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Author's Note: So here we go again. Anyone who thinks that this story might look a tad familiar is right because it is. I tried posting this a while ago but I didn't really like it. My Ego got in the way a tad bit but more than that I wasn't really sure where to take it after I wrote this first initial chapter. After giving it some time and a lot of thought though, I managed to write Ch.2 the other day. So I'm happy to report that things are back on track. I'm grateful to everyone who read it the first time and who got on my case after I pulled it. For those of you who haven't read it, know that this is the third story featuring my vampire heroine Kylie and that you should read Life is Precious and Waking Dream before hand. Once again I'd like to thank djkauf for the wonderful editing.

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Previously in Death is not the End by Maggie Finson:

I looked her in the eyes and saw Kyle looking back. A frightened, confused, and angry Kyle, but it wasn't Katie watching me so carefully. “Good, you've broken it. Now, come with me. We need to talk.”

“Talk about what?” She asked warily.

“Oh, secrets, deep dark secrets.” I said softly while leading her to the stairs that would take us to my rooms. “Curses, things needing done, and a mutual adversary. Interested?”

She nodded, a bit stiffly, but I could feel her curiosity and drive to be free of the thing Wisteria had replaced her own psyche with.
“Then walk with me, and we'll speak of these things.” I promised.
Once in my rooms I waved her to a chair then quietly thought about a few things for a moment. “You should have been one of mine. Wisteria stole you from me when she killed Degna. Then she stole you from yourself by creating Katie.”

“Are you sure you can trust me right now?” She asked point blank.

“You should know that Katie is still in here.”

As she tapped her head, I nodded. “Yes, I can feel her, raging, plotting, hating you even now. But Kylie, or whatever name you should decide on, you are far stronger than that construct, and much stronger than your maker suspects. I should be able to teach you a few tricks to help keep Katie at bay during the bad times.”
“That would be much appreciated.” She tilted her head then followed up with a question. “What will that cost me?”
“Quid Pro Quo.” I chuckled and nodded in real pleasure at her perceptiveness. “In return, I want you to do a bit of spying on our eldest for me.”

“She'll know that I'm not Katie.”

“Not if you don't wish her to know that.” I answered simply then waited for her to work it out.

“Point taken.” She nodded. “I know how Katie acts and responds to things, but even acting like that bloody minded bitch isn't a very pleasant thought.”

“Your survival depends on it. That should give you some incentive.” I smiled for a moment then let my expression turn pensive.

“Truthfully, more than yours does.”

“How so?”

“I'm old, Kylie, oh not so old as Wisteria, but old enough to know many things.” I shrugged. “One of those is that there are older, more powerful beings in the world than either me or Wisteria.
“Our Mother angered one of those a hundred years ago and since then we've been stuck in this town. Oh, our children are able to leave after ten years or so, or things would have become very uncomfortable in Ravencrest, but the older sisters are chained to this one small town.
“What I need from you is who or what she pissed off, and what exactly that curse is.” I finished.

“If she hasn't even told you, then I would imagine there would be little or no information available.” Kylie thoughtfully answered once her shock had faded. “I couldn't guarantee anything out of something like that.”

“All I'm asking is that you try.” I let out a sigh. “I am not so old that one place appeals to me for more than twenty years or so.

Ravencrest palled on me long ago. I want my freedom back, Kylie.

“In return, I'll help you gain yours.”

1:

I snapped awake, screaming. My heart was thumping wildly in my chest, my body drenched in sweat. My long black hair clung to my new delicate form and for the longest time I was confused as to where I was. Darkness surrounded me and for a moment, I thought I might be back in the Void, back where the fake me and Wisteria’s spell had forced me to live. Slowly the world came back to me in color and I realized I was in her room. I say her room because this life wasn’t really mine, not at the moment anyway. This was her life, the life of a psychotic bitch called Katie. The very same psychotic bitch that another equally psychotic individual created when she stole my life, my gender and any hope of leaving this place.

I ran my new fingers through my hair. I was grateful for the hair at least because thankfully it was still mine. It felt strange though, silkier. Well, a lot less silky now because of all the sweat. I moved my hand from my hair and onto my chest. I tried to ignore my breasts for a moment. I also tried to ignore the fact that though there might have been some thumping a moment ago---ok so maybe it was my imagination before----because there was none now. It was gone, all of it. Every bit of me that had once been alive, once been human, was gone. Kyle was dead, washed away in whatever lies were told and was now another unfortunate statistic somewhere. I’m not sure how they explained my untimely death to my family and frankly, I didn’t care.
All I cared about now was trying to get some of that life back.

