Sweet Blood

Chapter 2

The brush glided through her sleek black hair as though it was water. She pinned it back from her face with a small clip and smiled at me through the mirror. 


"Hey, Mic. How ya doing?" she asked in her carefree way. Mic, my childhood nickname. I was always surprised she still called me that. We had grown up so much since that time. Her wild child phase ended giving her a more matured look. I'm sure it was only less makeup. I still could see her with her eyeliner smeared under her eyes like a raccoon underneath her changes. Although, her personality made me wonder how any guy could manage her, let alone marry her.


”I’m alright, I guess.”

“What happened?” Her face arranged to a comforting smile. I sighed, knowing I would have to spill sooner rather than later.

“Some vampire drank from me.”

“Before the Event?” Panic rose in her voice.

“Yes, Ava, but I’m okay – “

"Who was it?" her voice no longer carefree. A protective growl almost came through as well, but she didn’t want me to feel threatened.


"Just some vamp. But it’s okay now. I’m okay.”

“Like hell you are! He scratched up my beautiful half-sister. He made you fear for his life. He needs to pay. But of course, he won’t because he is an all-important vampire!”

“I wasn’t afraid…” I whispered.

“Sweetheart, you don’t have to lie to me. I could see the fear in your eyes.” She squeezed me in her arms and I relaxed. I buried into her neck and just felt at ease.

“I’m so sorry he hurt you. He really needs to pay.”

“He will.”

“Honey, he’s a vampire. Vampires are never punished for their actions.” Ava’s eyes mixed with grief and anger.

“Well, some other vampire walked in and caught my attacker. He called in and told me the vamp would be dealt with.”

“Oh, thank the Lord!” Ava said using her southern belle accent dramatically.  I rolled my eyes at my half-sister. She opened her mouth to ask me something, but yelling from the next room caught our attention.

"You let her elope with a vampire? Are you trying to have her killed?" screamed a manly voice.

"Ava loves him. It seemed like the right thing to do. I know it's not the traditional way of doing things, but the council needs her blood for the Event. And you weren't exactly around to help make the decision. Always off making the world a better place. For who? Huh? Answer that question," argued Ava's mom.

“For who? For anyone that might want to live in the other world! Some people don’t like it here at all and need to move. I’m improving the world for them. Although, you seem to be hell bent on ruining our world! Really, a vampire! Of all the son-in-laws I could have it’s a vampire?”

“Yes, it’s a vampire! You’re a vampire! Love has no bounds. Look at us! We love each other. Well, loved.” Her sneer could be heard through the walls.

“I’m a vampire to help the human world! The council gave me permission to turn. Our love has nothing to do with the council or Ava! What if, because of your indulgence, Ava starts ignoring council traditions and becomes a rogue? If you keep indulging her and opposing the council, the first time she doesn't get what she wants, she'll become a rogue and we'll probably never see her again!”

“Oh you and your precious council! They barely like you! You are living in this insane fantasy. And so what if Ava becomes a rogue and goes to the human world. She's never even wanted to become a vampire in the first place.  Unlike you!”

“Yea? So what I wanted to become a vampire? Is that a crime?” My father’s voice lowered a tad.

"Both you and your wife wanted to live forever. You see where that got her. Even if I do have to donate every ten years, at least I'm not a crazy bloodsucking monster that can't see my own child grow up!" Ava's mom continued. She had gone a bit too far. Tears threatened to overflow, but I wouldn’t let them. Ava held me close, even if her shirt would get filthy with tears and snot.

"What are you trying to say, Meredith?" my father asked softly.

"You two were wrong to turn. Your daughter was not even two before you decided to change." Meredith barely realized her mistake, still stuck in anger.

"My wife was sick. You know that. We thought we could get her immune system to put up a little more of a fight."

"Well congrats, Herald. Now each of your family is a different specie." Meredith said more quietly, realizing maybe she had gone too far this time. My heart remembered those times.

"Mommy!" the little girl said as she buried her face in her mother's neck. A tall man stood by, his gaze lovingly looking at the pair.

"Hi baby girl," he said to his daughter.

"Hi, daddy," she said as she sprung loose of her mom's arms to swing around her dad. So much love consumed the happy family of three. Then, the faces of another kingdom became tinged in war, anger, and bloodlust. Threats were made to both kingdoms and anger filled all heads until words were not enough. Poison entered one of the wells on the east end of the village surrounding the kingdom. The mother fell ill as the little girl watched confused and sad that mommy wouldn’t play or even get up. Then, mommy’s room was locked and the little girl became even more alone. She didn't understand why she could no longer see mommy.

Daddy looked tired. His eyes were always downcast and stubble was constantly on his chin. When he was home, he stayed locked up in his room.  Daddy's trips started getting longer and longer until he stopped showing up all together. Meredith and Ava took care of the little girl.

She never talked while at that house. She was afraid that if she were bad, her family would be punished even more, or that if she asked what was going on, she might not like the answer. When she saw her father again it was through a slit in the door.

"... both turning. She has to, and I want to be with her, forever,” said Herald's voice. Meredith's was not audible.

"Just take care of her for now. Please?" he asked. I slowly, cautiously padded to the door and saw him for the first time in weeks. He looked tired and shaggy, his hair messy and greasy and dirty clothes falling off of his thin, starved frame.

Meredith nodded, "Fine. I will, but you both need to spend a lot of time with Michelle afterwards, okay?" Afterwards what? I asked myself. And then he left and Meredith went to sleep. I tried to fall back asleep, but couldn't. In my head, our family portrait was reduced to just me.