Mother of Vampires

It was the day before me, my boyfriend, Ryan, and my best friend, Valerie, were to move to The Forgotten Hollow. Creepy name, I know, but it couldn’t be that bad a place. My aunt had sold me her small house there for cheap, and I was excited to be out on my own for the first time after college.

I sat in Val’s tiny apartment sipping some decaffeinated coffee and chatting happily. It was late, but she was drinking regular. She was planning to go to one of the hottest clubs that night and wanted to be energized so she could show off her best moves. Val was a bit of a party girl and had never quite abandoned her days as a sorority sister. If she’s not tearing up a rug at the hottest club, she can probably be found watching her favorite sports team at a party with a red solo cup full of beer in her hand. We were always very different, but somehow we just clicked, and we’ve been best friends ever since high school.

“It’s gonna be great,” Val said enthusiastically. “I’m sure we can both get a waitressing job there. I can show you the ropes. It’s not hard!” Val had been waitressing since our first year of college to help pay for her classes. I had been fortunate enough to have parents who were not rich, but who were financially comfortable and were willing to pay for my classes.

“I dunno,” I said uncertainly. “You’re always telling me about weird customers. What if I have to serve one?”

“Oh, you will,” she said with a smirk. “But it’s not that bad. Just be polite. Remember, the customer is always right!”

“Okay,” I replied. “I can do that.” I was not so sure I’d be very good at it. Although I am naturally cheerful, I tend to be emotional. I really hoped I wouldn’t start crying or shouting at a customer when something went wrong.

“You look beautiful,” Ryan said when I walked into the restaurant.

“You don’t look too bad yourself!” I replied. Ryan was very handsome. He was blonde and muscular with a perfect smile. Ryan chuckled. A waiter seated us, and we ordered. Ryan whispered something in the waiter’s ear. Vino’s was an unusually fancy restaurant for us, and after the way Val smiled at me and Ryan whispered to the waiter, I couldn’t shake the feeling that tonight was a big night.

“Are you excited for tomorrow?” Ryan asked with that charming smile of his.

“I’ll finally be on my own! Ready to chase my dreams of becoming a novelist!” I said happily. I had wanted to be a novelist since I was a child. I especially loved fantasy books. They captured my imagination in a way that mundane, everyday life couldn’t. I was also pretty good at art. Sometimes I would draw my own illustrations to go with my writing.

“You’re going to be amazing someday,” he said, putting a hand on my shoulder. “I know it!” I smiled and leaned over to give him a quick kiss.

“Are you sure you won’t be bored at your new job?” I asked. Ryan had made sure he had a job lined up. He was ambitious and had managed to get a job at a consulting firm and was hoping to climb up the corporate ladder. I never knew how he could stand the boredom of the corporate world.

“I’ll be fine,” he said, kissing me on the cheek. “Drinks are here.” He seemed nervous and fidgeted in his chair. The waiter placed some white wine in front of me, and I stared. There was a diamond ring floating in the wine.

“Melanie Elizabeth Day,” Ryan said, getting out of his chair and kneeling. He took my hands and looked into my eyes. “Will you marry me?” I stood there stunned. I had known something didn’t

seem right, but I had not imagined that Ryan would make such a big move, especially not on the night before we left for The Forgotten Hollow.

“I should go,” I said, finding my words and getting up to leave.

“But babe,” Ryan protested sadly.

“Ryan, you knew I wasn’t ready!” I said, my eyes welling up with tears of frustration. Everything had been going so well. We were about to move and continue our relationship in a new town. Why did he have to ruin everything?

“I thought--” Ryan started.

“You thought wrong!” I said letting my tears fall freely. I turned around and ran out of the restaurant.

I sat at my parent’s house crying. Dinner had been ice cream. Why would Ryan do this? I wondered sadly. We had discussed moving in together and getting married, and I had always told him I wanted to wait. I knew he wanted to settle down and have a family, but I was only 23. Had I missed signs that he was getting ready to propose? Had I done anything to make him think I had changed my mind?

The hurt look on his face made me cringe. I knew I had hurt him, but I felt that he had asked for something I wasn’t ready to give - and in public, no less. I sat there sobbing until about 1:00 AM when my phone rang.

“Hey babe,” Ryan said. His voice sounded tired. “I’m at the door. Please let me in.”

I ran to the door and opened it to find him holding a single rose. “I’m sorry,” he said, offering me the rose. “I should never have pushed you. I knew you weren’t ready. I just thought maybe--” he cut himself off. “I’m sorry,” he finished.

“I’m sorry I hurt you,” I said, taking the rose. Tears slid down my cheeks. Ryan wiped them away and embraced me tenderly.

“I love you,” he said quietly.

“I love you too,” I replied.

The next morning I was exhausted. My eyes were still red and puffy from crying, but I was so happy that Ryan and I worked everything out. Today was the big day.

“Take care, honey,” My mother said, giving me a big hug.

“Stay in touch,” my dad said, hugging me too.

“If you need anything, we’re just a phone call away!” My mom called after me as I got into the taxi.

“Now, now, Felicity, Melanie will be fine,” my dad said, putting his hand on my mom’s shoulder.

“Oh, Charles,” my mother said, burying her face in his shoulder.

“I love you both,” I called, through the open window of the taxi.

“We love you too,” they shouted together.

The taxi driver began to drive, and my heart pounded with anticipation. Here I was, starting my journey like in the epic fantasy books I so longed to write. I would pretend I was about to have an adventure. I was at least setting out on my own, going to a new town and getting my first job, but it would certainly be short of fantastic. Maybe my new life would give me some inspiration to write my first best-selling novel. I was out on my own now, and I would have to write my own story. I just never expected my story would be anything like it turned out...

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