Sitting up I let the sheet slid down my body, ignoring the curves it took to do so. I also ignored the sheer black nightie I was wearing. I’m not sure where my former self got her sense of style from but most of my new clothing was on the darker side of black. It wasn’t even the good kind either. She was going for this Chic trendy goth look that frankly made her look a bit trashy. I was always a bit into the Goth scene but I wasn’t a poser like this girl. I had spent years perfecting my look, getting it just right. I was on the wrong side of androgynous and used it. Whoever Wisteria tried to create was on the wrong side of everything.

Thankfully, all of that was in the past.

“Katie” was gone now. Well as gone as she was going to be. She was still there---just like Carmilla said. I could fell a bit of her in back of mind, locked up tight where I left her. She was silent right now, pushed so far into my subconscious that she was barely a speck but I could feel her nonetheless. I’m not sure if that scared me or made me feel triumphant. Sure, I did battle with a crazy psycho bitch; I got the upper hand and locked her up. News flash though: that bitch was me---or rather---a small part of me. A part that everyone in this sorority house was expecting come morning when I went down to breakfast with the rest of them. If you even want to call whatever it was breakfast.

I forced that last little bit away as I threw off the rest of the covers and stood up. You would think that one would feel different changing genders. Before I didn’t really have time to process it. What with the battling for my life and all of that but now, I couldn’t help but feel fine. I was scared of that a bit. I was always a bit on the feminine side but I never went so far as to cross that line. I liked girls, I liked them a lot but I never actually wanted to be one. I just had fun playing with people’s expectations. Like that model guy. He’s so androgynously beautiful that he can pass 100% as female even though he’s fully male in every way. I was that guy. I liked being that guy. I liked fooling everyone and making them do double takes wherever I went. My friends used to like it too.

Steve had a bit of a problem with it from time to time. He’s my roommate---correction was my roommate. Like I said that was over now. A few hours ago----seven to be premise----I nearly killed him. Well it wasn’t really me I guess, it was the fake me “Katie”. Apparently, Steve and another guy kind of started putting two and two together. I’m not sure how they managed to come up with vampires but they hunted “her” down and managed to capture her. Somewhere in the middle of them trying to kill her, I got free. I fought her off as best I could and found Steve. Things kind of rushed out there. Suffice to say he knows who and what I am now. It would be great if he was my only problem but I actually had a few more.

My thoughts were interrupted when the door opened. I froze in my tracks. If my heart could actually beat, it would be pounding like a drum right about now. A girl walked into the room. She was dressed in something tight and skimpy. Her most distinguishing feature though was her hair: it was mostly blonde but it was streaked with blue in the front. It was kind of cool actually. If I could pull off the look, I sure as hell would try.

“Oh my God Katie” she said, rushing into the room and throwing her arms around me.

The hug was tight and quick. A bit too tight actually. Man vampires were strong.

“Ummm hi” I said.

It sucks when you’re supposed to know someone and you have no idea who they were. I felt like I’d just walked into a movie theater and the movie on the screen has been playing for days. I racked my brain trying to come up with a name. It finally clicked when I remembered the hair. I’m so glad I had a little cram session with Degna.

“Charlotte right?”

She sighed. “Look I might have deserved that. I’m sorry about kind of disappearing earlier but I thought you had things under control. I didn’t think you’d go all AWOL on me over it. You know Theresa and I spent half the damn night looking for you. “

“Sorry” I said, trying to sound sincere.

Charlotte gave me a strange look. “You ok?”

Oh right, I’m supposed to be a mega-bitch now.

“I got bored,” I said, trying to impersonate my former self. “There was no good pickings so I decided to go find some.”

“Without me?” I shrugged, she sighed. “Fledglings aren’t supposed to wander off on their own like that.”

“Sorry” I said, sounding annoyed. “Won’t happen again.
”
She smiled and yawned. “Well I’m heading to bed, might be able to get my few z’s now. You heading there too?”

I shook my head. I was done sleeping. “I’m going to take a shower I think.”

She nodded. “Good because you’re covered in ick. I’m not sure who you had tonight but he sure worked up a sweat in you.”

