The Fangs of Bloodhaven

by Cheree Alsop

  Donavan grinned. “Also, nice shirt.” He disappeared inside.

  “Is that all of them?” Adrielle asked.

  “Not by a long shot,” Everett told her. At her flustered look, he smiled and motioned to the front door. “Shall we?”

  “If you say so,” she replied.

  He went up the steps and crossed the wide porch. Pausing at the door, Everett glanced back at Adrielle.

  “What did Hadley say to you?”

  Adrielle smiled as if she couldn’t help herself. “He said you weren’t going to drink my blood, so I didn’t have to be afraid.”

  Everett fought back a smile and pulled the door open so she could enter. “Welcome to the Masterson house.”

  His mother was already waiting near the door to the dining room. Her blonde hair had been pulled back in a bun that was in the process of coming loose, and flour streaked the side of her face. The apron she had tied around her rotund middle was streaked with evidence that she had made Everett’s favorite cheesecake for dessert.

  “Everett, I’m so glad you’re home,” she said. She gave him a tight hug. “I was worried sick!” She stepped back and looked him up and down. “Are you sure you’re alright? You were gone the whole night, and you forgot your vitamin drink, too. Celeste said she left it on the counter and it was still there at sunrise. I kept worrying that you were lost somewhere and your insides were shutting down...”

  “Mom, I’m fine,” Everett said before she could get too detailed. “Really. You don’t have to worry.”

  She set a hand on his cheek. “Of course I worry. I’m your mother, that’s what I do! And I worried that the blood you had left was congealing and you were losing your functions, lying in pain somewhere...”

  Everett glanced at Adrielle, grateful for the distraction. “Mom, this is Adrielle, she’s the one I told you about.”

  Caught in the middle of going on about all of the horrible things that could have happened to him, his mother paused with her mouth open. She closed it again and gave Adrielle a warm smile.

  “Of course, dear. Happy to have you here.” She took Adrielle’s hand. “We have a place set for you next to Everett’s spot.” She glanced back at him with a meaningful look. “It was empty last night, which worried me all the more because Everett doesn’t often miss meals and especially his vitamin drink.”

  “Mom,” Everett said imploringly.

  “Okay, okay,” Mrs. Masterson replied. “You’re home and I’ll be grateful. It could have been so much worse.”

  Everett shook his head with a glance at the ceiling, wondering how Adrielle would survive an evening with his overprotective family.

  His mother led them around the packed table to the empty seats on the far side. Donavan tried to trip Everett, but he was prepared. He sidestepped the older boy’s foot and turned to avoid Finch and Gabe when the twins rushed by and dove into their own seats with the force of a herd of horses.

  “Everett’s home,” Mrs. Masterson said, nudging her husband on her way past.

  “Oh, um, yes,” Mr. Masterson replied. He glanced at Everett over the edge of the paper he was reading. The headlines proclaimed, ‘Fallout Zone Testing Reveals Lessened Contamination of Forests.’ “Glad to see you home, my boy,” Everett’s father told him.

  Everett patted his father on the shoulder on their way by, not surprised the man had failed to notice the girl at his side. He was already deep into the article again, no doubt coming up with plans to include the forests in his studies.

  “My dad’s a botanist, a plant scientist,” Everett whispered to Adrielle. “And he works on bees.”

  “I work with bees,” Mr. Masterson corrected. “And we’re in the process of creating a bee-wasp hybrid that appears better suited to pollinating with the plants that have survived the fallout. Their genetic mutations have created some interesting challenges.” He paused, then said, “The bees, not the plants.”

  Everett stared at his father, amazed he had heard them with his focus on the newspaper.

  His dad winked. “The word ‘bees’ always catches my attention.” His gaze shifted to Adrielle. “And who is this?”

  “Sorry, Dad,” Everett said. “This is Adrielle. Mom invited her for dinner.”

  “I had nothing to do with it,” Mrs. Masterson protested. “Adrielle is Everett’s friend.” She stressed the last word meaningfully.

