Family Ties Read online

  “We knew Mrs. Chaser was on our land,” Maria explained. “We believe she was invited by the dark vampires.”

  “The dark vampires, they sound nasty!” Frank said.

  Marana and Maria laughed. “They operate a beach club near one of the lakes. They aren’t that scary. They are called dark because they like to wear dark clothing. It’s more of a fashion thing,” Maria said.

  “Any idea why they would invite my mom?” Jimmy asked.

  The two vampire ladies shrugged. “Nope. We suggest you rest up a bit, freshen up and then ask them yourselves. They are quite friendly; even to those with vampire hunter blood.”

  “Why can’t we go now?” Jimmy asked.

  Maria looked Jimmy in the eyes. “To be quite frank with you, young man, you smell. You have all obviously been traveling for a long time. We sense you had some sort of ordeal. Trust us; they will respond better to you if you don’t make their eyes water.”

  Jimmy sniffed himself. In fact, we all sniffed ourselves, except for Mom.

  “Oh yeah, earthy…” Jimmy said.

  I had to admit I have smelled better.

  Dad stood up. “Well, please show us to our rooms, and we will all make ourselves more presentable!” he said.

  Nina Note: It felt funny…in a good way to be in the land where the first vampires were born. I still didn't know what to make of Maria and Marana. They seemed nice enough, if in a kind of cold professional way. I could tell they thought a lot of Mom, even though they had never met her before. Which I think had to bother them on some level, but they didn’t let it show.

  Chapter 7: Roommates

  As Jeeves led us down a long hallway to the guest quarters area, which was what he called it, he explained our sleeping arrangements. “Of course, Mrs. and Mr. Thorn will have the elite guest room,” he said, glancing at each of us.

  “Of course,” Mom said.

  “The children will have to share rooms,” Jeeves added. “The boys will be in one room!”

  “Yes!” Frank and Jimmy said, giving each other high fives.

  “I’ve never had a roommate before!” Frank gushed.

  “It’ll be great!” Jimmy said.

  “Can we do things like talk about girls and sports?” Frank asked.

  “Sure,” Jimmy replied.

  “We can have a farting contest!” Frank shouted.

  “We will not,” Jimmy shook his head.

  Frank sighed. “Nobody ever wants to have farting contests.”

  I patted my bro on the back. “Think about it, bro,” I told him.

  “Is it because I’m too good at them?” he asked.

  “Yeah, let’s say that’s the reason!” I told him.

  “Wait…I have to share a room with Nina!” Sasha balked.

  “And she has to share one with you,” Jeeves pointed out.

  “I did the math!” Sasha said. “I’m just not happy with the result.”

  Jeeves stopped and looked down his rather long nose at Sasha. “I don't care about you being happy. You are not my boss. Or as you kids love to say, you’re not the boss of me.”

  “I’ve never said that!” Sasha said.

  “It does sound like something you would say,” I told her.

  Jeeves stopped at a red door. “Glory be! We have reached the room that Sasha and Nina will be sharing. If there are any complaints, feel free to take them up with Ms. Maria or Ms. Marana. The last person to complain is no longer a person. But I am sure you will fare better. If not, I don’t really care.”

  Jeeves pushed the door open, showing us a small room with a bunk bed, a desk and not much else. “One door leads to your bathroom, the other leads to your closet,” Jeeves said. “You are smart girls; I’m sure you will figure out which is which.” He dropped our bags in the doorway. “You can decide who gets the top bunk and who gets the other. I always prefer top; top gets farted on far less.”

  “What if the person on the bottom lays on their stomach and farts upward?” Frank asked.

  “The fart would still mostly disperse before reaching the person above,” Jeeves replied, stone-cold serious.

  Frank rubbed his chin, “Yes, good point.”

  Sasha looked at our room, her mouth agape. She turned to me and groaned. “I get the bottom bunk, but you’d better not fart!”

  “I never fart!” I said.

  Frank raised a finger to say something. I cut him off with an elbow to the gut.

