Chapter Four
Mike woke up the next afternoon to Sam dropping a rotary phone on his chest, "Mike. It's mom." Mike groggily responded, "Mom's home." Sam opened the blinds, letting in the midday sun, "No. She's on the phone, Mike." Mike shut his eyes tight, "Hand me my sunglasses." Sam handed Mike his shades, "Sunglasses? In the house? Are you freebasing? Inquiring minds want to know." Mike flipped Sam the bird as he answered the phone.
Mike argued a little bit with his mother about staying in for the night. He eventually agreed to spend time with Sam, but they both agreed they wanted to stop by the twins' booth at the boardwalk. Lucy knows Sam is old enough to not need a babysitter, she also saw how the brothers have been drifting apart since the divorce. So having them spend some time together without the twins or their friends seemed like a good idea. Lucy reluctantly agreed Mike and Sam could visit the twins later tonight.
But first, Lucy had given her children a list of chores. With the twins running their booth at the boardwalk, the chores were split between the brothers. After arguing with each other over who does what, Michael is stuck with cleaning the kitchen, bathrooms, his and Sam's bedroom. Sam has to do all the yard work. Michael still felt tired, almost falling asleep several times while completing the chores. He had finished scrubbing the bathtub and had fallen back to sleep on his bed when Sam came inside the house sweaty and sunburnt.
"Mike, I'm going to stay home. I got sunburnt," Sam yelled from the kitchen. Sam got no response from his brother. He grabs a glass from the cabinet and fills it from the sink. Downing two glasses of water before refilling a third time. Sam had mowed the grass, pulled weeds, and cleared out some rusted metal that clogged up the yard. He didn't think to put on sunblock, so now he is red as a lobster and very tired. Sam collapsed face-first on his bed and fell asleep.
Michael woke up a couple of hours after sundown. He took a quick shower and changed into clean clothes. Mike poked his head into Sam's room and saw him asleep and shivering from the sunburn. He carefully tapped Sam on the shoulder, "Sam? Sam?" "Hm," Sam mumbled from his pillow. Mike looked over Sam's sunburnt back, "I'm heading to the boardwalk. Are you going to be okay?" Sam cracks his eyes open, "Just going to sleep. I haven't been burnt this bad since I left the track team." Sam gets as comfortable as he can on his stomach. Mike covers him with a sheet from the linen closet before walking out of the house. Mike checked the garage where the twins parked their bikes and noticed Jade's was still there. He could take it, but she would rip him a new one. He walked back over to his bike and left for the boardwalk.
The Boardwalk
Mike parked his bike near the video store, away from David and the others' bikes. He went into the video store, "Hey, mom." Lucy looked up from the counter, "Michael, what are you doing here? Where's Sam?" She gave her son a hug. He tensed up at first before relaxing and hugging her back. The closeness of his mother put him on edge a little but he didn't know why. Mike let go of his mom and put his hands into his leather jacket pockets, "I came to check up on the twins, see how their booth is doing. And Sam got sunburnt doing yard work, he was asleep when I left." Lucy sighed, "Okay. Go check on your sisters. Hopefully, they're staying out of trouble." Mike nodded his head, "I will. Bye, mom." He waved at her as he backed out the door.
Mike knew all too well what his mother meant. He had been involved in quite a few fights alongside his sisters. Michael moved across the boardwalk through the crowd, passing the railing the Lost Boys normally hang at, and headed to the other side. He had just passed the drink vendor that was closest to the twins' booth when he saw Kayla get water thrown on her by the kids from the comic book shop. Mike was going to tackle the kids when Kayla stepped closer to them and whispered something that scared them so bad they lost all color in their faces and ran away. Jade was standing nearby as well. She had seen the kids come close to their booth but didn't think they would mess with them. She almost went after them when they ran away...Almost.
Michael couldn't help but feel proud of his sister. He kept his smile to himself when he approached the booth, "Kayla, are you okay?" She was using a hoodie as a towel to dry herself off, "Those kids are asking for it. Claiming that Jade and I are bloodsuckers and we should be staked. Then they doused me with a bucket of water. It's probably holy water. It reeks of Rosemary." Kayla threw the hoodie onto the back of her lawn chair then sat down, "How are you doing? You were dead to the world this morning." She replaced the dark shades for her blue lensed pair.
