Chapter 18

Waking up from her vivid nightmare Melissa saw Anastasia at her side looking at her with horror on her eyes. Annie "what happened? asked Melissa feeling her head numb and fuzzy a migraine was brewing.

"Melissa you were unconscious on the bathtub, you almost drowned in there. I came up to bring you something to eat and you didn't respond when I knocked. I opened the door and I saw you there, completely submerge in the water. I had to called Flavio to help me get you out of the bathtub. "Can you tell me what happened to you?".

"I saw her, Melissa said with absent eyes, she talked to me. She said that that was my decision, my conscience and those two monsters that live inside of me".

"You saw Eve? Asked Anastasia while looking at Melissa with questions on her eyes.

"Well, I didn't see her. It was a voice that I hear coming from a something that looked like a black smoke around me. Then it transformed into me"…Melissa remembered seeing her demon self. "Was she a shape shifter?" Melissa asked remembering the flame in front of her and then the mirror room.

"Eve was a demon. She lived in the underworld always trying to come up to the surface until one day she succeeded. Once she got here, she realized everything that she could do and that made her think that she could rule everything. The product of her being a demon and the human vessel that she found was a vampire, it is said that she was the first vampire ever existed".

"Can she come back?" Melissa asked wary of the answer that Anastasia will give her.

"She was killed by a human. And after she created you, she didn't have any intentions to coming back. She was sure that you will carry on her will to the letter".

"That is where she was wrong", said Melissa while her eyes were watering thinking of how miserable she felt.

"What do you mean Melissa" asked Anastasia with a mix of hope and sadness in her words.

"I will not do such a thing. I will not eliminate anyone. I know that I have the power to change my destiny". These words made Melissa hopeful, she had the opportunity in her hands to make things right this time.

"Annie, I think I found a way to transform at will", Melissa said. "When I was trapped in my trance. I was hearing Eve words, they were cold. There was a mocking tone in them. I got mad, I could feel the rage flowing through me and I could feel that I had turned myself into a vampire. I could feel my hatred for her nurturing that feeling. Then when she told me that she loved me and that she was my mom. I couldn't contain myself any longer. I felt hatred that was when I turn into a werewolf".

"Melissa" set an Anastasia looking at her almost in the stage of turning into a vampire. The transformation is based on many aspects like self-defense. Vampires same as a werewolves when feel threatened turn ourselves into beasts. You need to feel a strong emotion to get into that stage. Anything that you feel will work to set that trigger. Your feelings are directly connected to them. It could be rage, anger, fear and even enjoyment. Our feelings are way stronger than those of the humans. Everything is multiplied whiting ourselves. Sometimes getting the best of us. The difference between vampires and werewolves is that we can be more calculating in our movements before attacking. We are...simply put; demons and they are animals".

"And I'm both," said Melissa". Her sadness was so real that she thought she can touch it with her hands.

"I'm sorry Melissa," said Anastasia. I don't know where all this will take you. What I do know is no matter what you do. I love you and will be always here for you".

Melissa took a deep breath and with a decisive tone said. "I want to try it now. I would like for you to call Flavio in case something goes wrong". Anastasia nodded her head bringing the tray of food near Melissa's side and placing it on the bed. "I will find him. I will be back. Eat for now you will need it".

Melissa looked at the tray, there's was a fruit salad with some greens and a cup of tea. She ate some of the greens and drank the tea with the painkillers. Her right temple was pounding like a wrecking ball inside her head. The warmth of the liquid felt good, while going down her throat. Grabbing the bowl and the cup setting them into her nightstand to empty the tray and lifting it to use it as a mirror, she could see her pale face and her sunken dark eye bags. No minding this specter looking on her, she concentrated and close her eyes. Thinking about the rage that she felt when Blaze kissed her without warning. She opened and she could see the red rim around her eyes like flames spreading inwards to almost nonexistent silver ring like trying to consume them. Then proceeded to close them again trying to calm herself thinking about Adel; his gaze, his beautiful hair, how vulnerable but calmed he made her feel. She felt comfort around him. She wanted to see him again. She opens her eyes again and the red rim was gone.

Anastasia knocked at the door "come in said Melissa" They both enter her room. Flavio came in standing in front of Melissa with concern on his eyes. "Are you ok Mel?", he asked asked clearly scared.

"Yes, Flavio I'm ok. I'm sorry for scaring you". Melissa said with an apologetic smile. Flavio and Anastasia were indeed the two best things best that could ever happen on Melissa's life. They were the parents that she knew. They were indeed a big part of her new determination.

Melissa said "my first stage could be either or. The idea is to have both creatures awaken at the same time but without transforming. "This is just a theory".

"But it does make sense" said Anastasia thinking hard trying to remember Melissa's past life's. For what I've experience you have almost completely transformed into one form, you haven't had the chance to really embrace that one form because the other is fighting to get to the surface but always the first one is killed and while the other one waits for the first one to finish dying and start taking over you. You get killed; none of the process finishes. By the way that reminds me. I have found her. I can bring her to you in no time" Anastasia said.

