Tease

by Mary E. Twomey

  Anger flared up in me as I struggled to free myself from Mason’s embrace; it had been my safe haven mere seconds ago. “I can’t believe you’d give up like that! She’s our daughter!”

  Von flinched, blinking like I’d slapped him. He stepped back, stumbling into Danny, who glared at me. “You’re talking rubbish,” Danny growled. “If Mason couldn’t find her, then she didn’t turn into a Tiyanak. She was born Topside, so perhaps that spared her spirit from coming down here. Either way, you’ll not put that kind of guilt on Von.”

  I deflated, lowering my chin at the scolding I knew I’d deserved. “You’re right. I’m sorry, Von. Mason, are you sure she’s not here?”

  Mason nodded. “As sure as I can be. It’s been weeks, and I’ve been searching every day.” He called over his shoulder to the others. “You can start porting back to October’s house now. I’d like a word with her, then I’ll bring her back.”

  Danny was hesitant, but eventually went along with anything that got him closer to Mariang. When the pops of porting sounded from the main room, Mason exhaled that we were finally alone. “You alright?” he asked.

  “I honestly don’t know how much that even matters anymore. It’s been a rough... night? Week? Year?”

  He cleared his throat, gearing up to say something he’d clearly put a lot of thought into. “I bit you before I went away. I would ask your forgiveness, but some things are just... I don’t know how to apologize enough for it. I’m so sorry, hani. I should’ve left sooner, and not assumed I could handle being around you when you were so very pregnant. We were doing well, and then I went and attacked you.” He gulped. “Attacked you again. The first time, I tried to break your back; the second time, I pinned you down and kissed you; and now this? I can’t tell you how sorry I am that you got stuck with a monster like me as your Reaper. That’s one of the other reasons I’ve been reluctant to come back to you.”

  I reached up with my good hand and placed it over his mouth. “No more. It’s all a hundred years ago. You’re Matruculan; we both knew it would be tricky. My leg’s fine. You don’t have to give it another thought. I don’t look at you and see a monster.”

  Mason cast me a dubious look. “Well, you have a terrible radar for that sort of thing. You’re engaged to a half-vamp, your new father’s Matruculan, and your fiancé’s family are all Duwende. You’re literally surrounded by monsters.”

  “Mason, I couldn’t be upset with you if I tried. I’m just so happy you’re okay. I was worried something bad happened that was keeping you from coming back. And the thing is, we need you.”

  Mason’s eyebrows raised at my declaration. “I need you, too. This Reaper-Omen bond makes it hard to stay away. There’s this emptiness.” He touched his chest and shook his head. “I don’t like being separate from you.”

  The corner of my mouth tugged upward. “I love you, too, Mason. Let’s never be apart for this long again.”

  “Deal.”

  I leaned up and kissed his scruffy cheek. “Take me home, honey.”

  Forty-Three.

  Two Creatures

  Mason was quiet when he ported me Topside. He didn’t put me down, but held me in his arms. “I’m alright to stand,” I told him. “I only hurt the top of me.”

  Mason touched the outside of my thigh with his thumb, smirking at my sharp inhalation. “Yeah, it’s all going to start hitting you now. Your leg’s bleeding, hani. I don’t want you putting pressure on it. And your wrist needs a doctor to look at it.” He cast around my living room, his eyes falling on Von, who was the only other person in the house, apart from Danny. “Can you drive us to a doctor?”

  “Sure. Set her down on a chair so you can wash up and change into civilian clothes first. Then we’ll take her in.”

  I exhaled, wishing I could set my wrist myself, if indeed it was broken. Mason gave me another pull before he sat me down on a chair in the kitchen, retiring to the bathroom while Von brought me a clean tank top. “You don’t have to be in here, you know. I know all this blood can’t be easy for you.”

  Von forced a light smile. “‘Easy’ is my middle name, darling.” He worked quickly, cutting off my bloody and torn shirts, running a wet rag over my torso to clean up the blood I was coated in, and working my tank top over my head.

  I quirked my eyebrow at my boyfriend. “Not a single pervy comment? You’re losing your touch.”

