Sunrise to Sunset

By Laurie Bowler

Nessy awakes from her unconscious state, with no memory of who she is or her purpose in life. Charles struggles as he tries to provide her with as much information as he can about herself. Saddened and concerned, he eventually tells her about her former life, and true immortal state. Dismayed, a still unconvinced Hera takes Nessy back to the past in the form of the Gulon.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Laurie Bowler
• Release date: Dec 5, 2010
• ISBN: 9781458069412

Laurie Bowler

Laurie Bowler is a bestselling fantasy author residing in Hampshire, a county in the United Kingdom, where she started writing fantasy fiction in late November 2009.    After reading hundreds of fantasy novels, Laurie knew she wanted to write within that genre. She set her mind to writing her first novel, 'Vanquished', which was then quickly followed by the award-winning Moon Rising series.  Laurie attended college and has gained qualifications in Creative Writing, Music and Health and Social Care. She is still undertaking as many academic courses as possible to improve her knowledge.  Laurie lives with her daughter, fiance and a houseful of pets, including eight cats and three dogs, to name just a few. Her new novel Mythical and its sequel, The Battle of Evov, have both been an immense adventure and creativity of her mind. 

Book preview

Sunrise to Sunset

Laurie Bowler

Published by Laurie Bowler at Smashwords

Copyright 2010 Laurie Bowler

Discover other titles by Laurie Bowler at Smashwords.com

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author

Chapter 1

My body slowly began to allow me to feel, my hands felt the same strength that seemed familiar to me. A man named Charles touched me, his skin seemed normal to me now, and the darkness had gradually faded into nothing but a mere blip in my mind. I hadn’t known this strange man’s name until Hera had questioned endlessly about my condition and receiving cool replies in response. His tired eyes and the constant haunted look I remembered so well when the darkness had allowed me to float and feel nothing but peace and tranquillity.

Floating back into my small, fragile, and lifeless body hadn’t been an easy thing to do, the darkness had insisted on claiming me for a while longer, but my own determination and will had won. My body had become mine again, but my mind had drawn blank when I’d tried to remember what had happened to me. Nothing made any sense to me, the times and events that flashed like lightening across my mind had seemed blurred and unclear, the many faces I had seen and the loud noises I’d heard had scared me. It was this stranger called Charles who had taken me into his arms and hushed me, gently cradling me against his body where I had fit snug and felt warm, cosy and safe from the frightening nightmares.

She’s waking, Charles said, his voice sounding weary and strained.

I knew who Hera was, he was my cousin, but there was something in my nightmares involving him that scared me. Something unusual surrounding him, the light that shone around him had shown me he wasn’t someone I should fear. Still, the unknown was always there and no matter how much I pushed my mind to reveal its secrets to me, it had refused; only showing me the many pictures, events and frightening images of my past.

Nessy, Nessy, can you hear me? Charles whispered urgently, as he held my hand.

I managed to allow my hand to gently squeeze his fingers in response, my eyes still unwilling to obey my commands to open and see for myself these two people who had kept their vigil beside me for so many nights, for how many, I was unsure.

She squeezed my hand Hera, she can hear us, he said again.

The footsteps in the quiet room seemed loud to me and the voices drifted from somewhere else; the voices of men and women combined reached my ears, but again, I couldn’t figure out who they were, or where they were.

Nessy, squeeze again if you can hear me, he ordered.

I obeyed and squeezed again, twice, just to emphasise that I was awake and I could understand what was being asked of me. I longed for my eyes to open, for my body to obey me fully without me having to force it into submission.

Welcome back sweetheart, Charles whispered into my hair, as he gently kissed me.

Even though I didn’t know who he was, or why he was here with me, I still felt linked to him, more intimately than any other I’d felt before. I lay in the bed and wondered when I would be able to see him through my own eyes.