I gave her a lopsided grin before sliding past her and into the hall. As soon as she shut the bedroom door, I let out a huge sigh. How in the hell did Degna think I was going to do this. I mean this was all her damn idea to begin with. First she tells me it’s too dangerous to go back to the house and then she wants me to go back there. Not only that but I had to pretend to be someone I wasn’t: me, well ok the fake me. This was getting really complicated. Only yesterday---well yesterday for me---I was a normal 19-year-old college freshmen and today I’m some sexed up, drop dead gorgeous vamp babe who had her mind wiped, her personality replaced and who apparently can see and hear ghosts. Two things were totally wrong with all of that of course. The first being I didn’t actually know if I was hot or not because I haven’t taken a look in a mirror.

The second being the whole ghost thing of course.

The last time I saw Degna she was trying to get me to leave this very same house. It was Halloween night, Steve and I got roped into going to a party at the sorority. One thing led to another and somehow I ended in a room with Degna. The original plan was her turning me into a vampire, the girl that I was currently but she flaked. She decided I was better off being me and I wanted to get me as far away from this place as she could. Her plan backfired though when Wisteria---Queen Vampire Bitch---busted into the room and staked her. Degna turned to dust right before my eyes and the last thing I could remember was Wisteria straddling me. The next thing I knew everything was dark and I couldn’t figure out where I was. When I finally gained control of myself, my good buddy Steve was trying to slice my throat.

Where does Degna play into all of this? Well she’s dead now, well more dead than before. She’s a ghost I guess. You see vamps have powers and apparently, mine has something to do with seeing ghosts. So out of all the cool powers and I get to see Dead People. Degna had apparently been following the new me around for days, trying to reach her. She had nearly given up when I saw her in the park tonight. I think I was a bit freaked, I mean the girl did die in front of me. When she figured out that I was now in control, I’m not sure who was happier. After our quick reunion, she got a bit frantic. She threw a lot of info at me before making sure I went back to the sorority.

Easier said than done.

I made my way to the bathroom. Well what I hoped was the bathroom. I checked the doors in the hall, twisting the knobs. Most of them were locked. When I got to the fourth door and turned, it opened. I found the switch and flicked on the light. I didn’t even flinch from the dark to light transition. How cool is that? I slipped into the bathroom quickly, closing and locking the door behind me. I found myself staring at the pristine white room, amazed that there wasn’t blood all over the place or that it wasn’t decorated like something out of Friday the 13th. Then again, the whole house looked particularly normal. It didn’t look at all like a den of vampires. Not that I knew what one of those actually looked like.

I found myself wandering into the room, heading right to the mirror actually. What I saw reflected back at me was a bit of a shock. First of all shock because I thought vampires had no reflection and secondly, there a gorgeous older version of my sister staring back at me. Ok so my hair was longer and darker than hers, my skin a few shades paler and my eyes a pale, piercing blue, but I was definitely my sister. I turned my head left and right, amazed at how much I looked like her now. I felt a bit sad too because now every time I looked in the mirror I was going to be reminded that I could never go home again. I sighed heavily, finally turning away.

Someone knocked gently on the door.

“Katie you in there?”

“Yeah” I said, leaving out a name because I had no idea who was on the other side. “Just going to take a shower.”

“You got like twenty minutes before breakfast.”

“Ok” I said, trying to sound enthusiastic about it.

I couldn’t help but feel a little sick to my stomach actually. The thought of drinking blood made me want to hurl. Degna said I needed to pretend to be Katie whenever I was around the girls from the house but I’m not sure how I was ever going to pull it off. The sight of blood made me want to faint. The thought of drinking it, well that was a whole new bag of sick. Whoever thought I’d make a good vampire apparently didn’t do their research very well because they definitely picked the wrong guy for the job. The only one who apparently saw it was Degna and what did that get her. I shuddered just thinking about it.

I stripped out of the nightie as quick as I could. I tried not to peek. After all the only naked women I’d ever seen were in the movies. I closed my eyes as I turned on the shower and stepped inside. I prepared myself for that first moment you stepped into the shower. You know the one where the hot water hits your skin and you flinch. Well it never happened. The shock of it never happening made me open my eyes in surprise and I finally got a good look down. I got the second shock of the morning at the sight of them. They were huge, at least a C cup and very firm. I know its clichéd but I actually cupped both of them, surprised at how heavy they were. Ok so maybe I’m not quite like my sister after all---she was barely a B.

After getting over that initial shock, seeing my new body didn’t really phase me anymore. I showered as quick as I could, washing off all the grim and sweat. It’s funny now that I think about it. I knew when I woke up what had caused me to sweat and snap awake so suddenly but I’ll be damned if I remembered It now. I think it had something to do with all that time in the Void but I wasn’t sure. All I knew was that it felt good to wake up again and I definitely didn’t want to be sleeping away any more of my life.

