Chapter Twenty-Two
Charlie
Without You
It’s been a few days since I visited Blood Rose and found Kip. The bond inside of me calls to me, wanting me to go to him again, but it doesn’t tug me like it did before. I wish I could go be with him.
All I want to know is that he’s okay.
But, I haven’t heard a single thing from him or Tyson. I’ve swung by Pump Palace and their apartment, and yet I haven’t managed to run into Tyson.
I wonder if Kip has talked to him, asking him to give me updates. If he has, Tyson isn’t doing a very good job of keeping me in the loop.
All I know is that this fucking blows. Here I am, with nothing to do but go about my mundane life, worrying constantly about Kip.
I used to be content with the way things in my life were, before all of this.
Sure, I’ve never really liked my job all that much, but everything else was exactly as I liked it.
Now, I can’t imagine going back. Every day that I wait for Kip to come back is day spent in boredom and sadness.
My friends can tell something is up with me, claiming that I’ve been ‘broodier’ than usual. I guess they’re probably right.
And that’s why I’ve been forced out into the real world, well, sort of. If going from my apartment to Lukas’s ten minutes away counts as venturing out into the real world. This will probably be good for me, even though I don’t really want to do anything but wallow.
I first met Tommy when I happened to find his board game store after I first moved to the city.
I was really into Magic the Gathering at the time, and his store ‘The Board Room’, had the largest stock.
We got to talking about different cards and games, and he invited me back to play in a tournament they had for the following week.
That’s where I ended up meeting his girlfriend, Fae, and their friend Lukas.
Going to the shop was the only social connection I had after moving here, and we all clicked. It’s been a few years since then, and they’re still the only people I choose to socialize with. Until Kip.
“Dude, what is with you lately?” Tommy slides into the seat next to me at the table.
“Yeah, you’re dark-ier and moodier than usual.” Fae quips, munching on a tortilla chip.
“Did your date the other night not go smooth?” Lukas slides me a freshly uncapped cider.
“Ooooohhhh you went on a dateeeee?” Tommy & Fae sing at the same time, then burst out laughing.
“Well, he ditched us on discord the other night, and when I called it sounded like he was at a club.” Lukas supplies, throwing me under the bus.
“So what? I’m young. I can’t go out to a club for once instead of holing up in my room on discord with you nerds?” I cross my arms, closing myself off.
“Uh, first of all, you’re the nerdiest out of all of us.” Fae chimes.
Tommy nods, “So true. And second of all, you hate clubs.”
“Last, but not least, you’re a shit liar.” Lukas smirks over his bottle at me. “You said on the phone you were on a date, but I don’t buy that for a second. You don’t date, and you don’t go to clubs. So what gives?”
“Nothing gives.” I huff, taking a sip from my bottle to buy myself time. “I’m feeling super ganged up on.”
“Were you, or were you not, at a club the other night?” Lukas asks, standing up with his palms on the table.
“And did you, or did you not, ditch us on discord for a date?” Fae copies Lukas’ stance.
“Oooh! I got this. Let’s play bad cop, bad cop. Lukas, Fae, you be bad cops. And I will also be bad cop.” Tommy rushes from the table, flicking off the overhead lights.
He pulls his phone out of his pocket, shining the flashlight.
“Shit.” There’s the sound of something banging. “Ah, fuck.” Tommy’s phone goes flying out of his hand, and even though I can’t see, I’m pretty sure he just face planted after tripping on his own feet.
“You guys still wanting to play bad cop or?” I muffle a snort.
I’m sure Tommy is fine. He’s the clumsiest of our bunch, always tripping over something.
“Yes, we are. As soon as I can stand up again.” Tommy groans from somewhere to my left.
“I get the vibe you were going for, Tom, but it’s not very ‘bad cop’ of you to trip over your own feet.” Fae giggles.
“Oh, shut up. It wasn’t my feet…it was…I swear, there was like a dog or a mountain lion or some shit that ran out in front of me.”
