In Dreaming Reality
School's out for the Summer

Vincent and I continued to play this dangerous game, the vampire and the human, even though I knew at this point Marissa was right— it was dangerous. I didn’t care. All I wanted was Vincent, and to be with him, my husband. Sometimes I worried about how angry I might have made my new sister-in-law, or if she would burst in at any moment, and Sebastian would beat Vincent up— but I kept these worries and concerns to myself. Eventually we would be found, this I knew, but until then, I was willing to push thoughts of that day out of my head. We were being hunted by the inner council, and by Vincent’s father— this stolen time was just that, stolen time, precious moments alone, together— sitting on the edge of an uncertain future.

When I slept I heard the voice, the creepy one— taunting me, daring me, to walk on paths of fire... to choose the man with the red eyes and back wings— often waking with steam from the heat of the lava from my dream still rising off my skin. I could tell Vincent was afraid when I woke screaming, panting— throat parched, and sometimes red embers surrounding me where I lay on the bed, but he tried, for my sake to hide these fears. He never once asked me what I’d seen, although I could sense, he had guessed it was about Topher and the damn mark, he had placed on my skin. I stared at it sometimes, where Topher had grabbed my arm— I couldn’t see anything, but I felt a hand-print shape there, burning, especially when I was in the dream. I knew other supernatural’s could see this mark, or at least sense it— and now that I had wedding tattoo marks on my left arm— I was marked by both a Nephilim and a vampire. Two distinct races that hated each other... I heard again in my head that seer’s voice— telling me that I was to be the one to start a war, and father Ezekiel’s voice telling me I was the start of an avalanche... and I shivered.

When I was awake, and not contemplating the situation I was in with the Fallen or with Vincent and his vampire coven— I was ecstatic. I glowed in happiness basking in newlywed bliss. My heart was content in these moments— storming up the memories for a different day, an uncertain day, which may or may not come— a day when I was forced to separate from Vincent, from my love. I as also in extreme physical pain... which was why I knew I was being stupid and foolish— Vincent was twice, if not ten times stronger than I was, and in the heat of the moment and passion, he would often forget I was still a fragile little human, or Fae, but human-like in my body. I knew that if I actually stopped to look at myself, I would probably shudder, I could feel bruising, and there were several limbs that I wasn’t sure if I had just twisted, pulled or broken.

At this point— it had been so many days that I was sure Marissa had to have either figured out where I was or thought I was dead. I was pretty certain at least two weeks had flown by, I’d been trying to count the days— and she had to have noticed, I wasn’t the only one skipping out on going to school. Professor Flimheart had mentioned that we would mostly just be reviewing what we had learned this semester, for finals— so I hadn’t been too concerned about not being there. I was also sure Flimheart was not going to be thrilled with me when I showed up to take finals after missing two weeks of school without a doctors note, I wasn’t even sure he was going to let me take finals...

Once Sebastian had joked about Marissa being his own personal brand of drug— and that I fully understood. It was why I was still here, with Vincent in his penthouse, not phoning up Marissa and telling her I needed a doctor’s appointment stat. I mean, a lot of my bruises in those two weeks faded, but the broken bones? They needed to be set, and I knew I couldn’t hide out for much longer. Vincent was like the air I breathed. See, this is the problem with addiction— you just keep going back for more, even when you might end up worse off then you were before— each time needing more, each time, what you had before, not quite enough.

Today I was taking note of my appearance for the first time in those to weeks. Like I said, the first week, I didn’t even bother to look in the mirror— I was afraid of what I might have seen. I was still scared, if I was to be completely honest with myself, but at the same time— I knew I needed to take into account my physical well being, as a fragile human. I would be no use to Vincent dead. I stared into the mirror, wiping away steam from my shower, and gazing at my reflection. It was a strange girl I saw there— I was thinner than I had been before, my hair looked like a wild mass of curls, an animal of its own... my skin more white, almost porcelain, and my violet eyes, pale, withdrawn, tired. I shivered, I pulled on an oversized hoodie I’d been using as a robe, and slipped from the bathroom and back into Vincent’s room. He was sleeping, stirring every once and a while— dreaming? While I might have just taken stock of how I was doing, if I was honest, I didn’t know what Vincent’s mental state was like. Vincent sighed, and I moved some of his wild hair off of his forehead, and tucked it behind his ear.

