A Vampire Christmas

It was the early hours of Christmas (being shortly after one in the morning), and Arime was busy finishing up baking in the kitchen. Her friends and family – including her childhood friend, Morpheus and her older sister, Lilianna – were gathered in the living room to relax and visit before they all started opening gifts. With several of their close group being vampires (Arime, her husband, and their three-year-old triplets to name a few), this was the best way for them all to get together.

Arime poked her head out of the kitchen to check on the group and smiled; this was their fourth year getting together like this and it was always a lively event. Her attention was caught by the resident cat demon, Dev, curled up in his feline form by the sofa…and the young triplets sneaking up on him. Knowing that this would not end well, Arime tried to warn him, “Dev -”

Her attempt at a warning came too late.

The triplets pounced on the cat demon, and after a brief scuffle and a very indignant screech, the feline shot out of the pile and rocketed up the drapes to perch on the curtain rod. His fur was ruffled and his tail was completely fluffed out as he put his ears back and growled in warning at the three little vampires looking up at him.

“Well, there go the drapes…” Arime sighed in exasperation. She felt sorry for Dev, knowing how rough young human hands could be (and how young vampire hands were much less gentle), but couldn’t deny a wry amusement. She glanced over at her brother, who was standing nearby, “I guess we’ll have to replace them later…maybe when the kids are six.”

Aaron gave her an arched look, not bothering to hide an amused little smile.

“Right. Better wait until they’re ten. I do not want to be replacing drapes every year.”