Haunted Read online

  I can’t find any bite marks on her neck, but her wrists are all scarred up. I can’t help but feel disgusted at the marks and say “They’ve been using her as a fucking blood bag.” Kyle’s eyes widen, looking over “So this was a rescue, then. I thought you said she was with them.” I shake my head, my eyes stay locked on her face. She’s in a bad way.

  “There’s a market for people like Fi. Always hearing romanticized stories of Victorian and Elizabethan-styled Suckers who make exsanguinations sound romantic and sexy. In reality, vampires are nothing but blood junkies; undead crackheads.”

  Kyle nods, acknowledging what I’m saying. I sit back, pulling Fiona’s head onto my shoulder so it looks like she’s sleeping on me. “How’d you know where she was?” Kyle asks. I keep my focus around us, making sure no one is following, “No one but me can find this woman.”

  Chapter 7

  They call it a “gap year.” I didn’t even know it was common practice for high school graduates at the time. I got the idea from an episode of That 70’s Show. Hell, it seemed like a better idea than most others had.

  I hadn’t had a summer vacation in three years anyway; spent them all in summer school. Education in those days had been all about passing standardized tests in order for schools to keep their government funding. It was never about teachers actually helping kids learn, just memorization.

  It was 2006, just before any kind of real financial crisis would grip the country or some kind of housing bubble would pop. At the point this story takes place, it was well into that year; summer had come and gone as October’s cool nights started to set in.

  I dedicated myself to doing not a goddamn thing. Watching TV, playing video games, making my way across the backyard over to Greg’s to hang out with the guys… and answering the front door at 8 something at night when it’s knocked on.

  There she stood; her raven hair down to the middle of her back. She wore a pair of dirty white sneakers that didn’t seem like her at all. The tear away sweatpants definitely were.

  She was wearing my old navy blue hoodie, her hands resting in the large pocket on the front. The printed flames on the sleeves now worn and showing scratches and flakes. Her blue eyes behind her glasses showed happiness and a touch of desperation covered up by her soft and almost relieved smile.

  “So that’s where my hoodie went.” Was the first thing I said to her after three long years. Fiona can’t help but giggle, shaking her head before she steps inside. Playfully pushing my shoulders, she pulled me back in with both arms as they wrapped around my neck, hugging me. “I missed you too, dumbass.”

  My hands went around her waist. Feeling her body suddenly felt akin to sore muscles that hadn’t been stretched in a long time. It was welcoming and somewhat foreign. Her smell was that of her shampoo while the hoodie carried just a hint of cigarettes and sweat.

  From there, she kicked her sneakers off beside mine sitting next to the coat rack and headed upstairs. She looked back down at me from over her left shoulder; a coy look in her eye and a shit-eating grin on her face. Of course, I’d been focused on her ass as I followed her up to my room. There’s no doubt that she noticed.

  Once upstairs and in my room, I closed the door behind us. She was suddenly in my arms once again, our lips pressed together. The last three years slowly crumbling away between us as our tongues escaped our mouths and tried to intertwine with each other. In that moment, I knew this woman and I would never be rid of each other for long.

  Fiona Hawkins; this gypsy of a siren that only I can find. The woman who has the uncanny ability to breeze into my life no matter where I am. I could be across the country, name changed, married and there she’ll be. Standing on my doorstep with a smile on her sweet lips.

  I held her like she’d slip away from me again if I’m too gentle. Our lips kissing away any notion that I’d loved anyone else more than I did her. Not since that day in her parents’ gravel driveway. That day when the only thing that had been good was the two of us in the same place at the same time.

  Her right hand ran up the back of my head, her fingers through my hair while my own explored her bare back. I could feel her quiver only a little as my middle finger trailed up her spine. I’ll never forget her spots. With one simple tug, I unhooked the clasp of her bra. Her hips pushed on mine as I freed her, as if it were the very lock between the next step and stagnation.

  My once lost hoodie along with her top and bra rushed over her head. Her hands suddenly tugging on the button and zipper of my jeans. Before I knew it, I’d yanked her tear-away sweats off, as if those years were merely a few days ago. She laid on the bed, my head between her legs as I kissed the hair that had regrown in probably a short month’s time.