  Mr. Masterson adjusted his glasses and gave both Everett and Adrielle a searching look. “Well, then I’m glad you came to meet us. Everett, you should give her a tour of the greenhouse after dinner.”

  “Okay, Dad,” Everett replied.

  Adrielle sat down next to Everett and glanced at him. He recognized the expression, her eyebrows pulled together and the darkness in the depths of her golden eyes.

  “Don’t be overwhelmed,” he whispered. “When the food gets here, nobody will remember there’s a stranger in the house.”

  The instant Mrs. Masterson set the huge pot of chili macaroni on the table, the truth to Everett’s words became evident. If it wasn’t for Everett’s intervention in scooping himself and Adrielle a bowl, they would have missed dinner entirely.

  Arms wrapped around Everett from behind.

  “Seriously, Rett. If you take off again without this, I’m going to get Mom to put a chain on you or something so you can’t go far,” Celeste said. His big sister set the purple cup on the table in front of him. “If it wasn’t for Annie and Bran, I would have come after you myself.”

  Celeste glanced at Adrielle and her eyes widened. “Mom said you were bringing a girl home for dinner, but I didn’t believe it,” she exclaimed.

  Everett sighed. “Can someone please act like I have a social life?” he pleaded. At Celeste’s answering apologetic smile, he gave in and nodded at Adrielle. “Adrielle, this is my big sis, Celeste.”

  “Don’t let this crazy family scare you,” Celeste told her, squeezing Adrielle’s shoulder with a warm expression. “We’re always happy to have visitors.”

  “I’m happy to be here,” Adrielle replied.

  Everett’s sister caught a strand of Adrielle’s hair between her fingers. “Your hair is gorgeous. Let me know if you ever need a stylist.”

  “I will,” Adrielle said with a surprised smile.

  “Celeste is studying cosmetology,” Everett explained.

  Celeste gestured to the container. “You drink that, Rett, or I’ll get the IV ready.” She disappeared from the room before he could reply.

  Everett caught Adrielle’s bemused expression as she watched the family.

  “Is that your vitamin drink?” she asked.

  He nodded. “Pig’s blood. Ready to run?” he asked, turning the drink cup around and around in his hands.

  To his surprise, she shook her head. “It’s nice.”

  He smiled in relief. “Good. I’m glad you like it.” He lifted the cup to his lips.

  “And the food’s good,” she said.

  “Tastes like dog food,” Hadley replied, shoving another heaping spoonful into his mouth.

  “Hadley wants to be a dog,” Donavan explained from across the table. “He says everything tastes like dog food.”

  Everett paused in the middle of drinking from the cup. He gave Adrielle a wide-eyed look.

  “Maybe that’s why I like it,” she said with a wink.

  He sputtered the gulp he had taken, barely managing to avoid spitting blood across the table.

  She laughed and handed him a napkin. “You’ve got blood on your chin.”

  He grinned. “I’ll bet you say that to all your vampire friends.”

  She grinned and took another bite of his mom’s chili macaroni.

  Adrielle’s kindness to his family despite her trepidation made up his mind. “There are two other people I still want you to meet,” Everett said when they carried their plates to the sink.

  Donavan and Finch were already busy washing up, though the soap suds on the floor and their wet shirts said water fights
had already ensued.

  “You have more siblings?” Adrielle asked in amazement.

  Everett nodded. “Sometimes they prefer to eat in the other room. Come on.” He took her down the hallway to the sunroom.

  A smile spread across his face when he saw Bran and Annie. Celeste was busy feeding Bran a bite of their mother’s cooking. Both smiled back at the pair from their electric wheelchairs. Annie lifted her wrist in her special wave.

  “Ha,” she said, saying hello with her voice lifted in the happiness it always contained.

  Celeste nudged Annie. “See, I told you he brought a girl.” She winked at Adrielle. “Annie didn’t believe me.”

  Bran let out a huff of laughter.

  “I’ll bet Bran did,” Everett guessed, giving his older brother a hug.

  The boy huffed again.

  “Of course he did,” Celeste replied. “Bran thinks you’re a regular Casanova.” She set the spoon down she had been using to feed him and carefully wiped his chin.

