Asha Avery
I was one of the last to leave Maggie’s Aunt house.
Ayira left with Namir’s brother. Quan made sure Isis got back home with her parents.
Souxie was doing her best to avoid Harvey but once he offered to take her home, she insisted that I ride with her, so she wasn’t stuck being with him by herself.
Everyone else from the wolves to Maggie’s family was all but gone.
Harvey was still speaking with Trevor. Souxie was in the bathroom getting herself together, and Himora was standing out in the backyard in the middle of the night with her daughter in her arms. Her wings were on full display slowly opening and closing as she wore nothing but a black bra and black pants with bare feet.
I decided to step outside and stopped when I heard a small hum drift into the air.
She looked down at her sleeping daughter in her arms, gently rocking her from side to side as the baby slept.
She didn’t have her glasses on so when she looked over her shoulder at me, her usual dark brown eyes were almost bright blood red, fiercely protective over the one in her arms before settling as she looked back at her daughter.
“My father says if you hum to a fae when they’re young, their ears won’t be as sensitive when they get older,” she stated like a fact from a book.
I walked closer, in awe of her wings as they continued to fold open like a butterfly.
I caught her gaze cut towards me without picking her head up from her daughter, as if she was watching for my next move to see if I would try anything but I didn’t feel it was personal.
It felt more instinctual than anything. Even her wings opening wide felt like a display to discourage predators or scare them off.
“I was just coming out here to say goodbye and thank you,” I said, keeping a step or two away from her.
As much shit as I talked, a mother with her baby in the most vulnerable moment was not to be played with.
I could feel it with her. If I even thought about lashing at her, she would probably attack.
“Thank you?’ Himora repeated.
“For what you said to me back at Maggie’s mother’s house.
You may not remember it but I…I’ve always had these…
anger problems and I don’t really think it’s anger issues but people around me seem to think I’m mad or upset.
I just…I don’t take shit from anyone and I’m tired of people thinking they can take advantage of me or the people I care about. ”
I started rambling as she continued to watch over her daughter, smoothing her orange hair from her forehead.
“You see…I grew up without…a family. I was raised in a…” I threw my hands up before letting them fall loosely at my sides in defeat.
“My upbringing has made me who I am, and we can leave it at that. The things I’ve been through shapes the woman I am today, and I don’t know how to move forward from it.
I get to a place like this, like the Underground and I just…
I never felt more at home and so confused at the same damn time,” I laughed before clearing my throat after seeing she didn’t react.
“Anyway…What you said that night kinda stuck with me so thank you. I don’t say that often to people, so you know, cherish that,” I joked.
“You are a particular tribe of siren?” Himora asked. She finally looked up from her daughter.
“It’s a long story but yes,” I said, instinctively touching my cheeks where my scars would have been today.
“Asha!” I looked back to see Souxie waving me over. “We’re about to leave!”
I looked back, seeing Souxie waving her hand as I frowned at Himora.
Her wings were still wide open, holding its position in the air against her spine, colorful and filled with intricate veins that looked like streaks of lightning.
She went mute and focused back on her daughter as if I didn’t just pour my heart out to her.
So I thanked her again, deciding not to press my luck any further for conversation.
She seemed to be in her own space with her daughter and I didn’t want to disrupt it.
So just as I turned and started to walk off, I heard her speak without looking back.
“Be around those who accept you as you are, so you have a healthy environment to naturally grow into who you’re meant to become.”
I stared back at her as she looked lovingly at her daughter with the deepest set of blood red eyes.
She gently tucked at her onesie, pulling it down as Himora’s fangs suddenly appeared, hanging from her mouth like she was going to bite down at any given moment.
Instead, she simply went back to humming as the little girl slept in her mother’s arms. I quickly went back in the house, passing up her husband who was the total opposite of her rigid personality.
Loud, cocky and almost flirty with everyone and everybody, he carried a small pet carrier box in one hand towards her.
Himora's wings immediately fell limp against her back like the threat was no longer around. She didn’t even have to turn around nor did he have to say a word for her body to recognize it was him.
Her guard was down the moment he stepped in her boundary, and although I didn’t know her, I understood it and wanted to be just like that with the girls.
I just had a lot of inner shit to work through.
…
The car ride with Souxie and Harvey was interesting enough to keep my attention since the two bickered like an old married couple that pretended to hate each other.
I want to say she met her match in him but then again, I’m sure she knew that already and that’s probably why she kept him around as long as she did.
“Ground Media One is here live at Lake Lanier here in Georgia…”
I sat up between the two seats as I watched Souxie turn the volume up on her phone.
It was none other than Clementine herself who was standing like a damn reporter near a lake.
You could see siren lights, yellow tape, and people in the distance as they ran boats across the water.
Clementine had on her white polo shirt and khaki shorts.
Her hair was pulled back and she looked refreshed as she tapped the corner of her chest where a Drew Collins school crest appeared.
“Since when the hell did she start this?! When the hell does she have the time for this?” I let out but Souxie shushed me.
“The situation here is a bit difficult to explain but I want you all to know the truth. I want you to always know Ground Media One will give you facts before myths. The Underground has always been secured and protected by the strongest of magic and charms. Magic so far beyond our wildest imagination, even for us that it’s something we don’t understand, but the ones who built this place do.
There are those who seek to open the Underground, believing segregation is no longer a livable option and there are those who choose to protect what we have.
This is our history, our magic, our people…
Our families and all who live in the safety of the Underground, this is what it’s turned into… ”
She turned to the side, letting the camera pan towards the misty lake where they showed a body being pulled out.
