heart in the speed to see whom is faster.
Slowly but surely the pain just as it began starts to fade as my vision becomes distorted and the smell of rot intensifies. It smelled like garbage left out on the boiling sun for days. Nauseous I manage to stand. Wobbly I see around me as I look for the force that crashed into me only to see a man smiling wickedly a few feet away.
A growl escapes me which takes me by surprise. The pounding in my head alleviates slightly but the headache lingers making everything irritable. I look down to see not human hands but furry brown paws. A yelp comes as I try to not lose my mind into how I manage to convert myself to a dog! Panick sets in as the movement catches my eyes. The man that was standing a few feet away was starting to get closer. Using my distraction he managed to get right beside me.
Pain come from my side as I see the man clawed just above my leg. I cry in pain as he digs his long nails deeper. Growling I snap my jaw at him trying to get him to stop. I only manage to get air as he snickers and digs deeper into my flesh. Anger rises inside as I somehow manage to yank his hand out and pounce onto of him. Trying to bite his face off another force sends me flying.
As comical as that may seem I end up crashing into the pavement and skidding to a stop as the side the man had injured was the one to get the brunt force. Blood trailed from where my body was thrown. Cuts and scrapes filled my body as more blood gushed out. I tried to get up and bite the newcomers face off but I was to weak to even lift my head up. Tears welled in my eyes as they both slowly approached my broken body. I knew I was good as dead.
"Well, well, look what we have here, a pup. Seems to have just transformed for the first time. What a pity I always wanted to fight a werewolf." The first man chuckled.
I kept my eyes on them as my breathing got shallower with each passing second. I just wanted them to end me then and there. There really was no need for any dialogue, it only ever wasted time, and it was completely unnecessary to say the least. For someone that was to die I did manage to roll my eye as it really was that pathetic.
"Looks like we might just get to kill one instead," the second man states.
Just as they were about to finish what they started a blur appeared throwing the first man a few yards away. Unlike me though he managed to skid while on his feet. He looked up angry at the person that interrupted them.
"Not in my territory you don't," a tall bulky man stood where the first one had been. I could only see his back but I knew he was just as big as the other two.
His dark hair countered the brightness that was around. His skin was very pale and his clothes seemed to be in tatters, like he's been dragged just like me.
"Now, now, we don't want any trouble we were just passing by when this beast attacked us." The second man raises his arms in surrender as he slowly steps back and away from the new guy. A low growl escapes me as I try to keep my breathing steady. My vision was blurring but I still had some of my other senses.
"Right, like I'm suppose to believe you weren't part of the clan that attacked me and my family just now," the man states. His voice seemed calm as he was just standing there talking to two strangers that might have trespassed on his property. Which wouldn't be far from the truth but I didn't know that. It also explained his clothes. They seemed too expensive to be tattered like that. Almost like prestigious rags.
"Not at all, we are just two beings freely roaming from place to place. We don't have a clan," the second man continued. He was speaking as if it might help ease the visible tension. The first man wasn't helping though, he had a scowl and looked ready to pounce any given moment. The second one saw that and tried to catch his attention but failed which seemed to further annoy him.
"Now, lets just all go on our Mary way and forget we even saw each other," the second continued as he tried to keep his voice calm but failed as his partner did indeed pounce for an attack.
The dark hair man ready himself as he was able to catch the first man by the hair, as he had a long ponytail, slamming him to the gravel as he reached for his throat. With one swift move he gashed at his neck. Blood rushes out as he grabbed the head of the fallen man and started to twist and turn like a screw. Snapping the head off he throws it at the feet of the stunned man. The one that tried to talk his way out of trouble. His blonde hair shone brightly under the bright sun. Almost giving him a halo.
He looked like in his twenties and scared out of his mind. I slow my breathing as I stared at the head that was laying a few feet away. My heart went into overdrive as I continue to have a staring contest with a severed head. Fear washed over me as let a tear fall. I didn't care what happened to any of them I just wanted to go home. I wanted my parents. Blood continue to drain out of me as the blond man tried to talk his way out again.
"I'm not saying he didn't deserve that but you have to see we aren't-" his words die on his mouth as a blond woman jumped on him snapping his head off in one quick move. I didn't even see her but she stood there smiling with the head hanging from her extended arm.
