Whiskey and Orange Slices

by Michelle Edwards

  I rubbed my temples. She had a point, and I found it hard to believe.

  “There’s more. Apparently she broke it off with him and he wasn’t exactly happy about it. Instead of turning her or killing her in a way that would be normal to us, he tried to kill her in a car accident…” her voice trailed off.

  “How did she make it out alive?” I questioned.

  Alexis shrugged and handed me the stack of papers.

  “This is all I have on him, and her and her family.”

  “Thanks Alexis.” I sighed.

  She nodded, rose and walked to the door. Stopping just before she turned the knob she turned back to me.

  “For the record, I don’t believe she lied to you. I generally don’t think he ever revealed his true self to her. She seemed entirely too shocked when she found out. Jess said she got the vibe that Bethany was terrified of being in Hideaway.”

  I nodded. “Thanks.” I watched as she walked out of the office. My mind was being pulled in different directions and I had no idea what I was going to do.

  I started with the stack in front of me. I was going to read and learn all there was to know about Bethany and her family.

  I shut myself in my office for the rest of the afternoon, only taking meetings over the phone so I could keep focusing on going through the stack of paperwork that Alexis gave me.

  I came across the public documents from the accident. I grabbed the paper and ran down to Bethany’s office.

  “Everything okay?” she questioned, grabbing her bag.

  It was then I noticed that the office was dark, no one was left but us.

  “What time is it?” I asked looking for my watch that I had taken off earlier that day.

  “Almost six.”

  “Shit.” I muttered.

  “Matthew, what’s going on?”

  I shook myself out of the trance I was in. “You said your mother was in an accident, right?”

  She nodded.

  “When?”

  “After a year ago,” she whispered.

  I looked back down at the paper.

  “In October.”

  “Yeah.”

  I handed her the paper. “Bethany, you were supposed to be in that car, weren’t you?”

  She scanned over the document.

  “How did you know that?” she cried.

  “You may want to sit down.” I sighed.

  “I think I’ll stand.”

  I nodded and explained to her what Alexis had told me about Marty. How he was a vampire and how I overheard him talking to John the other day.

  “You were supposed to be in that car because you were supposed to die in that accident. Instead, your mother…” I couldn’t bring myself to finish the sentence. I felt for her. I felt hate toward Marty.

  Tears rolled down her face and I could see the pain on her face.

  “Bethany…” I started.

  “No. No I need to think. I need to be alone. Thank you for this.” She walked around me and I heard the stairs door open and her footsteps hitting the steps, hard.

  I leaned my head back, “Damn it!” I yelled loudly.

  I closed up the office and headed home. I couldn’t help but stop outside of Bethany’s building. I stood there and looked up to where her apartment was. The light was on and I wanted to just go up there and not let her go.

  She was angry and in pain. I couldn’t imagine the amount of pain going through her body right now. I didn’t even feel that much when I died centuries ago.

  I got back into my car as her light switched off. My phone buzzed from the passenger seat.

  “Hello?” I asked as I pulled away from her building. “Senator Crawford.”

  “It’s Ethan. Alexis told me what happened. Have you talked to Bethany yet?”

  I sighed, “Actually, I found some more information out.” I explained about the accident.

  Ethan seemed just as shocked as I was.

  “I can send Alexis to talk to her. Or maybe Jess?”

  I shook my head, even though he couldn’t see.

  “No. We should let her have some time.”

  “Your call.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Bethany

  I paced one spot in the park before the weekend started. This weekend was the ritual and I promised Matthew I would attend as his human date. I emphasized on the human part.

  “You wanted to see us.” John smirked, walking up to me with Marty right behind him.

  The anger I was feeling came rushing to the surface and all I wanted to do at that moment was punch him.

  “He is the reason that our mother is how she is now. He is the reason she doesn’t remember me!” I yelled, unable to control myself.

  John stared at me. “The car accident was just that. An accident.”

  My blood boiled while Marty and John laughed.

  “I want you both to leave LA. Go back home and do whatever it is you were doing before you decided to come out here.”

  “Now what fun would that be?”

  I shook my head, “What the hell happened to you?” I gasped at John.

  “Nothing happened to me. I’m the same person I always was. You just never noticed because you didn’t give a shit to talk to me. Now with you gone I’m spending more time with my parents.”

  “Our parents,” I corrected him through gritted teeth.

  “No. You left them, remember? Besides mom doesn’t even know who you are.”

  “You were in on this, weren’t you?” I cried.

  Laughter came out of his mouth.

  I turned on my heels and walked away, the tears rolling down my face without a way to stop them. I just couldn't handle standing there any longer. The pain of not having my mother in my life was coming back to the surface in full force and this time I wasn’t sure I could handle the pain alone.

  When I got back to my apartment, Matthew was outside waiting for me.

  “Ready to go?” he questioned, pushing off of the side of the SUV.

  I nodded, the tears were still wet on my face.

  “What happened?” he questioned pulling my body into his.

