Once among the twilight hour
The beetles' light was turning sour-

No that wasn't right.

Acacia scrapped yet another line in her journal. Dozens of lines were scratched out and at least a few pages were wrinkled and ripped out of frustration.

"Ughhhhhhhhh!" She groaned into her hands.

Screw it. She'd wasted an hour with this stupid poem that she just couldn't get right. Acacia could always come back to it later, but for now, she was done letting it waste her time.

It had been a pretty dumb idea to hang around her hotel room on only her second day of being in Arcana. She had some exploring to do.

Grabbing her camera and her jacket, Acacia made a b-line for the door. She would be back later to work.

Or so she thought.

~

"Tristan hasn't left his room in days."

Whispers echoed through the halls of a manor that lay across from where Acacia was staying. The town of Ire was grand enough that she would probably never find herself near its halls.

Jasper Manor was centuries old dating back to the seventeen hundreds. The manor itself was strange and forbidden to the town of Ire, those who lived there stayed away. No one knew who was maintaining it and while it was quite curious, no one was willing to intrude.

Every once and a while a servant who tended to the manor was seen strolling through town, very rare occasions admittedly. Even rarer were the sights of these characters in strange outfits-costumes that may have been the Victorian era but were certainly an odd sight in 2018.

Yes, Jasper Manor was certainly an odd place.

Inside the halls ,a caretaker by the name of Mina sighed.

"I've noticed."

"What do you suggest we do about him?" Emmett, the head butler, wondered.

Lucy folded her arms in a huff. "Well I'm done doing nothing! He's been like this for too long! I can hardly remember a time where he wasn't sulking."

Mina directed her attention at the floor, wringing her wrists. "I certainly can. You've been here for only a few decades. We've been by his side for centuries, since before we were turned. He used to be so full of joy-"

"-When Anastasia was alive, I know. It's been nearly two centuries! Surely he must have moved on by now!" Lucy rolled her eyes.

Emmett nodded pensively. He tapped his pointer finger against his chin as he spoke. "Perhaps he has... And that's what has gotten him down. He feels guilty that he has moved on. That he can't love her forever the way he used to."

"Well he needs to start enjoying his life or death or whatever it should be called. We need to do something drastic. Get him out of the house." Lucy suggested.

Her shoulders slumped as she let out yet another sigh. "I think we should go into town. There has to be something interesting enough that'll get him out of this phase. Perhaps a new book?"

"Ah yes I hope they have 'How to Move on From Your Dead Wife for Vampires.'" Victor chimed in, voice dripping with sarcasm. They had nearly forgotten he was there, only to be disappointed.

They all shot him dirty looks. It was just like Victor to let his dry wit run free at the most inopportune moments. There usually was not a single moment that called for his dry humor though.

Victor was put in charge of the rest of the servants as Lucy, Mina, and Emmett ventured into town, the first time all year. Four months into 2018 and they hadn't left the manor once. It was sad really. Like Tristan, they were forgetting how to live.

~

Ire was a small town. It was by no means, overly exciting or loud. Simple was the word probably used most to describe it. It had the basics a small town would have: a couple stores, a few hotels, some gas stations, a handful of restaurants, and a minuscule movie theater which was pretty much the town's best source of entertainment besides a rundown old theater. If her dad hadn't warned her against traveling to Arcana, she probably would have never wanted or cared to visit such a forgotten place. The only reason she'd ever heard of it was due to her high school pen pal, and through her father's warnings.

She still didn't understand why he thought the place was too dangerous for her, but if he hated it she was all for visiting. There was nothing she loved more than adventure and pissing Jonathan Briars off.

The first day of April in Arcana was gorgeous.

Camera in hand, Acacia strolled down the street, making her way to her favorite spot in the town so far. It'd been only a day but she'd fallen in love with a small lake that rested near to Jasper Manor. It was so peaceful as no one ever went that close and the view from the bridge was perfect. There was a single willow tree tat dipped into the water, soft stones, perfect for sitting lying underneath and scattered around. The water ranged in colors, from a deep violet at sunset to sea green midday to a perfect blue in the afternoon.

She had to get more pictures.

The wind swept her hair around as she stood on the bridge, camera held to her eye.

She was so focused on the horizon that she didn't even realize that she'd captured more than a few photos. She had captured the attention of three strangers, whose lives were about to change forever.

