2.Hello

Dimitri quickly recovered from his shock and went forward to check the young girl again thinking maybe he missed something when checking her. Maybe she was just in a deep sleep and her breathing was irregular, he just couldn't believe this girl had returned from the dead. Walking slowly up to the coffin he stood there and watched as she rubbed her eyes, fixed her hair and slowly turned towards him.

" Who are you?" she whispered quietly to him as if she was afraid someone or something might hear her.

Clearing his throat he whispered back to her

"I'm Dimitri Kelley, I think someone must have kidnapped you and brought you down here, we have to get you out before they return." he said while looking back towards the stairs

" Don't worry no one is coming to get me or harm you, we are quite safe here." the young girl said extending her hand and waiting for Dimitri to help her out of the coffin.

Taking her hand he felt how cold she was and quickly took of his black jacket and wrapped around her thin shoulders. Once he helped her out of the coffin she stretched her arms up high. Dimitri felt as if this girl wasn't in any distress due to her calm demeanor.

" What are you doing down here, is this like something you enjoy. Playing down here isn't a good idea you can get hurt or trapped, we should call your parents and get you home."

"But I am home Dimitri, this is where I grew up. My name is Essence Kelly and I have been here for centuries." The young girl said while giving Dimitri a small smile

" No more games, I'm going to call the police and have you escorted off my property and back to your parents."

Like a cheetah Essence was across the room and holding Dimitri's cell phone in her hand. Dimitri stared at in disbelief not grasping what had just taken place, how did she move so quickly he thought this can't be possible.

As if reading his thoughts Essence sat down on the cold, leaf scattered ground and patted a place beside her signaling Dimitri to sat next her. Thinking he can run for the door and escape from this girl who was clearly on some type of drug he thought twice maybe he should just do as she asked and hopefully the drugs will wear off or she will get bored and find something else to do.

" I guess you don't believe anything I just said which is fine but before calling me insane or thinking I'm on drugs of some kind let me explain how I came to be down here."

Turning towards Dimitri she began a story that she was sure sounded like a girl in need of psychiatric help:

" I lived here with my parents Patrick of Ireland and my mother Sade of West Africa, my father worked for King James at the time and we were wealthy and happy. I would spend my days running in the castle hiding from my nannies or walking in the garden. One particular day I decided to go outside of the castle walls without permission and walk amongst the rolling hills that was a few miles from our home, on my walk I pasted a little farm house that seemed deserted so I decided to explore it,it was nice very clean and I decided to spend the day there looking at the many books the previous owners left behind. I was reading one book about the life of a farm hand when I noticed the room became dark and looking outside I saw dark clouds which meant a storm was coming and within minutes the rain poured ,lighting bolted across the dark sky and thunder roared all I could think about was how lucky I was to be inside this little farm house dry and safe. I must to have fallen asleep because I was awaken by noises coming from the room next to where I was and a fire was lit in the fireplace. I got up and decided to apologize to the owner for invaded their home and I found a boy around my age sitting at a small table with his back to me.

" Hello, I'm sorry for coming into your home but I thought it was abandoned and when the storm hit I stayed inside to stay dry but I will be going now once again I'm terrible sorry." I said walking towards the door.

"Don't leave ." The boy said. " I don't mind you being here at all."

" The voice sounded so gentle and relaxing that I was drawn to it just like a person would be drawn to a beautiful Melody and I sat in a chair across from him."

" The boy lifted his head from the book he was reading and what I saw was pure perfection, his face was as if someone chiseled it for a King. the face was strong and soft at the same time, his smile was magnetic and his eyes was the lightest green I had ever seen."

"Do you live here." I asked never taking my eyes off his face and watching as his pushed a strand of jet black curly hair out of his eyes.

"No, I am what some called a traveler, I move from place to place but this place seemed perfect for me until I move on."

"Looking around I didn't see a rucksack nor did I see a wagon outside the house so I asked if the things here were his."

" No, they were here already maybe the owners are on holiday, I plan on leaving soon before they return." He said looking at me with what I assumed was interest

" We talked for hours before I had to leave but before I left he told me his name was Patrick and he was delighted to have met me, I introduced myself and told him it was nice to have met him as well"

"That night I dreamed of Patrick ,we danced together in an unfamiliar ballroom to phantom music ,I woke up the next day ,had breakfast and rushed to the farm house to visit my new friend but he wasn't there disappointed I returned back to my house and did my chores ,studied and talked to my parents. That night I found a note on my pillow from Patrick asking me to meet him in the garden, I was so excited that I sprung from my bed a ran outside there he was standing in the moonlight with that smile, this went on for months the secret meetings and long talks were something I looked forward to until everything changed."

"Don't go out alone anymore Essence there is a wild animal attacking herds around here and I want you safe." my dad demanded

" My mother was frantic, she always twisted her hair around her finger when she was upset so I waited until my father left and asked her if she knew anything about the animal that was causing such panic, she just looked at me patted my head and told me not to worry just stay inside and make sure to wear my little golden cross I was given on my baptism day, I agreed and went to my bedroom."

" That night I heard a great commotion down stairs in the foyer, it was my dad and a few of our neighbors."

" I'm almost certain of what I saw it was an Abhartach, I saw it sucking the blood out of Thomas's sheep the other night."

"By that time I was listening to the conversation from the corner of the stairs, an Abhartach was this man serious did he actually believe a vampire was out there attacking animals."

