Chapter 6:

“Violet,”

I stood tense and petrified in front of William.

“Don’t do anything, okay?” he said, gently lifting the scarf. What was he doing? He was going to see the vaccination mark pretty soon and I was here standing dumbly. It was just when he said, ‘don’t move’, I felt really calm and my body relaxed.
I was surprised when he had placed my scarf back onto my shoulders and he was just there, staring at his palm. I looked over his shoulders and my heartbeat slowed down and I felt relieved. He hadn’t seen the mark.
Instead, he had on his hand a bright ladybug which was walking on his palm slowly. The red ladybug was seen easily on my black wool scarf and he had spotted it when my scarf fell, therefore distracting him from the vaccine mark.

“I thought you would’ve been scared if I told you so I didn’t mention it,” he said looking at me with a smile.
“I’m not afraid of ladybugs,” I said which made him give a low chuckle. I took the ladybug gently and placed it on the windowsill. It flew away after a few moments, glad to be back into the outside world.
I grabbed my books from the floor and glanced at my watch.
“Really,” I said “thanks for your help but I can make it home, safely.”
“See you tomorrow, I guess.” William said, giving a small shrug.

I nodded, making my way out the door, thinking how close it was for William to find about my secret and I told myself I had to take more precautions.
“Violet,” William called out and I stopped to look at him.
“I’d really like it if you could come,” he said and I gave him a small smile before walking away.
My defences were really giving in and it won’t be long before he would realize. What would happen if he were to know? Would he accept me for who I am, after I had deceived him?
Who in the world would ever trust the person who had deceived them for a long time?
As I neared the school gates, I saw a familiar figure waiting outside. It was Chrissie, the child that I have met the night before. She turned around in realization that someone was coming.
“Wil-” she stopped her call when she realized it wasn’t William but only me. She had never met my real form so she wouldn’t know me. I walked past her slowly as she stared at me.
“Eliza!” she said.
I stopped, shocked and I glanced at her, trying to close any surprise or shock showing on my face.
“Eliza?” I asked. “Sorry, I don’t know who you are talking about.”
“No,” she said, take hold of my arm as I started on my way again. “You are Eliza, in human form!”
I stopped as I heard the seriousness in her voice. She was determined to tell me that she knew I was Eliza.
“Come with me,” I said and she nodded.

We walked in silence as I brought her to a small café where I usually go. I chose in the back so we wouldn’t be seen through the transparent windows outside.
We ordered something and while we waited, I looked at her.
“How did you know?” I asked her.
“Well,” she looked up at the ceiling as she thought for a while then she returned her gaze to me “I thought you were someone else but I felt like I have seen you before and you really reminded me of someone. Then I saw that you really looked like Eliza. I really know that you are Eliza. My heart tells me you are!”
I laughed softly as I sipped my tea after the order had arrived. Chrissie was really a child that knew how to follow her heart. She was still so innocent.

“It doesn’t matter,” Chrissie said, “Even if you are a vampire, I still like you!”

“William doesn’t know,” I told her “So, it would be better if I was the one to tell him one day. So please, don’t tell William.”
“You said you were going to pick me up today,” Chrissie said, munching on her muffin.
“I am,” I smiled at her “but Professor doesn’t know and I can’t take you now. William and the others might worry. How are they treating you in the SSS?”
“They are fun!” Chrissie exclaimed “They play with me everyday. I like Rob the best. We always play together.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” I said, drinking my tea steadily.
“But I still like to live with you the best, that’s why I will be waiting!” she told me, her face full of determination.
I grabbed a piece of paper from my bag and I wrote on it, the meeting place and time.

“William already talked to my aunt. He came back really mad but he got my things,” Chrissie said while I wrote. I stopped and glanced up.

“Why was he mad?” I questioned.

“I don’t know,” Chrissie said, finishing her muffin and drinking her juice. “He told me not to worry because you were going to take care of me.”
I smiled at her and nodded. I then gave her the piece of paper and told her to hand it in to William.
“The elders in the house are worried about you taking me in,” Chrissie suddenly said. I said nothing.
“But,” she continued. “William and Rob told them that you were a good person and they trusted you. So do I!”
I could do nothing at that point but smile sadly at her. She had a simple mind, but in my side it was complicated. The elders were right that it wasn’t safe to trust a vampire but I was lying to William and Robbie. I couldn’t be trusted because I was already lying to them. They trust me so much that the guilt created a deep sting in my heart.