“Every officer you see here is working together with the Georgia Bureau of Investigations, placing charms, and spells as we collect those who have lost their lives and those who are at threat of being exposed. The political climate is no longer witches and vampires going against each other. It’s no more Gaia isn’t real, or The First Family is dangerous–––”
“She’s livestreaming this,” Souxie whispered, showing the number on the corner shooting up.
“Gaia is real and those of us who were fortunate enough to witness her power and hear her warning message on what was about to happen, know the truth now. Maggie Grey of the First Family is Gaia reincarnated, but The First Family are no longer the only vampires in the Underground.”
“What?” I let out as Souxie waved me to keep quiet.
“Yes, you heard me. The First Family is the least of our concerns. We’ve been so busy fighting amongst ourselves that we ignored who the real enemy is.”
My mouth dropped when I saw a shot of light wrap around the entire area like a blue dome or air bubble. Even Clementine stepped to the side as you see the spells working in real time by our officers here. They were trying their hardest to clean and cover this up.
“Every major mythical agency is here at the scene doing their best to keep this quiet,” Clementine said.
Souxie began scrolling through the comments that all mentioned Maggie with the emoji of the moon beside her name.
The rest were people claiming they knew of other vampires in different parts of the country when the video suddenly went offline.
“It’s about to get crazy,” Harvey said as he continued down the back roads. “Everything is about to be on lockdown.”
“What do you mean?” I asked. He turned to look back at me.
“The order is about to be given out. Those who are in the Underground have to remain inside. Those who are out can no longer come back in. They’re shutting everything down and all moving doors will no longer be working.
All major stations in the Underground will be suspended. You won’t be able to leave.”
“I have to tell Maggie. She’s back home in Atlanta–––”
“She knows. Namir knows. Her brother knows. We’re all in communication with one another.”
“Like a group chat?” Souxie asked. “With just the men?” Harvey nodded. “Were you flirting with any of them?”
Harvey looked at her as his eyes blackened out and just remained like dark endless holes in his face.
“You know me better than that.”
“I thought you found Namir attractive,” Souxie let out. “No? I bet it’s Quan…”
“I’d let him feed on me,” Harvey said as I shook my head. What…the…fuck?
“Hold on, wait a minute,” I said, trying to stop them before they get freaky in the front seat.
“So what about the school? Does that mean they’re locking the schools down, and what are you talking about letting Quan feed on you?
What type of freak shit is that? A CAT? You letting a CAT FEED on you? ”
“You haven’t told her,” Harvey said.
“So youuuuu like Quan…” Souxie teased in her dainty southern voice. “Harvey and Quan…sitting in a tree… That’s why you’re so antsy around him. He’s not bisexual you know. Not even remotely curious. He would never fuck you, Harvey. He wouldn’t even look your way. I’m sorry to say.”
“As long as they get to drain the blood afterwards, they don’t care who they have sex with.”
“But clearly his type can only be found in the water…not the spawn of Satan himself. I’m going to tell him you like him.”
“Tell him all you want my wife… I’ve already had him when I had you.”
Souxie went completely still as Harvey looked at her, eyes still black. I sat in the back seat, jaw to the floor.
“I’ve never–––”
“You think I believe that?” Harvey questioned.
“One thing I don’t play about Harvey is that. My friend is with him and that’s an automatic off limit–––”
“One thing I don’t play about,” he mimicked in her pitched southern accent before muttering through his teeth. “I hate when you talk to me like I’m stupid with that fake ass voice. It’s me. You can turn it off when you talk to me, Souxie Lafayette.”
“A cat of all things has you insecure,” she suddenly laughed. “Quan sleeps with me but I would never let him touch me. The fact that you even accused me of cheating on you when–––”
“So you agree,” Harvey suddenly cut in. “We are in a serious relationship, soon to be married, and you’ve never cheated on me because I prefer my wife to be pure and clean of sin and ill intent.”
Souxie went stone cold before sitting back in the seat and looking out the window without another word.
“That’s what the fuck I thought,” Harvey muttered as he snatched the volume up on the radio. “Better stop playing with me Ms. Lafayette…”
The rest of the ride was silent back to the Underground as mixed media outlets reported on different things from Ayira to Marvin Holmes.
No one outside of Clementine mentioned anything about vampires but there were talks.
When I made it back to my dorm, tossing my room key on the desk, I took a much-needed shower and eventually flopped down on the bed with my phone in hand to scroll in the dark.
I laid on my stomach with my face smushed in the pillow, inhaling my man’s scent as I watched comments pour in about Ayira.
I knew she was going to turn out to be something like an it girl.
I was about to call my man when I heard the door open and close.
Popping my head up, I waited wondering if it was my roommate but grinned when Silas quietly stepped in with his duffle bag.
He smelled like he just stepped out of the shower when he got himself settled in my room.
“Babe?” I called out. Rolling over on my back, I waited for him to join me. “You remember that night I fell into the water and thought I heard Maggie?”
“Mmm hmm.”
I stared at the ceiling, replaying the entire scene in my head over and over.
“I asked her about it, and she said she had no idea… It wasn’t her.”
The sound of a zipper being pulled down and the light jingle of keys was music to my ears when he stepped out of his clothes.
“I told you that water is meant to play tricks on you.” Silas stood in the center of my room and checked his phone with one hand while squeezing himself below with the other.
He was completely nude, glasses free and end of his locs barely teasing his nipples.
“You think it something more? Something dealing with you and what you are?” Normally I would have already jumped his bones, but I couldn’t shake the weird feeling.
When I caught his gaze studying me, he licked his lips while I smiled.
“I mean maybe…” I said, pulling the sheets back as I slipped my t-shirt off. “Or whatever…”