Chapter 72 - Party Crasher

Valerie’s 16^th birthday was coming up and she had asked Delia if Hope and Pierre and their kids could come to help her celebrate. Delia approached Vladimir. She knew he wasn’t keen on having people over and why, but Hope and Pierre already knew where they lived and they were certainly no threat. In order to assure Delia that all was going to be okay, he agreed to the family party. He didn’t dare ask Elvira to come, but instead asked Wogan to attend to help watch for intruders or anything suspicious.  

The day of Valerie’s party came and Vladimir stationed himself outside to greet the arriving guests. When Wogan arrived accompanied by his high strung and domineering wife, Morrigan, Vladimir was livid. Wogan apologized and told Vladimir he had no choice, he had to bring her. He had let is slip that it was a birthday party at Vladimir's house.

As far as Vladimir knew, Morrigan had no idea he was married, much less married to a mortal woman and had two children with her. As soon as Morrigan saw Vladimir, she started yelling at him for making Wogan work all hours saying, “It was much better before you came into power! I got to see my husband once in awhile. Now you just think he is your personal gofer that you can call on anytime of the day or night! Forcing him to attend your kid’s birthday party was the last straw! And who even knew you were married. Why keep it secret. I just had to come to meet the your ‘queen bee'. Why have we not seen her; where is this mystery woman?”

Vladimir was visibly upset that she was here and even more upset at her accusations and assertions.  It was actually Elvira that was keeping Wogan on call all the time, but truth be told, it was because they had indeed taken over and he had to keep his private life private or risk losing everything they fought for. Wogan, William and Elvira were currently the only ones that knew he was married to a mortal and where he lived. Now nosy, gossipy Morrigan would know it all too. To diffuse the scene, Vladimir apologized to Morrigan and said he would check with Elvira to see how they could reduce his hours. Then he excused himself and went inside where they were just getting ready to cut the cake.  

From left to right, Sebastian Striker - Hope’s husband, Emil Striker - Hope's son, Vladimir, Jill Goode – Pierre’s daughter, Benjamin Goode - Pierre’s son, Pierre, Hannah – Pierre’s wife, Delia and Hope.

Vladimir got inside just in time to watch his daughter blow out her candles and mark Valerie’s first steps into her teenage years. The whole family was in attendance.  

Valerie had gracefully matured into a beautiful young woman.

Valerie

Wogan and Morrigan made their way inside just before they cut the cake. Vladimir tried to keep her away from his family but she was bound and determined to find out just exactly what was going on in the Schlick household and why their leader wouldn’t allow anyone to know about his family. Poor Wogan was no match for his wife’s power, strength and will so he wasn’t much help.

Morrigan literally hissed when she saw Delia and the room full of human’s. She could tell that the young beauty was Vladimir’s daughter, she looked so much like him, but what of these humans and where is the mother of this child? There wasn't another vampire in the room save her useless husband and Valerie of course.

Vladimir nearly had to tackle her to keep her from attacking Delia and her human children and grandchildren.  Only Morrigan’s respect for Vladmir as their leader kept her from grabbing the nearest one and feasting on them. Then she demanded to know who the human’s were and if they weren’t here for them to feast on, then why were they ‘allowed’ to be invited to a great vampire’s home when his own kind apparently were not welcomed. Vladimir told her to back off and calm down without answering the barrage of questions and walked over to help Delia get Valerie's present while she ate her cake. 

Because Morrigan was getting no answers from Vladimir, she followed Valerie to the table and began to interrogate her. That was when she discovered that Delia, a mere human, was Valerie’s mother and all the other humans were her children and grandchildren. Morrigan leaned over to Valerie and in a low voice so no one could hear asked her how it felt to be a vampire and want to drink her mother’s blood. Then she laughed at her mercilessly.

Valerie just stared at her cake, pretending to eat it mostly ignoring the woman. She had no idea who this person was or why she would say something like that. Satisfied that she had upset the chestnut haired beauty, Morrigan called Wogan over and let him know it was time to go and they left. 

