Mother Knows Best

By Ldynwaitin

Chapter One

Josh quickly walked down the hallways of the hospital. His shift had just ended. He was glad it was finally over, he was getting tired of answering questions from his fellow workers of where Aidan had gone. Three weeks and they just wouldn't stop.

"Wow, you almost bit that guys head off," Sally said. She was walking by his side.

Placing his blue-tooth in his ear, he tightly grabbed the straps to his backpack. "Really, and how would you answer, 'Hey Josh, when did you go into gardening? I hear Aidan is fertilizing your backyard.'"

Josh nearly jumped when his phone rang. Looking at the number he could see it was unknown. Normally he would ignore it, but with Aidan on the run, he decided to answer it.

He was glad he did, when he heard Aidan's voice say, "Josh, glad you picked up."

Rushing down the hallway, he moved into an empty room. Sally looked anxiously at him. "It's Aidan," he told her, as he put his phone on speaker.

"I'm guessing this is not a social call," Josh said.

Aidan nervously searched the gas station he was standing in. He was using their payphone so it could not be traced. "You guessed right, I had to let you know, Suren and I are on Mother's radar. We had an incident last night, ended up killing her attack squad."

"Great," Josh said. "And Mother being Mother, she's not going to be happy about that, is she."

"VERY, not happy. I wanted to warn you to try to stay low, keep away from the house for the next few days. You'll have to tell Sally."

"She's here," Josh said.

"Hi Aidan," Sally shouted into the phone. "Thanks for helping me win the bet."

"Bet?" Aidan asked.

"Yeah, Sally said the first contact we'd have with you would be under red alert status."

"So got that right," Sally said, with a pump of her fist.

"Sorry Josh, I didn't want you dragged into this."

Josh heavily sighed, "Don't worry, tonight is a full moon. I was just on my way to the forest, got a new place picked out. Sally was going to stay with me anyway."

"Yes, I'm wolf-sitting tonight," Sally said.

"I'll figure out where to go in the morning," Josh said.

Josh could hear Aidan breathe a sigh of relief. "I have to go now, take care guys."

"Goodbye," Josh said. "And Aidan, you take care of yourself."

"Always, goodbye Josh."

Hanging up the phone Aidan looked for Suren. Last time he saw her, she was standing next to the car. Hearing a moan he rushed to the gas station's store. Running inside he was overcome with the scent of fresh blood. "Suren, no," Aidan gasped. He ran towards the back of the store. Lying next to the coffee stand he found what he tried so hard to keep from happening.

Suren was lying on top of a man, her teeth dug deep into his arm. Aidan grabbed her arms and pulled her off of the attendant. She snarled in rage. "No, I'm not done with him, I need to eat."

Aidan was furious. "Suren, we're trying to keep a low profile, that's not going to happen if you keep leaving a trail of dead bodies to follow."

Suren licked the blood on her lips. "I'm hungry Aidan," she whined, "I'm used to feeding when I want to." She lashed out, kicking the human. "This is not working. I thought it would be fun. It's anything but."

Aidan grabbed Suren by the shoulders, he shook her hard. "Listen, even if you want to, you can't go back. You left mother, she is never going to forgive that."

Suren pulled out of his hold. "I did this for you."

He searched into her eyes, "Suren, I also gave up a lot to be with you. This is our chance to break free from Mother's hold. I promised I'd take care of you. We just need to lay low for a couple of days. Okay?"

Suren's gaze slowly turned to the dying human lying on the floor. Aidan nodded his head, "Go ahead, he's dying anyway, then we leave."

Suren pounced on the human. Aidan fought the urge to drink. He would wait until she was done. Looking up he spied a camera. He didn't even give the camera a second glance, vampires do not appear on film. The police will never know who killed the attendant.

Once Josh ended Aidan's call he grimly smiled at Sally. "Guess it's a good thing we already had the night planned."

"Yeah," Sally said. "A night under the full moon, how romantic."

"Just don't do anything stupid after I turn. I don't want to wake up with pink ribbons in my hair."

"Darn," Sally said. "And I spent so long looking for the right ones to bring out your eyes." She fluttered her lashes.

"Come on," Josh said. "Let's go before Mother's goon squad find's me."

Josh rushed out of the room and swiftly moved down the corridors of the hospital. Rushing out he made sure to use the alley. He would stick to the back streets, he had to avoid getting anyone else involved in case he was being watched.

