• Chapter Two: I'm Dead

    She gaped in awe at the tremendous room. The walls rose high, without any windows, to a stained glass down that shone light down into a multi colored circle on the floor. The walls had floating orbs that held color shifting fire, which illuminated grand tapestries that hung on the walls and an immaculately large stage. The air smelled lightly of peppermint and rich tobacco, and was filled with soft chatter. When her eyes became accustomed to the light, she saw clearly the wrinkled, if not beautiful, faces of middle-aged to senior citizen men and women idly chattering to one another, sipping out of steaming mugs, knitting, reading, snoozing, or watching a baseball game on a gigantic flat screen television.
    “Pardon me. Elders? Might I have your attention,” Renato called out calmly to the people. The barely audible TV was shut off, dimming their faces just slightly.
    “Renato!” A venerable voice called out with a clap of hands. Rosalinda identified the voice as coming from a smiling, white haired man with emerald eyes she could decipher from feet away. Renato began to stride forward, one arm behind his back, with Rosalinda following sheepishly behind. “What can we do for you?”
    “Ah, something we haven’t gotten to do in a while. This girl,” Renato put his hand on the small of Rosalinda’s back and pushed her forward with her giving a little squeak. “Unfortunately has been turned by mistake. She has no memory of her mortal life. Her name is Rosalinda. So, long story short, Elders, one of you needs to adopt little Rosalinda.” A wave of smiles and small cheers arouse from the Elders.
    “We really haven’t gotten a chance to adopt a vampire baby in a long time. She hasn’t met anyone yet, am I right.” Rosalinda nodded shakily. “Oh then you are in for a treat, little one. So can you tell us anything about yourself? Any classes you might want to take. We have so many classes. Do you like sports? The arts?”
    “I... I like acting. And, drawing,” Rosalinda said shyly. “I’m not very good at it, but I like it. I don’t really like sports. I like to bake.”
    “The question is, does Rosie need a grandma or grandpa?” Asked the white haired man. Rosalinda blushed at the use of a nickname.
    “She needs a grandfather,” Renato said suddenly. “Excuse me.”
    “If that is the case,” said a man rising from a very thick looking recliner in front of the off television, lifting a large mug of some steaming drink. “I could use a granddaughter.”
    “Elder Drosellmeyer?” Asked the original white haired man. Renato nudged Rosalinda in the side, a symbol to be happy. “Do you really wish to adopt Rosie?”
    “Yeah,” Drosellmeyer said as if it was just now dawning on him that he had stepped up to take care of Rosalinda. “I would like to. I’ll take care of her. Get her some real clothes,” he said with a wink. Rosalinda flushed, offering a small smile.
    “Well then, aside from some paper work and a few other technical things that little Rosie doesn’t need to worry about, I suppose you’re adopted,” said the white-haired man.
    “Just like that?” Peeped Rosalinda, who then covered her mouth. “Sorry.”
    “No, I know it seems sudden, everything does when you’re still in your ‘baby form’, Rosie. But don’t you worry. Also, you wont have to be with that stiff, Renato, for to much longer,” Drosellmeyer said with a thumb pointing at Renato who stood stiff, eyes unsure where to look. The Elders laughed, and Rosalinda loosened herself for just a small chirp of a laugh.
    “But until then,” Renato said shaking himself out of his funk. “I’d like to introduce you to some other vampire babes.”
    “Babes?” Rosalinda asked incredulously.
    “As in ‘babies’? Old English, my dear.” Rosalinda nodded and together they set off together out of the room and down the hall yet again.

    “Right through here, Rosalinda, my dear,” Renato said leaning back onto the stone wall. “You might want to change clothes before you meet the ‘babes’. Elder Drosellmeyer will provide you with real clothing, so you’ll just have to get your school uniform a bit early. I’m sure you’ll look lovely.” Rosalinda gave him a nervous look before pushing past the plush sheets hanging in front of the door.
    “Hello?” Rosalinda called out timidly into the room. The room reminded her of some long off memory of the back of a stage. A mannequin stood measuring tapes and pins, designs of outfits pined to the wall, random accessories scattered about, clothes on hangers.
