"Avalon, if you don't hurry up out of that art studio, we're going to miss the whole festival and show," Mother called, her voice barely above her normal speaking tone. He would hear her even without shouting. She glanced at me and rolled her eyes with a large smirk that told me she hadn't been scolding him.

He was old enough now to know better.

"Be right there," my big brother responded, just loud enough my supernatural hearing could pick up its sound from the third floor.

I glanced to look at my reflection in the hallway mirror. While Avalon had taken on much of our father's physical attributes, I found myself beginning to look more like our mother. I had her dark hair and porcelain skin with large eyes and full lips. My nose was like hers, small and meek, with high cheekbones and a defined chin. My eyebrows were gently sloped above my eyes and I had her long eyelashes. But my eyes were all my father's. The vibrant shade of green was unmistakably his.

I pushed one of my curls behind my ear, hoping I looked decent enough. It felt as though we spent too much time removed from society. I often wondered if it was on purpose to keep us so far away. Even though it had been only a few weeks since I was last in Wellington's surrounding suburbs, I still always wondered if I would look out-of-place as the city changed its trends and vibes. My white t-shirt and anorak jacket were suited for the cool, late night on the water. I glanced down at my dark-washed jeans and boots, hoping I'd fit in.

I look like a normal human, right?, I asked myself silently as my eyes moved back to my reflection.

The fact I wasn't human sometimes shocked me. I had grown up knowing that we were vampires: immortal beings who would live to see human lives come and go before we were even middle-aged in appearance. Blood was a normal occurrence to drink nightly, like milk or tea. My heightened senses were only just beginning to truly strengthen, towards something beyond "better-than-normal." It would only take a few more years for them to truly unveil. And I hadn't quite gotten used to the fact that in a few years, my face would not change again until I was several hundred years in age. My mother hadn't looked different since the night I remembered first committing her face to memory, and neither had my father.

We lived in the far reaches of civilization in New Zealand my entire life, enjoying the sand and surf under the stars. My mother had once explained that the daytime was so bright that mortals couldn't fathom how beautiful the stars really were, that they only saw darkness. To us, a clear night was the brightest of all.

"I wish I could see the sun," my five-year-old self had said, unable to fathom that there was something brighter than the stars.

"You may live long enough to see it, when we've evolved beyond darkness," Dad had teased, grinning. I'd always thought it was the funniest joke. Who could ever live that long?

Purring sounded at my feet, and I looked down to find Dinah waiting to be acknowledged. I smiled and leaned to stroke her orange-and-cream ears, giggling when the yellow tabby cat immediately began to purr louder. I glanced up to the ceiling, hearing the sounds of Avalon rushing around in his bedroom as he scrambled to catch up.

"Let's go, Avalon," Dad called, coming out of the back office. He closed the doors behind him, turning to face Mother and I. He had already put on his favorite leather jacket, still unzipped to reveal his black t-shirt.

My attention moved to the stairwell as Avalon came down, his shoes making just enough noise on the carpeted treads that I could tell he was using some of his vampiric speed. He had come into his full vampire abilities when I was only a pre-teen, always happy to show them off to his baby sister.

He came half-jogging into the living room, slowing his speed to see the three of us already waiting. Avalon looked so much like our father; at six-foot-three, he was tall and thin with a gentler muscle tone and his face slightly more-rounded. He was wearing a blue button down, his brown leather jacket and boots, looking like the earthy version of our father's clothing style. His blonde hair was long, bouncing against his cheeks and shoulders. While Mother had made many comments about him getting a haircut, he never listened. But, he was over thirty now and defended his right to be independent. I could see the silver ankh necklace at the base of his throat on its chain.

"Sorry, I had something I needed to finish," he said sheepishly.

"A paper?" I teased, knowing better. He had been feverishly working on a new art installation for weeks, only leaving his studio with its paint, music, and whiskey to work on his research for an hour or two a night.

"Yeah, duh."