  She grabbed one of my pillows and put it behind her for support, lying perpendicular to the natural direction of the bed. Her free hand kept running through my hair as I kissed my way down, my hands slowly rubbing her thighs. My lips met hers as I kissed her with equal passion as before. She can’t help but hum in pleasure before my tongue slipped out and rolled through them.

  She let out a heavy sigh as she laid back down, whispering “Finally.” I didn’t stop as my tongue slowly slid up and down, remembering her taste and relishing it before I got to work. My tongue flicked up the middle quickly, met with a sharp inhale from her. I couldn't help but smile as I flicked one more time, this time met with a moan.

  I didn't make it quick, but I traded off with how fast I moved and forewent the alphabet technique for something less predictable. My tongue slid over her nub hard and slow, then quick in random directions which brought deep breaths and a hand gripping my hair. I picked up speed and then slowed back down at random moments, revelling in her frustration when she moaned, “Evil!”

  After a while she sat up, pulling me up towards her. She kissed me; her tongue exploring my mouth as one hand gripped the back of my head while the other gripped the back of my neck. You could tell just how conflicted she was between pleasure and frustration. That’s when she pulled on me, guiding me onto the bed and lying on my back.

  She quickly mounted me, bending down and continuing our kiss as her hands gripped my shoulders. Meanwhile, she introduced me to a trick I hadn’t experienced before. Hands free, she pressed down on me, grinding against me hard and slow, causing it to lift up. In that split second, she pushed back and I slid inside her.

  I moaned, my hands immediately gripping her thighs. She broke our kiss and smiled down at me. “Like that, huh?” I nodded, looking up at her. Her raven-ess hair hung down freely between our faces, acting like a curtain between us and the rest of the world. Her body was warmer than I’d expected; her chest pressed against mine like she were trying to stay modest while acting just the opposite.

  Her hips moved slowly, cautiously and even lovingly as we took it in. My hands slowly slid up her thighs to her butt, gripping firmly as her hips moved. She felt more welcoming than I’d expected. Probably because she’d neglected the condoms I was used to. My eyes moved to the little drawer of my dresser and I looked back to her. “The condoms are-” With a smile, she slid her finger over my lips, shushing me as she continued.

  In her position of power, she sat up a little. Her hands firmly pressed against my chest. With a smirk that was ever-present on her face, she began grinding in a circular motion. My hands quivered as they slid off her butt and back to her thighs. She was making me feel every inch of her, gripping and contracting around me as she wiggled and swayed against me. It was clear that she was fixated on achieving something, but I wasn’t sure what it was.

  Things became a struggle when she started going faster. She began to pick her hips up higher, then drop them back onto me with all her weight. She did this slowly, at first. However, it didn’t take her long before she was moving as fast as she could. My back arched, fingers digging into her thighs, both of us were louder than we’d meant to be.

  I looked up at her; her breasts bouncing and swaying. Her mouth hanging open a little and her
eyes locked on me. I’m not sure if she was getting more pleasure from bouncing on me or watching me react. I started to feel a little embarrassed, but that’s when I saw her smirk, biting her bottom lip.

  “Fi, slow down.” I groaned. She shook her head, unable to say anything as she sat straight up. She was panting heavily as she kept moving and bouncing. “Fiona, seriously.” I pleaded to her. All she did was giggle under her lustful pants.

  “Wait!” I called out, “Wait!” She refused, only until after it was too late did she push down on me, hard. My back arched, hands trembling as I let out a deep groan. Her own moans of success mixed with mine as she seemingly felt every drop she’d made me release inside her.

  Her moans subsided into segmented giggles of achievement. My torso went limp, my chest heaved as I caught my breath. Fiona sat atop me, triumphant and proud as her hand gently rubbed the left side of my face. She leaned down, kissing me on the lips one more time, reveling in it all before she whispered to me, “That’s what you get for teasing.”

  That night, it was fantastic. We made dinner with her only wearing my t-shirt. We watched tv and then fucked again until we fell asleep, naked and in each other’s arms. I remember waking up halfway through the night and just didn’t move. Her head was laying across my chest. Her left arm and leg wrapped around me, like I was gonna disappear if she didn’t hold on tight to me.

