Thea

1 I hear crying. My head shoots up from the pillow and I scurry out of bed. My first instinct is to go to Thea. I race over to her cot, lean over the railing and find her sleeping soundly, undisturbed. It’s coming from Ivy’s room. Normally, a crying child is commonplace this time of night. But things have definitely got worse since Mark walked out. I burst into Ivy’s room, tripping over one of the many toys scattered across the floor. When I switch the light on, I see my little girl sitting up in bed, her face bright red from anguish. “Mummy’s here, sweetheart,” I say softly as I race over to her. I hate to see her cry—yet I cherish these moments of comfort the most. Sitting on the edge of the mattress, I stroke her long blonde hair. “Another nightmare?” Ivy nods her head, sniffing loudly, her tears muting a little with just my presence. “What was it about?” I ask. Ivy looks at me with those pitiful blue eyes, that look she used to give when she knew she was in trouble. It always makes me smile inside, but saddens me at the same time. How could she ever be afraid of me? I would never hurt my girls. Nor would I allow anyone else. They’re my angels. And it’s my job to keep them safe. “Come on, sweetheart,” I say, “you can tell me? Was it about vampires again?” Ivy nods again, wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her pink pyjamas. “They were everywhere,” she replies, tugging on the quilt. “They were trying to eat me.” “It was only a dream. Vampires can’t get you. They’re extinct. Like dinosaurs. And you’re not afraid of dinosaurs, are you?” She shakes her head. “See?” I say. “So just try not to think about them, okay?” “But Mrs Rogers said that they still live in some parts of the world.” That b****y teacher. “Yes,” I say with reluctance. “A few, I suppose. But not like the ones from hundreds of years ago. You’ll never meet one. I’m an adult, and I haven’t seen one. So there’s no need to worry.” “Is it true that if you drink vampire blood, you turn into one?” “Look, sweetheart, try not to think about it now. You need your sleep; you’re a growing girl.” “Tracy Jones says that you become a slave.” “What are you talking about? A slave to who?” “A slave to the vampire that gave you the blood.” I chuckle. “Tracy Jones is just teasing you. There’s no such thing as a vampire slave.” Ivy looks unconvinced. I don’t blame her though. Learning about vampires used to scare the hell out of me too. I wish they wouldn’t teach it in schools. Not at eight-years-old, anyway. She’s way too young. She should be learning about the wonderful things that exist in the world. Not b****y monsters. “Now, do you think you can get back to sleep?” I smile when Ivy shrugs her shoulders because I know exactly what she’s gunning for. “So what will make you go to sleep?” I ask. “Sleep in your bed?” she replies with a cheeky grin. There it is. Right on cue. “Okay.” I’m a pushover. “But just for tonight. In your own bed tomorrow.” “All right, Mum,” she says, reaching forward to wrap her arms around me. I pick her up off the bed, struggling with her weight. She’s getting bigger. I suppose she was due a growth spurt. Maybe she’ll be tall like her father. Let’s hope that’s all she gets from that wanker.