by Zoë Fox
Roderick’s eyes widened in surprise for a mere second, before the careful façade of nonchalance returned. “See, this is what happens when you play with your food instead of eating it,” he said, gesturing with a nod towards Alex. “You get testy.”
“You’re not funny. You know that, right?” Alex glared up at him.
“I’m sure that depends on who you ask. I think I’m hilarious.” Roderick started toward the couch as he spoke, but Lucas blocked him.
“You’re no longer welcomed here,” Lucas growled, his teeth bared. “You need to leave.”
Roderick rolled his eyes. “It was only a joke. Have you misplaced your sense of humor again?” He tried to sidestep the other man.
“I am serious.” Lucas placed his palm firmly on Roderick’s chest, keeping him from taking another step.
“What has she accused me of now?” He asked, his smile falling away. His entire face shifted, anger creeping into the corners of his eyes.
“It is your own actions that have caused this. Don’t blame her.”
“Seeing as how I’ve yet to do anything. I don’t see how that’s possible.” He glanced over at Alex. “That’s not to say I wouldn’t. The opportunity just hasn’t arisen.”
She closed the book she’d been reading from. “Yeah, because your little present wasn’t enough of a threat.” Sarcasm dripped off her every word as she stood up. “That was gross by the way. You’re disgusting.”
“The feeling is mutual.” His upper lip curled in a sneer as he spoke, revealing the peak of one small fang.
“Well, at least I’m not the one mutilating kittens in my free time.”
“I have no idea what you’re speaking of, but considering the severe difference in our intellects, that’s not particularly surprising.” He pushed Lucas arm away, moving faster than her eyes could see.
One moment her view of him was partially blocked by Lucas’ body and the next he was directly in her face. She recoiled, more from shock than from fear, though a healthy mixture of both lodged itself in her stomach.
“Oh, what’s the matter? Did I scare you?”
Before she could respond, Lucas grabbed his shoulder and tossed him backwards into the wall near the door. Roderick stumbled, but didn’t fall.
“Are you really going to let her poison your mind against me?” He asked as he straightened himself.
“As I have already said, your actions are your own fault. Do not blame Alex.” Lucas poised for attack, in case the other vampire tried to get close to her again.
Roderick didn’t move. He stood, his back touching the wall. “Would someone please tell me what I’ve been accused of now?”
“Aside from repeatedly threatening my life? Gee, I thought that was enough,” She retorted.
“Had I known my words would cause this much trouble, I would have acted instead.” His eyes were hard, all pretense of playfulness gone.
“Enough.” Lucas’ voice silenced them both. “Roderick, I have repeatedly asked that you leave. Now go!”
“Not until you tell me what I’ve done.” He kept his eyes on Alex while he spoke, trying to make her lower her gaze. Despite the chills crawling down her spine, she returned his stare. “Lucas, I have known you a long time and counted you among my small number of friends. You were my marker. You owe me this much.”
Lucas sighed. “I owe you nothing, Roderick. I have asked you to treat Alex with respect and you have not. You have threatened her. At first, I thought you were merely being your usual difficult self—”
“And what’s to say I’m not?” He interrupted.
“The package Alex received yesterday was something I would have thought you were above.”
“What package?” He finally looked over to Lucas.
“Do not play dumb with me. You are out of hand. I have already written to The Counsel regarding your actions. If you go near Alex again, I cannot assure you that you will live to see another nightfall.” Lucas’ fangs were bare. It took every bit of control he possessed not to rip Roderick throat out as he watched him go towards the door.
“You’ll regret this,” Roderick said from the doorway. “I’ve become a powerful person in the eyes of the counsel in your absence, Lucas. Writing them was a stupid move.”
“When they hear of what you’ve been doing, I doubt they will let you live long enough to make me regret anything.”
Roderick snorted. “They’re not going to kill me over her. I could have torn her to pieces and strewn the body parts from here to Rome and they wouldn’t care.”
He didn’t wait for a reply. A moment later they heard the front door slam shut.
“Are you okay?” Lucas asked once he was gone.
“Yeah,” She nodded. “What do you think the counsel is going to do to him?”
Lucas sighed. “The string of murders he’s committed has drawn much attention. Those in charge prize our anonymity. The damages he’s done will be assessed and then, if he’s found guilty, they will either imprison him in a sealed coffin or execute him. I don’t know which.”
“And none of this is over the lives he’s ended, is it? It’s all about keeping secrets.” She shook her head.
“What would you have me say, Alexa?” He ran a hand through his hair. “Many of those involved with The Council see human beings as little more than you view cattle. It isn’t fair. It isn’t right, but it’s the way things are.”
“But It doesn’t have to be.”
He could tell from the look in her eyes that she believed that whole-heartedly. She was both young and idealistic. He didn’t know whether that was a gift or a curse.
“It is difficult enough to change the minds of any fully-grown adult. Imagine trying to convince a group of beings, some of which might as well be as old as time itself.” He took a seat on the couch and opened his arms to her.
“Difficult doesn’t mean impossible, Lucas.” She said, curling into him. “Someone should try anyway.”
