Saturday night, Tommy, Merton, and Kalida sat around the Dawkins family dining table eating nachos.
"So what's the plan for tonight?" Kalida scooped up a hefty amount of guacamole.
Merton took another chip, stretching the melted cheese until it snapped. "I assumed we'd visit Trevor and then spend the night in the lair."
"I was thinking maybe the Factory?" Tommy suggested.
Merton raised a brow. "You're not partied out after last night?"
"Party champ." Tommy scoffed, flexing his arms. "Besides, I couldn't really relax with that many people in the house."
"We could do both." Kalida offered.
Tommy grinned. "A night of dancing, then sleepover at Merton's?"
Merton wiggled his eyebrows playfully. "Dingle-Dawkins double feature. I like it."
Tommy flopped down at the table he'd left Merton and Kalida at. The Factory was buzzing with teenagers and college students, and the DJ had the crowd hyped.
"Where's Kali?"
Merton gestured toward the bar. "She went to get drinks." He bobbed along to the beat.
Tommy leaned forward. "So, what's the scoop?"
Merton raised a brow.
"You two are all good now? Last night she told you to hang yourself, today you're all chummy."
"Oh! Yeah…" Merton rubbed the back of his neck, not sure how much to say. "She came by after the party and we talked for a while." Technically that's true.
"So are you two…" he gestured.
"It's still a little undefined, but I think… sorta?"
Tommy smiled. "Cool, man. I'm happy for you."
He grinned bashfully. "Thanks. I hope it's not, you know, awkward."
"Well I'd rather not see you two necking, but if my two best friends are going to date people, it might as well be each other."
Merton put a hand over his chest, the other raised at his side. "No overt PDA's. Scout's honour."
Tommy snorted. "You're not a boy scout."
"Goth's honour."
Meanwhile Kalida was paying for two sodas over at the bar.
"Here with a friend?" A tall young man with golden brown skin leaned casually against the bar. His perfect coif and beard stubble were jet black.
His deep voice had caught her off guard and she blinked at him a moment before replying.
"Uh, yeah, actually."
"Think she'll miss you?" He smirked and gave her an obvious lookover with his piercing brown eyes.
"They," she corrected him, grabbing the two drinks that were placed down in front of her. "Both guys. And yeah. Bye." She hurried away from him, relieved to see that Tommy was back at the table already.
"Hey, where's mine?" Tommy teased.
"We can share, or you can get your own."
"Do you know that guy?" Merton nodded subtly toward the bar.
She followed his gaze and locked eyes with the man she'd just walked away from. "Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome? No."
The mystery guy smirked and waved. Kalida turned back around, a shiver running up her spine. "There's something off about him."
Merton waved at the guy, pulling a face that suggested his advances were unwelcome.
"He seems friendly enough," Tommy teased, knowing it was bothering Merton to have another guy making eyes at Kalida.
"That's not what I meant. When he talked to me before, it was like my brain went blank for a second."
"Love at first sight," Tommy laughed.
"That's not funny." She sipped at her soda.
"Yeah Tommy." Merton frowned at his friend, feeling insecure.
Tommy rolled his eyes. "I'm sure he just saw a girl by herself and thought he'd try a line."
Kalida sighed, putting down her drink. "Has that ever worked for you?"
Tommy smirked. "All the time."
Merton rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I'm sure you being captain of the football team, and most eligible bachelor on campus has nothing to do with that."
Tommy laughed. "What can I say, I'm a charmer."
"And yet no steady girl." Kali poked Tommy's side. "What a player."
"Hey," Tommy squirmed, laughing. "It's a little hard to keep steady with a girl when you get hairy every time you get worked up."
Kali's eyes went wide. "I didn't even think of that!"
Tommy tried to play it off, shrugging casually. "Wolf life."
Kalida chewed on her straw, recalling what Merton had said about that Stacey girl. "We'll have to find you a wolf wife."
Merton suppressed a laugh, trying not to spit out his drink.
Early Monday morning, Tommy, Kalida, and Merton piled out of the hearse in the school parking lot.
Kalida stifled a laugh.
"And that's how I got grounded in sixth grade," Tommy concluded.
"What did that entail, exactly? No football for a week?" Merton raised a brow, shaking his head.
"I don't even remember. But I was crushed."
Kalida thought back. "I don't think I've ever been grounded."
Tommy rolled his eyes. "No surprise there. Aunt Macy doesn't seem like the grounding type."
