#max tlb

Standing from the old arm chair I was peacefully lounging in only a moment before, I shake off  my blanket, it falls to the floor.  Marko’s face drops as he watches the cream colored quilt land on the dirty ground.

Shaking my head, “What are you talking about? We’ve had such a nice, peaceful night for once, why are you ruining it with your games David?” 

A flash of irritation crosses his face. I know he hates it when I challenge him, especially in front of the others, but this is ridiculous!

He takes a deep breath.

“I’m not playing games.” 

Glancing at my watch; it’s 4:30am. 

“I think I’ve had an enough of you all tonight, please go away.” 

I pull the heavy curtain that separates my space from the main area of the cave across, blocking them out. 

Standing there, in the dark, I stare into  nothing. I can’t tell what emotion I’m feeling. Too many swirl through my heart. Why are they doing this? We’ve been getting along so well, and I’ve been getting closer with them. 

I thought we were a family.

David’s face flashes before me, the gentle touches, the secret looks…. I had started to think we might even be something more….but now…..You don’t play games like this, especially with the people you care for. 

Collapsing on my bed, I pull the now dirty blanket off the floor. My fingers roam the edges, feeling for the little pigeon patch Marko sewed on. 

I’m sure any minute now one of them will crawl in here and apologize. He’ll says it was all a joke, and to just forget about it. 

But,what if none of it was real.

 What if they just have been grooming me for months to get me comfortable enough to believe their delusions? 

My mind is flooded with memories of them. Of Dwayne showing me how to fix a tire on a bike, or Marko walking along the beach pointing out constellations, Paul getting a new record and forcing me to listen to it with him, David reading out loud softly as I secretly listen in....how could these guys be so soft and yet so careless with me?

A tear slips down my cheek. 

—————-

“Should we check on her?” Paul asks, as he paces around the fountain for the two hundredth time. 

“No. She needs space” Dwayne replies 

Marko, stroking one of his pigeons,”She’s handling it better than most humans do. I mean, it has to be a good sign she didn’t run out of here screaming.”

“That's because she doesn’t believe us.” David spits out, his words a harsh truth. 

The cave echoes the sound of the crashing waves, Marko’s pigeons coo from the raptors. Condensation drips, off a rock, splashing into a small puddle near Dwayne’s tool chest. 

Paul, swinging down from the fountain, collapses on to the couch, with a loud creak. 

“Is this a bad time to mention that I’m hungry?” 

“Dude.” Dwayne remarks, before slapping Paul upside the head. 

“What?” He counters “we haven’t eaten since last night!”

Marko smirks, though it doesn’t meet his eyes. “I could go for a bite.” He says, releasing the bird from his grasp. 

David shakes his head,  “Fine. But we need to spread out our activities, the town over is open territory. We will hunt there for now.”

“We forget to clean up after ourselves one time, and the old man takes away our fun.” Paul says

“It could be worse.” Dwayne replies

“Yeah, he could not let us hunt at all…starve us out for a few weeks.” marko grimaces 

David glances back at the nest, tucked into the corner. He can hear her heartbeat, it’s slow, her breathing rhythmic. 

“You three go out, I’ll stay here.”

“You haven’t fed in a while, Paul can stay.” Dwayne counters 

“What?!” Paul shouts.“I’m starving!” 

Dwayne is right, like usual.

David sighs.

“Paul, she doesn’t leave your sight. Understood? She’s upset, and humans do stupid things when they're upset.” 

They make their way to the cave exit.

“Don’t worry Paulie, will’ll bring you back a doggie bag.” Marko calls out, but his voice runs flat. His mind elsewhere. 

David turns back “I’m serious Paul.” 

“I know, I know. Don’t let her leave the cave.” He sings back before collapsing onto the couch 

————-

I startle awake.

My dreams are filled with monsters around dark corners, blood dripping down stone walls. 

I breathe through my nose, placing my hands on my chest. The only sounds in the cave are the echoing tunnels, and soft rustle of the wind. 

The boys must have gone out for food.

Pulling myself out of my alcove, I immediately spot  Paul laying dazed on the couch, the smell of weed heavy in the air. 

“Paul?”

I crouch down by his side watching as a lopsided grin slowly forms on his stupidly beautiful face. He doesn’t respond, only hums the tune to some rock song. 

Grasping his chin I try to bring him too.

“Where did the boys go?” Again I get no response. He sure is smoking the good stuff tonight. 

David’s words rebound through my mind then, “we’re vampires….”

