A ring on the doorbell and Casey backed off the front pord waited beside Sylvie until the door opened and her mother came running out. Frantically buttoning her jeans and with her top hanging around her bare breasts, Jennifer bounced her way to Casey. “Hey there kiddo.” Jennifer mouthed then stopped long enough to tort herself a her bra snapped in pbsp; Jennifer flipped her thumb behind her and towards Tatum. “She was helping me work through the day.” Jennifer added and softly kissed Casey on her cheek. “Good to see you after the day I had.” She waited, “You know those things got Martin, right?” She finally mao get her purple blouse situated and hugged Casey. “I was so scared…” She kissed Casey’s cold cheek, “...you live a wild life, sweetheart.”

  Sauntering up to the twin vampires with her hands behind her back, Tatum stopped a couple of feet behind Jennifer. “Well, what do we have going on…dies?”

  Unceremoniously dropping the young man at Tatum's feet, Sylvie walked in front of Casey and her mother. “Thank you for pig her up.” Sylvie half bowed in thanks then poi the injured man. “He will need lots of…care, once you are inside.” Sylvie pointed harshly at Tatum, “You have failed in taining the federal agent all up our asses, and mao get my ward killed among other things.”

  “Boo-hoo. The loss of a fanger’s brood, I am going to be heartbroken about that.” Tatum dropped her hands to her hips, the right one glowing white. “To crify, I didn’t have to save Jennifer Rivers. My promise didn’t teically cover Casey’s family.” Tatum walked over and pced her hand on the young man’s foot and trated for a few seds, until the student stopped whimpering. “I went there on a hunch that since Elle Miller lived in Virginia Beach..and…I could possibly stop your white-ghost.” Tatum stood the boy up and took off the gag, then pced her hand over his mouth. “Things will be alright. We have time to talk.” Twisting his palms up, Tatum saw the unawakened rune. “What did you do?” Tatum was clearly irritated by the boy’s injured wrist and healed it just as fast and easy as she did his foot. “Don’t tell me.” She ughed, “You thought I was going to hold Jennifer hostage?” Tatum held up her hand and rolled her eyes back for a sed, and the versatioween Sylvie and Casey appeared like a movie for them all to hear.

  “I wasn’t taking any ces, Witch.” Sylvie outstretched her arms and began walking backwards pushing Casey and her mother. “We stumbled onto this guy here, just like you saw and if..if we o, we’d bargain for Jennifer.”

  “A, you two were trying to save me…again?” Jennifer patted her daughter on her shoulder, then ran back to Tatum and gave her a hug. “Thank you for the emotional support, I don’t know what I would have dohout ao speak to.” Jennifer kissed Tatum on the cheek and ran back to her daughter.

  Esc the boy up to her porch, Tatum looked back at the twin vampires. “I don’t hurt humans. That is your job. I protect them, blood-leeches.” She sat the guy in one of her pristine rog chairs. “Keep in mind…I am not the monster you are. I don’t feed on humanity to maintain my life.” Tatum waved her white glowing hand and a shimmering white and silver bubble surrounded her house. “I am all natural, ask yourself.. with all these shadewraiths around because of your kind…who are the real monsters.” She helped the boy back to his feet. “I am still looking out for your white monster. I haven’t fulfilled that promise, yet.” Bowing at her waist just like a ballerina, Tatum smiled and walked bato her home. “Until ime, dies.”

  ging to her vampire daughter, Jennifer looked around. “So, how and where are we going?” She leaned into Casey’s ear. “You look stunning, Casey. I knew Martin was uimating how well you verted.” She looked at Sylvie. “I guess I owe you as well. You saved her from herself.”

  Sylvie walked to her motorcycle and sat down, “She is a beauty, Jennifer. You don’t owe me anything.” Sylvie snickered, “Most families that find out about being a vampire and they immediately get weird about it.” Pointing the wide sed half of the seat, Sylvie shrugged. “You two will have to squeeze together. With a wink and a blown kiss, Sylvie smiled at Casey. “At least this time you aren’t stuck with the helmet.”

  Squishing Jennifer between Sylvie and herself, Casey held her mht enough that the older woman grunted for a split sed before Casey eased her grip. “Sorry, Mom. I…I am just..” She id her head on her mother's bad shoulder. “...gd you are safe, those mages ’t be trusted. I assume Sylvie is taking us back to the house, we have to meet someone named Cisco.”

  “Oh! bles. Wonderful guy, I met him months ago with Martin.” She turned and wi Casey and giggled, “Lots of muscles, heavenly.” Jennifer shivered and slid her hands around Sylvie. “Anyway, Martin has been dragging him all over for close to six months.” Jennifer flipped the visor down on the helmet and resumed holding Sylvie. “It will be o see another friendly face.”

  -I should have known. You uimate her at every turn, Rivers.-

  One heavy rev of the motorcycle engine brought Casey out of her little thought and bato the moment. “Mom, I’d like you to stay with us until this whole craziness is over.” Casey tried to advise her mother knowing it might be a fruitless effort.

  Once Sylvie had put the bike in gear and started for home, Jennifer let out a lightly frustrated sigh. “You know, you know I am your mother, right? I don’t need a babysitter. Besides, I want to get my house fixed up.” Jennifer giggled and reached bad patted Casey’s leg. “However, since I am not anxious to breathe that damned dust again, I think staying with you two is good for the time being.”

  “Wait…what Mom? What dust? Bloodstone dust?” Casey sighed, “For fuck’s sake..don’t tell me..you fug s, didn’t you?”

  pletely ued in Casey’s rea, Jennifer snickered and reached down to squeeze her daughter's hand. “Temper, temper…and watch yuage with me, please.” Jennifer felt Casey’s hand fold into a fist. “I most certainly did. Right up my nose like I take headache medie..you know I don’t mess with coke.” Jennifer hummed a few bars to a song she enjoyed and amended her statement. “I don’t mess with coke when I don’t have any.”

  “Yeah, that’s what I figured.” Casey muttered impatiently.

  Interjeg iher-daughter versation, Sylvie tapped the microphone on her helmet so Jennifer could hear. “Um…I hate to interrupt this family gathering…” Sylvie paused so the other two would stop their versation. “...You she bloodstone dust and got away?”

  “Mmmhumm.” Jennifer firmed, “...and it wasn’t the most pleasant thiher.”

  Ign the frustration ing from Casey, Sylvie pondered Jennifer’s as a bit longer. “How long would you say that sted, Jennifer?”

  “That is what you are ed with, Sylvie? My mom just sucked a roto-” Casey cmped her mouth shut and lightly growled in frustration when she felt the suggestive mind-cmp make her stop talking.

  Poking at Sylvie’s shoulder, Jeook a breath. “Thank you. I he silence for a few.”

  “Oh, I will pay for that ter.” Sylvie chuckled and resumed her inquiry. “How long did it st?”