Night part 1

Before

I heard stories about the Night family, in the orphanage. Not really stories though, rumors. Whispers of vampires, wizards, and ghosts. But all we really knew, we heard from the adults: they were “nice people”. Mr. and Mrs. Night moved into a large, gated house four years ago. They also traveled around the world each year adopting some very… well… strange children.

Chapter 1: Adoption

                It was a happy day when one of the girls at Miss Anne’s Orphanage for Girls was adopted. It was true that we would miss them but we were all happy to watch them leave with a family of their own, to a home of their own. On that day all that could be seen were smiles and the dancing figures of all the other girls all around. It’s what we expected. What I expected.

                The moment I walked out the door, I saw them. They looked nice enough but I was still frightened half to death. They were in the sun so: vampires. They were defiantly solid: ghosts.  They weren’t overly hairy: werewolves.  Ok. It was settled. They’re wizards. That’s not so bad. I think.

                My friends whispered to me as I received shaking hugs.

                “I love you Ro.”

                “I’ll miss you Rose.”

                “Good luck.”

                “Have faith Rose.”

                “Goodbye Ro-ro.”

                I wasn’t sure what would happen to me. I was so afraid but what could I do. I climbed into the cab with them and watched my sisters fade into the distance.

*          *          *

                As we pulled up to the house, I was scared. When I got inside, I was shocked. I walked into a beautifully lit entry hall. The walls were painted a creamy, pail peach. Over our heads were three gorgeous, crystal chandeliers shining brightly. It wasn’t anything like the monster caves, wizard lairs, or haunted houses in the movies. It wasn’t scary at all.

                “Come into the sitting room,” Mrs. Night told me, “The other children should be in soon…” Just then Mr. Night put a hand on her shoulder and whispered, “What about Mara?”

                “Oh yes. Change of plans, Emily. I’ll take you to your room and they’ll meet you there.”

Chapter 2: Meeting

                My room was clean, black, and had two beds. Great. I was going to share a room with one of the creepy Night children. I looked towards the door. Shit. What was I going to say? A noise from the direction of the bed effectively ended my thoughts. When I looked over I saw a girl about my age sitting and smiling.

                “Haaaay.”

                “Um, hello.”

                “My name is Chai, like the tea,” and then, to my surprise, tea appeared in her hand. “Like some?”

                “N-no th-th-thanks.”

                “I guess that’s best. It’s not real anyway,” She smirked and the tea disappeared, “But then again, I might not be either.” With that she too disappeared.

                “Chai! Y’all be nice to the lil’ lady. She new here!” This voice came from a freckled red head behind me, “Y’all scare the poor child.”

                “Jane, you are scaring the poor child.” Oh great, another one. I turned around and was shocked to see the most beautiful person in the world. He was tall with pail skin and green eyes. Then came the crying. Jane was whimpering like a hurt dog.

                “I-I don’t mean to! I’m s-sorry!” I just stood there watching her cry.

                “Um, It’s ok Jane,” I tried to pat her gently on the shoulder, “You didn’t frighten me.”

 But she wouldn’t listen. She just stormed out of the room crying.

                “Nice job, very… friendly. Don’t mind her. I’m Damian.” He reached out his hand but as soon as I touched the cold skin I flinched and he dropped it, and his gaze.

                “I’m Rose,” then I held out my hand. He looked at it, at me, and back at it. Then, with great hesitation, he shook my hand and was almost surprised that I didn’t pull away.

                “She doesn’t look like one of us,” said a blond standing in the doorway.

                “Neither did you, Em.”

                “Yes but I am one of us. But her? She looks human!”

                “Emily, I know you are blond but at least try to act smart. She is human.”

                Emily gasped, “EW!  And you touched it!”

                “You must get over your distain, hypocrite. She’s our sister now.”

                “Uh-uh,” and with that she walked away.

                I sat down on the bed and started counting.  One, two, three, four… I shot Damian a worried look. He nodded.

                “More?!”

                “Yep. Nine more.” My eyes widened.

                “Like her?”

                He laughed, “Oh no. Emily is unique in her own bitchy way.”

                This made me relax a bit. “What are you guys?”

                Smiling he said, “I knew you’d ask.”

                “So?”

                “Here.” He handed me a roll of paper. “It helped me when I came. It goes oldest to youngest and lists name, age, and what they are.”

“Thank you! But… um…”

“Now you have more questions.”

“Yep.”

“Ok, I’m all ears. What ya want to know?” I giggled at his bad grammar.

“Ok, first on the list,” I pointed at the two strangely similar names, “What’s the deal with them?”
“Oh, Jack and John. Let’s see… Twin nineteen year old werewolves, they were the 5^th ones to be adopted. Their original names were Norman and Kenny Lucas; they changed them almost two days after they were here.” He looked at me obviously waiting for another question.

“Um… don’t take this the wrong way but,” I looked at him and he gestured for me to go on, “What is Emily’s problem? I mean what the hell.”

“I know what you mean but I don’t know the answer to that one. Next.”

“Ok then. Who is Mara?” he flinched at her name and looked at his hands.

“We don’t talk about her. No one…”he bit his lip ring but kept his face down, “no one knows much about her.”

“Ya right.  You’re a nice guy but, I won’t take any crap.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Bull Shit. Common I want to know!”

“She’s…” he looked at me and held my gaze, “She’s their daughter.”

Chapter 3: Mara

“What?”

