Next Generation Dhampirs

The Hidden Child

I never would have guessed it, but it's all true. Ever heard of Richelle Mead? Because it turns out, she wasn't just some fiction novelist. It's all real. Dhampirs, strigoi, moroi, all of it! And I'm a part of it.

My story began one day in early June, a week before school let out. I was bouncing with joy because as soon as the bell rang, I got to go get my license. I felt like life was rushing towards me, and while I wasn't ready to be an adult just yet, I was excited to be driving.

I was sitting in my English class, when my teacher got a call that I was wanted in the office. She said that my father was here to pick me up, which was weird, because my dad was out of town for another two days.

When I got downstairs, I was greeted by a man who WASN'T my father. But the office said he was and signed me out anyways.

Now, I know what you're thinking: stranger danger and all that, but my parents often sent in friends of theirs to get me with the excuse that they were family. I guess they could get by with this one, since my dad had never actually been to the school.

He opened the back door to a black Chevy Malibu for me, and I slid in, throwing my bag on the floor.

Sitting in the passenger's seat was a woman, a few inches taller than me, with thick, dark curls running down her back. She turned to me with big, brown eyes, and introduced herself.

"Hi, I'm Rose Hathaway-Belikov! I've been waiting a long time to meet you!" She held her hand out to me and I shook it hesitantly.

"I'm Jessica-"

"I know," she cut me off, "Like I said, I've been wanting to meet you for a while." Ok. Creepy.

She turned back around and the car started. The man drove off, but when he left school grounds, he went in the opposite direction of my house.

"Where are we going?" I asked, panicking.

"Airport," he replied simply.

"What?!" There were so many things wrong with this. Where were my parents? What did they have to say about this? And, if they were ok with it, where were we going? Where were my bags?

As if reading my mind, Rose explained, "We already spoke to your parents. We packed you a suitcase, but they thought it was too hard to watch. We'll explain everything better when we get on the jet."

"Jet?" I asked. My mind was swirling with the infinite possibilities of what was going on. Instead of answering, Rose just nodded.

Once we arrived at the airport, the man, whose name I learned was Dimitri, got three suitcases out of the trunk, and he and Rose rolled them up to the sidewalk. Dimitri handed the car keys to a man in a light blue uniform and said something I couldn't hear, then motioned for me to join them.

I took one of the suitcases, setting my bag on top, and followed them into the building. We bypassed all the check ins and security screenings. They led me straight to a gate where a concierge welcomed us and let us through without checking us.

The inside of the jet looked like something out of a movie. Plush arm chairs, tables with pristine white cloths draped over them, flight attendants coming from a back room carrying trays. I sat down in an armchair by the window, laying my suitcase down behind me.

Rose and Dimitri took the seats in front of me and looked at me in solemn silence until we took off. After we were served drinks and snacks, Dimitri folded his hands on the table in front of him and began.

"So, Jessica, there's really no easy way to explain this-"

"So start from the beginning," I interrupted, "You take me out of school, drag me to the airport and stuff me on a jet with my suitcases somehow already packed. You at least owe me an explanation as to WHY I'm here."

"You're right," he continued, "I guess I'll start from the beginning."

He told me all about dhampirs, moroi, and strigoi. He told me about him and Rose's experiences, occasionally aided by Rose; even though I knew all of that having read all the books. He told me how it was believed to be impossible for two dhampirs to have children, but since he was once a strigoi, something in him made it possible. Then he told me this:

"16 years ago, we had a child. A little girl. She was so strong and beautiful. At the same time, in the same hospital, another woman had a daughter, but hers was sick and dying. She died hours after birth. We didn't want to risk bringing a child into this life, knowing she would be tested and observed like a lab rat, so..."

"We switched the babies," Rose finished for him, "Our daughter grew up in a normal family, never worrying about being followed or watched."

"But now, people are looking for her, so we need to bring her home, where at least she'll be safe, with us."

Realization sunk in, seeing the troubled looks on their faces. "I'm your daughter," I said, dropping my gaze.

Rose nodded and took my hand. "We wanted to tell you sooner, but we didn't want to put you in danger. People thought I lost the baby in childbirth, but someone got into the medical files and found what really happened. They weren't far from figuring out who you were."

I sat in silence, letting them explain and apologize for not telling me sooner. Then I realized, they had no proof. "I don't believe you," I said, after a long silence. They looked confused, so I explained, "I want proof! I want some kind of way to tell that you're not lying! Why should I believe you?"

Rose and Dimitri exchanged glances, then Dimitri said, "Look at me and concentrate. Imagine you can see through my physical form, and straight into my soul and mind."

"This is stupid-"

"Just do it. Please."

I sighed, then did as he said. I concentrated on his face, as if somehow something would change. Then, it did. Around his body, a very faint ring of blue appeared, flickering and fading a bit, before becoming more solid. I felt a sense of desperation, guilt, and something else... Longing? But... this wasn't me. It was coming from him.

"How did you do that?" I asked in awe.

"I didn't," he answered, "You did. Children born of re-awakened have special powers. We're taking you to a place where you can learn to use your powers and control them."

I blinked, then turned my gaze back out the window. For the rest of the trip, I stayed in silence. It wasn't that hard because the trip only lasted another hour or so.