Singing to the Moon Chapter 14 by Maggie Finson

Having a baby to take care of can really cramp your style.

Not to mention being kind of hard on sleep at times.

Linda wanted fed at really odd hours. And I was the one who had to get up and see to that.

Then there was the changing thing. Not all that pleasant, but she was MY baby, so I did that too.

And I didn't really begrudge any of that.

But there were things I had to do so she would stay safe.

At times, finding a babysitter was a real bitch.

Like now.

“C'mon, Carly.” I wheedled and was almost whining. “Just for a couple of hours.”

“Okay,” my sister smirked, “But it's going to cost you.”

“How much?” My allowance, though generous thanks to what our parents had left us was being stretched kind of thin with buying diapers, formula, and clothes for Linda.

“Not money.” She grinned. “I want that neat red top you bought last week.”

“But I haven't even worn it yet!” I protested. “And you want to wear it first?”

“Nope.” She grinned. “I want you to give it me.”

“What?” I actually think I spluttered at that one. I mean it was a really nice top. Figure hugging without being too revealing, showed just enough cleavage, and was this really great deep red that almost looked like fire.

“You want to go gadding about tonight, that's what it's going to cost you.” Carly shrugged.

“But I'm trying to protect — my baby here!”

“And that what's it's going to cost you tonight.” She shrugged. “Being a Mom can be a real bear at times, can't it?”

Grumbling, I left Linda with her and went back to my room to get the top she wanted.

“There.” I handed it to her with a grimace.

“Oh thanks.” Carly grinned. “I might even let you borrow this off and on.”

“Nice of you.” I grumped while tossing the diaper bag at her. “Fresh diapers, wash, powder. Her formula is in the fridge if she gets hungry while I'm gone. Make sure it's at body temperature.”

“I'll take good care of her, little momma.” My sister grinned.

Looking at the beautiful red top I'd just given I and nodded. “You'd better.”

“Like she's my very own, Cindy.” Carly quite seriously told me. Then blew that with. “Be gone more than three hours and I want that skirt you got to go with the top.”

“Extortionist.” I grumbled as I left. While thinking I needed to keep more money on me for bribes — make that money for the babysitters.

Sigh.

At least I didn't have to literally sneak out any longer. I just had to be a bit circumspect about leaving. As in not letting my new Mom or Dad see me leaving if it was after dark.

The security, even though considerably beefed up and a lot more diligent, tended to ignore me on my right now infrequent nocturnal runs. Though to be fair, even if they had tried to catch me, I could probably evade them.

And no, I'm not being foolishly arrogant there like a lot of teenagers. They'd tried to catch me a couple of times and seemed determined to manage that. Which ended with me standing on the wall waving bye bye to them. Until Uncle Patrick — Dad, told them to let it go.

“So, little mama.” A familiar voice interrupted my not so nice thoughts at the time as Dani appeared almost out of nowhere like she usually does. “They let you out to prowl and howl tonight?”

“No one let me out.” I answered, then mumbled. “I paid for the privilege.”

She laughed. “Getting a babysitter at short notice must be a bitch.”

“Tell me about it.” I grumbled.

She just laughed and flitted off into the distance for a few seconds before flitting back. “All clear around here right now. Though there are some guys in a black SUV parked about a block down the road.”

“That close?” I asked then brightened. “I thought I'd have to go all the way to their campsite.”

I'd remind you that messing with them is dangerous.” Dani sighed. “But you wouldn't listen if I did.

“So.” She gave me a bright eyed look. “What's the plan?”

“Oh, me running past them, getting their attention, some concerned citizen calling the cops telling them that some perverts in a black SUV are chasing a poor innocent girl...”

“You are sooo evil.” Dani grinned. “Got my cell right here, by the way.”

“Cool.” I grinned then started down the road.

Oh, I was quite properly terrified and tearful, not to mention grateful, at the Sheriff's office.

While hesitantly telling what the men in that SUV had been shouting at me

If those Hunters were lucky all that happened to them was that they got kind of beat up while in jail. And all it took was running past them, waving, and smiling.

Well, I had thrown a few rocks at their windshield, too. Something they tried to tell the officers.

But I was a sweet little, pretty, teenaged girl. Now who do you think the nice officers believed?

“Oh that was GREAT!” Dani chortled.

