The Vampire Family

by Kristin Battestella

  Charles remained silent.

  "You answer to me.” James stepped closer. “Or I can turn this interrogation over to someone with a more painful approach in mind."

  "James.” Adam entered with his shirt rolled up in a bundle. “I got all the cooks had.” Cloves of garlic tumbled from his shirt, and he warned James, “It kind of itches a little."

  Eric followed and spread the pile of garlic about with his foot. He picked up a hearty clove and put it in Charles’ mouth. “Let's see if that gets you to talk."

  Slava entered the dank dungeon.

  "Catrina thought this might help.” He handed a rosebud to James.

  "Those thorns make good cuts.” Stephen slinked around Charles. “They take a long time to heal."

  He burned his side with the torch again. The captive spit away the garlic and groaned.

  "How is he?” Antonio appeared from the darkness and patted James on the back. They had done well, but it was time for his special touch.

  "He is not talking."

  "Perhaps this will make him.” Antonio slung a necklace around Charles’ neck, and the cross pendant burned into his skin.

  * * * *

  Samantha read from Antonio's journal though the ink had faded in the subsequent five centuries. “Lilith also kept hoards of seeds in her cabinets, and wore a small glass packed with seeds about her neck."

  "Garlic gives me the itches something awful.” Angelo shuddered and scratched at the thought.

  "If we're careful, we could use the garlic and the roses against them,” Slava remembered.

  "The crosses didn't seem to be a problem?” Theodore looked to Samantha for confirmation.

  "'I recommend roses and holy materials as best protection against the Lilithan,'” she read.

  "What about the seeds?” Pamela asked.

  "It seems as if she needs them almost as much as blood,” the Professor said.

  "They are her security blanket,” Victoria piped.

  "So let's get some garlic, some roses, and nail this bitch!” Caine tried to raise the morale.

  Victoria smiled. “We have an idea."

  * * * *

  Caine banged on the cigarette machine two more times before a pack finally came. Victoria rolled her eyes. He lit the toxin with his Zippo, adding a brief candle to the evening parking lot.

  "Will these things still kill you?” Caine took a puff and offered it to Victoria. She took a puff, exhaled, and leaned against the brick wall of the supermarket.

  "No,” she answered. “This was not what we had in mind."

  "For the last time,” he raised his voice, “no one is trying to get rid of you. I am the rookie. Okay? I am the bait."

  Victoria remained silent as Caine took the cigarette back and puffed. He flicked the butt away and pinned her against the wall.

  "Look, I'm sorry I yelled at you. Maybe later I'll really make it up to you."

  Victoria looked away, feeling her eyes change with emotion. Caine looked in the direction of her glare. Across the street, in front of a bookstore, Rain looked at them.

  * * * *

  "I knew you'd get her attention.” Lilith stepped beside Rain as he focused on Victoria. Her chatter annoyed him much as Victoria's fickle nature. Rain wanted her punished, but he disliked Lilith's methods from the start. He reported to her nonetheless.

  "They're moving inside."

  "Mary, get the prisoners,” Lilith ordered her second fledgling. “These Welshires have been more difficult than I expected."

  Rain ignored them and concentrated on the supermarket. Are you sure this is enough garlic? The Sunflower seeds are in aisle seven. Get the bouquets of roses from the front.

  "It is a trap,” he said.

  "Nonsense.” Lilith smiled. “That twit Victoria and her pet could never plan anything."

  "The rest are inside."

  Lilith held so little value for him or any Welshire, but her crew was weak. Mary came up with Catrina and held tightly to her arm.

  "Hurry up,” Lilith ordered the lagging Michael and Stephanie. Catrina stared across to the supermarket with Rain.

  "Supposing you are right,” Lilith wasn't stupid, after all, “you two Welshires are walking in first."

  * * * *

  Grocery customers moved in and out of the market and traversed aisles, unaware of the vampires among them. Victoria turned down the next aisle, but the supermarket intercom cut into Evil Woman, and she crashed her cart full of sunflower seeds into a display. Pamela passed her with a basket on her arm. A bag of garlic was alone in the basket, and she held a single rose in her hand. She sniffed it and whispered to Victoria, “Being a bit conspicuous, aren't we?"

