A Vampire's Life Book 1

Chapter 27

Lord Eliade has kindly granted the family the use of a state house, close to the castle. I guess he is either genuine, which I don't for a second believe to be true, or he is pretending to be genuine. The king insisted that there are none of the lord's staff on the premises, opting to bring Gerald and Ingrid and his own personal security team to tend to the family's needs. He doesn't trust the Lord's staff either.

My parents and I are granted the use of the first floor of the east wing of the residence. It contains a few bedrooms and basic amenities such as bathroom, kitchenette and lounge area. Alex insists that the bird stays in the east wing of the house with me, the door to the cage is always open but the bird never ventures out of the area. Of a night I have my silver furred friend at first, once the door is shut he changes back, I think this is so my parents don't know he is in here. I lay in bed listening to the bird, who quietly sings as I drift off. Pleasant dreams of pretty birds and friendly cats, no more nightmares or naughty dreams.

While we wait for the girl, we pass the days with learning about the country. I am sure that my parents are itching to do some sightseeing but the king is anxious. He doesn't want any unnecessary trips; in case something happens. They seem a little annoyed, but this is the best option until after the wedding ceremony when everything will be ok, then they can do their sightseeing.

I grow curious about Alex's true nature and of course Finn. I want to question him about it but my parents are within earshot.

You have questions? Yes, how did you know? Uh, in your mind, sorry. I frown at him. I will forget that you said that only because I want to know these things. Ok. I can see him grin. So, tell me about the shape shifting. Well I can take form of any living creature. I gained full maturity at twenty-five. Oh, so what don't I know about the vampire thing? Maturity is at eighteen, until then a child is more human in terms of the level of blood needed, I could go for a couple of days without blood. Of course, that is not always a wise thing to do, because when the child does actually feed, they feed a lot. I did it once when I was fifteen, by the time I actually fed, I took out an entire family. I gasp.

"Everything ok darling?" my mother asks.

"Yes, just the book."

I dart my eyes to Alex who is grinning at me.

Sorry. It's ok. So, back to the vampires, at eighteen they begin to change, it can take anywhere up to a year for everything to change. In that year, they will have heightened blood lust, the heart will slow in its beating, they will have an aversion to the light and sound as you have noticed. How can we go out in the sunlight? That's just folklore. Our ancestors started little rumours and tales like that because the people were too scared, they hid in their homes. So they created the little lies about the sunlight burning us, the holy water, the crosses. So what gets us then? Wooden stake to the heart but the wood is to be from a specific tree, the yew tree and interesting side note on this tree, it is toxic to humans. And the werewolves? Pure silver stake to the heart. Shape shifters? Iridium stake to the heart. Witches? Nothing really, the only way you can get them is with a spell or like what the humans did to them, burn them at the stake. Of course with all cases there are exceptions to the rule, decapitation is pretty final but if someone like you was around you could help them. But not with the stakes? No, poisons the blood. What about what happened to Melody? She and Miranda go by a different set of rules, they can only die by removing their heart completely, that is why she was trying to remove it when you found them. Stephanie, we need to talk about. You know. Yes, you are right, we do need to talk, you are going to marry this girl, leaving me with no one, you take me away from Finn without an explanation as to why. You won't be with no one, I told you, I chose you. And yet you cheat on me. I don't know why I do it, something comes over me when I see them, but it is different with you, I see my future with you, with them it is just a moment in time. You know what Alex, if you really want a future with me, you cannot cheat on me, end of subject. Ok.