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"You got a job? Seriously," Seth was shocked.
"I don't like mooching off your parents."
"They're your parents, too."
"It's not the same thing."
"What about Seth/Ryan time? Between this and you hanging out with the Neanderthals, I never see you anymore."
"You see me every day." Ryan looks at his brand new brother's disappointed face and wonders if this job thing was really such a good idea. Scuffing his foot on the carpet, he attempted to make it up to the guy. "Maybe you could teach me that new video game you got when I get off."
"Get off what?" Taylor comes in, taking her friend's hand when she sees the look on his face. "What's going on?" The glare she gave the other boy was harsh, and reminded him of the main reason why he'd decided to get a job in the first place.
So he wouldn't have to see the two of them together so often.
"Your boy's just feeling a little lonely," Ryan snarled, pushing past them, throwing the door open so that it banged against the outer wall. "Do me a favor? If you "cheer him up", make sure you change the sheets." The pool house door slammed sharply behind him, the glass coming close to breaking.
"Does he mean what I think he means," Taylor asked.
"I think he thinks we're doing it."
"Oh ew," Taylor shuddered.
"Hey. Fragile male ego over here."
"Losing my lunch at the very thought over here"
"Would it be so bad?
"Do you wanna sleep with me?"
"No," Seth shook his head wildly, stopping the motion so suddenly that he was briefly dizzy. His eyes widened as the epiphany made its way to the front of his brain. "But I think Ryan does."
"Don't be ridiculous, he's dating Summer."
"Ask yourself why he's dating Summer. Aside from the obvious "she's beautiful", I mean."
"You're out of your mind."
"Am I? Doesn't it fit? The way he's been acting, the way he stares at us, the snarky comments: he's jealous."
"And you're crazy. I knew Kyle hit you in the head too hard the other night."
"You're deflecting."
"I am not deflecting."
"Why are you being so..." Seth grins, crossing his arms smugly over his chest. "You like him."
"I do not!"
"Do so."
"Do not!"
"Do so."
"Okay we have to stop acting like we're five," Taylor said rubbing her temples. "I'm getting a headache."
"Taylor and Ryan- Ow!"
"Shut up," Taylor said. "One more word and I'm putting an ad in tomorrow's paper announcing that you have been in love with Summer since we were ten."
"Methinks the lady doth protest too much." Seth mutters, rubbing his arm where, he's sure, there will be a humongous bruise.
"What?"
"Nothing. Chock full of quiet."
"Good answer."
--xxx--
Ryan winced as Seth accidentally dropped a can of tomatoes on the ground the two unloaded the car.
"You okay?"
"Fine."
"You look kind of pale."
"I'm good." Ryan swallowed thickly as he bent over, bracing himself with one hand on the side of the car.
"What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing. Drop it. Don't you have a girlfriend to harass or something? Maybe you can make her walk funny again."
"Dude, what is your problem?"
"I don't have a problem."
"He drinks, he gets drunk, and he falls down. No problem."
"Grandpa, how are you," Seth said, recovering from his surprise.
"Recovering from shock," Cal shook his grandson's hand, glaring at the punk his son-in-law had seen fit to inflict on his family. "How are you? Has he hurt you? Frightened you? If you want, I can have him arrested; no matter what your father says."
"Nah, he hasn't done anything you need to take care of. Besides if he does bother me, Taylor can take him."
"So you're still dating the Townsend girl. That's fine. Good family, nice grades; perfect for a little high school experience."
"You make us sound like you're breeding horses, Grandpa."
"Not a bad comparison." Ryan said, hefting the huge bag of charcoal easily into his arms. "Although dogs would be more accurate, the way you two go at it."
Seth fought the urge to vomit and then the urge to call Ryan on his jealousy. He had just stamped down the desire to ask Ryan why he cared so much about Seth and Taylor's "sex life" when Taylor came riding up the driveway and Ryan made a fast exit around the side of the house.
"While she has many fine qualities, you might want to talk her out of the motorcycle at some point," Caleb said.
"Will do," Seth nodded as Taylor got off the bike and took off her helmet. Seth raised an eyebrow at the look of clear panic on her face just before a smile took its place when she noticed Caleb.
"Mr. Nichols, how are you," she said as she walked up to them.
"Fine, my dear and you?"
