Chapter 38
Sam
If I’d known watching Lock casually terrorize the devout people of Fern Springs would be this satisfying, I would have come here earlier. He was giving a new name to God-fearing, and this entire fucking house smelled like sweat.
Ryan came up beside me, shaking his head. “I have to admit, when I’m not on the receiving end, his chaos is pretty entertaining.”
“Maybe it’s just your vampirism turning you into a monster like the rest of us,” I laughed.
“You’re not a monster. I mean, a couple months ago I wouldn’t have believed the cute bartender I had a crush on for so long would be out here gutting people, but we all have our vices.”
He nudged my shoulder and it almost felt like we were those people again. I didn’t regret where my life had taken me and I wouldn’t trade it, but things sure were a lot simpler. Slinging drinks, going to class on two hours of sleep, and playing video games later than was responsible. It was hard to believe I thought I had problems back then.
I watched Joseph chat with my brothers in the living room. They’d offered me a small greeting, but had glanced at Lock and scurried away like the cowards they were.
Joseph looked a little awkward, but I didn’t know if it was because of the old faces or the new ones. None of the other people here had spared him more than a glance since we arrived. Even as a kid, he didn’t interact much with anyone but me, and I’d spent a lot of time wondering if he was lonely after I left.
My chest ached, but I fisted my hands in an attempt to keep it from sending out the Raf signal. He would show up eventually, hopefully after eating someone and banging one out. I didn’t know if that would help, especially since I was having a minimum of five orgasms a day and still wanted to jump on Raf’s dick earlier. It certainly wouldn’t hurt for him to try, at least.
Joseph looked up at me, his brow furrowing. After saying something to the guys, he joined me and Ryan by the front window.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Of course. Why?”
“I don’t know. You seemed a little lost.”
“Can you blame me? This place doesn’t feel like home at all, but there are memories here.”
“Yeah, I get it. For what it’s worth, everyone here is terrified of you and I guarantee they’ll never forget this wedding.”
My gaze traveled over to Lock. He was talking to a woman holding a baby and every time she tried to escape the conversation, he followed her. Right now, he was explaining that chainsaws were originally invented to aid in childbirth. He was waving his Ginger Ale through the air as he demonstrated for her.
“Unforgettable is definitely one word for it. Where are the betrothed?”
“Ruth and Joram are sanctifying their new home.”
“Oh, yeah. That whole thing.”
“What does that even mean?” Ryan asked.
“It’s tradition here for the couple to go to their new house together and pray in every room. They’re supposed to bless it before they’re married, while both of them are still pure.”
“That’s fucking weird.”
“Have you seen this place?”
“What happens if one of them isn’t pure? Will it go up in flames?”
“That would be pretty funny.”
“Don’t let Sam anywhere near the place,” Joseph joked.
Ryan roared with laughter. “They’re like bunnies.”
I shoved him into Joseph, making them both almost fall. “Shut the fuck up.”
“Hey, I have vamp hearing. It’s not my fault I’m subjected to all of that.”
“I don’t have vamp hearing,” Joseph said, scrunching up his nose. “I still heard it all last night.”
“I’m gonna make you cry out for God tonight,”Lock whispered from across the room. “When I drink from your vein and your pussy, they’ll have a new understanding of what it sounds like to command a woman’s body.”
Ryan made a disgusted sound and Joseph looked at him curiously. He just shook his head, rolling his eyes dramatically in my direction.
My nostrils flared when I caught the scent of my mom. She cautiously approached me, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. Lock stiffened and I gave him a small shake of my head. Leaning against the wall beside the fireplace, he kept his gaze locked on me.
She cleared her throat and I met her gaze. With her, it was a little easier. Even though she wasn’t innocent and I held a great deal of disdain for her, she at least wasn’t the one that had beat and threatened me. Letting all of that happen to her daughter was its own sort of crime.
“Hey,” I greeted, bringing my soda to my lips. I heard both Joseph and Ryan step a little closer.
“Samara, it’s… nice that you’ve come to support your sister.”
A laugh bubbled out of me and I put a hand over my mouth. Drawing in a calming breath, I nodded.
“Yeah, I bet she’s super duper excited.”
“She can’t wait, of course. Your father wanted her to marry earlier, but there are only so many people in town. You know how it is.”
“Totally. Why Joram?” His name felt acidic in my throat.
Her face grew somber. “His wife died recently.”
“Oh, shit. Did he kill her?”
