Chapter 75 - Healing

Delia was feeling especially tired and achy. She thought she might even have a fever. It was a full moon but she didn't think that had anything to do with it, however strange things do happen on the night of the full moon. The girls were hungry and she probably needed nourishment as well, so she went into the kitchen to prepare supper. 

She decided on spaghetti as it would be the fastest to prepare so she got it started. Then her stomach lurched and she thought she was going to be sick so she just put the bowl down and starred at it while she waited for the uneasiness to go away.  

As she stood there, she could feel her skin becoming red hot and it took her breath away. She barely managed not to scream aloud in pain. Then it lessened for a minute before starting again. Suddenly she realized what must be happening and that only made it worse. The attack by the two vampires must have infected her. She was turning. 

The transformation eventually completed. It was painful, but she managed to stay in the kitchen until the pain subsided. She knew that was indeed what happened because when she looked at her skin it was pale as if the blood had been drained from her and her senses seemed heightened. The spaghetti made her physically ill just to look at. 

She was exhausted. What would she tell Victoria? She didn’t know about vampires yet as she was only 12. But she would have to be told when she turned 16, maybe before. Valerie would know immediately. Poor Valerie, she thought, one more thing to add to your stress.

  

Delia forced herself to finish preparing dinner for the girls and called them to eat. She sat down as the dinner table and just hung her head looking at the food. Victoria walked by her and gave her scathing look. She and Delia were not getting along. Victoria seemed to blame Delia for her father's death. 

Delia wanted to cry, but that wouldn’t help the situation.

Then she saw her oldest daughter looking at her with such a sad, sad expression on her face. Delia knew that Valerie was aware of what had happened to her. It ripped Delia’s heart out to see her daughters so unhappy. She needed to talk to Valerie about it. 

Delia went over to where Valerie was sitting.  When she walked over, all Valerie said was, “Why Mother. You didn’t have to do this. You should have talked to me.”  That shattered Delia’s heart into a million pieces.  Valerie thought that she had turned on purpose.   

Delia sat down and began, “No, no, no sweetheart. I didn’t. It was the attack. We have so much to talk about. I haven’t even told you exactly what happened. It’s time I did.”

Delia proceeded to tell her about the two men that kidnapped her and had likely intended to kill her when Vladimir came and rescued her. She said, “Those were likely the same two men that later attacked and killed your father. But no one saw them, so we have no idea if they are or not.”

“Oh, Mom!  This is horrible.  Will they come back? Are we safe?” asked Valerie.

“I have been in touch with Elvira, your father’s co-worker,” said Delia, “and it appears they were only after him so we should be safe. Please don’t worry about that. God, you are so young to have these burdens.  Val, I love you, I am so sorry.”

“But, why would they want to hurt Dad? I don’t understand. He didn’t hurt anyone…did he?”

“No Val.  Your father was a good, decent man. The people that hurt him wanted to take over.  They were evil and corrupt. Go to bed now.  Please don’t worry. What we need to be concerned with is Victoria. She is so unhappy. Do you think if we have a birthday party for her that will help? We can ask Pierre and Hope to come and their children.  It will do us good to have something happy going on around here.”

“Sure mom,” replied Valerie as she quickly turned around and walked to her room so her mother wouldn’t see her crying.

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After Valerie went off to bed, Delia went downstairs to the basement. It was a full moon and ghosts had a tendency to make an appearance. She could use a friend and figured she would see Francisco again and he would be able to comfort her. She wouldn’t admit to herself she really hoped that she would see Vladimir.  Maybe it was better she didn’t.

As she stood there staring at the picture of her and Vladimir she felt the slight chill in the air that usually signaled that Francisco had materialized. 

She turned to say hi and her heart skipped a beat. Vladimir was standing there watching her. Delia wasn’t sure if it really was him or if she was just dreaming.  She ran to him before he could vanish and threw herself into his cool arms.

When they kissed, she knew it wasn’t a dream. She also knew this moment was fleeting and he would soon be gone. She wanted this moment to last forever. 

