B00724AICC EBOK (36 page)

The kitchen was modern except that the walls were adorned with Little Yellow butterflies on butter wallpaper. The removal of the paper was always a job for another day, not that it looked terrible but she did want to have it taken down and the walls painted. A large ceiling fan was immobile. The cupboards were up-to-date and the kitchen also contained a new GE built-in dishwasher with hidden controls. The floor was shiny glazed white tiles that appeared clean enough to consume a meal off of its brilliant surface.

Jenny finished her cereal and noticed the look on her mother’s face but said nothing. The child got up from the table and emptied the remaining milk out of the purple plastic bowl into the sink. Her mother was impressed at how fast she ate. Jenny wore a black knee length dress that her mother had designed for her, with areas of the dress varying shades of black, from charcoal to ink to glossy obsidian. It was a myriad of patches brilliantly put together, and from a distance the colors seemed to dance in the light; it was accomplished with Jenny’s input of course. She preferred black as she was to become a red sheriff upon attaining adulthood, and to her it showed style and presence. Though other colors were okay she usually wore black on the weekends. It was her way of keeping the style a little special. She didn’t want to wear the typical trench coat of the red sheriff’s, although she knew that she would perhaps have to acquiesce if it was a rule that couldn’t be broken. The doorbell rang and it was her grandmother, Hannah. The only reason she rang the bell was because the door was locked, and Jenny ran to unlock it.

“
Don’t go blurring in front of your grandmother; you’ll give her a heart attack.”

“
I won’t.”

“
She’ll think you’re a vampire if you do.”

“
I said I won’t.”

“
And control yourself at all times.”

“
I will.”

“
And try not to dispatch any vampires in front of her, unless absolutely necessary.”

Jenny stood akimbo and gave her the look. “Are you also going to remind me to breathe? You know Mother, you just might want to have a conversation with her explaining that I AM a little different, before something pops up and she sees it with her own eyes.”

Allison crossed her legs under the table and could feel him poking around in her mind yet again. “I know, but the exact words escape when I get close to broaching that subject. You know what your grandmother is like. She’s very old fashioned.”

“
She doesn’t seem all that old fashioned to me.”

Allison batted her stunning green eyes at Jenny in an exaggerated manner and wondered what kind of teenager she was going to make, because with her talents puberty could end up being a nightmare. She was an exceptional kid and hoped that the transition to adulthood would be as smooth as a skating rink though not so cold and unforgiving. The kid had a kind heart and she knew that was unlikely to change, but a neighbour’s kid from across the street had started into drugs almost as soon as she had gained the status of a teenager. They were now living a nightmare with their unruly child. The police could be observed in front of their house at least once a month, and at times more. It was difficult to change the mind of a child that was on a one-way track heading for a cliff.

Jenny’s grandmother stepped in with her large black and white purse; she reminded the neighbors a little of Mother Theresa in style and stature. She was less than five feet tall with stylish gray hair, and even at her age she was cute. Hannah was a gentle soul and a devout Catholic. Anyone that dared to curse in her presence would receive a full lecture and might as well take a seat because it wouldn’t be brief. She had once frightened off a vampire with her words alone; he didn’t dare bite her lest he end up in the searing fires of hell. “Allison, we’re going to do a little shopping and then back to my place. Jenny’s going to help me organize my old photos. She’ll be home for dinner, unless she wants to have dinner with me. Maybe I’ll call for pizza. Anyway, I’ll call you dear.”

“
All right mother.” Allison opened the New York Times and pretended to start reading. She continued to be aware of the presence outside and was distracted. She could sense his thoughts and it excited her. Her heart had already started to melt but she tried hard not to show it. “I’ll see you around six then. Make sure that you call if you’re going to be late.”

“
We will.” Jenny ran out the door as Hannah closed the door behind them.

The back door opened and Dracula stepped into the kitchen dressed in his Armani suit. He was a formidable presence and towered over Allison. His heart smiled at the sight of her, so beautiful that she actually made the day worthwhile. Even after all this time she was so attracted to him that she could almost scream. They hugged and she closed her eyes tightly. Dracula looked down at her and then lifted her off the floor, and with his strength it was as if he was lifting a feather. They shared a long passionate kiss and it was heavenly to both of them. She reached up and touched his cheek lovingly.

Outside on the sidewalk, Jenny realized that she forgot her purse, telling her grandmother that she’d return in a second. Allison was surprised when Jenny ran into the kitchen and caught them.