Kalida mocked offense. "You don't think it's just 'cause I'm such a keener?"
He furrowed his brow. "Keener?"
Merton interjected. "Canadian colloquialism. A keener is a brown-noser. A suck up. A goodie two-shoes, if you will. See also nerd, or geek."
Kalida gestured. "See also you."
Tommy laughed.
When they got to their lockers, Kalida started swapping out her textbooks.
She was startled by a sudden question from a low voice.
"Are these two your bodyguards?"
She turned to face the mystery person, recognising him immediately as the tall guy who had approached her at The Factory on Saturday night. She blinked, dazed.
He smirked, raising a brow as he looked her over. "I'm Mark, by the way."
Kalida shook her head. "What are you, stalking me?"
Tommy cleared his throat and stared down the interloper. Merton followed suit, poking his head out from behind Tommy to raise an eyebrow at him.
Mark laughed, unphased. "Not at all. I was actually looking for the office. It's my first day here."
Tommy shut his locker. "I'll show you where it is." He stepped between Mark and Kalida, extending a hand. "Tommy Dawkins. Captain of the Fighting Badgers."
"Mark Jackson." He shook Tommy's hand. "Great to meet you."
Tommy gestured and led Mark away, pulling his backpack up onto his shoulder. "So you're new in town? Where'd you move from?"
Kalida and Merton watched as they walked off.
"Lumberton."
"Oh, so not too far then." They rounded the corner, out of earshot.
Kalida closed her locker and turned to Merton with a forced smile. "Thanks for the ride today."
He was lost in thought, staring down the hall with a perplexed look. "Hm?" He shook his head and grinned. "Of course. Saves you the trouble of moving Betsy after school."
"Yeah." She licked her lips, rocking onto the balls of her feet. "I'm really looking forward to our plans tonight."
He noted her proximity and felt a renewed nervousness around her. "It's just dinner and a movie."
She shrugged, looking off. "Yeah, but with my peeps."
He made a small chirping sound, miming chicken movements.
She snorted and held a hand to her mouth, shoulders shaking as she suppressed a laugh.
He grinned and shoved his hands in his pockets.
"You know what I mean."
His gaze held hers. "Yeah. I know what you mean."
"You guys are…" She trailed off, then looked down a shrugged. "My guys."
He mocked surprise. "You mean we're not just your bodyguards?"
She smacked his chest with the back of her hand. "More like I'm yours. Who exorcised a demon?"
He shrugged. "Touché."
Merton sat at his usual table in the cafeteria waiting for Tommy, lost in thought about Kalida. They hadn't officially defined their status as a couple - or not - and he wanted a plan to get them there without turning her off.
I have a knack for saying the wrong thing to her. ...And every other girl.
He pushed his mashed potatoes around, staring past them, when suddenly he was flanked by two massive classmates.
"You ignoring us, Dingle?" Travis Eckert slammed his fist down on the table beside Merton's tray.
Merton's shoulders hunched up. "N-no, of course not." He turned to Tim with a wincing smile. "I must not have heard you is all."
"So do you think it's him?" Tim prodded.
"Do I think what is whom?" Merton shook his head in confusion.
"The wolf man!" Travis hissed. "Do you think that Mark guy is the wolf man?"
"Mark?" Merton followed Travis's gaze to the guy Kalida had described as Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome. "I doubt it. He's new in town, and the Wolf Man isn't, right?"
Tim and Travis both let out a sound of epiphany.
"See, I knew we should ask Dingle, Timothy." He tapped Merton's forehead. "Egghead."
Tommy sat down across from them at the table. "What's going on, guys?" He glanced between them, his expression silently asking Merton if everything was alright.
Merton smirked. "They were just saying how they thought Mark might be the Pleasantville Werewolf."
Tommy raised his brows. "Interesting theory."
"Nah, he's too new to town." Tim waved his hand dismissively. The brothers got up.
"We're gonna crack the case, though, Dawkins. Don't worry." Travis added.
"Thanks guys," Tommy nodded, feigning sincerity. "It's nice to know we've got T'n'T protecting our town."
"T'n'T rule!" The brothers bumped chests, then walked off together.
Merton rolled his eyes and set to work actually eating his meal.
"Can you believe that guy's a senior?" Tommy asked, gesturing vaguely at Mark, who was sitting with a group of popular students on the other end of the room. "He totally looks older."
"Well, I believe that nobody would subject themselves to going to school here if they didn't have to."