  Truthfully, I hated the idea of sharing a room with Sasha at least as much as she hated sharing a room with me. Though there was no way that I’d let her know that. I didn’t want to give her the pleasure.

  Walking into the room, I said, “This will be fun, Sasha,” I said it in the fakest happy sounding voice I could manage. “We can do each other’s hair,” I showed her my claws. “I bet you’d look way cute with a claw brush cut.”

  Jeeves pushed Sasha into the room. “Very good, nice to see you two are getting along and are chums now. But I must show our other guests their rooms. I will be back to take you to the dark vampires in an hour.” He shut the door, closing Sasha and me inside the room.

  Sasha and I pretty much just looked at each other for a minute or two. Finally, I broke the silence. “What bed do you really want?” I asked, trying to be the bigger person.

  “A bed in another room!” she said.

  I looked at her, my arms crossed. “Come on Sasha; it’s not going to happen. We might as well at least tolerate each other.”

  “You can float; so you can take the top bunk!” Sasha said, pointing out the top bunk on the off chance I didn’t know what she meant.

  I floated up to the bed and sat down. The mattress felt firm, the way I liked it. I kicked off my shoes, secretly hoping I would have smelly feet just to teach Sasha a lesson.

  “Actually, a little rest and a change of clothing will be good!” I told Sasha.

  Sasha sat down on the lower bed. “I thought you were a strong vampire werething who never tired!” she said.

  “I get mentally tired,” I admitted, I thought maybe if I showed Sasha that we were more alike than different, it would help us make the best of this.

  “I never tire!” Sasha said. She started to do some jumping jacks just to prove her point.

  “Sasha, you are tired! Go to sleep!” I ordered.

  Sasha fell asleep on the floor. Man, that felt good. I smiled and started to meditate.

  Nina Note: Putting Sasha down like that made me feel good; probably better than it should have. Sasha talks a big game. She talks like she’s the best and acts like nothing can stop her. I stopped her with seven words. Dropped her in her tracks. Yep, it felt really good.

  Chapter 8: Using my Power

  After about twenty minutes of sweet silence and relaxation, I decided to wake Sleeping Ugly, I mean Sasha.

  I dropped from the top bunk. I had a quick shower and changed my outfit. Once everything was done that I wanted to get done, I nudged Sasha gently.

  “Hey, wake up, sleepy head. And you don’t remember what happened!” I told her.

  Sasha pushed herself up from the floor. She looked around. “What happened?” she asked.

  “You fell asleep on the floor. You looked so content that I let you stay there!” I smiled. “Of course, now you have about ten minutes to get ready before Jeeves comes for us.”

  Sasha jumped to her feet and looked at her clothing. “OMG! I’m a mess!”

  “I don’t think you look that much worse than normal, I told her. I pointed to a spot on the floor. “Is that drool there?” I asked with a grin. “You drool when you sleep.”

  “I do not!” Sasha insisted.

  “You see drool on the floor!” I ordered.

  Sasha sighed. “Okay, but everybody drools when they sleep!”

  “Dearie, what are you doing?” My grandma Thorn said, appearing behind me.

  With Grandma Thorn being a ghost and all, it’s pretty easy for her to travel around the world, I guess.
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  “Oh hi, Grandma T!” I said.

  “Wait? What are you talking about?” Sasha asked. “We are the only two in the room. Have you lost it?’

  I pointed at Sasha and ordered, “Just stand there nice and quiet, itching your butt until further notice.”

  Sasha lowered her head. She started scratching her behind with both hands. I smiled.

  Turning back to Grandma T, I saw she her frown. “Honey, what are you doing?” she asked.

  “Teaching a mean girl a lesson!” I insisted. “Teaching her not to mess with me!”

  Grandma pointed at my hands. I hadn’t noticed that I had clutched them into fists. I opened my hands and let them drop to my side. I shook them a little. “I’m just showing strength!” I insisted even though I now doubted myself.

  “Look, I get where you are coming from. I do. But by you doing this to Sasha, you only teach her that the most powerful bully wins, and that might makes everything right,” Grandma T said.

  “Well doesn’t it?” I asked.