“We need to go,” I said glancing at the time “William must be worried.”
She nodded and I paid for the order. We separated ways and I returned home.

Ë

“Elizabeth Violet Terrison!”
I bowed my head, ready for professor’s chastisement. He was going to give me a long one and I was prepared for it.

“This house is not an orphanage! You can’t just go taking in kids you like!’ he scolded. “There are many complications! The SSS might need to know where that kid is so they can monitor her and you are going to the same school as one of their members. It is risky to you! What if your real identity were to be revealed? You might need to go into hiding and we might need to move! Elizabeth, listen to me, I am just worried!”

I looked up, feeling sheepish but resolute in having Chrissie stay with us.

“Professor I know that,” I said calmly “Please listen to me. They won’t need to monitor her and I trust Chrissie. She will never do anything to harm me. More to the point, Chrissie already figured out my ‘true’ form” I made sure to emphasize the word ‘true’ by making quotation marks in the air.
Professor looked surprised.

“How in the world…?” Professor asked.
“I’m not sure,” I told him “but she saw my real form earlier and she was sure that I was really Elizabeth.”
“Well,” he said after thinking for a while. “Perhaps you can bring her here. I need to observe how she had seen your true form and was able to tell your vampire form from it.”
I grinned and nodded, setting off.

I transformed into my vampire form and went off quickly to fetch Chrissie from the SSS.

‘Meet me in the Cemetery nearby the ‘Freedom’ statue at 8 p.m.’

I had written on the paper that I had given to Chrissie to deliver and I arrived exactly at 8 p.m. The Freedom statue was a small statue in the middle of the cemetery in which an angel was holding a white rose, which means, purity. Meaning that the spirits buried here will be purified and free to move on after death. I glanced at the statue and I realized there were flowers on it, black roses. They were healthy but they were black.
“I experimented on those,” William said, appearing. “I think I’ll make them signify, ‘beauty and purity inside an iniquity’”
“I see,” I said. “So, how long have you been waiting?”
“Oh, not very long” he replied.
“Eliza!” Robbie cried happily, appearing from behind a monument with Chrissie.
I gave a nodded with a grin as I ruffled his hair.

William cleared his throat.
“Can you both stay here for a while?” William said. “I’ll have a quick talk with Eliza”
They nodded and sat down in a nearby bench as I followed William out of earshot. Here we were again alone, save for the fact that William thinks I’m someone else.
“I have little time to waste,” I said as we halted “Go on with what you what to talk to me about.”
William turned to face me and I realized there was revulsion in his eyes. Was it me? Did he find out? I mentally slapped myself. I’ll worry on what to do after he finds out. Now, I can’t risk being so paranoid.

“I went to Chrissie’s house to fetch her stuff and I was taken aback with her aunt. That old hag had never even thought of finding Chrissie and she even told me, ‘It’s a shame for that brat to have survived.’” He started.
This as well, took me aback. I hadn’t expected that her aunt would be such a cruel woman with such a cold heart.
“So,” he continued. “I beg of you, take care of Chrissie like she’s your sister. Robbie and I trust you the most.”
I nodded.
“Is this all you wanted to tell me?” I asked.
“No,” William said. “There is one more thing.”
“What is it?”
“We have investigated Chrissie’s background and we found out that her parents are dead. She knows that her parents died due to an illness. However, this is a false belief that her aunt placed onto her head. Chrissie parents were, in fact, one of the most greatest vampire hunter duos in history. She had possessed their talent. That’s why the SSS was thinking of having her join when she’s old enough.”
“That will be up to her to decide,” I told him and this might’ve been why she had recognized me.
“We just want you to know that. Take good care of Chrissie,” he said yet again.
“I will,” I told him. “Don’t worry, tell the elders in The SSS not to worry either. It’s not like I’ll attack her or anything.”
“That’s great to hear,” William said smiling. I averted my eyes to keep my heart from skipping any more beats. Why can’t I just have split personalities so I wouldn’t have a hard time talking to William as a vampire?

We went back to Rob and Chrissie.

They all exchanged hugs as they parted and Chrissie came with me.
“Eliza, may I ask you one thing before you leave?” William asked.
I turned around.
“Is it possible you can turn back into a human as you wished?” he asked. Chrissie looked surprised. She hadn’t told him anything.
I shrugged.

