VIOLET

-WINTER-

I stepped out of the shower, drying and dressing myself quickly in a baggy shirt and the pair of Caleb’s boxers that Sterling had so kindly provided me with. I had hoped the shower would wake me up but apparently I was going to have to rely only on the coffee. Making my way to the kitchen I sniffed the air happily, the delicious brown brew already calling me with its siren song. After pouring myself a bowl of coffee and a mug for Anthony I made my way to the counter and sat as uncomfortably as I could on a stool. I was going to need all the help I could get staying awake.

Something caught my eye in the window and I quickly turned towards the kitchen door almost having a heart attack until I remembered that I was expecting Anthony. I nodded once at the shadow in the doorway and went back to stirring my coffee. I was not sure if he had seen me but I was betting on the vampire card that he had, so I waited patiently for him to come in and make himself at home. He sat down beside me and mimicked my stirring action with his own steamy beverage while we both waited for the other to cave in and break the silence.

-So…-He started, finally giving in. One would think that the conversation starting skills of a seven hundred year old vampire would be better than that; apparently not. –Why is your coffee in a bowl?-

-Uh…- I started, looking down dumbly at my overly large bowl. Ok, so maybe I was just as bad as he was at this conversation thing. Can you blame me? I’m effing tired! I chuckled finally relaxing. –I didn’t have a mug big enough for the amount of coffee I need to stay awake right now.-

-Fair enough – He chuckled with me. He mimicked me as I took a sip of my coffee and sighed before finally asking. –What do you want to know?-

-That is a bit of a hard question. - I frowned as I thought about it.

Where to start? Who were they hiding from? What was with the scar on Caleb’s leg? Are vampires like in the movies, all dead, creepy and stalker like? Is being bitten totally steamy and sex leading? Well, I really don’t want to ask Anthony that one…talk about awkward. Hmmm…But most definitely, what is a Blood Oath?

-OK, let’s start with basics. Super speed, strength, eyesight and hearing, right?

-Yes, pretty much, but not all vampires are the same. - Anthony replied. I raised an eyebrow questioningly and he proceeded with a frown trying to figure out how to word his explanation best.

- How much above the average human all our attributes and senses are depend on the blood of the vampire. You can be turned into a vampire, and yes, it is pretty much like in the movies, a whole lot of biting, draining and pain. A made vampire is what we call, “tinted blood” so your strength depends on the blood quality of your maker. Or you can be born one, and then again it depends on the blood quality of your parents. Those who are born from vampire parents are “pure bloods”. But even within “pure bloods” there are degrees, depending on how many true “pure bloods” are in your ancestry. There is only one family line of unblemished “pure bloods”, that is the royal line. They are the strongest of vampires but also quickly becoming extinct because there aren’t that many pure bloods to mate with now-a-days.-

-Anthony, that was a bit of an information overload so I will just nod my head and hopefully by tomorrow morning I will have sorted out what you mean by that.- I said making him chuckle softly once more. I mused over my list of questions, realizing that it had only gotten longer.–Wait, Vampires can give birth? I thought…well, you know…Hollywood and all that good stuff…-

-Huh…and here I thought I had gotten myself out of the father-daughter sex talk since Cornelia was seventeen when she was turned…-Mused Anthony as he concentrated on trying to make this conversation not awkward. Which only made it worst. He shuffled uncomfortably in his seat and looked down intently at his coffee.

-Sorry. - I apologized sheepishly, a slight blush creeping up on my cheeks. In my defense this had not started with the intention of leading anywhere near sex questions. Yeah…keep telling yourself that, Winter. –Kind of threw me a curve ball on that one and I am just too curious for my own good-

-It’s ok.- He replied before grinning and winking at me.- I guess this information is important seeing as how you have a bet to win…-

-Oh, this just got a whole lot higher on the awkward scale…just spit it out old man- I teased even though I could feel my slight blush deepen into a vibrant red against my cheeks. Ah, the joys of being part tomato.

