Free Fledgling (The Vampire Manifesto, Book Two) by Rashaad Bell

the fence, landing in the backyard as unobtrusively as I could. It didn’t take long for me to pinpoint her room; I could pick her heartbeat out of a crowd in my sleep. It was on the second floor towards the corner. It looked like there used to be a sapling here recently, but it had been cut down, nothing but a smooth stump remaining.
    I picked up a small piece of bark and flicked it towards the window. It smacked into it just a little bit louder than I anticipated. I was still getting use to the Vampire strength to normal strength ratio. Auspiciously, the window didn’t shatter, but it did ensnare her attention. Her shadow fell across the draperies moments before she pulled them apart. She was so striking, even from this distance. I could make out the perfection of her features, the smoothness of her skin, the sparkle of her eyes. It took her a moment, but then she gave the window a tug and slid it open.
    “Madison?” She was astonished, ecstatic, confused and scared all at once. It was amazing how her face could convey so many emotions simultaneously and yet she did it with an ease that only made it that more enrapturing. As soon as the window opened, her scent hit me full blast, like an alcoholic taking that first drink on an empty stomach. It was almost that overwhelming in its potency.
    “Yeah.” I called back. “It’s me.”
    “You…” Fear was overpowering her. “…you disappeared. You just vanished.”
    It was unusual being on the other end of this exact conversation.
    “People just don’t do that.” She continued.
    An insidious little smirk played across my lips. “I know.”
    “How did you…” Confusion was taking the lead now. “How did you find me?”
    “Can I come in Dakota?” I could have compelled her, placed her in my thrall, but I didn’t want to do that. I wanted her to want me to come in.
    She didn’t say anything at first and I could appreciate her quandary. It’s not like I haven’t lived through it as well, but if she’s anything like me…
    “Yeah sure, but my mom is downstairs and its late, I don’t think she is gonna let me have company. I’ve got to sneak you in, but I don’t know how you’re going to…”
    I took a step forward then jumped, landing on the second story window seal with my right foot and just continued my stride into her room, my left foot stepping onto her bedroom floor.
    “Oh...” Dakota backed away from me immediately, jolting into the dresser behind her, knocking over the mirror that was resting on top of it. Just before it struck the ground and shattered I reached for it, faster than a human could, catching it in my hand.
    “Everything okay up there?” Yelled a woman from downstairs.
    I moved close to Dakota, placing the mirror back on the dresser. She scrutinized every move I made, her eyes full of disbelief.
    “Dakota?” The women called out.
    “Yeah mom.” Dakota finally answered. “Everything’s chill.”
    “What’s all that ruckus?” Her mom questioned.
    “Just playing the Michael Jackson experience on the Wii.” Dakota answered. “I’m getting my Thriller on.”
    I took a seat on her bed, leaning back and crossing my legs while I listened to her talk.
    “Well, just try to keep it down okay?”
    “Uh sure.” Dakota said. “Night mom.”
    “Goodnight baby.”
    I couldn’t help but laugh, the banter they possessed reminded me of my mother. I choose to laugh because the only other option left was to cry. Dakota hadn’t moved an inch, her back still pressed up against the dresser. I waited patiently, knowing that what she had seen, what I had decided to show her was a lot to process. I wasn’t exactly sure why I had done that. It was enough that I choose that particular way to take my leave of her when we first met. I was just being full of myself, knowing that I would never see her again and that she would eventually attempt to brainwash herself about the events of that night, convincing her mind that the events didn’t