by W. J. May
Kallie’s stomach clenched tight and her heart beat its way out of her chest. She should be arguing for him to meet with her father, but suddenly she wanted one night for herself. To feel somewhat human and normal. She nearly laughed out loud. Human and normal were not words in her vocabulary anymore. She waved goodbye and slipped out into the night, Liam watching her until she made it to the end of his road. She was pretty sure he was going to follow her to make sure she got home safe. It didn’t bother her. She hoped he would. “It’s a good thing he isn’t a werewolf,” she murmured, shaking her head. “How freakin’ embarrassing.”
Chapter 8
The noonday sun streamed in her window, Kallie languidly turning over and stretching, the groan she let out feeling better than it should. The stress of everything over the last few weeks had resurrected nightmares from the night of the accident and sleep ran from her most nights. Last night had not been the exception, it was now mingled with tantalizing dreams of Liam. Delicious thoughts of the things he could do to her. She’d read way too many vampire and werewolf books in high school.
It was now a little past lunch, her mom singing something softly just beyond her bedroom door.
She climbed out of bed and pulled on a pair of jeans and her favorite AC/DC t-shirt. It smelled like her father, the shirt having been his favorite when he was younger. He’d worn the roughness out of it, the cloth comforting and a reminder of better days. She tugged her long golden locks into a high ponytail and padded into the kitchen, her mother cutting up tomatoes near the sink.
“Oh!” Her mom dropped her knife and it clattered to the floor. “Kallie, you scared me!”
It made her laugh. “You’re married to a vampire, and I scared you in the middle of the day?” She laughed again as her mother turned and popped a towel at her, the older woman a replica of Kallie with only a few more lines of worry around her mouth and deep blue eyes. She’d been put through far too much, but if her mom was anything, she was tough.
Her mom picked the knife up off the floor and rinsed it off. “I was making a quick salad before heading out to the store. Did you want one?”
Kallie moved over behind her mom, wrapping her in a hug and laying her cheek against the older woman’s shoulder blade as she nodded.
“Yeah, that sounds good. Just no ham in mine. I’d rather have turkey.”
“Who puts meat in a salad? Just gross.”
“Everyone but you, Mom. I’m surprised you haven’t shriveled up from becoming a vegetarian. Now that’s just gross.” Kallie repeated her mother’s favorite line as she squeezed her one more time and then moved to pour herself a glass of orange juice from the fridge.
“Your father was working on becoming one too, before the… Well, he was working on it.” She shrugged and continued to chop, the methodical clicking of her knife as it hit the cutting board almost calming. “Grab me the turkey from the cooling drawer and get whatever dressing you think you might want.”
She wanted to tell her that Dad was still a vegetarian of sorts. That not feeding on humans made him special. Now isn’t the time to tell her. “Did you get croutons last time you were at the store?” Kallie pulled out the small packet of luncheon meat and left it by her mom, moving toward the small pantry and digging through it as if in search for gold.
“I did. They’re somewhere in there.”
“I don’t see them.”
“You have to move things around, baby. It’s probably right in front of you.”
Kallie pulled the small golden bag from the darkness and held it to her chest, wrapping her arms around them as the small bag popped loudly, the air pressure blowing from her squeeze. Her mom yelped and turned around as Kallie laughed. She began picking crouton crumbles from her hair as her mother rolled her eyes and joined her, wiping her hands on a white dish towel before assisting.
“Dad asleep?” she asked, eating at the small bits of crusty bread she pulled from her hair.
“He’s downstairs, sleeping or waiting for the sun to set.” She lightly slapped Kallie’s hand and scowled. “Gross. Were you raised in a barn?”
“I don’t think so.” She looked around and smirked at her mom. “This place wouldn’t be big enough to fit a horse. Just saying.”
They wrapped up their hair-picking activities and Kallie moved to sit at the small bar top that overlooked the kitchen, her mother washing her hands before returning to her chopping. Pain laced Kallie’s chest as she let her thoughts dive into the horror of what her father was enduring for them and that her mother was completely ignorant to it all. Would she want to know?
