by Ian Thomas
“No?!” Matteo recoiled in fake shock. “Not you? Never! You’re so easy to get along with.”
“You’re lucky I think you’re a manic depressive so my sarcasm is at twenty-five percent.”
“Thanks,” Matteo said. “Didn’t answer my question though.”
“Bex and I’re still going out.” Then a thought occurred to him. “Or at least we were until I went radio silent last night with…ya know…”
“Cinnamon?”
“Exactly.” Pulling out his phone, he baulked at the screen display.
12 notifications
“You in trouble?”
“She’ll understand. Noble cause and all.”
“Hey, I got an idea. Let’s all head away. Pack up for a couple of weeks. Italy? Greece maybe?”
“About that…” McLachlan said. He didn’t really want the real world intruding for the moment. Matteo seemed much more like himself than he had in a long while. Yet there were pressing matters. Ones that directly concerned him. “Turns out you’re gonna have company soon. Blackthrone and his wolves are on their way.”
Matteo looked stricken, his face pale. He cleared his throat and said one word, “cinnamon?”
XX
Jason was beginning to hate the night shift. He missed his friends, missed his bed, he even missed classes. How Mouth did this on the daily was beyond him. Hopefully Malcolm would be back soon and he could get back to his life.
As the coffee shop started to get busy, the first day staff trickled in. His careful attention in creating the roster saw Ethan come through the door first. Terrible in the mornings, Ethan preferred to stand behind the coffee machine, focusing on the pour or steam rather than anything else. It was well known he needed at least four shots of espresso before he was ready for human interaction. Hence Jason started him before six.
Jeremy was next. Since the stressed out freshman barely knew which way was up, Jason was usually able to slip out by six without excuse. Jason remembered the constant assault of new experiences starting NYU. As did most of the staff, often marveling that Jeremy turned up for his shifts. Wearing pants and shoes.
He almost missed that chaos as well.
The heavy hitters. The ones who would pry. The ones who would pretty much force Jason to talk – namely Blake, Keiko, and Mitch on a good day – weren’t due in until 6:30.
Letting himself up the back stairs to the apartment above the coffee shop, Jason was surprised to hear noises coming from above. Especially since Malcolm was out of town.
He listened for a second and confirmed that yes he could hear the hot, sweaty grunts of sex in the apartment. Then he noticed a heavy musk in the air. Almost cloying, it drew him upwards until he stood in the hallway watching the young couple having sex through the door. The man was naked on his knees, long hair clinging to his sweaty back. His hips were thrusting into the woman, crouched on all fours before him. Each thrust elicited a grunt from him, a gasp from her.
Jason could feel his cock swell, the sight of Malcolm’s tight sweat-slicked butt pistoning in and out was captivating.
The girl turned to look at her partner. She saw Jason by the door and smiled. He knew her. Holly.
“Hey, join us.”
“Nah, I’m all good,” Jason said and walked away re-adjusting himself. How did Malcolm know her, he wondered in panic.
“Hey man!” Malcolm called out.
“Hey!”
“What the fuck?!” Holly yelled. “Not my hair.”
While their passion faded, Jason went to the bathroom to shower. Looking in the mirror he was taken aback. Surely he’d seen his reflection recently, he thought. The beard was new. Not as scratchy as he’d expected but on its way to being more than just a light cheek beard. Maybe he needed to trim it? Pulling off the large beanie he was stunned to see hair fall almost to his shoulders.
“What the fuck?!” Then he saw the hand holding the beanie. Long claws extended from his fingertips, hair – no, wait fur – shaded the back of his hand and up his forearm. “Holy shit!”
“Goddamnit, what’s your problem now?” Holly bellowed, storming out of the bedroom and pulling on a t-shirt.
“This!” Jason barked, shoving his hands at her. “These!”
“Oh relax,” she whined, rolling her eyes. “Jeez, I thought there was like an actual problem.”
“You don’t think sprouting hair and claws is a problem?!” Jason demanded.
“And fangs,” Malcolm added, gesturing to Jason’s face.
