Bad Blood

by Ren Hamilton

  “One.”

  Stepping back onto the deck, he walked slowly over to Russell. “You are wearing contacts. You could never see that far before without your glasses.”

  “Not even close. But I’m not wearing contacts. I swear.”

  “I remember back in college your glasses broke that time, and you accidentally walked into the girls’ bathroom after class. No one believed you didn’t do it on purpose. But it was because you couldn’t see.”

  Russell snorted. “I remember. That’s when I came out as gay, long before I was ready to. Was the only way I could convince everyone I wasn’t trying to perve on the girls.”

  Leaning over, Patrick examined Russell’s eyes. “You’re not wearing contacts.”

  “I told you that!”

  “So you really can see. My God, Russell. How did this happen?”

  Russell huffed, rubbing his eyes. “It wasn’t a miracle of God. I can tell you that.”

  “What then?”

  “Klee. It was Klee. He did something to me. I know it sounds crazy, but I’m sure he did this to me. Well, that’s not entirely accurate. I did something to him. But he asked me to. He asked me to!”

  Patrick took the seat next to Russell. “Are you talking about sex?”

  Russell flinched and slid his chair back, away from Patrick. “Not exactly.”

  “Oral sex then?”

  “Are you going to hit me?”

  “No, Jesus! I’m sorry I threatened you. I’m not actually a violent person. Just answer the question, Russell. Did you…?”

  “Yes. I did.” Russell flinched as if expecting a punch.

  Patrick just stared at him. Anyone else would have thought Russell’s claim crazy, but Patrick knew to some degree what it meant to get fluids from one of these creatures. He thought about Kelinda, infected by sex with Joey. And now here was Russell, with a similar claim. Except Kelinda’s was second-hand, with Joey’s blood altered by Shep. Russell, however, had possibly been contaminated by a purer source.

  He doubted Shep had a clue just how much of this precious celestial essence was being haphazardly shared all around him. The stuff was being passed around like Coca Cola and Shep had no idea. He thought he was in control. Patrick was uncomfortable discussing sex in general, so this was almost painfully embarrassing. But he had to know how much of the old angel cocktail Russell had been exposed to.

  “Russell, when you were with Klee, did he…um…”

  “Yes, Obrien. He came.”

  “And did you...uh…”

  “Swallow?”

  “Yeah. That.”

  “Yeah. I took it all. Every drop.”

  Patrick sat back and pondered the situation. Russell squirmed, watching him think. “What is it, Obrien? Why are you asking me all these questions? Do you know something about this?”

  Patrick couldn’t think of a response that wouldn’t make Russell more of a basket case than he already was.

  “Obrien, tell me! You know something about this, don’t you? What’s happening to me? Tell me!” he screamed.

  Patrick grabbed his shoulders and pushed him back on the chair. “Stop shouting. I do know one thing. Whatever’s happening to you, you have to keep it quiet. Do you understand me? You have to hide it.”

  “Why?”

  “Because you dipped your hand in the wrong cookie jar. You shouldn’t have done it, Russell. Not with Klee. Not with any of the brothers.”

  Russell wiped his eyes as tears came. “I know.”

  “I’m sure you do. You’re not stupid. Klee was a bad choice. Really, really bad.”

  “I only did it to get back at Shep. He was on the phone begging Robin to come back to him. I know it’s immature and pathetic but I just got so jealous! I…I’m such an idiot, Obrien. I’ve wasted years obsessing over Shep.”

  “Don’t beat yourself up. I’ve seen you date other people. You’re not that pathetic.”

  “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I knew he’d never feel that way about me. I think I just liked knowing I could feel something this strong. I liked the feeling when he was around. That longing. Makes you feel alive.”

  “I can see that,” Patrick said. “I’m straight, but Shep’s got a way of making you feel high. Like everything’s one big adventure.”

  Russell huffed. “Yeah. That adventure’s gotten pretty dark lately.”

  “I hear that.”

  Russell froze, then looked quickly behind him.

  “What’s the matter?”

  “I don’t know,” Russell whispered. “Did the wind just pick up?”

  Patrick looked out at the woods, the treetops swaying slightly. “A bit. Why?”

