by Zoë Fox
“Is something wrong?” He asked nervously. He’d been hovering over her since they left that horrible place. “I mixed one of the packets of powder and the milk you brought over last night, just as you said.”
“I, uh, think you forgot to microwave it,” She said, placing the mug on the desk. From the other room, she could hear Toad watching the news on the brand-new television. While Sean had spent the walk to Lucas’ freaking out, her brother had acted as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. “It’s okay. I’ll do it in a moment.”
“I’m sorry. I am not quite sure I know which of the appliances you purchased is the microwave.” He paused. “But you’re sure you’re okay?”
“Honestly, I don’t know if I’m ever going to be okay again.” She rubbed her right wrist absently. She could still feel the knife, the ropes that the killer had used to bind his victim. “She was so scared. She begged him to let her go, but he just laughed in her face. I mean, what kind of bastard could do that?”
Lucas crouched down so he could see into her eyes. Gently, he took the wrist she’d been stroking from her other hand and began to rub the flesh there, hoping his action would calm her. She was upset and he didn’t know how to make it any better. “There are evils in the world even I don’t understand, Alex. One would think that after almost four hundred years nothing would shock me, but there will always be pain and anger that exceeds my capacity to understand.”
Alex sighed. Every nerve in her body seemed raw, like she was a frayed rope and someone kept running their fingers across the unraveling strands. She could feel tears beginning to gather at the corner of her eyes, blurring her vision. She turned her head so he wouldn’t see. She hated to cry. It made her feel weak. “It’s not right.”
Lucas brushed his hand lightly across her cheek, making her look at him. “No, it’s not right. But it is and may always be a part of this world.” She looked so fragile. His heart, which beat much slower now that his meal had been hours ago, felt like it might break.
A single teardrop spilled over the edge of her eye, clinging to the bottom row of her eyelashes. She used her palm to rub it away, ashamed that she couldn’t seem to make sense of anything lately. Her life had always been a little different, but recently it felt like everything was beginning to spin out of control. Another teardrop streaked down the angle of her cheek. “I’m sorry. I just can’t seem to get myself together right now.”
Lucas pulled her from the chair into his arms, hugging her tightly to his chest. He’d always been a deeply reserved man, but something about her seemed to break down every barrier he had. Somewhere during the several lifetimes he’d lived, he’d gone numb to the suffering of others, but since meeting Alex it was as if a switch had flipped on inside of him. Like someone had turned on one of those electric lights modern people were so fond of. He still didn’t know how to handle it, all those feelings, but it didn’t stop him from being glad he’d met her. He’d figure it out eventually.
“Don’t cry,” He murmured softly to her.
“I can’t help it.” She was sobbing now. “It was like it was all happening to me. I couldn’t get loose from the ropes and I could feel everything he did to her.”
He rocked her back and forth slowly. Not knowing what to say, he simply listened as she described the horrors she’d witnessed. After a few minutes, she pulled back slightly so that she could look at him.
“You know, you hear about stuff like that happening on the news or whatever, but no one ever stops to think about what it was really like for the person it happened to.” She took a deep breath. “We just say, ‘oh, that’s horrible’ and go about our day like it's nothing. But it’s not nothing. She was a living breathing person, with feelings and dreams, and he just took that away from her.”
Lucas nodded. “You are right. Most people never think about that. They are so alienated from others that they cannot imagine what another’s experiences might be like.” He smoothed a strand of hair from her face. “For the most part, a person is too concerned with their own troubles to think about the problems of another.”
“Well, it makes me sick,” she sighed. “It’s a load of crap.”
He wished there was some way he could take the pain away from her. Something he could do so she didn’t have to feel this way, but he knew the experiences of the night would likely stick with her for a long time before they began to fade.
A single teardrop traced its way down her cheek to rest at the corner of her mouth. They were already so close together he could feel her breath on his face, soft and caressing. Leaning forward just a bit more seemed to make perfect sense. It was the most natural thing in the world.
Alex inhaled sharply as Lucas’ lips grazed hers. Ever so gently he kissed the teardrop from the corner of her mouth, his tongue playing lightly on the crease. She tilted her head so that they connected fully. His lips were soft, yet through them she could feel the hardness of his small fangs pressing into her skin as the pressure between them increased. Using his tongue, he parted her lips, his arms tightening around her.
The heaviness she had felt since receiving the vision at the house lifted. The sensation of his tongue curling around the tip of hers made her light headed. And then as suddenly as it had started, he pulled away.
His supernatural speed left her kneeling on the floor alone, still leaning in as if mid kiss.
“Forgive me,” His voice came out harsh and angry from across the room where he had moved to stand.
“What’s wrong?” She asked, opening her eyes. “Did I do something wrong?”
She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. For the most part, she was a level-headed person, but tonight her emotions seemed to be getting the better of her.
“Of course not!” He rubbed his eyes with his hand, feeling weary. “It was wrong of me to take advantage of you that way.”
Laughter won out as Alex looked up at him. “Sometimes you really are ridiculously old fashioned.”
“And, what pray tell, does that mean?” He asked, taking a seat on the couch near her.