"It could just be a cover."
"For what? Being a supermodel?" Merton snickered.
Tommy leaned forward, speaking in a hushed tone. "He could be a monster. Kalida said he wigged her out."
"Look, Tommy, I don't like him either. But not everyone is a demon or a vampire," Merton gestured with a flourish, "et cetera. He's just annoyingly handsome."
"I dunno, man." Tommy shoved a forkful of chicken into his mouth, still talking. "There's something about him."
"Yeah, whatever you say, Casanova. I'm sure it has nothing to do with all the girls suddenly paying attention to someone else."
Tommy made a face at him. "I'm being serious. He's hinky. Everyone's obsessed with him, and he transferred here all of a sudden in the middle of term. That's suspicious."
Merton looked over at Mark, considering. "Maybe."
Tommy took a big bite of his chicken thigh. "I was right about Trevor. I'm right about this."
He rolled his eyes. "Yeah, flawless logic, there, Tom. You were right once, ergo infallible."
"I'm just saying, I'm a little more in tune with this kind of stuff than you are."
Merton shook his head and muttered, "Says the guy who didn't believe he was turning into a werewolf."
After school, the three amigos met at their lockers.
Mark was surrounded by a group of girls down the hall, laughing and flirting with several of them at once.
Tommy rolled his eyes at the scene, which had caught all of their attention. "I don't get what's so great about him."
Kalida smirked. "He's insanely attractive."
Merton looked at Kalida in shock, then pouted. "I'm right here."
She rolled her eyes and tapped him on the nose. "Relax, I didn't say he was more attractive than you."
He grinned, straightening up a bit. "Yeah?"
"I mean, he is, I guess. Objectively." She looked back over at Mark. "He's like a movie star."
Merton sulked, crossing his arms. "He's not that great."
Tommy draped his arm over Merton's shoulders and mirrored his expression. "Yeah, let's see him pull off a zone blitz against Pleasantville Catholic."
Kalida snorted and looked back at the two boys, who were chummily giving Mark twin death glares.
"Why do you even care about him?" She shut her locker and slung her bag over her shoulder with a grin. "Come on, are we going out tonight or what? I caught up on my studying and everything."
"My vote is the new action movie showing at the Muellenburg Multiplex." Tommy enthused.
Merton's eyes lit up. "Oh, they have that french werewolf film right now too."
Kalida held her arms up in an X-shape. "No scary movies."
"Not all werewolf movies are scary." Tommy retorted. "Remember Teen Wolf?"
She rolled her eyes and looked back over at the groupies, then put on a wistful voice. "Maybe Mark will take me to a good movie."
Tommy scoffed and pulled her under his other arm, so that he was leading both her and Merton away from the crowd. "Nope, you're stuck with us."
Kalida laughed, wrapping an arm around her cousin's torso. "What a hardship."
Kalida grinned as they went to grab seats in the half-empty theatre. They'd taken a short tour of the Muellenburg Mall and eaten light meals in the food court before heading to the multiplex. She'd even managed to talk the boys into watching a comedy starring a favourite actor of hers. She settled into her seat and looked to her right.
"Okay, if you're sitting in the middle you have to hold the popcorn."
Merton laughed, taking the enormous bucket of popcorn from her. "It would be my pleasure to be the keeper of the corn."
Tommy took a handful. "The theatre stuff always tastes so much better than homemade."
"Mmm. Yeah, all those chemicals." Kalida grabbed a few and popped them in her mouth. "The not quite butter flavour."
Merton opened his mouth and Tommy tossed a few in with moderate accuracy. "Delicious."
As the lights dimmed and the trailers started up, Kalida slumped into her seat and leaned her head on Merton's shoulder.
Merton glanced at Tommy, who was now absorbed by the screen. Attempting to be subtle, he lifted his left arm and loosely wrapped it around Kalida. Kalida leaned against him, munching popcorn.
Tommy pretended not to notice, relaxing into his seat.
The next day at lunch, Kalida stepped out into the bright parking lot of the school. It had become her habit to eat lunch in her camper, using the stove to make tea, and the table to study. She had tried to eat lunch with Tommy and Merton a few times, but couldn't concentrate on her homework in the cafeteria.
Making her way across the pavement, she had the distinct impression she was being watched. She shivered, then looked behind her. There were a few students milling around, but nobody shady. When she turned back around, she walked straight into someone.
She squeaked in surprise, putting her hands up. "I'm so sorry!"
