Blood and Beasts

by L. M. Miller

  “I have never… skinny dipped,” she confessed, eyes swiftly roving over the four of them.

  Guiltily, Linda, Stefan, and Tristan all raised their hands. Abernathy burst out laughing as Seph just grinned sheepishly, giving a little shrug. So she had never tried it? Looked like it was pretty cold…

  “I have never rollerbladed,” Tristan stated next, and they all stared at him in shock as everybody but Seph raised their hands.

  Now they all stared at her, and once again, she shrugged. She caught Tristan’s eye, and they grinned at each other. They seemed to have more in common than just missing the sun. It was Linda’s turn then.

  “I have never… bitten someone,” she announced, and everybody’s eyes swiveled to Stefan and Seph, who had to raise their hands, of course.

  “Big surprise-” Seph started when Tristan raised his hand too.

  They all stared at him, eyes wide open.

  “You’re not even a werewolf,” Linda stated the obvious.

  “It was just in fun,” he said, eyes dancing as they all caught onto just what ‘in fun’ meant.

  “Oh,” they all said in unison before bursting out laughing as Tristan’s cheeks turned a little pink.

  Before Stefan could say a word, next in line, Seph butted in. He rolled his eyes at her, but she just smirked. She tossed her hair over her shoulder regally.

  “I have never had sex,” she stated, and now they all turned to Linda and Stefan, who both raised their hands a little guiltily.

  Abernathy had not either, and neither had Tristan? Stefan nudged him playfully. It was clearly a nudge of manly friendship.

  “C’mon, man! You ain’t done the dirty? If you’ve bit a girl, why ain’t you… It was a girl, right?” He suddenly pulled away from Tristan, who just glared at him as the vampire grinned.

  “Yes, it was a girl,” he stared down at his hands, a little embarrassed. “Look, my uncles taught me to always respect girls, and that if I was ever to do that with a girl, that she should be really special. I just haven’t found that girl yet,” he looked up at them all now a little nervously.

  “All right,” he agreed, and they all shrugged it off as Stefan cleared his throat for his turn.

  “I have never hit a person in anger,” he announced, and they all raised their hands except for him and Abernathy.

  “Why’d you hit someone, Tristan?” Abernathy asked, and he shrugged.

  “Over a girl… Got in a fist fight,” he grinned at them all devilishly.

  “You and girls, man,” Stefan shoved him jokingly.

  “You, Linda?” Abernathy asked, and she rolled her big, Asian eyes over to bat them at Stefan.

  “I might have slapped Stefan a few times when I was angry,” she batted her eyelashes at him innocently, and he leaned forward to give her a sound kiss.

  “It never hurts,” he assured them all, one arm wrapped possessively around his girlfriend’s shoulder.

  “Hey,” she shoved him roughly.

  “I see what you mean,” Seph commented, and they all looked at her to explain who she had hit in anger before. “Oh, I’ve hit a few people when I’ve been angry. Couldn’t possibly tell ya them all. Most recently, I threw my step-mom,” they all nodded at this, understanding, and the awkward silence pressed on them all.

  “I have never stolen anything,” Abernathy piped up, and Stefan, Linda, and Seph raised their hands.

  “I used to steal things all the time. Ran with the wrong crew,” Stefan explained, setting his hand down.

  “I stole money from my real mom a lot for groceries and stuff,” Seph explained, and they all quickly turned to Linda to brighten the mood.

  “I used to steal make-up from Wal-Mart,” she shrugged as they continued to stare at her. “What?! They charge seven bucks for eyeliner! I buy one, and then throw three more in my bag,” she explained, grinning broadly at them all as they just rolled their eyes.

  “Tristan,” Abernathy said seriously, and they all quieted down to hear what this peppy girl had to say so gravely to the young wizard. “We are the only virtuous ones here,” she said stoically before her face broke out into a huge smile.

