My Horny Stepmom Turns Me into Her Vampire Slave

“Now that you’ve all met… how about taking a walk around Manhattan? It’s almost lunchtime, and I was thinking we could try that new steakhouse that just opened in Hell’s Kitchen on Ninth Avenue. I think it’s called Cordesol Meat. It’s part of a chain owned by the famous Argentine chef Santiago Cordesol,” Naomi says excitedly.

It’s an idea everyone is happy to go along with. I love meat, especially rare… and no, not because I’m a vampire.

Naomi would’ve invited Kimberly too… if she hadn’t actually disappeared!

When I stepped outside Naomi’s apartment, I was fully expecting to find Kimberly lurking nearby, ready to latch onto me again like a barnacle clinging to a rock…

But nothing.

Could she have finally gotten tired of sticking to me twenty-four seven?

I really hope so.

“This beef steak is amazing!” Naomi exclaims after her first bite.

“I couldn’t agree more. Too bad the prices aren’t exactly affordable… but then again, this is a fine dining restaurant, not a fast-food place. It’s the kind of experience everyone should have at least once in their life,” Britney says with the same enthusiasm.

“Well, if you like it here, I’d be more than happy to bring you back every now and then,” I offer, enjoying a delicious rare filet.

“Not a chance. Did you see the prices on the menu?” Britney replies. “I’m more than happy just getting to eat here once. That’s already more than enough for me.”

“I insist,” I say firmly, looking Britney straight in the eyes. “I don’t know if Naomi told you, but my mom is one of the richest women in all of New York. Spending a thousand dollars on a decent lunch isn’t a problem for me at all, especially when it’s for Naomi’s family.”

“N-No… she never mentioned that…” Britney murmurs, lowering her gaze slightly as a blush spreads across her face, probably intimidated by the fact she’s sitting across from a multimillionaire. “Well… if you put it that way, then I’ll let you treat me to lunch here again—but only once, got it? Just because you’re rich doesn’t mean it’s right for me to take advantage of you!”

Most women in her position would’ve had no problem squeezing every penny they could out of me, yet I could barely convince her to let me pay for lunch.

I was right about her — she’s an amazing woman, just like Naomi!

“Axel, stop flirting with my aunt!” Naomi grumbles, lightly nudging my side with her elbow.

“Oh, Naomi, don’t be jealous. I have no intention of stealing your beloved Axel,” Britney chuckles, flashing a wonderfully amused smile.

Melania is the only one who stays silent, not taking part in the conversation at all.

She’s been glued to her phone ever since we sat down, typing between bites without ever looking up from the screen.

“Melania, how many times have I told you not to use your phone at the table? Put it away, or I’ll take it from you,” Britney scolds.

“Shut up,” Melania replies coldly without even taking her eyes off her phone.

Kids these days are a complete mess… their brains fried by their phones, with not a shred of respect for their parents!

If I’d ever dared talk to Veronica like that, she would’ve slapped me so hard my head would’ve spun like a top, and my phone would’ve gone flying out the window.

But she’s not my daughter, so it’s none of my business. I just keep eating like nothing happened.

Naomi, on the other hand, is anything but indifferent.

“Melania, Aunt Britney’s right. Put your phone away, at least while we’re eating. And don’t talk to your mom like that. It’s wrong.”

At last, Melania looks up, glaring at Naomi with eyes so full of hostility that even I find them intimidating.

“Texting my boyfriend is more important than listening to your bullshit,” Melania growls. “Today’s our one-month anniversary, but because of my mom, I can’t even be with him since he lives in Philadelphia. Who knows when I’ll get to see him again? He’s going to dump me, and it’ll all be her fault. If she hadn’t lost her job, I’d still be with him! But then again, she couldn’t even keep my dad around, so how was she supposed to keep a job—”

SLAP!

The sharp crack of Britney’s open hand striking Melania echoes through the restaurant, silencing everyone.

Naomi and I freeze.

We exchange a quick glance — mine filled with confusion, while she simply shakes her head as if to tell me not to pay it any mind.

Judging by how unfazed Naomi is, it’s obvious scenes like this happen pretty often.

“I… I did everything I could to give you a decent life!” Britney cries out, her voice shaking with rage and tears. “You know better than anyone how hard I’ve worked all these years! Fourteen, fifteen, sometimes sixteen hours a day, breaking my back in that shitty factory, and I still kept a smile on my face because I knew all those sacrifices could give you as normal a life as possible… And this is how you repay me?! By treating me like garbage?! I… I…”

Then Britney suddenly gets to her feet. She pulls a few bills out of her wallet and slams them down on the table in front of me.

“I’m sorry, Axel… I really am…” she whispers between sobs before rushing out of the restaurant, tears streaming down her face.

Melania, however, doesn’t show the slightest hint of compassion. No guilt. No regret. Nothing.

Only hatred.

She clenches her teeth, balls her fists, and mutters insults under her breath about her mother.

Then she gets up as well and storms out of the restaurant.

“I’m such an idiot…” Naomi murmurs, just as devastated as Britney. “I thought taking them out might help, but I only made things worse. Melania’s being stupid, but maybe she’s just too young to understand everything her mom has sacrificed for her. And knowing her biological father abandoned her definitely didn’t help. She wasn’t like this before, Axel. I swear. It all started last year, and ever since then, their relationship has just gotten worse and worse.”

It must be the typical teenage rebellious phase, though that doesn’t excuse a single thing she said.

I was abandoned by not one, but both of my parents, and I’d never, ever take that frustration out on Veronica.

Poor Naomi… I can’t even imagine what it’s been like for her, living every day with the constant tension between Britney and Melania.