  “I’m breathing through my teeth. If you hadn’t kissed me already and broken the curse part of being a vampire, I would’ve bitten clean through your... But I’m in control. I’m pretty sure,” Von admitted, putting my torn shirts in a plastic grocery bag. He paused a moment to smell his fingers, his eyes rolling back. “When you’re all bloody like this, I honestly can’t decide which part of me wants you more – the fiancé or the vampire. I hate that I’m two creatures.” He tightened his fist. “I can do this. It’s the same as quitting smoking. Just self-control.”

  “Are you sure? Maybe with me all oozing isn’t the time to test your limits. We have blood bags for a reason, Von.”

  Von’s smile was tight as it spread across his handsome face. “I can still see you, you know. Before you broke my curse, my bloodlust would cloud out the details of why I loved you. I’d start to hear only your heartbeat and smell only your blood. But I can still see you now. I’m beating it, Peach.”

  “If anyone could, my money would be on you.”

  Von’s gaze softened, and I could feel his adoration. “I love that you believe in me.” His eyes fell. “I hate that I’m two creatures. I hope you see I’m not the monster right now.”

  I tugged on the front of his shirt and pulled him down to plant a kiss on his lips. “You’re my fiancé. No matter how good I smell, you’re always that guy.”

  “You should be careful what monsters you invite into your bed, young lady. Positively scandalous.” He was joking again, which I took to mean as his thirst was past him now.

  “You should kiss me again. Like you mean it. Like you want to make me forget how bad my wrist hurts.” I looked up at him through my lashes. “Kiss me like a vampire trying to seduce me into dark corners. We just survived Sombi. I think I deserve a little seduction.”

  Lust was visible in Von’s eyes. As he chewed on his lower lip, I could tell he was very much my fiancé, and not so much the vampire. “You’re playing with fire, little Omen.”

  I gave his shirt a yank with my good hand, so I could press my lips to his ear. “Then make it hurt.”

  Von groaned, his hands roaming my torso as his lips stroked mine, finally introducing the colors that made me swoon. I’d missed the taste of his mouth, the trumpets and glitter of gold that took me away from what ailed me, and put me on a higher plane of existence. In between kisses, Von’s tongue migrated down to my flushed skin just above my bra. I thrilled at the sensation that was both in our fantasy world and in reality. There was no Sombi, no monsters and no responsibilities. There was the kiss, our park and our own little world where we could escape to.

  ...Until a sharp pain jerked me out of our bliss. “Ow! Oh, that hurts!”

  Von stumbled back drunkenly, shaking his head while trying to assess which world we were in. “What happened?”

  “Nothing. Something scraped me.” Your teeth. I realized that maybe I was flirting with danger in the very bad way one should never flirt at all.

  Von’s nostrils flared, and before I could brace myself, he pounced. My boyfriend knocked my chair back so he could yank my tank top down and nip at the long cut. The slice stretched from my collar to my breast, and wasn’t quite closed yet. My head hit the floor, my wrist jarred uncomfortably, and a cry of distress sounded from my lips as Von’s teeth grazed my cut, opening it further so his tongue could sweep across the swell. His feral grunts broke my heart. “Help!” I cried to anyone who might hear me. I twisted and struggled to get away, but I couldn’t bring myself to punch Von to knock him off me. “No, Von!” I tried to push at him with my good arm, but he was in a world
unto himself, his hand cupping my chin so he could pin my head to the floor and get a better angle. It was sensual. It was painful.

  It was terrifying.

  Danny ran into the kitchen, his eyes wide as he tried to figure out what was going on. When he heard Von’s animalistic slurps, he ripped his brother off of me and flung him into the wall. “No! Von, get ahold of yourself.” When Von lunged for me again, I scrambled out of the chair and crawled with one functioning arm away from the battling brothers. Danny slammed Von back again, knocking some sense into him with the second blow. “You need blood, but you can’t have hers.”

  Mason ran into the kitchen, wet, and clad in only a pair of pants. He pinned Von to the wall while my boyfriend gnashed his teeth and growled to get at me. Danny ran to the fridge and grabbed a blood bag, twisting off the lid and shoving the lip into Von’s mouth. With every pull, Von seemed to come down from the frenzy another notch, his eyes widening and drooping over and over as he tried to get ahold of himself. Then he threw the blood bag down in disgust, the crimson pooling on my clean kitchen floor. “No! I don’t want to be a vampire! I’m in control!”