I hear shuffling, and see Lukas holding up Tommy’s phone, the flashlight illuminating the space.
“Up you go, buddy.” Lukas offers Tommy a hand, pulling him to his feet.
“Thanks, at least I have one good friend to help me.” Tommy pouts. “Anyway, where were we? Ah that’s right!” He brushes himself off, ripping his phone from Lukas’ hand to bound over to me. Shining the flashlight on my face, he yells “Where were you the night of the 20th?”
I wince against the light, covering my eyes. “Uhhh…that’s not even the correct date…”
“You know I’m not good with dates and shit…and don’t try to distract me! Answer the question, criminal scum!” Tommy is leaning into my space, shoving the flashlight into my face.
“Any help here, guys?” I ask the other two.
“Nope, I’m quite enjoying this.” Fae chirps. She would say that, seeing as she’s dating Tommy, and seems to love his antics.
“You might as well give him what he wants, Charlie. Once he gets going, you know he can’t be stopped.” I can feel Lukas’ sadistic grin from here.
God…he’s right. None of them will stop pestering me until I give them some type of information.
But I can’t tell them the whole truth now, can I?
‘Oh yeah, by the way, vampires are real, and I’m dating one, but he’s currently locked up in supernatural jail for almost attacking a lady. ’ Yeah, that’ll go over well.
If any group would be on board with this, my friends would. The problem is, knowing vampires exist is dangerous. It will change everything for them, and I’d rather not put them in that predicament.
“Fine, fine!” I shove the light out of my face. “Yes, I ditched you guys on discord, and yes I was at a club. But no, I wasn’t on a date per se…it was…uhhh…recon?”
“You wanna say that with a lil’ more confidence?” Tommy goads.
“Yes, with a lil’ more gusto!” Fae pumps her fist in the air excitedly.
“And a lot less lying.” Lukas finishes.
“I’m not lying!” And I’m not, it was recon, sort of. “Jesus, guys, can we at least turn the lights back on? This is creepy.”
The overhead light flicks back on suddenly, blinding all of us as we collectively groan.
“A little warning next time, sheesh.” Tommy grumbles. Wiping his face clean of emotion, he leans towards me again. “Alright, now spill.”
And spill I do. I leave out the parts about Kip being a vampire, being locked in a vampire prison, and everything else supernatural related.
I give them the base details, and tried to make my story believable by saying I was at a club to watch the dude I’m dating to make sure he wasn’t up to anything funny.
Which my friends actually bought, seeing as I have a difficult time trusting people, so they believe the recon on a potential partner is something I would totally do.
Which says a lot about who I am and how others view me, and maybe not in a good way.
I swear I don’t try to be distrustful, I just am.
“So, you must be actually serious about seeing this dude if you went to all that trouble.” Tommy waggles his brows and tongue suggestively.
“Eww, dude.” Lukas pretends to gag.
“Yeah, I mean, I do really like him.” My cheeks heat.
“Oh my god, he’s blushing!” squeals Fae. “Our little boy is in lurrrvvee!”
“Ughhh…” I bury my face in my hands, hiding my now blistering hot cheeks. “Stop it, I am not. I hardly know him!”
“Mhhmm. That’s why your voice was all high pitched and crackly when you said that?” Lukas teases.
“Listen, Char, I’ve been in love before, and in fact, I currently am in love.” I peek out from under my arms to see Tommy shoot heart eyes at Fae. “I know what it looks like. And you, my friend, look like you’re in love.”
“He’s right, Charlie.” Fae looks at Tommy like he’s the best thing she’s ever seen. “You give off an aura. It’s very pink and lovey, unlike its usual darkness.”
“I thought you said earlier that I was moodier and broodier than usual?” I mumble into my arms.
“You were, until you started talking about your soul mate.” I hear Fae scoot her chair closer before feeling her hand land on my arm. “When you know, you know, Charlie. It’s nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed about. Love is a beautiful thing.”