"I'm great. But I'm afraid I need to steal your grandson away. He's got to explain to our summer reading to me and help me get some more of it done or Mother won't let me come to your party and I don't want to miss it."
Seth raised an eyebrow. Something was up because Veronica was in New York and even if she had been home, wouldn't have cared if Taylor had her summer reading done. Not to mention Taylor had already done the summer reading.
"Of course. I will see you later," Caleb nodded and walked back into the house.
"We have a problem," Taylor whispered.
"I figured. What's up?"
"You know that coven in South Africa that your grandma used to give Jimmy selective amnesia?"
"Yeah."
"They made contact with me this morning. Apparently their oracle foresaw a danger arriving in Newport."
"Well that's not at all creepy or vague."
"They did give me a little more detail. I thought we could go through your books and try and narrow it down some before we told Kirsten."
"Yeah alright, let's go lock ourselves in my bedroom."
"Why are we locking the door?"
"So that Grandpa and Ryan continue to think we're doing it."
"Changing the subject to avoid hurling, where is Ryan?"
"Hung over and still jealous as hell." Taylor glared as they made their way into the house and up the stairs. "Right, right. I'm insane, he's not interested at all, gotcha."
"One more time Seth and the next arm I break is yours," Taylor said with a perky smile.
"You wouldn't- Okay you would."
"Do your parents know he's drinking?"
"If they don't, Grandpa will be sure to let them know."
--xxx--
Ryan came back around to the driveway and closed the trunk of the car before he headed towards the back only to stop when he saw a blonde getting out of the pool.
He couldn't move, couldn't breathe; every nerve in his body firing and hormones flooding his brain. She climbed out, water beading over smooth skin, patting herself dry. He nearly whimpered at the jolt to his system. He must've made some noise, because she was looking at him, eyes seeming to glow in some weird trick of the light. She licked her lips, tongue very red, shooting a quick look towards the main house before returning her gaze to him.
"Hi." Ryan shuddered at the carnal force of her voice. "You must be Ryan."
"Hey."
"Join me? I hate to swim alone."
A tiny corner of his brain tried to point out that that was exactly what she'd been doing; but it was drowned out by the signals overtaking his mind from below his waist.
"Sure. Let me get changed."
--xxx--
Seth closed the book he'd been reading in frustration, "I think I read this one already." He tossed it onto his desk and glanced out the window. That's when his stomach started to churn. "I don't believe it."
Taylor looked up, "What's wrong?"
"Ryan's in the hot tub with my grandmother. Do you know what that means?"
"Ryan's a necrophiliac?"
"She's not dead."
"She's old."
"Not really." Taylor sighed, setting her book aside, and came over to look out the window as well.
"Ew. Your grandpa's a perv."
"How can he do this to Summer?"
"Is she even legal?"
"Taylor focus."
"I am. Do you think Sandy's going to be happy if he has to defend Caleb on a statutory rape charge?"
"Are you sure it's my Dad you're worried about?"
"Of course." Taylor scowled at the two blondes laughing in the hot tub. "Is it safe for her to be in there? I hear silicon has a bad reaction to water that hot."
"That was pretty catty for someone not interested in my new brother."
"Arm. Broken. You."
"I'm sorry," Seth said quickly hiding his arms behind his back. "But, and I know you don't want to hear this, Ryan's into you."
"He's got a girlfriend. You might remember her. Summer? The girl you've been into since before our hormones kicked in."
"Yeah, I know. I think he figured out I liked her after I took him sailing."
"Yes, naming your boat after her was kind of obvious."
"So I think maybe he's dating Summer to get back at me for dating you."
"If that's true, then he's being a real jerk."
"Well, that may be but he's a jerk that's into you."
"And his grand plan is to make you jealous enough so you'll break up with me or I'll break up with you and then he'll break up with Summer and come after me?"
Seth considered it and then nodded, "Seems solid enough to me."
"Well he's wasting his time then. I don't date guys who do things like that."
"You don't date guys, period."
"Can you blame me? Present company excluded, they're all a bunch of bone-head Neanderthals jerks."
"Thanks, I think." Looks down at where Ryan is climbing out of the hot tub. "I kind of feel sorry for him."
"Him? He's dating the girl you like, flirting with your grandfather's girlfriend, and treating us both like he can't stand us; and you feel sorry for him?"
"I think he's lonely."
