The Two Vampires (13 page)

He would clean himself up and think.  He needed to come up with a plan before he could tackle the problem of Daniel.

Sarah woke up
.  She smiled as she realized Daniel was still holding her.  Peeking through her sleepy eyes, she met his with a cheeky grin.

‘Hi,’ she said.

‘Hi,’ he replied. ‘I think your kids might be awake.’

Sarah groaned.  No matter how much she missed them, the novelty quickly wore off when the hard work kicked in.  She snuggled into Daniel, basking in his presence for one last time, before forcing herself out of bed to go and get Megan and Bea.

Sarah pulled a dressing gown off the back of her door and wrapped herself up in it.  She looked up at Daniel hesitantly, not sure if she should invite him down for breakfast.

‘Hmm, I probably shouldn’t let my kids know you slept in here . . .’

‘Don’t worry,’ he smirked.  ‘I’ll stay up here - probably best if I don’t intimidate your kids this early in the morning.’

‘OK,’ Sarah replied.

She opened her heavy wooden door and snuck out into the hallway.  She poked her head around Megan’s door, with a grin on her face. 

Megan jumped out of bed, full of early morning energy, and ran into her arms.

‘Mommy, Mommy.  I love you Mommy.’

‘I love you too sweetheart,’ Sarah replied, hugging her tightly.

Sarah took her slender hand and walked to Bea’s room.  Bea slept in a cot, and when Sarah entered she was still lying down and hugging her teddy.

‘Mommy, I thought you were asleep Mommy,’ Bea said in her cute baby voice.

‘I’m awake now little one,’ Sarah said.

Sarah let go of Megan’s hand and stretched out her arms for Bea as Bea clambered to her feet, her duvet and teddy falling by her side.  Sarah lifted Bea out and she gave her a snuggly hug.

‘Big hug,’ Bea said.  Sarah hugged her even tighter.

‘I love you sweetheart,’ Sarah said to Bea too.

‘Oatmeal,’ said Bea.

‘I want Krispies,’ said Megan.

‘What do you say?’ Sarah asked, the frustration instantly kicking in.

‘Please can I have Rice Krispies Mommy,’ she said reluctantly. 

‘No!’ said Bea, ‘Oatmeal.’

‘Mommy,’ said Megan - whining.

‘You can both have what you want,’ Sarah said, trying to maintain patience. 

She wondered what Daniel thought of their typical morning exchange.  She betted he could hear everything they said with his super vamp hearing.

Sarah sighed, and walked downstairs holding Bea tight.  Her diaper was overfull but dealing with that could wait until after breakfast.  Megan ran down the stairs ahead.

She made them their breakfast while they squabbled over toys at the table.  They were finally quiet when she gave them their food, so she started to prepare her coffee and oatmeal.  She stirred in some raisins and jam, and tucked in, leaning against the counter while she waited for her coffee to be ready.

She thought about the following days of staying in and shuddered.  She already felt restless at the idea.  She was brimming with energy and wanted to walk in the woods, to let Megan run riot between the trees.  That idea was out though - somehow she didn’t think Daniel would classify that as safe. 

Maybe she could drive to her parents and let Megan and Bea play there for a little bit.  Or she could visit her friend Melanie who had three kids - it was even more chaos than at Sarah’s.  It meant she was an easy person to see though; very understanding of life with kids.  There was also Megan’s school - they would call if she didn’t turn up.

Sarah rolled her eyes at herself; she couldn’t believe she had nearly overlooked school - maybe she wasn’t coping as well as she’d thought.

‘Megan, hurry up with your breakfast - we need to get you ready for school!’

What followed was an hour of running around getting ready, Sarah trying hard to control her temper and to be patient with her children.  When she returned upstairs to get dressed Daniel was up and fully clothed.  He was wearing his black jeans and shirt from the previous night.  He looked like he had already showered as his hair was wet and messy.  He looked hot.

‘Sorry about all the noise,’ she said, laughing at herself.

‘Don’t worry, it’s a nice change,’ he called in a hushed voice, as she was already in the bathroom - hurrying to ready herself.  She could hear Bea starting to whine downstairs and she wondered what they were up to.

Daniel poked his head around the door as she was brushing her teeth, not yet fully dressed.  She blushed instantly, and wished she was made-up and looking sexy.  He didn’t seem to mind though; he was looking at her very appreciatively.  Sarah wondered if he would object to her plan to leave the house, but was relieved that he didn’t.

‘I think I’ll come with you, and escort you home - if that’s OK?’ he asked.

Her breath caught as he smiled at her.  ‘Yes,’ she answered, and quickly rinsed out her mouth, ‘but could you just sneak out and pretend you’re just turning up.  Sorry - I don’t mean to be rude.  You know, I’m just worried about . . .’

‘Don’t worry - I understand,’ Daniel interrupted soothingly.

‘Thank you,’ Sarah answered - relieved her kids wouldn’t see she had slept with Daniel, when they still didn’t know about Jo.

‘When we get back I’d better go straight back to my hotel and get ready to go to New Orleans.’

‘New Orleans?  Is that where Heather lives?’ Sarah asked.  She hadn’t realized he was going that far, and felt a renewed sense that she was losing him.

‘That’s where she did live, the ten or so years ago that I last saw her.  It’s a place to start anyway.’ 

‘Do you have a phone?’ Sarah asked.

‘No, sorry - I haven’t had a reason to use one.  But if I’m going to be away for more than a couple of days I will call you,’ he reassured.

‘I’ll give you my number . . .’ Sarah started to move towards her room, planning on finding a piece of paper and pen, but Daniel stopped her.

‘Don’t worry - I already have it,’ he said.  At Sarah’s confused look, he added, ‘Your father gave it to me, in case you weren’t in - that day I first came over.’

