Blood and Beasts (28 page)

That day at lunch, the five of them
decided to play a little game. They had each played it before with various
persons, although nobody quite remembered the name of it. Abernathy brought it
up. It was a game where the person states something that they have never done,
and those that have done it must raise their hands. Abernathy started it off
with an ice-breaker question.

“I have never… skinny dipped,” she
confessed, eyes swiftly roving over the four of them.

Guiltily, Linda, Stefan, and Tristan
all raised their hands. Abernathy burst out laughing as Seph just grinned
sheepishly, giving a little shrug. So she had never tried it? Looked like it
was pretty cold…

“I have never rollerbladed,” Tristan
stated next, and they all stared at him in shock as everybody but Seph raised
their hands.

Now they all stared at her, and once
again, she shrugged. She caught Tristan
’
s
eye, and they grinned at each other. They seemed to have more in common than
just missing the sun. It was Linda
’
s turn then.

“I have never… bitten someone,” she
announced, and everybody
’
s eyes swiveled to Stefan and Seph,
who had to raise their hands, of course.

“
Big surprise-
” Seph started when Tristan raised
his hand too.

They all stared at him, eyes wide
open.

“You
’
re not even a werewolf,” Linda stated the obvious.

“It was just in fun,” he said, eyes
dancing as they all caught onto just what ‘in fun
’
meant.

“Oh,” they all said in unison before
bursting out laughing as Tristan
’
s cheeks turned a little pink.

Before Stefan could say a word, next
in line, Seph butted in. He rolled his eyes at her, but she just smirked. She
tossed her hair over her shoulder regally.

“I have never had sex,” she stated,
and now they all turned to Linda and Stefan, who both raised their hands a
little guiltily.

Abernathy had not either, and
neither had Tristan? Stefan nudged him playfully. It was clearly a nudge of
manly friendship.

“C
’
mon, man! You ain
’
t done the dirty? If you
’
ve bit a girl, why ain
’
t you… It was a girl, right?” He
suddenly pulled away from Tristan, who just glared at him as the vampire
grinned.

“Yes, it was a girl,” he stared down
at his hands, a little embarrassed. “Look, my uncles taught me to always
respect girls, and that if I was ever to do that with a girl, that she should
be really special. I just haven
’
t found that girl yet,” he looked up
at them all now a little nervously.

“All right,” he agreed, and they all
shrugged it off as Stefan cleared his throat for his turn.

“I have never hit a person in
anger,” he announced, and they all raised their hands except for him and
Abernathy.

“Why
’
d you hit someone, Tristan?” Abernathy asked, and he
shrugged.

“Over a girl… Got in a fist fight,”
he grinned at them all devilishly.

“You and girls, man,” Stefan shoved
him jokingly.

“You, Linda?” Abernathy asked, and
she rolled her big, Asian eyes over to bat them at Stefan.

“I might have slapped Stefan a few
times when I was angry,” she batted her eyelashes at him innocently, and he
leaned forward to give her a sound kiss.

“It never hurts,” he assured them
all, one arm wrapped possessively around his girlfriend
’
s shoulder.

“Hey,” she shoved him roughly.

“I see what you mean,” Seph
commented, and they all looked at her to explain who she had hit in anger
before. “Oh, I
’
ve hit a few people when I
’
ve been angry. Couldn
’
t possibly tell ya them all. Most
recently, I threw my step-mom,” they all nodded at this, understanding, and the
awkward silence pressed on them all.

“I have never stolen anything,”
Abernathy piped up, and Stefan, Linda, and Seph raised their hands.

“I used to steal things all the
time. Ran with the wrong crew,” Stefan explained, setting his hand down.

“I stole money from my real mom a
lot for groceries and stuff,” Seph explained, and they all quickly turned to
Linda to brighten the mood.

“I used to steal make-up from
Wal-Mart,” she shrugged as they continued to stare at her. “What?! They charge
seven bucks for eyeliner! I buy one, and then throw three more in my bag,” she
explained, grinning broadly at them all as they just rolled their eyes.

“Tristan,” Abernathy said seriously,
and they all quieted down to hear what this peppy girl had to say so gravely to
the young wizard. “We are the only virtuous ones here,” she said stoically
before her face broke out into a huge smile.

They all groaned, leaning away from
her. The rest of lunch continued in much the same fashion as they all laughed
at each other, cracking random jokes. They bonded and became closer friends
than they already were. They didn
’
t even bother to go to the Room.
They would go there tomorrow, when Francesca and Rodney were back…

It was five in the morning, or more
appropriately, evening, although it felt like five in the morning to Seph. She
was being shaken gently, and she could smell the enticing aroma of warm blood
on the air. She was hungry. Immediately, she sat up and gasped with surprise to
find Francesca sitting on her bed, a warm mug of hot blood in her hand as she
waited for the vampire to finally wake up.

“Francesca!” She exclaimed, wrapping
her arms around her best friend and nearly spilling the blood all over the
place.