When they finally separated – she told him she was sorry for all that happened. She recalled Elvira’s words that it was her fault. He would have none of it. “No my love,” said Vladimir, “you and our girls made my life worth living. You had nothing to do with my death.  Those wheels were put into motion before our paths ever crossed.  You know this. It was retribution for Anastasia. So please, don’t take responsibility for it. Remember, I will always love you and even if you can’t see me, I will be here in your heart. What we had was special and I love you for that.”   

He pulled her into an embrace as she cried on his cool shoulder. “I miss you so much,” said Delia in between sobs, “Please don’t go.”

“Delia, darling, you know I can’t stay”, whispered Vladimir, “Take care of the girls. They need you now more than you know. You should leave Bridgeport. Take them far away. Get them and yourself away from this turmoil.”

“Leave Bridgeport?” she asked surprised, “How much time do I have? Can we stay until Val’s graduation? It will be soon. And Vladimir, I found the last ingredient for the cure and it is growing. It needs to mature before I leave it.” She was talking as fast as she could knowing he could vanish at any moment. 

“Promise me Delia that you will leave as soon as it matures whether or not Val has graduated. Otherwise you may be in danger and Elvira won’t be able to protect you.”

“No,” sighed Delia, “She probably won’t. We will leave as soon as we can, I promise. I love you more than you could ever know.”

 “Goodbye love...I have to go now,” Vladimir said sadly as he disappeared in a cloud of red smoke.

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The next morning when Delia got up she realized she was hungry – for blood. She wasn’t quite prepared for that. She thought about what Vladimir had told her. The one thing they didn't discuss was her current state. She wondered why.

As she set out for the kitchen, she heard sobbing coming from the girl’s bedroom and peaked inside. Poor Victoria was bawling her eyes out. Delia started to go in, but Valerie was already up and going over to soothe her. She quietly closed the door and continued to the kitchen. She had to get this over with.

Delia opened the refrigerator and pulled out a box of plasma juice that they had stored for Vladimir – and his vampire contingent that came by every once in awhile.  She sat down and forced herself to drink it. It was disgusting, but at least her thirst for blood was sated.  

While she was forcing the plasma juice down, she knew she had to call Elvira again in light of the turn of events. She needed to know what else, as a vampire, she needed to know.  

Vladimir never talked about his supernatural powers. He tried to protect her from that side of him other than when he would drink from her instead of drinking the juice. It was usually a precursor for making love and very erotic and personal. But she knew he had other powers and Delia needed an education. 

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Amazingly, Elvira agreed to come over one more time – but only out of respect for Vladimir she said. Elvira probably was prepared to ‘suck her dry’ as she put it last time.

When Elvira arrived, she never stepped a foot inside the house. When she saw Delia she burst out laughing and exclaimed, “Holy Shit!  What have you done Blondie? How? Did William….”

“It was the guys that attacked me in the museum,” said Delia, “They infected me during the attack. I transformed yesterday. That is why I needed to talk to someone. I don’t know how to BE a vampire, what I am capable of and what I shouldn’t do. I need your help.”

Elvira backed off now angry, “You called me for that? You selfish bitch! Blondie, let's get this straight, I owe you NOTHING. Stop calling me for yourself. I have no pity for you. I despise you. I only came for Vlad. Figure it out yourself. I only came because I thought you may have seen his attackers.”

“Elvira, he trusted you. Please…” begged Delia.

“No – you don’t get to use Vlad as a bargaining chip to get me to help you. You got him killed. Don’t call me again, ever, for anything. We are done.”

Delia watched helplessly as Elvira got into her car and drove off squealing her tires for effect.

Delia went upstairs to her bedroom and got ready for bed.  Elvira exhausted her.  Delia wasn’t sure why she really thought Elvira might help her except that Elvira had loved Vladimir. Maybe it was cruel to keep calling her for help. Delia had learned her lesson. Elvira is one vamp she did not want to cross again.  

As Delia sat down on the edge of the bed, she saw the picture they had made at the Festival. They had so much fun. He played with little Victoria that day. Victoria thought her Daddy hung the moon, no wonder she is having a hard time losing him. Delia hung her head and tried to think what she needed to do. Vlad told her she must move and she believed him. If he felt like there was a threat, then there must be. And Victoria, she was so worried about her. Her birthday was in a couple of weeks. Maybe that would lift her spirits.