-Well, yes…-He began, his teasing voice gone. He shifted uncomfortably on his stool once more before taking a deep breath and speaking quickly.- Sex is the same in uh…method wise, but the…uh…pleasure?...is heightened because of our increased vampire senses. And before you ask I am just going to say it and then you are going to never mention it again…there is biting involved, by both parties. It doesn’t hurt, it just adds to the experience. Conception, pregnancy and birth is the same as well. So…please make sure Caleb uses a condom, human females tend to get pregnant a lot easier that vampire females…so…is that all you needed to know?-

By the end of Anthony’s extremely awkward explanation I was on the floor laughing my little black heart out. The fact that he was so uncomfortable with having to discuss this with his son’s girlfriend made it all the more funny and less awkward for me. Anthony looked down at me and mumbled under his breath something about stupid teenagers as he picked me up and placed me back on the stool. When I finally calmed down I sloshed through my memory banks searching for the next thing I wanted to ask.

-Ok, since we are already doing the whole awkward question thing... Why does Caleb have this really weird scar thing on his…um, inner thigh?-

-I am not going to ask how you know that. - Anthony said as he looked down at me with an amused yet disturbed expression. My blush returned and I hid myself behind my bowl of coffee. –The scar is a mark of his lineage; only the first born son of each generation in his vampire ancestry will have this carved into them at birth. It is a Basilisk, the banner of his family and House.-

-Well…that is a bit intense…and somehow vague- I looked up at him questioningly, but soon realized I would not be receiving more information on this matter. I started linking the dots in my mind; I wrinkled my nose in frustration before asking. –The mark, means he is special, yes?-

-That is a bit of an understatement, but yes.- He replied as he looked out the window, as if lost in thought once more.

-The mark has something to do with why he is being protected and hidden, right? - I pressed but kept my voice soft and reassuring.

-Yes…-

-I have a feeling that you won’t tell me who is looking for him…-I stated.

-Your feeling is right…-

-Because then you would have to explain whatever it is you are hiding about who Caleb really is and what the scar really means…- I stated once more. Not irritated, simply making sure that I understood what was going on. Anthony grinned before finally turning to me.

-Once again, you are correct.-

-Ok, and the reason you won’t tell me is because it is Caleb’s secret to tell, not yours. Yes?- I asked as I smiled back at the now nodding Anthony.

-Caleb chose a smart one this time, didn’t he? - He asked and I smirked.

-Of course, I’m sexy, smart and got mad ninja skills. You can’t get any better than this. –I stated as I showcased my own silhouette with my hands. Anthony rolled his eyes but let his grin slip into an amused smile. I stuck my tongue out at him before turning serious again.

-It is simply that I know what it is to have something you feel the need to hide. It is his secret to tell and he will do it when he is ready.- I spoke softly.

Anthony nodded and we sat in silence while we finished our coffee. When my bowl was finally empty I started biting my lip anxiously. There was at least one question that still needed to be answered and I had finished my coffee so I could not procrastinate any longer. I sighed dramatically before turning to Anthony who seemed to be quite content and relaxed as he drank his coffee. Lucky bastard…he still had some left.

-So…want to explain to me what exactly is this “Blood Oath” thing that Caleb wants to, and I quote, join in with me, end quote. - I said really fast. The band-aid theory applies to awkward question too, right?

Anthony proceeded to spray coffee all over my counter top and floor before turning to look at me so fast I thought his head would snap off.

-Blood Oath? - He asked shocked. - He actually said Blood Oath?-

-Well, he thought it…- I started spinning my bowl on the table nervously as I explained. -We were at school and the boys were teasing him about sex and then he got all pensive and…thought that he wanted it to be special, that he wanted to be joined with me in “Blood oath”. I freaked, Julia and I talked about it and that’s when we decided we needed answers, so…yeah…-

-Ok…before I answer that particular question, care to explain to me about Julia before my heart stops beating?...again- Asked Anthony, tense once more.

-Julia is my best friend. She knows my secret, and since she was with me when I had my first vision about Caleb, well she knows all about you also.-I replied uneasy. –I trust her with my life Anthony. She would never betray her family or friends and she knows that losing Caleb would kill me. She can be trusted.-

-Just tell me that she is the only other person who knows.-Groaned Anthony.- I cannot stress how important it is that this secret stays safe. Not only for Caleb and my families sake, but for the sake of our kind.-

-I understand this, and so does she. Your secret is safe with us.- I replied. I wanted to be more reassuring but in a case like this more words would be…just that, only more words.

