The Vampire Joy by Alisa Freund (fox in socks read aloud .txt) 📕

sally?” Alex yelled at her mother.
“we both know if I stop she dies.” Sally said with narrow eyes.
“if you continue you die!” he said and her father’s eyes shot open.
“it’s worth it if she lives!” she said to Alex then looked up at her father, “I love you, jack. Please take care of joy.”
“no!” her father said, “we’ll try again.” But sally wasn’t hearing it and continued pushing until the shrill sounds of a baby’s screams filled the room. The other nurses and doctors rushed into the room and surrounded her mother blocking the view of her mother. They could still see Alex holding the new born joy. He wasn’t looking away from her and there was something in his eyes almost like love.
“stop the clip!” Sabrina yelled
“keep it rolling!” joy said and Sabrina looked quizzically down at joy.
“I don’t think you want to-“ she started but joy cut her off before she could continue.
“I have to see my father’s reaction. “ she said then continued, “I hold some regret for not feeling anything when he died. His reaction is important to me.” She watched as the doctors pronounced her mother dead then the coroner came and took her away. Alex walked over to her father who was still sitting in the chair next to the bed. He went to hand the little baby to her father when he said, “get that thing away from me right now.”
“now you can stop the clip!” she yelled up to Emilio with a smile, then turned her attention to Sabrina. “he didn’t want me as much as I didn’t want him. I was harboring guilt about resenting him for my entire life but were even.”
“you are a very odd girl,” Sabrina said smiling at joy, “but to be honest that isn’t why I showed you this clip.”
“How did you get this clip?” joy asked.
“well as Alex told you he was punished for stealing blood and had to serve a hundred years to us but after those hundred years are up there is a probationary period where we monitor them very closely.” Sabrina said with a wink.
“but why did you keep this clip?” joy asked puzzled.
“because what happened after this event happened. Alex came rushing to the council asking to petition an infant for change. Of course we all laughed at him thinking it was a joke but he explained that you were his soul mate and the petition wouldn’t be carried out until you were at least eighteen. There was no law against it so we all took our time and now-“
“everyone has signed except Samuel.” They both turned around to see who had spoken and sitting in the back row was Alex. He looked over at Sabrina and said, “I thought you weren’t going to sway her decision?”
“you of all people should understand extenuating circumstances.” She said with a smile. “on a more pressing matter how did you know what I was up to?”
“Adrian’s a good kid but he has a big mouth he. He called me and told me you were taking her here. Don’t get mad at him though he only cares about joy and wanted to make sure she was alright.” He said to Sabrina then redirected his attention to joy, “I know that was a lot to take in at one time and I don’t want to know your answer yet. Just think it over and decide at the ball.” With that he turned to walk away.
“wait!” she said running up the aisle to him. He turned back around as she wrapped him in a hug. Tears were streaming down her face, “thank you. You were the first person to love me or want me. Thank you.”
He put his arms around her and said, “trust me it wasn’t a difficult decision.”
She wasn’t ready to get go but the image of david kept flashing through her head. No! go away she thought to herself just let me have this moment of happiness without guilt. But she knew it wasn’t possible she was already promised. Her fingers loosened to let him go but he wasn’t ready to let go either and held on tight to her.
“I’ll let you two have a moment.” Sabrina said taking her leave.
He held her tight without saying a word. David has always treated joy like a child like his perfect little porcelain doll that he would protect from the world but Alex made her feel like a woman. She wanted to kiss him again David doesn’t have to know.
She leaned up to kiss him but he beat her to the chase this time she got weak and felt her knees go out from under her but he held her closer tighter she wanted to melt into him. To become one person. She felt the heat of his lips tasted the chocolate and cinnamon and wanted it all. She wanted covet him to keep him all to herself.
She broke away abruptly looking up at him. He had a perplexed look on his face, “I…I’m sorry but I can’t do this. I am promised to David, this isn’t right.” She said and ran to her room without looking back.
She curled up in a ball and wait for sleep but it never came. She watched as the sun rose out her window but still didn’t get up. The sun went back down and still she didn’t feel like stirring. It wasn’t until there was a knock on her door that she moved. “come in!” she yelled.
Adrian rushed in saying, “what are still doing in bed?” he picked her up in one swift fluid motion and started rummaging through her closets. “Sabrina doesn’t like laziness so quickly put these on and tell her you have been studying since this morning.” He said throwing her some clothing.