~

"So books might help?" Emmett wondered, as the wandered down the street."

"Last time I was here I heard about this thing called a Bop It. Maybe it's fun enough that'll help make him happy again." Lucy suggested.

Mina purses her lips. "I don't know if any toy is really going to help that well-"

They came to the bridge, Mina stopping in her tracks.

There was a girl, taking her camera out of a bag. With her pale platinum blonde hair, left down besides a few strands that were pulled into a small side ponytail, and her sparkling honey brown eyes she was gorgeous, but that wasn't why she was remarkable to them. No what made her remarkable was the familiar freckles that splattered across her recognizable face. A navy blue ring around her iris, making her quite unusual.

If it weren't for the brown in her eyes, the teal blue ombré in her hair, or her modern clothes, they would have immediately thought her to be a long lost friend.

"Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" Mina asked in hesitation. It was as if she spoke believing that getting the girl's attention would make her fade into thin air. They had to be quiet, in fear of driving her away.

"She looks like that portrait we've got hanging up in the hall!" Lucy stated a bit too loudly.

The girl did not hear them, and if she did she payed them no mind.

"Lady Anastasia..." Emmett gasped.

"I'd know that face anywhere." Mina nodded. "But why?"

"Why does she look like our lady?" Emmett continued Mina's thought.

Lucy bounced on her toes. "She is our Anastasia! That has to be it."

Mina shook her head. "I watched Anastasia die. Besides her eye color is different and I can't see Stasia coloring her hair like that."

"And why wouldn't she return to Tristan if she was alive? She was as much in love with him as he was her."

Lucy shook her head. "Not like that! Reincarnation! I was in the library a few years ago and I remember reading something on vampires. On multiple occasions the love of a vampire has been reincarnated if they died too early or from unnatural causes. There's got to be a very specific line of events though. Sounds like Anastasia to me."

Mina hesitated. "I am not so sure... Those are just legends."

It was Emmett's turn to shake his head. "They aren't just legends. They have been known to happen. But the details... Lucy is only half right."

"So we could possibly be looking at the reincarnation of our dear Anastasia?" Mina gasped.

"I think we must be!" Lucy exclaimed. "Look at her! Just imagine her with her hair up and in a dress and you've pretty much got the portrait in the hall. She can not be a coincidence."

"What does this mean though?" Mina wondered. "Should we tell Tristan? Should we not?"

"Should we invite her to meet him?" Emmett asked.

Lucy laughed. "No no no I've got a better idea. We should just take her to him."

"As in... kidnapping?"

"No sane human is going to visit Jasper Manor if we approach her like this. She'll think we're a bunch of nutters."

No one had time to retort, for the girl with the camera glanced their way.

"Oh hi! Sorry, I hope I wasn't hogging the bridge." The girl spoke up, finally noticing them. Her voice was sweet like rich caramel as she greeted them.

Mina gulped. "No, don't fret about it. We were just watching you. You're a tourist aren't you?"

The girl laughed. "That obvious?"

"We don't get many around these parts." Emmett admitted.

"You got me. I can't see why this place isn't more popular. It's absolutely gorgeous here. Although I must admit that mansion over there is a bit off putting. Kinda creepy."

Mina chuckled. "We work there actually."

The girl who looked so much like Anastasia blushed, eyes widening in response. "Oh! I didn't mean-"

"It's quite alright." Mina laughed some more. "We understand that it seems like a dreary place."

"It seems like an adventure. Something you'd read in a book. Old and a little run down but with hidden passages and a secret past." The girl's eyes sparkled with excitement. Realizing how odd that might have sounded to the normal people she quickly stumbled to correct herself. "Er... Old architecture is cool, right?"

Before either of the three of them could respond the girl averted her eyes, speaking fast. "I should get going. It was lovely meeting you I suppose. Maybe we'll meet again."

"Maybe..." Mumbled Mina as she watched the girl scurry away.

Lucy sighed. "What do we do now? We can't let her get away! What if she's the only chance at making Tristan happy again?"

Emmett rolled his eyes. "You're being quite ridiculous. Tristan's happiness does not rely on some strange girl, even if she happens to look a tad similar to Lady Anastasia." He hesitated. "...But just in case it does, we should probably do something."

