Freya's POV

"Good morning Phil," I said in a sing song voice.

"Hey there girl," he greeted cheerfully. Laying some papers down, the forty two year old man walked from behind the desk towards me.

I held up a handful of grapes and offered him some before popping two into my mouth.

"Nah," he declined, "I'm good. Did you enjoy the view?"

I could feel the corners of my lips turn upwards. Not only was the sunrise beautiful but I met my first vampire. He's not the first I've seen. There are plenty around at this hotel. It's just my first time talking to one. He wasn't like the others. Most you were too scared to even say hello to.

"It was amazing. Tully wasn't kidding when he said Hotel Carmilla was the place to be for the perfect sunrise."

I figured it would be best if I didn't mention Godric to Phil. He had clearly expressed his personal opinion on vampires. It only got worse when he found out his daughter had dropped out of college and ran off with one, to God only knows where, doing God only knows what. He didn't like to talk about it much.

He hated vampires with a passion. The only reason he was working at Hotel Carmilla was because it's the only high paying job available for him right now. He always complains, "If it wasn't for them damn credit card debts I'd be elsewhere. Instead I have to socialize with them fucking fiends."

All I do is shake my head. It's amazing how just mentioning vampires could give him a dirty mouth.

"Speaking of Tully is he in yet?"

Phil looked at me like I had two heads or something, then responded with, "He's on the night shift this month, remember?"

I wobbled my head, focus Freya.

"What's on your mind kid?"

Godric, he's the only thing that's been on my mind since I met him—especially those sad, soulful, gray eyes and distinctive accent of his. Was I going to tell Phil that? Hell no!

"Nothing just got a lot of stuff up here today" I said tapping my index finger against my temple.

His face turned solemn.

"So how is your mother?"

My mother, I love with all my heart, but… I just wish she didn't have to suffer the way she does.

"One day at a time Phil one day at a time." I glanced off elsewhere and then added, "Listen, I uh, I got to go. Maybe I'll catch you before you leave work."

With that announced I gave him a short wave and a weak smile before walking out into the bright morning.


"I'm sorry sweetheart I can't give you anymore pills unless you pay for the others you bought three weeks ago."

"Come on Angie, she needs them. They're the only ones that don't make her sick."

"What about your father? Can't he come down and take care of it?"

I wanted to gag. My so called father left us once mom was diagnosed. No goodbye, no note—just woke up one day and he was gone.

After my slight pause I replied with a little venom in my voice, "He's not able to do that."

She stared me down and recognition began to spread across her round face. Angie huffed, the air flapping up her red bangs.

"Freya is your dad at home?"

I averted my eyes.

"Freya you can't live by yourself in that environment," she whispered.

I was starting to get angry. She was feeling sorry for me, I could feel it.

"I can take care of myself Angie," I replied ferociously.

Closing my eyes I took small deliberate breathes before continuing. "I'm almost 18, practically an adult. So, please don't rat me out," I begged quieter than before.

I shouldn't get mad at her. She was only trying to help. "I'll have the money for you by Friday. Please, Angie can you just do this small favor for me?"

I stared into her blue eyes waiting. She twirled her hair between her fingers pondering on her decision.

She groaned, "Alright, here take them." She slid a small pill bottle to me. "You have until Friday, you understand me?"

I jumped up relieved filling in the space between us I pulled the plump redhead woman into tight hug. "Yes, I understand! Thank you so much Angie, thank you, thank you, thank you!"

She shushed me. Reminding me I was in a public area.

I said my goodbye with a promise for Friday.

It was around 12:30 by the time I left and I needed to get some food.

After a few blocks, I walked to a tall black man behind a hot dog stand in Haven Grove Park. Wasn't too much of a hot dog fan but I only had fifteen dollars in my pocket, they're cheap so I'll have to deal. It's better than nothing at all.

"Hey there young lady, what can I do for you today," he asked tipping his red hat and then adjusting a red and white apron over his yellow polo shirt.

"Hi," I greeted, "I'll have two hot dogs with mustard, ketchup, chili, and cheese please."

He began to move expertly around his station. Rolling the hot dogs on the grill, grabbing the buns he plopped them down on a plastic plate. He then paused and asked, "You want chili fries with that?"

"Sorry, I only have fifteen bucks, but thanks for the offer."

He shifted his weight to one side. "I tell you what. Since you seem like a pretty decent kid and you're my first customer—the fries are on the house." He smiled down on me.

"Ok, cool thanks."

After a few more minutes he slid my food near me."Take this bottled of water too," the man stated.

He let a thunderous chuckle at my astonished expression. "I take it that no one's nice here in Dallas?"

While paying for my food I responded with a grin, "There are very few nice people here."

I thanked him a last time, placed my fries on the plate with my hot dogs, grabbed my water bottle and walked to a nearby bench with a small pond in front of it. I wasn't expecting to eat all of the food, but once I took the first bite of the hot dog I just kept going. I was definitely going to become a regular.

After throwing my trash away I laid down on the bench. I stared up at the blue and white sky, watching the clouds slowly glide by. Relaxing my body, I listened to every sound that echoed around me—the birds chirping, fish from the pond making ripples and splashes, dry leaves scratching across the paved path as they were dragged by the light breeze that blew once in awhile.

