At home, I stared at my mom's grave. It seemed unhealthy, but I kept thinking about my life without her. Time should've stopped for me since I gave everything to her. What future do I have now? Somehow, I was surviving without her. I met friends and gained unique experiences from this. Soon, I'd be an adult and go my own way. I wouldn't have kept her support forever. Someday, everyone loses their parents, but I hoped to be much older by then. This was my circumstances, and I must accept it.
I thought back to Nick's earlier text about Fay's interest in becoming a vampire. Maybe she wasn't as innocent as I thought. Some abilities, like immortality and quick healing, would appeal to anybody, while the others could harm others. She got annoyed with people and get petty revenge. They mainly gossiped about me being born out of wedlock. They were just catty women I would've ignored, but she took things too personally. If she used her powers like that, it would be too dangerous and reckless. Still, Fay didn't deserve to die, especially the way she did. I should get my revenge in a few days. A crow pecked at the ground near her tombstone. I realized I have the same vengeful tendencies, but this was a serious situation. Crossing my arms, I understood revenge may cause additional problems.
I spent the next day finishing my birthday bread and cake, enjoying my time off school. The solitude was peaceful when Dad texted me often. My blood cravings lessened. I was free to do whatever I pleased with no responsibilities. This was one of the happiest and relaxing times in my life. It's not the same without my mom, but it meant I would be happy again. Plus, soon I would get the results Nick sent to Dr. Sawyer and see witch Bridgett.
Saturday finally arrived after my much needed relaxing. I mentally prepared to see those results and meet Bridgett. I looked forward to visiting Nick's family and Gretchen. Cecil should have gotten over that confrontation. I hurried to the sound of Nick pacing around the kitchen. "Did you get the results?" I walked to him while he faced the wall and wiped his forehead.
"Yes," I paused, expecting him to say them, but he kept looking away. "There weren't any DNA or clues. All what Dr. Sawyer concluded was the close contact we had with her from the date. Sorry, Shelly, I have no idea who did this or how to find them."
I stared at my feet with slight trembling. Those results were my only hope of getting closure. Nick felt the way I did. I placed my hand on his back. "Thanks for trying. I will find who did this, don't worry."
He finally turned toward me. "It will be dangerous for you to investigate alone." He smoothed my hair. "I don't think that matters. It won't undo what happened. Maybe we'll just move beyond this."
I appreciated his attempt to comfort me, but I couldn't let this go. There must be evidence with the claw marks and teeth marks. Fay should've scratched the murderer. Checking her fingernails would be obvious. "Can I see the results? Dr. Sawyer must've kept a report of it."
He rubbed his chin, eyes darting around the room. "I guess. They're in his office." He walked to a kitchen drawer and took a pen and flash card. After some reluctance, he scribbled on it, and then brought it to me.
I memorized the address, suspecting him of hiding something. "Are you sure he saw nothing?" He squirmed at my accusing stare. Even being much taller and wider than me, I still intimidated my father. Even while annoyed, I enjoyed being strong.
"I'm telling you what he said. I loved her as much as you did." He scratched his head. "You'll see when you meet Dr, Sawyer."
I glared at him as I put the card into my pocket. He might be hiding something, but he's sad and scared. He loved Fay like I did, so he wouldn't have harmful intentions. I'd let it go until I meet Dr. Sawyer later. I went to Darren's room to ask him about visiting Bridgett.
"So, you're ready to see Bridgett?" He asked as I entered.
"Yes." He seemed friendly today, which was what I needed. I sat next to him on the bed. "Nick said there wasn't any evidence on Fay's body, but I feel there's something he's not saying."
He tilted his head as if to think of why there wasn't evidence. "Vampires and werewolves have ways of hiding themselves. I wouldn't be suspicious of our dad. He cares a lot about us."
He did care a lot about me. This whole time, he had been making up for his betrayal toward me and my mom. Did he care for Darren as much? He must be important to him. I still had no idea who attacked me and Fay. It seemed I would never know. I may have to spy on others.
