My Soul to Keep

CHAPTER 21



I thought about having T-shirts made. Hi, my name is Connor and my parents are junkies. I'd come down from my room to grab a glass of milk before bed and there they sat. Every night at eleven o'clock they glued themselves to the front of the television to watch the news. I stood behind them at the kitchen, pouring my milk and shaking my head in shame.

I picked up the glass to down the contents when I saw a brand spanking new package of Halloween Oreos sitting on top of the microwave. Oh, baby. Where have you been all my life?

I ran over to the microwave and tore into the bag like it had a winning lottery ticket hidden inside. I grabbed five cookies between my thumb and index finger and practically drooled all the way back to my milk. I set four down and dunked one in my glass. I waited the required one full minute before pulling it out and biting into its savory sweet gooey goodness.

I knew something was wrong when the cookie hit my tongue. It didn't burn, but it numbed the front of it. I chewed for a moment and started to swallow. My toes curled and forced a series of violent muscle spasms from my ankles, up my legs, through my pelvis, up my torso, and finally through my stomach. I leaned over and threw up my chewed up cookie and milk.

Son of a bitch! I can't even eat Oreos anymore! I knew it wasn't the cookies causing the violent reaction. It was the milk. I could still eat Oreos but who does that without dunking? Never been a fan of the twist, lick, and eat. I'm a dunker. I tossed the other four cookies down the garbage disposal and poured the milk in behind it. I tried not to cry.

"Everything okay, honey?" I looked up to see my mom staring at me from the other side of the couch.

"Yeah. I've been having a problem with milk. It doesn't seem to want to go down right."

"Huh. You're Uncle John is lactose intolerant. Maybe you are, too.

"Just my luck," I said and my eyes focused on the television. "What happened?"

"Another kid was killed by that wild animal," Dad said.

I walked around the kitchen counter. "Turn it up?"

My dad thumbed the volume control on the remote. The reporter actually looked sad. "This is the third brutal killing of a young female in the area. The Sheriff's Office has been canvassing the surrounding woodland areas for sign of the bear, but no tracks have been found as of yet. People are urged to use caution and stay indoors when possible."

The image flashed over to EMT's wheeling a zippered body bag on a stretcher into the coroner's wagon. "Wildlife experts are unsure if it is a bear attack, however. Claw and fang marks are consistent with a smaller bear, but no parts of the body were consumed. It would be highly unusual for a predatory animal to kill and not consume its victim unless it was defending itself. Sheriff's are also telling us that massive blood loss from the victims was evident, but no signs of blood at the scene were found. With WPTP channel Seven News, this is Juan Rico."

The news switched to a story about seven people winning the Power Ball. I stared at the TV and had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. Three female teens killed. By an animal? I think the wildlife experts are right. If an animal had done it, there would be pieces missing. If it wasn't an animal, then what the hell was it?

My father hit the mute button and said, "One thing about living in Santa Carla I never could stomach, all the damn vampires."

I recognized the quote. My parents had their list of favorite movies. Most of them involved vampires. I remembered the one he quoted and laughed. Until the word vampire echoed in my head. Oh, shit.

"Good night. I'm going to bed."

"Good night, honey," Mom said

"Night, kiddo." Dad smiled and waved without looking.

I took the stairs three at a time. As soon as I was in my room I locked the door, opened the window, and stepped out onto the roof. Without even thinking about it, I spread my wings and launched myself into the night sky. I concentrated on Clarisse. I got a flash of her on her Harley on her way to grant somebody's wish. I flew as fast as I could.

* * *

I looked down and saw the bike pulling to a stop outside a house not too far from my own. I dropped out of the sky and landed in front of her without showing off at all. My legs absorbed most of the impact. I stepped out of the two Sketcher shaped holes in the pavement and gave her a grim look.

"Worm? What are you doing here?"

"Houston, we have a problem."

"What are you talking about?"

"Is there someplace we can talk?"

"I don't have time right now. We'll talk on the way to school tomorrow,” she said and made to walk around me. I grabbed her arm as she tried to pass me.

"We can't wait that long. Please, Clarisse. It's serious."

"So talk. What's the matter?"

I took a deep breath before I started. "Have you heard about the girls who were killed? Two of them went to our school?"

"Briefly. The one's attacked by a bear?"

"No. They weren't. They were attacked by a vampire."

"No they weren't, Connor. I can promise you that. If any of the humans who are changed by us breaks the rules, we are the first to know. None of mine killed those girls. You've only made one. Did you feel it?"

"Feel what?"

Clarisse sighed and seemed to think about it for a moment. "Remember when you felt Brett light the candle and burn the contract?"

I nodded. "Yes."

"It's like that but stronger. The moment he killed anybody, you would have felt it like a blow to your heart. I would have too because I was there at his making. Trust me, he hasn't killed anybody."

"But what if he did?"

"He didn't."

"Clarisse, bear with me. What would happen if he did?"

"Then it would be your responsibility to call the Reapers. They would come for him and take his soul."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that. So don't worry about it. Okay?"

"I'll try not to. It's just weird. All the girls were supposedly attacked by a wild animal, but none of them were eaten. Just drained of blood."

"That is weird. But trust me, if it were Brett, you would know."

"Okay. Thanks. See you tomorrow."

"Bye, worm."