Chapter One

Karen nursed Anna, rocking her in a comfortable chair, while Andy lay in his crib nearby.

A few months had made a considerable difference in their lives. Karen was finally beginning to feel at home in the old Victorian. The desolate, rural California location was a safe place for her to raise the growing twins. Jason, now her blood donor, trusted friend, and lover, had landed a good job with the Southern County Police Department. He worked long hours, but he was dedicated to his new family, and happy to be Karen's donor.

Karen's apprehensions of the twins also had begun to wane, although she remained vigilant of both. Andy's behavior continued to remain normal, his development progressing like any typical child, but she continued to have nightmares involving his feeding. Many nights she woke with a start, her body covered in bloody sweat, after dreaming that her son grew fangs while latched onto her breast.

Anna continued to visit Karen Astrally, her Doppelganger--or spirit double--eager to absorb information that Anna's developing infant body did not yet have the capacity to understand. Karen found her to be forthcoming, honest, and even innocent, despite the two men the spirit had previously strangled. She had killed out of defense, killing one man from the womb and another at two days old. Both had meant to kill her and Karen, and her tall, angelic form showed no remorse when Karen confronted her.

Karen realized she had fallen into one of Anna's worlds, as she found herself in a familiar silver forest. She looked around, knowing that Anna's Astral form had to be somewhere nearby. A shiny, silver butterfly caught her attention, leading her eyes to a tree partially hiding Anna. Anna watched the butterfly hover overhead.

"I discovered butterflies recently. I was watching the birds and the grasshoppers out in the fields when I saw a whole flock of them pass the house. They were all so pretty," Anna said.

The butterfly suddenly exploded into a small flock, and they flew around Karen and Anna as they passed through the trees.

Karen watched as some of the butterflies drifted nearby. "I had forgotten how pretty they are."

Anna gave Karen a dire face. "You forget a lot of things, Mommy." An image of Billy flickered between them, then faded into the misty forest.

Karen swallowed hard, knowing a part of her would always mourn Billy's unnatural death. "Some people are just best left to the past."

"Are they?" Anna asked. "Is that how the Xavier family sees it?"

"What do you know about the Xaviers?" Karen snapped.

The forest faded, suddenly replaced by rural countryside. A motor home rested in the shade. Anna tried to peek through a foil-covered window, then turned to Karen.

"I'll give you one guess who is inside," Anna said.

Karen tried to peek in, finding every inch of the window covered. "How far away are they?"

"Not far."

"What do they want?" Karen asked.

"I was hoping you might know."

Karen shrugged, shaking her head. She was not sure if they even knew yet about Billy's death. Maybe they also felt some claim to the old Victorian?

"They're like you, so they won't be able to finish their drive until nighttime," Anna said.

"Like me?"

"They're all vampires," Anna said. "None of them can operate the vehicle during the day because of the sunlight. Sunlight is poison to people like you."

Karen nodded, unsure how to react. Anna had never brought up Karen's status as a vampire before, and the sudden confrontation with the issue caught her off guard. "What else do you know about vampires?" Karen finally asked, her chest growing heavy.

Anna took a deep breath, and suddenly she and Karen stood under a clear, evening sky. Stars sparkled overhead, starkly contrasting the surrounding darkness. "I know you survive by drinking Jason's blood, but he survives by eating food from the refrigerator, and I survive by drinking your milk."

Karen nodded. "It's a strange world."

Anna shimmered in the moonlight, her Astral form tall and silver, with breathtaking angelic wings and a wise face. "Should we allow the Xavier family to approach?" she asked, her silver eyes offering a hint of concern.

Karen considered the question, unsure how she wanted to answer. It was because of Mark's selfish and sadistic need for revenge just over a year ago that her dark odyssey began. Because of him, Karen's mother and brother were both dead, and her father was back in a mental institution. Because of him, Billy had turned Karen, then left her to die. A confrontation with Mark would not likely end well. Karen turned to Anna, torn. "You know who these people are?" she asked.

Anna nodded. "They are my blood relatives. Do you think they'll pose any danger?"

Karen shrugged. "Mark might."

"I can kill him now, in his sleep, if you think it would be best."

"He's your grandfather," Karen said, unable to hide her disgust.

"But he's also potentially dangerous," Anna said.

Karen turned away. "'Potentially dangerous' is not reason enough to end someone else's life. Do you understand?"

Anna nodded.

Their surroundings changed again, and Anna placed them in the meadow, outdoors. "Are you mad at me?" she asked.

"Of course not," Karen said, unable to express what she really did feel. It wasn't anger. It was something closer to sadness.

Anna began to chase a neon grasshopper, giggling and running as the small creature jumped and flew through the field.

"I need to get up now," Karen said. "You've nursed me sore, and it's time for your nap."