we don't think yer special. It's just the way things are. I know this may not make much sense to you now, but you'll understand in time. Just keep one thing in mind: nothing can ever make Dad or me love you any less than we do, it can only let us love you more. Remember that, the next time you feel like we don't pay you enough attention, okay?"
"Okay, Mom."
She stood and made one final adjustment on her covers. "We'll talk more in the morning. Now, you get some sleep." And she leaned over and kissed her on the forehead.
"Momma?" Connie said as she started to rise up.
"Yes?" she asked, pausing.
Connie sat up and wrapped her arms around her neck. "Oh, Momma, I'm so sorry!" she blubbered, burying her face in her shoulder.
She felt her mother hug her tight. "It's alright, sweetie," she whispered in her ear, "all's forgiven. I'm just glad ta have my baby girl back safe and sound."
Sniffling, Connie let go and lay back down. She readjusted the covers under her chin, kissed her again, and stood up. "Good night," she said as she reached to turn off the lamp.
"Momma? Please leave it on!"
"It's alright, honey, you'll have yer nightlight, and Dad and I will be just downstairs. Besides, you have Kitty with you; she'll keep you safe."
Connie looked at the foot of her bed, and Kitty looked back, with a half-lidded stare that seemed to tell her don't worry, you're safe with me.
Connie smiled. "Okay." She turned over and snuggled against her pillow. Her mother smiled and turned off the light, and then she walked out of the room and pulled the door around. Connie listened as she crossed the landing and headed downstairs, and saw the light outside go off.
Something tapped at the window beside her bed. Kitty moaned a warning, but Connie rose up and looked.
It was Angela.
For a moment she felt frightened, but then her curiosity took over. She got out of bed, despite Kitty's growls, and opened the window. Angela climbed onto the sill, but she didn't come in, she just sat there, her legs dangling above the floor.
"I came to apologize for what happened." She did look sorry.
Connie smiled. "It's okay. Yer a Vampire; it's who you are and what you do. Besides, you saved me."
Her face softened into a relieved grin. "I am so glad. I thought maybe I had frightened you away."
"It was pretty scary. I guess I hadn't really thought about that part. I mean, being able to run fast and climb walls is pretty cool, but I couldn't drink blood."
Angela gave her a smirking half-smile. "It is an acquired taste. So, you have decided not to become a Vampire?"
"Yeah. I guess Mom and Dad aren't so bad after all, and I was being a real jerk. Besides, I'd miss Liza and Snowshoe Kitty."
"You have made the right choice. Family is the most important thing there is. Hold on to yours as long as you can." Then she looked anxious. "But, we are still friends...right?"
Connie felt surprised she had to ask. "Of course! Best friends forever!"
Angela grinned again. "Good! I like having you as a friend. Here, I have something for you." And she pulled a napkin package out of her pocket.
Connie took it and unwrapped it: it was a small pile of Christmas cookies.
"I have a confession to make." She sounded apologetic. "The cookies are not really made with blood."
Connie felt disappointed. "They're not?"
Angela shook her head.
"Does that mean I'm not an Honorary Vampire?"
The child Vampire looked surprised. "Do you still want to be?"
"Sure."
"There is a way we can make it official, but you must really want it."
Connie realized she was serious. "Yes, I do."
She nodded, looking serious. "Then give me your hand."
Connie put the cookies down on the nightstand and lifted her right arm. Angela took her hand, gently turning it over.
"This will sting a little, but I will not hurt you."
"Go for it."
Angela placed the index finger in her mouth and bit, puncturing the tip. Connie winced, but she didn't pull away. Angela then placed one of her index fingers in her mouth and bit it as well. Finally, she touched her bleeding finger to Connie's.
"There, our blood has mingled. We are now bound to each other, for all eternity, and the blood of the Vampire flows in your veins. You are one of us." Then she smiled. "Unofficially."
Connie sucked on her finger to stop the bleeding. She felt honored and humbled, all at the same time.
From off in the distance, she heard the toll of bells from some church. Angela heard it too; she cocked her head and glanced to one side.
"Merry Christmas, Connie."
"Thanks; you too! Hey, I know! Giovanna's coming over tomorrow night. Why don't you come with her? I'd love for you ta meet Liza and Mom and Dad, and then we could play together."
"Are you sure it would be all right?" She looked anxious.