It seemed like she was offering it to the dark hair man but she quickly disposed of it by throwing it behind her as if it were trash.
Dusting her hands she smiled brightly at the man before saying, "talked too much, don't you think?"
The man snort as he slowly turned to me. This was it. This was the moment I'd be put out of my misery. My heart quicken as the pain continue to spread throughout my body.
"What should we do with it?" The woman asked.
"Might as well put it out of its misery, it's not healing." The dark man responded as he crouched beside me. As if examining a dead body. He kept his distance but he was close enough to touch me.
"Or we can keep it!" Another voice chirped. A tall girl came into view. She stood behind the crouching man smiling at my dying self.
"Or you can shut up. I don't think we should kill it just yet. Seems like a pup or at least that's what the jerk said." A guy comes to stand with the tall girl as he examines me just as curious as the dark haired man. His green eyes look intensely at me.
"I don't know Mark, she could be dangerous. Wolves don't like our kind remember?" The man states softly. He reaches tentatively as if scared I might rip his arm off. He reaches from my neck which I flinch away from his touch. "Has a weak pulse. If we are to help it we have to hurry before the blood loss ends them," he stands to look at the people beside him.
Just kill me, I think. It'd be faster.
Are you really prepare to die? His voice fills my mind.
Yes, I think back. As if we could possibly speaking in our minds.
A snort comes from the one with green eyes. "She says to kill her now as it'd be much faster, and that she's ready to die." he smiles at the others while keeping his eyes focused on me.
"She's thinking that?" The blond woman asks. "Kind of morbid last thoughts."
The question seemed to have caught his attention as he takes his eyes off me to look at the others. "No, she told me that. I asked if she was ready and she replied."
"How is that possible? You never spoken to a wolf before." The man says. He looks like in deep thought.
He looks at me again this time with disbelief. Like I'm an anomaly.
"Maybe it's just your mind picking up her deep thoughts." The girl tries to reason.
"Maybe," he mumbles as his curious eyes continue to bore into me.
"We should take her then. No one else needs to die today. Maybe some food and a few stitches should help her heal," the dark haired man slowly and cautiously leans down to pick me up into his arms. He doesn't seem to mind my weight as the swift movement makes me yelp in pain. Some of the blood had dried to the pavement as he lifted me my skin teared from the ground causing a new surge of pain.
He apologizes as he runs in a blur. The movement and the pain I was feeling make me weak as I let the darkness take over me.
I wake up with a start. Jolting up I groan as my head begins to pound. Wiping my drool off I get up only realizing where I was. Opening the doors of the closet I come to face a bored Mark as he gently rocks on the rocking chair with a book in his hands. His face is set in a confused state as he sighs and drops the book to the ground. Looking up he catches my eye making him smile his brightly one that would make anyone trust him unconditionally.
"What are you doing?" I ask closing the closet doors.
"I could ask the same. Why the closet?" He squints his eyes suspiciously at me.
I shrug, "seemed appropriate."
He snorts not buying my stupid answer. "I was reading the small town wolf story but it kept saying vampires are the bad ones. Clearly they're delusional I mean look at me," he gestures to his body, "not an evil bone in this beauty." He shakes his head as he lightly kicks the book away from him.
I laugh as he crosses his arm acting all upset. I sit on the bed as I check the clock, it was seven in the morning. I wasn't supposed to start school until the following week. The Burke's thought I could use some time to get used to the town before diving head first into to classes. I appreciate the thought but it meant I had nothing to do. Angie had suggested to shop and make the room feel more mine but I didn't have the heart for that. Looking around I can see the small things they had for clearly a child. I mean the sockets had coverings on them. A plushie was sticking out from underneath the bed and the lamp on the night stand was of princesses.
Only one socket was uncovered which something tells me was for a nightlight. They should have kept it. I'm sure it was a cute one.
"Do you want us to show up today and surprise them? I mean they sooner or later have to know we followed you here." Mark suggests. I know Tristan has talked to them and told them we were a packaged deal but they never did say when they'd be moving in.
"Nah, I think I'll just unpack and explore today. You can scare them tomorrow." I say as I stand to look out the window. Trees, all around were trees. This is the small town story after all.
