Blood Mates

Connections

Fallen House wasn’t just any house.

It was a mansion, a gothic Victorian one dated the circa 1670s having been built by a man for his wife. But she passed a month before the house was finished and he found it too painful to live in it alone. So he hung himself in their foyer with a picture of them in hand.

Since then, no one has really lived there.

Fallen house, despite its glamor, spacious rooms, and Addams Family chic build, it was left empty for a long time. People moved in only to abruptly move out, with the eleven bedrooms, dining room, foyer, attic, basement, and laundry room, it was ideal for someone with a large family.

Or someone who stayed with extended family.

Fallen House with all its spooks and shadows and myths being tied to it, became the haunted house of the neighborhood. With a gate locking the mansion most of the time, the long driveway that led back into the mouth of their woods, Fallen House stood encased in shadows and mystery.

No one who had lived there had stayed in town long enough to explain why they’d moved. But in a matter of days, they’d have speed packed and be gone.

But not the Knight family.

Everyone in Devil’s Horns had bet they’d be gone in a week, but after almost two they saw the Knight family didn’t have the same aversion to the Fallen House and instead seemed to bring the gothic palace to life.

Alaia Knight loved their new house and was glad when her father called it one of their nests. Somewhere to return to later on if need be or to vacation even.

Alaia thought their new place was perfect, the huge house in all its splendor had been haunted by ghosts. The shadows had ghouls, and the demons lurking tried to prey on her and her family.

But when the house seemed to realize they were also creatures of the damned, it seemed to settle. Embrace them as fellow monsters and accepted them as the new owners. Alaia had never felt so at home in a while.

Sitting down on her perch, a comfy chair that was left hanging from the ceiling, Alaia was able to peer out the large window she’d had installed and inhaled as the sun began to peek through the curtains.

She wanted to curl up in sleep, but with her necklace burning bright, she felt too wired to even consider it. So Alaia instead stood and got ready for the day.  And while expecting one of blandness, she was thrown for a loop yet again. 

Alaia has lived many lives. She had been to too many schools, made friends, and even managed to strike up some connections. But she’d never fit in, she always felt like everyone was moving and she was stuck in a standstill.

It set her apart from everyone else, and while her father and mother told her it’d get better. Her older brother Loren told her the truth.

“It’ll get better. Not the feeling of being apart, but just the dealing with it.” He told her one night after hunting for prey. “We’re not like them and our bodies know it, and you’re craving so your mind knows it to. It’ll just be the when and how it gets better.”

Alaia’s cravings had hit her heavily a year ago. And like her brother, mother, father, and uncle, she struggled. She’d accidentally gone too far with feeding in her last school and her father had, had to cover it up.

It still burned in her mind how he’d told her it wasn’t okay what she did. But he understood and was supportive and told her it couldn’t happen again. Because even though they were monsters by default now, there was no way in hell her parents were raising her to be a blood-drinking disgrace.

They’d kill her before she lost her damn mind.

And Alaia didn’t want to lose her mind. She fought hard to control herself, even when life made it difficult to do so.

Like throwing Olive Pen at her.

Olive was a sweet girl, with her dark chocolate brown hair plated in two pigtails, a cute sundress, and baby doll flats, she seemed like the ideal daughter for anyone. And while Alaia found her adorable and sweet, she was also a tad annoying.

Olive talked a mile a minute and didn’t get the hint to stop. She didn’t catch social ques, and when Alaia was just about to scream at her to stop and breathe, a girl appeared at her elbow, “Hey cuz, Greg is looking for you. Something about the pep rally.” And Olive was immediately gone down the hall looking for this Greg.

And Alaia was stuck with a punk rock teen, who looked edgy and cute all in one take. Like Olive, she had chocolate brown hair, but that’s about all they had in common.

This girl had purple stripped through it, her pale green eyes lined with heavy kohl. With black ripped jeans, a dark red top, and a leather jacket similar to her own, Alaia was shocked at her appearance.

In the small town, she’d seen only two types of girls. The fast ones trying to get out of it or the sweet girls who had already picked their husbands and burial plots. But this girl was obviously the rebel heart that still beats.

“Sorry ‘bout my cousin.” She drawled as she slid a hand through her hair, “She’s a little…hyper. She’ll tone it down once you’re not all shiny.” Alaia grinned, “Here’s hoping everyone does. An old lady kept me in a store for over an hour wanting to know everything going back to my great-great-grandparents.”

Laughing the girl nodded, “Sounds about right. I’m Andy by the way. Andy Oakland.” Alaia bumped fists with this Andy and grinned, “Well nice to meet someone, not so…in my face.”

Andy chuckled dryly, “We get a lot of coasters. People leaving Seattle, maybe heading down to Washington but never people who really want to stay. I mean I know our town’s name sounds all badass but really, we’re just small-town. They’ll see you as one of us sooner or later.”

Alaia groaned, “I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.” Nodding Andy admitted, “True. But not to worry, the easier it comes the easier it is to adjust.”

Alaia and Andy talked until the bell rung and Alaia walked away a little happy she’d met the calming girl. It took her mind off her hunger until she got to homeroom and had to see that boy again.

Jasper Wynter, he said his name was.

He was handsome, but he hadn’t grown confidence in his looks yet. She found it endearing, with his sharp jaw, curly blonde hair, and beautiful grey eyes, Jasper had all the makings of a winner.

 Walking slowly to her seat, Alaia sat down and as she listened to his heartbeat, it picked up a notch as he said, “Good morning.” Turning, Alaia listened to it thump off rhythm for a moment before smiling at him, “Good morning.”

