“No,” she answered firmly as she fully accepted her choice and embraced it. “I’m not.”
“Are they going to delete you?”
“No, not for a long time.” Henrietta reached out and touched his hair gently. “Not as long as I’m working here.”
Andy’s bottom lip trembled slightly. “If you gotta run away so they don’t delete you, can I come with you?”
Henrietta gently picked him up and held him close. “I won’t leave you and I won’t run away.”
Andy wrapped his arms tightly around her neck and snuggled against her, smearing a good portion of his banana over her shoulder. “Promise?”
“Yes, I promise,” Henrietta assured him and carried him up the stairs.
***
Henrietta was in the kitchen cleaning the banana off her synthetic flesh when the front door banged open and Ms. LeDay barged in. The robot quickly rushed into the living room to find her employer seething with a crazed look on her face.
“There you are!” Ms. LeDay hurtled her purse across the room and kicked her shoes off so violently one of them struck the wall near Henrietta. “My gawddamn boss had the fucking nerve to demote me! He says my priorities are obviously fucked up and that I’m too caught up in my home life to do my job correctly!”
“I’m sorry,” Henrietta said timidly.
“You’re sorry? No, I’m the one who’s sorry! When my husband died, I kept the kid. I kept him even though I never wanted him. It was my stupid husband’s idea to spawn. Andy’s been a fucking noose around my gawdamn neck ever since his father died,” Ms. LeDay raged.
“He’s just a little boy,” Henrietta said meekly.
“Well, that little boy has been acting up in school! When I had to take an hour off my job to go deal with his teacher, I got demoted!”
Henrietta was startled. “I wasn’t aware-”
“I bet you weren’t! He acts like a little angel around you!”
“He seems to be doing well in school and-”
“Well, his report on his family life was all about you and not a word about me. The teacher called me in to discuss the issue and nearly called Protective Services on me!” Ms. LeDay loomed over the petite robot, glowering.
“I was not aware that this was the situation. Had I known I would have corrected him.”
“What are you telling my kid? Are you turning him against me?”
The woman was obviously inebriated and Henrietta took a step back from her. This only seemed to anger the woman more.
“No. No. I assure you I am only trying to do my best.”
“Your best is destroying my life!” Ms. LeDay picked up the nearest heavy object, which happened to be an abstract metal statue, and struck Henrietta across the face. Shocked, Henrietta staggered back from the enraged woman.
“We’re done with you. Get the hell out of my house!”
“But I—”
“No, Mommy, no!”
Both the robot and the human looked up to see the little boy at the top of the stairs.
“Get your ass down here,” Ms. LeDay screamed at him. “This thing is not your Mother. I am! You nearly got me reported!”
Andy took a tentative step downward, but Henrietta knew instinctively that it was not safe for him. Ms. LeDay stank of liquor and the rage in her eyes was beyond reason.
“No, Andy, go to your room,” Henrietta said firmly.
Ms. LeDay’s bloodshot eyes fastened on the robot. “You little bitch.”
Henrietta expected the attack and raised her arms to fend off the blows of the heavy statue. She staggered backwards as her processors quickly evaluated the extent of the damage. She didn’t register any actual pain, but she heard a terrible ripping sound before realized she had lost use of her left arm. It hung limply at her side.
“Henrietta!”
Henrietta saw Andy rushing down the stairs.
“Andy, no!”
Ms. LeDay swept around, the statue clutched in one hand. “Come here, you little fucker!”
Andy finally registered that he was in danger and stumbled to an abrupt halt near the base of the stairs. Catching hold of the rail, he tried to get his feet under him when his irate mother lurched after him. The little boy barely avoided the clutching hand of his mother.
Henrietta tottered forward. The makeshift repairs on her hips had been insufficient to begin with and under the onslaught of the enraged human had suffered new damage. Henrietta strove to climb the stairs as Ms. LeDay drunkenly scrabbled after the little boy barely avoiding her.
“Andy, lock yourself in your room,” Henrietta ordered.
“Andy, don’t listen to her. Come here! I’m your mother, not her!”
The little boy reached the second floor and stared at his mother in terror.
“You come here you little shit,” his mother screeched. She was clutching the statue so tightly her fingers were white. The veins bulged on her neck and her eyes were wide with rage. She appeared murderous. To the robot’s horror, Ms. Leday took a swing at Andy, but the child managed to dart away.
Henrietta managed to reach the top of the stairs and grabbed hold of the woman from behind. Her original programming prevented violence, but she had to protect the boy and that overrode all else. Even if the human law forbade her from attacking humans, she knew she had no choice. Ms. LeDay was beyond reason.
The taller person twisted in Henrietta’s grasp and slammed the heavy statue against the robot’s head over and over again even as Henrietta attempted to tug her down the stairs.
“You fucking little robot bitch,” Ms. LeDay shrieked at Henrietta.
A list of damages scrolled past Henrietta’s vision. She valiantly grappled with the human woman. She had to protect Andy. It was all that mattered to her despite the terrible damage her processors were reporting.
“Please, Andy, go in your room and shut the door!”