I don’t know what possessed me to do it, but slowly, I push a finger past Paul's lips, lifting up one side of his mouth. I sigh as I see he’s perfectly, normal looking, human teeth. 

Starting to pull my finger away, as I come to the conclusion that I have crossed into crazy person territory, I notice something odd. 

A single, vertical slit, down one of his gums. It doesn’t look like a scar or cut either, it looks organic…...like it’s part of him. 

Before I can think better of it, I touch it. 

Right before my eyes, a long, sharp fang slides out.  

Panic over takes me.

I stumble back, colliding with the cave wall. Wincing, I look down, my hand bloody against a sharp protruding stone. 

I can't get enough air in my lungs, my chest constricts like it wants to kill me. The ruins of this grand hotel, my home, feels like a monster's den. And I’ve been living with them like some….oblivious pet. 

They sleep all day.

Barely eat.

All the times David has known what I was thinking…

Before I know it, I’m at the mouth of the cave pulling on my jacket. 

I can’t stay here.

 I need air

I need space 

I need to wake up from this nightmare. 

 The boardwalk lights guide my way; the lighthouse to my lost ship.

————————

Regret washes over me instantly. 

I’ve never been to the boardwalk late at night without the boys. It’s uncanny at night. Too quiet, like a ghost could slip out from behind a ride or tent at any moment

“You alone?” 

Micah, an acquaintance of David’s, and I use that term lightly, stands before me. Where did he come from? I’ve always wondered why David is not fond of  him, the other boys don’t like him either, always distrustful....and now that I think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever been alone with Micah before. One of the boys has always been present, and seems to always whisk me away as soon as possible.

His eyes scan over me, my arms break out in goose bumps. On instinct, I lie.

“Paul dragged me here, he needed to pick up some more grass, from his dealer”. I say with practiced ease. 

 He snickers and runs a finger up my bare forearm. 

I startle away.  “What are-“

“The boys aren’t here sweet thing, one of my guys saw them riding north about an hour ago.” 

He corners me against the railing. 

“and as for Paul,” he leans down, smelling my neck, before licking down my jugular.

 “I don’t smell him on you.” He grins, grabbing my arms. 

My heart drops, as my mind puts the pieces together. 

When it comes to fight or flight, I’m a fighter through and through, but right now I’m frozen, my hands are shaking, my eyes frantically looking, hoping my boys will show.

 But they won’t. 

They're not here. In fact, they don’t even know where I am.

A man I don’t recognize appears to my side.

“I don’t see a mark.” He smirks 

Micah grins “Is that so-“ 

“Can I help you gentlemen?”  A firm voice pulls his attention from me. 

“I don’t appreciate it when rogues, whom I allow to stay in Santa Carla, touch what doesn’t belong to them.” Max says with coolness that could turn a person to stone. 

Micah’s jaw twitches 

“She's not marked, that means she's fair game.” His voice cracks

Max tilts his head in a way that reminds me of a lion from one of those nature documentaries. 

“I decide what’s fair game, and she’s not.”

Micah's whole body tenses, he mimics Max’s stance

“Are you going to fight me Micah?” Max questions

Silence. 

“It's been awhile since I've broken a bone, but I’ve heard it's like riding a bicycle."

Micah’s companion grabs his arm 

“Come on man, let go.” and like that they disappear into the shadows. 

A firm hand grasps my upper arm. 

“Come with me.”

Max doesn't wait for my response before he is  pulling me along, down the row of store fronts. We reach the video store, and he tugs me inside. 

“Are you okay?” he half asks as he grabs the phone on the counter, dialing. 

Crossing my arms, tears fall down my cheeks. The seriousness of the situation Max just pulled me from finally hits me. 

“He was…” I stutter. “He was going to kill me.” My voices catches in my throat

Max speaks into the phone, ignoring me, “missing something?” His voice, deeming. 

I can’t hear what’s being said on the other side, but there is a short pause before he speaks again. 

“She’s at the store.  I shouldn’t have to keep tabs on your responsibility.” He hangs the phone up. 

Turning back to me, Max rubs his face, “what did the boys do?” 

I look at Max, and I don’t know where to begin. But with that one look I soon realize I don’t need to say a word. 

“They told you.” He says flatly  “how much did they explain?” 

“Nothing past ‘we’re vampires’” I scoff, though I know I’m also to blame. I didn’t exactly give them a chance.

Max places his hands in his pockets, and closes his eyes. 

