“I tried to avoid the mole,” Celeste said. “It was really big though. Fuck.”
“You could have tried the other side of her neck,” Stewart pointed out.
“I didn’t even think of that,” Celeste said, feeling like an idiot. “I bet there were more though. Who the fuck picked these people?”
“I had to eat a homeless person,” Stewart said. “Don’t look at me for sympathy.”
Celeste was past being choosy. She would accept sympathy from anyone, but her housemates ignored her to rain empathy on the stupid homeless guy.
“I think you hurt his feelings,” Brett said, “when you told everybody how gross he was.”
“Yeah, I noticed that too.” Stewart sighed. “I feel bad about it.”
“If you win, you should do something to make it up to him,” Brett offered. “Let him be part of your stable.”
“I don’t think that’s anybody’s aspiration,” Stewart said, “even if they are homeless.”
“Are we done talking about my mole-eating extravaganza?” Celeste frowned at the room. “Maybe I haven’t made clear how disgusting it was.”
“Is that a thing?” Lola said. “Not the mole eating. We know that’s a thing, thanks to Celeste. I mean the stable thing. I’m going to keep a stable full of hot guys to suck on.”
“Don’t you already?” Emily said.
“Judgy bitch.” Lola flipped her hair and stalked out.
“She should meet my sister,” Emily said.
Celeste sighed. It was a dramatic one meant to draw attention. It failed as miserably as Celeste had.
Confessional: Portia
“I don’t want to be the one to bring it up, but that was fucking sexist as hell. Who was in charge of picking the donors? This is the most disorganized production I’ve ever seen. I’m starting to think they don’t even care about their own rules. Is there some reason I have to deal with the erection of some hairy asshole when all I wanted was to drink his blood then get on with my day? And Lola? You are not doing women any favors by behaving like a prostitute. You’re the reason everyone expected me to suck in silence while some random cock was trying to jump up and assault me.
“And for the record, when I’m a vampire, I will fucking kill anyone who waves an uninvited dick in my direction. But I handled it. Not it. I did not handle it. I handled the situation. So hear me fucking roar. I am finished being a fragile fucking flower. From now on, if someone needs a fucking smack on their horny head, I’m going to be the one to give it to them. Forgive the rage; I’m trying to hang onto it to keep me motivated. Also, I want to thank all of you so much for your support!”
Confessional: Jeff
“I admit. I’m glad I broke down and watched the challenge. The mole thing was hysterical, and watching Big D get his ass kicked by a ninety-eight-pound weakling was not to be missed. I’m going kind of stir crazy though, which made me think. When I was a kid, I wasn’t allowed to be bored. I had to make my own fun. I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately. And I’ve decided I have to find a way to make my own fun.”
“This is harder than it looks,” Cassie said. She had been fitted with a walking cast, which seemed a bit too optimistic, but at least they’d also given her crutches.
“You’ll get the hang of it,” Kannon told her. “I’ve been on crutches a couple times.”
“I bet my broken leg story is better than yours,” Cassie teased.
“Car wreck and skiing accident,” Kannon admitted. “Those might be too tall for you. You’re taking it well.”
Cassie grimaced. Her armpits hurt more than her ankle at this point. She eased onto a chair and handed the crutches to Kannon for adjustment. She studied his face while he was absorbed in his task. He was still beautiful. Maybe it was because she had spent so much time in a world of costumes and fantasy, but the eye patch didn’t bother Cassie. Plus, she would never have expected him to be so kind. “I was done dancing before I got here. And, believe me, I didn’t take it well. My grief colored everything in my life for a long time before I could accept what my diagnosis meant. Rheumatoid arthritis, if you haven’t heard,” she clarified.
Kannon nodded.
“So, this was a Hail Mary for me, is I mean, and if it doesn’t work out, then I’ll go out knowing I tried absolutely everything. For me there wasn’t going to be a real life without dancing anyway.”
“Do you still feel that way?” Kannon asked. “Now that there’s no way out?”
“I’m trying to.”
Confessional: Cassie
“We worked out that Kannon has seen me dance. Before we came here, I mean. This endeavor hasn’t turned out like I planned, but I can’t say I’m unhappy about everything. Thank God for that because I think some of the contestants are unhappy about everything. And as hard as that is to be around, it’s got to be harder to live through. Since it’s hard to hope for the future, I’m trying right now to enjoy every second I have left. I guess that’s a common reaction to almost losing everything. But it’s the best reaction, I think.”
Confessional: Kannon
“I don’t recognize myself. Physically or mentally. I’m not going to talk about silver linings because I am down a fucking eye, but I’m done being defeated. And I’m done being who I was. Sorry, parents, about all the staggering disappointments, but I’m done with you too. I think something must be coming, and I doubt it’s anything good.”
“Are you guys ready?” Brett said. He only asked because he was ready, and he wanted to talk about it.