He launched at the bathroom mirror, pulling at his lips with the clawed hands. Sure enough his upper and lower canines were extended.
“Fuck you Ben!” he spat through gritted teeth.
“Oh please,” Holly groaned, leaning against the table tracing a finger across Malcolm’s torso. He seemed oblivious to her caress. And also to being naked in the middle of the apartment. “It wasn’t Ben. Like he had the balls to like sire you.”
Before Jason could argue, he winced in pain. Starting as a burn, it seared through his upper shoulder. He pulled at the collar of his t-shirt and saw a raised scar in his swollen trap.
Stumbling backwards, he crashed onto the floor, his head swimming. Cold surrounded him. Hot breath on his face. Glowing eyes inches from his. The wolf pressed him to the ground. Not a wolf. A man. Changed. Feral. Jason went to scream but something warm and hairy was forced into his mouth. The wolf’s forearm. Then he felt the fangs pierce his shoulder. Exquisitely painful, the teeth sliced through the layers of skin. There was a wet, warm gush of blood. Then the pressure of the jaw closing on the bite. While the front teeth sliced clean, the back teeth tore, rending the skin and muscle.
The pain was so intense Jason bit down also. He felt the skin and hair give way. The blood squirted the back of his throat. He bucked, his teeth losing grip on the man.
“Nonononono, stay with it young wolf,” the man growled. “Take my flesh into you. Take it all.”
Fixating on the sexual nature of the moment pulled him back from complete hysteria. This was Ben’s friend. The one he was scared of. Henry? He was mocking Jason as he sired him, the double entendre a cruel jape for his own entertainment. Or did he want him to be present of mind to know what was happening? Jason’s head was swimming. His body was bleeding. And he was alone.
As the wolf withdraw off him, the memory receded and Jason was lying on the floor of the apartment.
Completely aware.
“He did this,” Jason gasped. Bolting off the floor, he felt his body surge with energy, the changes subsiding. Eyes darting around the room he saw his only exit was the door and the stairs beyond. Or the window and drop to the sidewalk. But with her being a vampire, she’d catch him first.
Then his eyes fell on Malcolm. Or rather the bite marks covering his body. Across his chest, down his arms and legs, small pock marks, some fresh, some healed. She’d been feeding off him all night it seemed. And other nights as well.
“You bitch! You’ve been fucking with my head. And his body. What’s your damage?”
“Oh I’m not damaged. I’m just making the most with what I’ve got to play with. It’d be you but you like cock too much.”
“Oh lucky me.” Jason’s eyes were still looking for an escape when he realized something she hadn’t seemed too. “Thing is…not sure you’re aware of what time it is.”
“Obviously it’s talk my ear off time.”
“I was thinking more it’s after sunrise. You’re stuck here. And it won’t take much to open those blinds.”
“Bad puppy!” she said. Then Jason was hit. The force felt like a truck. The only sign she’d moved to hit him, being the windblown look of her hair. “You’re right I am a bitch. Allow me to show you the ways.”
“Hey,” Malcolm said. “Let’s not shall we.” He walked closer to Jason and put a hand on his shoulder. Wary of the man, Jason stared at him intently waiting for the trap to spring.
But it didn’t.
“You’re in pain. I
get that. I can see it. But you’ve been living, been out there, been strong through this all. You don’t want to hurt her. You’re better than that. We may not be friends and all. But I think you’re a pretty cool person. And coming from someone with a man-bun, that means something.”
“Hey!” Holly called out. “Don’t you switch teams on me. I’m the one you want. I’m the one with a V where he has a P.”
“I think you’re being a little childish,” Malcolm said calmly.
“Oh you wanna see childish,” she said defiantly. “Then suck his dick. Go on. I command you.”
The two young men looked at her then each other and started to laugh.
“Don’t laugh. Don’t you laugh at me. Don’t you dare laugh at me! I’m a vampire. I have power. You will do what I say.”
Their laughter increased.
When she stamped her foot, growling in frustration, they almost doubled over uncontrollably.
Angry, she stormed into the bathroom and slammed the door.
