The Vampire's Siren

Chapter 10

I wake to find a familiar ceiling looming over me. I sigh and close my eyes. Great, I'm still dreaming. I quickly calculate what day it is in my mind. If I'm right, today is a blood draw day. Susan should be coming in any moment to wake me up with breakfast, and then swab down my arm.

I sigh again, and open my eyes. The familiar ceiling is still there. I gasp and look to my side seeing Jackson's sleeping face.

"Oh, my god." I whisper. I reach a shaking hand out to trace his eyebrow. "Oh, my god."

Jackson groans and opens his eye. "Morning, Kitten." He grins.

"Oh, my god." I whisper one more time. I can feel my eyes widen. "OH, MY GOD!" I jump off the bed and run through the house. I need to make sure I'm actually home. I sprint through the house, opening every door, every cabinet. "OH, MY GOD!" I yell at the top of my lungs. I collapse on the couch, sobbing. "Oh, my god."

"What's wrong, Kitten?" Jackson kneels in front of me, holding my hands.

"I'm... I'm home." I sob. "I can't believe I'm finally home with you."

He strokes my hair. "You're home. Home with me." He whispers.

A knock on the door makes me jolt in his arms. He shushes me gently and strokes my hair again. "I'll get it, you stay here. You can hide under the blanket if that makes you feel better." He smiles at me.

As he walks out of the living room, I scramble under the blanket. I curl up and rest my head on the armrest. Three sets of footsteps enter the room.

"Hey, Kitten. We have guests. Would you like to come out to greet them for a moment?" Jackson's voice is soft as he pats my head.

I peel the blanket back a little to peek out. I can see Jackson looming over me and behind him stand Ana and a small man.

"Ana!" I shriek, flinging the blanket back and jumping into her arms. "I missed you!"

"I missed you too, Little Dove." She chuckles, holding me tightly. "I wanted to introduce you to Cheyenne."

"Hi." The small man says shyly.

"Hi." I grin at him. "So... You're my mom's Beloved, huh?" Ana stiffens in my arms. I look up at her. "What's wrong?"

"I'm not used to the 'm' word being directed at me." She chuckles.

"Well, MOM..." I snicker. "I figure after eighteen years, it's about time."

Her face falls. "You... You had to spend your birthday with that..." She sighs heavily.

"We can still celebrate." I chuckle. "And I'll need to go to the school to start in-person classes again, right?"

"Nope." She says, with a level of finality, I can't help but slump into the couch. "We're celebrating, but you don't need to go back to school."

"What? Why not?" I ask, astounded. "Don't I need to finish school?"

"No." Ana, mom, says again.

"Why?" I can't fathom her reasoning.

"Because. That would expose you to unnecessary danger. I don't want that bitch to find you again." She says, her face hard. "Nor him."

"Him? 'Him' who?" I tilt my head, not understanding.

"Your..." She breathes deep and drops her head into her hands. "Your father."

"My... Father?" I ask, completely astounded. My entire life, I've never heard her mention him.

"Yes." She raises her head. "I think... It's probably about time I told you about him."