Mike ran his hand through his hair, "I'm okay, I guess. I feel a little off. I think I had too much fun last night. At one point I could've sworn I was eating maggots, but since you guys had me try some of the things you get it didn't phase me. I just kept eating. Even told the guys about how you bought food from around the world, and your favorites were from Bejin and Cambodia." The trio was silent for a few minutes when Star caught Michael's attention and Laddie tackled Kayla.
The Lost Boys
Jade had sat back down in her lawn chair once those kids ran off and were linking together another stainless steel bracelet. She was so lost in her work that she didn't see the small person practically tackle Kayla until her chair fell over. Jade stood up to see Laddie and Kayla laughing, trying to get up. Mike had stepped away when Star came up to the booth. So it was up to Jade to help them up, "Hey Laddie. You stuck?" Laddie did not hesitate, "Nope. I meant to do that." The three of them laughed as Jade picked him up so Kayla could get up.
Laddie had sniffed Kayla, "You stink." Taking no offense at his bluntness, Kayla said, "I know right. Those kids from the comic shop threw holy water on me." She stood up and tried to wipe the smell with her hoodie again, wishing she would have brought her perfume. Jade's curiosity got the better of her, "What did you say to those kids to have them practically pissing their pants?" Kayla snickered and told her sister, "Told them if they step one toe towards me and mine again, I'll cut them off with rusty garden shears, scoop their hearts out with a spoon and feed them to their parents." She lifted her lawn chair upright then sat down. Jade threw her head back and laughed, "Oh man, I wish I had a camera."
Laddie had backed away a little. These girls were human and yet they talked about doing something his brothers would do. He didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. "You would do that?" He asked the sisters with a little bit of fear in his voice. Kayla looked at him, "Come here." Laddie stepped closer to Kayla, "If they were to hurt anyone I consider family, you bet I wouldn't hesitate to rip them apart. Those kids think my sister and I are not human…" She was interrupted by a new voice.
David and his boys were following Star and Laddie to the twins' booth. He could sense that Paul and Marko were feeling better and worse at the same time. They had watched Laddie back away, then after a moment step closer to one of the twins. They caught the tail end of what was said, "Why would they think that?" David asked, lighting a new cigarette and taking a closer look at the sisters. Paul and Marko had stayed next to David but he could tell they wanted to pounce the girls.
Jade stood up from her chair, "Hello again." She waved at Dwayne. She disregarded the question for now, "And you all are?" Paul closed the distance and clasped Jade's hand, sending a spark upon contact, "I'm Paul." Instead of letting go, he turned her hand in his so he could kiss her knuckles. Jade was glad the tent was over the booth to hide how red her cheeks got.
Marko had done the same to Kayla, "I'm Marko." Even with his fingerless gloves on, there was still a spark upon physical contact with his mate. He went to kiss her knuckles but she pulled her hand free, blushing deeply. "Um... The kids that run the comic shop. Our first night here, they were very rude. Jade and I freaked them out and now they think we're not human. They even dumped a bucket of holy water on me a little bit ago."
David took a puff of his cigarette and let it out, "I'm David by the way. How did you freak them out?" His curiosity is piqued, plus a little pissed those pipsqueaks came near his brothers' mates. "Those kids need to go. They're getting too close," David linked to his brothers. They were all in agreement. They normally wouldn't go after kids, but these two think they are vampire hunters. David will speak with Max about it before making any decisions.
Kayla looked down at her clasped hands, "Because of the moment we walked into the shop, they took one look at me and said that they 'don't serve our kind'. So Jade and I freaked them out with something we learned how to do when we were little. We can control our pupils." Kayla's voice got quieter towards the end. "How?" Paul asked what they all wanted to know.
The twins stood up, walked out to the boardwalk where the lights were brighter. The boys followed them. David stood in the front, Paul and Marko on either side of him with Dwayne next to Paul. Kayla took a deep breath, quickly explaining why she wears shades at night, "My eyes are extremely sensitive to light. My vision is perfect but anything brighter than a candle and I get debilitating headaches." She removed her shades and stood next to Jade.