“Let’s go!” Malcolm said his smile and laughter dying. Replaced with fear, the man was shaking.
“Great, yes,” Jason said. “I know people. We’ll be safe before she can leave.”
“Now!” He was desperate, heading to the door still buck-naked. How long had she been draining him, Jason wondered, his mind full of blanks and distorted memories of conversations he may have had, people he’d seen, relationships he’d abused.
“Uh, clothes,” Jason said, scooping some jeans off a chair and throwing them at Malcolm. He caught them and started to dress. That was when Jason realized he would have gone into the day nude just to get away from Holly.
“She’s gonna kill me,” Malcolm said. Not desperately but as a plain fact. Possibly one she’d said to him. “Or worse.”
They were halfway down the stairs when a force slammed them to one side. Standing beneath them on the stair, Holly was still angry, however now she had a specific focus for her temper.
“Did I say anyone could leave?”
“I have friends,” Jason said, pushing himself in front of Malcolm. “Way more powerful than Henry. You don’t want to do this.”
“Ha,” she laughed. “You don’t have friends. You pretty much isolated yourself from every one of them before you got sired. All I had to do was maintain your shittiness. You get that’s who you really are, don’t you?” Behind him Malcolm was pleading with Jason. “A total self-absorbed fag who treats everyone like shit when he’s not playing the victim. God, you’re pathetic.”
“I’m not a victim,” Jason said, barely convincing himself.
“No, actually you’re breakfast.” Shooting forward, she clamped herself to Jason, teeth tearing into the scar on his shoulder. The sensation was terrifyingly familiar. He went to cry out but he only heard a gurgle in his throat. Wincing he could feel the draw of the blood through his veins to her mouth. Terrified, he realized she could drain him dry and he wouldn’t die. He was a werewolf now. Only silver could kill him. He’d seen Matteo’s wounds from being tortured.
Hands grabbed him under the arms and started to heave him upwards. Malcolm grunted, desperate to pull Jason free. But Holly held him fast. Heaving again, Jason felt his body thump up a couple of steps.
“Ah,” she gasped, reeling back astride Jason. Worse than the pull of the blood through his veins was the sensation of it resuming its usual flow. Jason felt his body spasm, consciousness a nebulous idea. “Wolf blood’s the best.”
Malcolm pulled at him again.
“Stop.” Her voice was more melodic than before. The sound danced on Jason’s ears, sliding through his mind and into his body causing him to lay still. “Malcolm, go back upstairs.”
“Sure,” he replied, his voice light.
What was happening, Jason wondered. His mind told him to run, his body disconnected from the action.
“Come on,” she said, getting off him. “Kinda over chasing after you. If it weren’t for Henry, I’d be done with you in a second.”
Moments later, he and Malcolm stood in the living area like two naughty school boys. Still shaking, Malcolm’s eyes were downcast. He was fighting his urge to run with a forced to urge to obey.
Something was different about her now. She was more powerful. His blood had super-charged her, Jason realized. He couldn’t think of how exactly. In the days following The Ordeal he’d moped more than paid attention to the supernatural revelations going on around him. Then there was Ben and they hadn’t talked so much as done other things. Then he was sired, his life taking a way different turn. And now here he was stuck above his coffee shop, several feet away from actual help with a season four Buffy villain who didn’t make it past a single episode.
“Now, Jason you’re gonna forget all about being sired. Again. You’ve discovered steroids, hit the gym and started to work out a lot. Hence the different body.” She talked to him about working at the coffee shop at night, finding ways to distance himself from his friends in not so obvious ways. As she spoke parts of his memory shut off, lies became his reality, and all he could feel was the gentle caress of her voice. “And get a fucking haircut. You’re too preppy for long hair, besides…someone will notice.”
Soon enough Jason was ready to hit the gym. Haircut first, then the gym. Also he knew he had to rework a script due in a couple of days plus he needed sleep before the night shift.
“Oh hey, you’re back,” he said as though seeing Malcolm for the first time. “How’s your mom?”
