Christine
“I’m just going to become a nun,” I whispered harshly. Banging my hand on my of a car, I winced at the impact. The leather wheel groaned in protest as I used to push myself out of the deep bucket seat.
The car I parked beside was a beautiful, black, freshly waxed Maserati. We did have neighbors that had such beautiful cars but why it was parked outside my house was something weird. Maybe dad bought it with all the money he hoards away from mom.
I wanted it to be over, this pain in my stomach. I wanted to just scream it all out and just be done with the pain with the yuck. He didn’t’ deserve my pain, he didn’t deserve any of it. He wasn’t worth it; no guy ever was and no other guy will ever make me feel this way.
My keys were slung recklessly in my hand, trying to find the correct key. I hadn’t been home in six months. The Christmas lights were gone, and the crisp cool weather had faded now bringing the bright sun of summer. My old plank wood swing swung in the breeze beckoning me home.
I would swing on that swing all summer. The other kids in the neighborhood had beautiful swing sets, tall, massive in size with slides, tunnels, and monkey bars. My dad either didn’t have time to build one or he didn’t want to waste the money.
I went with the former, being an airline pilot made you leave a lot. A lot of new adventures away from home. Surely that was more interesting than playing with his kid and continuing to romance his wife.
Men.
He’s probably buried deep in some slutty flight attendant.
I had just finished my senior year of college, mom couldn’t come to graduation, which was so unlike her. She was there for every single one of my tennis matches, art club meetings, and debate competitions when I grew up. When I told her the date six months ago about walking across the big stage, something she never was able to do in her life, she was more than excited. Hell, she even went and bought one of those expensive cameras that she will maybe use once or twice and put it in a box somewhere.
Then she called me the day before saying she couldn’t make it and that I should come home soon after my trip with the boyfriend. Little did she know, I was never going to take that vacation.
My teeth ground together. I shouldn’t be upset that mom couldn’t make it; she has done everything to be a part of my life, unlike dad. It’s just that, this stung a little more than I would have liked and it was all because of a douche bag I like to call my ex-boyfriend.
The keys rattled again; a familiar furry face pushed back the silky white curtain at the front window. My white cat, Christopher meowed, his paw pressing against the glass. “Here, kitty, kitty,” I stepped through the door. I rubbed my fingers together to act like I had a treat. He was no fool, he knew there was nothing and sat on his big fluffy butt until I pet him from his special perch.
“You are so spoiled,” I murmured. The house was dark for the time of day it was. Curtains were drawn, low-level lamps with red silk fabric on top of them.
Oh, god, I’m reliving my nightmare.
Balling up one fist and having the other wipe away the tears that I will not waste on a piece of trash, I heard my mom’s tender voice calling.
“Chrissy? Is that you?”
No… please no.
“Yes, it’s me. I came home early,” my voice trailed, still staring at the door. I was nose to nose with it, feeling the heat of my breath fall back on my face. There was no way I was going to turn around. If I didn’t see it, then I don’t know anything.
The mysterious car out front, the dimmed lights, and the red silk fabric on the lamps already painted the perfect picture. Mom was finally getting laid after years of being married to the sperm donor and in his house. Revenge is sweet.
But that doesn’t mean I want to be around it.
“Honey, it’s alright, turn around.” I shook my head, my blonde messy bun beginning to fall at my shoulders.
“I’m good, I’ll come back later.” Reaching for the doorknob, mom’s warm hand pulled it away and pulled me to her.
“I’m so glad you are home, this makes things so much easier, faster.” Hugging her, my eyes dart around the room, not seeing anything but darkness.
“Mom?” She hummed, still enjoying our embrace. Mom was a hugger; she lacked any sort of physical touch for so long she always hugged me for way too long. Many would find it awkward but I had grown accustomed. “Why is it all dark?”
I laughed at myself, of course I know why it was dark. She’s doing the hanky panky with Mr. Masarati out front. God, I hope he doesn’t break her heart.
“I want you to meet someone,” she whispered.
“He’s dressed right?” I slapped my hand over my mouth at the terrible back talk, but mom only giggled. She freaking giggled. Oh, she’s got it bad.
“I want you to meet, Justin.” She held out her hand into the darkness, the light streaming from the other side of the house blacked out his image until he came closer. His hand reached out to Mom’s until the light from the window where my cat sat shined on his face.
His skin was fairly pale, the deep brown hair styled perfectly as he smiled at me. He was just a head taller than my mother, which was great because she was a tall beauty that deserved to where whatever high-heels she wants.
“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Justin held out his other hand to shake mine. His hand was cold, but not clammy, a few degrees cooler than what I would have expected.
“We were just having some lemonade, come on in, Justin can help you take your bags out in a minute.” Gulping, I walked into the darkened room, only to have mom turn on the light. “Sorry, it was dark in here,” mom giggled again. Rubbing my hands together I sat in my favorite lazy recliner trying to get comfortable.
I just about walked in on them doing the hokey pokey.
“Not that I am upset about you being here so early, but why are you here? You said you were going on a trip with Wyatt after graduation.” Mom poured the lemonade into her fancy mason jar and topped it with a pretty umbrella.
