North American Vampire Council & Past Calling (Hypernaturals 12 & 13)

Trailer Park

The monster truck we use to pull the RV is large. The biggest one Ram makes. We could have gone bigger only by going to a commercial medium-duty truck rigged out to tow a fifth wheel, but we didn't because we also need space to put the family. Despite its massive size and towing capability, the truck only holds six adults comfortably, and eight for a short trip. Huntsville is not that far north but far enough eight would suck. With Vera, Denise, Morgan, Angel, Jessica, Ken, Helen, and myself that is eight. While we do not mind sitting in each other laps, as Vampires, that would be hard to explain to Ken. We decided to take Helen's four-door as well.

That means I drove Helen's car. When Helen and I are in the same car, I drive. I have no idea why, but it's the same thing as when Morgan and I are in the same car. Morgan drives. Or Jessica and I. She drives. That is just how it works. It has never really been discussed. We head to the car, Helen gets in on the front passenger side.

Denise and I have not established that exactly, other than she drives when it is her Jeep. Given where Denise liked to go, I like her to drive. I am not an off-road driver. Denise loves getting air under all four wheels at the same time, usually on the way to some secret spot she knows about.

There is also that Helen just drove to Houston from Austin and is tired of driving. I understand that, but I would drive no matter. I have wondered if it is a British royalty thing, where Helen assumes she would have a chauffeur at some unconscious level, but I sort of doubt it. Oddly, I think it is gender role-based. Despite her being centuries my senior, I think that someplace in Helen's mind there is a role-based thing that says that the man drives. It's weird, and I wonder if I should ever ask her about it.

Denise rode with us, so that put Ken in the car with Morgan. I wondered about the dynamic of that. I imagine it will be fairly tense if nothing else because of the distraction of maybe finding out what happened with his family. Also: there will be self-recrimination. If this pans out, and I have no reason to think it will not, then if he had asked for help sooner, he would have known sooner.

There is also the idea that this is not a kidnapping but a family kerfuffle of epic proportions. That Ken involved a former lover in the middle of a current family squabble.

Our ride north to the trailer park is much more laid back, I am sure.

"You all did not take long to solve this." Helen noted when we were underway.

"Morgan and Crew. Not much stands when you bring that kind of firepower down on it." I said.

"True." Helen nodded agreement. "Never bet against that combination."

"I should have noticed the damn car." Denise verbally recriminated herself. A thing I have really started to understand about Denise is that she holds herself to high, almost unreasonable standards.

"Denise. Really? It's Morgan. You know what she is like." Helen reassured her.

"I'm the head of the fucking Crew." Denise griped, obviously pretty angry at herself for missing that. Sure: it's easy to see once it is pointed out.

"Darling: Get used to it." Helen said firmly. "If you intend to marry us, that is your new life. We all get shown up by Morgan like that. The woman is a force of nature that way. She found her mother: A Vampire in hiding. A hidden entire world. Laura came not only from Ben and Sally's genes but from Morgan's own amazing genes. I made a pass at Morgan when she was still human, knowing she is a straight girl, because of that sexy, sexy brain of hers."

"Sure. Why Olivia is crazy about her and me too, for that matter. Still does not feel good. You ever have that happen to you, Adrian?" Denise asked me.

"Sure. It is like Sam said. Sometimes you just hold on for dear life." I assured.

"Sometimes YOU are the smart one too. Don't be overly modest, my husband." Helen said.