The Lost Boys were able to get a good look at their eyes and both Marko and Paul said through the link, "Laddie was right." The guys shifted from foot to foot in anticipation. They watched the twins lean their heads to the left, blinking in sync slowly. Then they tilted their heads to the right, still blinking slowly and in sync. Only to stop blinking, and straighten their heads. The Lost Boys watched as the twins' pupils dilated then changed shape to that of a cats' eyes. "Woah! That was so cool babe," Paul spoke up first. Jade raised her eyebrow at the endearment but figured it was in his nature to be flirty. Marko chewed on his nail, "I would do that all the time just to freak people out." Of course, their true forms scare people. David flicked his cigarette of its ash, "Impressive."
Kayla replaced her shades, "Yeah. Hopefully, they'll back off." "They better," Jade stated. "After what Kayla told them," Laddie said as he sat down in the third lawn chair. Dwayne stood next to him, "What did Kayla say?" Laddie motioned for Dwayne to crouch down so he could whisper it, "She said, 'if you step one toe near me and mine again, I'll cut them off with rusty garden shears, scoop your hearts out with a spoon and feed them to your parents'." With their enhanced hearing all four vampires heard what Laddie told Dwayne. Paul and Marko's eyes flashed red before they got themselves under control. "That's awfully dark for a pair of innocent-looking twins." David is getting more interested in this family by the moment. While also thinking, 'what else are they hiding?'
Paul had sat down in the grass next to Jade. He wanted to sit with her in the chair. Unfortunately, the chair would break with two people sitting in it. So he just plopped down onto the grass as close to her as he could get. Jade's scent was still present but not as strong and the pain in his chest had diminished to almost nothing. It probably won't go away until he claims her. Paul was okay with just being near Jade. She was clamping a hook/clasp onto a stainless steel bracelet. When she was done, she set down her pliers and surprised Paul by wrapping it around his left wrist. "Hmph. Blends in with the rest. Don't you think?" Paul didn't even look at the bracelet, "Yes. It does." The brief contact with his mate was almost too much. He knew she was his mate but he didn't think he would be this affected.
Kayla was painting her name onto another piece she had finished. It was an eerie depiction of a Wendigo. The creature was crouching in a wild oat field at night. Marko glanced at her other pieces, "These paintings. Where do you get the ideas?" He already knew the answer from Michael, he just wanted to hear Kayla say it. Kayla painted the last swirl after the 'a' in her name, "Most of them are things I have seen in my nightmares. Others, I have actually seen. Not all of them are meant to be scary, sometimes they just turn out that way." She set the paintbrush inside a mason jar half full of water. "It helps to put the images on canvas. The nightmares are not so bad after I paint them." Kayla was staring at one piece in particular. Marko followed her line of sight and saw a painting of a woman that looked like Kayla surrounded by bright orange flames. "Is that your worst one?" Marko wanted to keep her talking, her voice had helped him calm down.
Kayla sighs and looks at Marko, "It's the most recurring one." She looked back at the painting and whispered, "My worst fear." Kayla could not understand why she just told someone she just met her worst fear. Now they know how to scare her. She sighs, and claps her hands together, "So, you guys come here all the time? Is there anything we should know?" Kayla spoke loud enough for the whole group, not knowing they could hear her just fine without her voice going up in volume.
David answered for the whole group, "Well, you met the comic book twerps. It would be best to avoid them. Surf Nazis tend to troll women and bully children. So be careful." Jade cuts in, "Wait. Are those the guys with mohawks, matching shirts, and a single brain cell between them?" Paul, Marko, and Laddie all burst out laughing, Dwayne cracked a smile. David, without missing a beat, "Yep. That bunch would see you two as a toy to break." A growl was let loose by Marko and Paul before they could stop themselves. The twins heard it but didn't comment on it. Just talking about the Surf Nazis made the hunger for blood more prominent. David wanted to get his brothers away from their mates before they revealed themselves. It was not time yet. Michael wasn't ready to feed, but the boys could feel the connection and his hunger growing.
Pulling out another cigarette, and lighting it, David voiced, "Boys, let's go get a bite." Paul whined, "Aw, I wasn't ready to leave." He was trying to do pouty-lipped, puppy-eyes but David was not falling for it. "Actually it's about time for us to pack up anyways," Jade looked at her watch and saw it was almost nine. Paul, being Paul, grabbed Jade's hand and pulled her into a bear hug, even lifting her feet off the ground. What he was really doing was smothering his tuxedo jacket with her scent, as well as rubbing his scent on her. Jade couldn't help but laugh, "You going to put me down?" Paul shook his head playfully, "Na-uh."