  Russell wiped his eyes. “Even the wind feels different now. Like I keep feeling something touching me. Maybe they’re demons come to take me to Hell, where I belong.”

  “Russell, come on. I was raised Catholic and even I don’t really believe in Hell anymore. But even if it is real, you don’t belong in Hell for giving a blowjob, for crying out loud. Klee was a bad choice, but not that bad. Not Hell bad.”

  Silent for a moment, Russell stared at his shoes. “Not the blowjob,” he whispered. “I belong in Hell for something else.”

  “What?”

  “Love’s supposed to make you better. But loving Shep has made me a bad person. You wouldn’t understand. You’ve probably never done one wrong thing in your life. I’m not that strong. I did something unthinkable. A young man is dead because I couldn’t say no to Shep.” Russell fell apart then, sobbing into his hands.

  Patrick realized this great crime Russell was referring to was about Copie. They all still thought Copie was killed in the lab explosion. He watched Russell weep and tremble. At least the son of a bitch had the decency to feel bad about it. Shep certainly didn’t seem to have lost any sleep.

  He wanted to tell Russell that Copie was alive, and that Russell had no murder on his conscience. But he couldn’t. The compassionate person inside wanted to ease Russell’s pain, but Patrick was not about to blow his cover just because Russell was having a bad cum trip.

  “Russell, listen to me. You’re not being touched by demons or anything else. You’ve just been exposed to something…foreign, and your body is still adjusting to the changes.”

  Russell looked up and blinked twice. “Foreign?”

  “Yes.”

  Russell nodded slowly. “Changes in my body. Yes. I can smell things more strongly, and I can hear things. If I try, I can listen to conversations going on down the street. I can even hear things people think sometimes. You’ve gotta help me, Obrien! If you know what this is, you have to tell me!”

  “My telling you what I know won’t do you any good, trust me. I can tell you this though. If you keep acting like this, Shep is going to figure out what you did. Do you hear me? He’ll know. And he’ll possibly kill you, Russell. Because you’ll be an outlier. A loose thread.”

  Russell frowned at Patrick. “That’s what he called the kid who… A loose thread. Before he…oh God.” He buried his face in his hands again. “Oh, God, you’re right. Shep will kill me.”

  “You have to get a grip on yourself.”

  “What if I can’t?” Russell looked up at Patrick. “I’m scared. I mean really scared.”

  Patrick gave him a meaningful look. “We’re all scared, Russell. But at least you can leave. I think you should. While you still can. There’s nothing stopping you. And there’s nothing here for you.”

  A long breath shivered out of Russell, and some of the anguish left his face. “Leave. Right. I can leave.”

  “I’d do it now. Tonight. Don’t say goodbye to anyone, especially Shep. Just slip out. I doubt he’ll notice.”

  Russell chuckled. “No, he rarely notices me anyway. Not that it matters. I still can’t shake him. Just thinking about leaving him gives me a heartache. Regardless of how bad he treats me.”

  “I understand. But you have to get over him. For your own safety. Leave here and live your
life. Learn to deal with this. And never talk to anyone about it. It’s the only way you’ll be safe. Can you do that?”

  Nodding slowly, Russell said, “Yeah. I can. Things aren’t the same anyway. Being around Shep used to make me happy. Just…absorbing his vibe, you know? But now all I feel is sadness. And fear. This is no way to live.”

  “Then go. As far as you can get. Go stay with your brother in California.”

  Russell’s shoulders relaxed. “I can leave. Shit, you’re right.” He looked up. “Thanks, Obrien. I wasn’t thinking straight. I mean it. Thank you.”

  “Don’t mention it. To anyone. Just pack your bags and get the fuck out. Tonight.”

  Something made a loud crash inside the kitchen and they both looked up. Patrick could see Shep’s sandy curls through the slider, and his heart leapt. This meant they were back, and more than likely Robin was in the house somewhere.

  Then he saw Joey push Shep. Shep went right back at him and then the two of them stood chest to chest, screaming at each other. They looked like two puffed up roosters about to start pecking at each other. Patrick could see their mouths moving and strained facial expressions but couldn’t hear the words through the closed glass door. “Christ, what now?” he muttered.