“How do we know if we’re ready when we don’t know what the fuck they’re going to do to us next?” Portia was giving him her haughty face, eyebrows slightly elevated, head tilted so she could look down her nose at him. It was exceedingly hot.
“Well, I’m ready,” Brett said.
Jeff snorted. He was sitting in the corner with a plate of pastries. Brett was thinking of asking for some; Jeff wasn’t even eating them.
Like an answer to a prayer, Jeff said, “Anyone want some of these?”
“Right here, man,” Brett said.
Madeline swooped in and hovered over the plate. She picked up a pastry and sniffed it then returned it to its place. She had picked up and smelled five or six of them before she found one that met her ambiguous standards.
When Jeff extended the plate his way, Brett declined.
Confessional: Celeste
“You would think that after spending all this time with people they could show the tiniest bit of compassion when things go wrong. And none of them sees how unfair it was. My donor was flawed, and I got eliminated because of it. I mean, there are millions of people with perfect skin out there. How hard is it to just have one tiny prerequisite? But all they care about is that they weren’t eliminated. Assholes. It just sucks when people only think of themselves. I’m not sure what I should do now.”
Confessional: Madeline
“Today is a good day. There are lots of extra people outside. There are more every time I look. The chanting is good. It relaxes me. I’m starting to wonder what I’ll have for dinner. Maybe I’ll make something for everyone. The mailman hasn’t come with my cookbook yet. I think that pastry made me a little sick, but they were good. Maybe I can learn to make my own. I can’t eat too many more of the others.”
The Quality of Mercy is _ _ _ _ _ Strained.
dmund was in his dressing room watching the last challenge replay. You had to love humans. As had been pointed out so recently by Little P, you also had to keep it to yourself.
His fascination with humanity sprang from the myriad flaws that caused other supernaturals to discount them. Even Edmund couldn’t argue the others were wrong to scorn humans. The inconsistencies and cruelties of mankind were too numerous to categorize. But. They did, on occasion, help each other out of fiery pits, even when the one they helped was their competition in a contest which would determine life or death. Or help a competitor survive an allergic reaction when it was much easier to keep qu
iet.
So, while there was needless cruelty to be found among humans such as had never been seen in another species, there was also compassion beyond all logic. Compassion strong enough to soundly trump self-preservation.
These were things one did not say.
Edmund had fled to a remote corner of the world when the Vampire war began. Not out of fear but out of an unwillingness to participate in the extinction of mankind.
To his delight, human cowardice had won out almost immediately with the leaders of the world promising an immediate and lasting end to the hostilities.
For their part, the vampires had acquiesced to some restrictions (restrictions that were generally disregarded) on whom and how many could be changed. Which brought them to—
A rap on the door was closely followed by a quavering human male calling, “Five minutes.”
“Okay, people,” Chaz said. “It’s my pleasure to welcome you back on this beautiful night. I see you all made it past the protestors. Before our fourth challenge, we’re going to meet the loved ones of a couple more contestants in the Friends and Family segment. Who’s ready to hear from Donovan’s wife and Celeste’s parents?”
Everybody was ready.
“Let’s start with Tara, Donovan’s long-suffering wife.”
Everyone turned to a monitor. Tara did look like Donovan’s second donor except for the lack of joy in her eyes. “Hi, honey. I hope you’re doing well. We miss you here, of course. The kids are fine. Vincent got an A on his spelling test; they asked him to participate in the bee. We’re all so excited about it.” Tara looked like she hadn’t been excited about anything in at least five years. “I loaned the mower to Bill down the block, I hope you don’t mind. We miss you. The kids said to tell you hi. I hope you’re having a nice time.”
“As you know, this was prerecorded, but I feel like Tara doesn’t watch the show,” Chaz said. The audience laughed. “Let’s hear from Celeste’s parents.”
Celeste’s parents were older than what was obviously predictable based on her age. They were both gray-haired and grim. Celeste’s mother was clutching a wad of tissues, and when her father spoke, he addressed some point left of the camera. “We miss you, Celeste,” her father said. “You know we didn’t want you to be a part of this foolishness, but you felt you had to do it.” Celeste’s mother burst into tears. “We always loved you just the way you were, we wish that had been enough for you.”
“I just want her back,” Celeste’s mother said, her voice rising to a wail. Her nose started to run; she took a swipe at it with the back of her hand. Her husband put an arm around her.
“We both want you back,” her father said. “So, we hope you win this thing. We pray every day you learn to love yourself. We miss you.” A single tear rolled down his cheek while Celeste’s mother lost her shit entirely. The camera stayed on the weeping couple for a few beats before fading to black.
“Okay, those people have seen the show,” Chaz said. “That was a bit depressing. Let’s move on. I think it’s time for the fourth challenge. Contestants, to the stage!”
Emily, Portia, Lola, Donovan, Brett, and Stewart filed out.
