Seven
Melina got up before dawn. She threw on a sweater and headed outside to watch the sunrise from the cliffs overlooking the sea. She sat on her favorite boulder and smiled to herself, inhaling the smell of the water. She knew she was spoiled. That was how things should be. No, she wasn’t rich. But she’d been raised in the most beautiful location and she had the best parents in the world. They didn’t tolerate stress or drama. They pushed it back and beat the shit out of it if it tried to come close. She’d grown up knowing the value of a peaceful existence, and she intended to guard her own peace just the same as she ventured out into the world to find her own life path.
Her watch pinged. She scowled and ignored it. It pinged again and then again. Growling, she looked at it, her eyes bugging as she read the morning news. She usually didn’t give a flip about the news, but she set her watch to inform her whenever someone she knew personally was mentioned. Her watch pinged over and over in rapid succession as the story immediately went viral. She scrolled through for a moment and then looked away. She got the gist.
“Damnit, M,” she muttered.
She got up and walked back to the house. Her parents were only just getting up. Both of them were already reading the headlines. They gave her a knowing look. She nodded.
“I have to go.”
Merrick grunted and looked back at the streaming news. Netriet shook her head as she read.
“Go on. Try to keep out of sight. Don’t get caught by the cameras if you can avoid it,” her mom said, framing Melina’s face with her uneven hands. The heat from one and the cold from the alien robotic hand was normal and comforting to her, it was how her mom had been her whole life. Blond and beautiful, Netriet was also slightly frightening to some. And in truth, she could tear heads off with one swipe of her robotic arm.
“I’ll be careful.”
Melina quickly combed her hair, threw on some jeans and her boots. She headed out, realizing it was going to be one of those days she was trained to avoid. There were very few people she would wade through shit for, but Maddox was one of them.
Since they lived in a rural area, she had to run a few miles to get to the closest hub. She didn’t mind. Full blooded vampires could run fast and far without breaking a sweat. The portal kicked her out in Anue. She ran the rest of the way, out to the wooded fringe of the city, where Forest and Syrus’ land began. Surprisingly, she didn’t spot a crowd. It was true that the house was hidden by a dome of magic, but that didn’t mean people didn’t know it was there.
She circled around the back and found the invisible hand scanner. She placed her palm flat on the air. It was solid, and it shimmered under her skin. It opened to her. She crossed under the protection, still in awe over what Tesla created.
The garden was empty and quiet. She walked up to the front door and pounded on it. “M! Answer the door. Don’t force me to kick it in, dumbass!”
The door swung open. She narrowed her eyes at Kendrick and shoved him aside. “What are you doing here?” she demanded.
“Doing what friends do. Trying to be helpful in a dark time. Despite your obvious displeasure at seeing me, not sure what I did to deserve your ire, I’m thrilled to see you again.”
She didn’t answer and marched to Maddox’s bedroom. He was sitting cross-legged on his bed, leaning against the wall, looking disheveled in a pair of flannel pajama pants and a T-shirt. The smell of fragrant smoke hung heavy in the air. He glanced up through bloodshot eyes, looking like he wasn’t really seeing her.
She spun on Kendrick. He was standing too close behind her. “That’s your idea of helping? Drugs?”
“Yeah, it is. He needed to relax.”
She turned back to Maddox and pointed at him. “I’ll get to you in a minute, after I take out the trash.”
She faced Kendrick and stepped up to him. He didn’t see the fire in her eyes, too preoccupied looking at her breasts.
He blew out a breath, “Oh, sweetheart. You should stop denying the chemistry between us.”
“Leave,” she ordered.
“No way.” He put his hand on her shoulder. “I care about Maddox as much as you do.”
“You’re about to lose your hand.”
“I’ll risk it.” He slid his hand up to her cheek. “Look at me.”
She laughed and then plowed her fist into his stomach. He coughed, doubled over. She grabbed his hand and twisted it around behind him.
“Ahhh!” he shouted in pain.
She directed him easily out the door, shoved him off the porch, and locked the door behind him.
Maddox was standing, watching her from his doorway. “You are meaner than a damn snake.”
Her expression softened, and she went to him, wrapping her arms around his waist. He sighed and slumped against her.
“I’ve missed you,” he admitted.
“You know where I am. It’s your own fault if you miss me.”
He kissed her temple.
“Why do you still hang out with that douche? He’s no good.”
He let go of her and ran his hands through his hair. “I know. But he’s fun.”
She shook her head. “You’ve had enough fun, M. Have you seen what’s being said about you?”
“You mean all of Regia speculating whether or not I murdered a girl? Is the whole family corrupt and letting me get away with it? And if I didn’t kill her, what the hell did I do to make her kill herself?”
“Yeah. That.”
“Seen it.”
“And?” she demanded.
“And what? And did I kill her?” he snapped.
She scowled. “And what are you going to do about it? And don’t treat me like I’d even think that for a second again or I’ll throw you off the porch, too.”
He gave her a miserable smile and stalked back to his room. She followed him.
He flopped back on the bed, his hands on his head. “I don’t know what to do.”
She sat on the bed next to him and grabbed his hand. “How can I help?” she asked quietly.
He pulled on her hand until she laid down next to him. He closed his eyes and sighed as she wrapped her arms around him. “I love you, Mel,” he said quietly.
