Barely Legal

Part 2

It's strange walking out into the hallway of the home I've lived in for 21 years. There's an ominous feeling to the air whilst walking the dark corridor with a bag. Almost like once I leave I'll never return. I meet Bridget at the bottom of the stairs. I almost feel like I've snuck up on her catching her so unaware. I don't think I'm any faster than I was before but my night vision seems to be en point. 

"Aren't vamps supposed to like... be stupidly fast or something?" I ask nonchalantly. I'm acting all carefree but inside I'm kind of sad. I mean did I not get anything out of losing my life? I guess I've kind of accepted that I'm dead and I'm a vampire. No denial from me, no-sir-ee but I have to admit I need to know more about my current situation.

"I won't go into much detail until we meet with the rest of the clan however the more blood you drink the faster you become. Also other skills and abilities will appear in time as you grow stronger," she advises, "however these will differ vampire to vampire".

"Okay, I guess that's easy enough to understand. I guess there's a hierarchy huh? That may take some getting used to", I confirm muttering at the end even though I'm sure Bridget will hear me.

Bridget starts to move towards the front door. I understand this but I turn around to say goodbye to the home I've grown up in. This is it. Earlier than planned and not exactly how I planned it but it's time to fly the nest. I was always certain that when I finally left home I'd be moving with my dad lugging boxes, my mom would be clinging to me and pressing her goodbyes into me; complete with warm hugs and a few tears. That wouldn't be the case. They aren't even here to see me go. I get that it's probably safer for them but I can't help but feel hurt. I decide to take it on the chin. I'll see them soon. I grab a photo frame from the telephone table by the front door and carefully put it into my duffle bag. I'm ready. Let's do this.

I walk through the front door with my head held high. Suddenly the strange pulling sensation I'd been feeling since I entered the house that morning had stopped. I realised that perhaps some vampire mythology was close to truth. I wasn't invited any longer. With this realisation I put my house keys into the letter box. I would await my invitation from my parents when (if) they wished to see me again.

I was wondering whether or not to take my car when a pair of headlights flashed across the road as a large matte black 4x4 took the sharp corner before coming to a halt before my drive way. Oh. I guess that's our ride. 

"Hey Bridget, can I take my car and follow you?" 

"I don't think that's the best idea when we're so close to dawn. One of the guards will collect it later today is that okay? It'll be at the complex when you wake up tomorrow" Bridget tell me. 

I realise that again I am out of my depth and know nothing about where I am being taken and I rattle off question after question "How far away is it? Can normal people visit? Is it even safe if normal people visit?". Thinking like that I didn't even know if I actually had any friends left. Had any of them even asked about me. I don't even have a phone. Does anyone even realise I've been missing? Do anyone actually care?

Jesus. Could I wallow in anymore self pity. If I was actually listening to me I would actually hate myself. Man up, Evie! You're a vampire now. You're supposed to be cold and inhuman. You should either be completely unbothered by your change in circumstances.

With my new frame of mind I get into the car ready to go to my new home. As soon as I entered the car I was immediately amazed by how dark it was. I hadn't notice but all of the windows including the windowscreen was covered in a layer of dark black tint but surprisingly I could see through it perfectly. The seats were also like little clouds of dreams and I seemed to mold into the perfectly. In the front two seats sat a burly looking man with a crooked nose in a black suit and a tiny female driver with bright red hair and glowingly pale skin. She was almost pixieish in nature and had a dainty heart shaped face and almost emerald green eyes. She makes me feel almost manly in comparison. I think she caught me staring because she cheekily winks into the mirror.

I blushed and turned my head. Nothing worse than being caught staring at someone. We all buckle up and head off into the night. It's strange think this is going to be my new daytime. I try to keep track of where we're going. I know we're in the same county as I recognize Staffordshire's rolling hills and endless countryside but we turn through so many small country roads I soon completely lose track. The gentle bouncing motion as we crackle over gravel paths sends me to sleep. 

"Evie. Evie wake up. We're here" 

Who is that? That's not my mom's voice. I open my eyes and peer into Bridget's brown eyes and take notice of her comfortable looking stretchy dress and the fact that her face is literally an inch from mine. I rebound in shock. It takes me a few seconds but once she realises I'm awake she pulls back and I begin to take in my surrounding from my seat. The red head and the Brute are no longer in the car and Bridget is standing outside of the open car door. 

We are in what looks like a manor house drive way. I lift my face and smell wildflowers and honey suckle. The outskirts of the estate are fringed with large and ancient trees and the house itself... wow. It's a marvelous red bricked building bigger than anything I have ever seen before. My eyes scan it. I glance open mouthed at the carved granite lions on each side of the handrail of the magnificent staircase in front of the building. There is a white red front door with a brass knocker. There are windows upon windows across the front of the building that appear unobstructed. There must be room for 50 people in this house and if there was anything I didn't expect this building to look like then this is it.

"Have you had your fill yet" Bridget is stretching lazily like a cat. I suddenly realise that the sky is beginning to brighten at the edges and hear the first bird of the morning call. "Come on, lets get in and introduce you around".

My guide ushers me up the steps and as if by magic the door opens. And for all I knew it did. If the outside astonished me I wasn't even ready for the inside. Bridget cottoned on and ended up pulling me by the hand as I drooled over the expensive looking Victorian tiles and brushed my finger tips over the warm walnut panelling. She led me towards the back of the house as people came out of the woodwork to close thick velvet curtains at every window. I am led into a library and as soon as I am in the door Bridget walks out and closes it firmly behind me. I look around and see noone. Unable to resist my urge to look at and touch everything I begin to wander around pulling thick leather bound tomes from the shelves and brushing my finger tips down worn spines before pushing them back where they came from.

I hear a faint chuckle from behind me and gasped turning around. I drop the heavy book onto my feet.

"SHIT!" I squeal as tears fill my eyes. The chuckler laughs harder. I pick the book up and turn around to put it back in its home and gather my thoughts before turning back to the beautiful man behind me. He is tall, built like a rugby player and straight up completely out of my league. He is that shade of ginger that is almost golden in the light. His blue eyes crinkle at the corners and he has a hint of stubble. He is by far the most perfect man I have ever seen and I am in awe. 

"Evie, I presume? You made quite an entrance into the community" he grins, "let me introduce myself. My name is Maxwell Whitehouse and I'm second in command at the house of Stafford". 

"Does that mean we're in Stafford, then?" I am eager to get any clues to my whereabouts right now.

"We're in the general area," he smiles. 

Great. I'm just as lost as I was fifteen minutes ago. We could be anywhere. "I take it there's no point in asking anymore questions about my location?"

"None at all until we can find out more about you. It's safer to have you here than away but our location is something we keep away from prying human eyes. And yes, I know you're no longer human but you see your creation goes against everything we have spent five years convincing people we're not. We have already began investigation into your disappearance.

From what we can tell you disappeared from a night club  on 24th April at your own birthday celebrations. We see you talking to someone who is definitely local as we never see his face in any footage from the club or until we see you get into a taxi. We have searched for the driver used and he appears to have disappeared too. We hear nothing of you until you reappear at your home this morning covered in blood and barefoot. You are an enigma".

And so I sit there and I tell him all I can remember...