I'm planing on publishing this story before I get out of high school this year. Read and tell me if you don't understand, need more grammar work, or anything. So far my friends and I checked over it. Enjoy.

A Family

Besides flying to find my prey, I decided to jump off of roof tops to stalk people. Vlad was at my side the whole time and did a few circles around me for fun. We always went hunting together and helped each other out. He would distract our victim and I went in for the kill. But, tonight I want to do this on my own. Vlad agreed like a parent would; if only he was. But then again, having a bat as a parent would be placing me with Tarzan’s character. I had the flying and fangs though so they gave me a better strength and similarity Tarzan didn’t have. I jumped on to a large roof top and ended up almost falling off until I placed my foot against the side wall as I hung on to the gutter. Before the gutter falls off I stood on the side wall and felt my hair and clothes tilt the opposite way. Walking on walls and ceilings were fun and mysterious for me because after a while everything turned back to normal after standing in such a position for a couple of seconds. My clothes and hair went down as if I was standing on a normal ground. Gravity was a mysterious thing to everyone. Scientist couldn’t figure out how everything worked. I didn’t have the vampire thing down either so I didn’t pity scientist.

I heard laughter coming from below me and looked down to a couple of adults smoking below. Laughter came from the window besides me. I looked inside and saw a party going on, a Thanksgiving party, and a family gathered together. I went on my knees and peaked in.

Everyone was happy and, by their blood scent, were related. It was a big family. In a large ballroom like room there were different age groups and social groups. I saw a elder gathered around children; telling a story I guessed. Everyone on the dance floor had a dancing partner and the for ones that didn’t they were dragged to the dance floor to dance in a group. Everyone had a smile on their face and no one felt as if they were different or exiled. One boy was the only person wearing black in the room was socializing with other guys who looked like the type who’d played sports. Everything felt connected but it looked so different. It looked like a…a loving family. Something I didn’t have.

I felt a something wet land against my left cheek and cleaned it off to find a tear. My tear was pink and was mixed between salt and my own blood.

I snatched my head away from the loving and glowing site and had the wall against my back with my legs still on the wall. I held my cold body and took few breathes to stop the tears. I heard and felt my clothes rubbing off the wall. I was losing my concentration and I was about to fall. And I did fall, right between the men and their conversation. I landed on one and I quickly ran away from the situation. I ran around the block and quickly cleaned my face. I stopped crying quickly, like always, because I had to remind myself all the time when I acknowledge how people are so lucky to have someone care for you. I would like someone to pick me up after school, have hope for my future, wishing the best for me, and-no- why was I thinking that? Why bother…I would never have a family.

I waited for Vlad to keep up with me as I walked to another block. I walked slowly and droopy. I didn’t feel hungry after vomiting all of my true feelings out on myself. I felt my normal after effects after thinking such things. I made my way home with Vlad on my shoulder. It was a long walk, but I thought I could make it to the next borough.

When I did make it to Queens I ran into trouble with a couple of punks. It was two guys and one girl. They smelt like smoke and some kind of drug. If I didn’t read about marijuana in my school I would have never known what it was. I won’t know unless I see needle injection, sniffed, or what ever druggies do. I staid away from that kind of stuff. They surrounded me, laughed at my clothes, and asked me for money.

“What the hell is that? Going with the whole vampire look, girl?” one man laughed behind me.

“Get rid of the toy girl, vampires aren’t real. Stop being a devils child.” the girl reached for Vlad.

I heard a crunch and a scream. Vlad bit her and won’t let go. I wasn’t in the mood to be playing with there punks. As the quiet one ran to help the girl I took my chance and turned around to the first one who spoke to me. I smelt oil and found the smell coming from the gun he was pointing at me. What the heck was that going to do to me? Trust me I was shot before and it bounced off my skin and ended up hitting the shooter.

“I’m not in the mood to play with my food, boy.” I looked into his eyes as I felt my eyes turn red under my contacts. I grabbed him as he shot me and held him close. I didn’t know what gun he had but the bullet went right through him. I had to feast quickly because New Yorkers were nosy. I opened my mouth, revealing my sharp canines, held his neck, and bit down hard. He screamed and I covered his mouth as I dragged him into the nearest driveway. I laid on top of him and drunk quickly. His blood was thin and cold for a smoker, but it was better then nothing. He was my first smoker victim. I loved drug-free blood. After a while he was quiet and became unconscious. And since I was sulking all ready, I didn’t care if I took too much blood. I was hungry. But, when I was done with him I licked my bite marks and watched my saliva heal his wound. After, I dragged his body near the nearest car, and kicked him underneath it. Normally I would have been creative but I didn’t care.

