by Melissa Haag
Two hours saw Mary and I both bathed in tepid water and our dirty clothes washed. As we stood outside, hanging our clothes on the line someone had setup for us, I sensed the restless wills of those near. I excused myself, and Mary was quick to follow me.
I’d barely made it to the other end of the common room when someone knocked on the door. Before I could take another step, the door swung open and Thomas strode in.
“Enough,” he said, his gaze immediately falling on me.
“Excuse me?”
“You made a big speech about showing you kindness and consideration, then you run off and hide. Where’s your consideration for us?”
My mouth dropped open. I barely registered that he stalked across the room. What I’d said was that it wasn’t a game. How did he get a speech from that? Why did he think I needed to show them consideration? After everything they’d put me through?
“By hiding in here, you’re denying us a chance to show you any kindness.”
“By leaving me alone to heal, you are showing me kindness.”
He stopped in front of me and slowly shook his head. His nearness worried me, and I shuffled back half a step. He scowled and followed.
“You are not allowed to hide in here like a frightened rabbit.”
I stopped and stared at him, too angry to speak for a moment. A rabbit?
I had every right to cower in here. Despite my stitches and still sore neck, almost every man out there had the same thought: Try again. They couldn’t even give me the week I’d asked for to let me rest. It wouldn’t have been a surprise if they all started stomping their way into the room insisting.
“Wait. Why are you in here?” I asked.
“To talk some sense into you.”
“No. I mean, why you? Why not Paul or Henry or one of the other men out there waiting to meet me? You’ve already met me, talked to me, and told me you’re interested in me. Why did they let you through the door without a fight?”
He cocked a humorless grin at me and leaned close. A finger of fear trailed down my spine, and I struggled to hold myself still. He hadn’t attacked me. He’d killed the man who had. But I knew he still wanted to bite me.
“Who says they didn’t fight me?” His exhale brushed my ear on the side that was still stitched up. I wanted to step back but didn’t want to prove his words about hiding in fear correct.
I’m not defenseless, I reminded myself.
He didn’t immediately pull away. Instead, he stepped closer, set his hands on my shoulders, and breathed deeply. I trembled.
“Charlene,” he said softly, “let me protect you.”
I turned my head slightly to meet his gaze, our faces inches apart. The twist pulled at my healing skin.
“How? By letting you bite me? That’s not protection. If you wanted to protect me, you’d promise never to bite me or let anyone else try.”
He scowled, and I could feel his frustration and anger. His fingers on my shoulders twitched, and I held my breath. Without meaning for it to happen, my will solidified again. I held it ready.
After another moment, he straightened away and let his hands drop. With relief, I dropped the hold on my will as he gave his attention to Mary, who hesitated by the exterior door.
“Gregory misses you,” he said to her. “He didn’t realize he wouldn’t be able to spend time with you when he agreed to a postpone Claiming.”
Mary flushed, and I grew angry. He was only trying to manipulate the situation to get me to return to my old routine...if you could call it a routine. But how dare he make Mary feel guilty.
“Gregory is welcomed in here any time,” I said, staring at the back of Thomas’ head. “Just as Paul and Henry are. In fact, any of you who are not interested in biting me are welcome.”
He turned to eye me.
“And I’ll know when someone’s lying,” I said, crossing my arms stubbornly as I’d seen him do so many times.
He slowly bent his head in acknowledgement. Then, he turned and left.
A moment after Mary closed the door behind him, someone else knocked on the door. She arched a brow at me, and I nodded.
She pulled open the door. A smile lit her face at the sight of Gregory. Guilt jabbed me a bit. I turned and made my way back to my room. There, I went to the window and seriously considered my circumstance.
I was so convinced there was nowhere else for me. But, how did I really know for sure? Was I willing to continue to risk my wellbeing by staying here? I watched men stride from the trees. They looked at the laundry, the closed door, then up at my window. I didn’t flinch away from their stares. I’d known they weren’t ready to give up. More came until the yard filled. I saw Thomas, Paul, Henry, and Anton in their ranks.
This wasn’t how I pictured my life when I’d left. I’d known it would be hard, that there would be struggles. But to this degree? No. I’d imagined I would eventually find a place to settle down where I could start over, and people wouldn’t care where I’d come from. I thought I would find a place where the Pennys of the world wouldn’t find me. Though I doubted Penny would find me here, I also began to doubt I could live any kind of life here.
With what I’d learned about my power during my attack, I was no longer a prisoner. I could defend myself against these creatures. I looked down at the number of men in the yard and wondered if I was crazy enough to try leaving. Did I actually think I could fight them all? Yet if I stayed, didn’t I face that same potential fate? Just a few minutes ago I’d wondered what was keeping them all from storming into the room.
With a sigh, I turned away from the window. The bag I’d brought from home leaned against the dresser. Could I leave? Would they let me? I wouldn’t know if I didn’t try.
I packed what few clothes I had into the bag. The zipper sounded like thunder in the room, loud and ominous.
Eight
Mary and Gregory broke apart when I walked into the common room. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes glassy from his kiss. I grinned at her. She returned the grin until she saw the bag over my shoulders.
