Then Lily caught it in the corner of the mirror. Her almost perfect red bloody hand print seemed to wave at her from the white wall behind her. Was it saying good bye or welcoming her back?
Staring at herself in the mirror she became angry knowing the women staring back at her was practically a stranger. Deciding to give the reflection a smile she took pity at the swollen face smiling back. “Don’t want to see you no more,” she said suddenly feeling sad. It was time to leave and she felt as if she was abandoning the poor battered girl in the mirror and Lily started to cry.
The man she followed to Chicago and believed every lie he told her wasn’t the one to blame. You can believe other peoples lies all the time, but you can never believe your own. She loved him once, or did she ever really? Did she love him when he would put her down in front of their friends? Or when he came on to her girlfriends? Becoming so bad that she stopped hanging out with girls completely and since hanging out with men wasn’t an option she quickly found herself alone.
Not until she got a job with Todd and Martin. Rick did not feel threatened by them but that didn’t stop him from making fun of them all the time, especially because they were gay. With his equally ignorant drinking buddies spurring him on his comments was hurtful to the point that it made her ashamed that she barely said anything in their defense.
Having no family, no brothers or sisters to run too and since her parents died when she was young she was truly alone. Until Todd and Martin and the customers at Sips (the coffee shop they owned and she worked at) Rick was her only family and he made sure of it by chasing off or sleeping with anyone else. When it first began she didn’t know why he beat her, was it because of the way she talked? The way she acted? For a while she thought for sure it was because she was fat. Suddenly she heard him screaming at her from one of the thousands of memories she had. Except I’m not fat, she thought rubbing a stubborn flake that seemed to dry itself half way against her skin and half way onto her shirt.
“Time to check the real damage,” Lily said changing the subject. Lifting her shirt she already saw the damage peeking out from behind it. The familiar deep fleshy red staring back at her was already unbearable but had to be endured, she continued to take it off.
SIX: Like a Kitten
Letting out a slow growl Yaroslav let his pointy fangs burst out of his gums and descend over top of his human teeth. Growling again the saliva vibrated until finally dripping onto his lip and dangled. His brown eyes now seemed to gleam a bright brown brilliance. “You are not afraid?”
“Not to deflate your ego big guy, but no,” he replied calmly.
“Good, you’re Warrior then,” Yaroslav said beginning to pace. “We live for the hunt, live for the kill,” he growled.
Nathan saw the determination in his eyes and although he recognized the thick Ukrainian accent, Nathan knew he was from Kiev an Rus. A place before the Ukraine which made him very old, a survivor and from what he could tell wasn’t from negotiations and compromises. “I am not. . . I do not follow your ways,” he said knowing whatever he said would most likely lead down one road.
“My ways,” Yaroslav snapped insulted. “This is - our ways,” he said ponding his fist on his chest. “No other way.”
Seeing they were already traveling on that road Nathan sighed, “I follow my own way.”
“I have been hunting you for a long time Nathanial, son of Julius. To be honest when I took job, I had already heard stories of your battles. And it filled head with glory.”
“Those stories were from a long time ago,” he appealed.
“No more?”
“No more. . . I am sorry Yaroslav.” Seeing the Ukraine think gave him hope.
“Go fuck you’re sorry,” he growled and sunk it.
Feeling his hope sink he watched him begin to pace back and forth like a jackal getting antsy before the chase. “Let us drink, let us palaver,” Nathan pleaded.
“You want foreplay before I fuck you?” he asked condescendingly.
“I believe in peace before the After,” Nathan stated as truly as he could then extended his left arm in brotherhood.
Spitting on the ground in response he rolled his head on his shoulders smiling. “If it is peace you want,” he said hunching forward allowing his arms to expand with a crunch like convulsion. Kicking his legs behind him and bringing them back with a hundred little popping sounds his legs thickened. “Then hopefully you will find your peace when I send you to the After.” Then with a loud roar he lunged toward Nathan.
