Chapter 21
VALEN
We’ve only been in the car for five minutes, and I’m questioning whether this or being held captive is worse.
“Zavier.” I turn toward the overcaffeinated vampire who bounces in his seat. “For the love of every god out there, shut the fuck up.” I hiss and turn back around in the passenger seat.
Ava laughs at my side. “I love that the current English language is finally rubbing off on you.”
“Mom!” Zavier turns in his seat toward Celine. “He cussed at me.” Zavier pouts.
“I hope you don’t call her Mommy in bed,” Ava snarks.
Celine groans.
“Everyone, please stop.” I close my eyes and melt into the headrest behind me.
I know Ava was being kind by inviting Celine and Zavier to spend the actual Thanksgiving holiday with us since they ended up seeing her father yesterday instead, but I’m regretting letting them tag along. Zavier’s chaotic energy has me feeling drained before we’ve even arrived.
“Linda and Larry are going to love me. I just know it,” Zavier says with utmost certainty. “I hope Midnight and Pom Pom can get along while we’re out. They made big strides the other night.”
We thought about bringing the two familiars but decided the car was already full enough and they might not get along with Ava’s family cat.
“I’m sure they’ll be fine. You made sure they had a mountain of food.” I see Celine run a hand through her dark hair in the rearview mirror. “Even though I told you it wasn’t necessary since Midnight has an automatic feeder.”
“What if we die tragically in an accident and they starve? I had to make sure the babies were prepared,” Zav defends himself.
Celine’s sigh is loud enough to shake the car.
“Thanks for putting that energy out there,” Ava scolds. “I’m the one driving here, so let’s send out positive vibes that we arrive safely. I don’t need your weird vampire mojo jinxing me.”
The remaining forty minutes drag on with much of the same banter. I drown out most of what’s around me since it’s the only way I can cope in the close quarters, and occasionally I feel Ava brush her hand against my thigh in a reassuring gesture.
Finally, we reach the house, and she turns into the driveway. We file out of the car with our side dishes to find her parents waiting at the door for us with cheery smile.
“Look at this group of hungry kiddos to feed, Larry.” Linda hugs all of us, and I scoff at being called a “kiddo.” I’m centuries older than everyone here. “Good to see you again, Celine. Who is this handsome young man?” She motions toward Zavier, and I roll my eyes, knowing what’s coming.
“Zavier Lockwood at your service.” He bows and gives her a kiss on the hand like some chivalrous knight.
If he were around back when I was an angel, he surely would’ve been a resident of the hellish variety.
Linda blushes at the treatment, and I make my way into the kitchen before he says something else idiotic.
“Doing okay?” Ava hugs me around the middle from behind, and I rub her forearm.
“Good. Thank you for checking in on me.” I look at the array of dishes spread across the counter in wonder. “What is all of this?” Zavier and I downed a few blood bags before we left but will still eat some of the human food to be polite, but this seems like enough food to feed hundreds.
“Of course. This is your first Thanksgiving.” She points to various dishes, all of muted orange, brown, and green tones, and explains what they are. Personally, it sounds very odd to me, but I’ll indulge in the human holiday for Ava, since it obviously makes her happy.
“I’m so glad you got to spend the holiday with your father too, Celine,” Linda says as the two of them join us in the kitchen.
She drags Celine over to the counter near the refrigerator, and they get to work assembling drinks for everyone.
“It’s so sad what you’ve had to go through with your father.
Alzheimer’s is a horrible disease. At least you have Zavier now to help lighten the load.
” She winks at him as he enters the kitchen, and he sends a slightly fanged smile her way.
It’s not enough to notice something is off, but I shoot him a glare anyway.
“Thank you for acknowledging how great I am, Linda.” Zavier puffs out his chest.
Linda sends him a funny look, but he’s looking at Celine’s butt, so he does not notice. Doesn’t my brain corrects as I hear Ava’s voice in my head. She is extremely fond of the things she calls contractions.
Tabby appears in the doorway and winds her way through all of our legs. She rubs against Celine, who picks her up and coos at her.
“This kitty likes me, don’t you?” When Zavier tries to pet her head, she hisses at him, and his mouth drops open in shocked offense.
“Hmm, a taste of your own medicine perhaps?” Celine chuckles and sets the cat back down so she can grab a plate.
He mumbles behind her, something about needing his emotional support pussy.
“Everyone take a plate and fill it up. Let’s get eating.