  They all groaned, leaning away from her. The rest of lunch continued in much the same fashion as they all laughed at each other, cracking random jokes. They bonded and became closer friends than they already were. They didn’t even bother to go to the Room. They would go there tomorrow, when Francesca and Rodney were back…

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  It was five in the morning, or more appropriately, evening, although it felt like five in the morning to Seph. She was being shaken gently, and she could smell the enticing aroma of warm blood on the air. She was hungry. Immediately, she sat up and gasped with surprise to find Francesca sitting on her bed, a warm mug of hot blood in her hand as she waited for the vampire to finally wake up.

  “Francesca!” She exclaimed, wrapping her arms around her best friend and nearly spilling the blood all over the place.

  That would be a hard stain to clean up.

  “Seph,” Francesca breathed in her best friend’s scent. “I’ve missed you,” she murmured, and Seph nodded in agreement. “Here’s some blood,” the werewolf girl said as they finally extricated themselves from each other.

  Eagerly, Seph accepted the blood, sipping it to try and appear normal. All she wanted to do was guzzle it down though. She licked her lips of any traces as Francesca stared at her. Seph grinned.

  “AB positive, one of my favorites,” she said, and Francesca laughed.

  After Seph had at least gotten a few good gulps in, Francesca started talking.

  “So… how are your injuries?” Seph knew this question was coming.

  “They’re fine,” Seph answered nonchalantly, trying to at least hide her left forearm under the comforter.

  Francesca was not to be dissuaded.

  “Let me see. I know werewolf marks take forever to heal,” she said, ushering towards Seph’s left arm.

  She sighed and revealed it. She felt Francesca’s fingers delicately graze over the pearl-white bite marks. She was frowning.

  “What other injuries did you get?” She asked, and Seph just shook her head, trying to stop this minute inspection of Francesca’s before it really got started. “Seph…” she breathed warningly, and the vampire sighed.

  “Oh, alright,” she grumbled, rolling over to her stomach and lifting her shirt up so that Francesca could get a better look of her back.

  She heard the sharp intake of breath and really wondered how badly her back must look. Maybe she could go into Francesca’s mind and look through her eyes? As long as her best friend didn’t notice… She stealthily crept into Francesca’s mind and peered through the girl’s golden eyes.

  She had to bite back a gasp. She was naturally fair, especially compared to Francesca, but still… Thick, deep, white claw marks marred her smooth back. She remembered who had done that to her too.

  “Rodney…” they both murmured at the same time.

  “He’s gonna hate himself for this,” Francesca moaned, and Seph rolled over to stare at her.

  “Why? He was just being what he is. I have nothing to forgive him for. I know how it is to lose control, Francesca,” the werewolf nodded this whole time, practically patronizing her.

  “I know. I know, Seph. It’s just… He attempted to stay in the Were-Corral… He thought he could, and then he goes and attacks one of his closest friends… Nearly kills her…” Francesca mused, and now it was Seph’s turn to shake her head.

  “Oh, us vampires don’t die that easily. Now, if my foster-mother had managed to get that stake in my heart… that might have killed me,” she replied, and instantly, Francesca’s head snapped up.

  “Stake? What? You had parents’ day, didn’t you? She tried to kill you?! Seph, that’s awful!” Francesca exclaimed, eyes wide with sorrow for her.

  Seph shook it off.

  “I shouldn’t have expected anything less. Bill just watched whil
e me and Janette rolled around on the ground, she trying to kill me and me trying not to kill her. I finally got her off of me, and she just left. She did say something like I was never welcome in their home again, blah blah blah. All I know is they better not be hurting Pearl and Pearce because of me. I’ll know about it, and they’ll regret the day they ever chose me to be one of their foster kids,” she vowed darkly, and Francesca nodded, knowing it was not the time to joke with her best friend. “But, on the bright side, I did get cards from all my foster-siblings and my real siblings,” she said, immediately pulling away her pillow to reveal the several cards she had stuffed under it.

  She wanted them near her at all times. For the next hour or so, they looked at the cards, talked about them, joked about them. They talked about what had been going on for the last three days that Francesca had missed. Seph explained what happened in classes, and Francesca nodded. Francesca explained what had happened to Rodney and what was happening to him now. He was getting a pretty good lashing from Sir Sanzio. Seph also mentioned the games the five of them had been playing during lunch, and Francesca laughed hilariously at the ‘I never…’ game.

