Alma, Georgia
January, 1985
"Vic, look! I'm doing it!"
The red haired vampire watched Raven ride her new bike with a proud smile. It had taken quite a while for the little human to get the hang of it. However, Victoria found she had the patience of a saint when it came to her.
"Good job, Ray! I bet you knew how all along," Victoria encouraged, causing Raven giggle and blush.
She continued to watch, making sure Raven wouldn't fall. She had been reluctant to steal the bike for her because of that. If she fell and drew blood, Victoria would have to kill one or both of her coven mates. Raven could be quite persuasive, though.
There was not much she wouldn't do for that pout.
"She's finally got it, I see," Laurent said, coming to stand beside her.
"I know. The abuse she went through caused her muscles to atrophy. When humans don't move around, they waste away. The starvation didn't help either," Victoria explained, lips pulling into a sneer at the thought of her treatment.
Laurent shared a meaningful look with his friend. What the child had gone through was one of the worst things he had seen in so very long. Yet, Raven was happy and healthy now. She was rambunctious and loving, with only a few remnants of her past left over. All thanks to Victoria's care.
"Did you have children when you were human?"
Victoria gave him a strange look. His question shocked her. None of them ever talked about their previous lives. James always discouraged it due to his disdain for humans in general. So, they refrained as to not incite his rants on human inferiority.
"No, I didn't and I didn't want any. Why," she said, giving him a curious look.
When Raven called her name, she proceeded to watch her try to pop a wheelie and applauded excitedly when she succeeded. Meaning, the wheel lifted a few centimeters and she did not fall.
"You're very good with children. I must say, I would have never guessed. You've changed so much, so quickly."
Victoria thought on his words as she watched her little human ride up and down the trail.
He was right. She had changed, but only in ways that she had to in order to care for Raven. She still enjoyed hunting humans and being wild. However, around Raven, she was content to be kind, loving, and nurturing.
"You love her."
Victoria looked at him, brows raised. Laurent was beginning to cross the line and he knew it. She wondered what he was getting at.
"What about it," she said in a warning tone, causing him to raise his hands in surrender.
"Nothing, just know that I value you as a friend, Victoria. I will always be here for you. No matter what," he said cryptically, giving her a meaningful look.
Victoria watched him disappear into the trees with dread tickling down her spine. Laurent's cryptic words made her mind toss and turn.
What exactly was he insinuating?
The moon shone brightly on Victoria's face as she stared out the window. Her black eyes gazed upon it in contentment, though her thirst was a blazing wildfire in her dry throat.
Raven had been sleeping soundly for more than three hours, which was a miracle in itself. The girl usually had nightmares that would wake her up frequently. James and Laurent were out hunting, and the latter would be bringing her home a fresh meal. So, she had time to herself for a while.
Her unneeded breath caught as the sound of a heartbeat approached their shack. Venom pooled in her mouth, and she was outside in seconds. The smile on her face was predatory and gleeful.
"I hope he's big enough," Laurent chuckled throwing the whimpering man toward her roughly.
"I don't see why you can't leave that little human alone and hunt with us like you used to. It's not going to vanish," James said in annoyance, glaring towards the house.
Victoria sneered at him and dove into the man's neck, causing him to scream. She covered his mouth hard, breaking his jaw. That scream would definitely wake up Raven.
Moments into gulping down the delicious nectar, the familiar sound of her name being called reached her ears.
"Oh, cherie, let's get you back to bed."
Cold dread pierced through Victoria's heart and she froze in place. Standing in the doorway to the shack was Raven, her eyes were wide with fear and confusion. Her heart broke into shards as she watched Laurent whisk her away.
"What's wrong, V? You look like you just got caught killing someone," James said, smirking at her darkly.
An hour later, Victoria was still pacing outside the house. She wracked her brain, wondering what she would say to Raven. How would she tell the little girl that she killed people? That she enjoyed killing people? But that she would never even dream of hurting her? In her mind, the only thing that could result from this was Raven fearing her.
"Why do you care about that human's opinion?"
Victoria stopped in her tracks but didn't dare to look at him. She was sure the look on her face could kill and she did not want to start a fight.
"She is a child. A child who just saw me, her guardian, killing someone. She's probably even more traumatized now and I'm the cause of it," she explained as if it were obvious.
James came toward her slowly, like the predator he is. Where once her body would have ached for his touch, now her skin began to crawl. His hand caressed down her arm and she wanted to rip it off and burn it.
"My love, that girl has turned you soft. You're so tame. It's almost repulsive. I'll be glad when you finally stop toying with your meal and come back to yourself. Come back to me," James said in a deceptively soft tone. Her teeth ground together.
There were so many things she wanted to say. There were so many things she wanted to do to him in that moment. All of them vicious and violent beyond imagining.
Instead, she kissed him.
Not because she wanted to. Not because she loved him. Because she had to.
She had never wanted to brush her teeth so badly.
Victoria caressed his cheeks, looking at him in what he would take for passion. When in reality it was hatred.
"I love you, James, but don't ever refer to Raven as a meal again," she said, her tone darkening with each word.
She felt his gaze on her back as she walked away.
Gently, Victoria opened Raven's bedroom door. The little girl sat up in bed with her covers wrapped around her tightly. She could hardly look at her without remembering the fear in her eyes.
"Is it okay if I sit down next to you, sweetie?"
When she nodded, Victoria slowly sat down on the edge of the bed. Every movement was thought out and careful as to not scare the small human any further.
"I would like to apologize for what you saw earlier. No child should have to witness that," she said sincerely. Raven looked down and played with a loose string on her blanket.
"Do you hurt people all the time?"
Victoria sighed. "That's what I wanted to talk to you about."
She maneuvered so that she was sat cross legged in front of Raven and tried to formulate a way to tell her what they were.
"James, Laurent, and I are...different. We're not like you. We're vampires. We have to drink blood to survive. Human blood. So, yes, we hurt people often. I just want you to understand that I would never hurt you. I would never allow anyone else to hurt you. I promise," Victoria said carefully, making sure she understood.
Raven looked at her friend and nodded. She was not afraid of her and never had been. She just didn't like seeing her hurt people. However, if Victoria had to eat people to live she would be okay with it.
Raven asked many questions about her vampirism, as she expected, and Victoria answered them all as best she could.
"Are you afraid of me now," Victoria asked in an uncharacteristically vulnerable tone. The thought of her little human fearing her felt like the end of the world.
Raven shook her head as if it were a silly question.
"No, I know you wouldn't hurt me," she replied adamantly. Victoria smiled at her, relieved.
"You're absolutely right, but how do you know?"
"Because, you're my Victoria."
The red haired vampire froze for a split second, thankful that her coven mates had left. Her heart filled with warmth and she looked at Raven curiously. The little girl had said those words with such certainty, but there was no way she could know what they meant. Raven simply felt it.
"Let's get you to bed, little lady."
Victoria got under the covers and opened her arms. Raven immediately jumped into them to lay her head on her chest. The little one loved nothing more than cuddling with the vampire. Although she was cold, it was a soothing sensation.
Victoria smoothed her hand over Raven's thick mane of black curls and sighed. Suddenly, she was overcome with emotions. Everything that had transpired ran through her mind. The situation with James being the main thing.
She could feel that something was coming, but right now she just wanted to enjoy this moment. Raven was safe in her arms and she was not afraid of her. In so many words, she had told her she loved her and felt loved by her. That was all that mattered.
"You're right," she whispered to the soundly sleeping child in her arms.
"I'm yours."