I still didn't grasp entirely what my family did for a living. Father had a hall of weaponry from ancient battle axes and swords to modern, high-powered rifles. I'd only seen the room a few times. His favorite swords he liked to display had been enough for me as a child as I marveled at the shiny metal and jewels.

Mum would travel every couple months for a week at a time to some undisclosed location in expensive suits and heels. I always heard her talk about elders, diplomats, and commanders, leading me to think it was some sort of governmental faction. But I had never seen it for myself.

Avalon, too, had his role he played in whatever lifestyle that the outside vampire world was made of. He worked on in-depth research projects, often of the supernatural persuasion. He had become a student of the occult, able to practice magic like witches and warlocks could. And when he wasn't trying to make things appear and disappear from his lab, he worked on new medical research as a trauma-trained professional.

I had asked many times over the fifteen years of curiosity what the rest of the vampire world was like. Mother had explained it to be run by a group of men and women from around the world that met at "the Capitol," and it was her duty to help them communicate between the different countries and languages. The Capitol was some faraway place in my memories that I wondered what it looked like, how large it was, and how many hundreds of vampires perused its grounds. Avalon served as one of the researchers to help the vampires that were living under each leader in the different cities around the world, separate from the Capitol.

Father called them covens. When I'd asked why we weren't part of a coven, he had smiled; but I remembered it as being a sad smile. "Because we wanted to live here, with you."

"Let's go before it gets any later," Mum said from my right, breaking me out of my thoughts. She waved us towards the front door, tying her trench coat around her baby bump. I wondered if she would begin to step back from her duties now that she and my father were expecting another baby. It had been a surprise to all of us when the news arrived. Avalon was itching to get out of the house already, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity; but our father had forbid it. We were stronger and safer together. And our house of four would grow to a house of five in a couple years.

"I don't want to miss the fireworks," she added as she opened the door.

I nodded in agreement and grabbed my purse, slipping it across my shoulders. I leaned down to pet my cat one more time. "Bye, Dinah."

An hour away in Wellington, I followed my brother through the crowd as we got closer to the edge of the walkway. After pressing past a family of six, we finally came to a halt along the empty railing. I leaned against it, looking up as the fireworks continued to shower down to the bay in bright sparks of color. I grinned, seeing the blue and gold mix together before disappearing into the waves. My chin rested on my forearms for a moment, my senses taking in the surroundings again. I could smell the mix of people and the sea water, scents of food and alcohol combined with the music and sounds of a thousand voices.

"Absolutely gorgeous, as always," Mother said from my other side as Dad stood behind the two of us, blocking us off from anyone in the street at his back.

"I'm glad you think so," Dad responded, making me turn to look at him.

"You say that every year," I teased, smiling.

"Because it's true," he replied, winking once, before his eyes returned to the sky. "Such a strange, young world."

I followed his cue, staring at the bright, fiery colors. Another starburst of purple and pink filled the sky, making me grin again. I leaned into Avalon when he lowered himself onto his elbows, continuing to watch the fireworks. After a few minutes of silence from our foursome, I began to look at the rows of people on the rocky beach down below and the people on the boardwalks as they lived their normal human lives. Life seemed so complex in the city, so bright and wild with spontaneity. My nightly existence in a manor by the sea seemed so blasé and simple by comparison.

Avalon bumped my elbow with his, pointing to the dance party that had begun further down, making me peek around his shoulders.

"After this, we should think about something to eat," Mum said from my other side, barely drawing my attention.

"Of course," Father chuckled from behind me, making me smile.

"You think Sally's stayed open late?" Avalon asked, looking over the top of my head to our parents. "I'm actually short on a couple things, anyways."

"Is this personal or for business?" Mum asked, and I glanced to see her smirking.

"Both...?" Avalon answered, half in a sentence and half in a question.

Dad laughed again and so did I. I glanced at my family one more time before going back to watch the fireworks. Music continued to blare from closer to the main streets, colored by the rich surroundings and explosions of vibrant sparks. My vampiric vision adjusted to the brightness, making me squint slightly as I looked directly at them.