Lucy and Mina shared conspiracy glances. Mina would do anything for her cousin, even if it were as poor an idea as that. And Lucy was up for anything.

"Oh no... I fear I shall regret this." Emmett moaned.

~

Acacia strolled throughout town, stopping at the cafe. Mirror Mirror Café was a quaint little building, coated in warming blues and soft greens, known for their varied coffee, assorted pastries, and computer filled dinning area. It was the sort of place you might expect a witch to send you to to fatten you up, not that you could mind all that much.

Mirror Mirror was empty when she stepped inside. Only other person inside besides herself was a scrawny kid about her age, bent over the counter and scrubbing at a spot absent minded and bored.

Immediately the dark haired young man straightened up at her notice. He wore square glasses, which covered his stormy blue eyes. The glasses seemed the type to fall down frequently and he pushed them up as he spoke.

"What can I get for you?"

"Hmm how are your mint chip brownies?" She glanced at his name tag. "...Jonah. Huh I used to know someone with that name."

His face perked up. "Personal favorite of mine- Well any of the brownies really. Can't get enough of them. Once my metabolism sorts itself out I swear I'm gonna be rounder than a cheesewheel."

Acacia laughed. "I'll take one of those. And one americano, please."

"Coffee in the afternoon?" He raised an eyebrow before turning her back to her to start the coffee machine anyway.

"Oh I'm gonna need it. It's gonna be a long night. I've got creative juices I need to get flowing." She smiled sweetly at him.

Jonah chuckled. "I can't fault you for that. Are you new around here? Ire isn't that big of a town and we don't get as many visitors as other cities do, but I figured I knew everyone in town for the most part."

"For the most part?"

"Well there's that manor. Don't know who runs it but apparently it's still going. Strange that, I think." Jonah pulled a mint brownie from its case.

Acacia shrugged. "I just met a couple of workers from the manor. And yeah I am new. Locals sure catch on quick."

Jonah threw a new towel over his shoulder as he finished off the ordered americano. "It's a lot like cars. You've got that new person smell to you."

"Are you saying you smell me?" She snickered.

He rolled his eyes, handing over the cup. "That sounded smoother in my head. I'm just saying. You hold yourself differently than everyone else in Ire. How long will you be here?"

Acacia took a slow slip, not breaking eye contact. "I don't know yet. I sort of want to experience the world and everything there is, but I can't say for sure if I'll be in Arcana for a week or twenty!"

"Well we have pretty much everything to experience in Arcana. You might have to go a few towns over, but we've got lots to show you."

"I'm looking forward to it. I think I'll stay at least a couple weeks. Possibly until the end of June if I like it." She grinned brightly at him. "I'll probably be in here a lot so I might as well introduce myself. I'm Acacia. Acacia Briars."

He took her hand and shook it as she stuck it out. "A-C-A-C-I-A?"

She nodded, her eyebrows raised in puzzlement.

Jonah's grin grew. "You wouldn't happen to have a pen pal by the name of Jonah Harvey would you?"

She gaped. "What are the chances?"

Jonah laughed. "It's Ire so pretty good actually. Arcana isn't a big country."

A firm hold on her new sweets and her back now to Jonah she began towards the door. "I really need to get going, but we'll have to catch up- how's Thursday?"

"Sounds perfect!"

~

"I don't feel right about this..." Mina mumbled.

"It's kidnapping. Of course you don't. We shouldn't be doing it."

Lucy rolled her eyes. "Of course we shouldn't. But that isn't going to stop us!"

"It should!"

"It's for the best. This girl... She might be the closure he needs to move on." Mina nodded.

"If Tristan were here he'd advise against it."

"Tristan advises against everything fun." Lucy huffed.

"It's just a little kidnapping. You say it like we haven't done worse in the past two hundred years." Mina stated, now right outside of room A113 of the Rose Briar Hotel. The girl who looked strikingly like Anastasia had retired there after seeing the city. It was not like they followed her or anything. Actually no that was exactly what they had done.

"I do not like this plan." Emmett hissed in a whisper. "But I suppose I can endure aiding you. She turns out to be a slayer though and I swear I will not let the two of you rest until I've become hoarse with telling you off."

Lucy shrugged, smirking. "Deal."

She knocked on the door labeled A113. "Cleaning service!"

"Come in! It's open." The other side of the door answered sweetly.

