The Realm of Truth (Book 1) [In the process of editing]

Chapter 13: The Need to Survive

Practice, huh? I thought to myself as we returned to the log cabin. I bitterly thought how I didn't need that much help from Damien, and I looked over to see his forearm still bleeding. I thought about how warm it must feel and how good it would taste to me. I wish I could feel my lips salivating, but Damien looked right back at me. I wiped my mouth and looked away from him. We were quiet for the whole entire ride back, and every time he would try to speak, I would try to leave his vehicle in the middle of the night, which made him even more mad.

I thought about my twin mentioning that I had powers. I knew I had some special abilities like all vampires have, but I think she meant like my own. I never really thought about it, and I never knew if it was possible to unlock it within myself. I've always been told that we just had super strength and speed and are able to hypnotize humans. I knew that Damien and I would have to have a day where we would just have to hone my own abilities, and this meant that I would have to skip school.

School was another thing I would have to deal with, unfortunately.

The phone was ringing when we settled down and Damien went to go clean up in the bathroom. I went to go answer and my heart dropped to the ground. "Odette?" a worried voice said. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine, who is this?" I asked.

"It's Ms. Jennifer Walker." they said, and I had a heart wrenching feeling about this. "Odette, this is Celeste's mother. I know this is very informal I have to meet you over the phone, but we just found out today that our daughter is dead, and we just want answers." She was holding back her sobs over the phone and I could hear her husband trying not to break things as well out of frustration.

My jaw dropped, and if not, to the ground at the most. I knew I had to face this. I was the only one who was with Celeste the entire time this all went down. "What's wrong?" Damien walked out of the bathroom with a small towel. He had it over his cut, and he was listening in on the conversation.

"Did you see what the animal looked like?"

Besides it looking like myself? That I was the one that killed Celeste? No, not at all... I was panicking, and then I started calming down a little bit more. "Listen, Mrs. Walker." I said slowly. "Celeste and I had barely any time to see what the animal looked like. We were leaving the cemetery and we just got flipped over, and by the time I got out, the animal was gone and I don't think Celeste had a camera or anything on her dashboard to prove it. The only thing I knew next was that I called the ambulance for her. I didn't know she died today..." I ended up lying to her, but I knew this is the only way for me to help calm the situation.

There was a little bit of silence for a moment over the phone and then finally, "Okay," she said. "I just spoke to the police officer too, over the phone before I called you. He wanted me to hear your side of the story as well, so if you get approached by an officer, just stay with the facts. W-We are going to try and host a funeral service this Saturday, if you want to join?"

And also try to keep calm around a whole body of students just blaming me constantly? Not to mention, me trying to have a calm state of mind while this is happening so I wouldn't have to kill them one by one? Everyone's just asking me to kill them for my own benefits, aren't they?

"Also, if you don't mind, I know you just barely know Celeste, but would you like to say a few words at her service? It would help to show that there are people out there that care about her, too."

"Of course I don't mind," I said with a tightened smile. "I would like to give a speech at her funeral."

I hung up the phone afterwards, and then I threw it against the wall. "I guess I will be needing a new phone this weekend..." Damien mumbled, watching it fall. "Who was that, anyway?"

"That was Celeste's mother." I said. "They're holding a funeral service for Celeste this Saturday and we're invited."

"Amazing. So, will you be able to handle a whole crowd of humans?" Damien asked, and I sent him a glare. "I'm just kidding, lighten up. By the way, why don't you just take my blood when you have it available already to you before I clean it up completely?"

"I've already said, and I'm not going to." I felt like I struck him with power in my voice, considering he backed off quite quickly. "Damien?"

"Yeah, don't worry about it." he said, as if he was drawn to it and actually listening to me. "I'll join you this Saturday. You don't have to drink my blood if you don't want to. We can find another way, and we can hone your powers on Sunday?"

I nodded in acknowledgement, but I was looking at him in confusion. Something didn't sit right with me. I let it slide, however, cause now I have to get ready for everything tomorrow for the service. I bet Sophie will be there enjoying the show and watching me suffer while I get to smell the scents of blood around me.

~~~

Saturday, 9am~

We arrived at the home of Mercy Brown's graveyard again where we were burying Celeste. Everyone was dressed up and so were we. I had a nice black gown on and we were walking up to the stairs at the Baptist church to shake hands with Celeste's parents. I can't tell you how guilty I've felt the entire time.

I was surrounded by the student body of course, and a lot of Celeste's family that lived close by. I was surprised to hear that some had traveled considering it was super short notice. Maybe just most of her family were a couple states away and drove down immediately.

My gut was tying up in a knot as I thought how kind her family was. There was a picture of Celeste in the back and her casket as well, and everyone sat in the benches, crying and also just comforting each other. I hated this, I wanted to get out of this.

And well, I was glad I saved the best for last of this service, because guess who gets to make a speech once everyone arrived?