Thank god, it has vodka in it.
Clearing my throat, I took a large sip.
Yes, vodka is nice.
“Oh, decided not to go. Thought I could stay here for a while.” Clearing my throat, Justin watched me intently. Now that I could get a good look at him, his dark eyes held hardly any color, except when the sunlight would directly hit them causing a red glow. It reminded me of the old school film cameras when you develop a picture and people’s eyes come out red.
I eyed him warily, as he studied me.
“Is there something wrong?” Mom leaned forward, her flowing sun dress covering her knees. Shaking my head, I took another sip.
Maybe if I got drunk enough I don’t have to have this conversation.
“How about you tell me about Justin?” I tried to change the subject. “Is that your car out front?” Justin smiled, and damn he had some long canines.
“It is, had her about six months.” Great, he talks about his car like it’s a woman. Sleazy. Mom only giggled, putting her hand on his knee.
“Ah,” I shifted uncomfortably, taking the straw, and shoving it straight towards my mouth. My eyes looked everywhere but them. This was just too weird, I mean, dad never showed any affection towards mom and maybe that was part of my problem growing up. I didn’t know how to show affection to others, which led to…
Nah, not going there.
“Listen, Chrissy,” mom set her own glass on the table. Bother her hands were now in Justin’s lap as she stared dreamily at him. Holy cow, this was some Hallmark shit. “I know I’m still technically married to your,” she cleared her throat, “father.” I shrugged my shoulders, as far as I was concerned he was just a bank that shoveled money out to pay for the house. Knowing mom didn’t have a decent degree and came from poverty dad used that to his advantage to paint the façade of a wonderful family in some upper-middle-class neighborhood. It appeased his parents, some snotty rich folk, but not to mom and me.
Threatening stares I’ve seen him give her as I sat at the top of the stairs when I was younger had my heart strings pulled tight. “I’d have the best lawyers; you’d be left with nothing. You’d be a pile of trash in the streets again.”
Mom wasn’t as strong as me, plus she was afraid she would lose me. But I was twenty-three now, she could do whatever the damn well she pleases. Then again, I’ve never lived on the streets, I wouldn’t know how tough it really is.
“Justin and I, are soulmates.” I stifled a laugh.
Shit, this was funny. Or maybe it was the alcohol? How much did she put in here?
“I’m sorry? Mom?” Mom’s eyes didn’t bear any animosity towards me, she only continued to look at Justin like he hung the stars for her every night. His eyes didn’t look any different, they were so full of love just for one woman. I swear I thought his eyes flickered red with such a deep passion it made my stomach churn.
“That’s right, we are soulmates or beloved as Justin likes to call us.” His finger brushed away a piece of her hair, it was so sweet I swear I saw some tiny sugar cubes falling on her bare shoulder. “We met at the park when I was out running.”
“You mean, you were trying to run,” he winked at her. “She got spooked when she saw a rabbit fly across her path and fell right in the ditch. Luckily I was not far behind and smelled a cut on her leg.”
“Well, that sounds romantic—” I sat up in my seat. “Wait, you ‘smelled’ her cut?” Mom stiffened, her back straightened, clearing her throat.
“Why don’t you have another sip of your drink, Chrissy?” Mom’s look went from passion and tenderness to sheer panic. “Tell her, darling, you are only prolonging the inevitable,” Justin patted her hand.
“Please don’t tell me your pregnant,” I rubbed my temples. “That would be the icing on the cake.” Mom’s face contorted to laughter, holding her hand to her chest. “Oh, dear no, not yet anyway.”
“What the—”
“Don’t you finish that sentence Christina Amora Clarkson.” I snapped my mouth shut, but I kept my eyes wide now staring at Justin. Justin put his finger to mom’s lips, turning his body so slowly as if not to frighten me.
Frighten me? Pah! I could take the guy, he had a slim athletic build. He may be looked five years older than me, which I guess I haven’t noticed before because I was too shocked by the state of the house.
And the sweet revenge affair.
“What I’m about to tell you, I don’t want you to panic. There really isn’t an easy way to tell you this,” his voice stayed completely calm as I picked up my glass, now sucking the rest of the alcohol down.
He was going to tell me he was after my mom because he’s into cougars.
“I’m a vampire.”
