A/N: The rating had been changed to M for language, sexuality, gore, and violence. That's pretty much everything bad that can get something an M rating. Ha! Well Ann knows very well, as the rest of you soon will, that Mae has a little problem with saying the F word like he invented it. Gotta love him, though.
Anyway, please read and review after you read, it would be greatly appreciated.
Disclaimer: I own Mae and Lydia, the rest belong to their respected owners. Dammit.
CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT: CHAPTER SIX
The only sound the girl made as Mae quickly walked her to his house was quick whimpering every once in a while, but she obviously knew that the danger was not over, so she chose to stay quiet. Mae kept his arm steady around her waist as they walked, so that if one of the vampires were to try to sneak up on him, he would already have a good hold of her.
As they walked up the steps to his darkened house, Mae fumbling to get out his keys, he said, "What is your name?"
The girl shivered, completely naked under the trenchcoat, and said softly, "Lydia."
Mae nodded, biting his lip as he struggled to get the key in the lock. Finally the front door swung open, and he led her through the pitch black house into the bathroom.
"Sit on the counter." He ordered softly, and she hopped up, wincing as she did so at the aching pain in her thighs and stomach. Mae rummaged around beside her in what looked like a medicine cabinet and came out with a first aid kit and some washcloths.
"What's your name?" she inquired softly as he wet down the washcloth in the sink beside her.
"Mae." He said, standing in front of her with the washcloth in his hand.
She blushed at the thought of what he was going to have to do. "I can do it myself…" she trailed off, reaching out for the washcloth.
Mae yanked it out of her reach and said, "I guarantee you don't know those wounds like I do. If it will make you more comfortable, I can get you something to wear…"
She shook her head, a chunk of clean hair falling across her face. "It's alright, you've already seen me anyway." The girl named Lydia peeled off the trenchcoat, her ribs poking from beneath her breasts as she moved. Mae tried desperately not to look at any part of her that would be called inappropriate.
Mae poured some rubbing alcohol on the washcloth and came in closer to her, gently wiping her stomach of the ruby blood. The wound was fairly deep, but he had seen deeper. Hell, he had caused deeper wounds than that.
Her stomach sank in as she inhaled at the stinging alcohol, and he realized just how painfully thin the girl was. He tried it softer, until she stopped flinching.
It became harder for him not to think about the damp place between her legs as he wiped away the blood lower and lower. His senses were very aware of the rich taste of blood, as was his masculinity of her delicate form.
Finally he abandoned the thought of cleaning up the blood near that place and began wiping it from her chest, in between her breasts, on her neck, and finally, her face. She weakly smiled at him, and he forced one back. After the majority of the blood was cleaned off, he stepped back to admire his work.
He gestured toward the shower behind him. "You can take a shower and wash the rest out of your hair. I'll go get you some of my sister's clothes you can wear for now." He turned to leave, but found her hand on his arm before he could.
"Mae," She said, now off the counter, her long, bloody hair hanging in front of her, covering her up, "If you are one of them, why did you save me?"
He studied her deep, mossy green eyes and wondered what she was thinking. When he noticed she was staring back, he quickly glanced away. "There's a difference between them and me. They kill for fun, I kill for survival. I refuse to kill anyone unless I have to, and what they were doing, torturing you…I couldn't watch that. I was in your position once."
She nodded and he shut the door behind him. He left a pile of clean clothes for her at the door; a sports bra, some clean underwear, jeans, and a shirt. Then he washed the strong and enticing smell of her blood off his hands and went to collapse on the couch.
When Lydia came back into the room, Mae was nearly asleep, slumped over with a pillow in his lap. She flipped on a lamp as she entered, jolting him back awake. She smiled at him and took a seat on the chair opposite him.
"I don't guess vampires like the light?" She teased, gesturing to turn the lamp back off.
Mae shook his head. "No, we quite enjoy it, really." There was a comfortable silence before Lydia said, in a much smaller voice than before, "So, what Kadaj said, is it all true?"
Mae hadn't thought about that until then. Kadaj had said that she was carrying his child, he had made sure to that. And he'd said that an immortal child always kills the mother in childbirth. And even if she were to abort it, she would then be cursed with immortality herself.
He shrugged and gave her a look that read, "It's bad either way." Lydia nodded but remained silent. "Maybe the fucker didn't really get you pregnant, though. There's no way he would know, right?"
Through the dim light of the living room, Mae could see glistening trails of tears on Lydia's cheeks. "This is so fucking screwed up." She said, her words catching in her throat. "I'm such an idiot for thinking he was actually a nice guy."
