Chapter 7

Sara broke the silence. "They're nice."

"Yeah, they're alright. Better than Napoleon and Josephine at any rate. Never did like her much. She was a gold digger and an incessant flirt."

Sara laughed. "You cheered when they divorced?"

"Naturally."

They shared a chuckle and then it was awkward again.

Josef cleared his throat. "Drink?"

"Please. All of this is going to take a lot of getting used to." She sat back down on the seat she had vacated. "I remember all the conversations we had about the vamperic lifestyle. It's like knowing all the theory and now you need to deal with the practical. It just feels strange living it."

"After four hundred years… well, needless to say I'm your personal encyclopaedia." Josef poured Sara a glass of blood. She wasn't exactly sure where the decanter had come from. It seemed like a vampire residence was riddled with nooks to hide their life supporting meal of choice.

Josef took a seat opposite her. It was time to get down to the practicalities. He cleared his throat. "Urm… Polly had a freezer moved into your room. It's similar in concept to the cold chest I had used… when we met. This one is more advanced, has temperature regulators, alarms, sound proofing. You'll be comfortable."

Sara didn't say anything. She looked at the scarlet liquid in her hand.

"There is also something else…" Josef looked uneasy. "Your father, John, he is still alive."

Sara's head snapped up. "What?"

"A few months ago, he had a hit man take out a contract on my life." He ached when he saw her pained expression. "Mick and I took care of it, but I've kept tabs on your father since then. Safety reasons. He's very ill, but holding on."

"Why would he want to kill you? Surely everyone believed me missing, just like we had planned it."

"Your father found your journal…" Josef trailed off. He had read the journal, kept it with him in LA. He practically had every passage memorised.

Sara's hands shook and she put the glass she was holding down on the coffee table. "Oh my God. He knows? About me being a vampire?"

"No, not technically. He never knew you had survived, for lack of a better word. He assumed I drained you and then killed you. He doesn't know you are alive now."

There was nothing to think about. "I want to see my father."

Josef was unprepared for the protective instincts that immediately reared to life. "No."

Sara's eyes widened. "No? Why not?"

Josef got up, annoyed. "He hates what we are! Vampires! Immortal, the undead, spawn of Satan. And he hates me," he added as an after thought. Sara had the distinct impression that latter pleased him. "It's too dangerous! He could have you killed!"

"Well, it doesn't really matter does it? I'm dead anyway, and the reason for me being undead no longer exists! So I think I'll take my chances with my kin. My father might still claim me!" she snapped out.

Josef's fists balled. He was ashamed. "Sara-"

"No, this isn't a debate. And it certainly isn't up for discussion. I want to see my father. If you won't help me, then I will find someone who can. I hear anything can be found on the internet."

"Right. What do you know about the Internet?"

"Enough," she said with stubborn determination.

"Dammit! I'm going to kill Beth!"

"I hope you don't mean that literally," she said with sass.

"Right now, I'm not sure!" he snapped back. "Sara, I understand you want to see your father, but-"

"No Josef, you don't understand anything! I woke up this morning, and I was happy. I was grateful to be alive. I was a vampire, and I was ready to be with you, my Charles, like we had planned. But instead of that being my reality, I realise that the man I love is now Josef and doesn't love me anymore. And I can't even be angry about it, because the anger would be fifty five years too late! My father is my one lifeline right now, and I'm going to grab a hold of it. I won't stay here indefinitely. And I need to find some direction. This is as good as any."

His gut wrenched. She believed he didn't love her anymore? The absolute absurdity of that thought! But it would be best to not dispel that notion, no matter how painful. At least not yet. Not until they had things figured out.

In response to her argument, Josef seethed, but he had to grudgingly admire her determination. "You're not going to change your mind are you?"

"No."

"Damn you and that stubborn pride! How could I have forgotten?" he said, exasperated.

"Fifty five years is plenty of time," she said softly.

"Sara-"

"Good night Josef. I'll get Polly to help me find anything I need. I would like to see my father tomorrow. Please."

Josef made a face. "As you wish."

"Sweet dreams."

"They used to be," he said. But she didn't hear. She had already left the room with lighting speed.

Polly seemed to find Sara the minute she left the living room, as if she were waiting for her to exit.

Sara smiled kindly at the woman who had nursed her all this time. "I'm going to turn in for the night. Would you mind…?"

Polly shushed her and steered her towards her bedroom. When they entered, everything looked the same, but different. The room still looked the same, but in place of the wide double bed, there was now a large silver rectangular chest, the lid of which was open. All the medical equipment was removed, and in its place was a dresser, wardrobe and every other modern convenience.

"The cold chest has been cleaned out Miss Whitley. Mr Kostan saw to the purchasing of a few necessities, those have all been packed into the wardrobe. Would you like me to help you get ready for bed?"

"No Polly, no thank you. I'm sure I'll be able to manage."

"I've left a decanter on the dresser for you, if you're hungry. Good night then."

The older woman had reached the door before Sara called to her. "Polly?"

"Yes, Miss?"

"Thank you, for taking care of me. I owe you a great debt. And please, call me Sara."

"It was really nothing Miss Whitley." Polly smiled kindly and ignored the call to be less formal. "I'm happy to see you well again." She silently left the room.

Finding herself alone, Sara went to the wardrobe and opened it. There were a few sundresses in darker shades, all with sleeves at a three quarter length, to minimise exposure to the sun, she was sure. Sweater's, skirts, slacks and jeans were also packed neatly. Sara looked at each item individually, trying to picture herself in them. In 1955, these weren't exactly what women were wearing. But luckily, she wasn't averse to trying new things. There were also a few pairs of shoes. Some flat and comfortable, others a little more formal. They looked more like what she was used to.

Opening the dresser drawers, she found an array of undergarments, all a lot scantier than anything she previously owned. Times have certainly changed, she mused.

The other drawers housed sweet and citrusy smelling crèmes and powders, their scent all overwhelmingly pungent, but not unpleasant to her extra sensitive senses.

Sara chose a white satin nightdress, with a matching satin gown and changed for bed. She experienced the weirdest feeling of dejavu when she climbed into the freezer. She remembered getting into Josef's when she was still human. Back then, it had been deathly cold.

This time around, the cold temperature had her sighing in pleasure. As soon as she lay down, the lid automatically closed, and it was like her senses were shut off. There was absolute darkness, and absolute stillness. It was the perfect environment to finally reflect on the day.

There were no heartbeats beating in a rhythmic tattoo, no voices from the street, no interference from cars on the outside. Just blissful silence. It would definitely take practice to be able to hone her new senses. The sensory onslaught from all the new stimuli was overwhelming. Hearing Beth's heartbeat had automatically tipped her off to the other woman's humanity.

And Josef. Today was meant to be their forever. How many times had she wondered what it would be like to finally be like him, and with him for all eternity? And now she was like him, but being with him wasn't what she had expected it would be.

Intense longing ripped through her. She still loved him. Completely. She closed her eyes for a moment in an attempt to gather her wayward emotions. Being a vampire certainly didn't dampen her emotions. If anything, it made them more intense. She would smell him, hear him, and feel him more intensely than before. Could she face an eternity that didn't include him?

She didn't know what the immediate future held for them, but she knew that her next plan of action was going to see her father. She had no idea what the meeting would bring, but it was a great comfort to know that someone from her past, besides Josef, was still alive, and she would be seeing him soon. That thought helped stave off the intense feeling of loneliness that seemed to threaten to overwhelm her.

Sara's eye's drooped and sleep claimed her. Her last thought was of Josef leaning toward her, kissing her on her lips, and then sinking his fangs into her throat…