Warm hands took hers. She looked up, gaze caught on chocolate eyes that bore down on her.
Mark's mouth twisted into an easy smile. "Not at all."
She took a breath and gathered her wits. Frowning at his intimacy, she yanked her hands out of his and moved to push past him.
"Oh, don't be like that," he purred, following after her with relaxed steps, putting his hands in his pockets. "Am I so offensive to you?"
She stopped with her hand on Betsy's door, and turned to face him. She narrowed her eyes. "I kind of have a boyfriend, so you can stop whatever this stalking thing is."
He laughed. "I happened to encounter you in the parking lot. It's a bit conceited to assume I'm stalking you."
She stared at him a long moment. The more she looked at him, the less certain she felt about what was happening. She blinked in confusion.
"Perhaps if you allowed me to join you for lunch-"
She sucked in a sharp breath. "No. Thank you." She turned and opened the door, stepping inside.
Mark pushed his way in behind her and shut the door.
"What the hell do you think you're doing? Get out!"
He took a long step toward her, trapping her between him and the stove. His hands smoothed over her shoulders and gripped her upper arms. His eyes glowed a fiery red. "Now that I've gotten you alone, don't you think we could have some fun?"
Kalida's brain felt foggy. She went limp in his grip, face relaxing. Her mouth parted gently as she stared, unblinking, up at him. He closed his eyes and leaned in to kiss her.
She closed her eyes in return, then felt her faculties come back to her. She stomped down on his foot and shoved against his chest with all her strength.
He fell back, caught off guard, and landed against the counter. From his new vantage point, he spotted her collection of crystals and other tools under the table. "A witch," he hissed. "So that's why you're giving me trouble."
Kalida looked around the space frantically. I should really keep some weapons in here.
She tried to get through the curtain into the driver's seat, but Mark grabbed her forcefully and pulled her to the other end of the camper. He pushed her down onto the bed and hovered over her, easily pinning her in place beneath him.
He's stronger than me.
His glowing eyes and dark grin made her shiver.
He's not human. I need help.
She could feel fear paralyzing her, pulse racing. "What are you?"
"Your new master."
He placed a hand over her mouth. Searing heat shot through her body, making her convulse. Everything hurt until the world fell away from her.
Nearly two hours after school had let out, Tommy slung his bag of football gear over his shoulder. Coach had worked them hard, and he was the final straggler out of the showers. He pushed open the back doors and walked along the edge of the field toward the parking lot. He spotted movement near the bleachers, and as he approached, made out the school's distinct white and red cheerleading uniform in the distance.
"I thought their practice was over a while ago…?"
Alicia Conaway, a sophomore, was standing at the edge of the stands. Tommy didn't know her very well, but it seemed strange for her to still be over there.
As he got closer, he peered over the chain link fence in her direction. She was holding her hands behind her back, swaying side to side with her chest sticking out. Mark Jackson stepped out from under the bleachers and put his hands on her shoulders.
Tommy stopped, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end.
Mark leaned in and kissed Alicia. Her hands gripped at his shirt, and she leaned against him as her knees went weak. A short moment later, Mark pulled away, eyes glowing carnelian. Alicia slumped and fell limply against him.
"I knew he was hinky!"
Tommy dropped his bag and wolfed out. He hopped the fence and ran straight at them, growling.
Mark let Alicia fall, unconscious, to the ground, and raised his arms defensively.
"What did you do to her!?" Tommy demanded, glancing down at the younger girl. He bared his fangs at Mark, fists raised.
"Relax, friend." Mark's voice was soothing, and too calm for the body language between them. "I just fed on her a little. She'll be fine."
"Define fed on her."
"I just took a little energy from her. An incubus does what he has to."
"Not anymore, you don't."
"You know, with the syndicate out of business, I really thought those rumours about the Pleasantville Werewolf were just urban legend."
Tommy snarled. "Well, sorry to disappoint you, but I'm real. And I don't take kindly to outsiders feeding on my fellow students."
Mark took a slow step back, his eyes fading back to their usual chestnut depths. "Clearly I've stepped into your territory. Why don't we call a truce, and I'll move on to the next town."
Tommy rolled his shoulders and shook his head. "No way. I'm not letting you do that to anyone else. Pleasantville or elsewhere."
He lunged at Mark, claws digging into his shoulders.
