Unwanted Blood

by L. S. Darsic

  “How big is this place anyway?”

  “There are three bedrooms and each have their own in suite bathrooms. I have an office that is connected through my master bedroom as well. The rest I will show you” Finn smiles slyly as we walk down the hall and turn right. My eyes bulge out of my head. There is a lap pool and a huge hot tub in a room with floor to ceiling glass walls with a glass ceiling. I just died and gone to heaven. I love to swim, I have always been attracted to the water. All around the walls are different types of plants that makes it look typical and inviting.

  “Finn, I love this” I breathe out. I am so jealous right now. If I lived here I could swim every day. There is just something about swimming that helps me to focus and wakes me up.

  “You are welcome to use it anytime you like. In fact maybe later tonight we can use the hot tub after dinner to relax”

  “That sounds great. So what are our plans for the rest of the weekend?” I ask Finn tentatively. I've been just waiting for him to bring up what Edwin said to us before we left. I feel like I need answers but I also feel scared to find out those answers. How could I be first or second generation? That would mean that my mother or father is an angel and from what I've always been told angels haven't been to earth in well over a thousand years. And what of my family? Who are the people I thought were my parents? This is just all too freaky to me, I feel like burring my head in the sand and pretending like everything is just dandy might be the way to go in this situation.

  “Alex?” Finn snaps his fingers in front of my faces and kicks me out of my inner musings “Ah, there you are. Got a lot on the mind eh? Anyway, I was saying, we could go out to dinner later. I have a friend in town here that I think you would enjoy meeting, if you feel like going out”

  “Sure, whatever sounds good. Its your city so I'm game for whatever” Hopefully his friends don't try to bite me like the last one.

  “Until we go out how about I show you the rest of the place and we can have some wine and relax?” Finn says as he steps closer to me and pulls my mouth to his slowly. This man I swear is the best kisser, not that I have much to compare to but my god. Finn deepens the kiss as his fingers trail lightly down my neck and arms causing goosebumps to break out. As slowly as the kiss started Finn also ends it slowly, almost reluctantly and whispers in my ear “don't think you are getting away with not talking about earlier” as he steps back pulling me out the door and back into the hall.

  Shit, I should have known he wasn't going to let it go. I wouldn't mind talking to him about it except I have no clue where to even begin. I don't understand even the half of it, let alone trying to explain it to Finn. Finn walks me to the other end of the hall and opens a door which looks to bed the master bedroom. It reminds me much of my room at the castle minus the sitting room. Its very much Finn's taste, the bed is huge, across from the bed is a fireplace and wall to ceiling windows with a door that opens up to a patio. The view is amazing. I couldn't imagine waking up to that view every day. There is a leather couch facing the fire place and the windows so whoever sits there could look at both, its so inviting here I probably would never use the rest of the apartment, well except the pool of course. Next to the couch I notice a smaller bed much like the one that was for Egypt at the castle. I look in question at Finn.

  “I had my building manager bring this here for Egypt” Finn says as we watch Egypt saunter up to the bed and fall on it with the grace of an elephant.

  “So, I assume this means I will be in this room as well? How presumptuous of you Finn” I quirk an eyebrow at him as my face heats up, giving me away. Finn slowly prowls towards me like a predator stalking its prey.

  “It wasn't presumption, Alex. It was hope that you would want to stay in here with me. If you like I could stay in one of the guest rooms. I donna mean to make you uncomfortable but I did enjoy sleeping next to you. Nothing will happen that you donna want. I promise you that” Finn says lightly as he tucks my hair behind my ear. He is so hands on with me. Its almost as if he needs to touch me all the time. Even when we were driving here I would notice that Finn would reach over and take my hand at times are brush the hair from my face even though I was in my own thoughts the whole trip.

  “I enjoyed sleeping with you as well, you kept me warm. That castle is quite drafty” I shrug like I was just using him as a heating pad.

  “You can't fool me Alex, but keep trying. You make the chase much more fun” Finn says as he gives me a soft pat on the ass as he walks past me to a door to the side of the room. I think I'm fooling myself more than I am fooling him. I like him but in my mind, sleeping around and having flings here and there with people of our kind is dangerous. There aren't many of us to be in the dating pool, what if I fall head over heels in love with Finn while I'm here and then when I go home it ends? Not only will I once again be alone but what if he ends up with one of my cousins and I have to see him all the time? I would be miserable. I already regret being with Zack, I don't know if I can add another one to the regret pile.

  “Alex, are you coming?” Finn asks from the other room as I slap myself mentally and give myself a pep talk that I am thinking way too much about things and need to take things as they come. So new game plan. I will just go with the flow and try not to worry. Right. I doubt I can even follow my own advice, I'm a planner, plotter and schemer. I finally decide to put my internal argument on pause till later and go through the door to find Finn. I walk into the room and find myself in a room the same size as the bedroom next door but it has been transformed into a comfy looking office. There is a grand desk in the corner and high wing back chairs placed in front of it. Again, Finn wasted no wall space for the view as the floor to ceiling windows continue.

