Vampires May Never Hurt You

“My family can be,” she paused, looking for the right word, “Bombarding.”

I nodded in response. I started to think that meeting a family of vampires wasn’t such a good idea.

“Our families are not made up of related siblings. Think of it as a group home.”

“Did you move here together?” I kicked a rock a few feet in front of me and kicked it again.

“Like I said, we go where we are needed. Remember when I said vampires disguise themselves?”

I nodded.

“We hide among humans. If you were a vampire, you would see them for what they are. Clans live everywhere. We always take in travelers. My family took me in when I was searching for you.” She veered off the side of the road and onto a gravel driveway. “You would not know they are vampires by looking at them.”

“So if you’re disguised, what do you really look like?” My eyes landed on a house down the long driveway. All the shades were drawn and there was no car in the driveway.

“Most of us wear dark clothes. Pale skin, glowing eyes, things like that.” She explained. Wait. . .

“But that’s what you look like now,” I replied. Her head shot around like I said something wrong.

“What did you say?” She said sternly.

“I-ii, you look like that now? Aren’t you supposed to look different?” I stuttered. Her eyes widened and her head flicked towards the house and back to me.

“Come on.” She started to run, but when I don’t keep up, she picked me up and threw me over her shoulder. The ground was a smeared blur below us. I was surprised by her strength and speed, but I shouldn’t have been, considering every story of vampires told of those traits.
She set me down on the porch of the house and opened the door. “I d-didn’t k-know you c-could do that,” I stammered when I regained my balance. She merely glanced at me and ushered me inside.

Inside was a furnished living room, next to a large kitchen. Luna shut the door after us, followed by several footsteps coming from around the house. “Dante!” she shouted. Pairs of feet moved swiftly across the rickety floor in all directions. A few people appeared from all directions. Eyes widened when they landed on me. About thirteen people stood in front of me; some adults, some teenagers, and one kid. I squirmed under their accusing stares and backed into the wall. My elbow caught a nail sticking out of the wall, causing it to bleed almost immediately. The kid that stood in front of the crowd inhaled deeply. He lunged at me, pinning me to the floor. He hissed in my face, bearing his teeth like a dog; but no fangs. I was about to scream until he was lifted off of me. Luna stood above me, holding him by the collar of his shirt.

“Where did he come from?!” Luna shouted at the crowd. One of the boy teenagers sheepishly raised his hand. Luna threw the boy she was holding against the wall and grabbed my arm with her glowing hand and healed the cut in a second. “You must learn to control yourselves. You have to learn to resist urges. Especially you, newbie.” She pointed at the boy that she smashed into the wall. He shot me daggers and rejoined the group.

“Why would you bring him here?” One of the older women stepped forward.

“He knows about us. He is trust worthy. I can tell. Where is Dante?” Luna retorted.

Footsteps came from a hallway behind the group of people. “Luna,” a man said, pushing through the wall of spectators.

“Something is different. It is wrong. I need to speak with you.” She walked with him down the hallway. “No one touch him.” She said before shutting a door behind them. I sunk into the wall as they all took steps toward me. Another girl about my age stepped forward.

“It is okay. I would not hurt you. My name is Grace.” She gestured to a couch for me to sit. I thought Luna would live with other vampires, but none of these people look anything like her. They all looked normal to me. Maybe not exactly friendly, but normal. I gulped and sat down. She sat next to me and motioned for everyone to join us. “Got a name?”

“Ge-Gerard,” I squeaked uncomfortably. Grace laughed beside me and put her hand on my shoulder. Her touch wasn’t cold like Luna’s. The door Luna and Dante were locked behind now swung open, slamming into the wall.

“Gerard, this is Dante. He acts as our leader.” Luna said upon their entrance.
“What kind of shoes am I wearing?” He asked abruptly, barely waiting for Luna to finish. I glance down at his feet.

“Loafers,” my voice shook. He padded across the room and pinched the hem of a boy’s shirt.

“What color is this?”

“Blue.”

He came towards me and pointed to Grace’s hair. “What color is her hair?”

“Blonde. Why?”

“It only occurs with you, Luna.” He scrutinized me. He’s trying to scare me, I could tell. I returned his eye contact. I was aware of the dangers. Eye contact with a dog is threatening, looking away is submission. I can’t let them think I’m weak.

“That is not going to work, worm,” a young man spoke up. “I know what you are thinking.” He narrowed his eyes at me, so I did the same. Silence flooded the room until Dante broke the tension.

“Stop it Isaac. Gerard, close your eyes.” I did as I was told. “Now open them.”
When I did, the changes in the atmosphere made my breath hitch. Grace’s hair was no longer long and blonde, but long and red; blood red. I looked around the room, finding the same results. Blonde and brunette hair turned to black and crimson colors. Color was flushed from every face in the room, leaving pale skin and the same amber glowing eyes. The kid that attacked me was bearing fangs and sneering at me. Colorful clothes turned to dark garments similar to Luna’s. With a blink of an eye, things returned to the way they were.

“Speak of this to no one. Do as Luna tells you.” Dante commanded. He turned to Luna, “remember what I told you. The sun will rise soon. Bring him home.” And with that, the crowded room dispersed and Luna ushered me out the door. The walk home was silent. We stopped in front of the basement door.

“You are not to go there unless you are escorted. Understand?” She said firmly. I nodded in response. “Goodnight Gerard,” she lightly smiled and left. I entered my room and fell into bed.
What did Dante tell Luna? Is there something wrong with me? Why did her family not want me there? Luna seemed to be very controlling over them. Was she a second leader? Questions like these bounced around my skull and caused a headache to pulse through my brain before I fell asleep.

Notes