A Shade of Halloween

by Robin Todd

  Chapter Five

  Selena’s POV

  I knelt there for a few seconds, crying my heart out. I wished upon every lucky star in the universe that I could think of something, anything that would save Trina and stop her torture. The first idea that came to my mind was to grab her and wrap myself around her since the flames weren’t hurting me. I thought maybe if I did that, then the flames would go out. I got off the floor and hugged Trina’s knees. It was the farthest part of her body I could reach from my standing position.

  “Stop... please... stop.” I closed my eyes and whispered to no one in particular.

  I heard Trina gasp and felt her weight fall upon me suddenly. Whatever was suspending her in the air seemed to let go of its grip, allowing her to come to me.

  “Oh my gosh.” I cried, as I held her tighter. “I thought I was going to lose you.”

  Trina hugged me back and the flames on her skin died down, just like someone had turned them off. The dark cloud that strangled her completely disappeared, like it was never there. I didn’t feel the need to bother about how weird and creepy everything was. I was just so happy to have my friend back with me.

  “You’re... suffocating... me.” Trina whispered.

  I realized I was actually squashing her face against my shoulder and I gave her a teary smile.

  “Can we go inside, somewhere? That was the most painful thing ever!” Trina said.

  I noticed she was panting now, but wasn’t sure if it was from relief or the ordeal.

  “Sure.” I replied, putting my arm around her shoulder and walking into one of the empty houses.

  “That really took a lot out of me. I need to feed fast.” Trina said, just as we got inside.

  We both looked at each other with a defeated expression on our faces, the full realization of our situation setting in.

  “There’s no one here, Selena. How do I feed?” Trina asked.

  I knew she was right and my heart went out to her. Not only were we alone in the strange city, I had no idea how to send her back to the realm where she could find people to feed on. I knew how strange that sounded, being human myself but I realized that I couldn’t help it. Trina was my friend and it wasn’t her fault that she became a vampire. It was actually mine, so I guessed I had to be okay with her new nature. I felt really guilty for thinking about sending Trina off to feed on other people but I had no choice.

  “Wait a minute. All she needs is blood.”

  “You can feed on me.” I smiled.

  “Hell no!” Trina protested.

  “Trina, you don’t really have a choice right now. You’re weak and there’s no one else around.” I countered.

  “Still no!” She pouted.

  I could hear her breathing get shallower and it clawed at my heart.

  “Trina please. Just this time. At least until we figure out a way to get out of here.” I pleaded.

  “You can compel me not to feel the pain if you’ll feel better that way.” I added.

  Trina seemed to think about it for a while.

  “Okay. But just this one time.” She said weakly.

  I walked to her and looked into her eyes. I didn’t feel like I had lost control of my blinking which was the way I was supposed to feel if I was being compelled. I guessed it was because I was the one offering myself or something.

  “Don’t remember the pain and please don’t scream.” Trina said, looking straight into my eyes.

  I smiled and stretched my hand out to her. She hesitated for a while before taking it and brushing her blonde hair behind her ears. I saw her eyes turn bloodshot red for a split second and she bared her fangs for the first time in front of me. It was beautiful just looking at her fangs extend. Trina brought her head down gently, and sank her fangs into my arm.

  “Ouch!!!”

  I let out a painful shriek that startled both me and Trina enough to make us jump.

  “Oh my gosh, it’s so freaking painful!” I said, clutching the area around the bite and suppressing the urge to cry.

  “I don’t understand.” Trina said. “I just compelled you not to remember the pain.”

  “Does it look like it worked?” I asked. “Maybe you don’t know how to compel yet.”

  “Oh my goodness. I thought compulsion was natural for vampires. I’m so sorry. I had no idea it was something I had to learn.”

  “It’s okay. It’s not your fault.” I replied. “My hand is already bleeding so I guess you can feed now. Just don’t bite me again because that’s the most painful thing on the planet.”

  “I’m sorry.” Trina whispered, taking my hand and sucking on the blood. She had barely taken three gulps when an invisible force came from nowhere and pushed her away from me. The force was so strong that it slammed her into the adjacent wall, causing her to cry out in pain. I rushed to her and pulled her into a hug.

  “I’m so sorry, Trina. I don’t know what’s going on here.”

  “Such fantastic luck I have.” Trina smiled. “I’m still so hungry and I have no idea what to do now.”

  “What if I bleed into a cup and put it on that table?” I asked, pointing to the dining table in the house we were. “I can walk away and you can drink it without having a creepy force blow you away.”

  “Yeah. Didn’t you just need to add that?” Trina asked sarcastically.

  I smiled and squeezed my bleeding hand into a cup I found on the kitchen counter. When I had put in enough blood, I placed it on the table and Trina picked it up. Surprisingly she drank it without drama. There was no creepy black cloud or invisible force.

  “Selena...” Trina called, applying pressure on her head that had hit the wall when the force slammed her. “I think this place is built to protect you against... vampires.”

  “Really?” I asked. I didn’t know what to make of the theory.