Mae tried to find words of comfort, but had none to give. He watched as the small girl he hardly knew wrapped her arms around her knees and rocked herself back and forth as she cried. "I had a bad night. My boyfriend dumped me, just like the rest of them, 'cause I wouldn't have sex with him."
Mae said nothing, but he had a feeling she didn't want him to. "Kadaj came up to me and made me feel so much better, and I actually felt like I could trust him with taking my virginity. Some dumb bitch I am."
Mae cleared his throat and quickly made his decision about the girl. She was doomed no matter what she did, or he did for that matter, so he decided to give her the decision. "I could kill you right now," he said softly, over her weak sobbing. "I haven't fed in days, and you sound really good to me right about now. But I won't do it."
He could see the deep green of Lydia's eyes glittering from across the room, and it took all his strength not to walk over and wipe them of their tears. It had been a long while since he had been held, really held with nothing sexual about it, and he knew that she needed it too, but kept still.
"If you are pregnant, and you keep the baby, then you will die." He continued. "If you abort the baby, then you will be cursed with immortality, just like me. I'm going to let you make the decision. You can leave here in the morning, go off and have your baby, and die in childbirth. You can let me kill you now, and it will all be over. Or you can leave in the morning and wake up two days from now as an immortal."
Lydia shook her head. "I should let the baby live, I should give it a chance…"
Mae rolled his eyes at her. "Don't be so noble. All that will do is let another kid be fucked up like I am. Trust me, no kid deserves this."
Lydia shrugged. "Well, what if I'm not pregnant?"
"You'll still be immortal. There's no way out of that, unless you die first."
There was silence, Lydia staring at Mae as if he were going to jump up and scream, "Just kidding!" But when he didn't, she simply stared. "I don't know what to do." She said finally. "I…I don't want to die."
She wiped her eyes frantically, but she only cried more. "Who will help me? I don't know what to do if I turn immortal! I don't know how to have an abortion! I have no one!"
So that's it, Mae thought. She wants to abort the baby and become immortal. What a common human decision to make. Sure, if you get to live forever, that'll be fun! Yes, if you found killing a mortal every other night for their blood and living in shadows and lies fun.
And could he care for her? Would he help her? Wasn't it enough that he had to care for himself? But as he looked at her, so helpless across the room, wrapped up in herself with her clothes too big and that golden hair splayed all around, he knew somehow that if he didn't help her, no one would.
He sighed, knowing he was entirely too soft. "Alright, I'll help you start out. I'll show you the ropes of being an immortal. But if you make this decision, don't be pissed at me when you're a vampire and you hate it."
Lydia nodded slowly, looking unsure of herself. "Look, Mae. All I know is that I don't want to die. And if that's my only choice, I'm taking it."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Riku was scared to death to return to school the next Monday. How was he going to explain to his friends where he'd been? Sora would be livid. No matter what Riku had to say to him, it would never be good enough for Sora. And he supposed he deserved it.
He shoved his hands in his pockets and trudged to first period, a period he unfortunately shared with Sora. The wind was cold and bitter as the last of October was melting into November. First period seemed a mile away, and the students were filing past him, hurrying to class.
He saw Mae with his hand on a blond girl's back that he'd seen around before. Mae made eye contact, his icy eyes holding his in a death glare, before he looked away and headed into the main building.
Riku looked toward the main building and decided not to mess with it. He'd go to McDonalds and get some breakfast and chill for a while. He'd see Sora at lunch…
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"So you feel like coming over and hanging out tonight?" Tidus asked, looking over to Sora as he ate his soup.
Sora wasn't eating, unlike usual. He had told Tidus that he had homework, but he hadn't so much as written one word on the paper. He shrugged one shoulder and replied dryly, "Nah, I should probably go home and get some sleep."
Tidus sighed, giving up on his friend. He'd been so depressed since Riku had turned up missing, so confused and hurt and afraid for him. Tidus knew that if Riku was kidnapped or killed, it would eat Sora alive until he knew exactly what had happened and what was being done about it. If Riku had run away…it would hurt him even worse.
"How about tomorrow then? We haven't broke out the PS2 in a while, how about we play some Need For Speed?"
Sora looked away and rolled his eyes, which were red and bloodshot from lack of sleep. "I really don't think so. Maybe some other time." He snapped, his voice weak and quiet.
