The Vampiric Housewife by Kristen Marquette Page A

hunt or capture real food. They wouldn’t even know how to blend into the human world. And it was almost daylight out.
         Phoenix. If morning was a little overcast, they could make it, spend the day holed up in a cheap motel. He would have to dump the car the next night. He could steal them another then they would . . . he would think of that when the time came. At least he had a plan for the day. They would be safe.
          “Here,” Valerie said pushing a roll of cash into his hand, a pile of blankets in her other arm. “It’s all I’ve set aside.” It was supposed to be for a pool. She thought that the kids would like it. Harry especially. He loved to swim.
         He smiled at her despite himself. “It’s not real money. It’s Sangre Valley money.”
         She looked down at the wad of bills in her hand. Nothing else was real in Sangre Valley, why should the money be?
         “Everyone’s packed,” Amelia said carrying out a green suitcase.
         “Where we going, Dad?” Harry asked, the only unconcerned one of the bunch. “Do we finally get to go on a hunting trip with you?”
         “Something like that.”
         “Car’s in the garage,” John said.
         “I want you three to listen to me. We’re leaving Sangre Valley. We won’t be able to come back. It’s dangerous for us here.”
         “Is this because of Drew?” John asked a little panicked. All he could think about was never seeing Lisa again. “Because—“
     “No. It’s not because of Drew. When we get somewhere safe, I promise I will explain everything. But I’m going to ask you to do some very strange things for me until we’re out of town. John, Aims, Harry I’m going to need you in the trunk of the car—“
         “The trunk? Why?” John asked.
         “Just trust me. I want blankets covering you. If someone opens the trunk, you do not move. You do not make a sound. Do you understand me? I will get you out at the first opportunity.”
         “What is going on?” Amelia asked. “Why do we have to ride in the trunk? Where are we going? Why do we have to leave Sangre Valley? What does any of this have to do with Dr. Venjamin?”
         “We’ll tell you everything,” Valerie promised. “But we don’t have the time right now. Just know that we love you and we want you safe. Now let’s go.”
         They filed out into the garage. Charlie opened the trunk. “John, you first.”
         He looked at his father for a second waiting for this to be some bizarre joke then climbed in. “Harry.”
         “This is so cool,” Harry said before climbing in with his father’s help.
         “Amelia.”
         Her daughter turned her eyes to Valerie as if to ask Is this for real? When her mother gave her no answer she climbed in and wrapped her arms around her little brother.
         “I promise that as soon as I can I’ll get you out.” Charlie began laying blankets over them. Valerie had to look away or else she was going to cry. Those were her babies crammed into the trunk of the car, their bodies being covered up like corpses. “Remember not a sound.” He gently shut the door and looked up at Valerie. He could see the tears in her violet eyes. Softly he said, “I want you in the backseat on the floor. I’m going to throw a sleeping bag over you, a suitcase, my fishing tackle. There’s a guard station just outside of town. They’re going to stop us.”
         She nodded and climbed into the backseat.
         “It’s going to be okay. I will protect us.”
         She said nothing, and he piled a couple of sleeping bags and blankets on her. Then she felt the weight of the suitcase. She couldn’t help but feel like she was being buried alive.
         The car started and backed out of the driveway. The children got thrown around a bit. Harry felt his sister’s grip tighten on him. He had heard his parents fighting, but he was