Juliet
After I told Chris I knew when he would leave, we spent as much time together as we could, trying to cram in the future. The whole family went for many walks together, ate dinner together, or made a point to gather in the lounge, saying goodbye in their own way. Late into the night, our strange family lingered around the fire, sharing stories and drinking our sorrows away. Chris and I didn't want to disappear into the mountains for a lot of reasons; one was Qadir, and the other was Caleb. I couldn't let him out of my sight for too long.
We told Marcus about Chris leaving but that Michael had come to tell us. And because the buzzing hadn't stopped, Marcus went on as usual—following his strict routine. It also meant the rest of us had to keep training every day, which was good because neither Charlene nor I had the luxury of sitting still. The two of us always stayed and cleaned when everyone was done training, and the gym was empty; it gave us a lot of time to talk. I had a mop in hand, sweeping over the floor, "Are you okay, Charlene? Still having nightmares?"
She fidgeted with the rag in her hand, "No… I have been getting in bed with Carl… It's the only way I can sleep," she turned to me, "I'm scared he is going to have to leave, too."
I dunked the mop and pushed the bucket on its wheels, "I don't think so. The watcher system will change… They will follow Qadir's orders… Carl won't want any part of it."
I pointed at a blood stain I couldn't get to; Charlene vigorously went at it, "He won't have a choice… And I won't see you ever again!" I dropped the mop and went over to her. "I'll be stuck alone in this place forever." I put my arm around her shoulder. "I thought we'd have more time." Charlene sat down on the mats—I followed, crossing my legs so we could look at each other. "I knew things would change eventually… But this isn't at all what I thought would happen."
I took her hand, "Louis and I have been talking… Maybe you should move to the Paris house… Or even back home—with your parents."
Charlene squeezed my hand and let go, "Yeah, that would go great. Having my kid change into a little furry dog-slash-human in the middle of family dinner." We both laughed, making jokes about her parents and how they would react. "Or we'd be in front of the Eifel tower, and I could claim it has magical powers… No, Paris is too crowded… If Ben left me there— what would I do? Juliet… this is all my fault."
I laughed lightly, "No! This is no one except Qadir… You and Miné are blameless."
"Will you put it on again?"
I had to shake myself to get rid of the heebie-jeebies thinking about my— veil. "I don't have a choice."
"Well then, let's dance—get drunk and smoke. Fornicate!"
"Hell yeah! Before I have to cover myself up again."
The ruckus of the werewolf boys coming into the house was noisy and drew our attention to the door. Charlene and I quickly glanced at each other. Our mouths turned down simultaneously. Ben had been gone for far longer than he should've been. He gave a lame excuse over the phone, saying he had to stay with his parents for a bit. I could see it bothered her. He wasn't there to protect Miné. He wasn't there to comfort her after what happened... Ben was still a boy, and so was Carl.
***
Marcus
Locked away in my room, I heard the music before I got the invitation via my phone to come out onto the patio. The group was going to drink, play games, and grill meat. Two hours later, everyone was drunk except Carl and me. While Juliet was enjoying the evening, I had nothing else to do but stare at her, deciding if it would be a good time to take things further. When she challenged me to take over from Chris, I already wanted to call her bluff. For those last couple of days, not much else had been on my mind. Juliet danced with Louis, Chris, and Charlene in turns. Everyone was carefree; even Liam and Cindy were letting loose on the dance floor. I could've joined them—looking back, I should have.
Earlier, Ben had come back, and looking at him sitting off to one side—all alone was a cruel reminder of being on the outside—not fully a part of the family yet. After we heard what happened between Carl and Charlene… everyone was a little weird around the werewolves, like they were maybe not part of the pack. I couldn't help but laugh with everyone as Juliet told us about Michael's striptease in Canada. Charlene liked the story so much and dared Carl to do it by pointing a finger at him. He flipped her off. Juliet and Charlene went into peels of laughter. I observed Ben carefully. He wasn't stupid, and the cold shoulder he was receiving made me cringe. But… Charlene wasn't all over Carl either. It wouldn't surprise me if she dumped both of them for pushing her into a corner. She was a lot like Juliet in that regard; they wanted to be chosen and felt like love should be unconditional, even in friendships. I didn't always feel that way. In the past, I would have laid down the law with strict boundaries… It took Juliet almost dying on the compound and me allowing it to wake up. And maybe those relationships didn't fit in compartmentalized boxes… Still, I would never strip for Juliet in any setting... Carl didn't seem the type either… Michael, on the other hand, sure knew how to show her all the human things there were to enjoy. A letter and a simple cat. I had a long way to go in showing affection in a way that would matter—if I ever could. And Michael wasn't even there… She really… just wanted to be happy, and I hoped I could be a part of it all. I was tired of being like Ben—looking in on my life rather than an active participant. Why he was choosing to screw it all up was a mystery.