Vladimir saw them leave and was relieved.  He was determined not to let Morrigan ruin his daughter’s party and now things could proceed normally. He called his daughter over to give her the gift that he and Delia had decided upon. He had arranged for piano lessons. The box contained a few pieces of music and the certificate for the lessons. She would be allowed to practice on his piano. Being a virtuoso at heart, like her father, she was thrilled. She couldn’t wait to sit down at her Dad’s big red piano and begin to make music like he could.                                                                                    

Valerie ran smiling upstairs to get ready for bed having had a great birthday party with Hope, Pierre and their kids. Her little sister was sitting in the floor so she scooped her up to play a quick game of tickle monster before putting Victoria to bed.   

As soon as she had Victoria settled for the night, Valerie skipped back downstairs and sat down at her father’s piano. She ran her fingers lovingly over the keys and then picked out a few simple tunes in anticipation of what it would be like to make hauntingly beautiful music like her father. She was so excited that he was going to let her use the piano that she had almost forgotten what that miserable lady had said to her. She would ask her mother in the morning but for now she picked out “Happy Birthday” one note at a time and then went to bed. 

Vladimir and Delia were watching Valerie from the other room and didn’t want to disturb her.  This was her moment. They knew by watching her, that the gift of music had been the right one.  

After they heard her bedroom door shut, Delia asked Vladimir to play for her. He gladly obliged trying to put the events of the evening behind him for now. He had to leave shortly for work and he wanted to end the evening on a positive note.

After he played for his wife and prepared for work, he was famished. Delia noticed him going into the kitchen and offered herself to him instead. He gladly held her and greedily drank deep. He needed the fortification for the conversations he was going to have to have with Elvira, William and worst of all, Wogan. They had to figure out if Morrigan would be a threat.  As bad as he felt for Wogan, it was his fault for bringing her. If he couldn’t trust her silence, then they would need a plan.

The next morning when Vladimir arrived home, Delia was waiting.  She seemed sad and he knew what he had to say wasn’t going to make it any better. Things were not good. 

“Vladimir, I am glad you are home," said Delia, "Valerie is a bit upset. She was telling me about the woman that came with Wogan to the party. Who is she? And why was she here?” 

“She is Wogan’s wife, Morrigan,” replied Vladimir, “Why is Valerie upset about her?”

“Valerie said this Morrigan asked her how it felt being a vampire knowing that she would one day want to drink her own mother’s blood,” said Delia and demanded, “Is this true, Vladimir, did she say this to Valerie?  Tell me it isn’t so!” 

If Vladimir could have become any paler he would have at Delia’s words. This was a discussion they were going to have together with Valerie when she turned 18. Not now. Not yet. Not like this. He was devastated and didn't know if he could trust himself around Morrigan again, Wogan’s wife or not. She had destroyed Valerie’s innocence.  

This further complicated things and only made what he was going to tell Delia worse so he decided to wait. Instead, he began, “Delia, I am so sorry. Morrigan wasn’t supposed to even be here. I had no idea. I will have a talk with Wogan. She is no longer welcome in this house," he sighed and added sadly, "It looks like we are going to have to talk with Valerie sooner rather than later. She is strong. She will be able to handle it and who knows, maybe it is better she has more time to prepare for what is to come.”

Delia looked at Vladimir with sad eyes and said, “If only I could have found the stupid mushroom, we wouldn’t have to have this conversation.”  “It’s okay Delia, you tried; we tried,” replied Vladimir, “And we have each other, vampire or not. I love you and the girls. We WILL get through this together. I can teach them how to deal with it.”

Delia sighed and smiled at her husband, her strength. “I love you, too,” she said simply and added, “Let’s wait a few days before we talk to her. Right now she thinks Morrigan is a crazy lady. I need some time to let this sink in. Besides, we have another birthday coming up. Our baby, Victoria, will be 6 and starting to school in a week’s time," and she quickly added, "and before you say anything - I will forgo any parties for now! Just the four of us will be enough.”

Vladimir was relieved at Delia’s acceptance. Once again, she has accepted everything he has thrown at her. He vowed he would make this up to her and his girls.  His girls, he thought. All three of them seemed to love him unconditionally. How had he gotten so lucky? But he still had one more bombshell to drop. But not today, he had time, but not much. 

At the meeting last night it was determined that Delia would have to be turned; it was for her own protection as well as the protection of all of the vampires in Bridgeport. In light of what Morrigan told Valerie, he just couldn’t bring himself to do it. Not yet. Not now. Not like this.

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Victoria

Soon it was Victoria’s birthday and she would be starting school.  She was a feisty 6 year-old with golden eyes and high cheekbones like her father. Delia simply made a cake for her and the four of them had a quiet evening at home.

