I woke up to Bernard lightly shaking my shoulder.

"We've arrived kid." he said while scratching his beard. "I've been trying to wake you for a couple minutes, but you didn't even make a sound."

It took me a few moments to process his words in my groggy state. I sorely wanted to close my eyes and go back to sleep. Just another couple minutes would be fine, right?

"Elena is already inside talking to the Guild Master. I would not want to be the one to keep that woman waiting." he continued. "You'll get to sleep more later. She's been wanting to meet you for some time now."

I sat up straight, still in the backseat of the car. The shoulder I had braced against the door was aching. I took a look outside and saw that it was still dark out.

"What time is it?" I said halfway through a yawn.

"Time for you to get your butt out of this car and inside that building." he said, his voice a little more stern. "If you really want to know, it's a quarter to 6 in the morning"

"Way too early." I noted, but unwrapped the blanket from around myself.

I clicked the seatbelt off and opened the car door. Stepping outside, the sudden breath of chilly morning air made me shiver. I looked around to take in my surroundings. We were parked in the curved driveway of what I could only describe as a mansion. The soft glow of lamps outlined the stairs leading up towards the front door and I found myself in a daze by the sheer size of the building. Hedges in a deep green color spread to both sides from the marble rails at the bottom of the stairs. I glanced around and noticed that the property seemed to be enclosed in a dark metal fence.

"I remember the first time I came here as well, so I know the feeling." Bernard's voice sounded from behind me. He was stood looking up at the building as well. "The Guild is quite the sight to behold. But it's just a building like any other, maybe a little more fancy. It's the people inside who are the real deal. Some of them I'd even call monsters, but only because of how powerful they are. They're good people. Most of them at least."

Bernard started up the stairs, my bag strapped over his right shoulder. I followed him up towards the main doors.

As we strode in through the large wooden doors I could hear the sounds of people talking quietly. The sound of cutlery lightly tapping plates pointed me in the direction of what looked like a dining hall. I spotted two groups of 4, each group sitting at their respective table. They all seemed to be enjoying breakfast. My stomach rumbled at the sight of food, and I instantly felt hungry. I hadn't eaten since dinner the day before, and that had only been a small plate of spaghetti. I had been too focused on my schoolwork and had only managed to eat half of what I'd made. I shook my head. Food could wait for now, as sleep did. I had a person to speak with, and they sounded important. Bernard raised his hand in passing and some of the people sitting at the table responded with a nod or a wave of their own. Bernard seemed to know them, and I could take an educated guess that they were fellow hunters. We continued inwards, away from the massive entrance area, into a more dimly lit hallway. Small lamps lined the hallway with the occasional door on both sides. Our shoes clacked against the dark tile floor, and I was sure we would wake anyone if there were bedrooms on the other sides of the doors.

I brought my gaze forward and spotted the end of the hallway. A dark double-door, where one was slightly ajar. A soft yellow light spilled from the room into the hallway. I heard voices coming from the room, growing slightly louder as we walked closer.

"Be prepared." Bernard simply stated.

I felt nervous and unprepared. But maybe that's just how you feel when you meet a new person who is seemingly very important while at the same time running on two hours of sleep and no food. In a last effort to steel myself I decided the worse of the two feelings was being hungry. It seemed to help my confidence just a tiny bit. I'd talk to this woman, and then I could eat.

Bernard pushed the door open. The room beyond was grand. The far side was made entirely of windows spanning from the ceiling to the floor. It was still dark outside, so it was not clear what was outside. My best guess said it was a grand garden. That's what I would imagine a mansion of this size would have as a back yard.

A large wooden desk was positioned in the middle of the room. Two chairs draped in red velvet stood opposite the front of the desk. Elena was sitting in one of them. Behind the desk, an old woman sat in a large black office chair. It seemed even vampire hunters preferred comfort when sitting behind a desk. Her hair was dark brown and fell in curls on both sides of her shoulders. I noted some parts were greying or faded, indicative of her age. She was wearing a black dress uniform. Decorative shoulder pieces embroidered with a platinum-colored trim highlighted her face. She could proceed to introduce herself as royalty and I would not think twice. Backed up by her posture, her form was truly regal. Her intense stare seemed to pierce me, almost like her eyes could stare into my inner being. I felt like I was being judged on the scales. Her presence was intimidating and I felt like I had stopped breathing.

"I finally get the pleasure of meeting you." she said, breaking the silence.

"I'm Alex. Nice to meet you too." I managed to say. It sounded way better in my head.

"An unnecessary introduction, but it is pleasing to know you have the manners to do so." she replied. "I already know who you are. Alexandra, daughter of Catherine, daughter of Margaret. You are of the Shadeport bloodline."

It felt strange for a complete stranger to call me by my full name. Through high school and college, I had introduced myself as Alex. As such, Alex had simply become my name whenever I met anyone who knew me.

"Allow me to introduce myself." The woman said as she stood up from her chair. She was surprisingly tall. "I am Esther of the Redblade bloodline. Welcome to the Guild of Vampire Hunters."

"I am sure you have many questions Alexandra. But first, allow me to explain the situation and the reason I specifically requested you to be here. It may answer some of them." she continued.

