by L. S. Darsic
“I had no choice but to try” I say with a glare as Finn leans down and gives me a peck on the cheek
“Come on, let's get ready to head out, I'm ready for some dinner and fun. If we don't leave soon then I will be forced to continue my torture” Finn says as he stands up and laughs like a villain in a bad movie
“Alright, let's go then. You enjoy torturing me far too much. So what should I wear tonight? Is it casual or do I need to dress up?” I ask as I walk out to the living room to grab my suitcase.
“Just wear what you are comfortable in, jeans are fine if that is what you like to wear” Finn calls over his shoulder as he goes into the bathroom.
Good thing Presley helped me shop and pack otherwise I wouldn't have brought much to wear besides my favorite ripped jeans and a few shirts. I decided on a cute long sleeve coral colored dress that Presley demanded I get and my worn cowboy boots. Looks cute and its comfortable which is most important to me. The nights here are the perfect temperature to wear long sleeves with a dress. I run down the hall and do my hair and make up in the guest bedroom while Finn is showering. As my usual style I leave my hair down and my makeup light. I add a long necklace, earrings and bangle bracelets and I am ready to go. I walk down to the master bedroom and find Finn petting Egypt and talking to her just like I do.
“So we're heading out with some friends so you will need to stay here Egypt. I will take care of Alex so you donna need to worry. You just relax here at the apartment.” Finn mummers to her. I look him over and see he is wearing worn jeans with a few holes in them and a long sleeve button down white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows and dark distressed leather shoes. Holy shit he looks so hot. He looks hot in everything he wears but there is just something about a guy who wears a button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to show his arms. Its so hot. While I am oogling Finn he realizes I am standing in the doorway gawking at him and smiles at me shyly.
“Alex, you look great. Those boots are so sexy, they scream American. I'm going to have to get into fights tonight with all the guys staring at you” Finn says happily with a shake of his head.
“Um should I change? I don't want to be that girl that has to pretty much wave the American flag in everyone's faces. Do they not have cowboy boots here?”
“Let's just say girls around here don't look or dress like you. And don't you dare change, I can't wait to show you off” Finn growls as he walks up to me and gives me a tight hug and light kiss on the lips. “Be back later Egypt” Finn calls as he takes my hand and pulls me out the door.
“I love it that you talk to her just like I do. Like she really understands what the hell we are saying”
“She does understand Alex. She is very intelligent, all Cir Siths are. That is how they bond with their master. If you treated her like a dumb animal you wouldn't have her respect and affection. She would never lay down her life for you if she didn't love and respect you”
“Wow, I had no idea. Here I thought I was turning into a crazy lady who talks to her dog. So where are we headed to?” I ask Finn as we step into the elevator and head down to the lobby
“Well, there is a little hole in the wall bar about a block away that has great food, live bands and a great atmosphere. I figured we would go there if that sounds alright to you”
“Sounds good to me” I say cheerily as we pass through the lobby and head out on the street. The night is cool but not so cold that I need a jacket luckily. We had down the street hand in hand and walk towards a bar that looks like its in full swing of a good time. The music is coming out the windows and doors and sounds like an old timey folk band. I love that kind of music. We walk in and head to a booth in the back that has the perfect view of the dance floor and band. The bar isn't big but everything is spaced out so we aren't all smashed together. A cute short hair waitress comes bouncing over and happily slaps Finn on the back in greeting.
“Hi Finn!! We haven't seen you around in a long time!”
“Hey Ava, how are you? Ava this is Alex who is here from America” Finn gestures over to me
“Hi Alex! I love your outfit. I knew you weren't from around here the minute you walked in” Ava giggles
“Ah, nice to meet you Ava. Guess I should have wore something less American huh?” I mumble as I look down at my outfit.
“No, no! I love it!! We just don't see cowboy boots much around here. I love them. In fact I have a pair at home but I just can't seem to pull them off like you can” Ava reassures me brightly. “So what can I get you guys to eat and drink?” Ava asks loudly as the band starts up a loud and fast song. I defer to Finn cause I haven't a clue as to what is good. Once Finn orders, Ava bounces back to the bar to put in our order.
“Guess you were right about my outfit being quite American” I sigh. I feel like I should go change because I keep catching people glancing at me
“Don't you dare feel anything less than beautiful. You look hot in that dress and with those boots, they make your legs look like they go on for days. I'm having trouble keeping my hands to myself in fact” Finn says with a leer look that makes me laugh
“Alright, I won't go change” I roll my eyes at him. Boys, they are so easy to please. I look around the bar and see it looks exactly like I would think an old time tavern in Scotland would look like. Wood all over, the tables, bar, walls, everything. Its not edgy or high class like some places in Chicago. This is the kind of place you would feel comfortable going to dressed in jeans and flip flops. I love it. I'm such a simple person and easy to please. Taking me to a high class restaurant is not the way to impress me.