“Sleep well, my love.” And dream of me. I added in my thoughts. I leant down and kissed his forehead before slipping back into bed, and wrapping his arms around me. I closed my eyes, my tiredness hitting me like a wall. Vincent’s arms wrapped tighter about me, his head tucking into the curve of my neck and shoulder blade. I smiled, and nodded off, just as I heard a sound from the great room. I could or should have been alarmed, but I was so sleepy, and thought perhaps I was hearing things— because no one but Marissa had a key to Vincent’s apartment. In the other room I heard curtains being drawn.

“Oh, shit! Marissa?”

I sat up too quickly, knocking Vincent over into the bed, he moaned.

“Gen, what the-”

Just as my eyes focused on the beam of light from the great room flooding the open doorway to Vincent’s room. Yup. It was Marissa, and she looked PISSED.

“Sebastian told me this was where you had come— but I didn’t believe him. After all— why would Genevieve be so incredibly stupid?”

Beside me, I felt Vincent stiffen as he woke up and heard Marissa’s voice. “Riss?” Vincent whispered.

“Oh, don’t you dare ‘Riss’ me. You’re both bloody idiots. Moronic. Stupid. Dumb. ASSHOLES!” Marissa shouted.

Vincent sat up, “Okay, Marissa may-”

“There is no ‘maybe,’ brother. Do you even know how high and low I’ve been searching for Genevieve?” She paused. “I looked everywhere. I was tempted to even go home, to Steinheart Manor, if need be— thinking Father had her, or worse, you.” A silence fell on the room. “What if you were dead? I just found you Vincent. I can’t lose you again.”

“Marissa I-” I tried to say I was sorry, but her glare stopped me.

“And you— for the longest time, I was convinced that Topher had just taken you— made you his scarlet whore... that I had lost my newest sister. I told you— I told you want would happen if-” She stopped speaking, looking so hurt, so betrayed, and I knew where she had been going with that sentence, ‘if I hurt Vincent.’

Yes, Marissa had told me what would happen if I did that— she’d kill me.

“Sebastian told me. He told me and I wouldn’t listen. Told me I’d replace you here. I should have listened.”

“Marissa, I am so sorry.” Again indent stride to sound contrite, and his voice was so soft, as if he thought speaking quietly would de-escalate the situation. “I should have called you, I should have sent her away...”

I was a tad hurt by his confession, did he really mean that? Did he really think he should have sent me away?

“Oh, get up you big moron.” She threw at him, but her tone wasn’t as angry as it had been before. “Oh, and please put on some clothes.” She half moaned. “I don’t have any desire or urge to see my twin naked— once was enough when we were born.” Marissa bent and picked up something that vaguely looked like my purple dress, but it was still too bright for me to see anything clearly. Then her cold fingers took my arm and yanked me out of Vincent’s bed.

Vincent hissed as Marissa pulled me out of the room, and pushed me into the bathroom with my purple dress. “This on, now.” She’d hissed at me before closing the door.

“Where are you taking my wife?” I heard Vincent ask, it wasn’t quite a growl, but he also didn’t sound very happy.

I pulled off the oversized hoodie, and slid my purple dress on, trying not to feel panic when I realized how loosely it hung on my body. I opened the door, and stood in the doorframe. Marissa had positioned herself between me, aka the bathroom and Vincent’s room— I could just barely see Vincent from here, over Marissa’s shoulder. Marissa cast a glance at me, and pulled me to her side.

“Take a real good look, brother.” She hissed. “Take a look at your handiwork. Bruised, half starved, pale from lack of sun, that good old vitamin ‘D,’ that humans need— matted hair, and oh-my-god, can you hear that? Is that a broken rib?”

I took a deep breath, I didn’t hear anything, but as I did, I made eye contact with Vincent— and he winced. “My little bird...”

Marissa’s grip on me loosened, “it’s not that I don’t get it.” She took a deep breath, “I know you love one another, but there is too much at stake right now. You know that. What with Father, and Topher and the inner council... and Genevieve.” Marissa’s eyes met mine. “Girl, you’re in the middle of all these things that are happening, and you’re Fae, or human or whatever— and until you aren’t human, you can’t be with Vincent.”

“Until I’m not human?”