SEVEN: Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall
Lily could not turn her head far enough to show herself the scope of the newly painted canvas that was her back. Instead she made her way to the stand-up shower and using the mirror on the outside door to angle. This allowed her to get a full glimpse of the reflection off of the mirror above the sink. She wasn’t sure if it was the fact that she finally saw it that made the pain seem minuscule to the actual appearance. Her back was still red and fleshy but purple outlines were starting to bloom in blotches. Resisting the urge and instinct to touch the patterns on her back she just stared sorrowfully.
“Cock eater,” she said realizing it was a little (okay, a lot) homophobic of a comment to make. Knowing how anti-gay he was she knew how horrible it would be for him to actually take a cock in his mouth and it made her feel a bit better. What is wrong with me, she thought then began to giggle. A tear rolled down her left cheek. Sniffling she thanked God her parents weren’t around to see her, or hear her for that matter. “I miss you guys.”
She did miss them, terribly and it caused her to sniffle some more. Even though she was almost done high school when they died and some considered her young, she was old enough to accumulate a lifetime of memories that were to short and all of them made her sad. Especially the ones of long evenings sitting outside and just talking about nothing in particular but important enough just to be talking.
Suddenly turning her head to quickly the sharp aches in her neck made her wince and stop thinking of family. Grimacing until the pain subsided she decided she was done looking at herself and closed the shower door. “First we need pills,” she said making her way over to the medicine cabinet. Opening the mirror and taking three Advil from their little plastic home she swallowed them dry then chased them with a hand cupped with water. Ignoring the blood stained top lying on the floor she reached for her fluffy pink housecoat hanging on the back of the door. Slowly and delicately she attempted to slide the coat on as gently as possible as if one wrong move would set off a bomb. It was becoming apparent she would have made a horrible addition to the bomb squad as she set off every pain with each tug and pull, “Owe, Owe, Owe, Owe and Owe,” she repeated until the coat was on. Looking one more time in the mirror she smiled with a frown. “Tea with those pills would be awesome if I didn’t have to make it,” she said slowly turning around like a sunburnt victim to shuffle off towards the kitchen.
EIGHT: Hello Kitty
The thunder rolled across the sky as the rain started to fall harder on the two men fighting on the roof below who resembled more beast than men.
Screaming in anger Yaroslav threw punch after punch followed by swipe after swipe only to have them deflected and countered. Weaving and trying to fake his attack only to have Nathan anticipate everything he did easily defending himself. The man in the long black coat did not know what was more infuriating, the fact that Nathan was blocking everything thrown at him or that he was doing it so effortlessly.
Suddenly lightning ripped through the rain exploding on an old weather vane above them. Fluttering in all directions the sparks fell upon them while illuminating the battle. Seizing the opportunity Yaroslav lunged forward with his claws extended catching his neck and sending a long line of blood free falling into the air. He was exhilarated at the feeling of his claws slicing through his flesh but it was a feeling that was short lived. Springing from his neck were tiny little red veins that lassoed into the air catching every drop of Nathan’s bloo
d and retracting back into his neck. Standing in amazement at the incredible healing ability Yaroslav suddenly felt himself soaring through the air courtesy of a kick. Crashing into the pole holding the weather vane he finally came to a stop crumbling to the tiles below. Raising his head and blinking while the water dripped from his lashes, Yaroslav watched as every drop of blood from Nathan’s neck was already returned and securely running in his veins without a hint of ever being disturbed. Jerking himself free of the pole Yaroslav stood then lunged at him again.
Bringing his fist forward and catching him in the chin Nathan stopped the Ukrainian dead in his tracks. Taking advantage of the beast being stunned he gave him an uppercut. Yaroslav instantly felt the slow motion feel of flying upwards and backwards with such power that the pain had not yet been able to catch up to the moment. Watching in horror the Monster he just recently taunted as being a kitten barreled down upon him. With blistering speed Nathan grabbed him in midflight by the legs and spun him around in the opposite direction. Suddenly Yaroslav was not flying backwards anymore but spiraling forward with the same momentum giving him the sickening feeling of vertigo.
