“Is what you said in the message true?” he asked, remaining by the door as if afraid to commit to entering the room.
I removed the blanket a nurse had given me and sat up. “Every word,” I said, feeling tremendous guilt in the pit of my stomach, even though he was the one who’d left me. His sorrowful eyes moved from me to Fiona, who was fast asleep on the bed. “Is this her?”
I nodded, unable to utter another word as a lump formed in the back of my throat.
Roland tentatively entered the room and approached Fiona’s bedside. His eyes were wide with a mixture of emotions as he gazed down on her for the first time. “What’s her name?”
“Fiona,” I managed to say.
He stared at her, his eyes beginning to glisten. “She’s so beautiful.”
“She’s an amazing kid. They both are—were…” I swallowed hard.
Roland looked up, his eyes meeting mine as a tear trickled down his left cheek. “What was the other one’s name?”
“Rebecca. But I usually called her Becca, and Fiona liked to call her Becks.” My eyes began to sting just from mentioning her name. I still couldn’t believe she was gone. If only I could go to sleep and wake in my own bed, with the girls arguing over what show to watch in the living room—everything as it should be, not with me camped out beside Fiona’s hospital bed, Becca in the morgue, and their estranged father standing before me after being absent their entire lives.
A part of me wanted to apologize for never telling Roland about the girls. Yet another part of me wanted to blame him—that if he had never left, this wouldn’t have happened. I knew how unfair that was. But there was nothing about today that was fair.
“Fiona and Rebecca,” he said. “Were they like two peas in a pod?”
“They finished each other’s sentences. I’d find them in each other’s beds often enough. They split their Oreos.” As much as they fought and argued, they’d loved each other dearly. I feared for Fiona now that she’d lost her other half—something she still didn’t know. And even once I built up the courage to tell her, she wouldn’t truly understand. Hopefully, she wouldn’t blame me too much for her sister being gone.
“Do you have any pictures of Rebecca?” Roland asked, slowly approaching my side of the room.
“Sure,” I said, taking out my phone and scrolling to the saved pictures, then showing him the screen. “These were taken just last weekend, at the park by our complex. They loved to do everything together.” I stopped on one of them sitting together at the bottom of the slide with the biggest smiles on their faces. They’d been shocking each other and laughing deliriously.
“I’ve missed so much…” He looked away, seemingly not wanting to see any more pictures—any more glimpses into our lives that he wasn’t a part of.
“It was your choice,” I said, bitterly. “You disappeared. I remember you talking about introducing me to some secretive group you belonged to, but before that happened, you were gone. You didn’t return my calls. Your apartment had been emptied. You just vanished. I didn’t want to spring some news—like I’m pregnant—on you in a message. If you’d called me back, you would have found out.”
“I wish there was something I could say to make everything better and help you understand why I had to go. If I’d known…”
“Well, we’ve done just fine without you. I didn’t call you now to get help, because I’m totally capable of handling this on my own. I just thought you deserved to know what had happened.”
“But now that I’m here, I want to help. What can I do?”
“The doctors have said Fiona will need more surgeries,” I said. “I don’t know how many more—they don’t seem to know how many more. My parents are willing help me out—”
“That won’t be necessary. I’ll take care of it. Money is no object. And I can get the best surgeons in the country—I’ll fly them out here, so you don’t have to go anywhere.”
“That’s crazy,” I said, gaping at him. “I can’t accept that.”
“Yes, you can. I’ll talk to the administrative staff before I leave to ensure I’m billed for everything—everything accumulated so far and going forward.”
Roland looked serious, but I couldn’t imagine someone so casually offering to pay all this money, especially for a daughter he didn’t know—and didn’t have proof was actually his. I knew definitively that Roland was the father but he had no such assurance without a paternity test.
“I—I don’t know what to say,” I said.
“You don’t have to say anything. Just let me do this. For you. For our daughter. You both have been through enough. This is one small burden I can relieve you of. Let me do this for you—for her. I’ll get her the best care money can buy.”
“How can you do this?”
“I’ve made some good investments over the years,” Roland said. “They haven’t come without their costs, but… well, every choice has a sacrifice.” He glanced back at Fiona, still sound asleep. “May I ask what happened?”
“She was attacked by a dog,” I said.
“And Rebecca?”
“The same dog.”
“Is that the whole story?” he asked, looking intently down on me.
“It’s the story I’ve told the hospital staff.”
“That wasn’t my question,” he persisted.
“It’s the story people will believe.”
“Try me.”
“You’ll think I’m crazy,” I answered. “I don’t even know if I believe it myself,” I said, so afraid to describe what I’d been through—but desperate to tell someone at the same time. I couldn’t tell the doctors. I couldn’t tell my parents. But it somehow felt safer to test the story out on Roland.
“I know a bit about the craziness in the world,” he said. “I’ll probably understand more than most.”
I took a deep breath. Here goes… “The dog was dragging Fiona into our apartment. When I went to help her, the dog… I can’t,” I said, losing my nerve.
“It wasn’t a dog. It wasn’t an animal, was it?”