I only spent about ten minutes in the shower before finding a towel in the linen closet and wrapping it around my body. I did all of it as if on autopilot. I think I’d seen women do it like a hundred times in the movies. I picked up my nightgown and slowly made my way back down the hall. When I got to my room, Charlotte had the light on and was waiting for me. I was surprised to see her awake. She smiled as I entered.

“That was a quick sleep,” I said, trying to find something to say.

She gave me a strange look. “I don’t sleep as much as the others, you know that. Besides I’m supposed to keep a schedule with you….You’re my Sis for the next month or so.”

I think Degna mentioned something about that. Charlotte was Katie’s----I mean---my Mentor. She was supposed to keep an eye on me while I made the transition. Charlotte would be my roomie and resident guide into the life of the vampire for as long as she deemed it necessary. Which was going to make things really difficult considering the mission I had.

“Sorry just a bit in a fog this morning” I said as I walked over to my bed and sat on the corner of it.

My side of the room was fairly bare. I guess Katie wasn’t one for expressing herself through decoration. There was a bed, a dresser and a desk. There were some basic things strewn about, but there was no personality in any of it. Wisteria must not have put that into her programming. Whoever this Katie was---whoever I was pretending to be---I really was starting to hate her. I’m not sure I could do this for a single day, let alone however long it took for me to finish here.

“You ok Sunshine? You’re a bit off today.”

I frowned. “A bit tired actually. I was thinking about just taking the day off, laying low you know. Maybe loaf around here or go for a walk. Something like that.”

“Sure we can do that.”

I bit my lip. “Is there any way I can do that alone?”

Charlotte gave me another strange look before frowning. “You sure you’re going to be ok on your own?”

I laughed. “I’m not a pyromaniac; I’m not going to burn anything down.”

Charlotte laughed. “You’d be surprised. You still don’t know what your thing is so you might just be one. I know this girl…” Her voice kind of trailed off. “Well, never mind that actually.” She smiled and nodded. “I think I can give you a day or so just as long as you don’t let anyone else know.”

I smiled. “Are you referring to a certain vampire who shall remain nameless?”

She nodded. “A smart one you are.”

I don’t think that was going to be a problem. The further I stayed away from Wisteria, the better.

Charlotte gave me a quick hug, not minding that I was all wet. “You stick around here for a bit. I’ll tell the others you’re not feeling well and then you can sneak out after they’ve gone to class.”

She left the room after that. I waited a minute or two before getting up and going over to the dresser. The top drawer had all her intimates. Most of it was some of the skimpiest stuff I’d ever seen. It was all pretty slutty, too. I’m not sure why girls insisted on wearing thongs, they looked so damn uncomfortable to me. Finally, in the back of the drawer I found a pair of panties that looked wearable. I slipped them on before finding a bra that matched. I went through the other drawers hoping to find something partially wearable. I found a pair of skinny jeans and a tank top. The rest of her clothes I wanted to burn. I’m not sure how anyone could think any of that was college appropriate. What the hell kind of person did Wisteria turn me into?

After dressing in shirt and jeans, I went to the closet hoping to find something appropriate for the middle of November. Thankfully, I found a nice gray hoodie. I guess even slutty Goth Katie had a comfortable side too. I pulled it on and waited. I decided an hour was enough time before I took a chance to escape. I thought about going out the window but that might have been a bit drastic. Instead, I crept out into the hall and slowly made my way toward the stairs. I took a peek down making sure there was no one around. When the coast was clear, I made a mad break for the front door. I felt like a spy the whole way, I didn’t feel safe until I was outside and on the sidewalk. I started away from the house at a brisk walk, my heeled boots tapping on the pavement as I went.

I looked toward the college, finding my old dorm building amongst the others. Last night Degna and I promised to meet there. Hopefully she had a couple of answers for the questions currently dancing about in my head.

I wandered the campus for hours looking for Degna. I actually walked by my old dorm building several times in hopes of finding her. I felt a little weird about the whole thing though. Here I was a former boy turned girl looking for a former vampire turned ghost. I couldn’t help but feel like I was being watched, too. Everywhere I walked, I scanned the faces of people I walked by, hoping that one of them didn’t suddenly jump on me out of excitement or something. Hey, if I could see ghost Degna then it stands to reason that there are other ghosts out there that I might be able to see. There was this one movie a few years ago about this dentist who could suddenly see ghosts and when the ghosts realized it, they started to pester him nonstop. I definitely didn’t want to be that guy. So as hard as I tried, I made it a habit not to look directly at people just in case.

