I was standing in the middle of what I could only describe as a circular courtroom, with my jailer Audrey by my side. The Judge, jury and executioner staring at me with eyes very similar to Audrey's.

"My name is Rupert Mayweather." He began. "I am the leader of the vampire hunters here."

"Originally we were going to keep you in that cell until we prepared everything we needed to be able to execute a vampire such as yourself. However, as it turns out, there is something very different about you from every other Original vampire ever recorded in history. As proven by the lack of bodies between here and your cell." If I didn't know any better, he almost sounded... impressed?

"Here we go." I thought as I struggled not to roll my eyes. "He's spewing the same sort of crap that Audrey just gave me an earful of."

"Now that we've managed to establish that you really are 18 years old, and not simply pretending to be 18, I'm going to shed some light on what happened to you."

This got my interest as my focus snapped to the old man. Any information is a good information if it can help explain away this nightmare.

"As Audrey has probably already told you, you are an atavistic

vampire. In other words, the vampire DNA that was stored in your genetic code as overtaken your human DNA when you were conceived, like a virus, until there was no human DNA left." Rupert Said.

"All Original vampires appear to be very human until their coming of age, when their vampire abilities and tendencies awaken. Which is why you thought you were a human girl. You also came of age very early for a vampire. Having your heart ripped out kicked started the event."

"Any questions so far?" Came the question from the gruff man.

"No, I'm just trying to process all this. It's a bit much for one girl." I replied. 'Wait, were you really going to kill me?"

"Well , my girl." Rupert began. "We do exist to stop blood suckers from draining the people we care about dry in their mad efforts to constantly consume blood."

My heart sank. I was going to die anyway after all of this.

"However," Rupert continued, surprising me. As I was resigning myself to my fate. "Despite the fact that you are a vampire, as proven by your eyes, strength and speed. You don't seem to fit any of the other criteria that warrants your execution. Although you are the first Original vampire we've come across since the Originals went into hiding after releasing that damn virus to throw us off their trail."

"So I propose a deal. You help us track down other Originals and agree to our terms of being monitored, helping us find out what you actually are and informing us immediately when you get a blood craving. In return, you can live in the encampment and we will help train you to master your abilities." Rupert said. "How does that sound?"

Well that's a no brainier. Either refuse and be killed, or accept and learn about what I actually am and how to use my body and abilities. Hopefully by doing so I'll never have to deal with a ring of dead bodies again.

"That's easy," I told Rupert, "I want to know what I am as well, oh and staying alive is good for me so it's a win - win, so I accept your offer."

The tension in the room visibly relaxed when I agreed to join the hunters.

Rupert smiled. "Fantastic! Well then, bring in Leah." The last part was said in a loud voice to someone outside.

A door opened and in came Leah, escorted by a girl our age. She had light blue eyes and wispy blond hair. She was also very pale.

Leah was being escorted instead of forcefully moved. She wasn't bound and was walking by herself freely. Seeing this made me exhale audibly. It's amazing how much worry and stress you can hold onto without realizing it.

When Leah entered the room and saw me, she ran over and launched herself into my arms. I caught her and we hugged til we ran out of breath. I did nothing except embrace her, saying nothing. The comfort of having her close again was more than any words could describe. Out of the corner of my eye, I did notice Audrey shift uncomfortably on her feet when Leah ran to me.

"Sorry to interrupt your reunion girls. But it looks like both of you have agreed to work with us for the time being." Rupert injected. "You two will have plenty of time to catch up over dinner. But for now, Leah, you will be bunking with Audrey. She will act as your guide, carer and observer while you're here."

"Violet." He said, turning to me. "You will be bunking with Mia here. She is going to perform the same roles for you that Audrey will for Leah."

"Any other questions?" Rupert finished. When none came, he signaled Mia and Audrey to take us to our rooms.

"Follow me and please excuse all the staring faces that we will get. People will get used to you, but it will take time." Mia informed me as I followed her out of the court house building and in the opposite direction of the cells I woke up in.

She led me to a building that looked a lot like a university dormitory. Upon entering, surprise surprise, it was a dormitory. We went to the second floor before stopping outside of room 1408.

"This is us." Mia informed me before opening the door and walking inside.

The inside of the room seem to be divided down the middle. On each side was a king single bed, a bedside table and a chest of draws. As well as a study desk and chair. A small, private, bathroom lay beyond the only other door in the room.

"Home, sweet home." Mia mumbled to herself as she went to her side of the room and sat on her chair backwards, her legs protruding from either side of the back of her chair.

"Well that side is yours obviously. You're free to go anywhere in the compound but please let me know where you're going before you head out as I have to accompany you. Yes, I know it sucks, but remember it sucks for me as well." Mia let me know what a burden it was just by her tone of voice. "We will have daily lessons in vampire hunting and martial arts from tomorrow morning. So expect to be woken up early. I will also be your teacher for these as I can take more punishment than the average person."

This last statement confused me. "What do you mean?" I had to ask.

"Like you, some of the vampire DNA in me overrode the human DNA. However, not anywhere near the extent that it happened to you. I'm simply as strong as a girl that goes to the gym a lot. I'm slightly more robust and I have a bit of trouble in the sunlight. I'm not able to drink blood or create drones, so most people here put up with me." Mia explained, shrugging.

My face must have showed my surprise. I was not expecting there to be more people like me.

After more idle chat we went for dinner where I managed to catch up with Leah and learnt that Rhys, Rose and my mother were all in the compound. Rhys was still in the compound hospital from the incident and Rose was with him.

After dinner I went to see Rhys and Rose with Mia escorting me.

I walked into the room to see Rhys on the bed with his head wrapped in bandages and Rose sitting beside him on a chair, holding his hand.

She saw me and immediately put her hands to her lips in a shush motion, signalling for me to be quiet.

She got up and guided us to the other side of the door before quietly shutting it. Rhys was obviously asleep.

"I'm glad you're ok." Rose said. Although her hug conveyed just how worried and frightened she'd been. I think I heard a rib crack. "They've been keeping me informed while we've been here. It's a lot to take in and I don't fully believe them. Vampires older than society and you being one of them?"

"It's not an easy pill to swallow but maybe you should believe them." I said to her, afraid of her response. "Although I'm still struggling."

"Whatever you may or may not be, you will always be my little sister." Those words were muffled as I enveloped her in another hug, relishing the familiar smell of my big sister.

We spoke for hours, literally. We spoke about what happened at Jake's place and when I woke up here at the compound. Rose seemed to be having a hard time believing me until I turned the lights off and let my eyes glow in their brilliant green.

I also learnt that Mum was in the care section of the compound. Apparently she was already surrounded by a new group of friends and having the time of her life. Some have all the luck.

After that we spoke about Rhys and how the hunters had come to get Rose and Mum after what happened because they were no longer safe from drones and other vampires.

Rhys was lucky. He had no brain or nerve damage. He would make a complete recovery. He just needed rest.

After I parted from Rose, our standard "I love you" held far more meaning within it, and I think it always will from now on. From both of our sides. Mia and I went back to our room to rest before my training started in the morning.

After a quick shower and a change of clothes into comfy pajamas, I crawled into my new bed.

So, I'm now an Original vampire apparently, yet I STILL had to have early mornings.

As I was quite tired by this point, I had no trouble at all surrendering myself to sleep in the much comfiest bed I'd slept in for a while.