The Hall, Medford Texas
Thursday March 13th 2059
At 5:30 am Elsa awoke and got ready for a run. The town was still asleep and not fully ready for the day. There were signs of life, but they were scattered and rare. Elsa made sure NOT to pay any attention to them, less she be pulled in by them. She had made love to Zeke last night so she could leave this place with will power to spare. And right now, she felt like she was ready to be gone years at this rate. She felt rejuvenated by the dinner, in retrospect it was the time she spent with him that was far sweeter than the sex. He would be a great friend to have in Boston. But not to be too sarcastic about it, but that ship had definitely sailed. She laughed remembering the silly dream he had at being a fisherman. Once she had taken him to her bed, any hopes for the kind of friendship was probably dead. That look Zeke had, spoke volumes. She was glad he wasn't up when she got out, and she was going to make sure they didn't cross paths before she left later today. She wished Zeke well, but she didn't want him to be clingily to her. Elsa felt a small ping of regret inside. If she was a normal person would growing fond of Zeke be so bad, but she wasn't normal and neither was Zeke. No, nothing could get in the way of what she wanted. And what Elsa wanted was a life of her own, something she had earned and something she had picked. To allow Zeke or any man, especially an aqua one, into her life would be death to ever achieving that.
The town looked as it always did, with a few exceptions for small growth here and there. Thankfully she didn't run into anyone she knew. Hope was able to get her run in and get back before the sun was fully up. By the time she had showered again and dressed she knew it was about time to head over to Nancy's. She had her bag packed and she looked around one last time before leaving, she was in a hurry hoping to be out of the hall before Zeke woke up. Her hopes however were dashed when she heard the knock at her door. She instantly cringed, preparing herself to be kind but firm. She didn't want to hurt him, but she had to let him know he couldn't expect to see her again.
She opened the door not to find Zeke, but rather her father and someone else she knew from school. Sally Summers was a couple of years older than her and had dated her brother Gerold when they were in school. She greeted them both inviting them in, but her father paused and asked Sally to wait. Sally was impatient as Elsa could imagine she would be.
"Seriously? Ok I have only waited like years for this, what's another ten minutes?"
Her father only had to give her one of his patented father facial expressions. The kind he gave children when he was displeased.
"Ok…Ok, you don't have to give me a death stare."
Elsa and Sally were connected. Even if they were two different vampires, from two different clans, they had a contract between them. It wasn't a literal contract, but one known and verbally agreed to by their families. And Elsa was very late in completing her side of that.
Once the door was shut back on an upset Sally, her father came in for a hug. Art Locke was a ponderous man, with huge arms that were not due to reversion. His muscles were crafted by his labors, chiseled into shape by long hours working with his hands. Like all of her family her father was a member of the clan. It hadn't always been so. Elsa still remembered seeing his High School yearbook. Class of 1975, inside that book was another pretty face that Elsa giggled about when she found it. A young black-haired woman who was now his wife. Nancy and Art had been involved with each other on and off multiple times for 84 years. Their love had been star crossed though. Nancy had rejected him in favor of another man and they had not come together again until very late into his human life. They had separated yet again for a time, that was when he became a vampire. It was during that time that he met Kate and fathered her and Alex.
"I can't believe you missed my 100th birthday party. I thought for sure you would cut your dear father a break and come down. Why huh, I know we were hard on you, but I really missed you kid."
Elsa cuddled into her fathers' arms and loved that feeling. They were powerful arms, vampire or no. And she always felt safe when she was in them. She was sorry she had missed it, like all the other birthdays, weddings, and birth's she had missed. But to come home was to give up, and Elsa wasn't going to do that.
"I know dad, I am so sorry I just couldn't. You don't know how hard it is to just walk away from this place. I want my life dad, and if I come home…."
He shushed her making it clear he wasn't mad at her, just sad that she hadn't come. He loved his only daughter and was never shy about sharing that.
"I am glad you are home now Elsa. I know you won't stay but I sure wish you would. Are you doing ok, is your live in Boston what you wished it would be?"