Nessy, it’s me, Hera. I’m glad you’re back with us. I missed you, Hera whispered into my other ear, confusing me over space and time. His tears of grief becoming clear, and flowing freely from inside him, I felt the first drop of his tear as it hit my cheek.

Can you open your eyes for us? Hera asked. I tried, and tried again, until I felt the pull of my lids as they gradually began to flutter and finally obey my commands over my body. The light in the room hit my vision, turning everything into a white mist of light; I focused on one person, so I could collect the images completely into my mind and store them there, in case my vision should fail again.

The person I’d focused on began to get clearer. Charles began to enter my mind as his face began to creep into my eyes, his dark hair, and the single lock that had fallen over his forehead. The dark Latin looks I had seen when I’d been floating inside my peaceful bubble, suddenly filled my sight.

Hi, he whispered hoarsely.

I smiled, and for some reason, the familiarity of being home swept over and through me, coursing itself through my veins. Charles smiled in return, his eyes cold and hard looking, the smile not quite reaching them. He appeared mysterious and familiar at the same time. Feelings welled inside me that I never thought existed with someone I didn’t know; I turned my head to face Hera. His large frame blocked the light from the window, making it easier for me to visualise him, and he stared at me for some time, as if he was the one unsure of me. He gently lifted my hand and held onto me, frozen suddenly by shock over something that I couldn’t fathom.

Charles, her hands are freezing. How do they feel to you? he asked.

Nothing unusual, of course if she was human, they would feel warm. The change must have happened when I hadn’t been paying attention, worrying about her condition has been playing on my mind for the past weeks, he replied.

So does that mean? Hera asked, suspending his question into the air, not allowing me to know what it was he was asking, which only added to my already confused and jumbled mind.

I can hear you, I said slowly, my voice sounded rough, even to my own ears.

It was almost like a rusty gate that hadn’t been opened in a while, and was in bad need of oiling very soon. I had to clear my throat several times, and several attempts of sipping water that Charles placed at my lips had ended up with me coughing and gagging on the taste. The bile rose inside my throat, it wasn’t what I wanted. This strange new feeling had started to envelope itself around me, the swaying of the bed irritated me, as did the gentle beating I could hear and wanted badly.

Err...Charles, I don’t think it’s water she needs, if as you think it’s happened, isn’t it something else she needs? Hera asked.

We can try, I suppose, Charles sighed. As he started to rise and leave my side, my hand gripped his, the grip of an iron clasp around his hand not willing to let him leave me; there was something about him that I wanted to remain close to.

Nessy, you need me to help you. Can you remember anything? Charles asked, as he stood beside me, watching me carefully from those beautiful, captivating eyes.

No...Nothing, I whispered, carefully measuring my words, so I wouldn’t sound strange to myself.

How is that possible, Charles? Hera demanded, shocked and bewildered.

I’m not sure, we knew with the extensive injuries she sustained that it was a possibility her memory may not come back the same. All we can do is hope it will return, and soon, he answered, as he gently stroked my hair away from my face.

The noises seemed to be getting louder around, and I didn’t know where they were coming from, only that I could hear so many different voices talking from somewhere. The conversation between Charles and Hera seemed intimidating to say the least, with their reasoning behind my so-called condition and something about the way I had become, whatever that meant.

Excuse me, I’m still here, you know, I grumbled.

Charles and Hera laughed together, as both of them stood either side of me next to the bed, their sizes different from each other. Charles’s eyes seemed drawn to my face, and his hand-clutched mine as he watched me thoughtfully.

Nessy, what’s the last thing you remember? he asked, as he continued to watch me and his thoughts suddenly closed off from me.

I remember my parents, and my home. Also, I remember running away from something, but I’m not sure what it was, and every time I try to think about what it could be, my mind goes blank. What was I running from? I asked.

Do you remember Hera? he persisted with his questioning, and I could only guess it was to try to find out the extent of my memory and any events that I might remember.

