10 years before 

  I’m in the front room drawing, at the little coffee table in the middle of the couches. It is a picture for Shiro. I am drawing Shiro, Takeshi, and me. I giggle at my masterpiece, I suddenly hear the front door open.

“Amberly, sweetheart come here.” Shiro stands in the doorway, I got up quickly, I just couldn’t wait to show Shiro my drawing.

“I’m coming daddy!” I ran to him but I stop to see a little boy standing next to him. The little boy was covered in blood, and he seems so scared.

“Amberly, this is Arron. He just watched his parents die by a very bad vampire. I want you to show him to a bathroom so he can get washed up. I’ll be there, in a minute, Okay?”

I nod my head, “Come on, Arron follow me.” He didn’t move, or speak he just kept his head tilted down, not making any eye contact to anyone.

I grab his hand and lead him to the bathroom, he didn’t resist at all. We made in the bathroom. I let go of his hand and I walk over to the shower and I turn on the warm water.

“Here, I can take your clothes, I’ll leave so you can get in, just leave your clothes by the door.”

He says nothing, he just stands there. As if he was a statue and will only move if you push or pull him in any direction you please.

“Um, can you hear me…?” I bend down to look in his eyes. He stares right back at me, but it was like he was in a completely different world.

“Okay, I guess we have to do this a different way, cause I can’t leave you in these bloody clothes!” I take off the coat he had on then his shirt. He still didn’t resist, he just let me take charge. I walk the cabinet to grab a washcloth and then to the shower to get it wet.

“It’s warm. Are you sure you don’t want a nice shower?” I walk up to him with the warm washcloth. Still no response. Am I doing something wrong?

I put the warm washcloth on his cheek to clean the dry blood off. “Hey, listen to me, whatever is happening to you now, whatever you’re going through right now, I’m going to help you, okay?” I see his eyes grow a little wide. So he can hear me. That’s good. I’m getting something at least. It might be a while until he talks to me but that’s okay!

Shiro walks in, “Here, let me do the rest. Then we will find him something to wear instead of these bloody clothes.”

“Okay.” I give Shiro the washcloth and I start to head out of the bathroom. But I stop when I hear a soft voice.

“Thank you…Amberley…” I turn around quickly to see Arron turned to me. Did he really talk? And he is looking at me? I smile. I’m so surprised he said something, done something. I bow my head to him when I walk out, shutting the door as I go.

I sit in the hall, just waiting for them. I pull my knees up to my chin, and I wrap my arms around my legs. I just sit there, thinking of Arron. He talked to me, he looks so traumatized. Of course, he would, he watched his parents die and the vampire might have tried to kill him! I want to help him…but how?

The bathroom door opens. It was Shiro, “Well I got him in the shower now he is just standing in there, come with me. I’m going to need your help.” I stand up and we walk down the hallway. Shiro pulls down the attic door and we walk up. I look around in the attic. There were so many boxes. I look at the sides of some of the boxes and a lot of them said Vampire Hunter on them. Was he a vampire hunter? But he works with Takeshi’s father…and he’s a vampire.

“I know what you’re thinking…and no, I’m no longer a vampire hunter. Instead, I’m a vampire ambassador.” I turn to him. He is holding a box and on the side of it says Luke’s clothes.

“Who is Luke?” I ask curiously.

Shiro just smiles, “I’ll tell you later.” We make it down the stairs. Shiro puts the box down beside the bathroom door, “Pick him some clothes for me?” he reaches for the doorknob.

I nod. He smiles when he walks in the bathroom shutting the door behind him.

I open the box and there was a lot of little boys’ clothes. I shuffle through it then hits on something hard. I grab it. It was a picture, it had Shiro and a woman. The woman looks pregnant. Is this his wife? I quickly grabs some clothes in just the right time. Shiro opens the door. I give him the clothes he smiles then goes back in. I stare at the picture in wonder. I didn’t know I had a mommy.

I stand there for a while until they both walk out. I look at Shiro. I show him the picture, “Who is this?”

He looks surprised, “I didn’t even know that was in there…” He grabs the picture and admires it.