  “Finn this is great. You whole home is so warm and inviting and your view is amazing. I wish I had a place like this. You should see my tiny old house. I think its about the size of one of your rooms” I sigh wistfully

  “What do you mean? Your family must have a fortune much like mine does”

  “Ha! My family insists that we work for our money. Even though I work for the family's company, I am still paid by them and that is what I live off from. Its not a bad salary and it probably better than what many photographers make but the city is expensive so my house is the best I could afford. I would have an apartment but I felt that Egypt needed a yard to roam around in” I reply with a fake cheery voice in hopes he doesn't see how my family frustrates me to no end. Its not a matter of wanting their money either. I just see everyone else houses and belongings and feel like I am the poor kid of the family.

  “Alex, we work for our money as well. In fact my apartment building I paid for on my own. If I needed money I would be given it from my parents and I all needed to do was ask but if you are an Enforcer of your family you should not only be paid as a photographer but also for your work as an Enforcer. Your family has me greatly worried about you and their treatment of you. I've never seen a clan so careless when it comes to one of their own. Especially after getting to know you and how wonderful you are” Finn says as his bright blue eyes bore into mine.

  “Finn, you act like they were abusing me or something. They didn't, they just have a different way of doing things. I do like being independent and not having to rely on them for money. I do feel at times that I don't fit with them because they are all indifferent to me but I can't force them to love me” I say as I look down to the floor. The more I keep thinking about this the more unloved and unwelcome I feel from my family. If I were alone right now I would cry and I hardly ever cry. I am a roll with the punches kind of girl and try not let things get me down but when the backbone of my life, my family, makes me feel they don't want me, it feels like I could fall apart. I don't know what my place in the world is anymore. If I ever were to say anything they would deny it and say I was overreacting.

  When it was my 10th birthday I got it into my head that I was going to have a big birthday party like my friends from school always had. I went home skipping exci
tedly the whole way. When I told my mother that I wanted to have a big chocolate cake and balloons, my mother told me in her ice queen way that our family didn't do those things. I cried and begged, my mother then sent me to my room without dinner because I was “overreacting”. I can't even recall a time that I did anything for my birthday besides celebrate it quietly with Egypt. No phone calls, not even a mention of it being my birthday. I've had enough pity parties by now to know nothing was going to change and I just needed to suck it up as usual. I have a feeling that Finn's family isn't the same. I feel pathetic and unloved but how do you make people love you when they clearly don't want to.

  Finn must have seen my internal debate written all over my face because suddenly he is there wrapping me tightly in his arms as my lips quiver in attempt to hold in a sob. I'm not normally the pity party type of girl but there is one day of every year where I feel like I am entitled to mope around a little and tomorrow is that day, my 26th birthday. I guess I am celebrating early but moping right now.

  “Hey, look at me pretty girl” Finn says as he tries to raise my eyes to his “I know what you are thinking and you need to stop that. I hate seeing you sad. You are so bright, happy and sassy. Seeing you sad is all wrong” Finn says as he lightly kisses my lips

  “Finn, you don't know what I am thinking” I say as I try to move away from him but his arms tighten on me preventing any escape

  “I do know what you are thinking. You feel unwanted and unloved by your family. You always felt that way but coming here has made it clearer. Maybe what Edwin says is true. Maybe they aren't your real family, maybe there is a real family out there looking for you right now” Finn says hopefully

  “Damn it Finn! You know that isn't true! I can wish all I want for a different family but you don't get to pick family. You just deal with the cards you are handed and live with it!” I reply angrily as I double my attempts to get away which causes Finn to pick me up and carry me to the couch and place me on his lap.

  “Stop fighting me Alex. Let's talk about this. I know you don't want to even consider what Edwin said earlier but you can't ignore it. Not only is it bad for you to lock it away but it is also a very serious and very possibly a threat to your existence. Do you know how much of a target it would make you if you were a first generation? You would become powerful and there are those out there who would do anything to extinguish that power” Finn says seriously as he continues to hold me on his lap.

  “There is no way I am a first or second generation. Edwin has it wrong. There aren't even any of those generations left are there? Of course my family would never tell me if there were but the only thing I ever heard was that there were none left.”

  “There are some left” Finn says quietly with an odd look on his face.

  “What do you mean? How do you know?”

  “Well, you canna tell anyone this. Not your family, not Anja or Jace and Xander. No. One.” Finn says sharply as he gives me a hard look.

  “I won't tell anyone Finn, I promise.”

  “My parents are both first generation and are close to a thousand years old” Finn says as I immediately start laughing.

  “Right, funny Finn.” I laugh in his face as he glares at me

  “I'm serious Alex. Do you know how old I am?”

  “N-no, I never thought to ask. I thought you were around my age, give or take a few”

  “I am three hundred and twenty eight years old, my brother, Ian is close to six hundred” Finn says as I gasp. No way he is that old! I had joked the other day that he was old but not that old!

