Picture: A small part of the Island of the Culprits

I woke up the next morning feeling perfectly safe, as if I was a mindless human who finally found peace of mind under stronger creatures' protection. 

Ah! Who am I kidding? I am not a human who's being sheltered from the outside world. I am a foolish werewolf in disguise who just entered enemy's realm. I am a threat to these vampires, although they are not aware of it.  

Yet. 

Given the charming relationship our mutual species have been entertaining for the last centuries, I don't think they would simply kill me if they were to find out about my true nature. My death would undoubtedly be slow. Very slow.

Better not to think about it. Let's think about something else. Unicorns, for instance. Yeah, unicorns are great. 

I was so tired yesterday, after my first confrontation with the Huserdown's family, that I don't remember much about what happened after Malik dismissed me with a mere nod. 

Asshole. 

I know I obediently followed Serena into my new room, nodding to everything she was saying without actually listening. 

Shit. I hope she didn't tell me important stuff. What is she told me about rules I must always follow if I don't want to go to the grave just yet? What if I unknowingly do something forbidden in the future? Will my ignorance be forgiven?

What's the saying already? Ignorance of the law is no excuse. 

Right. 

Scoffing, I sit at the corner of my bed, which is surprisingly comfy, and start changing into fresher clothes. There's no doubt I need a good shower, but there's only a small sink and a toilet in the room. They say the salary is good, but it seems that the accomodation is pretty basic: a small bedroom with a single bed, a sink, a wardrobe and a toilet. No shower stall, no windows and no desk. As a werewolf, I grew up in the woods, so I don't need much,  but the absence of a bathroom here is pretty weird. I guess I will inquire about it later. 

I retrieve my watch from pocket, since I can no longer use my phone to know the time here. They confiscated it, saying I no longer need it now. Of course, I don't care much about the phone, as I don't have anyone to call anyway, but still, it was a pretty creepy thing to do. 

 Oh, so it's four in the morning. No wonder I feel so rejuvenate:  it's been years since the last time I have slept four hour straight. Living on your own, in the woods or in the streets does that to you.

The woods. Sometimes, I have brief flashes of my life as a werewolf, in the woods. I wasn't much of a fighter, but I was a hell of a runner. Almost as quick as Kyle. 

Don't cry.

I refresh myself the best I can, putting a black pant and a white chemise on. After giving it some thoughts, I decide against wearing a tie. I hope my outfit looks professional enough. Serena hasn't told me if there is a strict dressing code. 

Or maybe she has, but I wasn't paying attention. Sue me.

I look at myself in the oval mirror above the sink. Plain looking. Ordinary. Average. That's the words most commonly used to describe me, and over the years I've come to accept the truth they carry.

You know these boyxboy stories where Character A, a nerd with average looks, has a crush on Character B, a handsome bad boy who is almost always a bully?

Well, that's what differentiates fiction from reality:

In fiction, Character A turns out to be much more appealing than he gives himself credit for. 

In fiction, Character A finally blossoms to his gorgeous true self, and he finds love in the person of Character B, who proves to be a teddy bear, under the tough facade.  

This is reality: when I'm saying I'm average at best, it's a fact. I'm not average with huge blue eyes, the softest skin, a nice bubbly ass or whatever physical traits these poor average boys possess in fictions. 

I'm average average, bitches. 

Actually, I've never met anyone who found me beautiful, except for one guy, but in the end he was just playing with me. It was part of his plan, as he so delicately told me himself. 

It's a bit less hard now that I'm living among humans, though, because humans aren't nearly as perfect as werewolves. In human standards, I'm average, while from a werewolf's perspective, I  might look good enough to be a fuck buddy, but nothing more. 

Alright, enough with the pity-party. Can I leave my bedroom on my own like a big boy now or am I supposed to wait for Serena? 

Deciding that 28 is old enough to find my way in a huge mansion, I carefully open the door, but it still creaks, making me wince. I can't help but feel guilty, as if I was already trespassing some unknown orders. 

Everything is so quiet. What time is it? 

5.30. Maybe the cooks are already up?

Come on! 5:30 isn't that early, is it? 

I start going down the stairs, looking curiously at all the closed doors on the second floor. Everything looks even more magnificient on this floor. Is this where the Masters live? And why are there so many rooms, since as far as I know, there's only five vampires living there, plus the staff? 

Since I have no idea where to go, I decide to rely on my enhanced werewolves senses to guide me. 

That's when I heard them. Whisperings. They're coming from... the cellar? Are they having a meeting of some sort in the cellar? That's a weird choice for a meeting room.

Against my better judgment, I carefully walk down two more flight of stairs, until I reach the basement. The whisperings are stronger, now. I approach a big wooden door and finally make out faint words. "... two months from now.... new servant.... more information... hundred people at the very least."

"Kyle? What are you doing here?" someone whispers/yells.

How could have I not hear her approaching me from behind? Looking at me with a not-so-friendly expression, her fits on her hips, is Serena. 

"I was looking for the kitchen" I pretend. 

Without bothering to reply, she grabs my forearm and leads me back toward the stairs. We eventually reach a lounge, which looks much more comfy and simple that every room I've seen so far. I like it. It looks like people are actually living here, and not just admiring the furnitures.

