by Kristie Cook
Mindy cocked her head, confused for a moment, but realization dawned on her. Jewels thought she’d been dressing for the vampire feast.
“I’m still not going to the feast with you,” Mindy clarified.
Jewels’ brows pushed together as her eyes skimmed over Mindy’s form. “Then where are you going?”
Oh, shit. Mindy couldn’t exactly tell her. Jewels would do everything in her power to stop her, and if that didn’t work, she might even go to the head of the local nest. The Daemoni could not know Mindy’s new plans for the day.
“Um, well,” Mindy stammered as her mind raced. “I’m, uh, I’m just going to go for a walk around the city, take in the holiday a different way, and, I guess, find some poor Norman who needs some company tonight so he doesn’t kill himself.”
Jewels’ gaze flitted over to the couch, where her Norman lay snoring, his hand tucked into the waistband of his jeans. At least he’d been able to enjoy Mindy’s Thanksgiving dinner before she’d ruined it all.
“Just stay away from my Norman,” Jewels said, and she turned back for her bedroom. She looked back over her shoulder as Mindy made her way to the front door. “You still have the invitation, though, right? You can always change your mind.”
Mindy nodded, although she didn’t have the invitation with her. She wouldn’t be going to the feast. She still hung onto the need to make this day as normal and as traditional as possible.
Except how she traveled.
Nana—and the rest of her family—lived outside of the city, and Mindy no longer had a car. She could take the train and the bus, but she figured they ran on a holiday schedule, which meant she’d never make it to Nana’s in time. She didn’t have a choice. Once she reached the edge of the city, she slipped into the woods, hiked her skirt above her knees, and ran at vampire speed. She laughed to herself as she jumped the twenty-five feet to cross a stream. This gives new meaning to over the river and through the woods.
As she came closer to Nana’s, however, anxiety began to replace the hope she’d been feeling since making her decision. She hadn’t seen her family in nearly a year, since last New Year’s Eve. She’d left on a bad note, fighting with them about wanting to go into the city for the New Year’s celebration. They didn’t think it safe ... and they were right. However, they warned her about being mugged or drugged and raped. Not about being attacked by a vampire and turned. Of course, they wouldn’t know anything about such fantastical things that shouldn’t exist. But here she was. That was exactly what had happened to her, and she hadn’t been able to come home since. She couldn’t even call them. Her sire had said they needed to believe she was dead. She hoped they simply believed she’d run away—and that they’d accept her again, at least for one night. But what if they didn’t?
Still keeping to the woods, she passed the small town where she’d grown up, and slowed as she approached Nana’s farm a few miles outside of town. A line of cars filled the long driveway. Although still several hundred yards away, Mindy could already hear the laughter and chatter coming from inside the house. Everyone was there—Mindy’s mom and uncles and their families, her sisters and their boyfriends, a couple of babies. Her two older sisters, already married before Mindy left, had been talking about babies. Had they already had them?
Sorrow filled Mindy at this thought. She could be an aunt and hadn’t even known. And after tonight, she’d never see any of her nieces or nephews again. She’d never watch them grow up, go to their sports games and birthday parties, be a bad influence on them when they reached their teenage years. She’d be the aunt nobody ever talked about. The black sheep every family had. The one they’d pretend didn’t even exist. Because she really shouldn’t exist.
They needed to believe she was gone for their own safety, Mindy knew. Just this last time and never again. Although Mindy was glad she still held on to a tiny bit of her humanity, she’d never bring herself to go to the Amadis. She didn’t believe for one minute what they promised and couldn’t imagine the horrors they’d put her through, if they even allowed her to live. No, she’d always be Daemoni, even if it meant losing all of her humanity. So she only had this last chance to say a real good-bye to her family.
