Blue Monday

"Are you really sure you want her to come here?", asked Victor. "Can you really trust me?"

I knew what he was trying to do… and it wasn't working. "I know you have already fed, and you can control any thirst you still have. Don't pull your act on me, sweetie!"

"Meh, it was worth a shot."

Victor looked out the window. "So, when is Satsuki going to be here?"

"Any moment."

"Oh, okay", he said, still looking. "I ask because a wolf is coming. I can pick up it's scent."

"Great.", I replied sarcastically.

Which one was it going to be? I hoped anyone except Leah, she has made us feel so unwelcome since we came to Forks. I mean to kill her with kindness and get her to trust us, but with Satsuki coming here to work on the line, I sure didn't need that side quest in my way today.

Victor sniffed the air outside the now opened window. "It is Seth."

Thank God.

"Where is Icy?"

"In his usual hiding place… he was all 'I feel like ALF! There's a knock at the door, ALF, go in the kitchen; ALF, go in the attic!' and I asked him 'what do you know about ALF?' Was Icy even alive in the 80's?"

Icy's past was a mystery; I didn't meet him until 2015. I really don't know how he would have seen the show, maybe on one of those retro channels on TV…

"Hey!", Seth entered the house, cheerful as usual. "I just wanted to check on you all!"

It was probably an order from Sam, thanks to Leah's doubt over us keeping up our end of the treaty. He most likely sent Seth instead of one of the more "Senior" pack members to shut her up. Good, I thought. They can all see we're not biting humans around here…

Oh crap, Satsuki!

If Seth sees her and his pack brothers can see as well, they're going to assume the worst!

"We weren't expecting you, Seth.", I said calmly. "My new assistant is on her way and…"

Seth got a look. He knew the pack could read his thoughts and see his vision. The wolves have that power- their multiple minds work as one, a puzzling trait of their kind.

"Don't worry… I have no intention of drinking her blood.", Victor added in, before waving at Seth. "Hi, doggies!"

Wow, that was rude. I hope it didn't piss any of them off!

Seth laughed. "Paul wants to give you the one digit salute, but he is laughing too."

"Okay, enough sign language for now.", I declared. "Seth, I'm sure Icy would love to see you, he is upstairs; but Satsuki doesn't know about him, so keep it quiet."

"I have to go put those stupid contacts in. Excuse me.", Victor said as he walked towards the bathroom.

"She really doesn't know what you are?", asked Seth.

I shook my head.

"How long can you keep that up?"

"As long as I need to."

"Sam just told my sister to let these suspicions go.", he replied. "And the guys are hoping… oh, I can't say it!"

"What? Is it some secret wolf code or something?"

Seth got a bit fidgety. "They want to know if I'll finally imprint… on your assistant."

Oh, my… that could be awkward!

If Seth imprinted on Satsuki… could that ruin everything? We would be exposed to her, then what? Wait…

"You haven't imprinted?"

"No.", he answered, drawing imaginary circles in the floor with his foot. "I'm the last one in the pack who has yet to imprint. It's so humiliating!"

Yes, that was understandable… it's like being the last virgin in a clique of friends. It's even worse for a man. I wasn't going to show my fear of a possible imprint between Seth and Satsuki. This guy needed encouragement!

"Good luck with that!", I said. "If it's not Satsuki, then she's got to be out there!"

"I know she is!"

I could hear a car approaching… it could only be Satsuki, not unless Charlie was making a surprise visit. Like Seth, the wolves choose to travel in their supernatural form, especially when traveling to where a known vampire coven resided.

"I think she's here.", Seth uttered.

I looked out one of the many front Windows to find Satsuki, getting out of an Uber car. Maybe she didn't own a car… I hate driving, but I would have picked her up! Now I felt bad, like I needed to reimburse her for transportation!

I pushed it in the back of my mind and went outside to greet her. "Hey, girl!", I called out. "I could have picked you up. Why did you take an Uber?"

"Um… I had a terrible migraine last night, and didn't trust myself behind the wheel.", she replied awkwardly.

"Maybe we should do this tomorrow, if you're not feeling well."

"No!", Satsuki protested. "Time is money. I'll be fine."

She looked over to see Seth staring back at her. Oh, no, I thought.

What if he has imprinted on her? Kiss the fashion line goodbye… but I can't do that. I can't stand in the way of destiny. I won't do that.

"Who's that cute man staring at me?", she asked. "Is that your husband?"

Oh. My. God.

Satsuki thought Seth was 'my husband'.

"No, he is just a friend... a family friend."

We walked into the house, with Seth still looking at her. His focus quickly shifted though… to me.

"So… that one thing I wanted to find here," Seth finally said. "it is upstairs?"

