A Vampire Story

My little cabin had really changed since meeting my so-called daughter. She spent most of her time hanging out with other vamps, and regulars, as they called the non vampires, in Svalsbard. I didn't have any idea there were so many vampires here, or I wouldn't have come. Yet here I was, in my cozy cabin that has been rearranged to make room for Ivory and entertain visitors.

Terry was sitting across from me wondering why I was so upset, as usual. I really couldn't explain it. I had tried to escape a world I didn't want to be part of anymore and it followed me. He would listen to my tales of woe and my reasons and then just chuckle.

"How do you think I feel?" He asked. "I'm more trapped than you are. I'm never going to be part of the gang. I was drafted. But you can make the best of it. That is the secret." I pursed my lips. "Are you listening?"

"Yes," I said emphatically.

"There are horrible types of people you should never get entangled with because you can never completely get away from them. You know they are ruthless and powerful. You are in awe of them. You work hard and become part of them and then you realize that all of them are not what you think. You find out that some are demonic, and that you have to pretend as though that's not the case or you'll be put out of the group. Right?" No answer.

"So you work hard, pay with your life's blood to become an insider. All that work, all the struggle, the creation of a new life with that group and within that group is in the balance. What do you do when you see atrocities and dishonesty on a major scale, dump that group after all of your hard work? Do you try to fight inside to correct it, or do you leave? Truth is that either one is a hard choice, right?

"Yes. I grant you that."

"So if you challenge it or leave you're lost. You either go back with your tail tucked between your legs, or you end up living on the edge. And sometimes, if you tried to reform the group and the real demonios got hurt because of what you did, their friends will be waiting to get revenge when you come back. And that, my friend, is your life."

"Is that the best you can do for a pep talk?"

"Hey. Just trying to help. You have a second chance. All you have to do is kiss your daughter's ass and you'll be back in good graces. And then you can pretend that we are all superior and all that type of shit, and anything we do we do because those people out there deserve it. They are like livestock."

"I am not going to kiss my daughters ass just to get in good graces and I definitely don't want to be part of the delusional thinking that you have just outlined right here and now in the open." I looked at the door and saw Ivory standing there. How long had she been there? Those vampires were too sneaky. She just frowned as she headed over to an empty chair facing both of us.

"I've heard enough. Now I know why my mother wanted me to live with you. You humans definitely have problems. You think that every other life form in the galaxy lives the way you do. That's a mistake." She was glaring at Terry. "It seems the same with all of you converts." He grinned and then laughed.

"Is something funny?" She asked.

"Yeah. You don't know it yet. I didn't mean for you to hear it because it puts you into the same dilemma we're in."

"I'm part of the family. I have no dilemma."

"Your famous last words," he said.

"So where have you been?” I asked cutting in.

“I’m a grown woman. I don’t have to answer to anyone.”

“You’re a teenager and I’m your father, so don’t be rude to me, OK?” She frowned.

“OK. I get you. But if this is kissing my ass you’re doing a pretty bad job so far.”

“It’s kissing your crazy mother’s ass,” I said. “You don’t know her the way I know her.” I looked at Terry and he looked away. “See what I mean,” I said.

“I won’t talk about The Great One. She could hear us,” Terry replied.

“Oh come on, Terry. How the f could she hear us from here.”

“I’m not joking.”

“What? She can hear us talking?” I looked at Ivory and Terry. They were both silent. “You mean she can hear us talking. That’s impossible.” They were silent. “What have I gotten myself involved in?” Slipped out.

“When are we going to eat?” Ivory asked, abruptly changing the subject.

“Eat? What do you mean eat? You don’t have to eat.”

“Of course I have to eat.”

“You drink blood. You don’t eat. You attack poor people on the streets when they are most vulnerable and suck the blood out of them.”

“That’s nonsense. We just have a longer digestion period than you. The reason we take blood is because it is enough. When we eat solid food it could take weeks or even months to digest. You need to learn about vampires.”

“I know that’s a bunch of…”

“Let’s get some food,” Terry interrupted.

“Why can’t I finish one conversation?” I asked.

“It’s better not to,” Terry said. “They can hear.” Ivory nodded. I sucked my teeth.

“We have some eggs left in the fridge and some bacon, but I don’t know if you eat that.”

“Of course I eat eggs and bacon. Are you going to make me some? You are my father.”

“What? Do you want me to breast feed you too? You’re a grown woman. You can make eggs and bacon? Of course I’ll make them for you.” Terry just grinned.

“When I came in you said I wasn’t a woman. What has changed?”

“You remind me of your mother.” I headed to the kitchen as she shouted.

“That’s a compliment. You don’t even know Mother.”

“Don’t talk about her,” Terry warned. “You don’t know her or that family you’re a part of.”

“Be still, Terrance. We know all we need to know.”

“Jesus!” He exclaimed. “You are one of them aren’t you?” He jumped up and grabbed his coat. “I’ve got to go.” I came out of the small kitchen.

“Where the Hell you going? You haven’t even been here that long.”

“I got to go,” he repeated heading to the door. I couldn’t believe it. Ivory sat back into the chair with a look of satisfaction on her face.

“What happened? What did you say to him?”

“I didn’t say anything. I just did something to him. They are all under our control, don’t you know that? That’s what makes us the family and them converts.”

“Why are you really here?” I asked.

“We are thrown together, unfortunately, to keep each other in line. You can never escape the family. I think that’s what Terry was talking about and he is completely right. So it’s better not to talk about it, especially for you because you could become a permanent member. Do you understand what I mean?”

“The bacon is about to burn.” I rushed back into the kitchen to the frying pan and turned the flame down a little. What the Hell was going on here? Hermosa was at it again and she was thousands of miles away. I quickly turned. Ivory was right behind me.

“Did I startle you?” She asked. “I’m sorry if I did. We just move like that.” She pulled up a small stool and sat near me. “Smells good,” She commented.

“Yes. It does. A lot of people won’t eat it, you know. They are superstitious.”

“Really?”

“Their religion tells them not to eat meat from a pig.” I removed the bacon and began to crack some eggs. “To create a reason they say that it is hard to cook pork thoroughly so it may cause problems, but they’ve been eating it forever. Problem was that it was the sacred animal of the Greeks and Romans, and of the Goddess Diana so…since they didn't want anyone to remember her or worship her, they had to make it so you couldn’t eat pork.”

“Very interesting. Humans do that, don't they?”

“Yes they do. A little too much,” I said, turning toward her. “If you’ll get the plates I will get everything ready.” She walked over to the small cabinet and removed two plates. She put them on the small counter next to the stove.

“I think I’ll learn a lot from you,” she said.

“I hope I can learn a lot from you.”

“Me too. By the way, Mother is on the way here.”

“What?”

“She’s on the way. I hear her in my mind as we speak. She says she misses me and wants to see me, but I think she wants to see you. She has a real thing for you, you know? She may be in love with you. That’s why she turned you half way.”

“What?”

“You have to know something is different about you. You don’t age do you? That’s so you can be with her forever.”

“I can’t believe she would do that.”

“Really?”

“Take your plate,” I said. I was really pissed. I knew she had done something to me. I wondered if she could read my mind. If she could, she was getting an ear full right now.

The End

(Part 4)

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