“Well…” Victor stared out at the vast empty lot which had once been the Bartlett family estate in Forgotten Hollow. “I guess this is it, Van.” He sounded relieved, almost.
“I refuse to accept that, Vic,” Vanessa told him. “I won’t rest until the curse has been lifted and our family can rebuild here.”
Victor sighed. “I… cannot… I …” He foundered and fell silent. Victor wasn’t like his sister. He wanted nothing to do with vampire life. He wanted to be mortal. But the curse needed to be lifted before Forgotten Hollow could be safe for their family again. They couldn’t remain any longer, so they had to move on or lift the curse. Lifting it by very specific means… by rebuilding the Bartlett Line. One hundred Bartlett vampires, born of their blood.
“It would be easier if you would. I could handle fifty children, and you could sire so many with our long life –“
“I can’t, Van!”
“Can’t… or won’t?”
He shrugged. “Blood makes me ill, and I can’t handle the guilt. You know it. I just… want to be normal.”
Vanessa should have hated him. Should have yelled and screamed and racked her clawed fingers across his handsome face. But Victor was her brother, her twin, and she could feel the pain in his voice. She knew that he would, if he really could bring himself to indulge in vampirism. He would help her.
“Then…” Vanessa pulled her brother into a fierce hug. “Go, and make your peace with this world, brother. I will miss you, but I do not wish you to suffer on my account.”
“Thank you.” Victor returned the hug. “I love you, sister.”
“And I you…”
Days later, Vanessa Bartlett was settled into her new, hopefully unassuming home in Brindleton Bay. It’s was sunny and beautiful… and full of unsuspecting victims for her mission.
She spent some time trying to blend in, meet the locals and brush up on her Brindleton Bay history. She also spent time reading every tome she could find, searching for the tools she needed to lift the curse. She soon learned that it wasn’t as simple as birthing vampire babies (how she and her brother had been born). She must also earn the Gift of Creation and create fledglings to surround herself with. No one in the Bartlett Line had been gifted with Creation in generations.
It was a daunting thought. How could she do it?
In a burst of inspiration, she decided to fall back on her love of art and talent for painting. She offered art classes in her new home – a way to meet potential donors.
It really was a strock of genius. They painted and she walked them through the basics. Talked and joked with them, flirted. Got to know so many people in so short of time.
Dominic Fyres was the first one she became close to. He was handsome and talented… and married to a woman named Moira. Vanessa had listened to his tales of their life, feigning interest until she heard the yearning in his voice… the yearning for more.
He succumbed to her advances easily enough. Moira was more concerned with her club activities than she was being a wife. After they did the deed, however, Vanessa was ravenous. She couldn’t help but drink from him. He allowed her to do it and left in a daze.
It was a day or two before Vanessa knew for sure if her body had accepted Dominic’s seed. When she felt the lifeforce growing inside her, she began to wonder what it would be like to also Create as her forebears had.
She returned to the vampire tomes and deep pockets of the internet to learn as much as she could about the process.
When she thought she had learned enough… when she was certain she was ready to try… she invited Dominic to her home in private.
First she broke the news that she was pregnant with his children. Yes, children, because she now felt two heartbeats within her womb.
Then she drew him in for an intimate kiss…
… which he accepted in a daze… and then drank greedily from her wrist.
Dominic left hours later, mostly in a fog. Vanessa told him to return to her in a few days. Only his subconscious would register the command for what it was.
His waking self was more obsessed with her and openly asked her for a date on Love Day. Vanessa thought it amusing that he’s turn to her rather than his wife. She accepted, but soon realized that mortal food did not agree with her, much as blood upset her brother.
They ended their date and returned to their respective homes.
The next time they met up, Dominic had turned, his transformation complete.
Vanessa had created her first Fledgling, and was also expecting the first of her one hundred children.