  Caine continued past them and Victoria fumbled her cart to the next aisle after him. There was Samantha, in the store's kitchenware aisle.

  "They are outside,” Caine said. Samantha put the single knife back on its hook and took a packaged knife set. “Across the street."

  She reached for Caine's wristwatch.

  "The store will close soon. Lilith will not risk anything until after the humans are gone. We mustn't let them see."

  "Round up the others?"

  "We'll hide in the back until everyone leaves."

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  Chapter 40

  The last store employee flicked the switch before he left the supermarket, leaving it presumably empty. The lights inside the supermarket and the lighted sign outside shut down, and Theodore appeared from the darkness as the employee slammed the heavy back door. He turned back to their hiding place and looked at his watch. Caine leaned back on some boxes and let a ring of smoke billow into the dim storage room.

  "They're not coming."

  The Professor spoke with caution. “From what I have observed of these ... beings, it is not likely they are foolish enough to waste such a prime opportunity."

  Angelo looked up at Victoria, sitting high on several boxes. “Even if they only thought it was you and Caine, I still think Lilith would come."

  She glared from her perch. “No one asked you, did they?"

  "What time is it?” Samantha asked Caine.

  "Two minutes after the last time I told you."

  Theodore couldn't understand it. “If she were using them properly, surely Rain and Catrina would each confirm we are here?"

  "They did, and Lilith is just a chicken-shit, pussy bitch, too afraid to take us all on,” Caine huffed. “This Rain. I say we rain on his parade."

  "Are you finished?” Pamela sat on a crate beside Theodore. She drew her knees up to her chin and wrapped her arms around her legs. Caine was the rare vampire she did not wish to know closer—Pamela had made that clear on several occasions—but he leaned closer to her.

  "Honey, I'm just getting started."

  "Rain!” Victoria announced from her perch. “He is inside the supermarket."

  Theodore carefully hoisted his bag of garlic by its netting.

  "Slava, get your box of seeds and come with me. Victoria, Angelo, figure out where Rain and Catrina are. Let's go."

  Victoria hopped down from her boxes. “Since when do you know so much about reconnaissance?"

  "How do you think I got into college? Caine, Professor, stay behind these doors where it's safe. I'm going to the end of the meat counter to check on our supplies. Samantha, you stay here with Pamela by these doors. Victoria, we need your nose up front."

  "Nose!” she pouted.

  Slava leaned lightly against the swinging door and peered into the dark supermarket.

  "No bonfires or smoke signals,” he declared. Theodore held open the other swinging door, and Angelo stepped out into the open darkness for a moment.

  "Get down behind the counter,” Theodore told him as Pamela followed close behind. Victoria knelt down but stuck her head up over the counter. Angelo pulled her back down by the hair and put his chin on the counter. He looked down at the bins full of pig hooves and licked his lips.

  "At least if we have
to blockade ourselves in here, we'll never go hungry."

  Theodore kneeled at the far end of the counter, and Victoria hunched next to him.

  "Shit!” He raised his voice slightly. “Some bastard employee moved our cart of garlic!"

  The cart was now down the aisle and far away from the meat counter fort. Theodore looked at Slava.

  "Consider it done.” He put his knuckle to his forehead and slinked away. Theodore peeked above the counter and observed.

  Slava looked back at the meat counter, then continued with his mission. The long aisle was empty except for the stash of garlic, and Slava crept closer to the cart. He flattened himself along the shelves of cans. He slithered one hand onto the cart and looked back at Theodore. He spun the handle into his grasp and headed for the meat counter. Theodore had expressly picked a cart that didn't squeak.

  Victoria leaned over Theodore and let out a quiet sigh of relief, but midway through the breath her face fell. Theodore squinted and peered around Slava as he turned his chin over his shoulder. Lilith was at the end of the aisle.

  Slava crashed his cart into the shelves, and Lilith raised her right hand. Her fingers glowed blue and sparkled with supernatural firepower. Slava abandoned the cart and stumbled over the falling cans. Lilith let her supernatural pitch fly.