I would miss all of it… France. The house. The people who loved me. They thought I didn't know… but I did. It was plain in the way Juliet was pushing herself to the point of exhaustion. The fear ran off her at different times during the day... The scene with her and Louis in the ring… Why we were going back… I had yet to figure out. Even the watcher tech had changed; it was the same as it was before the embassy. The surveillance was there, yet different.
After spending as much time with Carl as I could, I got up and made my way to the bathroom. After that, I needed to check in on Caleb and Miné in Juliet's room. The two were fast asleep and still so cute. I wanted kids… Desperately. A family with her in whatever way we could manage it.
As I was coming out of the room, Juliet was stumbling through the hall on her way somewhere. I grabbed her arm and pulled her against me to steady her, already touching her the way I wanted for so long. "Where are you going?"
"To bed," her words slurred.
It was all the invitation I needed to make up my mind—sure, my grandfather wasn't watching anymore. I guided her into my room, closed the door, and pushed her against the wall. She giggled. My arm rested above her head. I took her chin in my other hand and moved her face to the side. I kissed her ear, sucking the soft flesh between my lips. Juliet melted a little, unable to focus on me and staying upright. I bit and licked down her neck and pressed my lips onto hers when I couldn't keep myself in anymore. She pushed me away—roughly. "What the hell are you doing?" She ranted. Or tried.
"What does it look like?"
She was drunk and cute as hell. "Like this?" Juliet protested very breathlessly.
I had to smile. Juliet was unavoidable, and it had been months of excruciating control that wanted to come undone. If I was going to let go. I would show her just how much she meant to me. How obsessed I'd always been. "Yeah, why not?" I said before I took her bottom lip between mine.
"Our first kiss is going to be when I'm drunk… And won't remember it... No… Screw you. You had a million opportunities."
Juliet stumbled out of my hold and turned to leave. I pushed her back against the wall. Juliet's eyes met mine. I stuck out my tongue and sensually licked her lips from one side to the other like she did with me in the car. It had been so unexpected. Driven me to comply and open my mouth. Like I wanted her to do at that moment. She turned away from me, exposing her shoulder. It didn't deter me… I kissed her everywhere she would allow me… "Mmm, Mmh," her moans were low. She gripped my shoulders, hanging on. "Why like this?" Her demeanor was begging for it. She lifted her chin, standing on her toes—inviting me to go lower.
I picked her up and pressed her waist against the wall, closer to my prize. "Why not?" My fingers curled around the collar of her shirt. I pulled down to expose the important... flesh… Abruptly changing her mind, she dropped her legs and pushed me away. I stumbled backward and retaliated, pulling her with me—holding her close in a short dance. We circled each other a few times, and I guided her onto the bed, only to fall on top of her. "We have to do it now." I kept tenderly assaulting her mouth, tasting the sweet alcohol on her lips. Not once had she kissed me back or opened her mouth.
Her eyes closed, "Why?" she whispered.
I could barely hear her pressing my hips into hers. "Do you think we'll be able to do it at the compound for the first time? And you drunk… Is making it very difficult for me. You're so… pliable," I whispered.
My words didn't even get her attention. I tried kissing her again. She gave me no reaction. "Julie… Julie!" I slapped her softly on the cheeks. The corner of her mouth lifted a tiny bit. She had fallen asleep. I rolled off her, wrestling with my need. "F—." I'd waited too long. Maybe I should have done it an hour earlier…
Juliet was passed out on my chest while I read. Cuddled up against me, her leg draped over mine… I gently stroked her hair the way she so painstakingly taught me. I would remember every minute of it.