  “I saw John and Marty. I wanted to confront them. My mother doesn’t know who I am because of them.”

  “Them?” He pulled back and looked at me.

  I nodded, “John knew about the accident. Which makes sense. When I was born my mother spent a lot of time with me. Even as I got older she and I had a very close relationship.”

  “I’m so sorry.” He opened the door to the SUV and I climbed in. Alexis and Ethan both looked back at me.

  “I’m fine.” I waved them off.

  “Let’s roll,” Matthew said, slamming the door shut.

  “Where are we headed?” I questioned.

  “Back to Hideaway for the night. Tomorrow night we have the ritual, but it’s not here.”

  I shook my head, “Well where is it then?”

  “There is this beautiful castle-looking place where they hold it!” Alexis pipped in.

  I couldn’t help but laugh.

  Hideaway looked just like it did the last time I was here, except Matthew and Ethan looked more concerned.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked.

  “Alexis, Bethany. Go into the basement, lock the door and do not come out until we come get you.” Matthew breathed.

  I didn’t budge. “What’s going on?”

  “For Christ’s sake will you please go with Alexis?” Matthew snapped. His eyes turned a deep shade of red and fear washed over me.

  I nodded and backed up letting Alexis pull me toward the end of the street.

  “What is this?” I asked when we walked into the building.

  “It’s our city building. Pretty much like a courthouse or jail. Come. Basement is this way.” She grabbed my arm and pulled me toward a small door.

  The basement was definitely cooler, but it had a cozy feel to it. Until I saw the coffin.

  “Nope.” I said turning back toward the
door.

  Alexis stood between me and the door.

  “It’s already locked and I’m not unlocking it. No one is in the coffin, relax.”

  “Do people usually hang out in the coffin?” I yelled.

  “Not really. I mean Christina spent a year in it when she was half turned after the ritual.”

  I shook my head.

  “What do you think is going on?” I asked.

  “I wish I knew. It’s soundproof down here so I can’t even hear them talking.” She sighed.

  “If you want to go join the fun, don’t let me stop you.” I sighed as I took a seat on the couch that sat against the far wall.

  “I can’t.” She came and plopped down next to me.

  “Why not?”

  “For one, Ethan doesn’t want me fighting much. He and I are looking into adoption - since you know vampires can’t procreate. Plus, Matthew told us both to come down here. It means whatever is happening up there, he wants to make sure you are safe and he knows I”ll keep you safe.”

  “So we just sit here and do nothing?” I was furious. I didn’t want to be a liability, and I definitely didn’t want to just sit here while Matthew and Ethan potentially risked their lives.

  It felt like hours to me but in reality it was only minutes before the guys came to get us.

  “What was going on?” Alexis questioned.

  “Someone had been here. We don’t know who, but we know someone was here. They weren’t human either.” Ethan explained.

  I looked between Matthew and Ethan.

  “Is that all?”

  “Yeah. Let’s go. Others will be showing up here shortly. No one speak a word of this. I don’t want to freak people out before tomorrow night.” Matthew demanded. He took my hand and led me back up the stairs. We walked down past the buildings and back to our favorite spot on the river bank.

  He turned to face me.

  “I’m sorry for all of this. I know things have been crazy and you and I haven’t had much time to talk.”

  I shrugged and fixed his collar of his polo shirt, “You’re a busy man. I get that.” I smiled.

  He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close to him. His body felt like fire against mine.

  “How do you have so much understanding when it comes to me?” he questioned.

  “Because I’ve gotten to know you, and I get this strange feeling being around you. I get it. I get you are busy and an important guy to two different worlds.”

  “Come.” He smiled turning and grabbing my hand as he led me away from our spot.

  We walked through the tiny town until we reached the hotel.

  His room was at the end of the hall and it was much larger than the one I stayed in before.

  “Wow.” I gasped as we entered. It wasn’t just large, it was beautiful. The wood work on the bed posts and furniture just screamed vintage.

  He spun me around and kissed me. His lips felt like electricity on mine, sending shock waves through my body.

  My arms wrapped around his neck. I’ve wanted this since the moment I met him. His cheesy line about cereal. His crazy job offer. His insane secret. All of it made the desire for him grow.

  “I want you.” he growled in my ear.

  “I’m all yours.” I whispered back.

  ***

  I woke the next morning to an empty bed, but I could clearly hear Matthew outside.

  “Are you sure it was him?” He sighed.

  I pulled a hoodie on over my body and walked over to the half open window.

  “Yes I’m sure. I recognized him from the photos. But he wasn’t human.”

  “So that means that he was turned just after midnight because I did suspect that he wasn’t human by the way he was talking the other day.”

  “We will keep an eye out, but do you think we should cancel the ritual tonight?”

  “Absolutely not. We can’t do that. We will just work on getting extra security.”

  “Alright, I’ll go talk to the other guys.”

  I jumped up and got back into bed.

  Matthew walked through the door moments later.

  “Good morning.” He smiled as if nothing was wrong. He leaned down and kissed me.

