The Delacours

ten.

                I walked inside Odette's house and found her in the kitchen. She was cleaning up after dinner from the kids and preparing lunches for the next day.

"So are we going to talk about John?" I asked, trying to hold in a laugh.

"Oh, sugar-honey-iced-tea, are we really going to talk about this Liz? There's not much to talk about here, honey. He makes me feel good. I'm over 250 years old and I haven't been with a man since my husband, over two hundred years ago. Is it so wrong to love a man?"

"No, Mom. It's not. But a wolf, really? You're the Sheriff!"

"I was lonely. After Chris got bitten the first time, he met me at my office to talk about it and before I knew it we were naked on the couch. He reminded me so much of my Edgar..."

"Do you want us to move back home?"

"No! I'm so happy you are all out on your own. I just... I'm going crazy being around all these kids sometimes. I needed the company of an adult. And I really like it! Is it wrong of me to be with him?"

"I don't think the problem is who he is, it's what he is. What if he loses his temper and bites you?"

"Oh, Liz. I let Chris date Mariana. I think witches are worse than wolves. John is one of the nicest people I've ever met and he... And, well, he let a fae help us find that rogue wolf. I think times are changing."

"And according to that fae, the wolves are going to hate us all even more. That wolf tried to break his curse by the help of a witch and that witch blasted him with some memory curse. That's why he didn't know anything."

"And how is that the witch's fault exactly?"

"Val couldn't get all the details from the scrambled bits that were his memory coming back, but, I guess the witch turned on him and threatened the lives of the Wolf pack in Massachusetts. She thinks that you and John dating is just the start of the wolves losing their shit, and pretty soon people like John aren't going to be able to hold them back. I guess I just don't want you caught in the crossfire, Mom."

"I appreciate the sentiment, but I think I can take care of myself."

"Just be careful. Please. I don't want to have to go after John..." She started chuckling as she realized what I meant while she poured a glass of Grand Marnier. She offered me some but I declined.

"So how are things going with Chris?"

"Well, we only found out that Val is a fae because Chris was bitten again the other night. Her blood heals vampires with wolf venom in their system. She can do magic witches could only dream of. She's here to help us."

"Yeah, I heard her saying that. That she chose your clan to help?"

"I guess her lineage of fae are sworn to protect vampires. She really came through for us that night... and tonight."

"She did. Make sure you give her my thanks."

"I will."

"...Chris seems different. Are you sure everything is okay? Other than being bitten." I couldn't bear to look her in the eye.

"...He's been feeding on human blood."

"Excuse me?" she placed her glass on the counter, almost a bit too hard.