“Good save bat boy.” Kyli lightened up. “This is why.” Kyli opened the island refrigerator. She grabbed a small pack of blood and bit into the top. Kyli instantly grew fangs. She let off of the pouch. “See.” Kyli poured the blood into a glass originally meant for mixing the milk or OJ before she put them into the eggs. “The teeth react if we need them to. Vampires just don't go around with their fangs out everywhere they go. That would be too obvious. If you need to bite into a bag of what-not, you’re fangs will out themselves before you ever think about doing it. It's like a muscle. It's automatic. As for the sunken cheeks, that's the movies you're thinking about.”
“What about Orhn? He looked like that?” Zack asked.
“He was probably hungry. Or maybe it was due to his gift. He was walking around in the sun after all. That's not normal for a vampire, ever. Hell, we can get sunburns if we spend too much time in the sun ourselves. As for the teeth.” Kyli smiled, showing off her two pairs of long teeth. Kyli swallowed the rest of the blood in her mouth. She breathed deep, and smiled again. The fangs were gone. “It’s as easy as that.” Kyli reached for the glass of the remaining blood. “Now for the hard part.” Kyli slowly drank the glass of blood until the last drop. She set it down and smiled. They were normal.
“They didn’t change.” Zack was shocked. He thought that there was no real way to hide them other than physically skulking in the shadows.
“Yeah, freaky isn’t it?” Kyli commented, happy she impressed Zack.
Zack had no idea that watching a girl’s teeth do nothing could be a true sight to behold, but it was.
“You can control it. It’s a mental trick like sitting still. It's against impulse, but it can be done. You have to think of the blood as something else, something sweet and delicious. Other than what it actually is. It becomes easy with some practice.”
“Kyli what do you think about?” Zack wanted to know what her secret was before he had to think of something for himself.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Kyli poured some milk into the same glass the blood was in. Kyli pushed it over to Zack.
Zack thought about it while he automatically drank the milk. “Milk?” It was a nice enough choice. It was smooth and soft and he did like it. There was something in him that liked the idea of blood as milk.
Kyli took the glass back from Zack and poured blood into it again. She threw it back and slammed the glass back onto the table. “Nope.” Kyli had a blood mustache.
“Then what?” Zack was sure it was milk.
“Cranberry juice.” Kyli finished the last drops in the glass. “Milk must be your thing. You sounded confident when you said it. Usually the flavor which the guesser mentions is what they themselves need to think about.”
“You mean you were testing me?” Zack asked.
“Take another look at the glass you just set down. What color is the 'milk' you were talking about?” Kyli licked her teeth clean.
Zack stared at the glass. It was red. There was no trace of white in the cup. Only dark the same dark red that Kyli had poured into her own glass. “Wait, what did you put in my glass?”
“Blood of course. What? Did you actually think I poured milk?” Kyli was set back from how powerful Zack's compulsion was towards milk.
“Seriously. What was it?” Zack needed to be sure.
“Do you want the truth or a lie?” Kyli was being coy.
“The truth of course.” Zack was being straight forward with Kyli and expected the same.
“Okay, first the lie.” Kyli said.
“Hey, I wanted the truth.” Zack spoke up.
“The lie is that milk is comforting to you. So that's what I gave you. Because it has a calming effect and sooths you. That somewhere in your head you really enjoy the texture.” Kyli sighed and waited for Zack's response.
“Go on.” Zack kept it short.
“The truth is you’re sick in the head.” Kyli waited for the outrage from Zack, but there wasn’t any. He sat there, listening to her. “Good, you didn’t blow up at me this time. That means that either the blood is kicking in and giving you some increased concentration. Or that there is something about blood as milk that fascinates you at a deep inner level. Milk to you is primal, almost a carnal satisfaction.”
“So I’m sick? That’s your opinion? That I lust for milk?” Zack didn’t like the thought that he was obsessed with milk in that way.
“Think of it. I filled your cup with red liquid directly in front of you. I did the same to my own glass. Somewhere in all that you saw me pour white milk. You were the one to see it, not me. I could call you a milk pervert if you’d like?” Kyli chuckled under her breath.
