A Tree That Sprouts Roses And Drips Blood.

Chapter Four.

The days began to run together and I vaguely noticed the passing of time. Funny how the clock still ticks, even when it seems impossible. I slept downstairs for the weeks that followed. I didn't want to be in temptations way, that would definitely break my already taut hold on sanity.

I went to see my father. I didn't tell him I believed him. I knew what would happen. He would start to ramble about "The red evil eyes", cowering in corners and carrying crucifixes by the dozen. Best to leave him believeing he made it all up. I wished he had. But as I sat across from him in the visitors room, I couldn't help but look into those half-bewildered, half-crazed eyes and not see the absolute fear in them. I couldn't help but wonder, What have you seen? I knew the answered before the question had been asked. Everything. The unimaginable. The impossible. The unexplainable. Everything I was about to.

On my way back to the house, I wondered what would happen if I went to that room again. I shuddered at the thought. He'd probably kill me or make me a parasite too. I'd rather die!

That night I had the weirdest dreams. My grandfather was yelling at me to jump. I was on a balcony, the air hung heavy with the sent of flowers and my grandfather was below among swirling dancers, begging me to jump. I shook my head and his mouth opened in a silent scream. I heard footfalls and turned. There he stood, Demetrio Renaulti. I wouldn't forget that name ever again. I heard the strangled scream of my grandfather and ran to the edge of the balcony. He was surrounded by Demetrio's kind and they were closing in on him. I turned back to Demetrio. It was raining rose petals now and he was snarling. He lunged for me and I felt his teeth sink into my neck then....the dream ended and I woke on the sofa in the livingroom.

The night after I had thtat dream was the night that sealed my fate. The night I stopped fighting against Demetrio Renaulti.

I couldn't sleep, tossing and turning, I couldn't ignore the yearning that pulled me upstairs. I battled internally. My fear of him warring with my need to know what happened next. Finally, my fear was overthrown and I dressed swiftly in the livingroom. As I pulled on my sneakers, I stared at the Irish moutains through the darkened bay windows and wondered if this was the last time i would see them. An idea came to me and I hunted up a piece if paper and a pen. On it I wrote, "Dad, I believe you, love Anna". I stuck the note to the window, where it would be clearly seen if I....if something were to happen to me.

I read the words over and over. I thoughtI would never say them, but things change. My life had. I had. Everything had.