Pulling herself off the floor, she crawled back up onto the chair where she’d sat before. “I’m not the heroine from some stupid Victorian romance novel, Luke.” She said, rolling her eyes.
He stared at her in confusion. She needed someone to listen, a shoulder to cry on even and he had violated her trust. Yet, here she was, laughing like it was nothing.
“Listen, tonight’s been crazy, but if I hadn’t wanted you to kiss me I would have let you know.” She smiled at him. “I would have pulled away or slapped you. Trust me, no amount of paranormal weirdness is going to make me do something I don’t want to.”
“My timing was not the best,” he insisted. “you were vulnerable and I shouldn’t have—”
“Oh, whatever,” she interrupted laughing. “You bit me once while I was passed out, remember? So, don’t go acting all gentlemanly with me.”
“I believe I explained how that incidence was under extenuating circumstances.” He said in his defense, unable to stop the corner of his mouth from twitching upwards in the beginning of a smile.
She rolled her eyes again. “I’m just glad you finally did it. I’m not immortal like you, so I didn’t want to wait the rest of my life for you to get up the guts.”
He shook his head, smiling.
“Um, guys,” Sean said from the doorway. “Hate to interrupt, but Toad is getting cranky. He wants to eat his candy.”
“So? They let him.” Alex replied.
I offered to check it out for him—”
“What’s the problem then?”
Sean sighed. “The little brat said I was too stupid to tell the difference between a Sweet-Tart and a razor blade.”
Alex snorted. “Good point. Tell him I’ll be there in a minute.”
Sean nodded and walked back down the hallway.
She stood and stretched. Before leaving the room, Alex leaned over and brushed her lips lightly across Lucas’ cheek.
Chapter Thirty-One
The monster dipped a black lacquer coffee mug into the white plastic bucket, filling it with blood. He’d already used up the contents of one of the containers, leaving him only this one. He sighed. He’d have to make it last.
He held the cup under his nose and inhaled. She still smelled wonderful, a wild thing now tamed. He’d tamed her with his hands and his knife. And now he got to drink her in, nice and slow, whenever he wanted. It was perfect.
Carrying his mug carefully, as to not spill a drop, he walked into the room where he kept their beautiful faces. His girls. They liked to watch. He knew they did.
He eased his body into the brown recliner and cupped the mug with both hands. He’d positioned the chair so that it faced his trophy wall. After taking their heads, he brought them home and painstakingly cleaned the blood off their wounds. Then he brushed their hair with an antique silver-backed brush until it shined. Only then could a girl be added to his mantle. Only then was she ready.
Behind him was a corkboard where he’d taken to keeping newspaper clippings mentioning him. It was almost full. He’d have to add another plank to the display soon. They’d dubbed him ‘The Vampire Killer’. The thought made him smile. If only they knew.
Before lifting the mug to his lips, he saluted his newest girl. She’d been so sweet in her fear and now she was truly his forever. No one would ever be able to separate them. With every sip of her blood he consumed she became more a part of him. In a perfect symphony of art and biology, they had melded into one being.
Taking in another mouthful, he considered what he left before she and him were fully together. Half, three-quarters at most, of one of the large containers worth of her blood remained for him. She would last him the week and no more. He sighed. They didn’t last as long as he’d like. They were always with him, but his favorite part was making them join him. That never lasted long enough.
Soon, he’d have to be looking for another. Another beautiful woman trapped inside a hollow shell of flesh and bone. And he would set her free. He would give her what she really wanted, what she’d ask for, if she only knew how.
Chapter Thirty-Two
“So, your brother is a psychic?” Sean asked as he shut his locker.
“Something like that. Lucas is still unsure exactly what all he can do. I tried talking to Toad about it, but after he asked me what I thought the color purple tasted like, I kind of let it go.” Alex swung her book bag over her shoulder.
Sean gave her a funny look. “He actually asked that? Where does he get the things he comes up with?”
She shrugged. “From Mars for all I know. He might be getting a direct feed from an alien radio station to his brain. At this point, I wouldn’t be shocked by anything.”
Sean nodded. He’d found himself becoming numb to the weirdness that surrounded Alex. It was as if she was a giant magnet, attracting every possible unbelievable circumstance to her. If things continued at this rate for much longer, he was certain he was going to need a therapist. He hoped his father’s health insurance would cover it if he did end up having a complete mental breakdown.
“...And then Lucas kissed me, but he got all weird about it for a little while afterwards.” Apparently, she’d continued talking while he evaluated his own sanity.
“Wait. What? He kissed you? Eww, gross. He’s old enough to be like your great-great-great grandfather, Alex. That’s just nasty!”
Alex rolled her eyes. “Mind keeping it down? I don’t want the whole school to think I’m making out with some guy from the old folks’ home,” she hissed.
“But you basically are!”
“No, I’m not. Lucas looks like he’s in his twenties. It’s not the same thing. Quit being so judgmental.”
Sean just stared at her. Judgmental? He’d probably gotten cancer from that weird little energy thing her brother had pulled, and now she was calling him judgmental? “You know, even the most open-minded person in the world would probably be a little freaked out at the idea of their best friend making out with something that has fangs.” He said in his defense.