At hearing him she felt herself grow calmer. Art always had that effect on her. The same could not be said for Kate and Nancy. Their place in her life would swing with the season. When she was very young she was very pulled towards Nancy. But as she grew older she found much more in common with Kate. In many ways both served as mother to her. It sounded strange but it really wasn't. It wasn't that abnormal for kids to grow up in houses where the parents are divorced. But that really didn't describe this relationship. Still, she didn't have the first idea how to explain to people how this family worked so she just told everyone in the human world that Nancy was her mother. It prevented a lot of questions, and confusion.
"Fine I guess, I missed you so much dad. You could come up there you know, visit me. I could take you to Fenway, you would really like it."
The one thing that wasn't confusing, was her father. She might have more than one woman she looked at as her mother. But she had only one father, and he was the glue that held this world all together. Art grinned and have a small squeeze in response. She knew why he didn't come, and it was for her benefit. If Art came so would Nancy and Kate. And that wouldn't end well, for anyone.
"How are you handling this Hope mess?"
Elsa felt bad that she hadn't thought about her at all since she had ran into Zeke. Was that so bad, it felt like it was but what could she do? It sounded as weak and hollow as she thought it did. Instead of saying that, she asked for news. Elsa buried her head further into his chest. That she knew would tell him all he needed to know. She wasn't doing well at all with it. For now, she was fine, but the first time she saw Hope look at her as a stranger she knew it would crush her. Even though it was already a done deal by this point she couldn't help but wish it wasn't. Losing her best friend was bad enough. But what it would do to Gerold was another. If her dad was here this early, then that meant he had likely brought Hope with him. Knowing that she was downstairs asleep in the car, A blank shell of the woman she had been. Art pulled away from the embrace and looked at her. With one eyebrow cocked and an amused expression he guided her to the bed and sat next to her.
"This isn't going to come as a surprise to you but Nancy has decided to do something. What that something is I can't say. She has been in the link with Hope since 8pm last night. I don't dare try to interject myself to find out, you know how she gets if you link with her without permission. If she is still in there I can only imagine the meaning. She is working to find another way to bring her into the fold. Now don't get your hopes up, she might just be fixing a whole bunch of broken wires in that poor girl's head. I don't know and you don't know. But still, I think it's reasonable to assume she is trying to find a way for Gerold's sake."
Elsa had by this point accepted that Hope was lost, and that Gerold was going to despise her for losing Hope. She wasn't sure by then if she wanted to cling to a false desire, so she asked her dad if he thought Nancy could pull it off.
"I honestly don't know, but I think it's safe to say you aren't going home just this moment. Probably best you let your work know and hers if you can. Make what excuses you have to and…."
Elsa stopped him right there. Staying another hour, much less the whole day was out. If she stayed that long she would get sucked in. No, no, no, no, she would just have to get a room in another town and wait for them to call her. She got up and started to pace. She alternated between wringing her hands one moment, and gesturing them wildly about the next. Her father let her spin about like a top for a minute or so before he stood to hold her. He clinched the sides of her arms forcing her to look him in the eyes and to cease her worry. His eyes, like those of her mothers, Nancy's, Zeke's, and so many others were all alike. The aqua light that shown from them calmed her and she took a breath.
"I know, but you have to face it. You can't just keep running for the next century Elsa. Eventually you have to face who and what you are, and deal with it."
She looked at him and knew he, of all people understood. Dad hadn't chosen this life, it had chosen him. Another clan, one now extinct, had stolen his life. Forced him into unspeakable things, torturing him and using him. The worst of it was he had to take on their call and their powers. Those powers were like those of the kind of vampires the world knew in fiction. Massive fangs that pierced flesh, and a desire to rule. Something that race of vampires had tried and failed at doing nearly 20 years ago. Their kind had been wiped from existence by the others. But at a great price to both vampire and human alike.