“They have been towing a dangerous line since they took you in as their mate, letting you prance around without a mark. I’m surprised we haven’t had something like this happen sooner.”

The word mates bounces through my mind, an unfamiliar word, and it seems to hold some weight. My brain files that away for later, as it circles back to Micah. He was always a gentleman when I interacted with him before.

“I just don’t understand….I've met Micah before and he never acted like that.” I blurt out, my eyes burning

"You have got a lot to learn, my dear. A predator will always act like a predator.”

Scoffing I respond  “forgive me being so ignorant Ma-“

 “I’m surprised, actually, that he didn’t just pull you into some dark shadow and take you for himself. I would have.” he says with such coldness, such detachment.

I’m not shaking anymore, I’m not sure I’m even breathing. 

He stares, unblinking. Gold encircles the brown of his eyes. 

 A fear takes over then, one I have never felt before. I feel like a small child that wandered into the den of the friendly wolf, only to learn he is not as friendly as he seems. 

He brandishes a small, disarming smile: 

“But of course, I would never touch something that’s not mine, especially something so important to my boys.” 

 His words don’t comfort me, they just serve to remind me that I am treading deep, deep water, and there are sharks below. 

Max clears his throat. 

I meet his eyes, and I see it now. 

The predator.  

Cold and calculating. 

“Are the boys coming?” I ask, mustering as much confidence I have left in me.

“David is on his way.” he pauses, “Vampires, though chaotic and violent at their core, survive on order, tradition. If we didn't have it….well, we would all kill each other ... .That's why it is so important that they mark their territory properly.” 

My brows furrow. 

“Territory? I’m no one’s property-”

“You are now.” His says coolly. 

The soft rumble of a bike sounds outside the store.  

“Vampires don’t think the way humans do. At our nature we are selfish, possessive. We take and we take. This practice occurred out of necessity to mitigate conflict with others. You don't want the boys to get drawn into unnecessary conflict because of you, do you?.... It wouldn't be the first time a vampire has died because he failed to claim what's his.”

The door opens. 

Ice blue eyes, meet my own. He looks relieved, disheveled, and furious all at the same time. 

“I’m glad you could join us.” Max says 

David walks deeper into the store. Reaching me, his hand slides up my cheek softly, tilting my face to him. The action feels so out of place with his current level of anger that radiates off of him like a bomb.

“Are you hurt?” He grits out, his eyes are screaming, but I can’t tell what they're trying to say. 

I nod my head, “I’m okay.”

His nostrils flare, as he grasps my hand. I wince slightly as his fingers make contact with the gash I forget was there. 

“No. You're not.” He challenges.

“It was my fault.”

“No. It wasn’t.”  

David turns to acknowledge Max, but before he can get a word out Max beats him to it. 

“An unmarked mate invites conflict. Fix it.” 

I watch as his jaw tightens, and his body tenses further. His hand on my face drops, and curls into a fist.

“I will” is all David says. 

“Good, because if you don’t? I will do what is necessary to keep our family safe. Even if that means correcting your incompetence myself.” 

David’s rage hits a precipice, and he looks like he's going to pounce. His eyes turn gold. But before he can do anything, Max turns, walking to his office. He’s had enough of us for the night I guess. 

My voice shakes, “What does that mean?”

David's eyes meet mine again, darkened this time. Maybe now was not the time for questions. 

“Get on the bike.”

His tone leaves no room for arguing, I make my way out the door as he trails me from behind. Close and suffocating. 

He mounts his bike, I follow after him. Placing my arms around his waist,  he catches me off guard when he grabs my hands. 

His hold is tight. He breathes deeply in through his nose. 

“I can smell him on you.”

Just as quickly as he grasped my hands, he lets them go. 

“He’s a dead man.”

Turning the engine on, he pulls out onto the road. 

A deep sorrow overtakes me as we ride along the dark coastline. 

I've grown to love him. To love them all in my own way. 

I’m going to lose them. There’s no way we could go back to what  we were before. I’ve always felt safe around them, no matter how chaotic and dangerous they could be, I knew I was never in danger. 

Am I now? 

I tug on his jacket.

His jaw clenches, and I can tell he doesn’t want to pull over, but he respects the signal that he taught me many months ago. 

The bike slows as he pulls us off the road, on to a scenic overlook the summer tourists love. 

Neither one of us moves to get off. 

“I need you to talk to me.” I say, my voice trembles “because if I’m left alone with my thoughts for a minute longer….” My voice trails off as tears slip down my cheeks. 

The waves crashing down below are deafening. 

