Kelly walked along the left side of the room. The lights were bright and she waited for Liam and Leola. Somebody tapped her on her back and she turned to see a man she couldn't place.
“Ms. Kelly. Sister Maryann asked me to fetch you.”
“She did? She called and told me she was at a meeting.” Kelly was angry at her. How could she be so thoughtless?
“She told me to send you to the back room.”
“Thanks.”
Kelly went past the bathrooms and down a narrow hallway to the large room where they stored extra tables and chairs and where Sister had a small office. She knocked, and Sister called to her to come inside. She walked around chairs and a long table and found Sister Maryann sitting at her desk.
“You wanted to see me?” Kelly asked.
“I'm sorry. Those men said they wouldn't hurt you if I did what they told me.”
Kelly began to back away from her, from the entrapment. Backwards, step-by-step and she would rewind the danger and tuck it back inside the waning daylight, if she might make it to the door. She backed up until she felt a hand reach and touch her neck. A finger slid along her vein as a moan came from behind her. The nail dug into her chin and left a scratch just below. She dared not turn, for she knew his scent. The smell of cologne—like a tropical thunderstorm infused with the smell of musk--made her sick to her stomach. The finger dug in deep and as the small drop of blood trickled down her neck, another moan came from behind her and the finger on her neck moved down to the blood drop and smeared the liquid as it pressed the scratch hard, opening it up for more blood to flow. Then the finger moved from her neck and she closed her eyes as the sucking sound of a finger to pursed lips made her quiver.
She saw Sister Maryann rise from her seat, and walk to her. Sister took the hand around Kelly's neck and moved it. The vampire seemed startled by Sister.
Then the door opened and another vampire, identical in looks to the first one, said, “He's here.”
“Who?” asked Sigman.
“The Draculan Hunter. He found us. We've got to go. Take the girl and go out the back door to the alley.”
“Nonsense,” Sigman lifted Kelly and she gasped. “we should kill him here and now. Then we'd be rid of him once and for all. You're into health food. You deal with him.”
Sister Maryann said, “Let go of Kelly, then you may leave.”
Sigman dropped Kelly, who fell to the floor. He looked at Amwolf and they laughed.
Amwolf moved so close to Sister Maryann that she closed her eyes as he spoke. “Who's the drifter?”
Kelly said, “Please, let her go. I'll...I'll go with you. Just let my friend go.”
Sigman bent down, took Kelly's hand and kissed it. “Ahh, my future bride is trying to be noble. Just look into my eyes and you will see how devoted I am to you.”
Kelly glanced to the floor. “If you let her go, I'll look into your eyes.”
Sigman then turned his attention to the nun. “Well, the drifter can't dress. Look at the polyester threads. Tisk tisk.” Sigman moved his right index finger over his left. “Shame on you!”
Amwolf joined the conversation by saying, “She's committing the first cardinal sin of fashion by wearing a fabric which is flame retardant. Ugh! Have you considered this smock in rayon?”
“Not rayon, try cotton. Poverty is no excuse to be uncomfortable. And your hemline went out in 1274.”
“More like 1537, brother, and I think it was King Henry the eighth who sat on the throne the last time I saw a dress like this in fashion. I suppose we should put the sad creature out of her misery, in a compassionate, quick way.”
“NO!” Kelly said. The twins turned to view her.
Sister said, “Kelly, I'm not afraid to die. I can't allow you to leave with these men.”
“I couldn't live with myself if these monsters got to you,” Kelly cried out.
Amwolf folded his arms and said, “What about my dinner? Hmm?”
“I'll stop by that Chinese restaurant down the street and pick up take-out,” Sigman suggested as he lifted Kelly to her feet.
Amwolf nodded, “Nah, I'm too hungry.”
Amwolf found the light switch and turned off the lights. Kelly was unable to move as she heard the sounds of Sister screaming.
Then, faint sounds from the dining hall drowned out the sounds of prayers and gurgles and Kelly knew what was happening to her friend. How she wanted to kill the monster who had her pinned against his fanged teeth.
Amwolf wiped his mouth and then said, “Don't kill her. Remember, Mother wants granddraculans.”
Kelly's tears streaked across her flushed cheeks, the anger replaced with her fear. If Sister Maryann in all her goodness wouldn't be spared, why would she? Kelly wanted to live. She willed to survive. Would Liam be able to save her? If she was smart, maybe she could escape. Death wasn't the worst of it. Living as the undead would be unbearable. Would she hunt people? Would she suck the life-blood from innocent individuals? If this beast turned her into one of them, what perpetual horror show would she host? No, she would find a way to let him drain her blood if need be, rather than live forever a vampire's life. She would find another way out. If only she could have warned Sister. If only she would have lived anywhere other than Philadelphia. If only she would have never felt the painless prick on her veins from his bite.