My heart pounded in my chest from the words that escaped his lips. “What would make you say that?”
“The fear in your eyes. Am I right?”
I nodded. “It was some type of man—but no ordinary man.”
“Someone who can transform from man to animal—and vice versa—is far from ordinary,” Roland said. “Now, you might find this hard to believe, but it seems to me you were attacked by a vampire.”
“But vampires don’t exist,” I said, though I knew he was right now he’d placed a name to it. I never thought of the fictional beings as shapeshifters, but in his humanoid form with those terrible fangs and eyes as black as death, I could certainly see the creature for what it was.
“Oh, they do very much exist, I’m sorry to say. They differ some from literature and cinema, but they are close enough to be classified as such. The good thing is for the most part, they keep to themselves in the shadows of society. But there are some that make their way up from the sewers and wreak havoc. You’re not crazy, Susan. However, I wouldn’t go broadcasting this information because you’ll end up being labeled as such.”
“How do you know all this?” I asked. As terrible and frightening as this information was, it helped to know I wasn’t completely alone in this nightmare.
“That secret group you spoke of… We dabble in the supernatural. We track and kill vampires. We even work with some.”
“You work with vampires?” After seeing one, I couldn’t fathom working with one for any reason.
“Believe it or not, there are vampires on our side,” Roland said. “And we need their help to infiltrate their subculture. Once you can open your eyes and see them for what they are, you’ll find they’re all around us. They even cater to their own kind through private enterprises like Sisters of Mercy and Fangloria. They’ve been hiding in plain sight for millennia.”
“This—this is an overwhelming amount of information,” I
said. As curious as I was, I was equally afraid to learn more. Was I now just going to be paranoid for the rest of my life, fearing for Fiona’s and my safety from a threat that was hiding in plain sight—all around us?
“I know,” he said, sadly. “And here I thought I’d spared you these horrors.”
“Mommy?”
My attention was swiftly drawn to the bed, where Fiona had her little eyes open, gazing curiously at the two of us. I dashed to her bedside and gently laid a hand on her arm, as far away from any injuries as I could find.
“It’s okay, baby,” I said. “The doctors say you’re doing amazing. How’re you feeling?”
“My face hurts,” she said, her words impaired from the bandages and tape crisscrossing her right cheek.
“I know, baby. But the doctors fixed you up and you’re going to be all better soon.”
“Who’s that?” She lifted a hand and pointed to Roland.
I glanced back at him, unsure of what to say, then the words just spilled out. “He’s one of your doctors—Dr. Damascus.”
Roland gave me a look of disappointment, but quickly masked it with a bright smile as he approached Fiona’s bedside. “It’s nice to officially meet you, miss Fiona Winter,” he said, reaching for her hand and holding it in both of his. “Rest assured, you’re in good hands. Now, it’s very important for you to continue to get your rest. Can you do that for me?”
Fiona nodded tentatively.
“Good girl. That way, you’ll be feeling much better by the time you leave here, and pretty soon you’ll be as good as new. I promise.”
I was slightly annoyed with him for making such a bold promise; it wasn’t something he had any control over. But it did lift her spirits, and I would have forgiven almost anything upon seeing that bright smile again. I gestured to the door with my eyes, and it took Roland a little too long to catch my meaning, but when he finally did, he seamlessly played along.
“I’m glad to see you awake and doing well. I’ll have one of the nurses check on you soon and give you more medicine,” Roland said.
“I don’t like medicine,” Fiona said.
“Medicine helps you get well faster. So, when it’s time to take it, I don’t want you to fight, okay?”
“I don’t like medicine,” Fiona repeated, this time mumbling the phrase under her breath.
“It’s okay, baby,” I said. “I’m going to walk the doctor out. I’ll just be right outside the door, okay?”
Fiona nodded, shyly, and I gave her a kiss on the top of her head. I followed Roland into the hallway.
His expression was slack, and his eyes were downcast. “I wish things had been different,” he said, still not looking at me.
“Me too,” I said. “I’m sorry, but I didn’t want to confuse her. She’s been through enough.”
“I understand. And… there’s something you should know. I’m married now.” He raised his left hand to show his gold wedding band. “We’re trying to have kids.”
I felt stupid for not noticing the wedding band earlier. It was something I always knew to look for, especially after being a bartender for several years. With all the money he claimed to be making now, it stood to reason some woman would’ve snatched him up. Seven years ago, it seemed like it was going to be me. “Well, I didn’t call you to complicate your life.”
“I’m not saying that and I’m glad you allowed me to see her, even under these circumstances. She’s so beautiful and strong.”
“Yes; she is.” I felt my eyes starting to well up again.
“Just like her mother,” Roland said and attempted a sad smile. “I’m sure she’ll be the spitting image of you one day.”
“It’s time for you to go,” I said, wiping my eyes to keep the tears from falling. I didn’t want him to see me like that. “I need to take care of my daughter. Go back to your wife and soon-to-be family. We’ll be fine. We’ve been fine.”
