Holy skeevies and sugarcane, its been a while aye guys?
My apologies for being about 2 months overdue with this chapter. I spent the summer in Texas with my family, and they had me very busy and their computer sucked, so I wasn't able to update when I wanted to. But i'm back now! Chapters will be slow however, as i'm starting my GED classes and we're moving in September. So don't expect a whole lot.
Hope you enjoy this chapter however ^^
A month had passed since Joel sent the letter, and there had been no signs of trouble thus far. The boys introduced us to Max, who had been angry at first that they turned us without his consent but we grew on each other. I liked his store, but he never let us stay long. Said we looked like trouble and even though that was a good thing, it scared off potential customers, meaning we'd have to stay away from the store. Thorn took a liking to Ricky and Laddie, but the rest of us were rewarding with growls. David said that was normal, that Thorn hated all us. It was common knowledge that David wished the hound of hell would jump in front of an ice cream truck, so at least it was mutual.
That one, not the bear, the pink rabbit!
Sorry! I didn't know which one you wanted, I just grabbed the first one I saw.
Well do something and intimidate the guy into giving you the pink rabbit. I don't want a bear, I want the rabbit.
Good lord woman, you are really demanding. I win you a prize and you're being picky about it. How's that for gratitude.
Paul still ended up snatching the pink rabbit toy from the side and throwing the bear back, enjoying the swears and yells we got when we left. I snuggled my new rabbit fondly. Being of superhuman strength and such, Paul did the test your strength game...and broke it. The guy still gave us a prize, though the vein in his forehead was getting larger and larger while Paul and I silently argued. But I pushed all that aside and kissed my rabbit on the head, entwining my arm with Paul's.
"Whatcha gonna name it?" He asked, taking a drag from his cigarette. Eventually I would probably get into smoking too, since I couldn't get sick from it anyway, but for now I was content with not smoking, just out of habit then anything else. His question made me think. What would I name my lovely new bunny? After thinking about it I smiled up at him, "Nosferatu."
Paul cackled and laughed with me while we walked back to the gang. The boys were all on the boardwalk, watching the live band of the week at a reasonable distance, and I saw my sisters in the crowd, laughing and dancing along, except Claire, who I felt was sitting out on the beach by herself. Ricky and Laddie I noticed were also absent from the group, but I felt them on a roller coaster. I pecked Paul on the cheek and ran to join Claire, hugging Nosferatu close in case someone bumped into me. People parted like Moses and I was able to get to my sister without trouble. I had a feeling I knew what was wrong with her. David had a new flavor of the month, and her name was Star. The gypsy girl had interested him when he first saw her and he had been using her to get his kicks the past few weeks. Flopping down next to Claire I remembered when David introduced us to Star.
-X-X-X-X-X-
I grinned, swaying my hips to the music already pounding in my head. The band this week was good, and the music was heavenly. We all jumped, clapped, and laughed to the song that I didn't know the name to. I knew the band must've been local. Some kids who were trying to make it big. They had a fan in me in any case. Claire, Rose, Cheyenne, Ricky and Laddie crowded around me, laughing and dancing as was everyone else.
Claire stopped suddenly, causing us to look at her and stop also. Her face was twisted into a mix between a snarl and a grimace and her eyes were closed. Something David was saying perhaps? My eyes drifted up toward our leader and I felt anger well up inside me. He was sitting on his bike, with a brunette gypsy girl on his lap. Who the hell was she?
"Possibly his dinner?" Rose cautioned a guess. I looked again and he was talking in the girl's ear, hypnotizing her. The boys all stood to the side, watching us watching them, with distaste written on their faces. I caught Paul's eye and he shrugged, rolling his eyes in the direction of his Sire. Can't really blame him, it's not like Claire's giving him any.
But they're mates! Eventually she's going to get over herself. Is that chick on the menu?
I dunno, David's plannin' on satiating another hunger of his.
I gagged, causing Paul to chuckle in my mind. I supposed it was only fair to David that he could go get some human chick to do it with. I mean, Paul was right, Claire wasn't helping the situation along and he's still a guy. But still, I felt he was betraying my sister. My rationality soothed me by telling me it was alright as long as David ate the girl afterward, otherwise we'd have a problem.
I looked at David again and there was something in his eyes. They weren't icy and they weren't cold. They were calculating still but they were softer, like when Claire was asleep and he'd watch her, back when she was still mortal. Maybe he had a soft spot for brunette mortals? I gave a little shrug and looked back at Claire, who was purposely ignoring the pair and watching the band again.
