The Vampire Extraordinaire Book 1

3. The House

Michael drove to the outskirts of town, carefully driving up a mountain road that was winding. He stopped at a dark gate and put numbers in a keypad. The wrought iron gate slowly creeped open. He drove through and the gate clanged behind us. The drive way went through a wooded area and circled around a fountain. Michael parked the car, "Let's get you in."

"Is Anna in there?" I opened the door and slowly got out. The three story house was gray and had dark green shutters on every window. Shutters, I noticed, that were firmly shut.

He walked around the front of the car and held his arm out to me, "She is here and she senses you. Come on." He put his arm around my shoulders and gave me a quick squeeze, "Don't be so nervous."

"Well, it's not everyday that you meet a Queen," I looked up at the house as we went up the porch steps. "I hope she likes me," I said softly.

"I'm sure of it," he laughed and gave me another quick squeeze. He opened the front door and called out, "I'm here!"

She looked down at us from the top of the stairs and down her nose. "Whom have you brought me, Michael?"

"This is Marcus," he slapped my shoulder and went to the bottom of the stairs, "Come and meet my son."

She had raven hair that she wore up in a bun and her
skin looked as soft as cotton and was the same color. She wore a heavy dress that went to her feet. She held her back straight as she descended the stairs, her heels not making a sound on the carpet. "Son, you say?" she spoke with an elevated tone, as if she were better than all of us. She came to the bottom of the stairs and dropped her skirts, holding her hand out to Michael.

"You are beautiful," he whispered and kissed the back of her hand. "Where is Prince Nigel?"

"Still out," she said dispassionately, "So you are Marcus?" she smiled, her violet eyes dancing at me as she stepped up to me. "You are young," she laid her small hand on my chest, over my heart. Her eyes widened and she jerked back from me.

"Easy," Michael coaxed, taking her by the shoulders and pulling her back. "I don't think you two are ready to be together yet," he said softly, giving me an unsure look.

Her eyes were wide and she pointed at me, looking up at Michael, "I thought you had changed him."

"I have," he shrugged his shoulders, "He's just....different."

"But his heart still beats!" she gasped and looked at me, "You are not a vampire!" her tone was now that of a school girl.

"I think I am," I shrugged.

"You don't know what the hell you are, Kid," a man laughed from behind me.

I looked back at the man that was casually leaning against the living room door frame. He wore jeans and a black jacket. His long, brown hair was tied back, but curled over one shoulder. I unconsciously noticed that he had the same fair skin as the other two. His laughing tone and care free stance, made me instantly distrust him. "Who the hell are you?" I asked in a growl. I ignored that my voice was deeper now and ruled by anger.

He bowed slightly, "Allan, my Lord," he said in a teasing tone.

"None of that. It's to soon," Michael scolded, then mumbled to himself, "I'm not even sure if this is going to work out."

"Sorry Michael, but you have to admit that this," he laughed, pointing his hand at me, "isn't what Nigel had in mind." Michael's back straightened in anger. He looked as if he was going to pounce on the laughing vampire.

"Stop that," Anna said and both men looked at her. "I'll not have you two fighting in front of the Youngling," she told them and took a step closer to me. "I AM sorry, Marcus. You are a bit of an....unusual vampire," she smiled, "We will all have to get used to you."

"What's wrong with me? Will I be alright?" I looked down at her.

"Of course," she smiled. Anna put her hands on each side of my head and tilted it back, "Open," she instructed. I opened my mouth and she turned my head to one side, then the other. "You seem to be developing nicely," she smiled, speaking in a doctors tone and released me. I put my finger up to my mouth and felt the left canine, then the right. They were longer. She turned to Michael, "I'm sure you're tired, Michael."

"Yes," Michael answered with a sigh, then shook his head, "but you can't have this one," he held his hand out to me, "You can't handle...."

"Enough," she ordered in a tone of finality, then she smiled up at me, "Come upstairs," she whirled her hand, lifted her skirts and started up the stairs, "It will be dawn in an hour."

"Upstairs?" I asked myself, watching Michael follow her, whispering near her.

"Sure," Allan laughed, nudging my arm as he walked by me, "you didn't expect to sleep in the dungeon; did ya?" He laughed again and jogged up the stairs.
I angrily glared at his back, wishing he would trip as I took the stairs. Allan stumbled, but caught himself with the banister. "Be careful," I laughed, moved around him and caught up to Michael.

Anna stopped at the top of the stairs and she looked fearfully at me, then back at Michael. He put up his hand, "He's young. He doesn't know." Michael looked at me, "Marcus, you are a powerful vampire. You must be careful with your thoughts."

"My thoughts?" I asked and looked down the stairs at Allan.

"We all felt that one," Anna laughed softly.

"Oh," I said and looked back at Allan's glare.

"Allan can be a handful, but he is our brother," she told me gently.

"Yes. I'm sorry," I spoke quickly to her, "It won't happen again."

"Don't make promises you can't keep," Michael laughed as he led the way down the hall.

"I heard that," Allen said as he went the opposite direction.

"I intended for you to," Michael called back without turning around.