Precarious Little Secrets
I dreamt of the night of my father's funeral. Flashing back to when I was ten years old again and seeing the pine box. Had not dreamt about it in five years but it came back tonight. I do not know what would make me remember such an unpleasant memory but I recalled the day down to the last detail. The way the coarse fabric of my sister's hand me down dress rubbed harshly against my skin. The smell of salt and flowers permeating the air wafting into my nose. But in my dream the memory is warped because when I step close enough to see inside the box it is me in the casket.
"Lucy," a voice stirs me from my restless sleep. I turn away from the annoying voice and dip under the covers. It's cold in my house and I am not ready to get up.
"Little Lucy," the person coos as the jerk back the covers exposing me to the cool air. My eyes shoot open in surprise but immediately snap shut with the brightness of the sun flowing through the window. I groan as I roll over burying my face into the pillow as I wake up.
"What the hell?" I groan into the pillow giving a mild shiver; Killian stand over me falling over in laughter. He is my oldest brother and, currently, is a real pain in the back side.
"You're an ass," I groan lifting my head up slowly from the pillow and shaking my thick hair from my eyes. Rolling over carefully, I stare up at the ceiling readjusting to the world. I glance down at my ankle and see that the swelling has gone down quite a bit. I guess after busting up your body enough it learns how to repair the damage a bit more efficiently. Throwing my legs over the side of the bed, my feet touch the prickly fiber of the carpet. I can tell I have been sweating heavily in my sleep by the way I smell, but I can always shower later. I have been through enough nights of partying, so my tolerance to not bathing is relatively high for a girl. That is not to say I do not enjoy a good shower though!
"Have a fun night?" He asks winking at me. I look down and see that I am still in the green dress from last night. There is a small scrape on my left leg and a small bruise. I must have hit something when Steve dragged me towards the car last night.
"You certainly smell like you did," He says pulling me in for a hug. I wrap my arms about my arms about my burly dark haired brother. He is well over six feet tall, dwarfing my five foot four frame with ease. His face is scruffy and tickles my cheek as he squeezes me tight. He pulls away and I look at him queerly.
"How did you get in?" I ignore his previous question, rising to my feet with mild discomfort. I keep my face clear of pain; however, I do not want Killian asking any questions.
"Steve," he jerks his finger towards the front of my apartment, giving me another suggestive wink. I frown at his suggestion. After what Steve pulled last night he is lucky that I did not strangle him in his sleep.
"No," I say walking away with a faint limp towards the kitchen to make breakfast. Killian follows behind me, and I can feel his eyes inspecting my suspicious posture.
"What happened?" he asks. I inwardly cringe at the question. If I tell my brother, Steve might just meet his end rather soon.
"Nothing," I answer flatly, "I lost my footing last night." We reach the living room and I see Steve sitting on the couch with my eldest nephew. I know he does not buy my lie for an instant. After nine years of dance lessons it was rare that I lost my balance in heels, and Killian knew. But if he wishes to say something, he holds his tongue questioning me no further. My attention shifts to the small dark haired boy sitting next to my boyfriend.
"Hello Brennan," I smile at the six year old. His head snaps in my direction and the little one springs off the couch in my direction.
"Lucy!" He yells happily running towards me. I lean down and catch the boy in my arms as he runs full force into me.
"Oomph," I grunt, nearly stumble back from the force of his hug. He beams at me as I hold him in my arms, seemingly pleased with the damage.
"Are you hungry?" I ask smiling, and limping toward the kitchen with him in my hands. He nods his head fiercely. Steve does not say a word to me as I pass, and I do not bother to say anything to him either. I may have forgiven him but I am not done being angry. He hurt me last night and apparently for a very poor reason. I have always felt that deep down Steve was that kind of a person; though I had yet to have my suspicions proven right until last night. When we enter the kitchen I open the fridge and pull out eggs, sausage, and the other necessary materials needed for a full morning meal.
"You do realize it is two in the afternoon," Killian say rounding the corner into the kitchen, and giving me a pat on the head. I glance up to see him smirking down on me. My entire family is tall except for me. They make fun of me for being so short. I hate it.
"So," I dismiss, "I just woke up so it is breakfast to me." I crack eggs and put them into a bowl, handing Brennan a fork to beat them with. Glancing back to Killian I stick out my tongue childishly.
"Are you going to want some?" I ask with a smirk, knowing the answer.
"Of course," he beams, "call me when it is done." Knotting my hair up in a quick bun, and quickly washing my hands I set about mixing the ingredient for biscuits. Happily I cook for us. I love to cook. I always have loved the praise and pleasure that came with cooking a satisfying meal. I pan the biscuits, and pop them in the oven when I realize that I am still wearing my dress. I pause debating whether or not I should change, but in the end decide that it would probably be for the best. At least I would look slightly neater.
"I need to go change, hun, before we start frying," I tell Brennan walking off towards my bed room. I shut the door and untie the neck of my dress when Steve bursts in holding the box from the previous night.
"I'm trying to change," I say going through my closet for something to wear. He closes the door with a soft click. His face is anxious and slightly annoyed by me. Let him be annoyed. He treats me like dirt one night and then acts as if everything is all better the next day. I can feel the heat rise in my cheeks the more I think about it. Things do not work this way and he needs to learn that this shit will not fly with me.