"That's his choice. We put our hands out for friendship and he decided that he'd rather hang with Summer and a bunch of people who treat everyone who's not like them like crap. I refuse to feel sorry for him. He's made his bed and he can sleep in it with whoever he likes."
"You don't think they have, do you?" Panic replaced concern as Seth turned to his friend. "He hasn't...not with Summer!"
"Breathe, Cohen."
"But-but he and Summer-"
"For the record, no I don't think he's done it with Summer yet."
"Yet?!"
"Ow. Calm down. Rupturing my eardrums isn't going to help."
"He can't sleep with Summer. My dream girl," Seth ranted.
"Yes, I know she's your dream girl. Have you ever considered telling her that?"
"Whenever I try to talk to her she either ignores me or makes an obscene gesture and walks away."
"Why do you like her, then?" Seth was silent for a long moment.
"It was the squirrels."
"Squirrels?"
"A couple weeks before you moved here. There was this little squirrel, that this other squirrel stole its food. She shared her lunch with the little one, throwing rocks so the other one would stay away."
"Aw," Taylor put her hands over her heart. "That is so sweet. See, this is why you'd be better for her than Chip or Ryan. You see her as more than just someone to pass the time with or someone to nail. You see her."
"Stop it," Seth said with a wave.
"You always saw me," Taylor said. "That's why I always thought we'd be friends even if Kirsten wasn't my watcher."
"Well, you do have good taste in anime." The two friends smile at each other.
"Come on. Let's find out what I'm gonna be slaying next."
--xxx--
"Well, where is he," Caleb asked of his daughter when she sat down.
"Who?"
"The little punk your husband inflicted on my family."
"Ryan isn't feeling well, he's lying down."
"He isn't feeling well? Isn't that a shame? Maybe he should stop getting drunk at night."
Uh-oh, Seth thought, as his mother's eyes narrowed.
"What?"
"You don't know? I wonder what else you don't know about him."
"Seth, take your dinner and go upstairs," Sandy said.
"What?"
"Now."
Seth made an escape with his dinner and Sandy turned back to Caleb, "I know you don't like him but lying about him isn't going to make us throw him out.
"Who's lying? He was hung over this morning. Seth noticed it, even if he didn't recognize the signs."
"Dad, you had no right to say things like that in front of Seth. If you noticed a problem you should've just come to us. How would you have liked it if someone had blown the whistle on Hailey or me in front of other people?"
"You can't compare that little con artist to you or your sister. You're family, it's completely different."
"Ryan's a part of this family, Cal."
"He and Seth have gotten very close."
"That's the problem, right there. How long before he drags my grandson down with him? Send him back to prison before we have to find out!"
--xxx--
Seth ignored the raised voices from downstairs and fished his amulet out from under his shirt. Sure enough, some of the protective runes on it were glowing. Since they hadn't done that this morning, when his grandfather had arrived, that left only one person who could be activating the defensive nature of his mother's bar mitzvah present.
Gaby.
He had to call Taylor.
--xxx--
Gebrel wondered if she hadn't made a mistake in her chosen benefactor. Caleb Nichol was rich and successful, a man of power, and a good, steady source of testosterone, if somewhat dull and prone to jealous fits. The younger male, Ryan, however; she suppressed a shudder of anticipation as she slipped away from the arguing humans and made her quiet way to the pool house.
The boy lay on his bed, his smell intoxicatingly delicious. Testosterone rolled off him in waves, his body tense as he fought against the groundwork she'd laid earlier that day. She'd never had someone not in a declared relationship resist her influence so steadily. It was almost as if he was soul-bound, but that was impossible. Humans didn't go in for those rituals anymore.
She sat on the bed beside him and his eyes popped open as he sat up his ear buds falling away.
"What are you doing in here," he asked.
"I came to see you." She purred, placing a hand on his chest.
"Don't." His protest was weak. She could tell from the way his breath heaved that he was enjoying the thrill of her touch.
"It's all right." She soothed, moving closer to him.
Frustratingly, he moved away from her, trembling as his body paid the price of his resistance. His strength of will was amazing, but not indefinite.
"Don't you like me?" She wet her lips, inhaling deeply (he smelled so delicious) and trailing her fingers along the inside of his knee. "I like you."
"I...I don't..." He shook his head, obviously trying to clear it. Silly human.
