Games, Prizes, and an Angry Vampling
Once lunch had finished, though in silence, we all went upstairs to the entertainment room. Alexander suggested we play a game and I had a feeling it would involve prizes 'fit for royalty'. Or maybe he was just trying to break the tension from earlier. Obviously it worked because the kids were bouncing with excitement.
"Okay," Alexander started, "the object of the game is to see who is the fastest at…" pause, "… finding every present within the house and bringing them back here." No more words were needed as the two vamplings dashed full speed out of sight. I laughed in surprise over their youthful immortal energy. I looked over at Alexander to see him laughing silently after them. He looked over at me catching my gaze. With a small jerk of his head, he gestured to the couch for us to sit. As I moved with him Lexy and Alex both came in with a gift-wrapped box in each hand. They sat them on the coffee table and sped back out again laughing.
"About the blood," I began to tell him.
"Why won't you let them drink human blood, Raven?"
"Well when they were born up 'til they were a year old, I breast-fed them, fangs and all by the way… thank you for that! When their first birthday came, your Granny told me I had to give them my blood in bottles for another year every time I had mine. She was all I had for guidance on the vampire parts of raising children. My mother filled in the rest until she died, but I couldn't take them for check-ups… I still don't know what to do about that. I asked Sebastian about a doctor for vampires and he asked what was wrong with me. I didn't want to tell him, so he wouldn't tell me. So I did what Granny said, and a year later she came back with more instructions. They were talking by then and were the sweetest cutest chubbiest little babies. I gave them human and animal blood laced with my own to ease them into the new tastes as she instructed.
"The next year, they were three and their personalities were starting to show. Alex was very quiet, and thoughtful, I guess he was in tune to his gifts. Lexy was full of words and questions, and always twirling around dancing. Your Granny said it was time to let them off of my blood and put them on to raw meat minced or ground to eat with human blood and animal blood alone to drink. The latter was easier to get because the butcher knew of you and Jameson… but still expensive. The human blood was harder since it meant either sneaking into the hospital or sneaking into The Crypt. I wasn't working there then. They reacted differently with human blood alone. Lexy gets starry-eyed and very hyper, like a child on a sugar rush. But with Alex, his eyes would blaze red and he'd become violent and very aggressive. For a while I thought it was just that age where temper tantrums were to occur. But I paid closer attention and realized it was the blood. I'd try different types to see if there was a difference. But they remained themselves only with the animal blood. Another year passed and Granny says that vampires can respond differently to different blood just as humans respond to different milk or food. I put a stop to the human blood when Alex became too violent. He bit Lexy and she cried nonstop, he was too fast for me to catch, so when he went after Billy with fangs bared… Luke caught him, took him into the woods and taught him to hunt for animals to release his anger. I couldn't watch my innocent little baby kill something, so I waited for them to come back. Then I decided that human blood was off-limits until they had better self-control." Once I finished the story I looked at Alexander who was keenly staring at nothing. By then the room was still being piled with gifts in two corners. "Like I said, Granny was the only help I had with the vampire part of raising children. But, she wasn't a vampire. Before I worked with Jagger, I would hunt for blood when money was tight. Lexy's never killed anything, not even bugs. I want her to stay that way."
"Why didn't you speak to our friends," he questioned, "they would've helped."
"No, Alexander, I couldn't." I explained, " the whole time you were gone, I had to beg countless times for them to help me where help was needed. Help with learning how to live as a vampire, to fly, to find the father of my babies so he could father them. You can call me stubborn, but they had no right to know of my children if they wouldn't let me know about you or answer the simplest questions when I literally begged. I swear when you left they seemed to have lost all respect and connection with me. Why didn't you send for me Alexander? If you knew we'd be apart for so long, if you had missed me so much, why couldn't I go? I suffered without you, and not just emotionally." I pleaded with him to answer the questions that tormented me all these years. "What was so important that I couldn't be with you?"