  We did stupid couples shit the next day. Cleaned the kitchen from the night before. We talked about our future plans. We watched more TV and talked more about… philosophy, school, the real world. Neither of us were sure if we’d go to college. We both didn’t even really want to either.

  We were both more focused on living life rather than careers or marriage or the white picket fence dreamhouse in the upscale suburbs. I told her I’d be more than happy with an apartment in Oldbridge. She didn’t say anything about her future plans, but I could tell she was pretty sure of her future.

  It was pretty late when I walked her home. From the very edge of Haven Heights, through the ABCs at one in the morning. Despite the ABC’s being a bad place to walk through at night, the dark and orange-lit slums seemed like nothing to either of us. We could’ve taken on the world that night and it would’ve felt like someone set the difficulty setting on this particular game to Very Easy.

  We kissed for a long time while we stood outside the basement door to her parents’ house. A welcoming callback to our first kiss. I doubt either of us had intended it. Her back against the wall, arms wrapped around my neck. My hands gripping her ass as we kissed away what was left of our adolescence.

  I was blissfully unaware of any problems at the time. Nothing with Mom, with the bullshit you get into when living in Potton. Not even the fact that it was the last time I’d seen her. I’d believed at the time that this was going to be the rest of our lives. Deep down, I knew that wasn’t true

  That was 12 years ago…

  Chapter 8

  I’m holding Fiona up as she lays in the bathtub. My right arm across her back, holding her up as I slowly hold a cup to her lips. She’s so out of it, it’s clear she’s not aware of anything but the liquid going down her throat. I’m making sure I don’t pour too heavy and cause her to choke it all back up. Really, I’m nervous and hyper aware of every little thing happening in this bathroom to the point that I can hear the neighbors arguing.

  The phone screen is still lit, illuminating the dark bathroom as the blue light floods over the ceiling. She manages to drink down the whole cup, which is a relief to me. I gently set her back down in the bathtub, on top of a layer of comforters and pillows. It’s a makeshift/jerry rigged situation, but something I’d planned to do myself until I could make enough money for a bed.

  I pick the phone back up, standing up and leaving the bathroom. “Ok, she drank the whole thing.” On the other end, Evan reacts calmly “The whole thing? Wow.” I look back at her in the tub, “Why, is that bad?” Evan clarifies, “Oh, no, no, that’s good. It means she wasn’t as bad as we thought.” I sigh with relief, “Ok, good.”

  I close the bathroom door, keeping the setting sunlight from shining into the bathroom. “Run me through again what that cocktail was supposed to do.” I can hear him chuckle lightly, “You gave her a love potion. Tryna get you laid, cuh!” In a stern, but whispered tone, I bark “What?” Evan chuckles, “I’m kidding, I’m kidding!” I groan, “You mother fucker.”

  “Don’t worry, ok? All that shit is natural. It’s gonna hasten her detox, help her ride out any withdrawal symptoms, strengthen her aura. She’s gonna be riding on Cloud 9 for the next day or so.” I nod, sighing in relief again. “Ok, good.”

  “So you really found this girl in a flop house?” Evan asks, genuinely curious. I nod, looking out of my office window, “Yep. Goddamn suckers nest, too. Had to burn it to the ground. There was around six or seven of them.” Evan sounds impressed as he quietly exclaims, “Damn! That any trouble?” I chuckled, giving a smirk “Nah. Trick is, you gotta wait til they’re all passed out. They all sleep like the dead.” Evan then laughs, “Haaaaaa, I see what you did there.”

  “So what’s the plan now that you’ve got one of their blood bags?” He asks. I shrug, explaining “Well, I figured we made a dramatic enough example that the lower tier suckers should all be running back to Daddy by sunset.” Evan catches on, finishing by saying “So once she wakes up, she’ll tell you who Daddy is and you hit’em all at once?” I smirk, “That’s about it.”

  “Well, I hope it works” Evan says supportively, to which I add “Me too. I’m not in the habit of picking up strays, even if I know them.” Like a smartass, Evan quips “Or use to date them?” I give a shrug, “Eh, it’s an angle I can play off of. It’s not like I’m gonna do a snatch and grab for any rando blood bag out there.”