Kate had met Art while he was an amethyst vampire, she had been his thrall until he changed her. So it was, until the Aqua freed them both. It had been Nancy who had found a way to change them, to save them from themselves. It was because of this act, her and Alex bore the aqua signet. And it had been what put her father back on the path to being with Nancy again. All of this, and the knowledge of the terrible things forced upon Art, were things Elsa rarely thought about. Nancy had only spoken about it once. And she had wept when she did. Something Nancy was keen not to do in front of others. Nancy wasn't weak, nor did she easily show her emotions. There was a lot unspoken in that past, as it had to be terrible.
Her father put a lot of sweetness in his voice as he spoke. Something he often did for Elsa. She may love her birth mother and try her best to honor her adopted mother Nancy. But it was her father she adored, looked up to. His displeasure was something she could not abide. Had he resisted even an iota of what Nancy and Kate had, she would have never left. It would have prevented her leaving, but it would have also ruined their relationship. Something Elsa was especially thrilled to renew now. She knew with her father he would help her achieve her dreams, even if it meant they were apart. Art looked at her with love but also a concerned look as he began his fatherly work. Something Elsa didn't dare resist.
"I admire you trying to hold back. staying true to yourself. But I think it's time we face facts. You have never embraced this life Elsa, and its time you fish or cut bait. Me and Kate are the reason you are in this pickle. You didn't ask to become a vampire, that you got from us. We are to blame for making you this, but it doesn't mean you have to suffer. You can give it up if you want. Jay can take that away from you and you will never feel the call again. Just think, it won't hurt when you visit, and you can have a normal life."
She teased him a bit, Art liked it when she did as long as she was respectful. He was lightly pushing her to give up her gifts. Elsa loved her life outside, but she was a vampire. That was true nearly all her young life, and she didn't intend on giving it up. At least that was what she wanted to do. Living both lives however was proving several factors harder than she would have imagined when she left home. He smiled on the small tease she gave him. He defended himself and continued to be her father in the same breath. But it was the last part that caused her to be concerned.
"Don't get me wrong I like who I am, being a vampire allowed me to have you and the boys. I wouldn't trade that for nothing. Greatest time of my life was raising you kids. Elsa, being normal isn't bad you know. I spent the first 72 years of my life as a human. One day sweetie we are all going to pass. Just because Nancy has been around forever doesn't mean she will be. At some point you know, me and Nancy are going to put this away for the last time. Be human again and just pass normally. We nearly did before you were born. All creatures die eventually, being one of us just delays it. You are so young, if you become a human now, you will still have plenty of years. Don't let that cloud your judgement, you can have plenty of life as a human."
He let go her arms and touched her face. She had looked down at hearing her dad talk about dying. There had been a short moment that Nancy had told her about when the two of them had decided to allow death to take them. Nancy's health was failing and she was no longer able to revert. She was physically in her 70's as was Art. They were going to just live a few years together before they died. But like always, things had changed their plans for them. He pulled her chin up with a gentle touch.
"There are times I think you get this from me. You hitched your life to your own code, just like I did when I was your age. I could have stayed in this town but I didn't. I joined the corps and found myself, just like you did, when you left. I was happy with my human life, and I think you would be too. Sweety if you still want the life you have in Boston, then you need to let go your vampire side for good."
She asked him in a quiet voice why he didn't. Why he stayed as a vampire. Was it Nancy or the kids that kept him enslaved to this life. Her voice cracked as she did, just imagining a world without her father was one she didn't like to contemplate.
"I had things to live for. You, the boys, Kate and Nancy. And if it doesn't sound too arrogant, the clan and the town needs me. Besides I still want to see my kids settled and established. Alex and Leon are about to start their families, Rene is engaged and is starting his own business by the way. I just need to get you and Gerold on the right path. And then me and Nancy can start to have another round of young squirts. Both of us want another go at having more. As long as I have a purpose, I plan on sticking around."
She laughed at the thought. Likely as not they already were well on the way. Elsa smiled at the thought that soon she would have more brothers and sisters. What would that be like? If she was here then she could be a part of that. If she found someone then her young would grow up with her fathers. The call pulled at her, weaker this time thanks to Zeke. Perhaps father was right and she should give this up. But giving up on the family was to give up on more than just the call. It was to give up on time itself.
