by T. Styles
He finally accepted who she was.
A vampire.
And they continued to explore each other until Mayoni knocked on the door.
Ending their time together.
****
After she was dressed Farah returned to the car as Slade was driven away with Carlton. Her eyes remained on the vehicle until it was out of sight. “I would’ve given you more time, Farah. But Bones will be up soon and you have to be home. Zashay sucked his dick to make him pass out but he won’t sleep forever.”
“She know it was for me?”
“Yes, she’s on your side.”
She sighed. “How do I know Carlton won’t kill Slade?”
“Because he’ll be in contact with you on this,” she handed her an old flip cell phone. “Put it in a safe place.”
“Thank you,” Farah said as she wiped her tears. Her face still throbbed from all of the bruises.
“They can never come back to DC. Ever. Tickets have already been purchased for Slade and his family and they have to get out of the city.” She paused. “Do you hear what I’m saying? You can never see him again.”
A tear rolled down her face. “All this for Bones?”
Mayoni sighed. “I know it’s a lot but we need Bones in his right frame of mine, Farah. And he won’t be if you’re not happy. I don’t know why you have this hold over him but you do. So this is the plan. You will fake like you love him. You will put a smile on your face when you return to the mansion and you will care for him. He must not detect anything is off. This is very important.”
“And if I don’t?”
“Then I’ll send some vamps to Mississippi to kill everybody with the last name Baker. And this time I’ll come for Mia and Shadow too.”
Farah ran her hand down her face. “What are you going to do about the Bakers killing Lootz?”
“We told Bones that Grant was responsible. And since Shadow successfully murdered him that debt is over.”
“So this is my life forever? I’m a prisoner?”
Mayoni placed her hand on her thigh. “Don’t look at it like that. Why are you so sad? You are a vamp, Farah. And we are vamps. Even if you were with Slade he will never understand fully what it means to feed.” She paused. “We are your family now and you can never forget it. Please don’t make me show you our power. I will if I have to.”
Farah’s head hung. “So what now?”
“Tonight I want to cheer you up with Shikar.”
Farah’s eyes widened. “We’re going on a hunt?”
“You feel better already. Don’t you?”
****
Blue lights illuminated the massive indoor pool as Future’s voice lit up the airwaves from the internal booming speakers on the wall. The All White Swim Party was packed and everyone felt on top of the world, especially Monica and Renee. Wearing tiny white bikinis, their asses and titties spilled over the thin material causing all the niggas in the vicinity to take notice as they switched to their reserved space.
Tossing their designer beach bags on the lawn chairs, they plopped down and looked around at all of the men. “I can’t believe this shit,” Renee said, flinging her long black braids over her shoulder. “I mean free food and free liquor? What the fuck?”
Monica dug through her purse and pulled out her chapstick, smoothing it over her pink lips. “I told you some rich niggas throwing this shit.” She shrugged. “What do we give a fuck if it’s free or not? Bitch, we on one tonight.”
“I hear you but what’s the name of the people throwing it again?”
“I don’t know,” Monica said. “The girl at the blood clinic gave me the flier after we got our results today for that nursing job. The only name on it was T and F Presents.” She looked around. “Now that I think about it I saw that dude over there in the clinic too.” She pointed at a cutie in a Baltimore Ravens cap.
“This is weird but I love it. Seems so exciting!”
Abruptly the music ceased and the double doors flung open. Everyone turned to see what was happening when suddenly twelve beautiful people strolled inside. Their movements were so controlled they appeared to float on air.
The men were dressed in expensive black slacks and red button down shirts while the women wore black dresses accented with a hint of red.
Peeling himself from the group, holding Farah’s hand, Bones stepped in front of the pack with a smile. Addressing the party he said, “My name is Carter but my friends call me Bones. We thank you all for joining us on this night to remember.”
He gazed at Farah and she turned toward the crowd. “Now tell me good people…can I make you famous?”
EPILOGUE
Cutie slammed the diary shut, upset that she finished the story. What was she to do with her life now? An emptiness sat in the pit of her stomach and made her ill because tomorrow when she arose there would be nothing to look forward too.
She could read the journals again but it wouldn’t be the same.
Jones, the driver, pulled up in front of the address Cutie requested and parked. He looked at her and sighed. “You sure your aunt lives here?” He gazed at the place.
She exhaled and looked at the house. The rain stopped, which made it a little easier to see. “Yes, I’m sure.”
“Well go ‘head. I’m gonna wait so hurry up. Don’t be in there all day.”
Cutie quickly hopped out of the car and ran toward the front door. She knew Mooney wasn’t there because she was dead but she wanted to be near her presence. When she made it to the black lacquer door she knocked a few times and a tall white woman opened it immediately. “Who are you young lady?” She frowned looking down at her. “And what are you doing at my house?”
Cutie pulled the diary and address book closer to her chest, as if for protection. “Ummm…did a lady name Mooney use to live here?”
“A lady name Mooney?” She placed her hands on her hips. “What on earth are you talking about?”