Coming to the end of the alley, a mountain suddenly stepped in front of him, a mountain with black eyes and sharp fangs. Before he could even take a breath, a large fist flew into his face, knocking him out. Sally shouted out in alarm as she saw a hood pulled over Josh's head, and his hands tied up.

"Let him go!" Sally shouted. She tried to hit the man tying Josh up, but her hands uselessly moved through him.

The large Vampire lifted Josh up and threw him over a shoulder. He angrily glared at Sally. "Go away little mosquito."

"Yeah, like that's going to happen," she said. She followed the large vampire as he carried Josh to a car. He was thrown in the backseat of the car, not a word was said from his kidnapper. Sally sat by Josh's side. She could see he was breathing all right, he was just unconscious.

The large vampire angrily eyed Sally through the rear view mirror as he drove away. "I told you to go," he growled.

Sally crossed her arms, "It's a free country, I can go wherever I want." She was surprised to see the vampire smile at her. "I can't stop you…yet."

Angry and confused, she stood her ground, and stayed close to Josh. Twenty minutes later the car stopped. The back door was flung open, the vampire grabbed Josh and pulled him out. Sally could hear Josh moaning under the hood.

"Josh, are you all right?" Sally shouted. Exiting the car she could see they were in a large dock.

"Wha…What happened," Josh mumbled.

"Quiet," the large Vampire hissed. "From now on not a word from you, unless you want to end up in the kennel."

Sally followed as Josh was dragged into the building and through a hallway. Suddenly he was slammed against a wall. Several Vampires were rushing towards him.

"Why did you bring that stinking dog and ghost in here," a tall vampire hissed.

Sally was surprised to see the Vampire that kidnapped Josh attack the other vampire. Grabbing his hand, he squeezed it, bones breaking was heard, with the cries of the vampire. "No one touches him," the large vampire warned the others. He grabbed Josh and pulled him away from the other Vampires. Sally followed him until they came to the end of the hallway. A large steel door stood at the end.

"This is where your ride ends, little lady," he told Sally.

He removed a bar that was bolted on the door. Aiming it at Sally he shoved it towards her, she gasped in pain when she realized it was made of iron.

"Yes, Iron, the entire room is lined with it." The Vampire grabbed Josh with one arm. "My advice to you is to go away. Your friend here no longer exists, now get."

He kicked the door open, and shoved the bar towards Sally. As she jumped back he rushed into the room and slammed the door shut.

Sally ran to the door, she tried to get through, but she quickly realized that the Vampire was telling the truth. The door, even the walls were made of iron. She nervously paced the hallway. She listened as close to the door as possible, but she heard nothing. Sitting on the floor, she waited. He would have to leave that room sometime. And she would be here when that happened.

Once Josh was dragged into the room, he heard the door slam behind him.

"Sally!" he shouted, as he was pulled further into the room. Stopping he heard something that made him fight with all his might. He heard the sound of a chain. A thick arm snaked around his neck, choking him.

"She's not here, now don't fight me," a deep voice growled. "If I hurt you, it's your fault."

Josh felt the blood rush from his face as something cold was being locked around his neck. Once it was locked his hood was pulled off. The ropes binding his hands were cut.

Josh grabbed his neck and pulled at the steel collar. It was large enough to encompass a wolfs neck, but small enough that he could not pull it over his head. Panting hard, he ran back, he jerked to a stop as he realized that the collar he wore was chained to the floor.

Gasping for breath he frantically searched the room he was taken to. It was a very large room. In one corner he could see a luxurious bed, in another he saw one cot. There was even a small table, chairs, and a television. All were just out of reach. Hearing a rustling he was shocked to see a small cage filled with live chickens. He had to blink his eyes to make sure he was seeing right. The walls of the room were solid steel. He could see faint scratches etched in the floor.

The man that abducted him stood several feet away from him. His hands held up, he moved them in a calming manner.

"There, there, just settle down boy, don't worry I won't let anyone hurt you." Josh finally got a good look at the Vampire that kidnapped him. He was built like a tank and was as big as one. His hair was slicked back. His dark eyes stayed focused on Josh.

"Calm down now," the man purred. "It's okay Phelan, there's a good boy. I won't hurt you, promise." The way the vampire was talking to him made Josh angry. He was treating him like an animal.