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A few weeks later, Delia was working on one of the laptops while the girls were in school. Valerie got home before Victoria and walked in where she was working. Valerie asked her mother if they could talk. She had a lot of questions and things she wanted to discuss.

“Of course Val,” said Delia, “I always have time to talk to you.”

Delia got up and went around to the chairs in front of the desk and sat in one of them.

“What is on your mind baby?” asked Delia.

Valerie sat down in the other chair and said, “Victoria, Dad, You, Me…the basement,” she joked, “Nothing much.”

“Wow,” said Delia, “Where should we start?” 

“How did you and Dad meet? I could never figure out how two totally different people could cross paths.”  Delia just laughed. This was a pleasant memory for her, “We met in a bar. He didn’t pick me up or even dance with me.  We just talked until closing time. I wasn’t looking to ‘hook up’; just to get out of the house and maybe meet some people.  I went with my boss to promote our restaurant.”

“What is it like being a vampire?” Valerie asked next.

“Whew, baby, that is a tough one. The biggest difference is some of the enhanced senses that I have, I am faster and maybe stronger. There may be others. I feel best during the night time hours and staying out in the sunlight for too long drains me and begins to burn my skin. And I don’t eat. I drink plasma juice.”

I am frightened of it Mother,” said Valerie, “I don’t want to want to drink blood or plasma juice, I want to eat cake and your wonderful French toast. I like to swim in the pool during the day.” 

“I understand. There are definitely trade-offs. But honey, one of the things you mentioned, the basement. Remember when your Dad told you there were powerful potions there? I can conjure them. I don’t know why they work for me, but there are many, some good and others very evil and even the good ones in the wrong hands can be used for evil.  That is why it has to remain a secret.  However, one of the recipes is a cure for vampirism.”

“Then why haven’t you used it.  Why didn’t Dad?” asked Valerie.

Delia got up and continued, “As you might imagine, there are very rare ingredients that are required and I was missing the final one.  But sweetie, I have found it,” said Delia with a smile, “It should be ready by the time you graduate from school.  This is my gift to you and Victoria, a cure. You won’t have to live life as a vampire.  Dad wanted that for you so badly.”

“But you wanted to turn – Dad said so,” said Victoria confused.

“Because I hadn’t been able to find the final ingredient, I needed to become a vampire and also, because of the threats from the evil vampires that killed your father and kidnapped me. Seems like they did the job for him,” said Delia as she rolled her now ice blue eyes.

“Victoria will be home soon and we have a party to plan and I think this is enough for one sitting. We can talk more later.  I won’t lie to you Valerie.  But you do need to know that as soon as the mushrooms for the cure are mature and ready to be picked, we are moving.  I expect it to be just about the time you graduate.  Please, don’t tell Victoria this yet. I don’t want to upset her more.”

“Moving?” asked Valeria at the same time she realized why without asking, “I understand mom,” and then she threw her arms around her mother and hugged her.

“We are going to be all right Val,” whispered Delia as she was warmed by her daughters embrace. 

Go to Chapter 76

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Chapter 74 – Dealing With Loss

Delia was numb. She began to think back over her years with Vladimir. She thought about their chance meeting in the bar – she had felt it then; the attraction was there from the beginning. She even swallowed the potion to reverse her aging for him. 

Now she had just lost him; her lover and best friend – her soul mate.  What she had with Vladimir was something she never thought was possible especially after her last two failed marriages. Things were completely different with him; she loved him deeply and never once doubted that he loved her in the same way.  Their marriage was full of passion and urgency. 

They had no secrets – she recalled the night he found her secrets and she told him everything, holding nothing back. Then he revealed his secret – that he was a vampire. Both of them knew that night, without saying it, that what they had was special and they were blessed to have found each other.  

While she lay in bed, Delia thought about how her marriage with Francisco was so different from what she had with Vladimir. They loved each other, but it was decidedly different. It was a sweet, innocent type of love and she wouldn’t trade the time she had with him for the world. But things with Vladimir were very different, she didn’t just love Vladimir, she was very much in love with him. Thinking of Francisco and his random ghostly visits to her gave her hopes that maybe she might be able to communicate with Vladimir beyond the grave and tell him one more time how much she loves him.