He stroked her hair. “If I am requested to testify against him, I will do my best to humanize his victims to whoever is elected judge.” He placed a small kiss on the top of her head. “But I can’t promise it will do a lot good.”
Chapter Forty-Eight
Toad aimlessly pushed his peas around the white porcelain plate in front of him. His mind was elsewhere, lost in the swirl of visions parading through his brain, completely unaware of the boring story Kirk was telling about his day at work.
“You okay, Toad?” Alex asked.
He nodded, but didn’t look up.
“Stop playing with your food,” Kirk snapped. The harshness of his voice surprised even their mother. Toad, however, continued to shepherd the little green balls toward his mashed potatoes.
“He might not be hungry, honey.” Although Meredith smiled as she spoke, Alex could see that the edges wavered. “It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not. You took the time to cook us dinner and he’s going to eat it.” Kirk looked to his right. “Do you hear me?”
Toad didn’t say anything. He was too busy considering two different possibilities of how their lives would be by the end of the week. His head hurt from trying to follow the yarn like strands in order to determine what actions would lead to what outcomes.
“I’m talking to you. Stop playing stupid.” Kirk banged the table near Toad’s glass of lemonade, finally causing him to look up. His eyes were hazy, the edges drooping.
“He’s not stupid,” Alex glared at him. “He’s probably just tired.”
“No one was talking to you,” Kirk continued to stare at Toad. “Eat your food.”
Toad went back to making swirling motions with his fork over the plate.
“Damn it, I am not playing with you. Do what you’re told.”
“Leave him alone.” Alex said firmly. “If he’s bothering you, then don’t look at him.”
Kirk’s face went red. “If I want your opinion, then I will ask for it. Do you understand?” He was almost yelling now.
“I don’t remember asking what you want,” Alex retorted. She glanced over at her mother, even though it was pointless. She knew Meredith wasn’t going to step in and stop it.
“I am getting sick of your attitude, young lady.” His nostrils flared with anger.
“I got sick of yours a long time ago. So?” She knew she was pushing it, but she was tired of the way he talked to them. She was tired of the way her mother ignored it all. She was tired of not being comfortable in her own home. A part of her wondered if she could manage to get him angry enough to hit her, would Meredith only find a way to excuse him?
The skin of Kirk’s forehead shifted to a shade of crimson that made Alex wonder if his whole head would soon catch on fire. At least then she wouldn’t have to put up with him any longer.
“Someone needs to teach you some manners,” he glared at her.
“Here’s an idea; leave that to my mother. I’m not your kid.” She looked over at Toad, who had just begun to pay attention to the conversation going on around him. “And neither is he.”
“I am the head of this household—”
“No, you’re not.” She interrupted. “You don’t even live here. You’re just some guy my mom lets sleep in her bed.”
“Stop it, both of you. Please, just stop it.” Meredith pleaded.
They both ignored her.
“How dare you talk to me like that?” His hand was balled so tightly into a fist that his knuckles were turning white.
“You make it easy by being a complete jerk.”
On the other side of Kirk, Toad whimpered.
“Go to your room!” Kirk yelled.
“I will. As soon as my mother tells me to.” She looked over at her mother, silently asking her what she wanted to do.
“Would both of you please let it go. Can’t we just have family dinner? Meredith said softly.
“Because we’re not a family,” Alex continued to stare at her mother, awaiting instruction.
“I said go to your room!” Kirk repeated himself. “When I tell you to do something, you need to do it.”
“And I’m waiting for my mother to tell me to.”
“Meredith, help me out here,” he said, looking over at her for the first time since the argument began.
She sighed. “Alex, you need to watch your mouth, okay?”
Alex nodded, despite the fact that she felt completely justified.
“I told her to go to her room. You need to back me on this or she’s never going to straighten up.” Kirk insisted.
“Honey, she’s had a hard week, what with someone sending her that awful threat. Maybe you can cut her a little slack this time?’ She rubbed her temple, trying to make the pressure building there dissipate.
“Are you trying to undermine me?” His question sounded more like an accusation. He raised his glass to his lips.
“Of course not.” She kept her tone level. “It’s just that anybody would be upset after what happened to her.”
“So, does this mean I don’t have to go to my room?” Alex asked. If she was honest with herself, she was surprised her mother hadn’t immediately told her to do what he said.
“Shut up,” Kirk said, his eyes still focused on Meredith.
Alex rolled her eyes. “Yeah, that’s really mature.”
Her comment was answered with the sound of breaking glass. Furious, Kirk had thrown the glass he’d been holding against the wall behind Alex. All eyes were on him. Shocked, no one spoke for several moments. The dripping water from the faucet was the only sound in the kitchen.
“Alex, Toad, why don’t both of you go to your room? Kirk and I need to talk,” Meredith finally said.
“Yeah, sure.” Alex was thankful for a reason to escape the room. Quietly she scooped Toad up in her arms and headed toward the half of the house where their rooms were.
“He’s bad,” Toad said, clinging to Alex.
“Yeah, I know.” She sat down on his bed, still holding him. His little heart was beating so hard against her side it felt like it would break through his chest. “I won’t let him hurt you, though. I really won’t.”
