Cumberland (Not A Dream Book 1)

by Amey Coleman

  “Yes!” I screamed back.

  “I refuse to let this happen!” she yelled.

  “Well, it just did. What now?” Olivia smirked.

  She reached in her coat pocket and whipped out a pistol. She didn’t hesitate to start pulling the trigger. My parents, Mason, and my grandpa all took a stand in front of Olivia, Jack and I.

  The bullets reached us, and hit everyone in front of us. I watched as they didn’t even budge. Mason stood in front of me, and I tried to look around the front. There, I noticed bullets just bouncing off of them.

  I looked at Jack and Olivia, they just shrugged their shoulders. Carolyn starting making clicking noises with her gun, and threw it down in anger.

  I said to them, “Where did they get those bullet proof vests at?”

  My dad turned to me and said, “Milly, we are Vampires as well. Your mother, me, and your friend Mason.”

  Shocked I asked, “That means, I am too?”

  “You have a chance. Your grandpa is only half Vampire. That is why he didn’t turn immortal until old age,” he answered.

  My grandpa smiled, “Hey! I am not old, I am crispy.”

  Carolyn interrupted us, “Fine, you guys want to play ball, then let’s play.”

  She pulled out a syringe and I asked, “What is that?”

  “Oh, this? Well, this, my dear, is a mix of Vampire blood, and another secret ingredient. I have tested that if it is directly injected into someone’s vain, they become immortal.”

  “You won’t live through it! You have to be born a Vampire. That is the way it works,” my mom told her.

  Mason and I started charging after her, as she started to inject herself with the syringe. The two men stopped us and held us back as she completed her process.

  We fought to get free but failed.

  “My two body guards were my test subject for this. They are much stronger than you,” she cackled again.

  I growled trying to pry free. Olivia was able to hit them in the head with a rock, and made them let go. One man tackled Olivia to the ground, and I went over to her to try to get him off.

  The other man tackled me to the ground. Mayven popped out and started to peck at his head. My parents teamed up to get Olivia free, and I could hear my dad yell, “Mason, get Milly!”

  Mason tore the guy off and the man grabbed Mayven, and threw it to the ground. I looked over to him and saw he was okay, just a little hurt. But I noticed large movement behind the baby Phoenix.

  I looked up to see the Blue Crow standing there. I smiled.

  I peered at Carolyn, and watched as she transformed. Her blonde hair turned red, and her skin became pale. I asked my dad, “What is going on?”

  “Well, when you are transformed into a Vampire, you become a pale skinned red-head, the most beautiful being there is,” he shrugged.

  “You have a different color hair,” I pointed out.

  “Just because you turn into a Vampire, doesn’t mean you can’t color your hair,” he winked.

  Mayven hopped back up on my shoulder, shaking. I patted him on the head, “You will be okay.”

  Carolyn started to charge after me, “Give me that Phoenix!”

  I held the bird close to my chest and I watched as the Silver Cobra came out of the grass and quickly wrapped around Carolyn.

  “No! Put me down! I need that bird!” she screamed.

  He squeezed her tightly, until a crunch noise came from her. Then, she didn’t move anymore.

  “Hey, you did say she wouldn’t live through it,” my grandpa nudged my dad.

  The two men started shooting at the snake, and out of nowhere, the Blue Crow swooped down and ate the men in one bite. I gasped at the sight, and asked the snake, “Where did you go?”

  “To get help,” he hissed.

  I smiled at him, “Thank you.”

  I turned to my parents and everyone hugged each other. I asked them, “How were you able to make me, if you guys are immortal?”

  “Before you turn twenty-five, you are more human than anyone else. With some amenities, of course,” my mom answered.

  “Also, women are rarely transformed. That is why my wife was transformed into a human,” my grandpa answered with a small tear.

  I hugged him tightly, “I miss her too.”

  The snake broke our moment, “I am starving. Can I?” he pointed down at Carolyn with his tail.

  I nodded, “Go right on ahead!”

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  We turned to the stairs, behind the door, and watched as the light got brighter. Cumberland started to darken. I turned to the Blue Crow, and Silver Cobra, “Thank you for everything, but we have to go now.”

  The Silver Cobra said, “Wait, you have a few creatures here that want to say good bye.”

  I quickly ran up to Murphy and Alistabell, and Alistabella, “Oh, I will miss you guys!”

  “We will miss you too,” they said hugging me back.

  The ground started to shake, and I soon saw Lester the Big, “Lester! I hope you will be alright!”

  “I will, Milly. Will you visit?” he asked.

  I nodded, “I will, I promise!”

  I looked around and saw sad faces surround me. I could tell they did not want me to leave. I told them, “If I were able to live here, I would. I love this place.”

  Mason held my hand, “We will visit. I want to see more of my dad as well.”

  I smiled at him, “Okay.”

  I looked at Mayven, “Do you want to go home with me?”

  He chirped proudly and started to glow bright red.

  “Grandpa! What is happening to him?”

