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hurt I had inflicted, but there was a hint of something else. Surprise. The new me was causing the reaction I wanted and I couldn’t help but smile.
    For a few seconds he gawked, inarticulate, until I finally broke the silence. “Did you need something?”
    Arrick blinked repeatedly before pulling his lips up into his sparkling grin. “Yeah. I came to see if you were ready.”
    I raised my eyebrows. Obviously I was ready. I stepped back to give him a better view of the gown.
    “Do I not look ready?”
    He smiled back at me again and it infuriated me. Neither my attitude, nor my new confidence were having any further effect on him.
    “Aren’t you going to change?” I asked, noticing he was still wearing last night’s clothes.
    He considered himself, frowning. “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”
    “Nothing. Let’s go.” It didn’t matter if he looked good or not. I was the one who would be meeting my real parents for the first time.
    As we walked, I licked my fangs so they would sparkle. It was becoming a habit, but in some weird way it was comforting.
    “You nervous?” Arrick asked, his tone calm and friendly.
    I wanted to stay mad at him, to keep my irritated tone. It made it easier to bury my feelings for him. It just didn’t feel right though. Especially when he continued to be pleasant and polite, no matter how rude I was.
    “I don’t know.” It was the truth. I still hadn’t quite sorted out my feelings. Maybe when I actually met them, I would know what I really felt.
    “I can’t imagine what it must feel like, but I know they will love you. They already do.”
    I nodded at him. He knew exactly how I felt through our bond. He was able to say the words I couldn’t quite put together. I wanted to be perfect for them. They had to have had expectations. I knew I did for them.
    Growing up, I had fantasized that my father was some amazing super hero who was so busying saving the world and damsels in distress that he was never home. That was just my child-like mind rationalizing his absence.
    Since I found out I was kidnapped as a baby and my parents were vampires – I still didn’t know exactly how that worked – I imagined them as god-like beings. They lived in this beautiful city that seemed one with the stars. But me… I felt like a dark cloud followed me wherever I went. I was a cursed monster, but hopefully not for long. I planned to embrace all my abilities, make my parents proud and take my life into my own hands. No one else but me was going to decide my future from now on.
    We walked silently until we reached the throne room doors. Taking a deep breath, I paused. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach; suddenly I was incredibly nervous. I looked to Arrick and smiled weakly.
    “Well… this is it.”
    He placed his hand on my arm, but it didn’t contain any of the passion we had previously shared. “Don’t sound so sad. You should be happy.” He smiled reassuringly and I returned it, against my previous refusal. It was really hard to stay mad at him. I both hated and loved it.
    “I am happy.” I smiled again, flashing my fangs trying to be both believable and a little powerful, but failed miserably. Arrick chuckled lightly at me and opened the doors, allowing a whoosh of air to fly over me.
    The room was long and narrow. Three chandeliers hung massively above me. They shone brightly throughout the room like three massive suns. My eyes protested the intensity of the light but quickly adjusted.
    Arrick following a few steps behind me. The right side of the throne room was open to a lengthy balcony that covered the entire wall, like the room I had changed in. Thick velvety gold curtains were pulled back with a shimmering rope. I appreciated the open air; it helped to ease my nervousness as I walked further toward two figures who sat atop enormous wooden thrones. My parents.
    I took another deep breath, but continued my steady march toward them. The room wasn’t much longer than fifty