Someone behind me cleared his throat. My mom looked a little shocked by my question.
“No, we’re not entirely sure what happened to Magnolia.”
My jaw dropped open. I glanced at Joseph over my shoulder and he gave me an apologetic look. I wanted to be angry that he hadn’t told me, but I guess it didn’t really matter. It was probably hell for the bitch while she was married to him.
“They had kids,” I recalled.
“Yes, Ruth adores them so much. Their home will be so full of love from the beginning.”
Gag me with a spoon. What the fuck sort of bullshit was that? I’d been away for so long, these kinds of words were shocking. Once upon a time, they’d felt normal, even though I’d still hated them.
“Well, good for Ruth, I guess. Hopefully she doesn’t end up dead too.”
“Why would you say that?”
“Have you met Joram? He’s a whole dickwad covered in herpagonasyphilaids.”
“I don’t understand, Samara.”
“Sorry. It must be all that California sin seeping out of my pores.”
“Do you like it there?”
“I love it. San Francisco is home.”
“I see. Is that where you met your, uh, fiancé?”
I smiled. “Yeah. Lock owns a business there. We met in my bar.”
“Your bar?”
“I work… I worked at a bar.”
Lock swore as “Never Gonna Give You Up” started playing from his phone. He fumbled with it until he got it to stop, then shoved it into his pocket.
“Fucking fairy,” he muttered.
“Does he treat you well?” my mom asked. Her eyes darted over to him and he wiggled his fingers in a wave that I found cute, but made her heart speed up.
“Of course he does. He’d never let anything happen to me.”
“He’s intense. He has an… interesting sense of humor.”
“Should I show her how funny I can be?”Lock whispered.
Ignoring him, I nodded. “Yeah, he’s a bit eccentric. He had a hard childhood. Mommy and daddy issues, you know.”
His little growl made me roll my lips to keep from laughing.
“And you’re getting married,” she remarked, reaching for my hand. I allowed her to hold it as she studied the ring. “Beautiful. It looks lovely on you.”
“A cop pulls over two priests,”Lock murmured. “He tells them, ‘We’re looking for two child molesters.’”
“Thanks,” I replied. “He had it made for me.”
“The priests look at each other for a moment, then reply, ‘We’ll do it.’”
Ryan laughed behind me and I shoved my elbow into him. He leaned toward Joseph and whispered the joke in his ear. While they snickered, I refocused on my mom.
“Any other exciting nuptials coming up?” I asked.
“Jed is having a baby soon,” she beamed.
“Oh, that’s neat. His first?”
“Third.”
Ew.
“That’s great.”
“How do you get a baby out of a blender?”Lock continued, apparently intent on giving me an aneurysm today.
“When will Ruth be here?”
“They should be on their way. Father Jacob wanted them to meet him at the church so they could pray together before they all headed over.”
“Tostitos,”Lock said on a breath.
Putting a hand over my mouth, I faked a cough. My eyes were watering with the effort not to laugh out loud.
“You’re a fucking asshole,” I muttered into my palm.
“Did you say something?” my mom asked.
“Nope. Just a sore throat.”
She offered me a tight smile, then put a hand on my shoulder. My skin prickled with the contact, even through the lace.
“We’re very glad you came back.”
“Are you?”
“Of course. When you ran away, we were heartbroken. Your father blamed himself for so long, until Pastor Jacob finally helped him realize that it was your decision to leave.”
Hm. I couldn’t be sure, but that feeling in my gut might have been what Lock coined ‘the wrath of the divine.’ Rage. Indignation. Murderous intent. Yeah, there was a little bit of everything churning in my stomach along with the Ginger Ale.
When I looked up, I saw Lock watching me with a raised brow, the corner of his lip elevated in that signature smirk. Oh, he definitely wanted to go into massacre mode, but I knew for a fact he’d enjoy it more if I started it.
If I channeled my competitive side, maybe I could rein it in. Be the bigger person. The last thing I wanted was to give him gloating rights. Last night, he wanted to make a bet about the odds of me setting everyone on fire. Judging by the ice cold tips of my fingers, they were more likely to become snowmen like our friend in the alley.
Actually, no. Fuck the bigger person.
Draining the last of my soda, I crumpled the can into a small ball of aluminum. My mom’s eyes widened and she took a small step back. Her gaze drifted down to the trail of dried blood on my leg and I knew she could see the dagger. Most people had already gawked at it before studiously looking anywhere else.
