Charlotte POV
One year ago, my mother was engrossed in preparations for my birthday. She informed me that today I would finally embrace my true identity as a vampire. As a member of the serpent clan, we lived by the motto, "Destroy anything that stands in your way." Our family was made up of monsters, and I had never experienced love; all that I understood was power.
I had always believed that love was a sign of weakness. "Charlotte!" my mom called, prompting me to rush downstairs. "What??" I replied, sensing her irritation. "Why did you turn down the guy I picked for you??" I froze, uncertain of how to respond. The truth was, I was attracted to girls, and I feared my mom's reaction. She might even disown me. "I just felt vulnerable around him, and you always said that as a serpent vampire, we can never afford to feel weak," I explained, meeting her gaze. I could tell I had struck a chord, as she seemed to wrestle with her thoughts.
She just nodded, her focus on sorting out the details, while I returned to my room and fell asleep. Suddenly, I was jolted awake by someone shaking me. I opened my eyes to see my mom holding a striking black dress with a deep slit. She handed it to me, and I took it as she exited my room. After quickly showering, I slipped into the dress and left my room. As I descended the stairs, I spotted my entire family gathered together, all adorned with serpent tattoos except for three individuals. I approached my mom, who presented me with a green serpent that coiled around my neck and then bit me. I felt the pull of my blood being drained, and then everything faded to darkness.
I still have no idea what occurred next.
Now...
I exited the janitor's closet with an enormous grin on my face. She had just shared her first kiss with me, the most beautiful girl in the entire school, shared her first kiss with me. Yet, deep down, I knew I shouldn't have been celebrating. I shouldn't have kissed her at all. I settled into class, counting down the minutes until it was over, eager to see her again. As soon as the bell rang, I dashed out of the classroom, an intense urge coursing through me. The serpent I had received craved destruction and blood; it represented power and greed. Each member of my family had been bestowed with different serpents. I tried to resist the dark impulse, but it was overwhelming. I slipped into the bathroom and drank the blood of those present, casting a hypnotic spell so they would forget everything. Afterward, I made my way to the school gate, waiting for her.
I spotted her making her way toward the gates, and when she caught me watching, a blush spread across her face. She picked up her pace and soon joined me. As we walked side by side, she kept her gaze downward. "Hi," I said, hoping to ease the awkwardness. "Hey, Char," she replied, but her expression shifted to something unreadable. Her cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red, and then it clicked in my mind. "Did you just call me Char?" I asked with a smirk. Her face turned even redder at my words. She turned to face me, and I couldn't help but admire her glossy pink lips. The thought of kissing her crossed my mind, and I gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.