Tug of War
(1988)
The sun finished it descent behind the skyline as Beth climbed from her freezer. She reached for her nightgown and slippers lying on a chair nearby and slipped them on. Quietly, she padded to the kitchen to get herself something to drink. None of the staff seemed to notice her as she rummaged through the containers and pulled out one with water. Greta let out a muffled gasp as she nearly collided with the child.
"Beth, honey. You scared me," she said, clutching her heart. Beth smiled sweetly up at her.
"Sorry Greta," she replied. Pulling out a stool to climb on the counter.
"You want me to get it for you?'
"No. I can do it." Beth climbed on the counter and pulled open a cabinet. She retrieved a glass and with a quick leap, landed cat-like on the ground.
"You're up a bit early today aren't you?" Greta pressed. She worked days the last few months and hadn't been able to see Beth as often.
"I couldn't sleep in. I was thirsty," Beth answered, taking a large gulp from the glass. Beth finished her glass of water and ran back to her room to find something to wear. She'd recently begun dressing herself and was quite proud of it.
She sat down on the floor to tie her shoes when she picked up the sound of voices in the living room. She recognized them immediately. One was Greta, the other was Coraline. She hadn't seen Coraline in almost two months. Josef had kept her to limited phone calls.
"I want to see her!" Coraline shouted.
"I'm sorry but Mr. Kostan made it clear…you can't be here. Now please, I don't want to have to call security," Greta replied. There was a loud crash and Greta let out a pained cry. Beth was on her feet and in the room in seconds. Greta laid on the ground, a gash on the side of her head.
"What did you do?" Beth demanded of Coraline.
"It's ok, sweetie. Come on. We're going to go for a little trip," Coraline replied as if nothing had happened. Beth shook her head and took a step back. She glanced over her shoulder but no one was coming.
"No. You're not supposed to be here. Daddy said so," Beth shot, backing up a couple more steps.
"Beth…it's Mommy. Remember, you promised you wouldn't tell Daddy. That you could come over and we could have tea parties with Kitty and her friends. Do you remember?" Beth looked down at Greta again and then back to Coraline.
"I'm too old for tea parties," Beth replied. Coraline just smiled and reached her hand out. Beth continued to back up but when she started to run Coraline was hot on her heels. Beth could feel a hand grabbing her wrist and pulling her back.
"Daddy!" Beth shrieked as Coraline dragged her towards the doorway.
"Shh, honey it's alright. You're just going to spend some time with me," Coraline tried to calm the child down. Beth's scream had woken Josef. He was out of his freezer in seconds. He stumbled into pants as he ran down the hall. He could hear snarls and growling sounds in the stairwell.
"Beth!" he shouted and raced after them. He was too late. He saw Coraline's car speed off down the street. He angrily punched the wall next to him. His hand hurt for a split second before he raced upstairs and tended to Greta's head wound.
"Easy," he said as she sat up.
"Oh no…Beth. Mr. Kostan…I couldn't stop her," the woman babbled.
"Just calm down. I know where she took Beth," Josef assured her. Once he was satisfied she would be ok, he went to grab a shirt and disappeared into his office. He opened a cabinet against one of the walls and depressed a latch. The back of the cabinet flipped open to reveal a vampire hunting arsenal. He picked up a scythe and disappeared from the apartment.
Coraline led Beth into the Hollywood mansion and to the living room. A tea party had already been set up. Both bore fresh cuts on their arms and faces but they were both on the mend.
"See. I told you, just like I promised," Coraline said.
"Daddy's going to find us. He's going to stop you," Beth replied with a glare.
"I know….that Daddy and I don't get along all the time…but it's not because of you, baby."
"It's because of you…and what you did to me. I'm not a little kid. I'm seven."
Coraline sat down and began to pour blood from a tea pot. She poured some into Beth's cup and watched the girl pick it up and drink it. She should have known better than to trust anything Coraline gave her but she was starving and needed blood. It tasted fine and so she poured herself some more.
"Good isn't it. It's B negative….you're favorite."
"I like O better," Beth quipped. She wasn't going to give Coraline the satisfaction of being right. She'd learned not to trust her thanks to Josef.
Not far away, Josef's car came screeching to a halt at a stop light. His fingers gripped the steeling wheel so tightly that his knuckles achieved an even whiter shade of ghostly pale. He slammed his foot on the gas pedal, even though the light hadn't changed yet. Screw traffic rules. He had a child to save. The car skidded to a final stop in the driveway of the mansion and he jumped out. He burst through the front door and walked into find Coraline sitting across from Beth. A tea set sat between them.
"Daddy!" Beth called, running to his side.
"You had no right," he accused.
"No, Josef. You are the one who had no right to keep me from her. I'm her sire," Coraline retorted.
"I don't like you," Beth snapped, holding onto Josef's hand more tightly.
"You took her life from her. You took away everything she had and could have become. All because you were selfish. I'm giving her what I can. I'm protecting her." It was then that all parties in the room noticed the sharp implement in his hand.
"Josef…I just wanted to be happy. Is that so wrong?" Coraline begged as Josef took a step towards her. Beth took several steps backwards, her eyes wide with fear. She'd never seen Josef attack anyone before, let alone another vampire.
"Yes. You didn't think about what was best for Beth. But…luckily I am." Coraline's eyes widened in fear too as she tried to move away from him. She watched his eyes change and his fang appear.
"Please…I…I swear it won't happen again," she babbled.
"I can't take that chance," he said coolly. The blade slid through the air and connected with her flesh with a sickening sound. Beth had to cover her eyes as her head hit the floor. He dropped the scythe and turned back to Beth. He bent down to her eye level and gently took her hands in his.
"I'm sorry you had to see that. But she won't be bothering us anymore," he said, pulling her to him in a firm hug. He'd call the Cleaner's when they got back to his apartment.