Chapter 42: Family Ties

[Surprised_by_Witches]

The night before



And the morning after




"Are you going to be OK, Grandmother?" Mercutio asked. "Why don't you come stay with us for a few days."

"I'll be all right," Isabella assured him.

"But, two deaths in two days. You must be devastated. I know I am." Mercutio was also furious at Romeo, and at himself. Stupid, stupid, stupid. He'd been stupid, not trying harder to force his brother away from that monster. But Romeo should have known better.

"No, no, it's all right," she said. "I've got my memories to keep me company."

Mercutio looked at her suspiciously. Why wasn't she more distraught? And then, suddenly, he knew. She knew Romeo wasn't really dead. Patrizio, yes, but her beloved grandson was just sleeping off his death in the family crypt. In three days time he'd be back, along with this horrible girlfriend.

"Well, all right, then," he said.

He had no choice. When his grandmother was asleep he'd have to finish what Eliza started.

He would have to kill his brother, and with any luck, the she-demon as well.

But when he came back to do the job he found that the family mausoleum was locked down tight, with chains on the door and his grandmother sitting on a chair in front, with a shotgun.

"Hey, Grandma," Mercutio said, casually.

"Don't even think about it," Isabella said.

"You do realize they're monsters."

The old lady said nothing.

"They'll turn on you in a second. You're going to be vampire chow. You do know this, right?"

"They'll do no such thing," she said, but there was a quaver of uncertainty in her voice.

"I'm not one of those people that thinks, just because you're old, you're feeble-minded, but you're beginning to change my mind about that," Mercutio said.

"You watch your mouth, young man. I changed your diapers."

"I love you, Grandma, and I think you're being an idiot. I don't want to see you hurt."

"Then don't kill family. Montys stick together no matter what. I thought you understood that."

"The rules have changed, Gran."

"Not around here, they haven't."

Mercutio knew he was beaten. Short of hitting his dear sweet Grammy over the head with something, provided she didn't shoot him first, there was nothing he could do.

"I love you," he said. "If you need anything, you know where to find me."

And, reluctantly, he turned and went home. With Gran sitting watch, he couldn't get them during the daytime, and with a broken arm he was no match for a waking vampire.

He would just have to wait until the time was right.


"Wakey, wakey, lover," Eliza said, helping Romeo out of his coffin. "You must be famished."

Romeo looked at her, dead eyed and vacant.

"I know, I know, it's all so confusing at first, but you'll figure it out," she said. "You need to eat. You'll feel better. I'm afraid all we've got is old biddy, but that'll have to do for now."

She knocked on the door. "Let us out."

The chains dropped from the door, it opened, and Isabella stood there, looking pathetic and hopeful. Stupid old cow. "R-Romeo?"

"In the flesh," Eliza said, grabbing her and yanking her toward him. "Give us an arm." The old woman struggled, but was no match for the vampire's strength. "Here ya go, Romeo. Drink up, but don't kill her. We need her still kicking."

As Romeo sank his fangs into his grandmother's arm the air was filled with the old woman's screams.

Read the continuing story in Veronaville #2: Five Years After.

[Mirelly]

Truly fabulous writing, SB. You have the gift of being able to craft a story with a masterful touch.

[Surprised_by_Witches]

Thank you.

[yetyak]

I agree!! I sat down to just read the first entry, and now here I am done with the first part. On to the next one!!

[yangthecat]

This is a really great story, SBW!

[Surprised_by_Witches]

Thank you!

[Genlisae]

Interesing twists on a classic! I am hooked (I also have a malfunctioning keyboard so I can not type apostropies or question marks so bare with me if I forget and weird character pop up in the text!)

I was a bit hesitant by the second chapter. These are such classic characters and rarely do you see classics re-written well. Applause for a job well done!

I was going to say more pictures would be wonderful, Ièm a visual person and seeing the characters helps me keep straight who is who. Then I found the photo albums and the pictures! All good now.

Off to go read more.

[Surprised_by_Witches]

Thanks! That is so nice of you to say. I'm glad you want to keep reading, and I hope you're not disappointed! I do think the stories improve as they go. This one was kind of an experiment, and then I got hooked, and as they say the rest is history. As you can see, I've written just a little more about the same set of characters.