At noon or so, I found myself back at the Student Center. It was a large modern looking building, probably built in the last couple of years or so. It was pretty standard looking as far as newer buildings went. It stuck out a little bit around here though. A lot of campus buildings were on the older side, especially the old manor house that was now the administration building. It once belonged to the guy who built this town apparently. I’d only been in the place once or twice and to tell you the truth it kind of gave me the creeps.

I started walking to the Center. There was this little food court inside that I used to hang out at with Steve. We even had our own table. I longed for that table now, wondering if Steve sat there without me. As I was walking toward the center, I couldn’t help but take a strange look at the fountain in the middle of things. There were a bunch of animals on it, which always seemed pretty damn strange to me. I was paying too much attention to the fountain and not enough to where I was going. Which sadly didn’t work out in my favor when I nearly ran over this girl. It’s not like she was paying much attention either. She was sitting on one of the benches nearby, lost in thought. Strangely, she was one of these girls that was hard to miss what with her bright red braid locks and alternative look.

Suffice to say she didn’t see me either.

“Crap, I’m sorry,” I said, after untangling myself from her.

My face got dangerously close to hers as I pulled away. For a split second, my mouth was an inch from her neck. I felt this sudden urge, this drive. I flinched, pulling away quickly.

“You ok?” she asked. “I don’t smell or something, right?”

I laughed. “No, its not you, its me. Got a bit of personal space issue is all.”

This time she laughed. “I have a roommate like that. Well had one actually. That’s the excuse she used when she transferred rooms. Between you and me, I think she didn’t like the smell.”

I gave her a funny look. The only think I could smell on her was cigarettes.

“She not a smoker?”

“Wow good nose” she said, setting aside the book she had been reading. “I haven’t had one in a couple of days.”

I shrugged. “It’s only slightly there.”

It was a lie of course. I could smell it all over her. I couldn’t help but wonder if it was one of those freaky vamp powers Degna briefly mentioned last night. Besides super senses, I was supposed to be stronger and faster than Norms. In case you’re wondering, Norms are regular. Who knew Vamps had a name for their food.

“I’m Scarlet by the way,” said the girl, who seemed surprisingly friendly for someone who was dressed like her.

I was supposed to say my name was Katie but somehow it came out wrong. “I’m Ky…lie.”

Hey, that’s partly right. Carmilla called me that last night after all. Somehow it fit now. It was definitely better than calling myself Katie. I wanted nothing to do with her. Scarlet wasn’t one of the Sisters so there was no need to pretend with her.

“You sure about that” she asked, giving me a funny look. “You looked a little hesitant there for a sec.”

I laughed. “Just getting used to it.”

“Your own name?”

“No” I said, thinking up a quick lie. “Its just back home I didn’t have a lot of friends, so there was not a lot of chances to introduce myself.”

Scarlet laughed. “Bizarre….I like bizarre. I think you and I can be friends.”

I smiled. As strange as this was, I didn’t think that would be such a bad idea. Scarlet invited me to sit with her on the bench which I had no problem doing. It’s not like I could find Degna anyway. I noticed a sticker for a band I liked on her folder and somehow the two of us got talking about it. It was cool that she was into that whole indie punk band scene. She and I were kindred spirits. It kind of sucked that I couldn’t have met her as Kyle. I think after some time the two of us might have been able to be something. As it was now, I’m not even sure which way I swung anymore. I tried to think about Steve then tried to think of him in the way that a girl would think. Sure, he was kind of easy on the eyes but I kind of thought that before. I guess I’ve always been a little bi-curious. I definitely had a thing for Degna and Scarlet was nice to look at, too.

We talked a bit more about music. That’s when a big smile crossed her face. “Hey you ever been to The Pit?”

The name sounded vaguely familiar but I shook my head.

“You don’t know what you’re missing,” she said, enthusiastically. “It’s this really bitching nightclub here in town…well the only one actually. Anyway my band is playing there this weekend and it would be really cool if you could come.”

“I would love to” I gushed.

She smiled, her face turning a couple shades lighter than her hair before she turned her head away and rummaged in her bag. She pulled out a green flyer, handing it to me. I looked at the name on it---The Poison Tongues---it sounded really cool.

“What do you play?”

“Lead guitar” she said smiling.

Hot and she played the guitar…I must be in Heaven.