“Hey, I’m not asking for your approval,” she ran a hand through her hair. “I was just telling you about the rest of my night.”
He sighed. “Fine. You and Lucas kissed. Whoopie.” He said without enthusiasm. “Next thing you know he’s going to be drinking your blood.”
“Well, that will be between him and me, don’t you think?” She was frustrated with Sean’s reaction. He was completely overreacting. “Anyway, so, did you hear that we were on the news?” She asked, changing the subject.
“What are you talking about?” He said, taking the bait.
“The fact that someone was in that house made the Sunday night news. I guess we forgot to lock the door or something in our rush to get out of there. The cops must have gone out there and found it open.” Internally, she braced herself for the freak out that was about to happen.
“Oh, God! They’re going to find out it was us. We’re going to jail. I know we are,” He whispered as he pulled her into the alcove outside of the men’s restroom. “I knew I never should have went with you guys. I’m going to end up in a cell with some homicidal maniac who wants to touch me in inappropriate places and it’s going to be all your fault.”
Alex stifled a laugh. “Relax. They think the killer revisited the scene of his last crime, or whatever. Most likely, they leaked the story to let him know they know…like they do in the movies.”
“Alex, this isn’t the movies! People get in trouble for things like that. If the cops question me about it, I’m so turning you in. It was your idea.”
“Nobody is going to ask you anything. Jeez, just calm down.” She had no doubt he’d roll over on her in a second. “You know, if you keep getting this stressed out over every little thing, you’re going to have a heart attack before you’re thirty.”
“Yeah, well, at least I have a heartbeat,” he retorted, “unlike your undead boyfriend.”
“Lucas isn’t my boyfriend.” She paused. “I don’t know what he is. It was only one kiss. Besides, his heart beats…well, at least some of the time. Like after he’s fed.”
“That’s so disgusting. I don’t even want to think about what he has for dinner.” Sean shuttered.
“To each their own,” Alex said, shrugging his comment off. “But don’t worry about the police. We didn’t touch anything, so they don’t even have our fingerprints.”
“Yeah? What about the doorknob or flashlight you handed me?” His face went pale. “Great. They’re going to think I did it.”
“Calm down. If for some reason they do come by to talk to you, tell them we just wanted a good scare on Halloween.” She thought for a moment. “Yeah, that sounds believable. We’re teenagers. We’re supposed to do stupid stuff like that.”
“As opposed to being part of sending a spirit to the afterworld, or whatever the hell it was that Toad did that night?”
“Exactly. But whatever you do, don’t mention seeing a ghost or they’ll probably throw you in the nut hut.”
He sighed. It seemed his choices in life had narrowed down to jail or the loony bin with people that ate crayons and thought their orange juice was talking to them. He glanced over at Alex. He’d take the insane asylum any day. At least he was used to crazy people.
“So, what made you pass out?” Alex asked after they resumed their walk to class.
“Oh, I don’t know. There was a ghost and a six-year-old with unholy talents you only see in horror movies that had an electro-vise grip on my hand. Add to that the dead bloodsucker that was standing behind me. I guess it was all just a little too much for me.”
“So, it didn’t have anything to do with the vision?” She asked, ignoring his sarcasm as she took her usual seat in biology class.
“What vision?”
She stared at him. “You’re kidding, right?” Maybe he had blocked the whole thing out.
“Nope. I have no clue what you�
��re talking about.”
“The vision. The whole being ‘cut and drained of blood’ vision.”
His eyes were blank. “I guess I passed out before that.”
“You’re telling me you didn’t have to experience any of what the woman went through?”
He nodded. “You did?”
“Yeah.” She sighed. “It was the most intensely horrible thing I’ve ever had to go through.”
“Did you actually feel any of it?”
“All of it.” She took a deep breath, hoping it would calm her stomach. Every time she thought about it, she got queasy. “Every cut. Every drop of blood.”
“Wow. I’m glad I got to avoid that one.”
“Yeah, you probably would have passed out. Oh, wait, you did that.” She stuck her tongue out at him.
He ignored her. “So, did you see anything interesting?”
“No, I was too busy feeling everything she went through. I mean, I could see my, I mean, her arms bound to the chair, her feet, and the white buckets he used to gather her blood.” Alex’s eyes widened, realizing what she’d just said.
“What?” Sean had no idea why this was significant.
“A few days ago, I was at Lucas’ place—”
“Figures.” He muttered.
Alex glared at him.
“Sorry. You’re just always there.” A hint of jealousy laced his words.
“Anyway, I was over there and Roderick showed up. He made a comment about keeping blood in his refrigerator in buckets.”
“Okay, so? He’s a vampire and he’s creepy as hell, but we’ve established that. And you told me I’m not allowed to think someone is a murder suspect just because they are—what was the word you used?—‘hemoglobinly challenged’.”
“Yeah, but he said he used white buckets.”
Sean inhaled sharply. “Uh-oh. What are you going to do?”
“I, uh, don’t know. I mean, I can’t exactly accuse him or question him.” She thought for a moment. “The only thing I can think of is to tell Lucas.”