His bright blue eyes widened as she crawled over to him, fluttering closed with a groan as she dragged herself up his body. She had to remind herself to take it slowly, not to overwhelm his system in her enthusiasm. She took his hands by the wrists, halting his doomed attempts to dislodge her. Kissing him, she allowed herself to enjoy the sudden rush of his energy, ignoring his struggles and sounds of protest (strange, given the pleasure she knew his body was experiencing) as she began the draining process.
"Gaby!" Shocked out of her ability to focus by the hail, Gebrel snarled as she raised her head. The primary feeding supply always had precedence over other, however tasty, morsels. "Gabrielle! We're leaving!" Sighing, she climbed off the dazed boy, straightening her clothes, although they frustratingly didn't need it.
"Come to me later." She ordered him, confident that the pleasure she'd just given him a taste of would drive him to seek her out.
Or drive him insane.
--xxx--
Ryan came into the kitchen with his jacket on. He just wanted to grab something to drink before he headed out.
"Where do you think you're going," Kirsten asked.
"Out."
"No you're not."
"Why not?"
"You're grounded."
"For what?"
"You're too young to be drinking, Ryan."
Seth came in as his mother finished speaking and Ryan glared at him.
"Thanks a lot, Bro."
"I didn't say anything. I didn't even know."
"Right."
"That's enough. Ryan, you're grounded. Go to your room."
"Like this is fair."
"You knew the rules, you chose to break them. These are the consequences."
"What's the consequences for staying out all hours every night with a girl he wants to cheat on?"
"Dude, that's not-"
"Tell me something, Seth. If I wasn't dating Summer, would you even care about where I go at night?"
"And why do you care so much about where I go with my girlfriend?"
"I don't care. I just don't like you rubbing my face in how much better you've got it."
"I'm not rubbing anything in your face but speaking of my girlfriend, Mom, I wanted to let you know that I have to go over there. Tay needs some help cleaning up the house since Veronica forgot to pay the maid again."
"Nice one," Ryan snarled, the harshness of his tone making Sandy narrow his eyes in concern. "She gonna have the feather duster, or just the outfit?"
"Ryan!"
"I told you to go to your room."
"Fine." He didn't feel so good all of a sudden. It wasn't just the thought of Seth and Taylor getting it on, either; although that was nauseating enough. "I'll be in my cell." He slammed the door on the way out, hoping he could make it to his private bathroom before he puked.
"Sandy, is he drunk?"
"No." Watching until the angry young man closed the pool house door behind him, he turned a worried face to his wife. "I don't know what's wrong with him."
As one, both parents looked at their natural-born son.
"Hey don't look at me, I didn't do anything to him. I haven't talked to him since Grandpa and Taylor showed up this morning. Speaking of, I won't be late."
"Okay sweetie, call if you're going to miss curfew."
"You know," Sandy said slowly, eyes following the boy out of the room, "Ryan didn't really start acting weird until Taylor came around."
"Sandy! His drinking is not her fault! She's a good person, and a great friend to Seth."
"I'm not saying she's to blame, Kirsten. I like Taylor, too."
"So what are you saying?"
"I think...I think maybe he's jealous."
"Because Seth's had everything growing up that he hasn't?"
"Because Seth has Taylor."
"But why would he go to Cotillion with Summer, start dating her, if he were," Kirsten frowned, glancing out at the pool house worriedly. "You think he's trying to use Seth's crush on Summer to drive a wedge between him and Taylor? That's despicable."
"He hasn't exactly had any positive role models for how a relationship is supposed to work. He's probably doing the only things he knows how to change the situation."
"Why wouldn't he just talk to us? Or tell Taylor how he feels? Why not just ask Seth to step aside, since he knows Summer is who his brother really wants?" Sandy thrilled to hear her address the boy as part of the family, the unconscious appellation making her defense of the boy to her father even more significant.
"Honey, he's not big on the talking, remember? Besides," He hesitated, and then went on, "I don't think he's used to getting what he wants unless he fights for it. Asking isn't even a possibility."
"Well then, we're just going to have to have a very long talk with him about asking for things and talking them out instead of using tricks and games to get what he wants. I am not letting Ryan turn into my father."
--xx--
"Seth, slow down," Taylor watched her friend pace the length of her living room. "What do you mean Gaby's dangerous?"