Kelly felt the wind as the door to the back office opened. She looked up. Sounds of the dining hall with a subdued hum of plates clanking vanished as the door shut.
Liam switched the lights on and lunged towards the Draculans.
“No! Not now, Draculan Hunter! A dead girl is the last thing you want,” Amwolf said. He put his hands over his eyes for a moment until he adjusted to the light.
“Kelly!” Leola yelled. Kelly dared not make a sound.
Leola then looked at a dead Sister Maryann, her body draped over her desk, and she screamed. Liam took a step toward Sigman and Kelly, his silver dagger drawn.
“Let her go, and I'll let you leave,” Liam said.
“Better yet, I'll let you live. A fight right now wouldn't be prudent,” Sigman said.
“Let her go! If you don't I'll–” Liam said.
“You'll do what? I hate to disappoint you, but she'll be my bride soon and then I'll send her to kill you.” Sigman laughed as if the thought was ironic.
“No!” Leola said.
Amwolf moved towards a window and pushed it open, and with a flash he jumped out of it and into trash cans. Liam began to move, but Sigman pulled Kelly so tight she let out a yell of pain, and Liam stopped.
“Don't be foolish. We all want to survive. Why don't you go back under that rock you crawled out of and let us be? Nobody misses those humans we eat. As someone of superior stock, why would you care? If you disappear now, then I won't hunt you. Think of it, all you need to do is look the other way.”
“If you let go of the girl, then I'll walk away. If you don't,” Liam held his dagger higher and said, “I'll end you tonight!”
“Let’s at least get on the same page! I say, ‘get out of here and I'll let you live’. You say, ‘let her go or I'll end you tonight’. Thanks for the tempting offer, but I'll keeping her so my Mommy will have granddraculans.”
Sigman Van Horn picked up Kelly. “Toodle-oo!” He griped Kelly as he jumped out of the window. Metal tin lids rattled as they tipped over the cans, securing an almost soft landing. Then Sigman lifted and hoisted her over his shoulder.
Kelly looked up towards the window and saw Liam and Leola above the trash collection site. Then with record speed, they disappeared into the dark night.
“Stay here!” Liam ordered Leola.
He jumped out the large window and onto the trash. Then Liam got up and ran as fast as he could, and when he got out of the alley, he saw the pair climb into a cab.
He looked to find another cab, but there were none to be found. He put his hands on his head, realizing he might have lost the only girl he had cared for in a long while. If she was turned into a vampire, he would be forced to kill her.
Liam looked up at the night sky as a gelatin orange sunset was hidden behind the buildings. He kicked the tire of a rickety bicycle set against a wall.
Leola opened the front door of the building. She stared at Liam and said, “You didn't find my baby sister and that monster?” She put her hand over her mouth as her sobs began.
Liam walked over to her and put his arms around her. “I'll find her. They won't kill her.”
“No, it's worse. They'll change her into one of them.”
“I'll find her before they do. They must live close. I've narrowed it down to five square blocks. It's just there are so many apartments.”
Leola looked at him. “So many? The chances aren't good you'll find her in time.”
“I just need a break. I'll get it.”
“If you don't...if they turn her into a Draculan, you'll have to kill her.”
Leola began to cry and Liam let her. If he weren't trained so well, he'd have cried too.
***
Kelly opened her eyes and realized she was sleeping on a couch in a tiny room. She heard cabinet doors close. She tumbled off the couch, remembering the vampire had forced her into a taxi, but she couldn't recall anything else. Had he hypnotized her? The room was probably a large closet. She jiggled the doorknob and found that the door was locked. Then she heard laughter and the door opened. A tall man was wiping the counters of the compact kitchen.
“Hello sleepy head! That horse pill you gave her really knocked her out, Wofie.”
“Welcome to our humble home, Kelly Harper,” said a man who looked identical the one cleaning the counter tops. “Please sit down, we won't bite.”
The other man stopped what he was doing, looked over at his brother and laughed. Then the other one joined him in his laughter as they continued to find the joke funny for a few moments.
Amwolf said, “By the way, I have more blood stored in the fridge. I'm afraid we must order out for her dinner.”
“You expect me to drink that homeless shelter grub? I'll pass,” Sigman said.
“Suit yourself. I know it's not as sweet as a young woman's blood,” Amwolf leered at Kelly, “but it keeps me strong. And I don't need to constantly diet.”
“Oh no, you don't! It's genetics, I take after Father and put on weight far too easily.”
