"Under blue velvet, I felt you before."
"The Killing Moon" by Echo & the Bunnymen
AFTER THE WOULD-BE murderers left, Sevyn felt too alert to go back to sleep. Despite getting barely any rest between returning with the boys and waking up, she was wide awake. She concluded it must be from the adrenaline of manipulating a bunch of teenagers to unknowingly act as bait for her.
Needing to do something, she disappeared and reappeared a few minutes later dressed in black leggings and a plain black t-shirt, carrying a yoga mat. Sevyn set up her things on a rug and began a relaxing routine, hoping to calm her nerves.
She was just finishing her cool-down when the boys began appearing one by one. She slowly rose and stood before them, silently assessing them as they approached with varying expressions of appreciation. Sevyn couldn't stop the smile that curled her lips.
Paul was the first to reach her, his face split into a wide grin. He threw his arms around her and lifted her, spinning her around. Sevyn burst into melodious giggles as he peppered her face with kisses, lingering a little too long on her lips each time.
"Sevyn, you're a lifesaver! Marko owes you one, and so do I. Anything, anything you want, just name it, babe," Paul said between kisses. He leaned back and winked, letting her slide down his body slowly, his eyes full of suggestive promise.
The next thing she knew, Paul was being pulled away and replaced by Marko. His face was serious, but gratitude shone brightly in his eyes. She had never seen him so somber. If she weren't so happy to see him, she would have found it unsettling.
Quicker than she could react, Marko pulled her into a tight hug, his face buried in her neck. Sevyn returned the hug, holding him just as fiercely while fighting back tears.
Marko was in awe of Sevyn. She had saved his life, just as she promised. He never doubted she would try, but there was always the possibility of failure. He should have known Sevyn would succeed. She was amazing. She was perfect.
She was his.
"Thank you," Marko mumbled against her neck. He pulled away and slanted his lips over hers, kissing her passionately. The kiss was over as quickly as it began, and he walked off.
Dwayne slowly stepped forward and pulled her close by her hips, studying her silently. He leaned his head down and rested his forehead against hers for a moment before placing a gentle kiss on her lips. Her silent boyfriend walked away with only a smirk and a wink.
Very Dwayne.
Sevyn looked from Dwayne to find David standing before her. She jumped slightly in surprise. They stared at each other for a moment before his hand came up to cup her cheek. As his hand chilled her heated skin, she realized he wasn't wearing his leather gloves.
David silently observed the girl before him. The one who had crashed into their lives. Had someone told him this girl would save his packmate's life—and possibly all their lives—he would have killed them for suggesting he would need help from a human to protect his brothers. Yet here she was, standing before him after preventing the events that would have ended Marko's life.
The plan was only half done; the final act remained, where he and his brothers would finally be free from their maker. Sevyn had made this possible. It was because of her that they had this chance to liberate themselves from that bastard.
In that moment, he was absolutely sure he wanted Sevyn to join their pack. He always knew the boys would insist on it, and he had planned on it anyway, but now it felt so…right.
She was meant to be theirs.
For once, the smile David gave Sevyn wasn't mocking or cruel, but roguish and sincere. He slowly leaned forward and brushed his lips against her full lower lip, giving her a small taste of what was to come once this was all over.
"Good job, kitten," he rumbled against her lips.
The act of affection took Sevyn's breath away. Literally. She was pretty sure she wasn't breathing. Her eyes were fixed on David as she tried with all her might not to burst into awkward laughter.
She had been doing so well.
Finally, Sevyn inhaled and nodded. David's smile turned into a smirk before he turned to walk toward the wheelchair.
Sevyn watched them all for a moment, a small smile playing on her lips. The adrenaline was finally wearing off, replaced by a pleasant warmth and a sense of anticipation.
The group was fairly subdued tonight, doubtless because of what was about to happen. Each of the boys were doing their own thing: David was smoking silently on his "throne;" Marko was sitting with his pigeons, obviously lost in thought; Dwayne was quietly reading on one of the couches, while Paul sat with Sevyn, smoking a joint and softly talking.
A subtle shift in the atmosphere, a barely perceptible tightening of Sevyn's focus, signaled a change.
"Alright, boys," Sevyn announced, clapping her hands. "You guys ready to roll?" She grabbed her phone from the coffee table and tucked it into her pocket.
At the chorus of acknowledgment, Sevyn chirped, "I'll meet you there." With a wink, she vanished, reappearing outside Widow Johnson's house. It was the same place Grandpa Emerson had been before everything went down with Max.
Sevyn stood before the door for a minute, silently psyching herself up to finish this. Would Grandpa Emerson believe her? She hoped so, considering he somehow already knew his daughter was with a vampire in the movie.
