Violet hugged her grandmother as tight as she could. “Do you really have to go so soon?”

“You’ll be fine,” Sofia said with a small chuckle. “Besides, you don’t want your grandmother hanging around here all week, do you?”

“I mean, why wouldn’t I?” Violet asked. “You’re awesome.”

Sofia gave another light laugh before shaking her head. “Oh, you certainly know how to make me feel special, don’t you?”

“I learned from the best,” Violet said before reluctantly letting go.

“I wouldn’t mind if you wanted to stay a few more days,” Scarlet said.

“Nonsense,” Sofia said before looking to the vampire. “You’ve been an excellent host, though. I trust my granddaughter will do well to keep you in line. But before I go, I have one last gift for you, Violet. Scarlet, if you wouldn’t mind letting us have a few moments before I go?”

“Awwww,” Scarlet said softly, the vampire wilting a little bit. “If I have to. Feel free to come back any time, though.” Reluctantly, she turned and walked away from the pair, disappearing up the stairs and then heading into her room.

“Don’t let her fool you,” Violet said with a roll of her eyes. “The moment you’re gone she’s going to take off that fancy dress and probably go back to faded sweatpants and cute sweaters.”

“Oh, I’m sure she will. Just like my cute little granddaughter,” Sofia said in a teasing tone. “I’m surprised how quickly you two have warmed up to each other. Especially to a vampire, no less. She seems very comfortable with you.”

“What? Really?” Violet asked. “Honestly, I think she’s a bit too comfortable with me. I can’t imagine why.”

“Who knows?” Sofia asked. “She’s a strange one. But this leaves me with one last gift for you before I go. One moment.” The elder hunter reached out to take her hand, placing something in it.

Violet pulled her hand back and looked at the gift, before her eyes went wide. “W-w-what? Grandma, WHAT? Why are you giving me condoms?” It took all of her self control not to scream the words.

“Protection is very important,” Sofia said. “I know how often you can forget the little things and I just want you to be safe.”

Violet wondered if the ground could just open up and swallow her now, that would be great. Unfortunately, as it seemed she had to survive this encounter, she would have to settle for just glowing red with her blush. “First of all, we’re both girls. Lesbians don’t need condoms. Wait. Do they?”

“I don’t know. It’s more your field than mine,” Sofia said with a shrug. “But it’s fine, dear. You know I’ve never objected to your choice in partners. Besides, it might do you some good.”

Violet took a slow, deep breath. Sometimes she wondered just what went on in her grandmother’s head. “Second of all, she’s a vampire.”

“Another reason protection is so important,” Sofia said in a tone that implied she was being helpful when she really wasn’t.

“Third of all, did you really just get condoms on the way here because you thought I was sleeping with her?” Violet asked.

“Oh, of course not,” Sofia said. “But I didn’t want to have to go to the store and come all the way back just for that.”

“Wait, then why did you have th-- grandma!” Violet said, her face now struggling to decide if she should be utterly pale or bright red. She was just grateful that Scarlet wasn’t here to tease her over it.

“What?” Sofia said. “There’s nothing wrong with having a bit of fun now and again.”

“What happened to abstinence?” Violet asked. “Shouldn’t you be talking about that?”

“Oh please,” Sofia said with a roll of her eyes. “If I had done that I wouldn’t have such an adorable little granddaughter, now would I?”

“Right,” Violet said, unamused by the comment. “How terrible. You’d have nobody to have this talk with. Is this what you told Mom?”

“Of course not,” Sofia said with a shake of her head. “Your mother wanted nothing to do with being a hunter.”

“You know, I’m kind of like her parole officer,” Violet said. “Isn’t this a dereliction of duty or something?”

Sofia gave a light snort. “You’re overestimating what you’re doing, dear. Your oaths prevent that kind of abuse. Besides, you’d hardly be the first hunter to get involved in such things, either. Though I really did think you’d have ended up falling for someone a bit more fae. Maybe a dryad.”

“We can’t be having this conversation right now,” Violet said. “Wait, what do you mean ‘fae’? Just how much thought have you put into this?”

“Not much, though it has crossed my mind a few times,” Sofia said with a sigh. “Wondering if I’d ever have great grandchildren.”

“I’m not getting pregnant,” Violet said.

“Adoption is always an option,” Sofia said.

Violet blinked a few times before taking a slow deep breath and putting her hands together. “How much of this is you just messing with me?”

Sofia just smiled at her before leaning forward and giving her a hug. “Most of it, my little chubby cursed child. I just want you to relax a little. Enjoy yourself. You’re going to end up giving yourself ulcers or worse at this rate.”

“I take care of myself just fine,” Violet said, though she leaned into the hug without hugging back.

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

“Mmm hm,” Sofia asked. “I saw the takeout containers in the trash can.”

Violet blinked and then squirmed a little. “Your daughter stress eats too.”

“Last I checked you weren’t trying to follow what your mother did,” Sofia said. “Dear, trust me. I’ve done this a long time and I just want what’s best for you. I’m not telling you to use those, or anything like that. I’m telling you to relax and don’t be afraid to enjoy yourself now and again. This work will chew you up and spit you out if you don’t find ways to relax every now and again.”

“And this is why you carry condoms around with you?” Violet asked.

“Amongst other things,” Sofia said before a rather wicked grin formed on her lips. “And you know, I read in a recent magazine that a woman’s libido often just goes up as she gets older. So in fifty years or so when--”

“Grandma!” Violet said, this time failing to stop herself from yelling. “Please, for all that is holy and not, stop. I get it. Okay? I get it. I’ll relax. Please? No more. And you know, I might have a bit more experience with this kind of stuff if you didn’t terrify literally everybody I’ve considered a relationship with.”

“I didn’t threaten everybody,” Sofia said. “What about that one woman, Lizzy? Was it?”