Kelly felt sick and clutched her stomach.
“Oh, forgive us for not asking you to sit.” Sigman pulled out the other chair and she sat down. She glanced between them, wondering why she was still alive.
Amwolf said, “If she is going to be your bride, you better teach her how to dress. Over in the closet are a few dresses I picked up.”
“You want me to put on a fancy party dress?” Kelly asked.
Amwolf clapped his hands together. “Go to the closet and put on the gown I picked out for you. I must inspect it before Mother arrives on the red-eye.”
“Better hurry before Mother arrives. If she doesn't approve, type O blood or not, you won't like it,” Sigman said.
She turned to see Sigman Van Horn. “Who are you?”
“I'm Sigman. He's Amwolf. Mother is Mrs. Van Horn until the wedding. Then you may call her Mother Van Horn, but only after you produce an heir.”
“An heir?” Kelly asked.
“Yes, you can bear vampire children,” Amwolf said.
“Stop using that term!” Sigman said.
“Sorry, he gets so sensitive, he's an actor,” Amwolf said.
Kelly looked at the twins. How would she escape? She must keep them happy until she found a way. If she lived until morning, she might find a way out.
Kelly said, “All right, I'll try your dress on.”
“Sweet, it's over there.” Amwolf pointed to a door near the front door.
Kelly got up went to the front closet, found the sexy black gown and high heels and she took them into her arms.
“The bathroom is over there.” Sigman pointed to a door across the room.
“Hey, Sig. Give me a hand with dinner.”
Kelly glanced at them opening the refrigerator. She slowly walked to the bathroom and closed the bathroom door. It was a large bathroom with a seat and closet.
Kelly took off her tee, jeans and sneakers and she put on the beaded gown and heels. There was a slit in the right side and her leg showed through. As she looked in the mirror she realized she looked the part of a vampire bride.
“You need red lipstick, in the top drawer.” said Amwolf. She looked into the mirror and saw only her own reflection. She turned to see Amwolf in the doorway.
“Oh, I didn't hear the door open.”
“We Draculans are quiet hunters. Put on the lipstick please.” She obeyed him and then he said, “Now turn around.”
Kelly slowly turned around.
“Yes, you'll do nicely. You have high cheek bones, Mother will like it. She said you can tell good stock from the cheeks. You're beautiful.”
Amwolf went up to her and caressed her shoulders.
“Where’d everyone go?” Sigman entered the room and Kelly glanced at him as Amwolf slid his hand around her waist.
“She's my future bride,” Sigman said.
He took Kelly by the hand and guided her past his brother.
Amwolf slipped his hand around her waist again as she passed by him and she stopped. Amwolf said, “Maybe we could share that third bite? Don't we share everything? Look at her rump in this dress--”
Sigman turned and moved his brother's hand off her waist. “Rump roast will clog your arteries, Doctor. I know of a healthier alternative in the kitchen.”
Amwolf said, “Maybe the girl should decide who should get the third bite. Maybe when she compares being the bride of an out-of-work actor to that of a doctor, she might want to reconsider the options.”
Sigman's face flashed anger, “No you don't! I bit her first. Get your own bride. I spend all this time hunting down girls, and you want the best one I've found in centuries! Don't forget, I still can whip you if I want to!”
“Can not!”
“Can too!”
“Can NOT!”
Kelly looked between the two and thought of her own complicated relationship with Leola. “Stop fighting! You're twins. You shouldn't be fighting.”
Amwolf and Sigman looked at her. She waited, the silence hanging in the air. She thought that perhaps she erred by speaking to them.
“Finally, someone who can control us.” Sigman put the knuckle of his pointer finger into his mouth.
“I apologize.” Amwolf bent slightly, took her hand and kissed it. “Wisdom from your future bride. You have chosen well, Siggie.”
Kelly didn't know quite what happened, but she needed a drink. “I think I'd like a glass of wine.”
“Oh, poor dearest. You must be thirsty. All I have is blood or water,” Sigman said.
“I'll take water.”
“Of course.” Sigman let go of her, bowed, and left the bathroom.
Amwolf said, “I am sorry for so many things, Kelly. I should keep myself in check. After all, you will be a mother soon. Then you'll gain weight, dress in sweats, and be completely stressed out caring for the baby Draculan who will throw up blood all over you. After the diaper changing, sleepless nights, and completely letting yourself go, no male Draculan will touch you again.”
“What a comfort that thought is. Thank you,” Kelly said. “Can I take off the dress now?”
“Yes, you'll be wearing it tomorrow, so hang is up carefully.”
“Tomorrow?”
“At your engagement party. Mother and Dad are flying in specially to host it. A lot of very important Draculans will be there.”
