Grandpa

Speechless for two seconds, I then retorted, 'Just like you were wrong about me being a vampire, you're wrong about this. My grandfather died before my birth.'

Dave didn't reply anything, he merely walked in the yard, inviting me to do the same. The door was already open and he walked right in without knocking.

'They're waiting for us,' he merely announced at my questioning glance.

'Who's 'they'?'

He didn't have to answer as the hallway in which we had been walking opened to a large sunny room. It was a living room of some sorts with an assortment of armchairs and sofas surrounding a low table. The wall at the far end was covered with framed pictures of different sizes, and even from a distance I could recognize the smile of Nani. Sitting in the biggest armchair was an old man with a long beard reaching mid-chest. He had a large mane of white hair to accompany it. At that moment he boasted a very wide smile which made his vibrant blue eyes twinkle merrily. He beckoned me closer and as I was walking in his direction, I was accosted by a seemingly young woman with bright red nails which she placed on my sleeves as she gave me air kisses. Her face was heavily made up in tones of jewel red to match her nails. After greeting me she flicked her dark hair and in a honey-sweet voice, said,

'Welcome, my human cousin.'

She then looked me over, before casting a quick seductive glance at Dave, who was behind me. She, with one hand across my shoulders, walked around me, with a smile, when suddenly she turned to the old man.

'Why can't I read her thoughts?' she muttered angrily to him.

I was taken aback by the vehemence of her words and also perplexed. Why was she so keen to read my thoughts and why was she unable to do so, like Dave did so easily for me?

'Why are you rushing things, Anita? Let me meet my granddaughter first,' the old man said with a surprisingly strong voice for someone who looked so frail.

As soon as I reached arm distance, the old man stood up and pulled me in a bear hug. He was about six feet and I felt completely engulfed in his arms.

'Good morning, Sir.'

'What's with the Sir? Call me Grandpa or Nana,' he said gruffly. I felt emotional even though I still wasn't sure this old man was indeed my grandfather.

'Sit,' he ordered and then turned to Dave. He shook hands with him. 'Thank you Dave for bringing her to me. No problem on the way?'

'None. Yet,' was the answer.

'If you people don't mind, if we are done with the greetings, can you please explain what makes you my grandpa?' I interrupted peskily. I was tired of all those social niceties and wanted to get to the point.

'Haha, just like Nani, so impatient,' Grandpa laughed happily. He sobered up when he looked at my expression, however. 'Anita go make some strong tea. I feel we all gonna need some at the end.'

Anita looked like she wanted to protest, but looking at Grandpa's face, she went quietly.

'Your Nani was my wife, girlie. She left me to come and take care of you during the last years of her life.'

Dave added, 'Remember I had told you about the substance secreted when vampires decide to put an end to their existence. Nani had already lived for more than 1500 years and she, along with Nana, took the common decision to move on to their next abode. The process had already started when she came to Earth. I helped her settle in her new life on Earth.'

'That's correct. Do you want to know why she left me?' asked Nana. And I mutely nodded.

'Your mother, whom we hadn't seen in 100 years, called us one day, saying she was in trouble.'

My ears peaked up at the mention of my mother as I didn't know anything about her, except that she died at my birth along with my father who followed her to the grave a few days afterwards.

'I know it's hard for you to comprehend everything. It's still new. A few days ago you didn't even know about the existence of vampires.'

'What about my mother? Was she a vampire too?'

'Yes,' Nana answered,'One of the most powerful, that is, until she met your father.'

I could hear the regret, and even anger, in his voice at the mention of my father.

'Tell me about my mother, Nana. Please,' I pleaded. Nani always eluded the topic by saying that I was wrong to dig up the painful past.

'Better, I'll show you.' And he pulled up a big photo album from the drawer of a table that I hadn't noticed behind him. 'Come sit near me, girlie,' and he pulled my chair next to his, with me still sitting on it. The protest that was on the tip of my tongue was muted immediately once he opened the album. The first picture was that of a young girl who looked like me when young. The next pictures were of a similar young girl until she gradually grew into a ravishing young lady, more beautiful than me.

'You're wrong Ash. You're as beautiful, if not more,' Dave interrupted, making me blush. Nana was looking at us quizzically, but didn't say anything.

'Here, this one is when she left to go on Earth for an exploratory expedition. That was the last time we saw her. Just before she met your father.' A lone tear peaked out from beneath Nana's lashes, before rolling down his weathered cheek and ending in his beard. I couldn't mistake his love for his daughter who was the spitting image of me. He really was my grandfather.

If my grandparents were vampires, and my mother as well, so did that really make me a vampire too?

'What about my father? Was he a vampire too?'

I could sense the hesitation which followed my question. I turned to look at Nana, but he wasn't looking at me.

'Ah, Anita, you've brought the tea. Wonderful.' Nana's relief was palpable. I felt that there was something that he wasn't ready to divulge.

There were four cups on the tray and Anita started pouring the tea in the cups. Next to the teapot, there was a small recipient with sugar in it, and another with a reddish powder.

'Is that powdered blood?' Slight disgust laced my voice.

'Sorry, I forgot that you were a mere human,' Anita piped in. I understood her aim of trying to put me down, but I didn't understand the reason why. I felt so irate at her deliberate attempt to mess up this meeting which was about my family and my face started heating up. Suddenly the locket started heating up so quickly that it burned my skin where it had been nestled. With a cringe and slight hiss of pain, I pulled it out and started blowing on it. As soon as Anita noticed it, she started screeching, 'This is a family heirloom, what are you doing with it?' She tried to jump forward to grab it from around my neck. At that point Nana bellowed, 'Stop! Anita, I thought we had raised you better.' This seemed to make Anita realize what she had been on the point of doing. Contrite and genuinely embarrassed, she looked at Dave and me, and apologized. She then scurried from the living room.

'I see that your Nani gave you the locket. Do you know about its powers?'

All of a sudden, I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders and in a defeated voice, I mumbled,

'I don't even know who I am any longer.'

'Well, it's time we remedy this then,' Nana announced in a determined voice.