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Delia was still not feeling well from the blood loss coupled with her broken heart. All she wanted to do was sleep. Valerie and Victoria were understandably grieving; especially Victoria. At 12 years old, she couldn’t understand why her father just left them and now her mother was sick and crying all the time. She was very confused and angry.

16 year-old Valerie became the caregiver and tried her best to console Victoria and explain that their father didn’t just leave them; that his time had come and he was now with God.  Victoria decided she didn’t like God for taking her Daddy away.   

Valerie stayed by her mother's side even when she slept. She even ate her dinner next to her. Valerie was very worried about her mother. When Delia woke and saw what this was doing to her daughters she knew she needed to try and pull herself together.  She knew from past experience with Alex, her ghost baby, that wallowing in self pity didn’t help. 

Delia got up and pulled Valerie into a hug. She loved that she was trying to help and everything she was doing for her and Victoria, but she couldn’t let her continue to be caregiver to her mother and little sister. 

“Val, you have had to grow up so fast these past couple of months.  God knows, I am so sorry.  I will make this up to you, I promise.” 

“Mother,” replied Valerie, “this isn’t your fault. I just needed to help, to do something.  But I am worried about Victoria; she has withdrawn from me and sits in the corner playing with some imaginary friend.”

Delia sighed as she looked for Victoria and saw her sitting in the floor seemingly rocking an invisible baby and talking to it.

Delia noticed the girls were coping with their loss in different ways.  Valerie poured herself into her music and did everything she could to make things easier for her family. She was such a godsend. For Valerie, the music helped keep her father close to her and helping her mother gave her a sense of purpose. Victoria, on the other hand, became withdrawn and sulked a lot. 

Delia was beginning to feel a little better physically so she went into the garden and worked. She hadn’t had time to tell Vladimir that she had found the glo-orb cutting at the consignment store the day before he was murdered. She needed to plant them and tend to the other plants that had been neglected following the events of the past few weeks. Working in the garden calmed her and helped her think more clearly. This would be her gift to Valerie and Victoria. She would cure them of vampirism. 

That made her think of what she was going to do before Vladimir was killed. She was going to have him turn her.  Now she felt no pressure to do that, not yet anyway.  She decided if the cure failed then she would ask Elvira to turn her.  She wouldn’t remain human if her daughters could not. 

She stood up right then and dialed the number that Vladimir had given her that day she took her children to the basement. When Elvira answered, Delia asked her to come to the house. They needed to talk.There was no love lost between the two of them. Elvira hated her and Delia was ridiculously jealous of Elvira's relationship with her husband. They hadn't spoken since the Elvira came to the house and yelled at Vladimir for going to the Festival. Delia was relieved when she agreed to come by.

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When Elvira arrived, Delia invited her in. The girls were absorbed in their own worlds; Valerie playing a sad song on the piano and Victoria singing to her imaginary baby. 

Elvira looked over at them as if she were disgusted by them.  Delia knew she must be hurting.  She had lost two friends, Wogan and now her best friend, Vladimir.  Things in her world were bound to be unsettled with the death of Vladimir.  Delia was just happy she agreed to come by.

“What is it Blondie? Why do you make me come here to see the urchins and watch her play the piano I gave Vlad? Haven’t you done enough?” said Elvira.

“Elvira, I understand you are upset and I can’t thank you enough for coming by.  Vladimir, he respected you and valued your friendship.  You were his best friend.  I – I need to ask you something, but not down here.  Please, let’s go upstairs and talk where we can have privacy.” 

Elvira sighed and silently followed Delia upstairs to the girl’s room.  Delia turned to her and continued, “Thank you again. I didn’t want the girl’s to hear what I am about to ask you. Before Vladimir was killed, he was going to turn me. I am asking you, when I am ready, if you would do it for me.”

 

Elvira began to laugh maniacally and then yelled at Delia, “You HAVE to be joking!  There is no way in Hell I would do that!  Right now, all I want to do is to suck you dry Blondie. What nerve.  You disgust me!  If you want to become a vampire so bad, why did you wait?  YOU cost Vladimir his life. I would NEVER help you. Have one of your half-breeds do it when they mature.”

