Life Within Crystalfort [COMPLETED]

Chapter Twenty

I didn't know what I was supposed to do, now. From what I saw, everyone that I knew hated me. My dad was mad because I was a vegetarian. Uncle Vlad was as angry with me as he was with the werewolves. He used to be so open-minded. I remember when I first became a vampire and I met him for the first time. Suddenly, I was part of a vampire family. And, before anyone else, rather than my father, he was the first one to accept me.

"She's in," my uncle said, rising up from his seat, looking towards the vampire elders. They stared back at him. "She may not be a natural-born, but, she is my family, now. And, because of that, I expect you to accept her as a vampire. I want you to just accept her into this pack. If you can't do that, I guess my brother and I will just have to raise this child somewhere else," the looks he got when he grabbed my hand were all the same. Hate. But, some people were considering what he had said.

"We accept. You made a good speech, Vlad. Don't make us regret this."

From what I was being told now, the elders weren't aware that I was vegetarian. I hadn't seen them since the day I became vegetarian. My father and uncle refused to take me to them, or allow them to come see me. Apparently, if they knew I was a vegetarian, they would regret the decision that they had made. The decision of accepting me into the group. Whether or not my father and uncle knew it, the elders probably knew I was a vegetarian. I talked to the eldest elder's son every day. He knew I was vegetarian and the elders always taut their children to never hide anything from them. So, they knew. I didn't care. Obviously, neither did they. But, I guess my uncle and father could deal with that bridge when it came time to cross it.

"Hey, Laura," Clawd lingered in the doorway, looking at me. His hand rubbed at the back of his neck. Even he seemed to feel awkward around me, now. "Can I come in," I simply nodded, not yet sure if I wanted to talk to him. I wasn't sure if I wanted to talk to anyone.

"How are you feeling," I shrugged. "Well, that's better than nothing, I guess. Look, I'm sorry about the 'argument' yesterday. I wouldn't call it that, at all, but according to you women, that's what it was. I just want you to be safe, healthy, alive. Well, as alive as a vampire can be," I raised an eyebrow and opened my mouth to put in my opinion. He stopped me. "Don't interrupt me, yet. Just... Just hear me out, ok?" I noddede, crossing my arms over my chest. "I'm sorry for not supporting you or whatever. You may not realize it, but I am supporting you, Draculaura. You may be my girlfriend, now, but you're also my sister's best friend. My best friend. I feel like I should have to protect you, guard you, from any threat. And, I hate to tell you, but at this moment, you being a vegetarian is a threat. Not only to those around you, but also to your health...." He trailed off for a couple of seconds, letting his words sink in. He looked at me, waiting for a reply.

"How is my being a vegetarian a threat to those around me?" His head dropped, his chin touching his chest. I think I had upset him more than he had upset me yesterday.

"The elders know. I'm assuming that the vampire elders are exactly like the werewolf elders. Everyone has to do exactly what the elders want them to do or else they're out of the pack. Or worse. Correct?" I nodded. "They know, Laura. And that's a danger to everyone you love."

"My uncle sent you in here, didn't he?" He drew in a deep breath and sat down on the edge of my bed, placing his hand over mine.

"Listen, I came up here by myself, Laura. I came up here to talk to you. Yes, your uncle wanted me to discuss this with you, make sure you knew what was going on. He was hoping you'd listen to me. He knows you won't listen to him. He knows you hate him right now," I scoffed. 'Hate' didn't even describe my feelings towards my uncle right now. Clawd stood up and stared at me. "You know, Laura, you should learn something now and remember it forever. Don't hate something you're supposed to love. You don't know how long it's going to be here. And once you realize how much you love it, how much wrong you did to it, it'll be to late to apologize. That thing will already be gone. Anything can be here one day and gone the next. Don't take what you have for granted. Don't do anything you'll regret later on," with that, he left the room, closing the door behind him. Tears slowly rolled down my cheeks.

Clawd was right. I could lose anything at any moment and not realize that what I did was wrong until it was too late. I could lose my uncle, my dad, or Clawd. I could lose anything at all...... I could lose myself.