Tidus sighed, giving up on his friend and returning his attention to the latecomers entering the cafeteria. After several moments of studying the very intricate floral pattern of a girl's shirt, he spotted a familiar boy coming towards the table, his silver hair unevenly cut and hanging in his eyes. He looked up and locked eyes with Tidus, and that was when he realized who he was looking at.
"Oh my God." He breathed, patting Sora's hand. Sora looked up, confused, as Tidus' jaw hung open in shock. "It's Riku!"
Riku took his normal seat by Sora, undecided on whether to play it cool or just rush into excuses of why he had been missing for days. Sora's eyes were so wide they looked like they would simply pop out of his head.
"R-riku?" Sora stuttered. Riku noticed how hollow his cheeks looked, and the dark circles under his eyes. He looked tired, sloppy, like he didn't seem to care what he looked like anymore. It definitely wasn't the Sora he was used to.
"Yeah." Riku flashed a comfortable smile. "Man, have I got a story to tell you guys."
Sora's face contorted so that he looked like he would either spontaneously combust or burst into tears. "This better be fucking good, Riku! I've been worried sick about you for three days!" His voice rang throughout the crowded cafeteria, catching weird glances from many pupils.
Riku looked at him earnestly, patting his hand, which Sora snatched away. "Hey, dude, easy, I haven't even explained myself yet."
Sora looked away, but Riku knew he was still listening, so he started in on his bullshit story of how he and his mom had had a falling out and he hitchhiked to the next state, didn't have money to call anyone, then felt bad and came back. It was totally out of character for him, and he hoped to God that they bought it.
After he was finished, Tidus was looking at him excitedly and Sora's jaw was hanging open like he couldn't believe what he'd just heard.
"So," Sora said slowly, "You didn't have enough money to call your best friend who was on the verge of killing himself without you there, but you certainly had enough to get a haircut!"
Riku had never seen Sora so furious, or his normally playful voice sound so bitter. "I can explain!" He spat, but Sora was up and stomping out of the cafeteria before Riku could say a word in his defense.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Kairi rang the doorbell to Mae's house, the cold, bitter air whipping against her frail body, feeling like it would knock her over.
She had to ask around to get his phone number, and when he hadn't answered, she looked it up in the phone book and got his address, finding out that his house was within walking distance of hers.
Kairi was desperate. The way she felt with Mae was like nothing else. He made her feel like she knew no one else could. The night in the park had shone light on her. She felt protected with him, she felt complete. She didn't understand why he didn't want to be around her, she didn't understand how or why he would hurt her, and she respected his wishes and hadn't spoken to him in days. But something in her feared that if she didn't be with him, that she would never feel love like that again.
She had gotten slightly dressed up, wearing a tight purple dress that hit her thighs and black leggings underneath. She felt the need to impress him somehow.
When Mae opened the door, the look on his face was a mixture of shock and horror. She had expected this, and knew that she would be the last person he wanted to see on her doorstep. She forced a smile.
"Hi." She said, and he smiled back, but the corner of his mouth twitched. "Hey." He replied his voice husky as usual, something that drove her crazy.
She bit her lip. "Do you um, think we could talk for a minute?"
He put his forehead against the door and sighed. "Uh, yeah, alright, just for a minute." He stepped back from the door and motioned for her to follow him.
His house was done in Victorian style, all gold and red and deep royal blue. It was mostly dark, and Kairi wondered how he could see where he was going. It smelled faintly of something dully sour that she'd smelled before, but couldn't quite identify.
He flipped on a lightswitch in the living room with bathed light on an elegant set of a couch and chairs. He took a seat on one of the chairs, and she sat diagonally from him on the couch. She heard someone cough from a room farther down the hallway; it sounded feminine.
"So what is it you wanted to talk about?" Mae asked, looking at her expectantly. His hair seemed a little dirtier and less kept up than usual, and she wondered why he hadn't come to school.
She tried to voice the reason that she had come, but found herself terrified to voice the words. Her visit seemed so stupid now. He had said it before, she needed to stay away from him, and she was being the stubborn one by trying to make him love her.
She sighed. "You know, now that I'm here I realize that it's not important." She stood up, tears already brimming in her eyes, threatening to ruin the pink eye make-up she had chosen especially for this occasion. She began to leave the room, but suddenly his hand was wrapped around her wrist, just like it had at the party that had changed everything.
He looked at her with those icy eyes that seemed somewhat gentle, welcoming, curious. He was so beautiful that being around him almost put her in a trance, and she found that despite herself she could not turn away from him. "Whatever you have to say to me, say it." He said softly, letting her go.
