by Peiri Ann
“Hey Tracey, you feeling better?” Taylor asks me.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Hey Justin, you all okay?”
“Hey Tracey, yeah we’re good.” He looks over at Scott, then Glen. Taylor follows.
“Oh, hello. Are you Scott’s girlfriend?” Taylor asks in a nurturing voice.
“Hey, Taylor. What’s up, Justin? This is Glen.” He looks at Glen, pointing to Taylor. “Glen, this is Taylor, Nathan’s sister, and her boyfriend, Justin.”
“Hi, nice to meet you all,” Glen says happily.
“You, as well. I’ll be right back. We only grabbed two blankets.” Taylor runs up the stairs.
Justin lays out their blanket in front of the couches, and gives Nathan and me one. “So, you two are doing okay today? Taylor’s been on-edge and won’t let me breathe without doing it for me.” He looks up to the ceiling, thinking. “Honestly, I think this is the first time she has left me alone all day.”
“And that didn’t last long,” Taylor says, coming down the stairs with another blanket, handing it to Scott. I laugh.
“No, Tracey’s been on-edge too. But she’s getting better.” Nathan situates himself so that I can lay on him. He lays his head on the armrest and I lay on top of him. One arm is on me and the other is behind his head.
“So what happened that has you two on-edge?” Glen asks from her couch.
Everyone looks at Scott. “What?” he replies loudly. He turns to Glen and kisses her temple. She doesn’t say anything else about it and we all turn back to the TV.
Justin gets up to put the movie in and turns off the lights. Justin rests his head back against the couch, and Taylor’s on his shoulder or chest—she moves frequently.
The previews show and the option to press ‘play’ shows up on the screen. The remote is sitting on top of the speaker that’s next to the TV, yet somehow the ‘play’ button lights up and the movie starts.
“That was convenient. I usually have to actually press ‘play,’” Glen states from aside Scott. He ‘shushes’ her.
I’m really not in a movie-watching mood, and with Nathan rubbing up and down my back, I’m not in a napping mood either, anymore. His hand moves to grab my side, and I look up at him. Looking down at me, he mouths, ‘stop.’ I smile, turning back to the TV. Then I feel his hand snake down and grab my butt.
He moves his hand back to my back when I look at him. I move up on him so that my mouth is by his ear. I change my mind about whispering, since everyone will be able to hear me. Yeah?
What are you talking about, love?
Okay, two can play that game.
I grab his earlobe with my tongue, pulling it into my mouth. He bites his bottom lip and grabs my waist, trying to push me back down.
Stop. So you can dish it out, but you can’t take it?
You really do not want to play this game with me, Tracey.
I drop his earlobe, moving down so that my lips are equal to his neck.
Don’t do it, Tracey.
I haven’t done anything.
But you were going to.
Say that you quit and you’re going to just lay here and watch the movie.
I never quit. And you need to just lay here and watch the movie.
I’m definitely taking it there. I let the pallet of my tongue press against his neck, slowly removing it as my lips grasp on to it, kissing it softly. Satisfied, I stop, feeling stiffness push against my leg.
That didn’t take much.
He smiles. You are going to regret that.
Never.
I move down so my head is under his chin, feeling pleased that I won the battle. I missed the beginning of the movie. I hate clowns anyway.
Nathan moves his hand from me. I look up to see how he now has both hands behind his head. He notices my notice and smirks.
What are you up to?
His smirk grows into a mischievous smile as I start to feel his hands touch my back. I lift my head, more wanting to confirm that both of his hands are still behind his head. The invisible hands move to grab my butt—hard. I lift my head all the way.
“What’s wrong, Tracey? You got scared?” He’s loud.
I glare at him. “If you want, Cey, we can change the movie,” Glen follows.
“I’m not scared.” I put my head back down. You play dirty.
You started it.
You better st— I gasp out loud—sounding like a moan—from the feeling of a hand grabbing between my legs.