It was hours before she woke up, startled to be in my bed. Her eyes darted nervously down her body. Humph—like I would be reading after we slept together. What did she take me for? She sat up jerkily, making sure. Sighing, she fell back against the pillows.
"Are you soberer?"
She laughed lightly, "Marcus Ahmed… What happened…? Why am I here?"
"You can't remember?" I smirked.
"You wouldn't have kissed me when I was drunk? You wouldn't have let me miss out on the one thing I longed for… Since I was fourteen."
I smirked for another reason… Best compliment ever… Hearing her use the word longing and me in the same sentence was the ultimate turn-on. "No… Of course not." I pressed my lips together so not to laugh. I was so happy, that stupid smile on my face.
Juliet got up in a huff and headed for the door, stopping when it all settled in her mind. "Why am I here?" she paused, "Did you want to…?" She spun around.
I couldn't get the words out. Six years and have our first time be so—meaningless. Another reason I let Chris have her. "You fell in the hall drunk. So I brought you in here because you insisted… Why? Do you want to?"
That face… She more than wanted to. I more than wanted to. However, she was right… We'd not even shared a kiss... Yes, I kissed her… Urgh, what was I thinking.
Chris's voice boomed out in the hall, calling out to her. My shoulders dropped, thinking about them… She wouldn't see him… For… We didn't know how long. I didn't want to take the little they had left away from her. I got up when she started walking towards the bed. I pushed past her, yelling at Chris to come and get her. I couldn't look at her. Drunk, Chris picked her up and threw her over his shoulder, climbing the stairs towards the loft, laughing.
Louis walked into Juliet's room to sleep with Caleb—stopped at the door and narrowed his eyes at me, "Wicked cool of you, Marcus. You're a romantic after all, aren't you?" I walked over and dragged him into my room, "Sleep there. I'll watch the kids."
I wanted to spend time with Caleb anyway… I wasn't going to see him either. And Louis wasn't fit to look after them.
***
Juliet
Chris gently pressed the point of his finger into Caleb's tiny little fist, trying to get him to change his grip. Caleb relaxed and grabbed hold. "I think he has your eyes," Chris marveled, moving Caleb's little hand up and down.
"Maybe… He's too young to say… It might change."
We were both propped up in my bed with pillows behind us. Caleb was in my lap. We were taking in all of him, enjoying him and the last few days we would have as a family. "You never gave me my gift… The one you said you brought me…."
Chris was quiet. "I… had Warden put it back into the safety deposit box… I went to get it, but I… believe when you really need it, you will go find it."
It was a Sunday late in the afternoon. Such a peaceful day. The weather was perfect. The sky outside was beautiful, playing around with different colors as the sun descended. There was a knock at the front door… "Do you think Carlene came back for something?" Louis always did the honors of answering the door because it was his house. So no one would jump up. We heard him descend the stairs and open the door, and then… nothing. A few minutes had passed when all our heads came out of the rooms and stared down the hall and, in the end, at each other. We were all on edge… The time for Chris to go would be any second. No one could move. Marcus took this as his cue to see what had happened to Louis; he also didn't come back… The house was now deadly quiet. My eyes met my mom's and dad's, whose room was the furthest down the corridor. She nodded at me, closing her eyes. It was time…
"Marcus!" Chris called out. No reply. He took my hand and clutched it agitatedly—his breathing shallow. He turned to me… "Juliet, I love you." I nodded, unable to say anything. "And I'm sorry I have to leave." I nodded again. "I don't want to go."
The heavy treads came up the stairs from outside.
Chris pulled me closer and put his head on the crook of my neck to hold me as I clung to him. Caleb was enveloped by us. Our final moments as a family.
They came around the corner… Aliens… Somewhat like Chris, yet huge, bending their heads down to fit, coming into the house—careful not to break anything. One of them was not manifested. From the orange hue of his skin—the black clothes he had on—it could only be Silvanus. My mom and dad came out behind us… We were all just absently waiting... Two more came through the door with an unconscious Marcus and Louis, putting them gently on the carpet around the dining room table. Those riphaths were grown up. Made little Chris seem like a baby. They had horns growing out of their head. Ears large and pointy like Chris's but limping downward with earrings dangling from the top to bottom. There were five altogether. They came around the table and went down on one knee, bowing in front of Chris in the shape of a v—Silvanus at the head. The weapon-like spears they carried in one hand planted on the floor next to their bodies.