“David, please talk to me.” I know I sound pitiful, begging him like this, but the thought of him being angry with me forever is a thought that sits in my gut like a stone.

“You are not to leave the cave, alone.” he says coldly.

Hot anger mixes with my tears. I am a grown-ass woman, he doesn’t control me. My mouth flies open ready to argue, but he cuts me off. 

He clears his throat, his hands still gripping the handle bars. His voice is steady, but it wavers in a way I have never heard before

“When we got back to the cave….I could smell your blood.” He pauses “I panicked, in a way I haven’t done since I was human.” He rubs his face. 

I choose to table my anger for the moment as I place a hand on his back. I feel him tense, like he is deciding if he is going to allow himself this vulnerability, but I soon feel his shoulder blades  relax under my palm. 

 “Paul didn’t know where you were, or why your blood was smeared on the cave wall…..” he releases the handle bars, clasping his hands. “And then Max called….and for a moment I thought he had stolen you away to teach us a lesson.” 

A thousand questions fight for my attention in my mind, and my mouth won’t cooperate to even let one escape.

I sigh looking out at the horizon. 

David, without warning starts up his engine, and pulls back onto the road. 

I don’t ask where we’re going, because where else would we go? 

He dismounts, and offers me a hand, helping me off when we reach home. 

I can already see his facade fall back into place. He places a hand at the small of my back and leads me down.

A thought weighs heavy on my mind.  

“David?”

“Yes.”

“Are you in trouble with Max now?” 

We descend the last step into the common area.

“We’re always in trouble with Max, don't worry your pretty head about it.” He says as his domineering, confident mask falls fully into place. 

Strong arms grab and pull me into a crushing hug. 

“You're safe.” Dwayne mumbles into my hair. 

“Not for long if you keep hugging me like that” I laugh.

But Dwayne just hugs me tighter, before releasing me. He notices my hand immediately, tracing the wound with the rough pads of his finger tips. 

“Well now we know where the blood came from.” He says to David, as he studies my hand. 

David doesn’t respond, he sits in his chair, pulling out a carton of cigarettes. 

Dwayne guides me to the couch, “stay here, we must have a first aid kit thrown somewhere.” He disappears into one of the many cave tunnels.

I look back to David who is now taking long drags of his cigarette. 

“Where is Paul and Marko?” I ask 

“Taking care of Micah and his friends.” He says flatly 

“And by taking care of, you mean…”

“You know what I mean.” he responds  

I shot up from the couch. He can’t be serious….

Dwayne then returns with a very old looking box and gently tugs me back down to the seat cushion. 

David continues, “he tried to take what’s ours, there is only one resolution. He knew the rules, and he chose to break them.” 

Dwayne takes my hand and begins cleaning the wound with a bottle of alcohol, I wince, the sting feeling well deserved. 

Am I responsible for their deaths….

David seems to catch on to my thoughts

“Don’t you dare, blame yourself. You may not have been marked, but Micah knew damn well who you belonged to.” 

Dwayne chimes in, as he wraps a bandage around my palm, tying the loose ends together. “He forfeited his life the moment he approached you.”

David motions for me to come to him.

I stand, walking over.

Dwayne disappears somewhere into the cave. 

When I reach David, he pulls me into his lap, resting a hand on my lower back.

I gasp at the sudden change in position. We’ve never been this close before, my cheeks heat at the proximity. 

He grins at my flustered state, running a hand along my cheek, his thumb caressing my lips. 

“I can't lose you.” he whispers so quietly, I could have missed it. 

He fishes into his pocket, pulling out an earring, identical to his own. 

“You’ll wear this.” He says 

“What if I don’t want to?” I challenge.

“I wasn’t asking.” 

He grabs my ear, pressing the earring post into my piercing. He pulls it through the other end, and leans back in his chair admiring it.

I scowl at him. 

He smirks, “you do look good when you're angry with me.” His hand travels up my back, I shiver. He reaches my neck. His hand wrapping around slightly, before pulling away.

“And of course, the earring doesn’t work, well….” He leans in, kissing down my neck, my eyes flutter shut.

“David…” I mumble out feeling the electricity of his touch. I want more, any other night i would stay with him like this, but my nerves feel fired and exhaustion is starting to take it toil.

He pulls away, he hands resting on my hips.

“What happens if it doesn’t work.”

David’s hands begin to roam again, like they have an agenda of their own.

“I’ll just claim you the old fashioned way.” He muses, eyeing my neck.

“What if I don’t want that?”