She was right in that I had many questions, but my number two priority was getting some sleep. Actually, make that number three. Number two was filling my growling stomach. And number one was listening to what she had to say. The questions could wait until later, when I was sure I could properly articulate them.

"There are two reasons behind my invitation. The first is to respect Margaret's wishes. I heard from Elena that they have already explained your grandmother wanting to give you the choice of following your bloodline and becoming a Vampire hunter." she said. I nodded in response. "It is pleasing to see the choice you have made."

I felt like I could make out a smile on her serious face for just a second. It was clear she held my grandmother in high regard.

"The second reason is more serious." she said, her tone seeming to shift slightly. "The Guild has received information which may indicate that your grandmother is being held captive."

I felt myself growing tense. First I learn my grandmother was not dead, now I hear that she is being held captive. My mind was racing with ideas of what could have happened, but I did not want to jump to any conclusions.

"Elena told me earlier that she had gone missing in action. And that the Guild had informed my parents." I said.

"Yes, quite a few years ago I did inform your parents. She had been missing for more than 3 years at the time, after being dispatched on a mission." she said before letting out a soft sigh. "The mission went sideways. A turncoat amongst our hunters most likely."

"We received one last update from Margaret a couple hours after their group had been ambushed. She said she had managed to escape, but there were multiple hostiles following her closely." she continued. "After that it was radio silence. We rapidly dispatched multiple rescue groups to the area, but there were no traces of either foe nor ally."

"So they had all just disappeared?" I questioned. I wasn't sure how to process this information. My grandmother and her squad had been ambushed? But atleast the Guild knew she had been captured.

"That was how it seemed. Even our best trackers could not manage to turn up any traces." she answered, her face grim. "But our recent intel does confirm that she is alive and being held in captivity. Likely for her powers, we assume."

I was somehow relieved to hear that, even though the situation seemed dark. If grandmother was alive, there was a chance I could see her again. However slim that chance might be.

"So what does the Guild plan to do?" I asked.

"At this point, we need to gather further information. We can not afford to go blindly into this just to rescue one hostage." she stated strongly. I understood her decision. As the Guild Master she could not put multiple lives in danger for a single rescue mission.

"I understand. I respect your decision as the Guild Master." I said.

"Good. In the meantime, you will start your training." she said. "I do however wish for you to complete your regular education first. I believe there is only about a month left, am I correct?"

"Yes, that's right." I replied. I had been looking forward to finishing up my degree and enjoying my summer. But it seemed the universe had other plans.

"Perfect. After you are finished with that, you will arrive back here to start your training." she informed me.

I could only nod. I was growing more hungry and tired by the minute.

"That will be all for now. I can see that you are tired, Alexandra. A room has been prepared where you can sleep. Elena will show you to it." she said.

"Is there any food?" I said.

Esther smiled and said "Yes, there is food for every member of the Guild in the mess hall. You likely passed through there on the way here."

"Thank you!" I exclaimed, my hunger getting the better of me.

Elena got up from the chair she had been sitting in. Bernard had been sat on a sofa positioned slightly behind the chairs. As I opened the doors to exit the room, I noticed a young woman was stood outside. Her striking crimson hair caught my attention and we exchanged glances before passing each other. She seemed to be waiting to enter the room, likely to talk to the Guild Master.

While we were walking down the corridor back to the entrance hall I asked Elena. "Who was she? The woman outside in the hall."

"If my memory serves me correctly, that is the Guild Master's grand daughter." she answered. "I believe she is about your age so you will likely be put in the same training group. There are not that many young hunters around here, so you should probably get to know her."

"I will try. It would probably be nice to make some friends here." I stated. "But now: food. I am starving."

"I'll join you on that." Bernard shot in.

"I will accompany you as well." Elena said. "Bernard would get lost if he was going to guide you to your room afterwards."

Bernard let out a gruff laugh and I saw Elena smiling.

We arrived in the entrance hall and took a right to enter the mess hall. More of the tables were filled since we had been talking for a while. I could smell the delicious scent of omelettes and toasted bread coming from what looked like a kitchen in the far end of the hall.

"We'll grab a table, go get yourself something tasty." Bernard said, looking for a table close to the kitchen. It didn't take him many seconds to spot one, and Elena followed him. I rushed over to the kitchen window, almost tripping over myself in anticipation of warm food.

I approached the kitchen window, my eyes attempting to spot where the smell of eggs came from.

"You're a new face." a voice said from behind the counter. "What can I get you?"

"Omelette. On toast. With bacon. Double eggs. Please." I stumbled over my words, thoughts leaking from my stomach.

"A hungry one, ain't ya?" the voice answered, with a laugh towards the end. "One double omelette toast with bacon, coming right up!"

I managed to take my eyes off the buffet of warm food and looked up at the person who had spoken to me. He was a tall man dressed in a chef's outfit. His brown eyes seemed to light up as he cracked the eggs into a bowl. I couldn't help but just stand there and admire his work while I waited patiently.

"Here you are, miss." he said, presenting me with a plate. On the plate was a large, golden omelette. "Bon appétit!" he said with a smile.

I hurried back over to the table and rapidly devoured my delicious breakfast. Once my appetite was sated I almost fell asleep by the table. Elena somehow managed to keep me awake and as soon as I was done she led me to the room. I couldn't remember the last time I fell asleep so quickly.