Blood of a Different Kind

Chapter 1: Maddie

I looked out onto the lake from the old tree limb I've been perchced on for the past 15 years of my life on. Everytime I would be in a state of thought, anger, or depression, this old oak has been my savior and I don't know who I would be without it.

"Maddie? Maddie?! Where are you? Dinner's almost ready and you don't want it to get cold do you?" I smiled at the sound of my older sister Brittany's voice coming from our cabin just below the tree. Climbing down as fast, and as carefully as I could, I landed on the ground and sped my way over to the door, almost knocking Brit down as I ran into the dining room. "Woah there, be careful with the speed. What if someone were to see you?" I looked down at the table with a guilty expression as Brit made her way over to the table to sit next to me.

"I know, it's just the thirst. It's killing me." She sighed and rested a hand on my back, rubbing soothing circles into it to calm me down. 

"Maddie, you should be over the new born burn by now. You've been a vampire since you were two. What's going on?"

"If I knew, do you think I would still be having this problem? Look Brit, all I know is that it's starting to seriously burn my throat so can we eat now?" She smiled slightly and got up from the table to walk into the kitchen. When she walked back out, she was carrying a two plates with a dead rat and a slice of raw venison on each. I could smell the blood from where I was sitting and it was making me drool. Gripping onto the undercarriage of the table and causing it to have serious cracks and dents from my nails, Brit finally placed one of the plates in front of me and I dug in. I couldn't fight it anymore. I had to eat. Without realizing, I started to suck the blood out of the rat that was in my hand and closed my eyes, letting the cool, thick liquid relieve the burning sensation in my throat and ease my pain. When I drained it dry, I lifted my tiny fangs out of it and calmed down' slowing down my movements and picking up my fork and knife to eat my slice of meat like a normal person. Well, vampire in Brit and I's case. 

"Feeling better, I'm guessing?" I smiled and Brit started to laugh, causing me to look at her with a questioning glance. "You have a drop of blood going down your chin." Blushing, I picked up my napkin and dabbed off the tiny trail of blood that Brit was talking about. God that's embarassing.

"Yeah. The burning's gone so I'll be good. Do you think we have time to go for a walk again tonight? I'm sure Jiggs would love to come along since he's been in my room for a while." She laughed while taking a bite of her meat before she looked up at me.

"Not tonight,we have school tomorrow. Sorry Mads and you're going to have to tell Jiggs I said sorry too." I pouted and started to play with my food. "Don't play with it! It took me forever to find some!" I smiled mischeviously and continued to poke it with my fork. She rolled her eyes, giving up on the idea of trying to get me to stop as she also finished up the last of her steak. "Speaking of playing with food, why don't you go give Jiggs his dinner since you haven't fed him yet and since you also don't seem to be that hungry anymore." I rolled my eyes this time and smacked her arm while also getting up from the table.

"How many times do I have to tell you? Jiggs is not food! He is my pet and I love him so leave him alone. It's not his fault he's an adorable little monkey!" She laughed and I walked into the kitchen to grab a banana for Jiggs. Once I picked up the perfect one, I walked up the stairs and headed straight for my room. Opening the door, I walked into my jungle themed room and looked around for Jiggs. "Jiggs? Come here little buddie. Where did you go? I brought you some dinner." Where could that playful little monkey be? I sat down on my bed and waited for a sign as to where he was to come up. Suddenly, a slight little noise was made in the corner of my room by the tree in my wall that I installed for Jiggs to play on. I looked over there using my ultra-vision and saw his precious little head pop out from behind a leaf. "There you are you little trouble maker. Come here Jiggs." I patted my lap and watched as he made his way over to me and sat in my lap. Handing him the banana, I stroked his back and let him eat. "You were hungry weren't you? Yeah, sorry buddy, but I couldn't deal with the pain anymore. I had to eat."  He stopped eating and looked back at me for a second. "I'm fine now though." I smiled and he continued eating. "By the way, when you're done eating and I finish cleaning up downstairs, what do you say we go to bed? I've got to get up tomorrow and so do you." He howled at me a couple times and finished his banana, handning me the peel. "Good boy Jiggs! I'll be right back ok?" He howled again and jumped back over to the tree as I stood up and walked over to the door. "Don't do anything while I'm gone." He ignored me as I walked out and back down the stairs. Walking into the kitchen, I threw the peel away and went back out into the dining room to clean up my plate. Brit stood in the doorway of the living room and watched me move about. "Can I help you?" I laughed as she walked in.