Chapter Twelve
"Helena? What on Earth is eating your head?" Paul said as I climbed over the discarded magazines and other junk.
"You look like a lion." Marco added, walking past me to get his jacket from where Star was sewing another patch on to it. Marco was more patches than leather. Every single item he owned - had at least one patch on it.
"Paul - to answer your question, I think it is my hair. Marco - shut up, you've got curls as well." I brushed past David to sit by Paul who was smoking something. Paul tugged on the strands of hair and smirked.
"Did you attempt brushing it?"
I sighed. "Yes. That is going to be the last time I decide to put rollers in my hair."
Last night, Star had decided I would look good with thick curls like her. So I let her put it in rollers overnight. The only thing we had not counted on was how the end result would look. No amount of back combing or anything would help it sit down.
"At least, look on the bright side..." Paul started. "You now blend in with everyone in the Board walk!"
"Shut up." I stuck my tongue out at him.
"The sun has set you guys. It's safe to go out." Marco called, jumping down from the high cave ledge. Paul cheered and stood up, throwing the remains of whatever he had been smoking on the ground, stamping on it.
"Excellent. Come on Dwayne, don't look so down." Paul said as he walked over to the dark Vampire. Dwayne bared his teeth at the blonde Vampire, before grinning and throwing his magazine at Paul, which ended up in a playful fight.
I smiled at the familiar sight. Dwayne and Paul had the closet relationships within the four Vampires. It was actually a rare sight to see one without the other. David preferred to stay to himself at times and Marco...well Marco stayed with his pigeons. Or Laddie at times. But Laddie stayed close to me or Starr.
"Well then boys. The nightlife awaits us." David chuckled darkly as he lead the group out of the Cave. "Oh and Helena - please, no jumping into boys arms tonight. It's not really ladylike or classy." David turned to me and added. I felt my cheeks heat up again as all four of them laughed, Paul's looked a tad forced, but I brushed it off in favor of sending them a very rude gesture.
"She's got that from you Paul!" Marco hollerred as he ducked out of sight. "The temper and the obscene hand gestures. Not too sure about the looks though. Lucky girl escaped your hideous genes."
I heard the sound of leather hitting skin. Followed by jeers and laughter as the four slipped into the cold night air. I rolled my eyes. I sometimes wondered who was actually of age in this family.
"OK. Can I help you with something?" I snapped at the bunch of pre-adolescent boys staring at me, as I walked past the food court. Their heads quickly turned the other way. I swear to God - the next person to give me a questioning look is going in the Ocean. You'd think people had never hair before. I knew it was a bad idea to put rollers in my hair. I should have listened to myself, instead of Star. I guess not even tying it up would draw attention away from the mess. Right now it looked like a giant mound on top of my head.
I'd left Star ages ago. All Star had wanted to do was just watch the concerts. I didn't. I see enough concerts every night. I'd made my excuses and slipped away. Less than five minutes later - I found Laddie walking along beside me, with Jaws, protesting that I couldn't leave him with Star.
"So, where are we going Helena?" Laddie asked me, as he tugged on Jaw's leash to pull him along. I shrugged. "Where do you normally go?" The young child asked me. I thought about where I normally went, and then thought about the teasing I would probably get from the small Vampire.
"I normally wing it. See where my feet take me." I lied.
"Oh. I want to try that. Can I?" Laddie asked me. He had such a tone of excitement in his voice, I couldn't really refuse him. I nodded, signalling my approval. Laddie smiled at me and walked ahead of me, quite quickly.
"Laddie. Where are you going?" I called after him, jogging to keep up with him.
"Wherever my feet take me. I know where they want to go." Laddie called back, vanishing in the mass crowds. Great. Why did I open my mouth and give him permission to wander off?
"Laddie? Where the Hell are you? I swear to God, when I find you - I will personally hide all your damn comics." I muttered to myself as I trailed the Board walk looking for the small child. It was harder than you thought it would be. I wished I'd left him with Star. Would make my life much easy.
I'd checked everywhere that Laddie would normally go. The Arcade. Max's store. Everywhere. But the young child was no where to be found. I was dead if I didn't have Laddie with me, by the time Dwayne returned.