  I was useless, curled in a ball in the corner between the counters and the trash can, shuddering at the scene I’d caused. “I’m sorry!” I choked out. “It’s my fault. He’s been off blood, going on four days now. I shouldn’t have kissed him all bloody like I am. Von, I’m so sorry.”

  Danny was livid. “Off blood? How exactly does a vampire go off blood?”

  Von swallowed thickly. “Like a person giving up meat and becoming a vegetarian. I’m a person, Danny! I can do this! It’s just a setback.”

  Danny’s shock came in the form of shouting. “This is nothing like going off meat! Humans can survive without meat. You’re trying to survive without basic sustenance! You’re mental if you think this is helping you. You’re only going to be more dangerous to October if you keep this up.”

  Von reached out and clutched Danny’s shirt in his fist, shouting his words through gritted teeth. “I’m a person, Danny! I don’t want to be a vampire anymore!” There was anger, and beneath that was a desperation that tugged at my heart. “I’m a man! I don’t want my bride to marry a monster!”

  Mason’s restraint mutated into a rough hug, engulfing Von in the embrace I wished I could give him. “Easy, brother. I’ve got you. Settle down.”

  Von struggled against the kindness for a few seconds, but finally gave up his fight. “I can be stronger,” he worked out, his tone laced with self-loathing and doubt.

  “You’re plenty strong, Von,” Mason assured him, like the good friend he’d learned to be. “It has nothing to do with that. You are who you are, and we all respect you. You don’t have to put this on yourself.”

  “I’m sorry, Von,” I managed. “This was on me. I’m a nurse. I should’ve done a more thorough check on you to make sure you could actually survive without blood. Danny’s right. It’s got nothing to do with self-control. Finish your blood bag.”

  “I don’t need it!” Von raged. “You said you believed in me!”

  “I do! But what you’re doing is starving yourself. Of course I believe in you. I wouldn’t be alive still if you didn’t have stellar self-control.”

  When Von slowly calmed, Mason finally released him from the hug. He clapped Von on the shoulder a few times, keeping his hand there, just in case.

  Von sneaked longing looks at his saving grace that was leaking on my floor, coating the tile in red. When words finally came to him, they were filled with regret. “Get her to a doctor. I’m sorry, hani. I can’t go with you. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” The self-loathing was radiating off of him in waves while Mason kept him in place. “Just go.” With a cry of agony, Von collapsed onto all fours and started licking the blood off the floor like an animal. “Go, October! I can’t stop, and I don’t want you to see me like this!”

  I tried standing, but as it turns out, my leg wasn’t as strong as it needed to be. None of me was. I don’t even remember hurting it. The long slice that caught my eye on my thigh was no doubt the work of a zombie.

  Danny bent down, his hand cuffing Von on the scruff of the neck. “I’ll watch her for you. Go easy on yourself, mate. Drink until you’re full, so you don’t hurt her again.” His fingers gripped harder, and his next words came out pained. “You can’t transition, Von. I need you to be my big brother.”

  Von paused his feast and grasped Danny in a tearful hug. He didn’t have the words, but I could see the raw emotion on his tear- and blood-stained face.

  Danny finally released his brother and helped me to my feet. “I’ll take her right now.”

  I yelped through the pain of my wrist being jostled as Danny lifted me up in his arms. He marched through the living room, snatching up my keys on his way out.

  The warm air greeted me, almost surprising me with the fact that it was midday, and you know, not the frozen tundra. Danny was gentle as he lowered me to the passenger’s seat, and careful with every crack in the pavement as he drove down the street and pulled out onto the main road.

  Finally, I broke the tensed silence. “I’m sorry. I know it was bad. You don’t have to bother with the lecture.”