Yes, of course I do. He’s my cousin, I got that right didn’t I? I asked Hera worriedly, as he smiled sadly and nodded.

Nessy, do you remember me? Charles asked, his eyes still closed to me. I couldn’t read anything in his expression, and whatever he was thinking or feeling right now was closed to everyone.

No, I only know your name because Hera kept on saying it a lot while I was unconscious. Should I know you? Aren’t you just a doctor or something? I asked thoughtfully.

I’m your fiancé Nessy. It’s ok, don’t cry, he pleaded as the tears started to gather in my eyes.

Next to me, stood my fiancé and I couldn’t remember anything at all about him. I thought he was my doctor. Nothing made sense to me; the world around me seemed confusing and daunting in its originality. I had no idea who I was, where I came from, or what else it was Charles and Hera had spoken about they thought I needed.

I’ll be back in a minute, Charles said gruffly, as he released my hand and walked rapidly towards the door, his feet lightly touching the floor.

I lay still and waited until I was sure he had gone, but for some strange reason, I could hear his footsteps rather loudly as he’d walked away, and the voices kept on talking from somewhere in this place where I had been cared for.

I turned to face Hera, who stood obediently by my side, his hand still holding my own and his expression one of sympathy and pain as he stared back at me.

Hera, what’s going on? I asked, feeling dumb at the sound of myself asking questions.

Let's wait until Charles comes back, then we can tell you. How do you feel? he asked.

Well, I have this horrid feeling of burning, this soft thudding sound keeps getting louder and I feel as if I want to jump out of bed and take something, but only I’m not sure what. You know, the thudding sounds almost like a heartbeat, I don’t understand any of this, I said shaking my head. And there’s this awful scorching pain, its running through me like lightening, striking me all the time, making the urge to grab that thing I don’t know, even more, I explained, as I flopped my head back against the pillows and folded my arms.

The confusion of the situation seemed to be getting worse for me, now that I had established what the strange thudding noise was; it still made the situation a complete nightmare. There was nothing normal about this, that much I was sure of.

Let me just get Charles a minute, Hera said, as he too left the room. He seemed to be in a hurry as he left, his feet practically running away from me.

Enough was enough; I had to know what was happening around me. I needed to know who all the people were that I could hear talking, and I wanted to find out why everything was such a big secret. I swung my legs out of the gigantic bed and felt the floor beneath my feet, my bare feet gliding gracefully as I stood. The dizziness took its hold over me, trying to claim me and force me back into the oblivion it had once done before, but my sheer determination was overpowering.

With my clothes folded away in an oversized closet that I found, it seemed striking and too large for one person to have to themselves. The first set of clothes I found, I put them on: a long woollen dress, the colour the same as the clear blue sky on a summer’s day brightening my mood instantly. As I continued to survey the room, looking for the bathroom and locating it quickly, I knew with the amount of time I had lain in bed with some strange illness that I would look a mess. Before I saw anyone else, I would definitely need a tidy up.

The bathroom seemed new and unused, its cleanliness outstanding and beautiful. As I approached the mirror, not seeing myself, I squinted rapidly trying to clear my vision to get my own reflection in the mirror, but I only found a ghostlike figure staring back at me; my own reflection seemed to be a paranormal silhouette. There seemed to be no one human there, even though I stood with my face squashed against the mirror’s surface, in the hope that I might magically appear.

The room swam alarmingly around me, as I gripped the edge of the sink in fright, the darkness started to draw itself near like a monster waiting to collect me into its fold and carry me away.

Nessy, what are you doing? Charles demanded, as he entered the bathroom, his face horrified by my expression.

The mirror, no reflection, just a...a...a ghost! I gasped almost inaudibly.

I know, it’s going to be ok. We have to talk though, come with me and sit down, he ordered gently. He picked me up off the floor and carried me back into the bedroom, where he placed me on the chair in the corner of the room.

Where’s Hera? I asked, searching around the room for the sight of my cousin.