“Yeah, I guess.” I nodded but was grinning back at her. “At least now the fuckers know they aren't going to be able to spy on my house without the possibility of something biting them on the ass.”

“I don't think any of them will chase you around again, either.” The vampire pointed out.

“And that, my friend.” I grinned. “Was the plan.”

“I was right.” Dani giggled and gave me a hug. “You are evil.”

“I prefer to call it resourceful.” I primly answered.

Dani just dissolved into laughter on that one.

After thinking about things for a minute and thinking of being angry, I started laughing too.

Because it was true, in a way. I had a mean streak in me and delighted in using it on deserving assholes.

What can I say? I was and am a teenaged girl. We all have mean streaks at times, after all.

Blame the hormones.

Yeah, that works for me.

The next morning was kind of a bear. Okay more than that. But I get in trouble for using the other B word I wished to. Not ladylike and all that, you know.

My sweet little Aovel — umm — Linda had demanded a four A.M. Feeding after I'd gotten back around two and had to go through the parental lecture about being more careful when I was out and about.

Though through their worry, I noticed my newly official Mom and Dad trying to hide little smirks about what I'd done.

Anyway, I had just enough sleep to count as — none.

Carly breezed into the kitchen with a grin and wearing the red top I'd been extorted into giving her last night. “Hi all! How do you like my new top?”

“Wish I had terrible taste in clothes.” I muttered while trying to concentrate on the coffee I was currently sipping at.

“Ooooh, kind of grumpy this morning little sis?” She brightly teased.

“Never have been a morning person.” I mumbled back but giving her a glare just to let her know I was still kind of pissed off at her extortion.

“Part of being a mommy.” She grinned and gave me a wink. “You'll get used to it, hon.”

Not if I had to deal with extortion and denuding my closet to get a baby sitter, I wouldn't. “Hrrrr.”

“Don't growl at your sister.” Mom admonished me. “It isn't ladylike at all.”

I just nodded, took another sip of my coffee, laced with lots of cream and sugar and picked at my bagel. And when, just when, had I started thinking a bagel made a decent breakfast?

My mood wasn't helped because my breasts were aching for some reason and it wasn't even close to that time of the month.

I went to see Linda, kissed her forehead and whispered a bit of nonsense to the little thing, which actually made me feel a bit better, and it was off to school.

“See you at the tryouts, this afternoon, Cindy!” Beth Hastings called to me as I was working my way down the hall for my first class.

Tryouts? Uh oh, and oh yes, the cheerleader thing.

This day was just getting better and better.

Goddess, why me?

The rest of the day didn't go so badly, to be honest. But in the mood I was in, I didn't notice.

The tryouts I won't describe. Seen one, seen 'em all, you know. Bunch of girls in shorts and tank tops, jumping around and showing off their — umm athletic prowess and enthusiasm.

Of course it was just in my nature to do my best at anything I was involved in. Sigh.

With my martial arts training, and new flexibility, it was really easy to do all that stuff. Which set off little alarm bells in my poor fuddled head.

And okay, I get a little spacey and cranky without enough sleep. Sue me.

That day, if you'd tried, I would have probably done my best to rip your heart out and feed it to you.

My already sore breasts did not like all the jumping around and acrobatics. Nope, not at all.

I wasn't looking forward to my dojo time that day.

I'll admit I was bit preoccupied as I was walking from my car to go in.

“Watch where you're going.” A gruff voice told me right after I ran into what felt like a wall. “Little girls like you should be careful, you know, you could get hurt.”

I looked up, and up, to see a really big man who looked like he could crush rocks. Worse, I could smell that he was a Hunter. “That little game last night was enough, little girl. Try something like that again and you won't like what happens. This is your only warning, by the way.

“Give us the child, and we'll go away.” He finished before turning away as if meant nothing and walking off.

“Don't do that,” he tossed back over his shoulder as he shrugged, “and a lot of people are going to die.”

For the first time in my life I felt real fear. Not so much for me, but for my loved ones.

Without coming right out and saying it, that bastard had threatened everyone I loved.

That honestly frightened me.

While filling me with a determination that they weren't going to get away with this.

These Hunters had come in the past and done horrible things.

So maybe it was time for something horrible to happen to them.

Problem was, how could I manage that?

Honestly, I didn't know.