Igor's Daughter: The Offspring of my Dark Heart part 2

Castle Lamian, home of the blood-thirsty vampire Count Lamian. As the werewolves and bats decided it's time for bed, Igorth would soon receive a visit from an unexpected guest...

*Meanwhile inside the main kitchen close to the main entrance*

Igorth grumbled to himself as he quickly prepared himself a potion while Vivian stood patiently as she waited for any instructions he might give her. It had been eight months since he had created Vivian; and he couldn't believe how it helped him tolerate the other-wise lonely daytime as he allowed the Master to sleep.

The little girl had proven herself to quite a prodigy when it came to voodoo and which torture technique would be best to use on which person. Yet, she was very clumsy with spells and housework; and too weak and frail to do any physical tasks for him. Igorth also discovered that since Vivian hadn't a soul and was created with dark magic, she would be vulnerable to several things. Things like spells that neutralize dark magic, holy water and silver. Since the girl didn't have a soul, she didn't have a reflection. So, he decided it's best she would never stray too far from the castle. He also kept her existence a secret from Count Lamian, and always made her hide away when the vampire's finally up.

As Igorth stirred the potion well with the spoon, there was a knock on the door.
"Vivian, would you please open the door for Daddy?" the necromancer asked as he wondered whether it's a beautiful maiden, or another village idiot.
"Will do, Master Igorth." the girl complied as she skipped towards the door; and open it. Igorth grinned from ear to ear as he pondered who would've been foolish enough to visit the infamous mallard of Austria. But, his joy didn't last for long. He dropped the bottle of his finished potion the moment he recognized the voice that spoke to the young girl. He didn't even react when the glass shattered into tiny pieces as it crashed onto the hard floor.

Igorth felt his throat tighten as he pondered what she was doing here; and why she was here. After he had exhaled deeply, he braced himself as he walked towards the door.
"Master Igorth, an old peasant lady with stinky perfume is here to see you." Vivian exclaimed loudly. The vulture and the woman became quite embarrassed.
"I am so sorry about Vivian, Mother." Igorth apologized with a sheepish expression while he clamped Vivian's beak shut with his hand.
"Oh, that's alright. Besides, this perfume's actually the reason why your late father and I got together in the first place."
"Oh, that's true. Father had told me before how you two had met. Oh, how rude of me. Mother, please do come in."
"Don't mind if I do."

Igorth's mother entered the castle, while Igorth carried his mother's bags. Vivian held onto Igorth's arm and eyed Igorth's mother as she tried her best to keep up with the grown-ups.
"If I may be bold to ask, why is Mother here all by herself? It could've been dangerous for you to travel by yourself..."
"Oh poppycock! You, of all people, should know that your ol' mother isn't scared of a little travelling. Besides, can't I see my little baby? I never received any mail from you yet."
"Oh, well...it had been so busy here for the past several months. I was plannning on writing to you later today, in fact..."

Igorth placed his mother's bags in the spare bedroom as he quietly pondered how long she would be staying. Don't get him wrong, he loves his mother dearly. But, what about a certain vampire that loves to feast on any maiden?
"Oh, what lovely dolls you have there, Vivian." the elderly vulture as she peaked into Vivian's bedroom. There were several voodoo dolls on the small bed; each made from leftover scraps of cloth. The green voodoo doll with a yellow patch for a beak and charred straw; was the most worn out of them all. Vivian really didn't like Count Lamian; but Igorth couldn't understand why. Was it just because the mallard doesn't treat him with any respect?

"Thank you, Ma'am. I have made them all myself." Vivian smiled proudly at the elderly woman as she clucthed onto one of the voodoo dolls.
"How about you and I go outside and make daisy chains? It's such a lovely day, and it would've been a shame to waste this beautiful day indoors, hm?"    
"Sure, that would be fun. Is that alright with you, Master Igorth?"
"As long as you don't travel too far away from the castle, I won't mind."
"Thank you, Master Igorth."
"We'll be back before lunch time, Igorth."
"That would be fine, Mother."
"Okay, let's go, kiddo!" Igorth's mother cheered as she raced the little girl to the front door. Igorth's eyes narrowed as he wondered what his mother was up to, but decided that he shouldn't jump to conclusions just yet...