That would be a hard stain to clean
up.

“Seph,” Francesca breathed in her
best friend
’
s scent. “I
’
ve missed you,” she murmured, and Seph nodded in
agreement. “Here
’
s some blood,” the werewolf girl
said as they finally extricated themselves from each other.

Eagerly, Seph accepted the blood,
sipping it to try and appear normal. All she wanted to do was guzzle it down
though. She licked her lips of any traces as Francesca stared at her. Seph
grinned.

“AB positive, one of my favorites,”
she said, and Francesca laughed.

After Seph had at least gotten a few
good gulps in, Francesca started talking.

“So… how are your injuries?” Seph
knew this question was coming.

“They
’
re fine,
” Seph answered nonchalantly, trying
to at least hide her left forearm under the comforter.

Francesca was not to be dissuaded.

“Let me see. I know werewolf marks
take forever to heal,” she said, ushering towards Seph
’
s left arm.

She sighed and revealed it. She felt
Francesca
’
s fingers delicately graze over the
pearl-white bite marks. She was frowning.

“What other injuries did you get?”
She asked, and Seph just shook her head, trying to stop this minute inspection
of Francesca
’
s before it really got started.
“Seph…” she breathed warningly, and the vampire sighed.

“Oh, alright,” she grumbled, rolling
over to her stomach and lifting her shirt up so that Francesca could get a
better look of her back.

She heard the sharp intake of breath
and really wondered how badly her back must look. Maybe she could go into
Francesca
’
s mind and look through her eyes? As
long as her best friend didn
’
t notice… She stealthily crept into
Francesca
’
s mind and peered through the girl
’
s golden eyes.

She had to bite back a gasp. She was
naturally fair, especially compared to Francesca, but still… Thick, deep, white
claw marks marred her smooth back. She remembered who had done that to her too.

“Rodney…” they both murmured at the
same time.

“He
’
s gonna hate himself for this,” Francesca moaned, and
Seph rolled over to stare at her.

“Why? He was just being what he is.
I have nothing to forgive him for. I know how it is to lose control,
Francesca,” the werewolf nodded this whole time, practically patronizing her.

“I know. I know, Seph. It
’s just
… He attempted to stay in the
Were-Corral… He thought he could, and then he goes and attacks one of his
closest friends… Nearly kills her…” Francesca mused, and now it was Seph
’
s turn to shake her head.

“
Oh, us vampires don’
t die that easily. Now, if my
foster-mother had managed to get that stake in my heart… that might have killed
me,” she replied, and instantly, Francesca
’
s head snapped up.

“Stake? What? You had parents
’
day, didn
’
t you? She tried to kill you?! Seph, that
’
s awful!” Francesca exclaimed, eyes
wide with sorrow for her.

Seph shook it off.

“I shouldn
’
t have expected anything less. Bill just watched while
me and Janette rolled around on the ground, she trying to kill me and me trying
not to kill her. I finally got her off of me, and she just left. She did say
something like I was never welcome in their home again, blah blah blah. All I
know is they better not be hurting Pearl and Pearce because of me. I
’
ll know about it, and they
’
ll regret the day they ever chose me
to be one of their foster kids,” she vowed darkly, and Francesca nodded,
knowing it was not the time to joke with her best friend. “But, on the bright
side, I did get cards from all my foster-siblings and my real siblings,” she
said, immediately pulling away her pillow to reveal the several cards she had
stuffed under it.

She wanted them near her at all times.
For the next hour or so, they looked at the cards, talked about them, joked
about them. They talked about what had been going on for the last three days
that Francesca had missed. Seph explained what happened in classes, and
Francesca nodded. Francesca explained what had happened to Rodney and what was
happening to him now. He was getting a pretty good lashing from Sir Sanzio.
Seph also mentioned the games the five of them had been playing during lunch,
and Francesca laughed hilariously at the ‘I never
…’
game.

“I can
’
t believe you guys played that! Why don
’
t we ever play games like that when
me and Rodney are around? We
’
re not that bad!” She exclaimed,
although the mischievous look in her eyes said otherwise.

“I dunno. Abernathy just brought it
up so we didn
’
t mope around all day,” Seph said,
laughter bubbling up from both of them.

“Wow… we gotta play that game at
lunch today! We should probably play it in the Room though. Sounds like you
guys were talking about some pretty risqué
stuff,
” she winked at Seph, who just grinned good-naturedly.

Francesca glanced over at their wall
clock. It was in the shape of a golden sun, a sun they never saw anymore. Seph
’
s thoughts briefly dwelled on
Tristan. He was so similar to her.

“We need to get ready,” she
announced, getting up and springing to the bathroom before Seph could claim it.

The vampire just rolled her eyes.
She would survive the brief five minutes Francesca took in the bathroom. Why
did she always have to make everything a competition? She didn
’
t care that much. Then again,
Francesca was used to competing for the lone bathroom in her house shared by
her, her two younger sisters and her two younger brothers. At least the
youngest siblings, twin girls and little Benny didn
’
t need to fight for the bathroom just yet.