  Russell looked up. “Shep and the others just got home. Robin is with them. Joey didn’t know she was coming. He’s upset.”

  Patrick stared at Russell. “You heard that through the closed door?”

  “Yeah. I told you I wasn’t right.” He leaned forward in his chair, listening. “Joey says that Shep made a promise to him and that now he’s broken it.” Russell turned to Patrick. “What kind of promise did Shep made to Joey?”

  Patrick stood, his eyes locked on Shep’s image through the glass. “He promised never to involve Robin.”

  “Involve her in what?”

  Patrick gave Russell a quick sideways glance, then headed for the doors.

  “Obrien! I don’t understand what’s going on.”

  Patrick turned around. “Believe me. It’s better that way.”

  Russell frowned. “You know, they think you’re the stupid one.”

  Patrick smiled. “I know.”

  “They’ve underestimated you, haven’t they?”

  “I certainly hope so, Russell.”

  * * * *

  Shep and Joey ceased their argument as soon as Patrick stepped inside, both giving him innocent eyes. “What’s going on guys?” Patrick asked.

  Joey smiled like a movie star. “Nothing. Just talking.”

  “Nothing. Everything’s fine,” Shep added.

  “Oh cut the bullshit.” Their fake smiles wilted a bit. “Why is Robin here?”

  Shep flinched. “How did you know?”

  Patrick rolled his eyes. “I could hear you screaming at each other.”

  Shep glanced at the closed glass door. He looked back at Patrick, making his face pleasant and docile again. “Robin came out for a visit.”

  “Is she all right?” The question left Patrick’s lips before he could stop it.

  “Well of course she’s all right!” Shep shouted. “What kind of a question is that?”

  Margol and Allisto rounded the bottom of the staircase and strode into the kitchen with their new, less robotic swaggers. “She is all settled in,” Allisto said.

  “Thank you, Allisto. See that she gets whatever she needs.”

  The fury returned to Joey’s eyes and he whirled on Shep, forgetting Patrick for the moment. “Why won’t she come downstairs, Shep? What the hell did you do to her?”

  Shep grabbed Joey’s collar and pulled him in. “She’s tired, Joey. Nothing more. If you want to go talk to her yourself, go ahead, but get the fuck out of my face!” With that, he shoved Joey hard. Joey stumbled but caught himself. Klee began whimpering in the corner, hiding his face. Shep pointed toward the cowering blond. “Now you made Klee cry. Come here Klee.”

  “He’s always fucking crying,” Joey muttered. “I’m going to talk to my cousin.”

  “I’d like to see her first, if you don’t mind,” Patrick piped up. Joey stopped in his tracks. Shep looked up at him as well. Even Klee gave him an odd frown.

  “You?” Joey said. “You don’t even like my cousin. Why the hell do you want to talk to her?”

  “Yeah,” Shep added. “Why do you want to talk to Robin?”

  “I’ve been looking at nothing but your ugly faces for the past two weeks. I’m unable to leave here, and it would be nice to have a conversation with someone else for a change.” They stared at him. He threw his hands in the air dramatically. “What? Okay, fine. I’ll just go talk to myself. Or shoot myself. Christ! Do you know how fucking boring it is around here?”

  Shep waved his hand. “Okay, okay. Go talk to Robin, Obrien, if it will make you shut up and stop whining. She’s in the room across from yours. I am so sick of playing nursemaid to everyone around here. And what the hell is wrong with Russell?” Shep signaled toward the deck, where Russell sat alone on a lounge chair, staring at his own hand.

  Klee’s face turned a deep shade of crimson.

  “Russell got too high,” Patrick said. “You should stay away from him for tonight.”

  Shep snorted. “Well that’s no problem. Half the time I forget he’s even here.”

  Patrick glanced out the back door and Russell caught his eye. “Go,” Patrick mouthed. Russell nodded and stood, pulling his phone out of his pocket.