"Unpack what? Your three shirts and two pair of jeans. What else do you have? I'm pretty sure that didn't require two bags." Mark says as he reached for my bags. He's intrusive all around. I let him look around as I know he's just doing anything to be by my side without being obvious. Which he fails each and every time.
"You took a whole bag to stuff this ugly thing?" He asks shocked. I turn to find him examining the ugly bear he had gotten for me at Navy Pier. It was sentimental I guess.
"You won it for me jackass. Of course I was bringing it." Mostly because it was one of few moments in my life where I had actual fun and was worried free.
"Doesn't stop it from being ugly," he says stuffing it back in the bag with a little too much force causing the bag to rip. Face palming myself I get up to yank it from him. I glare as he apologizes. "Oops, sorry."
"Why don't we go explore. I mean Dora has lots of fun in the jungle. We can as well in the woods, right?" I ask him as he plots onto the bed trying to find a comfortable position. Failing he gives up and stands.
"Dora? You think a clearly delusional kid is a great example to compare your current situation to? I'm sure you'll find bugs but the first fox you see won't try to swipe you as more it'll try to tear you apart."
"I doubt that. Foxes are cool. Anyway I was thinking more along the lines I can find me a cool sidekick like Boots." I say clearly messing with him.
"Maybe you should consider a psych ward. Heard those were in now-a-days." He rolled his eyes as he dashed to the window. "They're waking. Call me when you have more concrete plans and not a psychedelic one."
A gush of wind blows my hair as I cross my arms grumbling at him. I really didn't have anything to unpack so I grab the bag that is still intact and dump it on one of the cabinets in the closet. Folding the blankets and putting everything on the other shelf I close the closet to head to the bathroom. I need to take a long shower.
Just as I was stepping out John was coming out of the bathroom. He was caught by surprise but quickly changed his expression and smiled at me. Steeping a side he motions for me to right ahead and use it. I was hesitant but I rushed in before I could change my mind.
After the shower I head to my room to change into one of the two pair of jeans I own and to a baggy shirt that was less wrinkly than the others. Mark was right I didn't even have enough clothes. Ash has been begging me to let her dress me but I always refused. She wouldn't settle into letting me wear regular clothes it had to be brand names with her.
If I was starting a new school I had to reinvent myself. I had to be inconspicuous now more than ever. I hated being the new kid but after a while you just come to terms with it and accept you'll be alone. But I had Mark. Even if he hated having to go to school he would sign up just to keep me company but unlike old times he wasn't able to get into this one.
It was in wolf territory meaning they would sniff him out the second he set foot upon their territory. To not cause any trouble I had to convince him I'd be fine since we had our telepathic connection. Any trouble I'd was to contact him right away.
Brushing the knots out of my hair I head downstairs where Angie and John are cooking a hearty breakfast. By hearty I meant they were going all out: bacon, eggs, sausages, veggie omelettes, and some toast. They had for both vegetarians and carnivores. Seemed like they cooked everything to be safe rather than sorry.
"Good morning," I say as Angie pulls waffles from the toaster. Mark was making coffee. They both startle and turn to give me bright smiles and greet me with good mornings as well.
"Sit, eat anything you'd like. I was just about to make pancakes." Angie says sweetly.
"Are you having people over?" I ask.
"No, why is it too much?" She asks conscious.
"I guess not, looks delicious," I finally say. Everything else would have sounded rude. It was wayyy too much but I wasn't about to bite the hand that feeds me.
A knock comes from the door making me question if they really did have people coming over. Maybe they invited the neighbors to check out their new burden. I mentally kick myself as I regret having such thoughts. They have been nothing but kind to me. I shouldn't think of them in a different light just because I'm a weirdo.
"Hello, so nice to see you again," Mark voice greets from the door. I stood up quickly as a confused John and Angie step back into their small kitchen.
"Mark, was it?" John asks as he pulls out more plates.
"Yes, so glad you remembered. I was just stopping by to say hello and inform you we found a place near by to stay. As my father Tristan might have inform you that we were going to stay close by to help in anyway we can. Since we think of Vee as family." He sweetly states.
What are you doing? I ask using our link.
I thought the sooner the better to inform them of our presence. He innocently replies.