"Yes, we can check into Sally's," Mum responded at last.

"Sounds good to me," I replied, not taking my eyes off the display.

We stood there in silence, except for the occasional sounds of awe, as the show continued for the next twenty minutes. When the last of the sparks died away and replaced by the din of clapping hands, I sighed. It never felt like it lasted long enough, each year seeming shorter and shorter as my body evolved towards immortality. I glanced over my shoulder when Mother stopped clapping and leaned back into Dad's waiting hands.

"Shall we?" he asked amongst the crowd.

"Yeah," Avalon replied, already reaching for my hand.

I followed him through the throngs of people, glancing over my shoulder to be sure Mum and Dad were close behind. They were never more than a couple steps away, but it still made me nervous. When Avalon turned a corner onto a less busy street, I felt like I could catch my breath. The streetlights and extra lanterns that had decorated the main drag were now dimmed to only a few lamps and white Italian lights that hung above the cobblestone walkway. I inhaled deeply, smelling the food from the shops ahead as I studied the architecture of each building, marveling at their details that boasted the different time periods the city had lived through.

Avalon led the way to the place in question below a sign that read The Black Cat, the lights still on and the open sign hanging in the doorway. He pushed it open, greeted with the sound of a bell above the door.

I stepped in after him, feeling the warmth of the pub compared to the cool breeze outside. I glanced again to see Mother and Father enter, and I moved out of the way.

A middle-aged woman with red hair and freckles stepped around the corner of a backroom, waving a hand as the other wiped itself on her apron. "I thought I'd be seeing you soon," she said in welcome, her New Zealand accent sharp.

"You know me," Avalon replied with a grin as he walked over to the long bar against the far wall. He sat down on an empty stool, immediately crossing his arms on the dark oak wood.

"That I do," Sally replied, coming to his spot as she immediately pulled a clean pint glass from below the bar. "Coming in for anything else?"

"Just the usual," Dad answered in his son's place, clapping Avalon on the back once.

"Sounds about right," the redheaded woman said, giving him a wink. She set to work on drink orders before placing a pint of ale in front of my brother. A second joined it for Dad. She turned away again and pulled out an Italian cream soda, sliding it across the counter to me. "Are they letting you drink yet, Eris?" she teased. "I think I have just the thing for a first-timer."

"No, unfortunately not," I replied with a sarcastic roll of my eyes. While I was already over the human legal drinking age, my parents had kept my tastes to small amounts of wine with blood.

"You two better let her grow up," Sally said, putting a cup with water and a teabag in front of Mother. She stirred her finger in the air above it. "Calida aqua."

I watched in amazement as the water began to steam, causing the teabag to release swirls of green into the liquid. I never understood how witches managed to use their gifts, or how Avalon had figured out how to do it.

"Or are you waiting until you have that one to baby beforehand?" Sally went on, smiling at my mother. She glanced over the counter as Mum took a seat, her coat open. "I've got sixty says it's a boy."

Mum laughed gently, taking the sugar bowl as the woman placed it in front of her. "Then you and I are on the same team." She dropped in one sugar cube, stirring it gently.

Sally's dark brown eyes went from Mum to Dad in one smooth motion. "You're on the other side of this bet?" she asked, surprised.

Dad chuckled and nodded, taking another swig of his drink in the same moment as Avalon. He sat it down, running his hand down the side of the glass.

"If it's another girl, I'm moving out," Avalon joked, his gaze on the collection of bottles behind Sally's head. "I don't want to be outnumbered."

"Thanks, Avalon," Dad said, smacking him against his back in the same moment my brother went to take another drink.

He coughed, trying to swallow his ale. He sent Dad a glare before smirking, and I knew he wasn't serious. He took another fast drink, as if that would settle his throat. He replaced the glass on the dark blue coaster, decorated with a white crescent moon and the name of the bar.

"I don't think you'll be in the minority," Sally replied. "We still doing the rolls?"

