Tainted Crimson

by Tarisa Marie

  "I was an alcoholic back then," he continues. "I wasn't much of a father. I was young and stupid. I should've been there for her. If I’d had better control over my power I could've saved Margaret's life."

  "I don't think you can blame yourself for either of those things. Stuff like that happens without a reason. We learn from our mistakes and we grow from them. That played a part in who you are today," I try and help the situation but I'm not sure I've done anything but make it worse.

  "I'm not so sure, but thank you," he says exasperated as we slow down and I assume we're at the very small hospital on the edge of Taverd.

  My assumption is verified when I hear the driver’s side door opening. "You guys can get up now," Blake calls and by the time I stand up he's already swinging open the passenger side door and pulling Talia out.

  "I can help you carry her. Don't hurt yourself," D says while hopping effortlessly from the box onto the pavement.

  I watch my stepping carefully and moments later my feet also hit the pavement. I follow the boys, who are carrying Talia, into the hospital. I can hear Blake breathing deeply probably about to freak out. I can also tell that he's trying his hardest to keep from doing that.

  As soon as we are through the doors a nurse calls for a doctor and begins asking us questions about the girl in the boys' arms. Most of the questions we can't answer. One nurse brings a stretcher over and the boys gently set Talia's limp body onto it. They begin hooking her up to a bunch of monitors and checking her vitals as they run her into the next room.

  Talia's parents arrive in tears and are shuffled down the hallway with a doctor. The cops are called and I'm sure they must break up the party before someone else gets hurt. It's not long before someone comes out of the room that they took Talia into and informs us of Talia's demise. Blake starts shaking with sobs and eventually someone calls his parents too. They arrive and literally have to drag him from the hospital. I wonder how well he knew the girl. The cops question D and me as if we're to blame and we each have to give a statement. I assume Blake will have to give one at a later time and probably some of the people from the party. It's nearly four in the morning before D and I are able to leave the hospital and I'm exhausted.

  "Do you want me to carry you?" D asks as I slug my way down the street.

  "No, I'll make it. Just promise me that if I collapse with exhaustion you'll pick me up off of the sidewalk."

  "Deal." He nods humorously.

  "So what is going to happen with this whole vampire fiasco? What are you going to tell my dad? Jacob?" I wonder tiredly.

  "I'm going to tell them that it was an animal attack. Then tomorrow I'm going to go find the bastard and give him or her a lecture."

  "A lecture? He killed someone!" I state with an array of wild hand motions.

  "I know and he or she needs to be put in their place maybe even killed if it has to come to that. Why do you assume that the vampire is a him?"

  "I don't know just because that's what I see. I don't imagine a petite little woman vampire attacking someone, I picture a big burly man." I decide with a shrug.

  He chuckles while shaking his head.

  I trip over the sidewalk ledge and tumble to the ground, catching myself inches before my face smashes into the cement. Jesus. How embarrassing. I scurry up hoping that he didn't notice. Yeah right.

  His chuckles turn into gut wrenching laughs as I dust myself off.

  I glare at him.

  "I'm sorry. Are you alright?" he asks while choking on his laughter.

  I nod and continue walking.

  "That was entirely graceful. You obviously didn't inherit the grace of well anything..." he jokes.

  "Thanks," I murmur embarrassed.

  "You're bleeding," he says instantly serious and suddenly he's rolling up my jeans over my knees.

  "It's okay, just leave it," I tell him and brush away from him.

  He stands up slowly as if in a trance and continues walking towards home. I'm left wondering how bad this aversion to blood of his really is.

  Chapter 14

  I wake up the next morning feeling foggy and exhausted. Great. I can't remember the rest of our walk home or even getting into bed. I must've been too tired too function because I know I wasn't drunk enough to experience any sort of memory loss. I crawl out of bed and smell the bacon as soon as I begin to wake up. Big surprise there. I wonder how D isn't the size of a house with all the bacon that he eats. He must have a killer metabolism. When I reach the bottom of the stairs my father is sitting at the kitchen table while D stands facing the stove.