I knew better, he heard there was food and couldn't resist. I roll my eyes as he smiles brightly at the Burke's.
"That is very kind of you and your family to have moved from your home to be by Vanessa. She is very lucky to have you in her life." Angie genuinely says. She hands Mark a plate and tells him to dig in.
He wasted no time to stuff his plate with food as he puts the rest in his mouth. Sitting next to me he begins to compliment their cooking and their home. Earning him more pancakes and sausages.
John offered us coffee but I settle with juice as Mark takes everything, juice, water, coffee, and even tea Angie had made for herself. As soon as he would finish the food on his plate he would serve himself more. Earning smirks and shocked expressions from the Burke's. They too wonder where it all went.
Once he was done wiping them out of every last crumb he would look at his empty plate with a confused look as if he didn't know where all of it went. He perked up when he saw I still had some in my plate. Looking at me with a pleading look he stared at my plate until I handed it over to him. A huge smile covered his face as he dug in.
The Burke's laughed as they saw how fast he ate the little I had given him. John offered to make more but before Mark could accept I declined telling them that Mark and I were heading to do some exploring.
Thanking them I shove him outside as he yelled his many thanks for the food before I got him out the door.
"Why didn't you let me accept his offer? He really did want to make me more food." Mark looked upset as if he were about to cry.
"Get over it. You wiped them clean up there. The least you could have done was offer to wash the dishes not make them dirty more to feed your endless pit." I came to terms that somethings are better left unknown.
"Where do you want to go?" He asks after awhile.
We had started walking to the woods but I was afraid we might get lost so we stopped for a bit to sit on a fallen tree.
"Show me your new place?" I ask. They always managed to find the most lavishing house in the area. Stunning after stunning place, Mark would spend time acquiring cars while Maggie and Ash would buy heaps of clothes. Bass would be found looking at musical instruments. Each time trying to learn something new. Tristan would be in a bookstore looking up new reading material as he was a profesor.
Me well I'd be out looking for a job or caring for my mother. Not sure what I'd be doing with endless times but I know it wouldn't involve worrying about tomorrow.
"You're going to love this one. It's mostly glass and it's surrounded by wildlife. Secluded and huge. Ash is in love with it. She has two walk-in closets and a huge room that she decorated as girly as possible." Mark shudders as he lead the way.
"How did she manage two?" I ask stupidly.
"Bass," is all Mark says.
Right, Bass is Ash's other half. They have been together for years. She was turned in 1993 when she was 20 and Bass was turned in 2003 when he was 21. They found each other when Ash met the Holts in one of her journeys. She said she like to wander from place to place but when she was almost killed when a clan of rouges attacked her Tristan and Maggie saved her.
She has stuck with them as she was afraid of being alone after her attack. They traveled all over Europe where they stumbled upon Bass in London. He was in a band playing at a local club when Ash stepped into the room he was drawn to her. So he says. That the pull was so strong he couldn't let her just walk out of his life. He did all he could to swoon her but she wouldn't leave with him. She kept acting uninterested even though the pull was just as strong with her.
She said she denied mostly because his pursue of her was flattering. He made her feel wanted. Eventually he decided to quit his band and travel with the Holts.
Mark was the last to join. He was in Maine when they found him. He helped them out when Bass had gotten poisoned from a bad batch of blood. Yeah, they drink donated blood or animal blood. They don't mind being around humans it's when they bleed that they should worry.
Mark was turned in 2010 at the age of 18. He said it was an attack and he was turned by a feral but I'm sure there's more to that story. He managed to save Bass's life they never said how but I didn't mind.
As for Tristan and Maggie they said they been together for as far as they can remember. They never go into detail of their past lives or how they became vampires and frankly we don't push it either. They have done so much that we accept whatever they tell us. Maybe one day we will learn more about them.
"Poor Bass, never will have a closet of his own," I jokingly sympathize. Bass is really a free spirit. He doesn't let anything bother him. When something does end up ticking him he's a force to be reckon with. He wasn't there when I had first turned, I later came to learn he was busy tearing the rest of the clan apart as he entered into a raged frenzy.
I was stuck inside my own head that I didn't realize how far and how much we walked until Mark spoke.
"Welcome to la Casa de Vamp."