"Yes, please," I said before anyone else could. It was one of the few treats I still coveted from childhood. I crossed my legs gingerly as I sat fully on the barstool, careful to balance myself.

"You got it, lamb," she said, turning away to go back towards the back room again. I watched as she put two refills in front of a couple of men that had taken refuge at the far end of the bar, looking half-in-the-bottle already. She disappeared behind the dark red curtain.

I took another drink of the creamy soda, inhaling the scent of lemon into my nose. I leaned into the barstool's backrest. I twirled it slightly to look out the main window that was decorated with upside-down floral bouquets and stacks of books along the bottom of the glass. I watched people come and go in opposite directions, ignoring the topic that Avalon and Dad were discussing. I caught the words "trip," and "dates," before I tuned them out entirely. Avalon was going to be leaving soon for business.

"Alright, ladies and gents," came the sound of Sally's voice from behind me, garnering my attention again. I turned back around as she placed three plates of sweet rolls in front of us, two on each. "And extra because I'm betting that one's a boy who needs fattening up," she added, pushing the third plate at Mum, making her laugh again.

I smiled and slid one towards Mum and I before Avalon could steal it. I picked up a roll and tore off its corner, popping it into my mouth gently so as not to get the thick marmalade on my clothes.

"What else do you need this time around, Master Scholar?" Sally asked, her attention on Avalon.

My brother sat his roll down and pointed towards the top two shelves. "Same as last time. And if you have any more of that herb you suggested last time, I'll take that, too. Just put it on my tab."

"Don't I usually?" the witch teased, turning to step up on her ladder to reach the top of the bar. She pulled two of the glass jars down and slipped them into her half-apron's front pocket. She then reached for another on her opposite side.

There was a loud thwack from behind us, and I turned to see the broom beside the front door had fallen over.

Sally paused, glancing at it before her eyes found Dad. "That's company," she said.

I frowned, not understanding their facial expressions as the four adults exchanged looks. My eyes returned to Dad as he looked out the window, getting up to his feet as he left the pint glass on the bar.

"Logan," Mum said softly, her eyes now out the window, too.

I turned to see what they were watching. I peeked around Mother's shoulders to see three people in white jackets outside on the street, looking around as though they were lost.

"And not the good kind," Sally added.

"What?" I asked, not understanding. "What's wrong?"

"Shh," Mum replied without turning to look at me.

"Logan, out the back," Sally whispered, her voice soft.

"Avalon, go," Dad said, his tone also quiet.

Avalon grabbed the crook of my elbow and he pulled me to the ground. "Mum," he said, reaching past me to get a hold of her coat sleeve.

"Avalon," Sally said, catching my attention. She slid the bottles across the counter to him. "Here."

He grasped both and dropped them into his pockets before gripping my arm again. I let him pull me backwards to the rear of the shop, Mum joining us. She pressed into the lead and shoved the red curtain aside in the same moment Sally had retreated to that end of the bar. She held it wide and pushed me through. My brother stood in the doorway for another moment.

"Dad," he hissed.

Father turned to look at us and then out the windows before he began to back up towards us, keeping his emerald eyes at the front. "Go!" he yelled.

Just then, the door swung open hard, slamming into the white stucco wall. The sound of the bell breaking off its chain followed, and it bounced on the floor before rolling under a table. I got a look just around Dad from my place in the skinny hall between the kitchen and the bar. Two men in white leather jackets came in, their eyes immediately scanning the patrons.

I tried to take another look before Dad pushed me after Mum and Avalon. My brother had retaken the lead and pushed through the kitchen to a storeroom, the whole chamber filled with books and more jars and bottles. I nearly tripped when Mum grabbed my arm and pulled me off to the right. I yelped as a loud clatter of gunfire sounded behind us.

"Keep going!" Father hollered amongst the din.

Avalon threw open the back door and dropped down into the alley at the bottom of two steps. He turned around just as Mum breached the door and I followed. He held out his hands to keep her steady on the narrow stairs before grabbing for me.