Samantha awoke early to the sound of her alarm clock blaring loudly on the night stand next to her. She turned it off and looked around her room. Gray carpet, a glass ceiling, a black chandelier, misty purple walls, a black four-poster bed with a dark green canopy hanging from it, glass double doors that led out to the stone balcony, a black stone fireplace on the opposite side of the room, and sliding doors that led to her large walk-in closet that connected to Taylor and Jake's room. She sighed softly, got out of bed, and walked downstairs to Taylor making vanilla raspberry pancakes.
"Morning," she yawned, placing two pancakes on her plate and drizzling them with carmel.
"You ready to go soon?" Jake asked softly, setting down his copy of Catcher and the Rye that he's read millions of times.
"Yes," Samantha began, eagerly. "When?"
"We were thinking after breakfast, if you were ready." Taylor answered, sitting down on Samantha's other side.
Samantha nodded. "Alright."
The three of them finished eating, slipped on their jackets, and stepped out into the cold autumn morning. The sun was fully risen as they clambered into Taylor's black 1967 impala. The light from the sun made the inside of the car golden. Taylor and Samantha's skin shimmered. Samantha looked down at her sparkling wrist in awe.
"Is this part of the reason?" Samantha asked, looking at Taylor.
Taylor eyed his sister in the rear-view mirror. He nodded, Samantha nodded back and went silent. Jake blared the radio with Alesana as they drove through the streets of Montreal, England. Samantha looked out the window eagerly to see if there was an entrance to Hawthorne Pass she never saw before. Only, everything about Montreal looked the same as it always did. White cherry blossom trees and weeping willow trees that never died, sidewalks made of cobblestone, abnormally tall buildings that were far too close together, nothing seemed different.
Taylor pulled the car over to a bare stone wall that was on the other side of a dark alley way. He nodded and the three of them got out. They glided swiftly down the alley and once they got to the wall, Taylor took out his wand, making Samantha gasp.
"What?" Taylor asked nervously, looking down at her.
"Don't your powers get drained if you marry a stone?"
"A vampire can keep his wand, but not have powers. Besides, I never lost my powers."
Samantha nodded in understand meant. Taylor began swishing his wand in a complicating pattern, making black sparks fly everywhere. Then, the stones began to move. Once they stopped, they formed a large archway.
"Sam," Jake began
"Welcome to Hawthorn Pass." Taylor finished
Samantha gasped at the sight. Stores aligned both sides of the street, hundreds of other vampires walked around, and fireflies danced silently next to them, shining their golden light. It was as if they entered a whole new world. The atmosphere seemed to change. Hawthorn Pass was nothing like Montreal. The sun glowed brightly, making every vampires' skin sparkle and the fireflies' light turn black. It was all too much to take in at one time.
"Do you mind if we sit down somewhere?" Samantha asked Taylor sheepishly
"Of course," Taylor answered, a small giggle in his words.
They glided over to the ice cream parlor and sat beneath an umbrella. Taylor ordered Samantha a cup of white vanilla chocolate ice cream and himself and Jake a cone of dutch apple. They ate their ice cream in silence.
"You ready to start?" Taylor asked eagerly, his eyes flashed purple with excitement.
Samantha nodded and they got up. In v-shape, Taylor at the tip, they began to walk.
"Sam, see that big white building in the back?" Jake asked, pointing down the cobblestone street.
She looked up at him. Her eyes turned amber as she half-rolled them.
"It's kind of hard not to," Samantha replied sarcastically, "but, yeah, why?"
"It's a back, for vampires. Different currency than stones. It's called, Jennerva. From what I've been told, it's safer than Pierce Veil."
Samantha nodded as if she understood a word Jake had said. She was lost in a small trance that the building possessed. The building was almost like the ones in Montreal, plain and huge, but it seemed to be lopsided. Almost held up by magic. She lost her stare as they walked inside.
The room was glossy, almost like someone just polished it the whole room was lite by orange flaming torches, and strange creatures stood behind tall, polished, willow desks. One locked it's wide black eyes and she jumped, grabbing Taylor's hand. Taylor looked down at her and snickered softly under his breath.
