Will opened his eyes.

Pale sunlight slanted from the window above his bed and touched his skin. The wind was blowing outside. He could see the tree limbs swaying.

It had been one week since they moved him from the cell in the basement up to a normal room. This one only had a bed, but at least he wasn’t tethered down to it.

Will was learning to control the Change. Or so he was told.

A guard remained posted outside his door; a big man named Cord. A former cage fighter, he still looked the part. Clean shaven, bald, and thick as a boulder, he’d been assigned to Ryder House in recent days.

Cord, a Wolf himself for many years, explained the phases he’d go through.

“Many of us don’t live through the first few weeks after we’re made. Wolves are destructive, not only to others, but themselves as well. They do stupid shit. Like jumping off rooftops or running into traffic. In the human form, the metabolic shifts can cause deep bouts of depression. Lots of them end up eating the business end of a riffle. You will have those kind of thoughts, I assure you. That‘s only in the beginning, though. ”

From what he could tell Cord was right.

Will dreamed and slept a lot. Death took form in his nightmares, a woman with eyes that were all blackness, and teeth like knives. Her skin, covered in  veins, cracked as she spoke.

What poison do you wish? She asked from the shadows.

And she laughed.

*****

Will sat up.

He smelled food.

That was one new thing. Each morning, he could smell food long before Cord entered the room with it.

And another scent. Female.

Marradith came in, carrying his breakfast tray.

“Hey Will,” she said with a soft smile.

“You sure about this, Marradith?” Cord asked. He stuck his head in, frowning with concern.

“Will and I have an understanding,” she said.

“Yeah,” he replied. “Well, I’ll be right here.”

He eased back out the door, but didn’t close it all the way.

Will stared at her. His senses told him that she was only human, though he knew full well she was a Lamia, with vampire and Wolf in her blood.

He was fascinated by her flesh. Soft skin and firm muscle, he thought about what it would be like to change into his primal form. Dig his claws into her skin, separating it from the bone, and then his fangs….

“Hello,” he said, trying to push these thoughts away. He took the tray from her and dug into his food, shoveling eggs into his mouth without bothering to use a fork.

“Remember how we used to stare at Justin when he’d eat?” he managed between swallows.

“Yeah.”

“Now I know why. It’s not like normal hunger. It’s bad.”

She nodded. “How are you feeling?”

He waited, closing his eyes. The eggs tasted so good, for a minute he just wanted to chew and savor it, even though he couldn’t get it down fast enough.

“Weird. I don’t know if you should be in here right now.”

“You have to get used to being around people again, slowly,” she said. “Think of me as a good test case.”

“Cause you can, um…zap me if I misbehave?”

“Something like that. Though I don’t know if I need to. Cord is no joke.”

“ Where did Granthem dig him up?”

“One of his old friends.”

“Very old.” Cord said from the hallway.

“I brought you something to distract you,” she said.

Marradith went out into the hall briefly, and came back with a silver laptop.

“Is that mine?” he asked.

“Yes.”

He lunged at it with the enthusiasm of a child on Christmas.

“There’s actually a new assignment on there for you. Not very exciting, but it’s a start.”

“I appreciate it,” he said, trying not to stare. “I could kiss you, but it’s such a bad idea.”

She laughed. “Yeah. Anyway. Find out anything you can on this guy, Ross Stevens. And let me know when you’re done.”

“Okay,” he paused, running his hand over the laptop. This was a vestige of his old life. Something to make him feel normal again.

“I’m going to let you finish eating. But I’ll be back , as often as I can. Until you get better.”

“Thanks…. Marradith?”

“Yes.”

“How is Fiona?”

*****
 

“Miranda.”

She opened the door an inch. When she saw that it was Terrance, she took off the chain and let him in.

“How are you, Mejo?” she said softly, retreating into the darkness of her den.

Really, it had been Pablo’s den. She hadn’t done anything to change it in all this time, and Terrance was surprised at all the memories that flooded back. He imagined the old man sitting back in his favorite chair, recounting stories from the old days.

“We haven’t seen you at the diner in a week,” Terrance said. “What’s going on with you?”

Miranda shrugged and sat down on the couch. “Nothing.”

“Look. Are you sure? Come on, it’s me.  I won’t judge you.”

She pursed her lips. For a moment he thought she might want to tell him the truth. But then, something changed in her eyes.

“You run things at the diner just fine. You know, I have been thinking about giving it to you. What do you think about that? A business all your own.”

“I think something is seriously wrong anytime you’d consider giving it up.”

She sighed.

“You know I think of you like one of my sons? In some ways, I feel we’re closer. You’ve been here through it all. I promised your Abuela when she passed, that I’d look out for you.”

“And you’ve done that. So let me look out for you,” he said.

“How?”

“I hate to even say this. But I have to know. Rafael Castillo is missing. Do you have anything to do with it?”

“No,” she said. “But they should give a medal to whoever did.”

Terrance paused. “Miranda. I need to go out of town. Just for a few days. Are you up to handling the diner?”

“Sure. And we’ve got George. He’s not you, but he’ll do for a couple weeks.”

