The Bartholys

I follow Aiden into the house while glaring at Drogo. But as soon as I stepped in the house I look around in amazement. The house looks like it was a decade old. The hallway is huge with high ceiling and a pretty old fashioned chandelier hanging from it. There is a huge staircase in front of us that goes to the upper floor. This place looks like it just came out of a fairy tale.

"Ahem!", someone clearing their throat brings me back to my senses. I look at the man standing in front of us. He has long brown hair that fall over his shoulder and grey eyes. He looks kind and composed. But what is it with his dress? He seems to be wearing a full sleeved shirt with cuffs and collars and a silk vest over it. He looks like he just stepped out of a historical drama."Welcome to Bartholy Manor! I hope you had no trouble finding the house. My name is Nicolae and I am the oldest Bartholy brother.", the man said while introducing himself . Do people still speak like that in the 21st century?He speaks like people who spoke during the 15th century, with poise and courtesy. I read his mind once to make sure he is not putting a fárcade." These two look like angels! The girl is so sweet and the boy looks matured! They will be perfect to look after Lorie!"he thought. I smiled."Hello, I am Aiden and this is my twin, Anna. Thank you for having us here.", Aiden greeted him politely. Drogo stood at one side with his hands folded and he was staring at us."I will show you to your rooms and introduce you to Lorie tomorrow. She is asleep at the moment.",Nicolae explained.

He started walking toward the stairs and mentioned us to follow him. Aiden grabbed our bags and dragged them up the stairs. We followed Nicolae but suddenly stopped in our tracks. The sound of someone playing the piano filled the air. Wow! The melody was amazing but it seemed sad. It was like the tune had a story of its own."I love the melody though it sounds sad but with a little alteration it would be fine.", I commented unknowingly."That would be Peter. I will introduce him tomorrow because you need to rest.", Nicolae said.

He lead us to our rooms which was just across the hall from each other. The oldest Bartholy brother wished us good night and left. My brother stared at him as he disappeared down the stairs. Then he turned around kissed my cheek, wished me good night and went to his room.

I entered my room and looked around. It was well furnished. It was equipped with a queen sized bed with purple bed sheets, one study table, a piano sat at one corner (which I had specifically asked for), a joint bathroom with a huge bathtub and a balcony which gave the view of the forest. I walked towards the balcony and looked out. Wow, this Lorie must be really lucky! She has a park all to herself!

I came back inside the room and closed the windows. I went over to my suitcases and started unpacking. I was stacking my clothes just as two photographs fell on my lap. One was a family photo that was taken just a few days before our parents death and another was of me and Aiden when we entered high school. I put the photos on my bedside table and sighed. I missed my parents. I was lost in a sea of memories that I made with my parents when.....

Knock,Knock. Someone knocked on my door. I was so lost in the memories of my family that I didn't hear anyone approach the door."Come in",I answered with a lifeless voice.

The door flung open and in came Drogo, with a smirk on his face."So, pretty little thing, are you satisfied with your room?",he asked."Pretty little thing? Is that my new nickname?",I asked him with an emotionless tone."Yes, I just came up with it!",he said with a grin."I couldn't care any less. Can you go and bother one of your brothers and leave me alone?", I said still emotionless."No. My brothers are boring . I want a new target, which is you!",he said putting on airs. I groaned. Suddenly I hear footsteps coming towards my door. A minute later, I hear a faint knock."Come in", I answer again emotionless. Nicolae entered the room looking raging mad. He glared at Drogo, with fury in his eyes."Go to your room",Nicolae yelled at him. Drogo shrugged and left my room."Are you OK?",Nicolae asked me worried."I'm fine",I replied smiling at him slightly. I was curious at what oldest Bartholy brother was thinking so I read his mind.

"How is she so calm? Last time Drogo did something like this, the nanny was crying and begging us to let her go.", Nicolae thought."This girl is so collected but I wonder why her eyes are so sad. I hope she finds her happiness. But from my observation, I am quite sure this brother-sister pair are not humans. They are certainly vampires but also something else, which I can't put my finger on. ", he continued in his mind.

"Thank you for being so considerate Nicolae but I'm fine. I promise." I reassured him." I know. But you are always free to come to me if something is bothering you.",he said and smiled. I smiled back and he left. I know my brother heard everything. "I'm fine Bro.",I said in my mind. I am telepathic so I can communicate with others in their minds. " OK but I'll keep an eye on that blondie.",my brother thought and with that he fell asleep. I stayed up reading a few books and I don't know when I fell asleep.

