0314: The Vampire's Daughter, Book Three

Just before Mina's fist would have struck Mary's face, Susan's hand deflected the blow into the wall. Mina's arm went into the wall up to her elbow. She pulled it out and punched at Mary with her other arm, a blow that Susan also deflected.

Mina pulled her other arm from the wall and stepped back. "Fight me," she said with a great deal of anger in her voice.

"No," Susan replied.

"I will kill Mary if you do not."

"How did I get into the middle of this?" Mary asked, still sitting against the wall, her face drained of any color by the fear of dying.

"Shut up," Mina said to her. Then she relaxed her body and smiled. "Mary," she said. "Stand up." Mary did as she was told.

"Don't do this," Susan said.

"I'll do as I please," Mina said to the girl.

"Mary, come kneel before me," Mina said casually with a grin on her face.

"Mary stay," Susan said, with the slightest hint of anger.

Mina's smile grew. "Now that's better," she said. "Mary, come here and kneel before me."

"Mary stay," Susan said, with a great deal of anger.

This exchange continued for several more volleys, with Mary, little more than an automaton, walking forward and back with each command. Finally, Susan yelled, "Sleep!"

Mary fell to the ground unconscious.

"Nice trick, little imp," Mina said. "But what's she going to do when you're not around?"

Susan stood motionless for a long time. She just looked at Mina. Finally, she spoke. "This is silly. Why are you doing this?"

"It's only one life, what does it matter. If you don't want to fight, I'll just kill her."

"Every life matters."

"Why? She's a vampire, she's damned already. I'll just send her to hell sooner rather than latter."

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"Then why don't you explain it to me? Or, perhaps, you don't really know either.

"I'm tired of our little games Susan. It's time to put up or shut up. Use your gifts or go home. Fight or let Mary die."

"I won't let you kill Mary," Susan said.

"Well then, you'll need to fight," Mina said, lunging at Mary again.

Susan deflected the blow.

"I could control your mind," Mina said.

"No, you couldn't," Susan replied. "And you know you can't. You know you aren't strong enough to control my mind."

"How do you know that?" Mina asked.

"You've tried and failed."

"But you could end this by controlling my mind, couldn't you?" Mina asked.

Susan said nothing.

"Couldn't you?" Mina asked louder.

"That wouldn't end this. You would figure it out eventually," Susan said.

"Then I guess you'll just have to fight me," Mina said with a smile.

"Mary, get up and leave," Susan said to the vampire unconscious on the ground.

"Yes Mary," Mina mocked, "leave us be so we can chat a little more privately."

Mary got up and left the room without saying a word.

"Now what little girl?" Mina asked.

"What are you trying to prove? We don't have to do this," Susan said quietly.

"I want to see you use your gifts. I want to see how strong you really are. I want to know that I haven't been wasting my time."

"And if you have been wasting your time?"

"Then I'll leave and let you finish your schooling and your life, never to hear of a vampire again."

"Do you really believe that is what God has planned for me?" Susan asked.

"No," replied Mina. "That's why I'm confident that you will fight me."

"So be it," Susan said. She looked down and let her entire body relax.


[The Vampire's Daughter: An ongoing vampire story. Copyright Reuben Gregg Brewer, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009. All rights reserved.]