"Here," he pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to her. "She set off that amulet my Mom got me, to protect me from dark influences? I copied down the symbols that lit up on it and looked them up."
"So she's a demon." Taylor unfolded the paper, shaking her head with morbid amusement. "Only your grandfather would end up dating a demon."
"It's worse than you think."
"A succubus? You're right, that's tougher than anything I've ever slain before."
"That's not the bad part."
"No? A succubus, Seth!" Now it was her turn to pace. "The only way to kill them is by fire. What are we supposed to do? Set fire to your house, during one of the biggest events of the year, and hope no one notices that we don't let one of the guests leave?"
"We'll think of something, but that's still not the bad part."
"What? That severing the link between succubus and food supply can only be done by the "bond of souls"? In other words, true love? That killing her may just put your grandfather in a coma?"
"No, that all sucks; but it's still not the bad part."
"Then what? Oh my god." Taking her friend by the shoulders, she examined him for any signs of possession, "You didn't let her touch you, did you?"
"No, it's not me she's got her hooks into."
"Oh no." She closed her eyes, a clear image of heavily painted nails stroking along a muscular arm as the two blondes were relaxing in the Cohens Jacuzzi. "Ryan."
"Ryan," Seth nodded.
"We are so screwed."
"Not yet."
"Oh and what are we supposed to do? Seth this is bad. This is very, very bad. We could put Ryan into a coma instead of your grandfather. How the hell do we explain that to your parents?"
"I'm sure there's some way to protect a succubus" victims from the backlash of her death. We just have to find it."
"And in the meantime?"
"Well, he's grounded, so it's not like she'll be able to suck him dry." Seth made a face, "That came out wrong."
"No kidding."
"My point is, he's not going anywhere, and neither is the skanky ho of the demon set."
"How did he end up grounded, anyway?"
"I dunno. Something about drinking? He was kinda ticked, because he thought I ratted him out."
"Okay," Taylor ran her hands through her hair and sat down on the couch. "We have to think about this. We have to get her alone and douse her with something flammable and then light her up."
"How?"
"I have no idea."
They sat for a long moment, thinking, until Seth started to squirm.
"It's down the hall."
"Funny. No I have an idea. It just sucks."
"Okay." He remained silent, avoiding her gaze. "Seth..."
"We could use Ryan as bait."
"What?"
"The pool house has its own bath room. We could shove her in there and light her up. There'd be some slight smoke damage to the tile, but..."
"Are you out of your mind? That's a lousy idea. Forget putting some innocent guy, even if he is a jerk, out for bait like some kind of Hors D'oeuvres. You know how much power a succubus has over her victim? We could find ourselves having to fight him as well as her!"
"You have a better idea?"
"Unfortunately no. Seth, I really don't want to kill Ryan."
"Let's just hope it doesn't come to that."
--xxx--
"So I'll be making the potion?"
"I think we'll go with Rosa on this one, honey."
"A mujer herbaria for a maid. That's pretty weird, mom."
"You're dating a Slayer. You should be used to weird by now."
"One would think." Seth peeked out to the patio, but there was still no movement from the pool house, where his father had gone to fetch Ryan for the family conference. "I'll need the amulet of Furina unless you think grandpa's guests want to hear us slaying his girlfriend."
"I still don't like this idea."
"Well, we can't exactly go up to him and say "good news! She's not after your money, she's draining your life force. And did we mention? Killing her might put you in a coma?" He'd lock us up."
"There has to be some other way. I don't like putting you kids in danger like this."
"Mom, we live in Newport. I've been in danger since day one, and that's just from the human element."
"There's just so many ways you could all get hurt with this..."
"Heads up."
"We'll talk more later."
Seth nodded as Sandy and Ryan came through the door.
"Morning Ryan," Kirsten said brightly.
"Morning," he mumbled as he went for a cup of coffee.
"Feel better?" Seth asked.
Ryan glared, opening his mouth to answer, closing it and nodding silently when his gaze landed on Kirsten.
"That's good." Sandy took his seat at the head of the table, indicating a chair across from his wife. "Why don't you sit down?" Although phrased as a request, it was obviously an order, and the blonde boy sat down, coffee mug cradled in front of him. "Do you want to start with the drinking? Or the rude behavior?" Ryan shrugged. "That's not going to cut it this morning, kid. This is a family conference. We're going to talk about this and we're going to find a solution." That seemed to surprise the boy.