Violet blinked a few times. “Lizzy? Who’s Lizzy? I don’t know a-- wait. Do you mean that hunter I did that werewolf hunt a few years back? She’s married.”

“Really?” Sofia asked. “Huh. Honestly, with the way you two kept looking at each other I thought you were just trying to be sneaky. I guess I’m not as good at this as I thought. Fine, fine. I’m sorry, dear. Here, if you want to give those back, I won’t bring it up again.”

Violet started to hold them out, but then paused. “Well… I mean… maybe… it couldn’t hurt. But ummm. Do lesbians… err, need these? Things?”

Sofia just gave a shrug. “You’d know better than I would. Or at least, you should.”

Violet sighed and slid them into her pocket. “Just in case. Thanks, Grandma. Really. I… know you’re just trying to look out for me.”

“Someone has to,” Sofia said.

Violet nodded. Well, if she had to choose between her or her mother, her grandmother would win every time. Awkward or not, it was nice to know she had someone she could talk to about these things. “You will stay safe, won’t you?”

“I think I can take a cab and train without breaking a hip,” Sofia said.

“You know what I mean,” Violet said. “I doubt you’d break a hip even if they hit you, though.”

“I will,” Sofia said. “Don’t let your mother drive you too crazy while you’re here.”

“I’m trying to see if I can get Scarlet to move further from your daughter, but she is kind of attached to this old place,” Violet said with a mock sigh.

“Only thing that seems attached here,” Sofia said. “They are intending to fix things, correct? I think I heard a rat.”

“Oh, that’s just Heidi,” Violet said. “If you give her a piece of cheese she’ll let you pet her.”

Sofia pulled back from the hug and stared at her, the smile gone from her face. “What?”

“I’m joking,” Violet said. “Yes, they’re going to fix the place up. There’s a list and everything. I’ll be fine, okay? So don’t worry about me.”

“I don’t think I can not,” Sofia said, staring at her. “I suppose I should stop stalling, though. The driver is going to get annoyed if I make him wait too long.”

“I’m sure he’s already started the timer,” Violet said. “But I’ll let you go. I love you, Grandma.”

“I love you too, my cute little chubby cursed child.” With those parting words Sofia turned and walked away. Violet stood by the door, waving goodbye one last time as her grandmother got into the cab and drove away. Just like every other time she watched her grandmother leave, she had a single simple thought in her mind. Would this be the last time they ever saw each other? Oh, she hoped not.

“Are you okay?” Scarlet asked.

Violet glanced over to the vampire. Sure enough, now that her grandmother wasn’t here, the woman was back to a big poofy sweater and sweatpants. She was also being careful to avoid the beam of light from the open door. “Yeah,” Violet said. “Just hard to see her go, you know?”

“Yeah, she’s pretty cool,” Scarlet said. “Even cooler in person. Why didn’t you tell me she was your grandmother?”

“Trust me, if I’d known how you felt about her, I wouldn’t have told you at all. It would have been hilarious to see you come out in that,” Violet said with a small smirk.

“What?” Scarlet asked. “You don’t like it? You said it was cute…”

Violet paused for a moment before, slowly, a grin spread on her lips. “Oh? Is that why you keep wearing it? I do, though. It’s absolutely adorable.”

Scarlet blushed a little and then, there it was. That predatory grin. She didn’t know what Scarlet had in mind, but this time Violet decided not to let her have her way.

Right, her grandmother said she should try to relax a little bit, so why not? She leaned forward and placed a small little kiss on the vampire’s cheek. It was a little cool, but not really cold. It made Scarlet go entirely still as well. “Thanks, by the way. For being such a nice host to my grandmother. It really means a lot to me.”

“Oh? What, uhhh, yes. She’s cool,” Scarlet said, her cheeks going red.

Violet couldn’t help the grin getting wider on her lips. For such a flirty little thing she couldn’t believe one little kiss could make her blush so much. She wondered what would happen if she kissed her on those soft little lips of hers. She’d never willingly kissed a vampire before. Would it taste odd? No. She doubted it. Maybe? She suppressed the urge to find out. No need to rush things, right? “Don’t you have a book to write?”

“What? YES! Right. I was going to do that, yes,” Scarlet said before glancing towards the door. “Can you?”

“Oh! Right,” Violet said with a light chuckle before closing it. “I’m actually going out soon, okay?”

“You are?” Scarlet asked in a tone that sounded far too close to a kicked puppy.

“Just for a few hours,” Violet said quickly, suppressing the urge to reach out and give her a hug. “I’m meeting with another hunter.”

“About me?” Scarlet asked.

“No,” Violet said. “I’m getting the lay of the land, so to speak. If I’m going to be working here for a while, I need to know who I can depend on and whatnot. It shouldn’t take too long. Don’t go too wild just because I’m not here, okay?”

Scarlet chuckled and walked away, heading up the stairs.

Violet watched her go for a moment before sighing. Maybe some time to clear her mind would do her some good. She had enough to think about without considering making out with her temporary roommate. She just--

“Oh, by the way,” Scarlet said once she was at the top of the stairs. “The dress is ready. How about we go collect it together tomorrow?”

Violet could feel the heat rising in her cheeks and she quickly started making her way towards her room. “Yeah. Tomorrow. Let’s go get t-the dress tomorrow. I’m going to go message my contact and let them know we can meet up now. But. Yes. Dress, t-tomorrow.”

Violet could hear Scarlet’s giggles even after she closed the door. Oddly, she didn’t mind. She didn’t know if she wanted to sleep with a vampire. But she definitely knew she wanted to be a pretty dress up doll for one.

That was weird. That had to be weird. Was it so weird? She hoped it wasn’t weird. Well. Not too weird, at least.

No weirder than anything else in her life, at least.