She felt the first salty tear roll down her cheek, but could not break from his gaze. "I want to understand," she whimpered. "I want to understand why you can't love me."
Mae's eyes fell away. He couldn't make her understand, the poor mortal. She would never understand, and if he told her, he would be forced to kill her. She was beautiful, and so young, and yes, he did like her. If he were mortal again, he would perhaps even let himself love her. But things could never be, it was the vampire's way. He could not love her as the monster he was or it would kill her.
"You can't understand, Kairi," He said, not looking at her. He couldn't, he could hear her crying and knew that if he saw her that he wouldn't be able to turn her down, not again.
"Just take it as it is and leave me alone." The words came out colder and sharper than he had intended, and they seemed to hang in the air around them, ringing in the poor girl's ears.
"I just…want to know why!" she cried, clenching her fists at her sides. It drove her crazy that she couldn't understand, that he wouldn't look at her! "Just tell me what it is and I'll leave! I'll never speak to you again, I swear! It's that simple! You can forget all about me, just tell me why!"
Mae's temper flared, but he knew he couldn't give in so easily. "I can't tell you! Get out of my house and leave me alone!" He spat.
His words stung her, but she was now more angry and frustrated than she was hurt. "You're just like every other guy, a fucking jerk! I thought you were different, but now I see that I was very, very wrong."
The were like razors grazing his arm. He knew who he was, he knew he didn't like bad reputations with women or being called a jerk, because he wasn't. But he had to let her go. He had to.
She stopped before she left the room, kept her back to him. He waited for her exiting line, expecting something brutal, but he knew he could take it. At first she said something and then stopped, but finally spat it out, her voice small and icy.
"There's something about you, Mae. I know about the girl that died the night I met you. Seems a little suspicious that she died only minutes before you came to sit on that bench, doesn't it? You may think that after I leave this house, I won't think of you again, but I'm the only one that knows, Mae. Don't think I'm not going to use that to my advantage."
She walked to the front door and opened it, preparing to leave, with the knowledge that he now knew she had. He couldn't let her leave knowing that. That simple bit of imformation had changed everything. He sped up and caught her by the arm before she could go.
"I didn't kill that girl, Kairi. " He lied. "You must know I'm not capable of that. You don't believe it, you know it. I didn't kill her."
She turned to him, her blue eyes blazing. "Then why didn't you let me walk out of this house?"
He sighed, letting her go. "Because you're right. I should tell you why I can't see you. It's because…I have a girlfriend."
Kairi's face drastically changed, softened, went back to being hurt. She glanced away. "Oh." She said softly, wringing her hands. Her cheeks were stained with pink from where her makeup had run. And no matter how much he wanted to, he still couldn't let her go. She would be angry at him for cheating on his girlfriend, she could still use the information about the girl in the park.
"B-but…I'm going to break up with her." He said, feeling immediately stupid after the words left his lips. "I…I want to be with you instead, if you can forgive me."
Warmth suddenly engulfed Kairi. He would have her! She knew they were meant to be, she could feel it in every ounce of her. She knew that if he had let her go she would have never found a boy to fit her like he did.
"…Of course I forgive you. The whole reason I came was to make you come back to me." She said softly. He pulled her to him, feeling the perfect way they fit against each other, like two pieces to a puzzle. I can't hurt her, he promised himself. I won't.
Kairi stood on her toes and reached his mouth, kissing it softly, like she would her mother. When she let go, she looked up at him and found that he was smiling.
"My mom will be home soon, you should go." He said, even though she wasn't. Kairi nodded and smiled at him, backing off the porch. "See you tomorrow!" She waved, and he watched her walk away until she was no longer in sight.
When he came back into the house, he found Lydia, who he had been hiding in his room, leaning against the counter, eating a sandwhich and smirking at him. She had turned immortal the night before, and was preparing for her first kill that night.
"Are you dating a mortal girl, Mae?" She asked, and Mae shrugged.
"Yeah, I guess." He replied, hoping she wouldn't make much of it. He was trying no to do so himself. He sat in a chair at the counter beside her.
"Don't you think that's sort of dangerous?" she asked.
Mae put his head in his hands. "I guess. I can control myself."
Lydia took her plate to the sink, letting the water rinse of the bread crumbs. "Oh, you can? I just hope for that girl's sake that you're right."
Me too, Mae thought.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Please read and review! Thanks for reading!
-Mel