"Helena. Have you lost something by any chance?" I turned at the sound of my name to see Alan walking over to me. He had a strange hat on. Like one of those French hats. I smiled at him.
"Why how did you guess?" I replied sarcastically. Alan didn't say nothing. He just looked at me. Well, not at me, more at the hair. "Ahem. Ignoring this mound on my head, where is my Laddie?"
"Ah. Well, I know where your child is. You'd better come quick though. Something has happened."
That got me moving. I grabbed his shirt and pulled Alan down the Board walk. If something had happened to Laddie - I would never forgive myself.
We reached the shop and I peered in to see Laddie petting Jaws, whilst Edgar stood over them. Arms crossed and stony faced. As I entered, I got attacked by a giant ball of fur. I lost my balance and fell to the ground as Jaws jumped on me and licked my arm. I giggled and pushed him off, sitting up.
"Helena!" Laddie ran over to me and hugged me tight. I felt something wet on my top. Tears. Laddie was crying? My eyes flashed dangerously. Had Edgar or Alan caused Laddie to get upset?
"Alright Laddie. What's wrong?" I whispered to the young child, glaring at a confused Edgar. If Edgar had said anything to Laddie, Paul would be the least of his worries.
When I didn't get an answer, I sat Laddie up and wiped his tears. I then turned to Edgar.
"Well, seeing as Laddie won't answer. What did you say to him?" I growled.
"I did nothing." Edgar snapped back. "Why don't you ask those outside." I turned to see a group of teenagers outside, looking in. I recognized a few of them.
"What did they do?" I whispered dangerously. Call it an instinct, but I had a feeling that they had something to do with the incident. I surpassed a shiver as I remembered. I had to stay focused for Laddie's sake.
"Apparently. They think it's fun to threaten a seven year old. Something about money or something. They'd followed him as well. The child ducked in here and hid behind me for almost 15 minutes. Pricks the lot of them." Edgar growled.
"So, I came to find you. The child kept asking Edgar about you. If he'd seen you anywhere." Alan put in.
"His name is Laddie." I hissed, angry at myself for letting Laddie wander off. I turned to send a glare at the teenagers outside. Oh they wait until Dwayne gets a hold of them. Who'll be the ones crying then? Laddie crept back over to me and hugged me close. I smiled and tightened the grip I had on him.
"Don't you worry Laddie. I'm here. You're here. Nothing is going to happen to you or me. I promise you that." I whispered to the young boy. I felt his head nod, as he cuddled closer to me.
"Well." Edgar interrupted. "I supposed now that the child has found you, you'll be leaving?" I sent him a quick glare. He looked back at me, his mouth pressed in a thin line, almost calculating.
"His name is Laddie for the last time, and not yet. I want to speak to you. In private." Edgar lifted his chin up and looked down at me.
"Fine. Alan, look after the child. You, come with me." I turned to Laddie and nodded. I then wandered over to Edgar, who was waiting by some beads. He gestured for me to follow him. We came into a bright room. I blinked a couple of times to adjust to the bright light. Compared to the low lights in the shop - it was like looking at the sun.
"Well? What do you want to speak to me about?" Edgar said turning to face me. I looked at him for a few minutes, then I felt wet tears down my face. Oh God.
"What..? Are you crying?" I shook my head and quickly wiped away the tears that were threatening to fall. I wouldn't let him see my cry. No way in Hell.
"Has something happened?" Edgar asked me. I looked down and stayed quiet. "Stop being so quiet. It's frightening." Was that his attempt of a joke? A way to cheer me up?
"...I'm fine." I said.
"Um. No you are not." He said softly. "What's wrong?"
I took a deep breath. "I'm scared." I whispered softly.
"Scared?" I heard him whisper back to me. I nodded softly, still looking at the spot on the floor.
"Scared. Petrified." I sighed. I don't know why I was telling Edgar all this - Perhaps it was the way that Edgar spoke to me at times. Unlike Star, he didn't gloss things over. He was blunt and straight to the point. I felt an arm guide me to some sofa in the room. I sat down and looked at my bare knees. The sofa sank with Edgar's weight as he sat next to me.