I didn’t say anything as my smile faded as well. Gregory turned from Mary and moved toward the door.
“Gregory,” I said. Just his name. The warning in my tone was clear.
He stopped and watched me move to the pump. I listened to the metallic screech as I filled my water container. When I finished, I turned toward the pair. They still watched me, Mary with concern and Gregory with a carefully blank expression.
“Charlene—”
“Mary, please,” I said with a shake of my head. I didn’t want those outside to have an idea that I meant to leave until I was out there. I made my way across the room, hugged her, then went to the door.
Standing tall, I pulled it open. Bright light blinded me as I stepped out and turned toward the drive. Men moved out of the way, their actions slow and expressions puzzled. It wasn’t until I walked halfway down the drive that one of them stepped in front of me.
“Where are you going?”
He was a face in a sea of faces. A man I might have met, but didn’t remember.
“I’m not sure yet,” I said.
“But you’re leaving?” he asked. Everyone watched me.
“Yes, I am.”
Growls arose.
“Don’t go,” another said. “I know I can Claim you.”
The man next to him pushed into him, and they both fell to the ground, fighting. Others started pushing at their neighbors.
“That’s why I’m leaving,” I said loudly. I stepped around the fighting men, intending to walk away, but a hand on my shoulder stopped me.
“I suggest you let go immediately,” I said without turning. My voice was low and steady despite my shaking. I’d hoped they’d just let me leave. Now, I saw they wouldn’t.
My determination to stop being a victim hardened and that piece of my will became my weapon. When the hand didn’t drop away, I swung it out in an arc. The men standing within four feet flew backwards as i
f pushed. They landed hard; and, too stunned by what had happened, they just lay there.
“You are not children, and I am not a toy to fight over.”
“We wouldn’t fight if you would allow one of us to Claim you,” a familiar voice said.
The men slowly got to their feet as I turned toward Thomas with a scowl.
“It is not my willingness that is preventing you from Claiming me. It’s your kind’s inability to Claim me, the human, that is preventing it from happening.”
“Perhaps it was your unwillingness that prevented the Claim from taking hold.”
I’d never before wanted to hurt someone as much as I did that man. His thickheaded persistence was beyond infuriating. I took a slow breath and made up my mind.
“Anton,” I said. The crowd parted until Anton moved forward. Thomas growled low. “You promised, if I allowed you to Claim me, you would be gentle.”
His eyes lit with understanding. “Not just in the bite, but for the rest of our lives.”
“Then, I willingly give you permission to Claim me.” He made to move forward, but Thomas spoke up.
“I challenge you for the right,” Thomas said. He would have stepped forward, but his friend with the merry grey eyes placed a restraining hand on his shoulder.
“Uh-uh,” I said, shaking my head. “You said it was my willingness preventing it so your challenge is pointless...unless you’re saying you’re wrong. Because I’m only willing to let Anton try. No one else.”
Thomas snarled, his anger plain. He wasn’t the only one. I ignored them all, and motioned Anton forward. He towered over me.
“Is it possible to bite the other side of my neck?” My hands shook with fear as I gripped the strap of my pack. I hadn’t forgotten the pain of the last bite. And, the stitches still had a few more days before they could be removed.
“It is,” he said. He tilted his head and studied me. “We could wait, like Mary and Gregory.”
His compassion helped ease a little of my fear.
“No. The others beat you once, already. I don’t trust what they will do if we don’t follow through with this now.”
He nodded slowly and stepped closer. He wrapped his arms around me, supporting me as he leaned in. I let go of the straps, curled my hands into fists, and pressed them against his bare sides.
His breath tickled my neck, and I scrunched my eyes closed. For a moment, there was just his breath. Then, his sharp teeth broke the skin. A small noise escaped me, more shock than pain. As Anton had promised, he was gentle. His teeth had barely broken the skin. Before he pulled away, he placed a soft kiss on the spot. I let my hands drop.
We looked at each other for a moment.
“Well?” I said nervously.
His face fell slightly, and he shook his head.
“He barely bit you,” someone said.
I rolled my eyes. “And the one who gave me stitches didn’t bite deep enough?”
“You weren’t willing,” Thomas said again.
“Make up your minds,” I said, venting my frustration in a half-scream, half-yell. “Is it the depth of the bite or the willingness?”
No one answered. Neither did they move out of my way to let me leave. My head thumped with the beginning of a headache. I didn’t know if it was due to using my ability, the stress of the situation, or the fact that I was still recovering. But I did know I wasn’t ready to fight them all today.
“Fine. I’ll give you two hours to figure out what went wrong. Then I’ll pick someone else. I think I still have an unmarked spot on my neck somewhere. That will be the last chance any of you will have. After that, I’m done; not because I’m not willing but because it won’t work. Ever.” I started walking to the door but stopped on the threshold.
“Don’t waste time fighting. Work together. I won’t accept the excuse that something wasn’t done correctly, again.” I turned and closed the door.
Mary stood in the common room with shocked, wide eyes. Gregory stood beside her, appearing equally surprised.