"You're not kicking me out?"
"Of course we're not kicking you out," Kirsten frowned. "Is that what you thought? You made a few mistakes so we're tossing you out?"
"That's not how this works, Kid," Sandy said. "But you have to start talking to us about the things you want."
"I got enough clothes." It was hard to tell, with his gaze on his coffee, but the comment seemed to be addressed to Kirsten. "Food's fine, and the pool house is great. I'm good."
"Well, that's certainly the three basic needs: clothing, food, shelter. But we were actually talking about what you want, kid."
"I don't understand."
"There's someone you're interested in, isn't there?"
"Um, well," Ryan stalled.
"Someone not Summer."
"Why would you think that?"
Seth snorted, "The snide comments? The glaring until I'm about to burst into flames? How could we miss it?"
"You're abusing her," Ryan said. "You're using her because you can't have the one you really want."
"Is that what you're doing with Summer?" Seth felt ill, but he had to know.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Ryan sneered.
"Boys!"
There was a tense silence as the two teens avoided each other's eyes.
"Ryan, why do you think Taylor's being abused?" Sandy asked, glancing at his other son and getting an emphatic head shake in response to his unspoken question.
"Why else was she limping?"
"She hurt herself on her motorcycle."
"You bought that?"
"Taylor doesn't lie."
"I heard them!"
"You heard us doing what?"
"In your room," Ryan motioned, not wanting to say the actual words.
"You heard me taking the head of the nail she cut herself on out of her thigh," Seth said.
"I ...you..." Ryan frowned. Is that what had happened? He'd misread the situation?
"I know you're used to ...that kind of behavior from people. But I assure you: Kirsten and I have raised Seth to treat women better than that."
"I'm sorry. I didn't know what else to think."
"Next time? Try talking to someone."
"You could totally have come to me, for instance."
"To ask if you were abusing your girlfriend?"
"Sure. What's the worst that could've happened?"
"I could've knocked your face in."
There was still a part of him that wanted to, wanted to remove the obstacle between him and Taylor the only way he knew how. But if Seth wasn't hurting her, then he didn't have the right.
"Yeah that would've hurt," Seth looked mildly uncomfortable at the thought. "Look, next time just ask because I was very close to siccing Taylor on you."
"You think Taylor could take me?"
"She broke Luke's arm. He's got about 50 pounds and probably a good foot on her. You're noticeably shorter and a little less muscled."
"I think that's enough threatening each other with violence," Kirsten said, poking her son under the table. Bragging on Taylor's ability to handle herself was very close to revealing her secret. "Let's talk about the drinking."
"Sorry," Ryan started turning red.
"Sorry's not good enough," Sandy said. "There are rules in this house not to mention you're underage. So saying you're sorry isn't going to cut it."
"I don't know what you want me to say." He drained the last of his coffee, wishing it made him feel better. "No one's ever cared before."
"Well that's no longer the case. In this house we're pains in the butt when it comes to caring," Sandy said. "Now, I think maybe we can lift the grounding since you're not used to the rule thing but Ryan, another screw up and you won't see daylight for at least a month."
"That's it?"
"Would you rather be punished?"
"No..."
"Actually, he is kind of being punished. If he's not grounded, that means he has to go to grandpa's birthday party."
"Seth," Kirsten scolded.
"I'll be back later on," Seth said. "Taylor's making me help her pick out a dress."
"Could I invite Summer?" Seth froze, half out of his seat, at Ryan's words.
"Are you sure you want to," Kirsten asked, frowning. She'd thought he wasn't going to do that anymore.
"Yeah." The look he shot the other boy was pained, but not as dark as the previous ones had been. Ryan got up and put his mug in the sink. "We should probably break up, and that has to be done in person, right?"
"That's the preferred method, yes," Seth tried not to sound as happy as he felt.
Ryan just nodded, heading out to the pool house to make his call.
"Well." Sandy lifted his eyebrows teasingly at his wife. "Tonight's party's certainly going to be interesting."
--xxx--
Taylor bit her lip as she leaned her hip against the grill on the Cohens" patio. She was trying for casual but inside she was starting to panic just a bit. What was taking Kirsten so long with that potion? Rosa should've had it done a long time ago. How hard was it to pour something into Cal's drink?
