The words were soft, as if Valerie were talking to herself instead of Julianna. Behind open eyes the ordeal replayed in her mind as if yesterday. The way her mother’s face, previously so loving and young looking, had contorted to something evil. Those bright yellow eyes delighted to find her, to find them both, hovering nearby. The blonde in grief and her father in complete denial. She’d sat up and stretched like she’d just been taking a nap, grinned at her and purred, ‘Hello sweetheart, am I glad to see you.’
Her father had been ecstatic, mistaking it as a sign of life when really, the malice was simply lost on him. Naturally he’d moved to reach his wife and Valerie had grabbed him by the arm, pulled him back. ‘No don’t!’ She’d pleaded, but he didn’t want to hear reason. Truth. Which made it easier for her mother to step closer, as if to embrace him, only she didn’t. One push with incredible strength sent him over his own work bench to clatter with his tools on the floor and left very little distance between her and the blonde.
‘Aren’t you going to say something? Not even a smile? I raised you better than that.’
Valerie ‘s stomach had lurched, the contents threatened to escape as she backed up, tripping over her own feet as if a little more space would help the situation. ‘You didn’t raise me at all. You’re not… You’re not...’ Sensing the hesitation, the creature had put up it’s human visage, actually frowned disapprovingly at her like she’d wounded it and sighed, ‘Of course I did, I’m your mother, Valerie.’
The first real sob wracked the blonde’s body, unable to stop it she’d bowed her head; penitent. The pain emanated from her had been like a drug to the vampire and she’d stalked closer, smiling. ‘I gave you life…’ One cold hand had grabbed her by the throat and pushed her backwards against the wall, clenching tightly to stop the flow of air. Yellow eyes back on display and blazing into her own as she hissed. ’Now I’m going to take it back.’ The snarl was the warning as it leaned in, fangs ready to puncture her neck and Valerie’s fingers had strained to grab the shard of wood on her fathers work bench. ’Goodbye, my little Slayer…’
The reaction had been obstinate. Pure instinct that took over and with sickening horror her eyes had widened and she’d discovered she’d plunged the wood through her mothers ribcage. The vampire had looked as shocked as she did. It’s parting words had stripped her of her sanity as she turned to ash before her eyes. ’Such a disappointment.’ Valerie just stood there, frozen, staring at the remains on the cold garage floor. It could have been seconds or minutes or hours, but she only snapped out of it when her father had scrambled up, broken as he scooped up the ashes in his hands like he could bring her back with his tears. ’Get out! Do you hear me? Don’t ever come back!’ And she had, numbly, without protest.
The sound of her name roused her from the memory and she blinked Julianna back into focus. The incident had paved the way for her own dedication to her calling like some sort of machine. Nobody deserved to know what it felt like to face a loved one like that. She was one of the few who could put a stop to it happening and she’d spent every night since then trying to do that. If anything the heartache of today would no doubt turn into the resolve she’d have tomorrow, pain could be the strangest motivator when it came to protecting others.
Right then, however, it was Julianna’s assurance that her mother’s soul was in heaven that evoked a shuddering sob. Valerie didn’t do well with grief, she didn’t do well with comfort either, possibly because some part of her didn’t believe she deserved it. So she kept her hands to herself and tried to quell the onslaught of tears as she offered a watery smile and choked out, “I r-really hope you’re right about that. That she’s in...”
The alternative was too bleak to even consider.
“You’re a good person.” She sniffled and brought up a hand to wipe her face, “I’m sorry you had to see me like this, I’m not usually…” She cringed, took in a stuttered breath, “So full of temerity.”
no subject
The words were soft, as if Valerie were talking to herself instead of Julianna. Behind open eyes the ordeal replayed in her mind as if yesterday. The way her mother’s face, previously so loving and young looking, had contorted to something evil. Those bright yellow eyes delighted to find her, to find them both, hovering nearby. The blonde in grief and her father in complete denial. She’d sat up and stretched like she’d just been taking a nap, grinned at her and purred, ‘Hello sweetheart, am I glad to see you.’
Her father had been ecstatic, mistaking it as a sign of life when really, the malice was simply lost on him. Naturally he’d moved to reach his wife and Valerie had grabbed him by the arm, pulled him back. ‘No don’t!’ She’d pleaded, but he didn’t want to hear reason. Truth. Which made it easier for her mother to step closer, as if to embrace him, only she didn’t. One push with incredible strength sent him over his own work bench to clatter with his tools on the floor and left very little distance between her and the blonde.
‘Aren’t you going to say something? Not even a smile? I raised you better than that.’
Valerie ‘s stomach had lurched, the contents threatened to escape as she backed up, tripping over her own feet as if a little more space would help the situation. ‘You didn’t raise me at all. You’re not… You’re not...’ Sensing the hesitation, the creature had put up it’s human visage, actually frowned disapprovingly at her like she’d wounded it and sighed, ‘Of course I did, I’m your mother, Valerie.’
The first real sob wracked the blonde’s body, unable to stop it she’d bowed her head; penitent. The pain emanated from her had been like a drug to the vampire and she’d stalked closer, smiling. ‘I gave you life…’ One cold hand had grabbed her by the throat and pushed her backwards against the wall, clenching tightly to stop the flow of air. Yellow eyes back on display and blazing into her own as she hissed. ’Now I’m going to take it back.’ The snarl was the warning as it leaned in, fangs ready to puncture her neck and Valerie’s fingers had strained to grab the shard of wood on her fathers work bench. ’Goodbye, my little Slayer…’
The reaction had been obstinate. Pure instinct that took over and with sickening horror her eyes had widened and she’d discovered she’d plunged the wood through her mothers ribcage. The vampire had looked as shocked as she did. It’s parting words had stripped her of her sanity as she turned to ash before her eyes. ’Such a disappointment.’ Valerie just stood there, frozen, staring at the remains on the cold garage floor. It could have been seconds or minutes or hours, but she only snapped out of it when her father had scrambled up, broken as he scooped up the ashes in his hands like he could bring her back with his tears. ’Get out! Do you hear me? Don’t ever come back!’ And she had, numbly, without protest.
The sound of her name roused her from the memory and she blinked Julianna back into focus. The incident had paved the way for her own dedication to her calling like some sort of machine. Nobody deserved to know what it felt like to face a loved one like that. She was one of the few who could put a stop to it happening and she’d spent every night since then trying to do that. If anything the heartache of today would no doubt turn into the resolve she’d have tomorrow, pain could be the strangest motivator when it came to protecting others.
Right then, however, it was Julianna’s assurance that her mother’s soul was in heaven that evoked a shuddering sob. Valerie didn’t do well with grief, she didn’t do well with comfort either, possibly because some part of her didn’t believe she deserved it. So she kept her hands to herself and tried to quell the onslaught of tears as she offered a watery smile and choked out, “I r-really hope you’re right about that. That she’s in...”
The alternative was too bleak to even consider.
“You’re a good person.” She sniffled and brought up a hand to wipe her face, “I’m sorry you had to see me like this, I’m not usually…” She cringed, took in a stuttered breath, “So full of temerity.”