“Elvira, please – don’t,” begged Delia, “I have no one else to turn to. I can’t ask my daughters…Vladimir would have wanted you …”

“DON’T you bring Vlad into this!” interrupted Elvira, “He would be here now if he didn’t lov – I mean - whatever." Realizing what she nearly said, she added, "Maybe William will do it, but I doubt it. I am leaving now. Have a good life.” And with that Elvira turned and left.

Delia had known it was a long shot.  She hadn’t thought about William. She thought that since Elvira cared for Vladimir she would, but she had been very wrong. Elvira despised her. She would call William when the time came.  No sense worrying about it now.

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Working in the garden and the confrontation with Elvira left Delia exhausted and weak.  She still hadn’t regained all of her strength following the attack and knew she needed to eat. She went to the kitchen and pulled some leftover French toast out of the fridge and ate it while she thought about what had just transpired with Elvira. 

She had her daughters but felt so alone. Then she realized her world had revolved around Vladimir practically since she arrived in Bridgeport. After she ate she decided to go down to the basement.  She had a silly “selfie” that she had taken of her and Vladimir and wanted to hang it. Hanging it was a symbol of acceptance, of moving on.

Delia hung the selfie of her and Vladimir kissing. He was always kissing her. She missed that so much and began to cry again.

Then she felt a cool breeze moving behind her.  Her heart lurched and she hoped that it might be Vladimir. 

She turned around to find Francisco looking at her with pain in his eyes. It was as if he knew what she wanted and was sorry it was only him.

She recovered and ran into his arms to be comforted. She sobbed for several minutes in his cool embrace. As usual he said nothing and simply held her until she was composed.

When she finally looked at him, her eyes were filled with love for an old friend. 

“Thank you," said Delia, "I so needed a friend and you are always here when I do. How do you do that? How do you know?”  

She wanted to ask him if Vladimir would be able to come to her but was afraid it would be hurtful so she didn’t. Francisco’s ghost just smiled at her questions without answering them.  He said in his ethereal voice, “I can’t stay my sweet, I just wanted to be sure you were okay. You will be fine.”  Then he vanished in a puff of blue smoke. 

Delia did feel better. Maybe she would be fine. She had her girls and this time she wasn’t running away. She had family here. The most family she ever had; four children and five grandchildren.  

She always had her children when her world would get ripped apart and so far they had helped her heal and move on. She knew that Valerie and Victoria would be the salve that healed her heart this time too. "Thank you Francisco," she whispered into the air then went upstairs to bed.   

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Go back to Chapter 73

Chapter 73 - Revenge

Delia had made her decision.  Really it was the only one she could make.  She would allow Vladimir to turn her and join her daughters and her husband in vampirism.  She had seen the good that was in Vladimir and knew they would be happy forever.  Doing this would also allow her to help her daughters when the time came for them to be fully evolved vampires.  The last thing she wanted was for them to want to feed on their mother.  The only thing that put her off was the prospect of craving blood, but then there was always the plasma fruit that could provide sustenance. 

Delia went to Vladimir to let him know and plan the appropriate time for the transformation to take place.  She was a bit scared.  She told him and she could see him visibly relax as the stress of possibly losing her left his body.  She hadn’t realized how worried he was and knew immediately she had definitely made the right decision.  He said they needed to sit down and discuss exactly what Delia would go through during her transformation.

While they were talking, Vladimir received a text from William. Delia could see the tension come right back into as body as quickly as it had left him earlier. “Oh God….,” said Vladimir to no one in particular. “What’s wrong?” asked Delia. 

He didn’t immediately answer and kept looking at the phone grumbling under his breath.  Delia could see him scrolling through pictures that looked like the front of their house. “Vladimir, you’re scaring me.  What is it?” demanded Delia.

He looked up at her apologetically and with an expression that said that whatever he had received from William was VERY bad news, told her to get the girls and get them down into the basement adding – NOW! 

“But Vladimir, what,” started Delia when Vladimir interrupted her.  “I don’t have time to explain, just do as I say and do it right now.  Stay there until I come to get you,” and then he added, “If I am not back in two hours, call Elvira.”  Delia knew when he said that that something was indeed very, very wrong.

She ran from the kitchen and gathered the girls. She had no idea how she was going to explain the basement to them.  But she had no choice.  She followed the girls through the hidden entrance in the garage down the spiral steps. 

