The Half-Blood Princess by Mihaela Bogdan (best books to read for self improvement TXT) 📖

no reflection of my skin and hair, while yours are transparent. Have you ever heard of the word ‘vampire’, Valentina?! Father asked without taking his eyes off the mirror.
  -Uh, yes, few times. The villagers were scared to say this word because it meant some kind of monster who lives to drink the human blood.
  Father didn’t say anything and I was getting to feel that I have said something offensive towards him. My instincts told me that I was right, at least I thought so.
  As I mentioned before, I am a Christian and went every Sunday to church, where the priest told us not only about God, but also about Lucifer. It is said that Lucifer was one of God’s angels and his thirst for power made him loose his place in Heaven. He created a place under the human earth called Hell, where he rules among demons and other dark creatures. They don’t come to earth, except vampires. I remember that one Sunday, the priest from my former village told a story about the first vampire that came on earth to feed with the human blood and that we, as humans, must follow God’s lessons to remain safe.
  Now that I think about it, this story seems made up to make people come to church more often. When I was a child I believed every word the priest said, now I am wondering how much of the things he said all those years were actually true.
  What if he lied about demons and vampires?! I guess I have to let father in light me about this matter. He didn’t say a word since I began remembering all these things.
  After a minute of silence, father replied:
  -Only half of your answer is true. Yes, I am a vampire and you, my child, are a half vampire.
  -You mean to say that you live to drink blood?! I was terrified because I might be tempted to drink blood and this thought sickened me.
  -The human blood is indeed a delicacy, but animal blood is also good to a vampire. Since you and Maria left me, animal blood was on my daily menu. You are half vampire so you do not have to worry about drinking any.
  ”What a relief!” I said to myself. I hate to admit it, but the sight of blood makes me feel dizzy. Seeing it all red and fluidly makes my skin to have goose bumps.
  -Are you fine, Valentina?! You seem paler than usual. My father noticed it immediately.
  -I am just relieved that I don’t have to drink blood, since I am only half vampire.
  Father gazed at me for few seconds and asked, his voice sounding somehow disappointed:
  -Why? It has a nice color and it is warm. It makes you feel warm on the inside after you drink it. Trust me, it is good, it makes you feel … alive!
  -I think you are right father, still, I would prefer to keep away from it as much as possible. I hope you understand me.
  Father didn’t say anything, instead he put his hand warmly on my shoulders. It is strange how easily he understands me and doesn’t disapprove my ideas and point of view about well ... everything. He is resembling so much to mother. Maybe mothers and fathers are the same, the difference being that one is a woman and the other a man. V/5

Father then grabbed my right hand and took me down in the library. There was a huge fireplace with two armchairs in front and a coffee table in between them, the rest of the room being filled with thousands and thousands of books. Father sat in the left armchair and I sat in the other. We were face to face, the fire made his reddish eyes glow and his fangs as white as the full moon. He looked into my eyes and began to talk:
  -Before you were born, your mother Maria, agreed to be my wife despite the fact that I was a vampire. Of course she knew what a vampire was, but she made me swear to drink nothing but animal blood. Unfortunately, when a vampire stops consuming human blood, he or she gets older, like the mortals. For Maria’s sake I kept my promise, until one day.
  He made a pause and after a while, things began to be interesting for me. Father continued his story with a sorrow look on his face, his eyes were reflecting sadness as I was looking into them. I also have the bad habit of looking deep into someone’s eyes, to see them through their souls. Father got used in making eye contact with me and he even lets me read his thoughts and feelings reflecting on his red eyes.
  -Her town villagers found out where she was for the past year and thought that I was keeping her as a hostage. Foolish mortals, they are too naive and stupid! You were a couple of days old when they gathered in front of the castle’s door and brought it down. I told your mother to run away with you somewhere safe, where they couldn’t find you. She did as she was told while I managed to send them running back to the village. When Maria returned back with you, ten or twelve people were laying on the floor at my feet, bleeding.
  Then she looked me in the face and saw blood dripping from my fangs.