  “Good. You don’t seem to listen when I talk anyway. Von’s dangerous, kid. He’s a vampire, no matter what degree it’s taken him over. I’m just glad Mason’s staying with you again. What if we weren’t around? Then what do you suppose would’ve happened? You would’ve died, or at best, you would live, but Von would’ve drank enough blood to turn. Then we’d all lose him completely and forever. You have to be more careful than this!”

  I nodded, unable to argue the very valid point. In Danny’s frustration, I saw that he did love Von, and cared if his brother was taken from him for good.

  My tank top was stained with gooey red, and my hands were shaking from the blood loss. I cursed aloud when I realized I’d left my wallet at home. “We have to go back. I need my information if they’re going to treat me at the emergency room.”

  “We’re not going back there. Von’s not in control yet. Think of a better option. I can take you to Ezra’s. I’m sure he could call a doctor to the mansion.”

  “No. I need a legit x-ray machine.” My brain flipped through a number of roadblocks before I let out a heavy sigh. “Can I borrow your cell phone?” I knew the number by heart. I mean, I only had a handful of contacts, so it wasn’t too difficult to remember. I waited three rings, clearing my throat to reassemble my bearings when the male voice answered. “Hey, Brenden. I’m in a bit of a situation.”

  After that phone call, I knew I had one more that I should make as an act of good will. I closed my eyes as I waited for the other side to pick up, wishing I’d made better choices in life. “Hey, Judge. I’m heading over to the prison. Do you need me to drop any messages for you?”

  Forty-Four.

  Never Come Back Here

  I kept my head down as the guard at the front desk checked me in with a healthy amount of chitchat I tried to smile through. Luckily, I’d stashed my old work ID in my glove box, back when I had foolish hopes that one day I could return to my regularly scheduled program after the Terraway show was over. I used my old ID (and Brenden’s written request to let me up) to get myself past check-in, while Danny used just enough pulling to make it through each checkpoint, the sneak. It didn’t dawn on me until then that Mason and Von had most likely used that same maneuver to get past security when they’d gone in with me on my last day. I’d been so turned around that I hadn’t questioned it then.

  I had too much blood on me, and worried Danny’s blue and red flannel shirt would only cover my injury for so long. I’d discarded my tank top in the car in exchange for Danny’s less stained offering. “Just stopping by to pay a visit to the doctor. He needed my consult on a patient,” I lied, producing the fib Brenden had instructed me to use.

  Danny put his visitor’s badge on his sweat-stained white t-shirt, hovering close to quell his nerves. He was used to
keeping Mariang safe from monsters, but these were the monsters of my reality, not his. “I don’t like this. Are you quite sure there’s nowhere else I can take you?”

  “Without ID? No. This’ll be quick.” The guard waved me through without an escort, knowing I knew the prison well enough to get around without supervision.

  Danny’s hand fell into mine. It was sweet, but had that note of concern to it. He pulled a little of my anxiety that had peaked from the sting of the soreness I still felt. His eyes darted around furtively. “Why on earth did you ever work here? This is so dangerous.”

  I allowed myself the luxury of a small scoff. “It’s a good thing my current job is roses and kittens. I worked where they would hire me as young as I was. There are always guards around, so it’s not as unsafe as you’re thinking.”

  “You have no sense of self-preservation.”

  “That’s lucky for all of you, I guess. If I did, there’s no way I would’ve gone along with the Terraway nonsense as long as I have.” I led Danny to the infirmary that smelled like rubbing alcohol and felt like a familiar hug I’d missed. Brenden buzzed me into the room with a look of concern marring his welcoming smile. “Hey, Brenden. Good to see you again. Thanks for this.”

  Brenden scratched the slight cleft on his chin. “Of course. I only wish you came back under better circumstances. Come have a seat on the table. We’ve got the infirmary to ourselves, at least for now.” He was all business, just as he’d been when I’d worked by his side. Fixing the patient had always been priority one, and then we would shoot the breeze over paperwork with our congenial back and forth. His dark brown eyebrows knit together beneath the thick black frames of his glasses. “Tell me about your injury.”

  “Um, well injuries,” I corrected him. “I think my wrist might be fractured, and I’ve got a few cuts I can’t stitch up with one hand.”

  “How’d you injure your wrist?” he asked, taking the damaged wrist and examining it with feather-like care.