The floor shook when they all walked on the wood, but I thought the next one would fall right through. The biggest of them all walked through the room and headed for the four of us who couldn't move. He held out his massive paw for Caleb. I placed him carefully down. The man turned to Chris and stroked his face. "My boys." The voice was rough and low. His paw-like hands lifted to Chris's forehead. He rubbed his thumb from one side to the other. Chris fell to the floor in front of me. The men at his feet caught him. He was Chris's father…
The enormous creature peered down at me, "I am sorry. Thank You for loving him so much. But they have to go home now… If it wasn't for you… I would never have found my son. And now my grandson. We have been searching for him… until he manifested… for you. It was such a celebration. I would have come for him, but we found out you were pregnant… The celebration continued… They can't stay. You understand why."
I nodded, my lip quivering. Caleb wasn't even crying. The love radiating from the man for his son and his grandson was unmistakable. Chris was being carried out high on their shoulders. Silvanus watched me for a moment and nodded his approval. He was the last to disappear. The vacancy in the house forced me quickly to the door… "Wait…! Please tell me how!"
Chris's father turned. "It's not that simple… You're a vampire… Species don't mix."
"Tell Caleb I love him. That this isn't what I wanted."
"I will tell him all about you... Little Juliet."
They stood in a circle where the watchers always teleported out—and disappeared. It was too quick and like a dream. My world was ripped out from underneath me. My child was gone. Chris was gone. All I saw was suffering at the compound. I didn't know what to do... So I disappeared as well. I kept running and running further into the woods. I could feel myself turn and not into a vampire. The fear of not hurting Louis anymore set me free. I let it be. Like he said, I should. I let the feelings consume me. If I had to change and be controlled, so be it. Anything was better than this.
***
Louis
Feeling drugged, my eyes lazily adjusted to where I was. The dining room table was above me. Was I on the floor? My memory of what happened brought me right back to reality. Sitting up, I quickly scanned the room. Marcus was lying next to me. It was only Cindy and Liam sitting on the couches. I didn't see Juliet. Groggy, I got up, gripping a chair. "Liam…" I croaked out. They both came over and helped me into a chair. "Where is she?"
"We don't know… It's been hours."
I sat back in the chair, rubbing my forehead with my hand, "Why did they drug us? It's so weird… I went out. They were friendly. We all knew what was going to happen… We could've said our goodbyes."
"I think it was about time… They did the same to Chris. They didn't stay to chat… It was like they were in a hurry." Liam said softly.
I shook my head, trying to wake up, "Should we try and get Marcus off the ground. It feels weird leaving him there."
Liam bent down and tried to wake him up. Marcus complained. "No, let's leave him. He is only a few minutes behind you."
I got up and made my way to the kitchen. "The only way we will find her is if we get Benjamin to run around and search for her," Liam suggested.
"Stress makes her turn… what's going to happen… if she stays invisible… and we can't bring her out?" Cindy stuttered. "Even if Ben miraculously finds her in the mountains. How will she come back out." Her voice was breaking. She was emotional. Her thoughts run to Caleb being gone. Never seeing him again. How was Juliet ever going to get through this?
Liam pulled her into an embrace, "It will be okay, love," he coaxed.
"Has Michael not come by after they took Caleb?" Cindy shook her head.
"I don't understand why he would talk about this magic button. Rodrigo says the same thing, but he didn't give it to anyone… Of all people, he should have known when Caleb was going. He would know she would turn… What is the guy thinking?" I drank my coffee, sitting down across from them.
"Do you feel any pain?"
I sat up, eyes wide, wondering if I should tell them or use this opportunity for another dose… I hadn't thought about it. "No… Maybe she is still Juliet and fought it like last time... We should go out and help Ben call for her." The two didn't move. "Are you guys okay?"
Liam sat next to Cindy with her in his arms and her legs draped over his. She shook her head, "It's so unfair… We will never see Caleb again."
Marcus chose that moment to sit up and hit his head. I walked over to him, putting my coffee mug on the table. I reached out a hand, and he grabbed it. He held onto me when the dizziness made him falter. I helped him to the couch and pushed my mug into his hand. "Wake up properly. We have to go."
