Chapter - Eight

Later that day, as evening sky blanketed the house, Florence and I were in my room in the guest house getting ready for the party. Felix and I had spent two hours in the afternoon buying cups and drinking games for the party tonight, and I had relished the time spent with him. He'd even managed to chuck out a few jokes, making me laugh. Now it was time to dress, dance and drink.

The bed was piled high with clothes Florence had brought over from her room for me to try on. We were close in size and she wanted me to look good. Apparently, my skinny jeans and sweaters from home didn't make the cut. I stood in my undergarments, peering at my waistline, as Florence searched for a dress she assured me was going to make me fit right in.

‘This is medieval,' I said, shrugging off the dress she'd just handed me.

Florence wrenched it back. ‘Fine. What about this?'

She threw me a short white dress covered in little red hearts with a high-necked collar and short capped sleeves. I tugged it over my head and was pleasantly surprised. Florence threw me some strappy black heels to complete the outfit. My hair fell in waves down my back as I touched up my makeup. When we heard the house humming with music, we crossed the lawn to the back door.

I felt small beside Florence who looked fabulous in a soft-peach maxi dress that swayed in the chilly air and was paired with rose-gold jewellery. The music blasted from the open windows and the smell of alcohol made my nose tingle.

‘Ready?' Florence asked me, her hand on the door.

I heaved in a breath. ‘I don't know.'

‘Nobody will attack you or feed on you. Fifi would rip their head off. He's very attached to you.'

‘Pretty sure he hates me.'

Florence giggled. ‘Nope. He likes you. Now let's go, I want tequila.'

Florence pulled me into the home and towards the kitchen. We weaved through the crowd and I noticed hungry, curious eyes, following me and checking me out from head to toe. The guests swivelled around as I brushed past, their fangs protruding from behind their lips at what I guessed was the smell of my blood. Calum had warned me that although I was a halfling with faerie and death's child elements in my scent, my human appearance was still prominent and alluring.

I pressed my tongue to my cheek as we continued into the kitchen. Florence prepared us some cocktails, making sure hers was topped up with extra tequila, while she told me how she was interested in one of Calum's old friends. We'd just finished making the drinks when loud footsteps from behind caught my attention.

A man stood there, tall and well cut, his broad shoulders filling the archway. He had blond hair and a lip ring pierced his bottom lip. He rolled the metal circle between his teeth. His teeth were white and shiny as he shot me a wide grin. A shudder passed through me as I noticed his canines were out. Something about him felt dangerous.

‘Hey Flo,' he greeted her. She rushed over for a kiss on the cheek but his eyes slid over to me. ‘How are you?'

‘Good seeing you, Jacob. I'm doing really well. Hey, have you seen the guys? Calum wanted a margarita.'

He pointed his thumb to the living room. ‘He's trying to force the guys to play a board game. It's going down unsuccessfully.'

She clasped her hands together, before going back for one of the drinks we'd just made. ‘Thanks! Better give him a drink before he throws a tantrum.'

When Florence walked out the door, I tried to follow her but Jacob leant against the archway so I couldn't get through. Frowning up at him, I was met with a sly smile.

‘What's your name, little one?' he asked. ‘I didn't know the boys were keeping a youngblood as a pet.'

The words irked me but I couldn't find my nerve to show it. ‘How do you know what I am?'

He shrugged. ‘Can smell you from across the room. Part faerie, right?'

I thought it was wise to keep him talking. ‘And child of death.'

His eyebrows lifted. ‘Oh really?'

I nodded, afraid to say more.

His eyes danced. ‘So you're here with Calum and Felix, I take it?'

‘Yes.'

‘And just how exactly did you come by them, hmm?'

My gaze shifted around the room, settling on my shoes. ‘Uh, it's a long story. Maybe they can tell you about it.'

‘Oh, but I'd like to hear it from you.'

A hand suddenly clasped Jacob's shoulder and he turned to the person behind him. My spirits momentarily lifted until I saw the other man's face. He wasn't someone I knew. But I recognised the look in his eyes: hunger.

‘What've we got here? You're up for sharing, right J?'

Jacob laughed, the sound giving me goose bumps. ‘Of course, Alf. Plenty to go around.'

I swallowed, feeling my throat tighten. Alf turned to shoot me a wicked smile, his face gleeful. My palms were so sweaty I had to wipe them on my dress. Where the hell is Felix? He said he wouldn't leave me alone. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up as my fight or flight response was telling me these two men were predators and that I was in imminent danger.

‘What's the story?' Jacob asked again.

‘Really, it's not interesting.'

He inclined his head to the side. ‘I don't want to ask again.'

Alf winked, slinging an arm around Jacob's shoulders. ‘We're listening.'

‘Uh,' I licked my bottom lip before continuing. ‘Felix found me walking home from a party and he thought I smelt good—'

‘You do,' they both answered, slicing my words in half.