The two struggled, wrestling with each other for several long minutes until Mark reached up, wrapping his hands around Tommy's neck. Tommy felt a searing heat emanate from Mark's solid grip. He tried in vain to pry the hands away, but was slowly paralyzed.
His legs gave out beneath him and his vision blurred as the world span around him.
When he woke up, he was alone on the football field, no longer wolfed out. The sun was just setting behind the trees on the edge of town. He looked around for any trace of Alicia or Mark to no avail. He stashed his bag in the jeep and headed toward Merton's to form a plan.
Merton glanced toward his exterior door. The gentle, non-rhythmic knocking repeated.
"Not Tommy…" he murmured, brow furrowing. Given his history, it could have been any of a variety of previous foes, mundane and supernatural. He crept over to the door and peered through the blinds.
He gripped at his chest when he took in the sight of Kalida Dawkins with a lollipop in her mouth. "Oh merciful lord," he said a prayer to the ceiling and unlocked the door, leaning in the doorway with a grin. "Hey Kalida."
"Merton," she sighed his name and held the candy out of her mouth. She bit her lower lip and looked him over. Pressing a hand against his chest, she pushed him backward as she crossed the threshold. "I missed you."
"I-I just saw you a few hours ago." He raised a finger in confusion as she locked the door behind her and breezed past him.
"Is your family home?"
"Yeah, of course. It's a Tuesday night."
She locked the door that led upstairs. "No matter." She made a show of putting the sucker between her lips, then unbuttoned her jacket. Beneath it she wore a lacy black crop top and a red mini skirt.
Merton swallowed, looking her over multiple times until she was in front of him. She looked great, but there was an unfamiliar edge to her behaviour.
He made incomprehensible sounds as he backed slowly away from her. "Wh-what brings you here?"
She pulled the candy from her mouth again with a pout, her other hand reaching up to run her fingers through his hair. "I wanted to see you."
"That's great." He shuddered as his back hit the wall. "I like to see you, don't get me wrong-"
She pushed the lollipop into his mouth and traced her lips over neck. "I can't stop thinking about you." She nibbled at his earlobe.
Merton whimpered, closing his eyes as her hands moved down his chest. His hands gripped her hips as she licked his neck. When she started tugging on his belt, he pulled the candy from his mouth and gently pushed her away.
"Not that I don't appreciate your attention, but are you on the sauce or something? You're being… intense."
She stared at him with over-dilated pupils and shook her head. She pulled lightly on his belt loops, leaning close again.
"How should I be?" Her breath was cherry-scented warmth that tickled his lips.
"Um, normal?" He put a hand to her forehead and frowned. "Geez, you're burning up."
There was a sudden forceful knock on the exterior door. Merton started, clutching his chest. "That one's Tommy. You just…" He gestured at her awkwardly, handing her back the lollipop. "Wait here."
He unlocked the door and let Tommy in, locking the door behind him.
"I feel so popular. What brings you here?"
"I just- Why is Kali here?"
"Well she-uh-that is-" He threw his hands up, then crossed his arms, hands in his armpits. "I'm going to be honest, I have no idea. I think she's sick."
Kalida licked the sucker suggestively.
Tommy cleared his throat and gave Merton a concerned look, tilting his head. "Sick?"
"Drunk maybe?" Merton whispered. "She just came over suddenly and tried to…" He rubbed the back of his neck, looking away, unable to finish the sentence.
"She's just standing there staring at you." He waved at Kalida, but there was no reaction.
"Yeah. Her eyes are kinda buggy." He grimaced. "Her forehead was hot too. Wait, why are you here?"
Tommy smacked his head. "I just fought Mark. He's a demon - an ink-us or something."
"Incubus?"
Tommy pointed at him. "That's the word. I told you he was hinky."
Merton's eyes widened. "An incubus!" He pointed at Kalida, sudden deep concern washing over him. "He probably tried to turn her."
"WHAT?" Tommy's wolf features presented at his protective anger, eyes glowing a bright yellow.
"I need to look up how it works." Merton pushed past him and sat down at his desk.
Kalida walked up behind him, running her hands down his chest. Leaning over, she started kissing his neck.
Merton made a noise somewhere between a laugh and a whine, typing fervently.
Tommy stood in front of the desk, arms crossed. "Merton, stop that."
"Technically I'm not doing anything," he gave a wincing grin as she bit at his ear again. "Besides, it's kind of nice-"
"MERTON!"
He cleared his throat and furrowed his brow. "Okay, okay." He gently took Kali's hands in his and removed her from him. "Just… sit." He patted his desktop.