Taylor and Justin turn around to look at me, and Nathan starts laughing. “Sorry,” I respond to their scowls, and they turn back around. I pinch his side.
Tracey, that shit hurt. He’s still laughing.
Don’t do that again. It felt way too good for it to not be his hands, and for us to be down here with everybody.
He pulls me up to his face. I’m sorry, baby. I couldn’t help myself.
I raise an eyebrow. That was not cool.
He lifts my chin. His smirk is gone, eyes low—seductive. I’m sorry.
He turns us into the couch and he kisses me softly, then pulls back without making a sound. I lick my bottom lip, not ready for his taste to leave me. I lean forward to kiss him again and he lets me, taking control of the kiss so that it’s soundless.
He kisses me like he loves me, and I dissolve like pearls in vinegar. This kiss holds nothing but tangible love—the feeling of affection in a kiss. I place my hand against his, which is against my cheek, enjoying being kissed.
I love you, Tracey—through anything, for anything. You are mine, and nothing is going to change that or take you from me. I’ll lay down my life—and others’ lives—for you, give you all that life holds and still remain deeply indebted to you. That’s how strong my love is. Never doubt my love for you.
He speaks in that hypnotizing language—that I now understand—and I fall in love with him all over again.
He kisses me twice and pulls back. Nathan is coming. He has a girl with him. We readjust to our original position. I, still feeling his kiss, rub over my bottom lip. Something in that kiss I’ve never felt before—a feeling I cannot place, but the closest I can come is ‘contented.’
“Hey, what are you guys watching?” Little Nathan descends the stairs. The movie is almost over.
Everyone immediately recognizes he’s with a girl and we all straighten up. Taylor and Justin readjust to their original position, and Nathan sits up with his feet on the floor, slouched against the couch. I lay against him, instead of on him. Glen and Scott sit up straight as well.
“Hey, Nathan,” everyone, except Glen, greets. She is caught off-guard.
Little Nathan goes into introductions, introducing the girl he’s with as Cindy. We all say ‘hi’ and they take the other end of the couch that Nathan and I are on.
Cindy is cute, and the same height as Little Nathan, with short hair. She seems shy, but calms down when she is no longer the center of attention.
The movie ends and everyone disburses for a bathroom break or to stretch, then comes back to watch the next movie. It’s like family movie night, because we are joined by the cousins. I ask Nathan where Roseland and his wife are, and he tells me they took the kids and Nicholas out of state to some waterpark for a week.
Everyone in the basement is okay, not overbearing, and I’m still comfortable. They are all relaxed and enjoying the moment.
This is how it is sometimes. We all just gather around and chill, or decide to go somewhere as a family. It usually starts off as a small group and then, somehow, everyone just comes together.
So this is what I’ll be getting? Nice, calm Newcombs.
Pretty much, except for around the summer. It can get pretty crazy. But yeah, this is it for the most part.
I can do this.
Everyone stays quiet while watching the movie, except when someone in the movie does something stupid. Seems like everyone is aware of Glen and Cindy’s obliviousness to everything, and no one talks about anything but the movie.
&nb
sp; The psycho-intruders movie ends and Little Nathan runs upstairs to grab a few more, telling Cindy he will be back.
“So all of you are Nathan’s family?” Cindy asks, attracting all the looks to her. She shies away.
“Yes, all, except for me and Tracey. I—” Glen starts, but is cut short.
“Tracey is a part of our family.” Little Nathan comes back down the stairs, cutting her off. “You’re the new face.” He looks at Cindy. “Tracey is my sister. She’s sitting with my brother.” He points to us. “She—” He points to Glen. “—must be with my cousin, Scott. I’m not sure what’s going on with that. I’ve never seen her before.”
I sit up. He doesn’t know Glen is Scott’s mate. “Glen is with Scott, Nathan. She’s his.” My words are stuck. What do I say?
His mate too? I hear Little Nathan’s voice inside my head filling in the blanks. I nod to him slowly, and his eyes widen in astonishment, realizing I heard him in my head.
