Into the Woods #2
“No. I’m not hungry.” I probably couldn’t eat if I tried; nerves had taken over to the point I was almost queasy. We reached the living room to see the guys sitting around talking. All three fell silent once we entered.
“Ready?” Dennis asked.
“Are you sure you wanna do this?”
“Yes and yes.” I answered both his question and Ari’s at the same time.
“Okay, as long as you’re sure.” She smiled and pulled me into a hug. “This is the last time I’ll see you human.”
“It is, huh?” I hugged her back as much as the crutches would allow. “This is crazy.”
“Did you take your meds yet?”
“Crap. I forgot.” I flinched as they came flying, followed by a bottle of water. I caught the pills when they bounced off my chest, but the water fell to the floor. “Thanks.”
“Anytime.” Sean smiled and went back to whatever he’d been doing.
“I love you.” Ari opened the water and pressed it into my hand as I shook out the first pill. “Don’t try to kill me when you come back.”
I downed the pills before smiling brightly. “I love you too, and I promise I won’t.”
“So who’s staying with me?” Ari asked as I crutched my way toward Dennis, who was waiting near the door.
“That would be me,” Mateo said. “We haven’t talked much. I figured it might be fun.”
“Aw, you’re sweet.” She beamed and took a seat beside him.
“Let me know if you need anything,” Sean told her, then stopped beside me and looked at Dennis. “We don’t need these, right?”
“No.” Dennis took my weight while Sean carefully pulled the crutches away.
“Wait,” I protested, “I need those.”
“Your ankle’s gonna heal the second we’re done,” Dennis said.
“So what, you’re gonna carry me around until then?”
“Unless you’d rather crawl.”
“No, thanks.” I didn’t protest this time when he swept me up. My arms were so sore from the crutches, I would actually prefer being carried this time. “Can I have a piggyback ride?”
He swiftly rearranged and I wrapped my arms around his neck. A rush went through my body when he lifted my legs for a better grip. He stepped back to let Sean open the door.
“Bye, Ari.” I turned to wave as we stepped out. “I love you.”
“Love you, too. Good luck.”
I leaned into Dennis’ back as we left the complex. I had no idea what to expect, but I’d never been so excited. We reached the car and he placed me in the backseat. I slid over with some effort, careful to get my foot inside before he shut the door.
“We’re going to the woods behind Craven Lake, right?” I asked once they were both in. Sean confirmed as he shut the passenger door. “And you figured out a way to keep me from murdering everyone around?”
“Yup,” Dennis said.
“I’m so excited.” I was trying to contain it, but I couldn’t keep from bouncing in my seat. My emotions kept switching between excited and painfully nervous. “Is it gonna hurt?” I asked, looking at the back of Dennis’ head. His lack of response made my excitement run cold. “I take it that’s a yes.”
“It might not be too bad,” Sean said.
“It’s okay. I’ll deal with it.”
“I’m sure you will,” Dennis said, followed by a quiet laugh.
I gazed out the window, trying to keep the butterflies from coming back.
Sometimes I enjoyed pain. At the right moments and to a certain extent.
Hopefully, this would be one of those times.
It probably would be with the kind of off Dennis was.
The reactions he always caused, the immediate arousal whenever we touched.
The slightly unnerving, borderline sadistic way he acted—even laughed—was always enough to excite me.
But of course, I wouldn’t know until it happened.
A few minutes passed before we pulled to a stop near the park. I fumbled with my seatbelt and popped the door open, then waited for someone to come get me.
“I’m guessing piggyback again?”
“Yes, please.” I let Dennis turn around before scooting forward to get on his back. He hoisted me up with both hands resting near the hem of my shorts. “You’re holding too high.”
“I’m trying not to drop you.”
“Whatever.” I wrapped my arms around his neck with half a mind to choke him.
“It’s not gonna work.”
I didn’t respond. I was too busy admiring the trees while we passed the lake and entered the woods. They were so thick in this area. It was nearly impossible to see. “I’ve never gone this far,” I realized. “My uncle never let us go past the edge when Ari and I were little.”
“How often did you visit?” Sean asked.
“Every holiday break until I was twelve. So Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, spring break, and summers. My parents used to send me here anytime school was out. They used to come too when I was super young, but they started sending me alone when I was six. Probably to sell drugs at home without me getting in the way.” I laughed at Sean’s expression.
“Don’t get weird. It’s fine. Also, Ari’s right. These woods are super creepy.”
They were getting thicker and darker the further we went.
Eventually, the trees broke and we entered a small clearing.
The trees and brush along the edge were so thick that anyone on the other side would never know it was here.
Dennis walked to the thickest tree and lowered me from his back to a sitting position.
“Do we start now?” I straightened my legs and leaned back.
“Not yet.” Dennis held back a smile as I pouted, then turned to Sean. “Can you gather the bodies while I bite her?”
“Bodies?”
“People,” he corrected. “I forget you care. Can you gather the people while I bite her?”
“Sure.” Sean dropped a pile of chains at my feet.