She hopped up and sat facing him, craning her neck as she looked him over.
"There! Okay, it says an incubus can turn others by infecting them with Lilin energy. If the host successfully- erm- woos their chosen victim, the host becomes a demon who follows the direction of the incubus."
"So she's going to turn into an incubus?"
"Succubus. And no." He pointed at the screen. "We can turn her back to normal. We just have to kill the incubus or get him to remove the Lilin energy from her before she seduces someone."
"Great, well, the incubus got away from me earlier, so how do we kill it?"
"We can hurt it with holy water, but actually killing it involves a whole exorcising ritual to banish it back to hell. The internet's a little fuzzy on how well that actually works." He glanced at Kalida. "And I'm guessing our resident witch won't be much help."
Tommy growled. "Fine. Whatever, let's just go find him so he can turn her back to normal."
Merton stood in front of Kalida and spoke in a patronizing tone. "Kali, you need to come with us, okay? We're going to go find your master."
Her eyes flashed red as she gripped his shirt. "I can take you."
Merton blinked and looked over at Tommy. "O-oh yeah?"
Kalida let go of him, then slinked off the desk and pointed. "Markus is that way."
Merton looked over to Tommy with raised eyebrows and mouthed, Markus. He grabbed two water guns full of holy water and threw them in a black tote bag.
Tommy took Kalida's arm and started pulling her outside. "You drive," he growled to Merton, Kalida's nails digging into his arm.
"I don't, uh… I don't think she wants you to pull her," Merton hedged, moving to separate the two.
Kalida hid behind Merton, pressing against him tightly as she glared at Tommy.
Merton's voice was soft and caring. "Kali, just lead us to Markus, okay?" He took both of her hands in his and gently led her out to the hearse.
Once in the car, Kalida snuggled up to Merton and whispered directions in his ear. Her hands moved over his chest, and over his thigh. Merton tried to remain composed and undistracted as he drove. Tommy sat on the other end of the seat, trying not to break anything.
They pulled up to a small house at the front of a large empty property on the edge of town.
Tommy got out first, pumping his holy water gun in preparation.
Kalida stopped Merton's hand as it reached for the door handle. "Wait." She crawled onto his lap and stretched her arms out on either side of his head. "Stay here." She kissed him intently, pressing down on his lap.
He kissed back, then whined against her mouth and pushed her back onto the seat beside him. "Any other time, Kali."
She pouted, tugging at his shirt. "Merton…"
He gave her a lopsided grin and pinched her cheeks, putting on a goofy voice. "I just like you too darn much to let you become a demon."
He bailed out of the car and gave Tommy an overly-innocent smile. "Heh."
Kalida stepped out of the hearse and hugged Merton from behind, her arms wrapped loosely around his waist. She pressed her forehead into his back. "Come back to the car."
Merton stifled a yelp as her hand travelled lower. He wiggled free and moved to put Tommy between them. "You're making this surprisingly hard, Kali."
She smirked. "Hard is good."
He shook a finger at her. "Not what I meant."
Tommy shivered, extremely uncomfortable. "Markus! Get your inkus butt out here!"
"Incubus," Merton corrected.
"Incubus butt out here!"
The front door of the small house opened to reveal Mark. He stood, backlit, and faced the teenagers at the end of his driveway. "The werewolf again. You know, you're starting to get on my nerves."
Tommy growled. "I'm about to do more than that."
Mark waved his hand dismissively, sounding bored. "I'm already moving out of town tonight, there's no need for us to get violent."
"You're turning my cousin into a freakin' demon!"
Mark narrowed his eyes and looked past Tommy, finally spotting Kalida. A dark smile twisted across his face. "Ahh. Is that the issue?" He snapped his fingers.
Kalida's face fell blank, and she stepped past Tommy and Merton toward Mark.
Merton moved to block her path. "W-wait."
Her gaze didn't meet his as she went around him.
"Kali-"
"What are you doing to her?" Tommy demanded. He moved to follow, but Mark put a hand up as Kalida came to a stop at his side.
"I'm just calling my servant." He wrapped a hand loosely around her neck. "I would have thought she'd have caught her target by now."
Tommy raised a brow. "Guess you didn't count on us looking out for her."
Merton raised his water gun. "Change her back."
Mark's gaze set on Merton. He let out a small laugh. "It figures she'd choose a virgin. Just my luck."
Merton swallowed uncomfortably, but pumped the gun, spraying Mark's free hand.