I knew he was speaking of Icy. "Yes. Victor should have come across it, in the third floor bedroom- the left door all the way at the other end."

"Okay.", he turned towards the stairs, then turned back to shake Satsuki's hand. "It was nice to meet you!"

I was relieved, but a bit sad over Seth not imprinting. It would have been a bad thing though, how would Satsuki have reacted to having a werewolf on his knees for her, willing to do anything to protect her? Then how long would it be before she learned of what Victor and I really are?

I hoped Victor was in "human character". I yelled up the stairs. "Seth! Please tell my man to come down and meet Satsuki!"

Satsuki giggled. "He is cute."

"Yeah.", I agreed. "So... are you ready to get up to your eyeballs in design sketches and fabric swatches, Satsuki?"

"Of course!", Satsuki cheered, giving a military style salute.

"Seth is cute, huh?"

We turned to see Victor standing in the doorway, sporting a pair of short lived dark brown contact lenses. "I think I'm adorable, Luna-kitty!"

I could kill him for calling me that in front of Satsuki.

"Victor, darling…", I said sarcastically to let him know that was inappropriate. "This is Satsuki Palmer, my new assistant. Satsuki, this is my husband… Batman!"

Hey, he is lucky I didn't call him Bela Lugosi like Icy would!

Satsuki giggled. "I can tell you two are really in love!"

"And we have been," Victor put his arm around me, sending electrical waves all over my body. "Longer than you know!"

"Um… lover… shouldn't you make sure Seth found what he was looking for?", I asked, trying to get Victor to leave and let us get to work on the line before he started getting all PDA on me for a live audience.

"I suppose I should. It was nice to meet you, Satsuki.", he shook her hand then turned to me. "Lick ya later!"

I am going to kill him!

Satsuki laughed again. "Awww…! He loves you!"

"You did not need to see that."

She smiled. "It's sweet though. I almost had someone like that, but…"

Satsuki's smile quickly faded. "It doesn't matter now. Let's get to work here."

My sixth sense was active now. I had a feeling; Satsuki had been too perky, even more than Alice. This girl standing here had a story.

"Satsuki," I said. "if you want to talk, I have a pair of good ears. I'm not going to pry, but if you want…"

"I grew up in a foster home.", she began. "I never knew my real parents; I can't even find any information on them. The foster parents… I never claimed them as mine… were not good to me. Cinderella had the luxurious life with her wicked step-family compared to me."

I stood there in shock; I never expected to hear this out of Satsuki.

"Are you close to your family, Luna?", she asked.

This was an awkward question. I had no memory of them, but Victor says I had been close with my parents… that they even deep down knew what I had become.

"I… I lost the last of my own family some time ago, with the exception of some cousins in Alaska", I replied, keeping up the facade. "But, yes, I was close with my parents. I was an only child though."

Satsuki shook her head. "I don't even know if I have any blood siblings."

"Have you tried tracking your mom and dad down?"

She nodded, tears beginning to form in her eyes.

"Satsuki… you don't have to talk about this if you don't want to.", I said, not knowing what effect this subject would have on her.

"I fell in love… and they sabotaged it!", she blurted out. "My foster parents… they didn't want to lose their slave, so they ruined everything! They told him I was sleeping around, and he turned his back on me. I left there as soon as I could, while they slept. I left Chicago behind forever."

I gasped. "Satsuki..."

"Luna, I'm so sorry, I just had to tell someone!", she sobbed.

"It's okay." I went to hug her, despite being at lower than human temperature. "You needed to let that out."

"I need to fix my face.", she said after about a minute, calmer. "May I ask where your bathroom is?"

"Of course… it's just past the main room."

Satsuki excused herself to go to a room that was barely used. It was probably just for looks, like the kitchen and dining room, until Bella and the Wolfpack came into the Cullens' lives.

I felt bad for her, even without every detail of the cruelty she endured.

POUND! POUND! POUND!

I ran to the front door to find Leah Clearwater, glaring angrily at me

"Where is my brother?!", she demanded.

"Seth is upstairs with Victor.", I replied calmly. "I have company here in the other room, so…"

"Oh, hell, no! My brother is NOT getting friendly with one of them!"

Leah stormed in the house, without being invited, I may add.

"Leah, what is your problem?", I asked her in a hushed tone. "We are honoring the treaty!"

She just ignored me and darted straight for the stairs.

"SETH CLEARWATER! I KNOW YOU'RE UP THERE! GET YOUR ASS HOME NOW!"

"You don't need to make a scene!", I protested.

Satsuki came back into the room "Is something wrong?", she asked, then looked over at the woman, dressed in old clothes. "Hello! Are you a model?"

Leah scoffed. "Hardly."