Eventually we walked back up to the boys and the brunette had moved from David's lap to his side, where she was giggling and resting her hand on his chest. Claire's lip curled and she stalked by David with a glare. "This is Star everyone," David introduced us all and I appraised Star. She was pretty and thin, and of the gypsy persuasion. Long, curly, brown hair that reminded me of Claire's hair, only longer, and no shoes. Her eyes were lovely actually, but she still paled in comparison to my sister.
"Charmed." I replied acidly when David introduced me. Star raised her eyebrows and looked at me. Paul snickered from beside me. Cheyenne silently glared at the gypsy girl, adopting Dwayne's brooding look that worked out quite well on her. Rose just stuck her nose up at Star's clothes, making it clear the girl was not welcome within our group, at least to us girls. All in all it made for a very uncomfortable gypsy and a very annoyed platinum vampire.
Claire came back with a corn dog and glared daggers at the girl, snarling at her to move so she could lean against the bike. Star, extremely frightened now, moved to David's other side so Claire could lean and eat, glowering out to the ocean with a ferocity that I had no idea she possessed when it came to David. Maybe it was her mate instinct. For his part David looked angry at Claire but also amused. He pulled Star close and apologized for Claire's behavior, which caused her to growl.
Star was...alright. She wasn't as loud as Rose and she wasn't as quiet as Cheyenne, but instead she voiced her timid opinions as if no one else had ever listened to them. In retrospect no one probably had listened to her. She was apparently an orphan, a runaway, who came to Santa Carla to find a life that she couldn't get anywhere else. Boy was she in for a surprise. Claire couldn't stand listening to her but the rest of us warmed up to her after a few hours. She was like a glass doll, fragile and liable to crack at anytime. Maybe that's why David found an interest in her.
-X-X-X-X-X-
"You ok?" I asked my sister softly. Only in my company did she ever cry about what was going on. She didn't want the others to think her weak, but she knew I would never think she was weak. She didn't burst into tears but her eyes were a dark color and brimming with tears, "I only have myself to blame for this. I wish I wasn't his damn mate. It's torturing me."
I put an arm around her shoulders and suggested we get back to the pack, it was nearing feeding time anyway. She agreed and wiped away her tears furiously. We walked up to the boardwalk and I greeted David first, with a glare, "Well, this has been great, but shouldn't we be going to get something to eat, David?" David's blue eyes pierced my own, challenging me to dismiss Star in my head, but I didn't. I merely shrugged and gave him a silent offer to bring her along, see if she wanted to become one of us. He narrowed his eyes at me, but knew I was right. He had to feed too, which meant having to leave Star somewhere. She knew about us, knew what we were, but she had no desire to be like us just yet. When he offered to take her back home, Claire snapped, "Don't you dare bring her there you bastard! That's our home and she doesn't need to know about it or be in it. Just have your little pity party fuck and get on with it but don't ever include her in our home!"
My mouth dropped open. Claire was angrier then i'd ever seen, her eyes flashing dangerously. Rose and I acted quickly, grabbing her by the arms and leading her down the beach, Cheyenne following. Claire adopted the queen of the damned role quicker then I expected. She was our sister before, now she was not only that but our own leader. When she was upset it was up to us to fix it, and fix it we would.
I felt it only natural to find a party, full of drunken teenagers and rude men. We found four rude men in particular, but Claire went after a pretty little brunette girl, who looked a little like Star. I felt her relish in the joy when she killed the girl, clawing and ripping with her fingernails until the corpse was un-identifiable. I was too busy sucking my own victim to feel squeamish about her twisted kill, enjoying in my own way the screams he was making. I pouted when I realized Nosferatu had gotten a little bloody.
"You're a sick, sick, chick, sis." Cheyenne chuckled, dragging Claire's victim underneath the boardwalk where it probably wouldn't ever be found. Claire shrugged, licking her fingers clean. She had blood everywhere, and was seriously contemplating going back to see Star the way she currently was, but we all over-ruled her, saying we should clean ourselves in the ocean. My own kill had given me a little mess on my shirt. I hadn't quite gotten the hang of sucking them dry without making a mess like David did.
Has David done the sick deed yet? I asked Paul, walking into the ocean wobbly. The water felt weird against my skin. It made me itch slightly but it wasn't all together unpleasant.
Not yet, he's dropping her off at some motel to wait for him. Did you eat?
Yeah just ate, we're going back to the boardwalk and hang out. Claire's a little, or well a lot, upset and she needs a night without David.
Aw, I wanted to spend some bloody lovely time with you. Ah well, i'll just go find some small red head named Moon or something.