  “Bran, Annie, this is Adrielle,” Everett introduced them.

  Annie waved again. Bran closed his eyes twice.

  “That means hello,” Celeste explained. “He’s happy to meet you.”

  Everett watched Adrielle, wondering how she would react. It wasn’t often they brought newcomers to meet their oldest siblings, but Everett knew it would mean a lot to Annie and Bran. His chest was tight in trepidation while he waited for the werewolf’s reaction.

  “I’m happy to meet you, too,” Adrielle replied with a warm smile.

  Everett couldn’t help smiling at her in gratitude. “Thank you,” he whispered.

  She smiled back at him before giving both Bran and Annie a hug. “This is a beautiful room you have back here,” she said, looking up at the stars they could see through the glass ceiling.

  “It’s Mom’s favorite,” Celeste explained. “She loves the moon.”

  Adrielle raised her eyebrows at Everett.

  He gestured toward the telescope in the corner. “She’s a selenographer.”

  “She studies the surface of the moon?” Adrielle replied in surprise.

  A smile spread across Annie and Celeste’s faces. Bran made a happy little sound.

  “You know about selenography?” Celeste asked.

  Adrielle gave a little shrug, embarrassment clear on her face. “I just have a fascination with the moon myself.”

  Celeste nodded. “Both Mom and Dad feel the moon’s connection to the fallout dispersion and the lasting effects of the chemical warfare is deeper than anyone thinks. One of these days, I know they’re going to prove it.”

  “I hope so,” Adrielle replied.

  At Celeste’s questioning look, the werewolf explained, “I know the monsters affected by the chemicals would like to figure out why the moon impacts them. Maybe if we found out why, we could make a cure.”

  All eyes shifted to Everett. He looked out the closest window at the darkness beyond and pretended not to notice.

  “Rett, have you shown Adrielle Dad’s greenhouse?” Celeste asked.

  Grateful for the distraction, Everett shook his head. “Not yet.”

  “Don’t forget; you know Dad loves the chance to show it off,” Celeste pressed.

  Everett met Adrielle’s questioning look. “Would you like to see it?” he offered.

  Adrielle nodded. “I’d love to.” She smiled at Bran and Annie. “It was wonderful to meet you.”

  Annie gave her little wave and Bran grinned at her.

  “Thank you for being so kind,” Everett said quietly, leading the way back up the hallway. “I know all of this can be a bit overwhelming.” He turned near the kitchen and through the mudroom to the back door.

  “They’re wonderful,” Adrielle replied. “They’re the ones who were being kind. I’m the stranger, remember?”

  He pushed open the door and led the way to the greenhouse nestled in the corner where his father studied his bee hybrid creations. The greenhouse had cost a fortune because seeds and plants cultivated from the fallout were scarce. His father’s efforts to improve the quality of the resulting naturally-grown fruits and vegetables were priceless since only genetically manufactured produce was available in the markets.

  Adrielle stepped inside with an expression of awe. “This is beautiful!”

  “It’s my dad’s life work,” Everett explained. “There are vitamins in naturally grown plants they haven’t been able to duplicate in the biotech crops created after the Ending War. There are self-pollinating plants, but problems with hand-pollination for certain fruits and vegetables have caused them to die off dramatically.”

  He fought back a smile at the fact that he was repeating things his father had told them over and over again. He thought he hadn’t been listening, but apparently it had still sunk in. “The problem is most bees died off in the fallout and those that survived are more susceptible to mites and diseases that also persisted and multiply in beehives. Dad’s hoping if he can produce a honey bee that is as strong as the wasp as far as fighting off diseases, he may make it possible for bee pollination again.”

  “Interesting,” Adrielle said.

  Everett laughed. “Now you really are just being nice.”

  Adrielle shook her head and touched the leaf of a squash. “No, I’m not. Plants are important. Imagine a world without them. I can’t believe we almost lost them all. A few of my friends would be without a purpose.”