  “Good morning. Everything okay?” I questioned, shifting in bed.

  “Kind of. We should talk.” He sighed sitting on the edge of the bed.

  “About last night or whatever secret meeting you were having this morning with Ethan outside?”

  He smiled. “You’re good. The meeting with Ethan was about your brother.”

  The pieces came together perfectly. John wasn’t human anymore. Someone turned him.

  “Who turned him?” I asked.

  “We think your ex did.”

  I felt like the wind was knocked out of me. I shook my head.

  “No. Marty can’t be a vampire. I dated him for…” I sucked in a breath.

  “Breathe Bethany. He’s been a vampire for a long time. He was a vampire when you dated. That’s why we thought the accident was done the way it was. If he just killed you like any other vampire, it wouldn’t have been painful. And this way John got something out of it too. You gone.”

  “So then why are they here?”

  “I couldn’t tell you that.”

  I jumped out of bed and started to get dressed.

  “Where are you going?” he questioned, standing up from the bed.

  “I’m going to call them and have them meet me somewhere. I will get to the bottom of this.”

  Matthew grabbed my arm, turning me to face him. His eyes locked with mine, only they were that deep shade of red again.

  “Are you insane? Today is the last day you should even consider going to meet them. They can turn you into a vampire in seconds.”

  I shrugged, “I’m not going to hide in this town until tomorrow,” I said as I jerked my arm out of his grasp and continued to get dressed.

  “At least let someone go with you.”

  I pulled the shirt over my head turning my body to face him.

  “Matthew I appreciate that, but if I don’t do this myself, then I will never be able to fight my own battles. If I get turned then you have a vampire girlfriend. If not, then you have a human one,” I explained as I sat down on the ottoman and pulled my boots on over my feet.

  He groaned and paced to the door and back. “I don’t like this. I don’t feel comfortable with this.”

  I stood up, walked across the room and pulled him into me, kissing him with as much passion as I could.

  “I’ll come back to you. One way or another, I will.”

  I walked out the door and down the stairs of the hotel.

  “Jess, can you drive me somewhere?” I asked, walking up to her and Glen.

  “Sure, is everything okay?”

  I swallowed and nodded, “Yes there is just something that I need to do.”

  She kissed Glen and walked me to the car.

  As we drove away from Hideaway, I thought about Matthew. I wondered if that was the last time I would ever see him.

  We barely spoke the entire drive except for when she would ask me a quick question about this or that.

  “You going to be okay?” she questioned as she pulled up outside my apartment.

  “Of course.” I forced a smile and got out of the vintage car that Jess decided she wanted to drive.

  I took a deep breath and walked up to my apartment. John and Marty were standing outside waiting for me.

  “Glad you wanted to talk.” John huffed, crossing his arms.

  I didn’t respond, I just unlocked the door and let them both in.

  “Before we start on whatever it is you two want from me, I want to say a few things and ask a question or two.”

  “Shoot,” John replied.

  I nodded, “First, I know what you both are. Actually I’m really surprised it took you this long to become one John. I for sure would have pegged you for the type of person that would have wanted to be turned a
s soon as he found out.” I sucked in a breath.

  “Second, whatever you think you will get from me you more than likely won’t. As for my question, I want to know why? Why did you try to kill me that night, Marty? I know why John would want me out of the picture, but you?” I by no means was hurt or even upset. I was mad, furious even.

  He shrugged, “Why not? You acted like we were nothing. I may not be fully human, but I don’t take rejection lightly. When John came to me and told me he wanted to get rid of you, I realized it was the perfect plan. Turning you would just let you live forever. But killing you and being able to have your blood was just too sweet to pass up.”

  “But it wasn’t me. It was my mother!” I yelled.

  “Yeah, an unfortunate oversight. But hey, it still got you away from your mom.”

  I crossed my arms and looked at John.

  “Yeah, it got her to not remember me which is exactly what you want.” I sighed.

  “Is that all?” John sighed rolling his eyes.

  “What is it that you two want? Why come all the way to California when you know damn well you didn’t need to.”

  They glanced at each other and then back at me.

  “Where’s your boyfriend?” John questioned.

  “Busy.”

  He nodded, “That’s a lie. If you know what we are then he definitely knows who we are and I doubt he just let you walk right into this situation.”

  “Well you’re wrong. He’s busy. He has too much to do than to babysit me. So I’ll ask again, what do you want?”

  “Payment to go away. You can run back to your boyfriend and tell him this is what we want and we want it before midnight.” John handed me an envelope.

  I turned it over and in a second I was back against the wall, the envelope on the floor and his hands around my neck.

  “That’s not for you. Take that to your boyfriend. Do not open it.”

  I swallowed what little air I could and nodded. I was determined not to shed a single tear in front of either of them. I wouldn’t give them that satisfaction.

  He pulled his hand back, releasing me from the wall.

  Marty had picked up the envelope and handed it back to me.

  “I’ll let you know what he says.” I nodded.