The Contract

It was one of those warm summer mornings. A soft breeze flew through the trees; cooling the steaming summer sun. It wouldn’t be long before I would search out the shade. The sound of cicadas humming in my ears, along with the tinkling sound of my mother washing the breakfast dishes were comforting sounds that always reminded me of lazy summer days when I was small. I could still smell the bacon and fresh baked biscuits as it wafted out of the back door; where I sat on the steps finishing my coffee.“Sara Marie, you need to get down to the barn and feed the animals honey.”“Okay mama, as soon as I finish my coffee.” I took another swallow as I stood up.
The animals consisted of two cows, one with a new calf; four pigs; eight cats, six of them kittens and ten hens with one mean sun of a bitch rooster. I would rather ride on the back of a wild boar with no shoes and my hands in the air than try to feed or move that bird into the main cage. Mama said he was devil spawn.
I heard the squeaking screen door open, “here honey, bring back some milk after you feed the cats their share.”I reached up to take the milk bucket out of her hand when I noticed her open hand shielding her eyes from the bright sun. I followed her stare, “what’s wrong mama?” Even though I was eighteen I still called her mama, unless I was mad at her, then I called her mother.
“What is that?” she asked softly.We were both staring in the direction of the barn, “what mama? I don’t see anything.”“It looked like a person,” she didn’t pull her eyes away until I spoke.“Where? I still don’t see anyone,” I was shielding my eyes with my hand, squinting to see better.I felt her hand on my shoulder, “come in the house Sara.” She took my arm pulling me inside while she pushed the screen door out.I stumbled backwards and caught myself when I felt the frig behind me, “what’s wrong mama?” I said alarmed.She pulled me the rest of the way inside, closing the screen door, locking it. “Quiet!”
I looked toward the barn again, “what the fuck?” I saw an image of what looked like a man but the air shimmered around him. “Who is that?” I turned back to her, waiting for an answer, surprised she didn’t reprimand me about my language.“Not who, what,” she said quietly.
I turned back to look at the barn. The air had turned cold around me, and ‘it,’ was standing on the porch. I moved backwards, pushing my mother behind me. It looked like a man but with some very striking differences. His hair was flat black and his eyes were so light that they looked like two crystals with a light blue pupil instead of black. “Mama, what is he?” I whispered with a quiver in my voice.
She walked in front of me, “He’s a vampire honey.”“A what?” I stared at her back as I moved deeper into the house. I started laughing nervously, “I thought I heard you say he was a vampire.” I didn’t know if I should run out the front door or sit down.
She turned quickly to stare at me. The – what ever it was – didn’t move, nor did it speak.I started to shake, “Mama?” Tears were running down my cheeks, “I don’t understand.”“He’s a vampire Sara,” her voice softened, and he’s here to take you away.”I just stood there, eyes wide “You have got to be Kidding!” I spat at her.
She started walking toward me, “I’m sorry honey, I thought we had more time. I wanted to prepare you but it happened so fast.” Tears were streaming down her cheeks now.
I backed into a chair causing me to sit down abruptly. At the same time the man suddenly appeared in front of me. I screamed, pushing myself farther back into the chair.His stare softened, “I will not hurt you Sara.”
I looked at my mother, who was standing behind him now, “he knows my name?” I pulled my feet up into the chair and wrapped my arms around my legs still waiting for an answer from her.
She stepped to the side, kneeling down beside me. When she touched my arm, I flinched away from her, my attitude accusing, as I stared at her. “You belong with him honey. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you but there is nothing I can do about it now. You have to go with him.”
“No!” I screamed at her. “Why? I don’t understand!” When I stood up in the chair I suddenly found myself across the room. I looked around nervously. I didn’t know how I got there. “No!” I huffed, “it can’t be.”
“Yes, it can.” I was staring into an alien face. “You are like me Sara.” His voice was soft, controlled.“What? No! Mama, what is all of this about!” I demanded.“Honey this is not how I wanted this to go but you failed to tell me.” She was walking toward me and the ‘it.’ I couldn’t bring myself to call it a vampire.
“Tell you what?” I yelled. I was slowly sliding my body along the wall to the door and escape.“I saw the blood honey.” she shook her head, “you should have told me.”I looked from her to him, “I . . . couldn’t tell you.” Tears erupted once again, “I was . . . ashamed.” I ran to my mother and buried my face in her shoulder.
Her arms closed around me slowly, “I’m not ashamed of you honey, it’s a natural part of growing up.” She started to pull away but I wouldn’t let her. I couldn’t help myself as I felt my canines elongate, I sunk my teeth into her neck and drank deeply. I had wanted to do that all morning but I saw Pug, my dog, first. He didn’t taste as good as mama though.
When I felt strong hands pulling me away I released her. “Come Sara you don’t want to kill your mother. She is needed to take care of your sister.”My hand went to my mouth, coming away bloody, “oh my God, Mama I’m so sorry.” I looked up into a smiling face. “I have a sister?”
“Not yet, but you will.” He guided me to the door gently then turned toward my mother who was still standing where I had left her, her hand on her neck. “I will return soon Beth.”She nodded, a slight look of fear on her face – then resignation, “I’ll be here.”
I reached out to her, tears flowing freely down my face, “mama please, I don’t want to go.”

 She smiled at the two of us then looked at me, “you must go with him, Sara, he is Sernon, your father.”He was still for a moment as his eyes seemed to communicate with my mother. I didn’t see him open the door but before it registered I was someplace else.