  “I can’t believe you guys played that! Why don’t we ever play games like that when me and Rodney are around? We’re not that bad!” She exclaimed, although the mischievous look in her eyes said otherwise.

  “I dunno. Abernathy just brought it up so we didn’t mope around all day,” Seph said, laughter bubbling up from both of them.

  “Wow… we gotta play that game at lunch today! We should probably play it in the Room though. Sounds like you guys were talking about some pretty risqué stuff,” she winked at Seph, who just grinned good-naturedly.

  Francesca glanced over at their wall clock. It was in the shape of a golden sun, a sun they never saw anymore. Seph’s thoughts briefly dwelled on Tristan. He was so similar to her.

  “We need to get ready,” she announced, getting up and springing to the bathroom before Seph could claim it.

  The vampire just rolled her eyes. She would survive the brief five minutes Francesca took in the bathroom. Why did she always have to make everything a competition? She didn’t care that much. Then again, Francesca was used to competing for the lone bathroom in her house shared by her, her two younger sisters and her two younger brothers. At least the youngest siblings, twin girls and little Benny didn’t need to fight for the bathroom just yet.

  Walking to the Main Hall for breakfast, Francesca whispered in hushed tones to Seph. She did not have pleasant news for the girl. Seph couldn’t withhold a grimace.

  “What do you mean Rodney’s gonna wanna see my wounds?” She exclaimed, barely remembering to keep her voice down as they walked past many bustling students.

  Francesca sighed, grabbing the girl’s wrist.

  He blames himself for what happened, girl. He wants to see every little detail that he inflicted on you or that any werewolf inflicted on you because it was him that forced you into the Werewolf Warehouse to begin with, the girl explained, and Seph just shook her head, not feeling compliant.

  I don’t care. I am not stripping for him! She exclaimed, and Francesca rolled her eyes.

  I’m sure if my cousin really wanted to see you half-clothed, he could figure out a better way of doing it without feeling guilty. He just wants to see your injuries, she continued to explain, and Seph continued to shake her head.

  No, no, no, they reached their regular table and broke apart, alighting themselves in their normal seats across from each other.

  “Hey, guys! What’s up?” Francesca called cheerily as both Abernathy and Linda sat down at the table, trays laden with oatmeal and cereal for today.

  “Francesca! You’re back! I forgot that today you and Rodney come back!” Abernathy stopped abruptly at the mention of Rodney’s name, eyes first flickering to his empty seat and then to Seph, who just shrugged.

  “You guys! Stop acting all weird! I really don’t care about what happened! Like Tristan said,” she pointed out as the wizard sat down with his own tray of fresh fruit and an omelet. “There’s nothing to forgive. He was just acting according to his nature. It couldn’t be helped,” she stated and that closed the subject for the rest of their breakfast.

  However, they all did notice Rodney’s absence from the table. Nobody said anything about it, but everybody wondered. Where was he? On their way to first period, Seph gripped Francesca’s arm lightly to ask the obvious question.

  Where was Rodney? Francesca grimaced at the question she knew was going to be asked.

  Sir Sanzio wanted to have a talk with him first thing. I’m guessing that’s where he was, she said, and Seph broke their hold so that Francesca couldn’t hear all the tumultuous thoughts in the girl’s mind.

  Sir Sanzio was going to give Rodney a talk, or he already had, more to the point. Would he be punished? It really wasn’t his fault. Any student could have made the same mistake. Overconfidence shouldn’t be punishable. He never meant anything by it!

  What if he had not attacked her, though? What if it had been a passing witch or wizard? They rarely escaped from werewolf attacks, and if they did, they were deeply scarred for life. A person would certainly have died, and what person or wizard possessed the strength she did to have fended him off like that? Perhaps he should be punished, simply to ensure that he never thought so confidently of himself in that area again. Better safe than sorry…

  She scowled at this logical side of her. It made perfect sense. There was nothing wrong with what she was thinking, but she felt disloyal all the same. She felt like she was somehow betraying Rodney by agreeing with Sir Sanzio, with the adults. She pushed these thoughts out of her mind. Well, nobody need know what she really thought on that matter. They would all just accept the fact that she forgave Rodney no matter what, even if she believed he should be punished a little and learn more self-control.