“Marissa.” Vincent’s warning voice brought Marissa’s and my attention back to him. “We have yet to discuss turning her. What with her memories so fragile— I can’ risk-”

“Too bad. I refused to watch you head down this path. Trust me brother, it doesn’t lead anywhere good.”

I kept silent, but felt guilty, I still hadn’t told Vincent that my memories were gone not because of Lucas or Topher, but because when I was awakened as a Fae they had been ‘reset.’ Did he really think less of me because I didn’t have those memories? Did he love me less? Did he think I was broken... that version of me, which he had loved— she was never coming back. Plus, I liked who I was now.

“You both need to get back into school— people have been asking questions— and Seb, Kiera and I have been lying for both your butts. Plus, Angela and Mike have been asking questions... I can’t keep lying. I need you both to just— ok, please?”

Vincent sighed. I could suddenly see in him a tiredness I hadn’t seen before— it aged him, hanging on him like a wet jacket after a heavy rain. Was it his Father? Was it pretending at school? Was it me?

“Fine.” Vincent whispered. “I’ll do it your way.”

“Thank you.” Marissa cleared her throat, “also, just for future reference... Seb and I are— but we don’t LIVE in our bedroom... we have lives, we socialize— and,” with a beet red face she continued, “so should you. It’s called balance.”

I pictured Sebastian, with his blue spiky hair, and for some reason, I was pretty sure, he wouldn’t agree— but I didn’t tell Marissa that, she was already pissed at me, no reason to make her more mad.

“And now,” Marissa continued, “I am going to take Genevieve to the ER.”

I sighed.

“You might as well say your goodbyes now— because this is the last time you get to see her before your ‘human’ wedding. Angela and Mike already think you are some sort of punk— no way I am going to let them think that you got Gen addicted to drugs. This girl needs to get healthy and asap.” Her eyes flashed, “so, I’m going to keep BOTH eyes on you this time— no teleporting back here, okay?”

I nodded, hearing the hidden threat in her words, no teleporting back, or Seb would probably beat me up— for Marissa. That would start another Ernest’s of unfortunate circumstances, in which Vincent and Sebastian would take each other out— and that was just pointless confrontation.

“Your human wedding is one week away, you can both handle one week right?”

Vincent moaned, and threw his hands through his already wild hair, then he looked back at us his mouth shut in a tight line and he nodded. He looked me up and down, as if memorizing every detail of me. “A week is a long time.”

Marissa rolled her eyes. “So glad I was never human or Fae and had to go through this awkward phase.” She mumbled patting my back. Marissa nudged me toward Vincent, “Give him a hug and kiss— then I am taking you to get an X-Ray.” She rolled her eyes.

I hobbled over to Vincent, and he pulled me onto the bed and wrapped his arms around me. I held on for all I was worth— he kissed me then allowed Marissa to pull me from the room and out of his apartment into her waiting car where Sebastian was in the driver’s seat.

Sebastian was trying not to grin as we got in the car but he was having quite a hard time. His whole posture said, “I told you so.”

“I don’t want to talk about it!” Snapped Marissa as she got in the car after putting me in the backseat— She slammed her passenger door shut. “Hospital.” She hissed. “Drive.”

Sebastian looked over his shoulder at me, his eyes looked amused. “Don’t you look like a royal mess.”

I grunted, and made a face which made him laugh until Marissa socked his arm.

“Oww.” He muttered frowning.

“Seriously Seb, darling, can you please just drive?”

Sebastian sighed and put the car into gear, and sent us speeding off toward the hospital.

I frowned and crossed my arms over my chest, frustrated but also relieved— and worried. Marissa was right— I was in the middle of everything happening... I was tempted to just open up about everything father Ezekiel he told me— but felt a warning voice in my head telling me that it was too dangerous— and not the right time. How would my friends, my family, feel if they knew we weren’t just sitting on the edge of a war, but that I was the harbinger of the war. I was the tipping point.

When we got to VGH Marissa had Sebastian carry me into the ER. “Hey I think you lost weight.” Sebastian muttered as he hefted me— I caught a slight bit of concern on his face, and chose to ignore it.

Marissa went up to the triage counter and urged Sebastian to bring me up there with her.

Behind the triage desk sat this really bored looking girl who was maybe in her late twenties, she was dressed in a bubble-gum pink nurse scrubs and chewing pink gum, her hair was done in pigtails and her nails which were currently clacking over the keyboard were painted purple.