Eyes wide, I said, ‘So he, um, drank from me. And then when he couldn't wipe my mind, he brought me here. I stayed over that night and the next morning Blanche and Talora said I was a youngblood.'

Alf scanned my body. I shifted in discomfort. ‘I've never drunk from a youngblood before. They're exceptionally rare. And I've heard rumours of what they taste like. Silk over the tongue, hmm?'

Jacob grinned. It sent a chill down my spine. I gingerly took a step back, then another, until I was pushed up against the kitchen bench. Alf and Jacob towered over me, their eyes as hard as stone. Jacob reached out to my neck, pushing the hair off my shoulder. Alf tugged on the collar of my dress, revealing Felix's puncture wounds. They'd faded but a small silver scar from where the teeth had ruptured the skin. My bottom lip trembled as he moved lower, breathing in deeply.

‘Surely it wouldn't hurt to test our little theory. See what abilities faerie blood can give. Whether it tastes like gold.'

‘Mixed with night children's blood, it'd have some interesting effects,' Jacob replied.

‘Please don't,' I stammered, hating that my voice cracked.

‘It won't hurt,' Alf said soothingly. ‘I'm quite quick.'

‘Just do it, before someone comes in,' Jacob said, turning his head around to check the door.

I tried to scramble sideways but Jacob tightened his grip on my arm, his thumb pressing down on a vein in the crease of my elbow. Alf's mouth parted and I felt his breath fan my neck. He tugged down the neckline of my dress again, his fingers hooked in the fabric. My hands were pressed flat to my thighs and I shook violently. Where is everyone? Florence said nobody would hurt me. All I could do was close my eyes and pray it would be over as quick as Alf had promised.

His fangs scraped against my skin, searching for the vein. My knees buckled. Please let them be quick.

‘Just what the hell do you think you're doing?' a booming voice rocketed through the kitchen. Felix! The murmuring outside the kitchen stalled.

Jacob dropped my arm and stood aside. I wanted to run but I was frozen, scared they would grab me again. Alf cracked his neck, standing tall once more, his body shielding me. He faced Felix who I could only see when I peeked around Alf's elbow.

Alf smiled. ‘Hey man, we're all good in here. Just introducing ourselves to your little companion.'

Felix took a step sideways, his silver eyes meeting mine. His face was like thunder as he took his hand out of his pocket to coax me to him with two slender fingers. I cautiously stepped forward, feeling my knees waiver. As soon as I realised neither man had moved, I ran to Felix. He caught me as I tripped up, my hands pressing flat against his chest. He circled an arm around my waist. I tucked my head into the crook of his neck, letting him caress my back.

His Adam's apple bobbed beside my forehead as Felix said, ‘She's terrified. What did you do?'

‘Nothing, honestly,' Jacob replied, forcing a laugh. ‘She's just timid.'

‘Really, just harmless fun,' Alf said.

Felix didn't hesitate. ‘Get out,' he spat.

I could hear them take a breath. ‘What, why?' Alf protested. ‘We didn't do shit. It's not our fault the girl's afraid of a little prank.'

Felix tensed his chin so hard I heard his teeth scrape. ‘I don't care. Just get out. You're not welcome.'

Alf and Jacob swore profanities at Felix, the back door slamming a few moments later. Felix put his free hand to the back of my head. I realised I was still shaking terribly and let him guide me to a chair. A few eyes watched us, but all of them turned away when Felix faced them. He crouched down in front of me, holding onto my hands. My mouth wobbled at the edges and his harsh look eased up.

‘What did they do?' he asked quietly.

‘They were going to drink from me...or at least Alf was. Jacob said it would give them heightened abilities because I'm part child of death and part faerie. Something about how the blood would taste like liquid gold. If you hadn't walked in when you did, they would have been drinking my blood.' I paused. ‘Thank you.'

‘You have nothing to thank me for. I promised you nobody would hurt you. Genuinely, I didn't think anyone would try shit with you. But Alf and Jacob are outsiders; they tend to not follow the norms.'

Another shiver ran down my back. ‘They were terrifying.'

‘Well they're gone. So you're fine.'

‘Please don't leave me alone again,' I whispered.

He shook his head. ‘Promise. Can't have you being anyone else's mortal annoyance, now can I?'

After a bit I could stand without my knees knocking. As I stood up Felix wrapped an arm low on my waist and pinned me to his side. He gave me a devious smirk that told me he knew how my heart fluttered in my chest. I simply pretended his touch did nothing, letting him lead me to a bunch of people mingling in a circle.