Ryan stormed past her without seeing her, looking annoyed. Since he didn't have a handprint on his face, she guessed he hadn't broken up with Summer yet. From the way the other girl had been dragging him around to talk finance with Cal's friends, she didn't blame him for being upset. Of course, his reasons for dating the brunette (whatever they really were) weren't anything she thought too highly of, so she didn't empathize too strongly with his irritation.
Taylor's gaze narrowed as she saw Gaby slip into the pool house a moment or two later.
"Shit," she cursed softly.
"Hey, you ready," Seth walked over. "Mom dosed Grandpa. We're good to go."
"Yeah, we better because-" Taylor stopped talking when she saw Summer walk by headed for the pool house. She opened the door, her mouth dropped, and she slammed it shut. Turning around she spotted Seth and Taylor. A devious glint entered her eyes and she marched over to them. She grabbed Seth by the lapels of his jacket and planted a kiss right on his lips.
"Um, Summer?" Taylor stepped forward, glancing nervously towards pool house. She saw motion near the handle, probably one of the occupants was locking the door. She turned back to the kissing couple, intending to yank them apart if necessary.
"Wow."
"Was he watching?" Summer looked over her shoulder and scowled. "Damn it."
"What do you think you're doing?" She was annoyed; because now she had to enter a hard fight with her back-up distracted.
"Sorry." The other girl didn't look sorry. She looked, in fact, just as effected by the lip-lock as Seth did.
"I don't mind." He had a really dopey grin on his face. Any other time, she'd be happy for him.
Right now, though, they had business to take care of.
"Well, thanks for trying, Cohen." She tried not to sigh as Summer reached up and gave him another kiss. They didn't have time for this. "You're a lucky girl, Dor...Townsend."
"Come on, Romeo." Taylor grabbed her friend's hand, dragging him over to the pool house.
Just as she thought, the door was locked. Stepping lightly on Seth's foot to snap him out of his romantic daze, she turned the handle sharply, her Slayer strength making short work of the lock. The two demon-fighters entered the room, shutting the door behind them. Horrified by the scene in front of her, she barely noted her partner dropping the Token of Furina over the inner handle; silencing the noise from the party and effectively blocking any sounds they might make themselves.
"Doesn't anyone in this place knock?" Gaby complained, turning her head to look at them.
Taylor felt her stomach churn at the sight of the demon straddling Ryan's hips, her dress hanging open down to her waist. The boy beneath her obviously wasn't aware of their presence; his eyes glazed as he ran his hands up and down the demon's thighs. He wasn't wearing his shirt, and she had an unpleasant suspicion that his pants were no longer fastened.
"Get off of him."
"A Slayer. Terrific."
"She said "get off him"."
"But he doesn't want me to." The demon looked down, smiling, as she ran her fingers through Ryan's hair. "Do you, honey?"
"I may be ill." Seth muttered beside her, as his new brother shook his head.
"You're pushing it." Taylor informed the succubus, her hands fisting as she stepped forward.
"Fine." Gaby moved off, but she pulled her victim up at the same time; slithering around so that Ryan was between her and the other teens. "You have to protect me, baby." She spoke directly into his ear, running heavily manicured hands over his bare chest.
"Uh-oh." She agreed with Seth. This was just what they'd been afraid would happen.
"They want to kill me..." There were false tears in the demon's voice, belying the wicked delight on her face. "...please...you have to stop them."
"Oh shit." Her friend gasped as the blonde boy stood up, hands balling into fists as he came towards them.
"I'll try and knock him out quickly." Taylor promised, hoping her reluctance to hit the guy wouldn't result in someone getting hurt.
It was a good plan. Kind of derailed by him stopping just out of arm's reach, though.
He stood and stared at them for the longest time, fists clenching and unclenching at his sides. There wasn't a flicker of recognition in the glazed blue eyes as he shifted his gaze back and forth between them. Minutes ticked by, and he still didn't take another step, make another move.
"Ryan?" She grabbed Seth by the arm before he could move past her.
"I don't believe this." "Gaby" didn't sound happy. She stood up, putting her hands on Ryan's shoulders from behind. "Look, I know you want the girl." Great. Now even a demon was getting on the "Ryan likes you" band wagon. Her night was complete. "Just kill the boy, and I'll let you have her." Zonked as he was, he might just go for the deal she knew the succubus had no intention of keeping. Taylor gently pushed her friend behind her.