He’s just popped out for a while; don’t worry, you’re safe here with us, he said. Now then, drink this, he commanded, as he produced a cup and helped me to hold it.

The liquid swashed itself to the surface slightly, its colour reminding me of the exact colour of blood, but the smell was intoxicating to me. Drawing me closer and creating the burning fire to burn and rage itself painfully through my body, my mind followed instincts I never thought existed inside me, as I took the cup offered and gulped down the liquid. As I allowed myself to taste, its sweetness filled my senses, causing the dizziness to subside and the burning feeling started to fade away gradually, as I felt the liquid flow rapidly through my body.

Better? Charles asked quietly.

I nodded, unsure whether to trust my voice not to ask for any more, but I felt like I needed more. More of the sweetness to vanquish the burning, to make the endless tide of its tirade cease and allow my body to quiet itself in order for me to start making sense of all of this that seemed to be happening around me.

Are you sure? You look a little odd, Charles said, as he pinned me down with his eyes, their assessing unwavering.

I feel like I need some more, but I don’t know why. What’s happening to me? I don’t understand, I begged for answers that I needed. Someone would have to tell me whatever was happening around me, and what had happened to me.

I know, I thought you might. I brought more with me, I’ll just refill your cup, let me know when you’ve had enough and we’ll talk, he said, and he simply refilled my cup and handed it back to me.

He had to refill my cup on three more occasions, until I felt all the strange and new sensations obliterate themselves. The sweet red liquid appeared to be some kind of potion that made my body feel satiated and wholesome.

Nessy, I want you to be open-minded when I explain what’s happened, promise me you will, Charles said, and he took my hands once more.

Ok, it can’t be that bad, I laughed nervously, as I felt pinned to the spot in my chair with Charles knelt at my feet.

There’s no easy way to say this, believe me, if there was, I wouldn’t be struggling right now. Nessy, you’re a vampire! Simply said, but with the most terrifying and confusing effects to my mind.

I sat dumbstruck and enveloped in a vortex of disbelief and confusion, staring open mouthed at Charles, as he waited patiently for me to say something. My mouth opened and then closed, and the words failed to come, each time I searched for some memory to allow this to be true or false, none came to me. My mind had simply turned itself off, not even allowing me to think of when and how I might have met Charles in the first place.

A vampire? Surely, they belong in stories, I muttered still dazed.

I know sweetheart, it’s a little hard to take in right now. But it’s true, every word, he said.

What was it you just gave me, and don’t say blood, either, I asked, starting to feel as if my temper had risen to a hundred degrees from the confusion and utter disgust of possibly drinking blood that I had thought was a potion.

I’m afraid so. I want you to think back to how you felt before you drank it-- do you remember the burning, the need for something, the mouth watering sensation when you heard the thudding you described to Hera as a heartbeat? he questioned. As I nodded slowly, he seemed to know how I’d felt when all of those things had happened to me not that long ago in this very room.

The heartbeat you heard was Hera’s, the burning was the thirst taking control. If you hadn’t had the blood just now, you could quite possibly have taken Hera’s instead, but without meaning to. I know you care about him, he’s your family, but when the thirst rises and takes control, there is simply no stopping us. We have to survive, and our instincts will do it anyway they can. Here was another explanation that seemed to shine a dim light in my blank, dark memory.

It was another hole that I would have to somehow figure out, without wanting to; I had nearly taken my own cousin’s life. It’s no wonder why he’d left me as suddenly as he had. He must be disgusted by the sight of me.

How did it happen to me? I asked quietly, my emotions shrieking inside of me for more answers, to open up my mind so I could remember facts and events, rather than struggle with just a new tiny hole of information.

That’s why a while ago your reflection didn’t appear in the mirror like a normal person’s would. Your DNA has gone through a fascinating transformation, from half human to full vampire since you’ve been unconscious. We have all been so worried about you, he explained again, still patiently waiting for my outburst, or something akin to hysterical.

