xxiv.

The boardwalk seemed just a bit brighter tonight as I watched the people from my position on the railing. I swung my legs back and forth, quietly braiding small braids into Dwayne's hair as we waited for the other two to get back. David was standing beside me, a cigarette between his lips as he watched the crowd like I did.

I hummed a song quietly as I brushed hair from Dwayne's shoulder. I bent down and kissed his neck softly, laughing a bit as he shivered. "Put your head on my shoulder," I sang quietly, pressing another kiss to the top of his head. "Hold me in your arms, baby." I wrapped my arms around Dwayne's shoulders and placed my head on top of his. I knew he was grinning, and I felt one of his hands move to hold one of mine. "Squeeze me oh-so-tight. Show me that you love me too."

I pressed a kiss to the top of Dwayne's head and looked up as I heard Paul and Marko making their way over. Paul's arm was slung over Marko's shoulder, and they were both laughing loudly. David stomped out the rest of his cigarette and raised an eyebrow. "What took you guys so long?"

"Sorry," Paul said with a grin, "ended up getting caught up in each other on the way."

I laughed at that and tapped Dwayne's chest so he would move forward. He complied, and I dropped down to the boardwalk, my bare feet making barely any noise. "We found a group of people down on the beach, surf nazis."

Marko's face upturned to a Cheshire grin, and he bit his nail at the news. "Well, let's get em," Paul yelled out, excited. He bounced on his toes and grinned a wild grin.

David nodded, and I intertwined my fingers with Dwayne's as David led us to the group. I was shaking a bit, whether from excitement or nerves I wasn't sure. "What if I mess up. Like, what if I can't do it," I questioned Dwayne, biting my lip.

"You won't," he stated, looking down to me with a reassuring smile. "Once you smell it, your instincts will take over. Don't worry. Just try to steer clear of Paul and Marko if you're trying to stay even a bit clean. They have entirely way too much fun feeding."

I nodded and laughed a bit. Of course, out of everyone, the two would have the most fun doing it. I could hear the group of Surf Nazis clearer and clearer the closer we got. They were dancing around a fire, something they seemed to do often, while blaring music from a beaten-up boombox that closely resembled Paul's. "How do you guys even start this," I questioned, watching from a distance as three boys danced around, yelling out lyrics to whatever song was playing while a couple made out from their position a bit away from the fire. "Like, do you just dive in or do you like screw around first?"

"Depends on how we're feeling," Dwayne answered. "Sometimes we like to join the party before killing them. Paul likes to fuck around with the girls, lead them on and then kill them when they try something. David just likes to go for it. Marko doesn't care as long as he gets to eat."

I nodded, and we stopped a few feet away from the group. They hadn't noticed us yet. "Then, what are we doing tonight?"

David licked his lips and turned to me with a grin. "Your choice, sweetheart. If you want to taunt them, you go for it. It's your first meal."

I bit my lip and stared at the group, my eyes set on a specific boy. I had seen him a few days ago taunting a girl and trying to get her to give in to his desires. I would have stepped in if he had taken it any farther, but he ended up falling when he tried to go after her, too intoxicated to even walk right. "Do I look good," I questioned, looking down at my outfit. Black tank top, short leather skirt, fishnet leggings, and combat boots were my outfit for the night.

"You look fucking hot," Paul stated simply.

I gave him a lopsided grin and nodded. "Well then. Don't come until I bite him." Then, I was sauntering over to the boys, swinging my hips a bit more when one of the boys looked my way.

"Come to party, pretty thing," he questioned, pausing his dancing. The others followed his gaze, and I watched the one I wanted do a quick scan of my body, a smirk on his face.

I hummed and batted my eyes a bit. "Well, I heard you guys could give me a good time." My voice was sultry, a tone I used with the boys when I wanted them to know what would be happening later that night. "Can I join?"

The one I was watching nodded and reached his hand out for me to grab. The other two started dancing again, though their eyes were pinned on us. I took his hand, and he swiftly pulled me against him. I heard my boys growl lowly, but I ignored them. I grinned at the boy in front of me, trying not to flinch at his disgusting breath when he spoke to me. "So, where're your boys?"

"Thought I'd party with you guys tonight. I've had my eyes set on you for a while." I whispered the last sentence, leaning forward just a bit.

"Is that so," he questioned, chuckling at the end.

I hummed and nodded. I leaned forward a bit more, my lips ghosting a bit above his neck. "Been thinking about this," I stated before letting my fangs slip out and biting down hard. I moaned as blood flooded my mouth, the delicious taste running down my throat. The boy let out a loud yell of terror, and I heard my boys join me as screams filled the air.

I was caught up in the taste of his blood. It was sweet yet a bit bitter, and I wondered if what they ate changed what their blood tasted like because he surely tasted like beer mixed with chocolate. It was strange yet delicious. It tasted better than anything I had eaten as a human.

As I drank, a feeling of power overtook me, and I closed my eyes as I felt something change inside me. My body was tingling, starting from my fingertips and moving towards my heart. I was changing completely. Pleasure ran through my body after the tingling, and once the body was completely drained, I dropped him and turned to my boys. Marko was the only one finished, and when he caught my gaze, he seemed to understand the want in my eyes because he walked toward me.

I sped over to him and immediately pulled him against me, kissing him harshly. The taste of blood covered his mouth, and I moaned loudly as we tangled tongues. His hands gripped my ass, and I tugged at his hair, growling when he pulled away.

