I woke up again the next evening around sundown. I rolled over bumping into something solid. I immediately recognized the scent and let out a sigh.
"So you really meant it…" I muttered while burying my face in Dwaynes' chest. I assumed he was still asleep for he wasn't moving.
"I told you I would, princess." I flinched a little at hearing his rough voice. With a low growl he tightened his grip on me again and I liked the feeling of his bare chest against my exposed skin. Wait, what? I pulled away and looked down, instantly feeling very embarrassed.
"Dwayne? Where is my dress?" I shrieked and turned bright red.
"I took it off after you fell asleep and put it in the washing machine. It had blood all over. No way I would let you sleep in that." Without opening his eyes he pulled me, back first, back into him. I relaxed a little bit until he started to playfully nip at my neck with his human teeth.
"Stop that, big boy. Or I will throw you out right away." He let out a short laugh against my skin before pulling away and sliding out of the bed.
"I assume now that you are feeling better you want to go back to thinking about all of this." He just looked at me while slipping his jacket back on. There was no accusation in his eyes. He just understood what was going on.
"I told Marko yesterday, as much as I miss you guys, I need some space to think properly." I looked into his dark eyes, hoping that he understood.
"You don't need to explain anything to me. You are ours. It doesn't matter how much time you need, you will come along." Dwayne leaned down and gave my forehead a kiss.
"And what does that mean? How am I yours?" He shook his head and told me that David would explain that soon enough. I pulled the blanket tight around myself before walking him to the door.
"Promise that you will try to stay out of trouble. And that you will come find us as soon as the cramps start again." I nodded and got up on my toes to press my lips against his once more.
"One more thing. I think this belongs to you. Found it next to my bike a few nights back." I looked in my palm a little taken aback. Lying there was the earring I had lost. I raised my head to thank him but he was already gone.
I retreated into the apartment and went for the phone to give Maria a short call.
"Video Max, you're speaking to Maria. What can I help you with?" Her voice seemed kind of hollow over the phone.
"Hey, it's me. Just wanted to let you know that I am okay. Probably was just something I ate." I could make out a sigh of relief on the other side of the line.
"That's good to know, girl. Max and I were kind of worried, especially since one of them took you away…" I had assumed that she told Max what had happened. I had almost expected him to call me himself just to make sure I was alright.
"Everything was alright. Marko got me to see a doctor and then dropped me off at home. I slept the whole day, that's why I am calling now and not any sooner. By the way… You haven't seen my cousin Shelly, have you? Her room looks just like when I last left the house, so I don't assume she has been home in the last two days. And she didn't leave a note, so I am starting to worry a bit." There was a short silence on Marias side and I heard some shuffling.
"Sorry. Had to get rid of that customer. No, I haven't seen Shelly. Are you sure she wasn't home while you slept?"
"I am sure. She would have left at least a note or something. See you tomorrow? I will stop by after work." After a hanging up I went to Shellys' room. I didn't get it, when she was still out with her friends she would have called or at least left a note behind. I was worried. It simply wasn't like her to just disappear without further announcement as to why or where she could be reached.
I quickly changed clothes into something practical, just some dark army pants and a black crop top. I grabbed my keys and left for the boardwalk. Even if I didn't find her, her friends should know where she was. At least that's what I hoped for.
Walking along the shops towards the rides I tried to make out anyone who seemed familiar to me. I could make out several individuals who obviously belonged with the Surf Nazis but none of them looked familiar. Then I saw a faded green Mohawk in front of me and that was the first time I was glad to see Corey.
"Hey Corey! Wait a second!" I shouted and followed him as fast as possible, almost crashing into his back when he stopped and turned around.
"Got a new fan, Corey. Not quite your type, but whatever works for you, man." One of his friends was laughing and I tried not to let my face show what I thought of his statement.
"Shut it, Roy! What do you want? Don't you have some bikers waiting on you bitch?" I almost regretted following him.
"Who I hang with is none of your business. I just wanted to know if you have seen Shelly or maybe know where she is. She hasn't been home a few days and left no note saying where she is." He looked at me for a minute and I could see his friends checking me out.
"Haven't seen her. Not since she hangs with Caleb. That asshole should be around somewhere. Is this all?" I was getting annoyed and nodded, already half turning away when one of his friends blocked my way.
"Something else you need? Maybe someone who can fuck you right and not like those biker fags…" He tried to grab me but I dodged him and managed to get out of his reach.
