The Past is Our Present

Secrets, Revelations and an Orphan

I sighed as I wrote the last line of my homework, at least when I was with my friends I could be myself. At least then there was a pretence of freedom. I would never be free though, there would always be immortality's icy grip around me. Some people call it an incurable disease, others a curse from the deepest pits of hell. My friends joke about it, saying it makes me look cool, but they don't get it, nobody does. Because nobody knows what it's like to be me, to be a vampire in a human world.

I relive that moment in my head, that moment that my friend, Léah, accidentally pushed me in the line of sight of her mirror. I hadn't known I was standing in front of it until I heard her gasp. I whirled around and was horrified to see the mirror, because, of course, there was no reflection. That was the moment she learned the ugly truth about me. I looked back at Léah's face and tears came to my eyes when I saw her back up, black eyes filled with tears.

I ran, I ran like the coward that I am. I ran till I reached my little windowsill hideout. I was glad that there was a cloaking spell so that nobody could see me cry myself to sleep. It was an awful night, I was too afraid to go back, knowing that Léah would tell the other two. I was afraid to go and face my own friends.

I'm pulled out of this painful memory by the headmistress walking into the Ravenclaw common room. When she spots me she tells me to follow her, I do so after begrudgingly putting down my book. When we get to her office she gestures towards the seat in front of her desk and I sit down. When I finally look up I get a little nervous, because, I've nerves seen McGonagall this worried and heart there she is, looking as worried as I was apprehensive.

"Miss Nightshade, you must be wondering why I have brought you here?"

"Yes, though to be honest I haven't the slightest idea why."

I swear, if it's because Morgan went and did something stupid again and blamed it one me, we're going to have a little talk.

"I suggest that you prepare your self for, I believe that this, news, will come as quite a shock."

Oh no, what could it be?

"I'm sorry to have to announce this abruptly but,(silent pause) your parents were found dead this morning in their house. The, evidence, shows that they were killed by vampires."

"By the gods! Do you have any idea why they were killed?"

"Well, I'm not certain if I should tell you this "By the gods! Do you have any idea why they were killed?"

"Well, I'm not certain if I should tell you this but it does concern you so..... we received a message, here at school, that implied that if you were not turned over to the vampires it would result in war."

I just sit there, stunned into silence. Those other vampires wanted me? But why? All of a sudden I hear the headmistress' voice informing me that I could return to my tower.

"Miss, before I leave, may I tell you my theory?"

"Of course?"

"Do you remember when I asked for a personal dorm?"

"Yes. No to be rude but, how is this relevant?"

"Because I asked for a specific dorm because of, medical, reasons. I, myself, am I vampire. Which I believe is important in this situation."

 Then there was simply silence, silence and more silence.

I felt like I had said something I shouldn't have, based off of McGonagall's surprised expression. I then got and left. I'm not certain she noticed, for she seemed to be lost in thought. I worked out of the antechamber and onto the spinning staircase. I quickly walked to the Ravenclaw tower while wiping the tears of my face.

When I entered the tower I was immediately caught into a bone-crushing hug by a small black-haired blur. Morgan had always loved giving those hugs, whatever the circumstances.

Then she saw my tear-stained face and me sit down on one of the numerous couches.

"What happened Amber?"

"I don't want to take about it?"

"Would it help if we were in our dorm, alone?"

"Yeah, I guess."

Once in the dorm I realized the depth of the threat and started panicking slightly.

"Woah there Amber. Come on, breathe in slowly through the nose, and then out through the the mouth. Come on, like we said. That's it, now when you're ready you can tell me what happened. If you want to."

After a few minutes I was able to get a hold of myself and start talking.

"So, McG told me to come to her office and she told me that, that my parents had been killed last night. And that the, uh, evidence or marks make it obvious that they were killed by vampires."

"By the goddess!! Amber I'm so sorry!"

"Don't be, it's not like it's your fault. But she also told me, that there was a message sent this morning. I transmitted this information, and I quote 'Give us the daughter or it's war'."

"Well that's uselessly ominous and dark."

"Tell me about it."