“Mal,” Nina interrupted, keeping a hand on Malik’s chest to make sure he didn’t do anything drastic. “Just tell us what happened and everything will be okay.”
Mallory looked up at the pair like a child to their parents — or a puppy dog who knew she was in the wrong.
“I dropped it.”
“You what!?” Malik shouted.
“I was running — and then I bumped — and then my gloves — it happened so fast — and then I was in a warehouse—”
“But—” Nina said. Mallory could tell by the way her friend let go of Malik and sighed that she was losing her calm, too. “But you got them back . . . right?”
“They said we have to check in every week to get them.”
“To get what?” Nina said, jerking her head forward.
“The Beans. They took the book, they took Despy, and they took . . . the Beans. They don’t want us to be free.”
“Look what she did, Nina!” Malik shouted. “Now we’re pets — in the Human World! Of all places, the Human World!”
“Get up,” Nina ordered. Mallory stood to her, hoping Nina would save her from whatever Malik was planning to punish her with. Nina pointed outside. “Go.”
“To . . . the tent across from us?”
“No. Just leave. It doesn’t matter where — just go.”
“But I don’t have any guards — I don’t have any friends — I don’t even have—” Mallory stopped before mentioning his name. “Please, forgive me.”
“You’re banned from the pack!” Malik yelled. “Banned! The Goths don’t want you!” Before Mallory could counter, she was pushed. And it wasn’t Malik — it was Nina.
“All you do is mess things up.”
“Nina, please — you can’t expect me to be perfect.”
“Are you that entitled that you can’t understand why we’d be pissed?” When Mallory tried to answer, Nina covered her mouth with one hand and grabbed the princess by the neck with the other. “Those Beans are our only way of life. What did the Godmother say, huh? Didn’t she warn us of what we’d have to do if we ran out? And didn’t she warn us of what would happen if we were forced to do such things?”
Nina could feel Mallory’s lips moving beneath her palm, but she had had enough. She turned the princess around and kicked her from the tent. Mallory was lucky Nina didn’t fully hate her, or the kick could’ve been worse.
“Why are we just letting her go?” Malik asked, walking towards Mallory. “She won’t learn anything if we let her go.” Nina grabbed a small shield from the tent. Its markings were so beautiful it had to have been legendary.
“What do you have in mind?”
Mallory crawled backward, ignoring the trash and crowd surrounding her.
“I think we should show her what happens to those who make promises they can’t keep.”
“I didn’t,” Mallory pleaded. “I’d never lie to my friends.”
“You said we’d be free,” Malik began, shaking his head and kicking Mallory with each truth. “We aren’t free. You said we’d be cool. We aren’t cool. You said we’d be family. We aren’t family!”
“Hey!” came a sudden yell. Everybody turned. It was Jim. He was storming over, his muscles scaring the homeless from their continued chanting for a “fight!”
“Oh, look,” Malik grinned. “Her white knight. . .”
“Get away from her,” Jim ordered. He was expecting the two teens to back off, so he was a bit startled when they stepped to him instead.
“Mind your business,” Nina warned.
“You willing to die to be her white knight?” Malik added, cracking his knuckles and rolling his neck. Jim ignored them and grabbed Mallory. Jim made the mistake of his life turning his back on them to pick her up.
“No!” Mallory screamed. She knew it would be tough for the pair to control their instincts — especially Malik. “I’m leaving.”
“Then leave!” Nina shouted, kicking Mallory. The kick caused Jim to grit his teeth and step towards Nina.
A deep growl — much deeper than a human should ever sound — was emitted from Malik, causing Jim and the others to back up. It was so strong that it sent vibrations rumbling through the crowd.
Mallory grabbed Jim’s arm and walked him towards the minivan as fast as
she could. There was no reason they should be alive. She didn’t know how much longer her luck would last, and she wouldn’t dare test the universe.
“What the hell was that?” Jim asked Mallory when they finally got inside the van. Mallory had no answer. She strapped on her seat belt and awaited movement.