The door wasn't automatically locked. Lucy reached for the handle, jiggling it open. The door swung away, revealing the familiar blonde sitting at a desk. Lucy gave one final smirk to her crew.

"I'm sorry about- Wait a second I know you!" The girl's shock did little to catch them off guard. She frowned. "I'm guessing you're not here to clean are you."

"I'm sorry, Miss, but you're coming with us." Mina frowned back.

The girl scoffed. "Yeah the hell I am!" She readied her stance.

Now the three of them could take her easily, but they had not been prepared for too much of a struggle, let alone a challenge. To have her simply challenge them as such was quite the shock.

Lucy barreled forward, swooping suddenly for the girl's stomach while Mina dropped upon her, grabbing and holding her arms. The girl head butted Lucy, leaving quite the bruise and almost twisted her way from Mina's grasp. She possibly would have succeeded if it were not for Emmett, pressing a cloth to her mouth causing her to fall limp.

"Ow!" Lucy rubbed her head. "She's certainly feisty."

"Let's get her back to the manor as soon as possible. I've got a feeling we finally have something that'll peak Tristan's interest."

~

"YOU KIDNAPPED SOMEONE?" Tristan rubbed his temple. "You actually kidnapped someone."

"Well yeah, but she's not just someone-"

"I don't care who she is. I don't care why you did it. I just care that YOU KIDNAPPED SOMEONE!" He was panicking, ready to tear his hair out at the actions of his workers.

"In our defense," Tristan groaned at Lucy's words. "We were left unsupervised and it has been incredibly dull around here as of the past few decades. Someone had to drag us out of our monotony!"

"I didn't think that I would have to spell this out for you but I suppose I'll have to make it an official house rule. No murdering, no kidnapping, no chloroform, no arson, no stalking, no stabbing, no poisoning, no blackmail, no threatening, no stealing, and again NO KIDNAPPING." Tristan snapped, leaning against his desk and rubbing his temple again. They had indeed brought the girl, hands tied, to Tristan's office. She was still unconscious but no damage had been done to her. Of course he would not expect his servants to injure an innocent, but then again he did not expect them to kidnap someone either!

The girl began to stir. Tristan rolled his eyes, finally paying attention to the victim. She was quite beautiful with her near white blonde hair, teal streaks dyed to the tips, her pale skin, and round face full of freckles. He did not pay much attention to her but the little he did he recognized he found her very familiar.

Tristan bent down, beginning to untie her wrists. Her head rolled, showing her begin to stir again. Then bam!

She head butted him.

"Ow!" He rubbed his forehead, a bruise beginning to form. "I suppose that's fair."

"Listen you freaks! I don't think you want to mess with me. I've got some very dangerous ties and if they don't hear from me-" The girl hissed.

Tristan, after the pain from the head butt began to fade, immediately noticed the girl's hypnotizing eyes. They were brown, but with a peculiar blue ring around the honey brown of her iris. It was a dark, but bright navy that struck him. He had never met another person with eyes that shade of blue... Except Anastasia.

She looked a lot like her. He gaped, being struck speechless. He could never forget her face. He bit down on his tongue as he stumbled for words.

"We're not going to anything to you! This was a misunderstanding! I swear! Here!" Tristan scrambled to undo the ropes that bound her hands. She eyed him warily.

"...Just like that?" She said.

"Well yeah this was a misunderstanding. You're free to go." Tristan shrugged.

The girl raised an eyebrow. "What kind of person kidnaps people as a misunderstanding?"

Lucy spoke up. "The kind of people who thought you'd be okay with it?"

The strange girl who they still didn't know the name of whipped around staring at Lucy. "Who would be okay with it?"

Lucy leaned in. "You'd be okay with it if here is where you belonged. Can you honestly tell me you don't feel a connection to this place? Something weird and supernatural inside you?"

Lucy sounded crazy to everyone in the room, including the girl they had accidentally kidnapped based on her bewildered stare, despite that the way her eyes shifted gave away that perhaps Lucy was closer to the truth than the girl would admit.

~

Waking up in a strange place after being kidnapped from her hotel room in a new country was not exactly ideal. The servants who had kidnapped, she obviously didn't trust, despite there being something familiar about them, as if they had met a long time ago and she just didn't remember.

The man she had head butted was a different story. There was something so comforting about him, so trusting that she almost could believe him.

