“What?” Rachel asked.
“You were just a baby, so you probably don’t remember such things. It was a beautiful ceremony, that I can assure you,” her grandmother continued.
“This is getting weird,” Rachel said.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t begin our visit this way. I’ll stop,” her grandmother said.
“No, please. By all means. Keep going. I just didn’t know any of this and now I’m wondering why it was kept from me all these years.
“Come sit down, Rachel,” her grandmother said, as they entered the kitchen. “You can put your bags right there on that chair.”
Rachel put her things down and plopped herself down in the chair. She felt a bit more at ease now, but still knew her grandmother could go off like a loose cannon. She didn’t want to get too comfortable since she knew she still had to keep her guard up.
“This is quite the pleasant surprise visit,” her grandmother said.
“Well, yes, I guess it is,” Rachel said.
“Was there something you needed? I haven’t seen you in years!”
“I know. I haven’t seen you since-well, I can’t even remember.”
“It’s been a while, I know. I’m sad about that, but after the accident, your mother asked if I would stay away for a while.”
“What do you mean? She told us that you didn’t want to come see us anymore and that’s why you didn’t visit.” Rachel said, trying to recall the story. “She said you’d gotten too busy with your life that you didn’t have time to visit.”
“Well, my dear, we all say crazy things something. And we even say things that are not true. I’m sure she was only trying to protect you,” her grandmother said.
“Protect me? From what?”
“Well, never mind,” her grandmother said. “What type of tea do you like, Dear. Is peppermint alright?”
“Yes, that’s fine,” Rachel said. “What were you saying thought? Protect me from what?”
She hoped that her grandmother would tell her what was going on. She needed to know the truth about the family and didn’t want to be shielded from it anymore. She was old enough to know.
“Listen, Rachel. I really don’t know if now is the appropriate time. I have not seen or discussed this with your mother, and I don’t know if she would want you to know.”
“Grandma. I have to know. Strange things have been happening to me, and I can’t explain it. I do not feel like my old self and I don’t know why. I don’t know what has happened to me.”
“What sort of strange things, my dear?”
“I don’t know. All kinds of things.”
Rachel didn’t want to get into specifics with her grandmother. She didn’t feel comfortable to do that so quickly into their visit. Especially since the woman she thought she could trust tried to hurt her just minutes ago. Now, she was acting as if nothing had happened and she wanted to know all the details of her life.
“If you don’t tell me, I can’t help you,” her grandmother said.
“Listen, that is not what really matters right now. What I’m most concerned about is THIS,” Rachel said, as she reached into the pocket of her jacket.
“What?” her grandmother asked as she watched her intently.
Rachel fumbled around in her pocket reaching for the letter she had brought with her. She knew she had to take it out and read it.
“THIS!” she said, holding up the old letter in its original envelope with the name Betsy on the front.
Instantly, she watched as her grandmother’s demeanor changed. Rachel knew she knew exactly what she was holding. She looked at the letter closely and then looked away as if ashamed or embarrassed by it.
“Where did you find that, young lady?”
“I found it in our attic at home,” Rachel replied nervously.
“Attic?”
“Yes, I found it up there when I was looking for something,” Rachel said.
“Here, let me read it to you,” Rachel said as she cleared her throat to begin.
Dear Betsy,
Now that you are older, I can tell you who you really are and who we really come from. I can tell you the secrets of our family past and let you in on our secret life. This information is confidential and must strictly remain within our side of the family. You are never to tell your children or your husband. You have to promise me that you will not share our family’s history with anyone and you will take it to your grave. For I am the only remaining survivor from the time and the only one who holds the secrets. Meet me in the cemetery at the tomb of your grandfather, and I will share with you what I know.
Love, your mother.
As she finished reading the letter she looked up at her grandmother who was sitting there tearing up.
“I can’t believe you found this,” she said.
“Well, what does it all mean?” Rachel asked.
“I shouldn’t tell you,” she replied.
“Why not?”
“You’re too young to understand.”
“TOO YOUNG?” Rachel yelled. “I’m not too young. I’m almost eighteen years old, Grandmother. I have a right to know who my family is and who I really am. Don’t you see I’m desperate. I came here to learn who I am. You can’t hold this information secret anymore. I must know!”
“I’m sorry, Rachel. It is just too long of a story to share with you at this time.”
“What do you mean? I’m not going anywhere. I have all the time in the world!”
Rachel sat there in silence for a few minutes with her grandmother. She couldn’t beg her anymore to tell her what the letter meant. She didn’t know what to do. She knew she couldn’t leave her grandmother’s house without knowing this information. She knew she couldn’t go another day without knowing the truth.
“Grandmother please. You don’t understand. I’m a different person. I’ve changed. I’ve bitten people for their blood. Please I need you to help me,” Rachel begged.
“You’ve fed?” her grandmother asked.
“YES!” Rachel confessed. “I fed and it felt so good.”
“My dear child, you really have become one of us. I was hoping your generation would be spared the hurt and agony of what your elders went through, but it appears you have not.”
“I have not been spared and it’s causing more hurt not know what has happened.”