“I don’t love him.” I mutter. I don’t care what they think my ‘aura’ looks like, or what they think they see on my face. I do not love Kip. Not at all. Not one bit.
I’m exhausted, and slightly tipsy, when my Uber drops me off at my apartment building. After my friends finally let the subject of Kip drop, we drank ciders and played board games.
I’ll admit, it was sort of nice to have some normalcy again. Everything since Kip has been far from normal. I felt kind of like the old me again, sitting around with the only three people I can stand. Okay, I guess that number has been bumped up to four.
When I walk up the flight of stairs and down the hall to my apartment, I see a tall figure standing outside my door.
Tyson leans against the wall next to my front door, arms crossed in front of him, scrolling through his phone.
“You finally showed up.” He huffs, glaring at me.
Wow, the audacity. “My bad, I didn’t know I had a curfew, you know, seeing as I’m a fucking adult with my own apartment.”
Tyson’s nostrils flare, and his eyes look like they’re trying to sear a hole through my skull. “I came here to talk about Kip. Do you want the info or not? I didn’t have to wait here all night for you, but I did. So you should be a little more grateful.”
“There are things called phones, you could’ve texted. Ever heard of that?”
“You’re such a fucking little brat.” Tyson snarls. “You should be more careful. I could snap your neck so fast you wouldn’t even know what happened.”
“Go ahead, then. I’m sure that’ll win Kip right on over to your side again.”
“Kip is already on my side. He always has been. He’s mine, not yours.” Tyson’s fangs click out.
“Woah there, big guy, keep it in your pants, alright?” I try to contain my flinch, not wanting to give Tyson any power over me. “You’re acting more like a jealous lover than a concerned friend.”
Tyson leans into my space. “We’re not lovers, but he is mine.
And now you’re in the way of that. Clearly you don’t believe me when I tell you he wants nothing to do with you.
He’s too nice for his own good, and doesn’t want to hurt your feelings.
That’s all this is. You are nothing to him.
This is your last chance. Get out of my way, and get out of Kip’s life, or I’ll make you. ”
“Back the fuck up, Tyson.” I spit his name. “You need a new hobby, and maybe more friends. This is just sad. Is Kip really all you have? Even I have more friends than you if that’s the case, and I’m a notorious weirdo and loner. Find a life of your own, and stay out of mine and Kip’s.”
I step around him, sliding my key into the lock of my front door. I’m about to twist it open when Tyson steps into my body, pushing me harshly against the wood, and trapping my hands between myself and the door.
“You will let Kip go, or you’ll regret it.” He hisses in my ear, shoving me harder against the door.
“You sound like a bad eighties movie villain.” I mumble.
Tyson shoves off of me, stepping back. “Just fucking try me, Charles Benson. I fucking dare you.”
I watch as he turns his back to me, stalking away down the hall.
My night is full of fitful sleep. I’m restless, tossing and turning in my sheets. The truth is, I haven’t slept well knowing that Kip is locked away. And after my run in with Tyson, I feel unnerved. What is with that guy? It’s almost like he’s in love with Kip. Obsessed.
I have a bad feeling about Tyson. I want to believe that he’s all bark and no bite, but that doesn’t track with what I know about him. I mean, the guy got Kip drunk weekly and fed off of him, and then erased his memories! What else is he capable of?
The longer Kip is away, the more I worry about him. I have no real way of knowing if he’s okay. Tyson made it seem like he is, but I can’t trust him.
What if Tyson is all part of this? What if Tyson is the reason that Kip is locked up? Tyson could be the one who locked Kip up so he could torture him or…I don’t even want to think about what else! But I feel like Kip might’ve told me that Tyson was behind it, if that was the case.
I have to know that Kip is still okay. I haven’t heard from him for a couple of days, and he hasn’t been in my dreams.
Can I reach out to him instead of vice versa?