"something wrong?" he teased
Samantha looked up at her brother, revealing frightened red, eyes.
"No, she answered nervously. "What are those things?"
"Insomniacs, a cross between a satyr and an nymph." Taylor answered. Then added, "they won't hurt us. We're stronger than them."
"They can always try though, right?"
Taylor nodded. "Yes," he answered. "So, let me talk."
Samantha nodded and went silent as she, Taylor, and Jake approached the front desk. Her eyes still burned red. Taylor cleared his throat and the insomniac looked up at him. It's eyes glistened black as it looked down at Samantha. It gave a wicked toothy smile, exposing it's many small, sharp teeth. Samantha felt her eyes flush to a deeper red as she hid behind Taylor's arm like when she was younger. Taylor cleared his throat again, gaining the insomniac's attention.
"Yes?" it's voice crackled as it drew out it's 's' like the sound of a snake.
"Ms. Chapman wishes to make a withdraw." Taylor replied plainly, his face expressionless, holding his sister close and rubbing her shoulder in protection.
The insomniac side-glanced at Samantha as she nodded nervously.
"Very well," it muttered softly, getting down from it's chair.
Samantha's eyes widened and seemed to be permanently red as she looked at the insomniac. It's ears were pointed and it had long dark brown hair that was grown down to it's stomach, non-changing black eyes, from the waist down was it's satyr half, auburn fur and white tummy fluff. It's hooves clicked as it walked. Taylor turned and looked at Jake. After a few seconds of staring at each other silently, Jake nodded and the insomniac ushered Samantha and Taylor away. Samantha counted silently as the descended a large amount of spiral stone steps. '22, 23, 24...'. One they finally reached the end of the stairs, Samantha found herself searching for breath. The insomniac's hooves continued to click as it walked down the endless stream of vaults. Samantha and Taylor followed behind silently.
"Vault one twenty." the insomniac screeched softly
The insomniac turned and faced the Chapmans' vault. It took it's long, body, index finger and traced it along the crease between the wall and the door. The crease began to glow gold and the door swung open. As it opened, it revealed mountains apon mountains of gold, silver, and red. Samantha gave a small gasp and looked up at her brother. Her eyes turned icy blue with surprise. Taylor smiled down at his sister and chuckled under his breath.
"Did you honestly believe mom and dad would leave us with nothing?"
"O-of course not." she answered, smiling up brightly up at Taylor.
The insomniac gave Samantha small bag and filled it with money. Taylor and Samantha thanked the insomniac and he ushered them back up the stairs. They went outside to find Jake.
"Where do you think he is?" Samantha asked, holding her brother's hand, and looking up at him nervously.
"No idea." Taylor answered, more to himself than to Samantha as he looked around.
Samantha tried to shake of her worry but seeing the fright in her brother's eyes made her want to cry. She looked down at the brown cloth bag filled with her money. Caleb told her about it from the previous night. The gold ones were Octas, the silver ones were Shans, and the red ones were droplets. Highest, middle, lowest.
"There he is!" Taylor suddenly gasped, making Samantha jump.
Jake was at their side in a matter of seconds.
"Where were you?" Samantha asked with a little suspicion.
Jake turned to his sister-in-law. "Exploring," he answered. "You want us to go get your books while you get your wand?"
Samantha nodded slowly and Taylor squeezed her hand in reassurance. She felt his hand start to slip from hers and she felt a sudden absence.
"Will it be like this forever?" Samantha asked Caleb softly in her mind
"No." he answered softly in her ear and Samantha nodded.
Samantha looked up at Taylor with deep red eyes.
"What's wrong?" he asked scared
Samantha gave a small jump and forced her eyes back to carmel.
"N-nothing," she stuttered.
Taylor continued to look down at his little sister with eyes of nervousness.
"I swear," she whispered to him softly. "Nothing's wrong."
"I have a hard time believing you." Taylor pressed on, a small amount of anger and hurt in his voice, but his eyes remained calm as he grabbed his sister's hand again.