She snuck over to the house, still full of trepidation and near cowardice. The desire to leave almost overcame the need to see them. She peaked into the dining room window. Dusk had darkened the sky outside, but the interior of the house glowed a bright yellow. As expected, the long table was piled with china full of delectable food and beautiful centerpieces handmade by Nana herself using evergreen branches, pinecones, and berries gathered in the very woods from which Mindy had just emerged. Flames danced on top of candles, their glittering light reflecting in the gold trim of the plates and silverware already set out. Mindy’s eyes scanned the settings and filled with tears when she saw her own name.
Nana had set a place for her.
She would be welcomed. They may be angry and hurt that she’d disappeared without a trace, but tonight they would welcome her in. That’s how her family was. The questions, the demands, and all of the drama would be saved for tomorrow. And for her, that would never come. I can really have this night with them.
Mindy drew in a deep breath, taking in the late November air that was laced with the smells of a lifetime of memories—the scents of pine, fallen leaves, not-quite-winter-but-almost air, colognes and perfumes, Nana’s favorite cleaning detergent, and so many different foods. Memories of leaf fights with her sisters and cousins, drinking hot cocoa by a bonfire, playing hide-and-seek in the woods and dress-up in Nana’s attic, hugs from various relatives she saw only once or twice a year, laughter and good cheer, and, of course, those mouth-watering dishes. Her soul warmed. This was exactly what she needed.
She slowly climbed the three steps to Nana’s front porch as though they were five stories high and at the top was a temple of doom rather than the family she so longed to see. Her hand felt as though it pushed through molasses as she raised it to the doorknocker. The air in her lungs thickened and became trapped when the door flew open before she could even knock. This was her chance. She could do this. She would not kill them. She wouldn’t even smell them. She’d just enjoy the time she had and disappear once again. I can do this.
“Mindy!” Regina, her youngest sister, screeched. “Is it really you?”
And the next thing Mindy knew, she was yanked inside and surrounded by family. Arms enveloped her in hugs. Hands ran over her short, blond hair. An uncle—or maybe that was her cousin who’d grown up so much already—took her coat from her. The crowd moved as a blob into the dining room. Mindy could barely see over their heads to where Nana stood in the doorway to the kitchen. The crowd parted.
She and Nana stared at each other. Mother came up behind Nana, her jaw dropping. People whispered and giggled and someone finally gave Mindy a gentle push.
“Nana,” she whispered. “Mother?”
Both women stepped into the room and held their arms wide open. Mindy rushed into them. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she once again embraced—and was embraced by—the people she loved most in the world.
“Carl, get the turkey,” Nana ordered one of her sons without letting go of her long-lost granddaughter. “Where’s George? He should carve it.”
“Probably shooting up in the bathroom,” someone muttered under their breath. Mindy didn’t know who, and nobody else in the room heard it. She looked around for George, her eldest aunt’s latest husband, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Nana finally let go of Mindy, and everyone moved to their set places marked by place cards. Finally, George staggered into the room, his eyes bloodshot, and he certainly wasn’t dressed to Nana’s code. Rather, his button-down shirt was completely unbuttoned and untucked, a stained undershirt strained tightly against his chest, and his belt buckle hung open.
“George,” Nana quietly admonished.
Ignoring her, George grabbed the carving knife and eyed the beautiful turkey with its perfect
ly brown and crispy skin, juices dripping down its sides.
“Shut up, you old hag,” George drawled, and everyone gasped. Mindy’s spine went ramrod straight as anger filled her. George waved the knife in the air, vaguely pointing it at Nana. Then he palmed the turkey with his other bare hand and slammed the knife down. The tip of a finger rolled over the turkey’s breast and onto the plate. Blood spurted out of the end of George’s finger. “Now look what you made me do, stupid bitch.”
And without further thought—her brain completely clicked off again—Mindy soared across the table and landed on George. Rather than taking his hand in her mouth, though, she tore through his throat. She barely registered the screams in the distance, the hands on her shoulders trying to pull her off. Her focus remained on teaching this disrespectful asshole a lesson.
“Mindy, stop!” Nana bellowed, and she definitely heard that.