“She’s the real Night child.”

“Why don’t you talk about her?”

“Nobody’s seen her in years. Not even Morgan and Kristof.”

“Who?”
“Mr. and Mrs. Night!”

“How is that even possible? She’s their daughter. Did she just disappear? What?”

“I don’t think so. Chai said she thinks she’s seen her late at night. Sneaking around, hiding, and just watching us sleep.”

“Wait. Chai is?”

“Ghost girl who offered you the spirit tea.”

“Oooh. Ok go on.”

“That’s it.”

“What do you mean, that’s it?”

“That’s the only proof we have she is still here.” I held up a hand.

“Question.”

“Answer?”

“What’s wrong with me being alone? What’s the problem with me being here?”

He shrugged, “Kristof doesn’t want to upset his little girl.”

“Then why am I here?”

“She’s … well…”

“What? She is…?”

“Human ok! My baby sister is human.”

“Wait. Sister?” I looked back at the list. Damian Night, 17, Vampire. “But that means that you- and they-and she-and… Ok, now I’m confused.”

“I explain. I’m a vampire, Morgan is a witch, Kristof is a vampire, and Mara is… is… human. Somehow.”

“But why am I here?”

“Mom wanted Mara to have someone to talk to, someone like her.”

“That’s not going to work if she never has a chance to come and meet me.” He looked at me at the other bed and then back at his hands.

“What?!”

“I wasn’t going to tell you yet.”

“No. Tell me now.”

“This is her room.”

“What, but-“

“Look at the time, gotta go. Bye,” and with that he ran out.

Chapter 4: Dinner-ish

                I don’t know how long I slept before I heard a knock on the door, the whole time it was like someone was watching me.

                “Hello?” Jane floated in with a shear cloth draped over her bright blue and green dress. It looked like water elegantly flowed around her each time she moved.

                “Hay Jane.”

                “Wow,” she said as she closed the door, but she wasn’t looking at me. She was looking at the other bed. “Would ya look at that?” she looked back at me. “Did ya see ‘er?”

                “Did I see who?”

                “Lil’ miss Mara?”

                “No. Why would you say that?”

                “Why just take a look here,” Jane pointed at a small square of paper on the other bed.

It read,

“What does that mean?”

        “How’s I sposta’ know?” she frowned and read it again. “That sign.”

        “What about it?”

        “I’ve seen it before.” She turned her head and mist began to swirl around her ankles. “What’s happening?” I asked but she was in a trance. The mist turned to fog that began to fill the room. “Hello?”

It was useless. She just stared into space and then she started to cry.

“Um, Jane?” no answer. “Jane? Can you hear me? Jane, what’s wrong?”

“Jane?!” a guy’s voice came from the other side of the door, and it wasn’t Damian’s.

“Jane? It’s not a good time!” this second voice was so similar that I could almost swear it came from the same person.

“Jane, why are you in Mara’s room?”

“You know they don’t like anyone goin’ in there.”

“What’s she doing in there, John?”

“How should I know?”

“I don’t know. Ask her!”

“JANE!”

“No you idiot. Go in.”

“Ok fine,” just then the door opened and two cute and almost completely identical guys walked in.

“Wow.” They were staring at me in a way that made me want to disappear into the walls.

“Hi.” I was so pitiful. My voice was only a few levels above a whisper. Jane gave a cry and, for the second time today, stormed out of the room. I stared after her and they continued to stare at me.

“Why hello there.”

“When did you get here?” I was seriously uncomfortable but there was no way to escape the conversation that was undoubtedly ahead of us.

“Today.”

“Really? So what’s your name, babe?” Babe. Really? Babe? I looked back at the list of Night children.

“Werewolves.” I mumbled it under my breath.

“Oh,” the one I thought was named Jack looked at the paper, “You met Damian.”

I smiled, “Ya.”

“What secrets did he spill to ya?” said John.

“Secrets?”

“Ya. What the hell did-”

Jack elbowed him in the side, “I’m sorry for him. Oh, where are my manners?” he took my hand and gave it a kiss.  “I’m Jack.” I snatched my hand back and John laughed.

“She sure doesn’t like you.”

“Shut up.”

“I’m Jack.” He held out his hand. I looked at it but didn’t shake.

“Rose.”

“Rose. That’s my favorite flower. So beautiful.”

“I’m sure it is,” like I hadn’t heard that before.

John laughed, “Seems like she’s not so hot about you either.”

“So it seems.”

 I couldn’t see the conversation going anywhere and I wasn’t sure I wanted it to. “Can you leave now?”

“Oh.”

“The human wants us to leave.” Human. I knew this was going to come up.

“Yes. The human wants you to leave. Both of you. And the human also wants you freaks to leave my life, and this human never wanted to come to this damn hell hole but I don’t have a choice. So yes. Get out because the human says so.” I walked over, to them and they backed up I then slammed the door shut. “So much for dinner.” I said to my self.

Chapter 5: A Long Night

I wasn't hungry. The excitment of the day was enough to wear me out. I slept, but not for long.

The sound of howls, wich i expect were the twins, keept me up most of the night. i also couldnt stop thinking about Damian.

He had stormed out so suddenly that i hardly saw the door close behind him, vampire speed i would guess.

i had to fing answers and since no one was giving them to me, i would just have to find them myself.

My door opened with an eary creak. the kind you hear in horrer movies. i shook that thought from my head and set out. ith was going to be a long night...