ChristineMom 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, s
SebastianThe worn-out Jeep had seen its better days. The few times I filled up with gas, I had to put oil in it as well. I was surprised it was still running after the hundreds of miles that were already put on the jeep before I received it. The transmission was failing and my lack of knowledge of vehicles in this realm made me cringe to try and fix it if I landed on the side of the road.If all else fails, I’ll just walk. I had continued north, going with my gut as I traveled across the country. The further north I went, the daylight fleeted far quicker than in the south, which was for the best. The sun was different here than in Bergarian, much harsher on a vampire’s skin. I hope that it did matter much, I was old and used to the many hours in the light sources of home.I wasn’t some noble back in the realm of Bergarian, I was nothing but a commoner. I worked hard as a merchant, buying produce from those that farmed the land, small trinkets from humble witches and warlocks. My wa
SebastianHoly hell.“T-that’s amazing,” I muttered. Rowan’s grin widened, his arm sleeking around his mate. “It is, it has given us the opportunity to have this coven grow, making it one of the only covens in the world that help specifically with human transformations into their new lives.”I let out a bark of laughter, rubbing my hands up and down my thighs. This was insane, never had I thought this would be possible. The opportunities to mate with another species here on Earth? For humans to become like us? Unreal.There had been rumors, long ago that vampires could force a chosen mate, usually done with humans. It was a practice outlawed before my parents were even born and never thought of again. Now that the Goddess had something to do with the pairing it made it more beautiful.“And they are successful, changing their mate.” Rowan nodded, looking out the enormous windows that let the natural light filter into the room. “There is the bite of bonding and a bite of changing. The b
“There was trial and error,” Rowan lifted his hand, waving it about. “He had to learn how to take in her life that she created before him. The children she had, the husband she left, she basically had an affair on the poor bastard, but she knew the bond she felt. It was meant to be.” Rowan smiled, waving at Adaline who blew a kiss his way. Certainly, she was born from a different era, the way she dresses, how she carries herself, and the delicate ways she had placed the tea cups on a sterling silver tray. Single human women, laid out on the lawn, tanning their skin. Not caring if the sun reeked damage on their bodies. Humans, vampires, and children sat on blankets and ate lunches being held by their biological parent. Everyone was happy, at least the younger ones were.“That is why I created this place.” Rowan interrupted. “That poor soul put himself to all that trouble, worried because his mate was to be fragile, not feel a bond, but she was far from it. She was strong.” he humm
Christine:"I'm sorry, Chrissy. You can't come into today." I ground my teeth together, wanting to stomp around like an adolescent child. This was insane. Less than two days after moving here, mom was bitten, and I haven't seen her since.A whole week had gone by, and I could only stare at them through the window if I was lucky. Apparently, my human blood reeked, and it could make her unmanageable. Justin said she was fighting it, that the thought of drinking blood was grotesque. Who can blame her? It sounded gross, but that is who she was now. She had to drink, but the human part of her mind was still there."Can I just give her a hug?" I almost pleaded. He stood at the door, blocking the way for me to catch a glimpse of her. On occasion, she slipped by the window, and I saw changes in her appearance. She looked… good. Her hair had more bounce, her wrinkles had gone, hell, she looked almost just like me. Except I was a darker blonde and had some of my sperm donor's height.My pleadi
"Now, now, I know you are afraid." My head perked up, my heart racing. "Yeah, I know about your problem." "Can you read my mind?" I squinted my eyes at him. He threw his head back and laughed, patting me on the shoulder. I was given a crash course on vampires on the drive up here, and I know Justin couldn't tell me everything. Maybe some could read minds? "Oh no, but I can read people really well." Right, so he doesn't really know about my problem then. "I got these amazing eyes, you see, I can notice when people are in distress. Every time I mention the word, 'blood," he gave the word a creepy ghostly feel like Dracula said it himself, "you wince." "Oh," I shrung my shoulders. "It's nothing to be embarrassed about," Sauron scoffed, leading me into the cafeteria. "Plus, it is kinda my job to help you out. Elder Rowan usually puts me in charge of the kids, but now he has me watching you." Great, a babysitter. "I'm an awesome babysitter," he mentioned. I swear if he can read mind
ChristineAfter some gentle coaxing, Suron left and went on with his other 'duties.' I had to promise, cross my heart and hope to die, pinky swear, and do some obscene booty shake to let me go on my own. Suron wasn't kidding when he said he was supposed to watch me. Justin wanted me far away from mom, and sitting on the front lawn wasn't even to be tolerated.I guess it was kind of lame that I would sit there, staring at the picturesque light blue 1950's style house, but it wasn't like I had tons of friends to talk to. I uprooted my life because I was worried for my mom, but Justin thought it would be an excellent idea for me to move here. In fact, he insisted. This makes me wonder if this is because mates, soulmates, and beloveds were all genetic.The problem was, I didn't believe in it. I thought Wyatt was my soul mate. I thought he was the one I was to spend my life with. I was head over heels in love with him, or so I thought. It was all one-sided, I painted him to be the perfect
"You bitch, you're cut off. Don't expect a damn dime from me in your account," he yelled again. I'm sure his phone was swimming in his spittle as he spoke. I never had the balls to talk to dad like this before, and I must say, it was pretty invigorating. Maybe it was because I was surrounded by a bunch of vampires that now hold a picture of my father's face to ensure he would never be let in.Not that he would find us, anyway."You hear me?! Not a damn dime!" I cut the call and tossed the phone on the bed. Little did he know I moved all my money to a new bank account. Justin was pretty savvy in that department. It was like he had everything planned out before I even arrived. He forced mom to not take one single dime from her now ex-husband. Justin was supposedly rich anyway and said he would take care of us.I mean, who ever heard of a poor vampire anyway? They were all rich. If I met a poor vampire, I think I might choke on my own spit. This place was oozing with money. Many of them