You don’t want it to get cold!” Linda corrals everyone to the food, and I try to pick the least offensive-smelling dishes.
Zavier doesn’t seem to have a problem and piles his plate high.
Celine’s and Ava’s look much the same, so I end up adding more.
I don’t want to insult Linda by taking too little.
We settle at the dinner table, and I have to admit this feels nice—having family, even one as mismatched as ours. A deep ache settles inside me, one I normally ignore, for my sister.
Conversation flows easily. I have to give Zavier credit—he can befriend anyone. He’s a big personality, but he’s easy for people to like. I worry I’m not as easy to like, what with my quieter nature.
“Where is your family?”
It takes me a moment to realize Linda is talking to me. “What? Sorry, I didn’t hear you,” I apologize.
“Where is your family?” she asks again. “You weren’t able to spend the holiday with them?”
“Mom,” Ava hisses in annoyance.
“My parents and sister are no longer with us,” I say. It’s the truth as far as I know.
“Oh.” Linda’s face falls. “I’m so sorry.” She clears her throat. “Well, I’m glad you’re able to spend the holiday with us, then.”
I push food around my plate and try to force it down. I’m not used to eating human food in the way Zavier or Luna are. While I was held captive, I certainly wasn’t provided human food, and what blood I was given was only enough to keep me alive.
Ava’s hand finds my thigh beneath the table, and she gives it a gentle squeeze. Somehow, she always knows when I need grounding. I look down at her, and her face is filled with worry.
“Are you okay?” she asks softly under her breath.
I nod and place my hand over hers. The cool kiss of her rings is a welcome sensation.
I’m still getting used to the nice way her touch feels. Being held for as long as I was, and beaten and tortured on a regular basis, has made adjustment hard. But I know Ava means me no harm any time she touches me. In fact, I’m beginning to crave it.
I let her touch soothe me as I force more food down.
Zavier keeps the conversation going. Even though the exuberant vampire often drives me crazy, there’s something to be said for the effortless way he does it.
When we finish dinner, Ava and I clean the dishes while Linda, Zavier, and Celine pack up the leftovers. Ava’s mom insists on sending us all home with some. I’d be okay without most of it, especially the mushy bread dish they call stuffing, but Ava is ecstatic, saying it’s even better next day.
“Your cooking is divine,” Zavier compliments Linda. “How did you learn to cook like that?”
Linda titters gleefully at the praise. “Lots of practice,” she replies.
Beside me, Ava shakes her head. “Zav always knows the right thing to say to everyone. There’s this saying about selling milk to a cow—and that’s him.”
“Selling milk to a cow?” I give her a mystified look. “Cows do not need milk. They already have it.”
She laughs and bumps her hip playfully against mine. “It’s an expression—hyperbole.”
“Hyper-what?” I stammer.
“I’ll explain it to you some other time.”
We settle into silence while I scrub the dishes clean and she dries them. I find that I greatly enjoy these simple moments between us. There’s no pressure to say the right thing. It’s just us existing in a shared space.
Once the kitchen is spotless, we gather in the living room.
A football game plays on the TV, and Larry’s eyes are glued to the screen despite the volume not being on.
I only recognize what’s happening as football because after our last visit, Ava gave me a rundown on sports.
I don’t understand why humans would constantly want to tackle each other, but I guess it’s a good method of getting out aggression.
“I’m so glad you all decided to stay the night. Sometimes it’s too quiet here,” Linda says, clapping her hands. “I thought we could play charades.”
I lean over to Ava at my side on the couch. My lips brush her ear as I ask, “Charades?”
“It’s a game where you act something out without talking, and everyone has to guess what it is.”
My eyes widen in horror. “I do not believe I’m going to like this game.”
She pats my knee, and I capture her hand before she can pull away. “Don’t worry,” she says, looking down at where I clasp her hand and rubbing her thumb against my fingers. “I’ll help you.”
“Should we split into two or three teams?” Linda asks, looking around at the group of us.
Teams?
“Let’s do two teams,” Ava says, cutting off Zavier, who was about to speak. I’m certain she’s made this call for my benefit. “Mom, you join Valen and me, and Dad can play with Zav and Celine.”
Linda joins us on the couch, and Celine and Zavier settle on the loveseat near Larry’s recliner.
“I’ll get the paper and pencils,” Ava announces.
I watch her go, instantly missing her warmth and comfort. Luckily, she isn’t gone long and returns with a stack of paper she’s ripped into pieces and enough pencils for everyone.