I cleaned my chin and found out where Vlad had gone off to with the other two. He came from the darkness, landed on my shoulder, and started to lick the remaining blood on my chin.

The girl was a virgin. Her blood was pure and sweet.

“Couldn’t save anything for me?” I complained.

She and the boy ran away after I left go of her finger.

“Let’s go home.”

I climbed into my window as Vlad and I parted ways. He went to his cave or dark place while I went into mine. I was ready for a good bed to rest in for the rest of the night. I locked the window doors, took my clothes off, and changed into my two black two piece pajamas. Before I went to bed I was curious about my mother and my new step-father. I didn’t want to see them have sex, but to hear two types of breathing. If I wanted a porno I would have watched it.

I opened the door to my bedroom slowly as my eyes caught the light on in the kitchen. I hope they didn’t leave that on. I said I didn’t like any free loaders here; other then my mother. I walked down the steps and peaked into the kitchen to see blue dragon design boxers followed by a head inside our refrigerator. It was Michael Reese. I leaned against the door frame and sighed turned away from his large buttocks.

I heard his heart jumped and his socks rubbed against the rug on the floor. The box closed and I felt his eyes upon me. He was out of breath and trying to keep up with his heart rate.

“Oh, my gosh Luna, you scared me.” he chuckled and leaned against the counter with his right hand resting over his chest.

“What re you doing?” I asked him.

“Your mother went to sleep and I decided to put the food away. We saved you a plate in the microwave.”

“I already ate.”

They’re was pure silence between us as I felt his eyes still on me. When I got sick of him staring, I folded my arms over my chest, and turned to him.

“By the way, where did you go? I was about to go out and find you.”

“Why bother? You’ll never find me.” I looked into his eyes.

“I could try. I won’t want my step-daughter showing up on the news dead.”

“Me, dead? Yeah right. I could take care of myself.”

“…I don’t want you to.” his eyes looked like they were about to confess. “Look, Luna, I understand this is a big change for you. Your mother going off, marrying a guy you never met before, then bringing him home to meet the family. You must think I’m a jerk who wants to have a good time with your mother. No, I want to be a family with you and your mother.”

“After knowing a woman for only a week?”

“Actually, I thought your mother told you about me. We’ve been talking for a year now over the phone. We were,” he chuckled. “friends in high school and we decided to patch things up with one another. I knew she had a daughter and was going through rough times.”

“Who did you hear that from?”

“She told me. She saw you being the parents instead of the other way around. She needed help so I asked her to marry me and…here I am.” he just smiled at me.

His pupil was normal size and heart rate was normal, he wasn’t lying to me. He was speaking the truth.

“You see, I knew your father until the day he died on his eighteenth birthday. I knew your mother had bad ties with her family and having a baby to take care of. I thought your father’s family had you guys find, but I was wrong. I suppose they didn’t know anything about you because they were a great family…Well, I’ve come and want to be the parent while you live your life as a young woman-a teenager going through high school. I want you to only worry about passing your classes and leave the college tuition for me.”

I didn’t know how to react to this kind of behavior. I could tell he wasn’t lying to me, but would he stay true to his word. And was I able to let my role as the adult in this house be taking over? Was I going to get a chance to become a part of a family, even if it was a small one? He did change my mother, but could he change me? And who were my father’s parents? Maybe they could answer the questions I’ve always needed answering.

“Who were my father’s parents, did you know?”

“They was a great family but very quiet though. I’m sorry I can’t give you the answers you want. Maybe ask your mom.”

“…” I took a deep breathe and stood up straight. “Ok, I’m sorry for being so rude, ok?”

“I understand and apology excepted.” he smiled.

I began to walk back to my room until he stopped me.

“Your mother and I are going shopping for Black Friday in a few hours. You want to come and pick out early Christmas presents?”

Christmas Presents, I’ve never had one before. That was something new to look forward to.

“Have fun without me.” I walked up to my bedroom and felt good resting in my house, in my room, in my bed, and maybe… with a new family.