Marko was unsure if he should do the same with Kayla. The idea of her smelling like him has overtaken his senses. Marko was not thinking when he pulled Kayla out of her seat causing her to squeak, wrapped his arms around her, and held on tight. Marko, once again, felt a spark where bare skin touched. He was worried the holy water would have burnt him, but it had dried enough. Kayla was caught off guard for a moment before hugging him back. "Mate," Marko growled through their mental link. He had turned his head and sniffed her neck. Marko felt Kayla stiffen, he could hear and feel her heartbeat speed up. Now, he didn't want to let go until she calmed down. He didn't want her to be scared of him. Deep down, they all know the twins are going to be scared of them when they show their true forms.
"Marko, Paul. Put them down," David commanded. Again, the blondes growled at their leader. They slowly let go, not wanting to lose the contact they have with their mates. The ache in their chest was almost gone, and their scents weren't overbearing anymore. But they had to listen to their brother. Marko and Paul stepped back, giving the twins some space. They were in shock from the boys' forwardness. It made the silence awkward, so Jade broke it, "We'll be here tomorrow night if you want to come by again?" She directed the question at David, "Why are you asking me?" Jade shrugged her shoulders, "You give off Alpha vibes." David raised an eyebrow, "Is that so? Good to know." Even though he already knew it, just surprised that the twins figured it out. Kayla added, "Same as Terra." David felt a twinge in his chest when Kayla said that name. He mentally brushed it off as hunger pains. "We'll be seeing you," David walked away, followed by Dwayne with Paul and Marko reluctantly walking away with their heads down.
They perked up when David suggested they get a bite to eat.
Mom's truck
Lucy had given the keys to her SUV to the twins so they could pack up for the night. Kayla was walking back to the booth to grab the last of her paintings when she heard cat-calls from a group of sleazy, Surf Nazis, "Hey baby. Why don't you come party with us?" She kept on walking, not wanting to give them any attention. The one that yelled at her followed her to the booth, "I'm talking to you." Kayla grabbed a few paintings and turned to walk back to the SUV when the guy stepped in front of her. She politely asked, "Can you please move?"
The guy was dressed like a beach bum. A grubby tee shirt with his name sewn onto it, "Brad," it read. Swim Trunks peeked out from his wetsuit that was tied around his waist, green mohawk, and a few missing front teeth. The stench of cheap alcohol came off this guy in waves. He sidestepped out of Kayla's way but kept by her side. "You're new here. Let us show you around. We know the best spots." Kayla was a few feet from her mom's SUV, "Not interested." Brad was joined by the other guys and started harassing the twins.
One of the other guys, "What about you, sweetheart?" Jade gagged at the endearment, "Bleh!" She leaned closer to read the name on his shirt, "So tell me… Tom? Do you wear a shirt with your name on it so you can remember how to spell it?" Kayla snickered under her breath. Tom and the rest of the guys did not find that funny, "I'll teach you…" Jade scoffed, "Listen here, you mouth-breathing neanderthal. We are not interested whatsoever. So kindly, fuck off."
"Language, Jade," Lucy walked up to the group. "Sorry, mom," Jade was apologizing for the use of foul language but not for using it towards the Surf Nazis. Lucy got into the driver's seat and started the SUV, Jade closed up the back and stood by her twin as the Surf Nazis walked towards an older Scout International with no top. The twins said bye to their mom and headed over to Kayla's bike. They were going to follow her home. Jade decided to work on her bike so she doesn't have to ride with Kayla.
They were oblivious to the four vampires watching and listening to the whole ordeal. Marko and Paul didn't want to go too far from their mates. When the Surf Nazis started harassing their girls, they were going to circle the group and scare them away. The twins' mom came out right before they could move. The boys drove back to the cave to park their bikes then they were going to track down the group of Surf Nazis. Paul remarked, "Man, Jade has a mouth on her." David sat in his wheelchair draping one leg over one of its arms, "Yes she does." He rubbed his gloved hands together, "They're hiding something. We need to figure out what, before you two claim them." He gave his brothers a stern look, his decision was final.
David got up from his throne/wheelchair, "Come on boys. Time to feed." The vampires noted that Michael and Star have not returned to the cave yet. David shook his head, "Maybe if Michael turned then Star will finally feed." The boys flew to a bonfire with several drunken Surf Nazis, not the group they were looking for, but blood is blood.