"That will be our plan B Annie, if this theory of mine doesn't work then we will bring her to finish me off" said Melissa while fixing herself on the bed.

"I want to try this. If I can control my shifting abilities, I will be able to turn into a vampire or at werewolf at will. If I'm in my vampire form, there will be some werewolf abilities that I will not be able to convey and vice versa. If I can control both at the same time inside me at will. Then I will have both powers at my disposition. Right?"

"Well, is a good theory," said Flavio.

"Annie what is at the end of the hallway?" asked Melissa. "Is that what I think it is? I never like the feeling of going towards that side. It makes me feel like I'm drowning; like I can't breathe".

"Yes, Melissa it is exactly what you think. Come I'll show you" said Anastasia while Flavio followed her.

Melissa standing up followed them. They left the room and went to the right outside Melissa's room door. They started walking towards the long corridor. The sun had already set, and the night gave it an eerie look. Anastasia turns on the lights and it didn't really make much of a difference. The somber vibe that they had around them was not a pleasant feeling for Melissa. They continue walking towards the corridor and passed Flavio's room and steps later Anastasia's. "You two still sleep in separate rooms asked Melissa?". They looked at each other and Melissa could see them both blushing.

"I really don't care if you sleep in the same room. You have been separated long enough". "You only live once....unless you are me". Melissa said in a mocking tone.

"Your grandfather won't like the idea". Said Flavio

"My grandfather doesn't have any business on you guys' private life. That goes without saying, you haven't failed on your duties, and I know you never will. Obviously is matter of you guys to decide whether you want to do it or not. Keep in mind that anything you decide will not bother me. Like I said this time I will do things differently".

They stayed in silence like they were thinking about the offer. Passing by some other empty rooms left and right. The hallway was cover with a dark brown wallpaper with gold tones swirling like they were snakes meddling around the almost never-ending long hallway; extending towards the also dark brown ceiling. "I have never gotten over how dark this house is. I would like to find a better one. This house is old, big, and eerie for my taste. It is too much of a big house for only us tree to live in it" Melissa said. Flavio and Anastasia kept looking at each other's with almost a relieved gaze.

They kept walking towards the end it of it and it looked like was a dead end. Anastasia when in front of Flavio and pushed the wall which slide to one side revealing a long set of stairs spiraling deep down. "Just when you thought it wouldn't get creepier than that" said Melissa shaking her head and looking back towards the long corridor.

Anastasia pulled something to her right side that looked like a candle turning on one following another around the stairs. They started walking down. Everything looked like it was taking from a horror film. The spiderwebs on the walls, it felt humid and hot at the same time. They went down one floor, and Melissa knew that they were at the first floor of the house.

They left the stairs and walked across another hallway. Flavio opened a door to reveal elevator in it. Melissa scoffed, and went in. Flavio and Anastasia were completely mute building up their concerns about what was going to happen. They all entered, and Anastasia pulled down another lever looking at Melissa.

"Wow Annie you are really prepared," said Melissa. I'm assuming that the house didn't came with these amenities".

"No, it didn't. I always make sure to prepared everything for your transformation. We've always built it". Anastasia said looking almost embarrassed.

"Does grandpa know about it? Melissa asked.

"No, he doesn't".

"And the money? asked Melissa, perfectly knowing the answer to this question.

"We don't touch your money, Mel. Don't worry about it"

"Oh, I worried"! Melissa said while looking deeply into their eyes. "From now on don't spend any money of yours" said Melissa while the elevator door was opening revealing a huge and dark room. There were long walls standing tall towards the high ceiling, everything had a rustic finished. It looked like a dungeon of a castle, it had an empty brick table and something that look like a bed. "I'm assuming that's for me, it looks really comfy" Melissa said with an obvious lying tone walking towards it.

"You always destroy everything said Flavio almost laughing. Anastasia giving him a piercing look "That is why I have to make it as minimalistic as possible".

"No need to apologize, I'm not judging you. At the end of the day you guys are taking care of a monster" said Melissa calmly; making ache Anastasia' cold heart.

Melissa walked towards the bed. There were some thick chains coming out from the walls and down the rustic ceiling. Finishing in four thick cuffs approximately three inches thick. Melissa grabbed one, and it was so thick that she could barely hold it with her two hands.

"Lovely" said Melissa mocking the rustic finished. There was a moon door high above the ceiling.

Flavio light up the candles next to the elevator door and the dim light cover just a little space of the huge and empty room with a bronze glow. It was easy for the three of them look into the almost dark surroundings. Their demons and animal eyes were easily adapted to this condition.

"I'm ready" Melissa said laying on the cold stony bed. "If you feel that you need to chain me, do it".

"I don't think that will be necessary" said Anastasia, stopping Flavio from going towards the chains. "The idea is for you to controlled it" calmly walking and stoping at Melissa's side.

"What if I can't?" asked Melissa. "Flavio and I will stop you. But I have the feeling that this time will be different" said Anastasia while caressing Melissa's forehead. "I trust you" finished Anastasia.

Melissa closed her eyes and a twilight curtain covered the entire room.