#vampire dad

Biting down on your lower lip, you stormed over to the windows instead. You closed the curtains and silently prayed nobody had seen a floating child in your home.

If anyone had, your daughter - no your whole family - would be in trouble. All of you would be burnt on the stake as vampires. 

You sighed as you clutched the fabric, the mental image haunting you. Vampires weren’t real - at least not in the way the media portrayed them. Yet scientists haven’t created a better term for people with a specific genetic mutation. A mutation that portrays some of the common myths about vampires.

Your husband was one of these “vampires” and when your daughter was born she inherited the mutation as well. 

You turned around and glared at your floating kid. Whenever she got her ration of blood to let her small body develop normally, she abused her vampiric powers that came along with it. “Listen here, young lady”, you almost growled while you wagged a finger at her and carefully approached her. “I told you over a hundred times to keep your human appearance.”

She only giggled and shook her head, moving further up and slowly out of your reach.

You inhaled sharply and pressed your lips into a thin line. As much as you wanted your daughter to be herself as freely as possible, you had to make sure nobody would ever know. As soon as your secret got out the people in this town would freak out, fearing the “evil” that the “vampires” would bring upon them.

Without hesitation you jumped up and grabbed your child, pulling it down and into your arms. You were about to scold her again, when she suddenly bit you - her fangs piercing your skin. You let her go reflexively, watching how she floated back up to the ceiling.

Now she glared at you, droplets of your blood running down her chin.

You glared back, ignoring the pulsing pain in your upper arm. “That’s it”, you hissed and stormed out of the living room. 

You surprised Mingi in the kitchen, where he unsuccessfully tried to make pancakes. With the rage roaring inside of you, you pulled Mingi away from the stove and pushed him against the counter top. You stared up at him, needing to breathe deeply several seconds before you could talk to him. 

His eyes flicked over your face and body, shortly zoning in on the bite mark on your upper arm and the slowly drying blood that had trickled down. “What happened?” He asked, voice layered in concern.

“Our daughter happened. Floating in broad daylight. In front of open windows.”

Mingi’s lips twitched with amusement and he quickly relaxed again, grateful it wasn’t anything serious. 

“And when I pulled her down she bit me.”

“Just close the curtains and let her be. She only has those spurts after her blood meal. She’ll be out of power in a few days again.” Mingi shrugged with his shoulders, about to turn back to the stove.

“If you don’t teach our daughter basic vampire 101, I swear to god, I’ll drive a stake through your heart”, you hissed, knowing full well the fury within you made you say such harsh things. You stepped away from him, taking a deep breath. “She bit me”, you said - a lot calmer now - “I can’t believe you’d just let that behaviour slide.” You swallowed the lump in your throat, feeling the tears well up in your eyes. “Aren’t you in the slightest bit concerned our baby could be caught? You know what will happen! How could you be so calm about that?”

When the first tear trickled down your cheek, Mingi realised how upset you actually felt. He quickly pulled you against his body and wrapped his arms around your smaller form, rubbing one large hand over your back. Once you had calmed down again and only hid your face against his chest, he called for your daughter.

His eyes narrowed as she floated into the kitchen. “Down. Now.” Mingi watched silently until your daughter stood on the ground, looking up at him with the biggest pout. “You know full well that we have rules, young lady. And you know the consequences for ignoring them.” 

You peaked at your daughter, seeing her nod slowly. “No blood until next year”, she whispered and looked down at the floor.

“And I expect something else from you”, Mingi added, his chin shortly pointing towards you as he stared sternly at your daughter, waiting.

“I’m sorry momma.”

“Sorry for what?”

You hesitantly tugged at Mingi’s shirt, thinking it was already enough but he ignored it.

“Sorry for not listening to you.”

“And?”

“Sorry for biting you too.”

Mingi tightened his hug around you, nodding proudly. “That’s right.” He kissed the top of your head. “Daddy is the only one allowed to bite mommy.”

“MINGI!” You sputtered incredulously, before you started laughing and shaking your head. He always knew how to lighten the mood again. 

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