  Unsure what she meant, Everett watched her in silence. She walked around the small greenhouse lit by red and orange hued bulbs. It gave her white-blonde hair a fiery glow.

  “Good to see you both out here.” Mr. Masterson’s voice startled Everett.

  Adrielle just smiled at him as if she knew he had come to the door. Everett realized that with her werewolf hearing, she probably had.

  “This is a beautiful greenhouse,” she said.

  “Yes, well, if our bees can continue to flourish, maybe we’re actually getting somewhere,” Everett’s father replied.

  “I hope so,” Adrielle told him.

  Everett could tell by her expression that she really meant it.

  “At least someone is taking an interest in horticulture,” Mr. Masterson said, giving Everett a meaningful look.

  Everett laughed. “Come on, Dad. I just don’t have a green thumb. Remember the tomato plant I managed to kill off in less than a week?”

  “Just because you gave it so much water it was practically floating,” his father replied, adjusting his glasses with a smile.

  “It looked thirsty,” Everett replied. He decided not to mention that it was perhaps his own thirst that had caused him to overwater the plant. He knew what it was like to be surrounded by so many sources to quench the need, but yet be unable to partake from any of it. He cleared his throat uncomfortably and turned to Adrielle. “I’ll walk you home.”

  She shook her head. “That’s not necessary. I’m perfectly fine out there by myself, which you know.” She stressed the last words meaningfully.

  Everett was aware of his father’s attention. “Just the same, a girl shouldn’t walk the streets alone.”

  Adrielle glanced at Mr. Masterson and nodded. “Okay, thank you,” she finally accepted.

  Chapter Four

  The rhythmic pattern of their footsteps was all that broke the deep night. Everett searched the shadows they passed, feeling unexplainably protective over the werewolf at his side. She had already proven she could handle danger, but there was something else about her, a vulnerability he saw that made him willing to fight the world to make sure she made it back to her apartment in safety.

  Maybe it was the way she smiled at Bran and gave Annie a kiss on the cheek before leaving. Perhaps it was the gratitude with which she accepted the little package of rolls and honey butter his mother gave her before they left. It could also have been the way Hadley clung to her on the porch, refusing to let her go. The little five year old was notoriously shy. Everett had never seen him warm
up to anyone the way he had to the werewolf.

  “Why did you invite me to dinner?” Adrielle asked, not looking at him.

  “You heard my mom on the phone,” Everett replied evasively. “It was her, not me.”

  Adrielle gave him a sideways glance. “Seriously, Everett. You and I both know you could have just left and not said a word, but you brought me to your home.” Her steps slowed.

  Everett pushed his black hair out of his eyes. “Mom always makes more than enough to feed everyone and an army on the side.”

  “Everett.”

  The way she said his name made Everett look at her, really look at her. She had stopped walking and she watched him with her hands on her hips and her head tipped slightly to one side. He saw his reflection in her golden eyes. He was taller than her by a few inches, but somehow he felt smaller when she looked at him like that, as if she was trying to see what was inside instead of outside. The thought made him uneasy. He looked away.

  “It was the paintings,” he admitted.

  “What?” she asked.

  “The paintings in your apartment.”

  Her voice was quiet when she said, “What about them?”

  Everett let out a slow breath. He thought of the faces. “Everyone was smiling and happy. The details you used showed how much you cared about each picture.” He hesitated to say the rest.

  “And?” she asked.

  He heard it in her voice. She knew what he was going to say. He braced himself and told her, “And yet you were always on the outside looking in. You weren’t a part of those scenes. You’re just a spectator.”

  Adrielle turned and began to walk again. She didn’t storm away, but Everett could tell by the way her shoulders bowed that his guess had been accurate. The sound of her single footsteps tore at his heart. He hated himself for causing her pain.

  “Elle, I’m sorry,” he said.

  Her head raised and she looked back at him with a curious expression. “What did you call me?”

  “Uh, Elle,” he replied with a bit of hesitation when he reached her.

  A little half-smile lifted one corner of her mouth. “I like that. I’ve never had a nickname before.”

  He chuckled. “It’s better than Evy.”