Daniel quickly kissed her on the cheek and left her to get ready.

Sarah felt her heart rate slow at his absence.  If it wasn’t for her rush, and Bea’s whines carrying up the stairs, she wouldn’t have been able to resist him.

When they were all dressed and ready; they hurried out, trying not to be late.  Daniel had done as she asked and snuck out - she hadn’t even noticed him leaving.  He gave her a wicked grin as he pretended to ‘just turn up’. 

Sarah watched as Daniel looked about, wondering at his wariness.  They couldn’t be in that much danger, or could they?  If they were he wouldn’t be leaving, would he? 

She supposed there wasn’t much that he could do without more information, and it would definitely be best if Sebastian did not return.  Anything he could do to prevent that would be worthwhile. 

She shuddered at the thought of Sebastian’s anger should he somehow come back - he would surely want to exact revenge for what Daniel had done to him.

Megan and Bea were quiet in the back seat with Daniel in the car.  They hadn’t spent much time with him yet, and weren’t used to him at all. 

Sarah drove through town and pulled up in the school parking lot.  She only just found a space at the back.  Maybe more people were driving due to worry over the missing people, Sarah thought.

Daniel waited in the car while she went in with Bea on her hip to drop off Megan.  She entered the hustle and bustle of the classroom and read Megan a story to settle her in.  Then she gave her a big kiss on top of her head and said, ‘See you later little one.’

She picked up Bea from the home corner and waved to Megan as she left.  Megan ran off with a couple of friends into the depths of the classroom.

When they were walking back to the car Sarah saw Daniel through the window.  He was leaning back against the head rest with his eyes shut.  She felt sadness well up within her; he wouldn’t be with her for much longer. 

As she opened the door he gave her a wicked grin, but she couldn’t manage to return it.  Tears welled up in her eyes and she looked down, concentrating on strapping in Bea.

As she sat in the driving seat Daniel reached over and placed his hand on her leg.

‘Hey Sarah - what’s wrong?’

‘You know, you leaving.  I’m worried you won’t come back.’

‘Mommy go!  Go Mommy,’ came Bea’s voice from the back.

Sarah started her car as Daniel leant over and kissed her cheek.

He whispered in her ear, ‘Don’t worry - I will come back for you . . .’

She blushed at his close proximity and quickly met his eyes before driving off.

The drive home went quickly, every second until his departure speeding up. 

Once they were back at her house, and Bea was playing happily with her doll house, she walked with Daniel to the front door.  He stood there and gazed at her, before taking her chin in his hand and kissing her hard.

He broke away, leaving her unsteady.

‘I will come back as soon as I can.  You stay safe, OK?’ he said.

‘Yes.  You too.  I will miss you.’

He brushed away her tear with his lips, but this only increased Sarah’s sadness.

‘Bye Daniel.’

‘Bye.’

She watched as he walked down to his car and drove off.

***

Sebastian stretched and looked about.  It was morning and light was shining through the curtains.  It was dazzling him.  What the hell?  He must have passed out and slept the entire night. 

There were certainly some disadvantages of a human body. 

He rubbed his sleepy eyes and sat up.  As he looked about he saw a plainly decorated room without much character.  The bedding and curtains were flowery and it reminded him of England, of people trying to achieve a dated elegance beyond their means.

He climbed off the bed.  He must have collapsed onto it in exhaustion as he hadn’t bothered to remove his clothes or climb under the covers.  He stretched again, experimenting with moving his new body. 

It was nice to be able to feel again. 

He opened the curtains and light streamed in - bathing him in cool winter sun.

He walked over to a mirror and inspected his new body for the first time.  He was still a bloody mess and would have to deal with that soon.  He looked young, maybe nineteen years old.  His hair was scruffy and blond, his face still had the rounded cheeks of youth.  Slightly comically he also had fine stubble on his chin - it was almost soft.  His body wasn’t very muscular, yet he could feel he had power.  It obviously didn’t come from his physical form but from the energy he had taken from his victims.

He went into the bathroom and quickly washed off the blood, while thinking about his plans.  He would need to try and regain his original form.  This body wouldn’t last forever after all.  He would need to take more lives, more power.  He would need to track down Daniel and find out what he had done with his ashes.  Then he would need to find a witch to do the necessary spell. 

He would also be able to use that witch to find out what Daniel did to him; so it could not happen again. 

Then he would be able to destroy Daniel.  Daniel would leave him alone for good.

***

Sarah slumped down on the sofa and watched as Bea played. 

She was feeling entirely normal again.  She had wondered if she had gained extra power from her experiences, whether she had gained any of Daniel’s abilities from consuming his blood.  She was feeling a creeping depression consume her.  How she felt must have been the after effects of all her experiences.  Now she felt healthy, but weak.  Her vision was good, but average.  She could hear well, but not beyond the limits of her humanity.

She had liked the energy the power had brought her.  It had most definitely felt good.  She had felt like she could do anything.  Achieve anything.

Now she felt whole-heartedly human, and constrained by her limited abilities. 

Daniel was strong - he could do anything.  And now she was here without him.

What was she supposed to do if a vampire attacked them?  Daniel had left her some stakes just in case - but she had not even managed to wield one of those against Jo, and he was a newly turned vampire. 

How was she going to protect her family as a human?

Maybe they weren’t in danger anyway.  Maybe Daniel was just being paranoid, and cautious. 

It was good he was going to make sure Sebastian couldn’t return.  Plus Sebastian may not have turned any more vampires.  After all - he had been keeping close tabs on Jo, looking after him.  She didn’t think he had been looking after any other new vampires. 

They were probably safe.

Then why am I trying to convince myself? She thought.

Sarah pulled out her book and tried, ineffectively, to distract herself with an adventure story - while Bea played with toys at her feet.