Do that and i'll emasculate your corpse and hang it out in the sun. I gave him a mental kiss and cut our connection short when we hit the boardwalk. We went to the merry go round and sat on the bench outside casually, watching the humans while they walked by us. Finally Rose spoke, "What was with you tonight, Claire-bear? I can see why you wouldn't like Star but you were about to eat her right here on the boardwalk."
She took a breath and lowered her eyes, "I can't stand him. He's rude, and cruel, and stupid, and he's my fucking mate! Ideally, he's the absolute last person I would ever want to live the rest of my life, or death, with but fate apparently hates me because despite all his stupidity and his nature...god, I think I love him." Through her rant we had been silent but upon her last statement I gasped, my mouth dropping open. She continued, "I saw through your eyes, all of you, and saw the kindness he was trying to show me, and the caring, but I kept blocking it out because I didn't want it. I didn't want to love him or think he was a good guy because I thought if I did i'd lose myself in the process. Every damn night he tries to make me his and every night I refuse, so now he goes off with some broad who doesn't have a damn brain cell in her body and it affected me way too much then I would've liked. I felt possessive, which is silly since I don't even have him."
Her eyes flashed dangerously again, and I assume it was because she heard something in David's mind again, and we all crowded around her, smothering her with our affection. It was completely second nature to us now to keep our Queen calm. That's what she was, a Queen. And we were her humble sisters, each powerful in our own right but compliant enough to know our places. Ricky and Laddie found us a few minutes later, wrinkling their noses at the smell of salt water and blood on us. I handed Nosferatu off to Laddie, who grinned and hugged the rabbit close.
Ricky spread out on another bench and watched the women walk by, "Do you think they'd go for me if I was a vampire? I mean, I am young but i'm still good looking, right?" I snorted and shot him a sharp look. "Oh please, as if they'd give you the time of day. Vampire or not." Cheyenne teased, getting a glare from our brother. I smiled slightly at their banter but I was still trying to keep Claire distracted, and I looked at the video store with sudden inspiration. With a smirk to match David's I nudged everyone and pointed to the video store. "What's say we have a little fun with our 'master'?"
Rose smirked back and Claire bared her teeth in her smile. We made our way to the store, looking ever the part of a vampire as we strolled in. Cheyenne and Rose nudged each other slightly when we walked in, laughing and pointing at the video's, and I looked around for Max. He looked up from his counter with a smile that disappeared when he saw us. I sauntered up to the counter and winked at him, "'Ello Maxy, how's everything in the working world?"
"You're not welcome here, girls, i've told you this. I can't have you lot destroying my store and putting me out of business." He snapped. I shrugged and walked around the store, glancing at the tapes without much interest. Everyone else started making suggestions to the customers. At first they were perfectly harmless, innocent suggestions. Nice kid movies for the mothers, date movies for the couples, but then Rose started making obscene suggestions, adding winks to them. That drove Max up the wall and he growled at us to get out.
As much fun as it was to piss him off I knew we'd have to leave soon anyway. The boardwalk would close in a few hours, and we wanted to scope out the place more. Claire and Cheyenne walked off to the local band playing and Rose went to find Marko, so they could go dancing somewhere. That left me to watch the kiddies, which I didn't mind at all, "So...what do you guys want to do?"
Both boys grinned evilly and pulled me toward the rides that were still open. One in particular was a very large, very twisty, roller coaster. My heart jumped to my throat as soon as I saw it. Sure I was immortal now but Jesus Christ that thing looked dangerous. I opened my mouth to protest but they were already dragging me on, paying the guy at the front. I got in beside them and clutched the rail for dear life. I hated roller coasters, almost as much as I hated flying. Both required me to trust something I didn't know.
"Don't be a wimp!" Ricky laughed, turning the laugh into a howl when the ride started. I screamed bloody murder so loud I was certain one of the pack was going to show up to see what was going on. The turns and twists made my stomach think twice about the meal I had earlier but I held back from becoming like a bat mother. The boys were enjoying themselves, having obviously ridden the stupid thing before, but I wasn't becoming a fan of this particular coaster. Especially when we turned upside so fast I thought I was losing my sanity in the process.
Having fun? I swore and yelled at Paul as loudly as I could in my head, which caused him to chuckle. When we got off the ride I saw him waiting by a bench with a coke. That was probably the last thing I needed, but I took it. It was nice of him to do. He also held Nosferatu out for me, which I clung onto. "I am never going on a roller coaster again." I growled. Ricky, Laddie and Paul all had a laugh at my expense, then Ricky dragged Laddie off to a different ride, leaving me happily alone with Paul, who grinned.