  “Think about it. Whatever is out here never hurts you. The flames didn’t burn you outside. The dark cloud disappeared when you asked it to. The force that pushed me into the wall didn’t as much as lift your hair.” She said. “I don’t think it’s all coincidental. Maybe this place is your haven. If it is, then of course, your sorceress nature will always be at odds with my vampire nature so I’ll get my butt kicked for just being here.”

  What Trina said made sense but I didn’t want to think it was true. How was that even possible?

  “The dark cloud didn’t stop the first time I asked it to.” I protested, with a confused look.

  “Yeah maybe it’s like those things when you really have to mean it. Like feel it flow from within.”

  “Do you know how weird you sound right now?” I asked, trying my best not to laugh. “I meant it when I asked it to stop the first time. I really did.”

  “Isn’t everything that has happened to us weird?” Trina asked. “I’m a vampire… Like a real vampire and my best friend is a sorceress. Things like this don’t happen in real life, Selena.”

  “You’re right. I guess this is our reality now.” I said. “It’s not all bad though. We can do cool stuff now. Okay. You can do cool stuff now. I have no idea what I’m doing.” We both laughed.

  “I wonder what else you can do now. I can’t wait till we figure things out. I’ll be taking my revenge to Ros!” Trina said excitedly.

  “Oh... Ros.” I suddenly felt the need to stare at the ground for no reason.

  “Hey. Did I hit a raw nerve?” Trina asked, noticing my sad look.

  “Um... no.” I lied.

  “So... Why aren’t you excited you’ll finally be able to get your revenge?” Trina asked.

  I looked down and pursed my lips.

  “Can I tell you a secret, Trina?” I asked.

  “Of course.” She looked at me with keen interest. “What is it about?”

  “It’s about Ros.” I replied.

  Chapter Six

  Ros’s POV

  I laid on my king sized bed that meant absolutely nothing to me, and stared at the ceiling. Memories from my passionat
e night with Selena floated into my mind and danced happily around my consciousness. They tortured me with so much pain and anger - but still, they gave me something. I couldn’t exactly place my finger on it but it felt like the memories filled a void I didn’t even know existed.

  “She was only that passionate with you because she thought you were Ryan!”

  The thought cut like a knife. I knew I had to do something to get it out of my head.

  “Oliver!” I called out to my personal help.

  I got off the bed with enhanced speed and balled my fingers into tight fists. My nails were barely inches away from digging into my palms and drawing blood.

  “Why am I so unsettled?”

  “What is it about Selena Ryder that gets me so riled up?”

  I was about to call Oliver again when he stuck his head through my bedroom door.

  “Is everything alright, Ros?” He asked with a raised eyebrow. “You look... flustered.”

  I was going to reply when he asked the most embarrassing question ever.

  “And is that a boner I see?” Oliver’s eyes grew wide, and so did mine.

  “No!” I snapped, causing him to jump.

  “Yes, Ros. Definitely yes!” He countered, pursing his lips and making a decisive gesture with his index finger.

  I had no choice but to laugh and turn away in embarrassment.

  “I need ten girls. Pure humans. None of those witchy little things.” I said, still backing him. “Oh, and make sure they’re all blonde.”

  I heard Oliver snickering as he sped off and I didn’t even want to address the fact that he embarrassed me. Did I have a right to? Those thoughts of Selena messed me up bad and now I had to deal with the embarrassment – just like everything else. She chose Ryan and I was left to deal with the hurt. I tried everything to get it out of my head and failed miserably every time. Selena Ryder was a constant ache in my heart and I had no idea how to make it stop.

  “Why does she even get under my skin?”

  Oliver’s entry into my room distracted me from my thoughts. I saw the lineup of ten beautiful blondes marching in behind him, and plastered a smirk on my face.

  “Hello, lovelies!” I grinned, spreading my arms apart.

  The girls smiled and struck a pose at the same time. It felt like a real world fashion runway show and I loved it.

  “Did you compel them to do that?” I asked Oliver.

  “I know how you like them.” He winked, before taking his leave.

  “Why don’t you come over here?” I asked the first girl.

  She walked up to me and stood, a little shy and innocent but I knew better. Girls like that were usually the most engaging in not-so-public activities and I couldn’t wait to explore the secrets that laid beneath her tight little black skirt.

  “What’s your name?” I asked.

  “Selena.” She replied.

  I lost it. A torrent of rage washed over me and my eyes instantly turned bloodshot red. I had barely completely bared my fangs when I sank them into her neck with all the force of my anger. I knew she died before I took the first sip but I didn’t care. She was no Selena. None of them were. Girl after girl I drained, giving no thought to the warning in my head. I knew I had to stop or risk succumbing to the blood lust but I couldn’t. The dumb little Barbie had infuriated me and they all had to pay for her stupidity. It was a good thing Oliver already compelled them not to run or scream. Chasing nine girls around my house would have pissed me off even more. Once they were all drained, I felt the stirring inside me. It was like a deep craving... no, a dark lust. It felt like there was only one important thing in the world - and that thing was blood. I wanted more. I wanted so much more. In the middle of the madness, something else surfaced in my mind. An innocent brown haired girl with full pouty lips looked up at me and smiled. Selena. It was all I needed to wipe my lips and storm out of my room.

