"White wedding, gonna leave you all behind."
"White Wedding" by Billy Idol
THE AIR CRACKLED with tension as David stalked towards Sevyn. His ice-blue eyes were narrowed into slits, radiating a chilling intensity. "What in the hell were you thinking?" he hissed, his voice low and dangerous.
Sevyn, her usual bravado momentarily shaken, took a step back. "Calm down, David," she said, trying to keep her voice calm. "It was just a little fun."
"Fun?" David scoffed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You call jeopardizing our entire plan 'fun'?"
"What are you talking about?" Sevyn feigned innocence, though her heart pounded against her ribs. It had been a while since she made David this mad. She didn't like it; he was scary and intense. "I just went to the comic book store."
"You going to the comic book store could get us all killed," David growled, his voice just loud enough to be heard over the boardwalk crowd. "You could have derailed our plan, Sevyn! If that fails, we could all be dead."
"Relax," Sevyn retorted, her temper rising. "I handled it. Those kids are idiots. They believe you're human for now, it was harmless."
"Harmless?" David scoffed again, his cold eyes blazing. "You're anything but harmless. You're a wild card, Sevyn. Unpredictable. Dangerous."
"Oh please," Sevyn retorted, her temper rising. "You're the one who's unpredictable. You're always brooding, who knows what you're thinking. You're the one who's a danger to himself and everyone around him."
David flinched minutely at her words. He was unpredictable. Dangerous. But not in the way she meant. His unpredictability stemmed from his need for control. He craved it, always had. He pushed boundaries, tested limits, not because he was reckless, but because he needed to prove to himself that he was in charge. He was dangerous because of the power he wielded, the power he relished. He was a predator, and predators were inherently unpredictable. He quickly masked his expression, turning away from her.
"Besides, they will go back to believing you guys are vampires again when the Emersons call them for help," Sevyn explained with feigned nonchalance.
"This isn't a movie anymore, Sevyn. Lives are at stake. My pack's lives. And if something happened to you…" he paused, his voice softened slightly before he shook himself from his thoughts. "We need to stick to the plan." His voice was hard again.
He cursed himself silently. He almost said too much. He should have just yelled at her and been done with it.
Sevyn was taken aback. David, the cold, aloof leader, had almost admitted… something. She wasn't sure what, but it was clear that her actions had affected him more than he was willing to admit.
She had to remind herself that these men – these vampires she'd befriended – were real here, real people. David was in danger of losing his brothers, his family; of course, he was losing his shit. He was counting on her to be the one who kept them safe during the day when the time came. So many precarious things were in balance that any wrong move could tip the scales back in favor of the Frogs and the Emersons.
Then she realized: David was scared.
Paul, leaning against his motorcycle, winced. "Whoa there, David, chill. She's not gonna get us all killed." He winked at Sevyn; a wicked smile upturned his lips. "Besides, a little excitement never hurt anyone."
"She does have a knack for getting out of sticky situations," Marko murmured, a dangerous glint in his eyes. He watched Sevyn with a possessive gaze, grinning his Cheshire cat grin, the corner of his thumb pinched between his teeth.
David, sensing the shift, turned his icy gaze on his fellow vampires. "This is serious, Paul," he warned. "And I don't need your input, Marko." David sighed and shook his head as he lit a cigarette.
"Look, I know I shouldn't have gone," she conceded, her voice softening. "But Laddie… I wanted to do something nice for the kid. And besides," she added, her mischievous expression flashing between contrition and pride, "it was a challenge. Could I convince those idiots you aren't vampires? Apparently, I can."
David stared at her, his ice-blue eyes unreadable. He wanted to chastise her further, to lay down the law, but something in her eyes, a mixture of defiance and vulnerability, held him captive. He found himself strangely unwilling to argue with her.
Dwayne, observing the scene with a calculating intensity, simply raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement playing on his lips. He was sure Sevyn was right. She may be every bit the wild card David claimed she was, but she was intelligent and cared about them – she wouldn't put their lives in real danger.
"Just… be more careful," David growled, his voice rough. "We can't afford any more mishaps."
Sevyn nodded, her gaze fixed on the ground. "I will. I promise."
