Mother Doesn’t Approve

His blood tasted delicious.

Nothing like the sterile containers. Warm. Alive. It tasted like him.

Gulp by gulp she regained her strength. She could feel his heartbeat against her lips, racing, then slowing. The katana clattered to the floor.

More. She had never wanted anything this much.

Miss Snow was yowling. Stupid cat.

The cat jumped at her; Lucia swatted her away with her right arm. Miss Snow crashed into the wall. Then, a soft whimper.

“Miss Snow, I... I am sorry,” Lucia cried. She stopped feeding. Ben collapsed.

She ran to the cat. Miss Snow was hissing at her, weakly.

Why did she care so much about this stupid cat?

“You have been my only friend, Miss Snow. I am so sorry. I never wanted to hurt you.”

“We have to go. They went to set traps for your mother. They’ll be back soon,” Ben said. His voice sounded hoarse.

She turned around. Ready to finish what she had started.

Wait. This felt wrong. What had he said? Why was he warning her that they would return?

She knelt in front of him. He flinched when she stretched out her hand.

The door opened. A goatkin entered. Tom.

“I see. I am not the only one who has suffered your hunger.”

Ben tried to stand up but fell down again.

“Relax, princess, I am not here to hurt you,” Tom said and removed his hat.

“You will not take me away?”

“You can discuss this with your mother.”

Her mother, here?

“And yes, she is fine. Good of you to ask. This trap was real amateur work. Once the necklace led us to the boy, we watched his father. Old Grimscar is not subtle. A shame that he left before we could catch him.”

Tom put his hat on again.

“I don’t know what games you are playing, princess, but I was young once. Taking my blood was mighty rude of you, but at least you didn’t dispose of me. As far as your mother knows, I am still searching the hut. Use the time to compose yourself and then face her. Don’t even think about running again. She has had us looking for you day and night. It is getting tiresome.”

With that he left the room.

Lucia sighed.

“You do that a lot,” Ben said.

“I know,” she said.

“I called my father before we left. I thought he could help us. I only told him we needed somewhere to hide, I swear! I guess he figured it out. Lucia, please forgive me!”

So that was why the hunters were there. He hadn’t betrayed her.

“You have nice hair.”

“Uhm, Lucia?”

She stroked his hair. He didn’t flinch this time. “You know I only went along with you because I planned to kill you, right?”

“But you didn’t. You fought the urge. It must have been so hard.”

“Bloody hell! You’re too good to me.” Lucia sighed. I really do that a lot.

Miss Snow limped toward them. No one had ever put a stake through Lucia’s heart, but she wagered it would hurt less than what she felt right now.

And yet, that stupid, idiot, helpless human being had not betrayed her. Not on purpose. She smiled.

“Miss Snow, I swear I’m so sorry. I’ll make it up to you.”

“Meow.”

“Yes, double rations, Miss Snow. Understood!”

“Since when do you speak cat?” Ben asked. Lucia winked at him.

Now it was time to face her mother.

* * *

She stepped outside the hut. It was already dark. Her mother and Tom were talking.

The corpses of the two hunters lay at their feet. Lucia kept her face still. Her mother would not have approved of anything else.

“At last, my child returns to me!” Delilah said and moved toward her, a bloody dagger in hand.

Ben staggered out of the hut. The sight of the bodies sent him into shock. He looked ready to vomit. At least it wasn’t his own dad.

“Grimscar,” Delilah said, as if tasting the name. “Your family never did learn when to stay home.”

She turned back to Lucia, evidently not considering him a threat. “So you have left your bite marks on him but haven’t quite finished the job.”

Lucia didn’t lower her head.

“This is not the most intimate setting, but it will have to do. Lucia, darling, please put this human out of his misery!”

“I will not, Mother. That human has a name. Ben. And no one is going to touch him!”

“You have grown attached, poor thing. I understand. You always were very sensitive. At least you did bite him. That is progress. Don’t worry, I will handle the situation. We can try another time.”

Delilah stalked toward Ben. Before she could reach him, Lucia stepped in front of her.

“As I said, Mother, no one is going to touch him.”

Delilah laughed.

“You dare to stop me?” Delilah said. Her dagger pointed at Lucia’s neck.

“The necklace, where is it?”

“I threw it away. The ugly thing.”

“You threw our precious family heirloom away?”

“Heirlooms don’t usually come with a tracking spell, Mother.”

“Lucia, I understand the need for a rebellious phase, but how do you think this is going to end?”

She knew what she had to say. She didn’t know if she had the strength to say it.

For a few moments both women just looked at each other.

“It’s my fault,” Lucia said. Her mother’s eyes narrowed.

“I should have stood up to you a long time ago. This whole mess wouldn’t have happened if I had put what I wanted first instead of trying to please you. I never wanted to be a full vampire.”

“You want to be a human?” Her mother laughed. “They will never accept you. Some in our clan still sneer at daywalkers. The humans will do far worse. You will never pass as human.”

“I don’t want to be human. I just... I want to be me.”

“You will be very lonely.”

Lucia looked back at Ben. Miss Snow sat at his feet. The cat slow-blinked at her.

“I think I will be fine.”

“Well, you have said your piece. Now you are going to face the consequences.”

Delilah circled her. “You really think I will just let you walk? With everything you know about the clan? Everything you might tell that pretty new boyfriend of yours?”

“I will not talk,” Lucia said. Her mother’s stare was piercing.

“Oh, I will make sure of that.”

“No! Lucia!” Ben screamed. Tom held him down.

“This is not your fight, human,” Tom said.

Delilah raised the silver dagger. She rested it on Lucia’s shoulder and drew it across. It left streaks of blood on her dress. Even through the fabric, the metal made her skin prickle.

“What? I am wiping my dagger clean. You said it was your fault, so you bear the consequences.”

She nodded toward the corpses. “You caused the death of those hunters. Their blood is on your hands. You know what happens to those who talk. Don’t think I will not hunt you down just because you are my daughter.”

She sheathed the dagger. “If you leave, you will not be part of this clan any longer. Do not expect any support from me. Don’t come to me if you need any blood.”

Tom let go of Ben and patted him on the back.

Her mother’s voice softened. “You are not getting any younger, darling. The longer you wait...”

It wouldn’t take long for her to look older than her own mother. Was that why her mother had pushed so hard for her to turn?

“Then I will have to live with the consequences of my own choices,” Lucia said. As long as we take responsibility, we can learn. Her mother’s rule.

Tom saluted her.

Lucia turned around. “Come on, Ben. We are going.” She held out her hand to him.

“One last thing, child.” Lucia stopped. Her mother stepped up close to her and kissed her on the forehead.

“I don’t approve of what you are doing, but I still love you.”