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fine.”
     
    I then saw Cathy and Sarah stand up.
     
    “Sit down, Emily,” Cathy said. “We’re going to take it from here.”
     
    “No,” my mother said. “You’re the guests.”
     
    “Your leg is hurting you,” Cathy said. “Sit down.”
     
    My mother complied, and Cathy and Sarah began to take the dishes to the sink and clean the kitchen.
     
    “There’s some salad in the fridge if you’d like some,” she said.
     
    “No thank you,” Cathy said. “We’re full as can be.”
     
    My mother bent over towards me like she wanted to tell me something.
     
    “You sure did find a good looking girlfriend,” she whispered. “Where did you meet her?”
     
    I didn't know what to say. I decided to answer truthfully.
     
    “I met her in downtown,” I said.
     
    “How old is she?” my mother asked.
     
    I saw Cathy glancing in our direction.
     
    “I need to tell you something,” I said.
     
    “Is something wrong?” my mom asked.
     
    “No, not at all. Everything’s great, actually,” I said. “It's just that . . . I’m not sure how to day this, but Cathy and Sarah are . . . well, vampires. And . . . and I'm now . . . , well I’m a vampire too.”
     
    My mother looked at me with a blank stare. Then she looked at Sarah and Cathy.
     
    I didn’t mention that I was part griffin. I thought the vampire revelation was enough of a shock for one day. I was worried about how she was going to take the news – but suddenly, Mom started laughing.
     
    “She's not a vampire, honey,” she said. “What are you talking about?”
     
    I then saw both Cathy and Sarah glance at me while they washed dishes.
     
    “I'm serious,” I said. “But I want to let you know that vampires aren’t evil creatures. They also don't drink blood. Actually, they just need good sources of protein like pot roast.”
     
    My mother laughed again, a bit harder.
     
    “So you’re telling me that you’re a pot roast consuming vampire?” she asked.
     
    I paused for a moment.
     
    “Yes, I am,” I said. “They are too.”
     
    She rolled her eyes.
     
    “I don't believe it, Eli,” she said. “Why are you trying to spoil this nice visit by making up such a crazy story?”
     
    Sarah left the sink and pulled up a chair next to my mother and gently took her hand.
     
    “I want to show you something, Emily,” she said. “I'm going to show you my vampire face. But I don't want you to be frightened, because I'm not going to hurt you.”
     
    “Okay, honey, go right ahead,” my mother said with a slight giggle. “What are you waiting for?”
     
    I walked to the other side of my mother and took her other hand.
     
    “Just watch mom and know that she’s not going to hurt you,” I said.
     
    My mother looked straight into Sarah's eyes.
     
    “Go on and show me,” she said.
     
    “On the count of three I’m going to change,” Sarah said. “So be prepared; my face will turn white, fangs will come out, and my eyes will turn black – but I won’t hurt you.”
     
    Sarah counted down and transformed. My mother's eyes widened, and I saw a look of horror on her face. Oddly, she didn’t make a sound.
     
    “Mom, don't worry, she’s not going to hurt you,” I told her.
     
    “I'm not going to hurt you,” Sarah said. “This is just the way I look in my vampire form.”
     
    “Oh my God,” Mom said in a shaking voice. “God help me.”
     
    “You’re safe, Mom,” I said.
     
    My mother turned and looked at me.
     
    “You were telling the truth, Eli” she said.
     
    “I was,” I said. “And there’s a lot you need to learn about vampires.”
     
    Sarah transformed back into her human form, and Cathy brought my mother a cup of coffee. We took her into the living room and helped her onto the recliner. I proceeded to tell her a slightly abridged version – minus some of the gory details – of how I was turned into a vampire.
     
    As I explained the benefits of being a vampire (such as eternal youth and