The Things We Fear

It was another three tense days before they found the next body. Another old person with seemingly no attachment to the supernatural. After questions had been asked about Rod and people confirmed "the way the guy sometimes knew things was almost psychic”, the residents of Breckon Heights were starting to wonder if even their mundane population held a little extra than the average human.

In many ways, the entire place was a social experiment. There hadn’t since ancient times been an example of a commune this large. And that they lived side by side with humans who remained completely unaware of the true nature of their neighbours. It was an exercise in “who knows” every day had the potential for a new discovery.

The elder vampire had floated the theory that mere proximity to this many supernatural creatures may have a direct impact on those living locally. Whereas Cassius had opened the discussion on whether living within a large magical ward might have unlocked doors within people's psyches which would have otherwise remained closed. There were many theories and no answers.

“Isn’t Diedre one of the ones who always follows the detectives around and tries to act like Sherlock?” Theo asked.

He hadn’t been outside Cassius’ home since he turned. The meeting with his mother had been both better and worse than expected. The woman worked at the local hospital, she’d seen things logic could not explain away, but just because you could accept an entire world of supernatural beings existed, did not mean she was happy about her son suddenly being one of them.

“I thought that was Barbra?”

“No, isn’t Barbra the one your dad always complains about? Always ringing up and reporting ridiculous stuff? Like the mail boy loitering for a few minutes and her neighbour's garden gnomes being too close to the pavement and other such ridiculous shit?”

Marcus shrugged. There were a few old biddies the cops liked to complain about. Though many of the recent stories were about the older men who had decided clothing should be optional if you lived past eighty. His dad had come home with a harrowed expression multiple times, scrubbing himself off in the shower for an hour afterwards.

“Maybe she was the cake lady?”

It was Theo’s turn to shrug.

“Whoever she was, apparently she left behind about eight or nine cats. I thought crazy cat lady was something you only saw in movies. Don’t you need a licence or something to have that many?”

“Given I’m allergic to cats I’ve never bothered to know.”

“Dude, that’s a point, I’m totally fine with dairy now. Ate a gallon of ice cream last night. No headaches or rushing to the toilet. It was awesome.”

Marcus grimaced a little at the overshare, but given he’d been there more than once when Theo had decided he didn’t care if he was intolerant to dairy he was going to have the yummy thing tempting him, then still been there when the boy had to run to the toilet a few hours later, they were probably well past that point. It kinda was amusing to get an update.

“No cravings to go eat Bambi?”

Theo scoffed, shoving him. Gently this time, having had a few days to adjust to his new strength (he was getting there).

“Nah, I did try black pudding and it was like eating cake, so I’ll be having that again, and I like my steak rare now, but no, no desire to go hunting and chomping on thumper in the woods.”

“And your mom?”

“She’s okay. I didn’t want to bite her either, but she was as chill as she could be hearing her son had died and become a vampire. I think she was angrier I didn’t tell her beforehand. Couldn’t exactly say I wasn’t sure I’d be me after and didn’t want her to have to go through all that. She’s dealing, but it’ll be a while before we’re anywhere close to alright.”

“She’s made of strong stuff, she’ll pull through.”

“Yeah, I know, just sucks is all.”

Marcus looked around. Normally when Theo was down he’d suggest they go for a ride or out to the park, but the vampires didn’t want him venturing out just yet, and Marcus wouldn’t exactly be able to stop him if Theo did lose control.

“Huh?”

“What, say’s here,” Theo said, pointing the screen in Marcus’ direction, “that they found a load of spider bites on the woman, but no spiders.”

“Abigail’s texting you details of the case?” He teased.

“Dude I’ve been locked up here for three days. Basically on my own, and I genuinely can’t tell which is worse, when your father decides to grace me with his unpleasant presence, or when I’m completely alone and going insane with boredom.”

Marcus winced in sympathy. He’d personally take the boredom option, but Theo had always been more of a people person.

“Isn’t she coming to visit?” He asked, finding nothing better to say.

“They come for an hour or two each evening. But they’ve all got jobs and family to take care of, and given I mostly need to read books and practice the same muscle movements over and over until I get the hang of them, it's better for me to do it alone. Something about people around me distracting me, but then I get bored because I’ve no one to talk to and don’t do anything anyway.”

Marcus could see his friend was going to lose it from feeling isolated long before he did from bloodlust.

“Let’s walk through the forest,” he said, pointing to the back of Cassius’ property.

Yet another thing that had him annoyed. Cassius’ house had a pool, a forest at the back and large sprawling gardens. He would have loved to live here. If he could have had his family in the house and Cassius elsewhere. But unfortunately, this place came with the man, and as beautiful as the home was, nothing was worth spending more time with that man.

“Can we? I mean they won’t have our balls for leaving?”

“Probably, but I’m more afraid you’ll turn rogue out of boredom if they don’t let you out a little. Plus, there are no trails near here, so there shouldn’t be any hikers or tempting humans for you to snack on. If you chase after a squirrel though, I will record it.”

“Ass.”

“Jerk.”