"Go where?"
"Juliet disappeared with her ability. She hasn't come back yet."
"But she… If she changes while invisible, wouldn't she… Did she plan this?" he asked me.
I wasn't taking any chances; I was almost sure Qadir was lying; the house was still under surveillance. So I ignored him and quit the house. I already said too much about Michael. Hoped the man would edit the feed before they found out he was involved.
The four of us walked down the road to Charlene's door. The TV was bIaring. I knocked loudly—almost banging. Carl opened quickly. By the look on our faces, he knew what had happened. Cindy and Charlene huddled together, crying—trying to console each other.
After an hour of waiting for the sun to set and the moon to come out, it was up to Ben to go out and try and find her. We were on their porch when he transitioned to all fours and ran into the woods. He was the only werewolf there.
We were not going to leave Ben to do all the work. The five of us fanned out in different directions to maybe talk Juliet out of hiding.
Marcus and I walked together. He was consumed with the consequences of the situation. I figured it was a good time to get in his head. "You guys were not exaggerating about the size… Did you see the last one…? They were different from Chris… It seems they become bigger as they grow up… Have you learned anything else about the planets? I can't think that they are affected by the moons on their planets. Maybe it has to do with that… Chris took so long to manifest… Forgetting like a werewolf… You can't tell me the whole of Palmyra has days where they're uncontrollable." Marcus stopped and turned towards me. My eyes were on the ground, and I waited, reading him. He couldn't decide if he should say anything. I couldn't take it anymore and looked up, "What?"
He was hopeful, "Maybe… we can force her out?"
"I don't know if it's a good idea…" I said and pushed past him. The only reason he was optimistic was because he wanted me to do it. "What if she turned and ate all of us… Are you going to be able to fight her… Is she infectious? Did Rodrigo tell you? What if I turn, and you have two badass killing machines on your hands but no magic buttons?" I rambled deliberately. He thought I was being weird. Good. It took so much to get the guy to think about what others might be feeling. Finally, he caught on that I wasn't worried about Juliet at all.
He couldn't understand why or connect the dots of why I might not be; he was too focused on himself. "We have to do something," he spat.
"Then you do it! Force her out," I said with a tone and without turning—avoiding him out of spite because, like I knew he would, he couldn't even begin to think about doing it. Commanding her or hurting her again. He liked me as the head of the house—who could take charge. He didn't want to and said, "You know I won't."
I scoffed, "You'll also do nothing when she needs you."
"What is that supposed to mean?" he demanded.
I finally spun around, sick and tired of his deliberate complacency, "You don't hurt her! But you also don't help her in whatever way she needs!"
We were fighting for the first time. Marcus didn't like the sudden pressure, "What like you beating her in the ring."
"Like you running away… again." Marcus's fist came out of nowhere and hit me in the face. I laughed as my feet were forced to move. "At least we're getting somewhere… It's time you man up." I rubbed my jaw, moving it a little.
"What the hell is wrong with you? You're not yourself."
My eyes snapped up, "Oh, this is me… I think our friendship is over. I have given you time. NO! I've made you a part of this family… She has given you everything she's got. We're going back, and you know it. But you won't say anything. There is no reassurance from you… What are you going to do, Marcus?" He had no answer for a moment and then wondered if we wanted him to kill his father as soon as we stepped over the threshold? "Well, yes… will you?"
Angry, he pushed past me, going back towards the house, frustrated that we were getting nowhere in finding her. Marcus, unfortunately, could handle only one issue at a time. "No! I'm not telling her to go back. You all decided… All by yourselves. You left me out."
Could the guy at least try to figure out why! Chris did it in about five minutes. I gripped his shoulder and spun him around, "You would let her die?"
"No! She's not going to die. My father can't kill her… But I'm also not going to kill him. She needs treatment. She can't stay like this. Unpredictable. Unstable. To what end? We need him so that we can be close to Rodrigo... She will have to endure it for the time it takes. Isn't that what you've been doing... Toughening her up."