Victoria and Valerie were becoming closer and closer the older they got. Victoria always asked her big sister for advice with school work or anything she could think of. She worshiped her big sister.

Pillow fighting was always a favorite pastime for the two sisters.
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Vladimir knew he was running out of time to talk to Delia.  His three co-conspirators asked him every night if he had done it yet - if he had turned Delia. They had agreed Morrigan was right – how could mere mortals be allowed to freely come to the home of the most powerful and influential vampire in Bridgeport and their own kind were forbidden to even know where he lived. Rumors would take hold and they would become more and more at risk. He decided it would be today.

After the girls left for school he told Delia he wanted to take a dip in the hot tub.  They hadn’t done that in a while. Then he winked conspiratorially at her. Now that they had privacy it could be delicious fun he flirted. She was as ready as he was for some alone time.   

They wasted no time and ran laughing to the spa and quickly shed their clothes and got in.  

They made love in their own private sanctuary and afterwards, Vladimir held her and they enjoyed the beautiful vista. Delia never wanted to be anywhere else except right here with her dysfunctional family in her husband's arms. 

  

It was time. Vladimir hated to spoil the mood, but it was now or never.  While they rested and let the steam and jets soothe them, he began and told Delia what they wanted her to do and why. He said he wouldn’t force her. It would be her choice and if she decided not to join them in vampirism, then they would have to have another plan of action which he wasn’t entirely sure would be as safe. He felt bad pressuring her to make what he felt was the right choice for their family. 

She closed her eyes and tears threatened to fall at his request. She didn’t know if she could do it, but he was right. Her daughters were vampires, her husband was a vampire. It would make things much easier for their children if she was to become a vampire as well and she had Vladimir to help her through it. What was making her hesitate? 

Delia scooted over next to Vladimir and kissed him sweetly and told him for the millionth time that she loved him. Then she asked if he could give her time. He didn’t want to add more pressure, but they had to act quickly before word spread. He didn't know why he thought she would readily agree.  She hadn't read her mother's journals in nearly 2 centuries. He told her she had two days.

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Chapter 71 - The Festival

As Vladimir took care of his baby daughter, Victoria, his thoughts went to the revelation of his past to Delia almost a year ago. He couldn’t be luckier, he had no idea if Delia would be accepting or not and much to his relief she had been. Victoria’s first birthday was coming up soon and her older sister Valerie would be in high school before long. That meant yet another conversation he and Delia had yet to have. The girls were both vampires.  He knew the instant he held them in his arms the first time. He figured Delia knew, but they had avoided any talk of what that might mean.

Delia had taken to pouring herself into her garden this past year. She worked tirelessly night and day when she wasn’t taking care of the girls. It seemed to give her some purpose that Vladimir didn’t quite understand but it made her happy and so it made him happy.  

Delia, however, had become frustrated.  She needed a certain mushroom and so far had not been able to find it. She had them before they were stolen when they moved to the new house along with all of the other fruits and vegetables that she didn’t have with her. She desperately needed to find it for the cure potion. She began to look everyday and make daily the trips to the Elixir store to see if they had received any. She had everything else she needed for the recipe. Delia hadn’t let Vladimir know what she was doing. She couldn’t give him hope until she was ready.

Victoria

Victoria's birthday came and went without fanfare and she was now a toddler; and a cute one at that.  Valerie was so glad she could play with her now as she no longer just ate, pooped and cried. Since they shared a room they spent a lot of time together.  Valerie liked being a big sister.

 

Things began to settle into a routine for the next couple of years. Victoria quickly learned to walk and was talking to anyone that would listen including her reflection in the mirror in her playpen.  

Days settled into a predictable rhythm after Vladmir told Delia how he became a vampire. Delia helped Valerie with her homework each evening while Victoria entertained herself in her playpen and Vladimir would play soothing music in the background. Things felt perfect for Delia except for one thing; she still hadn’t found the right mushroom for the Cure Potion.  It also seemed they never left the house.  She was becoming stir crazy even with all of the distractions. 

The Spring Festival was going on and Valerie had asked Delia if they could go. She told her daughter she would check with Dad. That evening as they prepared for bed, Delia asked Vladimir if they would be able to go to the Spring Festival; that Valerie really wanted to go and frankly she did too.  It would be really good to get out of the house for awhile. 

