by Dima Zales
Aya scowled as she felt her anger simmer up again. Without turning she said, "You could have at least dressed yourself properly."
He hastily buttoned his shirt up and came to stand beside her. Why was she so mad with him? Did she have feelings for him? Was that what that annoying thing was in the pit of her stomach? She wasn't even sure what that meant. All she knew was the biting taste of revenge and destruction. She didn't know what love was and he obviously didn't either.
"Aya, I'm sorry," he began.
"Why are you apologizing to me? It's not my back you're going behind," she interrupted, not tearing her eyes away from the dark, cloudy sky that eerily reflected her mood.
After a moment he said, "You like the garden."
He was too observant, having noticed the way she stroked the wisteria. She didn't dare reply. God, he was so annoying.
They stood in silence for a while, neither looking at each other. Aya silently willed him to go away, but he didn't budge. None of them were blind; they could all see that Zac was drawn to her. Alex, Sam, Gabby. They all knew in some small way, but trusted that he wouldn't cross the line. Sam, least of all, didn't expect Liz to reciprocate. It was Sam, Aya felt sorry for.
Surprised at her train of thoughts, she felt the memory rise of the first night she had met Zac. The wolves had attacked him in the alley by the bar and she had saved him. She’d compelled the memory from him, but still couldn't fathom why she had intervened in the first place. But, the greater mystery was how she had stopped the frenzy and not ended him along with the pack. Perhaps she would never understand. For the first time she wondered what his reaction was when he realized there was five mutilated bodies strewn around him. Her sadistic vampire side stifled a grin at the thought.
Zac shuffled nervously beside her, bringing her back to the present. She looked at him out the corner of her eye. The fact that his blood made that sound was a mystery. It was something that drew her, but she still didn't think it had to do with love or lust. Perhaps he was something else as well, but she didn't think so either.
"Alex knows what we are," she said finally. She felt him stiffen beside her. Sighing, she walked back inside, leaving Zac behind to stew in the shit storm of his own making.
It was late when Liz finally climbed the stairs leading to her apartment above the small hardware store on the end of the main street. She had made a terrible mistake. She was hurt, alone and he was there. It wasn't an excuse, but it had happened that way regardless.
She was glad that Aya was there to stop them, but she feared she'd hurt her, too. Was there any end to her stupidity? What the hell would she tell Sam? Where had he been all night? There was no doubt that she was attracted to Zac, otherwise she wouldn’t have let it go so far. But, he wasn’t blameless either.
As she came up the last flight of stairs she saw Sam sitting by her door, waiting. His expression was closed and her heart skipped a beat. She knew he heard that.
"Sam," she said when he didn't look up.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, smiling sadly at her. Instantly, she knew something had happened.
"What's wrong?" she said, trying to hide the guilt in her voice.
"Alex was attacked by a vampire," he said. "Luckily Aya was there or I wouldn't have been able to save him."
"Oh my god." Her hand flew to her mouth in shock. "Is he okay?"
Sam nodded, "He knows about us, Liz. All of us."
She sat next to him on the landing and murmured, "I take it he didn't react very well."
"He's scared and confused. With good reason. He's just found out that his friends are vampires and it took being attacked by one to find out.”
They sat in silence for a few minutes as she processed what had happened. How had everything gone so bad so fast? Alex, Zac …
"Where were you?" he scowled. "I went to the bar and you were already gone. I came here, I looked in the gardens. I even went to the forest before coming back here."
Liz felt the guilt wrenching in her gut. If Aya hadn't of been at the manor, she would have slept with Zac. She was hurt that Sam had stood her up on such an important day for her and Zac was there, practically pouring his heart out. She'd used him for comfort and how was that any worse than what she'd done to Sam?
And now she knew Sam was off saving Alex from certain death and she felt horrible. She was afraid if she told him, she would have ruined the best thing that had ever happened to her because she was weak. But if she kept it to herself, her guilt would tear her apart.
"I was with Zac," she said, struggling to keep her voice from cracking.
"And?" he whispered as if he already suspected.
"I … We kissed," she sobbed, unable to keep it to herself. "I was hurt. I needed you, but now I know you were with Alex. Saving him … I'm horrible … "
He snorted and his head dropped into his hands. "Liz, please tell me it was all him. Not you."
She didn't know what to say. She’d kissed him as well. Sam took her silence as an admission of guilt and stood up.
"Please, Sam," she pleaded. "Stay."
He sat back down heavily and Liz took his hand. They would work it out, she loved him and he loved her. They would be okay. They had to be.
The harsh light of day didn't make Zac feel any better about himself. If Liz kept it to herself, there was no need to tell Sam. No reason whatsoever to hurt him. He took in his reflection in the bathroom mirror and snorted. Of course she would crack and tell him eventually. Hopefully by then, he would have his feelings sorted out. He’d taken advantage of her vulnerability. Then again … He pushed the thoughts away, splashing his face with cold water.
Thumping down the stairs he hovered in the doorway to the parlor. Aya was lying on the couch, facing away from the door, reading a book. She looked a lot calmer than she had last night.
