Is your name Richard? Because you are a dick...

"Wait so you are saying that werewolves are real? And they will be joining us at this meeting thingy?" Gabriela forced herself to focus on something other than the potential of having to bite into another human being.

Drinking from a cup each evening was its own horror, but the thought of sinking her fangs through another person's flesh and feeling their hot blood over her tongue was both horrifying and alluring. Unready to face the realization of both, she pushed the scenario to the back of her mind. 

"Yes, they also hold key advantages against us. They are not limited to the night as we are, along with being able to reproduce biologically. Though, not all of their offspring will carry the lycanthropy gene." Bridget explained patiently.

As the discovery of further species continued Gabriela wondered where Eli and his line fell on the power scale, as they seemed to have some very glaring deficiencies. Even in her dreams, it would seem, she would be lacking in some vital area or another. 

"Great, so super strong, can move in the daylight, and immune to garlic." Gabriela ticked off the points on her fingers.

"Only thing they have in common is a weakness to silver." She remembered that as Bridget spoke about using silver coated knives, bullets with liquid silver in their hollowed cores, and other items used to fight the occasional rogue wolf.

"Sounds like they are top of the food chain." 

"They wish. Firstly, we are stronger and take more abuse. With enough blood we will heal back to our original state. Their regeneration is good, but lose a limb and it is gone. Scars will appear and can hinder mobility, also hurt them enough and they will die. They are long lived, not immortal." Bridget listed off the points defensively.

The idea of her species not being top of the pack didn't sit well with the elder vampire. Inwardly she reminded herself that Gabriela was new to the world and didn't know how the balances among the food chains was kept and established by whatever force of nature balanced them. 

"And Zariah's people?" Gabriela led into the question. The odd tension along with Bridget referring to the woman's people as coven rather than family had implied a difference in species there as well.

Bridget snorted in response before pushing a book over towards Gabriela. It featured the image of a woman standing in the center with other woman around her, each holding up bowls that seemed to spill over with dark fluid.

"Human sacrifice?" The question seemed logical as upon closer look the woman in the illustration was bound and the dark liquid oozed down her arms as well. 

"Witchcraft. Closer to your idea of lichs though, than the Macbeth 'Double double, toil and trouble' type. They steal life from their victim's blood and by capturing the souls of the sacrifice tie their lifeforce completely to theirs. To kill a witch you have to destroy the vessel the soul is kept in." Bridget sighed as she looked over the dramatic sketch. It gave a sense of mystery to the whole process, a romanticism that they had seen for the preternatural species over the past couple centuries in human fiction and literature.

"Great, so another being that lives off blood?" Gabriela wrinkled her nose before sighing.

"So let me guess, since they are human they are immune to sunlight, silver, and the like?" She wasn't feeling like she had won the immortal genetic lottery. Still, she was willing to listen and attempt to take in the information. 

"Yes, and no. Their magic only works at night. In daylight their true age tends to show; which depending on the witch and her age, isn't pretty. Also, a person has to be willing to become a witch and make the choice to drink a living person's blood." Bridget ticked off the points along her fingers. Each one pointed out a different short coming of the species.

"Plus physically they are weaker than us, slower, and lack the regenerative powers. Just because they can't be killed doesn't mean they will spring back up." 

"Birdie, Eli phoned. He will be back in ten. Best to get downstairs with your pet." One of the elder vampires leaned inside the door.

The female's voice held a line of contempt that Gabriela didn't know where it was meant to be directed. No matter that either way it didn't bode well for her or Bridget. With a sigh Bridget closed the book as a signal their lesson had ended.

"We will be right down Annora" Bridget called back through the door while rolling her eyes. The immature display of annoyance had Gabriela choking back a laugh.

The disparity between the tension of the event and ridiculous display was overwhelming and the mood was shattered. In response Bridget snorted before looking at Gabriela's bare feet pointedly. 

"No, no way. I about broke my ankles in those things. Barefoot or flats." Her arms crossed over her chest in defense. She refused to wear the torture devices.

If she was going to be stuck in this crazy dream she would at least be comfortable while doing it. Instead of continuing the argument Gabriela opened the door and marched into the hallway. If this Eli wanted them to appear on a dime then he could take her appearance as he would. 

She watched as others milled between the stairs and the downstairs entryway. Shyly she gave Shawn a little wave, ignoring the glare that Vincent shot his spawn.

As the male's eyes turned to her Gabriela fought the sudden urge to flip him the bird; just some small gesture to show she wasn't intimidated. 

"Don't even think about it. Now downstairs.." Bridget's voice hissed in her ear causing Gabriela to jump a step forward. Her surprised hiss elicited laughter from her sire as the woman nudged them down the hallway.

Once downstairs the group seemed to split up as the elder vampires turned to chatting among each other; though Vincent seemed to keep himself apart from the group. The younger vampires milled around awkwardly uncertain still if they were allowed to mingle or if they needed to stay in their separate little 'sibling' groups. 

Annoyed Gabriela walked over to the television before flicking it on. A few scrolling attempts later she discovered the cable tv guide. The scrolling indigo time blocks complete with show names popped up.

From habit she scrolled until she found the pure music channels. Her quick look around the room had her giving a tiny little smile before she flicked on country.

"I dug my key into the side..." Carrie Underwood's voice blared from the T.V as she sang her revenge song. Gabriela turned it up higher with a gleeful laugh before stuffing the remote deep into the sofa cushions.

She turned to quickly grab Shawn, the only other vampire she felt comfortable with, to dance with her. Loudly and off key she sang along even as the elder vampires groaned and searched for the remote. 

"Ugh, bad enough she won." Vincent groaned before he stormed over and manually shut off the television.

"Shawn, get over there and start acting like an adult." The man obeyed instantly, dropping Gabriela's hands as he pulled away from their impromptu and very bad country dance attempt.

"And you, little creampuff, better start learning how to act your status." His hand brushed over her bare upper arm. Gabriela jerked her arm back.

"Or you will just become a tasty little treat for others like me." He leaned over to whisper in her ear before pulling away and snapping his teeth as if joking.

Gabriela forced to keep from shivering or recoiling back. Her head tipped up to level a glare at his collar bone, the highest she could get without looking completely ridiculous. 

She glared for a moment before turning away to walk back towards Bridget and the other women; ignoring Vincent's mocking laugh at her miniature retreat.