Free Up in Flames by Alice Brown

the kitchen for the ladies. The conversation quieted down for a moment, and it was then Meredith was struck by everything she was missing in life. Tears sprang to her eyes without warning. She was sick of living her life this way, but what other choice did she have while Eddie was still on the loose?
    “Hey, hon, what’s the matter? Have we said something to offend you?” Betty was by her side in a heartbeat, gently holding her hand.
    “No, no, it’s nothing you two have done or said. It just hit me how much I am missing out on in my life. I haven’t been able to do anything in eighteen months. No shopping, friends, shows, movies, dinners, nothing. It’s just not fair. Eddie continues to go free and live his life the way he wants, while I have to suffer because I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
    “Well, I agree with you, it is not fair at all. But look at it this way. Eddie’s days are numbered. And once he’s caught, he won’t be around on this earth any longer to cause trouble. Meanwhile, you will have the rest of your life to make up for this time. And, you’ll have a mate to share it all with. Just think of how much fun that will be!” Betty encouraged her.
    “You’re right, and you know what? I am sick of that bastard stealing my life. I have had enough. I want to start enjoying life, not spend the rest of my days looking over my shoulder. I just wish I had the strength and courage to stand up to him.” Now that she’d had time to think about it, she was mad, not just scared like she had been. It wasn’t fair, and she’d had enough. Eddie needed to be caught, because she had a mate now, and she had a life to live.
    “Are you aware of how I came to be a vampire?” Betty inquired.
    With a final sniff, Meredith shook her head. “No, I haven’t heard anything about your past.”
    “My son and I were living with my alcoholic boyfriend a few years ago. He had a horrible temper. Demanded the house be just so when he arrived home from work. Dinner had to be on the table at a certain time, and not two minutes late. I tried keeping his temper away from my son, but sometimes after he was finished beating on me, he would go after Timmy.
    “One evening, I was just a few minutes late getting dinner on the table. I ended up putting it on the table about five minutes past his set dinnertime. He blew up, took the casserole I had worked hard all afternoon putting together, and threw the hot dish in my face. The burned flesh was bad enough, but then he started beating on me. I couldn’t take it anymore. I was already weak from prior beatings. Timmy heard the commotion going on downstairs and came down to see what was going on. As soon as he saw Gregory beating on me, he jumped in, trying to get him to stop. Gregory had been drinking that afternoon, and when Timmy jumped in the middle to save me, he turned on my little boy.
    “There was no way I could stop him. I couldn’t even move myself, let alone help my son. Gregory dragged Timmy back upstairs and I could hear him hitting Timmy with his belt. I must have blacked out, because the next thing I know this beautiful young woman is standing over me telling me help is on the way. I don’t remember too much after that, I know I was taken to the hospital, and because I was in such bad shape, they were frantically trying to find next of kin to help Timmy. My father and sister both got called.
    “Unbeknownst to me at the time, Walter had changed my sister into a vampire a few years back. Once they arrived and consulted with the doctors, they made the decision the only way I would heal a hundred percent was for them to turn me also. So that is what happened. I was taken to a vampire underground hospital and changed over in order to save my life.” By the time she finished, Sissy had returned, carrying a tray with tea. Betty paused and looked over to her sister, a loving smile on her face. “Best damn thing that has ever happened to me!”
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