"What are you going to do if we both change? I had no choice but to take over her training because I know you. You would rather stand back and make your father decide… You will let her suffer? Keep her weak like a good compound wife!" Marcus hit me again. I grunted and laughed at the same time. Marcus had finally reached a point where he needed to make decisions and couldn't even think past the next five minutes when it came to emotional choices. He continued angrily down the path back to the house. Yes, I was worried about how he would change once we were at the compound with Qadir. Michael had not brought the control tech… Maybe because he changed his mind about Marcus.
At the house, I had to use the opportunity Juliet created to give myself the last dose of that formula, poison... whatever. Juliet had gotten it all in one shot, where I was cautioned to stretch it out as far as I could. There would be no other time; we would leave soon. I believed I had sufficiently rattled Marcus to figure it out. So, I excused myself and went to our dressing room. I rummaged for a hidden shoebox on my side where I had hidden the little pouch. I sighed heavily; I wasn't going into that place unless I could protect her… If Marcus wouldn't do it. I would. I at least had to try. I needed to be stronger, hoping it would have the same effect on me as it had on her. I locked the door and gave myself the shot. Threw away the tiny black tube. Usually, it was only a few seconds.
The day we were laying the roof when Juliet had her first episode in ages was the second time I could do it. Michael and I had planned it so carefully. I would have something I could carry on me for the occasion to make it look like the branding had a joint effect on us both.
After my two-week sleep. After I put my mark on Juliet. Michael had come into my room at the embassy. I didn't know who he was until he stood next to my bed. Juliet's whole life flashed through his mind. All the things he witnessed. The years on the compound. What happened with her and Michael on the farm when she woke up after her branding from Marcus. He showed me her and Chris. Years of her and Chris. How Michael thought Juliet really felt about everything and everyone.
"Juliet is pregnant, Louis. And it's not yours." I will never forget the moment, and was sickened to my core. After I found out she slept with Chris and the entire time in between, I had hoped she wouldn't be. Sure, it would be her and me. Alone. When she asked me if I wanted her to have my babies… It was one of the best moments of my life. Juliet wanted to start a family with me. I never thought Marcus would stay. Believed Chris would find out about us and be too hurt… I hated the situation. Jealous of not having her to myself. Marcus was already a part of our lives—permanently and forever. Chris was at my house, and they were having a kid. I would've told her… After the branding, it would only be us. She had given me the authority to decide.
Michaels's thoughts kept going, leading me down another path.
Juliet wouldn't be able to carry Chris's baby. The outlook scared me more than all of us being together with her. There would be too many complications. She had only gotten pregnant because of Rodrigo. The baby was going to die. Juliet wouldn't be able to cope with… losing a child… Then Michael showed me more of Rodrigo's zombies and what Juliet was at first turning into. The only way to save her—stop the process and keep the baby was this. This one option… He gave me a solution, and I agreed immediately.
He still didn't leave, though. His thoughts kept going about Chris and why he would leave. Never come back. The world would change, and Juliet was a ticking time bomb to Qadir… To Marcus's grandfather… They would come for her. Michael knew he wouldn't be there for her. If they didn't find out all he had done, they would decommission him. He would have no power. No inside information.
He offered me a choice... and I took it. He told me Liam was on his way to take me upstairs. Juliet was having her next spell at that very moment. I held out my arm, and Michael injected me with my first dose. We made an arrangement that he would change her treatment later when we were all upstairs. Michael showed me how closely the house was being monitored… There was no way we would let anyone find out. I needed to be discreet—lie—do whatever I had to. He said they didn't know half of what was happening with the brandings, and they would use me as an excuse to complicate our lives. If I did it, we could stall for a while.
It had been a whole year. Chris was gone. The baby was gone. Marcus would disappoint Juliet. I had no faith in him. Michael would fall away or even die. I had gotten what I wanted… but at what cost to Juliet. She blamed it on bad luck. She had told me, 'I was it.' And what a failure I had been. What a disappointment all of us were. Four men couldn't make her happy. How did I think I could do it alone. Confident in my proposal. I hoped time would give me the opportunity to put it to rights.
After giving myself the last dose, I walked outside to meet up with Marcus and the others, hoping I had a few minutes if I fought it. I sat on the steps leading down from the front door. Seemed like when anything happened, it was right there.