"Raven, I-"
"DONE!" the children came panting and smiling.
"I was here first!" Lexy exclaimed.
"You were not, I passed the threshold before you!" Alex argued. Lexy rolled her big brown eyes.
"Very good both of you, it seems you've found almost all of them." Alexander said amazed.
"What do you mean 'almost', Alexander that's more than…" I stopped just in time to catch myself, "… more than you spoke about." He smiled and simply remedied an excuse.
"Yes, well I had bats to carry them for me, and now that I'm home, the load has become much fuller. After all, these gifts must befit for royalty." Alex's eyes perked up, and Lexy squealed with excitement. "Before you open up, know that the black, red, and silver gifts are for Alexander, and the purple, pink, and white gifts are for Alexandria." They waited to see if he would say anything else. When he didn't they looked to me and I just smiled and watched them rip the wrapping off of the boxes and gasp in amazement at their gifts. Alexander got up and sat on the floor between them as he watched his children glow with their new gifts. I hung back and watched with a newfound peace in my heart. My vampire has come home, and my darlings finally have their father. My last thought before I felt myself drifting off into a dreamless slumber was, finally.
~ A few hours later ~
"Raven, wake up," I heard Alexander whisper. Alexander? I thought. Was Alexander here? I open my eyes to see Alexander looking at me.
"Alexander? You're back!" I said sleepily.
"I haven't left Raven, you've been asleep, the kids are watching a movie now." I sat up slowly with my wonderful vampire grace and looked at my surroundings. I was in our attic room in the mansion. Then I remembered everything that's happened lately.
"Sorry, I thought this was all a dream. How long was I out?" I was lying on the mattress that was still in the corner on the floor and Alexander was sitting in his chair with his long legs stretched out.
"It's two o'clock exactly, just a couple of hours. We have a few hours before dawn so don't worry."
"I guess we should get back then. It's a pain getting them ready for their coffins."
"Stay." One word with so many meanings. Coming together I could almost sense his thoughts, his feelings.
I got up and walked over to my vampire, my husband as I had been informed. "Let's take it slow Alexander, this has been a lot of changes and discoveries for one weekend. We need time to take it all in. Yesterday you already pointed out that we couldn't just pick up where we left off. And we agreed on the issue. Let's just plan out the week ahead of us; when's and where's. Unless you just want the kids, then I can go and pick them up before the next dawn."
"While you were sleep, the kids were very open in our discussions." Oh, my gothness, what were they talking about while I was out. Dammit! "Relax, Raven, I wasn't trying to get dirt on you through our children, I wouldn't do that, though I couldn't imagine what other dirty little secrets you may have kept while I was away. But I can say a lot of things need to change. Most importantly though, They are bright, so I know your Aunt Lily was very thorough in her teachings, but they aren't up to speed on the vampire ways of education. I want Jameson to take over their teachings. There's a lot to cover."
Thinking about it, I realized he was right. "That's fine, but I don't want to keep Aunt Lily away from them. You should still let her cover some of their teachings. Like you said, she's very thorough. Most kids get five to six days of school if you count religious instructions, and they've been lucky to have only two nights. Aunt Lily works during most of the week so I want to keep her on for the weekends. They'll need some nights free from teachings to breathe, so when would you suggest Jameson carry on his teachings?"
"Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays sound fine?" he asked. I nodded my approval. "Great then I will take you on for those nights as well to begin your teachings on survival and history." Damn! More school.
"I can't," I said a little too quickly, "I work every night except for Sundays and Mondays." He started to think to himself before he spoke.
"What do they do all week if you're at work and don't tell me he's had them." Confirmation: he will never see past this.
Sigh. "Alexander, Luke is a really good guy, and friend. He would never do anything wrong by my children. Billy's only here on holiday until he returns to his dorms. I literally have no one else. Becky's got a new life now since she moved away. Everyone else had taken up sides and it wasn't mine. So I don't trust them, let alone associate with them. Except Jagger who is my boss and would at the earliest opportunity turn them into mini Jagger's. So yeah, Luke has had them. He's been the only fatherly figure since-
"He is not their father!" he seethed.