“Name.” The woman said and blew a bubble with her gum.

“Genevieve Pradora.” Marissa said for me.

The woman typed it in.

“Problem?”

Marissa laughed a dark laugh. “Well let’s see, undernourishment, broken ankle, cracked rib and perhaps some pulled muscles and tendons.”

The woman hadn’t even typed anything down, she stared at Marissa like she was crazy.

“Sure.” She muttered popping her gum bubble.

Marissa pointed at me. The girl looked me up and down.

“What did she get herself into?” The girl asked blowing another gum bubble.

“Sex.” Sebastian said looking at the young nurse like he would love to rip the gum from her mouth and toss it over his shoulder.

The girl looked at me and then Marissa dubiously. “Right.”

Marissa handed the nurse my care card from my wallet and the nurse typed the last few things that Marissa had said into the computer and hit print, then she gave me a bracelet with my name on it and told us to wait in the waiting area.

I don’t know how long we sat there, but eventually they called us in and then we had to wait even longer for a doctor to come in. I slept most of the time away, I was so tired. When the doctor came he examined my ankle, it hurt when he touched it— it hurt really bad.

“So, what were you up to when you got this?” He asked me.

I wondered if the nurse had told him what Sebastian had said. I shrugged. “I kicked a wall— I think.” Well that was true, I had kicked the wall.

Then he examined my ribs, he found the one that was cracked, easily enough. I gasped in pain when he pressed on it. “And this one?” The doctor asked looking through his round spectacle at me, his white goatee bobbing as he spoke.

“I was squashed against the wall— accidentally.”

The doctor’s eyebrow raised a few notches. I knew I was also covered in bruises, that didn’t look good— and there were also dark circles under my eyes from lack of sleep. I sighed. I hadn’t wanted to sleep— I hadn’t wanted to stop and look at the royal mess I’d gotten into!

Marissa muttered under her breath, ‘amateurs’ or something of the kind— I didn’t even want to know what Sebastian was thinking. He was always so jovial, but I could still see the look of concern he’d had when he’d carried me in here. Seriously though. I was, correction am— mostly fine.

The doctor cleared his throat, I glanced at him, my thoughts interrupted. “I would advise you young lady that you should not continue in whatever activity you were engaged in-” He cleared his throat again as he looked at the notes in the file he was holding. “For a decent amount of time. From your reaction to pressure, the amount of swelling etc, I do believe that your ankle is broken. I’m also very positive that you have at least one cracked rib but I am going to send you for X-Rays just in case. Also, you appear to be suffering some malnourishment. I am putting you on a strict diet that will help put color in your cheeks and some weight back on.” He looked over at Sebastian and Marissa with a scathing look of disapproval. “I can only assume she is staying with you?” He asked.

They nodded.

“Well in that case, please make sure this girl gets on the mend.” He signed a slip and sent me for X-Rays— that took just as long as it did to wait for the doctor and when we got back he merely glanced at them and nodded. “Like I thought, broken and cracked.” He sighed and had me bundled off to an operating room where my bones were set— a cast for my ankle and then my chest was bound to keep my rib straight. “I would like to keep her overnight to make sure she is ok.”

Marissa looked concerned. “Is there anything else wrong with her?”

The doctor shrugged. “I don’t believe so, but nevertheless we’ll keep her here as a safety precaution for now.” His eyes said different, they looked dubiously at Marissa and Sebastian as if they couldn’t take care of me or it was their fault I was so injured. I mean Sebastian looked like the embodiment of a delinquent youth. If only he knew what had really happened.

Marissa made sure I had a private room. I’m sure she and Sebastian would have stayed on guard all night long but I told them to go home. They both looked tired and I promised— I wasn’t going anywhere, it’s not like I could get far anyways, even if I was to teleport… what as I going to do? Hobble around town? I fell asleep shortly after they left me.

I was extremely cold— I shouldn’t be this cold. I remembered it had almost been too warm in my hospital room. I blinked and opened my eyes. I was standing on a tall black spire on a castle somewhere. The entire castle was made of black stone, and had a moat of lava encircling its base. I was standing on a long extended piece of a statue, over the lava. I was wearing a long flowing white nightgown— There was steam and smoke rising but all I could feel was cold… I should be boiling hot— I should be able to taste the ash and soot from the lava below me, but that’s when I saw and felt the cold rain that was pouring from the sky.