  Maybe Russell didn’t deserve redemption after participating in the attempt on Copie’s life. But Patrick wanted to save him just the same. He knew if Russell stayed around he’d snap and reveal his secret eventually, and Shep would probably kill him. Patrick didn’t want to see that happen, and not just because he didn’t want to see any more violence and death. Someone around here had to have a little empathy to make up for what was lacking in the occupants of this house. Besides, Russell was still a human being. They were outnumbered here, and needed to stick together.

  With that thought, he headed upstairs to find Robin.

  * * * *

  Patrick tapped lightly on Robin’s door.

  “Fuck off you fucking freaks!”

  “It’s Patrick.”

  The door swung open. She’d been crying. Patrick felt his fists clench. “Did they hurt you? I’ll kill them.”

  She pulled him inside and shut the door. He wrapped his arms around her and she melted into him. “We have to stay cool,” she said. “I’m really scared. Shep suspects something.”

  They sat together on the bed and exchanged brief accounts of what had befallen each of them since they last spoke. When Robin told Patrick about her abduction, the veins popped out in his neck. “Don’t do anything, Patrick. These guys are truly nuts, and they’re incredibly strong.”

  “Yeah, I’m aware. I watched Allisto, by himself, carry a full-sized refrigerator out to the guest house the other day. I think their strength grows over time. Even Klee seems to be getting stronger.”

  Robin’s pretty blue eyes widened. “Shit. Does that mean Juris is getting stronger too, wherever they’re keeping him? Litner said he’s guarded, but…”

  “If he gets out, we’re screwed. I mean, more so than we already are.”

  “We have to get a message to Litner to beef up security on Juris.”

  “Leave that to me. Why does Shep want you out here so bad? You know he didn’t even tell Joey about this. Joey’s pissed.”

  “Shep doesn’t believe that I just happened to stop loving him. He thinks he can change my mind.”

  “Change your mind? How so?” Patrick asked, a jealous edge to his voice.

  “I’m not sure. He claims he can make me love him again.”

  Patrick shuddered. “Normally that would just sound like the desperate ramblings of a jilted lover. But in Shep’s case, it makes me a little wary.”

  “You’re not suggesting he can bespell me somehow. I’m not one of his zombies, Patrick.”

  “Have you seen Kelinda
yet?”

  “No. Why?”

  “I’ll let you form your own opinion about that one. Just remember, when you see her, that she’s been infected.”

  Robin wrinkled her nose. “Infected?”

  “Yeah. Things are weirder than you think around here. Let’s just say that the stock has sailed on bodily fluids.”

  “Charming. Oh, Shep found the candy necklace you gave me and flipped. He knows there’s someone else. I just hope he doesn’t know who.”

  Patrick shook his head. “He’d never suspect me. He doesn’t give me that much credit. I’m sure it’s unfathomable to him that I could score a goddess like you.”

  Robin smirked, then chuckled. “Thanks for that. Making me laugh. I needed it.”

  “Anytime. We’ll get through this, okay?”

  They were interrupted by Kelinda’s voice, shouting from down the hall. “Margol, get your ass back here! I’m talking to you. Stop trying to lure my cat out onto the deck! She doesn’t have any claws.”

  Robin cocked an eyebrow at Patrick.

  “Oh, yes,” Patrick said. “Stock has sailed on bodily fluids, and animal corpses. Margol’s probably trying to lure Kelinda’s cat outside for…nefarious purposes.”

  Robin shook her head. “I don’t want to know. But that reminds me.” She dug something out of her bag and held it up to Patrick. “It’s blood.”

  “Oh Christ, Robin. The last thing I want to see right now is more blood. What the hell is this?”

  “It’s the vial we made at Betsy’s. It’s supposed to restore Joey’s conscience. I figured it might break his bond with you as well.” She shrugged. “That is if it works.”

  “That would be great. But hell, does it always have to be blood with these guys? Be nice if we could just give him a special tea or something.”

  Robin hid it in her bag again. “Hey, might as well fight fire with fire. Or blood with blood as the case may be. You never know. It’s worth a try.”

  “I find it hard to believe one vial of blood will counteract whatever Shep did to Joey. It sounds too easy. We’re talking about some strong stuff here. Everyone has a different reaction to being infected with Shep’s blood. Kelinda, Russell—”

  “Russell? What happened to Russell?”