I Don't Believe In Vampires

Memories

Ash 

    Dead silence was left as everyone exited the room. 

“Hello, Ash. I don’t think we have officially met yet. My name is Able, I’m Brian’s grandfather.” He said smiling. 

“Nice to meet you.” I smiled back to be polite but I could barely contain my nervousness. 

Able motioned in the back and a girl appeared in the doorway. She looked to be in her 20s and had short white hair. Her eyes were a sparkling light green. She had on a light purple dress that popped out on her extremely pale skin. I caught a smell of lavender. Whether it was a lotion or perfume it was calming. 

“Hello there, I’m Sally.” She said smiling.

I gave a faint smile in return. I didn’t know what to expect. I don’t even know why I was here? What does this girl have to do with us?

“Hello, Ash.” She said smiling.

“There is something that we want to explain to you but it would be best if we showed you instead.” My mother said, looking at Sally. 

I looked around the room. My eyes first went to Brian who looked just as skeptical as I was. My eyes connected with Able and he gave me a nod. 

Sally set her black square tote down on the ground and stepped towards me. Was she a doctor? I looked at my mother and she gave me a reassuring smile. 

She stood up and placed her palms on each of my temples. 

    “Close your eyes and just relax, dear.” She said, closing her eyes and I did the same. Heat radiated from her palms into my temples. It was soothing and my muscles began to relax. Sally started mumbling something I couldn’t understand. It sounded like an ancient language. Pins and needles covered my head and traveled to the back of my neck then Sally went quiet. She moved her hands to the top of my head. I winced at the sharp pain. My thoughts were overthrown by memories of a past time. Two people being crowned, a bloody war, and a woman that resembled me giving away a baby. I was viewing a world through the eyes of someone else. Who it was, I wasn’t sure. 

“Take care of my daughter. Make sure no harm comes to her no matter what. Do what you must to protect her.” the woman said handing a baby over. 

    A portal appeared in front and the person holding the baby walked through. I saw a house...well, it looked like my house. I heard words I remembered from a bedtime story my mother would read to me. The story was about a hidden place that protected supernatural beings from the human world. The story talked about a King and Queen that were in charge of protecting the secrets and the beings that inhabited it. Astoria was a beautiful realm with mountains, forests and castles. Werewolves, vampires, hybrids and witches. Fairies, shapeshifters...the list was endless. The guardians and how they are the first line of defense. Not just anyone could be a guardian. You would need to have 70% of guardian blood to be considered. 

    The memories were overwhelming. My head was pounding in my ears. Everything in the story was real. Everything. I felt like the world was spinning in my head. My eyes were puffy and swollen. I clutched my chest. It was all so painful. My mother. My real mother and father. My life has been a lie. I already felt out of place but now, I feel completely alone. I’m experiencing so many emotions. I was lied to and betrayed. I feel broken. I am broken. 

    I heard hushed whispers coming from around me but I didn’t care. I don’t care anymore. Tiredness overcame my aching heart and my eyes became heavy. I gladly welcomed it. May I escape and never return. 

    My body woke up to the light shining through the window. I groggily stretched. The sun seemed stronger than usual. Squinting my eyes before fully opening them, I noticed this room was unfamiliar. Wait, what? I glanced around the room. The big windows overlooked the forest. The room was white with wood floors. The bed was a queen size with big white fluffy pillows and a comforter. 

“Good Morning sleeping beauty.” I heard in the corner of the room. 

I turned to see Cali sitting in a grey futon chair. 

“What’s going on?” I said confused. 

“I could ask you the same thing!” 

“No, Cali...what the f**k happened last night?” I rarely ever cursed unless my blood was boiling and Cali knew it too. 

“Did you know?” I asked. I was hesitant to know the answer. My best friend that I trusted and knew most of my life. Did she lie to me too? 

She shook her head. “No.” 

“I didn’t. Actually, I’m pretty pissed too. My parents never told me about our family history. Which would explain why they were rarely around when I was growing up. I’m the daughter of the top vampire hunting clan in the country known as the Blood Ravens. My parents finally told me after they realized I had a run in with Brian. They also told me, I can’t physically attack Brian because of some blood pact made with their clan.” she said rolling her eyes. 

“Looks like we both were kept in the dark.” 

“This has been a shitty two days.” Cali said sitting on the bed next to me. 

“Just know Ash, I’m always here. Like I said yesterday we’re in this together. Through thick and thin. I’ll always be here for you. That’s what best friends are for. You are not alone. There is always hope.” she said  placing her arm around my shoulder. 

My heart was broken and aching but Cali was right. I could always trust her. Sure we’ve had our fights but that’s with any relationship, but she had never betrayed me like I was last night. I wonder what Brian was thinking? Did he care? Did he see me in that crazed state or did he leave? 

“Hey, Cali. What happened to Brian? Did you see him leave or did he stay?” 

She looked at me and paused. 

“Ash, Brian has been missing since last evening. Able has been out looking for him. He…” she trailed off. 

“What is it, Cali?” I asked, concerned. 

“He...he...murdered the valet staff.” she finally said. 

“He did WHAT?” 

Brian killed them?? I thought they were from the clan? Why would he do something like that!??

“It’s a mess, Ash. Able hired a local valet company for the meeting. He killed them in cold blood. There’s blood everywhere outside. The worst part of it all is they’re human. Apparently, when you got your memories back he was able to see them too. Able said he saw something pertaining to his past.” 

Brian

    I’ve been running all night. I need to create as much distance as I can from this place. My clothes are drenched with blood. It’s everywhere. My ruthless vampire side is trying to come out. Pushing and clawing on the inside. I’m fighting with the darkness but it’s slowly gaining on me. My worst fear is becoming a reality. The darkness is stronger than me. No! I will not let you take full control. I pushed my darker self into the back of my mind. A part of me I can’t let win. It will consume me and swallow me whole. My emotions are welcoming the darkness. Inviting it in. I’m losing the fight. The one little shred of self control I have left. 

    The darkness has come for me and I’ve submitted to it. My legs slowed and I came to a halt. Scents from miles away invaded my nose and the echoes of voices in the night rang through my ears. I looked down at my bloodied hands and took a lick of the semi dried blood. I haven’t had human blood before but the taste was heavenly. No one can stop me now and if they dare to try, I will kill anyone who gets in my path.