  Grandma T sighed. “It might, but that doesn’t make it right,” she said. “You’re just teaching her that the strongest person wins. Which means if she’s not messing with you, she can still bully other people. Is that what you want?”

  I had to think about this. I definitely did not want to put up with any more of Sasha’s bunk. But I did think of myself as a good guy. A hero. Somebody who wanted to make the world a better place. “Isn’t putting Sasha in her place making the world a better place?” I asked.

  “It’s making your world a better place. But I would think it makes the world worse off for everybody else. Sasha only learns not to pick on superbeings.”

  “She really should know that already,” I said.

  “Agreed,” Grandma T said. “But is this really how you want to play it?”

  “Tigers are hunters,” I said.

  Grandma shook her head. “This isn’t your tiger side. It is your vampire side.” She touched me on the shoulder. “You have heard the saying…speak softly but carry a big stick?’”

  “I have,” I said.

  “Well, dear Nina, you are using the big stick without speaking softly. I’m not saying there are times when you shouldn’t use the stick. But you should not start with the stick. Start with words. Lead by example. Teach by example!” Grandma said.

  I thought about Grandma’s words. I thought about how much I enjoyed making Sasha do what I wanted. I thought about how much I despised kids at school who tried to bully other kids.

  I looked at Grandma T in horror. “Oh no, I’m a bully!”

  Grandma patted me comfortingly on the shoulder. “Nah, one time does not make you a bully. The fact that you feel bad about it means there is hope!” Grandma smiled. She kissed me on the head. She poofed away.

  I looked at Sasha standing there, itching her butt. I smiled because it was funny. But I kicked myself. I took a deep breath. “Sorry I put you to sleep!” I told her.

  “What?” Sasha said, still itching her butt. “When?”

  “When you were annoying me!” I said. “But I shouldn’t have done it.”

  Sasha leaned towards me, still itching her butt. “I can’t believe you did that!” she barked.

  “Yeah, my bad,” I said meekly.

  “Did you make my butt itch like this?” Sasha yelled at me.

  “Maybe,” I said with a grin. I didn’t want to grin, but my face had a mind of its own.

  Sasha rolled her eyes. “Okay, I gotta say that was well played. But can you please make it stop….”

  I snapped my fingers and said, “Your butt no longer itches.”

  Sasha breathed a little sigh of relief.

  I looked at my watch. “I think you have about five minutes to get ready before Jeeves comes for us.”

  Sasha headed to the bathroom. “I can be ready in four!” she said. She closed the door.

  Nina Note: I really liked the feeling I had when I bossed Sasha around. I now sort of understand why bullies like being bullies. Sure, some of the ways they act may be based on them feeling insecure. But a lot of it has to do with them being able to exert control over others. After all, that’s kind of what we all want in life…control over our lives.

  Being a bully does give you control but in a bad way. The true trick in life is to learn to lead by example, not force. I had a way to go before I could do it. But I had faith that if I kept working on myself, I would lead by showing people the right way to act; not by forcing them to do things my way. Yes, I have power, but I need to use my power to resist the temptation of over-using my power. Right?

  Chapter 9: The Game

  As we drove through the streets of Transylvania, I couldn’t help thinking that the people and the houses looked pretty much like the people and the houses in our city, Lowville. Sure, Transylvania had to be much older than Lowville. Therefore the older buildings had a slightly older architecture. But, for the most part, if you told me I was in the old section of Lowville, I would have believed it.

  “Wow, the people here look just like the people back home!” Frank said.

  We could hear Jeeves sigh and groan from the front seat. “That’s because they are,” he said slowly. “People are all pretty much the same everywhere. Obviously, there are a few outside differences, but mostly, people are people.”

  Dad went into science mode. “Yes, even vampires and werepeople are people. We are just people with a few genes tweaked to give us different abilities!” he lectured with a smile.

  Mom actually lectured a bit too. “And even here in this country where vampires may have originated, the vampires and supernatural people are still in the minority! At least 88% of the people here are non-powered people.”