David nodded curtly, still unsure how he felt about this unexpected turn of events. He needed to regain his composure. This human was far more unpredictable than he initially thought.
"So, what are we up to tonight, boys?" Sevyn asked, changing the subject.
"We're going to mess with Mikey boy, pixie girl. You in?" Marko grinned at her, excitement flashing in his eyes at the prospect of causing some trouble.
Sevyn nodded enthusiastically, swinging a leg over his bike and settling herself behind him. She pressed herself close to his back, her arms curling around his waist. Her hands wandered, eventually settling flat against his stomach.
With a rebel yell, the pack tore off into the night, heading towards the Emerson residence. They sped through town, the bright lights and crowded sidewalks giving way to a more rural setting as they neared Grandpa's ranch.
They parked far enough away to remain undetected when they left, but close enough for the human in the group to witness the fruits of their glamour. Sevyn, though still finding it novel, wondered when she would truly become accustomed to these extraordinary displays.
David lit a cigarette, unconcerned about the cherry glowing in the darkness. His illusions would effectively conceal them from the pair inside. He had shaken off the earlier unease and was now fully focused on their mischievous plan.
Sevyn rested her chin on Marko's shoulder, anticipating Sam shouting out in fear and Michael's bewildered expression as he opened the door to find nothing amiss.
As the scene unfolded before them, her arms unconsciously tightened around Marko. A quiet laugh escaped her lips, a bell-like sound that sent shivers down his spine. He smiled, reaching back to smooth his palm up her thigh, squeezing it firmly.
Right about now, the brothers inside would be seeing the lights of the Lost Boys' motorcycles circling their grandfather's home, all of them hooting and hollering, David chanting Michael's name.
This was all a mind game, a way to psychologically torment the boy they'd been forced to recruit. While this scene was originally from the movie, Sevyn couldn't help but notice a distinct difference in their torment this time around. This felt more personal, a small taste of the retribution they sought after Michael had dared to kill them.
When Sam's cry erupted and the door swung open to reveal a confused Michael, the boys erupted in low chuckles, while Sevyn shook her head in mock disappointment.
"You boys are terrible," she chided, though her words were laced with amusement.
"Only the best for you, babe," Paul replied with a wink, and the group turned on their bikes and headed back to the cave.
On the ride back, Sevyn fell into deep thought. She pondered the alluring nature of their mind powers, each new display leaving her utterly fascinated. Her mind inevitably drifted towards the impending decision: embrace immortality or remain mortal.
She wondered what her refusal would entail. Would David insist she leave? Would they distance themselves, leaving her to face the world alone? The thought of losing her newfound family sent a shiver of fear through her. She knew fear should not dictate such a momentous decision, but it was undeniably a significant factor.
Like David, she cherished this found family. They had become incredibly important to her, and the thought of returning to life without them was unbearable. Tonight, David had starkly reminded her that they were no longer just characters in a movie – they were real, and she cared deeply for each of them.
If she were truly honest with herself, she already knew her answer. To live forever with the boys, to be virtually indestructible, would be the ultimate thrill. They could chase the next adrenaline rush every night, wreaking havoc on the beach town, living life to its fullest. She would finally have a true family, a family of her own choosing and one who chose her back.
She needed to stop lying to herself. The direction of her life and their relationship was clear, yet she continued to resist it. Why? Didn't they offer everything she wanted?
When the time came, after everything was over, she would drink from the bottle and join her boys in eternity. The thought sent a wave of contentment through her. She buried her face in Marko's neck, savoring the feeling.
She was roused from her reverie as they reached the bluff and switched off their bikes. She climbed off Marko's bike, stretching upward with a yawn.
"Come on, babe, let's strip and cuddle," Paul suggested with an unrepentant grin, waggling his eyebrows suggestively.
Sevyn opened her mouth to retort, but before she could utter a word, his lips met hers, and his arms swept her off her feet. She gasped in surprise before surrendering to the kiss, a laugh bubbling up within her.
As the two made their way down to the cave, she could hear the quiet murmuring of her other boys as they followed behind them. A warm feeling swelled up in her chest.
Forever with her boys? How could she resist?