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"Naturally, we couldn't leave those Moroi in Strigoi clutches," she said. "We tracked the Strigoi<br />
to their hideout and found several of them living together. I'm sure you can recognize how rare<br />
that is."<br />
It was. The evil and selfish nature of Strigoi made them turn on each other as easily as they did<br />
their victims. Organizing for attacks—when they had an immediate and bloody goal in mind—<br />
was the best they could do. But living together? No. It was almost impossible to imagine.<br />
"We managed to free the two captive Moroi, only to discover that others were being held<br />
prisoner," my mother said. "We couldn't send the ones we'd rescued back by themselves,<br />
though, so the guardians who were with me escorted them out and left it to me to get the<br />
others."<br />
Yes, of course, I thought. My mother bravely went in alone. Along the way, she got captured<br />
but managed to escape and rescue the prisoners. In doing so, she performed what had to be the<br />
hat trick of the century, killing Strigoi in all three ways: staking, decapitation, and setting them<br />
on fire.<br />
"I had just staked a Strigoi when two more attacked," she explained. "I didn't have time to pull<br />
the stake out when the others jumped me. Fortunately, there was an open fireplace nearby, and I<br />
pushed one of the Strigoi into it. The last one chased me outside, into an old shed. There was an<br />
axe inside and I used that to cut off her head. I then took a can of gasoline and returned to the<br />
house. The one I'd thrown into the fireplace hadn't completely burned, but once I doused him in<br />
gasoline, he went up pretty quickly."<br />
The classroom was in awe as she spoke. Mouths dropped. Eyes bugged. Not a sound could be<br />
heard. Glancing around, I felt like time had frozen for everyone—except me. I appeared to be<br />
the only one unimpressed by her harrowing tale, and seeing the awe on everyone's faces<br />
enraged me. When she finished, a dozen hands shot up as the class peppered her with questions<br />
about her techniques, whether she was scared, etc.<br />
After about the tenth question, I couldn't take it anymore. I raised my hand. It took her a while<br />
to notice and call on me. She seemed mildly astonished to find me in class. I considered myself<br />
lucky that she even recognized me.
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