Page 53 of Claiming Her Vampire

“We don’t need privacy for what I want to say,” my mom says, coming further into the room. She includes them in her disgust-filled expression.

“Mom,” I sigh. My mind can’t keep up with all the new revelations of my current circumstance. Now, seeing her again, in a new light, is confusing.

“What? I think your new friends should hear about all the ways you are ungrateful for the life I crafted for you,” she says, crossing her arms. “I had a life set up for you. Instead, you turn your back on it and come to this place to be violated.”

“How? I like it here. I choose to be here. That life is in the past. I don’t want it anymore. If you really want me to be happy, give it up and leave.” I wave my arm towards the door.

“You are consorting with animals and a vampire.” She curls her lip at Ryker. “You allowed yourself to become like him. It’s shameful. You all should be put out of your misery.” Her face is turning an unflattering shade of purple.

“That’s enough.” I can hear her heart beating fast. I hear the blood running through her veins, but I have no urge to sample it. Her contempt tempers my need for new blood. Her voice grates on my ears, making me cringe. “You have no right to come here and insult my friends or my mate.” I slip my hand into Ryker’s.

“Mate? What has he done to you?” she asks, her wide eyes looking at our joined hands.

“He showed me another way to live life. He is my mate.”

“No, no, this is not happening. The world should be swept clean of all the animals.” She backs away from us.

“What are you saying? Does Dad know you’re here?”

“Of course not. He is as ignorant as ever about what happens in the world. But I am not. Do you know I have known for years what goes on out there?” She opens her arms wide. “I decided to do what I can to educate people about it. I have been spreading the truth.” She nods, satisfied. A prideful look enters her eyes.

“What do you mean? What have you been doing?” I have a sick feeling in my stomach. Have I ever really known her? “How did you find out about this world?”

“We hold meetings. We have gathered together, discussing the devils in the world. We watch each other's backs. One of those animals moved to our town. I saw her change. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I looked into it. There are records out there that state the truth. So many people think it is make-believe. Do you know what we did?” she asks, waiting for an answer.

I shake my head. My ability to answer verbally left me.

“We ran her out of town. Our group did all we could to give her no choice but to move on,” she says in delight.

“What did you do to her?” Ryker growls. His anger floods the room, joined by the others.

“Details aren’t important. What matters is we haven’t allowed your kind to inhabit our space, to contaminate it,” she sneers. “Now that Serenity has lowered herself to such levels to become one of you, it’s unfortunate. She will be treated as one of you. I can’t help you now,” she says sadly and inches closer to the door.

“Mom, this is crazy. You sound crazy.” I take a step toward her. My controlled appearance is fake. Inside, my mind is going through every possible end to this. I don’t want to hurt her, but if she makes some kind of move on my new family, I will do what I have to to stop her.

“No.” she holds her hand out. “Stop. I have said what I had to. I had to see for myself that you are, in fact, a vampire. I thought for sure Tom was wrong. He told me you had gone to the other side. He told me about your new friends.” She shakes her head sharply. “I didn’t believe him. But I see the truth. Your eyes show the devil inside.”

“What the fuck? Did Tom come to you? When?” I ask urgently.

“Earlier today. He tried to stop me from seeing you. He told me you could overpower me, that there was nothing I could do to stop you. He was concerned for me.” Her hand flutters to her chest, her expression appalled.

“He saw me this morning,” I say sadly. Everything he said was a lie. “You think I will hurt you?”

“Yes. If you are protecting these people, you will.” Her gaze flies around the room.

“I have to admit. I would do anything to protect them. They have shown me more care in a short amount of time than you have my whole life,” I confirm harshly. I enjoy the surprise on her face.

“I guess there is nothing more to say,” she says softly. She turns to the door but stops and looks at me. “One more thing, remember you picked a side in the war. Not the right one but you can’t say I didn’t do what I could to help you, to guide you to the truth. You are now on your own.” With a pointed look, she walks out the door.

Silence settles over the room. My feet are stuck in place. A strange mix of disappointment, sadness, and anger find a home in my soul. I search inside for a sense of loss from her leaving my life. Maybe before, I would have felt something more, but now I feel relief. It became more challenging to deal with her. Perhaps becoming a vampire has left me numb to things that normally would upset me. I’m sure if she had been a good mom, despite my new being, I would have mourned her loss.

We spoke to each other less and less. I had resigned myself to having weekly or monthly obligatory conversations with her, always anticipating her lectures and disappointment. Never did I expect to have the talk we just had.

She talked of war. What did that mean? How could she hold these mysterious meetings, and I had never heard of them? Surely someone would know something about them or be curious about half the town sneaking around running off new community members. My school was filled with gossip. You couldn’t take a shit without someone getting teased about it. How could this slip by? My dad is clueless. She seems to have hidden so many things from him during their marriage.

Will this be the end of it? A pit develops in my stomach, fearing dealing with this all again.

Ryker draws me back to the present when he steps in front of me. His gorgeous face is lined with concern. I attempt to give him a reassuring smile, but by his expression, it falls flat.

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