My Grandpa left me the old antebellum home that he owned in Louisiana. All I had to do was sign the papers.
I pulled up at the Lawyer’s office, shocked that one of the windows was covered with plywood. I walked in the front door and tripped over a tear in the rough, green, outdoor carpet that covered the waiting area.
“Are you Hal?” The man was leaned against the door frame. I stuck my keys in my pocket and reached my hand out to shake his. “I am.” I answered. “No Sir. I don’t shake hands.” He said as he took the toothpick out of his mouth. “Excuuuuse me.” I was insulted.
“Sign here and be on your way.” He handed me a pen and held the papers up to the wall.
He then showed me a picture of an ice block and some trees. “This picture is hanging in your Pa’s study, behind it is a safe and inside you will find your Pa’s ashes in a bronze urn. Here’s the code.” It was in a white envelope.
“And son, don’t look in that urn.” He waved me out of the door.
The house was still magnificent just how I remembered. I ran straight up to his study, curious if there were any other treasures inside the safe. The frame on the picture was missing, it barely hung by a tack in the wall. It was the only thing In the house out of place.
I entered the combination, nothing but his ashes were inside. I picked up the urn. It was so cold, I immediately dropped it. It fell to the ground and spilled out sending dust everywhere including up my nostrils. My body filled with pressure. I ran to the mirror to see my eyes were blood red and my skin now pale. My face became my grandfather’s. He stared back at me smiling with bloody fangs. “HAL-lelujah” He joked. I always hated the name Hal! “I knew you wouldn’t let me down. You can have my home but never my throne.” He laughed. Together as vampires, we tormented the bayou. I never had a chance to feel bad.
This is what they call a “Family Secret.”
Leesa Writes 