Mommy's Little Monsters

Prologue

Ouch! That is the third time I’ve poked myself in the eye tonight! You would think, after wearing mascara for 105 years, I would be better at applying it. Oh well, beauty is pain; my mother always told me that as she pulled the rats nests out of my hair.

My face is as good as it’s going to get. One more check into the mirror to make sure that I my eyeshadow hasn’t smudged and a smile. My fangs are sparkling white. That bleach treatment really helped get the red tint out. I clean up my cosmetics and flip the switch as I move back into my bedroom. From below me, I hear a thud as something heavy falls to the floor.

Can they not sit still for six seconds? I told them I need to get ready. My dress is laid out on the bed. I drop my robe and the black silk falls over my curves. As I’m pulling on my pumps, another sound resonates through the floor. Oh, my goodness! If they weren’t already dead, I’d kill them!

I grab my clutch and make my way through the house to the basement door, descending the stairs. At the bottom of the stairs, in their beautifully furnished room, are my children, my three precious babies.

“August, I asked you to keep an eye on your brother and sister.”
My oldest son looks up at me from his place on the couch, blood dripping from his chalky white hand. Oh no! That will never come out of suede! His dark, sunken eyes are filled with dismay. “I’m sorry, Mother. Phina bit me!”

In the corner, my daughter, my youngest is rattling the bars on her cage. Her dress is ripped to shreds and her little fingers are gripping the bars so tightly that she may very well break them. She is foaming at the mouth and her bow is dangling from her hair next to her ear. My poor precious.

I crouch by the cage and she stops her temper tantrum. Her face forms a smile that only a mother could love; her little pointed teeth dot the gums as she grins from ear to ear.

“Mommy!” she exclaims happily.

“Delphina, my little succubus, did you bite Brother?”

My daughter points at August and cries, “Gust!”

“Yes, love, there is August. Do we bite Gust Gust?”

“No,” she mumbles. Her eyes lower and thin red streaks from on her cheeks from her eyes.

“Now, now, there is no need to cry. Why did you bite, my little Phina?”

She looks up at me again and places her tiny hands on her cheeks. “Hurts, Momma,” she whimpers.

“Poor thing, she’s teething.”

“Not on me, she’s not!” August cries from the sofa.

“No, my darling, not on you.”

I rise from the floor and open the door next to Phina’s cage. I step through and find the lightbulb on the ceiling. The room is covered with dried blood and decay. I told the doctor to clean up in there. This is going to stain my floors. On the table lies the remains of the doctor’s most recent project, and in the middle of the mess is exactly what I came looking for. 

I shut the door and wave my prize in the air before the cage. My daughter begins to jump in excitement as I pass the femur bone through the bars. She sits down and gnaws on it eagerly.

“All better, my fallen angel?"

“Thank you, Mommy!”

“You’re welcome, my lovely.”

“Mother!” The voice belongs to my middle child, Glover. Where has he come from?

“Hello, my ghoulish prince. What have you been up to?”

“I’ve been grave robbing with the doctor!”

It is only now that I notice the trail of mud from the back door across the crimson carpet.

“Oh, Glover, what have I told you about making a mess? I expect this cleaned up by the time I’m home. No one eats until the mud is off the floor.”

August groans, but Glover did not seem to hear me. “You look awfully pretty, Mother. Those are my favorite shoes.” He points to my red-hot pumps. “And I’m so hungry.”

I kiss the top of his head. “Thank you, my charming little demon. Now, clean up your mess and mind your brother and the doctor. Don’t take your sister’s bone; she’s teething.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“Very good, my darlings. I will see you when I get home. Call the doctor if you need anything.”

As I’m coming up the stairs, I run into our resident resident.

“Good evening, Doctor.”

He turns and purrs. “What goddess stands before me? Surely it is Nyx, mistress of the night. The moon shines only for her and the stairs bow to her beauty.”

“Charming, Doctor,” I smirk. At least he left his muddy boots out back. “I’ll be back with dinner for the children. Can you keep an eye on them for me?”

“You know I love them as my own. My lady,” he stops my, grabbing my hand and bringing it to his lips. Ever the romantic. “When, my lady, when will the day come when I am invited into your bed?”

I arch a brow at him. “Have you seen what happens to those who find their way into my bed? You clean them up.”

“You know how I feel about you, and we are not so dissimilar. It would be fun.”

“Except that I am an immortal being and you are a mortal mad scientist. Don’t ruin what we have, please, my dear friend. The children think very highly of you, and despite what you may see, I only reserve that fate,” I point to my bedroom door, “to those that are disposable. You are not, Dr. Sawbones.” I pat his cheek. “Now, my darlings are downstairs behaving and quiet. I don’t expect them to bother you.”

He sighs, but smiles a wolfish smile. “I shall continue to charm you, my dark immortal goddess. Perhaps one day, we can hire a sitter for the little dears.” He chuckles darkly.

“That will only keep them busy for half an hour.”

“I don’t need that long.” He growls at me.

“Doctor, you forget yourself.” My voice is sharp, but his eyes are full of laughter.

He walks me to the door. My car is waiting out front for me, my driver standing with the door open. “Of course, Lady. The children and I will be waiting for your return. They are always well behaved.”

“They are for you,” I agree. He helps me into my coat and waves me out the door.

“Oh, yes,” I say, turning back to him. “One more thing, Doctor.”

“Yes, my Lady?”

“Don’t stick your hand too close to Delphina. You may lose a finger or two.”