Samantha instantly felt her tense muscles relax as Taylor held onto her hand again. They icyess of both of their skins as they touched felt warm. More important though, the touch felt protecting and loving. The touch made Samantha happy. Taylor noticed as well and looked down at her.
"are you okay now?" he asked sweetly and Samantha nodded. "Good." and he kissed the top of her head.
Slowly, he started to slip his hand out of hers. As soon as he felt his skin move against hers, she gave her hand a small squeeze and he slide it back into place. His crystal-blue eyes widened in surprise.
"What's wrong, Sammy?" Taylor asked, the fear seeping back into his voice as he pulled his sister close to his body and held her close.
"Don't call me Sammy..." Samantha mumbled into Taylor's shirt, close to tears.
Taylor rubbed her back softly and didn't say anything. After a few minuets, Taylor heard Samantha sigh as she gripped onto his shirt. She tried to wriggled out of his embrace and he let her go.
"Now," Taylor began, looking down at his little sister. "Are you sure you're okay?"
She looked up at him with wide deer-like eyes and he held onto her shoulders softly. Samantha nodded and this time, she ment it. Taylor understood as he kissed her forehead then her hair.
"Is this some kind of private joke or something?" Jake asked, clearly hinting jealousy in his voice.
Samantha and Taylor looked at Jake and shook their heads at the same time.
"No joke." Taylor replied softly
Samantha finally let her brother go. She watched as he and Jake walked into Stone and Mace, the book shop on every known subject to vampiric kind. She sighed softly to herself, turned herself around on her heels, and began to glide towards the wand shop, Greveditch's. A bell clanged as she pushed the door open the door and walked in.
"H-hello?" she asked softly into the dusty, silent store.
Seconds later, a man appeared behind a large crowed shelf of long, slender boxes. Samantha only assumed it was Mr. Greveditch. He looked far too old for his age but he moved with such agility, it was hard to see his steps.
"I wondered when I'd be seeing you, Ms. Chapman," he said spirtuly as he strode up to his desk. "It seems like only yesterday your brother was in here buying his wand."
He turned on his heels and pulled out a long slender box from a random shelf. He opened it and presented it's contents to Samantha.
"Try this." he whispered holding out the slender piece of wood out to Samantha.
She took the wand and held it in her hand. It was ivory with green vine-like ropes wrapped wound it.
"Give it a wave!" Mr. Greveditch barked, bringing Samantha back to the ground
Samantha jumped and did as she was told. She flicked her wrist towards a glass vase and it shattered instantly. Samantha didn't even have enought time to apologize before Mr. Greveditch disappeared behind another shelf of wands.
"Maybe..." Mr. Greveditch whispered to himself, shooting a glance at Samantha.
Mr. Greveditch came out with another wand, it looked exactly like the other one, except, instead of white, it was black. When Samantha took it in her hand, she felt a sudden warmth in her fingers. She raised the wand above her head and brought it swishing down through the dusty air. A stream of dark red, forest green, onyx, and golden sparkles flew from the tip like fireworks, throwing dancing spots of light on the walls.
"Excellent!" Mr. Greveditch exclaimed, then, he stopped himself. "but yet..."
"But yet, what?" Samantha asked, with nervousness in her voice.
"No two wands are alike Ms. Chapman...Only two cores in existence are exactly the same. Yours...and Lucifer's are the two exact cores." Mr. Greveditch answered
"A-and... what are they?" Samantha stuttered slightly, her eyes turned dark red.
"Angel's blood and vampire's fang." Mr. Greveditch answered, his eyes glowed a soft gray.
Samantha nodded and for the first time in her life, she shivered and exited the shop.
"Sam, let me see your wand." Taylor half-demanded when the two of them found each other.
Samantha pulled her wand out of her pocket and handed it to her brother. He looked at the slender piece of wood in his and and smirked at it.
"What's so funny?" Samantha snapped
"Nothing, Sammy." Taylor gave a soft laugh, "it's just, you and I have the same wand. Hawthorn, 6 1/2''."
