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police force in a way. This is the price of our youth and longevity, Laura dear. It’s the only reason we have this inheritance. Did you never question why you were different?’
    It took a while to find my voice. Eventually I croaked, ‘Yes.’ I cleared my throat. ‘Of course I did, but… well, nothing like… this.’
    ‘Everything has a cost.’
    ‘Yes, but…’ The thought occurred to me, ‘Does that mean I’m—we’re—part… vampire?’ That last word came out in a whisper. I simply couldn’t say the word out loud as my rational mind rebelled against it.
    ‘No, we’re the human side of the family. The only thing we have in common with them is our eye colour.’
    I felt like pinching myself to prove this bizarre conversation was actually taking place, that I hadn’t somehow stumbled into the twilight zone.
    ‘I k now how difficult this is for you, dear, and I do understand, believe me, but I still have so much to tell you and there’s not much time.’
    She quickly glanced around.
    ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘T onight is very important—learning what you are and your meeting with Alec. So I’m asking you to bear with me and hear everything I have to say.’ She looked almost imploringly at me.
    ‘Tell me then,’ I conceded.
    Sh e gave a relieved sigh. ‘As I said, it’s not just your fiftieth birthday. In vampire reckoning it’s also your coming-of-age. That means you’re entitled to know the full extent of your heritage and what will be expected of you. For the last fifty years Alec has been feeding from me. That ends this night. According to vampire tradition, you must now replace me—for the next fifty years.’
    ‘No! This is too much! I’m not listening to any more! ’ I started running back to the house.
    ‘ Laura! Please—’
    The catch in my aunt’s voice stopped me. I turned to see her running after me. ‘I’m not lying to you and I’m not mad!’
    I stood there.
    ‘Look at me, Laura! ’ she said as she reached my side. ‘Do I look terrified or hurt or damaged in any way?’
    I shook my head.
    ‘You’ve known me your entire life. At any time did I appear to you afraid or unhappy?’
    ‘No.’
    ‘Then trust me in this.’
    I loved my aunt almost as my own mother and if all this was true then I had to do just that. ‘What do you want from me?’
    My aunt took hold of my right hand. ‘I hoped the Serpent Ring would convince you if I couldn’t.’ She turned it to the light. ‘It’s your destiny, dear, as it was once mine, and for the record, being bitten isn’t as horrific as it sounds. Actually, the experience can be quite pleasant.’ She smiled.
    Before I had a chance to come to terms with that incredible statement, she added, ‘There’s no one else but you, Laura. I can’t continue. It’s forbidden. My blood is l osing its potency, unlike yours which has just reached its full strength.’
    A small period of silence ensued as she let me digest that last shocker.
    ‘I have no choice then.’
    ‘No, dear, y ou don’t,’ she said and squeezed my hand. ‘Just like I didn’t, nor your grandfather, nor the countless number of Dantonvilles before us who carried this rare mutation. At our coming-of-age a hormone is released into our bloodstream that vampires alone can smell. They home in on it like hounds on a scent. And if you don’t have a guardian, they’ll swarm here and fight amongst themselves to claim you. So whether you like it or not, you need a guardian to protect you.’
    ‘And in return, you allow him to bite you? Is that how it works? ’ Talk about a bargain from hell! ‘Then why aren’t you a vampire?’
    ‘It doesn’t work that way. Don’t believe what you see in the movies. Blood has to be shared between donor and recipient. A vampire has to practically empty a person of all their blood then let their own be taken in return. A few bites here and there won’t transform anyone, otherwise half the population would be vampire.’
    ‘Oh,