“She was supposed to live here at one point. Probably before you I think.”
“And when was that exactly?”
“I don’t know,” she shrugged, “maybe when she was a kid or something.”
“That’s impossible because I have been living in this house since I was a child. You sure you have the right place?”
Cutie looked down at the address book in her hand and checked the location. Then she glanced at the number on the door. “It’s the same.”
“Well in that case its also wrong.”
“But I don’t understand…this was…this was her house. Mooney would never lie to me.”
“Look, I don’t know who you are but don’t come around here again.” She pointed her pale finger in her face. “Next time I’m calling the police.” She slammed the door and Cutie ran to the car crying all the way.
When she made it to the vehicle she was surprised to see Melinda. She stood next to the passenger side window knowing she was about to dig into her shit. “How did you…I mean…”
“Jones texted me and told me where you were going. Denise from downstairs ran me to the store and he heard you leave the house. Figured you were running away since Mooney died so he went after you and texted me.” She paused. “Now get in the car, Cutie,” Melinda snapped and she obeyed, easing into the backseat. “What the fuck are you doing around here anyway? And who was that woman? An old foster mother?”
Tears rolled down Cutie’s face. “No. I wanted to…I wanted to see Mooney’s house. The one her mother left her before she died.”
She frowned. “How she have a house like that when she lived in the projects? Does that make any sense to you?”
“Yes, she said she wanted to live there to be around me and stuff. But her real house was here.” She pointed at the home.
Melinda looked at Jones and shook her head. Without asking for permission she grabbed the things Cutie carried out of the house and thumbed through the items. She observed one of the newspaper clippings and showed Jones.
“Put t
hat back!” Cutie yelled. “That’s Mooney’s!”
“Cutie, what do you think this is?””
“A newspaper about Farah.”
Melinda shook her head and slowly peeled off a picture of Farah with a fake headline taped to a real article that read, Farah Cotton…woman or vampire. “Look again, Cutie. What do you see now?”
Cutie tilted her head and squinted. Now she was observing a picture of a car accident in the place of the photo she believed was genuine. “But…I don’t…understand. Why would Mooney do this to me? Why would she lie?”
Melinda exhaled. “She was mentally ill, Cutie. Had early stages of dementia and everybody knew it. Don’t get me wrong, she was a nice lady, which is why I didn’t mind you staying with her from time to time, but she was not well.”
Cutie felt anger welling up inside of her. How dare Melinda’s freak whore ass talk about her only friend so badly. “You a liar! Farah is real and she lives in a mansion with The Fold. You just don’t want me to know the truth because you think I’m too young. But I’m not young and I know what’s real.”
Melinda grew increasingly frustrated and snatched the diary from the child. She flipped page after page in anger. “Look at this shit, Cutie. This ain’t nothing but the makings of a whack ass book. If it’s a diary from Farah’s point of view how can she know what everybody’s thinking? Slade, Audio, Bones? What is this shit? It doesn’t make any sense!”
“I DON’T BELIEVE YOU!” Cutie screamed beating the sides of her head. “I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!”
Melinda exhaled and took the address book next. She thumbed through it and said, “What happened when you knocked on the door, Cutie?” When she continued to scream Melinda slapped her, silencing her instantly. “I asked you a question. Now what happened when you knocked on the fucking door?”
“The lady said Mooney never lived there,” she pouted holding her cheek.
“Exactly! Now what will it take for you to believe me? Because I care about you, Cutie. I really do. But you’re making it hard for me to let you stay in my house.”
****
Jones pulled off the main road and along a private tree lined street. They drove a mile away from the entrance before settling on a black iron wrought gate.
He parked and Melinda turned around and looked at the little girl. “Cutie, I don’t know about this.” She looked at the address in the phonebook and then the numbers on the gate. “This doesn’t seem real.”
“I don’t care if it is or not,” Jones interjected. “At this point I’ve been driving you both around for hours. A shot of pussy not gonna be nearly enough for this fare.” He pointed at the floor.
“You talk that shit when we get back to the house,” Melinda said grabbing at his crotch, calming him down instantly. “I bet you’ll be singing a whole new tune then.”
“Can you go to the intercom thing at the gate, ma?” Cutie asked with wide eyes. “Please?”
She tilted her head. “Oh now I’m ma?”
“I’m begging you.” Cutie positioned her hands as if she were praying. “I gotta know. I just gotta.”
Melinda shook her head and approached the intercom with Cutie following. Afraid, although she wasn’t sure why, she pressed the button to connect. “Hello, the voice said from the speaker. “How can I help you?”
“Uh…is Farah Cotton there?” Cutie asked.
Silence.
Melinda looked down at Cutie with a knowing look. She was almost certain that just like the other house, nothing would amount of this visit. Still she wanted to put this vampire thing to rest so that they could go on with their lives.
“You have the wrong address,” the voice said. “Get off the property.”
Melinda grabbed her hand. “Now will you please leave this alone?”