"What are you reading?" he asked, standing over her.
"Some thing about kids fighting to the death in a woodland arena. It's terrible," she tossed it aside. "There's not nearly enough blood in it for a death match."
"That's a bit much, isn't it?" he huffed.
"What do you want me to say? I'm insatiable," she grinned up at him.
"Does this mean I'm back in your good books?" he said warily, remembering the bite in her words the previous night.
Sitting up, she said, "Were you ever in my 'good book'?"
Running a hand through his hair he said, "Probably not."
"What's that thing you said that time? 'I do a lot of things I don't need to do, but I do 'em anyway'," she mocked his tone of voice.
"You heard that?"
"I hear a lot of things." Her eyes narrowed, but he caught the note of amusement in her voice.
Zac couldn't help but grin. If they could ever stop bickering, he was sure they would have a good relationship. He thought back to the previous night; the relief he felt when he kissed Liz and the burning need that coursed through him. Feelings he hadn't felt for a very long time. But, that memory would always conclude with the look of mingled anger and something akin to jealousy that had been etched on Aya's face. His smile faded and his head turned towards the front door as it slammed, signaling Sam's arrival home.
"Aya, I'm sorry. I … " He didn't know how to put it into words.
Her gaze flickered to the doorway behind him and she shook her head to stop him. By the look on her face, it seemed that Sam wasn't happy. And that could only mean … . He turned around to face his brother.
Sam was glaring at him and he knew Liz had caved. Glancing to Aya she looked at them back and forth and said, "I'll be in the study." She couldn't help prodding him one last time.
Liz had followed Sam into the room, her expression hollow. She had been crying.
"You just couldn't help yourself, could you, brother?" Sam sneered.
"It goes both ways."
"You don't get to mess with this, Zac. You hear me?"
“Sam, please. Calm down,” Liz cried, trying to push them apart, but they were bot
h stronger than her.
"Who died and made you king of the world, brother?" Zac spat, ignoring her pleas.
"You don't love her, Zac. How could you, when you don't respect anything or anyone?"
Zac's expression darkened and the room seemed to disappear around him. "Who are you to tell me who I can and cannot love?"
"Oh, so that's what this is about? You doing what you want, whenever you want." Sam was in his face, refusing to back down.
“Perhaps you should stop following me around like a pathetic lap dog.”
“Really? You want to get into that as well?”
“Get it all out, Sam. Tell me what you really think. Tell me what you want to do to me.”
“Stop it! I’m not going to fight you. Is that what you want?”
“I know you want to take a couple of swings, little brother.“
“Yeah, I want to hit you, so what?”
“So, do it. Hit me, Samuel.” When Sam didn’t move, Zac grabbed the front of his shirt, pulling him close and sneered, “Hit me.”
“You’re insane, Zac. You don’t want any help do you? Has the last forty years been a joke to you?" His expression fell into one of disappointment. "You want to be a monster." Sam’s words cut into him right where it hurt. That right there, was the worst thing he could have said.
Zac’s jaw set as he ground his teeth together. He couldn't contain his rage anymore. As it simmered over, his eyes darkened and in one fluid motion, he snapped Sam's neck. He fell limply to the floor with a dull thud.
"No!" Liz cried and fell to her knees, pulling him into her lap. She sobbed, stroking his hair and glared up at Zac. "How could you? He's your brother!" She knew he would wake in a few hours, but this was too far.
Zac's expression slowly changed into one of horror. They had fought before, come to blows, but neither of them had gone this far before. He'd killed his brother over a woman. His brother, who he loved more than anything. It was the most human emotion of all that had driven him to be the monster he truly was. The monster who he thought he'd made peace with.
He saw the way Liz was holding Sam. She truly loved his brother, not him. She never would, he finally realized, but promptly ignored his gut feeling. He had to get out of there, he couldn't deal with this. And he was out the front door and gone before he could think twice about it.
Aya flew out of the study when she heard Liz screaming at Zac. She was just in time to see the front door slam closed. So, he had chosen to run instead of facing his problems. Typical.
Standing in the doorway of the parlor she took in Sam's temporarily dead body on the floor in front of the fireplace. Liz leaned against the mantle and sighed with frustration. She jumped when Aya materialized out of the shadows.
"You scared me," she said, clutching her heart.
Aya scowled, "Do you think I can't see what you do to him."
"What are you on about?"
"God knows why, but he loves you. And you love Sam. The selfish thing is that deep down, you want Zac as well. You're leading him on and it's horrible. You are with Sam. Do the right thing and let Zac go." Aya's face didn't betray her feelings. Whatever those were.
"And why do you care so much? You're the ice queen, Aya. Butt out." Tears streamed down her cheeks.
She snorted and shook her head, "After two thousand years, it's all still the same."
"What?" Liz glared, her fists shaking.
"Stupid little girls playing with fire."
"I love Sam, Aya. It will always be him," she cried. "He was the one who found me and helped me through the change. He was there to help me get the cravings under control. Zac helped me as well, but I never thought … I knew he cared for me, but not like that. Not until … "
"Which one changed you?" she asked, her voice low.
