I can't promise frequent updates, but it's more likely now that I am through with finals. Hallelujah!

"Hello?" said the voice on the other line.

"Blade, it's Vanessa."

"Vanessa? I haven't heard from you in years! What's going on?"

Vanessa took in a deep breath. She hadn't spoken to her father ever since he found out she was pregnant with Drake's baby.

"Blade, I messed up. I kept the baby. I couldn't bear to give her up to complete strangers. I didn't listen to you and now my daughter is paying the price," she said over the phone.

"You had a girl? What's happening with her?" Blade was curious. After all it was his granddaughter that they were talking about.

"The familiars are after. Abby and King think it might have something to do with her father. Please don't patronize me! I can't handle that right now!" Vanessa was close to breaking down again.

"You made your choice. I wish I could have done the same with you. I already knew you were going to keep your child. There was no way that after nine months with a baby that you would easily let her go. It's a maternal instinct," he said calmly.

This shocked Vanessa. The Blade she had heard about and met was hardcore and uncaring. The news was that he met up with an old friend who had somehow changed him. Her name was Karen something.

Vanessa knew Blade had had his regrets of not getting to know his own daughter. He hadn't known she'd existed for twenty years, and he felt guilty over it. He felt that if he had stayed in touch with her mother, he would have known that he had a daughter.

"Blade, it's not your fault that you didn't know about me. It wasn't my mom's either. She just wanted to protect me from the vampire world, just like I want to do with my daughter."

"I know," came the reply. Blade could really be blunt sometimes.

"I need to know if you can take care of Drina for awhile. I need to sort this problem out," she asked. "I know you don't know her, but if you could please keep her safe until this problem is sorted out. You could get to know her during that time. I know it's a lot to ask after ten years of not speaking to you, but I'm begging you. My daughter's safety is on the line."

Blade was in bed on the other side of the line. Karen was sitting next to him looking concerned.

"Yes, of course I'll do it. Bring her over tomorrow. The sooner, the better. The familiars might already know your location. You know how to get here, right?"

"Yes," she replied. "Thank you so much!" And with that she hung up. Blade set the phone down on the hook. Karen put her hand on his shoulder.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

"Vanessa kept the baby. It's a girl named Drina. Vanessa says the familiars are after her daughter, and she wants to know if we can keep her safe until the situation settles down."

"Sure, we can fix up a room for her." Karen was always so collected and together, especially after what she went through when she first met Blade. She planted a small peck on his lips.

"Don't worry I know you'll keep her safe. You kept me safe, and I thank you for it. I also thank you for some other things you've done for me." She wrapped her arms around his naked torso and gazed into his eyes.

He kissed her deeply. They fell onto the bed kissing and exploring each other. Blade was glad he found something to live for. He loved Karen.

Later

As Blade watched Karen sleep, he thoughts drifted to Vanessa and Drina. He didn't know why familiars were after them, but he sure as hell was going to find out.

Vanessa drove Drina to school herself, instead of Drina carpooling with her friend. She didn't want any more surprise attacks. Drina was silent the whole ride. She hadn't spoken to anyone since last night.

As Vanessa pulled up to the school, she stopped Drina before she got out. She handed her a gym bag.

"What's this?" Drina demanded.

"You're going to stay with your grandfather for awhile. He can keep you safe."

"You're sending me to live with someone I don't know! Who you haven't even talked about since I was born! Why are you sending me away?" Drina was upset and confused and didn't know what was going on.

"Drina, you need to be safe. There are people who are after you, and possibly want to harm you. Right now, I don't care how upset you are about this, but right now your safety comes first. Understood?" Drina nodded and got out of the car and slammed the door. God, she had inherited her grandfather's attitude.

Drina couldn't focus on school at all, considering the bombshell her mom had dropped on her last night. Her mom was partially responsible for her father's death. She had always had this fantasy that her mom and dad fell in love then got married and her father died before she was born. Now she knew that her mom was just an undercover who got a little too caught up in her job. Drina realized that she was a mistake that wasn't supposed to happen. The thought saddened her.

After school, Drina waited outside for her grandfather to pick her up. Her mom had given her a picture of him, so she would know what he looked like. She noticed two men in dark suits approaching her. She slowly unsheathed her knife in her purse. The guys walked straight past her and she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding in.

Then the two guys turned around quickly and grabbed her. She pulled out the knife and slashed one on the arm. The guy ignored the pain and reached for her again. She screamed loudly. Some teachers headed over to help her.

Drina pulled the knife back and stabbed the other guy in the stomach he fell to the floor with the knife sticking out of his chest. The first guy squeezed her shoulder and she passed out.

A van rounded the corner and stopped right in front of them. Two new guys came out and dragged Drina and the wounded guy into the van. They sped off before the teachers reached them.

"Call the police. Someone has just been kidnapped," one teacher said to a student.

Vanessa received a phone call at work.

"Hello? Vanessa speaking," she said in a super polite voice that made her want to gag. She always had to act uppity at her job, or people would assume she was ghetto.

"Ms. Smith, you're daughter has been kidnapped…"

Vanessa dropped the phone. They had gotten her daughter. Damn it!

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