  ”You broke the promise, how could you?!” She asked and she ran away with you crying. I followed her, but outside was day already and I could not run into the sun. So I sat there watching Maria running, until her sobering and your crying could not be heard any more.
  Father got up and knelt in front of me, his reddish eyes were wet and he grabbed my hands and kissed them. His words got mixed with his crying:
  -The reason why your mother left me is because I broke my promise, drinking those people’s blood. She was afraid that I might do the same to her. I would never have done that, I loved her so much. Please, believe me ... my dear Valentina.
  I put my arms around father’s neck and hugged him very tight. Hearing the answers to the questions that I have gathered in my mind and heart all these years, made me feel different than I expected. From my mother’s stories, I thought father left us for another woman or even worse, since she refused to tell me the truth every time I asked her about father. The longer mother refused to tell me about him, the more curious I began to be.
  My soul felt easier now, as if I had a heavy rock on it since now and after father made light into my mind, it somehow lifted off. This feeling was making me so very happy. Being brought to reality by my father’s hot tears that were dropping on my shoulder, I focused my attention on him:
  -I believe you, father! I kissed him on the forehead and hugged him even stronger. His warm tears were falling on my shoulder forming little rivers.
  I wanted to cry along with him, but I didn’t. I was pleased to finally find out the truth about my parents past. At least now I have a new path in life: to learn more about vampires and half vampires. I think I know everything about human nature, it is time to discover new types of people. I truly hoped so; but for now I have to cheer father up. The idea of him crying on my birthday didn't suit me.
  -Master Dracula, may I enter to give Miss Valentina my birthday present for her?! Grandpa Daniel’s voice beyond the door interrupted out little pity party.
  In that moment father realized what he was doing. Visibly ashamed, he stood up straight immediately and answered:
  -Of course, Daniel. Come in!
  He then pointed his right index finger towards the door and made it open by itself. Grandpa Daniel then entered the room with a silver tray having on it a silver vessel lid covering something interesting for me. Grandpa revealed what was under the lid: a delicious chocolate cake with my name and age written on it with whipped cream and having red fruits such as strawberries, cherries and tiny pieces of apples covering the whole cake in an elegant design. On top of it was a sparkly white candle.
  Father approached the cake and he snap his fingers in front of the candle. After his action was done, a small blue flame was burning on top of the candle. I was too amazed to even thank them for the cake. It was my first cake that I have in my entire life, because mother and I were too poor to buy one. Every year, she made me some small fruit pie instead.
  -What is the matter, Valentina? You do not like chocolate?! Father asked concerned. It was my first birthday spent with him and I am sure he wanted to make everything perfect, to repay all my birthdays that he lost until now.
  -I am fine, father, really. I was just amazed by your ... ummhh ... I tried to imitate father’s gestures when he did all those unusual things.
  -By my tricks?! I see. Well Valentina, as a pure vampire I also have telekinetic powers, also known as the ability to move objects with your mind. And the ability to control the powers of nature such as fire. But enough said, it is your birthday and we must have a good time. You will learn more about vampires after that.
  -Blow into the candle and make a wish, Miss Valentina! Grandpa Daniel said, bringing the cake in front of me. But remember to wish in your mind. If you say it out loud, it will never come true.
  I closed my eyes and tried to form the wish in my head: ”I wish to have a long beautiful life in father’s castle. Please God, make it happen, for I have experienced sadness enough. Amen!” I opened my eyes and blew softly into the candle. After the blue flame extinguished, father and grandpa clapped slowly and said in the same time:
  -Happy birthday, my dear Valentina!
  -Happy birthday, Miss Valentina!
  Father kissed me on the forehead and left without tasting a piece of the cake. He wished me good night before closing the door with his telekinetic powers again.
  -Don’t get upset on Master Dracula. He would love to eat some cake with you, but it doesn’t have any blood in it. I hope you understand how hard it is for him to be a vampire. Grandpa Daniel explained when he noticed my disappointed face.
  -I am trying to understand him grandpa, he seems so far from the life