  Anxiously, all through HU, she just waited for class to be over. She didn’t even listen to a single snide comment Ruby sent her direction. She wondered if Yolanda or Damian had filled her in on Seph’s little escapade with her foster parents yet. Probably… and Ruby wouldn’t care at all. She shrugged. That was Ruby for you…

  It couldn’t have taken longer for Basic to roll around. She hurried into class early, not even bothering to stay and chat with Linda after HU. Abernathy was already there, seated in their normal seats at the back. Now that they had all become friends and pushed some other students into their former seats, they claimed most of the back row. Madam Winslow didn’t mind where her students sat so long as they didn’t distract from the general learning environment.

  Rodney wasn’t in Basic either though. Seph anxiously stared at the door up until the commencement bell rang, and Madam Winslow grasped their full attention. She was teaching about… something… Where was Rodney? Seph moved to nudge Abernathy’s leg and ask her where Rodney was. The girl just shrugged, turning away from her and inclining her head towards the teacher, indicating that they should pay more attention to the lesson. Seph scowled at her. Abernathy just didn’t want to talk to her. The witch didn’t really care about the lesson. She knew something… They all seemed to know something, except her. At least Tristan seemed out of it as well. So perhaps Francesca had only had time to fill in Linda and Abernathy, but who knew when she had? The pair did not have first period together. She sighed. She hated her friends all avoiding her like the plague, not wanting her to know what was on their minds.

  “Seph, would you like to demonstrate the growing spell on this rose for us?” Madam Winslow asked, immediately catching her student off guard, as she was so prone to.

  Seph grudgingly rose from her seat and shuffled her way over to the front of the class, taking her time in order to glean any clues as to how to work this spell from any and all minds in the classroom. She didn’t dare trespass in the teacher’s mind. Although Madam Winslow was not as adept as Sir Sanzio, she would probably catch a student sneaking around in her own mind. She caught on how to go
about performing the spell and concentrated, pushing all thoughts of Rodney, werewolves, and punishments out of her mind.

  “Okay…” she murmured, staring at the rosebud Madam Winslow held out in front of her.

  She set her hand at the bottom of the rose beside it and moved it up, opening her fingers in a spreading motion. She willed the rose strongly to bloom. She willed it with all her might, with all her frustration about this whole werewolf-punishment-Rodney thing. There was a slight murmuring and quite a few gasps from the rest of the class. She opened her eyes.

  Madam Winslow was holding a fully bloomed black rose. She must have changed the color of it too. How had she done that? Madam Winslow was peering above her spectacles at Seph, appraising her. Why was everybody doing that recently?

  “Well done, Seph. I suspect the rose changed color due to your own tinge on the magic. Thinking of anything particularly dark or frustrating?” She asked her, and Seph grinned lopsidedly.

  “The story of any young vampire’s life,” she replied, taking the offered rose from her teacher’s hand and returning to her seat at the back of the classroom.

  Abernathy stared at her a moment piercingly, and Seph swiveled around to stare just as piercingly back at her friend. She wanted to know what was going on with Rodney. She could always penetrate Abernathy’s mind, although it did feel a bit intrusive. Her friends probably didn’t enjoy the fact that one of their friends could read any one of their private thoughts at any given moment….

  I know she is going to eventually try and read my thoughts… I will just not think about the fact that Sir Cosmos decided to talk to Rodney too. They really were going at him… I don’t think I’ve ever seen them that mad before. They must really wanna drill into Rodney how serious the situation was, and it was serious. What if he had run into Linda or me? He would have killed us. Oh, you’re reading my mind, aren’t you, Seph? Abernathy glared at Seph, who casually looked away, shoulders instantly stiffening at being caught.