Chapter Twenty-Three #2
I wanted to laugh at the idea of Lovely claiming Asha, Souxie, Isis, and now Ayira as her best friends, but instead I shrugged.
“I think…I just want to be with…my family,” I said. Bellamy smiled. Lovely gasped while Carmilla rolled her eyes. The man with her said nothing as he licked his lips. He was going to be a problem but nothing I couldn’t handle. It felt more like an attraction than anything sinister from him.
“Ignore him, Maggie. His connection to you is unhealthy because of Wilhelmina’s failed experiments…
a piss poor excuse for a progeny belonging to Carmilla.
” Bellamy said with a wave of his hand. “It’s unfortunate Auntie is not here to ask why his connection to you is stronger than any of us…
but I guess another mystery for another day, right Milly? ”
“Shut up, Bellamy.”
“You were there, helping Wilhelmina, right? You remember–––”
“I said shut up!”
I was going to respond when Lovely held my arms out, spreading my legs shoulder length apart.
I could feel my body tingle with chills as she came around to pull my thick hair up.
I wasn’t sure of the type of magic or charm this was, but she pulled out a small box with locks and latches on it.
Sitting it down on the floor, she said a word I never heard of as it expanded to the size of a fully loaded trunk.
One by one, she poured through different outfits I was made to try on.
Before I knew it, I was standing naked in a black seamless thong, and tired breasts unfortunately drooped freely as I tried to push them up with my arm.
Lovely yelled for my hands to be out until one by one, I was made to try on different white dresses.
Strapless, mini, bodycon, gowns, everything you could think of.
That is, until we landed on a dress that barely covered my body.
My sides and back were out with a simple tie around my neck.
It barely covered my thighs as the white heels wrapped around my ankles and tied into a bow on each side.
Lovely tied my hair back, slicking it with gel and a brush until it was in a tight bun.
My skin glowed with some sort of gold cream she made me put on.
She said it would help with my lack of scent or mask it.
My makeup was light except for the smokey eyes and plump lips and suddenly, I found myself fully put together.
She gave me a white chewable pill that caused fresh breath like I’d been brushing my teeth for hours.
“Brotherrrr ohhh brotherrr!” Bellamy sang as he grinned at me.
“He’s seen me in a dress and heels before,” I said as Lovely continued to fuss over my edges with a toothbrush. “It’s not like I haven’t gone out.”
“Yes, but he hasn’t seen you like this before. No one has. If you’re going to make a statement to the Underground and represent our family, you need to look like this… Desired, wanted, money, sex…”
“Represent our family?” I repeated. Dorian kept his eyes on me while Carmilla tried her hardest to stand in front of his view.
“Mmmm hmmm,” Lovely hummed as she stood in front of me, still trying to fix my hair. When we locked eyes, she smiled like I made her the happiest person in the world just from looking at her. “What is it cousin? You have a question for me, yes?”
“You are Andrew’s daughter which would make my grandfather…your Uncle?”
“Mmm hmmm…”
“Which would make you a first cousin once removed…”
“Sure,” she chirped.
“So how old are you, really?”
She tilted her head to the side. “Why do you ask?”
It was worth a shot of asking.
“Do you remember what it was like growing up, or…maybe your first taste of blood?”
Her face became still as I saw the horror flash across her eyes like she was seeing the flashback in real time. Suddenly she broke into a small smile and continued to fuss at my hair.
“There is a reason I always pretend to be so happy and cheerful…whimsical and maybe even a little childish in thinking everything is just fine…fine! FINE!” She suddenly let out with a laugh before sighing. “If you lie long enough to yourself, you start to believe it to be true.”
“But you’ve probably seen everything,” I whispered, wondering exactly how far back her age goes.
“I had a few siblings that I watched die… I cannot have children and any attempt at dying is futile…I’ve tried… The only way to go when you’re ready to leave this hellhole is to starve or do it yourself and even then…”
“Oh…” I let out, hating how dark the conversation suddenly turned.