  The fiery bolt struck the wheels of the cart, and it shot up into the air. Cans and garlic rained everywhere. Theodore ducked, and a flaming piece of garlic landed in Victoria's lap. She screamed and pushed it away. The hail storm ended, and Pamela stood up behind the counter. “Oh, no."

  Slava lay on the supermarket floor, and Theodore followed Pamela into the smoky field of cans and garlic. She rolled Slava over and rubbed her hand across his singed hair. His face and hands were red, blistered, and pus fizzled from garlic burns. Pamela reached for a sweltered hand and held it in hers.

  "Pamela.” Theodore put his hand on her shoulder, but she squeezed Slava's hand.

  "Wait!” She felt the tingle of vampire blood rushing into the still hand. The fingers twitched and squeezed. Slava opened his eyes and winced. “That shit more than itches a little."

  * * * *

  The fire burned and spread across the shelves. The smoke rose, and Lilith stood in her white pants suit, unscathed. It made Rain sick. Always had she worn white, feigning an innocent exterior. He lingered by the check outs as Mary carefully sniffed the bucket of roses behind Lilith. Rain grimaced at them.

  "That's one down.” Lilith turned to him and smiled. Pleased with herself, no doubt.

  "He's not dead,” Rain contested.

  "His wounds will keep him out of the action.” Lilith handed the bucket to Mary, but Rain grabbed her by the arm and squeezed tightly.

  "You could have had this done by now. You enjoy picking them off one by one."

  "Do not lecture me about morals and ethics. It's a coven of vampires, and an ineffective one at that. Take your hand off me and go join your people then, coward.” Lilith pulled her arm from Rain's grip, but he remained still.

  Damn her!

  "I thought so.” She turned to Mary. “Get those other two over here. We need them for intimidation."

  Mary snickered at Michael and Stephanie, hesitant in their pale skin.

  "Damn me,” Rain mumbled as he turned away.

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  Chapter 41

  Theodore approached Samantha as she waited by the swinging door. Thankfully, she lowered her poised kitchen knife as Pamela and Victoria followed with Slava.

  "Slava!” She exclaimed. “Victoria, get Caine."

  "Get this, do that.” Victoria slid through the swinging doors.

  "Come on.” Samantha helped Theodore steady Slava, but she paused. “I thought I saw someone."

  "You get him in the back.” Angelo took the knife from her hand and squinted down the dark aisle as Pamela kneeled down and tugged on his pants.

  "Do you see anything?” She asked from her hidden location below the counter.

  "Get down and stay down, both of you.” Theodore ducked himself. Angelo squatted with the knife and waited, but Pamela fidgeted nervously. Theodore heard a slight noise and nodded to Angelo as he peered above the counter. Yes, there was a figure coming out of the aisle. Angelo inched to his full height, but Pamela huddled on the floor and shook her head. Theodore saw her reaction and cocked his head.

  "Angelo,” he whispered, but Angelo stood fully erect and poised his knife. “No, wait!” Pamela stood, but he had already put his power behind the knife.

  Squish. Crunch. Gag.

  Pamela leaned over the counter and into the white light cast by its bulbs. The vague figure came toward Theodore. Unfortunately, Catrina stumbled into the light.

  Angelo stood shocked. His knife was wedged high in her sternum and blood was on her hands.

  "Nice to see you, too.” Blood oozed from her mouth, and she fell on the counter.

  "Oh shit!” Angelo grabbed Catrina by the collar and tried to pull her into their territory without yanking the knife around too much. It squished more, and vampire blood covered the packaged meats.

  "What did you stab her for?” Pamela asked.

  Angelo laid Catrina down on the floor. “I didn't mean to do it. I thought she was one of them!"

  "Dammit,” Theodore broke in. “It's all right. Get Caine."

  Angelo disappeared behind the door and returned with Caine. He knelt next to Catrina while Angelo waited by the door.

  "Geez, I never thought I'd be a stretcher bearer.” He took hold of the knife and yanked it out quickly, but Catrina yelped. He waved the knife around, and Theodore took it from him. Caine picked her up. “Nice to meet you, too."