“A milk what?” Zack raised his eyebrows. He didn't like the sound of that.
“You have a milk fetish, that’s all. It makes your horny. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. You’re just different.” Kyli chuckled.
“I don’t have a milk fetish!” Zack was fuming. He was getting mad.
“Do you like cows too? How about the black and white pattern? Does it turn you on?” Kyli held her composure while toying with him this time. She was keeping the joke running as long as she could. Zack had clearly fallen for it.
Zack thought about her line of dialogue. She was being a little too antagonistic to be serious. “Wait, you’re screwing with me aren’t you?”
“Would you like me to screw with you?” Kyli put her hands up and acted like she was scribbling in a note pad. “And what was the relationship with your mother like?” Kyli tilted her head to the side in a questioning manner.
“Yeah, you are.” Zack was catching on to Kyli’s strange humor.
“Honestly, if milk is what allows you not to vomit, then think about it when you feed.” Kyli told Zack.
“When I feed? You mean when I drink blood, right?” Zack didn't enjoy the thought of biting someone.
“No, I mean when you do bite that special someone on the neck and suck their blood. You will be able to do it with grace and power. Instead of losing your lunch or your dinner in the same moment.” Kyli pointed to the phone again. “Now call him back and explain a little more about why you're here. He’s a dad. He’ll begin to wonder how the hell you got a girlfriend in a single night.”
“What happens if he asks about the address?” Zack picked up the phone and dialed his number.
“Tell him this address, tell him more about who I am. You don't have anything to hide as far as we're concerned.” Kyli handed Zack a stationary with the hotel address on it and her name on the top.
“You have your own ledger pads?” Zack asked as the phone rang.
“The hotel prints them for me, yes. Tell him that you are my guest and that you’re going to be staying for a little while more.” Kyli took Zack's plate and fork.
“I tell him that you’re what exactly?” The phone rang again in Zack's hand.
“Your girlfriend and that I'm taking care of you after you fell and twisted your ankle.” Kyli was making it up as she began to scrub the dishes.
“What if he asks why I’m spending so many nights here?” Zack asked as it rang again.
“That I hit you with my car and I'm tending to your minor injuries.” Kyli reached for the glasses at the bar.
“What!?” There was a click and Zack’s father answered the phone.
“Giver residence. Who is it?” John was gasping like he had run for the phone.
“Dad, it’s me again.” Zack said with a sigh.
“Zack? Hey, what's wrong? You're not in trouble are you? Honestly I thought you’d be here when I finally got back. I was pretty shocked when you weren't.” John seemed winded.
Zack paused and wondered if his dad was about to leave for a while. “When you got back from where? I didn’t know you left.” Zack thought about it. “Are you going somewhere now?”
“Yeah, Diane and I left for two days to have some alone time. We talked about it and it didn’t seem right having the date at the apartment like that. I’m sorry to put
you through that Zack.” John was being considerate and thoughtful. It wasn’t like him.
Zack thought that Diane must have had a positive influence on John.
“So how exactly did you meet this hotel heiress? How did you end up at her place?” John was finally asking the right questions a father should.
Zack looked at Kyli. She urged him on. “I got here because I was-” Zack didn't want to lie to his dad.
Kyli mouthed the words ‘Say it’ with emphasis.
“Kyli Waterfield hit me with her car.” Zack delivered the line.
“She hit you? Are you alright? And now you're in her personal hotel room.” There was something on John’s mind he wanted to know.
“Yeah, I met her and she brought me back here to help me out.” Zack wasn’t sure how John might react to everything.
John began to laugh and whisper something to Diane while muffling the phone. They both laughed out loud. “When did you get there?”
“Yesterday.” Zack told John.
More laughter.
Zack could tell he was on speaker phone now.
“Then you probably just missed us. We checked out really early this morning.” John said. More laughter ensued in the background.
“You mean you were here at this hotel?” Zack still heard laughing that seemed to rip roar with each passing comment. “What were you doing?”