“I’m still going to help. I’ll pay for everything. It’s the least I can do.”
I doubted he would really follow through with it, but I smiled and nodded to placate him.
As he was turning to leave, he stopped, turned back, and closed the gap between us. He was now standing so close, my first impression was he was going to kiss me—and I didn’t know what I’d do if he tried. But he didn’t attempt a kiss. Instead, he reached beneath his suit coat and removed what looked like a small handgun. He used both hands, as well as the proximity of our bodies, to keep it as concealed as possible.
“What are you doing?” I hissed.
“Take it,” Roland said. “Hide it under your shirt.”
“No; I can’t take this.”
“It’s special. It has special bullets specifically designed for vampires. If you ever have the misfortune to be attacked by another one, this will give you and Fiona a fighting chance. It may look small, but it’ll do the trick. Aim for the heart and it will take your supernatural target down.”
I reluctantly took the weapon and shoved it under my shirt as he’d told me to do—and before my hands were free, Roland did lean in and kiss me on the cheek.
“Goodbye, Susan,” he said, then turned and walked away.
I didn’t say anything in return, wondering if this was the last time I’d see him. Now he knew he had a daughter, would it one day bring him back or ultimately keep him away?
When I returned to the room, Fiona was watching the door expectantly. “He said I’m going to be okay,” she said.
“Of course, you are,” I said, returning to her bedside. “We’re not going to let a little doggy stop us, right?” My thoughts went to Becca and I didn’t know how I was ever going to break the news to Fiona. In the end, all I could say was, “You’re my everything, kid. It’s you and me against the world.”
22
Fiona
When I awoke the next morning, I was alone in Matthew’s king-sized bed. The sun was trying to peek through the slit in the blackout curtains. I didn’t notice how sore I was until I repositioned my body—not my neck, but everything else.
I still felt a little lightheaded—almost drunk as I threw off the sheets and sat up. I hadn’t drunk any alcohol, but it was an aftereffect of the blood loss. I immediately went for a robe to cover my naked body, then headed for the bathroom to freshen up.
Examining myself in the mirror, I gazed closely at my neck, where Matthew had fed from me. There wasn’t even a blemish on my skin. I didn’t remember him healing me, but he must have done it at some point, perhaps after he awoke this morning. I ran my hand over my skin to see if there were any bumps beneath the surface, but couldn’t find a single thing.
I washed my face, ran my fingers through my hair, and pinched my cheeks to coax a bit of color from them, then headed out to find Matthew. The slight tingling in my arm from my hidden tattoo told me he was still within the apartment. If he was any further, I wouldn’t have felt anything.
I wandered into the main living area of the expansive apartment and found Matthew in front of the television, intently watching the large wall screen. He didn’t even turn to look at me as I entered the room—his focus unable to be pried from the breaking news.
“What is it?” I asked. “What’s wrong?” I’d never seen him so entranced—not even on my neck from last night. His singular attention was spooky.
But when he finally spoke, gooseflesh rippled up my arms. “The world just stopped,” he said eerily.
I took a seat beside him and turned my attention to the screen where newscasters were frantically speaking over each other, debating, arguing, praying, and crying. The main image on the screen was focused on a press conference located atop some skyscraper in downtown Los Angeles. At first, the primary image was live, then it cut to a previously recorded shot, which showed Damien Galt behind a podium, with Clementine at his side.
He began talking about a medical breakthrough, then he was on the receiving end of gunfire. Blood arched out in front his falling body in a nasty red ribbon while C
lementine stood calmly to the side, seemingly unfazed by the sudden attack. Screaming erupted in the background. The camera even shook from all the panic. Then Damien was climbing back to his feet.
This wasn’t an attack—but a stunt! He was still bleeding, the front of his dress shirt soaked in blood, but he acted as if the gunshots were nothing. He wasn’t human anymore… He was a vampire.
“What is this?” I asked, my voice cracking as I tried to get out the words.
“The beginning of the end,” Matthew answered.
Damien Galt removed his suitcoat, then began unbuttoning his dress shirt. He let the shirt slide over his shoulders and fall to the floor, revealing an incredibly toned physique underneath. He smeared the blood on his chest in a way that showed it was just blood—there were no wounds underneath.
“I would like to introduce you to the dawn of a new era—one where death and dying is no longer necessary. All the ailments plaguing humanity can be immediately erased. And you have the opportunity to live as the best version of yourself.” Damien stopped and turned to Clementine. He took her hand and kissed it before returning his attention to the cameras—to the world.
I scooted closer to Matthew and snuck my hand into his for support. This was the moment we’d all been waiting for—dreading, in fact. Frederick surely wasted no time after seeing the future for himself. And that was when I finally spotted him in the background, with my mother to his right-hand side. The puppet masters were showing their faces for the first time on the national stage.
“We are Vampire Nation,” Damien Galt began. “I understand not many of you would have heard of us, but we have been around for several decades. We are your neighbors, your teachers, your public servants and doctors, business owners and emergency support personnel. We have been quietly all around you for years, working to better your society from the shadows.
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