It was hard to separate what she wanted from what the call wanted. As a woman the longer you pushed the harder it got. Would she really be happy helping raise her father's children. Having her own and seeing them grow up next to his? Or would she regret every day losing her dreams? She didn't know, and that was always a good sign the call was involved.
"Look I don't want to keep poor Sally waiting much longer, but you need to go see your mother. She told me what you said to her. She doesn't deserve the hate young lady. She loves you and it kills her not knowing if her baby is alive or dead. But it's not just that Elsa. Kate's life is changing and you need to talk to her about it. It needs to come from her ok, not me. Please tell me you will see her when you get done with Sally ok?"
Elsa was emotional, but she shook her head yes before she realized what she was agreeing to. She started to say something but dad already had the door open for Sally. He proceeded to kiss her forehead as he made his exit.
"We are having dinner tomorrow night; everyone will be there including Kate. I expect you stay at least that long young lady."
Then he quieted his bright and sunny tone and grew serious. Pulling down his head and looking squarely at her. Lowering his voice so Sally would have difficulty hearing.
"If you decide to give this up, and want me there, I will be there child. I support you."
A moment later she felt him leave her grip and walk out the door. She wanted to hold on to him, keep him there longer. Then she wouldn't have to talk to Sally, or Kate… or anyone else. Instead, the sour expression of Sally was all she was left with.
"Finally….. are you ready?"
Sally was mad but frankly Elsa didn't care. Sally wasn't concerned a bit about what was going on, or why she was tearing up. Sally only saw the prize and wanted it.
"Give me a second ok, I just need a moment."
Sally rolled her eyes and joked that she had been waiting 7 years, why not one more. Elsa shot her a dirty look but Sally was immune to it. Sally was here to claim the prize on her contract with Elsa. Her bright vampiric green eyes shone brightly, Sally was no aqua. Sally was an emerald vampire, from the clan most closely aligned to her own.
"Look its not my fault our families agreed to this. Its simple you give me the link, and I keep you all pretty and young. Forever…"
Sally was clear with the tone just how excited she was to be on the hook to keeping Elsa young and beautiful. She had massively changed Elsa when they were younger, back when they had been friends.
It was the emeralds with whom they had agreed to share. The emerald would be tied for life with a single aqua. For the emerald they would provide medical care, and to maintain the aqua by reverting them. In exchange the aqua would share their link ability. More than one vampire of both sides had complained that the other was getting the better bargain. At only 26 Elsa had no need to revert, or to change her body. But for Sally on the other hand, she had gone seven years without the link. All the other partnerships had long since exchanged. No emerald had ever had to wait a month, much less years to obtain the link. But truth be told Elsa had done it out of spite. There was still some bad feelings about Gerold and how his relationship had ended with Sally.
There had been a time when they were kids that all of them had been friends. In that huge back yard of the emeralds all of the aqua and emerald children had played. From the time they could talk all of those children had known each other. All had grown up together and become adults together. Many had become more in the years since. More than one relationship had begun in that backyard. First as friends and later as mates.
"Well princess, am I going to wait all day or are we going to get this show on the road?"
Sally clearly wanted to get started with the exam which would come first. The agreement stated that the emerald vampire would care for the aqua. Thus, if Elsa wanted to revert today to a younger form she could. Elsa nodded and Sally began. Her hands moved just a few inches from her body as Sally used the ability she had been given when she accepted the gift from her parents. There were many emeralds, more of them then aqua. That was a curse of the Emerald call, Elsa knew and smirked at the thought. The emerald call was for them to create life, a lot of life. Elsa looked down and saw the belly that announced that Sally was again with child. Elsa wondered how many that would make now, three or four perhaps. Sally was using her ability to look over Elsa and help if it was necessary. Emeralds were valued much for their healing ability. Some of the more skilled Emeralds could perform lifesaving repair, or in some extreme cases "enhancements" to the body of the person in question. There was far more to their ability, much of it freaked out Elsa. Emeralds easily had the most diverse and extreme powers of any of the clans. Emeralds fed differently, aged differently, and frankly lived differently than humans or other vampires.