As I am looking around I see a large hulking guy with a square jaw, black hair and brown eyes walking towards us with a huge smile. He walks over and literally pushes me over to make room for him to sit on my side of the booth. My face must be one of shock cause Finn and the new guy laugh loudly at me.
“Alex, meet Tank” Finn says as he shakes hands with Tank
“Ah, nice to meet you Tank? Is Tank short for something?” I ask the hulking giant next to me who is looking at me with a look I can only describe as perplexed. Tank looks over to Finn and gives him a menacing look and says “Don't you dare” to which Finn begins to laugh loudly at. Guess he isn't intimidated by Tank.
“His real name is Tiberious” Finn laughs and points to Tank who slams his hands on the table which causes me to jump.
“Damn it Finn! Can I just have one person in this world who doesn't know that horrible name! Come on!” Tank whines which causes Finn to laugh harder and me to start to giggle. These two are idiots. Tank is very intimidating when you first look at him but once he smiles and his booming laugh make him easy to warm up to.
Tank throws his huge arm around me and asks “so how do you know dick head over here?” pointing to Finn who has stopped laughing and is scowling at Tank's arm draped around me which Tank notices and pulls me closer.
“Well, I am here visiting Finn and his family” I manage to say as Tank squeezes me closer to him. Shit, I don't know what I am supposed to tell people about my time here.
“Ah, here to see how royalty lives eh?” Tank says laughingly as he strokes my arm lovingly. This guy is getting a little too close for comfort here
“Tank, you better let her go or you might leave the bar missing an arm” Finn says with a growl. What the hell. He isn't serious is he? What does Tank mean by royalty?
“I should have known you would find someone worth fighting for eventually” Tank says to Finn as he takes his arm off me and moves away a little which calms Finn down.
“Hey Tank. Are ya hanging out here? Can I get you something?” Ava comes back to the table with our drinks and some bread
“Ava, love! When are you getting off tonight?” Tank purrs at her. I'm starting to see that Tank is quite the flirt. While those two are flirting, Finn looks at me with a quirk of the eyebrow as if to ask me if I'm alright. To which I nod and smile. Ava takes Tank's order and heads back to the bar again.
“So, whats new Finn?” Tank asks while stuffing bread in his mouth. The guy eats like me, already a kindred spirit!
“Not much. Just in town to show Alex around and we will probably head back Monday”
“So did you get that Cam problem sorted out yet?” Tank asks and I see Finn stiffen. Does he know about what happened with Cam? I thought Tank was human? He can't know this stuff!
“Ah, no, not yet” Finn says evasively as he tries to tell Tank something with his eyes, probably telling him to shut the hell up.
“Tank, what are you?” I say bluntly to which Tank starts laughing loudly at me.
“Darlin, how old are you?”
“I'm 25 er, I mean 26, why?”
“Well that explains it” Tank says as he looks at Finn
“Explains what? Someone better tell me. I am so sick of people keeping shit from me” I hiss at them
“Alex” Finn sighs “I'm not trying to hide anything from you, I just don't want you to get upset while we are in public” Finn says calmly
“Finn I'm not gonna flip out. Just tell me” I demand
“Fine, move over here with me and I will tell you” Finn sighs as Tank moves to let me out of the booth so I can go sit by Finn. Once I am sitting Finn puts his arm around me and turns to give me a light kiss on the lips. I'm not used to public affection so I turn my face and he ends up kissing my cheek which makes Tank laugh loudly and makes me want to bury my face in my hands. I don't know why I just did that to Finn. Ugh. I hate myself.
“Looks like she isn't all that into ye Finn!” Tank says happily. Kill me now. This is so embarrassing, poor Finn looks hurt as if I wouldn't like him. Who wouldn't like him? I'm just a social retard
.
“Ah, Finn, can I talk with you in private for a second?” I ask him quietly and shoo him to stand up so I can get out of the booth. I take his hand and drag him to the bathrooms. Lucky for me they aren't men and woman's bathrooms like most places, these are just a unisex room with toilet and sink. I drag Finn into the nearest one and lock the door.
“First, I want to say sorry for turning my head when you tried to kiss me. I am not all that experienced as you know and Zack hated public displays of affection. So I'm sorry” I say quietly as I walk closer to Finn and search his eyes for forgiveness. He must have believed me because the next thing I know he has me pushed up against the wall with his mouth fused to mine which makes me let out a whore-ish moan that under normal circumstances I would be appalled by. My moan just encourages Finn to grasp my thighs and pick me up as he continues to attack my mouth. Well this isn't what I expected when I came in here but I can't say I'm disappointed.
Chapter 17
“You are so hot. I wanted to kill Tank just for putting his arm around you” Finn pants against my neck in between kisses.
“I-I'm sorry, I didn't know it would bother you” I stammer as he continues trailing hot kisses up and down my throat while keeping me pinned to the wall. I feel like I'm going to fall to pieces any minute. Finn breaks away from kissing my neck and lays his head on my shoulder
“I didn't know it would bother me either till he did it. I'm never like that but something about you makes me feel protective of you. Sorry I acted like a caveman, again” Finn says as he starts attacking my lips again as I rake my fingers through his hair with my nails which causes him to groan against my mouth.
