Vampire

Christine

Mom observed me, her lips gently parted. Justin looked about the same, but his eyebrows rose above his head waiting. Not breaking their stares, my lips searched for the bright red straw that hung close to the rim of the glass. My lips finally found the ever fleeting straw, I sucked down the rest of my hard lemonade.

The harsh sounds of the glass emptying caught my attention instead. Smacking my lips together, I turned away from the stares only to glance at the pitcher of lemonade. I shrugged my shoulders.

Oh, hell.

Pouring another glass, they watched me until I began sucking on the straw again. Clearing my throat, I set down the mason jar with a click to the glass coffee table. “I’m sorry what was that?” Leaning back in my chair Justin just blinked his eyes back to Mom who gripped his hands tightly.

My hand reached out to grab the mason jar again for mom to tug it away. “That’s enough, Chrissy.” Her voice stayed gentle. Tutting I leaned back in the chair. Rubbing my eyes, surely messing up the thick mascara. I groaned.

“Mom, I’m really not in the mood for jokes. It was a long drive and I’m getting a killer headache.”

“Because you are drinking too much,” she mumbled. Darting my line of vision to her I wanted to talk back. ‘Well you offered,’ my subconscious screamed.

“This isn’t a joke,” Justin now had a thick accent like he was from bloody England.

Ha, see what I did there?

“Mother,” I chastised which had my Mom standing up. She gave me the same stare when she caught me coming home at 5 a.m. hanging out with my friends and soap bombing the town’s water fountain. “What?” I fiend innocence.

“He’s serious, Chrissy.” Justin stood up wrapping his arm around her protectively. Did he think that I was going to hurt my own mother? Taking offense I stood up to walk to the other side of the room.  Mom’s eyes softened, gripping ahold of the lapel of Justin’s suit jacket.

“I,” my voice cracked. “I don’t understand?” Reaching down, I picked back up the mason jar of liquid courage.

“I am a vampire, I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s true. We’ve been around for a long time, we don’t hurt humans. Most don’t anyway,” Mom nudged him in the ribs only for him to grip her waist tighter.

“Prove it,” I whispered. The nagging feeling in the back of my head me question my sanity. Was it the strength of the alcohol that had me beginning to believe what he was saying was true? Cold hands, the house was freaking dark, and his dentist had some freaky magic whitening stuff to make those canines stand out.

“How do you want me to prove it?” He ticked his lip upwards. Mom giggled, patting his chest. Stepping forward, his feet clicked with the hardwood floor, having me back up. The back of my leg hit against the side table, and the glass lamp tipped. Reaching for it so it didn’t fall, Justin was already in front of me and his hand had already placed it back.

“How did you…?” Mom grabbed his hand pulling him away from me.

“He’s fast, really strong and yes he does drink blood,” she whispered. “He drinks animal blood but also consenting humans,” Mom’s smile did not go unnoticed.

Ew, does she let him eat off her?

“Do you sparkle too?” I snorted, covering my mouth.

“At least she is laughing,” Justin gave a fanged smile. This time, the questionable canines were longer. He let it all hang out as I studied him. For a moment I thought they could be stuck on fangs, a lot of people did that right?

Mom shook her head, reaching for the end table drawer and pulling out a brown paper bag. “Oh no, her laughing isn’t a good thing, hun.” I began laughing, laughing so hard, tears welled in my eyes. This was not happening; my Mom was not dating a vampire and I was not going to call him dad either.

She was talking about having babies with his man! Was my mom still young enough to do that? She’s pushing fifty while this guy looked to be my age! Mom pulled my hands away, putting the paper bag over my mouth, the laughing turned into hyperventilating.

If I didn’t just have the shock of my life just three days ago, I think I could have handled this. I could have powered through and not need the bag but damnit my life was a mess. Breathing in deep, my Mom led me to the couch, Justin just watched, albeit very concerned as he stepped away for Mom to take care of me.

That’s right, you stay over there.

After sitting on the couch, I felt a cool cloth put to my head. Justin stared down at me, now noticing the red eyes flickering. “Eyes,” I blabbed. “Red.” I pointed like some two-year-old.

How the hell did he get a rag and back to me so fast!?

“There, there,” Mom patted my shoulder, “you’re are doing great.”

After twenty minutes of breathing into a bag, I had the courage to look at the couple on the opposite side of the room. Mom held such admiration toward the vampire that it made me question not just my sanity but hers too.

“How old are you?” I whispered. It was so low I swear he wouldn’t be able to hear it but low and behold he turned to me, kissing my Mom’s hand.

Gross.

“Three hundred and eighty-nine,” his face went back to my Mom. Alright then, he wasn’t a cougar chaser.