  “He is glowing because when Cumberland gets dark, his feathers glow bright,” he answered.

  “My own night light,” I joked.

  Everyone started to cry as we started to walk up the stairs. We turned back around, and all said, “Good-bye, until next time!”

  Cumber turned black instantly, making it hard to see the first few steps.

  “Ouch!” I heard Olivia yelp.

  I heard Rolf yelp as well.

  “Are you okay?” I asked.

  No reply.

  “Hello, is everyone okay?” I asked aloud.

  No reply, once more.

  I felt something prick the side of my neck. I pulled it out, and used Mayvens’ light to realize it was a tranquilizer. I tried to yell out, but felt myself drop.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  I heard a beeping noise, which woke me up instantly. My vision was blurred, but was instantly put back into perspective. I looked around and saw the color white everywhere. I noticed that I was in the hospital.

  “Mom, dad, grandpa!” I asked out loudly.

  They rushed in and took my hand, “You’re okay!” my mom said.

  “Yeah, I am. Where is grandpa? And Olivia, and Jack? What about Rolf?” I tried to whisper his name.

  I turned to my grandpa, who was sharing the same confused expression as my parents. I asked, “What is wrong?”

  “We do not know who they are. You have been in a thirteen year coma,” he said, while patting my hair out of my face.

  I shook my head, “No, no, no! They are real. You guys were all there! We saved Cumberland!”

  The continued to look at me with raised eyebrows. I could feel my head spin. “I need Mason, he will tell you.”

  “Who is Mason?” my dad asked.

  “What do you mean, you have met him.”

  “Honey, do you need to see a psychiatrist?” my mom asked.

  I shook my head, “No! Why won’t you guys remember?”

  My grandpa hugged me trying to shush me. I asked him, “Do you remember?”

  “No, sweetie,” he shook his head.

  “Read me some of your book, it always calms me,” I concluded.

  “The book got ruined in a house flood, before you were born,” he said.

  “What? Really?” I countered.

  I felt alone, and scared. I couldn’t puzzl
e what happened. I know for a fact, Cumberland was not a dream. Just as I was about to give into their words, a knock came upon my hospital room door.

  I watched as a man popped his head in, “You have a visitor, Milly?”

  “Dr. Juan!” I exclaimed.

  “How did you know that?” my mom asked.

  “I know a lot. Even how we are Vampires,” I answered.

  They gasped, “We have never told you that family secret.”

  “Yes, you have.”

  I looked up to see Jack, “Oh hello!”

  “I need to talk to Milly,” he quarried.

  “Why?” my dad began to get hostile.

  “I am the, uh, psychiatrist here,” he answered.

  “Oh,” my parents said. They turned to me, “We will be right outside.”

  They shut the door behind them and Jack reassured me, “Cumberland did happen. But everyone is forced to keep quiet. In order to assure that, the CIA erased everyone’s memory you have come in contact with in the last thirteen years. But, for some reason, they didn’t want to erase mine, Olivia’s, or Mason’s.”

  “That makes sense. What about Rolf?” I asked.

  “They did not. But, they did help him,” he explain.

  “Helped him?” I questioned.

  “You need to visit the stump. You will see.”

  “Okay, thank you,” I said gratefully.

  I signed out of the hospital, and got into Olivia’s truck with Jack.

  “Did your parents see you sign out?” he wondered.

  “No, why do you have Olivia’s truck?” I wondered.

  “I had to remove the spy cams and recorders. She told me to get you,” he answered.

  It wasn’t a long drive, and I quickly recognized Olivia and Mason. They stood waiting for me. Mason had his hands behind his back, and stood proudly. I was quick to run out to them.

  “What happened?” I asked.

  “The same thirteen year coma, you were told,” Olivia answered.

  “It wasn’t all a dream?” I assured.

  The all shook their heads and said, “Nope.”

  “Here, someone has been missing you,” Mason announced while revealing a bird cage.

  “Mayven!” I squealed.

  “What is the plan, then? Do we just stay up here, and freak people out we used to know, or go back to Cumberland where we are all known?” I questioned.

  I heard a car door slam, and turned to see a man walk out of Jack’s truck. He had a chiseled jaw, and short brown hair. I asked, “Who is that?”

  Olivia quickly joined his side, “Rolf.”

  He looked down at her and quickly held her face. They rubbed their noses together, and I turned back to Mason, blushing.

  Mason answered me, “You know tricking people doesn’t sound like a bad idea. But Cumberland felt like home.”

  I wrapped my arms around his neck and said, “I will always be anywhere you want to be.”

  The End

  From the Author

  Dear Reader,

  I hope you thoroughly enjoyed this story. I loved writing it, but wondering if I should write a second book. I would greatly appreciate any questions or comments about this book. If you get a chance, I would love to see your input on the reviews. You can follow me on twitter, and stay up to date with all of my writing endeavors. Hope you have a great day!

  Sincerely,

  Amey Coleman