Mallory ignored Jim altogether. She was too worried about how far they were from the Gothic pair.
“Wait for it . . .” she muttered. “Wait for it . . .”
Before Jim could ask for her to explain herself, he found his answer. Mallory unbuckled her seat belt.
“Open the window.”
“Why?”
“Just open it! Now!”
Though he questioned the move, he opened her window. There was no way he’d be cleaning up another mess before getting some sleep. Mallory sat her knees on the seat and pushed half her body out the window.
“Malik’s a weak bastard!” she screamed. “No wonder your mother kicked you from her own pack!” Mallory slapped Jim’s hand away when he began his attempts to pull her back inside.
“As for you, Nina!” Mallory continued. “For you — I hope you never find your father, you shapeshifting slut!”
And with that, Mallory returned to her seat, buckled herself up, and basked in her momentary win. Jim rolled up the window, but couldn’t stop laughing.
“What are you giggling about?” Mallory snarled. Jim began coughing — his face red, and his eyes watery.
“Why’d you wait so long?” he finally managed to say. They were nearly a mile away from Tent City.
“Shut up,” she pouted. “You’re just laughing because you’ve never seen one of them run.”
“I guess I’ve never seen one of them listen, either,” Jim choked.
“Oh, they heard me. I bet they’re punching the air as we speak.”
She can’t be serious, Jim laughed to himself. His continued laughter made Mallory giggle a bit.
“Stop it,” she said. “It was necessary. Despite my boyfriend’s — I mean, my Ex-boyfriend’s complaints, I am neither stupid nor disabled in any way, thank you very much. I’m just . . . a tad different.”
It took a couple more minutes for Jim to regain his composure.
“No shame in your game, huh?” he said. “This Ex of yours know how badly he messed up when he lost you?”
“Oh, he knows,” Mallory began, “but I wish he’d forget.”
“Why’s that?”
“Look at me.”
“I can’t. I’m on the road.”
“Then park somewhere and look me in the eyes.”
Jim laughed and turned to her at a stop sign. She took his hand and covered it with both of her gloves.
“I have the worst boyfriend in the history of the word,” she confided in Jim.
“Trust me,” he assured her, “you don’t.”
“Yes — I do.”
“Everybody thinks that.”
“Jim,” she said, using his name to get her point across,” he is the terror of all terrors. The hunter of everything free. The end of my life . . . the hatchet to my loins.”
When Jim burst into tears laughing, Mallory gritted her teeth and punched him. It was so hard his laughter weakened and he rubbed his shoulder.
“Damn! You’ve got a strong punch.”
“Jim, please listen to me. Nobody listens to me. Everybody just treats me like a child. Running away from him was the greatest moment of my life. And doing so with friends like—”
Mallory began fanning her face. Jim patted her shoulder, noticing tears form in her eyes.
“And now they’re gone!”
Mallory began breathing heavily, sucking ai
r into her cheeks and wiping her eyes.
“Let it out,” Jim advised.
“Empires don’t cry,” she ignored him to chant. “Empires don’t cry. Empires don’t cry. Empires don’t cry!”
HONK!
A blaring car horn behind them reminded Jim he had stopped to deal with teenage emotions he thought he’d left behind with Lily. He regained his senses and began driving again.
“What’s that supposed to mean? Empires don’t cry?”
“It’s something my father always told me,” Mallory admitted. “When I was younger, I’d cry for nothing. Well, that’s what everybody thought. I was really crying to solve my anxiety, my depression, my disappointment.”
“In what?”
“In myself.”
“But you were a kid. You still are a kid. You’re growing up — don’t beat yourself up over it.”
“I just wanted Daddy to hold me,” the princess continued. “He’d always envisioned me as, “Empress Mallory — Ruler of the Realm.” Mallory positioned herself in a posh way to exhibit her feelings of power. “He told me, ‘Never cry, my love — for if an Empress or Emperor cries, so does their empire.’” Mallory sunk into her seat. “Empires don’t cry . . . He said that back when he loved me.”