“Toad knows.” He laid his head against her shoulder, seeking comfort. “Toad not worried about that.”
“Then what’s got you so upset, buddy?” She stroked his hair.
“My head hurts.”
“After listening to him scream like an idiot, that’s not surprising. So, is mom going to get rid of him now?” She couldn’t help but hope that broken glass would be the last they saw of him. Maybe her mother would finally come to her senses.
Toad shook his head. “No.”
Alex sighed. “I was afraid of that. What is it going to take to make her see what a creep he is?”
“It’s bad.” He cuddled closer to her, as if he could disappear safely inside her arms. “Really bad.”
Chapter Forty-Nine
The vampire paced outside the house, her house. The thing inside him that hungered for blood demanded he take action now. He couldn’t wait any longer. Alex needed him, needed him to set her free from the horrible skin that encased her.
The letter he sent her had been right in more ways than he’d realized. Yes, a woman’s beauty was best silenced. He could see it now. She wouldn’t be free until he silenced that mouth of hers. Until he stopped her from saying all those words that only took away from her appeal. She couldn’t help herself. But he could help her.
On the other side of the door, she was waiting for him. She just didn’t know it yet. She didn’t realize how free she would be when he was done with her. She couldn’t possibly know that what she really needed was to belong to him.
Despite everything she had done to him, he would do this for her. He would slice her skin and watch as her essence made its way into his buckets. He would take her from the loud and opinionated monster she insisted on pretending to be and turn her into the quiet beauty he knew was inside her.
All he needed to do was go inside the house. He knew for a fact her mother wasn’t home. Only Alex and her little brother were in there, which meant there was no one around to stop him.
Steadying his hands, which shook from the excitement, the monster pushed the front door open. It was only a matter of minutes now until Alex would be his forever.
Chapter Fifty
Alex heard the door open, but she didn’t raise her head from the book she’d been reading for most of the evening. She’d borrowed it from Lucas and hadn’t been able to put it down. She’d already checked on Toad, who was in his room playing contently with multi-colored blocks.
“Why haven’t you started your chores?” Kirk asked as he walked into the kitchen carrying two white buckets. He sat them down near the refrigerator.
“I’ll get to them in a minute,” she continued reading. “I just want to finish this chapter.”
“You don’t listen, Alex. That’s your problem.” Kirk sighed. He placed a large coil of rope on the table. “You don’t listen and you don’t do what you’re told.”
“Please don’t start that again.,” She said, folding down the corner of the page she’d been reading. “We’d hate to lose any more dishes.”
He glared at her. “And that. You don’t know how to be quiet.”
There was something off in the way he looked at her. His eyes were unfocused and hazy, his pupils dilated. Her heartbeat immediately kicked into overdrive. Something wasn’t right here.
“Just let me put this in my room and I’ll get started on those dishes.” She stood up and pushed the chair under the table, doing her best to appear as if nothing bothered her. Maybe she was being paranoid. Toad had warned her so many times to be careful, there was a chance he’d made her overly suspicious, but she didn’t want to risk anything at the moment.
“You’re not going anywhere.” Kirk took a deep breath. “I didn’t want to have to do this to you. I was going to leave you alone, but you really left me no choice, Alex.”
She slowly edged backwards
towards the sink, forcing herself to move as little at a time as she could manage. The last thing she wanted to do was draw his attention to what she intended to do.
“What are you talking about?” She asked. If she could keep him talking there was a chance she could reach the drawer where mother kept the steak knives.
“I’m doing this for you. I promise, I’m trying to help you.” He blocked the only doorway out from the kitchen. “I’ve been trying all along, but after tonight, you’ll be able to see that.”
Her hand wrapped around the knob of the drawer. She kept her eyes trained on him, opening it only enough to allow her to stick her hand inside. Moving left and right, she knew she’d found something sharp enough to protect herself when one of the serrated edges tore the sensitive skin of her fingertip. She wanted to cry out in pain, but she couldn’t.
“I don’t know what you mean.” Alex heard the quiver in her own voice as she wrapped her hand around the handle of the knife. It was difficult to speak around the lump of terror lodged firmly in her throat.
“You will. I’m going to help you, Alex. I’m going to take all the bad things about you away.” He smiled at her, his eyes demented.
“No, thanks. I like me just the way I am,” she said, concealing the knife behind her.
“That’s because you don’t know any better. You don’t know what you could be.” He started towards her. “Only I do. That’s why I have to save you from yourself.”
Pushing herself away from the countertops, she tried to go around the other side of the table. She made it about halfway around when he lunged at her. His thick sausage-like fingers wrapped around her arm and squeezed.
“It’s okay if you’re afraid. They’re all afraid at first,” he said softly. His eyes didn’t match his tone.
She tried to pull away, but his grip held as he dragged her towards one of the chairs.
“Who are you talking about?” She asked, hoping to distract him.
“The other girls I’ve helped.” He pushed her into a sitting position. “You’re not the first, but you’re still special. Now be a good girl and sit still. This won’t hurt for long.”