“That’s for me to know and for you to find out,” I replied as we went on ahead.

But please don’t find out too soon

These were the words that ran across my mind as Chrissie and I made our way back to the house.

“Let the games begin”
- Lightning

Chapter 5

‘I’m sorry William’ I said, not being able to control it any longer.
I was crawling to him, and he was beckoning me. This was much more than I could handle.

‘Eliza!’ I stopped as I heard a familiar voice in my head. What was happening?

‘You monster!’

‘My name’s William’
‘Violet! Nice to meet you! I’m Cornelia, this is James’

Words that I have heard in the past swirled in my head. I was listening to them but I couldn’t make them out. They were telling me something I couldn’t figure out. They weren’t helping me at all. I tried to stand up only my body wasn’t listening to my brain. My body and brain was in conflict. The brain belonged to the human while the body belonged to the vampire.

‘Big sister, can you tell me mom’s stories?’

Hearing my sister’s voice again woke me up. It was like waking up from a nightmare. My sister’s voice, which I thought I would never hear again.

That’s right. I’m Elizabeth…I’m not letting myself fall prey into these blood-sucking monster’s needs. I shall be myself and who I am not what I hate. I will control my life.

I stopped, gasping. The syringe! I had forgotten that I had placed it in my back pocket.
Reaching back weakly, I pulled out the syringe that professor had given me.

“Eliza,” William said reaching out “what are you doing?”
I stabbed the syringe in my neck, the pain nearly throwing me backwards.
“I said it before,” I gasped, standing up weakly. “And I’ll say it again, I’ll NEVER become one of these monsters.”

They stared, astonished as if they had seen a dead person being resurrected.
“I have to leave,” I said. “I’ll be back for Chrissie tomorrow.”

“Eliza!” William said, grabbing my hand. “Why do you hate the vampire race so much?”
I looked at him in his blue eyes.
“Because,” I told him, my voice bitter and icy but low so that only he can hear what I was saying “They threw me into hell. They turned my life upside down and plan to make my living days a misery. I would have even killed myself but due to the fact that I’m hunting the vampire that turned me, I have that one reason to live. ”

I jerked my hand away and took off, back into the perplexing route, that brought me back into the house. I saw professor sitting on his favourite armchair, asleep.

He had been waiting for me to come home. I tired not to make too much noise but I was to weak to even have the skill to walk with silence. Professor stirred awake from his sleep and gazed at me.
“Elizabeth?” he asked. I looked at him, then in a blur, I couldn’t hold out my emotions and I cried to him, telling him about hearing my sister’s voice again.
He patted my head and hushed me, treating me for once like his own daughter. He ran his hand through my jet-black hair and I fell asleep, crying my heart out.

Ë

The next morning, I felt myself try to move but my body was in extreme pain. Nevertheless, I still tried to get up.
I took small piece of paper and wrote on it, a simple thank you message to professor. Then, I went to school. Just because I feel sick doesn’t mean I should stay home. If I always stay home, I’ll be missing at least half a term of school due to the vampire side effects, especially from ‘the hunger’. See, when I have any vampire fights, my body may not be of a normal human that would not be weak so easily. Still, it needs a period of repairing damaged muscles and attaining energy. So, it’s a massive pain to wake up, or even move, the next day when my body hasn’t fully recovered yet.

When I reached school, I didn’t see James or Lila so I took my sweet time going to the classroom. Well, that is I never managed to get to my classroom because the only person I didn’t want to see had stopped me.

“Violet!”
I turned to find William, who was looking worriedly at me. Sure, he was unavoidable but I should point out that, to him, I was Violet Terrison, a normal 17 year old who loves to study. Should he, a vampire slayer who had his family killed by a clan of vampire, find out, let’s say that it would be better not to mention what would happen. Besides, I haven’t thought, and I do not have any plan in doing so, about what would happen if the secret of me being a vampire would leak out.

“William!” I said, surprised.
“I’m sorry about yesterday,” he said. I thought for a second as my heart skipped two beats that he had found out my secret identity. Then I remembered about the kiss that he had tried to give me.
“Oh!’ I exclaimed, my face in peril of being crimson. “That’s no problem, at all!”
I do not, in any circumstances, want to reveal to him that the reason I ran away was that I didn’t have any experience in love.
“I’m really sorry…” William said, looking really regretful.
“I said it’s fine,” I told him, clearly not getting the point on why he has to apologize so much.
“Im relieved,” he said, his mouth breaking into a big beam making him look so adorable.