Jasper grinned at her as he pointed his pen her way, “Funniest thing, I found out my dad is the one who renovated your house.” Alaia grinned widely before teasingly lightly, “Oh that is cool. Did he tell you we have our own dungeon?” Jasper looked at her shocked for a moment and Alaia laughed, “I’m kidding! It’s something my uncle overheard one of his men saying. I just thought it was funny.” Jasper laughed and it was Alaia’s heart’s turn to skip a beat.

It was frankly painful since her heart already beat unnaturally. But as she and Jasper talked during homeroom, she couldn’t stop her heart from doing it. When he smiled, when he laughed, when he asked her what kind of music she liked.

Her stupid heart wouldn’t stop.

After class, she put distance between them, but it didn’t help. In her time talking to him, his blood hadn’t crossed her mind. His heart and hers playing hopscotch were at the forefront of her brain the entire time.

But the moment she was away from him, all she could smell was his blood potent in the air. It wafted through the building and even though she was surrounded by other scents, Jasper’s just kept jumping out at her.

It was more potent, more tempting than she ever experienced. And as she tried to fight the hunger gnawing at her gut, her necklace burned in her hand reminding her she was losing it.

When lunch started, Alaia didn’t bother to go to the cafeteria, she’d went yesterday for appearance sake. But when she couldn’t force herself to sit in the loud room with moving bodies around her. 

Pumping blood and excitement that made her disoriented. 

It was too much on her senses and she couldn’t put herself that close to Jasper. He’d come over probably, and she wouldn’t stop him. And sure, she might not attack him because she was too dumbfounded by his smile.

But when he left her, she’d be even hungrier. And she couldn’t let herself get to that point. Not again.

Walking into the teacher’s lounge, Alaia found the secretary Mrs. Elliot sipping water as she typed on her phone. When she heard the door opened, she glanced up and smiled kindly at Alaia, “Hi sweetie. Lost?”

Alaia nodded and smiled sweetly as she forced herself to relax, “Yes, I’m sorry. I thought I was going back to Mrs. Mason’s class.” Mrs. Elliot stood and sweetly said, “How about I walk you?” Alaia’s fangs burned her gums and she whispered, “Sorry.”

Pushing Mrs. Elliot back against the wall, Alaia bit down on her neck and Mrs. Elliot choked on her next words as her mind fell into a haze. Alaia groaned as she fed from Mrs. Elliot, but then she to heard a teacher’s pumps hitting the floor. 

And she quickly cleaned her up and whispered to Mrs. Elliot, “You won’t remember this. I was never here.”

Mrs. Elliot was sitting back down when her colleague came in and continued on with her lunch as if nothing had happened.  Alaia slipped past the teacher silently and went out the side door of the school.

She didn’t want to go back into school feeling like how she did, so Alaia went to the football field on instinct.

Walking the cold bleachers that were wet from the rain, someone suddenly said her name, “Alaia?” Turning, Alaia looked at Jasper who smiled a little as he approached her, “Thought that was you.” Alaia licked her lips as she glanced around, “What brings you out here? It’s freezing.”

Proven as her breath frosted in the wind. Jasper sat down on the metal bleachers and said, “I love this weather. Makes me feel alive you know?” Alaia smiled warily since she hadn’t known that feeling for a while, “Sure.”

Jasper reached in his bag and pulled out a book, “What about you? Come out here to hide from all your boyfriends?” Alaia laughed as she watched him bite an apple, “No! I just wanted some air.”

Not pushing since he could see she didn’t want to tell him the actual truth, Jasper fell silent.

 And Alaia used that moment to breathe, losing her eyes and listening to the wind whip and move around them Alaia whispered, “It’s nice out here. So quiet and peaceful.” Jasper grinned, “I know. That’s why I like to come out here sometimes, skip third period, and just breathe.”

Alaia  peered over at Jasper surprised a little, he didn't seem the type to ditch, “You skip your third period?” Jasper shrugged, “Here and there, I’m passing in that class with straight A’s. Missing it once awhile never fazes that.”

Alaia grinned, “Oh.” Jasper looked at her curiously and then asked, “Can I read you something?” Alaia slowly nodded and Jasper peered down at the book, “Stranger things have happened with a spark. A fire, an explosion, an unexpected kiss. With all there is dark, there is a light, and where there is light expect the dark. But it can always be fixed with a little spark.”

Humming, Alaia complimented, “Beautiful.” Jasper agreed smiling at her, “I thought so too.” Alaia blushed at the look in his eye before noting to  Jasper thoughtfully, “You don’t look like a poetry type guy,” Jasper laughed used to the assumption, “And what would he look like?” Alaia shrugged, “I don’t know, I think goth teen full of angst and brooding paired with a douche scarf,”

Jasper laughed throwing his hands up, “Ok whoa, pump your breaks. Glad to not look like him, but I love poetry. Besides, I have an appreciation of all the arts. Music, Art, Literature, I just think it’s important too.”

Alaia shook her head bemused, “You’re surprising Jasper Wynter.” Jasper blushed a little as he wondered, “Bad surprising?” Alaia giggled unintentionally flirtatious as she teased, “No. Good surprising.” Jasper and Alaia were both blushing and grinning fools when they heard the bell ring. Jasper nervously started to stand, “We should go.” Alaia looked at him, “Why? I thought we were going to blow off third?”

When Alaia came and sat down beside him, Jasper slowly did too, “We?” Alaia rolled her eyes, “Read me something else, Wynter.” Jasper slowly found a page and as he recited more poetry, Alaia listened to his voice and every deep tremor made her shiver.

It was there, in that moment in the cold autumn air. As the mortal boy shrugged out of his jacket to give to her, that for the first time in decades, Alaia felt alive.