“Drinking cranberry juice.” Kyli joined in on the joke.
Zack was digging into the wrong stump on this one. Something that was better left alone than unearthed.
Kyli grinned. She could hear the entire conversation from the volume on the phone.
John settled down. “So how did you meet her? I mean besides the car accident.”
“Well, we met when-” Kyli grabbed the phone from Zack.
“At the club when I nearly ran him over with my car.” Kyli covered the mouth piece and snickered. Then she put it on speaker phone.
Loudly from John and Diane. “What!?”
Kyli held Zack away from the phone so he couldn’t get a word in. “I was driving late that night. I hit him in the left ankle with my car. Zack was on his way to a movie. He was crossing the street, so I pulled over to pick him up. Then it went all wrong.”
Diane spoke up. “So you knew our Zack already?” Diane was taking liberties that Zack didn’t feel comfortable letting her have. But he had to admit, she was sharp for catching what she did.
“Well, we met at a Goth club a few days ago. We hit it off, but Zack had to get home that night. So when I saw him walking I wanted to continue things from that night.” Kyli stopped pushing away Zack and nudged him to play along.
“Yeah, dad, it hurt at first, but she’s been very caring to me so far.” Zack stared at Kyli sarcastically.
“Ms.Waterfield, do you often pick up young boys you just met?” Diane was pushing things in Zack's opinion.
“That's okay honey. I'm sure Zack has things under control there.” John called Diane off.
Zack felt relieved.
“You aren’t severely hurt are you?” John’s fatherly instincts were kicking in.
“Yes dad, I’m healing pretty quickly you could say.” Zack checked his leg. It was strong.
Kyli poked Zack in the side to remind him what he was supposed to say.
“I’ll be here for a few days to make sure though.” Zack said hesitantly.
“I want to be sure Zack’s safe Mr. Giver. I’ll return Zack to you after I make it up to him. He’ll be a new man when you see him next.” Kyli winked at Zack.
Zack's face appeared to crunch over Kyli's comment. He didn't like the continued innuendo. It was planting more ideas in Diane's head and therefore adding to the eventual lecture that would result from John.
“Then I guess that’s good enough for us. As long as we know where he is. We’ll see him in a few days.” Zack had dodged the bullet. His dad never needed proof of exactly what Zack was doing, that was one of his greater qualities.
“But there is one more thing.” Diane had the phone and was encroaching on a dangerous subject. “Zack can you have Kyli’s dad call us when he gets in so we can talk to him?”
Busted. Or that’s at least what Zack thought.
“Sure thing ma’am. Is eight o’clock too late?” Kyli said without missing a beat. It was poetry from a silver tongue whenever she wanted. Lies on tap. Zack was greatly impressed by how she handled the situation.
Zack mouthed ‘good save’ to Kyli.
“O-okay. I mean, eight is fine. Have him call us then. Zack knows the number.” Diane knew she had been out thought and slung out to rot as Kyli would put it.
“After Zack’s better, we should all get together to meet each other. I'm sure you'll want to meet his new girlfriend.” Kyli was Stepford in her tactics.
Zack threw his head down on the counter.
“What was that?” Diane asked.
“Oh nothing. Go on.” Kyli covered for Zack's loud emotional tantrum.
“Well that would be great.” Diane told Kyli.
“Good. We should set something up for next week.” Kyli’s words were liquid silver flowing over her tongue. It was almost artistic to listen to.
Surprised by the level of maturity Kyli was displaying, Diane backed down. “Then have a good night, and we’ll talk to you soon.”
“Okay, bye ma’am.” Kyli hung up and smiled.
“You are spectacular.” Zack was praising Kyli.
“Yes, I am a golden goddess.” Kyli walked over into the bedroom and left Zack sitting at the breakfast bar.
Zack heard a rustling and then an article of clothing was thrown out into the living room. It landed on the couch. It was Kyli’s black tank top. Then she threw her black shorts as well. A second later Kyli peeked her head out from beyond the door frame.
“You coming?” Kyli said with only her head and left bare shoulder exposed.