“Violet!” I heard someone call and I saw Lila, arm in arm with James, who looked in the edge of depression, walk towards us.
“Can I speak to you for a moment?” Lila asked, giving her best smile to William and dragged me with her out of earshot, leaving James talking to William.
“Vi,” she said sternly “You did not tell me that you knew William!”
“Oh well,” I said with a relaxed shrug, “I wasn’t really close to him so I didn’t think it would be that important.”

“But Vi!” she protested suddenly, making me surprised. Lila was always calm and composed; she was never protestant “William had never even exchange more than 3 lines with any girl!”
I looked at her, surprised.
“Oh,” I said, a little surprised. “That’s…unexpected.”
She looked at me, her olive eyes, wide and clear boring into my blue ones.

‘Oh no’ I groaned.

The famous ‘Lila killer stare’ that made anyone, even her parents, give into any of her pleas.

“Should I introduce you to him?” I sighed. She nodded rather vivaciously and I heaved yet another sigh.

“William!” I said, simulating joy. “Sorry for the wait! I’d like you to meet Cornelia Redwood, my friend.”
Lila and William shook hands and James looked rather relieved.
“It’s great to meet you!” she said and I could see wheels in her head rotating rapidly, preparing an attack. I guess she had a crush on William.

William turned yet again to me, which took me by surprise. At this point, other guys would have fallen for Lila. Lila, behind William was nodding and smiling to herself, as if having come across a new conclusion.
“Do you want to go to class together?” William asked.
“Of course she wants to,” Lila said pushing me gently to William. She shot a wink at me that made me suspicious.
“Come on, Jamie!” Lila said, hooking her arm around James.
“That’s not my name!” James protested and Lila dragged him off. I felt sorry for James but the scene was funny, so I thought maybe I shouldn’t meddle into their affair for now. I went in class with William, where first period was Literature.

“We are having an overnight stay so that you will have more inspiration in learning literature and being able to come up with good topics. Everyone will be required to submit a report about your experience during the stay. Please pass these notices to you parents.” The teacher said. This information perked me up from my usual lack of concentration in Literature class. They passed on the notice and I grabbed one.

I glanced at it. Professor would never let me have a stay that long. I mean, I was a vampire and I might have dangers of turning into a vampire during the stay. I tried not to look to miserable as I put the sheet away.

Lessons continued throughout the day and I tried not to rise from my seat too often. My muscle pains were killing me and I wondered why it took so long to repair vampire bodies.

“I’d love it if you could come,” William said appearing beside me suddenly. “I wouldn’t even come if you wont come.”
I glanced up at him in surprise as I prepared to leave.
“Could I ask a question?” I asked.
“Sure,” he said.
“Why do you bother with me?” I said. “Sorry to break your bubble, but I’m not one of those out-going girls who are friends with everybody.”
“True,” William said “But you have this alluring aura pulling me in and pushing me to make friends with you. You also remind me of someone I know.”
Obviously, the answer to that was Elizabeth. Also known as the vampire me.

“Look,” I said to him “If you want me to replace that person, I’m sorry but I won’t. If you can’t see me as me, I suggest that you shouldn’t bother making friends with me.”
“I didn’t mean that,” William said cutting my next words. “I just said you remind me of someone. To me, Violet is still Violet.”
I was speechless for a while, my brain digesting what he had just told me. It gave me another feeling. It was breaking my defences like oil through water and I was beginning to lose control.

“Here,” he said, “Let me walk you home.”
“Oh that wouldn’t be necessary.” I said, taking my books.

“No I insist,” he said, trying to take the books from my hands.
“Oh no that wouldn’t be-” I said but as I was trying to grab back the books, my scarf fell over my shoulders and leaving the vaccine mark from last night seen.
I tried to cover it up but it was too late.
“Violet,” William said, stopping abruptly. “What was that?”
“Oh nothing!” I said, but he had already taken hold of my scarf and was taking it off my neck slowly.
A sweat fell from my forehead as I realized it was too late to stop him. William was about to find out about the real me.

“It doesn’t really matter, I still like you!”
-Christina (Chrissie)