Darren stood. "Let's get to the place now. She's going to be there early today." He said as we left the house.
The weather grew colder, darker, and cloudier as we approach December. I normally dislike this weather, but with my sun sensitivity, it's convenient. The passing of the seasons made me wonder if even Fay's death will become a distant memory. Maybe I would even forget the perpetrator.
No one was there except for Gretchen, wiping the counter, and a girl, fitting the description of Bridgett. Gretchen smiled and waved at me, which I did back. She wasn't just being polite as she ignored Darren, but I followed him to Bridgett.
She sat at a booth, looking at us. I forgot why I came when I saw her. She had a strange beauty to her, with her black curls over her white face with blue eyes. I sensed something mystical and unique about her. The image of a jellyfish came to me, strangely beautiful. Suddenly, I understood what Darren meant about being a vampire meant the soul detached from the body, reminding me why I needed her. My soul was a translucent, beautiful orb of a jellyfish with its stretched tentacles pulling from my body. The desire to have it back became my marionette strings, controlling me from here and onward.
Darren's blunt manner broke my trance. "Shelly," he weakly gestured at me, "needs you to turn her back to human."
"I'll come to you when it's time to reverse it." She looked at her cranberry juice on the table. She seemed prophetic. I assumed she could find my home and see into the future.
"It'll be done soon, right? Do you have everything you need?" Like what I expected from a witch, she's eccentric.
She nodded when Darren grabbed her arm. "I need to talk to you in the back." He pulled her from the booth to a private room.
I stood, unsure what to do with myself with Darren away and upset. Gretchen brought my usual drink. "How are you doing?" She cheerfully asked.
Her disposition helped me through this grim time. "Not great." I enjoyed being honest with her. "My dad sent DNA to a doctor to find my mom's killer, but he said there wasn't evidence. How when there're scratch marks on her?"
She paused to think. "Maybe a werewolf attacked her if there were deep claw marks, and they don't leave much of a trace."
"I figured it was a vampire because she was sucked dry, and I felt the sharp teeth drinking from me." I still quivered from thinking about it. "The person had a human shape without being much bigger than me."
"My wolf form has teeth like a vampire and could suck blood. We also have a wolf form that allows us to walk like a human."
I assumed it was a vampire, but now a werewolf seemed possible. I needed to open my perspective to find the culprit. "Maybe it was a werewolf that did this. How many do you know?"
She shrugged. "Just me and my boyfriend, Alex." A back door opened, and a man I haven't seen entered. His black leather jacket with his tall frame made him intimidating. "That will be him." Gretchen said as he charged toward her.
"Don't talk to her." He pulled her away like Darren did with Bridgett. Are these girls dating these guys? They deserved better.
I stood alone, but I could hear Gretchen and Alex. They seemed to forget my vampire abilities allowed me to hear them as if they were next to me. He didn't want her involved with helping me find my criminal, and more surprising, he sounded jealous of Gretchen's interest in me. I enjoyed her, but with everything going on, I wasn't ready for relationships.
Soon, Darren left the room with Bridgett. He stared at the floor as he hurried out of the restaurant. "Hey, are you okay?" I asked, but he ignored me. I turned to Bridgett, who stopped by me. "What did you talk about?"
"We've broken up." I sensed there was a deeper meaning to that phrase than their relationship ended. "Be careful, Shelly." She touched my shoulder, sending shivers through my body. The jellyfish tentacles pulled my soul closer.
She left as I finished my drink. Although I wasn't craving it, the blood rejuvenated me. It's worrying that I grew weak without noticing. I couldn't wait to get this reversed and not need this nasty liquid. Although, as much as I'd like to be human again, Bridgett's final words suggested I may need my enhanced abilities for longer.
I walked to my car and headed to Fay's home. The tension between me and Nick's other family was thick again. I've been trying with Darren, but his volatile personality was too stressful. Maybe that's why Nick has been distant from him. He may not be the troubled kid that I assumed, and I shouldn't trust him.