Zack wasn’t sure if this was another trick, or that Kyli was seriously asking him to join her naked in her bedroom. Zack wanted to at least call her bluff if she was kidding. At the most, if she was inviting him in, he would be showing her some confidence. “Be right there.”
Zack entered the bedroom to find Kyli had already changed into a red flowing dress with a halter top. Kyli spun around to display it to Zack. It exposed her long smooth back when her black hair wasn't covering it. Kyli put on another pink heart buckle choker of the same type as the one she wore at the Goth club. She was wearing black low rise heels that were more like flats than dress ware. Zack guessed that Kyli didn’t want to over shadow his height too much. Since Kyli was a full inch taller than Zack, she didn't want to draw any more attention to it if possible. The red dress reached just before Kyli's knees. Letting her shapely calves advertise the appeal to her long legs. Zack was eyeing every part of Kyli’s body, again. Kyli's hair settled down her back as she turned to see Zack's face.
“Done ogling?” Kyli’s arms crossed in disapproval.
Zack snapped out of it. “Yes, but why the lovely dress?” Zack did another once-over on Kyli. “You look beautiful in it by the way.” Zack was beginning to understand how to complement Kyli in a way that wouldn't incline her to cause him pain.
Kyli uncrossed her arms. “That’s more like it.” Kyli took Zack’s hand and led him to the foot of her bed. “Now get dressed, we’re going out tonight.”
“Into what?” Zack was still in the same bloodied clothes from when he was kidnapped.
“They're at the bed.” Kyli gestured for Zack to see.
“Where're we going to?” Zack looked at the clothes Kyli had set out for him.
Zack wondered when Kyli had the time to lay down the clothes. She was able to change so quickly that it was possible she did it when she walked in the room. Still, Zack was intrigued about where they might be going. He wanted to know more. Zack honestly wanted to be wherever Kyli was. He didn't want to be away from her anymore than he had to.
“There are three things you
need to remember about me, Zack. I love Johnny Depp, any movie by Tim Burton, and any song done by Demetrius Del Marin.” Kyli stated as she gestured to an extensive collection of all the people mentioned that lay neatly placed on her shelves.
“So we're seeing a Johnny Depp movie?” Zack took a guess.
“We're going to a concert. To hear the musical stylings of Demetrius Del Marin.” Kyli was excited. “Now undress or we're going to be late.”
“Isn’t he that goblet player?” Zack had heard of him coming to town from the radio.
Demetrius Del Marin was a world famous musical goblet player. His concerts were renowned for their unique Gothic flare. Exactly what was done inside the actual event was a secret to all by the loyal going fans. For the last month all of the local radio stations had been announcing his tour dates in the area. Zack normally didn't pay any notice to things of a classical nature, but it was so heavily broad-casted, it was impossible to miss.
“At least you remembered that he played actual goblets instead of glasses. But yes, that’s where we’re going tonight. Now get dressed. We’ll head out in a few hours.” Kyli flipped her hands up, gesturing for Zack to take his shirt off.
“Okay, if it’s with you, I’ll go.” Zack pulled his shirt up.
Kyli acted giddy. She helped Zack get the shirt over his head. There were thick blood stains on Zack's left arm. Kyli could see Zack's pale skin. For a moment, she blushed while looking at his chest. By the time Zack began to remove his shoes, Kyli stopped ogling. She felt it was fair enough to get him back.
Zack unbuckled his pants.
“Nope, not here.” Kyli pointed to her bathroom. “You can finish in there. I may be helping you out with all of this, but that doesn't mean I want you to get naked on me.”
Zack took the laid out clothing and made his way to the bathroom. He closed the door with a scorned expression on his face. Zack was a lost puppy to Kyli and he knew it.
Kyli stared blankly at the door. “Yet.”
Zack proceeded to dress himself in the bathroom. Zack washed the dried blood off his arm in the sink. He put on the white dress shirt.
As Zack was buttoning, Kyli leaned on the door. “This concert is for your own good, Zack.”
Demon Vampire (The Redgold Series) Page 13