The next morning I felt someone rubbing my cheeks. I flinched and was ready to slap the person but then I realized that its just my brother."Morning Lil' Sis!",he said cheerfully."Morning Bro.",I said rubbing my eyes open and smiling at him sleepily. He pulled my cheeks and kissed me on the forehead, something that he did every morning ever since we were kids."Get ready quickly. We have to meet Lorie and Peter today.",he said as I made my way to the bathroom to freshen up. I chose to wear a dark blue off-shoulder crop top with long sleeves and blue ripped jeans, my favorite combo. My brother wore a button down blue shirt which was made of thin cotton and denim jeans.

We went to the living room where Nicolae was waiting for us. We went in and saw the whole Bartholy family together for the first time. I knew Drogo and Nicolae agreed but today stood another guy with them.

He had shiny black hair with bangs that covered his forehead and green eyes, which had a hint of melancholy in them. He was a little taller than Drogo but well built. He looked like he was lost in his own world."This is Peter. His room is right beside yours, Anna. So you can go to him if you need anything.",Nicolae said looking at me with warm eyes."Hello", Peter said politely. I waved at him a little and he smiled.

Now I turned my attention to Nicolae who held a little girl in his arms. The girl had bubblegum pink hair and was wearing a little pink dress. She had a cute face with big hazel eyes. She held a doll in her hand which looked like it had jumped out from the movie 'Annabella: Creations'. It looked horrible! It had one eye missing and it seemed to be smiling menacingly. The dress looked like it was torn on purpose and had stains of red paint which was to show blood. I smiled at her but she just stared at me in a very creepy way.

"Hello Lorie.",Aiden greeted her. She just stared at him without saying anything. I could sense my brother was uncomfortable."You are very beautiful. I love your hairstyle.", the little girl said suddenly while looking at me."Thank you Lorie. You are also very pretty.", I replied with a smile."Am I?", she asked showing us her toothy smile."Yes, you are. Did no one ever tell you that?",Aiden said kindly."No one told me that I am pretty. Do you think I'm pretty,Anna?", she asked me with eager eyes."Yes you are very pretty.", I told the little girl. She smiled asked Nicolae to put her down and ran towards us. We kneeled down to her level. She hugged us. We hugged her back. Nicolae looked at us and smiled. She told us to wait for few minutes and disappeared in the hallway.

As soon as she left, Nicolae said,"Let's discuss the elephant in the room.". I looked at him with wide eyes. Oh! No,no,no. This is not good at all! He knows that we are hiding something!

"No need to tell us. We already know", I said. The brothers stared at us."We know that you are vampires. We noticed it the moment we saw Drogo.", I continued as Aiden nodded to support me."How did you know.....? I thought we hid it pretty well. Then how...?",Peter asked looking confused."For that, Nicolae, you should really learn to control your thoughts.",I said smirking at him. His eyes widened."Are you saying that you are mind reader?", Nicolae asked with curiosity. I nodded. He looked at us with spark in his eyes.

"But you guys have to promise us not to tell this to anyone.",Aiden said."We swear.",Peter replied for all three brothers. Drogo just stood at a side with his hands crossed over his chest.

"Now that you know what we are.....we should warn you of something else", Aiden said looking at me. I nodded and stepped forward."Sorry for what I'm about to do, Drogo.", I said and looked at him apologetically. I snapped my fingers and a snowball appeared in my hand. I threw it at Drogo. It hit him square in the face. He was still processing what just happened! His jaw was hanging open and his eyes were wide. Nicolae and Peter reflected Drogo's expression."Is that snow?", Nicolae asked me. I nodded. Aiden was next. He asked Drogo to get him a glass of water. Drogo kept the glass in front of Aiden, while he concentrated. The next minute the water in the glass was spiraling in the air as Aiden controlled it. The brothers were left speechless. They just gaped at us after we demonstrated our powers to them.

"What exactly are you guys?", Drogo asked us."Hybrids", my twin and I answered together. Nicolae walked up to us and promised keep this a secret as long as we keep a low profile. We nodded and headed off.

This was something we had not expected to happen. That sure was one eventful introduction!

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