The Little Vampire's Lost Cousin

Chapter 8

The next morning, Ruby woke up in her room and felt a smile cross her face. Tomorrow was her birthday. She couldn't believe tomorrow night she'd have her parents back. Of course Tony and his own parents would always be her family, but she wanted her own parents back. And if what her father told her was true, she wanted to be able to surprise them and show them that she already knew the basics of being a vampire. Ruby smiled to herself as she thought about the things she could do to surprise her real parents as she got dressed and headed downstairs. Tony was sitting at the kitchen table drawing. "Hey there, birthday girl!" said Dottie with a smile. "I think you mean 'almost' birthday girl. Ruby's birthday isn't until tomorrow." said Bob. "Oh come on, Bob, I'm allowed to be excited about my daughter's birthday." said Dottie. "So, Ruby, you want to do anything special for your birthday tomorrow?" asked Bob taking a sip of coffee. "Um....well Tony and I learned in school there's going to be a special comet that only every 300 years. Can we go watch it?" asked Ruby hopefully. "If it's alright with your mother." said Bob looking over at Dottie. "Fine with me. If Ruby wants to watch a comet, then we'll go watch a comet." said Dottie. "How's that sound, Sport?" asked Bob ruffling Tony's hair. "Yeah, sounds fun." said Tony smiling. Ruby was also grinning, but for a different reason. "You know, Ruby, how about I take you and your brother to work with me tomorrow too? That way you'll see how a golf course is made first hand." said Bob. "OK!" said Ruby brightly as she finished her breakfast. "I'm going in my bedroom! No one go in because its a surprise!" called Ruby over her shoulder as she ran back upstairs. And true to her word, Ruby spent the entire day in her bedroom and Tony knocked on the door asking if she wanted to go see the Sackville-baggs with him. Naturally, Ruby said yes and met him outside. Luckily, neither of their parents noticed them as the two ran hand in hand to the cemetery. 

When they got their, Tony had to usher Ruby backwards because there was a blinding light in the cave and four of the vampires were hiding behind Fredrick who was smoking as if he were on fire. Tony quickly looked around before spotting a loose stone that was big enough and grabbed it before throwing it at the light breaking it. "Score!" yelled Tony. "What happened!?" called Ruby from the entrance. "Everything's OK, Ruby! You can come down!" called Tony. About a minute later, Ruby had entered the cave and noticed her uncle laying on his back while resting his head on her aunt's lap. "Uncle Fredrick, are you alright?" asked Ruby worriedly. "He's very weak dear." said Freda gently. "I know just what he needs." said Tony with a smile. 

A short time later, Tony and Ruby were standing by the entrance of the barn while the vampires feasted on some of the cows. Freda was the first to emerge with Gregory who was in a straight jacket and had a muzzle over his mouth along with a collar and leash around his neck. "Ruby, could you please come hold your cousin while I tend to your uncle?" asked Freda. Ruby wanted to protest but slowly walked over and took the leash from her aunt. "I still don't like you." said Ruby trying to keep her distance as best as she could. Gregory didn't say anything but he did roll his eyes at her. "Would you like some cow's blood, Ruby?" asked Anna. "No thanks, I already ate." said Ruby. "You know, if you guys need a place to crash, you can stay with us." said Tony. "Yeah, you can stay in our cellar!" said Ruby. "It's worth a try. Ruby was down there for hundreds of years without being detected." said Rudolph taking his brother's leash from his cousin noticing her discomfort. "Thank you!" whispered Ruby running back over to Tony. "But is it dark enough down there?" asked Freda. "Oh yeah." said Tony. "Follow us!" said Ruby as she and Tony lead the vampires to their home. 

While Tony showed the vampires downstairs, Ruby went back up into her room and hung upside down on her bed gently touching the stone. She was excited yet nervous for tomorrow night. Would her father's plan even work? She wasn't exactly sure but she was eager for tomorrow to come so she got into her pjs and slipped under her covers and closed her eyes falling into a light sleep. Ruby wasn't sure how long she had been sleeping for but she jumped straight up when she felt someone sit on the edge of her bed. Ruby could faintly see the outline of a man sitting there. And it wasn't her dad. "Uncle Fredrick?" asked Ruby slowly to make sure who she was seeing was actually there. "Did I wake you, Ruby?" whispered Fredrick. "Kind of...." said Ruby quietly. "What are you doing in my room? Shouldn't you be resting?" "I know, but I came up here because I wanted to talk to you." said Fredrick. "I'm still not giving you my necklace." said Ruby crossing her arms over her blanket. Fredrick laughed quietly. "You really are Von's daughter. Your father was just as protective of the stone as you are." said Fredrick. "I thought you didn't like Daddy?" said Ruby tilting her head. "Of course I loved your father, Ruby. He was my brother in law. I was just upset that he never even bothered to contact us and tell us you were even born in the first place." said Fredrick softly. "Do you love me?" asked Ruby. "Of course. We all do. Even Gregory loves you believe it or not." said Fredrick. "Not really...Gregory's kinda scary and mean." said Ruby quietly. "He wasn't always that way, Ruby, and if your father were here he'd tell you the same thing." said Fredrick. "Uncle Fredrick, why are you really up here?" asked Ruby. "I only came up here to apologize for my earlier outburst, Ruby. I never meant for you to feel like any of this is your fault." said Fredrick quietly. "I understand...." said Ruby. "I'm sorry you had to find out about us this way, Ruby, but know if there's anything we can do for you, do not hesitate to ask." said Fredrick. "Well, there is one thing...." said Ruby. "You want to know about your father, yes?" asked Fredrick. "Well yeah, but that's not what I was going to ask." said Ruby. "Is it about your birthday tomorrow night then?" asked Fredrick. "Yeah. I was wondering if you guys were going to celebrate with me tomorrow. Rudolph says you can't but I was wondering if there was a chance that you would." said Ruby. Fredrick was silent and Ruby figured he was going to say no. "I'll speak with your aunt, see what she thinks. But for now, it's time for you to rest." said Fredrick slowly getting off his niece's bed before exiting the room. Ruby lay back down in her bed and pulled her covers back over her body and snuggled into her covers as sleep overcame her.