The house was small, nestled deep in the forest of western Oregon. Although the sun was shining, the canopy of trees cast a shadow over the cabin.
A beat up car sat in the driveway, and two heartbeats could be heard in the house.
"My sister is here babysitting. Don't act weird or try to hurt her."
"Why would I do that?"
Jackie gave her a pointed look.
"I don't know what you are, but you're not human. I don't know what you're capable of yet."
"You will learn to trust me."
Jackie openly scoffed. She was afraid of Victoria, but still kept her fiesty attitude.
"I doubt it."
The sister, Allison, stared at Victoria when she thought she wasn't looking. It was clear that something was off about the stranger. It wasn't just the fact that she had cold, black eyes.
The redhead paid her no mind.
"Fran, Allison, this is my new friend Victoria," Jackie said. "She's staying here for the night."
The vampire rose a brow.
"For the night," she whispered.
Jackie tried not to scowl.
"You heard me."
Despite her discomfort, Allison stepped forward and extended a hand.
"I'm Allison. It's nice to meet you."
Victoria nodded but didn't grab it, causing Jackie to glare.
"Victoria doesn't like touching people," she lied. "She's a germophobe. It's a whole thing."
Allison nodded in understanding.
"Oh, I get it."
While Jackie and her sister began talking, Victoria found herself indulging in a staring contest with her mate's daughter.
The twelve year old furrowed her brows and crossed her arms.
Victoria mirrored her.
"Why are your eyes like that," Francis asked boldly. "Why are you so pale? Are you from Alaska or something?"
"What's it to you, little girl?"
"I'm not little. I'm almost a teenager."
"Almost."
Francis glared, but her lips twitched with a smile. She definitely had her mother's attitude and sense of humor.
"You're super weird."
"And you're super rude," Victoria said, shrugging. "It seems we've reached an impasse."
The girl frowned.
"What does impasse mean?"
The redhead grinned. To her surprise, she enjoyed Francis' childish curiosity.
"A deadlock. A situation in which no progress is possible, especially because of a disagreement."
"Me and mom have those all the time."
Victoria scoffed.
"Oh, I believe you."
Jackie turned to find her inhuman guest, and her daughter engaged in an amicable conversation.
Knowing that Victoria was some sort of creature, Jackie's motherly instincts screamed at her to make sure the woman kept her distance from Francis.
However, there was something about the redhead that told her they were not in any danger.
The whole situation was odd.
"So you picked her up at the truck stop," Allison whispered harshly. "You're letting a lot lizard stay in your house with your daughter?"
Victoria pretended not to hear them. She remained focused on the preteen talking her ear off.
"Everyone has their own shortcomings and inequities. Or are you perfect, Allison?"
"I'm simply pointing out that I would be careful if I were you. She could have a drug problem or be a thief. Who knows?"
"I'm not stupid. I know that and I won't allow any harm to come to my daughter," Jackie said passionately.
"Trust me on that, if nothing else."
Allison nodded, sighing.
"Alright. Call me if you need me."
"I will. Drive safe."
Once her sister left, Jackie decided it was time to confront her daughter about what she'd been up to in her absence.
However, she hesitated.
"So like, the whole game is basically you trying to save the galaxy from this race of artificial intelligence that want to wipe out every living being."
Victoria hummed thoughtfully.
"Why would these computers want to do that? What is their logic?"
The girl's green eyes lit up like a kid in a candy store now that the redhead was showing interest in her favorite game.
"They believe that organic life reaches a point where they become too destructive and too intelligent. So every fifty thousand years they come to reset the balance of the universe," Francis explained.
"They think they're doing something good, but, in my opinion, they just want to play god like Thanos with the infinity stones."
Victoria frowned. "Who is Thanos?"
At this point, Jackie was forced to interrupt before her daughter dove into the entire Marvel universe.
"Fran, I need to talk to you privately."
The girl looked as if she'd seen a ghost.
"Aunty Ally told on me, didn't she?"
"She did," Jackie said, crossing her arms.
"Let's go, missy."
While the two spoke in the back, Victoria wandered around the living room.
"So you got into another fight at school yesterday. Why?"
"It was Brittany again," Francis mumbled.
"She... she said something about dad and I couldn't let her get away with it."
"Violence is not the answer to everything, Fran. Sometimes, the best response is no response. She just wants a reaction out of you and you give it to her every time."
Pictures of the pair were everywhere. On the walls, the entertainment center, and the coffee table.
However, there were a few with a man that could only be Francis' father.
A man that Victoria remembered vividly.
She held one of the pictures in her hands, unwilling to accept the gravity of the situation she found herself in.
"I know that your dad's passing still affects you, honey. I understand," Jackie's voice echoed in the vampire's ears.
"It hurts me, too. I miss Frank more than anything."
"Let's not talk about him."
"Talking about it will help-"
"Mom. Please."
Jackie sighed quietly.
"Okay, but know that I love you and I am always willing to listen."
"I know. I love you, too."
Victoria placed the picture back in it's spot, eyes wide with shock.
She could remember with perfect clarity the taste of Jackie's husband's blood on her tongue, and the pleas that escaped him as he was drained.
His wedding ring and his willingness to help what he thought was a woman stranded on the side of the road.
For the first time, Victoria felt the undeniable sting of regret.
She'd only just found her mate, and already she had caused her and her daughter unimaginable pain.
Upon hearing the humans returning to the living room, she did what she does best.
She fled, leaving the house without making a sound.
For, Victoria couldn't fathom looking Jackie and Fran in the eyes knowing what she had taken from them.