  “Clean that mess up.” I said to Oliver on my way out. “...and get me Viktor when you’re done. I have something important to discuss with him.”

  I marched into the basement and turned the lights on. The brightness revealed the stone cold form of my brother, Ryan, hanging from silver chain suspenders. I put a rubber glove on before walking up to him and drawing the stake out of his heart. Ryan gasped and shook against his chains, just as his skin regained its youthful appearance.

  “Hello, brother!” I smirked.

  “Missing me so much already?” He asked with a hoarse voice. 

  “Sorry to burst your bubble, but no.” I grinned.

  “You’re lying. I can tell.” He rolled his eyes.

  “No you can’t!” I snapped.

  “So that means you’re lying. I just can’t tell.” It was his turn to grin.

  I had no idea how he did that. He snuck one up on me all the time. I was winning this ‘conversation game’ right before he came up with his trick question.

  “Whatever, Ry. Where’s your girlfriend?” I asked.

  “Someone’s asking nicely.” Ryan smiled. “Give me a drink first.”

  “No. Tell me first.” I replied.

  “Okay. Keep your drink and I’ll keep my tiny little info that I know you’re dying to know. You’re never going to find her without me.” He smiled.

  “Fine!”

  I pushed a straw into a blood bag and held it in front of his face. He looked at me and scoffed.

  “You know what I want Ros.” He said, turning his face away.

  Ryan was such a manipulator. How in the world did he manage to make demands on me when he was my hostage? Well, there was no denying the fact that he had his ways with me, just like I did with him. There were times in the past when I wished we didn’t have all the disagreements. Times when I wished we could go back to the way things were when we were little.

  “Aww. Someone’s getting soft.” I heard Ryan in my head.

  “I’m not!” I snapped, glaring at him and storming out of the room.

  I returned with a girl and compelled her to offer herself to Ryan. He hungrily gulped down every ounce of her blood until he had the last drop. Her lifeless body slumped to the ground in front of him and he grinned with bloodied fangs.

  “I held up my part of the bargain.” I said. “It’s time for you to do the same. Where is Selena?”

  “Right. Just so we’re clear, my part of the bargain is to tell you the truth about Selena’s location.” He said.

  “Yeah. That’s what I want.” I replied.

  “I don’t know.” He smirked.

  “You what?”

  “Don’t know.” The dragged his words out. “How can I? She disappeared right in front of both of us.”

  “Then why the hell did you take the drink?” I asked.

  “In exchange for the truth… and the truth is I don’t know.” He laughed. “Come on, little Rossy. Don’t be so pissed. A vampire’s got to drink.”

  I ran towards him and sank the silver stake back into his heart with the force of a thousand dynamites. He instantly turned cement cold and it gave me so much satisfaction.

  “That’s what you get for being so annoying, Ry.” I said to his cold form, before turning the lights out and walking out of my basement.

  Chapter Seven

  Selena’s POV

  Trina looked at me in a confused but concerned way. She shifted even closer to me and grabbed my hand.

  “What is it about Ros that has you acting this way?” She asked.

  I looked at her with a deep expression and sighed.

  “Never mind. You won’t understand.” I replied.

  “Hey. It’s okay, I promise. You don’t have to let whatever it is eat you up inside. You can trust me.” She encouraged.

  “You promise you’ll understand and not judge me?” I asked.

  “Sure. What are best friends for?” She smiled.

  “Okay. I hate Ros with all my heart...” I started.

  “...and you should after what he did to you!” Trina exclaimed, cuttin
g me off. “I’m sorry. I butt in, didn’t I?”

  “Yeah you did.” I gave her a small smile. “Like I was saying, I hate him with everything in me, but I don’t.”

  I saw Trina’s eyebrow raise slightly but since she didn’t say anything, I continued.

  “I wish I can explain it clearly but I can’t...”

  “I don’t understand how you can feel this way after what he did to you.” Trina shook her head in confusion. “Is there something else you haven’t told me?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I knew it!” Trina exclaimed. “Please don’t tell me it’s what I’m thinking.”

  “Before everything happened at the cathedral, Ros pretended to be Ryan. He made me trust him and believe he was protecting me from... well, Ros. He was really sweet and things kind of moved fast and I slept with him.”

  “You what?” Trina gasped. “Like get down dirty and do the nasties?”

  “You’re so not judging me right now!” I retorted.

  “I’m sorry, Selena but this is just messed up. Does Ryan know?”

  “Yeah he does.” I replied.

  “...and?” Trina looked at me with wide eyes.

  “...and nothing. He was upset for a while but I guess he got over it.” I replied. “Trina, none of this is the problem.”

  “So what is?” She asked.

  “It’s everything that happened after the cathedral. Ryan and I kissed and it was magical. I promise. But it lacked something. I think it was the intensity of passion. Or maybe it was the darkness of lust...”

  “Are you crazy?” Trina cut me off.

  I stopped talking immediately and pursed my lips.

  “Yeah. I think I am.”