Previously: Aleigha interrogates his brother for the whereabouts of Lynn McKay.
"Where does Lynn live?" Aleigha asks as we walk down the street.
I have been a big-mouth bitch this entire time. I don't know where she lives. That's the best thing ever. But also, we came out here looking for a phone! "Where's the nearest Sprint Store?"
"Way out." I live in a poor area! We used to have store block to block. But people got greedy and started robbing and the homeless is just wild. "The nearest fucking store is probably in another town." That wasn't a lie.
Aleigha puts his hands in his pockets and drags out a highlight purple case phone with polka dots. "Open Google Maps." He speaks into the device. Phones do that?
"Give me the nearest Sprint store near me on foot." I hear a beep followed by an electronic female voice. "the nearest sprint store is 22 miles from you."
"Bullshit..."
"Are you serious?" I look over Aleigha's board shoulder. "That's far. And the turns, we have to cross like 8 streets and take the freeway."
"Or... I can steal a car." He glances at me. Lord, he's tall and striking. He scans the road and huffs. "No strays on the street."
"What kind of vampire steals cars?"
He glowers, pushing me off his shoulders, facing me, "I'm sorry my undead nigga hides, didn't come with wings and the blood Dracula."
Jesus. He steps into the street and puts his hands in his pockets. "Aleigha, this isn't Grand Theft Auto."
"So?"
A car in the distance with a honking horn screams down the road. It slows down with Aleigha in sight. "Aleigha, move!"
"No!" He goes towards the vehicle's hood and steps on top of it. "Get off my fucking car, asshole!" the driver berates. "Shuddup..." Aleigha puts his left hand out, hovering it over the windshield, "Nanatum Quetia," the windshield explodes, Aleigha swipes his hand over sending the broken glass to the road. The driver is utterly frozen as am I. "Usinicas," his voice is hypnotic, a set of rings reach out as he cast the spell.
The driver's eyes turn a solid noir black. "Come on, little brother." He hops off the car and get into the backseat, Aleigha motions his hand through the window, gesturing me to move.
I HATE MY BROTHER. What the fuck was all that!
"Come on Deidre, the gas is running."
What am I upset about?
I'm upset because my big-ass brother I don't fucking remember just kidnapped and stole a car at the same damn time.
With no break for breath.
The driver is named Adam Malkin. But Aleigha was like I'm going to name him Bill 'Bill' Aarstad. So now, this bitch doesn't know his real name. Aleigha handed me his identification as soon as I got in the car.
It is a good-looking car. In my opinion, not a loud bright color. A blue 2019 Chevrolet Cruze. "You think this dusty ass mobile is good looking?" his eyes glaze to me.
Why is so imposing? "Why did you steal a car?"
"Because I don't like walking?" He states matter a factly. "It's cool. He's driving so technically; the car isn't stolen."
"WHAT?"
"Mama always said, you got to think in this world."
"IS HE ALIVE?"
He squints his eyes, "Define alive? He's heart is beating."
"AND?"
"He can see... and hear."
"AND?"
"Ok, look, he can do everything except do what the fuck he wants." Aleigha snaps his fingers. "Billy! Turn on the radio, I hate silence."
In a ghastly tone, Billy speaks with a disembodied voice, "Yes, Mahari." He turns on the radio to an ongoing Christian tune. Lord help me. "Play some fucking rap!" Aleigha kicks the back of the driver's seat. "My apologizes, Mahari."
I hate everything. I hate the sky, the air, the cushion in the car, my brother, I hate pink; the radio is shitty, my life is shitty. "What's Mahari? I thought your name is Aleigha?"
"Mahari is Vamp slang. The most elegant nigga word for Prince. Mahara is princess." He explains. "It's African inspired."
Billy drives so smoothly despite being a husk. He has the role of an obedient zombie. The stereo is booming with Megan Thee Stallion's RATCHET song.
"Remind me to get a new car." YOU JUST BURGALARIZED THIS ONE! "This one's cramp. I'm 6'7, I don't fit."
So, let's recap the events in my head. I found out I'm on the verge of getting kicked out of school. My school is in danger of closing down. I could make out my grades and continue going, however, I don't care. I don't have motivation. Therefore, I'm ok with being a drop out.
Then my brother pops up and says let's go out and commit hood rat ass shit and I my dumb ass was like, 'wah'. Also, I might have to kill Lynn.
Now, I'm in a car that's stolen by a six feet seven vampire with pink eyes, and I don't know why that is.
Billy pulls up in the parking lot in front of a Sprint store. I've never been so relieved to hear air conditioning; I just need my sanity back.
I walk behind Aleigha and look at the clouds turning colors. Oh, my jellyrolls, it's almost night? "Aleigha what time is it?" He pulls out his phone to check. "About a quarter till eight."
"Excuse me sir, we're about to close." Says the cashier. "What's your name?"
OH, MY FUCKIN—IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN. "Seamus Garner..." he says unsurely. "And the one next to you?"
"Fuckin' Noel Fort. Listen man, we're about to close so you have to leave!" exclaims Noel, a boy with short brown locks. "You should have closed the door then." He waves his hand in the air, my heart drops. "Usinicas"
A nigga that knows some hocus pocus shit shouldn't even have the right! Noel and Seamus's mouths hang open, their eyes blackout. "Yes, my Mahari?"
"I need two phones. Don't worry about the plans, just give me the phones."
"Yes, Mahari." The two-part from behind the counter and start picking out the best phones in the store before returning to the cash register again. "Here you are..." they say in unison. Sliding the phones to Aleigha like servants to a master.
"Thank you, one question. Who's driving that Fancy ass truck outside." He thrust his thumb behind him. "Me..." Noel slobs. "Give me the keys," he beckons. "You, blond one, drive."
"Yes, Mahari..." It's too early for this shit to be happening! "It's fine, Deidre, just sleep in the back." Aleigha follows Seamus outside and I watch Noel sway back and forth. I can't help but be curious. "do you know where the nearest burger king is?" For a minute he groans and twitches as if attempting to break the spell.
"North..."
"Thank you"
"Help..." he voices. "My... soul... burns."
Bye. There is nothing I can do about that. The horn outside goes off, "DEIDRE!" Aleigha hollers. I jog outside and get in the brown ford. In the back of the car, is a giant bunny. "Was that already here?"
"Shit, I guess." Shrugs Aleigha. I hop inside the back while Aleigha gives orders to pawn in front. We pull off and it dawns on me I never asked about his looks. Not being sexy but, he looked like a tree with burnt wood.
"I'm dead..." he answers. "Your head is fucking loud."
I sink in my seat. He orders Seamus to turn on the radio and uncomfortable classical music starts playing. I don't even question it at this point. "Turn it down." He requests.
"Say, Aleigha. Why—"
"I'm dead. I got shot back home, new body I found in the basement in the old mansion." He rushes clarifying. Why is talking so fast? Then again, he's reading my thoughts, did I hurt his feelings?
"If a bitch could feel words, I'd be concerned."
Never fucking mind.