“That is why I am so…thankful for you being related to me, to us… You are the last bit of life left in our clan. You make it possible for us to want to feel alive again.”
I nodded, unsure of how to respond to that.
“So are you feeding officially?” She whispered, lowering her head to pour into my eyes. I shook my head. Even if I had a craving for it, something told me to say no to her. “Are you sure, Maggie? Bellamy told me–––”
“It’s a misunderstanding. I’m still eating and craving regular food.”
Lovely stared at me before nodding and releasing a shaky breath through her nose.
“Good. Stay that way.”
“Brotherrrr ohh brotherrrr!” Bellamy sang again. “Come see my sister!”
The bedroom door opened as Namir came walking back out wearing basketball shorts.
He dragged his hand down his face, pulling at his eyes with a tired expression.
He was irritated but Bellamy seemed to always do that when the two were together.
Namir told me Seth was more of Bellamy’s speed and could easily tolerate the silliness.
Lovely grinned before stepping aside to show me off.
Namir’s hand went still on his face, freezing in the middle of coming down his chin as he stared at me.
“Where y'all going?” Namir asked, voice groggy and deep. He made his way over to me and I couldn’t believe I felt nervous. The man has seen me dressed up for crying out loud.
“Out,” Bellamy said. “Family only. Sorry.”
“Family only,” Lovely echoed like a child full of glee. Namir stopped in front of me with a deep swallow and slowly nodded his head.
“When are you coming back?”
“I’ll let you know,” Bellamy said only to add, “no time soon though.”
My mouth fell open, trying not to laugh at the audacity because Namir knew me better than that. I was probably going to text him the entire time and send pictures.
“I’m just going for a little bit,” I assured him as he stepped closer. “That’s it…”
Namir stepped right up against my body with a series of sniffs along my neck and the quick hot breath somehow sent chills down my spine. He gently gripped my waist, touching the fabric between his fingers and whispered against my ear with a growl.
“You better get the fuck out of this house right now before I drag you back to the room and never let you see the light of day–––”
My body melted against his as I laughed, clinging on to him but he steadied my stance as his jaw tightened and nostrils flared.
“You got one minute or I’m tearing this shit off and taking you right here on this kitchen floor–––”
“Ohh! Maggie come on! Come on!” Lovely squealed as she took my arm. “We’re going! We’re going!”
The funny thing about Namir is, he was actually serious. Just as serious as he stepped to the one named Dorian and gave him a quick warning. I told Namir I would probably be back later on or even in a few hours. Maybe the next day but he didn’t seem to care one way or another which was nice…
Have fun, love you, and be safe.
I’m going back to sleep.
Bring me something to eat back.
That was his only text message. I started to respond as we stood outside, waiting for Bellamy to finish his cigarette when Namir messaged me again.
Your mother called me while we were sleeping.
I stared at my phone. She was going to call him now that she wasn’t getting a response from me, but I just didn’t…I don’t know what to say to her right now. I didn’t realize I was caught in his message trying to think of a response when Lovely placed her hand over the screen.
“Come,” she said. “We’re leaving. Phones away. Boyfriend will be okay without you for a few days.”
“Wait a minute… What do you mean, DAYS?”
My phone went off again, but I knew the notification sound wasn’t a text or call. It was something directly from the school. How they even got this new number was beyond me. After pleading with Lovely one last time to at least read out loud what the school said, she finally agreed.
“It says…” She pretended to adjust the imaginary glasses while Bellamy continued to smoke his cigarette.
The sun was creeping up from the east as Carmilla and Dorian quietly argued amongst themselves.
“All students, faculty, and staff must return to Drew Collins University by the following Monday morning as we intend on moving forward with our education. The Underground will be placed in a mandatory shutdown which includes Drew Collins University along with the partnering primary and secondary schools. If you are not back on the grounds by Monday morning, you will be removed permanently and banned from the institution. The same rules that go into effect for the Underground will be applied to every district, city, town, and school. Please be…advised…” Her words trailed off as she looked up. “Dr. Marvin T. Holmes.”