Things had been quiet since the takeover and there had been none of the resistance that Vladimir and Elvira had anticipated. So when Delia asked him, he didn’t see any harm. He said they would go over the weekend. Delia was happy and knew the girls would be too. She felt like things were going to be okay as she snuggled up next to Vladimir.  

The weekend came and the foursome piled into Delia’s ‘car’ for the trip downtown to the Festival.  They headed out in the late afternoon as Vladimir couldn’t be in the sun for long periods. As they crossed the bridge they could see their home up on the hill behind them. Delia couldn’t believe that was where she lived and scooted next to Vladimir and put her head on his shoulder while he drove the rest of the way into the city. 

When they arrived Vladimir took Victoria and they went over to the bouncy bees and he helped her ride them.  She and he both had a ton of fun.  He couldn’t help but think about the child he lost so many years ago.  He smiled to himself that he was given this new chance to be a father, but in the back of his mind he knew, this time was fleeting. Both of his girls were vampires and when they matured, they would no longer be ‘normal’ and would have to stay out of the sunlight and drink blood to survive.  Soon he would have to address it, but not now.  He wanted desperately to savor the time they still had.

Valerie was dying to hunt the colored eggs.  Delia and she both grabbed baskets and Delia showed her how to find them.  Valerie was wide-eyed at the beautiful eggs and quickly ran off to find some of her own.    

Before they left, Delia made sure they got a family portrait to remember this time with her family.  She promptly hung one on the wall in the basement and placed the other on the dresser in the bedroom.

The next morning they had an unexpected visitor; Delia’s favorite vamp – Elvira. She and Vladimir were having a heated argument.  Delia walked over to see what the discussion was about and find out why she was there.  Neither of them realized Delia was standing there. Elvira was furious with him for leaving the house without body guards. He told her they just needed some time out of the house; it was beginning to feel like a prison. Elvira ranted at him, “You should have thought about that before you decided to marry Blondie and then make babies with her. If this gets out, it will expose your weakness. They will come after your precious Blondie to get to you. Personally, I don’t give a hoot about her, but alas, I know you do. Don’t let it happen again Schlick, or you will once again find yourself a widower and we will all go down with you.  In fact, you may have compromised yourself already!  Be careful and NEVER EVER do that again!”  Elvira turned to leave and saw Delia standing there. She rolled her eyes and said, “Oh – Hi Blondie – just leaving.”  Then she turned to Vladimir and said seductively, “See you tonight handsome,” and winked at him.  Delia really wanted to hit her.

“Come Delia.  We need to talk,” said Vladimir as Elvira left the house.  He saw the look on her face and sadly realized she probably overheard the entire conversation.  They went down to the study and sat down.  Delia was close to tears.  Even though she knew the history between Vladimir and Elvira, every time she saw that witch it sent shivers up her spine and she wanted to claw her eyes out.  And now it seemed there was more he needed to tell her.  She didn’t know if she could handle much more. 

 “What Vladimir? Is your family your dirty little secret?” spat Delia. 

“No Delia,” replied Vladimir calmly, “but you need to understand, if there is anyone that wants to overthrow me or take revenge against the takeover or even for disposing of Anastasia, then you and the girls are at risk. You must remain at the house and if you have to leave, then you need an escort.  Valerie already has a body guard assigned to her to follow her to school.  And we still have eyes and ears on our house so you are safe while you are here.  We are pretty sure no one knows about this place.” 

“Vladimir, or should I call you Handsome, Vlad or Schlick or even Sexy?” started Delia still seething from having to see Elvira in her house.  Then apologizing for being vindictive she said, “Sorry, I didn’t mean it. But I have an idea. It is something I have been working on for the past couple of years since you told me about your transformation. I have a recipe for a cure. We can cure you of vampirism and then we will no longer need to be afraid. It was going to be a surprise when I had it ready.” 

Vladimir was dumbfounded.  He knew Delia had thrown herself into her garden with a vengeance but had no idea this was why. 

When he didn’t say anything for a minute Delia became frustrated as his lack of enthusiasm or even a comment and said, “Say something!  This is good.  Don’t you want to be normal?”

“You have the cure? That is only a legend.  Even the witches can’t cure us,” replied Vladimir, “that is just ludicrous and wishful thinking.”  Then a thought occurred to him, if Delia indeed had the cure, then his daughters could be cured and that was something he would never let himself think could be true because if it didn’t happen, he would be terribly disappointed as would Delia.

