A Monster's Heart

Epilogue

"Thank you, so much for everything." The witch shook my hand as she, her genie husband, and their newfound human granddaughter left the government office. In over an eight year time span, I had helped reunite 29 humans with their Transylvanian families. Six custody battles had been won, many young adults who did not have families ended up moving to Transylvania and changing their names to match that of their biological families. Several who had gone onto have families had moved to Transylvania to become naturalized citizens and get to know distant relations better. We had attracted a lot more people, both visitors and people who envied the unique Transylvanians, and different businesses in our home country were booming.

I looked at my watch and smiled. It was time to go. I closed down my desk quickly, exited the government offices and hurried across the street to another building to pick up my daughter.

"Rainy?"

I turned at the voice as I waited for Ebony's things and was pleased to one of my close vampire friends. "Hello, Florence!" I said giving the vampire a hug without a hint of fear of what she could do to me. "How have you been?"

"I have been vell. Oh, are vee still on for Jasper and Ebony's play date dis Friday?"

"Oh, of course. I haven't told Ebony yet, otherwise Jimmy and I would be cursed with hearing 'do I get to play with Jasper' all week."

"Oh, I understand dat perfectly vell. You know how Vampire's need little rest? I do not tink dat includes dose of us who are mohders as vell."

I laughed as I picked up and held my two-year-old daughter. Ebony did not have any black blood in her as both of her parents were human, but Jimmy and I felt that it was important that she grew up surrounded by her Transylvanian roots. We lived in a cottage on my Grandparent's estate about a mile south of the Lande family castle. He worked I.T. for the University of Transylvania and I still held my government job as secretary for Department of Human Affairs. To Ebony, life was just as normal for her as it was weird for me in my first days of living with the Lande family.

We got home to the cottage with a surprise waiting for us.

"Grandma!"

"Hello, my sweet grandbaby!" My mother swung Ebony into the air as Ebony ran to give her a big hug.

"Hi Mom!" I said hugging her myself and breathing in her comforting wolfish scent. "What brings you to this side of the pond?"

"It's Poker Night and it's being hosted at our house tonight. Chaney is on a date with beau number 42 so I thought I might come and see you. Why isn't Jimmy joining tonight?"

"It's an inventory night. He won't be home until late and his brain will be fried. And he does not care for Boppa to clean him out again.  Have you eaten yet, Mom?"

"I did, but I will sit and have a cup of tea with you as you eat."

Ebony insisted that Mom take her for a wolf-ride. So they galloped across the estate as I cooked dinner for Ebony, myself and Jimmy. I smiled as I breathed in the scent of the soup.  I was thankful. Truly thankful, for my home and my family.