Free Thirst No. 2 by Christopher Pike Page A

need me."
    I pause. "Do you know that for sure?"
    "Yes."
    "I don't believe you."
    Kalika loses her smile. "I won't lie to you, Mother, if you don't lie to me."
    "Don't give me orders. You are to do what I say at all times. Is that clear?"
    She nods. "As long as you don't lie to me." She adds, as if it were related, "How is Paula doing?"
    Her question confuses me. Kalika has never met Paula. How would I explain that I have given birth to a child and that she has grown to five years of age, all in a month? Of course, I have talked about Paula with Ray. Perhaps Kalika was listening.
    "Why do you ask?" I say.
    Kalika glances at Ray. "I am curious about her. She means a lot to you."
    "She's my friend. She's doing fine. One day you will meet her."
    "Do you promise?"
    I hesitate. "We'll see." I throw off the covers and put my feet on the floor. "We can go out now, if you insist. But we're not disturbing Eric anymore."
    Kalika puts a hand on my leg. It is still a small hand but I have to wonder if I would be able to stand if she didn't want me to. I doubt it, and do not try to brush her fingers away.
    It is a terrible thing to be afraid of one's own daughter.
    "I will take only a little of his blood," she repeats.
    "How much?"
    "Eight ounces."
    "That is not a little, not for him. He is weak, don't you care?"
    Kalika is thoughtful. When she gets that way, she stares at the ground. I have no idea what she looks for. Her eyes close halfway, and her breathing seems to halt. The overall effect is disturbing. Finally she looks up.
    "I care," she says. "But not in the way you mean."
    I am curious. She is still an enigma to me. "What do you mean?"
    She shakes her head. "I cannot explain, Mother."
    Kalika leaves me to get dressed. Knocking lightly on Eric's door, I step in his room. I have not been able to untie him as I had hoped. As his strength has failed, his behavior has become more desperate. He thinks only of escape, or of his own impending death. I wish I could release him. An unhappy bundle of nerves stuffed in a stale corner, he twitches as I step into the room.
    "No," he moans. "I can't."
    I kneel by his side. "I need just a little. Less than last time."
    He weeps. "Why?"
    "You know I can't tell you why. But it will be over soon, Eric, I promise. I'm going out right now to—to get someone else."
    He shakes his head sadly as he stares up at the ceiling. "I'm not stupid. You're never going to let me go. You're going to keep me here till I die."
    "No."

    Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) He speaks with passion. "Yes. You're evil. You're a vampire. You have to kill me to keep your evil ways secret."
    His words hurt. "I'm not a vampire. I don't take this blood for myself."
    He is not listening. He continues to sob but grows more animated. "You're some monster from another planet. You're going to rip me open and eat my guts. You're going to have a glass of wine and have my guts all over your face, dripping on your clothes, on the floor..." He raises his voice. "You're going to eat me alive!"
    "Shh."
    "You're an alien monster!"
    "Eric!"
    "Help! The monster's got me! The aliens are coming!"
    I am forced to strike him hard in the face to shut him up. My reflexes are still excellent, my martial art skills sharp. I believe I break his nose. Yet he continues to moan softly as I tighten the tourniquet. After I have drained away eight ounces—I know Kalika will count them—he dozes, probably out of sheer loss of blood. I kiss the top of his head before I leave the room.
    "You will go home, Eric," I whisper. "I am not a monster."
    While Kalika has her breakfast, I dress in my bedroom, in black leather pants, a tight leather coat. Ray sits up in bed. I do not need to turn to feel his eyes on me.
    "Are you going out?" he asks.
    "Yes. You know why."
    "Yes. You've waited too long anyway."
    "It's not an enjoyable task, you know, finding people to kill."
    "Eric's still