“I know. I love you, too.”
“How come we aren’t in love with each other? That would make everything perfect.”
She chuckled. “We tried that once, remember? We were thirteen, fourteen years old?”
“Something like that. I screwed it up, didn’t I?”
“No. It just wasn’t right, you and me, like that. It didn’t work for me. You either.”
“I wish it did.”
“You’re just saying that because you’re hurting and I’m comfortable.”
His lips curved up. “You? Comfortable? That’s funny.”
“Well, you’re comfortable with me,” she said. “Why do you make me worry?”
“Sorry. Truly. I’m done. With all of it.” His voice slowed as he relaxed against her. “I don’t know how to stop everything I’ve been doing, but I want to.”
“You could change your friends to start with.” Her voice took a stern edge. “And stop using, please. Process your damn feelings instead of just anesthetizing yourself with substance and hurting every girl that comes your way before she can hurt you. I know that’s your deal... I know what she did to you.”
He was silent.
“Are you listening to me?” she demanded. “M?”
He answered with a quiet snore. She scowled and shook her head as she got up off the bed and looked down at him. “You’re impossible.” Her voice was quiet. “Fine, sleep it off. I’m leaving.”
Before she left, Melina scrawled a quick note and set it on the pillow next to his head.
If you need me, call. I’ll come back.
The sky darkened, and thunder began rumbling overhead as Melina made her way home.
Erin hadn’t slept. Her grip on reality loosened until she just let go completely. She consumed the day’s news, obsessed with every word that questioned if perhaps Maddox was guilty. A loud thump drew her out of her room.
“What was that? Dad?”
He wasn’t in the living room or kitchen as he usually was during the day. She went to his room, her tired heart speeding up.
“No, Dad!” she rushed to him, terrified he was dead.
He’d fallen out of bed. She grabbed at him. His skin was damp and cold, but he looked up at her and gave her a weak smile.
“Sorry, hon. I’m not myself today.”
On a push of adrenaline, she hefted him up back on the bed and covered him up. “What hurts? What can I get you?”
He just shook his head feebly. “I can’t eat anything. It’s okay, Erin. I only have days left.”
“I’ll get you anything you want. I think I might know someone who can get me some human blood.”
“That’s illegal, Erin.” His voice was feeble, but he managed to sound stern. “Don’t you dare. Stay away from blood smugglers. You haven’t tried human blood have you?” he demanded.
She shook her head. “No, Dad. I promise.” She held her wrist next to his mouth. “Please, you need blood. Take mine. You’ll get better.”
“No.”
“Stop being so stubborn! You know I can out stubborn you any day of the week. I’m like Mom, remember?”
A faint smile lifted the side of his mouth, his eyes full of memories. “You are, so like her. If she were here, how would she coerce me into doing what she wanted?”
Erin blinked. It was a challenge. He was daring her to try. “She’d bargain with you.”
“That’s right.”
She worried her bottom lip between her teeth, contemplating. What was it her father wanted most?
“I kinda have a boyfriend. If you drink some of my blood now, let me give you some strength, then I’ll invite him over so you can meet him.”
He smiled a little bigger, but his breathing was labored. “A dying man cannot make promises, but I’ll try.” He sank his fangs into her wrist.
She exhaled in relief. He took a few pulls and then sank back on his pillows. “So, what’s this young man’s name?”
“Jaris. He’s a vampire. He lives in Paradigm. He’s one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met.”
He reached up and touched her cheek. “I’ll hang around to meet him.”
“Is that a promise?”
“We struck a bargain. A deal’s a deal. I feel a little better; I’m going to take a little nap now.”
“Okay, Dad.” She leaned over and kissed his head.
He closed his eyes. She sat there watching him breathe for a while. Each time his chest rose was a relief; every time it fell there was that one moment where she felt unsure he would breathe again. And then when he did, she questioned would this be the last breath? Or the next? She wasn’t sure what to do. There wasn’t enough money for the physician to come back. Not that they’d done any good the last time. No one knew what was wrong with him. She touched his forehead to check his temperature again. His eyes opened in thin slits.
“Stop staring at me. I gave you my word. I won’t die today. Why don’t you go see your young man for a while?”
She frowned at him.
“Go on. Let me rest. I can't relax with you staring at me like that.”
She sighed and left the room, leaving the door cracked. Thunder shook the house, and rain began to pour suddenly. She pinched her eyes shut as the sound of dripping bounced lightly around the room. She looked up. The roof was leaking. Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip… Each drop was like a weight on her back, and her back was already fractured. Her dad was dying. Selena was dead. She felt so alone. Life slid barbed wire through her hands. She couldn’t hold on. The harder she tried the more painfully it sliced into her.
The foundation of her mind cracked. This was where she broke. Right there. Right then. The only strength she had left came from hate.
She latched onto the loathing with her fingernails and teeth. Her eyes blazed as she went to the kitchen and grabbed a knife. It felt so good in her hand. Just so damn good. She walked out the door. Rain pelted her face, soaked through her clothes. Her vision tunneled as her stride ate up the muddy ground. She walked right out of the city to the rural fringe, where she knew her target lived. She would cut out his heart. She would carve her name in his skin.