"I need to show you something," he is nearly bursting at the seams as he takes a seat on my bed watching me pick my clothes. I keep my back to him silently rustling through my closet. I can feel the inpatients in his vibrations rise as they hum more forcefully than usual. People were like that, they vibrate a slightly different way depending on their emotion. I usually cannot feel it unless I focus, but I have spent a lot of time with Steve so his are clear as day.
"I don't care," I say deciding on a plain black skirt and a red tank top. Turning towards the bathroom without another word I shut the door more harshly than I intended to. I know Steve is upset but I could not care less. I strip myself and wash my face. In the other room I hear someone come in and Steve is talking to them. Not paying much attention I do not bother to eavesdrop on the conversation. I pull on the skirt and the shirt before brushing my mid-back ginger locks into a neat pony tail. I feel better now that I have put myself together a little more. Turning around with a sigh I prepare to go out and face Steve. I feel somewhat calmer now. I turn the light out and open the door to see Steve talking to Brennan. But they are doing more than talking; however, Steve has opened the box to allow my nephew to peer inside. Somehow the situation feels wrong. The box seems too familiar.
"What are you guys doing?" I ask stepping closer to see what is so interesting, my concern growing without conscious reason. Brennan's attention turns to me for a split second, but that was all she needs. A large black spider leaps from the box and onto my nephew's arm, sinking its fangs deep within his arm. Brennan opens his mouth to scream but instead he falls to the floor paralyzed. I want to scream, and smash the spider to bits. But my instinct kicks in, and I run to the kitchen frantically, my mind frantically processing what is happening. I tare open the drawers and fumble through the knives looking for the sharpest one, my fingers getting nicked along the way. It takes me a drawn out second to find the correct blade but before I know it I am racing towards the bed room again.
"What's wrong," Killian jumps from the couch as I run past him again, holding a razor sharp knife in one hand.
"Brennan," I cry running back to the bed room. He is lying on the floor not moving, barely breathing; I take my nephews arm and quickly slice an x over the bites in his arm. I do not even know if it will work but it is better than nothing. I had to do this once before when my brother Rogan was bit by a snake, the same principle should apply here. I lower my lips to the wound and begin to suck furiously, pulling blood and poison out by the mouthful.
"Oh my god!" Killian screams as he rushes into the room. I do not stop my sole focus on getting the poison out of Brennan's limp, pale body. I hear my brother rush to the phone and from what I make out he is calling an ambulance. I spit on the floor unconcerned about the dark red stains forming on the carpet. Not that much lands on the floor. Most of the soured blood dribbles down my chin landing on
my clothing. I lost track of time but the next thing I know I am being pulled away by the paramedics. I watch as they intubate and move him onto a stretcher. My brother goes with them, climbing into the ambulance to ride to the hospital. I rush back into the house to grab my keys from the hook when I see Steve standing there, in shock, just staring at me. I feel my anger breaking free as I walk strait up to him and punch him in the jaw. He stumbles back and I turn away climbing into my car and race towards the hospital.
An hour passes as we wait outside in the lobby. My sister in law sobs, while my brother holds her tightly in his arms. I sit numbly staring down at the blood stains on my clothing. I had washed my hands and face but the fabric holds the stains better. They have turned an ugly dark brown. The doctor comes out and says something quietly to my brother and his wife. From the way her body quakes with fresh tears I know it is not good. My brother's eyes are brimming with tears, when he walks up to me.
"They say they have never seen this kind of a spider bite," he cries more freely now. I put my arms around him and lay my head on his chest.
"There is no anti-venom," He shutters, "they give him another day at the most." Killian walks away without another word leaving me standing in shock. My stomach feels hollow with guilt but at the same time I want to heave. I feel as though the whole world is crashing down around me and there is nothing I can do. Tears slip from my eyes. But then, I remember, I remember just where I had seen that spider. At first I thought it was impossible. Steve could not possibly be that stupid could he? The more I think about it, the more I contemplate his strange behavior, the more the truth becomes apparent. I feel thick hot poisonous anger flow through my veins. My fist clench and without a word I sprint to my car; cranking the engine I speed towards my house. I must have broken at least a dozen laws in the process but when I get there I fly out of the car without bothering to turn the engine off. I burst through the door to see Steve sitting on the couch, staring back at me, still frozen.
"Where is she Steve!?" I scream at him, he jolts back to reality.
"What?" He asks in confusion. My blood boils as I step closer to him threateningly.
"DO NOT FUCK WITH ME," I stand over him now, "Where is the spider you stole from the freak show!?" He pulls back and I see a small wave of fear ripple through his face. He raises a finger and points to the bedroom without speaking to me. I storm back to the bedroom to find a small familiar black box sitting on my bed, without thought I take it. I find myself rushing towards the door for the second time today.
"Where are you going?!" Steve yells after me, standing in my way.
"Where do you think I'm going?" I grunt brushing past me but he grabs me rather roughly and twirls me around.
"You can't," He growls. I stare up at him, fury burning in my eyes.
"To hell with you Steve," I shout in his face trying to shake his grip but he overpowers me.
"Listen to me," He states flatly, "he is a vampire." I seethe at his childishness. I shove my weight into him sending him stumbling back a few feet.
"Stop your foolishness! Vampires don't exist, Steve, they never have, and they never will. You stole that spider because you are a childish selfish little brat who thinks nothing of those he hurts. You should be the one dying in the hospital, not Brennan!" I am out of breath by the time I finish my rant. Without giving him a chance to reply, I am in the car speeding back towards the Cirque Du Freak.