***

Laying in my childhood bedroom I stared up at the ceiling fan contemplating my life. How in the H-E-double-hockey-sticks did I end up here? My Mom, is finally leaving my sperm donor after years of verbal abuse. I couldn’t be more ecstatic for her, but now I’m dealing with a vampire step daddy wanna-be.

Grabbing the oversized stuffed Corgi, I hugged it to my chest. “What am I gonna do Bob?” I whispered.

Mom and Justin explained about Beloveds, in great detail that I really didn’t need to know. They were soul mates, as Justin put it. The Moon Goddess deemed their souls a perfect match and once they find each other, unbelievable things happen. Something about chemicals in their body, the fire touches the insane amount of sexual attraction. It sounded like a bunch of crap to get in my mom’s pants.

That is until they said they were moving in together. Yup, moving. Not just to any place, but a place with a bunch of vampires and humans, like a transition development compound. Oh, that got me panicking again, that poor paper bag had seen its better days.

Mom was going to change; she was going to become a vampire. Her skin would revert back to the youthful appearance, their souls tied together once he freaking bites her and she would live forever. There was no way I was going to be able to talk her out of it, I couldn’t show my distaste because she was too dang happy.

I couldn’t wreck her happiness. It doesn’t mean that I can’t stay around to watch her, make sure she’s safe.

I groaned, rolling in the bed on top of Bob. He squished down, his frowny face squished further into the mattress. Five boxes of my things were already put away. Since I had come home early, Mom said we could move into the Black Raven Coven a whole three weeks early.

Mom knew me so well, she knew I would come with her. There was no way that I was leaving her alone after knowing Justin for only five days.

Yes, five days of ‘utter bliss,’ she said.  It wasn’t like I had a job lined up anyway. This way I can move into this ‘community,’ and see what all the fuss was about. I was moving into my own little house with three other roommates who were going through the same thing I was. A parent becoming a vampire.

They had counselors, yes counselors for those who have to transition to the idea that their parent or guardian was to be a beloved to a vampire. Not only that, but there were also classes and support groups. Seriously, this place sounded like a cult.

Bring on the Kool-aide, just make sure there’s vodka in it.

“Honey, are you okay?” Mom knocked on the door, it creaked as her slippered foot padded across the floor.

“I’m fine,” I grabbed the paper bag beside me and held it in the air. “I got my bag. You aren’t going to drop anything else on me are you?” I chuckled, scooting over on the bed to make room.

“No, honey, I’m not.” Mom’s tender voice had instant guilt fill me. She was happy, she’s never been one to do something so rash. Maybe this was good for her, but until I knew she was safe, I wouldn’t let my guard down. Justin may say he won’t drink my blood, but who is to say this coven will adhere to those rules and try and drink from my mom and me? They were the definition of an apex predator.

“It is a lot,” she rubbed my hand lovingly. “I am glad you are coming with us, even though I know you are doing it for my sake.” I hummed, burring my face into Bob the Corgi. “Maybe you can get a pet now.”

Sperm donor hated pets.

“Depends on my roommates,” I mumbled. “You sure I can’t stay with you guys?” Justin explained the process of Mom changing, once we arrive he would be biting her, connecting their souls together but in doing so, it will change her. She would need at least a year to control her thirst for blood and having me in the house would be suicide if she woke up with a blood fever some new vamps can get.

Scary.

“It’s for the best, Chrissy.” Mom leaned down to kiss my forehead. “Are you sure Wyatt is okay with you living with us? Moving states away?” Shaking my head, I pulled on the whisker string on Bob.

“We broke up, don’t really want to talk about it,” I mumbled.

“Chrissy,” she cooed, but I pulled away. I was being an ass, I knew I was, but damnit I was given a lot of information today. “Sorry Mom, I didn’t mean it.” She pulled my blonde hair from my face.

“You’ve never had luck with boys. Maybe you will find a real man soon?” She said hopefully.

“Like you?” Giggling she playfully pushed me. “Love isn’t in the cards for me. I’m thinking about becoming a nun.”

“That sounds utterly boring,” mom rolled her eyes. “I heard they can’t even masturbate.”

“Mom!” I slung Bob, landing perfectly in her face. She gasped, grabbing another stuffed animal as we repeatedly bashed each other. Our laughs echoed through the room until we heard that deep chuckle in the doorway. Justin stood with his arms crossed, his white dress shirt rolled up his forearms.

“There are my two favorite girls. I ordered Pad Thai.” Justin leaned over to get a better look at me. My hair was a mess, but I kept my smile on my face. For her, for Mom.

“Care to join us, Christine?” Mom looked to me for approval.

Come on, Chrissy, let’s do it for Mom. At least until we know she’s safe.

“It’s Chrissy, and sure, I’d love to.”