Who’s we? I questioned watching Charles closely, his expression still closed to me. I wondered why I couldn’t read what he was saying.

Our family, our coven, you’re a part of us now,

Does that mean there are more vampires living here? Are you one? I felt uneasy asking so many questions, but if I was to stay here in this house, I needed to know whom I was up against.

Yes love; I’m your chosen mate. It’s a very long story, but you have to wait until your mind clears and you remember events that have happened for yourself. If I tell you everything, there’s a chance it may shock you too much, and you could relapse into the unconscious state and not wake up this time. I don’t want that to happen, he said. Everyone knows you’re awake, they told me to say hello.

Are you a doctor? I asked.

Charles laughed as he squeezed my hand, and his handsome face spread with something I thought might be happiness, but then I didn’t know this stranger that sat before me. Only the explanations he’d given to me; I had chosen him, so I must love him and trust him, if only I could remember. I glanced down to our linked fingers, trying to push my memory into submission.

No, I’m a scientist; I have done many tests on your blood while you slept. Your body is amazing Nessy, believe me. Never in my career have I known so many transformations could happen to one vampire until now. You’re truly unique in every way, he said.

Oh! I muttered, and I pondered, so many explanations he’d given. Then I decided without any reason why, that I had to trust Charles. He would make sure I didn’t kill anyone, the very thought made me cringe and shudder as images of taking another’s life shot through my mind.

Have I ever killed anyone human? I asked suddenly.

No love, you haven’t. We don’t take the lives of humans; that blood you drank tonight is too infected one way or another, and cannot be used for humans at all. I have it sent here by delivery from a trusted human friend; it’s all we consume to survive, and is just as good as the real thing.

Thank goodness for that. You know, for a moment there, I thought I might have actually taken a life. I thought that’s what vampires do, but not in reality I guess, I said, smiling.

That’s how we live. There are others, Nessy, who don’t live by the same code. They will destroy and take lives to survive, but we don’t have anything to do with them. Charles had stood and taken me to stand with him.

We stood together, neither of us reaching out to the other, my own body unsure of whom he was, or how I was supposed to feel with him. Charles made the first move towards me; his hand reaching out to stroke my long dark hair away from my face, and his hand lay still for a fraction of a second against my skin. I didn’t dare to move and I wasn’t entirely sure whether I should, or even wanted to. His touch felt gentle and smooth, the kind of loving caress given to someone who was in love. The magical feeling took over me, its special slow movement lighting my mind, burning another hole to a section of a memory that seemed blurred in my vision and wouldn’t surface, so I could see.

This is how it was before, trust me, and I can show you how we live. I can show you the ways our kind fit into this world, and together we can walk through eternity, he whispered, as he kept his hand cupped on my cheek.

I trust you, for reasons I can’t find an answer too. Where’s Hera? I asked, immediately breaking the spell and Charles backed away from me.

His face fell unreadable, his eyes closed the spell that had wrapped itself around us and shut me back outside his dark, marvellous world.

Home, I expect. Would you like to visit? It’s perfectly safe, the only reason he left is because you mentioned something about hearing a heartbeat and he didn’t want to become your meal. Charles replied, and he ushered me out of the bedroom.

I wandered behind Charles, thinking of the way Hera had left abruptly and wondering if it was truly because he didn’t want to become my dinner, or was it because he felt ashamed his cousin was vampire. Some blood-sucking parasite that wasn’t supposed to be able to walk the earth, my mind seemed to glisten suddenly, revealing another hole in my vision for me to see. The memory flashed forward as quickly as it had been found: me standing among Hera, Charles and others I didn’t know, all of them surrounding me as I was being held captive, and then a moment of bright dazzling flashing light erased the image and a giant cat quickly replaced all that I had seen. I gasped with the moments images and memories, realising it must be something to do with my past and could possibly affect my future.