"Yeah, why not? If my parents can be friends with Giovanna, why can't I be friends with you?"
Angela looked downcast. "Vampires are not allowed to make friends with prey--sorry, I mean Humans."
"It's okay, Dad told me about that. Yer not allowed ta hunt us, right?"
"Correct."
"So, we're not really prey, are we?"
Angela smiled. "No, I guess not."
Connie grinned. "Then if we're not prey, we can be friends, right?"
Angela grinned herself as she chuckled. "I guess so."
The light came on above the landing, and Connie heard her parents coming up the stairs.
"You've gotta go now!" she whispered.
Angela nodded, but before she could move, Connie hugged her. She felt the child Vampire hesitate, before she returned the hug. Then Connie let her go and Angela dropped backwards out of the window. Alarmed, Connie looked out, but she saw Angela sprinting towards the street. She paused, turned, and waved to Connie, who waved back. And then Angela ran off so fast that only her tracks in the snow were visible.
Connie shut the window, threw the cookies into the draw of her nightstand, and leapt into bed, covering her head with the blankets. She settled herself as she heard her mother say, "I just wanna check on them." She peeked out and saw the door open as her silhouette appeared against the brightly lit landing. Snowshoe Kitty turned to look at her, but didn't move.
"Something wrong?" she heard her Dad ask.
She looked back outside. "I thought it felt cold." Then she closed the door but didn't shut it. "I must've imagined it."
"That's okay, partner" Dad replied, "I'll warm you up."
Her Mom made a shushing sound as her Dad giggled, then she heard their door shut.
Connie got up again and retrieved her cookies, then went over to her sister's bed. "Liza," she whispered, shaking her.
"Huh? Wha--what? Connie? You're back!"
"Not so loud, ya spaz!"
Liza sat up. "Where'd you go?"
"I went to a Vampire Christmas party!"
"Really?!"
"Yeah, and I brought you something." She held out the cookies. "Real Vampire Christmas cookies, made with blood!"
"Eew!" She made a yuck face.
"It's okay, they're good; try one!"
Liza gave her a questioning look, but she took one and bit into it. As soon as she did, her whole face brightened with joy. "It's delicious!"
"They said that eating them made me an Honorary Vampire. Now yer one, too!"
"Can I have another?"
Connie gave her the rest, all except one. "Here, take 'em."
"Thanks! So what does being an Honorary Vampire mean?"
"It means we can go to their parties whenever we want, with Mom and Dad's permission. And, we can make friends with the kid Vampires."
Liza's eyes almost popped out of her skull. "There are kid Vampires?!"
"Yeah, I met one, her name's Angela, and I invited her over tomorrow night with Giovanna. Wait 'till you see the things she can do!"
"Does she know any neat games?"
"No, I don't think she's played much, but we can teach her our games."
"It'll be fun having a Vampire for a friend."
"Yeah, almost as good as bein' one ourselves."
"Do you wanna be a Vampire?"
"I did at first, but not anymore. I'd rather be yer sister."
"Aw, that's so sweet."
"Even if you are a ditz."
Liza giggled, and Connie joined in as they munched on their cookies.
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For more information on Eile and Sunny, Team Girl, see the official site [https://www.teamgirlforever.com/].
Back to TOC
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About the Author
Kevin L. O'Brien was born with a pen in his hand.
Well, not quite, but he has been writing for as long as he can remember, at least since First Grade. Writing has always been his first, true love, but it hasn't always been his career. He worked for 15 years as a biomedical researcher, then for 3 years as a web designer. However, after 30 years of trying to be published in print with little success, he has decided to try his hand at self-publishing. Most of his works will be sold as ebooks through various online retailers, but he also plans to make some available for free exclusively on Goodreads.
He writes primarily speculative fiction--fantasy, science fiction, horror, and their sub-genres--but he also likes to try his hand at thrillers, suspense, mystery, and even westerns. However, his stories tend to have a fantasy element, no matter how subtle.
Most of his stories involve the following three main characters:
Medb hErenn [https://www.medbherenn.com/]--One-time queen of Ireland, she is over 3500 years old. A warrior and a sorceress, she cannot be harmed by any weapon made by the hand of man.
Eile and Sunny, Team Girl [https://www.teamgirlforever.com/]--They are two adorable, vivacious, fun-loving young women whose motto is ONWARD TO ADVENTURE!!! Yet trouble follows them like