Chapter 2

(Protective Mother)

Katie's point of View

It was early in the morning when I entered my daughter's room. I approached the white crib decorated in pink, white and orange bedding adorned with little owls. I looked into the crib to see Angel looking up at me. She smiled at me and it warmed my heart. Angel looked adorable in the little white sleeper with tine red foxes covering it; that Sasha had gotten her. In truth I think it was Angel's favorite.

Gently I reached in and carefully picked my baby girl up. I wrapped her favorite fuzzy purple blanket with an owl on it around her and slowly walked over to the light orange cushioned rocker and sat down to feed her.

Slowly I began to rock in the comfortable rocking chair while I breast fed little Angel. I looked out the second story bedroom window and watched as the beautiful sky changed colors with the sunrise. I couldn't stop myself from releasing a quiet chuckle. I'd never seen so many sunrises before I had Angel. For the last three months I'd seen every sunrise.

Angel and I had the same routine every morning. She'd eat and I'd watch the sunrise. Then I'd eat breakfast and get changed and we'd take our morning stroll. Every morning was perfect.

"Ouch!" I said and jumped at a sudden sharp pain in my breast. I looked down to see blood on my breast. "Angel!" I said surprised. I removed my nipple from her mouth to find blood on my breast and all in her mouth,

My eyes widened as I realized I had a small puncture wound. Quickly I grabbed the white burp cloth and began wiping the blood away from my breast and out of Angel's mouth. I hissed as I felt a sharp pain suddenly on my finger. I looked at my finger to see a small puncture wound. I looked into my daughters mouth and upon seeing a very sharp looking tooth fear flowed over me. 'How am I going to hide this?' I silently wondered. If anyone else saw her tooth they'd no she wasn't fully human.

Angel's point of view

I sensed my mother's fear and instantly started to cry. Seeing the blood I realized I'd hurt her. I wanted to tell her I was sorry but couldn't. Frustrated I couldn't apologize and knowing I'd hurt my mommy I wailed even louder. I hadn't meant to hurt her at all.

"Hush now Angel it's okay," She told me quickly. "Shshsh It's okay," My mother said soothingly as she patted me softly. "It's alright sweat heart. It was just an accident. It isn't your fault you're teething little one. Now, now it will be okay. You and mommy are okay," She told me.

Mommy kissed me gently and held me reassuringly. I quickly realized she wasn't upset with me at all and began to calm down.

"It's alright Angel. We just need to keep the others from finding out alright?" She quietly explained.

Listening to her I began to realize her fear wasn't of me it was for me. My mommy didn't fear me. She was worried about protecting me. She gently repositioned me against her shoulder and gently rubbed my back and kissed my head.

"I love you Angel. Never doubt that," My beautiful mommy told me lovingly.

I cooed for her. It was all I could do. I was frustrated I couldn't tell her I loved her too but my cooing seemed to mean just as much to her.

"Can I lay you down long enough to go get changed?" She asked me. I cooed again confirming I'd wait. She smiled at me as she put me back in my crib. I loved the way her blue eyes sparkled when she looked at me. She kissed my head and laid me back down in my crib. "I'll be back," She said and walked away. I squirmed happily as I laid there waiting. I was certain I had the best mommy in the whole world.

Tyler's point of view

I stayed in the shadows as I followed Katie and Angel on their daily morning walk through the forest. Reth had charged me with looking out for the two women and I would not fail in my duties. I was surprised to see Katie take a casual glance around and then leave the path for the first time ever. Carefully I followed the brown haired woman and her child.

Katie looked around and seeing no one I saw her take out a piece of cloth the size of a hand towel. Focusing on the cloth I realized it was a disposable diaper. She used them as burp cloths for the child. Cautiously I made my way even closer.

I hadn't gotten much closer when the smell of blood filled my nostrils. I watched as she looked around by the pond and then picking up a small rock she wrapped the stained red cloth around the rock and then discarded it into the pond.

"It's alright Angel. No one will ever know," Katie told the young infant. "I think it's time to switch to bottles though," She teased the young infant before kissing the babe's forehead.

Listening to the women I quickly came to the summarization that little Angel must be teething. If Katie was discarding evidence of blood the child must have caused her an injury with a more than likely sharp tooth. I internally smiled to know the woman that had been at the mercy of the count was so protective of their child. Their was no question in my mind Katie loved her daughter and would fight to protect "Fox". Katie headed back toward the trail and I followed.

"Katie?" I nearly growled seeing Memphis on the trail. "Why are you off the path and so far into the forest?" The slayer inquired.

"I thought I would see if there were any ducks in the pond," Katie replied sounding far calmer than she actually felt. I sensed her concern at his sudden appearance but it was clear she had no intention of telling him what she'd really been doing.

"That pond is far more likely to be fell of snakes than ducks," Memphis warned. He looked at the baby girl and added, "Best for both of you if you stay away from that pond."

"I don't like snakes," Katie said very honestly quickly heading back to the path.

"There were several ducks at the lake down the road yesterday. I can take you and Angel over there later," Memphis offered. Katie nodded and they headed back toward the apartment complex.

Grudgingly I followed behind them. I didn't mind protecting Katie and Angel at all. It was Memphis I could do without. I hated him with a passion. I longed to rip him apart for everything he'd put my pack mate, Hope, through. Angel and Katie didn't need him. Not really. I could protect them just fine.

Though I must grudgingly admit at the moment Memphis did have his usefulness in helping Katie handle Parker. I internally frowned as I my thoughts went to the curly blonde haired an that kept trying to get too close to Katie. I knew the count wouldn't like it. In truth I was pretty sure Fox didn't like it either. She screamed whenever he got too close to her mother. Katie being the ever attentive mother would immediately go to her without a second thought.

I watched the two adults walk up the stairs and then enter the apartment. With them in the apartment once more I had nothing to do but wait. Wait and watch.

Memphis Point of View

It was late as I stood I the kitchen cleaning up. I moved a canister to clean it and almost laughed seeing a bottle nipple. My eyes widened as I picked it up. 'What the hell?' I thought to myself. The middle of the nipple was shredded. It looked as if a wild animal had been chewing on it not a baby sucking from it.

"Sorry I meant to throw that away," Sasha said abruptly taking the nipple from my hand. The blonde German born woman smiled and with a shrug said, "I guess I need to look in the sing before I turn the garbage disposal on." She opened the cabinet door under the sink and tossed the destroyed nipple into the trash. I was more than surprised to see a few other destroyed nipples already in the trash.

"You…never mind." I wiped the counter down and let it go. Sasha was a nice girl and actually could cook decently but her cleaning ability was lacking. At least it was in the kitchen. I quickly decided I needed to tell Katie and Parker not to let the woman use the garbage disposal ever again. She'd already ruined a set of silverware. I shook my head and left the room.

Dracula's point of view

The damage I had sustained was far greater than even I had expected. The slayers had nearly succeeded. I'd had to enter a state of sleep to recover. At times I could hear my servants so I knew Katie had given birth and that I had a daughter. I could even here my child calling to me at times. I wanted to speak with her but the damage was so intense I would have to recover longer before being able to silently correspond with little Fox.

I was disappointed at my predicament but pleased that Katie and my daughter were being looked after. I longed for when we would be together. As soon as I was able I would claim them both and no one would ever separate us again.