"That's the kitchen, Mister"

"Yeah, figured" I mumble back. 

She sighs, then asks: " Try to remember the location, next time. There are some doors better left closed. Now, why on Earth are you up so early?"

"I couldn't sleep" I smile sheepishly. 

Her expression softens a bit, before her neutral mask is back in place. "It's weird. I always sleep like a baby. The beds are so comfy here." she remarks with a suspicious tone. 

I am about to retort that it's no wonder I had trouble falling asleep last night, since I need some time to adapt to a new environment, but then I remember that I'm supposed to have forgotten completely about my past. 

I really need to find out what exactly the others remember, and how the spell has affect them, or someone will quickly find out about my imposture. 

"I don't sleep much" I admit. "Like they say, I'll sleep when I'm dead and I ain't dead now. Plus, I wanted to make good impression by arriving early on my first day of job."

She doesn't laugh. Of course, she doesn't. She's lost her sense of humor. Living here probably does that to you. She sighs, before nodding. 

" Okay, I won't pry. If you're so keen on making yourself useful, then help me set the table for the staff. You can finish cooking with me, then we'll eat with the rest of the staff. As I've said yesterday, at 7:30, you'll bring our masters their breakfast."

I almost drop the pile of plates at that. "What?"

"Oh, Kyle. You really need to be more focused. I've told you already, as the new servant, you're supposed to bring the breakfast to our new masters. It's tradition, sorta."

"But I thought they were taking their breakfast in their rooms?" I persist. 

"Not on Sundays, Kyle" she cuts me, sounding a bit exasperated, now. 

"I'm sorry, Serena, I amend. I promise I'll pay more attention for now on."

"I hope you will. Don't worry too much, though. It's a simple task, really. I've wrote down for you a list of what everyone is eating, so that you don't mix things up. Mistress Monical, for instance, never has eggs for breakfast. She can't digest them."

She briefly smiles at me, looking calm again. We quickly resume the cooking: pancakes, English breakfasts, and even lasagna. 

Ew. Who eats lasagna for breakfast? My guess is Malik, his tastes probably aren't very refined. 

At least, I'm a good cooker. I hope Serena notices. 

She's a weird one. I wonder how she got there. 

Yeah, yeah. On a boat, just like me. It's SO not funny. 

"Serena" I eventually break the silence, once the cooking is done and all we have to do is wait for the others to arrive. 

"Yes, Kyle?"

I have to stop wincing everytime I'm being called Kyle. Guess it's my name, now.

"Don't we bring the Masters... uh, you know?"

"Blood?" she asks in a neutral voice, as if our conversation was perfectly normal. 

"Well, yes"

"Only for Malik. The others have tea or coffee."

Well, that's surprising. Vampires having tea for breakfast?

"I thought all vampires drink..."

"You seem to be a very curious young man, Kyle" she interrupts me again, and I quickly apologize.

Instead, I ask practical questions about the Masters and the Mansion, which is what was expected of me, I guess. I learn that Malik, aged 24, is the youngest son of the Huserdown family, while Killian, 30, is the elder. The young woman is actually Killian's mate, she goes by the name of Rose. Finally, the father, Jordan, is  53 and the old lady, Monica, is 78. 

I wisely choose not to ask about the mother. 

"Serena, I have another practical question. I haven't seen a bath, or something of the sort, in my room."

Much to my surprise, she suddenly looks slightly uncomfortable. 

It was a perfectly innocent question. Is she a prude?

"Yes, Kyle" she eventually replies - I swear she'll kill me if she keeps calling me Kyle all the time. "See, it's a bit different for ... males staff here. You all shower together, in the evening."

"Like common showers?" I ask, slightly alarmed, as I really don't want to be naked in front of others. 

"Not exactly. It's more like a.. but you'll see tonight."

Serena is blushing. She's actually blushing. 

That's no good. That's no good at all. 

"Well, can't I go shower now, when there's nobody around?" I ask with a hopeful voice.

"You can't, Kyle. I'm sorry. Malik's orders. All the males shower together." 

She does look a bit sorry. Guess there's no point insisting: I don't want to infuriate Serena once more, and it would be unwise for me to go against Malik's direct orders. I wonder what it is all about, and I can't say I'm excited to find out. I have a feeling I won't like it. Malik seems like the most dangerous one. 

"Ah, the others are coming. Let's put the breakfast on the table" Serena suddenly declares with a cheery voice, making me jump. 

She heard them before I could. How is that possible? 

Although I'm far from a social butterfly, I'm a bit curious to meet the others. Hulk told me that they all look like zombies, but so far, Serena doesn't seem too different from me. Maybe everyone reacts differently to the spell? Maybe some have their brain cells completely fried, while others just don't remember much about their old lives.

"Oh, and Kyle?" the soft smile is back in place.

"Yes?"

"Next time you wake up so early, just try to go back to sleep. I'll only say it once: early birds don't last long, here."

So much for a peaceful morning. 

TBE (To Be Edited)

A/N: Another update ~ looks like I'm inspired.  It probably won't last, though ^^ 

Anyway, I hope this new chapter can be a short distraction in your day. Don't hesitate to share your thoughts, I'm always very interested to hear them.

 Take care xx