In a flash of Fangs

Stranger in the Night

It was a few days after my parent's springing the good ol' "join our secret society thing" and I was still pissed. I tried everything in my power to avoid them and the rest of the world, but I kept going back to that note that VT wrote. Some days I would sit on my bed just holding the paper and looking at the words beautifully and artfully written wondering who this person was, and why did they care for me.

One morning as I was holding the note again I noticed something flash on the back of the card, it was small so I know how I could have missed it. I turned the card over and ran my thumb over the small picture at the corner and could feel it raised against my finger. I moved it into the light and stared at it for a long time thinking I had seen this somewhere before but couldn't quite place it. I placed the card back on my table and decided to do some digging.

I got dressed and went downstairs to the library, it housed more of the supernatural type of books instead Huckleberry Fin, Moby Dick, and those old school types. I walked in and it was dimly lit so I went and opened one of the curtains to let some of the natural light inside. I then stroked the fire knowing I would be here for a long time. I didn't know where to start but I knew I had to just look somewhere, so I started at the top of the closest shelf and worked my way down. I scanned picture books, grimoires, dictionary's and still nothing had come up and it had already been hours of nothing. It was quiet, more than I was used to in this house and it felt odd to me. I got up and set down the book I had been looking at before going to the door of the library and pressing my ear to the cold hardwood. I listened hoping I would hear mom or even dad talking or my siblings arguing but nothing, it was still as if the whole house was holding its breath for some unknown attacker to spot its lifeforce. I didn't know what to do and I wasn't sure if I should even be curious, with a shake of my head I returned to the couch and cozy fire and resumed my digging.

It must have been hours for the fire had turned to ash and the once golden sunlight was now replaced by the setting sun. I stretched, feeling the tired muscles come back to life as I stood up and rubbed the sleepiness out of my eyes. I still had no idea what that picture belonged too and was frustrated with myself for not finding it. I couldn't help but feel watched as I wandered over to the window overlooking the grounds of my parent's mansion, the lawn was manicured to perfection, rows of roses lined the walkway that lead to the front door. Some of the roses were so red that they glistened like fresh paint and the petals that had fallen only added to the picture like the artist was forgetful and let the paint splatter onto the floor, it looked out of place, almost like the outside world was a fairytale.

I looked up at the darkening sky and watched as the pinks turned to purples and then blues eventually fading into the darkness that was the night sky, the moon had risen and was casting a beautiful glow on the grounds below. It's light casting shadows across the lawn from the statue like trees that only came to life as the winds blew through its branches. I couldn't help but stare as the shadows danced to their own tune, it reminded me of my birthday. Was it only a few days ago that I was just turning 18? It felt like such a long time ago, but how could it feel that way? Maybe I was just too angry for being told about a society that my parents were a part of and that they now wanted me to join.

It wasn't right, but I felt an obligation to my parents like maybe it was meant to be. They had said they were like royalty, but doesn't that mean I'd be a princess of a secret group? I smiled wondering what that might be like and then noticed a shadow leaning against one of the trees on the outer perimeter of the grounds. I could tell it was a male just by how he was standing with his back against the tree and one leg keeping him grounded, I couldn't see his face but I knew he was watching me just as I was now starting to stare at him from behind the window. I could only see his shape and the long coat that fluttered at his knees, I squinted trying to see more but he tipped his head and then melted in with the darkness of the night.

I stood at the window staring at the space where he had just been wondering who it was. Did he know me? Did he know my parents? Is he the one that gifted me the jewelry and cloak? So many thoughts racing in my head that I didn't hear the door to the library open. A quiet cough woke me from my thoughts and I turned to see my brother leaning against the door frame with a small smile.

"Mum is worried about you sis, I think you should go see her. If not for her pleasure then mine, she's driving me crazy." He said raising an eyebrow as I walked back towards the window. I sighed and then looked back to him and couldn't help but grin and nod.

"For your sake, I will go to her, can't promise it will be for a long time though. One word of the society and I'm out got it?"

He nodded still smiling at me and I couldn't help but grin back and consider his dark brown almost black eyes. He was so different than me, it made me wonder if he really was my brother at times. He had dark brown eyes and I had blue, he was tall and skinny and I was shorter by a few inches and he was very easy to be around, I on the other hand wasn't I still had my moments of being a recluse but I could tell he was trying to help me.

I walked over to him with a sigh as I resigned myself to going and talking to mum. I patted his shoulder as I walked by and he grabbed my wrist before I could get out of the room, with wide eyes I looked at him before he hugged me tightly. I had no idea what came over him but it wasn't like him, he wasn't the hugger in the family just the talkative one.