“Obviously we couldn’t trust her with Kaley’s life!” Tamara barked and floated to the ceiling.
“She did all that she could!” Layla yelled and followed her.
“And what about you, old friend, taking a favor from my wife to help her find me?”
Yep, those were fighting words, but I was curious about that, too.
Layla started glowing crimson red. “You dare question me?”
Tamara hovered dangerously close to the vampire goddess, fangs extended. “As a friend, yes. Remember that you are not my goddess!”
Layla’s glow disappeared. “You have every right to question our friendship, but do not forget that it was I who kept you alive after you gave up.”
“So what?” Tamara was yelling again. “Now I owe you for that, too? Your friendship is costly!”
Layla slapped Tamara across the face. Tamara punched her back and the fight was officially on as they threw each other around the room, slamming each other against walls, knocking over bookshelves and squealing like banshees. Abby and Viola ran into the library, careful not to cross the threshold and stood shocked at the sight unfolding.
Layla had Tamara by the hair while Tamara beat punches into Layla’s side. Tamara swirled around doing a back flip and landed behind Layla putting her in a headlock then sunk her fangs deep into Layla’s neck. The beginning of the squabble looked like a fight, but when Tamara bit Layla, and the blood slowly dripped down her neck, it turned into a seductive dance.
“Stop it!” I yelled, but they ignored me. I started forward and Viola grabbed my arm, stopping me.
“Leave them be,” she said, pulling me away from the library. “Layla will not hurt her, child.”
It wasn’t Tamara I was concerned about. The pull of their vampmones and the scent of fresh blood were driving me over the edge.
“I know that look.” Abby grinned. “You’ll need to feed, soon.”
“Layla is summoning her strength. Izzy feels it,” Viola answered, pulling on me harder. “We must put some distance between them.”
I felt Abby’s hands grab my other arm and yank on me until I was moving. It took everything I had to continue walking away from Layla’s pull. It was the most agonizing few steps I had ever taken. Even in the kitchen, I still felt her call stirring in me.
“Here, drink this.” Viola put a glass in my hand and tipped it to my lips. “Go on, drink.”
I stared at the thick, red liquid and then sniffed it. It smelled like blood so I threw my head, taking a big gulp. As it hit my tongue, my mind short-circuited, closing my throat and I spit it out. “What the hell is this?” I handed the glass back to Viola while wiping my face on the sleeve of my shirt. “It tastes like shit.”
“It’s animal blood.” She handed me a rag. “Don’t ruin your shirt. Blood is very hard to get out.”
“That’s nasty. Don’t ever do that again,” I warned.
“You need to expand your menu,” Viola argued.
Abby closed in on me, whispering, “I think I found Celeste. We need to talk.”
I followed her outside while I continued to wipe my tongue on the sleeve of my shirt. “Where, where is that bitch?”
“I’ve heard rumors that she’s moved to a Connecticut suburb called Faelyn.” Abby casually strolled over to one of the rose bushes. “It’s not even on the maps yet. A lot of our kind of people,” she waved her finger between us, “has been moving up there to get away from the constraints of human society.”
With Layla’s pheromones playing havoc on me, I was ready to kick some ass. “Well then, what are we waiting for? Let’s go find Celeste.”
“Wait.” Abby shifted her weight from leg to leg. “It’s not that simple. If we go, Tamara will insist on going with us. I’m afraid people will clam up if they know she’s there. She does have a nasty reputation. I just don’t want to ruin our chances of getting to Celeste.”
I understood what Abby was saying and she was right. Tamara would go. I wouldn’t be able to stop her. “What am I supposed to do, leave her or disappear for a while? She’ll seek me out.” I sat on the wall ledge that separated the patio from the rose bushes and brought my knee up to my chin.
“How much do you want to get at Celeste?”
“I hate her. She ruined my life!” I rested my face against my knee. “If she hadn’t given Jules the potion, Kaley wouldn’t have attacked me and left me for dead. If Kaley hadn’t attacked me, Tamara wouldn’t have turned me. I hate that fucking bitch and want to see her burn in hell.”
“Then tell Tamara you need some time away. If she truly loves you, she’ll understand.”
I frowned, doubting that I could pull it off.
“Go talk to her. I’m sure she and Layla are done fighting now and she’s all ready for the evening so she should be in a good mood.” Abby grinned, placing her hand on my shoulder and giving a little squeeze. “I know you can do this,” she reassured me.
I found Tamara and Layla in the library, picking up and organizing the books back onto the bookshelves. Viola had probably reamed them and strongly suggested they do their part in cleaning up the mess. For a cook, Viola carries a lot of weight around here. I stood in the center of the room, overwhelmed at everything that’s happened to me lately. Whenever I’m near Tamara, I can’t seem to think about anything else. Maybe I did need some time away to get my head clear.
She approached.
I stepped back. “We need to talk,” I said, without making eye contact. She was good. If she saw into my eyes, she would know I didn’t mean what I was about to say.
“What’s wrong?” Again, she stretched her hand out.
I stepped away. “I need a break—”
“Done,” she interrupted me. “Where should we go?”
I love her unselfishness toward me, but she was making this harder. I must be an idiot to go through with this. “No, not we. Me. I need some time away from…” I paused, wondering if I was making the right decision… “you.” Ready to deal with her getting pissed, the hurt look that crept across her face, took me by surprise and I had to turn away.
“Your words do not match what your heart is saying.”
“Don’t. Don’t do that. I’m tired of you looking inside me and minimizing what I feel.”
“I’m sorry. You’re right. I should be more considerate of your feelings.”
“It’s too late. I need to get away from all of this chaos and see if I even have a chance at a normal life.” I went in for the proverbial kill, knowing her well enough that she’ll think I’m blaming her for all my problems and my unhappiness. “Please don’t look for me…I’ll find you,” I said, as the bloody tears stung my eyes. I couldn’t let her see me like this and ran upstairs slamming the bedroom door shut behind me. I pulled out a suitcase and shoved it full of clothes. I didn’t even see what I was packing. I didn’t care. I knew that if I didn’t leave now, I wouldn’t have the strength to follow through with my plans. All I wanted was to beg Tamara for forgiveness and take away her pain. With my suitcases and pillow in hand, I went outside and loaded up Abby’s rental car.
“Are you sure you’ll be able to heal the wounds you’ve created?” Layla stepped out from behind the fountain that adorned the Hightower driveway.
“What are you talking about?” I slammed the trunk close.
“Izzy, don’t play coy with me, I am a Goddess. Is losing the love of your life worth the revenge that you seek?”
I guess the cat was out of the bag…at least with Layla. No point in lying to her, too. “No, I’m not sure that Tamara will ever forgive me, but I want that bitch dead.” I opened the passenger door and leaned against it. “Please don’t tell Tamara what I’m planning and please watch over her, as a friend.”
“You willingly hurt her, then you ask me to watch over her. You should embrace the vampire in you, more. Our ways are simpler than this, we say what we mean and we mean what we say. ”
That was a jab and a good one, but I wasn’t going
to argue the ways of the vampire with the vampire goddess. I’m not that stupid, yet.
“Whatever.” I got into the car and Abby started the engine. “Please keep her safe until I return.” I closed the car door and Abby drove me away from the estate and from Tamara.
About the Author
I live in Texas with my partner of 12 years, our two dogs and three cats. I am often spotted in my PJ’s chasing down creative ideas with a cup of coffee in hand. I love playing pool and wearing Harley boots.
Dying to Live Page 13