Darren stood behind me on the stairs, listening to their conversation. Cecil started. "Your daughter barged into my room, accusing me of killing her mom. She is rude and vengeful. I don't get why you're so lenient with her."

"You're right about her being impolite, and she's not adjusting well to what happened, but she's only seventeen. I can't abandon her. She's overprotective of her mom, since she was there when I wasn't."

"Of course you would take her side. What about me and Darren? You're abandoning us. I don't want her here."

"I'm not leaving her like before. I can't without Fay."

Cecil left the room, and she saw me. She stormed toward me while I stood. I wasn't afraid, only curious about what she would do. "Eavesdropping on me?" She grabbed my neck and threw me over the banister. I landed on a wooden cabinet in the living room.

It made a noise loud enough that Nick ran into the room, shocked. Even Darren looked surprised. It surprised me too, but not as much as the fact it didn't hurt. Neither her gripping my neck nor being thrown a few feet on a hard surface caused any pain. This must be another vampire trait.

"Are you okay, Shelly?" My dad stared wide-eyed at me with concern.

I scurried over to him with my face turning hot from the embarrassment of everyone staring at me. "Yeah, I'm fine. That didn't hurt at all." I assured him to relax.

He glared at Cecil. "If you bother my daughter again, I'm kicking you out."

Cecil walked to her room without a glance at us. Nick turned his attention back to me. "Are you okay? Do you want to go home?"

His smoldering added to my discomfort. "No, I can take care of myself. I'm going with Darren to the restaurant tonight." We headed into Darren's room, wanting to get away from our parents.

"I can't believe them," I said as he shut his door.

"My mom is usually calm, but you must've triggered her." Darren sat next to me on his bed. "Nick leaving her and I was devastating since she thinks I'm almost out of time. Still, I wouldn't worry about her being a threat."

"You're right." I could sympathize with them, especially with almost losing Darren. They were right about me being rude, so I'd start becoming kinder. We talked until it was time to go. I had been a loner my whole life, but having Darren, Nick, Kari, and Gretchen by my side has been fun. I decided to continue on this path.

We walked to the restaurant that evening. Gretchen handed me a drink when I walked up to the counter. "Are you feeling better?"

I appreciated her remembering what I told her. This was my chance to discover more about Bridgett and Gretchen's honesty. "Yeah, because I heard of a girl named Bridgett. She can reverse the vampire effect. Do you know about her?"

She paused, remembering her encounters with her. "Yeah, she visited with Darren. We got mad at each other when she tried to turn people without their permission."

I turned toward Darren, who knew Bridgett's desire to turn people back. Bridgett must be his girlfriend he mentioned. "Are you close to Bridgett?"

"Yes, we work together. We dislike people being vampires." He abruptly stopped talking and finished his drink.

People were averse to Bridgett, and Darren complained his soul was stuck from being a vampire. I needed to get more information on these things. I leaned closer toward him and whispered. "Does it bother you and her that people's souls are trapped?"

"Yes, we feel it strongly." He whispered back, annoyed by me in his personal space. "Her presence has a strong healing effect on souls, which disturbs people who aren't ready for that much power."

I leaned back. Darren, and especially Bridgett, was more aware of subtle things like souls than the average person. This would be inconceivable to most people. Maybe if I meet her, I would understand more. I didn't feel any different after changing into a vampire, but I preferred to be fully alive in my body.

I finished my drink, which helped since Fay's death has been bothering me again lately. Gretchen gave me another glass. I asked more about Bridgett. "Is there anything else she did to annoy you?"

"She seems aloof and irritated a lot, but other than that, no. She never offers her blood to vampires and seems content to not give them anything. It seems she hates their existence."

That made her sound like a threat to me, but I dislike them too, and I preferred them to change back. I could never tolerate them after that attack on me and my mom. Though, not getting blood would be a painful way for someone like me to wither away. Hopefully, I would meet her soon, and it'll go well. Darren should arrange a meeting for us soon.

I drove home after walking with Darren home. The guy was hot and cold, but I felt connected to him for being my brother. I wanted to look after him and made sure he was doing okay. I didn't want to stay there with Cecil angry at me, and tensions were high between her and our dad. This tension also affected Darren, who had enough trouble already.

As I was entering my house, someone was walking around my house. They're trying to get inside. I sensed my changes got their attention, and they're too curious. I needed to stop this threat.