I nodded silently, marvelling at my foresight: I had already taken the entrance exams online, and I had recently received an email notifying me that I had been accepted into the philosophy department, just as I had dreamed.

I was filled with joy that, thanks to my adult conversation with my mum, I had achieved a lot. Of course, Mum didn't agree, but she promised to think about it. And that's a result.

– Okay, I'll wait. Just please don't think that being away from me is the worst thing in life. I mean, have faith in me, Mum. I promise I'll justify your trust, and if I don't succeed, I'll come home voluntarily. Just understand me.

I had no more words. I kissed Mum's hand and left the office.

Not a sound, not even the rustle of paper, came from her office for another hour or so. Apparently, I had struck Mum in the heart.

But I felt euphoric, and I vowed to become myself, to become the Misha that Cedric saw in me, the one who had cried in front of him.

***

At the end of August, the whole family, except for Mariszka, who had officially joined the Morgan clan and was no longer considered a member of our Mroczek clan, gathered in the large living room to discuss my fate. So that I couldn't hear what they were talking about (a laugh!), they sent me out of town, to our big cottage, and for some reason the discussion dragged on for almost a week: it was the first of September, and I would have to get ready for school, and they couldn't give me an answer as to whether I was going or staying at home. I called someone from the family every day to ask if they had finalised their discussion, but for the sixth day in a row I heard the same thing: «maybe tomorrow».

I knew how much I was loved by my extended family and how much everyone was used to my constant presence at home. When I was very young I was simply carried in their arms, for I was an adorable late baby. I was vaguely aware that vampires breed very slowly, and that I was the only vampire under a hundred years old, meaning that there were no vampires my age or younger than me in the whole world, which was depressing: my brothers were over two hundred years old-Martin was three hundred and five, Mścislav was two hundred and fifty; my sisters were slightly younger-Maria was two hundred and thirteen, and Mariszka was two hundred in August. Well, and me – eighteen. In December I'll be nineteen.

My older brothers and sisters did not understand me, but spoilt me and fulfilled all my requests: in winter Mscislav and Martin drove me on sledges, built with me snowmen and ice sculptures, and watched with me cartoons by Walt Disney. Mariszka babysat me like a mummy, and Maria came to visit us rarely. In the eyes of my family, I was just an unsophisticated child, for they were so… Old and wise. What then to speak of parents who were over five hundred years old?

But, once again, after hearing «I guess we'll decide tomorrow», I gave up and came home to put an end to this ridiculous action: they had convened a consilium to decide whether to let me go to Oxford or not! Ridiculous. However, my arrival surprised no one: it turned out that they themselves had assumed that I would be impatient and come to disturb them, and I was pleasantly surprised and angry at the same time – all this time only one question had been decided.

«Who will look after Misha in England?»

As for me going to Oxford, everyone agreed on the first day, after much debate of course. It took a long time to convince me… Not even Dad (!), but Martin, who just couldn't live without me.