Nathan sits up behind me. “Did that just happen?” He asks calmly, noticing the same thing.
Little Nathan looks at his brother, then back at me. “So you did it.” He asks referring to me accepting them as family.
“Okay, what am I missing?” Taylor turns around and looks at me and Nathan. Is what he’s saying true? I smile at her crookedly, with a scrunched nose, and nod confirming I hear her too. She squeals and hugs me.
“Not cool, guys,” Scott voices, sitting next to a confused Glen.
“Your fault, Scott,” Nathan returns.
“What’s your fault, Scott?” Glen asks him.
Scott shakes his head, then looks at Little Nathan. “She is to me what Tracey is to Nathan, which makes her family as well.” Oh, yeah. That’s where I was going with that. It sounds better coming from him anyway. “Now, can you put in the movie?”
Little Nathan gives Scott a look that asks a question. Scott shrugs and turns back to confused Glen. He kisses her and her confused expression turns happy. He is going to give that girl a bad case of brain damage.
Tracey, you accepted my family.
I look at Nathan. I did, huh?
How could you get any better? He lays his head back on the couch. Now he is sitting with his feet next to Taylor, who has one arm wrapped around one of his legs and the other wrapped around Justin’s back.
I lay my head against his chest. Probably by living with you.
Yeah, but one step at a time.
Yeah, I’m going to lay here and doze off for a minute. If you leave, take me with you.
He adjusts himself so I’m more comfortable, without disturbing Taylor. I close my eyes and see nothing but darkness, and black liquid leaking from tortured, broken walls with clown faces on them. My eyes shoot open.
Umm, can you clear my head?
You’re scared of clowns? But demon-tainted Sephlem are no problem?
Don’t start, Nathan. You already have something coming for you.
You’re right, baby, and because I’m so afraid of you, I’m going to clear your head. It’s full of sarcasm.
You better be afraid of me. I’ll toss you like I did this morning.
He laughs out loud. Everyone looks at him. “Sorry,” he says, still looking at me. Lay down, Tracey
I get comfortable, pulling the blanket over my head, and doze off.
25: Uninhibited
Waking up, I’m turned into Nathan and facing the couch. His breaths are deep, which tells me he’s asleep. I sit up slightly, trying not to wake him. Looking around, everyone is pretty much asleep, while another movie on the TV demands someone to press ‘play.’
There are no windows, so I can’t determine what time of the day it is. It feels ‘late-early,’ maybe seven or eight.
“What’s wrong, Tracey?” I look towards the voice and Cindy is laying on Little Nathan, looking at me.
“Nothing.” My hands heat—not a good sign for Cindy.
“You should lay back down then—if you’re fine and all.” The film covers my eyes, and her image changes like Nathan’s did. She looks like a…jackal. Like the monster without the cage around her head, every other tooth is sharp and her gums are blood red. She has light grey skin with scars and cuts on her face and arms, and her nails are long and a darker shade of grey. I blink and she is back to regular. “You sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.” I blink again and the jackal leaps forward, to attack me.
Shit! I flip backwards over the edge of the couch, trying to get away from her—making a lot of noise apparently, because everyone jumps up. I look back at Cindy. She is still lying across Little Nathan, staring at me like I had lost it.
She scared the shit out of me. It had to be her.
Nathan is up and next to me. “You okay? What happened?”
“Yeah. Can we go?” I’m feeling weird being down here with her, and her attacking me but not attacking me.
“Yes…” he says slowly, looking at me as if he’s looking through me. He must be in my head. I don’t mind—not right now anyway. I need him to see what I saw.
“Hey Tracey, you okay?” Glen says from behind me.
I turn to her and nod, hearing Nathan tell everyone we will be back later.
That girl scared the shit out of me. She looked just like a jackal—a real one: grey skin, black hair, sharp nails, scratched face—and she tried to attack me.
“Let me know if you all need anything,” Taylor says to us.