Nessy, are you ok? Charles asked, concerned as he caught me in his arms, holding me against him.

Yes, I saw something, I said.

Tell me, he persisted, as he helped me to sit down on the floor.

I was being held captive, with you and Hera around me, there were plenty of others there as well, but I don’t know who they were. And then, a giant cat came into my head. What does it mean, Charles? Please tell me, I begged, and I felt afraid by the visions of my past.

It's something that happened before you went unconscious, it was how you became a vampire; before you were only a half vampire but now you’re not. I really can’t tell you any more, I don’t want you to slip away into another unconscious state, Nessy. Please come and meet the others, it might help you to remember things, Charles insisted.

What about the cat? I asked.

Pardon? Charles questioned, as he stopped in mid air and turned to face me.

What about the reference to the cat? What does that mean? I asked again.

I think you had better ask Hera about that one, he can tell you if he wants. Would you like me to take you to him later? Charles asked.

Yes, but I want to meet this family of ours first. I have no idea who they are, I said.

Charles smiled slightly, standing with me in his arms as he led me away and down towards a room where I could hear more clearly the voices that had been rather loudly playing in my room earlier: a little like a stereo, but without knowing who was playing.

Charles entered the room, and the silence that met us was outstanding. The gasps and stares I encountered from each person standing in front me was dumbfounding, and yet peaceful from all the noise I couldn’t handle going through my head and reaching my ears. Maybe if I had been a vampire for a while longer, I would get used to it, but seeing as I had just woken up and was told I was a creature, it all seemed like a din of voices.

Everyone, Nessy has come to join us this evening, Charles announced, as he led me forward and fully into the room.

Every vampire turned to watch me as I entered. I noticed my own feet never made any noise on the floor as I walked, and the silence of each person made me feel self-conscious and cringe, wanting to run back to my room.

Hi Nessy, I’m Megan. We have met before, but I guess you might not remember. Please come and join us, we were just talking about the past and reminiscing. The vampire who had spoken seemed to be dressed quite fashionably, making me wish I’d chosen something else in the huge wardrobe, rather than the dress I was wearing.

I don’t remember you, but it’s nice to meet you, I said, quietly feeling intimidated by the introductions to people I should know.

It's ok, we can get to know each other, and it’s nice to see you up and about, Megan commented. She looked me slowly up and down, as if to make sure I was really fit and well and not some mirage in the room.

Looking around the room where Charles had led me to, I would have called it a study, had it not been for the comfortable looking over stuffed armchair that sat beside the fire. It seemed familiar to me, but still my mind refused to allow me to know why.

Take a seat; you might feel a little better afterwards. Charles said behind me, as he gently pushed me towards the chair.

Once I sat down, the chair seemed to swallow me whole into its overstuffed, oversized state, and made me feel completely at ease, like I had been in this chair before.

Hi, I’m Tilly. It’s so nice to have you back with us. Tilly, another vampire spoke from right beside me, catching me off guard slightly. I had heard something approaching, but since I wasn’t used to all these extra senses I appeared to possess, it all seemed so strange and new.

I focused on Tilly, and tried to block out the rest of this new family I belonged to. Her face appeared more of an angel, and her long hair seemed to fall endlessly in curls around her, framing a small, kind and sweet face. Her smile took over my words when I looked at her, as each person waited for me to answer, to say something.

Tilly, I remember you, I said. Didn’t you say something similar before, I mean when we met for the first time before today? I had the feeling of hearing the same words, changed slightly, but still sounding almost as if they had been said to me before.

Tilly seemed to be the only member of this strange new world that I remembered. Her kind eyes smiled back at me, as she watched me and nodded. Tilly leant forward and put her arms around me, to welcome me home, I remembered seeing another vampire out of the corner of my eye; her eyes seemed full of venom and hate.

Would you like a drink? said the soft voice I had become to rely on, the one that seemed to know how I was feeling and when I was feeling so uncomfortable, Charles’s voice.