  We hang up after a few minutes, ending the conversation on how he needs to get his ass out here to help with shit like this. When he started about going on a week-long rager is where I had to drop it. No doubt that’ll happen, but right now I’m more worried about getting the help I really need and not over-the-phone support.

  I head out to the barren living room where Kyle is. He’s sitting in the corner with the half empty bottle of scotch from last night as well as his glass. I grab my glass out of the kitchen sink and head over, pouring myself a swallow. I figure I’ve earned it, but I’ll come up with any excuse to get a drink in me at this point.

  “So, who was that?” Kyle asks as I gulped back the sour liquid. I point to the window, reminding him what the business was called as I say “The other half.” Kyle nods, “Oh, ok. I thought you just called it that because it sounded cool.” I chuckled, shaking my head as I pour another swallow, setting the bottle between us.

  “No,” I explain, “My cousin Evan’s a witch doctor out of SoCal.” I take my gulp of scotch before correcting myself, “Sorry, he’s an ‘Alchemical Physician.’ They’re pretty anal about their titles over there. Couldn’t tell you why.”

  I pour myself a third swallow and Kyle retorts, “I know, right? Witch doctor is a badass title.” I shrug, handing Kyle the bottle while I extrapolate “I think he told me it implies he only works on witches, or some shit. I can’t remember.”

  “So, wait.” Kyle asks, “If he’s your cousin, then why is it Spike Brothers and not Spike Cousins?” I smirk and ask, “You mean, aside from it sounding dumb?” Kyle shrugs, acknowledging this fact.

  I explain, “Well, he and I are the only boys on our side of the family. On top of that, the day we met we were inseparable. Our parents said we’d cry every time we were separated, so they started to raise us like we were brothers when we were together.”

  Kyle nods, taking it and then asks “What about the Spike part?” I chuckle, “Oh, well that’s more simple. My dad’s rock band called me Spike, prenatal. Evan’s hair just naturally stood up, all spiky-like.” Kyle just chuckles, pouring more scotch.

  I take my third gulp as I pull my phone out of my pocket, flicking the lock s
creen open as I look at the text message that reads “Bet!” Kyle looks at it, quizzically “Who’s that?” I groan, explaining “It’s fucking Wyatt. He found out I’m back, now he’s betting I can’t take down this other case in one night.” Kyle’s brow narrows “Well, you’re hurting for money, right?”

  I gently drop my phone on the floor next to me and explained, “That’s the thing, he ain’t paying me. He says if I do it, I’ll get a car out of it, but then I’ll have to get it registered, insurance, inspection...” Kyle exclaims “Psh! And you think Wyatt can’t fudge the paperwork? My truck hasn’t really been inspected in four years thanks to him; he just hands me the sticker and off I go!”

  I chuckle, “God knows that rusty hunk of shit wouldn’t see the road otherwise.” Kyle points at me, bottle in hand. “Watch it,” he warns, “you don’t talk shit about a man’s truck.” I chuckled, shaking my head.

  “You know,” I start, “you should probably go ask Wyatt for a job. You’re a pretty good mechanic anyways.” Kyle pours himself another heavy glass as he shrugs, “Meh, probably. I’m too lazy to leave McSling’s though.” I roll my eyes as I take the bottle, pouring myself a fresh glass.

  “So?” Kyle asks before he takes a gulp. I look at him with an eyebrow raised, “So what?” Kyle grows a shit eating grin as he exclaims, “Bet!” I roll my eyes, “Oh right, I’m gonna go out on another case and leave Fiona in the bathtub, stoned off her tits.” Kyle waves his hand, dismissively “Man, don’t use her as an excuse. I’ll keep an eye on her. ” I look sideways at Kyle, not saying a word and he just gives me a similar gaze.

  I groan while rolling my eyes, “Fine! But someone’s gonna have to pick my ass up, ‘cause I’m not trying to get a drunk-in-public charge.” Kyle chuckles in a deep tone while I pick up my phone. “And, I need some McSling’s to sober up a little.” I swipe my thumb across the keyboard, texting Wyatt back. I tell him to pick up a couple doubles with cheese, no pickles before he comes to get me.