    “Oh, coming!” Called a frazzled voice. An equally frazzled young woman, maybe in her twenties, stepped out. She had frizzy orange hair, with glasses and a sprinkle of freckles across her nose. “Can I help you with something?”
    “Oh, uh... I’m Rosalinda. Renato told me to come in here to get some clothes,” said Rosalinda tugging her curly hair.
    “Oh, Renato. That means your a baby, right? Here for your school uniform. Duh. Rosalinda, pretty. I’m Kelly. Kelly Estafario,” said Kelly as she started to rummage through hangers and boxes. “Do you have a last name yet?”
    “If you mean have I been adopted, Elder Drosellmeyer has chosen me.”
    “Aha, so Rosalinda Drosellmeyer. Neat. Ah, here we go!” Kelly pulled up a red, black and white plaid skirt. She then pulled out knee high socks, a white blouse with a red rose on the breast pocket, and a black blazer with an emblem of something Rosalinda could not see.
    “Pretty,” Rosalinda said moving her arm out obliviously to touch the fabric.
    “This is the basics, and it’s just for class hours, and you can class it up any way you want. Stay on my good side and I might make it a new color for you,” Kelly said with a wink. She handed the outfit to Rosalinda and pointed to a back room. Rosalinda nodded, stepped into the back room and changed.
    “How does it fit, Rosie?” Kelly called.
    “Perfect! How did you know?” Rosalinda said stepping out and doing a twirl for Kelly in her new outfit.
    “It’s just a gift,” Kelly said with a shy laugh.
    “Well none the less, thank you very much, Kelly.” Rosalinda did a quick bow and held her arms out for the nightgown.
    “Oh, you don’t need this, Rosie. Go on now, Renato wont wait forever.” Rosalinda jumped up at the mention of Renato and went out the door. He was still there leaning against the wall, eyes untraceable. Then in a sudden snap her turned his head head to look at her. At first uncertain, then he gave a soft smile.
    “It suits you quite well, Rosalinda,” Renato said calmly. “You’ll make a much better impression on your future classmates in this.” He nodded to himself before starting to walk again, his shoes clicking against the floor. Rosalinda followed toying with the end of her skirt.
    “Hey, Renato? Can I ask a question?” She asked, eyes down.
    “I’m surprised you haven’t. You’re taking this much better then many other babes I’ve helped before.” She watched his one hand swing, while the other stayed firmly behind his back.
    “My mom and dad. Will they... will they miss me? Will they be worried?”
    “Well, Rosalinda, typically when a vampire becomes one by mistake, well, their parents forget. Slowly at first, and they never lose a sharp sense of loss at something, but they do forget. Even if you were to meet them again. That’s mostly the reason we give you vampires this school and the Elders.”
    “I think it’s for the best,” Rosalinda wiped nonchalantly at her eyes. “I wouldn’t want my family to miss me.” They came to a stop and Renato looked at her with soft eyes. He lifted his gloved hand up and caressed her cheek softly.
    “I must say I admire you, my dear. You’re being very mature about this.” Rosalinda felt a shiver go up her spine at his touch. Her hair stood on end. He pulled his hand away from her cheek. “I’m afraid I have to get back to work, but don’t worry, my dear, I’ll meet with you on a later date. Oh and vampires don’t need to eat, but if I were you I’d get a little something.” He turned on his heels, his trench coat fluttering around him, and he started to click away.
    “Be sure to drink some blood, Rosalinda,” his voice called softly, hitting against the wall as he walked away. Rosalinda took a deep breath and stared at the wall. Her first moment alone.
    She leaned against the wall and pressed her fingers against her wrist.
    No pulse.
    She felt her fingers then snake to her neck, just licking the bandage that covered her bite. Her arms stung numbly from the roses.
    She sucked in a great deep breath. Her chest rose and fell.
    Her lungs felt nothing.
    She held her breath.
    Nothing.
    “Well no way around it,” she said softly, laying her hand on the door. Her fingers slid down to the golden door handles, nails clicking against it. “I’m dead.”