“She’s not sick,” Malcolm replied desperately. “I’ve been here the wh–”
“Now, now,” Holly said, cutting him off. “One at a time.”
“Help me!”
“Or kiss me,” Holly said.
“Or kiss me,” Malcolm repeated.
Jason turned and slipped his arms around the other man’s waist, kissing him. Malcolm kissed him back his own hands wrapped around Jason. He stiffened when he felt claws slice his bare skin.
“Jason,” she said softly. “You can’t do that.” Holly drew them apart. She held Jason’s clawed hand in front of them both. Malcolm looked terrified. “These little changes. They can’t happen anymore. They have to stop. No more okay?”
“Okay,” he said happily and the claws retracted. She moved to stand behind Malcolm, sweeping his long hair back and licking the cuts gently. “Also. Malcolm’s not here anymore. He went home to see a sick family member. His dad. Now go get some sleep. I wasn’t here either, you’re all alone. Just like you like it. Time to focus on working out, getting rest and passing college. Night, night.”
Suddenly alone in the apartment, Jason yawned. He heard someone call out but there was no one there, the voice an echo from nearby. The street maybe?. Stretching, sore from yesterday’s workout he went to the kitchen, made himself a protein shake then headed into the bedroom.
“I thought I made this,” he said, seeing the disheveled bed. “Meh.” Crawling under the cover, his head was barely on the pillow before he was fast asleep.
XXI
Eddie was already talking before McLachlan had the door completely open.
“Got your message. What’s so urgent?” Then he saw his friend’s smile. “Oh crap, what is it? Is it actual crap? I did not sign up for that.”
“It’s not crap.”
“Cos I’m still working through my absent daddy issues to handle a senile grandparent.”
“You’re almost a hundred,” McLachlan replied. “We’re lucky you can wipe your own ass let alone someone else’s.”
“That’s my point.”
“And it wasn’t exactly like Ben was Sire of the Year. You had about six decades to deal with your daddy issues and start stripping. At least.”
“Do you think that’s an actual thing? Sire of the Year? Because I do love a trophy.”
“You’d have to sire someone first. Wait, why haven’t you?”
“See the aforementioned daddy issues. Just not something our family did is all.”
; “And you’re too much of a playboy narcissist to actually do it.”
“That too.” Eddie smiled, “now what’s the what? I was about to enjoy an incredibly chaste coffee date with Hayley. We’re practically Victorian these days. It’s quite exciting.”
“Horny repressed Eddie is gross. Bring back man-whoring Eddie.”
“Speaking of man-whores, where’s–”
“Matteo?” the Pack Lord asked, walking out of the kitchen.
“You showered?!” Eddie exclaimed. “Are you not broken anymore?”
“This is why we never let him sire anyone,” Matteo said. “Bedside manner of a chainsaw.”
Eddie looked to McLachlan who smiled, “not broken.”
“Thank fuck!” Eddie practically shouted and pulled Matteo into a solid hug. They stood there for a minute, the banter and bullshit put aside. Regardless of everything, they were family. “Missed you.”
“Much the same,” Matteo replied, overcome.
“So,” McLachlan said, once they separated, “the British are coming.”
Looking from McLachlan to Matteo and back again confused, Eddie knew he was missing something.
“Blackthorne,” Matteo said finally.
“Bastard piece of shit.”
“As salutations go that one needs work,” McLachlan said.
“Why? When? How?”
“Their plane landed about an hour ago,” Matteo said stiffly.
“What is it?”
“A unit of time made up of sixty minutes, usually twenty-four in a day but that’s not important right now,” McLachlan replied deadpan.
“Maybe Ben was onto something,” Eddie said. To which Matteo smacked him around the back of the head, hard. Rubbing the sore spot, not to mention checking his hair was undisturbed he saw Matteo head into the living room. In step behind him, Eddie saw the man-bun in all its glory. He looked to McLachlan and mouthed ‘what the?’
Merely shrugging, McLachlan hoped Eddie wasn’t going to dwell on the small matters.
“Gracchus knew before us,” Matteo was saying. “His contacts in London informed him of their travel arrangements.”
