“You know, you’re going to get fat,” Violet’s mother said.

“I’m already overweight,” Violet said. “So I think I technically count as it. I run a lot, it’s fine.”

“You know, a girl would have stopped by now,” her mother said.

“And a mother wouldn’t keep telling her daughter what a ‘girl’ would do and imply she wasn’t one,” Violet said with a roll of her eyes. “And I’m ordering a fourth piece.” She was rewarded with a glare from her mother. It wasn’t enough, but it helped. “I thought we weren’t going to talk about the curse today?”

“This isn’t about the curse,” her mother said. “If you insist--”

“Don’t think I won’t order a whole cake,” Violet said.

Her mother scowled, but shook her head. “Fine. Let’s talk about this vampire then.”

“She’s harmless,” Violet said.

“There’s no such thing like a harmless vampire,” her mother said. “This is why I didn’t want you getting mixed up in my mother’s work. It’s dangerous.”

“You mean our family’s work?” Violet asked. “Because, as far as I recall, you’re the one who broke the tradition. Grandma, grandpa, great grandma, great great grandpa, great--”

“Yes, I get it,” her mother said. “I just don’t think you should be getting into this line of work. Times are different now. Not to mention with your curse--”

“You said we wouldn’t talk about that,” Violet said.

“We’re not,” her mother said. “I’m just saying one curse tends to attract others. How many times HAVE you been cursed now?”

“Eh, four, five times. Six, tops,” Violet said with a shrug. “I’m hardly the only hunter to get cursed in the line of duty. Easy enough to break them.”

“I really wish you wouldn’t say things like that,” her mother said. “The world doesn’t need people like that--”

“Like me?” Violet asked.

“Hunters,” her mother said. “They aren’t necessary. Times have changed. I mean, the mayor is a dragon. Three hundred years ago the very idea of that would have made you get laughed out of the city. Most of those things that needed hunters are harmless or extinct.”

“Exactly,” Violet said. “And this vampire is harmless.”

“Vampires aren’t harmless,” her mother said. “They’re dangerous, vile creatures. And you’re such a little thing now. If you--”

“I will order a cake,” Violet said with a warning tone.

“I just wish you’d be more careful,” her mother said.

“I am, honest,” Violet said. “I’ve got some contacts keeping an eye on things. I’ve got grandma’s training, a hint of magic, more enchanted gear than the average security force. I’m being careful. This vampire is harmless. Besides, it’ll mean I’m nearby more. I thought you’d be thrilled by that.”

“I wish you being in town didn’t require you to live with a deadly undead monster,” her mother said bitterly.

“Well, we all have to make sacrifices,” Violet said. “I thought about asking her if she’d be willing to move, but that seemed rude.”

It took a few moments for her mother to process that and the scowl to form on her face. “Good to know you find a bloodsucking abomination to be safer than living near your mother.”

“Really makes you think, doesn’t it?” Violet asked.

“Is that the only reason you agreed to meet with me?” her mother asked. “To insult me?”

“No, it was the cake, it’s really good,” Violet said. “We can call a truce, if you like. But it’ll mean no more questioning my gender or my job choices.”

Her mother gave a soft sigh before nodding. “Fine. Truce. I just worry about you, Ken-- Violet.”

Violet considered snapping at her, but it was an attempt. From her mother, it was likely the best she’d get. “I’m safe. Honest. Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing.”

“Mmmm hm. Just like you did in the Grapeland Swamps?” her mother asked with a knowing smile.

“That hydra was NOT entirely my fault,” Violet said, her face going bright red. “Anyone could have woken it up. And I did get the job done. No casualties, either.”

“Also nearly died in the process,” her mother said. “If my mother hadn’t stepped in, maybe you would have finally given up on putting yourself at risk like this all the time.”

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Violet just rolled her eyes and took another bite of her cake.

For a few blissful moments silence reigned. Then, once more, her mother spoke up. “You know, men burn up a lot more calories than women. You could eat whatever you like then.”

“Well, Mom, you know if you ever want to transition you have my full support,” Violet said. “Not the diet plan I’d recommend, but who am I to judge?”

That made her mother scowl. “I wasn’t saying for me, I don’t want to be a boy.”

“And neither do I,” Violet said quickly before taking another bite of her cake. “Couldn’t hold the truce for five minutes, could you?”

“I’m just saying,” her mother said. “You know I only want what’s best for you, Violet.”

A hydra or two sounded a lot better than this conversation. Still, at least her mom was trying. She supposed that was better than a lot of women in her position got. Still wished she could try a little harder though.

------

“Ugh…” Violet said before she collapsed on her new bed. She wanted to crawl back under the covers and just go to sleep, but that was impossible.

