TALE OF RAPHAEL

EVE OF THE COMING OF AGE CEREMONY

The dark starless night sky seemed bright for the first time in my life. As I stared at the night sky I wondered how my life would be after the coming of age ceremony the day after . I couldn't help but smile as I made up my mind to make it as fulfilling as possible . This was the only chance I had to escape a life that is planned out for me and I would do all it takes to seize it.

"Hello , son you seem happy tonight,"said my mother in her usual angelic voice. " Yes I am more than happy, I can finally leave this prison like home for once ." "Do you really think your father is going to let you go just like that."Even though she sounded worried about I could deep down that it was all pretend . My mother never showed me her true emotions. With how my father was raising me ,as the next ruler, and how different I was from birth she seemed to fear me. She hid her fear deep and masked it with fake sympathy, she called it a mother's duty.

"Mother, do you really think I am stupid or something, me saying I can leave means I finally have what it takes to put my plans to motion.No one can stop me be it father or the entire vampire colony ." "Is that so," my father entered looking all angry as if the whole world was his enemy . "Hello father, take it you had our little conversation and yes as per the norm I get to make my own decision after the coming of age ceremony that symbolises my becoming a fulfledge adult." " You know I can change that rule with the help of the council of elders." " Well I wouldn't do that if I were you, remember me saying I have enough strength to defy all the colony. I only waited until the ceremony to save you some face and honour which you treasure more than your son's happiness. I was only a child ,don't you think placing all those responsibilities on my small shoulders was to much. " Tears on my cheeks I looked at my father's face with a determined look. I couldn't bring myself to look at my mother . I couldn't at all ,even though she never showed me what I called true emotions atlesat she pretended to care unlike the rest of siblings who seemed to hate me and being jealous of daily life with father . In my whole life she was the only one who I could relate,she forced herself to do what she didn't want to.

"And if you want to try me I could always compel all of you to forget you ever gave birth to me and leave forever,so you'd beat decide what you really want" " Do you really hate us that mu.., "Mom, do you know ever since I was five I could tell what people really felt towards me and every night you came to care for me after a long hard terrible day with father I only felt more heartbroken, your fear of doing something wrong towards me or how the way you look at me was different with how you treated my siblings even though I was the youngest. And father how did it feel making me go through all that hellish training and learning routine, even though you say it was all for my future and how it pains you to see me in pain but I could tell you were jealous of my unnatural superiority in all you taught me .Do you think I wanted all this. My own siblings hate me and you our leader don't tell me you didn't notice it.All my life I never felt for the first time in a century , I couldn't care less if it would hurt their feelings. This was my farewell to them . "Me not compelling you is my punishment, live knowing I am looking for happiness in another family. "

Taking the ceremonial dress from my father I politely asked them to leave so I can prepare and asked my father to explain to the council of elders my decision and expected their cooperation." Raphael, son , I didn't know that's how you felt and..," Mom don't worry over the years I got used to it and forgave you long ago and now I would like to change."As they left I wanted to hug my mom who seemed to have changed after the conversation but couldn't bring myself to do it in the end. Father as usual felt ni remorse as it would hurt his pride that came before everything in existence. There a thought came to me how did he propose marriage to my mom and laughed silently.