  “Yes, that’s true,” Jeeves commented. “Though the people here are very understanding and open about dealing with those of you who have super or more than natural abilities. They’ve grown up with them. They realize that vampire and werewolf types are like non-vampires and werewolves and such…some good, some not so good, some just having bad days… We take life easy here.”

  “Well, that’s good to know,” I said.

  “I still don’t trust vampires!” Sasha said.

  “See, that’s because you were raised in the newer country where vampires and werebeings have been turned into creatures of fiction and evil!” Jeeves replied. “If you were born here, you would think differently.”

  Sasha sat back in her seat. “I’m not sure about that.” She glared at me. “Vampires tend to take advantage of those who aren’t vampires.”

  “Oh, come on Sasha, you can’t tell me that you don’t like pushing others around!” I said. “I remember when you had hypnotic powers, you almost took over the school!”

  Sasha nodded. “Touché.” She smiled. “Those were good times.” Her grin grew wider as she continued. “Okay, I guess maybe I am a little jealous of vampires. But, can you blame me? Vamps have such cool powers and abilities.” She stopped and thought about what she had said. “Of course, that’s why we normal humans don’t trust vampires. After all, I had powers like that for a day, and as Nina says, I almost took over the town!” Her expression became serious. “I guess that’s why we don’t trust vamps because we know what we’d be like if we had those powers…”

  “Luckily for you, vampires can control themselves!” I told her.

  Sasha sat back in her seat. “I guess.” She seemed to be thinking about what she had said. “What are your thoughts on this, Jeeves? After all, you work for vampires.”

  “Ms. Maria and Ms. Marana are two lovely vampires. I would trust them with my life,” Jeeves said with a straight face and a steady voice.

  “Do they have some kind of spell on you?” Sasha asked.

  “No,” Jeeves said firmly. “I am a driver and a butler. It is my job, no my duty, to be loyal!”

  “I like you, Jeeves,” Mom said.

  “Thank you. I like you too, ma’am!” Jeeves said.

  “Jeeves, wher
e do you think my mom is?” Jimmy asked.

  “Excuse me?” Jeeves replied.

  “My mom, where do you think she is? I’m asking from one normal human to another.” Jimmy’s tone was serious.

  “You are a vampire hunter,” Jeeves noted.

  “Still, human,” Jimmy insisted.

  “Why do you think I would know the reason that your mother was here and whom she met with?” Jeeves asked.

  “Because you seem to be the kind of guy who knows what’s going on all over the country,” Jimmy replied.

  Jeeves smiled. “It is my job to be informed, and then to inform!” he said. “But I do not wish to speculate on your mother,” he added.

  “Why not?” Jimmy asked.

  Jeeves pulled the limo into a parking lot beside a beach. “We are here!” he said. “I’m sure Mr. Bob and Mr. Ted will be of more use than I am.” He paused. “I will wait here in the limo. I will then take you where you need to go.”

  Two tanned blonde men in bathing suits (and nothing else) walked over towards the limo. The pair sort of looked like twins. The two men came to the car, one of them to Mom’s door. The other came to my door. They bent down and opened the doors.

  “Liza, welcome to our homeland and our club!” the first man said, offering her his hand. “I am Mr. Bob, one of the owners of Club Super Med!”

  “Charmed,” my mom said, getting out of the car.

  The other man opened up the door for me. “Nina, it’s a super pleasure to have you at Club Super Med! I’m Mr. Ted, the other owner.”

  I got out of the limo without taking Mr. Ted’s hand. “You guys are vampires?” I asked. “Dark vampires?”

  The others followed me out of the car.

  “Of course,” Ted smiled. “Can’t you see our beautiful suntans? Hence the reason we are dark. Also, we love dark clothing. It’s so chic.”

  “Wait, how can vampires actually thrive and tan in the sun?” Jimmy asked. “I know that over the years you found ways to tolerate the sun but how do you thrive in it?”

  Ted pulled a bottle of suntan lotion from the back pocket of his swimsuit. “This lotion not only keeps the sun from harming us, but it also lets us turn this beautiful shade of brown!” he explained.