  "Good morning, Ariella," my father grunts, while reading the local paper.

  "Morning. What're you up to today?" I ask him curiously. Will he be training with me today? Somehow I doubt it.

  "I have some business to take care of in Vancouver so I'm going to be gone for a couple days with Jacob. We're rounding up some friends and seeing what interest they have in ganging up to get rid of Marco. I expect you'll be training with Daymon the next few days and going to school," he states. It's not a question.

  I nod.

  "Daymon told me about the animal attack last night at your party. I was worried when you didn't come home and it was getting late. Normally I'd yell at you for not calling me but you don't have a phone. So I got you this," he grumbles and tosses something at me. A small red box. I open it and inside is a cell phone. My knees nearly crumple. "There's rules. No texting anyone from Denver. No talking about anything supernatural over the phone or text."

  "Okay., I agree hastily. I'm so happy I finally have a phone again that these rules mean nothing.

  "Jacob are you ready to go?" Dad mumbles so quietly that I have trouble hearing him but then I hear Jacob call from upstairs that he'll be down in a minute. Super hearing? Or am I just nearly deaf? I hope the former.

  "I expect that Daymon was a good bodyguard last night and a good influence," my dad continues louder this time.

  I hesitate and he looks up, meeting my gaze. "Uh yeah," I manage while turning away from him and heading to the fridge. I grab out a yogurt and open it slowly.

  "Good," he says gruffly and then stands up, leaving the paper behind on the table. "I'll see you in a couple days. Good luck with school on Monday. Both of you."

  I nod and D sticks his tongue out at him. Very mature. My dad rolls his eyes as he exits through the front door. Jacob is right on his heels.

  "Looks like you're stuck with me for a couple days," I tease D.

  He's quiet and I wonder if I've said something wrong.

  "Yeah. Guess so." He shrugs finally.

  "Are you alright?" I ask while shoveling yogurt into my mouth.

  "Yeah. Just not sure what I'm going to do with you while I got vampire hunting. I can't have you getting into any trouble." He sighs.

  "Bring me with you," I suggest nonchalantly.

  "No way in hell!" he replies, sounding not angry but maybe surprised? I can't tell.

  "Why not?"

  "Why not? Do you have a death wish, Ariella?" he scoffs loudly.

  "No but I could help," I suggest while trying to keep my composure.

  He rolls his eyes dramatically. "Help? You wouldn't stand a chance. You won't ever stand a chance if you don't get stronger. You're no match for something like that and I know that you know it. I know that you're smarter than that."

  I sigh. I know it's not a good idea but that doesn't mean that I don't want to be involved. I can't stand being some helpless person standing on the sidelines.

  "You can stay here in the house and not take a single step outside of it. I'll only be out for thirty minutes tops."

  I'm disappointed but at the same time I know I'll only get in the way if I go with him so I back down and nod in agreement.

  It isn't long before he's gone and I'm alone in the house blaring the radio while mopping the grubby floors. Growing up without my mother around, I found myself taking care of most of the house work because my dad has never been one for clea
ning. In fact, he's much like most men, messy.

  Living in the same house as three men has proven to be a job. Sure, D cooks quite a bit and very surprisingly cleans up his own dishes, but neither of the other two do much around here besides boss me around. I throw my mop around as I dance to some new hit on the radio, I'm so into the tune that I barely hear the doorbell ring. I rush to the door and peep through the little hole in it. I make out long blonde hair and darkly lined eyes. Other than that, I don't see much through the dumb thing, they’re practically useless if you ask me. I decide not to open the door because I don't feel comfortable doing so without someone here with me. The knock sounds again and I realize that the sound level of my music is a dead giveaway that someone is home. I debate opening the door. The person doesn't seem to be leaving.