***
Juliet
The world around me was dull and hazy white again. Everything living had different colors, yet moving slowly... My legs moved, and then my arms. My body walked forward. Like on the farm, I knew what I was doing, yet I had no control. I wouldn't be able to get out of my invisible state during my new transformation. I didn't want to hurt anyone at the house. It would probably be better for everyone if I stayed where I was. Died trapped in this unseen dimension.
It had been two weeks. Michael still hadn't brought us the alien tech to control me. I didn't understand why. If it was about who to give to, anybody would be better than nobody. We had decided—me and him. Could I handle losing someone else? What if Michael was already dead? Another person hurt because of me.
My new ears heard Ben long before he galloped up the path I was on. My body sensed the threat and jumped into a tree. My movements were abrupt but decisive. Ben ran right past me. Why couldn't he see me? When he stopped and looked out over the valley, my body was ready to challenge this new opponent. Silently, I landed and stalked my prey. I tried to grab onto him. My hands went right through. My body was confused. I was relieved. If I could stay like that—would Marcus go back to the compound? Would Louis tell him everything? Would Qadir still leave Miné alone?
All he wanted was Marcus…
Ben had moved on. My body didn't really know what to do, so it kinda just shut down… standing there. I was trying my best to get control of my newfound creature being. Nothing worked. My mom said when a person got infected by werewolf toxin, the person turned into an uncontrollable creature. So, this was what a full moon felt like. It was only that one night they could bite and infect someone. Would I be able to?
The familiar tinge on my butt burned. I had come to recognize when I was being forced to do something. Louis was pulling me back out. Dragging me towards home… Or was it Marcus? I didn't think he would have the guts. Would it work, though?
***
Marcus
Louis disappeared into the house, leaving me outside. What was he doing? I paced back and forth, looking at the path leading up the mountain. Ben emerged from his first run a little agitated, talking to himself and flinging his hand out. When he saw me, he yelled, "I found nothing!" Ben headed for Charlene's house. He was as disinterested as Louis in helping to find Juliet. I shook my head. How could he not see her? She couldn't be so far off the regular paths. I checked my watch; it was getting later and later. The beams of three flashlights flickered through plants and trees. I anxiously looked past Liam, Cindy, and Carl; Juliet was not with them. Why would Louis not force her out!
Liam clapped me on the shoulder and followed the other two inside. "Liam, what are we going to do?" He said nothing. What was it with everyone? Did they think she was just upset about losing Caleb and would come back when she felt like it? Didn't they understand how serious this was? I had to decide if I would do what needed to be done. Louis's lazy treads came out of the house, and as I turned, he sat down behind me—his head down to the ground. I joined him on the steps. "Louis, we have to bring her out." He didn't answer.
It was uncomfortably quiet between us. Louis's jabs from earlier probably meant more than he had said. Maybe he really expected me to do it! For the most part, Chris and I had spent more time together than Louis and me… I was going to have to make an effort with my other half. I put my hand on his arm. His skin was moving under my touch—leather forming like Juliet's. From the corner of my eye, I peeked at his arm. My heart skipped a nervous beat. Did Juliet surface? Was that why Louis was affected; she wasn't invisible anymore. Louis's head eerily lifted. His eyes were white and glossy like Juliet's when she dropped Caleb. I sucked in a breath and slowly stood up, walking backward away from him but keeping him in my sights.
Liam and Cindy came through the door, "Marcus, we need—." I halted them with a quiet wave. Liam finally noticed where my gaze was focused and pulled Cindy in behind him. Louis's spell ended before I could decide what to do; his eyes returned to normal. "What happened?" He stared at the patches of leather slowly growing over his arms.
"How are you feeling?" I asked nervously.
"Not bad, actually. My skin doesn't hurt as bad as Juliet's last time. I'm a little tired, though." Cindy came over and put an arm around him to help him inside.
"Liam, I'm going to force Juliet out… Try anyway."
His eyebrows raised, "Want me to come with you?"
"She will never forgive me if something happened to you." Take care of everything… I'll be back… I hope. Lock the doors. Don't let noise attract her."