We talked a bit more about her band before she had to go. She had a class in about fifteen minutes and it was on the other side of the campus. She gave me her cell number; I told her I’d give her mine as soon as I got one. Then we parted ways. I couldn’t help but watch her go. Hey I have a thing for girls in short skirts and fishnets. As I watched her walk away, I finally caught sight of a certain specter. She must have caught sight of me too because she waved. It would have been a perfectly normal greeting except a second later, some guy walked through her. It was the strangest thing I’d ever seen and cemented the fact that nothing about my life was going to be the same ever again.

“So you’re working for Carmilla now?” she asked as soon as we finally got settled.

We both decided talking at the college probably wasn’t the best idea in the world. So Degna led me to this nice secluded spot by the lake. It a quiet place where one could come and talk. It was away from everything too, which was a real plus. Walking there was a bit of a hassle but I soon discovered as a vampire I no longer got tired. I also no longer got cold which was plus considering how cold it appeared to be out. We found this nice spot under a large maple; I looked around to make sure there was no one about before I started to talk. Hey, I’m still new at this whole “my friend is a ghost” thing.

“How did you know that?” I asked.

She smiled real big. “I talked to Mother today!”

I was floored. “How is that even possible? I mean I thought no one else could see you?”

“It’s my ability actually. When I was alive….well more alive than now….I could transfer my consciousness into other people.”

“Oh like Ino from Naruto”

She smiled, nodding. “Something like that.”

Degna was cool like that. I dropped a nerd reference and she got it instantly. If only things had turned out differently.

She quickly explained her gift after that. Then she went on to explain her conversation with her Mother. I was kind of surprised that Carmilla took it all so well. Then again, she seemed like the kind of person that wouldn’t be fazed by something like that. When she was finished with her explanation, I started in with my questions. She was all for answering them at first, but she eventually started trying to steer the conversation to Wisteria and how we were going to go about Carmilla’s mission.

The mission was the last thing on my mind though.

“How important is it?”

“You’re kidding right?” she asked, I shrugged. She groaned. “She’s a tyrant. I know you haven’t known her for very long but trust me when I say this….she’s bad news. I mean besides staking me, she’s done some pretty nasty stuff over the last hundred years or so. I'm honestly surprised she didn't kill me sooner.”

“A hundred years? How old is she anyway?”

Degna shrugged. “Over three hundred at least.”

Damn. She looked maybe twenty-one, twenty-two tops.

“That’s beside the point,” Degna continued. “She’s seriously crazy. She needs to be stopped. You don’t realize how important you are right now. You’re an insider in all of this. You’re someone who hasn’t been fully put under her influence and you can move about amongst her Girls without drawing suspicion. You’re the perfect person for the job.”

Only problem was I’m not sure I wanted it. Sure, I agreed to help Carmilla when she told me about it last night but I was still a bit confused. I was also a bit afraid. Carmilla was just as scary as Wisteria. As far as I knew, both of them needed to be staked. I thought a bit about it last night after I left Carmilla’s room. I knew the kind of situation that was going on here. Carmilla told me all about their curse and what not. I felt pretty bad for all the girls here but it really didn’t concern me. Sure it was something that affected me but I wasn’t really one of them. I’ve only been a vampire for a few weeks, hell only truly myself in the last twenty four hours or so. Whatever crap going on here has been going on for decades now.

I’m not sure I wanted anything to do with any of it.

Degna seemed to detect my reluctance. “Why don’t you sleep on it for a day or two, let it sink in. Get to know your Mother and Sisters a bit. When you’re done being horrified then you and I can start our mission.”

“Horrified? Charlotte seems really nice.”

Degna nodded. “She’s the only one.”

Why didn’t that sound very comforting?

We sat under the tree for a little while longer but there wasn’t much else to say. I tried asking her some more vampire questions but it was clear her heart just wasn’t into it anymore. I think she was a little annoyed at me because I didn’t immediately jump into the fray and join the War. After another twenty minutes or so of silent awkwardness, I decided it was time I headed back.

“I definitely don’t want them coming here looking for me.”

She nodded. “Tomorrow, meet me in this very same spot?”

I nodded. “I’ll be here.”

She smiled. It was a sad smile, one of longing and hope. I felt kind of bad as I walked away. Degna had given everything to help me and all I gave in return was disappointment. I vowed then and there to try my hardest to see what she saw, to really find out the truth behind my new Family. If anything, I’d do it for her.

Author’s note: As I’m sure all of you know, comments are life blood to an author. I’m not begging or demanding, but I certainly would appreciate anything you have to say (or ask). It doesn’t have to be long and involved, just give me your reaction to the story. Thanks in advance...EOF