"I know it was because it has been seen around here many times ,its time we hunt it down and kill it." My dad's friend Claude said slamming his fist down on our table

"We have to lure it and remove its head and burn the body to get rid of it for certain" another man who I had never seen commented.

"Night after night groups of men and boys went on the hunt and night after night more animals were left bloodless. I hadn't seen Patrick in weeks but one night I was sleeping when I felt a cold hand rub my cheek and there he was standing next to my bed with that beautiful smile."

"Where have you been I have been so worried about you, I cried burying my head into his hard chest "Everyone has grown crazy searching for vampires no one is thinking straight."

"Essence come away with me we can be happy together, I have fallen deeply in love with you and I want you as my mate for life."

"Those words melted my heart and I agreed, hugging him to me and feeling happier than I had ever been."

"First I need to tell you something and I hope you will not find me repulsive."

"Whatever it is we can work on it together my love, and with those words his eyes took on a glowing green color it was almost like when I cat is caught in the light after dark, slowly I backed away but the wall was behind me and he got closer."

"Essence the only way we can be together is if you join me."

"I was simply speechless not a sound could come from my mouth and Patrick stepped closer pulling me into his arms, our eyes locked and it was as if I could no longer move, he kissed my forhead and I closed my eyes with that I felt a sharp pain on my neck followed by pure bliss. I felt the world slipping away being replaced by light and soft music I thought I was dying until I tasted what I thought was wine suddenly I was pulled back to earth gulping down this wine hungrily. my entire body felt like it was on fire and I screamed. The next thing I knew my father had crashed into my room and the last thing I saw was Patrick being beheaded by my father's sword. The next few nights I was laying in bed feeling the fire burn through my veins my parents invited over what I thought was a doctor but this lady would chant and give me sour tasting liquids that made me vomit, it was torture. Than one day I woke up and felt like I was reborn the fire was out of my veins and my senses where heightened, running down stairs I was met with my parents sitting at our dining table looking sad.

"What's wrong, I feel better now and I'm ready to take on the days chores, study and run outside "

"My dad explained to me what had happened a few night before and I sat in horror and disbelief it couldn't be true he was so nice but the words he mentioned to me rang in my head and I fell to the floor sobbing."

"The one who had changed me had been beheaded and his body burned, my parents told everyone I had ran away with a local field hand and they had erected a memorial in remembrance of me in the garden. I lived this way for years stuck in this body hidden from site only leaving out to sit in the garden at night until one day, the hunger burned inside me and I sampled the gardener it wasn't much but my parents had me restrained until that lady came back to help them. There isn't much we can do but put her to sleep hopefully forever so she doesn't attack again I heard her say. I was tied down and she chanted some strange words and I became very sleepy, I saw her remove a diamond ring from my finger that I had assumed my parents had given me when I became sick and now I'm here sitting in this chamber."

Dimitri looked at her slowly getting up and walking around the room not believing a word of what she said.

"You believe that you are Essence Kelley my ancestor from hundreds of years ago that was changed into a vampire by a boyfriend. " Dimitri's laughter brought tears to his eyes "A vampire come on , I think you need to be put in a padded cell and given much attention because you are delusional."

Dimitri started walking up the steps to reach the garden, once he reached outside he was going to call the authorities and let them know that a teenag lunatic was on the loose believing to be a vampire. He laughed at those words. Reaching outside he looked in his pocket for a phone but remembered the teenage lunatic still had it , turning back to the statue he was shocked to see her standing there holding up his phone in the air.

"Dimitri please believe me, I'm telling you the truth." Essence pleaded with him

Dimitri stared at her and thought yeah right now I know she isn't a vampire sunlight and vampires don't mix either they explode into a fiery ball or twinkle.

"Twinkle ,why would a vampire twinkle and you can't believe everything someone tells you Dimitri"

"How could you have heard that I only thought it." Dimitri said to her looking amazed

" I guess I can hear your thoughts, I don't know this is new to me."Essence replied moving closer to Dimitri

"Don't come any closer, keep the phone I'm leaving." Dimitri said running through the garden to his car.

Once inside he turned the engine and drove like a mad man to the front gate of the castle.

"I'm not returning to this place, I'm going to pretend like none of this happened and I'm going to church every Sunday, helping the less fortunate and doing my best to be good." He declared while driving like a mad man but once he came to the front gate he stopped sudden making his tires screech because there was Essence or the person pretending to be Essence standing at the gate looking annoyed.

Walking to the driver side window Essence shook her head and handed him his phone.

"You are really going to believe I'm lying to you after I have proved this is all real."

"What do you want me to do?"

" I don't know help me figure this out Dimitri after all we are family."

With those words Essence grabbed a bird that had been wondering near her ,bit into it and drained its life force.

"I'm sorry but I felt so hungry and for some reason that was very pleasing."

Banging his head on the steering wheel Dimitri looked up and saw a young girl in need of help, he knew he couldn't leave her to take care of herself vampire or just a crazy girl he knew he had to help her.

Reluctantly he reached over and opened the passenger door, Essence walked over looked in and stared at Dimitri.

"Do you want my help or not?" He asked her and slowly she got into the car looking like a frightened child on a roller coaster.

Dimitri thought to himself what am I going to do with her how can I help her, am I crazy for doing this.

Essence just smiled and said "You are a decent caring man, and we can figure it out hopefully.

Dimitri looked over at her and said" Stop doing that Essence or Essence impersonator."

"I'm sorry I will give it a try"

Dimitri drove on headed to the hotel to figure out what his next move would be.