Mindy’s head snapped up, blood staining her lips and dripping from the corners of her mouth and the tips of her fangs that had fully let out. Her eyes glowed a bright red. And as her gaze skimmed along the shocked faces of her family, all she could see was the pulses in their throats.
“Oh, my god,” she choked, and she blurred away.
Chapter 4
Mindy berated herself with all kinds of profanities as she bolted for the city, her form nothing but a blur in the dark woods. Animals ran away, scurrying for cover as she approached and then whooshed by. How could she have done such a thing? Had she killed him? She didn’t know. She hadn’t stayed long enough to find out. How stupid of her! George was the jackass douche-canoe, but she’d been the one to ruin everything.
She ruined Nana’s meal. Ruined everyone’s Thanksgiving. And she’d ruined her last chance to be a part of her family. To be somewhat normal. To enjoy the feast and the company she desired so much.
“I’m a monster!” she cried as she burst into her apartment. She hadn’t thought about anyone still being there, although some part of her brain knew it was too early for Jewels to have left yet. So she was surprised when Jewels came running out of her room, wearing only a bra and panties—if you called that little scrap panties.
“You’re a vampire,” Jewels corrected, taking Mindy under one arm. She wiped her fingers over Mindy’s lips, but the blood had dried on her run home, and guided Mindy to the couch. She pulled the other vamp down, practically into her lap, and cooed softly into her ear. “It’s okay, Minz. This is what you are. You can’t help it.”
“It’s not okay,” Mindy cried. “And I can help it. I help it all the time when I’m out in the world around the Normans. Why did I have to do this? Why this time? Why today?”
“Hush, hush, now,” Jewels crooned. “Tell me what happened. It can’t be as bad as you think.”
“It’s worse!” Through her sobs and hitched breaths, Mindy told her friend the horror of what she’d done.
“Oh, Minz,” Jewels said with a dark chuckle, “you really should have known better. There’s a reason we aren’t allowed to see our family.”
“I thought I could control it. I thought I still had enough humanity left.”
“Silly girl. Silly little baby vamp. Your humanity is worthless. You need to let it go.” She stroked a hand over Mindy’s hair as the other vampire lay her head against her chest. “But our humanity has nothing to do with why we can’t see family. Well, little to do with it. Families bring out all of our emotions to the extreme—annoyance, companionship, disgust, joy, hope, disappointment, hatred, and love. Gatherings heighten those feelings. That’s why we get all excited about the idea of bringing our families into one room for a party, although we know how dysfunctional they are and someone’s likely to leave in tears or in a riot van. We’re excited for the emotional buzz, even as humans. But as vampires, their emotions only fuel us, like blood does, but in a very different way—their feelings build our need. Our need for blood. If you went there thinking you’d get away with being Norman, you set yourself up for utter failure.”
Mindy sniffled against her roomie’s chest, then realized said chest was nearly naked, as was the rest of Jewels’ body. Mindy pulled away.
“Nobody explained it like that,” Mindy admitted.
“Your sire should have, but we know he’s an arse of a parent. That’s why you have me. If you’d told me your plans ...”
“I knew you’d try to stop me.”
“For good reason, wouldn’t you say?”
Mindy nodded. “What am I going to do?”
Jewels blew out a firm breath. “You’re going to wash your face, change into something vampy, and—”
“I mean about my family. What I did! I—”
“You did nothing. You’re going to do nothing. They’re never going to accept what really happened, and nobody else will believe them if they try to explain. They’ll figure it out. The only thing you’re going to do is never go back.” She paused, then added with a nonchalant shrug, “Unless you want them all to die, of course. That’s up to you.”
The thought of never seeing her family again pained Mindy as freshly as it had the first time she was told, but she now understood better. She didn’t want them all to die. She wasn’t that type of vampire. Not yet, and she hoped she never would be. She hadn’t chosen this way of life, and she hoped that by hanging on to at least a thread of her humanity, she could hang on to her soul. Jewels seemed to be walking the line just fine. Mindy decided she could do the same.
“So, as I was saying, go wash your face, put on something more vamp-like, and come with me to the vampire feast,” Jewels said.