*Much later, on a large field on flowers*

Vivian and Igorth's mother held a giant bouquet of daisies in their hands as they sat on the patch of grass next to the field of various beautiful flowers.
"--and you then tie them up like this. See? Quite easy." the elderly vulture explained as she made the daisy chain. She watched the little girl as she struggled with her daisy chain. She quickly discovered Vivian decided it would've been fun to turn the daisies into a noose. The elderly fowl gagged in shock, but decided that it's best not to make a big deal out of it. Maybe that was meant to be a daisy chain, and the little girl didn't notice what it looked like?

"So, Vivian, how long have you been working for my son?" Igorth's mother piped up.
"I have been working with Master Igorth for eight months."
"Oh, that's nice. So, what is your job?"
"I am his apprentice." was Vivian's short answer. She continued to make another daisy chain.
"Oh." the elderly mother blinked in surprise. She watched in interest as the little girl pulled a green voodoo doll out from her pocket. She then placed the noose around the tiny neck of the doll, and yanked it hard. She frowned when she realized nothing happned; and wrapped her tiny fingers around the doll's neck and squeezed so hard that its eyes bulged out. Igorth's mother was appalled. She then decided that they should go back to the castle.

*Several days later*

Igorth, Vivian and Igorth's mother sat quietly around the table as they ate lunch. The silence blanketed them like poisonous fumes as they ate.
"Vivian, may you please get my mother and I something to drink?" Igorth asked the little girl.
"Will do, Master Igorth." Vivian nodded as she ran into the kitchen to fetch something. As she watched the little brunette run off, Igorth's mother decided to ask her son the question that bothered her from the moment she arrived.

"Igorth, there's something that bugged me. Where are Vivian's family? And also, where is Count Naimal?"
"Count Naimal's on a business trip. Have I not mention it to you, Mother?"
"Oh? But, that doesn't explain Vivian at all..."
"Here is your drinks, Master Igorth." Vivian smiled as she brought two golden goblets with red liquid for the elder vultures. Igorth gulped his drink down with happiness, while Igorth's mother paled the moment she took a tiny sip.

"What the--Igorth, is this what I think it is?" the elderly mother fumed as she felt her stomach twist into knots. She gave each fowl a dirty look as she realized her suspicions were true.
"..." Igorth couldn't even look into his mother's eyes while Vivian stared at the elderly fowl with a blank expression.
"Vivian, please go to your room. I need to speak to my mother about something important."
"Yes, Master Igorth."

As soon as the young girl was out of ear-shot, Igorth and his mother stared at one another with intensed eyes.
"I should've known you are Count Naimail's necromancer. I mean, you were so obsessed with dark magic ever since you were little. A few of your siblings were also interested in it, but they never thought about leaving everything to pursue it; unlike you. They also got married and had kids."
"But Mother, I have finally found a job that I love with all my heart. Also, I do have a child. She's my flesh and blood."

The face of Igorth's mother blanched the moment her son's words finally sinked in. Her eyes sparkled from unshed tears.
"You...You used black magic to create Vivian? How dare you play God like that?! Count Naimal is a vampire as well, right? How dare you support something so evil?! I also can't believe you had created a little girl that has a black heart; and who is named after me! That does it, you are giving up necromancy and coming back with me to the farm."
"No Mother, I refuse. I'd rather die than return to the farm with you!" Igorth roared in anger.

Igorth's mother looked as if Igorth and the rest of her children punched her in the gut with all her strength.
"If that's how it is, fine. Goodbye, Igorth." she whispered under her breath before she fetched her bags. After she made sure she got everything, she gave Igorth one last look.
"Igorth, I'm only trying to help--"
"Get out of here! I don't want to ever see you again. All you ever do is criticize me, and compared me to my brothers and sisters. I've had it! Goodbye, Mother!" Igorth snapped in anger as he slammed the door when his mother was barely out. The young vulture slumped into the nearest and sulked in it for what felt like eternity.

"How dare she--" Igorth snarled as he picked up the chair and kicked it across the room. He then sighed as his anger finally died. How dare she criticize Count Lamian and Vivian. Wait, where is Vivian? Why didn't she come out of her bedroom yet?
"Vivian, where are you?" Igorth called as he searched the castle. He finally found the little girl fast asleep in the same bed his mother used the previous night.

"At least someone's conscience is clear enough for them to sleep well tonight. Goodnight, Vivian." Igorth smiled sadly as he covered the little girl with a blanket.

To be continued...