“She…was my wife…?”

“Was? Where is she, and who is Luke?” I ask in wonder.

Shiro looks at me. He kisses my forehead, “I’ll explain later. But right now, let’s get Arron settled in first.” He rests his hand on the back side of Arron’s head, “You must be hungry.”

“No…” Arron remarks rudely.

“Nonsense! I’ll get both of you something. Amberly shows him to one of the spare rooms, please.” He starts to walk towards the kitchen.

I smile at Arron, “So I see you’re talking and moving now!”

Arron scuffs, “Well don’t get used to the talking bit.”

I giggle, “Oh, you’ll come around.” I grab his hand, “Come one, this way.” I lead him to a room right next to mine, “Here we go!” I open the door. It was pretty clear in his room. There was a bed, a few dressers and also a couch on the other side of the room from where the bed was.

I pull him in, “How do you like it.” Arron looks around the room.

“It’s bit big, don’t you think?”

I giggle, “So you like it?”

Arron shrugs his shoulders, “I guess…”

“And the best part of it is my room is right next door, so if you want, you can come in if you need me!” I give him a warm smile.

“Why are you always happy all the time? It’s so weird, it’s like you never stop smiling…” He gives me a confused and disgusted look.

I’ve never been asked that before, “Well, I’m always happy because I have a dad who took me in 2 years ago, a great school, and friends, so I’m happy, that’s why I smile…Don’t you smile?”

“That guy isn’t your father?” He looks more confused than he was before.

“No, but I like to think he is! He loves me like a dad! But hey you got to answer my question! Do you smile?”

“No, I Don’t and I never will.” He turns away from me.

I smile a little. I hug him from behind, “Oh don’t say that everyone smiles. Even when they say they don’t. You’ll get better, because, I’m going to do everything in my power to make you happy, got it?”

“Yea, yea…I’d like to see you try!” He scuffs. He may not say it, but I can tell he needs someone. Someone who is going to be there for him. And I’m going to try to be that person.

I hear knocking at the door. Arron and I turn around. It was Shiro.

“Amberly, there’s someone here for you.” My eyes widen.

“Is it who I think it is?” I ask in excitement.

Shiro nods his head.

“Who?” Arron asked.

I grab his hand, “You’ll might really like him!” He makes it in the front room, where he was waiting.

“Takeshi!” I let go of Arron’s Hand and runs up to Takeshi. I hug him tightly, “You’re here!”

Takeshi laughs, “You really missed me?”

“Of course I did!” I pull away from the hug, “Takeshi, there’s someone I want to you meet!” I turn to Arron, but he seems to be so mad.

“Vampire! What is a vampire doing here!?” He backs up. He grabs a pair of scissors that were on the coffee table. He points them at Takeshi.

“Arron, stop! He isn’t a bad vampire! He saved me 2 years ago!” I try to grab the scissors away from Arron but he pushes me behind him.

“Vampires don’t deserve to live!” Arron yells.

“Arron, that’s enough.” Shiro talks in a firm voice.

Takeshi laughs just a little, “Its fine, Mr. Jones.” He looks at Arron, “So you must be Arron, I’m terribly sorry about your parents. The vampire who killed them is the strongest vampire, except one, but that the moment that vampire is in hiding.”

“What are you talking about?” Arron yells.

The strongest vampire? What’s he talking about?

“The one who killed your parents is looking for that vampire…You’ll know all that later in life. But I’m still sorry for you.”

“Yea, sure…” Arron looks at me and Shiro, “You both are crazy!” He runs to what it looks like towards his room.

“I’m going to follow him…” I say.

Shiro nods. I run after him. “Arron wait.”

Arron stops, “You just let a vampire walk into your house.”

“He saved me…from a bad vampire…”

“Yea…But do you know if he is going to turn against you?”

I Laugh, “Well you will have to protect me then!”

He turns at me, “What?”

“I mean it’s only fair, right? I’m going to protect you, will you protect me?”

I thought I’d never see it. He smiled, “Yea…I’ll protect you…”

I hug him. That’s the first time I saw him smile.