Destined Part I

Welcoming Party

That night went better than I had ever expected.

To my surprise, the family threw me a huge, over the top party. Angelina had arranged everything the moment that Haiden had told them he was bringing me back. It was completely unnecessary to go to these lengths for me, and I told Angelina that, but she only laughed at me.

“Are you kidding?” she asked, thoroughly confused.

“Do you think I’d miss the chance to throw a party for the only person Haiden has ever brought home?”

I know she saw the confusion in my face first, and then the embarrassment as my cheeks started to turn a lovely shade of pink.

“Oh, I don’t know about that,” I whispered, looking down at the floor below me.

She only smiled again- a wise, knowing smile- and I could see there was no way I was getting out of being the center of attention. She had made up her mind to throw me this party, and she was obviously thrilled, so I promised myself I would have the time of my life.

Angelina had arranged lovely flower bouquets at the entrance, and spreading throughout the parlor. She had chosen yellow roses, I’m sure because I was from Texas. They made the room sunny and cheerful, and I felt the nervous tension in my shoulders easing as I breathed in their scent. I had never been able to smell roses this strongly before.

Amongst the perfume of the flowers and the flickering candles, there was also music playing, which Grace had turned on. It sounded to me like classical music, with piano and violins filling the room. It was extremely soothing, and I was about to ask her who it was, until the silky tenor voice of Josh Groban began so smoothly to melt with the music. Grace smiled at my reaction to the music.
“He’s my favorite,” I proclaimed, feeling myself relaxing with his vocals.

She smiled back at me, her enormous eyes squinting slightly.

“Me too,” she said, and took her seat by the table.

Everyone was there, all of the vampires that made up the Browning family-my new family. They all gathered around the parlor, each sitting in a seat, or even on the floor, and talking loudly over one another, just like a normal human family would do. They were sure to include me in every conversation, and I found I was being myself around them, not worrying about impressions or manners. It was refreshing.

We sat for hours laughing at Kristopher’s jokes as he told stories of his time as a human, and also described for me his work at the Alaska State Art Museum. Grace and I spoke for a long time about what she did with her time, and how she, Cain and Marcus helped out with exhibits at the art museum. She told me that Angelina organized all the social gatherings.

We sat around talking, becoming well acquainted with one another until someone switched the music to what sounded like an orchestra accompaniment. To my surprise, Grace got up and began playing us the most beautiful melody on the baby grand piano that sat in the corner of the room. Once she began to play along with the music, Cain dragged me to the middle of the room for a dance. I giggled as he twirled me onto the floor, and I felt so tiny in his gigantic embrace.

Cain was a mysterious looking man with his tawny eyes and strawberry blonde hair flowing just past his shoulders which I could feel were quite well-developed. He must have been six and a half feet tall, because my head only came up to his chest when we danced. He was a giant, but in spite of his size, he floated gracefully in perfect tempo with the piano.

As we danced, he asked me questions about my life and how I had come to meet Haiden. And I wasn’t even nervous when I answered. I was so relaxed now, I felt as if I could tell them anything.