Naya smiled.
"Engagement dinner?" She asked, knowing that it was perhaps the most expensive restaurant in Alaska.
"Yes."
"How did my father take the news of our hasty wedding?"
"He accepted it without reservation."
"I imagine he can't be too unhappy to know that he won't be seeing me every day anymore."
Adam looked at her sharply.
"Why do you think that about your father?"
"He's not my real father, and he's always raised me as if I were..."
"...a precious jewel?" Adam interrupted her, his voice as sharp and cold as his gaze. "He was the best father he knew how to be. And yes, Naya. He is your father. The man who was responsible for your generation is nothing. His participation was minimal. You have no other father." Adam said and stood up. "A driver will take you to a hotel room I've booked so you can change for dinner."
Adam said and left.
...
Anna arrived in Avallon and was greeted by the decay of the place. Her father, Henry, had to wear a protective mask because the air was infested with ash. Anna breathed naturally. She thought that her vampire status was what was protecting her from being harmed by the air.
She walked through the rubble with a wary eye. The look of the place defined death in a very real way, but Anna could feel life there. And magic. She looked at Henry again. He was standing about three meters behind her, and even with his mask on, he looked breathless and tired. She turned back to him.
"Is something wrong, Henry?"
"I feel very bad here. I have trouble even walking."
Anna looked behind her father. They were still close to the port. He would delay her.
"Go back to the ship, Dad. I'm going alone."
"I want to visit the place where your mother was buried."
"As soon as I find out the exact location, I'll come back and get you. You won't be able to stand looking. The search can take a long time."
Henry looked at the ship and agreed. Anna was right. He headed back, and Anna continued on her way.
She walked for another fifteen minutes before she saw the first inhabitant of the place. He had red hair and blue eyes. He looked at her briefly, then turned his attention to the ground.
Anna stopped, not knowing whether to approach. She wasn't afraid, what could he do against a vampire? But she didn't want him to run away.
She noticed that he was wearing a black robe, with small bright designs on it.
He wasn't looking at her. He was crouching down and looking interestedly at the sprout of some plant.
Anna lost interest in the man, turned to continue on her way and was startled when she saw the man she saw crouching in front of her. She opened her mouth to say something, when he put his finger to his lip, indicating that she should remain silent, and touched her shoulder.
It was as if a veil had been lifted from her eyes, and Anna found herself in a beautiful place with exotic and unfamiliar plants. People, wearing clothes similar to those of the man, walked quietly through the streets, with houses of the old colonial models, but clearly new.
"Welcome back, Anna."
"You know who I am..."
"Yes. I know a lot of things. Everyone here does."
"Why didn't I see this place as soon as I arrived?"
"Do you know what keeps the supernatural islands safe and intact?"
Anna frowned.
"I didn't even know there were such islands."
"That. Ignorance of our existence. That image you see when you arrive here is what this island became when the old elders decided that we should extend our hospitality to ordinary humans. This opened the way for us to be attacked. There are three supernatural islands. DreamStone, the island of werewolves. Death Island, the island of vampires, and Avallon. The island of sorceresses."
"If you've rebuilt the island, why do I still see that decay?"
"Because we knew you wouldn't come alone. Once you leave this island again, you'll never meet us again, unless you're alone, or with one of us. We've been waiting for you."
"Waiting for what?"
"You're Bruma. You have questions. You want to learn about your gift. You wouldn't be able to do that anywhere else."
"My father won't leave until he visits my mother's grave."
"I know. He was following you. That's why it took me so long to get close. I had to wait for him to get distracted. I'll let you take your father to the cemetery. But he'll only see rubble."
"You'll let him? Who are you? The king?"
He cracked a smile.
"No. I'm the king's cousin. My name is Vicenzo." He said and held out his hand to Anna.
She took it.
"You look very familiar, Vicenzo."
"I imagine so. You'll soon find out why. Now come on, I'll take you to the Cave of Mists."
Anna followed him in silence, not knowing what that meant. As soon as he arrived at a cave, with the exact passage for just one person. He stopped and pointed to the entrance.
"Only Brumas can enter."
Anna arched an eyebrow and entered. Contrary to what she had imagined, the cave was not a damp, dark place. Its walls seemed to be lined with soft green grass, and on the ceiling, small lights, which seemed to come from drawings, illuminated the room in a pleasant way.
She moved on. The cave didn't seem long, and there was nothing inside. Not even dust. Anna wondered who was cleaning, if only Brumas were allowed in there, when a soft voice spoke behind her.
"What have they done to you?"
Anna turned and looked at the woman who looked almost exactly like her.
"Brianna?"
"I preferred it when you called me Mom." She said and approached, hugging Anna, who reciprocated with affection and tears.
"You're alive!"
Brianna pulled away.
"Yes. I live inside you. Now, forever."
"Because I became a vampire?"
"Yes, my child. But don't worry. We needed this to happen, but... You won't leave this island the way you came in."
"What does that mean?"
"You'll live with the vampire gene in your bloodstream. You won't age, and you won't die, but you won't thirst for blood anymore."