Griffin

I smiled pleasantly at the bored twenty-something year old behind the lobby desk. The marble floored, brightly lit hotel had obviously been recently done, as there were no people to speak of yet. Well, the place was in the middle of nowhere. I looped my arm around Fleur's waist as she smiled at the girl behind the counter. The rest of the flock were kicked back behind us, dirty sneakers on the coffee tables and packs slung all over the floor. Since we'd been set free by 'the mysterious entity', later identified by Mist as the same scientist who had set her free, we'd flown like hell out of there, into the next state and the next state across after that.

"We'd like to book a two twin shares and a queen room, please," I said, trying to sound as old as I could. I mean, because bird kids are really tall and everything, we could pass as early to mid-twenties, no problem. Sounding old was no problem. The past seven months had felt like an age, a long and bloody one, full of horror and cruelty. The girl looked at us doubtfully, as if the sheer size and array of appearances in our ragtag group was suspicious. I felt the need to explain.

"This is my wife," I said, indicating Fleur, who smiled and blushed. I pointed at Kichiro. "That's my wife's brother."

I looked at Eila, who was lounging on one of the lobby sofas. "That's my wife's brother's fiancee."

Bobby and Mist popped out from behind us. Bobby rubbed his eyes.

Tugging on his sleeve, he said, "I'm sleepy."

I gave the receptionist and apologetic look. "That's my wife's brother's fiancee's fiance's sister's husband's younger brother and sister."

She frowned and did some facial gymnastics.

Fleur coughed discreetly, and the girl tapped something into the ancient computer humming under the high desk. She fumbled for the keys and handed a couple of keys over.

"Third floor," she muttered sullenly. "Payment?"

I held out the credit card I'd stolen, smiling broadly. She all but dropped the card-swiper onto the table. I swiped it and pressed the credit button. It was time to get forceful with the powers. I forced the machine to accept the card, and it sounded fur perfect beeps in time with my button-pressing. I took back my card. The girl behind the desk was already reading her gossip magazine, popping her gum loudly.

We dragged our packs up the stairs to the third floor, finding our rooms. I unlocked the twin shares first, ushering Bobby and Kichiro in. The other twin share was for Rhaksha and Eila. I unlocked the queen size room that me, Mist and Fleur would be sharing. The girls could take the bed. I'd sleep on the floor with a couple blankets and pillows. The carpet was pretty soft compared to the concrete ledges and forest floors we'd slept on before.

Mist rubbed her eyes and left her pack on the floor. She wandered to the door and signed that she was headed to the girls' room. Kichiro slumped in and leaned against the wall, looking unspeakably tired.

"I'm using the bathroom. Bobby is in ours," he said. He slipped into the bathroom, closing the door.

Fleur closed the door to our room. She smiled at me.

"Well, just us at the moment," she said slowly, as if testing out the words. I nodded, and picked her up bridal-style. She squeaked and looped her arms around my neck. I dropped her on the bed and crash landed next to her. Fleur rolled on top of me, on all fours. Her dark hair fell all around her face like a curtain. I shivered. She grinned, and leant down.

"Well, this is an unexpected change of pace," I said, cheeks burning. Fleur grinned, and replied by kissing me passionately. I responded, and we rolled onto our sides, still kissing. Fleur's fingers tangled in my hair, and I held her more tightly. I ran my tongue across her lips, and she let me in.

We kissed hungrily, hanging onto each other for dear life. I moved away from her lips, trailing kisses down her neck. Fleur's hands went to trailing down my arms, feather light, bringing up goosebumps. I held one arm around her waist, while the other was busy taking off my shirt. Fleur moved my kisses back to her lips. I slid my hand up the back of her shirt to the small of her back.

Fleur froze, and I finally realised that our position was extremely questionable. She and I were lying on a bed together, with my shirt half off. Fleur quickly backed off and sat, tense. She finger combed her hair and I sat, struggling back into my shirt.

"Fleur, what's wrong?" I asked, concerned. She frowned and rubbed her arms.

"Griffin, we're sixteen," she said slowly, "What if we go too far, Griffin? I can't deal with- We can't deal with... We have responsibilities, is what I'm saying."

I leaned back against the pillows, resting on my elbows, thinking.

"I have your solution," I said. "We can act like a middle-aged married couple with children. Sweet, but not dirty."

Fleur laughed. "Oh, Griffin, you're sweet."

Fleur scooted over and hugged me with one arm. I kissed her softly on the forehead. She pecked me on the cheek.

"So, my marital partner in crime," I started. Fleur grinned.

"Gotta rein in those kids, eh?" she drawled. I laughed.

Kichiro gripped the rim of the bathtub so tightly that his knuckles went white. He stared at the rippling surface of the cold water filling the tub, holding his own vague reflection on its surface. His image inspired terror, hatred; he was anathema unto himself. The beast he had become was clear in his mind.

There were the canines, sharp ivory blades that scissored through yielding flesh as easily as a hot knife through butter. The claws erupting from his fingers were vicious, equally as sharp as his fangs. The blue black fur that covered his arms and back was thick and glossy, smelling strongly of musk and old blood. Fresh blood covered his face is shining scarlet ribbons.

Eila's scream of terror replayed in his mind. Her fear of him was fresh, cutting him worse than any blade could. Kichiro shut his eyes tightly, but the negative image burned behind his eyelids. Eila was afraid of him. He hated himself utterly. Yes, to be unable to protect her from danger, from fear, that was a failure in his duty. To be the cause of fear itself...

In Kichiro's eyes, life was no longer worth living. He would rather be dead than hurt a hair on Eila's head.

His hand found the knife in his pocket. Releasing it from its sheath, he stared at the bright silver blade. The light from above reflected in its mirror-like surface. The water had seeped through his clothes long ago, and he fought to stop himself shivering. Kichiro stared at the blade as the water spilled over the lip of the bathtub, onto the floor. The water creeped across the grey and white marbled floor, flooding around the bathroom and sliding through the gap beneath the door.

Soon, the red tinge of blood spilled into the water.