Submitted by Avalon_88 t3_xzix9a in WritingPrompts
NotCohenNotBrothers t1_iru2lt5 wrote
Reply to comment by NotCohenNotBrothers in [WP] A vampire has worked at the local 7-11 for the past 5 decades. No one has the heart to call the vampire out or slay them. A little because they're such a good employee, mostly because they think they're doing such a good job hiding the vampirism when they're really not. by Avalon_88
I pounded on the door. I could hear whispers, Beatrice was crying softly. Her man, Luke, John, Bubba, whoever was yelling, I could smell his rage as well as hear his words and thoughts. Beatrice was trying to calm this latest mistake down but Luke John Bubba Whatever wasn't having it.
Beatrice hissed at him "BE QUIET, BABY! I'm serious! Bertha is NOT to be messed with!"
"Bitch, I ain't afraid of you, and I am NOT afraid of a fat old 7/11 clerk!"
Ah, I could hear the slurring. I could also smell the Jack Daniels through the walls. This explained everything. Beatrice fell off the wagon repeatedly, especially after she'd actively search out drunks and addicts to partner with.
No wonder Jeffery hadn't been fed. I then realized he was obviously missing school, too. This 7-year-old was out wandering in a rainstorm on a school night, of course he was missing school. I felt immediate shame; I should have been keeping better track of him.
The shame I felt enraged me. I pounded again. "BEATRICE! YOU INVITE ME IN RIGHT THIS MINUTE!"
I heard a scuffle, slaps, and a cry. Beatrice now had a nosebleed. I could smell that, too.
Poor Jeffery. He'd been the audience to these two idiots for quite some time and I had let it happen.
I continued pounding. "BEATRICE! BEATRICE!!!...."
Suddenly the back door slammed open. I was standing at the front door so I jumped over the house, landing on the back porch. Beatrice was standing on the cement stoop, staring into the back yard. "Bertha! Bertha! Where are you??" I tapped her on the shoulder and she screamed.
"Dammit, Bertha, how do you do that? You scared me!"
"Invite me in, Beatrice. Where's what's-his-name?"
"Please come in, Bertha. I don't know--be careful, he has a gun and couple knives. I think he's in the basement right now. He doesn't like you, Bertha. I think he'll try to kill you."
"Does he have many relatives, Bea?"
She stopped shaking for a moment, her nose bleeding continuously.
"What? What kind of question is that? Bertha, what the fuck?"
"I need to know" I spoke slowly and carefully as if I were speaking to an idiot. Which I was. "If anyone is going to come looking for him anytime soon."
Beatrice's eyes grew wide "NO! Bertha, NO! Don't kill him, I love him! He's just, he's just, he is having trouble at work, and his ex-wife is lying to the courts, and....."
Oh my God, NOW do you see why I gave up on her?
"Beatrice, do you know where your son is?" I couldn't help it-my contempt was clear on my face. Beatrice looked startled. "Jeffery? He's in his bed. Where else would he be?" She glanced at the clock on the stove. It read 3:14. My stomach churned. I hadn't noticed it right away because of the excitement, but the house STANK. There were flies, and un-dumped garbage pails and piles of dishes and papers and clothing piled everywhere.
I said nothing, but staring into Bea's eyes, I stomped across the kitchen and yanked the refrigerator door open.
It was empty. That is, except for a half-empty bottle of vodka.
I turned towards the woman. "I was going to........I need........EBT...........Jeffery's father claimed...........called the courts..........someone.........."
I could have easily punched myself in the face at that moment. I claimed to love this little boy more than anyone I've ever loved, and I was completely unaware of just how awful his life was. Well, that ends tonight.
I was disgusted with myself, so I went a bit out of control.
While Beatrice and I argued in the kitchen, Luke John Bubba was creeping up behind me, holding a knife in one hand and a glass of Jack Daniels in the other. Bea's eyes went wide at one point and I could clearly see him in her left eye.
"Hang on, Beatrice. I have to handle something." I reached behind me and grabbed his throat with my left hand. I move quickly. He never saw it coming. I crushed his windpipe and he expired sloppily on the kitchen floor in front of the mostly-empty refrigerator. I turned to Beatrice. "I notice you didn't warn me he was sneaking up behind me, Beatrice." I tsk-tsked her.
Beatrice screamed and threw herself on whatever-his-name-was's body.
She looked up at me in rage at one point. "YOU BITCH!! I LOVED HIM!!!"
She wailed and screamed so loud I was sure the neighbors were going to hear. I perked my ears up, yep. A neighbor was speaking to his wife about calling the police "That disgusting woman--with the drunk asshole, maybe we should call someone? It's been pretty loud tonight."
His wife tried to soothe him "Don't worry, honey. They'll pass out soon."
I knew the husband would override his wife's suggestion and call the police. That left me with a few minutes to tidy up this mess.
I turned to Beatrice.
"Bea. Darling. I'm sorry. But, this has to be done. I know he hasn't entered your thoughts at all tonight, but I want you to know that Jeffery is going to have an AMAZING life. You can go on to the next world not ever worrying about him. Do you understand me?"
Beatrice didn't understand me. Don't be surprised. Don't worry, though, it was a quick ending. I move fast, after all.
The newspapers described a sad murder/suicide, never mentioning a sweet brown-haired little boy. Neighbors forgot about him as well, not ever remembering anyone other than the argumentative couple who seemed "to drink quite a bit."
Jeffery is now 10 and in the top 10% of his class. He told me last summer that he wants to learn Spanish, so we'll be moving to Spain in a few weeks' time. He has forgotten the first few years of his childhood. It bothers him sometimes, but he's a sweet, intelligent boy who is interested in all sorts of things.
ireneach t1_iruygba wrote
Thank you so much! It is very nice to have a satisfying closure to the story. Looking forward to reading more from you!
kingura t1_irvtj4i wrote
This was EPIC! THANK YOU!
I’d still read a trilogy about her. She’s a cool character. But that’s a good ending too!
NotCohenNotBrothers t1_iry6j1u wrote
Thank you! These prompts are fun.
Chaosmancer7 t1_irxtfrg wrote
Well, that escalated quickly
NotCohenNotBrothers t1_iry5jpr wrote
Well, once Bertha realized how neglected Jeffery was, she saw that nothing was going to change. She missed a lot of signs and is REALLY disgusted with herself for failing the little boy.
I will say that she wasn't planning on what happened, but once she was there in the house and saw the situation she made the decision.
beach_fox t1_isie7jc wrote
>That was more shocking than an attack. I had never heard him say something that nice before. I wasn’t sure if he was naturally cold or if that was just something that came with the curse of vampirism, but usually, he would only talk himself up. As I stood there stunned, he went back behind the counter, not paying my shocked expression any mind.
After your first few centuries, you've gotta learn when it's time to cut your losses, snip off loose ends, and take off with what you can salvage from a situation. Good on Bertha.
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