  I glance at the clock. D said he'd be no more than thirty minutes and it's nearly been twenty five. He should be home soon. I sigh, run and turn my music off and then run back to the door and swing it open. I meet the face of a stranger. The girl is about four feet tall and has on a polo shirt and brown shorts. She looks to be no older than ten years old and I wonder why her parents let her wear so much makeup.

  "Hi, I heard your music, I thought you must not have heard me knocking. Sorry by the way if I am disturbing you but I'm uh...er... Selling Girl Scout cookies and I was wondering if you'd like to buy some. I know you're new in town and stuff and thing is you're probably the only family that hasn't been asked to buy any and uh thing is that I haven't sold any yet because no one ever wants to buy from me," she stutters in a chipmunk-high voice.

  "Why doesn't anyone want to buy from you?" I ask confused while reaching into my pocket for some of the cash my dad left me. I love Girl Guide cookies and I know D will also love them.

  "Well, I guess you wouldn't know who I am. My mom is in jail for theft and my dad is kind of um...he's not all there. He's a couple towns away in a hospital for people like him. I live with my grandma right now. She lives next door to you actually. She's really nice but people call her a witch because she's like really old and she looks kind of like one...apparently anyways," she rambles nervously while chewing her nails.

  "Oh uh, well I love cookies and I’d also love to meet your grandma sometime. I haven't had a chance to meet any of the neighbors yet," I say enthusiastically and hand her a fifty dollar bill.

  "Oh, I don't really have enough change for that. I'll have to go ask my grandma for some," she says while shifting from one foot to the other nervously.

  "No, no. I'll take the whole case so there's no need for change," I promise. I feel sorry for the girl truthfully. She seems like a genuinely nice girl.

  Her face lights up. "Really? Are you sure? You don't have to!" she enthuses.

  "Like I said, I love cookies." I shrug flippantly.

  She hands me over the entire case while grinning like a kid on Christmas. "Here then!"

  I hand her the fifty and watch her eyes brighten as if she’s never seen money before.

  "My grandma is going to be so proud of me. She’s taken me around to sell them the last few years I've been a scout because my mom wouldn't and we've never sold a single box!"

  "Not one?" I ask dumbfounded.

  "Nope. It's a small town. Everyone knows who my parents are. They know my name and that's enough for them. They don't take the chance to get to know me. They don't care. They only care that my mom stole their flowers or there lawn gnome. You'll understand after you live here for a while," she rants again while dancing around excitedly. "If you want you can come meet my grandma," she suggests excitedly as I put the cookies into the porch.

  "I think that's a marvelous idea," a male voice chimes from behind me and I jump even though I recognize it as D's. He must've snuck in the back door. "Mind if I come along?"

  "You must be the new international student! Nice to meet you!" she chimes vibrantly.

  "I am. My name is Daymon." He nods slowly.

  "Oh, I'm Natalie! Natalie Silver. You're Ariella, obviously." She looks to me. "I heard how you guys found that girl at the high school party. That's so sad. I think that would make me crazy, you know, finding a body." She stumbles awkwardly.

  "Did you say your last name is Silver?" D asks curiously and I'm not sure if it's because he's really curious or if he's just trying to change the subject.

  "Yes, that's it. You’ve heard my name before haven't you?" She pouts. "I promise that I'm not like my mom or my dad. I'm not crazy and I won't steal anything."

  D looks at her as if she's spoken another language and then he fixes his composure with a smile. "Let's go meet this grandmother of yours, shall we?" he asks.

  She nods quickly and turns to head down the steps. I throw my shoes on while looking at him questionably. I can’t keep up with this guy’s emotional highs and lows.

  "What? I have a soft spot for kids, okay?" He laughs.

  We follow Natalie to her grandma's house and she explodes through the front door shouting for her grandma.

  "Grandma! Grandma! We have visitors!" she cries while throwing off her shoes in mid run. I pause at the doorstep unsure if I should enter without her grandma's permission.