No.
Kallie would fight to her last breath to make things change for her dad. Her mom being involved in it would only make matters more convoluted than they already were. Sadness sat on her like a thick cloak, the edges of it only pulling back slightly as her mother turned and smiled, the gesture lighting up the room.
“What’s on your mind, little one?”
“I’m not so little anymore, Mom. I’m in college now.” Kallie huffed as if a small child, her smile returning as her mother turned and gave her a look her grandmother would be proud of.
“You’ll always be my little one.”
“Why didn’t you and Dad have more kids? I have no one to beat up, or boss around. I could have used that.”
Her mother laughed before reaching up into the cabinet above her and pulling down two large crimson bowls. She filled them with lettuce and various cut veggies and then turned to Kallie as her hand hung suspended in the air above one of the bowls, chopped turkey in her grasp. “Still time to change your mind.”
“Um, no.” Kallie motioned with her hand. “Drop the turkey and step away from the salad, lady. It’s all mine. I know you want it.”
Her mom laughed again and deposited the bowl in front of her, the bag of croutons beside it and Kallie’s favorite dressing out like an offering. Kallie ignored her mom as the older woman went on and on about how important it was to move away from eating meat, how unhealthy it was for digestion. She looked up as her phone buzzed, her Ranch dressing coating the top of the salad and making the ingredients disappear beneath it.
“Kallie. You just took something incredibly healthy and made it horrible for you.” Her mom moved to sit beside her, her own bowl looking like the contents of a flower garden.
Kallie took a large bite and looked over at her mom with her mouth full. “Delicious, Mom. Thank you for letting me eat meat. Even white meat.” She couldn’t keep the sarcasm out of her voice.
Her mom swatted at her and she covered her mouth with her hand to ensure she didn’t let anything fall out. Manners be damned, it was far too delicious to let that happen. Picking up her phone, she quickly took note that two of her friends were meeting at the mall later that afternoon to start looking at swimsuits. The spring had already made itself known, the heat of living in the south causing the weather to push from winter to summer with efficiency.
She finished chewing before looking toward her mother. “Jeanna and Lisa are going to the mall this afternoon. Can I have the car?” Should she mention her date? She was almost twenty. She didn’t need to tell her mom all of her comings and goings.
“I have to work at two, so you’ll be on your own until late tonight. I should be home just after midnight.”
“I’ll be out tonight too. I have a date.”
Her mom shook her head. “The world has gone to hell in a handbasket.”
“Um, Dad’s a vampire and you’re a vegetarian. That happened a long time ago.”
Her mom laughed and dug into her salad. “Just be careful, baby. Not sure what I’d do without you.”
She nodded, understanding perfectly how close her family had become. After the transition with her father, there wasn’t much they didn’t do together. Everyone else had become an outsider and a potential threat. They weren’t welcomed in because safety wouldn’t allow for it. She finished her salad, thanking her mom and walking quickly to her room to put on some
sandals, change her shirt and brush her teeth. It would be good to see her friends.
Now, if she could stop her brain from focussing on Liam and their date, everything would be perfect. She grew warm as she pictured him bare chested like last night. She couldn’t imagine him looking better with clothes on. Stop it!
Lisa moved up beside Kallie, slipping her arm into her friend’s as she pointed toward the small coffee shop up ahead.
“I believe we’re in need of an iced coffee.” Lisa’s dark red hair was brilliant and looked like a flame when under the direct light of the sun.
Jeanna huffed and moved to cross the small street, shops littering the area around them.
“I need an ice bath. Why is it so damn hot already? It’s only April. Why in the world doesn’t spring fight back? Grow some balls and fight for its three months?” Jeanna turned and walked backward for the last few steps to the coffee shop, a tall lanky fellow walking out and bumping into her.