Ms. LeDay growled and shoved Henrietta against the railing. Henrietta tried to thrust the woman off her, but her flimsy hips gave out, toppling her backwards. Ms. LeDay saw her advantage and seized it. With a gleeful grin, she shoved the robot over the railing. Henrietta hit the metal and glass display case below and her body twisted and tore before she finally tumbled to the floor.
Ms. LeDay leaned low over the railing and laughed at the broken robot. “Serves you right, you little bitch!”
The scroll before Henrietta’s eyes was now highlighted red and her limbs no longer responded. She could see Ms. LeDay swing about to pursue Andy and felt utter despair.
Andy’s hoverbed aggressively struck Ms. LeDay and knocked her off balance. The intoxicated woman struggled to keep upright, but the bed rammed into her again and she tumbled downstairs. She landed at the base of the steps, her head smacking the floor with a resounding crack.
“Andy,” Henrietta whispered in shock when she realized what he had done.
The boy shoved his hover bed away from the top of the stairs and ran down the steps to kneel at her side.
“Henrietta,” he sobbed, tears streaking his face. “Henrietta.”
She could not move and her lips were frozen when she tried to speak. “Andy, you shouldn’t have-”
Andy wiped his tears from his cheeks and the tiny wet drops fell across Henrietta’s battered countenance. “She hurt you bad! Please don’t die! Please don’t die!”
Inside her body, systems were shutting down as energy was conserved for core functions.
“Andy, call the police so they can come take care of you.”
“No! No! I’ll fix you,” he said firmly. Frantically, he tried to shove her arm back into the socket. “I’ll fix you, then we can run away.”
“Andy, please,” Henrietta whispered. Her voice was weak and distorted. “She might get up.”
Looking over his shoulder, fear blossomed in Andy’s features. “I’ll go get the police! They’ll take her away and fix you!”
Henrietta struggled to speak, to move, to reach him, but he was already r
unning out the front door.
The scroll before her eyes registered that vital systems were beyond repair. Sadly, she realized that she had reached the end of her life span. Her gaze shifted toward the door, craving to see the little boy one more time.
As the optical systems started to short out, her vision started to flicker and blur.
Another critical message appeared before her gaze.
When it cleared, Andy and David were leaning over her. The little boy sobbed and clutched her unresponsive hand while David inspected the damage.
“Fix her! Fix her!” Andy yelled.
“Keep him safe,” Henrietta whispered to David.
“Fix her,” Andy sobbed, clutching her fingers desperately. “Fix her!”
Henrietta felt the last of her systems shutting down. Remorse filled her at the thought of leaving the boy, but inside her, there was peace: the boy was safe.
With that thought, her world went black.
***
Two months later, the doors to the local school burst open and the students streamed out in a loud burst of adolescent excitement to start the summer holiday. Parents, simuloid nannies, and older siblings waited for the youngsters in the designated waiting area, waving and smiling, as the children dashed toward them.
Andy walked slowly, tiredly, and sadly toward the waiting throng of people. He dreamed of Henrietta every night and always woke up crying. There was no one to comfort him in the dormitory he shared with other children and he often fell back to sleep quietly sobbing.
During the day he attended school and at night he played with the other children, but there was no pretty iridescent robot to read him to sleep, or make him peanut butter sandwiches.
On the news they had said bad things about his beloved nanny bot and worse things about his mother. The staff at the foster facility tried to shield him, but he still heard the stories. He had a killer robot nanny and a crazy mom.
A drone from the local foster care facility always picked him up from school and everyday he wished that Henrietta would be there instead. Sadly, he knew wishes never came true. His world was lonely and gray. All he wanted was to have his nanny bot back in his life holding his hand and taking him home.
The little boy was almost to the crowd of waiting adults when he noticed the petite brunette standing nervously to one side. Andy hesitated in his step and stared at the young woman with the pretty lavender eyes. Immediately, he feared he was dreaming. Wishes did not come true.
With a quirky little smile he knew well, the young woman raised her hand and waved at him.
Andy then knew the truth. He ran to her and Henrietta swept him into her arms.
“Oh, Andy,” she said with joy in her voice. “I’ve missed you!”
“Are you here to be my mommy?” Andy asked, his arms locked around her neck.
“Yes,” Henrietta answered, and there were tears in her eyes.
“You’re fixed and stuff,” Andy exclaimed.
“Not the same as before,” she answered. “But it’s still me.”
“I know,” Andy assured her with a big smile. “But you look just the same in my heart!”
Henrietta laughed with delight and kissed his cheek firmly. “I’m glad. You look just the same in my heart.”
“You’re not going to get deleted, right?”
Henrietta shook her head firmly. “No. I’m not. I’m going to live a very long time and be your mommy.”
Andy gave her his biggest grin. “Promise?”
Henrietta smiled. “I promise.”
“Good.”
“Ready to go?” she asked as she set him on his feet and took his hand firmly in her own.
Andy nodded excitedly. “Yes. Where are we going?”
“To our new home far away.”
“Good!” He was smiling so big his face hurt.