"No, no, no, I can't be here. W…why am I here?" Josh demanded. "Why didn't you kill me? Isn't that what Mother wanted?" Josh nervously paced the room. The vampire remained where he stood. "Why am I here?" Josh demanded. "Are you going to kill me? Why am I chained? What is this place?" he babbled.

The man slowly nodded his head, "Calm down, it's okay. I am not going to hurt you, please believe me."

"Oh yes, because you're a blood thirsty vampire and you just kidnapped me, and chained me to the floor in god knows where. So of course I should trust you." He grabbed the chain and rattled it.

"Look, first off my name is Randal. I'll be taking care of you from now on. I'm not here to hurt you."

Josh shook his head, "Excuse me, taking care of me? Why do I need to be taken care of? Am I here for the fights? Is that what she wants me to do? And why are you calling me Phelan, my name is…"

"Josh," Randal said, "Yes, I know, it was, but not anymore." Taking a step closer to him, Randal took in a deep breath. "Josh no longer exists, from now on you are Mother's Phelan."

Josh stepped so far back, the collar dug deep into his neck, "What do you mean, 'Mother's Phelan'? What the hell is that?"

Randal squatted down on the floor, he stared at Josh, to a point of being uncomfortable. He gently smiled at him, "You have the saddest eyes, most wolfs I get have angry ones, they're full of spit and fire. But yours, they're so sad, even when you're angry, they're sad." He leaned in and took in a deep breath. "Yes," he sighed. "So much emotion, you are a fine catch. Mother will want to hold on to you as long as possible." Taking out what looked like a small leather strap, Randal began to pull it through his hands.

"But they don't live long," Randal sadly said. "They never do, I wish they would. You get attached to them you know, can't help it, and then they're gone to soon."

"O…kay," Josh sung. He realized he was locked in a room with a crazy Vampire. Chained to the floor he was not in a good position to demand anything. Taking in a deep breath he said in a calm voice, "Randal, can you please tell me why I am here?"

Randal rocked on his heels, "Yes I can, of course I can. It's safe to tell you now, no one will ever know," He pointed to the door, "You're ghostly friend can't help you." He rapped his knuckles on the floor, "Made of steel and iron, it's ghost proof and sound proof."

He stood up and began to pace the room, keeping just out of reach of Josh. "I always tell them why they're here, no harm done, they can't tell anyone else. As good as dead once they enter here."

"Thank you, that makes me feel so much better," Josh whispered under his breath.

Randal stopped pacing and eyed Josh. He could see this one was a nervous one. He needed to find a way to calm him down. "If you promise to do as I say, then I'll tell you why you're here. Believe me, it's for your own good, you must promise to do whatever I tell you," he held his finger up, "No matter what, promise?"

Josh knew for now he was trapped in the room, and Sally would not be able to help him. There was no way out of here…alive. This vampire that kidnapped him was his only hope of escape, he needed to build some kind of trust with him. Josh calmly said, "Okay, I promise."

Randal stuck out his hand, Josh reluctantly took it, they shook. Josh groaned as Randal's grip crushed his hand. Releasing his hand, Randal nodded his head, "Good, then you'll be happy to know that you were not brought here to participate in the dog fights." Moving closer to Josh he whispered. "You are now a part of something greater, Mother's little secret." Randal looked back, making sure the door was firmly closed.

"What secret?" Josh loudly asked.

Randal grinned. "Told you, the room is sound proof. You can shout all you want, you're spiritual friend isn't going to hear what's said in here.

Sighing with resolution, Josh said in a normal voice, "What secret?"

"Aidan," Randal softly said. "He came close to finding out, so very close. That's why when Mother heard he was living with a wolf, she tried to get rid of you. She didn't know how close Aidan was to you. You see, Mother is the oldest Vampire and the strongest, do you know how she got that way?" Josh shook his head.

"Her secret, that only I know. That's because she needs someone to take care of her Phelan's, make sure they're ready for her. In fact, I was looking for her next one when I got the call. She said there was one nearby that had just become available, you."

Randal sat down on the floor, Josh tried to get as close as possible, sitting just in front of him. "Ready, ready for what?" Josh asked him. At first he was frightened, now he was curious as to why he was brought here. He hoped that he may be able to use this 'secret' information to help Aidan with his problems with Mother.