How would I even know where to do it. She could've been anywhere by then. There was… a particular tree she loved sitting under a little up the track into the mountain. It would be as good a place as any to start. It took me ten minutes to get there. By the time I did, my breathing was uneven. I rubbed my sweaty hands on my pants. I haven't been scared a lot in my life; the morning I branded Juliet was one. The possibility that I could hurt her again was a close second. I didn't even understand how it worked or how Louis did it. Be angry enough and magically make the tattoo glow…
Manifesting, I balled my fists at my side, trying to channel any authority I thought I had over her. "Argh," I opened my hand. I didn't have any… I didn't want any… I wasn't going to be able to do it. It took so much for her to trust me. "Julie… Please come out!" I pushed out the words. Desperate and softly. It was almost instant. She wasn't there, and then she stood in front of me, so close I could feel her breath on my skin. Her hand sprung up and gripped my neck, squeezing. Not Juliet. She wasn't there—only a monster. Her transformation was complete; something new and dark, not supernatural but created—the bottom half of her face filled with mangled teeth, surrounded by black gums in a mouth with no lips.
She pushed me back and effortlessly lifted me, shoving me against a tree trunk. Her stark white eyes stood vividly out against the pale, coarse skin. My feet were off the ground, kicking for a foothold. I was going to have to get physical with her. I didn't want to. "Juliet, let go," I croaked, thinking my authority might work. It didn't. At first, I tried to open her fingers around my neck. She was too strong and pulled me off with ease. I had never touched Juliet with aggression. When my arm hit the crook of her elbow, I had to yell and groan to get through it. She didn't flinch. Her fist came for my face. I dodged. The crashing sound made the bark splinter and strike against my skin.
Everything I taught her came into play with muscle memory. Every jab and kick was countered. My every unpredictable move she knew before I even thought about it. She was like a machine that wouldn't stop. The first strong punch she got in hit me the same way Qadir had that day at the cages. Full of force, it sent me flying, sliding through the dirt and grass. A little better prepared, I was able to get back on my feet. How a tiny fist like hers could knock a grown man around was above me… Guess we didn't have to worry about her and Qadir anymore.
Slowly, she walked up to me—strutting with purpose. Her arm pulled back. I caught her fist in my hand, twisting her arm around until it was behind her back. I used the tree behind me to push her face forward into the ground, using my weight on top of her. I swiftly rolled, put my legs around her waist, and hooked my heels at her thighs, pulling her around and getting her arms in a firm grip. All I had to do was push up into her chin to get her knocked out. I was so close to her face, seeing her red and gasping for air. It wasn't how I imagined my legs wrapped around her the first time. Intimate, yet fighting for my life.
Wriggling, she maneuvered to get my hold to slacken. I threw my arm around her neck, securing that same hand in the fold of my other elbow so I didn't have to look at her. It took only a minute of struggling before she went limp in my arms. I released quickly and got off her, putting an ear close to her face. Her breathing was faint, but she was okay. My eyes stung with unshed tears, looking down at her. She had done the same thing the day Qadir hit me, touching me—sobbing about seeing me so hurt. I rubbed her cheek, "I'm sorry… Julie." I never wanted to cross this line with her. Scared that it would make it easier for me to hurt her the next time I pointed a finger at her smart mouth. Her sarcastic answers. The deviant attitude she wore so well. Will our relationship always be like this? "Julie, wake up." I haven't cried many times in my life… I could count it on one hand. Since I met Juliet, I had broken down so, so many times… This life and her made me more human.
I sniffled and wiped over my eyes; hers erratically fluttered open. Normal eyes. Relieved, I sobbed and moved to get off her. Juliet reached around my neck and kept me in place, "You should teach me how to get out of that one… And get someone into it." Her voice was at the point of breaking, yet she was trying to be playful. She pushed my knees out from under me and made me lay flat on her, lifting her own legs into the air, wrapping around me, making me thrust down into her.
"Is everything about sex for you?"
Her jaw quivered, and tears rolled down her temples, "Just when I lost my baby."
F—, how could I forget about comforting her? I wished I had Louis's ability to know everything. To be there for her. I sat back, crossed my legs, and pulled her into my lap. "I'm so sorry, Julie!" I gently nudged her head onto my shoulder.
"I'm never going to see him again…" Her sobs drifted uncontrollably into the darkness. Her little fists gripped my clothes in miserable ways. I closed my arms around her. Juliet buried her face in my neck, and her body desperately wrenched with every cry. I let go with her.