“We will.” Nathan grabs the blanket and we leave the basement. He stops me at the top of the stairs, gently grabbing my face. I place my back against the door.
“Are you okay?”
“What was that?”
“Just what you thought.”
“They actually exist?”
“Yes. Just in a different since then you are familiar with.” He grabs my hand. “You want to go somewhere? We’ll talk about it.”
“Yes. I need some fresh air. Did you see her tr—”
“Shh, wait.”
We leave the house in his truck and he drives for about ten minutes before backing up in front of the water.
“Come on.” He helps me from the truck from his side.
We walk around to the back of the truck and he lets down the hatch, lays the blanket down, and pulls out a duffle bag from a compartment in the back.
He helps me up into the back of the truck, lays his head on the duffle bag, and I lay on him. The sky is clear, and it’s quiet—even the water is quiet. The wind is calm, providing a soft breeze to the comfortably warm air. The moon is full, and I watch the stars circling it, which always reminds me of Nathan’s eyes.
I close my eyes and see Cindy. “Did you see her attack me? Why did it seem so real for me? All I did was blink and she was sitting in the same spot, like she had never moved.”
“That’s how they work. It may have been her intention to attack you, and it seems that your gift showed her actions to you before she acted on them.”
“But why would she want to attack me?”
“That is what I have to figure out.” He goes quiet for a while. “To be honest with you, Tracey, what I had said about ‘if my father tries to kill you,’ wasn’t only meant for him. That goes for anyone, so Cindy might not be around for much longer.”
“Nathan—”
“I’m just being honest. Jackals have no limitation. They don’t care about anything. I don’t know why she wants to hurt you, but since you saw her intent, I’m not going to ignore it.”
“Why do you think I saw her actual self?”
“I think that ability lies within your black eyes—something like the way you were able to see me earlier.”
“Have you ever had to go against a jackal before?”
“A long time ago. I barely remember it. But I do know that, for whatever the reason, I didn’t waste any time getting rid of it. They aren’t like the movies or the animal. They, like hybrid Sephlems, can portray themselves as human if they want. What you saw is how they loo
k in their true form.” He rubs his chin “They live to cause pain and kill.”
“Before she tried to attack me, she was talking to me, checking on me.” I scoot closer to him. “I had woken up and everyone was asleep. She wasn’t, couldn’t have been, because, by the way she talked to me, she was already watching me. The moment she spoke and I acknowledged her, my hands heated. Then she insisted I lay down, because I told her I was fine. That’s when I felt the film cover my eyes.”
“Maybe your eyes help you to see what people really are…those who are not human.”
Maybe he’s on to something. “Possibly.” I look at him. “I don’t like people trying to attack me.”
“I don’t either.”
We lay here for a while in silence. I think about what happened in the basement. If Cindy really did want to attack me, apparently my body knew it, but she probably wouldn’t have tried it with the whole family there. That would be like asking for a death wish.
“Relax, Tracey. I’ll take care of it.”
“No, we will take care of it.”
“We?”
“Yes. You doing things without me is over.” I grab his hand. “After losing you, then saving you, then you saving me, we’re in this together, or not at all.”
“I don’t know how I feel about that, Tracey.”
“You don’t have a choice. We’ll talk to Nathan about it, and if necessary, handle matters accordingly.”
“Tracey, you can hear my family and you’ve accepted my family. I can’t believe it.” His voice is calm.
“Why is that so hard to believe?” I prop myself up on my elbow. “I love you.”
“I see.” He looks at me, then back at the sky. “It’s nice out here.”
“It is.”
“So how do you think your parents feel about your staying with us?”
“Wait—before we get into that—why are Scott and Glen moving in with you?”
He sits up. His look says he doesn’t want to tell me. “Because I don’t. But someone, or maybe some thing, broke into Scott’s house one night and tried to kill them. Glen was hurt bad. Scott took care of the person that got in the house. But before he did, he found out that more might come. So the outcome is that they will stay with us.”