The party continued without a hitch. Felix kept me close for the majority of the evening, only straying away after a girl had fluttered past him and left me with Calum. An hour later, I sat with Calum drinking a frozen margarita and watching him kick Florence's butt in a video game. However, my eyes lingered on the kitchen, watching Felix genuinely laugh at whatever the girl had to say. I ignored the feelings twisting around in my stomach. I am not jealous. What do I care if he smiles at someone? Nothing.

As the empty cups collected next to me, I thought back to my childhood and the vividness of my dreams. The ebony birthmark on my finger flashed under the colourful hues emitted from the television. I remembered the woman who turned up at my birthday party when I was turning eight, her hair a shade of white I'd never seen. Her facial features blurred the harder I tried to concentrate. Why can't I remember?

I stood up but Calum tugged on my dress. ‘Don't leave me!' he whined. He was coming in last place in the race. ‘Where are you going?'

‘Bathroom break,' I mumbled. My lips were numb from the frozen drink. ‘Be right back, okay?'

He let go of me as I wobbled out of the room, the soles of my feet bruised and tender from the high heels. I managed to get myself to the bathroom, the room bathed in darkness and I reached inside to flick the light switch on. It flashed bright yellow light over the bathroom. I squeezed my eyes shut for a second, trying to adjust to the brightness. When I peeled them open I was greeted my sight I had never wanted to picture.

Felix had a girl pushed up against a wall, kissing her. Her hands were tugging on the fabric of his shirt and his were threaded around her waist. His back was towards the door so he didn't notice me standing in the doorway, but the girl did. She pulled her mouth off his, her jaw falling slack.

The pit of my stomach filled with nausea at the sight of them together. I recognised the girl from earlier; she was the one he'd been smiling at in the kitchen. Avoiding my eyes, she sheepishly buttoned her blouse back up and ducked under Felix's arm and ran out the door. I watched her dart into the masses, her body swimming among the stream of people crowding the hall. I was unable to move, frozen in complete shock.

‘What are you doing here? You were playing video games with Calum,' Felix snapped, but there was no malicious undertone.

I could tell he was embarrassed. I found my voice at last. ‘Yeah, and then I needed to use the toilet. You know, the thing you actually do in bathrooms.'

I folded my arms and pretended the whole thing wasn't making my lungs shrivel. Like it didn't hurt to see him kissing a girl.

He rolled his eyes. ‘Whatever. And I guess now you're going to lecture me.'

I frowned. ‘Why would I do that? Your life. Do what, or who, you want with it.'

Felix just stared at me.

With one hand on my hip, I said, ‘I actually have to use the toilet. So if you could leave, that'd be nice.'

That seemed to snap him out of his trance and he slammed the door behind him as he left, the mirror on the wall shaking. As soon as he was gone I sank down onto the toilet lid, pressing my palms to my cheeks. Why was I so miserable at the sight of seeing Felix kissing some girl? I didn't even know who she was. Did he have a girlfriend or was she just someone's plus one and Felix had taken a liking to her? My mind was in overdrive.

It took me a few minutes to use the toilet and gather myself. Then I headed straight for the kitchen to fetch a drink from the fridge. Just as the rim touched my lips, the cup was ripped from my hands. My eyes shot up to find Felix glaring down at me. He held my cup in his hands.

‘Give that back,' I said, gritting my teeth.

‘No. You're wasted. Go to bed.'

‘You're not my father, so back off.'

I went to snatch the cup back but he held it above his head. Angry, I plucked another cup from the bench and downed the contents before he could get to it. His face was red, making me feel like I'd won the battle but not the war.

‘Your body can't handle this much alcohol,' he said. ‘Tomorrow you'll whine all day about your hangover and I already don't feel like listening to it. So go to bed now and lessen the headache tomorrow.'

‘Nah, I don't feel like it. I might go find Calum and kiss him.'

Felix's face fell. ‘You what?'

I shrugged. ‘You're going around kissing people, why can't I?'

‘You can't kiss Calum.'

‘Watch me.'

I turned on my heel, but walked straight into his chest. He'd used his super speed to prevent me from leaving. Groaning, I threw a hand up and hit him square on the cheek, but he didn't move. It felt like I'd hit a brick wall and I clutched my hand to my stomach.

‘Do I have to carry you to bed?' he asked, sounding sour. ‘Because I will.'

‘I'm not going.'

‘I'll make you.'

I tossed my hair over my shoulder. ‘Go find your damn girlfriend and annoy her. I'm not in the mood for your pessimistic asshole attitude. Let me have one damn night without it.'

Surprisingly, he let me pass this time, and I made my way back to the couch. Calum greeted me happily, letting me resume my place. It was the last time I saw Felix for the evening. Each time he caught my eye, he would duck from sight, fleeing like I was on fire. And some part of me wanted to confront him again, have it out with him, but I refrained from following him every time. Instead, I stayed on the lounge to be with everyone else and laugh like it was all fine. But it wasn't.

My life was being ruined by one child of death at a time.