Free Vampire Coven Book 3: A Vampire's Embrace by C.L. Scholey Page A

Dirk died. It would be nice to talk with other women. The life before her being on the run had been filled with silence and sadness until she and Ben had begun breaking laws. They had been so young, their world was so cold. Hope would cling to those fleeting moments of happiness. Ann had been her gift after such loss.
    Hope had no idea what to do next. There were outer buildings near the chickens; Caine had told her to wander around and get used to the coven. Hope stuck her head in one of the structures Caine said was a barn. A multitude of freakish creatures gazed back at her; they all made strange sounds. Hope was praying none of her jobs involved these weird beasts. Never in her life had food tried to converse with her. It was creepy the way they called to her, it made her hair stand on end.
    “I think that’s enough wandering,” she muttered.
    She went looking for Ann. They had to let her spend time with her child. The area designated for children’s playtime was equipped with strange things for children to play on. There was a mixture of vampires, older women and teenagers all keeping watch and entertaining the young.
    The sight almost brought Hope to her knees. These children were loved. They were held and cuddled. Hope had never seen so many youngsters. There were even more than when she had left Ann. In her ice community none of these children would be allowed to live. Children were against the law.
    The play apparatus was amazing. Things called swings and teeter totters Caine had pointed out earlier. Slides of all sizes. Houses in trees. Ropes with cushy mats beneath, balance beams and a strange round thing children bounced up and down on. A small shallow pool up to Ann’s knees sparkled against the warm sun. Rhett, boots off and pants rolled up, had Ann by the hands and turned in circles in the water while her feet skimmed the surface. Ann squealed in delight. Hope had never seen her look so happy.
    Dooder had been abandoned to the side of the water. Hope went to pick up the doll; it had been washed earlier before being given back to her. It was entirely made up of soft leather with down as a stuffing. It had tufts of worn hair made from Hope and Ann’s hair. A face was charcoaled on and stained throughout the years. Hope smiled when she fingered the new dress someone had given the doll; Ann must have been over the moon.
    “Mommy come play,” Ann called.
    Hope looked up to see Rhett glaring at her; then, for a brief second he looked guilty. Hope knew then he had forgotten all about her. She was on her own in this coven. It didn’t matter; Hope was used to having no one but Ann, and Ann couldn’t take care of her mother. It was all on Hope. Always had been.
    Carefully Dooder was placed on the ground and Hope slipped small moccasins from her feet. The water wasn’t high enough to wet her flimsy garment. Many of the very young children were naked; some older ones like Ann wore small garments. The children flopped around the water like seals, laughing and playing. They looked content. Ann’s skin looked so pale in comparison to their various hues of tan.
    The water was warmish, neither cold nor hot. It was refreshing and cooled the sweat from her skin. Hope had never spent so much time outside, and to be outside in warm sunshine was different. She had no furs to shed if she became too warm, which wasn’t often. The surface rippled as she slowly approached her child. Rhett had released Ann’s arms and she tried to run to her mother. She slipped and Hope winced, but was surprised when Rhett had her safely once more tucked into his arms.
    “Remember, no running in the water,” Rhett said, his scolding was mild but firm.
    “I’ll remember,” Ann said.
    Hope held her hands out for her daughter. Rhett released the child reluctantly. His longing gaze settled onto Ann before his facial expression once more became stone cold. He gazed around for a moment, and Hope wondered if he would leave. Many of the other