Joy didn’t argue and quickly dressed and got out her school books and dumped them on the bed so it would seem more plausible.
Joy was about to hop on the bed and open a book making it appear that she was reading when a voice called at the door, “don’t stand on airs for me.” She turned around to see Sabrina standing in her doorway, “Adrian, this young maiden didn’t get any sleep last night. There are a lot of things going on inside her that you wouldn’t understand. Will you please run her a bath?” like always though it was not a request and Adrian bound over to the bathroom and ran the bath water.
Sabrina strolled over to joy and placed her hand on joys head, “my dear relax, take your time. This is your vacation do what you need to do.” And with that Sabrina took her leave.
Joy walked over to the bathroom where Adrian was running the bath water. She started undressing and Adrian darted up taking a bow, “I will leave you to your bath then.” He said and started walking out.
“please stay,” joy said her eyes welling up with tears, “I could really use the company. Besides vampires don’t get sexually excited right?”
He smiled warmly at her, “that’s partially true. Night stalkers don’t because it takes too much blood to get an erection but since day walkers still have blood flowing the can.” He said then added, “ so of course I will join you.”
She undressed and dipped into the water as Adrian took a seat on the edge of the bath tub. “you know your stronger than you give yourself credit for.” He said looking down at her.
“no I know I’m strong. I’ve had to be since I was born so I never really had a chance to be weak.” She said looking at her knees that were poking out of the water.
“what did Sabrina want to show you in the theater?” Adrian said trying t change the subject.
“she showed me my mom dying and my father rejecting me once I was born.” She said looking up at him.
Adrian’s eyes widened and said, “wow you’re a person who just can’t have a normal day huh?”
Despite herself joy laughed and said, “no, I guess I can’t” then changed the subject, “about that what’s the decision I’m supposed to make? Does it have to do with choosing someone?”
He sighed and said, “I really shouldn’t tell you anything, but I don’t feel right about the whole situation.” He said then added, “but I’ll give you a hint that way I can’t get in trouble. If it was just about a person do you think the entire vampire community would be curious?”
Joy thought about this and answered, “no, I don’t suppose it would concern them.”
“well if you don’t mind joy I have chores to get to.” He said bowing to her and taking his leave. She stayed in the bath tub for only a moment longer before getting out and draining the tub. She walked into her room drying off her hair with the towel, but she wasn’t alone.
Sitting on her bed was David. She jumped at the sight of him, he looked up at her and said, “is it true?”
Joy dropped the towel in shock, “is what true?” she asked playing dumb.
David snarled at her and bared his fangs, “you know damn well what I’m talking about or do you cheat on me so often that it has escaped your mind what time I’m talking about?”
Tears started forming in joys eyes, “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to it just sort of happened. I love you please don’t be angry.” She said running over to him and wrapping him in her arms.
“I know I just always thought I would be your first kiss. You understand why I can’t right?” David asked while stroking her hair.
“Because I have pure blood and you don’t want to taint it with venom.” She said in a monotone voice. She had heard this excuse countless times.
“that’s right. Realize I cherish you and I would never want anything like that to happen.” He said standing up, “you will escort me to the ball.” It wasn’t a question but joy answered anyways.
“I don’t know.” She didn’t know why she said it and it even took her by surprise.
He turned around and faced her his face only inches away from hers, “you misunderstand me. It was not a request.”
Joy got angry and her blood was raging, “you never attempt to understand me! My answer is no!” she yelled.
A deep growl sounded and he bared his fangs but joy just stood her ground. She expected him to take a chunk of her neck out but instead she felt hand go across her face so hard she went flying five feet backwards. Her head hit the corner of the dresser and everything went black.
Joy woke up in her bed during the day. She looked over to where the clock should have been but instead of the dresser Alex sitting in a chair fast asleep. Joy slowly took off the covers and careful went to stand up. Immediately the blood rushed to her head and she fell back on the bed.
When she opened her eyes again to se Alex standing over her. His lips were moving but he wasn’t saying anything then the sound gradually came, “joy are you ok?” she realized that he was holding her hand and abruptly pushed it away.
“no! traditionally when someone says, ‘I’ll see you at the ball’ traditionally they wait until then to see them but apparently you and David just can’t wait a whole two weeks. You guys are acting like two little kids fighting over a toy and I refuse to be the object of either of yours desires!” she was so angry that she felt