“You’re right,” I said too cheerily. “It was my decision. But it was all in god’s plan, I’m sure, right?”
“Everything is,” she agreed.
An engine was audible from outside and I listened as it pulled into the driveway. After my dad slipped through the door, I heard him start a hushed conversation with Joram and Jacob that three of us were catching every word of. It was exactly what I’d expected.
Samara. Crazy fiancé. Duplicitous Joseph. Trouble. Get rid of them. Intimidate Lock.
Our eyes met across the room, the fierceness of his igniting an excitement in my own body. He casually strode over to me, slipping his hand into mine.
“Don’t start shit right away,” I warned softly.
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll be a perfect gentleman.”
The door opened and Joram’s eyes immediately found us. They were narrowed, full of distrust and anger. I forgot how green they were, but they weren’t a nice color. They were a sickly green-yellow blend, like bile. He wasted no time heading in our direction and Lock squeezed my hand.
To my surprise, Joseph stepped forward, positioning himself slightly in front of me. Ryan was close as well, poised for whatever was going to happen. It was sort of funny. One of us could take out everyone here, but these three men were taking the initiative to protect me. They were like my regulars at the bar in a way and I found that wholesome as fuck.
Make that four. I could feel Seraphim getting closer, but he seemed to be taking his time. Good riddance.
“Samara Byrne,” Joram rumbled, stopping in front of us. He looked at each of us, then settled his gaze on me.
“What’s up, blockhead?”
“You weren’t invited and I would like you to leave.”
“Aw. That’s rude. I came to support my sister.”
Ruth was hovering in the doorway, looking small and terrified. Even though the situation might have been intimidating, her entire demeanor was off. I’d never been exceedingly close with my siblings, but we always got along fine. Ruth and I used to share a room.
“She doesn’t want you here either,” he replied.
“Did you ask her or are you already making decisions for her?”
“She’s my wife.”
“Not yet. Maybe I can talk some sense into her.”
When I moved forward, he clenched his fist. Lock took it as a threat, a growl rumbling in his chest.
“Come on, man,” Joseph drawled. “We’re just here for the wedding like everybody else.”
“Is that why Samara brought this psychopath in here to start making threats?”
“Don’t call him that,” I spat.
A flash of silver drew my gaze to Lock. He was maneuvering his dagger over his fingers adeptly, not once looking away from the asshole in front of us.
“See?” Joram gestured at him. “This is ridiculous. You left. Ran away. It broke your family’s hearts and now you want to come back with some alleged fiancé in tow? He’s probably some homeless drug addict.”
Lock snorted a laugh. “I’m dying to show you exactly what I am, but I’m currently on my best behavior. If I were you, I’d accept that we’re sticking around for the party and be grateful if we allow you to continue your pointless existence.”
“You’re not staying. Leave before I make you.”
“I was fucking hoping you’d say something stupid like that.”
He grasped the handle of his dagger and licked his lips. I expected him to lunge, and at this point, I wouldn’t stop him. He stiffened, though, and glanced toward the door. His lip curled and his pupils dilated.
“Belladonna, I think there are more questions to be asked before we jump straight into the carnage portion of the afternoon.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your sister.”
I looked at her again, my heart constricting at the way she was leaning her weight against the door. She had an arm wrapped around her stomach and silent tears were streaming down her cheeks.
“She’ll get over it,” I said. “We’re doing her a favor.”
He shook his head. “It’s not that.”
When I focused, I noticed the redness around her eyes that must have been there before they arrived. There was a scratch on the hand that was clutching her torso and on her neck there was a spot that appeared slightly yellowed.
Opening my mouth, I both tasted and smelled the air. It was masked by the heavy scents around us, especially someone’s strong floral perfume, but I could recognize it now. Blood. There was something else…
I sucked in a breath. Blood and semen, bruises, scratches, and tears.
“What’d you do?” I demanded.
“I told you to leave,” Joram roared, advancing on me.
Joseph jumped in front of me, slamming his hands into his chest. “Back the fuck up, asshole.”
Raf’s presence struck me hard just before he appeared in the doorway, making Ruth scramble away from it. He took in the scene, opening his mouth to say something, but Joram swung his fist toward Joseph’s face. As soon as the blow landed, I was filled with white hot rage. Well, not hot. It was fucking cold.
Lock dropped my hand, but stayed where he was. There was a resounding gasp throughout the room, then people began to scramble toward the doors. I iced them over, sealing them in the room with us. With me.