1 Prologue

Waking up is always the hardest part of every morning and, for reasons that are out of my control, on some days, it becomes even harder. Today was definitely one of those days. Somehow, even though my body loathed every second of it, I was able to slowly draw myself away from my pillow, eyes still filled with sleep. A stream of morning light stretched out across the floor of my bedroom, and for a moment I was worried that I was going to be late for classes, before I remembered that it was Sunday. Right, the last Sunday of the summer break.

I achingly stretched my arms up over my head, before quickly grabbing for my phone, the screen flashing awake almost automatically. A few notifications hovered under the time, and without even thinking, I unlocked my phone and went to reply.

"Yea, I'll be there at 3." Without a second thought, I sent the text message, and without another moment to waste, swung myself from my bed.

The floor was cold underfoot but, that was nothing new; if anything it was a comforting reminder that nothing had changed overnight. I use the term overnight loosely, after all it had only been a couple hours ago that I had finally decided to sleep. Nonetheless, it was still comforting that nothing had changed in the past few hours in the house. Everything seemed to be perfectly sound.

I grabbed a robe that was hanging from the back of my door as I went to leave my room, my feet practically carrying me towards the kitchen as my mind wandered. I hadn't seen the majority of my friends since June, as the majority of their families used the summer months to travel. Not mine. Instead of spending the summer lazing on a distant beach I had been stuck within the walls of home studying relentlessly. Not that the sort of studying Mom had me doing would be of any help in school. If anything, it served only to numb my mind further, making me dread the return to classes all the more. Thankfully, it was finally the last year of highschool.

Praying that the kitchen would be empty as I made my way towards it, was almost pointless at this point. I could already hear the sounds of Mom and her latest partner, as they opened almost every cupboard in consecutive order. Part of me paused for a moment; Anna had been my mother's partner now for several years but part of still resented that she had filled the vacancy in our family that had once been filled by my Father. Not that I had anything against Anna, she just wasn't dad.

Even if my mind had become side-tracked by body seemed to be on a singular track, and before I could even realize it, I had crossed the threshold of the kitchen. Mom and Anna both turned on their heels, ushering bright smiles, and they greeted me.

"Good morning Mo. How did you sleep, darling?"

-I slept fine, Mom. And you two?"

Mom quickly ushered a side glance at the woman she had her arms wrapped around, a warm smile across her face. "We slept well, I'd say." She paused, "Now can I get you two some breakfast, before I eat?"

Breakfast went by without a hitch, and no matter how much I insisted to help, Mom simply ushered me and Anna into two seats across the Large wooden island, practically by force, before turning away towards the stovetop. I had hardly time to even think about talking to the woman next to me, when I was presented with a large bowl of oatmeal and fruit. It's been over eighteen years, and sometimes it still took me completely by shock how quickly Mom could prepare food. I thanked her and quietly began eating, falling partially back into my mind. The summer had completely slipped between my fingers, how could it already be September?

I'd been so enveloped in my thoughts, that I hardly even paid notice, as Mom gently pushed back Anna's hair and sunk her fangs deep into the woman's neck.