Alyssa met with her sister and they took the bus to her home. It was a nice, two story townhome. Small, but serviceable for a family of four. They must have chosen it because it is relatively close to work and on the correct busline. Real estate in the city is usually expensive. Being close to work and services comes at a premium, so many humans sacrifice space for convenience.

I don't blame them.

Their lives are so short, they should minimize wait times as often as they can.

I wait until dark, and then plant myself under their garden window. It is easy to hear everything going on in the house… and the houses next door and across the street. Ugh. Dense human housing always makes things harder, but I understand why they do it. It is healthier for pack animals like them to live densely populated.

They make normal small talk during dinner, and put the children to bed. Honestly, until the children fall asleep, they dominate the discussions. Dance recital on Tuesday, just passed a belt test and are now a green belt in Tae Kwon Do, and 'do you like my picture?'

I'm glad our newborns don't go through this phase. I don't do art.

Something about this place smells off. I wish I could place it. I know this smell, and it means something. Something potentially dangerous. It is difficult not to jump through the window and secret the child away from the perceived danger. A younger vampire wouldn't be able to resist the primal urge to protect. I'm not a younger vampire.

Once the kids are down, the plotting begins. Apparently, sometimes 'Abi' takes casts home with her to complete. It is frowned upon, but she is known for having a better setup in her basement than at work. They plan to cast the cast at home, and then switch the fake with the real one. Smart. Then the cameras will only ever see two of the piece at a time.

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

The sisters get to work downstairs, while the wife cleans up the kitchen and puts on a kettle for tea. I remember when tea was new. Over brewed, and could hold a spoon up. Thick opaque liquid you could almost chew. I miss that tea. The teas of today seem weak and worthless.

The back door opens. I know the wife can't see me from my position, but I also know moving now will break the illusion. She comes to the back patio and sets out two cups of tea, then sits.

I know that smell.

I know that smell.

"I was wondering if she had a minder. It is unusual to see one so young out in the world alone."

I come out from the shadows and sit across from her. "Forgive me, but I don't know what you are going by these days."

"You may call me Rue, Remus."

"So, Rue, what is an all powerful djinn doing married to my child's sister?" I pick up my cup of tea. It is thick and heavily spiced, just like the tea I was longing for. It tastes heavenly.

She places her cup down and casually offers "their family does seem to attract people like us. Our children's best friends are a pair of selkies. I have often wondered if they have siren blood somewhere, but they do not. No, the family just seems to be completely open and non-judgemental in a way that attracts those who are different."

I hum at that. Alyssa did not mind being turned. She had none of the usual problems with blood consumption or reframing her morals. The only tantrum she had was over not being able to visit her family again.

"You heard her give us the spiel. Is the situation really as dire as she makes it out to be?"

"Very few of us have much exposure with the human world. You tell me, is her assessment sound?" I put the cup back on the table, and cradle its warmth in my hands.

"The humans are fearful of things they don't understand. While their current path to discovery all but guarantees war, I'm not sure how much of a difference meeting our extraterrestrial counterparts will make. Humans are prepared to go to war against aliens as well. You don't have to spend much time consuming their media to know their default stance is war."

"I agree. This is a difficult path. I do not think they will be successful."

"Will you stop them?"

I look into the depths of my cup. Perhaps it will give me the answers I seek. "I do not know."