“Alright, fine. But if the elder vampire or Cassius finds out, I’m totally blaming you.”

“Blame away, my father’s opinion of me is already in the gutter. I doubt you could do much to make it worse.”

They jumped the fence, setting a leisurely pace through the densely wooded area.

“That bad, huh? I thought he was extra keen to get you learning all the magic stuff?”

“Oh, he is. He just likes to spend the entirety of our lessons telling me this is what children learn and that my little brother could do better. Which mildly freaked me out because I thought he was telling me Brody had magic, but apparently he was just stressing how I’m more useless than a seven-year-old.”

“Ouch, harsh man.”

“Yup.”

“Dude sucks.”

“That he does.”

Theo hummed. The two continued to walk in silence for a way.

“Does it look different?”

“What?”

“The forest, you’ve got sharper senses, right? Does look different? I’m assuming it smells more and you can hear more, but none of the shifters or vampires ever really talk about their eyes.”

It was a point of contention on the forums. No one was ever willing to discuss eyesight for some reason, but you could guarantee once every few months some newbie would come along and ask. Quickly getting shut down.

“I mean everything is clearer. Like the leaves are all still green but now I can see there are multiple greens. And the parts without light, which I know are in shadows as just as clear. Like my eyes are switching between normal and nocturnal vision. But you’re right about the smells. It’s a lot. And the amount of animals and bugs mating right now is actually ridiculous.”

“Mating?” Marcus laughed, “since when do you call it mating?”

“When the idea of two wasps fucking started giving me hives,” Theo deadpanned.

He couldn’t help it, he threw his head back and laughed. Loudly. For all the supernaturals liked to brag about their extra senses, it obviously had its drawbacks.

“Oh, my man, dude. Never change.”

When Marcus raised his head, he was surprised to see a strained look on Theo’s face.

“What’s wrong?”

“Eh, might not be tempted by your blood, but apparently someone exposing their neck is exciting regardless of who it belongs to.”

“Wait–”

“No!”

“Are you saying?”

“No, I am not.”

“Does my neck turn you on?” Marcus could hear the glee in his own voice.

“No. No. Just no. It’s more like a primal appreciation.”

“From your dick.”

“From my fangs, you bastard.”

“Oh, this is awesome. Should I make sure to wear v-necks from now on? What about scarves? Are they like wearing lingerie?”

“I hate you.”

“We can’t hate fuck, you wouldn’t respect me in the morning,” he acted dramatically, hand to forehead and everything.

“I don’t respect you now,” the other replied flatly.

“Is it like how in old movies, showing a bit of ankle was scandalous?”

“Oh, my god. Why am I friends with you?”

“Stockholm syndrome.”

“Possibly the only accurate thing you’ve said this entire conversation.”

“You love me really.”

“I tolerate you, at best.”

Marcus was kind of appreciating this new snarkier Theo. He was pretty sure he'd said those exact words to the other in the past, but their banter held a little more edge now. Though the way the other couldn’t stop his little smile curling at the side of his mouth, let him know the other was as sunshine-sweet as ever.

Theo tensed, shooting his head back and forth.

“Do you hear that?”

“Given I have human ears, and you’re the one with radar hearing or whatever now, I’m going to go with no.” Once he started being sarcastic, it was hard to turn the flow back off.

“Someone’s coming.”

“Oh, fuck. Are you alright? Are your fangs itching, or whatever they do?”

Theo threw him a look so appalled Marcus was almost impressed.

“No, they’re not itching. But something is heading this way, and moving way to fast to be human.”

“Vampire? One of the wolves?”

“Don’t know. But it’s like there’s a little flashing sign in my mind screaming danger and I think I should really listen to it.”

“Alright, stay close. I’ve got my little bag of supernatural kill all, or at least keep most things at bay, but that doesn’t really roll off the tongue as smoothly.”

He ignored the second look Theo gave him. What, he’d thought about marketing them before. He would eventually need to start making money to stay out of Cassius’ reach and his little bags of goodness had already saved his ass several times. He even had orders from several of the forum members.

“It’s here,” was hissed in his ear. Theo moved to stand back to back with him.

It was only as the temperature began to drop, that Marcus realised what was here. The familiar chill made his breath visible in the air. The coldness of death engulfed their surroundings. It was here. The creature had returned. Marcus knew he should be afraid, and on some level he was, but he was more pissed that the stupid thing had proved Cassius right. Marcus had been happy believing the man was paranoid or too self-obsessed, and that the monster wouldn’t feel the need to return to someone it had already sucked the fear from, but as the hissing of the shadows grew more apparent, and the sky above darkened, he realised he had been the one in the wrong.

Maybe it had been wishful thinking, to believe a predator wouldn’t want to feast on him a second time. Only things with higher functioning and grudges returned to their victims.

“Marcus,” the shaking of his best friend's voice helped Marcus push aside his own panic.

He needed to focus. He’d dealt with this thing once before, he could do it again. Though best not to start a fire in a California forest during summer. They might survive the monster, but they would not escape the blaze that would cause.