Nathan blurred, catching up to him he put both hands on his back. Then with all his might he slammed him into the tiled roof beneath them causing it to explode and crater. The structure cried out in its faulty intentions.
The crash was the only thing Yaroslav heard before it went dark. It took moments for him to regain his senses and open his eyes. Finally remembering where he was he desperately scrambled to his feet not realizing the force he landed with was so great that he had changed back to his human form. Hearing a growl from behind him he turned around to see Nathan hulking over him. “So, you are Chakan after all,” he said with a dazed smile. Assessing the speed in which Nathan’s throat had healed he realized he had never seen a Chakan do so that quickly, not even one with the Healing Ring. Panic set into the ancient Kiev. Realizing fear was painted all over his face he dropped forward. Quickly snapping his bones in his back, legs and arms he shifted back into his monstrous form lunging once again into combat.
NINE: Let them Eat Cake
Sitting with her big pillow on her over stuffed sofa chair Lily knew he wouldn’t let her take her favorite chair or anything else for that matter. Sitting back to get more comfortable on the big puffy cushions she realized the big comfy chair wasn’t so comfy at the moment. It was actually uncomfortable and painful like she had bought it from the Spanish Inquisition Furniture Outlet. Smiling at the thought of people walking into the Spanish Inquisition Furniture Outlet she let her imagination take over. She saw customers surrounded by monks, all guaranteeing them that their furniture is the most uncomfortable furniture or their money back. Cardinals offering a free torture rack with every living room set purchased. Giggling she started to relax, even though her back felt like it was settling against a chair made of sand paper.
As long as she didn’t move a lot she could sit and enjoy the rest of the time she had left in peace. Looking around the living room she took a little comfort staring at two pictures of her parents hanging across from her on the wall. The third picture that usually hung with them was on the floor face down. Closing her eye she gently tilted her head back and waited for the pills to take full effect.
All of a sudden her one good eye flipped open. “For fuck sakes,” she declared with her head still tilted back looking up at the ceiling. Tilting slightly toward the kitchen she couldn’t see it but she knew it was sitting there on the burner, steaming. The whistle from the kettle would go off any second and she mentally cursed herself for not waiting to sit down. She thought about not bothering with a tea and just let the kettle boil but the whistling would surely annoy the hell out of her. Besides she could almost taste it and today, not only did she want it, she deserved it. Lily prided herself on making tea for over ten years and that was her specialty at Sips. It was her preparation and her ingredients that made her tea famous, famous with the local customers that is.
It was excruciating enough just getting into the chair but now she realized she was about to get up which would be twice as painful, go make a tea and sit back down. “Oh the humanity,” she said giving herself a long self-pitied sigh.
Taking a deep breath she decided it was now or never and pushed herself off of the chair in one fell swoop. “It worked,” she yelled in victory since she didn’t give her body a heads up and it all happened so quickly it forgot to hurt. Then the pain caught up to them (her and her body) and she was frozen. “Much worse,” she said with her teeth clenched and fists tightening. Score another one for the asshole, she thought instead of speaking since she was trying to multi-task the current pain, the least painless route to get her tea and her next witty comment. Not to mention if Rick came home to this mess (the mess he created, she was just the instrument of destruction) that wasn’t already cleaned would be the icing on top of her For Fuck Sakes Cake. A Lily trademarked specialty, by special order only.
Without realizing it her wit had helped her make it half way to the kitchen. Soon she would be back in her comfy chair with the pain killers doing their thing sipping the warm taste of a simple earl grey.
TEN: Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting
Nathan’s face cringed as his body flew into the wall of tin and wood as it tried to wrap itself around him like a cocoon. But the speed and force he was traveling at would not allow it to hold and the wall suddenly burst inward. Landing on the dusty old concrete floor little clouds billowed around him as he slid half way across the old abandoned warehouse. Finally coming to a stop he pushed up on his arms and legs arching his back and then sprung to his feet.