“Delia,” he continued somberly, not answering her questions, "there is more.  Valeria and Victoria…..”  Delia interrupted before he could finish his thought, “Please, don’t say it Vladimir.” Vladimir sighed and nodded his head and continued, “The girls don’t know yet. When they reach the age of 19, the curse will manifest itself fully. There will be no pain, not like I had to endure as my body changed.”

 

“Vladimir, don’t you understand, “said Delia, “My cure…it would work on them.  I just need to find the last ingredient.”

“Do you really believe it Delia? It is real?" Vladimir dared to ask. "Vladimir, darling, I really believe it will work," said Delia,"Every potion I have ever made and used did exactly as it was fabled to do. I am just about as old as you and I am mortal. Please let me do this for you and for the girls!" "I can't stop you from going out can I? Then you must take a bodyguard nexttime you leave the house. You heard Elvira, we may already be compromised and an attack against me may be imminent,”  Vladimir said sadly and added, “Now, I must leave. I have to go to work.”

“To meet with Elvira, you mean,” shot back Delia. She couldn’t help but be jealous.  She knew Elvira hated her as much as she hated Elvira. But at least they both had Vladimir’s well being at heart.  “Delia!  It’s YOU I love, not her. Stop it. Please,” begged Vladimir.  “I'm sorry," said Delia softly, "I just can’t help it when she flaunts it in my face. I'm going to check on the girl's. Please - be careful.” Delia turned and went upstairs to the bedroom that her vampire daughters shared as her husband left for ‘work’.

Valerie and Victoria were already in bed for the night when Delia went to their room.  She crawled into bed next to Valerie and had a hard time going to sleep.  She kept thinking about how she could find the last ingredient for the cure. It reminded her of curing her son Alex not so long ago and her search for the elusive Life Plant. She was so upset that she no longer had that or the glo-orb mushroom she needed to complete the cure for vampirism. Then she knew the answer. Just ask where to find it at the Elixir store.  She had never told them what she wanted. With that final thought she drifted off to sleep next to her daughter while she waited for her husband to return home.

Morning came and when Delia wasn’t in their bed, Vladimir panicked. He ran to check on the girls and saw Delia lying in Valerie’s bed and smiled to himself. When he walked in, Delia jumped up and ran to him and hugged him so thankful he was home. She always missed him when he was gone, but with the recent revelations, it was even worse. She worried about everything now. Just a few days ago, everything was perfect. Now she was back to her normal dysfunctional self. Why is everything never as it seems?  

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Chapter 70 - Vladimir, Emperor of Bridgeport

When Vladimir arrived at home the next morning, he stood outside for a few minutes trying to figure out his next move. He could feel that he had changed with the takeover. It was successful and he now ruled the Bridgeport vampire coven. Elvira and William had laughingly dubbed him “The Emperor of Bridgeport”. The vampires now looked to him for guidance and sought out his protection in Bridgeport. He was their ruler.

At home, things were different.  He didn’t ‘rule’ over this household. Delia, Valerie and Victoria were his, but he had no control over them.  In fact, his love for them made him powerless.   It was love that bound them together, not power. He was completely at their mercy. As Vladimir thought about it, he knew it was time to address Delia’s unasked questions that hung in the air and threatened to destroy the love he had found with her and their children. It was a precious thing he never wanted to lose.

He went inside and went straight to his baby daughter and fortified himself in the warmth provided by Victoria’s unconditional love of him. Then he sought out the one person he may hurt more than ever today, his beautiful wife. She had bared her soul to him when he found her basement. Now it was his turn.

Delia took his breath away she was so beautiful. He told her he had fed and changed Victoria and she was sleeping. Valerie was in school and they needed to talk before she came home and Victoria woke.

Delia felt her heart skip a beat.  Those words never meant anything good. “What about?” she asked flippantly trying not to let him know she was deathly afraid of what he was going to tell her, especially in light of Francisco’s surprise appearance the night before.

“Let’s sit, it is a long story,” sighed Vladimir and he continued, “Delia, my love, you have told me everything about you and your bizarre past. Now, in order for me to keep what is most precious to me safe, it is time I told you everything about my past.” Delia just stared at him.  She wasn’t sure where this was going and she wasn’t sure she wanted to know. She had adjusted to vampires in her house. What more could there be?