"What are we gonna -" My sentence was cut off by the loudest scream I have ever heard, but it wasn't coming from a human, it was coming from Cheyenne. Out of reflex I clutched my head, trying to calm the screaming, and I bleered up to see Paul doing the same, swearing while he did so. Why the hell was she screaming? I tried to tap into her mind but something was blocking it. "Home!" Paul shouted, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward his bike. The screaming thankfully stopped but that only left me worried sick. I was sure everyone else in the pack heard her because I felt them all moving toward the cave as well.
What's wrong with Cheyenne?! Rose screeched in my head. I winced and told her to stop yelling, that we would find out when we got home. On the way I felt Dwayne stopping to give Ricky and Laddie a lift home. If something was going on with our sister they would need to know about it. Paul drove faster then I thought possible and stopped suddenly outside the cave. Holy crap, how long did it even take to get there? Two seconds? David pulled up a split second later, Star on the back of his bike, looking nervous, Claire behind her looking ready to slice the girl in two. I gaped at him and he glared at me, "Something's attacked Cheyenne and if they know who she is they know who Star is. She's safer with me."
Whatever. I didn't want to wait for everyone else but I had no choice, David wouldn't let us go in without the others. Marko and Rose stopped and got off their bikes at super speed, looking ready to kill, and Dwayne stopped just short of them, already snarling for his mate. Sure enough I wasn't Cheyenne's mate, but I was her sister, and that made me just as pissed as he was. We went down in ranks, David in front, followed by the boys, followed by the mortals, followed by the girls. The mortals all stayed in the middle, for their own protection.
When we got into the cave the scent of blood hit my nostrils, vampire blood. Cheyenne's blood. It was everywhere, covering everything, but there was no sign of her. Dwayne stiffened and snarled beside me, mirroring my actions of looking around. I didn't think she was back in the room's, because the blood was only in the living area. It was no where near the human area either, which confused us. After a moment Ricky spotted something on the floor and went to look at it before I could stop him. It appeared to be a piece of cardboard covered in blood, "Look up?" He read, clenching his eyes shut afterward so he didn't have to look up. I did the same but I had to look. Everyone's heads moved skyward and Star screamed. My stomach turned.
Cheyenne stared back at us with empty eyes, hung from a crevice in the ceiling by her neck, cut and ripped open everywhere, but still in tact enough to heal. Dwayne was already beside her, cutting the rope that held her up and lowering her to the ground. When she hit the ground we all crowded around her, except the human's who David sent to their area so they wouldn't have to see anymore then they already did. Poor Laddie was bound to have nightmares. I sat beside Cheyenne and helped Dwayne lift her head up so she could drink from his wrist. Claire and Rose were also beside our sister, looking over her wounds and assessing the damage done. David, Marko and Paul were looking around for any note or something that the bastards who attacked her could've left.
Her eyelids fluttered after a second but she couldn't speak, whoever attacked her had ripped her vocal chords. She looked at all of us then at Dwayne, who scowled at the rest of us and snarled, "Joel. He ambushed her with all his pack members while she was changing her clothes." I growled, my fangs extending angrily. I couldn't believe that bastard didn't have the balls to attack her with the rest of us around.
"We're going to kill him." David snarled, suddenly appearing beside us. He looked confused, as well as pissed. A note was clenched in his fist and Claire tapped his hand and held out her own for the paper. He did so with a snort, tossing the note on the floor. "This is just a warning, come to the Boardwalk and we'll see if those human's you care about so much are still in tact." Claire looked up at the rest of us with a question in her eyes. My heart dropped to my stomach, "Edgar, Alan!" I squeaked, shooting to my feet. Rose seemed to remember who they were and she paled.
"Who are they?" David huffed.
"Those kids from the comic book store. They're my friend's, kind of. I have to go, I have to see if they're alright." I almost ran out of the cave but David grabbed my wrist and spun me back around to face him. "He could be waiting to ambush you too. We can't take the risk for a couple of humans."
"That's bullshit and you know it. You brought Star here to be protected, I can't have the same privilege with the human's that I care about?" I glared at him. I could see why he was being unreasonable but it was still a bullshit excuse. "Besides, i'll bring Paul and Rose with me." David looked at the two vampires in question and they both nodded and/or shrugged. He sighed and barked at us to hurry up, and if the humans were still alive bring them back here. I didn't think Edgar or Alan would appreciate this gesture but they wouldn't have a choice. I didn't want them to get hurt.
Ohemgeeness, Cheyenne's been attacked and Eddie and Alan are in danger! WHAT IN THE WORLD WILL HAPPEN NEXT?!
(Wait and found out...dun dun dunnnnnn)