Dear Readers, This is a random box of crazy thoughts that someday might grow up and become a logical story. But right now, I'm just having fun creating a new world with all new rules. We all know this is not how Witches and Vampires behave. But until I get a cease and desist notice from somebody's lawyer, we're going to continue to let the good times roll.

Chapter Eight

Mom sent me a mental message. ‘Settle down. We are not being played; he is not controlling our minds. Your Aunt Judith and your grandmother both have lovers, too. Our society is much more advanced. We’re not waiting on anyone to set us free.’

I shook my head. Luckily, my hamburger arrived before I could ask what kind of demons they were having sex with. It also reminded me that I’d only heard about Witch Hunters, and Mom called them bottom feeders. Along with this huge, juicy burger, they brought a chocolate milkshake. The fries and onion rings were hot, and I kind of lost track of everything while I ate. After a few minutes of deep gulps, I looked around at everyone else politely eating their meals. “I do have a question.”

I waited until everyone looked up. “I understand the whole stealth idea, but I don’t see why I need to go to school. Wouldn’t being trained as a witch cover everything? If the three of you can control your aging, can’t we just make me eighteen, and update some ID for me?”

Polly smiled. “Good question. And the best answer I can give you is that we try to appear to be rule-following, good citizens who have careers and pay our taxes. Our family business was started a long time ago and continues to serve Chicago with a smile. We try not to upset anyone’s perception of the family image.”

I looked around and asked the straightforward question, “What is this family business?”

Mom smiles. “We are morticians.”

I looked at Derrick. “Is that where you get your blood and bodies?”

Derrick grinned as he ate steak tartare, finely sliced raw tenderloin that I saw him dip into horseradish and other condiments that looked like fancy ketchup.

"Anna, vampires don’t eat flesh; they just drink blood." He pointed to his plate. "This is only a fun dinner. Cadaver blood has no energy or nutritional value for me. But let’s change the subject."

He was staring at me as I wiped the juices running down my chin. The burger was on the rare side. “Derrick, do you have trouble controlling your thirst?”

My Mom stared at me. “Anna, that’s rude!”

My first impulse was to sigh and pout at being scolded. I knew that’s what a fourteen-year-old girl would do, and hated that my body and mind were behaving this way. I really wanted to protest that I could still behave like Doug. It didn’t make any sense how everything could change overnight.

And it had been overnight. I went to bed and woke up a different person. I woke up a witch with powers, and Mom’s boyfriend was a Vampire, but really not the Vampire I thought of when I thought of the V-word.

The worst part was that everything in my body was attracted to him. Seriously, turned on. Just being in his presence got me jiggly inside.

Girl's feelings! Teeny-bopper excitment! And damp. This whole new thing was going on between my legs. This whole new genitalia was not doing very well. I’m getting all swollen, and I’m secreting. I wanted to touch myself and smell my fingers. I’m sure that this Vampire knew what was happening to me. I’d bet he knew that I was getting excited just being near him.

I thought of Mom. Was this how she felt being around him? Is this how my Mom felt, all wet and excited? Gross!

I could only eat half my burger before I never wanted to eat again. The meat, fat, and grease all made me uneasy. I looked at my Mom. ‘I can’t handle this,’ and pointed to Derrick. ‘Does he have this effect on everyone?’

Mom chuckled. ‘It’s powerful. Usually, he holds himself in check, but I guess some leaked out in your direction when we got together. I’m sorry.”

I stared at my plate. ‘Does he know what it’s doing to me?’

Mom growled. ‘He does now.’

‘Make him stop.’

‘I wish I could. He’s much more powerful than I am. He claims to love me, but you’re part of me. He’s just that way.’

Suddenly, a new, deeper voice entered our discussion. ‘I love you, Vivian, with all my heart. And I apologize, Anna. But sometimes the Demon in me slips out and forgets that it can’t have everything in its path. I promise it will never happen again.’

Mom squeezed my hand, but turned to her lover. ‘No mistakes, Derrick. I love you, but no slip-ups. My daughter is mine, not yours to share. Doug was fourteen, but Anna is only one day old. Maybe you need to leave now.’

Derrick stood and thanked everyone. He did not look at me when he turned and left. I watched him walk away and wanted to chase after him. I really wanted to be in his arms and pictured myself getting naked. I sat there wondering what had just happened.

I stroked Luna on the ride and closed my eyes. Saturday had worn me out.

The next day, I started my lessons. While Sunday might be someone’s day of rest, my day kind of resembled some sort of fighting program from the Matrix. Polly had me juggling, doing acrobatics, and throwing knives. Except it was all in my mind. I could have been strapped down in bed. Instead, I was lying in a lounge chair on a rooftop deck drinking fruit juice, as my brain was being overworked..

After a while, Polly gave me a break. ‘You’re doing great, kid. You’ve got vast amounts of inner strength, which means you inherited all the goods from our family bloodline. And it looks like that shit of your Warlock father gave you a boost with his family’s powers. If I’m not mistaken, you are more powerful than both your mom and me.’

As I was lying there resting, I figured this would be a good time to get personal with my grandmother. ‘Can I ask you a sex question?’

She hugged me. ‘Yep, Derrick has that effect on women. That’s the real him, and unless he’s keeping up his shields, every female wants to sleep with him.’

I smiled. ‘Sleep?’

She chuckled. ’Yeah, baby. You’re too young to have sex with a five-hundred-year-old Vamp. He’ll spoil you for the rest of your very long life.’

‘How’d you know I was going to ask you about him?’

‘There are no secrets among witches, Anna dear. You’re going to learn how to control your body, too. Have you ever seen male dog behavior around a female dog in heat?’

I sighed. ‘Is that me? But I just finished my period, and now you’re telling me that I’m sending out pheromones?’

‘We can work on controls and shields after you’ve rested.’

‘Is this something I have to worry about around people, too?’

‘Yes, dear. First day of school is tomorrow.’