Yes please, I answered. I listened to the slow buzz of voices as they started up their discussions.

Try to relax. Remember, you’re a part of this family now, Charles said gently, as he handed me a drink.

Without looking into the small cup he handed to me, I knew without a doubt what it contained. My mind became a flare of many holes; it would seem as if my mind was the midnight sky that had many bright, intriguing, sparkling stars all around for miles to see. But to me, I couldn’t read or grasp the meaning of the dots; they just seemed to be forever out of my reach.

Is this? I asked, as my hand trembled slightly with the cup. Charles gently, patiently held the cup to my lips, his face closed, but the kindness I felt through his touch, as he helped me to drink.

You don’t have a choice anymore, Love; this is all that will sustain our kind. Unless you want to hunt down a human for your dinner? he teased gently.

I think I’ll pass on that one, I said.

You always did before as well, you haven’t changed, Nessy. You just can’t remember; it will come back to you, he said, as he sat across from me.

The atmosphere in the room had changed; each vampire seemed to be having fun. Each of them with their chosen mate, and I suspected they had chosen them some time ago to spend their eternity together, as Charles had explained I’d chosen him. I could see why: he was gentle, kind and seemed to know how I was feeling and thinking without any hesitation.

I hope so, soon. I want to know who I am-- how did I become a vampire? Did one of you bite me? I asked, as I sighed and settled back into my seat.

Charles laughed, and his face lit up with amusement at the question I had dared to ask.

What’s funny? I asked, confused.

Nothing, sorry, his composure quickly recovered, but still the laughter remained in his eyes. I didn’t bite you, it was someone else. Do you remember your maker? he asked.

I sat wondering who and what a maker was. The name I hadn’t known about until now, came suddenly to the forefront of my mind, Hervidor.

Who’s Hervidor? I asked, suddenly as the name sprang into my mind.

Your maker, he stated. What do you remember about him?

Just his name, didn’t he bite me more than once? I asked, What happened to me?

Your DNA evolved itself around the vampire genes; you’re different from all of us. Your body, although fully formed to our kind, is still behaving as if human. You have maintained your feelings and expressions, but you have all the same traits as us, he said. Such as speed, strength, the way we eat to survive, no reflection in the mirrors...

Do we have to shy away from sunlight? I wanted to know everything, without anything being kept from me. If I was now destined to live as a predator of the earth, one that wasn’t meant to be walking around, then I had to know how they did it, how they managed to keep living with humans without being detected and destroyed.

No, that’s just a rather annoying myth.

Oh! I said, I sat back and listened to the conversations in full progress around me. Tilly seemed to be speaking to others about Hervidor, the very name mentioned had set off a spark of activity amongst each vampire, as they had crowded and were speaking endlessly. Something about a queen, now the leader of the underworld was dead and somehow my name had been connected to that very phrase. My skin cringed at the thought; I had no idea if I had even asked to become a walking dead, blood-sucking thing.

So, you woke up to join us? Did you know, now you’re awake, the activity surrounding us is going to be undeniable; the entire vampire world will be hunting us. These words were spoken so softly into my ear, and with more malice than I could imagine.

Easy Alejandra. Nessy, this is Alejandra. One of our kind, who doesn’t seem to apply the rules of safety to our family to everyone, Charles spoke sternly, but with little ease, showing he was the one in charge of this family.

I don’t have the faintest idea of whom you’re referring to, but it would seem you dislike me in some way, for reasons I can’t remember. If there is something I have done to you, then I sincerely apologise, I remarked back to Alejandra, and the whole coven silenced.

Alejandra, I thought we had got over your resentment and dislike towards Nessy. She is part of our family now, Charles faintly admonished.

You’re right, Nessy I’m Sorry. Shall we start again? New start for a new, complete you, Alejandra abruptly sat down next to me, the hope in her eyes being betrayed by the small steady smile she held around her