“The fuck?” I tried to scurry away but bumped into the tree. “What are those for?”
“You.” Dennis picked one up and tugged its ends. “We have to tie you to something or you’ll run off and go on a killing spree.”
“At least you finally get to try her.” Sean laughed as Dennis glanced at me and smiled.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked nervously.
“He’s been dying to taste your blood.”
“But he tried it from my ankle,” I said. They either didn’t notice or didn’t care that they were thoroughly freaking me out.
Dennis laughed and dropped the chain. “It’s always better from the source.” He crouched beside me and brushed my hair aside.
I shivered as his hand ran along my neck. “You’re making me sound like an appetizer,” I muttered. I half expected him to tell me I was one, but Sean spoke up before he could.
“I’ll be back.” He turned to leave.
“Wait,” I called out, “can you drug the people or something before I kill them? So they won’t feel anything?”
“Sure.” Sean smiled like he thought I was the cutest, most na?ve thing ever, before walking away.
I stared until he disappeared past the thick wall of trees. “I’m kinda scared,” I confessed. I leaned against the tree and pulled my good knee to my chest, wrapping both arms around it.
“Don’t be,” Dennis said, taking a seat beside me. “I won’t make it too painful. I did forget to mention one thing, though. Vampires can’t have kids.” He paused when I gasped. “Is that okay?”
“Okay? It’s perfect! You already know I don’t want kids.”
“I know.” He shrugged lightly. “I wanted to double check before it’s permanent.”
“Can we do it now?” My eagerness was back. Permanent child repellent, here I come.
“Whenever you want. Sean won’t be back for a while.”
“I wanna get it over with.” I closed my eyes and waited, but the moment we touched I shoved him away. “Sorry,” I opened my eyes, “that was a reflex. Try again. I’m ready.” I tried to relax, but ended up pushing him a second time. “Oh my god. I’m so sorry—”
“Are you gonna keep doing that?” He was already getting frustrated. “I can chain you up before, if that’s better—”
“No! Do not chain me up right now. That sounds awful. Can you just distract me or something?”
“How am I supposed to do that?”
“I don’t care. Whatever works.” I straightened my leg and waited. Half of me wanted to get it over with, while the other half wanted to back out completely.
“Are you sure you want this?” Dennis asked. “I won’t make fun of you if you change your mind. No teasing or anything. This decision is forever. You shouldn’t do it if you’re not ready.”
“I’m sure.” I smiled as a thought hit me. “This is like a tattoo. Once you get it, it’s stuck forever.”
“Yeah. If you really think a tattoo is as important as your life.” He chuckled when I nodded.
“Okay, seriously this time. Distract me so I won’t keep pushing you.
” I closed my eyes, tensing up when he pressed me against the tree.
One of his legs was beside mine while the other rested between.
And then, to my great surprise, his lips brushed against mine.
I opened my eyes and broke away. “What’re you doing? ”
“Distracting you.” His hands rested on my waist. “You said whatever works.”
“Oh.” I tilted my head. That wasn’t exactly what I meant, but I’d take it. “Okay. Carry on.”
I closed my eyes and let him kiss me again.
This time I responded, leaning into him while our lips moved together.
I let his hands roam freely, smiling into the kiss when his fangs nipped my bottom lip to ask for entrance.
He deepened the kiss as his hands slipped up my shirt.
I let out the tiniest noise of protest when he pulled away, but then he was kissing down my neck while his hands explored.
I let him without a second thought—he was such a great kisser, I couldn’t even remember why we were here.
His fangs grazed the crook of my neck and I squirmed against him.
He continued to kiss my neck, hands caressing my chest while I ran a hand through his hair.
I felt his body respond as I let out the first quiet moan.
His hands left my shirt as his fangs brushed my neck again, this time with a little more pressure.
He took my hands and pinned them to the ground.
My eyes shot open when I remembered what we were doing—I let out an ear-piercing scream as his fangs tore into me.
He held me down while I thrashed beneath him, kicking and screaming until he straddled me to keep still.
I continued to fight against his strong restraint while my blood was drained away.
Some time passed before I started to grow weak.
His grip loosened once I stopped struggling.
The pain was slowly receding, being replaced with desire. I found myself once again squirming against him for the same reason as before. My eyes fell shut as more and more energy left. It seemed like forever passed before he pulled away. By then, I was too weak to open my eyes.
“Vixen?” He touched the puncture wounds on my neck, then froze when a soft whimper escaped my lips.
He pulled his hand back. I drooped forward and he caught me.
He leaned my back against the tree. “You’re actually quiet when you’re low on blood.
” He chuckled and ran a hand through my hair, gently moving it away from my face.
I wanted so badly to say something but I couldn’t.
Everything seemed so distant. My awareness was fading, just like all the feeling in my body.
I listened to the sound of my heartbeat as it changed, pumping slower with each passing of the little blood I had left.
A numbness was spreading from my neck. I was slipping further out of consciousness.
The last thing I heard before it took me was the sound of chains being dragged.