David stood nearby, waiting.
“David is coming, too?”
“Yes,” Henrietta answered with a nervous smile. “He will be your new father.”
The little boy clutched her hand even tighter and whispered, “Wishes do come true.”
Henrietta leaned down and kissed his forehead softly. “Yes, they do.”
Together, the mother and son, robot and human, walked toward David and their future.
***
Hours later, as the huge colony ship left orbit for Mars, Henrietta and David sat with Andy in the small observation deck attached to their rooms. Together they watched the Earth slowly slide from view to be replaced with glittering stars.
“I’ve never had a daddy before,” Andy said to David thoughtfully.
“I’ve never had a son before,” David answered and tousled the boy’s hair.
Andy felt different in Henrietta’s arms now. She could feel him breathing and felt her own simulated breath whisper a chorus with his. It created a different emotion in her than she had ever felt before.
“We’re a family, right?” Andy asked.
“Yes,” Henrietta answered. “We are.”
She gazed at David fondly. He had saved her and Andy. He was a true and faithful companion. If not for David, she would have not received her new body or have a new identity as Andy’s mother.
A little awkwardly, David kissed the corner of her mouth. It felt odd, but quite nice. Henrietta touched her lips in wonder. David looked amused and tucked his arm around her shoulders. There would be much to learn about this new human-like body and the emotions it drew from her rapidly evolving programs. She laid her head on David’s shoulder and sighed softly.
Andy nestled against her. “Are you happy to be here?”
“Yes,” Henrietta answered firmly. “Yes, I am.”
The small family of two robots and one little boy watched as the silvery moon rose in the viewport and they left the Earth behind.
The Vampires
The popularity of vampires in the last few years has tainted the once fearsome creatures of the night in the eyes of many horror fans. They’re now known as romantic heroes that sparkle in the sunlight, or muscle-bound shirtless men with flowing hair on the covers of romance novels. This is a far departure from the terrible creatures of lore and the most popular vampire of all, Dracula.
It was the vampire I feared when growing up. The vampire was the boogeyman outside my window waiting to suck my blood and drain my life away. I lived in absolute terror of vampires. Yet, when I finally wrote my first horror novel, the vampire was the monster I chose to write about.
Now, many years later, I have two vampire series that are steadily growing in popularity despite the fact that my vampires can be very ruthless and extremely dangerous. Yet, inside them remain the embers of the mortal they once were. The return to the more cunning, terrible vampire is a welcome relief. Vampires are not pretty humans with sharp teeth, but something altogether more frightening.
The vampires in The Two Mothers are definitely not nice. They are tainted by the long years of their existence. In some ways, the true monster of this piece is loneliness and the toll it takes on someone through the years.
The Two Mothers also appears in my vampire short story collection Blood & Love and Other Vampire Tales. In my opinion, it also fits well with this collection. I hope you enjoy it.
The Two Mothers
1
All she wants is a child to dull the ache of her loneliness. She's tired of men. Tired of women. Tired of the nights drifting into one another with the same story playing on the stage of her dreary life.
She just wants a child.
Of course, it is impossible for her to conceive and bear her own, but she knows she can take what she wants if she can just find the one that will call her “mama.”
One day, as the sun is setting just below the gleaming skyscrapers of Manhattan, she sees him from her perch high above the street. A little boy, four years old, with brown hair and big green eyes, trailing behind his weary-looking young mother. Trudging down the streets of New York City, maneuvering through the cro
wded sidewalks, trying not to slip on the icy walk, the two figures peak her interest as they struggle on.
The mother is young, her face prematurely-lined with worry. Her brown hair escapes a ratty cap and her clothes are obviously second-hand. The child is dressed a bit better than his mother. Obviously, she has taken great care to give him what she will not buy for herself. Warm snug clothes and boots. The mother is hidden under several sweaters and a windbreaker, layered to provide warmth.
The vampire drops down into an alley. The little boy notices her as she steps out of the shadows and onto the sidewalk as they pass. The child keeps looking over his shoulder at her, smiling, his mittened hand clasped firmly in his mother’s cold, pale, reddened fingers.
The vampire smiles back at him and he laughs.
He laughs despite the stench of death on him and his sallow coloring.
It touches her.
She follows them through the exodus of people making their way home after a long day's work. The winter brings an early, cold nightfall. The vampire enjoys this season. The two she is following lead her to the decrepit apartment building. She discreetly follows them up the sloping, warped stairway. It is easy to do, this place being crowded with people coming and going, children trying to play in the narrow halls. She watches as the mother carefully unlocks the door to her tiny apartment and slips inside.
The little boy looks over his shoulder once more and lifts his tiny hand to wave at her.
She waves back. A smile spreads on her lips. It is the first time she has truly smiled in a very long time.
The door closes and she steps back into the darkness of the stairwell.
She has found the one.
2
“What are you up to, Elise?” His voice is terse. He doesn't trust her.
She doesn't blame him.
Looking up, she shoves her dark hair back from her face. “Nothing.”
Cthulhu's Daughter and Other Horror Tales Page 4