"I know that, they know that, and he knows that. All I'm saying is that the problem you have with me concerning him shouldn't affect the good he has done for them." I pointed out, and then regrettably added, "Maybe if you picked up the damn phone when I call we wouldn't be going through this." In a split second Alexander was standing in front of me with eyes glowing and fangs gleaming.
A surprised gasp escaped my lips. Before Alexander could speak, he was shoved back a few steps almost losing his balance but quickly regaining his composure from the shock. I looked down at my little Alexander who was giving his father the same look I was just given. Panic. Then solution. "Alexander, sweetie, you didn't need to do that. Apologize to your father." When Alex did nothing I held his hand that was in a tight little fists and eased them to open and relax. "It isn't polite to interrupt adult conversations, Alex, you know that. And you certainly don't put your hands on them, especially your father. Now I want you to apologize." I spoke to him gently in my motherly tone.
"No. I won't. I felt his anger and hate, it was loud, and then you got scared. You've been sad all this time. You're sad all the time it's him isn't it?" my precious little vampire was angry and crying. I couldn't look at Alexander right now. "Why is it that when you're happy, it's only for a little bit? And then, when you're sad, it never goes away, ever, even when you're happy. Tonight you were different. You've never been this happy before, you actually laughed and now you're scared and sad."
"Oh, Alex. I'm so sorry to put you through this, sweetie. But, you can't just assume the reasons behind the emotions you feel from others. It's not always the person present that causes unpleasant feelings, many times it's a topic that gets brought up or a thought that lingers." I explained. "Having your dad home makes me happier then I let on, trust me. All I ever wanted was for him to come home and be with us again. That must be the sadness that's stuck with me all this time. But it's not the only reason. Right now you're still too young to understand what's going on, and even when you are older I wouldn't bother you with them. But I never lied to you when I said he is the kindest and most gentle vampire I know. He would never harm me but he has a right to be angry and I was only scared you'd feel it, and I was right as all mothers are. But I need to finish talking with your dad alone. These are grown up matters so can you understand that?" he may be young, but he is very mature for his age.
"I understand, I'm sorry." I kissed his little cheek and turned him towards his father. "I'm sorry, I was out of line. I just thought mom was in danger." He gave his father a brave face and direct eye contact. "You won't leave again, will you?"
"No, I won't leave again. Not without you three. I accept you're apology, but I'm very proud to know you would look out for your mother. I will have to control my temper from now on. I'm sorry if I scared you, my son." With that, Alex went back into the entertainment room. "There are some old coffins of mine from my childhood. Jameson can bring them down for the kids to sleep in. I've lived alone long enough. I want to have my family close to me."
"No," he looked at me and I didn't want his temper to fare again. "I found those coffins and used them already so they're no longer here. They're at the house."
"Then I'll pick them up right away." He made to leave and I grabbed his arm.
"I'll get them. Or we can go together. I'd rather not leave you two alone." He nodded reluctantly, probably hoping for the time alone. I told Alex and Lexy that we would stay for the day. Lexy was happy, but Alex wanted to go back home and play games with Luke. Luckily Alexander went to start-up the car, so he didn't hear. "Okay, I'm sure you can fit a game or two while we pack, maybe we'll just grab the bags you had from Aunt Lily's." He agreed, but Lexy wanted to stay and play with her new princess dolls.
The three of us got into my car and Alexander drove us to the house. Once we got there, Alex was the first to get out, I was second and Alexander followed. I opened the door and told Alex to grab his and Lexy's bags. Alexander followed me as I went to let Luke know we were staying the day at the mansion so he didn't worry. Then Luke walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. Dammit, Luke! Be dressed for once!