“
Jenny!”

Jenny’s mouth hung open. “Oh my God! That’s, that’s, that’s Dracula. You’re dating Dracula! You have got to be kidding me! What the hell Mother! Are you kidding me? Is this a joke? Is that the real Dracula? Why couldn’t I feel his energy?”

Allison was instantly angry with Dracula as she moved away from him. She knew that he could sense Jenny from miles away. “You knew she was coming back in! Why would you do that?”

Jenny couldn’t trust her own eyes. Her mouth hung open as her mind raced around. It was perhaps the moment of a lifetime that she was experiencing. She couldn’t wait to tell her friends. “You’re dating Dracula? The king of the vampires? You know he’s going to eat you.”

Dracula pulled up a chair and sat down, and even sitting he remained an impressive presence. He was so strong and so handsome. The Master was going to enjoy seeing how it played out as he assumed that it could get very interesting. Dracula had always loved the fire in Allison. “Don’t you think it’s time that she knew, especially if we’re getting back together.”

Jenny was transfixed. “Back together? You two were a couple in the past?” It was overwhelming for Jenny and then her mind shifted to getting his autograph, and how so very impressed everyone would be. She knew of absolutely no one that could say they had Dracula’s autograph. “First things first. Autograph! Can I get your autograph? Please, please, please!”

“
I don’t do autographs.”

Jenny’s face turned to utter disappointment. Her heart was crushed. Jenny couldn’t compel him to give her his autograph. Or could she? She attempted to get into his mind, but it was as if a steel door slammed shut, a ten feet thick door. She wanted to throw a temper tantrum but didn’t dare. Her face was such a sad one. She tightened her lips as she considered that there might be no solution.

“
Oh for heaven’s sake. You’ll get the autograph. Jenny, this is your real father. The other one I simply made up.”

Jenny looked at Dracula and then back at her mother. “What? Not funny Mother. Martin is my father.”

“
Who the hell is Martin? I’ll eat him if I have to.” Dracula was attempting to be humorous.

“
You’d eat my father?”

“
Jenny, I am your father.”

“
No freaking way?”

Jenny stared at her mother examining her face; it actually appeared as if she could be telling the truth. She looked at Dracula and he gave her a slight smile and raised his eyebrows at her. He nodded slowly and slightly.

“
It’s true sweetheart. I am so sorry. I made the other guy up. It’s probably best that you don’t go around telling people that your father is Dracula. They’ll never look at you the same again and it could be very dangerous.”

Jenny considered it with the most puzzled look on her face. Her eyebrows couldn’t get any higher. She stomped so hard on the floor that she shook the house. “That is not the least bit funny!” And she screamed her little girl scream that wasn’t, and it endured for a good seven seconds, although time did appear to slow down during the vocal protest.

Dracula smiled a beguiling smile. “There’s some power in that one. If she ever does that again I just might have to pull my own ears off.”

Allison slapped both hands on the table, with relief and the excitement of the situation. It felt like she was finally free from the bog that had been such a lie for all those years. “Do you know that she can blur.”

Dracula seemed a little surprised. “Really? She can actually blur as a full vampire? Most impressive. She has quite the aura, multiple talents, many undeveloped. Her energy continues to bounce around the room. As a matter of fact I believe that she’s a blood wizard.”

“
What the heck is a blood wizard? She has aspirations to become a red sheriff.”

Dracula studied his daughter. “Indeed? Look at her; she’s going to grow into a remarkable woman. Pity the man that aggravates her when she’s an adult. She’ll need to be trained otherwise she could actually become a danger to herself and others.”

“
She can spell objects.”

“
I would not recommend that until she gets some training. She’ll have to search out Zebulon, and it’ll be an adventure just to get to him.”

Allison laughed. “Wait until the boyfriends show up to meet Daddy.”

Dracula also had to laugh although it was brief. “The looks on their faces should be priceless.”

Jenny looked at each parent as they spoke, not knowing what to think; from one to the other and back again as if watching a Ping-Pong match. She then took her red purse from the back of the chair and took out her compact and looked into it. Jenny then got closer to Dracula’s face and stared into his eyes, and then looked at her own eyes in the compact. “He’s got my eyes? I have his eyes, the exact same shape. And even his chin? But, but, but that means …”

“
Un oh.” Dracula blurred to catch Jenny as she fainted.