***
A thunderstorm blew into the city center and the lights went out.
“How nice, a blackout,” Sigman said.
“Yes, it's so quaint to have pitch black again, reminds me of two hundred years ago. The good old days in so many ways,” Amwolf said.
Kelly entered the living room dressed in a purple cock-tale dress and Sigman said, “Looky, my bride is gorgeous, for a human. Wait my dear,” Sigman got up off the sofa. “Wait until you see how wonderful the life of a Draculan is.”
“Is your Mother here?” Kelly asked.
“Will be here any minute,” Amwolf said.
“Don't be nervous to meet her. She's harmless, relatively speaking,” Sigman said.
Kelly nodded. She heard a muffled sound in the kitchen then the cry of “help, help” came out from behind the swinging doors.
“Excuse me while I take care of dinner.” Amwolf got up and moved quickly to the kitchen.
“It's so hard to salivate over a good meal. Poor Amwolf. Don't worry, my pet. The tourist off the duck boat won't suffer at all. Amwolf is a skilled surgeon.”
Kelly tried to hide her horror and glanced down.
“Oh, I love those shoes,” Sigman said.
“I didn't pick them out.”
“You'll have to learn to shop at the right places. Mother will help you, she does the fashion shows at New York twice a year.” Sigman leaned in close and Kelly thought he might be staring at her neck—a slight scar was still visible from her attack—and then he whispered, “Father is loaded.”
“I'm not that interested in fashion, or money,” Kelly said.
Sigman said, “You should be. You look wickedly good in plum. And this dress shows off your lovely neck.” He touched her neck softly like he was touching a rare jewel. His fingertips caressed her as they slid along her throat. “So many lovely parts of a woman. So much to drink in of her beauty.”
Kelly closed her eyes as he continued to speak. “Even immortals are envious of the power of enchanting prettiness. Some Draculans call humans inferior beings, and this for the most part is true...yet when one captures the gaze of not just one superior being, but of two, then this woman is deserving to become one of our kind.”
The doorbell rang. Sigman turned towards it. Amwolf Van Horn opened the folding doors and appeared. “Oh, Mother is here!” He turned the handle of the door.
Kelly viewed the spectacle in front of her. There stood an elegantly appointed woman wearing a leather coat and mini skirt and leggings. She wore high heels and carried an over-sized expensive handbag. She was model thin and tall. She wore sunglasses in the darkness and took them off as she entered the flat.
“It's so good to see you,” she said in a deep voice, “my son, the doctor!” She turned to size up Kelly. “So, this is what all the fuss has been about. A puny little oaf of a girl.”
Sigman raced to his mother's side. “Now, Mother, she will give you granddraculans. I thought you'd be pleased that I'm taking the first step to a stable life. No more wild ways.”
Mrs. Van Horn squinted at him. “You promise?”
“Cross my heart, Mommy,” Sigman said. Mrs. Van Horn touched his face. “Oh, you're such a darling boy. I understand how difficult it must be, the limited choices of suitable brides. Even if you tire of her, the children will be worth it.” Her lower lip trembled as if she were about to cry.
Amwolf went to her other side. “Dearest Mother. What's the matter?” He took her hand into his own.
“Yes, Mommy. Do tell.” Sigman said.
“It's your Father. He's gone off and taken another bride. You'd think at his age, over eight hundred and sixty years old, he'd have given up his old ways. All I've done for him, and this is the thanks I get. I'm tempted to find another Draculan myself.”
“You can't be serious. Please reconsider,” Amwolf said. “A divorce is harder than you think.”
“Yes, and think about the money.”
“Money? Is that all you think of, Sigman?”
“Yes, I mean no,” Sigman said.
“It's of no consequence. He'll be here later.”
“Thank the Devil!” said Sigman.
Mrs. Van Horn said, “He's not foolish enough to be a no show at the engagement party of the decade.”
Kelly said, “Engagement party?”
“She's speaking to me?” Mrs. Van Horn said.
Sigman put his index finger to his lips to warn Kelly. Amwolf made a cutting motion over his neck to tell her to stop.
“Yes, I am.” Kelly folded her arms.
Mrs. Van Horn glared at her.
Amwolf said, “There is an engagement gala being given in Sigman's honor by Mother and Father tonight at the Museum. Our parents are patrons to academics and the arts.”
“She better give you an heir or she'll be worse than Victoria. Tell the tramp to change out of the cocktail dress. I'm heading over now,” Mrs. Van Horn said.
“But I have dinner waiting,” Amwolf said.
“I'll eat on the way, thank you,” Mrs. Van Horn said.