9-13 Amy Batherds

Day 9: "I never drink...wine." —Dracula

"Remember, my little Amy bat, we're Batherds so we never drink alcohol. When you're older, I'll explain why," mother had always warned. Mom had been so honest and open with everything. She'd even had "The Birds and Bees" talk with Amy at the tender age of seven.

Amy got the don't do drugs speech at home and at school so she just assumed mom was just doing the typical parent thing. Later, as a teen Amy wondered if there was a family history of Alcoholism. She never got why mom was so set against drinking.

Now Amy was twenty-one, on her own, and a college junior. Her roommates wanted to take her for her first tequila shots. Would it really hurt her to drink?

As she was getting ready to go clubbing, her phone rang. Of course it was mom. She answered it.

"Hi, mom,"
"Happy birthday my little batty! How are you?"
"Real good! My roommates are going to take me clubbing."

There was a tense quiet on the line for a moment.

"Amy, my sweet fledgling, before you do that, we have to talk. It's about being a Batherd."
"Mom! I'm an adult. I've been one for a few years. Let me make my own decisions."
"But this is really important—"
"Look I'll order Shirley Temples, not even one Bloody Mary."
"I'd still like to talk to you—"
"I'll watch my drinks, I won't let you down! Now I got to go. Love you mom. Talk to you later."
"...okay...love you too, Amy."

*click*

Amy might've hurt her mom's feelings but it was annoying having her hover all the time. Besides Amy had heard that "we're Batherds" speech so many times she would probably vomit if she had to hear it tonight.

Just as she was picking out what choker matched her earrings, there was a knock on her dorm door. Quickly fastening the barrel clasp, Amy went to meet her friend. "Hey, Xander!"

Amy had been hoping he'd show up. The way he wore skinny jeans and black frames made him look like Clark Kent in a good way. "Hey, babe! Happy 21st; you look amazeballs."

She blushed at the compliment. "Thanks hon, gonna give me a birthday smooch?"

They tilted their heads and shared a short but warm kiss.

Xander pulled away and put one arm around Amy's shoulder. "C'mon, I just picked up your roommates from their classes on South Campus. I know this place, Chez Glaux, it's totally lit."

By the time they picked up Amy's roommates, Beth and Taylor, the sun was sinking below the horizon. One of the advantages of being an adult with a fall birthday was the earlier nightfall. It made it so much more fun to party after dark.

The excitement was crushed by the sight of a familiar woman standing on the curb. "Like, who's that?" Beth asked.

Amy got out of the car as soon as it came to a stop. "Mom, what the actual hell?!"

With speed Amy had rarely seen, her mother grabbed her arm and began tugging her to a black BMW Series 5. It was bad enough to be embarrassed. Now Amy's boyfriend and roommates knew she had the Type A helicopter mom!

Her mom shoved her into the front seat and closed the door. As mom came in the driver's door, Amy began shouting. "Did you really have to do that in front of my friends?! Do you really have to act like a complete Smother? I'm 21 now, let me live my life."

Mom was unusually calm in the face of her daughter's tantrum. "Thats why I need you to listen closely. Theres a family secret I need to tell you."

"What? That the Batherds have a history of alcoholism?"
"No"
"Then tell me, what made you drag me off in front of my friends?"
"The reason we can't drink alcohol is because we're vampires."
"You mean like those people who call themselves Sanguinarians or Energy Vampires?"
"Thats not the same. We are descended from one of the original vampires. Countess Elizabeth Batheroy."
"Mom, that doesn't make sense."
"When our ancestor immigrated in the 19th century, she changed the name to Batherds to avoid the stigma that might follow our kind. The same nature Elizabeth had is passed on to every Batherds woman."
"So why only the women?"
"It's part of our biology. Batherds are always female and have no male offspring. We finally mature at age 21."
"Weird, hey mom? I'm starting to feel funny whats—"

True darkness had descended. The Batherd legacy was beginning to assert itself. Amy's upper jaw felt like someone had put expanding spines into her gums that were pushing her canines out further. Her fangs almost cut into the lower lip like a pair of knives.

Amy's throat began to burn like she hadn't drank water in days. She was so damned thirsty!

Amy's eyes snapped open as the pain from her teeth faded. It was almost like daylight outside. She could see everything as the BMW raced into the city outskirts. "Mom, where are we going?"

"Somewhere on the outskirts of town. I have a friend who runs a ranch, they owe me some favors."

Their car pulled up a gravel drive. A lean man in a work shirt, boots and khakis stood by a wooden step ladder over a barb-wired fence.

"Valery, this your daughter?" He drawled.

"Yes it is, Clem. Thanks for letting her feed off you. I'll make sure she doesn't get greedy."

"I'm glad to hear that, Val."

Amy wasn't so sure she could do this. She went towards Clem's neck.

"No, sweetheart, you'll kill him that way. Always get the fore—"

Before her mother could finish the sentence, a wooden steak was shoved through her chest from behind. As her mom crumbled to ashes, she recognized the killer.

"Oh my god, Xander! What did you do?!"

"Got rid of an abomination. My hunter's instincts led me to believe you were a vamp. I needed to get close to you to be sure. Never expected a two for one deal."

As her now ex-boyfriend lunged towards her, something stronger than bloodlust burst into action. She dodged Xander's attack and quickly pinned the hunter to the ground.

"I don't give a shit what mom would say," Amy said as Xander tried a futile struggle against her. "I'm 21 and I'm having my first drink my way."

She sunk her fangs deep into Xander's Jugular veins, completely transecting one of them. She enjoyed the warm metallic taste that was more savory than the revenge she'd taken.