Delia was terrified and tried not to let the girls know just how frightened she was.  For Vladimir to suggest he may not come back made her nearly unable to function.  She told them that their father had heard someone outside the house and he wanted them to hide out here while he called the police to take care of it.  That sounded better than vampires run amuck.  She actually had no idea where he was or what he was doing. 

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Vladimir looked at the picture on his phone of the two men currently standing outside the front of his house. William text’s said:  “Wogan is dead. Morrigan is responsible. There are two men outside your house now. Attached is the surveillance photo. They are likely involved. Get your family out quick. We will fill you in once everyone is safe. Be careful.” 

Vladimir couldn’t do nothing and just hide. He figured they couldn’t be as strong as him so he would have to risk it. He was fuming. When he approached them, they were indeed surprised and just stood there. He asked them who sent them and what they wanted. The blonde one seemed to be in charge. 

He put his finger in Vladimir's face and said, "We are here to deliver a warning. We will take out the “high and mighty” Vladimir, your human wife and half breed kids. How dare you disrespect the Twinbrook coven by destroying their leader and then running to Bridgeport to hide. Then you added insult to injury by destroying Bridgeport's leader and took over pretending like you were better than those you are supposed to lead. Hah! Leaders don’t hide themselves away from their flock unless there is something they are afraid of. We will be back."

“GET OUT!  Get out now, before I rip your throats out!!!  And if I EVER see either one of you again, believe me, I won't hesitate!” screeched Vladimir. 

Then the blonde one attacked Vladimir while the dark-haired vampire just watched as everything unfolded before him.

Vladimir was stronger and quickly overpowered the blonde. He told the blonde's buddy that he better get him out of here and never try anything stupid like that again and to tell whoever sent them, that they should come themselves instead of sending a couple of useless vampires to take care of their business. The dark-haired one finally spoke and said, "Come Ereek, Let’s leave now! We have delivered message." Vladimir released the blonde one named Erik and they both left in a blur.

Once he was satisfied they were gone, Vladimir ran to the basement to get Delia and the girls. They were going to have to talk now.  The time for preparation and delays had vanished.

When Delia heard the garage door, she panicked.  Her heart was beating out of her chest hoping it was Vladimir. Then, when the door opened and Vladimir stepped through, Delia threw herself into his arms while Victoria stood there waiting for her turn to get a hug from her father.  Delia was so relieved she said nothing. 

Then, seeing Victoria eyeing him expectantly, Vladimir smiled, reached down and pulled his youngest daughter into a hug and said, “Come on, Vickie-bear, let’s get you to bed. You are up way past your bedtime.”  Then he turned to Valerie and Delia and said, “You two stay here, I’ll be right back.”

Delia looked nervously at Valerie.  She knew her 16-year old was going to be growing up way too fast in the next few hours.  She was sure that Vladimir was going to tell her everything or almost everything anyway. Valerie would soon know that Morrigan was a vampire and that she too would become a vampire in a few years.  She would know that Morrigan was right and had shared information with her that her parents had not. She only hoped she would forgive them both when they were finished. 

When Vladimir returned, Delia was way too nervous to sit down.  She kept pacing back and forth. Finally Vladimir told her, “Sit down Delia!” and she did. 

Vladimir was the strong one.  He started explaining things to Valerie.  She was none too thrilled to hear any of it and looked away disgusted. She knew she couldn’t get up and leave the room which she sorely wanted to do, but she didn’t have to look at her father either. It was HIS fault she was like this and was going to become the same sort of monster that awful woman was that laughed at her at her birthday party.

Delia couldn’t take anymore of Valerie’s attitude.  She finally spoke up and vehemently defended Vladimir to their daughter. "Your father is NOT a monster. Everyone, human or vampire has choices to make in life. Anyone can choose the path of evil. Being a vampire does not necessarily make one evil as being human does not necessarily make one good. Take a good hard look around you Valerie.  You have been showered with love and I will not allow you to throw it all away because you are feeling sorry for yourself. Yes, we should have told you this sooner, but you have to understand how hard this is as parents. We didn’t want you burdened with this information, but now, in light of current events, you need to know for your own protection. I am not even sure if there ever was any way to tell you these things that would make it any easier. I am so sorry…...”  Delia was swallowing back tears by the time she finished her speech.