"Did you know you were ovulating?"
She didn't, and it wasn't a surprise that she had lost track. Elsa wasn't as regular as her mother was, it was rather easy for her to be wrong. That was when her mind froze, and she reminded herself about last night. She had allowed her weakness and the call to overpower her judgement. Thankfully Sally didn't say anything more about it. When she announced that Elsa was fine, she breathed a sigh of relief. If on the very improbable chance she was somehow pregnant, then Sally would have said something. Besides she had only made love last night, it generally took longer than that…. She thought, anyway.
"Do you want to revert, any changes to your body, you seem like you could use some."
Elsa looked past the slight to her, and considered having Sally make changes. But she was generally happy with how she was naturally. She considered losing a few years to keep her look longer than her peers. But there was time for that later, besides it might cause more questions at work than she wanted. And then there was the fact she was thinking of giving it all up. Being reverted might make that process more difficult. Not to mention she didn't want Sally making changes until they were absolutely necessary. She didn't trust or like Sally. The fact she didn't mention Zeke's seed which had to be coursing through her body probably meant good things. Sally would be able to see that with her ability. Thinking back to her biology course at Medford High, she had about a 27% chance of becoming pregnant from Zeke last night.
On one hand she was terrified, 27% was pretty high. But on the other hand, the part of her that was aqua, relished the possibility. She had already decided that if Zeke somehow made her pregnant she would accept that as fate and come home. She wouldn't dare harm the child, even if lots of her contemporaries at work would do so. She couldn't possibly raise the child as an aqua alone, she would need her family. Besides the call wouldn't allow anything but that, Elsa herself knew she would come home for that. When she convinced Zeke to make love to her she had considered it for about three seconds. Not a lot of time for something so important. Yet another reason not to say in Medford longer than needed. Sally must have seen how distracted she was and decided to needle her more.
"My, my we were busy last night. I see the little things working their way."
Elsa made it clear it wasn't any of her business, and that she didn't want to discuss it. Sally just frowned, clearly she thought she still deserved some sort of familiarity because of their previous friendship. Well, she was wrong on that.
"Ok princess make up your mind, I want my side of the bargain before I leave this room. I am not waiting another decade to get payment this time?"
Elsa sighed, annoyed at dealing with this woman. She told her no that it wasn't necessary and that she was ready to share her ability. Twenty minutes later Elsa had granted her the ability and Sally left without another comment. As Elsa sat there on the bed she felt used. And she felt something else, she knew she wanted her career and she wanted her life. Yet what would it feel like to have a child inside of her growing? She put a hand over her womb and wondered why it was like this for her. How much was the call pushing on her, and how much was Elsa being what the others said she was a natural at. When she was younger she had just not let the thought cross her mind. If she did then the call would kick in and draw her closer to a life she didn't want. Outside of Medford she had been far more in control, and had made damn sure it wasn't a possibility. But it had been so long since she was in a relationship that she wasn't on the pill. The way it blasted her body and disrupted her cycle she despised it.
She took a breath and let it go, it was for the best anyway. Zeke was just a ship in the night, not a partner. And the more she learned about herself the more she doubted that she would be a good mother. Not all women were cut out for it, and Elsa felt like she wasn't. What Elsa wanted was a career, and the power that came with it. If she had a child, the call would overwrite her desires. That power and status she craved, it would mean nothing. For an Aqua there was no having the cake and eating it too. It was either she was a woman of the clan or she was a woman of the world. Dad was right, she needed to let go. But she couldn't, being a vampire was more than an identity. It was what she was literally born to be.
With that settled, at least for now, she allowed her hand to drop from her womb. Elsa took ahold of the bag and started for the door. Then she realized she couldn't leave, Hope was still in play. Elsa stood there unsure of what to do or to say. She could just go up to Orville and get a room there. She considered it as her hand slipped back unconsciously back to her womb. A moment later she found it there and found her mind wondering yet again what it would feel like.