The Vampire's Trophy

Tide and Tidings

"Even the biggest moon cannot brighten the darkness in my heart". A lone figure walked the sandy shore as the waves battered the rocks nearby. The tide was high, the sea rough and yet it all did not matter to her. Footprints were being washed off faster than they were being made and yet she walked on. The waves were now already reaching her waist and with in minutes would drench her completely. She was so deep in thought that she didn't quite realize that her long black hair was already wet; until a man joined her. Nobody was around but he came by ever so suddenly almost like an apparition. He held her hand and she looked at him. He brushed her hair aside  and lifted her face with his finger. The moon was brightest at the moment and it shone on her face. Her face was almost pearl like as it glittered in the moonlight. A single tear glistened on her cheek as it rolled down. He wiped it off her face gently and said "Don't despair. We will find a way to keep our children safe."
She smiled slightly and then they walked away from the shore and into the darkness.

Deja Vu

The same moon was witness to a lone figure dressed in what seemed like a flowy white dressing gown walking in the sand close to the shore. The waves were competing with each other to drench her. She was almost completely wet when she got startled by the sudden ringing of the bell and a burst of fireworks marking the beginning of the new year. The colors lit up the sky momentarily until a fresh batch of fireworks went up again. A bunch of people started to move towards her. She wrapped her arms around herself and walked back towards her home. A man greeted her on the way, they hugged each other and he said, "Don't despair, we will find a way to keep your child safe."

Once home, they were greeted by a young boy of seven. He seemed rather cherubic for his age. He was excited about the new year celebrations and hadn't slept in the anticipation of gifts.

Mom, Grandpa, where are my gifts? I can't find them anywhere.

Troy, Grandpa has gotten us tickets to go to Europe by ship.

Yay! I love you Grandpa. Can't wait to tell my friends about it.

And he sat by the phone calling his friends and telling them about the trip. A couple of calls later he realized he didn't have much information, like when were they leaving, how long would the trip be, who will be going along.

But he didn't want to spoil the mood so didn't ask any more questions. He was also afraid the whole thing might get cancelled so he decided to behave his best at all times. He was usually a well behaved child except when it was time to sleep. He never liked to sleep, the very thought drove him into a fit. Left alone he would be gazing the stars and imagining shapes in the clouds.

Upstairs in the room his mother, Grace was setting the bed, it was already morning and little Troy hadn't slept even a bit. At breakfast Grace told him that they were leaving the week after. Grandpa, who was a retired Captain of the sea, made arrangements for his daughter and grandson on the ship he had long captained. His ex colleagues still worked on the ship and were more than happy to have them on board.

This wasn't Troy's first sail but he was just as excited. His mother was happy seeing him and so were her parents.
Grace was a single parent, her husband had left her on their son's first birthday. She hadn't heard from him since. Her father often urged her to remarry but she was adamant and refused to listen to him. Troy was all she cared for.  She wanted to go some place else because she felt it was the much needed break she could get. Troy was also having trouble in school. He was being bullied for not having a father and the school administration had repeatedly failed at stopping it.

She held a secret close to her heart, something not even her father was privy to. This secret stole all her happiness and yet that was the very thing that made her strong. She was always a strong headed woman but nothing had prepared her for the life she was leading.