There was a voice behind me. I looked over my shoulder not seeing anything at first.

“Genevieve?”

I blinked, and wrapped my arms around myself. All I could see behind me was smoke, but as I focused my eyes on the smoke behind me I could see that boy, Christopher, but this wasn’t the blonde kid from school who I had apparently gone out with— this kid had huge black wings and all over his chest black shapes twisted and swirled.

“Christopher?”

“Yes my angel— it is me! You have finally come to be mine!”

“Wait— you’re the creepy voice in my head?”

“Seriously— you don’t remember me?”

“Nope.”

“Well— that will change soon.”

“I highly doubt that.”

“Come on— aren’t you the tiniest bit curious?”

“Not in the slightest.”

“Come here!”

I felt like I would rather jump into the lava then run to him— still not being able to think of why that was. I swallowed, suddenly aware my ankle was broken. I shouldn’t be able to stand on it. I looked down— no cast, and up. I felt fear strike me. What was going on and where was I? This was definitely not the same place I had gone to in my dreams before when I had found father Ezekiel a few weeks back. No, this was somewhere sinister, because I had looked down at my feet and then up so quickly I lost my balance. My bare feet slipped on the black stone and then I was falling down-down-down, around me there was the sound of a rushing of wings. I was caught by the blonde boy, Christopher. I was screaming in his arms, he was frowning, no, he was scowling— he looked so angry.

“I’m never letting you go anywhere ever again.”

“Why?”

“Because I picked you-you should be honoured.”

“Then why am I just pissed off?”

From somewhere I could hear someone calling my name— “WAKE UP!”

I closed my eyes, and squirmed in Christopher’s arms.

“DO SOMETHING FOR HER.” Roared a voice I knew almost as well as my own-

My eyes opened slowly. I was back in my hospital room and Vincent looked furious— he was also looking extra gorgeous in his tight jeans and leather jacket, waving his arms around at the doctor. “Her temperature is below freezing her body is soaking wet, and there are cinders and hot embers all around her bed, and she is screaming…. Now you tell me, you cracker box of a doctor— WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!?”

I reached out with my arm and managed to snag Vincent’s jacket, he looked down overjoyed.

“You’re awake.” He whispered dropping to my side, instantly ignoring the doctor, after all I was more important, obviously.

I pulled myself up into a semi sitting position and frowned. I took a deep breath— my chest wasn’t hurting when I breathed, which gave me an idea. “Vincent do me a favour and take the cast off my ankle.”

Vincent gently lifted my foot as the doctor was growling, “don’t touch that.”

Vincent looked into my eyes. “You sure you want this off?”

I nodded and he broke the cast in half. I swung my legs to the side of the bed and wiggled my toes. Then I stood up and walked around the room on both feet. My ankle was fine.

“It’s not possible.” The doctor gasped.

I blinked and looked over at the doctor. I’m not sure he meant Vincent’s ability to crack my cast open with his fists or the fact that I was standing on my previously broken ankle.

“I think my ankle is fine now. Can I please go home?”

The doctor stood stuttering— he moved over to me and motioned I should sit on the edge of my bed. He took my ankle and felt around. “Nothing broken.” He said slowly, he looked up at Vincent who shrugged.

“Can I take her home?” Vincent asked.

The doctor cleared his throat. “I suppose so.”

Vincent opened my bag which Marissa must have brought from her house and began rifling through, he eventually handed me a pair of skinnies and a black top with a red hoodie. I walked off to the bathroom, and shut the door behind me. In the sterile white space I stared at myself for the second time that day. My skinnies were slightly loose on me, but the spandex black tee fit nicely and so did the red hoodie. I found a brush on the counter and slowly picked it through my wet tangled hair— there was a knock on the door, as the door opened Vincent slipped in.

“You ok?”

I shrugged and kept brushing my tangles. Vincent sighed and took the brush from me, he put me on his lap and began to brush my hair with a finesse I would not have expected from someone like him.

“I have to change you.” He muttered, his face worried. “Soon, because I can’t have you away from me. I feel restless without you at my side.” He put the brush down and I looked at myself in his mirror— my hair was smooth and shiny, but still damp.

“Are you afraid to change me?”