“This challenge is special for a couple of reasons,” Chaz said. “Let’s bring out the first reason now. There are a lot of fans of the show—and a lot of you claim to be ‘the biggest fan’–but I think tonight’s special guest might be the one who truly deserves that title. Landon Jones turns seven today. In fact, we tweaked the schedule so he could be here on his birthday. Landon has been watching the show his entire life, and even though he can’t remember the early seasons, his parents swear he’s never missed an episode. He’s been scheming to make an appearance on Creature of the Night for quite some time, but these things are sometimes tough for kids to arrange. Luckily for Landon, he has a grown-up friend who reached out to us and helped make all this happen. Please welcome Landon Jones and his friend Melissa from the Grant a Wish Foundation!”
The crowd screamed for Landon, and even the judges put their hands together. Except Edmund. Landon smiled sweetly and waved to everyone in sight as he came onstage. The twins wheeled Landon out in a hospital bed; the accouterments had been discarded backstage. Melissa walked alongside the bed, holding the boy’s hand. Landon was a beautiful child. He had big dark eyes and tousled brown hair. He was clutching a well-worn stuffed dog. “That’s Boogie,” Chaz told the audience. “I got to meet him earlier.” The crowd cheered for Boogie too, and Landon held up his beloved toy in response.
Chaz reached out to shake hands with Melissa and then more gently with Landon. Rylie and Kylie faded into the background. Landon watched them go. “How are you feeling, buddy?” Chaz asked.
“I’m good,” Landon said. “I didn’t feel so good when I woke up, but then I remembered what day it was, and that made me happy. Then Dr. Drake came with some more medicine, and I felt better.”
“Glad to hear it,” Chaz said. “And you got to bring your friend Melissa.”
“Yes,” Landon agreed.
“We are so happy to have the chance to help a kid like Landon fulfill his biggest wish,” Melissa said. “It’s been a joy working with him and with all of you on the show to make this happen.”
“I do not remember this from last time,” Vlad said.
“Perhaps that is because you were not with us last season,” Delia told him. “Still, it is true we have not previously had this particular challenge.”
“We got to talk earlier,” Chaz said to Landon, “but can you tell the audience about yourself?”
“My bone marrow doesn’t work, so I’m going to die soon.” The audience looked mournful. “I had a transplant, but it didn’t help. It’s okay though because I’m going to heaven.”
Chaz cast a wary glance upward.
“Why they must fill the heads of their children with fables is beyond me,” Edmund said.
“No one knows for sure,” Delia said. “Chaz is a believer.”
“Agnostic,” Chaz clarified.
Vlad scowled. “Bah.”
Chaz managed to smile for Landon. “Good job,” he said. “Tell the almighty to go easy on us when you get there.”
Landon giggled. “I will. I’ll tell him what you did for me.”
“Okay, but maybe not in too much detail,” Chaz said. “Are you excited?”
“So excited,” Landon said. “This is way better than being stuck in the hospital. And now, I’ll be famous forever. It would only be better if I could live forever.”
“Yeah, buddy, I know,” Chaz said.
Melissa bent down, so her face was level with Landon’s. “Sometimes, there are bad laws, and the one that won’t let them change you is one of those.”
Landon nodded. “Some of the people outside want to let me be a vampire.”
“And some of them don’t want you to be here at all,” Melissa said. “But we’re here and we’re going to do the best thing we can for you.”
“I know.” Landon flung his little arms around Melissa’s neck, and half the audience started to sob.
Edmund vanished.
Just outside:
“This is so fucked.” Callie set her sign down to tie her shoe. “Did you see all those assholes walk by without even pausing? Without even looking?”
“People do that,” Carson said. “It makes them uncomfortable to consider they might be doing something wrong, so they ignore the people who are trying to tell them.”
“So, all of us standing in the cold holding signs are wasting our time?”
“It’s never useless to stand up for the innocent,” Carson said. “You can’t expect victory every time. Don’t lose heart, or you will be useless.”
“I’m sorry; you’re right.” Callie wiped a tear off her chilled face. “I just keep thinking about that poor kid. Like it’s not enough having cancer, he’s going to lose what little time he has left because those fucking things romanticize themselves and deluded kids buy into it. The whole thing just… sucks.”
“Right.”
“You ready? The news guys are here.” Callie nodded and picked up her sign. Together, Carson, Callie, and scores of others raised their signs and resumed their chant, “Let Landon live! Let Landon live! Let Landon live!”
Light years away in spirit, but physically proximate:
“This is so fucked.” Dawn stomped her feet and tried to blow some warmth into her fingers. She was so cold she could hardly feel the sign she was holding. “I hate those idiots. Not that I can even understand them. Enunciate, assholes!”
“I know how you feel.” Gavin reached out to bestow an awkward pat on Dawn’s shoulder. “The idea that it’s better for this kid to die instead of being changed into a vampire is crazy. Instant fucking cure right inside that building, but God forbid we should let them help because vampires are ‘evil’ or something.”
Creature of the Night Page 16