  "Where's the fire, dear? Sl-slow down, my dear," an aged female voice says from down the hall.

  "They bought an entire case of cookies from me. A whole case! See, look." I'm sure she's showing her the fifty dollar bill. "They're the new neighbors."

  "Oh, well that's nice, they've come to visit? Ask them if they'd like some cookies. I'll make it out there in a few seconds, I've seemed to have lost my cane again," she mumbles, sounding nearly as excited at Natalie.

  "It's right here grandma," Natalie says and then comes whirling back around the corner to face us.

  "Come in, come in, grandma would like to know if you'd like some cookies. She makes them homemade!" She doesn't stop long enough for us to answer. "I'll get some," she reassures us. "Take a seat on the couch here!"

  I follow her direction and take a seat on the couch after removing my shoes.

  D looks at me and shrugs. After a few seconds of surprising silence, an old lady rounds the corner from the hallway and a smile forms at her lips. She’s small, I’d be surprised if she reaches five feet tall. Her hair is short, gray, and curly. She’s bent over a cane and very, very slowly making her way towards us. I feel bad for the lady. She looks ancient and I wonder how old she is.

  “Good day, kids. You must be the new neighbors. You can call me Grey if you like.” She grins and peers at us through her thick lensed glasses.

  I smile back and wonder if I should get up off of my ass and help her to the couch. “I’m Ariella,” I greet her and then point to D. “This is D.”

  “It’s short for Daymon. Nice to meet you, Grey,” D corrects me while getting to his feet and approaching the elderly lady. I’m pretty sure he hates it when I call him D but it’s become a habit. ”Let me help you to this chair,” he suggests gently.

  “Oh, thank you, dear,” she murmurs affectionately and latches onto his arm. He sets her down onto the chair with little effort and I find myself wishing that I had that kind of strength. I mean of course I’m super strong for my age and gender but I’m still nowhere near as strong as he is.

  My thoughts are interrupted when Natalie returns to the living room, cookies and juice in hand. She’s grinning like she’s won the lottery or something. “Here you guys go!” she shouts, while passing the delicious looking cookies around the room and pouring everyone some juice.

  “Thanks,” D approves through a mouthful of cookie. “These are awesome.”

  The old lady chuckles and although she doesn’t smile, I can see happiness in her eyes. “I’m glad you think so. It’s my mother’s recipe from when I was just a child. They are Natalie’s favorite as well.”

  “They’re the best cookies ever. She’s going to teach me how to make them on the weekend! I can’t wait!” Natalie brags.

  “So you are the new neighbors, how lovely. Where have you c
ome from?” Grey wonders.

  “You mean, you don’t know? Everyone in this town seems to know more about us than we do ourselves,” I joke.

  “Oh yes, of course they do. They’re a bunch of nosey bodies. I don’t hear the gossip. I have no friends to hear it from,” she answers sadly.

  “We’re from Denver, Colorado,” I tell her and a pang of homesickness racks me.

  “How nice... I was there once. Nearly a century ago now. I went there with my father to mine crystal from the mountains,” she explains triumphantly.

  “Your father was a miner?” I ask curiously.

  “Not exactly. My father was a man of many things but a miner isn’t something that I would have classified him as. He was a soldier of sorts. Our family, the Silver’s, come from a line of hunters you see. We relieved the world of the beasts all those years ago. My own father slaughtered the very last one.”

  Before my mind has a chance to question what she just said, Natalie is standing beside her grandmother with her hands on her shoulders and is looking directly into her eyes. “Grandma, that is just a story from one of your books. There’s no such thing as the beasts, they’re pretend, and there never has been such things.” Then Natalie glances at us apologetically. “I think it’s time for your nap. Let me show our guests out,” Natalie says sadly, tears in her eyes and then turns to us.

  I stand instinctively and so does D. We follow Natalie outside and she shuts the door behind the three of us separating us from her grandma.