He hesitated for a moment.

“Yes. Sometimes when a person is newly turned they loose their human memories— I’ve never seen someone turned up close and personal— but seeing as you are already missing memories. I am afraid for the ones you have now and if you lose those…” He trailed off, he sounded just like Marissa.

I turned myself in his arms so I was looking at him, again feeling guilty that I hadn’t explained about my memories. “Look— Vincent... I belong to you—” I took his face in my hands, “and I love you— and that isn’t anything I am going to be forgetting soon.”

His eyes still looked worried. “Let’s get you back to Marissa’s.” He said softly.

He stood me up, but locked his fingers through mine and led me from the room. I noticed that around my bed there were chunks of black smouldering rock and sparks and cinders. I shivered, a flash of that frightening place spinning through my mind.

Vincent had come on his motorbike, it was still dark out— seemed like it normally was when I ended up outside these days. I slid onto Vincent’s bike behind him and wrapped my arms around his waist. It felt familiar and safe— the wind tossed my now combed hair about and my skin felt cold. I loved the feeling like I was soaring along the ground— but not using my feet. When we got to Marissa’s apartment, we went round to the front of the building and buzzed her number. It was dark out and I was glad I was wearing a hoodie, even though I was slightly chilly. I clung to Vincent’s arm.

“Who is it?” Marissa’s voice came over the speakerphone.

“It’s Vincent” He paused. “And Genevieve.” There was a moment’s silence, then a sigh.

“Fine. Come on up.”

The door buzzed and we entered. I had in my time staying with Marissa only ever come up from the basement parking lot, but once we found an elevator I knew what floor we had to go to. Vincent said nothing looked around curiously… I guess I was right— he had never been here before. When we finally came to Marissa’s door and I knocked, Vincent wrapping his arms around me as if daring Marissa to grab me and slam the door in his face— which I am glad was not what happened. Sebastian opened the door and let us in, he made a big deal about inviting Vincent in, and then shut the door behind us. Inside I walked myself into the great room, where Marissa was standing hands on her hips, but when she saw me and that I wasn’t limping— she actually broke into a smile.

“I’m not even going to ask how it’s possible that your bones are mended— ha. You really are going to be something once you’re one of us.” She walked over to me and hugged me— and I forgave her, a tiny bit for stealing me away from Vincent— I mean it is hard to hate the girl. She is my sister-in-law after all. Marissa turned to look at her brother. “Welcome to my hidey hole.” She said sarcastically.

He looked around and grinned at her. “You’ve got a nice place… although the color scheme is definitely missing something.” He laughed.

I relaxed once some of the tension had gone out of the room. Soon we were all sitting in the great room and talking, while they made sure I was stuffing my face with food. I must admit I was starving. Vincent told Marissa he could barely let me out of his sight— he was uber afraid I was going to be targeted by his dad who would be home at the end of June, so he received permission to crash on Marissa’s couch. I was stuffed by the time that I had eaten all the food they put in front of me, extremely warm and cozy. I curled up on Vincent’s lap and fell into a slumber.

Sebastian kept trying to poke me— to wake me up but then Marissa tackled him to the floor which ended up in him carrying her off to their bedroom and slamming the door shut behind them. I sighed frustrated— lucky bums, didn’t have to worry about broken ankles and cracking ribs. Vincent chuckled as if sensing my frustration and kissed the top of my head. “Sleep.” He whispered.

So I did sleep, like the whole weekend, and I ate a lot, and went for escorted walks in the sun with Sebastian because we still weren’t sure if it was safe for me and Vincent to be seen together. Marissa had plotted out mine and Vincent’s honeymoon. Apparently she had gone digging into my past— the parts I couldn’t remember and found much to her surprise that one of the girls I had been friends with at some treatment centre I had attended was one of her and Vincent’s cousins. Marissa had phoned her, this cousin, Claire, I think? And somehow arranged it so that Vincent and I would be able to stay with her and her coven who were apparently slightly more accepting Purebloods then Marissa’s side of the family.

