0320: The Vampire's Daughter, Book Four

After their mutual revelations, Mina and Susan started spending more time together. It was something of a blissful period for both, a reawakening for Mina and simply a lovingly fun time for Susan.

Over the month, Susan dragged Mina to all of the sites to which the ship's crew had taken her. It was the first time the two had so fully enjoyed each other's company. Mary had largely taken herself out of the picture, spending more and more time on shore. In fact, there were days when she simply didn't return to the ship. Both Susan and Mina noticed, but neither bothered to say anything. It was as if the Mary was no longer needed as a bond between them, they had found their own.

Interestingly, though, neither Susan nor Mina actually spoke of what bonded them. Their painful histories, Susan's so fresh in her young life and Mina's so long ago that she had almost been able to forget it, constituted the glue of he bond, but it wasn't the substance of the relationship. Just as glue can hold the handle of a cup on after it has been broken, but the glue itself does not provide the functionality of the cup. The pair simply enjoyed each other.

At the end of the month, the ship was fully repaired and ready to depart. Both Susan and Mina knew this meant that the real world would again crash in on their lives, but it was OK. And both had anticipated Mary's decision the last night before they were to depart.

“I've made a decision,” Mary announced shortly before dawn.

Susan and Mina looked up from their game of checkers, but said nothing.

“I am staying in Australia.”

Susan and Mina looked at each other, but remained silent.

“Look, you two don't need me. I'm not sure you've ever needed me.”

“That's not true,” Susan said.

“Well, I don't know. All I know is that you don't need me now. And, well, there's things going on in our world that... That Susan knew about before they happened,” Mary said to Mina. “She knew. I don't know how she could have know, but she did.”

Looking at Susan, Mina said, “She knows a lot of things.”

“Yeah, she does. And that's always freaked me out. I don't feel like I'm in control of my life when I'm with her. I feel like she's the one making the decisions.”

“That's not true,” Susan said. “Even when you choose not to choose you have made a decision.”

“You see?” she said rhetorically to Mina. “What little girl says that? I have no coven. My only tie to you is Susan. And once you have no need for me, I don't know that you'll be willing to help protect me. I need to look out for myself.”

“I don't know if that is true or not,” Mina said. “Only time could tell.”

“Well, you know that you don't need me anymore.”

Looking at Susan, Mina replied, “This is true.”

“So what's next?” Mary asked.

“I don't know,” Mina said, still looking at Susan.

“Then I have to go. I have to stay where I know I'll be safe. There is just too much going on in our world right now.”

Still looking at Susan, Mina asked, “What is going on in our world Mary?”

“The blood hunt for our friend Sol that's traveled from the United States to Europe. From what I have heard, there is a war brewing over him. Meanwhile, Elizabeth and Thomas are battling for control of New York. The rest of the country is watching because they know that whichever one wins will eventually try to take the rest of the country as their own. Of course that hasn't stopped the fighting that's broken out throughout the rest of the country. Who knows where it ends?

“No, there is too much going on for me to press on without some group to protect me. The largest coven here, it is spread all over the country, has asked me to stay with them. To join them. Australia is very similar to the United States in that they accept all who deserve a chance. I need that security. I've...” She trailed off and sat down.

“You've never been alone before,” Susan said quietly.

“No, I've never been alone. I'm not a leader, I'm a follower. I'm not an individual, I'm part of a group. I can't live the way we have been living. I can't.”

“I understand,” Mina said. “I will honestly be sad to see you go.”

“I will, too,” Susan said, getting up and hugging Mary. “Thank you for all you taught me. For all the time you spent with me and for holding us together when we were close to breaking apart. I know it was hard for you.”

Pulling away from the hug, Mary looked at the little girl. “How did you know that we needed to leave Europe? How did you know that this trip had to be so long? How did you pick a boat that would break down so often? You knew all of these things before they happened. It's just not possible.”

“I don't know, I just did,” Susan said quietly in her ear.

Mary laughed, then stood up. “Strangely, I don't feel as though I'm saying goodbye. I feel as though our paths will pass again.”

“They will,” Susan said.

“I don't know how you know that, but I know you are right. And that scares me. It scares me more than either of you realize,” Mary said. “I'm going back to my coven now.”

She started to walk toward the door, but Mina stopped her. “Thank you. I don't know that I would have made it this far without you.”

“I'm not sure that thank you is the right thing to say. You may regret this before it is over,” Mary said as the two hugged. Mina did not reply, unsure if Mary was correct or not in her assessment.

“Goodbye,” Mary announced as she left the ship.


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