She moved for the car but Cutie shook her off and went for the intercom. Pressing the button again she said, “Is Bones there?”
“Who is this?” The voice said more angrily. “And what are you still doing on the property?”
“My name is Cutie…and I’m a friend of Mooney.”
A few seconds later the voice returned. “How do you know Mooney?”
Melinda and Cutie’s eyes widened believing they were getting somewhere after all. “She was a friend of mine,” Cutie said. “But she died a little while ago.”
A few seconds passed and the gates rolled open. Feeling like it was an invitation, Cutie dipped inside before they closed with Melinda following with flaring arms. “Hold up, Cutie!” She called out. “I don’t trust this place!”
She could run her mouth all she wanted the girl was already gone until she happened upon a double black lacquer door. It was so large it was intimidating and before long a handsome man with neat dreads running down his back exited with three women.
“What you say about Mooney?” He asked, his voice booming. He stood over the child in an intimidating manner.
“Are you…are you Bones?” Cutie questioned, her eyes glistening.
He looked back at the women before focusing on Melinda and Cutie again. “I asked what you say about Mooney?”
“Uh, she was murdered a few weeks ago. Her funeral was today and she’s a friend of mine.” She paused, sadness visiting her again. “Well, she was a friend of mine. Did you know her?”
“You mean outside of her trying to break in my house, forcing me to chop off her arm?”
Cutie stumbled. “You were the one who cut her?”
“Listen, I don’t know what Mooney told you but you better forget everything she said. The woman was off her rocker anyway. Don’t be spreading lies.”
“No problem, we’re out of here,” Melinda said trying to snatch Cutie away from the volatile scene. “Come on, we have to go home.”
“Get off of me!” Cutie yelled pulling away. “She wrote about you in her journal, Bones. I know almost everything there is to know about you.”
Bones glared down at her and stepped closer. “Mooney wrote about me? In that book right there?” He pointed.
“Yes,” Cutie said.
He snatched it away and flipped through the pages. It was obvious that the property now belonged to him. “But there’s more,” Melinda said, sensing they were in danger. “A whole series of them back at my house.” She wanted him to know if he killed them the secret was still out.
Bones smiled sinisterly. “How convenient.”
Suddenly the door opened wider and a light skin woman with a red chiffon flowing dress exited the premises. She looked regal and was the most beautiful woman Cutie had ever seen. “Did she write about me too, little girl?” the woman questioned.
“Are you Farah Cotton?” Cutie asked, as she felt herself on the verge of crying.
She nodded. “Yes…I am.”
Cutie ran up to her and hugged her legs before separating. “Mooney spoke so much about you.” She said excitedly. “You are the most interesting woman I know!”
“You shouldn’t have come here,” Farah said seriously. “You should never have come.”
Cutie’s heart rocked in her chest. “Are your friends The Fold? Are you vampires?”
Farah looked back at Bones and down at Cutie. Now she’d said too much to ever leave.
Although they didn’t answer when Cutie glanced at their clothing and saw tiny T’s and F’s embedded in the fabric she had her answer.
And it was all the confirmation she needed.
CHARACTER KEY
THE COTTONS
Farah Cotton
Farah hated her lighter skin when she was younger due to every member in her family being dark. As she got older she became arrogant about her complexion believing it gave her privileges. With time her perspective changed. Born with Porphyria, which causes blemishes when she’s stressed she drinks blood to ease her pain. We later learned that Ashur, the man she thought was her father was not. Instead it was Jay, her Physical Education teacher in high school.
Shadow Cotton
Shadow is Farah�
��s brother.
Mia Cotton
Mia is Farah’s older sister. Had issues with her weight and is a master plan creator.
Chloe Cotton
Chloe is Farah’s youngest sister who died in a car accident in which her boyfriend, Audio Baker was also present. We learned it was because Theo Cunningham, the boy the Cottons tormented in the beginning of Redbone, ran her off the road. Chloe later died.
Brownie Cotton
Brownie was Farah’s mother. Throughout Farah’s life Brownie tormented her because of her lighter skin. Brownie was later murdered by Theo but finished off by Farah.
Ashur Cotton
Ashur, a closeted homosexual, is Mia, Shadow and Chloe’s birth father. For years Farah thought he was her birth father despite her light skin. Ashur went to prison for murdering a family in broad daylight at the bus stop.
Elise Gill
Elise Gill, who also suffers from porphyria, is Brownie’s mother. She had Brownie at 12 years old. She doesn’t wash because household products exacerbate her condition.
THE BAKER BOYS
Slade Baker
Slade is the love of Farah’s life. He is very strong and the oldest of the brothers in his family.
Audio Baker
Audio is the youngest brother of the Bakers. He’s hot headed and a loose cannon.
Major Baker
Major is also Slade’s brother. He sold weed as a kid.
Brian ‘Killa’ Baker
Killa is Slade’s brother. Gambles heavily and enjoys weapons. He learns to always examine the eyes to see the truth versus what they say.