chapter one-family in our midst?

Aleda flicked her wand and Callisto's shirt was dry again. "Don't cry, maybe if we can get your powers toned a bit better, you will have your fathers gift and be able to control it. We could find out who is responsible for your parents death!" Callisto stood up. "Yes!" she replied and she put her hands on her hips as though she were superman. "I will work hard and avenge my parents!"

Aleda could not help but laugh. "What's so funny?! This is serious!" Callisto said angrily. Aleda covered her mouth and replied "It's just...well, who are you supposed to be? Superman?" Aleda laughed again. Callisto looked confused for a second. She looked down at the ground. Seeing her arms she put them down and turned bright red.

It was still daylight, in fact it was early afternoon, so Aleda got rid of the invisible bubble and they continued walking. Aleda had informed Callisto that they needed to get to the city as soon as possible. For if they were to begin training, Callisto would need a few important items. They traveled for what seemed like hours, though it really only was a little over an hour, until finally hitting the gates of Demi Medina, a small, but greatly traveled city.

Callisto was in awe of the city. The buildings were small as well, but they looked a lot like miniature castles, only with modern looking doors and windows. Aleda led Callisto down the main street where there were shops that had windows larger than any front window of any mortal store. In one of the shops to her right was a magical candy shop. In the window the glowing sign said "Le Olde Candy Shoppe!" Though it seemed like something a mortal candy shop owner would have named his store, at some kind of old fashioned tourist town, as they moved closer, Callisto realized the name of the shop was made of floating, glowing, candy.

To the right was a clothes shop, with what looked like mannequins in the window with some kind of thin robe on. As they walked up to it, the mannequins turned into perfect copies of Aleda and Callisto. "Now they know how to advertise! I'd look so good in that!" said Callisto excitedly. Aleda smiled, "Come on, we'll come back after we hit the Blodd Bank!" "The blood bank? Are we going to sell our blood for money? Do they use needles like in the mortal world?" Callisto replied. Aleda laughed "No, the B-L-O-D-D Bank. It's the Sika Blodd Bank and trust!" "Oh," replied Callisto although she still looked kinda confused.

Down the roadway was a large sign that said "Flea Market!" "Hey! Now that's somewhere I'd really love going! I used to go to the flea market every weekend with my err mortal mom and dad!" This time Aleda looked confused. "I was always with you, watching over you, but I don't remember ever going to a flea market. Honestly, I can see why some wizards would...but why in the world would mortals...Why would anyone really want to buy fleas?" Aleda shrugged then started flying on. Callisto following. Finally Callisto realized "They sell actual fleas in there?" Aleda laughed "What else would they sell at a flea market?" Callisto just shrugged, thinking it best just not to continue with the conversation.

Finally they were in front of the "Sika Blodd Bank & Trust!" Out front on a pedestal was a woman that looked quite real, but Callisto knew it had to be just a statue with the likeness of the owner of the bank. The woman looked just like the story book kind of vampire. The one that was very beautiful, but also very pale with bright red lips and a smile that looked like she could charm you into sucking your blood. However, as they walked closer the woman moved and called towards them "Well Aleda Phyre! I haven't seen you in...Well in 16 almost 17 years! That's like a small amount of time for me, but still! It's been quiet for way too long around here without Demi Medina's number one music act, and biggest partier!" She turned towards Callisto, not giving Aleda a chance to speak, "And who is this lovely lady! I didn't know you had a daughter!"

Aleda laughed "No, this is Callisto!" she moved in closer and whispered "Phoenix and Sunila's daughter. We've been in the mortal world for the past 17 years, but that's just between us" Aleda moved back next to Callisto and said still somewhat quietly "Sika is a good old friend of mine, and your parents, we trust her with our lives, our money, and our blood!" Aleda and Sika laughed, but Callisto, who was pretty confused by the blood remark just kind of shifted akwardly. Sika smiled "I take it your niece doesn't know that I'm a vampire?"

Callisto tried to hold back her suprise, but was unable to. "You're a vampire!" she said. Aleda looked relieved as she and Sika laughed. "Yeah, but don't worry, I'm not anything like those mortal books, and portable Disque De Simras, what do you call them...ah yes 'DVDs!' We do drink blood, but we have ways of getting our blood without hurting others!" Callisto looked more relaxed. Then it finally hit her. "Wait, what do you mean niece?!"