  "Caine.” Theodore glared as they came through the doors.

  A whisk sound cut through the air, and a sharp thud pounced against the swinging door. A thorny stem wedged through the particleboard and wood veneer.

  Samantha grimaced. “They've got the roses now."

  "You think?” Victoria said.

  Samantha looked at the strange object stuck in the door and pressed it gently. Another rose tip pierced the door dangerously close to her eye. Theodore exited the back room, but Samantha followed. Another rose zipped by them as they ducked down with Angelo and Pamela.

  "Who is this girl, William Tell?” he asked.

  "I think we should pull out,” Samantha told Theodore.

  "We could surprise them from behind, but we'd have to split our forces,” he said.

  "Too risky,” Angelo voiced. “But we can't leave Rain."

  "What do you suggest we do?” Pamela asked.

  "What is going on up there?” Angelo stood up for the first time since the harmful rose shower began. Theodore looked up with him and saw Victoria. She peered around the swinging door and quickly jumped over the counter.

  "Get her!” Theodore yelled as he ducked the harmful shower.

  Angelo leaned over the counter and reached for her ankle, but a paw slipped through his fingers. The transformed Victoria disappeared down the dark aisle.

  "Dammit. I hate when she does this.” Theodore hiked his leg over the counter, and Angelo slid with him. “Pamela, you get back in that storage room and find that big switch. Samantha, you be prepared to relay my yell."

  Theodore kept his bag of garlic close. Carefully, he stepped up the dark aisle, and Angelo kept his knife poised. A noise from the dark shadows hushed them. A wolf lurched into view dragging Rain. It morphed away, and Victoria appeared on the floor out of breath.

  "Out of shape?” Theodore asked.

  "How's Catrina?” Victoria changed the subject.

  "Samantha.” Theodore turned to the waiting blonde. “Put on the lights."

  "Put up the lights!” Samantha yelled through the swinging doors,

  The lights switched on aisle by aisle. Theodore looked overhead, and the bulbs flickered. Samantha hurried down the aisle towards him. Lilith's fort near the store front and soda display was revealed. Lilith blinked as
the bright lights shined down on her. Mary dropped her roses, pushed the sliding doors open, and ran. Lilith, too, turned toward the check out lines, but Samantha sprinted to the display of soda cases and gasped. She picked up a Cola case and hoisted it at Lilith.

  "What is that?” Lilith turned at the swooshing sound growing louder and closer. The case of soda hit her square in the head, knocking her over. The soda cans burst, and brown syrup poured over Lilith and her white suit.

  Theodore watched the wet Lilith leave. Two others delicately helped her up, but Lilith waved her arms and spread soda onto her cohorts. Beside him, Victoria tried to drag Rain, but the strength of the wolf was gone.

  "I got him.” Angelo turned away from the storefront and slung Rain over his shoulder.

  "I think we should follow Lilith's cue,” Theodore observed with a snicker. “Samantha, let's go."

  Samantha slowly returned to the meat counter with them. Caine opened the swinging door as Angelo passed by him with Rain.

  "Geez,” Caine complained. “I am not playing nursemaid to all these guys—just the girl."

  "Samantha?” Theodore. “Do you know who the other two Lilithan are?"

  "Michael and Stephanie. I did know them. Before they were vampires."

  "Lilithan Vampires!” Victoria laughed. She quickly ducked behind the door. Theodore frowned, and Samantha shook her head.

  "Lilith turned Michael and Stephanie into vampires."

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  Chapter 42

  One night in Britain, Five Centuries ago

  The high full moon shed little light on the depths of the valley beneath it. James perched on top one of the many cliffs lining the extreme ravine and sighed. The wind blew, and a rustling came from behind him.

  "I thought I'd find you here.” Catrina sat down next to him. Her legs dangled over the side, but James drew his legs up and crossed them. “What is it this time?"

  "Worry, that's all,” he sighed. “Worry about Lilith. Worry about what Mestiphles might do to us."

  "This can't help,” Catrina advised her maker. “Come back to the house and I'll swipe a soldier for you."

  "You go ahead,” James said. “I'll meet you there."