Chapter 24: Twenty Four

“Literally,”

I chose to file that for future interrogations. “Do you ever eat?” I asked instead, remembering that I’ve never seen any of the Carter’s eat. “And my peanut butter sandwich doesn’t count; you only eat it to spike me.”

“Yeah, only coffee.” he smiled mischievously, as though he was enjoying some private joke.

I stared at him suspiciously.

“It’s not really coffee is it.”

He shook his head, the smile still tagging at his lips.

“Oh my…” I tried to keep my food down, I was failing miserably. I leaned my head against the headboard and took deep breaths. The smell of blood suddenly loitered on my nostrils, the bitter iron taste of it lingering on my tongue. My imagination had always been active.

“Do I scare you, yet?” he asked with a satisfied glint in his tone.

I opened only one eye. “Dream on.” I closed it again.

“Why won’t you listen to me? I’m not your average guy.”

“You aren’t as scary as you might think.”

“Well, you should be scared.”

“I am.” I confessed. “I’m scared that I might wake up one day and you’d be gone.”

“I’ll stay for as long as you…” I could hear the smile in his voice behind his promise. “Remain ‘not scared’.”

“Do you promise?” I asked doubting him even though he had never lied to me.

“With my life,”

I laughed nervously. “I’m sure you’re not an easy person to kill.”

He smiled.

“Bradley?” I said, my palms sweating.

“You say my name a lot.”

“Don’t side-track me.” I warned, pointing my index finger at him.

He held his hands up in mock surrender.

“You found my room.” I said more of a statement rather than a question. It was time for some answers. “I didn’t even tell you were my house was.”

“I followed your scent.” He rolled his eyes. “Besides, you live in my backyard. How hard can it be to find you?”

I frowned. “Like a dog.”

He laughed, “No, like a wolf.”

Wolf. That word made me shiver. I wanted to drag this conversation long enough.

“Why did you follow me?”

“Your scent calls out to me, if you will. It’s uniquely premeditated for me.” He searched my face for a full minute as if deciding to tell me something, his eyes in slits and his lips thinned to a fine line, whatever he saw satisfied him. “I had no choice in the matter. Even if I did have the choice, I’d have followed you willing.”

I tried not to sniff myself.

He laughed.

I shook my head and dared a glance at him. His eyes were dancing in excitement; I stared for a moment, mesmerized.

He cleared his throat.

I blinked.

“You weren’t even listening to me.”

“Of course I was.” I said, my tone sounding like a five year old, caught stealing from the cookie jar.

“So you’ll tell me?” he asked, leaning in close. My heart responded the way it always did when he was this close to me.

“I… um, what?” I said disorientated.

“Your allergic reaction,” He mumbled.

“A wendigo.” I lied. I wanted to test my limits. He didn’t laugh but rather frowned.

“I’m not that ugly.”

Of course he wasn’t like that hideous creature.

“I’m sure you still have another surprise for me.”

“You could be a werewolf.”

This time he did what I’d feared from the beginning. He laughed. It was so loud I thought my mother would wake up. “Princess, werewolves don’t exist, not in this lifetime.”

“You weren’t supposed to laugh.”

“I’m sorry.” He said. “That was rather rude of me.”

“Huh.” I said in a mocking tone.

“Werewolves are just a myth.”

“I’m sure this is also a dream.”

“Do you watch any Chinese movies?” he asked.

I nodded. “My list is limited though.”

“Mm.”

“You couldn’t possibly be a vampire though.” He was too beautiful to be a frozen undead.

His nostrils flared. “I am definitely, not one of them.”

“They exist.” I said.

“No.”

“Some kind of witch then?”

“I’m not a warlock.”

“Benjamin did say that was insulting.”

He snorted.

“Your hate towards them is justified.”

He eyed me sceptically. “Just one in particular, they do smell of rotten flesh though.”

“Benjamin.” I said to myself. “He sure doesn’t look like he eats children for dinner.” I knew a lot about witches, Jessica was a dedicated fan, her girl’s night out consisted of watching a witch movie and ended with a trip down to the library for a good witch book, she’d squeal over every few minutes.

He tried to suppress a smile. “Witches don’t sleep.” He ran his free hand over his face. “They do need to rejuvenate, but that happens once every year and it’s mostly during the night, on a red moon.”

“But…but.” Words failed me.

“Benjamin took the laws of repulsion to a whole new level.” He said. “You see him the way he wants you to see him. I’m not affected by his ability; his gift doesn’t work on me.”

“I’ll wake up any minute now.”

He shook his head. “Night creatures are dangerous, to humans. Only grand masters are hypnotic.”

“Grand masters?” I asked, hanging on to his every word.

“Pureblood witches over ten decades old.”

I cringed. “I did see Benjamin’s face change. I thought I was imagining things”

He stared at me as though I’d grown a third eye. “Benjamin is usually controlled. He must feel strongly about you if he was distracted enough to lose control.” He snickered.

“Oh guy, quit it.” I punched him playfully on the shoulder.

He moved swiftly avoiding my fist with grace.

“I’m sorry.” I’d forgotten.

He smiled. “It’s okay.”

“Benjamin told me about Kermit.”

His eyes darkened, turning cold. “I’m sure he edited a few lines.”

“He said it was out of his control.”

“He can’t blame his choices on bloodlust.” He said angrily. “Benjamin knew the council would take his side, I’d broken a rule. I’d befriended a human which is prohibited.”

“That’s outrageous. What kind of rule is that?”

He smiled sadly. “It’s for your own protection.”

“You couldn’t have hurt him.” I told him.

“He was the closest thing I had to a son.”

I flinched. “A son?”

“Stop interrupting me.”

“I’m sorry.”

“If he knew what you meant to me…” he shook his head. “I’m far from perfect; I shouldn’t have done what I did. It’s never a good idea to let anger override you.”

“He told me you’re mortal enemies.”

“Yes.” He said. “My kind is opposed to his kind’s diet.”

“Humans,” I mumbled. Sleep was progressively calling me.

He nodded. “Tomorrow is still a day.” He told me. “Sleep,”

I shook my head. “No. I want to stay with you.” It was easier to admit in the dark.

“I’ll be here when you wake up.”

I nodded laying my head against the pillow and closed my eyes.