Vampire 01 - Daughter of Darkness

what?”
    “We all want Daddy’s love, Buddy. We all compete for it.”
    “Do you know your real mother’s name?”
    “No, but I have what might be her picture,” I said, and took it out to show him.
    “Well, we should just go to the police now, okay?”
    “No,” I said. “That would be stupid.”
    “Why?”
    “They won’t believe you, and Daddy will charm them to death. You’ll look like a fool.”
    “But you’ll testify now, won’t you?”
    “No, I can’t do that.”
    “Why not?”
    “Because as hard as I try, I can’t stop loving him,” I said.

21
 
Escape
    “Do you think he’ll come after us?” Buddy asked. “I mean, is he still interested in me?”
    “No. Daddy doesn’t go out to feed. His daughters have always brought what he needs to him.”
    “Daughters? How many daughters does he have?”
    “I don’t know, Buddy. I know only my older sisters, Brianna and Ava, and my younger sister, Marla.”
    “And they’re all supposed to do this?”
    “Yes.”
    “Have you done this?”
    “Tonight was to be my first, my beginning.”
    “Hurray for me.”
    “I tried to keep you away.”
    “Yes, you did. Where did you say this orphanage was?”
    “It’s in Oregon, not far from Portland. I have the address. Take me to the airport. I’ll get the earliest flight I can to Portland.”
    “What are you going to do if you can’t get any information or you find out your mother is dead or something?”
    “I don’t know,” I said.
    He was quiet a moment, and then he said, “I’m going with you.”
    “No. You had better stay away from all this now. I know it’s probably impossible to do, but you should just try to forget it, forget me.”
    “You saved me tonight. I can do this for you, Lorelei. I want to very much.”
    “But you’ll miss more college, and your family will wonder what’s going on.”
    “I’ll take care of that. Don’t you worry about me. Oregon’s not far. The whole thing won’t take more than a day or so.”
    “Yes, but—”
    “Look, you just said you love me. To me, that’s enough reason. I meant all the things I said to you. I admit, this is all very weird and something I’d rather forget, but you’re in trouble now. Maybe there’s some scientific explanation for what I saw and what’s happening, and maybe there isn’t, but afterward, we can try to get some help and stop it. Okay?”
    “I’d rather you not come, Buddy.”
    “I knew you’d agree,” he said, ignoring me and smiling.
    I was too tired to argue any more, and I did want to get started as soon as possible. We drove to Los Angeles Airport and parked the car in short-term parking. We had to wait only an hour before the next flight. Even after we had our tickets, I asked him again if he really wanted to come along.
    “More than you can imagine,” he said.
    It wasn’t until we boarded and sat together that I accepted the fact that he was really going with me. There was no turning back now. I watched him close his eyes and sit back. The emotional shock of what he had seen and what had almost happened to him had finally settled in. He was exhausted. We both were. Moments after takeoff, I leaned against his shoulder, and he rested his head against mine. Despite the noise, the captain’s little speeches, and the flight attendants passing out drinks and snacks, we both fell asleep quickly, neither waking up until the announcement of our impending landing.
    We spent a longer time on the tarmac than expected. The anticipation tired us out even more. It was still dark by the time we deplaned, so I suggested we should check ourselves into the closest motel. I saw how he was dragging himself along, and I was feeling sapped of energy, too.
    “We can get a rental car after we get some rest,” I said.
    He agreed. We chose the motel and made the call for a pickup.
    “You haven’t called anyone yet, Buddy. Shouldn’t you?” I asked.
    “It’s all right,” he said. “No one will miss me for a day or so.”
    The desk clerk at the motel asked if we wanted a room with separate beds. I quickly said no. If there was anything I wanted now, it was to fall asleep in Buddy’s arms. He smiled. I think he wanted the same thing, to have me fall asleep beside him, to enjoy the comfort andthe companionship we both needed to get through this horrible experience.
    But despite our exhaustion, we both found it difficult to fall asleep quickly. For a while, we just lay there in each other’s arms, lost in