“We need to stop” He pants out
“Y-yeah, we are in a bathroom after all” I say lightly
“I don't care about being in the bathroom, I just don't want Tank to eat all our food” Finn jokes as he slowly lowers me to my feet but doesn't let go of my waist.
“So are you going to tell me what Tank is?” I urge
“I promise I will try not to keep things from you Alex and I only didn't want to tell you in the middle of the restaurant because I was concerned about your reaction.”
“Well we are in the bathroom now so if I react poorly no one will see but you”
“You are right, I suppose I could kiss you quiet if you scream” Finn winks but its lost on me because I focus on the part that he says I might scream. What the hell could he be?
“Alright, do you know what a Lampir is?” Alex sighs at my head shake “How about a Vulkodlac?” Again my head shakes no “Jesus, did your family teach you anything?” Finn mumbles our angrily.
“I guess not” I say quietly. My family is making me feel so ignorant when it comes to Finn and others of my kind.
“Its not your fault Alex, you don't know what you don't know. You lived your life until now thinking your family told you everything they knew but my guess is that told you 5 to 10 percent of what they know. So you are a bit behind in the game but don't worry, I am a wonderful teacher” Finn says kindly with a wink
“Well Mr. McTaverish, teach me what the hell Tank is then” I say with a scowl
“Tank and his kind prefer to be called a Lampir so that is the first thing you should know. Its a bit of an insult to call them anything else in their eyes. An easy way to explain a Lampir is to say he is a warewolf and a vampire mixed” Finn says cautiously as he studies my reaction. My face pales and I am sure my jaw has hit the ground while I stand there in shock.
“You're joking right?”
“No, I'm absolutely serious. Tank is well over five hundred years old. A Lampir starts out as a man who shifts to a warewolf at night to hunt. When a Lampir is killed it resurrects itself into a Vampire who changes to a warewolf at will” Finn explains
“I-Is he going to bite me?” I ask in a panic. I didn't think I was that affected by Cam biting me but when I am close to someone who could bite me again I must be more upset than I thought.
“No, Lampir do not feed on humans which makes them different from full vampires. This also makes them stronger than full vampires because they have the Lycan blood in them which is essentially brute strength. Lampirs are as hard to kill as we are”
“Wow, I don't blame you for not wanting to tell me out there. I am glad you didn't. I probably would have ran away from Tank” I say shakily “so is there some sort of book like “mythical creatures for dummies” or something that I could buy? I feel so lost”
“Donna worry Alex. I will be here to show you” Finn says as he tucks a piece of hair behind my ear. Yeah he will be here for me but since I'm leaving in a few weeks what the hell am I going to do then? Maybe he can skype me. Just the thought of being away from Finn is upsetting. I am growing attached to him already which isn't a good thing. I hate relying on others so much.
“Are you ready to go back out there?” Finn asks while hugging me to him. I could get used to his affection, its so comforting to me. I've never been hugged much so this is a change for me, I guess its one of those things you never missed cause you didn't know it was missing. Now I think I would miss Finn's hugs.
Nodding my head I reply “yeah, let's go. I'm starved.” Finn takes my hand and kisses my knuckles as he leads me out of the bathroom and back to the booth where Tank is eating like its nobody's business.
“You two have a good talk? Cause I know she doesn't like you enough to do anything else in there with ya Finn” Tank laughs at him which earns him a growl and a glare from Finn. Guess I really screwed up earlier, now Tank is going to make fun of Finn forever because I can't handle a little PDA. Instead of turning red like usual, I square my shoulders and plant a big kiss on Finn right in front of Tank and the rest of the restaurant which causes catcalls and whistles throughout the bar.
“Tank, shut the hell up, its obvious you don't have a clue what you are talking about” I stomp by Finn and drag him into the booth with me. Looking over at Finn he just dumbly stares are me with open shock. Guess he didn't see that coming. Finn finally snaps to and gives a hard glare at Tank.
“Don't think I'm not gonna continue where that left off when we get home tonight” Finn threatens in my ear which causes me to shiver
“Anyway, if you two are done now? Did you explain to Alex w
hat I was while you were in the bathroom frolicking?” Tanks interrupts
“Yes, I know what you are” I respond shyly and look away from him. Even though Finn explained the difference between Tank and Cam I'm still a bit nervous around anyone who has fangs. Really I've only seen trolls before I came here. Now I've seen a vampire, pixie and most recently a Lampir.
“Finn told me what happened with Cam. I'm sorry about that. I promise I won't bite you so you can stop looking at me like that” Tank smiles
“Looking at you like what?”
“Like you think I'm gonna bite into you like a rare steak?” Tanks laughs at me which makes me turn red and hide my face in Finn's shoulder.
“Leave her alone Tank. She is still pretty new to all this, she just got her abilities you know” Finn defends me but he might as well have said I was a toddler just learning to walk cause that is what it feels like sometimes.