novelzi Chapter 318: Dessert monster
Chapter 318: Dessert monster
The delicious aroma of dinner filled the cozy house. Rose had made a hearty meal of roasted chicken soup, gravy steamed vegetables, and warm buttered fresh rolls of bread. It was the kind of comforting, wholesome food that brought the family together around the table.
Over the past two years, Blake had worked hard to adapt to a more human lifestyle and diet. During his first experiences as a vampire, he had been used to a rough life, subsisting on whatever he could find. But now, as a husband and father, he appreciated the ritual of sitting down to a proper home-cooked meal.
He had learned to control his cravings for blood and embrace the delights of human cuisine.
Celena, on the other hand, was still a full-blooded vampire child with an insatiable thirst. Even at just two years old, her monstrous side could emerge with fierce intensity. When she wanted blood, she wanted it right away and wouldn't take no for an answer.
As the family gathered around the dining table, everything seemed pleasant at first. Rose heaped food onto everyone's plates while Blake poured glasses of sparkling apple juice for a special treat. They smiled at each other and dug in, savoring the flavors and textures of the lovingly prepared meal.
But after a few bites, Celena pushed her plate away with a scowl. "I want dessert!" she declared. "I want my blood pudding!"
Rose and Blake exchanged weary glances. They had been trying to encourage Celena to rely less on blood and adapt to a more varied diet like the rest of the family. But their headstrong daughter resisted any efforts to change her ways.
"Sweetie, we talked about this," Rose said gently. "You can have a little blood after you finish your dinner, like a treat. But it can't be your whole meal. You need other nutrients too."
"Mommy, Daddy, tell me again the story of how I got my name," Celena begged. "I want to hear it."
Rose perched on the edge of the bed while Blake knelt on the floor beside them. He smiled softly at his daughter and began the familiar tale.
"Well, princess, after you were born, your mommy and I spent hours and hours trying to choose the perfect name for you. I suggested all sorts of names – Brittany, Tiffany, Ashley, Jasmine, Lily. But your mommy didn't like any of them. She said they were too trendy and common."
"That's right," Rose chimed in with a giggle. "Your daddy wanted to give you a name that would help you blend in with the other little girls. But I knew you were special, so I wanted your name to be special too."
Blake continued, "We just couldn't agree. Weeks went by and you were healthy and strong and so beautiful. But you still didn't have a name. We tried out different ones but nothing felt quite right."
Celena snuggled deeper under her soft blanket, enthralled by a story she had heard many times but never tired of. "Then what happened?" she prompted.
"Well, we took you home and loved you to pieces, but you were Baby Girl Shelton for a whole year! Everyone kept asking what we were going to call you and I was getting desperate. I started pointing to random objects and foods and saying, 'How about Lampshade? Turnip? Doorknob?' But Mommy would just roll her eyes at me."
Blake gave Rose a wink and she playfully smiled back and excuses herself.
"Baby, mummy has to go clear out the table now okay? Enjoy your bedtime story" she said with a soft whisper as she planted a kiss on Celena's forehead.