Kallie and Lisa laughed, dodging Jeanna’s swinging bags as she cursed at them for not giving her a head’s up that someone had shown up behind her.
“You guys suck,” she growled and opened the door, moving back as Lisa and Kallie moved into the stout aroma of the small shop.
Kallie breathed in deeply, the smell filling her lungs and forcing her to relax. Memories of her father’s mother sitting at the large kitchen table drinking overly sugared coffee and playing cards with her swam in her vision. She smiled and moved to the counter, ordering a latte as Jeanna grumbled about it being too bitter.
“What’ve you been up to? I haven’t seen you in a few weeks, which is weird. And even crazier, I hardly ever see you anymore. In high school we used to hang out all the time.” Lisa moved in beside Kallie, putting an arm around her shoulder and tugging her into a tight side hug.
“I want to hear how the hell you got Detective Big Balls to let you interview him.” Jeanna looked over her shoulder and smirked.
“Have you seen his balls?” Lisa scoffed, totally mocking Jeanna’s word of the week. She rolled her eyes and pointed to a table in the sun just outside. “Let’s go out and relax. The cute coffee boy will bring us our drinks.”
“How do you know he will? I usually have to wait at the counter,” Kallie asked.
“His name’s Cliff, and where Jeanna has not seen anything on the lovely detective in town, I’ve seen plenty of Cliff.” She giggle-snorted.
Kallie laughed, covering her mouth and sliding into the iron chair. “I’ll need the details on this.”
“First, tell me about the super-hot young cop. I know he hasn’t been there long, but my brother was telling us the other day that he has a huge chip on his shoulder. He won’t talk to anyone, but you got in. Tell me what you gave him to get a few moments alone.” Lisa smiled, her pretty cheeks turning the color of her fiery hair.
“I didn’t do anything.” She thought about Liam and her dad and then pushed the “v” word out of her mind. She shifted on her chair. “He’s painfully good looking, don’t you think? He said yes to the interview probably because he knew I was from the local college and wouldn’t be a threat of any sort.” Kallie shrugged, looking up as Jeanna walked out holding all three drinks and cursing them.
Lisa jumped up, as did Kallie. They took their drinks and found their way back to their seats.
“What happened to Cliff? He always brings me my drink.” Lisa looked over her shoulder back into the small shop.
“He was flirting with a dude. That’s what happened.” Jeanna sat down as Lisa slapped at her.
“Liar. You’re such a jerk sometimes.”
“Yes, but you love me just the same.”
They nodded, the girls smiling and carrying on with nothingness. Kallie brought the conversation back to Liam, her news burning a hole in her throat.
“I have a date tonight.”
“What?” Jeanna groaned. “Cancel it. We were going for happy hour with some cute guys from the rec center and wanted you to come. You have to, Kalls… come on.”
“Cute guys from the rec center? What about Cliff?” Kallie looked over toward Lisa, as her pretty friend shrugged and smiled.
“He likes dudes, or so I’ve heard.”
They broke with laughter again, Kallie sitting back and waiting no more than a few minutes for the questions she knew would come.
“Okay, so who’s the date with? Please tell me it’s the hot cop.” Jeanna turned toward Kallie and pretended to beg.
She grinned, knowing her stupid smile spread from ear to ear. “I would hate to disappoint you. Yeah. He’s taking me dancing, but not until ten or so. I could grab a drink with you guys and just meet him there.” Kallie shrugged as her friends cheered like kids scoring an extra scoop of ice cream.
“Be sure and tell us about his balls.” Jeanna shrugged, pretending to be all innocent. “Find out if he plays tennis, or soccer, or ping pong. What kind of balls does he like?”
Lisa snorted into her drink, a big bubble popping up through the straw into the iced coffee. “Let’s hope it’s not the same as Cliff the coffee guy.”
Kallie rolled her eyes, picking up her iced drink, and enjoying the solace found in the moment.
