87: A Meal?

Caleb is lost in thought as he pulls up along the curb outside my apartment. I mutter a simple goodbye as I open the door.

“I can stay.” He blurts out.

I shake my head stiffly back and forth. “No. You should get back. They need you.” No one can be sure that she won’t be psychotic in her human form. So, yeah, it hurts to admit, but they do need him more than me right now. “I told Gretchen I would come back, but…” I replay the images of the rabid wolf in my head, searing it into my brain, “I think I just need a moment.”

Before I can slip away making the choice for him, his hands trap my face and his lips press against mine. The kiss is comforting and does what it always does. Calm me, make everything bad go away. There’s always been nothing but safety in Caleb’s arms.

Guilt starts to seep in as I lean into him. As If struck by lightning, I jerk away from him. “You should get back. I’m sure she’s awake by now.” With a foot out the door, and securely placed on the sidewalk, I turn back to him, “Text me updates.”

He lets me go and part of me is grateful. There’s also another part that’s disappointed. But Caleb has a lot on his mind right now and acting on his fear, his guilt won’t make either of us feel better. I tell myself that he needs to be with his pack. That it’s a top priority. It’s always been his top priority.

The apartment is quiet and welcoming. No expectant eyes looking to me for acceptance or answers. Just me and the silence. One doesn’t know how much they’ve longed for silence until you've been bombarded with responsibility, because with responsibility comes emotions and unwanted conversations. The need to prove yourself, to defend yourself, has a haunting voice that can be heard miles away.

I quickly change, cuddle into the couch, and turn on the TV to drown out the thoughts that keep rattling around inside my head. There’s no way sleep will come with my mind fixated on werewolves and Gabriel and secret business transactions and curses.

*The streets are empty and the city seems different even though the street seems familiar. Quiet. The city is quiet. The sidewalk is littered with garbage and splattered blood. Every few buildings one is burned down. But the appearance of the city isn’t as shocking as the people.

Humans skitter across the street, staying in groups of three or more, eyes on the ground. Whereas demizens strut down the sidewalk. Vampires showcasing their speed, werewolves exposing their canines. When did everyone crawl out of the closet? If that’s true, if that’s what’s happened, I’m sure demons lurk nearby and witches not far behind.

Lost in thought and not paying attention where I’m walking, I slam into someone’s back. Both of us stumble on our feet, our eyes instantly looking over the other. He’s with a small gathering of four, five people. They’re all so fearful. I raise my arms in surrender and mutter a sorry as I take several steps backwards. He swings his arm behind him to grab a hold of a woman, his significant other, urging her to keep walking.

And we both expect to go on our way, but a vampire appears out of nowhere stopping all of us in our tracks. A defense incantation is on the tip of my tongue, ready to protect myself and these people if I have to.

“Well, well,well. Fresh, unclaimed blood just wandering the streets. Were you trying to hide from us? From me?” He begins to taunt us, “naughty, naughty.”

In a blink of an eye he’s on one of the humans. Her screams can be heard throughout the streets, but it doesn’t matter because if I listen close enough, I can hear others screaming in the distance. The city isn’t as quiet as I thought. What I thought was the buzz of silence is really the echo of torment. What the hell happened?

That defensive incantation slips through my lips and the vamp is sent sprawling onto his ass. “Leave them alone.”

Just as quickly as before, not missing a step, he jumps to his feet and rushes me. His ice cold hand wraps firmly around my neck, squeezing to the brink of suffocation. I claw at him desperately to get his fingers to loosen just a little bit.

The man I ran into begins to pound on the vampire’s back trying to help, but the others urgently whisper to leave. His compassion will get him killed. A rough ‘go’ barely scrapes out of my throat, but the man either doesn’t hear it or care.

Black spots start to seep into my vision, my arms and legs go weak. I only remain standing because the vamp’s still strong hold on me. Then the firm fingers disappear and I crumble to ground gasping for breath.

The human man leans over me, whispers of concern on his lips as he helps me to my feet. But a growling hiss snaps both of our attention. The vampire that attacked us is pinned down my two other vampires. While a third looks me dead in the eyes.

Hard, cold words fill the street from the mouth of the one that stares at me. “Get your hands off her, human.” His scorn quickly moves to the vampire on his knees. “And you, do you have any idea who you attacked? I should kill you myself, but he will want the honor of doing that.”

The humans are confused as their eyes twitch between us. They shift their weight from foot to foot. A silent debate to run or stay. We all know the outcome, they need to run.

I take the blame, “it’s my fault. I provoked-”

The vampire’s eyes shoot to me with repulsion filling his glare. He speaks over me, cutting off my words, “they are always at fault.” His eyes go to the huddled group behind me, “are any of you claimed?”

They shake their heads. Mr. Vamp In Charge snaps, “I figured as much. You’ll be coming with us to register.” He waves his hand in the air and two more vampires, I hadn’t noticed were even there come marching in.

He then turns once more to the vampire that attacked us, attacked me. He struggles in the grasp of his equals. I’m not sure if he's even listening to Mr. Vamp In Charge’s words, but I am. “Are you unaware of who she is?” He shouts.

There’s a shake of the head, before a haughty sneer finds the captive vamp’s face. “A meal?” He jokes.

Mr. Vamp In Charge swings his hand through the air. I don’t see it hit, but I hear it. “Lord Gabriel will have you killed for your blood rage.”
“Lord...Gabriel?” I mumble nearly choking on my words.

It gets me a concerned stare, genuine concern, which is off putting. Mr. Vamp In Charge steps closer, eyes narrowed. “Did you hit your head, Lady Hazel?”
“What?” Lady Hazel? Lord Gabriel?

“I should get you home to Gabriel. He was right in not wanting you to travel alone.” He steps even closer, arm extended, waiting for me to grab onto him. “Hazel,” a tinge of compassion in his voice, “it’s time to go home. You can visit your friends later.”

I watch in horror as the vampires corral the humans and march them off. I catch a glimpse of the vamp that attacked us being dragged into the night, quickly disappearing. Mr. Vamp In Charge still lingers waiting for me to take his arm.

Our eyes meet as I debate about listening to his request. My heart pounds so loud that everything else fades away. I don’t realize I’m reaching out to him until my hand gently lays on his arm.*

I jolt awake with a snap, nearly falling off the couch where I somehow fell asleep.

This can’t be good.

The sun is still down when I wake, so I sit on the couch, very much awake and wait. I wait for the sun to rise, so I can get dressed and go to Phillip’s manor. I don’t know why I call it a manor over a house, but I do. It’s the same instinct that tells me exactly where to go to find the manor, to find Gabriel.