  “Wow, I didn't think you were THAT old. Jesh. I'm only twenty five, well almost twenty six but you got a couple hundred years on me. You're kind of like a pervy old man!” I laugh in hopes he won't see how uncomfortable I am with this whole conversation.

  “Well, almost twenty six is the perfect age for an old chap like myself. When is your birthday?”

  “Nah-uh, I'm not telling” I attempt to stand but the arms tighten on me again

  “Alex, if you don't tell me I won't be held responsible for my actions” Finn warns as his hands creep to my sides like he is going to tickle me. Shit, I am so ticklish. If I ever was captured and someone wanted info from me all they would have to do is tickle me and I would give in so quick. Forget all other torture methods, tickling me is the way to get answers. Finn starts to lightly tickle my sides as I squirm and try to get away.

  “I haven't even begun with you yet, want me to turn it up a notch? I think I will enjoy this” Finn says with a look of glee on his face as he continues to tickle and I continue to squirm

  “Fine! Just stop for a second, let me catch my breath” I huff out like I am out of breath but what I am really doing is preparing for him to let down his guard and then I will be running and hiding. Finn relents from the tickles and loosens his arms as I pretend to sag against him to rest. His arms drop further to my thighs and his chin rests on my shoulder as I continue to pant. Suddenly I coil my muscles and jump up so fast that Finn doesn't even see my escape attempt coming. I shoot out the door and down the hall as fast as I can without looking back.

  Chapter 16

  I hear Finn howl with laughter and call out “Run as far as you want Alex, I will always chase you!” he threatens happily.

  I duck into one room after another looking for the perfect place to hide. Bingo! I run into the pool room and crawl behind a large group of plants that hide me perfectly. They are so thick and large that he won't see me behind them. I want to giggle like a schoolgirl because I am actually having so much fun. I never got to do this sort of thing when I was a kid really. I always wanted to play tag or hide and seek but no one would ever play with me. I get even more excited when I hear Finn opening and closing doors in search of me. I picked a great hiding spot.

  “Alex, if you come out now I will go easy on you but if I have to continue to hunt for you punishment will be worse” Finn tries to say sternly but you can hear the laughter in his voice, I have to bite my arm in order to force myself not to laugh at him and his threat. He will never find me. I hear a door closer to the pool room open and close. Crap, he is getting closer to me. I was kind of hoping he would think I left the apartment.

  “Aaaaaalex, come out, come out where ever you are” I hear Finn sing out, shit, he is even closer now. My heartbeat accelerates rapidly as I start to worry that he might find me. A minute later I hear a door close in the living room, almost as if it was the front door. Maybe he did think I left! Victory is mine!!! I start to giggle again and try to muffle it in case he didn't leave but suddenly I am pulled by the ankle from my hiding spot by a victorious looking Finn.

  “Finn! You scared me half to death!” I shriek as he hauls me up and over his shoulder

  “Och, Alex, you should have taken me up on my offer earlier, now I will enjoy your punishment. I should have told you that I also am a great tracker” Finn grins wickedly, swats me on the ass and stalks down the hall to the master bedroom. Shoot, what is he going to do? I don't know if I am ready for where this is heading.

  “Finn, put me down!! We have to go out remember!?!?” I panic as he tosses me down on the soft bed. He stands at the edge of the bed looking down at me with a wicked smile on his face that kicks my heartbeats into overdrive.

  “So, what will it be Alexandra. Tickles or begging for mercy?” Finn says with a quirk of the eyebrow. Damn it, he knows I do not want to beg. I refuse to beg anyone for anything....even if that means getting tickled. I seal my lips and turn my head in an attempt to be strong.

  “Aye, I see how its going to be. Tickles it is then” Finn says menacingly as he starts to lower himself down on top of me. As he does this another option springs to mind, hmmmm, I could come out the winner of this game if I play it right. What guy can refuse seduction? As Finn's face draws closer to mine I quickly turn my head and kiss him full on the mouth. He tries to pull away but I weave my hands in his hair and hold his head to mine until he opens his mouth and I dart my ton
gue in. My plan is working wonderfully but what I didn't anticipate was my plan backfiring on me and me enjoying making out with him. Finn moves to my neck and whispers in my ear “think I donna know what you're doing Alex. You're playing with fire, lass” he pants out as he starts kissing my neck. Shoot, I should have known he was too smart to fall for my attempt. Finn begins kissing my collar bone and is slowly moving his hands from my hips up. He is getting me all hot and bothered now as he continues to slowly move his arms up towards my breasts, when he gets just under my breasts he stops as if waiting for permission which I give by squirming under his touch and pulling his hair for him to continue. Suddenly he unleashes his fingers on my ribs and tickles me in my most sensitive spots as if he knew I was the most ticklish on my sides. Immediately I go into freak out spaz mode and try to buck him off me while he laughs like a demented hyena.

  “STOP!! Ok, ok, I give! MERCY!!!” I yell out as I continue to trash around. Finally he stops and looks down at me with a smile.

  “Now you know not to mess with me, right? That was mean to use your wiles against me”