“I’m sure he still does,” Jim said. “Trust me, a father never knows how much he loves his kids until they’re gone.”
“But he’s been gone for years,” Mallory hissed. “Years, I tell you! Trading his daughter for a damned egg! It’s blasphemy!” Mallory paused. “He left me awkward, and alone . . . and with him! I will forever be a stain!” Mallory grabbed her curly hair and squeezed. Jim grasped her arm.
“Stop hurting yourself,” he said. “Just let it go. Let it all out. I’ll listen.”
“Jim.”
“Yes?”
“Do me a favor?”
“Anything.”
“Leave me alone.”
Jim didn’t know how to take her answer, but he listened. Within minutes, Mallory went from releasing her emotions to taking a snooze. Jim couldn’t believe how quiet and peaceful she was when she slept, as her life was anything but quiet and peaceful.
Mallory woke up from her nap wondering how she’d slept at all. Considering she had problems sleeping without her coffin, she hadn’t done much resting since arriving in the Human World. Maybe this could be an explanation for her erratic behavior? She doubted it but added the problem to her mental bank of “Ava Bean Excuses,” should she come across another angry Goth.
“Hey, Mal,” came a familiar voice behind her. She felt two warm, long hands on her body — one covering her mouth, and another just above her chest. “Don’t want your friend to notice anything, now do we?”
The princess snuck a glance at Jim. His eyes were on the road, but for how long?
“I’m nuts, aren’t I?” the voice went on, his hand dancing above her heart with circular motions. The princess nodded. If this was who she thought it was, she certainly didn’t oppose his spontaneity.
Brenden?
“Good,” he said, his hand beginning to wander lower. “Nina said you liked me. Maybe even loved me. That you wanted to make me special.”
I do.
Mallory sucked in air as the wandering hand found her legs.
“A dhampir, huh?” Brenden’s voice continued. “You’re just out to break all the rules now, aren’t you?”
Mallory couldn’t answer. Not even mentally. Her legs began to quiver as his strong hand thrust its way between them. His weaker, right hand didn’t care if it grabbed Jim’s attention. It lowered down, cupping her chin — the thumb painting her lips and teeth with its own touch.
“I’ll help you.”
Mallory felt Brenden’s breath on her neck — and then his lips . . . it was all too much for the princess. Blood trailed from her nose, trickling down Brenden’s hand and into her lap. She spent too many years untouched to not savor the moment. She grabbed his right arm and forced it to make contact with her vagina. Her legs rubbed up and down along his arm — her body pulsing in ecstasy.
Do it. Take me. Be mine!
An uncontrollable urge swept over her. She didn’t even wait for her fangs to fully grow. Without warning, she crunched on Brenden’s left hand. Black blood squirted everywhere.
“Are you cheating on me!?” came a yell from the driver’s seat. It was another familiar voice, but this one shattered Mallory’s trance. Brenden’s arms burst into blood, leaving Mallory’s legs drenched in ink.
Jim wasn’t driving anymore. Instead, Mallory’s slow glance gave birth to her worst nightmare.
White gloves. Red tailcoat. Long, silver hair that reached his torso. Perfect teeth that hid his killer bite.
“Lincoln?”
“Don’t backtrack now, you little brat!” he yelled. “You promised me you’re hand in marriage and now you’re off cheating!?”
When Mallory went to speak, her seatbelt unbuckled and wrapped itself around her — making sure to cover her mouth first.
“Don’t you say a word. It’s my turn to speak.” The driver paused to pound the van’s center console. “You deny me your body until marriage, but give it to a halfling you barely know? Have you gone mad!?” He didn’t want an answer. “I know you love me. I truly do. But, I want my revenge. Revenge for you holding out on the one you loved after all these years.”
Mallory could feel Lincoln’s hand on her arm. Then her waist. And then her thigh. She screamed as loud as she could, but nobody could hear.