By this time, Seth had come down to the first floor. "Do you always have to embarrass me, Leah? I'm not a child!"

"Then stop acting like one!", she growled, escorting him outside.

Leah glanced at Satsuki, then glared at me suspiciously. "Remember the deal!", she said as she followed her brother out.

"Sam isn't going to like this…", I muttered to myself, forgetting Satsuki was standing there.

"Huh?", she asked, confused.

"Oh! It's nothing!", I laughed nervously. "Just an old feud with my cousin's family!"

Victor entered the room. "Is everything okay?", he asked. "I heard Leah… she sounded pissed off."

"Yes.", I agreed. "I wish I knew how to get through to her…"

Us Against The World

Bonus Scene- Round And Round

(Third person perspective)

Victor returned to the room to find Seth and Icy playing "Rock Paper Scissors" quietly. Both turned to him.

"Luna threw me out.", he laughed. "I was getting too amorous for her liking!"

"You do that all the time, horndog!", Icy replied.

Victor glared at the bear. "Quiet, Spooky Bear."

Seth let out a chuckle. "I really wish I could hear what Icy says!"

Victor looked at Seth. "You didn't imprint on her."

"No.", Seth lamented. "How did you know?"

"I can tell."

"That's okay. She is still out there!"

Icy nodded in encouragement.

Victor sighed. "I have faded memories of my people, I know we were not shapeshifters like the Quileutes, but I can't recall if there were instances of 'imprinting'. I think if there was, I would have not survived the bite that changed me forever."

"When did it happen?", asked a curious Seth.

"It was around 1860, give or take a year… Nettie, the one who changed me appeared to Luna last week."

Seth's jaw dropped. "She's dead?"

Victor nodded. "It wasn't too long after I had escaped her. She was going to use me to destroy another vampire. If I had stayed by her side..."

"Talk about self-preservation, dude!", Seth exclaimed.

Victor continued. "There is also a connection between this vampire, Maria, and Jasper."

"Alice's Jasper?!"

"Yeah, but it is in the past. Luna-kitty is fascinated by it though. Nettie asked for forgiveness… Luna-kitty gave it right away, but it'll take time, if I can give it at all."

"Whoa…"

Icy just sat there listening. He already knew about the encounter.

"Seth, I have a question. Did you get any weird vibes from that Satsuki girl?", asked Victor.

Seth shook his head. "Did you?"

"I shouldn't be saying this to a wolf…" Victor hesitated. "But the girl's scent was bitter; like her blood was so unappetizing. It's like how humans are with wine. Blood is my wine. I can tell the difference between the purest blood and that which is tainted by drugs or illness. I have become a connoisseur of blood over the decades. I like to feel the blood of life rushing though the veins, and I enjoy the souls too."

"I wonder if Luna notices.", Seth thought out loud, acting as if he hadn't heard what Victor just said.

"Probably not. She is vegetarian, as the Cullens call it. She had not feasted on human blood like normal vampires, at least not enough to learn the difference. It's hard to explain, but Satsuki's scent is worse than that of you wolves… no offense."

Seth laughed. "At least you can be around her and not have that thirst. It helps you keep up the Cullens' end of the treaty."

Victor blinked. "And there go the contacts."

His eyes were no longer the chocolate brown as when he was downstairs to meet Satsuki; the irises were back to their original crimson. "Venom can't keep my true eyes covered by such silly human contraptions!"

"SETH CLEARWATER! I KNOW YOU'RE UP THERE! GET YOUR ASS HOME NOW!"

The sound of Leah's yelling from the first floor made Icy jump.

"Uh-oh! Big boss found me!", Seth said. "I guess I'll see you later."

As he went down the stairs he yelled back at his sister. "Do you always have to embarrass me, Leah? I'm not a child!"

"She is scary.", Icy finally uttered.

"You think?", replied Victor. "Meh."

"Are you going to tell Luna what you noticed about Satsuki?"

Victor lifted Icy from his seat. "I suppose I have to, since you know. How is it your mouth doesn't move, yet your ears work overtime?"

"I'm gifted… just like you.", Icy replied.

"Meh.", Victor said plainly. "I guess I should pop in another pair of lenses and check on the girls."

"Yeah, Leah scares me… in human form!"

A/N: The bonus scene was added to show that Luna had told Victor about Nettie's "visit", even though it was not written from Luna's perspective. It also gives him a chance to voice his observations of Satsuki.

Between Nettie's warning and Victor's feelings, there is clearly something to be concerned about when it comes to the troubled human girl.

Chapter titles come from songs by New Order; "Blue Monday" from the album "Brotherhood (Collector's Edition)" (1986);"Round And Round" from the album "Technique" (1989).