Mindy stood, but didn’t plan to follow her roomie’s orders. “I think I’ll just zone out in bed and wait for this day to be over. I only wanted one last traditional Thanksgiving, and I ruined it all.”
“So try a vampire Thanksgiving.”
Mindy shook her head and headed for her bedroom. “I can’t handle any more of that.”
The thought of any more blood, of people hurting for her, disgusted her. She’d had enough of it for one day. She didn’t want to be any part of a vampire feast, whatever it entailed.
“Come on, Minz. Please don’t make me go alone,” Jewels begged. “And you really don’t want to miss this lovely time, now do you? All of our mates will be there. You don’t even have to drink or have anything to do with the actual feast. But you shouldn’t be alone on this day of all days. Come be with your new family.”
Mindy sat on her bed and dropped her head into her hands. Her new family. Well, maybe it was time to accept that. She certainly could never go back to her original family. She had a new life now. New holidays to celebrate, or, at least, new ways to celebrate the Norman ones. And Jewels was right—she didn’t have to drink. She certainly had no thirst now, already having her fill for the day. She slid the invitation from her dresser and stared at it for a long moment, then tapped the corner against her hand as she thought, trying to talk herself into going.
Thirty minutes later, she joined her roomie at the door, vamped out in a sleek black dress that clung to her body, ending at the top of her thighs, and heels almost as high as her roommate’s. Jewels wore a blood-red, skintight dress that hugged her curves perfectly and dangerous stilettos that could easily be used as a weapon. The white skin of their bare shoulders shone in the moonlight, and Normans looked at them with expressions mixed with lust and disbelief that they weren’t freezing in the night’s dropping temperatures. They glared back with glowing red eyes, and the Normans cowered away, forgetting they’d even seen the strange but inhumanly beautiful women.
“Here we are,” Jewels said as they approached a gothic mansion on the outskirts of the city. Limos and luxury sports cars lined the curved driveway. A doorman checked their invitations before allowing them to saunter through the two-story-high doors and into the elegant foyer with a chandelier dripping in gold leaf and crystal.
They were swept through the grand foyer and into a great hall where an orchestra played and vampires danced and mingl
ed. Jewels took Mindy’s hand and led them around until they found their friends. They chatted, and Mindy even danced with a friend from work, grateful Nana had taught her how to waltz. She immediately pushed the thought of Nana out of her mind and forced herself to focus on the here and now. That had been the final decision maker to even come—knowing she needed a distraction from the day’s events.
And what a distraction this had turned out to be. Not at all what she’d imagined, which had been a dark basement with Normans being taken by the vamps in whatever way they desired, passing the humans along to each other, both mouths and legs open wide. She’d expected a bloody orgy, in other words. The Daemoni were known for such things even when it wasn’t a holiday.
She certainly hadn’t expected a glamorous mansion, ballroom dancing, and champagne. But, she concluded, vampires were gluttonous in all ways, so she really shouldn’t have been surprised that some—most from her city, it seemed—reveled in the luxuries only money could provide.
A dinging sound rang through the room. The orchestra fell silent and all conversation ceased.
“Dinner will be served momentarily,” a bodiless voice carried through the grand hall. “We ask that you make your way to the banquet room.”
As a whole, the crowd moved for the double doors in the side of the hall, to where, apparently, dinner would be served. Mindy paused, hesitating. She’d assumed too soon that this would be a night of elegance and propriety. This was the part she didn’t want to participate in.
“Come on,” Jewels whispered as she hooked her arm into Mindy’s. “You don’t have to drink. Or eat. Or whatever. But don’t stay here by yourself. It will look ... uncouth.”
Uncouth. Mindy tried not to laugh at the word and strode alongside Jewels. Shock once again hit the vampire when they entered the banquet room. Several round tables were scattered about, each of them covered in a spread of traditional Thanksgiving food—dozens of turkeys, bowls of stuffing and mashed potatoes, boats of gravy, platters of vegetables, and dinner rolls.