"Is that a bad thing?" Samantha teased
"No, of course not. Just... a little ironic." he smiled, looking down at her.
"What are your cores?"
"Harp's string and Owl's feather... One from mom, one from dad. Yours?"
"Angel's blood and vampire's fang. The exact same as Lucifer...Is that bad?"
Taylor's eyes widened a bit and he shrugged. "Honestly, Sammy, I have no idea."
"Don't call me Sammy." she growled, her eyes began to ooze green.
"Sorry," Taylor apologized quickly. "Why do you hate that so much now?"
Samantha sighed annoyed and pulled up her right sleeve of her shirt. She showed Taylor her wrist. It was a silver cresent shaped mark.
"'Sammy' is a stupid little girl who got herself burned." she growled and Taylor nodded in understand meant.
"Where's Jake?" Samantha asked, changing the subject.
"I'm not sure..." her brother answered, "While you were gone, we got your robes and all your other things."
Samantha nodded and Jake seemed to appear out of nowhere. They looked at each other and they began to walked again. Samantha pulled on Taylor's sleeve child-like so he bent down to her level.
"When we get home, can I talk to you?" she whispered in her ear.
"Of course, but why are we whispering?" he replied
"I don't want Jake to know..." she answered
Taylor gave hr a confused looked over at his husband. They smiled at each other. Taylor gave him a teasing smile and Jake winked back.
"Why don't you want Jake to know? This is our life." Taylor whispered, looking back at Samantha.
"vampire thing..." she mumbled
"Jake has every right to know of our problems, whether or not he's a vampire...He's my husband."
Samantha sighed softly. "You always play the 'he's my husband' card on me. It's sucks."
"Sammy," Taylor seethed through his elongated fangs. "Don't start."
"Taylor..." she started again, ignoring her brother. "You married a stone knowing-
"Sam, don't even finish what you were going to say!" he whispered harshly
Taylor pulled her from the street and back behind a building. He pinned her against the building's rough surface. Samantha stared at him with wide crystal-blue eyes and her mouth hung open, exposing her scared fangs. He leaned in so they were face-to face and their noses touched. Both were silent. The silent. The wide blew and Taylor's soft hair tickled her face. Samantha expected Taylor to claim her as his own like he did before when they were in this position, but her desire never came.
"Samantha Alice Chapman! What was that?" he suddenly screamed in face, making her jump and her eyes turn bloody red.
"I- she started to say, but she stopped herself.
"Dammit," Taylor mumbled, backing away from her.
He covered his eyes with his hands, trying to hide. Samantha removed them and sighed softly.Taylor's eyes were misty green and blood was streaming down his pale face. He was crying.
"Tay-Taylor...d-don't cry..." Samantha whispered, blood tears welling up in her eyes as well.
"Y-you just don't understand!" Taylor chocked on his tears and pushed his sister deeper against the building's rough surface.
"Y-you just don't understand..." he repeated "Jake and I, you don't understand, you don't comprehend how much we both love you. Jake's loved us from the first day. If I didn't love him the same, why would I trust him enough to tell him out family secret when we were only thirteen? Sam, just...don't even say things like that. It nearly killed me."
"I'm sorry," Samantha whispered softly
"It's okay..." he sighed, "I accept your apology."
They smiled at each other, showing each other their fangs, their true smiles. Taylor pulled Samantha into a soft, loving, protective embrace. She nuzzled her face into his soft ebony shirt and he stroked her hair softly. He pressed his soft, vanilla flavored lips to the top of her head and then the base of her neck and throat.
"Are you going to be okay?" Samantha asked softly, still holding onto her brother, looking up at him.
Taylor's shoulder's shrugged. "May hang onto it for a while," he teased," but, yeah. I'm gonna be okay."
"Good." his sister replied, smiling brightly as her eyes bleed to purple.
They looked at each other and their eyes turned golden. Samantha got her desire as Taylor pressed his lips to hers. They let each other go at the same time, as the other read the others' mind. They held hands as they walked back to Jake and the three of them, together, walked back to the impala and drove back to their secret mansion, hidden in a weeping willow forest.