When I had asked why, Marissa had snorted and said it had something to do with the lax punk rock phase that had shook Britain in the past few decades.That and something about how they really couldn’t afford to stand out over there and so they tried harder to blend in with the humans. It was there, where Vincent promised he would turn me, which meant we’d be in Europe for longer— perhaps even a year, depending on how well I adjusted. I shivered at the thought. How much of me, of Genevieve would remain after being turned? I sensed that the awakened Fae within me wanted more of my humanity— wanted all of me, none of the human Gen was supposed to remain. What would happen to me? Would I disappear into nothingness? Into a being of pure light? What kind of vampire would I be? Would I be ready for the war that was so close at hand? And Vincent, would I remember him and my love for him? Would this really set me free from the cursed mark? Thoughts like these consumed me.

On Monday I returned to class, apparently we were having half days. Mr. Flimheart looked really annoyed when I sat down and lectured me for half of lunch hour on how I might not do well on my exams because I had missed two weeks of review— It was weird though because he made me stay in for a practice exam and I aced it— I could remember every lesson and lecture which sucked because I knew I would never remember anything else past one month ago.

I know Flimheart was just as shocked as I was, that I knew so much when I had missed so much school. In any case he stopped bugging me and didn’t keep me longer any more after that— which was good because I was really hungry at lunch time and if I didn’t eat at lunch it made my whole day askew. Was the faster metabolism something to do with me being Fae? I made a mental note to ask Vincent, or Marissa— maybe she knew where father Ezekiel was and I could ask him. Over that week when I wasn’t at school or studying— I was spending time working on discovering what other powers I might posses. I found I could manipulate the shape of objects with my mind but it required intense focus. I could also create the ball of light and make it as well as other objects float in the air. I already knew I could teleport to a person no matter where they were— I had shown that with my stunt two weeks ago… But then I also learned— due to me spending copious amounts of time standing before a mirror that I could change my appearance.

I had come upon this by a total fluke standing before the mirror wondering what it would be like to have blue or pink hair, and my scalp began to tingle— when I had focused long enough I had cotton candy colored hair, like when the pink and blue cotton candy accidentally gets mixed together in the machine as it is swirling. That made me giggle, however once I had focused on one color, I was able to change it, not only that but I could change multiple things about my appearance, like for example my hairstyle, my skin tone, my eye color… that was weird.

I couldn’t believe how fast the last week of school went! My exams were all on one day, and that same night was to be my rehearsal dinner before my wedding. Kiera popped over to Marissa’s place with me, where I put on a dress my mom and dad would apparently replace acceptable— I felt like I was wearing a blanket. The dress was a pale yellow, and went right up to my neck and covered my entire back— my only consolation was that it wasn’t long and it still accentuated my slim figure— that and Vincent told me I still looked amazing. I suppose I would always look amazing to him— or he was just being nice despite the fact this dress was a disaster. Marissa piled my hair up on my head, it looked like the black locks had a sheen of gold when the light hit it.

Marissa had booked us for dinner at a classy restaurant down town, and we were the first to get there. My head was swimming, I wasn’t sure how I should act around my relatives— these people who were now erased from my memories… How did I, Genevieve, act? I should have asked Marissa more questions about myself— how I had used to act when I had been the more human version of me. Vincent arrived shortly after Marissa, Kiera, Sebastian and I, Vincent having dashed back to his own place for change of clothes. I had never seen Vincent in anything other than casual clothes but when he came in he was wearing black dress pants, a wool double breasted jacket and a buttoned up black and white dress shirt, he looked quite spiffy. Vincent had even semi-combed his forever wind-blown hair and it was now in almost neat spikes sticking up all over the place. I sort of like the wind-blown look better myself. I blushed. I really would have to remember to censor my thoughts tonight.

We had just sat down when the blonde girl— who Marissa told me I must call sister or Annabelle, came flouncing into the restaurant, a tall dark haired boy on her arm. She was wearing a pale blue dress which matched mine. After hugging Marissa she somewhat hesitantly approached me. I smiled— at least I think I did and hugged her. The boy, who Marissa told me later was Topher’s brother was named Mark. The way he stared at me made me feel ill. After Annabelle hugged me she and Mark sat down beside me at the table, and were soon deep in conversation. Mark made me feel uneasy, but I didn’t have much time to contemplate why because strolling in just after my sister came the people who had raised me, mom and dad, and behind them trickled in my other relatives— none of whom I recognized.