She bounced on her toes a little, shaking her hands at her sides. Once she felt ready, she piled her hair into a bun and knocked on the door.
It only took a minute before the door opened, revealing the very man she was looking for. What were the odds that he would be answering someone else's door? She really was lucky.
Let's see how far this luck extended.
He stared at her with narrowed eyes, and she wondered if he was sober. "Hi, Mr. Emerson," Sevyn began, her expression grave. "My name is Sevyn, and I know your grandsons, Michael and Sam. Your family is in danger tonight, sir. I know you don't know me, and you probably don't trust me, but your daughter is on a date with a vampire, and your oldest grandson has been turned into a half-vampire."
She rushed the words, sure he wouldn't listen if she didn't get the facts out immediately.
"How do you know this?" he finally asked, straightening his slightly hunched posture. She now saw the vampire hunter in him.
"I'm a friend of Michael's; I was there when he drank the blood of the man Lucy is currently on a date with. If you follow my plan, we can save your whole family," she said calmly. His question was valid, so she told the truth, hoping it wouldn't make him distrust her.
"So, you're with those vampires that hunt on the boardwalk? Are you one of them?" Grandpa Emerson asked, his hand instinctively moving toward his belt.
"No! No, I just hang around with them; I'm completely human," Sevyn said quickly. "As far as I know," she added.
"As far as you know? What does that mean? We don't need any more supernatural creatures in this town. Are you some kind of witch?" Grandpa looked increasingly suspicious. He took a step back, a hand on the doorframe. Sevyn's stomach sank when she realized he planned to shut the door on her.
"No, I'm human!" she exclaimed impassionedly. "Trust me. I'm just a little…extra. There's no time to explain right now. You'll see. Look," she said, levelling her gaze with Grandpa Emerson's, "I'm trying to save your family. I want what you want, which is for Max—the head vampire—to release his hold on everyone." Sevyn tried again, hoping her earnest plea would secure his help.
Grandpa Emerson rubbed his chest, a look of worry etched on his face. "This all sounds insane… but Michael… he's my responsibility. I'd do anything for him and Sam, for Lucy." He looked back at Sevyn, his eyes narrowed. "Why are you helping us? What's in it for you?"
"That's… complicated," Sevyn said, choosing her words carefully. She knew that she had limited opportunities left to persuade him. "Let's just say I have my own reasons for wanting Max gone. And, more importantly, I know how to do it."
Grandpa Emerson sighed heavily. "Well, I don't know what kind of trouble you've gotten yourself into, but my grandson is a good kid; he doesn't deserve a life like that. What's your plan?"
"Wow, that was easier than I thought…" Sevyn paused, mentally patting herself on the back. "How attached are you to your house?"
Twenty minutes later, they split up to prepare for their parts of the plan.
Sevyn waited downwind in the shadows as Lucy and Max entered the house. She crept quietly across the yard, dodging totem poles and other lawn ornaments until she stood at the front window, peeking inside.
She heard the teens frantically trying to tell Lucy everything while Max walked around, searching for Michael. She knew the moment Max found him because he froze, staring at him and Star huddled to the side by the taxidermy room.
Max turned and began his villain monologue, talking about wanting them to be a happy family living forever, slowly stalking closer.
Sam again tried to make his mother see what was happening. Sevyn saw when Star realized David wasn't the head of the family. It was all coming together perfectly.
Max reiterated what Sevyn had told the boys: they never should have invited him in. She felt smug, knowing his confirmation solidified her as truthful.
Lucy remained in disbelief, unable to accept it. Sevyn rolled her eyes, ready for it to end as Max laid out his plan.
Finally, the fight broke out between the teens and Max—a fight they were destined to lose. Max now had Sam in his arms, and Lucy was close to giving in.
Sevyn pulled out her phone, flashing the flashlight three times into the distance before blinking inside.
Her sudden appearance paused the scene, Lucy's hand almost in Max's. Sevyn landed in front of the head vampire and his captive, a mischievous smile on her face. She gave Max a jaunty salute before yanking Sam from his grasp and grabbing Lucy's hand to teleport them to safety.
As she vanished, Grandpa's jalopy horn blared, and his truck crashed through the front of the house. Michael, seeing his chance, jumped from the balcony and shoved Max into the path of the flying fence posts.
The implosion had its intended effect. Shredded and impaled, Max exploded into a fireball in the fireplace, setting off a blinding light. Smoke poured out, and the house rumbled before everything settled.
Michael, Star, and the Frog brothers slowly pulled themselves off the floor, clearly in disbelief that it was over, that everyone was safe and human again.
