Santa Carla

As everyone settled themselves in Max’s living room, Max studied Brandi, wanting to make sure she wouldn’t betray his boys. Finally he reached the conclusion that she belonged to the gang as though she had already completed her transformation. But just to be on the safe side, he had one question for her. “Brandi, your mother has been worried sick about your disappearance. Would you like me to give you a ride home?” The anger and fear at a possible rejection that flashed in Brandi’s eyes resolved his doubts better than anything else could have.

“I highly doubt Lucy has so much as mentioned me to you, Max. As far as going home is concerned, the boys can take me since my home is now the cave.”

“I’m glad to hear you say that,” Max responded. Marko and David both sighed in relief as a small smile graced Max’s features. Brandi wasn’t going anywhere now that they had Max’s approval. “And you’re correct, Lucy failed to tell me that she had a daughter, although she wasted no time telling me all about Michael and Sam. I must say her descriptions are nothing like the ones David and Dwayne provided.”

As her features twisted into a bitter smile that lacked any warmth, Brandi gave a comprehensive description of both her brothers. “In that case, allow me to fill in the gaps. My brother Michael came into this world a year before I did, and my parents hailed him as a miracle due to the fact that the doctors had informed them they would never be able to have children. My father raised Michael to be the tough guy, the sports fanatic, the stereotypical male. My mother’s coddling coupled with guilt trips, however, meant that Michael never developed much will power, and always goes along with whatever the women in his life tell him to do. If he believes himself in love, that girl, no matter her origins, will have complete control over his life.

“Sam, on the other hand, was born three years after me. By the time he needed male guidance in order to avoid becoming a total loser, my father had become involved in an affair and left the family to its own devices. Thus, the only parent Sam has ever really known has been Lucy. Needless to say, Sam has little to no courage, and has never known what it is to be popular. He longs to belong to a group outside of our family and once again will allow those who appear to accept him dictate his every thought and action.” Spoken with an almost clinical detachment, Brandi worried everyone else in the room with her analysis. Max was the only one with the courage to ask the question on all of their minds.

“And what about you, my girl? How did your childhood affect you?” A laugh to match her smile was the only response Max received as Brandi gathered her thoughts.

“I was the border child. By the time Sam was born, Michael had already begun transforming into the son our father wanted, so I was the child chosen to assist Mother with Sam. I refereed between my brothers, and if either of them began crying, I had obviously failed and needed to be disciplined. Nothing major, just time outs mostly. I was the only girl, so my job also entailed household chores, including taking care of Sam’s dog that he just had to have. As a result, I am inclined towards rebellious behavior more so than either of my brothers. Since I was left on my own so often, I also possess more will power and independence. Basically, I make my own decisions and am determined to live a life of my choosing.”

Dwayne leaned forward as Brandi finished her speech. “Just one more question, Brandi, and then we’ll leave you alone. Why did you accept that we were vampires so quickly?” Everyone in the room relaxed as the bitterness left Brandi’s features and mirth took its place.

“Now that’s a story I’ve wanted to share with someone,” she laughed. “On our way to Santa Carla, we stopped for the night at a little one club town just on the border of Arizona and California. As the rest of the family settled down to get some sleep, I took a quick trip outside. When I reached the local park, I found a dark-haired woman sitting there, looking for all the world like she was waiting for me. I walked over and sat down, bewildered cause she looked like she was straight out of Victorian England. She called me little sister and said that she had to tell me some things so I would be prepared to do what the stars said was my destiny or something like that.

“About that time this guy that looked almost exactly like Billy Idol showed up and started yelling at her, saying she was too weak to be out. She told him to hush, she was busy telling little sis a bedtime story. I think she called him a bad dog, too. Anyway, she held my hands and looked me in the eye. She told me that all I read about was true, though not in the way I imagined. When her face changed, I knew what she was talking about. I asked her for verification, and she repeated herself. Then she said that I was not for them yet, but I needed to know that my heart would tell me who to follow. After that she stood up and started to walk away. The guy started for me, but stopped when she yelled at him. ‘Spike,’ she said, ‘you are not to eat her. She belongs to another, but she will bring us our hearts.’ He pouted and tried to come at me again, but she yelled at him again. As he walked off I heard him mutter something like, ‘Dru, he really did drive you crazy.’ After that, I made my way back to the motel, we finished the drive here, and you guys know the rest.”

Brandi finished her story and looked around to a sea of amazed males. David turned to look at Max.

“She isn’t talking about who I think she’s talking about, is she?” Max ignored him as he continued to stare at Brandi.

“You met Drusilla and Spike, and they let you live?” he finally managed to get out.

“I guess so.”

“By all the gods above and below, you are a gift.” And with that statement, Max pulled Brandi into a fatherly embrace. “Welcome to the family.”

After enduring the embrace for a few moments, Brandi shrugged her way out of it, not accustomed to such parental actions. “And the big deal would be…?”

“Spike and Drusilla are two of the most famous vampires among the community. Together with Drusilla’s sire, they form the Scourge of Europe, a group that cut a bloody swath across the continent. For them to have let you live you must be very special. To go along with that, it is widely known that Drusilla is a seer, but the fact that she was driven insane before being turned means that her prophecies or visions are difficult to interpret. Based on what you’ve told us though, apparently she had a vision that you appeared in, and she felt you needed to know that vampires were real. She could see that you would be the mate of a vampire, and it seems that you will cross paths with both Spike and Drusilla later, which will somehow introduce them to their mates?”

Although his speech had begun in an educational tone, David quickly trailed off into a confused question directed at Max. Max’s only response was to shrug his shoulders.

A/N: There you are! Finally, I've gotten back on track. This chapter goes to Rankai, the most loyal reviewer an author could ask for. Without you, this story probably would have sat on the back burner for two more years.