Cold, Hard Devotion
After, I had learned about the prospect of blood and their intense connection to my kind. My kind, my kind are vampires. They told me of blood and only of blood for that day. Soon after I was released from my room. I changed into the cloths Nelly gave me and looked into the mirror.
In the mirror I saw my hair had seemed to darken from the chocolate it had been into a near blackened shade. My eyes were the same sky blue and forest green but they held a certain hint to them that I could not explain. Around those eyes was a darkened area as if I hadn't slept in forever even though I had been sleeping for days. My skin matched that of the luminescent walls of the bathroom, pale and almost transparent. I lifted my chin and tilted my head to the left. I raised my fingers to graze the two faint pink marks. They followed a thick vein perfectly. And as I fingered the wounds I felt the memory sneak into my head.
I was a vampire and therefore thrown into a world of endless night. I returned to my room to find Vikas and Mr. Otis speaking softly. They quieted when I entered and watched me as I went to Vlad's side.
"Vlad, please wake up. I'll be here." I had told him, feeling his electric skin as a matching temperature rather than the coolness I was accustomed to. I experimented with that for a moment, a puzzled look on my face. "Mr. Otis?"
"Mina, I'm not your teacher anymore. You can call me Otis."
"Would Vlad notice the temperature difference when he wakes up?" Mr. Otis thought about my question before answering carefully.
"He most certainly will, unless there is a reason for it. Why do you ask?"
"Aren't I known for random questions?" I asked dully of my old teacher. He smiled warmly.
"That you are. But this one must have a reason, am I correct?"
"Yeah. I don't want to tell Vlad I'm a... vampire... when he wakes up." The words felt strange on my tongue. Both men seemed shocked by my statement. "Is that a problem?"
"No, Lubov." I was already getting used to the nickname. "It is simply strange, is all." I nodded. "Why would you refuse to tell him?"
"Well he didn't exactly tell me now did he?" I asked my tone sharp. I sighed as they both stared to my side at Vlad. "I know he had no choice, trust me. He just tried so hard to keep me from all of this... I know he'll feel horrible of he found out. I need to give him time to get used to me knowing. I need to let him adapt to the new me too. Then I'll tell him...On my own time."
"Are you sure about that?" I nodded. "Okay, then."
"Now, Mr. Otis, I have another question for you." I walked over and sat down on the table between Vikas and Mr. Otis.
"Just call me Otis, Mina; the title was unnecessary from day one remember?"
"Otis..." I tested it, it felt weird. "Feels too odd. But I'll get over it. Well my question concerns you. Why did I see you at Vlad's house sometimes last year? Why outside of school? Henry once told me Vlad was scared about his safety around you, why? And over the summer you both were writing letters? I saw my name in one letter once."
"I'm his uncle, Mina." I gasped aloud. He chuckled. "Surprised?"
"His uncle? I thought Vlad didn't have any blood relatives? That's why he lives with Nelly."
"Yes, that is true. He did not know until nearing the end of the last semester last year. Vlad is half vampire, Mina. His father was a vampire, his mother human." I gapped at him in shock.
"Is that possible?"
"Illegal, but possible. His father was created by the same vampire who created me. Therefore, my brother." I nodded in understanding.