Valerie looked over at her father. She knew her mother was right. Then she asked the question of the day. “Dad, why didn’t you make mother a vampire if being one isn’t so bad?”

Vladimir was not about to go into his past right now with his daughter. He replied with a sigh, “I was not born a vampire like you. I was forced and we are not going to go into it right now, but I was not about to put your mother though that hell. However,” and he looked at Delia before continuing for confirmation, “your mother has recently decided that she does want to be turned.”  

“I don’t understand, why?” asked Valerie.  “There will be time later to discuss everything, including this room," replied Vladimir, "just know that you must keep this room a secret.  NOBODY, except the four of us should ever know about it. It contains very powerful magic and secrets that have yet to be uncovered. In the wrong hands it could be extremely dangerous. You should not come down here alone, ever.”  

Valerie smiled a weak smile, but it was enough for them for now. She said, “Don’t worry mom, dad. I won’t say anything.  But I do have a lot of questions.” “In time sweetheart, in time,” said Vladimir, “now we all need to get some sleep, no doubt Victoria will be up running around in a couple of hours.”  

Every time Delia thought she couldn’t love Vladimir more, she found out she was wrong. Her heart swelled with love for this man.

Valerie was starving so she went to the kitchen to grab something to eat before going to bed.  As she sat there alone, she began to think about all the things she had learned tonight. She felt almost like she was having her ‘last meal’. She now knew that one day she would never want to eat the delicious meals that her mom made for them all the time. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that or her mom becoming a vampire.  She had no doubt her parents loved her and they were clearly deeply in love with each other. You could feel the electricity between them when they were in the same room together and the way they looked at each other, she only hoped that some day she would find a man that would look at her like that.  How on earth did their paths cross? Why is her mom still so young?  She has two grown children, much older than she is. She understood her father's youth, but even he looked older than her. Is her mom really human – or is she something else all together? She didn’t think her parents lied to her exactly, but they most certainly left out huge pieces of their story. 

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The next day, Vladimir told Delia she was going to have to stop working until this threat was over. It wasn’t safe right now. They didn’t need the money and the girls needed her to be around and frankly he did too. She understood and was secretly happy to quit.  She said she would go in tonight for the last time and give her resignation. Then when she got home, they could finalize the plans for her transformation. 

Delia got ready for work and found Vladimir to tell him goodbye. She flirted a little and told him to take a good look, this was the last time he would see her in her Chef costume. He called William to make sure he had someone watching her while she went into the restaurant.  "Yes, this is her last day," he said to William over the phone. 

 

Vladimir put the phone away and reached for Delia. "Be careful love,” said Vladimir, “Watch for anything suspicious. William will be watching too.”   

She kissed him, told him she loved him, and turned to leave saying she would see him later tonight. Then she added, “Keep my side of the bed warm,” winked at him and left.

Vladimir couldn’t help the sinking feeling he had watching her walk out the door knowing those two clowns were still out there.  But he needed to know exactly who was calling the shots so he, William and Elvira could put an end to this madness.

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Delia turned in her apron and hat at work, hugged all of her co-workers and turned to leave. As she was walking to her car she received a text message from William. He he told her to meet him across the street at the museum and he would ride home with her. Delia sighed and parked her car out front of the museum. When she didn’t see William outside, she went inside. 

Delia quickly found herself surrounded by two men, she was pretty sure were vampires, that she had never seen before. The blonde one said, “William got called away so we were sent here to wait with you until he returns. Follow us inside please.”

Delia suspiciously asked who they were. The blonde one said, “I am Erik and he is Javier.  Now come on.”  Delia continued inside the museum.  At least it was a public building but it was late at night. Feeling uneasy, she told them she needed to call her husband. “Shh. Put the phone away, Vladimir sent us. We have to be quiet so no one hears us,” responded Erik. 

They stopped walking when they arrived at a room deep within the museum on a darkened floor. Apparently this was their meeting place for William. Then Erik grinned and looked at Javier and said, “Do you want to go first?”  This was when Delia knew she was in trouble. 

