"Fine, You can stay but only for a week. If you do anything close to suspicious you're out! Got it!"
"Yes, Ma'am,"
Still not comfortable enough to release my baby, but I can tell she is uncomfortable with the situation I'm putting her in.
I let her go but just to hold her hand.
"Okay, now what?" Max stares up at me.
Arizona was supposed to last a bit longer than that but there's nothing I can do. But where to now?
Without saying anything, I get back onto the highway. I'll just drive until I feel we are safe enough to stop.
"Hey, kid do you know the 'wheels on the bus'?"
Looking in the rearview mirror still unable to see his reflection. It gives me the creeps.
"I'm not that young…"
A deep laugh filling the car, slightly spooking me.
"When you become my age, everyone is young,"
"Really? How old are you?"
"100"
"Days?" Max popping up in her seat.
"Stay sitted!" I say still holding on to her hand.
"Sorry,"
"Years," Cain adds.
"What? Is that possible?"
"Well, for a half-vampire as you, you might be able to live this long but it all depends on your survival rate,"
"New topic,"
"Yes, Ma'am,"
"Mom, you've never taught me any of this. Mom doesn't want me to go to school, she mainly homeschools me. Also, what do you mean by… half-vampire?"
"You don't need to learn about 'their' world. It's not good for you. You belong in this world, they are bad people nothing good comes from it. No offense..."
"Non-taken, I do have to agree with your mom. It is a dangerous place if you don't know how to defend yourself,"
"Does that mean you're going to teach me vampire self-defense?" Max perks up again.
"Well, sure if your mom allows it,"
Wow, did this man just put pressure on me…? Ugh, but I do want to keep my baby safe. I know I can't win against a vampire when the time comes. But does she need to go against a vampire, running has been just fine for us. What more does she need? He's putting weird thoughts in her mind.
Max waiting for a reply. "Mom?"
"I'll think about it, first we need to get out of this state before we decide anything," I say, continuing on to US-191N.
9hrs of continuously driving with only stopping twice. I take pride in that, but it's hard when you have a kid who eats, drinks, poops, and pees all at the same time.
"Ugh… mom, are we there yet?" Max says, looking to be restless.
"When you were a…."
"No, mom you say the same thing every time,"
"Haha, the little fiery one loves to snap back,"
"Ugh, fine. Let me see what's around here….." Squirting at the highway signs "Grand...Junction,"
"Ooooo, that sounds fun!" Max starts jumping around.
Goodness, this child.
Turning right onto the ramp. "Mom, look it says there's a Walmart! Let's go,"
"Max! Sit down!" I yell.
Max melts back down in her seat. "Walmart?" she whispers.
Pulling into the parking lot of Walmart, "Make sure you take care of everything; bathroom, pick out dinner and breakfast and don't forget to get some more toiletries," handing Max 25 dollars.
Can't carry a card they could track me. Plus cash helps at any moment.
"Okay! Cain, are you coming in?" Max says, already halfway out of the car.
Glaring at Cain. "You lose her or if ANYTHING happens to her. Your head will be on a platter! Got it," I whisper to Cain.
"Oh dear, it seems I don't have a choice,"
======King
"Sir, we have an agent following them. But we also have intel that the child is a girl,"
"WHAT?!"
The floor shakes, "You must have the wrong child! FIND ME, MY HEIR!"
"Uh.."
"Do you have a death wish?" The king points his long nails towards the goon. "You have been wasting my time," he gives a signal.
Two bigger Soldiers grabs hold of the goon and drag him away. "Please, Sir! Give me another chance! SIRE!...."
"Who's next in line in command, and this time do not disappoint me!"
"Yes, sir,"
-------Back on the road.
"Mom, you should have seen it, it was such a clean Walmart!"
"I'm glad you had fun?"
"Also Cain never been to a Walmart! It was funny watching him walking around look'n lost,"
Glancing up to the rearview mirror "Crap" I whisper to myself.
"The Wal...Mart was quite the adventure since we live off of blood, it was interesting to see what food you all live off of,"
"Wait! Do I need to drink blood too?"
"NO!" I quickly shouted
The car fell into silence for a minute.
"If you want to…. Have your vampire side be stronger… then yes,"
The car falls into silence once more before it ended with Max asking more about vampires.
---- Cain
This child isn't slow or on a human level, she would be a good ruler in the vampire world. She also has this side of her, she doesn't show… because of her mother?
What an interesting pair… Should I inform Tameri of this discovery? Or wait it out…. The mother did say she'll only keep me for a week being a mentor/bodyguard.
I still have not found a reason for their running but the mother seems constantly on edge. From what I see, they have a 'to-go bag', lots of cash, and no cell phone. They've been doing this for years.
With this disappearing skill, they might be useful….
------
Pit stop on the side of the highway, Max felt the need to get at least one move down.
"You need to use more power, your legs are your biggest strength right now. You are not tall enough to throw intense punches." Cain watches Max closely and gives her feedback. "Go run until I say stop,"
I've rechecked the car four times. Making sure there isn't a tracking device or anything that looks sus. It's already 10 in the evening, should we rest here? Do vampires even sleep? Maybe he could drive for us?
No! That's basically putting your head in the lion's mouth.