The growl was cut short, however, as I felt someone turn my head and kiss me just as harsh as Marko had. Marko moved to make marks along my neck as I moved one hand from his hair to the person who was now kissing me, and as I felt it, I concluded that it was Dwayne.

Dwayne kissed me passionately like he had never kissed me before, and I whined when I was pulled from him and to a new set of lips.

Paul's.

Paul kissed me hungrily. It was a teeth-clashing, breath-stopping, body-shaking kind of kiss that consumed me. Paul kissed me as if his life depended on it.

Lastly, I was pulled from Paul's lips to David's. David kissed me slowly, a nice change of pace from the others. David kissed me like he wanted me to know that he was proud of what I had just done. David kissed me in feather-light movements that had me wanting more.

As he pulled away, I was left a light-headed mess, my eyes fluttering open and closed rapidly. Marko stopped his assault on my neck, and I took a step back, steadying myself.

David laughed quietly and grabbed my hand, pulling it close to his face and kissing my knuckles. "Welcome to the club, beautiful."

I was half-asleep on the floor when Michael and Star finally arrived. I had made a palette on the floor of pillows and blankets I had asked Marko and Paul to find. They ended up stealing a few bed sets and pillows from closed stores.

Laddie laid on top of me, his small body covering my stomach and legs as he snored softly. Paul laid to my right, and Marko was drawing me, I believe. Dwayne was skateboarding around, singing quietly to the songs playing from the radio. David was sitting in his chair, reading the same book for the umpteenth time.

Star had walked in first, followed by Michael who seemed to be a bit skittish to be in the cave. Star searched the room for a few seconds before her eyes fell on me. The moment they did, though, she bounded over to me.

Star jumped over and sat down on the bedding next to me, a bright grin overtaking her face. I laughed a bit as Marko grumbled a bit about obstructing his view, but Star either didn't notice or didn't care. "Thank you," she stated simply.

I bit my lip and smiled up at her, nodding. "Of course. Anything for my sister."

Star giggled, and I lifted my head just a bit to see Michael standing with his hands in his pockets, looking like he didn't know what to do. "How'd things go with his mom," I questioned, turning back to Star.

"She's very nice. She's getting married to Max. I didn't know he was the head?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "Wasn't allowed to tell. 'm sorry."

Star shrugged and swallowed. "Just wasn't expecting it, y'know."

I nodded and yawned. The sun would be rising fairly soon. "Hey, Michael," I called out. "Get over here."

Michael seemed to falter for a second before I heard his shoes hit the ground and he began walking over. Once he was in my line of sight, I lifted my hand and beckoned for him to come closer. Star moved out of the way and he took her place.

I stared at Michael and pursed my lips. "Michael," I began quietly. "You understand that I have four boys that I am very much in love with and that they would do anything for me, correct?" Michael nodded, and I could tell he was trying to keep a calm façade, but he was freaking out inside. "You understand that Star is my sister and that I would do anything for her, correct?" He nodded again. I pursed my lips again and said the next part firmly. "Michael, if you ever lay a hand on her out of anger, if you ever push her past any limits she's expressed, if you hurt her in any sense of the word, I will rip you apart without a second thought. I will tear you limb from limb and feed you to the animals outside. Do not doubt for a second that I wouldn't do anything for my family, and I'll know if you did something. She wouldn't even have to tell me because I'd fucking know. Don't try me, Mikey."

Michael's eyes were wide, and his hands were shaking. He nodded quickly, his words stuttering. "Yes, of course. I wouldn't even think about it."

"Oh, I know, Michael," I leered at him. "Now, I suggest you go figure out where you're sleeping before I snap now for the stunt you pulled earlier tonight." Michael nodded again and moved away. Dwayne clapped a hand on his shoulder and led him to where he and Star were to sleep from now on. It was another tunnel in the cave that led to a room that had made up tonight for the two of them. Star's bed had been moved to it, and candles filled the inside, though they wouldn't need it with their newly enhanced sight.

Star returned to her position, this time with a raised eyebrow and a smirk. "Was that really necessary?"

I laughed and grinned at her. "Of course, it was. Are you kidding me?"

Star laughed with me and shook her head. "I'm going to go to bed. Love you, Eva."

"Love you, too, Star. I'll see you tomorrow night."

Star nodded and lifted herself up, walking to where she saw Dwayne and Michael disappear to.

I yawned loudly and stretched. I lifted Laddie off of me and stumbled to my feet with him in my arms. I made my way across the cave to his bed and gently laid him down. Rain immediately jumped into the bed and curled up beside him. Laddie wrapped his arms around him, and I smiled at the action. "Night, Laddie," I mumbled and pressed a kiss to his forehead.

Then, I walked back to the main area and wrapped my arms around Marko from behind, staring at the drawing he had done of Laddie, Paul, and I. I had to admit, he was talented beyond belief.

Marko grinned and turned his head to face me. His eyes that normally held mischief held - instead - a look of content. "This is finally home," Marko mumbled, pressing his lips to my cheek. "You're my home, Evangeline."

"And you guys are mine," I mumbled back.

A soft smile replaced Marko's grin, and he stood up before turning back and lifting me into his arms, carrying me like I had carried Laddie. He gently carried me to our bedroom where the others soon joined, and I was soon in the middle of the bed, pressed between warm bodies and loving smiles.

That night, I slept better than I had in a long time, truly happy and ready to take on whatever this world would bring us. Nothing could defeat the lost boys as long as their lost girl was right beside them.