New Blood

chapter 2: Becoming Friends

Nestor cooked as Wren wrote in her journal about being in the Vampire Academy. While she wrote, there was singing outside which made both Nestor and Wren jump up in alert.

"The children must be back," Nestor pointed out as he left the kitchen for a moment to check. He then came back after a little while and poked his head in the kitchen doorway. "It's them, would you like to meet your new friends?"

"Okay." Wren smiled at him as she put her journal down and went over to the main room. She looked at them all and was surprised they were vampires and was a little excited to meet and know them all.

There was a pale boy with a flock of messy black hair. He looked friendly and had charming brown eyes, cute little baby fangs. He wore a green shirt, white sleeves, a red tie, blue shorts and black shoes. He was of course the vegetarian vampire, Oskar. His uncle was also a famous vampire legend.

There was a rather tall girl in the group, but she seemed to be the only girl. She had long crimson colored hair tied into a ponytail and wore a pink tank top and long pink skirt with a dark lavender cloak. She had a little which had a black spider at the end like a charm necklace. She was Grufftine.

There was a spindly looking boy with a pointed nose and his fangs seemed slightly sharper than his friends'. He wore a purple collared shirt. He also wore black suspenders that matched his shoes. Over his eyes were brown goggles and on his head he had wavy platinum blonde hair. His name was Tinto.

There was a short boy that looked like a true stereotypical vampire. He had pointier ears than the others, short black hair and razor-sharp fangs. He even had a cloak and a little suit like outfit, making him look like a miniature version of Count Dracula. His name was Stoker.

There was also a much shorter boy, or at least Wren thought he was a boy, he looked like the youngest vampire. He had on a big golden sun hat with a ribbon tied around it, a blue sailor suit and looked like a shy boy. His name was Klot.

With him he had a baby carriage with a patch of ash with a face which was a vampire who was exposed to the sun. His name was Ashley.

"Welcome back from your trip to the mortal world." Nestor bowed respectfully before the students.

"No need to be formal with us, Nestor," Grufftine told him. "Lady Kryptina isn't with us."

"I smell fresh blood," Stoker looked around, then creeped up behind Wren, grabbing her wrists. "Who's this delicious little morsel, Nestor?"

"That's my niece, Wren, let her go," Nestor scolded him. "She's visiting me and the school while her parents are on an expedition."

"Welcome to the Vampire Academy, Wren," Tinto smiled sheepishly at her with a smile. He then noticed she had no fangs. "Say, you're not a vampire, are you?"

"I'm a creature of the night myself though," Wren shook her head. "I'm nocturnal, my parents don't get it. So I'm here with you guys and I'm looking forward to it."

"What a way to spend your vacation, in a school with strange creatures." Ashley looked up at Wren.

"We don't know her, are we supposed to be talking to her?" Klot looked at Wren nervously. "I was always told not to talk to strangers."

"You'll be fine, Klot," Nestor told him. "She doesn't bite. Now, who wants some vampy burgers and fly salad for dinner?"

"YAY!" the Vampire Kids cheered.

"Uhhh...." Wren's eyes widened.

Nestor served everyone their salad after they all got settled into the dining room. It looked like a castle dining room, all fancy and gothic looking. There were pitchers of red liquid. Based on the conversation Nestor gave Wren earlier she knew they were tomato juice and fresh blood.

"Your favorite everyone, fly salad." Lenny served the plates.

"Flies?" Wren sounded shaky.

"No flies in your salad, right Wren?" Nestor checked.

"That's right, Uncle Nestor," Wren looked at him calmly now. "Thank you."

"The look on your face, Wren!" Stoker laughed as he helped himself to some dinner. Then his eyes widened just like Wren's did earlier and he spit out his dinner. "What is this?! There's something wrong with my flies! Have they gone bad?"

"Sorry Stoker, by the time I gathered the flies for tonight's dinner it was close to sunrise," Nestor apologized. He then turned to Wren. "Are you sure you'll be fine with sleeping when the sun's about to come up and awaking at sunset?"

"Relax Uncle Nestor," Wren reassured him with a smile. "I've been doing it for years, it can't surprise me anymore."

"Kind of like when I switch mine and Oskar's glasses?" Stoker joked as Oskar drank from his.

Oskar then spit out the drink right away and patted his tongue in worry. "Did I drink blood?! I think I'm going to be sick!"

"I was just kidding!" Stoker laughed.

"Stoker!" the vampire kids said at once.

"Ah, you guys have no sense of humor," Stoker rolled his eyes and heard Wren giggling. He turned to her. "What's so funny?"

"You are," Wren giggled. "That was actually pretty hilarious!"

"Oh umm... thanks." Stoker smiled. "I never knew anyone that found me to be funny since I'm kind of a jerk."

"Alright, that's enough. Now eat your meals and Wren, when you're done, just holler for me and I'll get you settled in a room." Nestor went back into the kitchen.

"Nestor's your uncle, huh?" Tinto asked as he drank from his glass. "That must be pretty cool."

"Yeah, I've always wanted to meet him," Wren explained. "I only heard about him back home, but I told my parents I really wanted to visit and meet him, so they allowed me to go visit him while they take a trip around the world."

"I once got a postcard from around the world." Klot piped.

"When I was a vampire, I've always wanted to visit the world." Ashley added. "Why didn't you go with them instead of coming here?"

"Because Mom and Dad gave me a choice," Wren answered. "I could either go with them around the world, or I could visit Uncle Nestor where he was staying for the past 100 years. Kind of weird too, I'm only nine and my uncle's over 100 years old. I never thought he'd be that old."

"What do you mean? Aren't you immortal like Lenny?" Grufftine asked.

"Well... I don't know actually... I'm half. My mother's a witch and my father's a mortal." Wren said.

"WITCH!" Stoker gaped. "Burn her at the stake! Shave her black cat! Make her swim in her own cauldron!"

"I was afraid of this," Wren sighed.

"Stoker, you shouldn't judge Wren just because she's part witch." Oskar defended.

"Who said you were in charge of me anyway?" Stoker fought with Oskar..Wren decided not to stay for the fight so she got away from the dining room table and left to find her uncle. She heard Stoker make hurtful comments about witches and Wren felt discriminated. It was just like at, only no one knew Wren was a witch. She wandered around the school while her feelings were hurt and tears scratched her eyes.