Chapter Four.....Scene Three & Four

During the ten minute drive from The Arena to his house, Eric had tried as much as possible to make himself appear more sober than he actually was. He’d splashed some water on his face, drank an entire six pack of red bull but so far was still the same drunken sight he was when they’d left the sports bar. Raven had laughed at his antics, amused that he could go to such lengths just to avoid a scolding from his mother. She had begun to warm to him and would even go to the extent of saying she liked him. It wasn’t just his blood she craved; there was also something about him that excited her. It was there when he looked at her, every time his hand accidently brushed against hers. She just couldn’t figure out what it was.

Easing into his driveway, she cut off the engine and nudged him awake. “Wake up, we’re here,” she announced.

Eric squinted out the window. The house was in total darkness except for a light in one of the bedrooms. “Are you sure this is the place?” He asked.

Raven laughed. “Well I can’t say I’m one hundred per cent but how about we go in and find out?”

“It’s your funeral,” Eric shrugged. He staggered up the pathway to the front door changed his mind and staggered round the house to the back. He motioned Raven to be as quiet as a mouse as he eased a small gate that led to the backyard open. They tiptoed their way across the big yard with Raven having to swiftly pull Eric away before he could fall into the swimming pool. If he was surprised at her strength, he didn’t show it. He just snickered and motioned for her to be quiet again.

They finally made their way across and into the house. Raven knew they would never make it if Eric started bumping into things so she told him to lean on her for guidance much to his obvious chagrin. Once again, if he was surprised at her coping quite remarkably with his overwhelming weight, he didn’t mention it. Entering the bedroom, Eric immediately slumped onto the bed, already galaxies away from earth. Raven took this time to take in her surroundings. Eric’s room was not what she would have imagined. There was quite an admirable collection of toy cars and trains on some shelves in the corner and a giant fish tank with some species she didn’t even know. She noted the various pinups and artifacts of some football club called Manchester United.

Her tour ended on his workstation in a corner of the room, just close to his window. Checking to see if Eric was really asleep, Raven tiptoed over to the idle computer and moved the mouse. Immediately, the screen came to life and there staring right at her was a picture of…..her! She was sitting in the cafeteria staring into space. When had he taken her picture? Raven suddenly felt warm all over at this new discovery and that’s saying something for a vampire. She decided she would ask him why he’d taken her picture just so she could see him squirm trying to come up with a credible answer.

Having finished her tour, she checked on Eric one last time and went downstairs. She started as she sensed a presence, a presence that defied all logic by being there. She turned, disbelief written all over her face. “What are you doing here?” She asked.

Athena came out of the shadows, her light brown eyes having turned to a subtle yellow colour. “I live here,” she answered, “which is more than I can say for you.” She moved forward slowly, her eyes glowing brighter by the minute. “Would you like to explain what you are doing here?”

“I brought Eric home. He was too drunk to make it on his own.” Raven said, eyeing Athena’s movements warily.

“My son doesn’t get drunk on a whim and when he does there’s usually a very good reason. But I’m just not sure he was given much of a choice tonight. What was the plan? Were you gonna get him drunk and then just tap a vein for your own disgusting pleasure?”

“I didn’t do anything to him,” Raven replied, raising her voice a little. “It’s forbidden to feed inside the town and we both know that. Besides, I couldn’t have compelled him even had I wanted to.”

Athena looked a bit confused at that but swiftly regained her composure. “So I’ve heard,” she said calmly. “But you would be more stupid than naïve to think your pack of blood suckers have never fed on anybody in this town; especially those that haven’t learnt to control their thirst. I can tell that is something you’re yet to master so I will ask you again. What did you do to my son?”

“I’ve already told you I did nothing to him,” Raven said between clenched teeth. “I’m not afraid of you,” she continued, even as she backed away. “You’re no match for me without a full moon.”

Athena clicked her tongue. “Now you see my dear, that’s where you’re wrong. Not all of us need a full moon to shift.”

Poised to start ripping each other apart, the two heard a click as if someone opening the door and suddenly they heard Tristan’s voice call out. Athena turned towards the sound of her son and Raven used the distraction to her advantage and sped out of the house in a blur just as Tristan entered the living room.

“Mom, is that you?” Tristan asked, surprised to find his mother standing alone in the darkness. “What are you doing?”

“Hey honey,” Athena said. “I’m just getting some warm milk. It seems I can’t sleep. How was your day?” She strode into the kitchen, hoping Tristan hadn’t seen her eyes glowing in the dark.

“It was great,” Tristan answered, still looking around to check if there was anybody else in the house. “Were you talking to someone just now? I thought I heard voices.”

“Oh that was just me mumbling to myself silly. How was your day?”

Tristan came and sat down at the kitchen table. “You’ve already asked me that,” he said, a suspicious look coming over his face. “Are you okay?”

“What do you mean? Of course I’m okay. Like I said, I just need some warm milk to help me sleep.”

Tristan shrugged. “If you say so then,” he said, getting up to leave.

“Whoa there cowboy where do you think you’re going? Get back here and tell me what’s with the bruised face.”

Tristan groaned. He’d been so caught up with Jade he’d forgotten all about coming up with a plausible story to explain his wounds. Seeing as he couldn’t possibly come up with one while his mother stared at him, Tristan just decided to tell the truth.

Athena listened to her son, nodding every now and then but her mind was miles away. What was Eric doing hanging out with a vampire? Did he even know she was a vampire? She started when she realized Tristan had almost yelled at her having been calling her while she’d been stuck in her nightmare. “Oh I’m sorry honey, what were you saying?”

“I was talking about Jade, that girl I was telling you about.”

“Oh yeah, the mysterious exotic redhead. Are you two hitting it off?”

Tristan shrugged. “Maybe,” he said.

“What’s her full name again?”

“It’s Jade Taylor.”

“Where does she live?” Athena asked.

“Over in Shell Avenue.”

Athena breathed a sigh of relief. That was mostly werewolf territory. Though that wasn’t any better either. She did not want any of her boys to be involved with their monstrous heritage and keeping them as far away as possible was now her priority. She realized now that she had been stupid to move to this town but there was a saying that the best way to hide from your enemy is right under their noses. They would definitely raise hell now if she told them they were packing up and moving on again.

She only had one choice left; to warn both ladies to stay away from her sons. “I wanna meet her,” she suddenly said. “Invite her over for dinner sometime but soon.”

“Okay,” Tristan said, surprised at her eagerness. He’d never known his mother to show so much enthusiasm towards his lady friends. Most of his past girlfriends had never even set foot in his house. “Are you sure you’re okay Mom?” Tristan asked again.

“I’m fine dear now run along and check on your brother. He came home all sauced up and I haven’t been up to see him yet.”

“Oh man and I missed all that? I can’t wait to see his sorry ass struggling with the huge hangover he’ll be having tomorrow.”

“Language young man,” Athena scolded as he bounded up the stairs. She finished her milk and put the cup in the sink, drawing back one of the kitchen curtains to look at the now quiet streets of Sereneville. Somebody would definitely have to rethink that name.