They sat down at the kitchen bar and Vladimir began his bizarre tale.  He told her about what he was really doing in Bridgeport.  That he was the leader of a coven of vampires and had just taken over from a previous leader that was evil. Doing that had now cost him his anonymity. With his Leadership, things would calm down and the in-fighting amongst the vampires would stop. But that was a double-edged sword.  As long as he was the Leader, he would have a target on his back for the rogue vampires that missed being able to feed whenever and wherever they wanted without regard to human life.

“Can’t we just leave Bridgeport?” asked Delia going to her fail safe method of dealing with problems. “No, I would be hunted down and destroyed,” explained Vladimir, “you and the girls would be in greater danger than you are now.”  “DANGER!? So, all of this has been a ruse!” exclaimed Delia, “The dinner parties, the house, Elvira – oh god – Elvira!  What of her. What exactly is your history?” Seeing the look on Vladimir’s face told her volumes and she got up to leave. Vladimir grabbed her and begged her to hear his story.  He had listened to hers, now it was time for her to hear him out.

Resigned, Delia sat back down at the table and Vladimir sat across from her. The look on her face was breaking his heart. “Okay, I am listening,” said Delia, knowing he was right. This was his time.

“Thank you Delia,” he whispered, “Please just let me finish this before you say anything more.”

Vladimir began:

It was a very long time ago.  I was married to my high school sweetheart, Rebecca. We lived in a small two bedroom house in Twinbrook, a place with many supernatural beings although at the time I thought that was only fairy tales and urban legends. Rebecca, she looked at me like you do Delia, with love in her eyes. We had just found out she was pregnant. We were so excited and wanted to celebrate.  I invited two of my buddies from work over to share the news. You know them today as William and Wogan. When they arrived we went inside. We were just going to hang out and watch a movie. 

Rebecca and I called dibs on the couch – no hard chair for the pregnant lady I said.  The two guys were getting ready to grab some chairs. Then, they stopped and told us to shut up; that they thought they heard something.  It sounded like someone was in the other room. 

I had never seen them so spooked.  I can still see the look on Wogan’s face to this day. William just got all macho like he was going to take care of everything.  I immediately put my arm around Rebecca as some sort of protective gesture I suppose.  



We all listened and when we heard nothing more, assumed it was the wind and settled in to watch the movie.  


Well, as it turned out, it wasn’t the wind at all and none of us were prepared for what was in the other room.  A very powerful, dark and evil vampire named Anastasia came into the room.  Later I found out she was the leader of the coven in Twinbrook and was looking to create more vampires to strengthen her coven. 

She had been hiding out waiting for me and Rebecca to arrive home in order to make us her next meal or possibly her newest recruits. She walked into the room and immediately used her mind control on all of us so that we couldn’t move from where we were seated.  There were no ropes or chains holding us in our seats, we were simply unable to move.  It was the worst day of my entire life as Anastasia began her bloody attack on us, one at a time. 

Vladimir paused, took a deep breath and went on:

She started with Rebecca. She laughed and said, “A pregnant woman – two for one – how exciting! Come here dearie!” And with that Rebecca had no will to disobey. She got up and walked over to Anastasia. Anastasia grabbed Rebecca’s arm and sucked her dry.  

Rebecca fell to the floor at my feet. Then the evil queen wiped Rebecca’s blood off her face and licked her lips.  

We were all helpless to do anything as we were stuck in our seats with no ability to defy her mind control.  I swore at that moment that I would have my revenge upon this evil monster as she surveyed the room to pick her next victim with my wife lying at my feet. 









She walked over to William next and with a sickly sweet smile told him he would make a really strong handsome vampire.  He said “Never, I would rather die!” She just laughed and said that could be arranged. She took his arm as she did Rebecca and fed from him until he slid down the wall and passed out.  Wogan and I were not able to do anything but sit and watch.


Next she called over poor Wogan. He pleaded with her but that only served to excite her more.  




Instead of taking his arm, she decided to go for the ‘gusto’ as she called it and bit him on the neck.  She let him fall to the floor when she was done with him. 