"In your dreams!" I stated and quickly got out of there. Needless to say that I didn't find either Caleb nor Shelly that evening until I returned home.
o-0-o
Shelly still hadn't come home when I left for work. I was going to meet up with Maria after work and we would try to find her together. I would have bet my life on it that her disappearing had something to do with Caleb.
I walked into the diners' kitchen to check in with the others before starting my shift.
"There she is. You look stressed, honey." Tina eyed me with suspicion.
"Sorry about that. My cousin hasn't come home for a couple of days now and it is just not like her."
"Oh. Have you been to the police? I hope she was not hanging with those good for nothing bikers…" I looked at the elder woman and felt the heat rise. I hated people talking about them like that more and more. Maybe it was because I was one of the few who really got to know them.
"No she hasn't. And those boys aren't that bad, just a little rough around the edges." My colleagues looked at me in utter disbelief.
"What did you take? Nobody right in their head trusts them. They are bad news. Who says they didn't make your cousin disappear?" I shook my head, barely containing my rage.
"Because I was with them the whole time!" I snapped back. Before anyone could say some more I grabbed the full trash bag and went outside to toss it away.
"Great…" Somebody had been piling up bags of trash against the wall instead of throwing it into the large container. I threw in my bag and grabbed one of those lying around. I jumped back with a high pitched squeal. As I pulled away the heavy bag a pale arm had fallen out between the bags.
I barely noticed José running out to make sure I was okay. When finally the police arrived I stood there anxious as they slowly pulled away the trash bags. I was surrounded by people who all tried to comfort me as I was still in a bit of shock. Who wouldn't have been when finding a corpse while taking out the trash?
Some commotion had me looking up and I saw two of our staff trying to keep Paul from entering the small alleyway. I stiffly made my way over well aware of people staring and Tina shaking her head.
I showed Stan out of the way and threw myself at Paul who caught me and pulled me to his chest.
"Hey. I heard the police was here and wanted to make sure you were alright. What happened?" He took my face in his hands and gently wiped away some stray tears. His eyes were concerned and I tried to smile a little.
"I… I was taking out the trash… There was a corpse hidden under the bags… I…" My voice was cracking and he pulled me back against him, resting his head on top of mine. I could hear some of the whispers but I didn't care. They could think whatever they wanted. I was glad one of the boys was here, calming my nerves and making me feel a little safer.
"Oh my god! Is that…?"
"Shit, don't let her see." Against better judgement I freed myself of Pauls embrace, which wasn't all that difficult for he was looking at who they had pulled from the trash. I froze after a few steps. First thing I noticed were the earrings. Earrings I had made.
"Noooo!" I started sobbing and shaking. Making an insecure step towards the two police officers lifting up Shellys' body.
"Don't look." Paul turned me into him again holding on tight and preventing me from looking again. I cried and trashed in his hold. My world was crumbling around me. My cousins' dead body was burned into my mind. Pale, with blind eyes staring into nothingness and a bullet wound right in the middle of her head.
"Stop it Amy! I need you to calm down." I looked up at Paul. He had almost screamed at me in order to get through to me. I felt so lost, so broken and I could almost see my pain reflecting in his eyes.
"She is dead." My voice was barely a whisper. The blond vampire nodded and I buried my face in his neck, taking in his scent and tried to calm down.
Two hours later I was still pressed up against Paul, only now we were sitting inside the diner. I heard the door and soon three sets of familiar boots stopped in front of us. I didn't look at them, still resting my head against Pauls' shoulder while sitting in his lap.
"Amy, look at me." Davids' voice was soft as he took a hold of my face and lifted it up. Reluctantly my eyes met his.
"I'll do it." The boys looked at me with confusion.
"I will drink." I got more specific. Marko made a face and David had a look of disapproval on his face. However it was Dwayne who took my hands.
"You shouldn't make this decision right know, princess." He pulled me from Pauls' lap and tightened his arms around me. I put my hands against his bare chest and leaned back so that I could see his dark eyes.
"But I am deciding now. Shelly is dead. I am alone. All I got now are you guys. The truth is, I haven't felt more alive since losing my family than when I am with you. I feel like I belong again I want this. I can't lose you as well. And I want Shellys' murderer to be my first." Dwayne looked at me a bit longer, I could feel him pressing against my mind. Whatever he found, it seemed to assure him that I wasn't making any rash decision here.
"Okay. But it might take some time to find out who it was." His lips sealed mine for a brief second.
"No need to. I know who it was. I think…"
