Five

Slowly I made my way to what was going to be my room for a while. It took me by surprise how beautiful everything was. Although I didn’t give myself time to dwell, I fell into the lush bed yanking the fluffy pillow under my head. I had never felt something so luxurious. The closest I had ever gotten was the cobbler’s son’s bed, but even that material was scratchy and left your skin feeling a bit raw after a romp. Just as I started to drift. The image of The vampire biting into her donor jumped into the forefront of my brain. My skin bumped up. I hadn’t let myself feel the fear earlier but now in bed alone for the first time in my life I let myself feel. I felt everything. The fear from my mother this morning, the years of abuse, the realization that I was in a vampire's home and they drank human blood. My body started to shake as the images mixed and contoured my mother beating me saliva bubbling in her mouth when she was angry. The vampire was biting the woman. Now the vampire was my mother, the saliva was blood and I was helpless. Emotion rocked my body as I screamed into the pillow. The emotions felt like they would break through my skin and expose my innards to this house of vampires. The wave washed over me like a dark shadow and then it started to subside. The cries turned to whimpers and my heavy body drifted into real true darkness. Sleep was going to happen whether I wanted it to or not.

The sun peaked at the horizon. I read the note once more. The beautiful script was adorned with gold and blue accents.

Miss. Lucrezia please refrain from opening windows in the common area of the family quarters. It is rude to allow the sun within the home of a master of the coven. I understand you are a human and awake with the sun but we are creatures of the night. I would suggest that you try to adjust to this new format. My suggestion if there is to be one would be to take a nap at high noon and then again at five. That way by the time seven comes around you will be ready for the night of learning . 

-With much thanks

Miles Bludonel.

I read the note again. He truly was so formal. I can’t help feeling a pang of guilt. He must have heard me last night. Why else would he have left a note and not just informed me. I shake the anxiety and fear. Yes, this was a manner full of vampires, but it didn’t seem like they were going to hurt me so for 1000 gold coins I could endure it.  For Cedar I would endure anything. The pink sky started to brighten as the sun broke over the horizon. I loved watching the sun rise and set. It was one of the beauties that the cobbler’s son had introduced me to. I smiled remembering one particularly cold night. My mother had been out all night so I snuck into his window. We made out trying to be quiet. I awoke to the sunrise and him playing in my thick hair. I had never been happier in all of my life, but the happiness didn’t last. That was the same day he told me he wanted to run away together. I thought my heart would jump from my chest and collide with his. I showered him with love; kissed his smiling lips. Then his face turned from loving to something different. He told me he would never take Cedar. My heart crashed into the ground so fiercely that the world felt colder. I scurried out of his window, tears streaking my face. I walked through the door to find my baby brother exactly where I had left him. I stuffed the emotion back into my body. Smothering it with determination I would start looking for work. Which I did little bits here and there. Mother noticed immediately and promptly started her campaign to wreck my chances of obtaining anything she hadn’t allowed me to have. 

I mentally shook myself. No need dwelling on the things that we can’t change. I closed the heavy black lined curtains. The room instantly became dark. I crept out into the main room. The fire was cracking. I wondered if it was constant? I knew how back breaking chopping wood for our fireplace had been. It truly strained every muscle in your back. I sat down on the plush couch. It was so warm and cozy. It was such a contrast to the main part of the manner.