Mallory woke up again. This time, her arms clutched the center console and the door panel. She had startled Jim, but she couldn’t have been happier.
It was only a dream.
“You okay?”
Mallory nodded.
“Was I—” Mallory said, pausing a bit, “acting a bit . . . strange?”
“Sleep-talking and all,” Jim laughed.“Don’t worry. It’ll be our little secret.” The princess’s face flushed with embarrassment.
Mallory looked out the window. The scenery had changed from traffic and skyscrapers to cornfields and houses.
“Where are we going again?”
“My mother’s place.”
“You still live with your mother?”
“No,” Jim grinned. “I live in Florida.”
“I don’t mind if you do,” Mallory admitted. “I find it quite cute, really.”
“I’m from Florida. Orlando — if you know what that is.”
“I don’t, but it sounds far.”
“Magical, too.”
“Magical? Really?”
“Disney World’s out there. Don’t tell me you’ve never heard of Disney before.”
Mallory cringed. Jim smiled out of disbelief.
“Anyways, I came here with my father and a few hunting buddies of mine. It took a few days of driving, but it worked out.”
“Have you gone mad?” Mallory asked. “You left a magical haven for — this?” Mallory gestured out the window at a large farm.
“There’s magic everywhere if you look closely enough. I’m not saying Gatsby’s the worst place — in fact, it’s one of the best. I was just warning you that any place can be dangerous with the way you were living — even Orlando.”
“So you came to Gatsby to stalk The Enterprise?”
Jim laughed.
“You blew that way out of proportion.”
“You make it sound like I made a mistake choosing Gatsby as my new home — but yet you’re here, too.”
“I don’t live here. We’ve just been here ever since—”
Jim paused. He began tapping the steering wheel.
“Ever since . . . ? Spit it out.”
Mallory couldn’t believe what happened next. Jim was forced to wipe his face, as the man had begun to tear up. What a tragedy it was to see a grizzly bear cry.
“There was a shooting at the school my daughter went to. She should’ve never even gone to that school, but me and her mother — we just f
ell apart. I left for Florida, she stayed in Gatsby with Lily.”
“Your daughter?”
“My princess. Always.”
“Excuse me, Jim, but you make it sound like something happened to her.”
“Six kids,” Jim continued. “Six kids and two adults died that day. Thirty-two injured.”
“But, your daughter, Lily — ”
“Didn’t make it,” said Jim, tears streaming down his face. Mallory covered her mouth.
“Oh dear, heavens no. I am so, very, very, sorry.”
Mallory began patting Jim. It took a minute, but he gathered the strength to continue.
“Everything’s different,” he revealed. “Nobody’s the same ever since that day. It’s been a year, but the same cloud hovers over the East Side. Evil hides in misery — but always finds a way to get new followers.”
“It’ll get better,” Mallory tried to assure him, even though she always blew off that advice for her own problems.
“What I hate most is that we let it destroy our spirit,” said Jim. “You’re right that’s it’s gotten much better since a year ago, but there’s still healing to be done. Take my nephew for example. He was popular — athletic — couldn’t fail hard enough to stay off honor roll if he tried. But now he’s depressed. Violent. Socially awkward. He thinks everything’s a conspiracy and everybody’s out to get him.”
“What a terrible transformation . . .”
“I’ll never understand what he went through. He was there. Right next to Lily when it all happened. There’s a part of him that blames himself for the whole thing.”
“If you don’t mind,” Mallory started, “what actually happened?”
“I’d tell you, but I don’t want to make that day any worse than it already was. Maybe if you can do the impossible and open him up, my nephew would tell you. But he never talks about it. Not with us, not with anybody. He just blames it on himself, The Enterprise, and the American government.”
Mallory sighed. She knew she was going to accept the challenge. Jim’s nephew sounded lost, depressed, and worst of all, lonely — just like her. He would fit in perfectly with The Goths, as they all had backstories worth giving it all up and beginning anew.
Dhampir Page 4