"...I ...I can't...I..." That he could speak at all was amazing. That he was refusing to do as the demon with her hooks into him was bidding was nothing short of miraculous.
"Why not, baby?"
"...brother..."
Seth gasped in her ear and she felt her mouth shift sideways into a grin. A grin that vanished as a look of savage fury crossed the demon's face.
"Have it your way." The succubus hissed, digging her talons into his shoulders.
Energy flared at the point of contact, Ryan curling inward and groaning in obvious pain. Before she could react, her friend surged past her and grabbed one muscled arm, yanking him forward out of the demon's startled grip. The boys tumbled in a heap onto the floor next to her, leaving her and "Gaby" with nothing between them but carpet.
Taylor swung and caught Gaby's jaw with her ring, breaking the skin of the blonde's chin and knocking her sideways. The demon growled at her and came at her to be met with a foot to the stomach. From there Taylor managed to fight her into the bathroom. She knocked her into the wall, making Gaby knock her head on the tile, dazing the demon long enough to let Taylor douse her with hairspray before she grabbed the lighter she'd managed to swipe from one of the ladies at the party and lit Gaby up.
The shriek from the succubus wasn't what worried her. With the talisman on the door, no one would hear, and Cal was protected by Rosa's potion. No, it was the shout from the main room of the pool house that bothered her.
Taylor turned on the fan so the smoke would cycle out and closed the bathroom door firmly behind her as she went to see what had happened. Maybe one of the guests had come in and gotten the wrong impression about the two boys. Maybe Summer had come back to give the guy she'd been dating a piece of her mind.
"Oh no."
Ryan was curled in a ball on the floor, shaking with obvious pain; Seth kneeling beside him, face tight.
"Why didn't you give him the potion?"
"It got smashed when I pulled him free of the demon-ho."
"...sorry..."
"It's not your fault, buddy." Her friend patted the other boy on the arm, flinching when his brother whimpered. "How are we gonna get him on the bed if we can't touch him?"
"Quickly."
Taylor cringed at the bloody wounds on Ryan's shoulders, the way he cried out when she (with some help from Seth) lifted him up and put him on the bed. HIs eyes were dull with pain, his body trembling as he fought to stay conscious.
"Go get my Mom? I don't want to leave him."
"Sure. Maybe there's some potion left."
"...sorry..."
"You didn't hurt anyone, man; it's okay."
"...Summer..." The whisper stopped her at the door, making her take one last look at the two boys: one sitting frozen on the mattress while the other lay prone and struggled to speak. "...we...didn't..." A shaking hand tried to grip Seth's wrist, unable to close through the spasming muscles.
"I think he's trying to say he didn't sleep with Summer."
Seth nodded.
"I'm gonna go get Kirsten," Taylor said as she escaped through the door.
"You're gonna be okay, Man," Seth said to Ryan.
"Lucky," he mumbled.
"Yes you did get lucky. Gaby was a total black widow."
Ryan head shook just a little more than the rest of him, "You."
Seth didn't have a chance to say anything because Taylor came back in with Kirsten and Rosa following closely behind her.
"Oh my God," Kirsten said.
"Madre de dios y todo el que es santo," Rosa gasped as she came forward.
Seth got out of the way and went back to stand with Taylor. He took the opportunity to study his friend, "You okay?"
"Just a little freaked out. We haven't been that close to losing somebody since the first time we went out patrolling."
"Give yourself a break; we were twelve. And we're not gonna lose him."
Taylor gave him a little smile and leaned a head against his shoulder.
"I'm gonna have to carry you upstairs, aren't I," Seth teased, putting an arm around her shoulder.
"You mind if we grab some sleeping bags and sleep outside tonight? I wanna watch the sun come up."
"Sure."
"Okay." Kirsten straightened up, looking over towards them. "He's going to be okay. Rosa, please make sure you give him the amnesia potion after you're done with his shoulders."
"Si, Senora Cohen," Rosa smiled.
Kirsten smiled at her and then looked towards her son and her charge, "You two go on. Go make one more appearance at the party and then disappear for the night. I'll see you in the morning."
"Thanks Kirsten."
"Night Mom."
"Night." Kirsten sighed "Now all I have to do is decide what to tell my father."