My mind drooped, thoughts I didn't want to think about flowed out, my mother for starters who I couldn't give up on no matter how hard things get. She needed someone to stay with her through thick and thin, to have a reason to fight, to beat this ailment that's slowly devouring her and crushing the life she once had. I tried as hard as I could not to focus too hard on these thoughts something such as that can't be rushed. I turned my thoughts on another subject.

Godric, I will admit I was scared when I saw him walk up to me, and his lofty looking blonde friend wasn't making that feeling any better, but I wasn't going to let him in on my fear. I was rather good at hiding how I really felt. It was better that way. No one questioned you or judged you.

After he started talking to me I could tell right away he was unlike his kind. His eyes told a story that wasn't what he was expressing. They seemed dejected and cut off, like he had something else going on in his mind. It all made sense once he told me what he was doing on the roof top.

I honestly wouldn't truly understand his decision for planning such a thing because I've never lived as long as he has, however long that is. I'm just glad I was able to prevent it. I remember the smoke sipping from his skin. That completely caught me off guard, so seeing the whole process would've had me freaked out on a whole new level.

Wherever he is now I hope he is preparing to make life better for himself.

The last thing I remember before shutting my eyes was a strong gust rustling trees and sliding through my brown hair while the radiant sun beat down on my skin.


"Kid, hey kid, come on wake up."

My body shook from side to side until I finally opened my eyes.

"What time is it," I asked in a sleepy voice.

"7:30, you might want to get home as soon as possible. The crazy folks like to come out during sun down along with them vampires," replied the same voice.

My eyes finally adjusted and I realized it was the hot dog man.

"Yeah, you're right. It is getting late. Thanks for the food and waking me up."

"You take care," he said giving me a concerned eye.


Walking through the door I caught a glimpse of a figure in the corner of the room.

Turning around just in time I caught my mother's right wrist. Her hand was tightly wielding a butcher knife. This I could see was not going to end well. I just hope I don't get kicked out of the house again. Twice last week that happened. Once she blocked the door and the next day I had to get Tully to break it down, for the fourth time. The second time, she threatened to kill herself; I learned the hard way that, that threat shouldn't be taken lightly. There was blood everywhere; she had cut her arm so deep. Tully's girlfriend, Lorelei had helped me lie and put the doctor's suspicion slight at ease. That was just last week she has done this many of times in different ways.

"Demon," she yelled, "get out of my house!"

"Mom, come on it's me Freya!"

We struggled against each other. Finally I kicked her away from me.

She screamed out in pain when she bumped her head on the wall. Cradling into a ball she rocked and wept as she rubbed her head. I crawled toward her immediately hating myself and begging for her to forgive me.

She kicked me in the head and I bounced back letting an 'ouch' sound out from my mouth.

"Leave my house now demon," She held the knife up to her neck, "or I'll do the job you were sent here to do."

"No! Mom don't, please! I- I'll leave just don't hurt yourself."

I backed up slowly toward the door, keeping an eye on her every move. Before I closed the door, I tried one more time to get through to her. "Mom, it's me Freya."

I could feel the tears rising in my eyes. It just had to be one of her bad nights. She was completely gone. There wasn't any way of reasoning with her. I always wondered what she saw and thought, and what it felt like when she was in this state.

The last thing I heard was a high pitched shrill of, 'Get out,' then a thump at the door.

Completely closing the door with a sense of failure I slouched down on my front porch. I touched the wound on the side of my forehead, but then winced away. Letting everything inside go I brought my knees up to my chest and cried.

After a few minutes of releasing my pent up frustrations I gave one more glance at the door behind me and then headed towards the only place I knew I could go. I hated to leave her alone fearing she could injure or kill herself at any moment, but I never have a choice.

Why my mother? She's gotten so bad that she can't even recognize her own daughter. I'm… tired, have been for a long time. My life is just full of blurry images. I haven't taken the time to hold on to or making any good memories. I let the bad ones constantly remind me that I have to work hard and never stop till the end. I know I'll crash one day, and hard—but fighting to save someone is a thing I'm willing to do even if that does happen. I am a bottomless pit. I have no clue what the future holds for me. I am an unsolvable enigma—better off left alone to suffer a clouded demise.

I gave two hard knocks on a brown wooden door with the number 54 on the top middle of it.

The door swung open, "Look Rose I'll have your damn money- Jesus Freya, I thought…" She paused and a frown creased her face as she glance me over, "Again? And she hit you in the head."

I stared at the floor. "Yeah, you and Tully wouldn't mind my company would you?"

She smiled and stepped to the side to let me into their small apartment. "Of course not, you know Tully would keep you here every day if he could, and I love you just as much as he does."

"Thanks Lorelei."

"No, problem let's see what I can do with this mark of yours, and then I want you to try and get some sleep. We'll talk about things in the morning."


Electro Shock Faders-Hooverphonic

Feedback is important folks, I need to know what to improve on and change. I also hope this doesn't seem rushed. To me I feel like I didn't execute right towards the ending half.