-I just hope I am not making a mistake in trusting you Winter. Your intentions may not be bad but you and Julia are very young, too young to be stumbling into our world.-

I kept silent and watched Anthony, he was looking towards the window once more, worry evident on his face. He absent mindedly finished his coffee as he battled the thoughts and doubts in his own minds. I sat and watched, very still, waiting for him to be ready to continue. He began rubbing his fingers against the back of his neck before breaking the silence.

-To be joined in “Blood Oath” is very much like marriage for humans- He started.

He seemed to be lost in thought as he continued to rub his neck. As his fingers moved his golden locks would sway gently, revealing bright blue flashes of color against his skin. I nodded my head silently. I had figured as much. I had also figured that it was probably a bigger deal for vampires than for humans so I waited for him to proceed.

- To be joined in “Blood Oath” is a bond for life. And considering that we live for a very long time, you can see how it is not a decision lightly made. It is a very sacred and special union. The rite itself is simple, and will be attended only by immediate family and maybe close friends. It is an exchange ceremony done by night under a full moon. The Priestess will pray over the couple and she will be the one to slit their wrists so that each of them may drink from the other. Then the couple is branded, in a way. The male’s family crest will be etched upon both their necks in the color of the female’s eyes. Usually the mark will be the same color as the male’s eyes also, vampires tend to marry people of their same House, but every now and then a vampire will take a mate from a different House.-

-What happens if a human is taken?- I asked softly, almost afraid of the answer. –And what does the color of the eyes have to do with anything?-

-The color of the eyes tells you of which House or lineage a vampire is. There are several Houses, so vampires have a wide range of eye colors. When a vampire is born or turned into a vampire they will have the eye color of the founder of the House, the Pureblood who started the family line. New houses cannot be created, it all leads back to the very first vampires that ever were. This is why Cornelia has the same color as Sofia and I. I am her father. I am the one who turned her so during the rebirth her eyes became the color that represents my lineage and House; the House of the Siren. Sofia was also of this House before we married.- He stated, looking at me once more. –As for the taking of a human, it has never happened before, but we will discuss that further when the time comes.–

-Oh…- I said lamely.

Well what more could I say? It was a bit too much information for one night. I need to speak to Julia. I wish I could speak to Cornelia; she would have a bit more of an idea of what everything meant. Damn, when did being a teenager get this intense?

-I know it is a lot to take in.- Anthony said softly as he put his hand on my shoulder.- Go, rest. I will speak with Sofia and Cornelia of this; they have a right to know. Expect Cornelia to want to speak with you herself, she will want to test your ability. As for Caleb, I will leave it for him to tell you at his own time, I know both you and him would prefer it that way.-

-Yes, thank you. I appreciate your patience with me Anthony.- I replied lost in thought.

-Do not worry about the “Blood Oath”, there is time. He has not asked yet. A decision need not be made.-

-I know.- I sighed as I stood from my stool and proceeded to clean up the mess that Anthony had made with his coffee. – It is just so…surreal. It feels like months have gone by instead of weeks and there is so much information to process. I love him and I would not changed what has happened or how it has happened, but I need a minute to…think.-

Anthony watched me in silence as I cleaned the kitchen. He did not speak; he understood that I needed the mundane task to help me get my thoughts in order. When I was finished I finally turned to Anthony and smiled tentatively. He smiled back and stood from the counter, understanding that we were finished for the night. He hesitated as he reached for the door and opened it, slowly he turned back to look at me once more.

-Will you be ok tonight?- He asked worried. I nodded and gave him a quick hug as if trying to reassure the both of us.

As he turned to leave, one last question popped into my head, along with the feeling that I was going to regret asking it.

-Wait, - I called out and he turned around amused, as if knowing what I was about to ask.

-Um…How old is Caleb exactly?-

-I knew I wouldn’t be able to leave without answering that one. –He laughed loudly before answering. –Caleb turns 500 on November 2nd-

-November 2nd? The day of the dead, well that is ironic…-I mused before it finally hit me.- Wait a damn minute! Five hundred? Five fucking hundred?-

Anthony just laughed as he walked away into the night.
I was in shock as I walked towards the door and locked it.
I was still in shock when I climbed up the stairs and tripped over my book bag.
I was still in shock when I curled into bed and hid under the covers.
Until I started laughing my fuzzy little head off.

-Julia was right…damn boy is a pedophile!-