"I'm frightened. Frightened of what that gang could do to Laddie. Scared to think what could have happened to Laddie if he hadn't ducked in to your shop. Petrified of what they'd threatened Laddie with. He's only a child." . I brushed them away stubbornly.
"So, you're frightened about the child's life?" I nodded. I ran through all the possibilities on what they could do to either me or Laddie. Sure he was half-vampire and he had some strength in him, but Laddie could easily be overpowered, especially when he had not fed from the bottle. The Vampires couldn't be around us 24/7. Neither could Star.
"Well I think that is pathetic. You really believe that those idiots will harm the child?" I didn't feel like retorting back at the pathetic comment. My mind was focused on the endless possibilities that could happen to Laddie.
"I wouldn't listen to their shit. I mean - they must be missing a few brain cells to threaten a seven year old."
"But they wouldn't have threatened Laddie, if I hadn't let him wander off. If I had not given him permission to go wherever his feet wanted to go, they wouldn't have threatened him. I just told him to try what I do. I should have been watching him. He is my charge tonight..."
I got cut off by a hand over my mouth. Edgar was giving me a really annoyed look. I hadn't seen that look on his face in a while.
"Listen. Those guys are pricks. I've seen them around. All talk, no action. Secondly, you should stop crying. You look like you've been punched in the eyes." Well that didn't help much. "So stop. Now."
I sighed around his hand. I suppose he was right. Empty threats where not exactly uncommon in this area.
"So are you going to stop crying? Or am I going to have to keep my hand on your mouth all night and...did you just lick my palm?" Edgar removed his hand with a disgusted face and wiped it in his pants.
"Yes. Sorry. Just got tired of your sweaty hands on my face." I said, cracking a small smile for him.
"Still gross." Silence. "You OK now?"
"I think so. Yes." I nodded. "Thanks." I did feel better. I suppose venting helped.
"Good."
Silence fell over once again. It was not awkward though. It was comfortable to just sit there and not have a need to talk. Or throw insults back and forth.
"I should go and see how Laddie is."
"Yeah. OK. I'll come and see Alan." Edgar said, standing up and holding a hand out to me.
"Aren't you a gentleman?" I smiled taking his hand.
"Of course." He smiled back, pulling me up from my seat.
"Thanks." I said to him. I then wrapped my arms around him and pulled him into a hug. I felt him freeze, before he hugged me back and rested his chin on my head.
"I have no clue what I am doing." He admitted.
"Neither do I." I replied back to him. I swore I heard him give a small laugh. I broke the hug and ran a hand through my hair.
"Do what you wish, but its never going to look anything less than a mess." Edgar commented. I laughed at that comment.
We both got back to the front of the sho[, to see Laddie sitting with Jaws, reading something as Alan looked over at him. I breathed a sigh of relief and turned to see Edgar standing behind me.
"He's perfectly safe here." The taller boy assured me. I nodded, watching Laddie's face light up at something.
"I'm glad. Thank you for looking after him." I turned to Alan and smiled. The tanned boy just nodded as he went back to organising.
"I should be getting back, but I don't know. I supposed Paul would come looking for me. Or Starr. However - I just feel that, if I were to set foot outside - they would be waiting. Oh God. How stupid do I sound?"
"Pretty stupid. Listen - this will probably sound awkward, but if you wanted to..."
"Helena? Dwayne's here!" I heard Laddie call. Dwayne was here. That meant Paul was here as well. Shit. I looked at Edgar and sent him an apologetic look. He only shook his head and motioned for me to get going.
I ran out of the shop and saw Laddie hanging around Dwayne's leg. I saw Paul standing outside. I found myself running and flinging myself at Paul.
"Whoa. What's with the sudden affection? First Laddie almost knocking Dwayne over - now you? What's happened?" I shook my head and kept close to Paul. Dwayne then walked out with Laddie and Jaws. He didn't look best pleased with me. He handed Jaws to Marco, who seemed to have appeared out of no where. Dwayne then took Laddie and set off, followed by David and Marco. I looked at Paul's bike warily. He grinned at me and looked over into the shop. I turned to follow his gaze and saw Edgar and Alan watching us. Paul turned back to me with raised eyebrows and shook his head.
"Get on. We need to talk when we get back."
Updated: 15/07/2015