Javier just grinned at her. Then he reached down and grabbed Delia’s arm. He sank his fangs deep into her wrist and began to drink greedily. There was nothing Delia could do to stop it with Erik there guarding her. 

Vladimir had fed from her but she knew it was different with him. Vladimir didn’t want to hurt her. With him it was love. This was pure terror.  Then she began to see red and feel light headed.  She thought she might faint or he may even kill her when she heard Erik yell, “Stop it stupid!  You are going to turn her.  Leave some for me! I let you go first so I could finish her.” 

Javier abruptly dropped her arm and walked away licking his lips and wiping the blood from his mouth. While she was still reeling, Erik barred his fangs in a show of what was to come next. Then she heard the Latin vampire speak for the first time, “Shhhh, Ereek.  Listen.  Someone comes.”  Erik slapped his hand over her mouth and they dragged her underneath the stairwell. 

After the person left, Erik wasted no time. He said he had waited for this moment for a very long time. “This is for Anastasia, bitch” he said as he grabbed the same arm Javier had just fed from and roughly tore into her flesh. He began to suck at her greedily and this time she was sure she would pass out. 

Then person from before, maybe a night watchman, approached and once again Javier spoke, “Come Ereek.  Leave her, we must go now.”  Erik grumbled and dropped her arm and they vanished in a flash.

Delia was woozy from the loss of blood and feared she was going to pass out.  If the guard had not walked by, she might even be dead.  She leaned against the wall to support herself while she tried to clear her head and think what to do.  

She remembered her cell phone and dug it out of her pocket and called Vladimir.  When he answered she lost it and began to cry. He told her to stay put that he would be there in 10 minutes. Those 10 minutes seemed like 10 hours to Delia.

When Vladimir arrived Delia fell into his arms apologizing for being foolish. "William texted me," she kept saying between sobs. He told her it wasn’t her fault to just rest.  He was here and all would be okay.

He picked her up and carried her to the car and gently placed her inside.  On the way home he called William to find out what happened.  There was no answer. So his next call was to Elvira. That is when he pieced together what must have happened. He recalled Elvira’s words from before:  “If you don’t want to be a widower again, never go out without a guard.”  William was guarding her, but someone had gotten to him and Delia paid the price. 

Delia had fallen asleep in the car. When they got home, he picked her up and carried to their bedroom and placed her gently on the bed to rest. Fortunately she would be okay and only suffered blood loss. The amount of blood loss may have been too much to survive as human though. The monsters may have turned her whether or not they meant to. He didn’t know how to tell for sure and how to break the news to her if indeed they did.  He would know in a few days. The nightmares that would come might wouldn't be taken care of near as easily.

No sooner had Vladimir placed Delia comfortably in bed, than he heard a commotion outside. The girls were asleep so he went outside to check. It was the same two vampires again. They were very likely responsible for what happened to Delia tonight. And even if they weren't they were going to pay anyway. He lost all semblance of self control and ran out to them prepared to kill them both. But this time they were better prepared for him. He approached the blonde vampire and told him he was going to kill him this time. The Latin vampire just laughed. 

While Vladimir was yelling at who he took to be the leader of the two of them, the dark vampire calmly walked over and plunged a wooden stake into Vladimir' heart. Vladimir screamed in agony while the two just stood watching fascinated as he died at their feet.    

“Well, that was easy. Good job Javier! We should have thought of this before,” said Erik “serves him right. Anastasia should have killed him that day instead of letting him live.  Now we just have to locate William and Elvira. Elvira is mine. I want to be the one to stake her.” 

Erik and Javier just laughed manically, then high-fived each other when Vladimir crumpled to the ground and became nothing more than a pile of dust.  When they heard the reaper coming to claim his soul, they quickly left in a blur. 

Delia woke up when the reaper came for Vladimir. She was still a bit unsteady but was feeling a little better.  She ran outside to see what was happening and saw the reaper.  He pointed to the pile of dust that was Vladimir. She lost it and began to cry hysterically. 

She didn’t see Vladimir’s red ghost standing behind her looking over her shoulder.  He promised himself that he would always be with her to watch over and protect her.  He said a silent goodbye to Delia, as the reaper impatiently showed him to his final resting place.  

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