Chapter 9
The rest of the afternoon sped by, spent walking and shopping through various stores, Lisa and Jeanna buying everything their fingers brushed by. Kallie simply became a walking buggy, her arms extended as loads of new clothes and accessories piled high on her. They joked and make fun of one another until the sun began to set behind the edge of the world. With bags in hands, they made their way to the car and dropped everything off.
“I need to go change for drinks and you certainly need to get ready for your date tonight.” Lisa looked at her watch and then back up. “Let’s meet at La Tachera at six? Which gives us two hours to get ready at our own houses and then come together?”
Kallie rubbed at her eyes, sleep tugging at the corners. She yawned loudly as Jeanna stuck a finger in her open mouth. She pretended to bite it and growled playfully at her friend.
“No biting. That’s just for vampires.” Jeanna wagged her eyebrows.
Kallie’s smile stumbled as she questioned whether her friend was joking or serious. They parted ways, her two friends laughing at the simplistic silliness of the unknown. “Not sure that’s at all something you’d want nibbling at you.” Kallie got in her car, her thoughts restoring back to the horrible image of her father. His body broken and bruised. Had they made him strip before them? Hot fear rolled over her, tears filling her eyes as she pulled out of the small strip center. Those bastards physically hurting her dad was almost too much, but the idea of him being humiliated seemed much worse.
The fact that he’d shared his situation with her spoke volumes. She wanted to rush out and save the day, give him a different way of life and yet he knew that she’d be smart enough to figure it out before acting. She pushed her shoulders back and focused on the positive.
Liam would come over tomorrow night, Saturday, and once the two men met, she was sure they would realize they could be in the same room without killing one another, and would start making plans. Getting out of town seemed the best bet. Or… they could try and find help from another Red Blood, or a Blue Blood. Maybe Liam knew a bunch and could convince others to help. From what she could gather from the conversation with him the day before, the Blue Bloods were more calm, rational and helpful to humanity.
It seemed the Red Bloods seemed to bleed aggression, dominance and hate. Her father remained far from all of those things, but if he were not only fighting the need to feed, but those personality traits as well, it was a wonder he hadn’t exhausted all his resources all the time. He spent most of his waking hours at night with her mom. As a nurse she was rarely there at night when Kallie was young, but after the accident, the hospital let her trade shifts to be home with the family during the darkest hours. She once told Kallie that she’d told her staff chief that Frank, her dad, had night tremors from the memor
y of almost dying.
No one had the nerve to really question the lack of hospital records or anything else from the accident, and she made sure to cut them off quickly if they did. Kallie loved her mom, but honestly couldn’t see a future where the beautiful woman didn’t get hurt - horribly.
Would Liam be able to do anything to help them?
If not, her next stop would be to find another pure-blood Red Blood, if one even existed. If they were a virgin as well, then maybe there were more of them. What were the chances she could fine one? Maybe she’d have better luck winning the lottery. One new vampire couldn’t really fight off the older vamps who acted like parasites, but a large group of them? Yes. That would work.
She considered being turned herself as a last resort. If it means saving my dad, I’ll do whatever it takes. If she could go away and learn to be strong, then when she came back she could take care of the situation herself.
However, where would that leave her and Liam? Her being a Red Blood and him a Blue? She let the thought dissipate, realizing how ridiculous it sounded. She wasn’t going to let anyone change her and there was nothing more than a budding friendship between her and Liam. Tomorrow night would be telling of the future. Would Liam attack her father or could they be together without harm? Would she be able to have both of them in her life? If not, the decision was painful, but more than clear. Courage seemed to be something she never had in abundance these days.
Whatever was happening between her and the cop would be over after tonight. Her family came first. A small frown touched Kallie’s face at the thought. Sacrifice was never easy.
Dressed in a tiny black dress with gorgeous red heels and earrings to match, she got back in her small Honda, her mother having replaced it with a new one - different color - just after the accident. It was a much newer version and her parents had the maintenance done on it far too often, but paranoia had given them a new life, one they were happy to have at any cost.