I was now the only one left.  She walked up to me as I sat on the couch with tears flowing down my face and unable to move.  The tears were not for me, but for my wife and unborn child as well as my two friends.  I wasn’t able to protect Rebecca and it was killing me.  I wanted Anastasia to take me and end my misery.  I was ready to die.  She put her arms around me and purred that she had definitley saved the best for last. That moment is seared into my memory like it was yesterday.




"I think I will enjoy feeding from your neck much better than that wimp Wogan," she said to me.

“What?” she asked when I said nothing, “Cat got your tongue, no last words or begging?  I like you. You won’t be joining the little woman; you will be mine. Don’t worry handsome, you will forget about her soon enough." And with that she sank her fangs into my neck and began to drink.  I blacked out thinking, even hoping, that I was going to die. 

After she was finished with us, she surveyed her handiwork and left.  She called one of her minions to come clean up, telling her to make sure William and I had no trouble ‘turning’. Pick one for yourself, she said, and I will take the other. Yes, Delia – her minion was Elvira.

When Elvira arrived, we were all still passed out – or dead in the case of Rebecca. She surveyed the damage much as Anastasia had done before she left.
  

Then Elvira set about checking to see who was alive and dead. She had to 'save' Wogan and turn him herself or he would have died. They still have a love/hate relationship to this day.  






I came to while Elvira was checking on Wogan and William. I didn’t even know she was there I was so focused on getting to Rebecca.  I pulled her lifeless body into my arms and I knew she was gone but I couldn’t put her down. I just held her. 

That is when I noticed Elvira. She had come over to the couch and just sat and watched me grieving over the loss of Rebecca.  I looked at her and thought I saw sadness in her eyes but it was quickly replaced by boredom. I wasn't afraid of her. I guess I didn't care what happened to me anymore. 


That’s when she spoke to me for the first time.  She told me my friends were resting in the bedroom; they would be ‘okay’ and so would I.  She promised to make the transition easier for us. I had no idea what she was talking about. What transition I asked her. To vampirism silly, she said as if it was no big deal. Just another 24 hours or so and it would be over she said before adding, Grimy will be here soon for Rebecca so hurry up and say your goodbyes “lover boy”.  Then she told me her name was Elvira, but I could call her El and winked at me. I was repulsed.  

Sure enough, the reaper came to claim Rebecca. Wogan and William must have heard because they came running in from the bedroom to where we were and began to mourn with me.  Even Elvira mourned.  I was flabbergasted. How dare she I thought. 

Later, after Rebecca was gone, I was amazed and suspicious at Elvira’s tenderness and concern for us. I began to talk to her to get information. She tried her best to comfort me. She was patient with me and explained who Anastasia was. She told me Anastasia was her creator, and now my creator too, which would make me very strong, but I would be bound to her as she was. Elvira also said that Anastasia was pure Evil. I was crazed with grief as I tried to take it all in. 

When I told Elvira I wanted to hunt down Anastasia and destroy her, her eyes lit up. Elvira also wanted her dead but couldn’t do it alone. When I said I would do anything, Elvira impulsively grabbed me and kissed me.  I surprised myself by kissing her back with some primal need. But it was only a kiss of need, not love.  I wasn’t proud of what I was doing, but my life had been forever changed and I needed that connection. We both needed to feel again and were searching for that in each other. We formed a bond that day and vowed that we would one day kill Anastasia for all the wrongs that she had brought upon Twinbrook, us and Rebecca. Wogan and William readily agreed to help us.  

Later, before our final transformation, Elvira fixed us all our ‘last supper’.  All of us were enamored with her. She knew that as soon as the curse took hold and we all transformed we would only want to drink blood. As I was finishing my ‘last supper’, the transformation took hold of me.  I began to sweat and things began to hurt as I succumbed to the inevitable curse that was given to me by Anastasia and became a vampire; what I am today Delia. 









I became the unofficial ‘leader’ of the rebel gang of four; me, Elvira, Wogan and William. Together we set out to hunt down and destroy Anastasia for what she had done to us and countless others. That was our sole purpose in our now immortal lives. 

Delia was dumbfounded and silent tears were rolling down her cheeks as Vladimir told her his story. She had never really thought about how Vladimir had become a vampire. She wanted to comfort Vladimir and began, “Vladimir, I am so sorry. I had no idea you were married before and to lose your wife like you did is horrifying…”  “DON’T Delia!!!!” shouted Vladimir, “Just DON’T say anything. I am not finished.  It gets worse. Just let me finish, please!”  Delia was shocked at his outburst and wondered how it could possibly get worse so said nothing.