Liz looked up at her with a tear stained face, "No! They didn't do this to me! Aya, no, don't think that!" Aya visibly relaxed. "When Sam found me I was dead. I must have had vampire blood in my system already, because I woke up. He was there holding me, thinking I was gone. We had become friends before … before it happened. Aya, I don't know who changed me. We never found them."
Aya wasn't convinced. Sighing, she knelt down and heaved Sam's bulky form onto the couch with little effort. She was so slight, it was easy to forget that she trumped them all in the strength department. She sat on the chair opposite as Liz sat on the couch, Sam's head in her lap.
When it was obvious Aya was going to wait, Liz asked tentatively, "Was all that stuff you told us about yourself, was it all true?"
"Yes," she stated. It was hard to get more than a brisk answer to any question that was asked of her.
"Two thousand years is a long time. What have you done with it all?" Aya looked at her like she had said something offensive. "I mean, you must have seen a lot of things … " Liz trailed off. Even she knew that she sounded lame.
"Yes," she stated again. "But it's not story time and they don't all have good endings. I wouldn't want to scare you."
Aya knew she frightened Liz. It didn't bother her, what the young vampire thought about her. But, she had to sit here for god knows how long until Sam woke up. Her staring was making Liz uncomfortable, like she was ready to run if she made a move. But, of course, Aya could never help herself. "What will you do when it comes time to leave?"
Liz stared at her for a moment as if she was trying to comprehend her question.
"It's a straightforward question, Liz."
"I-I don't know," she stammered, wringing her hands.
"The eternal twenty one year old. Never ageing, frozen in time. How will you explain that." She was crossing a line, pushing her like this, but the brothers had coddled her. Protected her from the inevitable choices she would have to make and Aya just had to press on the nerve. Perhaps her need came out of jealousy more than anything.
"The time will come," Liz said quietly. "And I will be ready then, but for now I can be who I was meant to be while I can. Why are you so heartless, Aya?"
"I prefer the term realist," she sneered.
"Is this what I have to look forward to? Loosing every inch of humanity? Becoming selfish and mean like you?" Liz shook her head in denial.
Aya snorted. "I try and help people, Liz. I'm not always a scary vampire. I don't kill for sport. Perhaps in a few hundred years you'll get it and get the hell over it. Look, I'm here to help with the whole Katrin thing and if that means sitting here waiting for your boyfriend to wake up, then so be it. I'm not going to answer your questions and put up with your insecurities. Probably never will. So, save your breath."
She leaned over and grabbed the book she had been reading from the coffee table and kicked her legs over the arm of the chair. She'd rather read a terrible book than suffer through Liz's uncomfortable silence.
The sun had long set by the time Sam gasped for air, sitting upright.
"Thank, god," Aya sighed dramatically, tossing her book into the fire.
Sam rubbed his neck, grimacing, "I can't believe he snapped my neck."
"We have to go after him," Liz whispered, unsure of Sam's reaction. She'd cheated on him with his brother, and he was still with her. She glanced at Aya, who just looked annoyed.
"Love triangles are so last century," Aya rolled her eyes as Liz turned to pour Sam a glass of scotch.
"We've been together for a hundred and fifty years. I'm not going to abandon him." He couldn't keep the tears from his eyes. Disappointment or heartbreak? Who knew.
"Tell me what you want me to do and it's done." Liz handed him the glass.
"I fear what he might do, Liz. It doesn’t take much to set him off and he’s snapped. I know him better than I know myself. He'll leave a trail of bodies behind him before he comes to his senses. The last time it took him years. And we don't have years." Sam threw his glass into the fireplace, shattering it into pieces.
Liz wrapped her arms around Sam's waist and lay her head against his back. "Then we will do whatever we can to find him," she mur
mured.
Aya shifted uncomfortably. She felt like an interloper, an imposter to this incredibly private moment. Liz's eyes flicked to her and she smiled kindly. She glared in return, not wanting her sympathy.
"The problem is I have no idea where he could have gone," Sam held his head in his hands and sighed.
Aya frowned, knowing she had to tell them about his blood. If she tried, she would be able to track him. She was alarmed at how much she had come to care for this unlikely group of vampires and their one human ally. No one had ever come close. "I can find him," she whispered, looking at the floor.
Sam looked up at her in surprise. "How?"
Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. "I can track his blood."
"What do you mean, you can track his blood? No vampire can do that," Liz sounded unconvinced.
"I can hear it."
"I don't understand … " Sam said.
Aya scowled. "It buzzes in my head like an annoying mosquito you just can't manage to squash. It doesn't matter how. I can. That's all that matters." She stood abruptly. "Don't worry about anything. I will find him and bring him back whether he wants come or not."
"Aya, thank you." Sam gave her a look filled with relief.
She nodded sharply and crossed the room without a backward glance. In a second she was outside, slamming the front door behind her. Breathing deeply, she cast her mind out listening for the familiar music. She caught a faint trace at the very edge of her limit. North East. She had a long way to go.