“What part of all of that upset you?” I asked as I let the bag fall from my shoulders.
Mary glanced at Gregory and then stepped away from him to move closer to me.
“Winifred wants to know how you knocked them down.”
“Ah.” I went to the table and sat down. “Does Winifred want me to stay?”
Mary came to sit with me and nodded.
“If this next bite fails, and they agree to leave me alone, it’s better if I keep my secrets.”
“And if it doesn’t fail?” Gregory asked.
I twisted in my chair to look at him. “It will. No one understands why this ritual of yours isn’t working because no one is acknowledging the obvious. I’m different. Winifred said it. They know it. Yet, everyone keeps trying to treat me like I’m one of you.” I shook my head. “If I’m not one of you, why would you think the same ritual would work?”
Gregory studied me in silence. Then he dropped his gaze to the floor. He stood still, and I wondered if he was talking to Winifred. Finally, he met my gaze.
“I’d like to join the others outside,” he said. “I have no desire to try to Claim you, but I’d like to help them come up with better ideas than what’s been tried already.”
“I promise I won’t choose you. Or anyone else that doesn’t want to be chosen.”
He nodded and left. I turned to Mary.
“Do you think any of them have a chance?” she asked.
I shrugged. “I have no idea. All I know is that I’ve been bitten four times and one way or another, the fifth will be the last.”
“Want me to help clean that?” she asked, pointedly looking at my new bite.
“Sure.” She stood and fetched the supplies I’d brought back. When she started dabbing at my neck, I caught her worried frown.
“He really was gentle,” I said. “I’m sure Gregory will be gentle, too.”
“I’m not worried about that. I’m not as breakable as you are. I’m worried what will happen next time.”
I nodded.
“Me, too. Has Winifred said anything else?”
Mary gave me a slight smile. “Yes. She’s upset with Thomas for pushing you like he did. She’s worried you really do mean to leave. Not that she wants to keep you here against your will, but she knows she won’t be able to protect you as well out there.”
I knew Mary didn’t mean outside these walls but out in the real world. I appreciated Winifred’s concern and that she hadn’t push for more of an answer about what I’d done out there.
Mary and I ate jam sandwiches as the sun climbed in the sky then sat in silence for the remainder of the time. When Mary let me know two hours had passed, I moved across the room and opened the door.
The majority of the men stood in an arc facing the door; yet many, including Gregory and Anton, waited back by the trees. The definite separation of groups made it clear that I should select from those closest to me.
I studied the faces before me. “Was two hours enough time?”
They all nodded confidently. I glanced back at Gregory. He nodded once as well, and I sighed. Such confidence begged to be shaken. The universe was fickle like that.
“Okay. One chance,” I said again, to make sure they all understood. Then I met Thomas’ gaze. “Prove your theory.”
He didn’t walk toward me but moved to the back of the crowd. He bent and picked something up. The men parted to make room for him as he walked toward me. In his hand, he held a small bouquet of wild flowers. My heart skipped a beat at the gesture, and I quickly looked up. He uncomfortably met my gaze. His grip on the flowers tightened as if he was ready to throw them or shred them, and I realized the flowers weren’t his idea.
At least someone in the group had some sense of what human women liked.
I stayed by the door, trying to quell my nervousness as he stepped from the men and stood before me. He held out the flowers. I took them and managed a whispered word of thanks. The discomfo
rt left his gaze and something else crept in. Tenderness.
“Don’t be nervous,” he said softly. He reached up and gently brushed a thumb along my cheek. My heart skipped a beat—the traitorous thing—and his look of longing stole my breath. He didn’t move toward my neck, just continued to touch me.
“I will work every day of my life to deserve the gift you’ve given me.”
My heart beat faster, and my stomach twisted happily.
He leaned forward, not toward my neck, but toward my mouth. His lips brushed mine, surprising me. His touch was light and soft. A whisper of his skin, and a promise of more to come. My lids fluttered shut as I lost myself in the sensation. He kissed the corner of my mouth, my cheek, my jaw, then my neck. The light scrape of his teeth pulled me from my trance.
I stiffened, and his hands curled around my upper arms. Whether in comfort or to keep me still, I couldn’t be sure.
“Everything will be fine,” he whispered against my skin.
He kissed me several more times. I would be a liar if I said it didn’t affect me. It did. But, my fear of what he meant to do next kept me from drifting into blissful ignorance like he probably wanted.
His tongue stroked my skin, startling me from my thoughts. Tingles spread over my arms as embarrassment crashed over me. We were standing in front of a crowd of people. A light kiss, I could take, but not that.
Before I could protest, his mouth opened. I inhaled through my nose as his teeth pierced me. He went deeper than Anton but not by much. I grunted and pushed against his chest when he lingered there. He didn’t budge. He slowly withdrew his teeth and kissed the skin. As if that would make it better. He’d just bitten me slowly. At least the others had the decency to get it over with. Angry, I shoved at him again.
He pulled back and studied me while I glared at him. I could feel a trickle of blood run down my neck.
“Well?” I said.
His expression changed to one of complete devastation, and I knew it hadn’t worked.