Suddenly Yaroslav was at the entrance of twisted metal and splintered wood they had just created in a group effort. He did not however look like we was fairing as well as the little kitten and that the current redecorating Nathan was part of seemed to be a lucky shot. A long deep gash on Yaroslav’s forehead still bled profusely as he wiggled his way through the hole in the wall that almost resembled a cartoon cut out. Catching his head on a piece of wood he staggered forward with a limp on his left side while his right arm dangled lifeless filling the floor with its dark red vitality. His breathing was erratic as he struggled to get his long coat off that was soaked with as much blood as it was with rain. Throwing his shredded coat to the side he took a deep breath and exhaled while wiping the blood from his eyes.
“I’m more than willing to call it a draw,” Nathan said stepping back.
“Now you mock me?” Bringing his gaze from his right arm to Nathan he found it hard to see since his eyes were already veiled in more blood.
“Not at all,” he said trying to calm the wounded man down.
Yaroslav howled as he lunged at Nathan wrapping his hands around his neck and squeezing as hard as he could. Nathan morphed quickly digging his claws into Yaroslav’s already shredded right arm causing him to scream in pain and loosen his grip. Nathan gave the wounded beast a quick right hook across the face sending him to the dusty floor below. A constant balloon of dust surged outwards in every direction around him as he moaned in agony.
Using his left arm Yaroslav slowly dragged himself away. “I am over a thousand years old, I have hunted our kind down since my beginning,” he said rolling to his hands and knees. “I will continue to hunt our kind down as I intend to live another thousand years,” he explained pushing himself up to his feet awkwardly. Staggering left then right taking lumbering breaths he tried steading himself. Looking at Nathan not being able to hide the fact that he was discombobulated with every exhale he blinked trying to correct his vision. All of a sudden it seemed his eyes started to glow then out of nowhere he sprang forth swinging his claws wildly.
Quickly leaning back to avoid the attack Nathan dug his own claws into his attackers shoulder with blinking speed. Diving deep into the arm as flesh parted with ease he wrapped his fingers around the bone and clenched the shoulder blade tightly. Yaroslav howled in pain as Nathan anchored himself and used his
weight to throw him across the floor where he skidded to a halt almost fifty yards away.
Grasping his shoulder he screamed in torment rising to one knee. Spinning around still clutching his shoulder in agony he looked down as it leaked uncontrollably onto the concrete. Dripping crimson he listened to the rain continue to fall outside ricocheting off the tiles above and echoing louder inside. His burning eyes scrambled to find the boy he was so eager to fight and found him standing in the same spot trying to look less offensive in his human form. Stumbling to his feet Yaroslav gave a bewildered smile, “I have been hunting you for years,” he said not realizing how slowly he was healing. “You, you . . .” he could not finish. He only looked around the warehouse for something he did not know of.
Realizing Yaroslav was not just dazed but actually losing too much blood to heal, he reached out to him once again. “It is over my friend,” Nathan said slowly walking towards him.
Yaroslav seemed surprised by Nathan’s presence. “I know you,” he said recognizing the face, but not the name that went with it.
“You do,” he confirmed coming to a stop and extending his hand to Yaroslav’s shoulder. “Let us palaver. Heal our wounds and tell stories,” he said while trying to measure the damage he had done.
“You take pity on Yaroslav?” he said letting the anger return to his eyes.
“No, not at all, but you have to know how this will end if you don’t stop,” Nathan pleaded.
Spiting the blood from his mouth he wiped the rest from his lips. Then with his blood soaked arm he wiped his face while painting it. Looking at his arm Yaroslav was stunned that it seemed he was in some sort of battle. Then it came back to him. He was hired to find the boy that stood in front of him, but now that boy was killing him. Barking like a wolf in blinding anger his neck cracked as he hunched forward letting a growl project from deep inside his survival instincts while his whole body started to shutter with anticipation.
My Boyfriend is a Monster Page 2