The two teenage lovers embraced, Star sobbing happily against Michael's chest. He held her tight, reveling in their success. The burning thirst that had plagued him was gone, replaced by the familiar comfort of his own heartbeat. Their skin, no longer icy to the touch, warmed against each other's. They were free.
The room was silent until Sevyn's loud laughter rang out. Everyone looked at her, their confused looks sobering her. She cleared her throat and rocked back and forth on her high-tops.
Before she could say anything awkward, the Lost Boys entered through the back door, surprising everyone but Sevyn. Michael, Sam, and the Frog brothers immediately jumped in front of Lucy and Star, protecting them. Laddie flew down the stairs and leaped into Star's arms.
David pragmatically assessed the situation. He needed to ensure the Frog brothers and Emersons would leave them alone, at least for a while. He needed time to regroup, and they had a human to turn.
"Now that this is over and you got what you want, it's time for us to talk," he said. "We just want to be left alone." He gestured vaguely to the Lost Boys, his piercing gaze sweeping across the assembled company. "We're not going to cause any more trouble. We'll keep to ourselves. Santa Carla is big enough for everyone, don't you think?" he asked calmly.
Edgar was instantly suspicious, exclaiming, "Left alone? That's it? After everything you've done?"
"Alright, alright. You want something concrete? We'll stop feeding in Santa Carla," David conceded smoothly. "We'll hunt elsewhere. Outside the city limits. You have my word." He knew it was a lie. Santa Carla was his territory. He wasn't leaving. But it was a palatable lie, something the Frog brothers might believe.
The Frog brothers, exhausted and traumatized, were tempted by the promise of no more local feedings. They agreed, adding vague threats, but still looked modestly cowed.
A predatory gleam lit David's eyes as he surveyed the Lost Boys, then Sevyn. This truce was a temporary reprieve, a chance to consolidate his power. He'd give them a few weeks, a month tops, to bask in their delusion of triumph. Then he'd be back. And if they were foolish enough to come looking for him? He'd be waiting.
Laddie broke away from Star and walked to Dwayne, sadness in his eyes.
"Laddie," Dwayne began, his voice low, "Star and the Emersons are going to take you in. While things settle down." He avoided looking at the boy. He wasn't good with emotions.
Laddie shuffled his feet. "But...I'm one of you."
Dwayne nodded. "You are. And you always will be. But right now, it's safer for you. They can offer you things we can't. A normal life, for a while. A chance to…be a kid." He knew what being "one of them" entailed. He wouldn't wish it on Laddie yet.
Laddie looked up, eyes wide. "But, what about you? What about the others?"
Dwayne met Laddie's gaze. "We'll be here. We'll be…around. And when you're older, when you're ready, you can choose. You can come back. We'll be waiting." It was a promise, but a knot tightened in his chest. Letting Laddie go felt like losing part of himself. He's family, a primal part of him growled.
He placed a hand on Laddie's shoulder, a brief gesture. He wanted to say more, but the words wouldn't come. He'd protect Laddie by letting him go, for now.
He glanced at Star, a silent plea passing between them. Take care of him. Laddie nodded, his small face a mask of sorrow, and somberly returned to Star, clutching her leg. Tears welled in his eyes, but he blinked them back, trying to be brave.
Sevyn watched, her heart twisting. She understood Dwayne's sacrifice, the painful necessity of letting Laddie go. She felt the weight of it in her own chest. Crossing the room, she wrapped her arms around Dwayne in a tight hug.
He stiffened for a moment, then gently returned the embrace, a silent acknowledgment of their shared understanding. They broke apart, the Emersons and Frog brothers observing the quiet exchange.
David, his gaze lingering on Sevyn for a beat longer than the others, gave a curt nod to his pack. It was time. Time to leave, time to celebrate their victory, and time to solidify their hold on Sevyn. He knew what he wanted. He knew what he needed.
Paul and Marko, ever exuberant, whooped and hollered, each grabbing one of Sevyn's hands and pulling her towards the back door. "Come on, Sevyn! Let's get outta here!" Paul yelled, already halfway out the door.
Sevyn, pulled in two directions, glanced back at Dwayne. A flicker of uncertainty crossed her face. She wanted to stay, to offer comfort, but the pull of the Lost Boys, especially David's intense gaze, was stronger. She gave Dwayne a small, reassuring smile before allowing herself to be led away.
Dwayne watched them go, his expression unreadable. He knew this wasn't over. He knew David. That predatory gleam in his eyes spoke volumes.
Outside, David mounted his motorcycle, his movements deliberate, almost ceremonial. He looked back at his pack, his gaze settling on Sevyn. A slow, possessive smile spread across his face.
He revved the engine, the roar echoing through the night. He was in control now. Truly in control. And as he led his pack into the darkness, he knew that Sevyn, like it or not, was coming with him.