Before he left, she kissed his cheek. “Hurry back home. Be safe out there, okay?”

He zipped up his parka. On the sidewalk, he looked up at her window for a moment before he turned to leave.

Miranda had been like a second Mother to him for many years. He’d never turn his back on her, no matter what she might have done.

She didn’t ask where he was going; as if she already knew.

It bothered him that when she said that she had nothing to do with Castillo’s disappearance, he didn’t entirely believe her.

 _________

© 2010 Lori Titus

Lori is currently writing a new book about Lazarus and the dead things that dwell therein. Meanwhile, her nightmares are haunted by zombies, werewolves, and a teenager named Marradith.

Lori’s book, Green Water Lullaby, is available here:  http://www.sonar4publications.com/green.html

Vote for The Marradith Ryder Series on Web Fiction Guide:  http://topwebfiction.com/vote.php?for=the-marradith-ryder-series.

For more about the author, read her blog: http://loribeth215.wordpress.com

I stood in line at Trader Joe’s. Waiting to pay. I glanced around and spotted him in the lane next to me. Tall. Lean. Black wavy hair. A piece of it kept getting in his eyes and he swiped at it as he rang up groceries. He glanced over at me. Dark chocolate eyes that mesmerized.

I was drawn to him. I changed lanes. Finally it was my turn. “Paper ?” He asked with a voice filled with hints of what he could bring to me. At night. I held up my Trader Joe bag. “Cloth,” I laughed. He did too. I held out the bag and our fingers touched. An electric spark shot between us. We both jumped back at the same time. I banged into the cart behind me and he banged into the partition that separated the cashiers from each other. “Sorry,” he mumbled to no one in particular. “Sorry,” I said to the lady behind me. That stupid lock of hair fell down again and before I knew what I was doing I reached up to tuck it behind his ear.

My fingers tingling. He grinned at me. “Thanks.” I shrugged. “I’m Sebastian.” “Lina.” The lady waiting behind me cleared her throat. I handed him my credit card and he ran it through the machine. Both of us trying hard not to touch fingers again. I bolted out of there but stopped when I got to the parking lot. A huge picture window faced the lot. I could see him clearly through the glass. I watched his fluid movements.

He felt me watching and turned to stare at me. I backed away until I wasn’t able to see him again. I rubbed my hand where we had touched. I could still feel a tingling there.

I came back. Watching him through the glass. Day after day. The October weather turned chilly but still I stood and watched him. For hours. Feet turning numb with cold. Fingers unable to feel. None of it was real. Only the image placed before me behind the glass was real. Sebastian. He knew I was there. Occasionally he would glance up and nod slightly at me as if this was all planned. When his shift was done he would get in his car and leave. We never spoke. I waited until he had driven away then I left too.

Sometime in November near Thanksgiving I stood in the softly falling snow in the shadow of a parking light. The lot was nearly deserted. He was locking up. He looked my way but didn’t see me in the shadows. There was disappointment on his face. I stepped in front of him as he made his way to his car. He was startled for a moment. A black hooded figure gesturing to him.

Then he realized it was me. I was in his arms in an instant. We kissed as sparks flew between us, around us and over us. He stepped back first. “Wow.” My lips tingled with electricity. My blood was on fire. For him. He saw it in my eyes and nodded moving toward his car. I got in and we drove in silence down a lonely road to a cottage nestled in the trees.
I got out and waited for him to join me. He opened the door and invited me in. “Come on in Lina, I’ll build us a fire.” He shrugged his coat off into a chair near the door and I did the same with my cloak. I surveyed my surroundings. Stone fireplace. Spartan furnishings but comfortable chairs. A rug bearing a family crest hung over the fireplace. He handed me a glass.

“Wine,” he said softly. I drank feeling nothing. Wine does not affect me. Never has. He took a drink from his glass and grinned at me again. “I’ve thought about every day since you came to my lane.” I put my finger against his lips. “No talking, this is not the time for talking,” I said. His eyes became darker in the dim light of the cottage. He bent down and kissed my neck. Small sparks lit me on fire. I felt my knees begin to buckle but he held me up as he kissed me in the soft part of the neck. I closed my eyes enjoying the feel of his lips there.

He bit down slightly, soft. Then harder. I felt the blood ooze. He licked the droplets smacking loudly. “You’re a vampire?” I said horrified as I shoved him hard. He stepped back. A funny feeling passed through his face as he licked his lips tasting my blood again.

“You’re a werewolf?” He said, equally horrified. “I can taste it in your blood.” I held my hand against my neck. Blood oozing out between my fingers. “It’s not the full moon for several days,” I said by way of explanation. He left and came back with a towel. I held it against my neck. It wasn’t bleeding hard. He smiled at me. “Wonder if a vampire and a werewolf can…”

“If you promise not to drink me dry, maybe,” I said dabbing at my neck. He watched me intently. “If you promise not to eat me during the full moon,” he said moving toward me.

“No promises,” I said as millions of sparks enveloped the two of us.

_________________

©2010 Kathleen S. Allen