New Truth [A Vampire's Life Of Suprises]

Chapter 1

Serenity woke up to her German Shepard, Annabelle licking her face. The bedroom was still dark, but the birds could be heard through the cabin window. The cool spring breeze blowing in the smells of trees, moss, berries and damp earth. The horizon turned gray just before daybreak.
Crawling out of bed, she went to the bathroom and pulled a brush through her long, dark, brown hair and braided it to keep it out of her face.

"Good morning doll”, her mother chirped happily as Serenity entered the kitchen, "Your bag is waiting for you by the back door. Which way you headed today?".

"I was planning on heading toward the meadow this morning. I bet it's just covered in all types of flowers and herbs." Serenity said, casually picking at the blackberries in her pancake.
“Why do you go out all the time? You know it scares me half to death… You going out in the woods everyday." the plump woman asked as she turned back to the stove.

"It’s like my oasis." Serenity replied knowing her mother wouldn't understand as she finished her pancakes. Picking up her coffee, she let Annabelle outside. Serenity stood on the edge of the porch. She looked out at the dense dark clouds that made the trees cast a dark shadow down the driveway. She walked to the other side of the porch, there was a walking path that headed down to the river. Once fall hits, the rain would cause the river to flood and become dangerous. In the fall and winter, Serenity loved sitting near the edge, watching the current whip back and forth waiting for someone to fall into its deathly fast current.

She stared into the woods, the sun was beginning to rise. The small creatures making it seem as though the trees were dancing. After finishing her coffee, she went back inside. "I'm heading out.", Serenity stated to her mom. Her mom smiled and nodded expectantly as Serenity put her coffee cup in the sink.

"Be home by dark; your dad and uncle Kyle are supposed to be coming home tonight so we are throwing a little party."

"Yes ma'am.", Serenity smiled widely, grabbing her bag, she kissed her mom on the cheek and left with Annabelle, yelling “I love you” to her mom as she closed the door.

As Serenity ran down the porch steps Kate and Cole, her Uncle Kyle's twin children, ran up them. They were about 10 and had bronze hair and more freckles than a person could count.
"What are you guys doing here this early?" Serenity questioned before they could make it inside.

"Mom and Aunty Jazz are coming over to help set up for tonight." Kate explained as she pushed the curly hair out of her hazel eyes. Cole was practically jumping with excitement trying to pull Kate into the house, but Kate, being the calmer of the two, stood her ground.

"Well have fun.", Serenity said turning to leave.

"Bye Ren." the kids shouted in unison before running into the house, not knowing it would be the last goodbye for a long time.

Serenity put the rising sun to her back and began walking on the path that lead past Ann and Kyle's home, then into deeper forests. Toward her place, her oasis, no one had ever been there and only her mother had ever even heard about it.

As she walked away from the house that day, no one could have imagined what was about to happen.

Once she was far enough into the woods, she sat her bag down to take stock of the supplies her mom sent with her. Opening the bag, she found: a sandwich, some kibble for Annabelle, a spare set of clothes, a map, a compass, a long distance walkie talkie, a blanket, and an army survival pack. Her mom was always worried she was going to be stuck out  for more than a day.

Suddenly, Annabelle ran into the woods barking. Serenity tensed for a moment before she heard Ann's voice yelling. "Annabelle! You cannot run at people like that," Ann scolded, "Wait if you’re here…” she trailed. "Ren!!! Are you there?'' she yelled into the woods.