I was made the subject of many hugs and congratulations, and I must have introduced Vincent to everyone at least three or four times— he let my very sensible looking relatives hug him and comment on his hair or on how pale he was— he never got angry even when I am sure someone questioned him if he had made me pregnant and was that why we were getting married so young. I nearly spat out my champagne when I heard someone ask him that the first time. Instead he had chuckled— and told them no— but then had also told my relatives that we might want kids at some point in the near future which made me cough again. Little stinker. He was probably doing that on purpose all those comments. Not that I had even contemplated the idea of kids… did I want them? I rolled my eyes— I was too young to think about things like that yet.

After dinner, which my vampire friends and Vincent ate bravely putting on their best faces, we all headed to the church. I was glad to see this church was nowhere near a graveyard and that it didn’t look creepy at all, plus it was right in the middle of town… The preacher there was a very friendly old man who was over excited that we at such a young age were getting married instead of living together first and blah, blah, blah, that little bit made Vincent grin and nod and I blush as I remembered just the week earlier… but I pushed it aside and tried to act cool.

We went through a mock ceremony. I was surprised that my sister Annabelle was one of my bridesmaids, I mean from what Marissa had told me— I and Annabelle hadn’t been close in the last little bit and also apparently she thought I was an idiot for going out with Vincent— everyone knew that apparently… but whatever. Marissa’s my maid of honor so it’s all good. Dad walked me down the aisle all manly like and made a big deal about handing off my hand to Vincent. Mom just sat and blubbered the entire time. Mark, Annabelle’s boyfriend sat in the back pew and glared at us. Sebastian stood with Vincent as Vincent’s best man... all in all I felt it was going to be over the top maybe the old me would have like that. After the rehearsal at the church I was fawned over by the people I can’t remember, Vincent gave me a quick hug and wink while whispering. “Tomorrow.” And then he left me to my sobbing mother and blinking father who was trying not to cry and moping sister who thought I was on drugs or pregnant or whatever she thought about me now a days but was pulled away by Mark after several minutes. When I finally got free it was only because Marissa had to leave and I was going with her and Kiera and Sebastian.

Mom and dad frowned at Kiera and Sebastian who they thought were just rebels because their hair was blue and how much money they were probably spending on dye rather than things that matter. How were they to know that Kiera and Sebastian had been born with bright blue hair?

Back at Marissa’s I fell back on the couch with a poof. “Gah. I hate-love you Marissa.” I moaned. “I can’t believe you are making us go through with this! I can’t remember a single person who was in that room tonight. And Mark, he is so creepy.”

Marissa patted my head and smiled. “Oh, you poor, poor thing. I feel so awful that you are going to officially be my sister. And Mark.” She sighed. “We’ll have to deal with him later.” She paused. “Or I might have to deal with him later… sooner than later most likely.”

I chose to ignore that last comment. I was too tired to think anymore. I licked my lips. “Tomorrow.” I muttered happily thinking of Vincent’s comment.

Marissa rolled her eyes, and made a face. “Don’t ever tell me about your love life… that would just be creepy. I don’t want to know things like that about my brother.”

Sebastian walked into the room and caught the last comment Marissa had stated and laughed. “You can always tell me if you want.”

Marissa glared at him, and Kiera who had followed him into the room hissed- “Stop being soooo creepy…”

Marissa sat down on a chair opposite where I was lying on the sofa. She had this tired look on her face.

“Don’t get me wrong, I mean thanks.” I muttered, hoping she wasn’t mad at me.

“You’re welcome.” She said and blinked her green eyes.

Sebastian was buzzing about in the fridge, I could hear him looking for something, and Kiera had disappeared off to probably the spare room which I had been sharing with her on and off over the last several days.

I couldn’t get over the feeling that Marissa wasn’t herself, but I couldn’t put my finger on why. She looked as gorgeous as always but her color— if you could say she had color... the girl was always pasty pale, looked slightly green. Did vampires get colds or sick at all? I yawned and curled up on my side, my eyes closing.

“Marissa, don’t sweat the small stuff. You’re awesome.” I said it once more just in case that was why she looked so— I don’t know what word I am looking for.

I fell asleep. I had a weird dream that night, something about not being able to remember this face— and knowing it was important, then Marissa was holding me in her arms and telling me that everything would be ok— but she looked hungry and her pupils were dilating. She wasn’t eating enough but for some odd reason she also looked like she had put on weight… how was that possible? Then I screamed and woke up.