Almost.

She knew all about creatures of the night. Some had the ability to hypnotize. Though it didn't seem that he was hypnotizing her, if he could. Usually the tell was in the eyes and none of them glowed with the air of supernatural like she'd seen before.

She had to lie. "Is this some April Fools joke?"

Acacia had always been attached to the supernatural, in ways she didn't always understand. As if there was a second voice in her head drawing her towards the inhuman. Acacia was so comfortable alone and in the unknown, perhaps in part to that voice.

The brunette servant, the one who wore her hair in pigtails tied with loose bows, with hazel eyes shrugged.
​
"Guess it was a weird question."

"You're free to go, uh miss." The man she head butted reminded her.

Acacia stood up. "I have some questions."

She was quite a bit shorter than him and the two calmer servants who had kidnapped her, but she was taller than the light brunette girl at least.

The vampire in front of her hesitated, leaning against his desk. "I suppose that's the least I can do."

"What do a group of vampires want with me? Explain this misunderstanding. I don't understand." Her gaze was cold as she stared him down. His eyes shot wide.

"Vampires? I don't-"

"I know you are. Not exactly subtle about it. Scars on your necks, abnormally pale, pointed teeth, politeness, the kidnapping. Vampires have a weird reputation and you fit the bill." Acacia folded her arms.

The man sighed. "You're right. I won't lie to you."

"Good."

"My name is Tristan Jasper. This is Jasper Manor. Let me introduce you to my most... interesting staff members. Lucy Wadley," The man nodded at the brunette. Lucy waved. "Mina Sinclaire,"

He pointed to the dark haired woman, who was much more serious and calm than Lucy was. She had electric teal eyes, just as did Tristan did. Tristan and Mina looked very similar, both having dark brown hair, dimpled cheeks, and the identical teal eyes.

"And Emmett Clerval." Last Tristan pointed towards the tall, raven haired man who had aided in her kidnapping. "They thought you were an old friend of ours."

"Yeah sorry about that. We've been very bored for a couple of centuries." Lucy shrugged.

"You're only ninety-eight." Emmett rolled his eyes.

Acacia rubbed the bridge of her nose, almost laughing at the two immortals. "You know what. I'm not even gonna ask. You say I'm free to go?"

"If you wish, but you are welcome to stay if you want." Mina spoke up.

Tristan ignored her. "You're free to go. We're terribly sorry for the inconvenience. We won't bother you again. I'll show you out."

Acacia nodded, brain whirring as they left the study. The inside looked exactly how you'd expect a hallway from the Victorian era to look with its decorative deep bronze wallpapered walls and ornate candleholders illuminating the manor. It was a gorgeous place from the inside. Almost inspiring.

Don't go. The walls whispered. An imaginary string sprouted from her chest threatening to pull, desiring to drag her away from the exits. It wasn't her home.

So why did she want to stay?

It was madness. Acacia decided. No it was fate. Her heart seemed to speak with her.

They were probably very bored. It didn't seem like they got out much. Maybe Acacia was exactly what they needed. She was always up for adventure and trouble.

Was that exactly what she was running from?

Acacia stopped in her tracks. "What if... What if I don't want to leave?"

"What do you mean you don't want to leave?" Tristan whipped around.

"Something about this place... I need to stay. Something tells me that this was no misunderstanding. I was meant to be here. I have to figure out what." Acacia stomped her in determination.

"I'm afraid I can't allow it."

"I'll be good. I swear! Don't you think this place could use some fresh energy?" She stared him down.

He looked away. "It's not safe. You're human."

"I'm a human who can handle herself. If I truly wanted you dead you would be by now."

Tristan almost chuckled. "Is that so?"

Acacia tossed her hair over her shoulder, displaying her confidence. "It is. I won't be long, I swear. I just... I've got a feeling that if I don't stay for at least a little while I'm missing out on answers to questions I have and perhaps the biggest adventure of my life. Please, Tristan."

His face softened. He didn't speak, but instead gazed intensely as he pondered whether or not to allow her to stay. She was so familiar...

"I suppose... I'll have Mina show you to your room."

What did she just ask for?

And what did he just agree to?

Thanks for reading the first chapter of The Sliding Scale of Vampire Friendliness! I hope you enjoyed it and if you did let me know! It makes my day to hear from you. Thanks!