Revenge was a dish best served cold, but it was not best served through multiple pieces of cake. No matter how delicious they were. She swore her stomach was bulging slightly and she had to sit back up after a moment to stop herself from getting sick. Horizontal was not her friend right now.

“Are you okay?” Scarlet asked.

“Shouldn’t you be in bed?” Violet asked before glancing at the vampire. For once, the vampire didn’t look adorable. Well, not in a normal way. She was in an oversized bathrobe that was so faded it was almost see through. It reminded her of somebody’s oddly hot grandmother who had just woken up. The robe was probably older than her. And when it was so close to falling off one of the vampire’s shoulders that a little nudge might--

She quickly shook her head and realized that Scarlet had said something.

“What?” Violet asked.

“I said I just woke up. It’s just a few hours before sunset,” Scarlet said.

“Mmm, I see. I need to get you a ‘World’s best roommate’ mug or something. It’d really fit the look you’ve got going on there,” Violet said.

“Is that good or bad?” Scarlet asked.

“Good,” Violet said.

“Then thank you, I guess,” Scarlet said. “I’m going to go take a shower. Everything okay?”

“Meh, nothing you could help with,” Violet said with a sigh. “Wait, actually, maybe you could. Do you have parents?”

“Ahhhhhh,” Scarlet said with a nod. “I see. Parental trouble?”

“Judgmental mother trouble,” Violet said.

“Mmmmm hm, well, I do have some advice on that,” Scarlet said.

“Oh?” Violet asked.

“Yes. Both of my parents are dead for like, a century now. A few. I think? Time flies,” Scarlet said. “And my sire, well, he’s kind of my ex, so wouldn’t really… fit that line. But my advice is simple. No matter how judgmental your mother is, you’ll probably outlive her.”

“So try and make peace with her while I can?” Violet asked.

“Nah,” Scarlet said. “Just remember if she annoys you too much you can always dance on her grave.”

Violet went entirely still for a few moments before glaring at her. “Wow. Just had to go full tilt into it, didn’t you? Full dark and grim?”

“Eh,” Scarlet said with a shrug. “Mom said I was a whore and an abomination and I’d burn in hell. Dad tried to behead me with an axe. We weren’t very close.”

“Wait, what?” Violet asked, her eyes going wide. “Wait, after you became a vampire, right?”

“Dad, yes. Mom, no,” Scarlet said.

“Why? What?” Violet asked.

“Does it really matter why?” Scarlet asked. “We weren’t fond of each other. She didn’t approve of some of my life choices, I thought she was a bitch. I only saw them once after becoming a vampire, but that’s kind of unimportant. If they wanted to be a part of my life they had the chance. Unlife? They decided they didn’t want to anymore, so I stopped caring what they thought. So, in the end? If she gets too judgmental, tell her to get out of your life and then go buy some dancing shoes.”

Violet stared at her for a few long moments before narrowing her eyes. “How much of that is true and how much of that is you just messing with me?”

“You may never know,” Scarlet said. “So, shower, me. Need anything?”

“Not really,” Violet said. “There’s half a piece of cake if you want it. If you can eat it. Can you?”

“Ehhh,” Scarlet said with a shrug. “I can? But it’s a lot like you eating rocks. Just because you can swallow them doesn’t mean you’ll want to. I prefer a liquid diet for a reason.”

Violet gave a small nod. “Right, don’t get yourself sick. Have fun in your shower.”

“I will,” Scarlet said before eyeing her. “Soooo… wanna go see a tailor tonight?”

“What?” Violet asked.

“Ballroom dress,” Scarlet said. “Remember?”

“Wait, you were serious? I thought you were screwing with me!” Violet yelled.

“Both can be true,” Scarlet said. “So, yes or no?”

“Do I have to pay for it?” Violet asked.

“Considering I’m making you be my dress up doll? Not really, no,” Scarlet said with a smirk which made Violet’s stomach do another flip.

“Do you have to say it like that?” Violet asked sheepishly.

“Not really,” Scarlet said. “But it’s fun because it always makes your heart beat faster. Oh, yes, just like that. Try to not feel too sick, we can go after dusk.” With those words the vampire turned and sauntered off.

“You know, I’m starting to think you ARE evil!” Violet yelled after her.

“I never said I wasn’t,” Scarlet called back. “I just said I didn’t want to hurt anybody!”

Violet gave a sigh and leaned against the bedpost. Still, she’d never had a ballroom gown before. It might be fun. She then pinched her hips. What if she really WAS getting too fat? She had eaten so many pieces of cake. Good or not, it felt stupid now. Petty and stupid. Meh. At least she had a few hours before it got dark to digest.