Mark hissed, his eyes glowing a bright red again.
"There's more where that came from! Let her go."
Mark moved Kalida in front of him. She didn't flinch as his nails morphed into sharp claws, depressing the skin where they rested on her throat. "Be careful who you threaten, boy."
Tommy and Merton shared a glance.
"Now, Tommy," Mark continued. "I know what you are. You know what I am. I propose you let me leave this little town behind me without any more interruptions. In return, I won't send every werewolf hunter in the country after you."
"And turn Kali back," Merton interjected.
"Right." He rolled his eyes. "And I'll turn your cousin back to normal. Deal?"
Tommy growled, his grip tightening on the gun.
"It's a deal," Merton answered for him.
"Merton, he's just going to go to some other town and do the same thing," Tommy hissed.
Merton looked between Kalida and Tommy. "We don't really have any bargaining chips here."
He sighed. "Fine. Deal." He lowered his water gun.
"Agreed." Mark spun Kalida around and pulled her against him, his hand over her chest. A red glow burned from her skin and into his palm.
She let out a strangled cry of pain, eyes closing as her body went rigid.
Once he'd pulled all the Lilin energy from her, she went limp in his arms, unconscious.
Merton dropped the gun and approached. Mark pushed the passed out teen toward him. "Now get off my property." He went back into the house and shut the door.
Tommy took Kali from Merton, picking her up easily. "She's out cold."
"Yeah, it looked like it hurt." Merton frowned. "Let's get out of here."
Tommy carried his cousin back to the hearse.
Kalida woke slowly. She was in a weird position. Blinking awake, she sat up slightly. Wherever she was, it was darker than she'd expected.
"Hey, you're awake."
She squinted at Tommy. She was sitting in the front of Merton's hearse, and they were driving.
"What's going on?"
"That Mark guy's a demon."
She sat up, jolting awake. "Yeah! He attacked me!"
"It's okay," Merton looked over at her with a soft smile. "You'll be fine now."
She blushed as she remembered everything she'd done under his control. "O-okay." She thought a moment. Last thing she remembered, Mark was pulling the energy from her chest. "Wait, did you guys fight him…?"
"No, we made a deal with him to let him go," Tommy stuck his chin out, still upset.
"Don't worry about it," Merton smirked. "I'll just post about it on the monster hunting forum and someone will track him down."
"Wait, there's a forum for that?"
"Sure. They're really helpful."
"Morning!" Merton grinned brightly at Kalida as he opened his locker.
She just couldn't look him in the eye. "G-good morning." She fidgeted with her book bag, trying not to mentally replay the events of the previous night.
"How are you feeling?"
She flushed slightly at the genuine concern in his voice. "Back to normal. Thanks."
"That's good. Don't want you turning into a demon on me." He smirked.
"Yeah… sorry about last night. Just forget I did any of that."
He sighed wistfully. "No, I think I'll cherish the memory for a long time."
"Merton!" She smacked his chest, her cheeks red and hot.
"Sorry," he laughed. He put a hand on her shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry, I know it was just because of the Lilin energy."
"Y-yeah." She glanced away and shut her locker. "Mostly."
He couldn't help but feel bolstered by her behaviour. "Can't say I didn't enjoy it though."
"Come on…"
He moved closer, sandwiching her between him and the lockers. "How would you feel if I just showed up in your room," he caressed her face, then wrapped his hand around her neck, thumbing her chin. "Said that I just had to see you, that I couldn't stop thinking about you."
"I..." She stared up at him, cheeks burning, unable to reply.
Someone cleared their throat loudly behind them.
Merton turned to see Tommy staring him down, looking irritated. "Oh, hey Tommy."
Kalida squirmed away, hurrying down the hall. "Better get to class!"
Merton reached a hand out in her direction, but she turned the corner before he could say anything. He smacked Tommy's chest. "Come on, man! Way to ruin the mood. I thought you were cool with me and Kalida."
Tommy grabbed Merton by the face and moved him out of the way. "I don't care what you do with Kali, just don't block my locker."
Merton straightened out at nodded. "Noted."
[Author Note: You may have noticed that I've upped the rating to M. I think some of the content of Chapter 10 and 11 is probably pushing things, if not outright M over T. I'm going to try to keep the general tone of the show for the most part, though.
Also, thanks to everyone for the reviews and private messages. Your comments have made me really happy and excited to keep writing this fanfic!]