Walking to the Main Hall for
breakfast, Francesca whispered in hushed tones to Seph. She did not have
pleasant news for the girl. Seph couldn
’
t
withhold a grimace.

“What do you mean Rodney
’
s gonna wanna see my wounds?” She
exclaimed, barely remembering to keep her voice down as they walked past many
bustling students.

Francesca sighed, grabbing the girl
’
s wrist.

He blames himself for what happened,
girl. He wants to see every little detail that he inflicted on you or that any
werewolf inflicted on you because it was him that forced you into the Werewolf
Warehouse to begin with
,
the girl explained, and Seph just shook her head, not feeling compliant.

I don’
t care. I am not stripping for him!
She exclaimed, and Francesca rolled
her eyes.

I
’
m sure if my cousin really wanted to
see you half-clothed, he could figure out a better way of doing it without
feeling guilty. He just wants to see your injuries,
she continued to explain, and Seph
continued to shake her head.

No, no, no,
they reached their regular table
and broke apart, alighting themselves in their normal seats across from each
other.

“Hey, guys! What
’
s up?
” Francesca called cheerily as both Abernathy and Linda
sat down at the table, trays laden with oatmeal and cereal for today.

“Francesca! You
’
re back! I forgot that today you and Rodney come back!”
Abernathy stopped abruptly at the mention of Rodney
’
s name, eyes first flickering to his empty seat and
then to Seph, who just shrugged.

“You guys! Stop acting all weird! I
really don
’
t care about what happened! Like
Tristan said,” she pointed out as the wizard sat down with his own tray of
fresh fruit and an omelet. “There
’
s nothing to forgive. He was just
acting according to his nature. It couldn
’
t
be helped,” she stated and that closed the subject for the rest of their
breakfast.

However, they all did notice Rodney
’
s absence from the table. Nobody
said anything about it, but everybody wondered. Where was he? On their way to
first period, Seph gripped Francesca
’
s
arm lightly to ask the obvious question.

Where was Rodney?
Francesca
grimaced at the question she knew was going to be asked.

Sir Sanzio wanted to have a talk
with him first thing. I
’
m guessing that
’
s where he was,
she said, and Seph broke their hold
so that Francesca couldn
’
t hear all the tumultuous thoughts
in the girl
’
s mind.

Sir Sanzio was going to give Rodney
a talk, or he already had, more to the point. Would he be punished? It really
wasn
’
t his fault. Any student could have
made the same mistake. Overconfidence shouldn
’
t be punishable. He never meant anything by it!

What if he had not attacked her,
though? What if it had been a passing witch or wizard? They rarely escaped from
werewolf attacks, and if they did, they were deeply scarred for life. A person
would certainly have died, and what person or wizard possessed the strength she
did to have fended him off like that? Perhaps he should be punished, simply to
ensure that he never thought so confidently of himself in that area again.
Better safe than sorry…

She scowled at this logical side of
her. It made perfect sense. There was nothing wrong with what she was thinking,
but she felt disloyal all the same. She felt like she was somehow betraying
Rodney by agreeing with Sir Sanzio, with the adults. She pushed these thoughts
out of her mind. Well, nobody need know what she really thought on that matter.
They would all just accept the fact that she forgave Rodney no matter what,
even if she believed he should be punished a little and learn more
self-control.

Anxiously, all through HU, she just
waited for class to be over. She didn
’
t
even listen to a single snide comment Ruby sent her direction. She wondered if
Yolanda or Damian had filled her in on Seph
’
s little escapade with her foster parents yet.
Probably… and Ruby wouldn
’
t care at all. She shrugged. That
was Ruby for you…

It couldn
’
t have taken longer for Basic to roll around. She
hurried into class early, not even bothering to stay and chat with Linda after
HU. Abernathy was already there, seated in their normal seats at the back. Now
that they had all become friends and pushed some other students into their
former seats, they claimed most of the back row. Madam Winslow didn
’
t mind where her students sat so
long as they didn
’
t distract from the general learning
environment.

Rodney wasn
’
t in Basic either though. Seph anxiously stared at the
door up until the commencement bell rang, and Madam Winslow grasped their full
attention. She was teaching about… something… Where was Rodney? Seph moved to
nudge Abernathy
’
s leg and ask her where Rodney was.
The girl just shrugged, turning away from her and inclining her head towards
the teacher, indicating that they should pay more attention to the lesson. Seph
scowled at her. Abernathy just didn
’
t
want to talk to her. The witch didn
’
t
really care about the lesson. She knew something… They all seemed to know
something, except her. At least Tristan seemed out of it as well. So perhaps
Francesca had only had time to fill in Linda and Abernathy, but who knew when
she had? The pair did not have first period together. She sighed. She hated her
friends all avoiding her like the plague, not wanting her to know what was on
their minds.