Chapter Twenty-two

Halloween morning found me fretting over the triplets. I couldn't send them all to live with Johnny. Hunter and Gavner were young vamps and I worried about them losing control or burning to a crisp in Oasis Springs where Johnny lived. That meant separating the trio. And where would Hunter and Gavner live? Should they stay with me until they ranked up and gained some control? Was I overthinking it all?

It was Poppy and Senna's birthdays.

Poppy was Inquisitive and Senna was wild. And FML they were both human. Vampire lore said I'd have a 50/50 shot of having a vampire kid when breeding with humans. And my home was on dark ley line. Yet at this point, only 1/3 of my spawn were vamps. Fuckity-fuck. The girls were the first set that looked fraternal.

I called Caleb and talked to him about my concerns for Jasper and Gavner. He told me that I'd given them greater guidance and training than most newborn vampires received. It was time to let them go out into the world and hope for the best. He and Lilith had a vamp friend in San Myshuno that lived in a haunted apartment. She was new to the city and wanted to start her own coven. He gave me her number and said he'd put a good word in for me.

I gave Candace Lester a call and we chatted for some time. It turned out she lived in the same neighborhood as Daria and Bianca. She was delighted at the prospect of starting her coven with a couple of handsome young men. She said she'd be open to taking in Magnus too when the time came. I was relieved to have a solution for my vampire boys.

I loved fall cloudy days when I could walk outside without fear of turning into charcoal. I gathered the mail and wrote while the girls napped.

It seemed that no sooner than the residual check arrived, I was blowing it all on the house. I decided the next splurge would be a tropical green/pool-house addition. With UV glazing to protect me from the sun, I'd be able to slip from the kitchen into a steamy lush room for a little getaway. I ran out of money before I could finish buying all the plants and furniture, but I'd get another residual check tomorrow.

Then the twins woke up and Senna proved she was one wild child.

One with an obsession with toilets.

The boys came home. As expected, the triplets had brought their grades up to an 'A' and being a part of a large household their Responsibility value was in range. It was time to bake a birthday cake.

I had a good chat with Jasper. He was a bright kid and already figured out he'd be living with his dad without his brothers. He'd been texting and video chatting with him since his last birthday.


Hunter blew his candles out first. His new trait was cat lover. I hope he meant pet-wise rather than snack-wise. I encouraged him to pursue a free-lance career and he selected to be a computer programmer.

Hunter was quite moody and a drama king when Jasper blew out his candles. Jasper's new trait was Ambitious and he decided to pursue work as a Floral Designer.

Gavner's new trait was: Loves the Outdoors. A rather risky trait for a vampire, I thought. He would pursue a freelance Painter career.

Hunter perked up playing with Senna. I guess troublemakers gravitate to each other. Then they changed into their costume.

Jasper skyped his dad and Johnny bought him a train ticket to Oasis Springs, set to leave in just hours.

Poor little Poppy passed out on the floor while I was reading her sister to sleep. #parentingfail

Hunter's rage-y mood came back again. I don't know if what hormones, vampire issues or what but I was about ready to take that fucker down a peg or two.

Jasper changed out of his costume, hugged me good-bye and trotted off to catch the train.

The ghosts roamed the neighborhood as they did on this time of year.

I went back in to chat with Hunter and Gavner about living in the city with Candace. They were quite agreeable and ready dive into city living.

I gave them advice and lectures while we all quenched our thirst. Hunter chose his initial powers: bat form and detecting personalities. Gavner chose: bat form, casting hallucinations, and occult student.

I gave them a starter supply of plasma, reminded them to avoid the sun, and to please not feed off their sisters in the city nearby. They took off for their new life in bat form.

With the triplets gone and the other kiddos asleep, I planned on taking advantage of my cheerleader costume and hook up with the next baby daddy. But it started raining, so I decided to test out my new swimming pool by skinny dipping in it. Then rest up for my manhunt tomorrow night.