Vladimir continued….

The four of us became inseparable.  We knew we had to hide from Anastasia as we formulated our plan to capture and kill her. We built a dungeon under my house; one that a vampire would be unable to escape from. We lured her back to my house. Elvira and I were the bait, or rather I was. Elvira helped because Anastasia trusted her. Elvira had told Anastasia that the three of us had escaped and that the ‘girl’ was dead. Anastasia wanted me really badly. His blood was divine is what she told Elvira. She wanted me for her MATE!  


The day finally came to rid our lives of Anastasia.  Elvira told her she had found out I was hiding in a basement below the house where she had turned me.  She bought it and came to visit. I took her down and showed her the ‘bed’ I prepared for her. I acted like it was in her honor in exchange for the ‘gift’ of immortality that she had bestowed upon me. It sickened me to say those things to her. She went down and lay upon the bed.  That was her mistake. 

As Anastasia eagerly tried out the bed, we closed the door and locked it.  Elvira knew a witch that could place a spell on the door so it could never be opened from the inside.  

Anastasia was entombed in her final resting place. It took almost a year for her to expire. Most vampires would only have lasted a couple of weeks. We could hear it when the time came. She literally woke the dead with her screams before everything went deathly silent. 

 Finally after several days of silence we gathered our nerve and opened the door that had been locked for almost a year.  All that was left of Anastasia was a pile of dust.  

I would like to say we celebrated, but we didn’t. We had taken a life and as much I felt like I would savor the revenge, I didn’t. We somberly left Twinbrook that day for Bridgeport.  As soon as the word got out we would be hunted down by those loyal to Anastasia. 

When we arrived at Bridgeport we just tried to blend in with the other vampires.  I had become very strong having been the one to inherit Anastasia’s power once she died since she died at my home. We managed to live in here in Bridgeport in peace for almost 100 years. Then for the last few years, the Bridgeport vampires started to become like Anastasia and began killing people and leaving them for everyone to find.  They were close to exposing themselves and alerting the human vampire hunters that we were living here. It was disgusting what they were doing. The four of us decided to round up additional vampires that shared our view and overthrow the existing ruler. Things were too much out of control. I met you soon after we started our takeover and you know the rest. 

Delia got up. She wasn’t sure what she was going to say and she saw Francisco out of the corner of her eye watching which made her more determined to make this work.

Vladimir continued as she rose:  “Don’t get me wrong, Delia, I haven't been Snow White. I fed on human blood, but I have never killed anyone else since Anastasia. I have wanted to, but resisted the impulse remembering how unfulfilling it was to exterminate the evil queen. And, Delia, I haven’t loved anyone since Rebecca - until you. Yes, I have had affairs; there were many including Elvira.  But you showed me how to love again; something I thought was impossible.  Elvira knows I never loved her. She doesn’t love me either. We were just convenient and we had no one else. True, she is jealous of you. She misses the intimacy of our relationship but you have nothing to be jealous of. You are my light, my world, my reason to live. You, Valerie and Victoria…nothing else matters.”

Delia was confused. She had a horrible past and Vladimir was able to accept it and her. Now she was required to do the same and found it was much more difficult than she thought. She knew he was a ‘vampire’ and drank from her, but it was so erotic. It didn’t seem evil at all, but what he had just described was the embodiment of evil.

Vladimir had professed his love but at the same time told her he was a monster and had now put their lives in danger. And he had this bond to Elvira that she could never overcome. She hated Elvira, but if not for her, Vladimir wouldn’t be here now. She felt like this was only the tip of the iceberg. Was this her normal or maybe her paranormal?

Delia took a deep breath, put a smile on her face and walked over to her husband. She lovingly caressed his face to let him know he still had her love. Then, she thought of something; her cure potion. It cured the zombies. Could it cure Vladimir? If so, they could cure Elvira, William and Wogan.  They could be normal again. Maybe being normal wasn’t entirely out of her reach.

Delia was determined to accept Vladimir’s past as he had done with her and move forward; not run away as she has always done. It was springtime and she could begin to make the ingredients needed for the cure potions. When it was ready, she would surprise him with her gift. For now all she could do was show him that she still loved him so she put her arms around him and kissed him sweetly before little Victoria interrupted with a wail and brought them quickly into the present.

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