Page 35 of Dead End

The thought made me feel incredibly hollow, as I missed my parents so much. I ached for my mom’s warm smiles and my dad’s hugs every day. Sometimes, seeing the aunties was jarring, given how similar they looked to her. I kept my eyes on that road until it was out of sight and I was swallowed up by the lights of the town. Since it was always dark here, I wondered if the shops ever actually closed and how often anyone got any sleep. The only reason the town had been empty the night we arrived was because most of them were on vacation in the mortal world.

Bats circled overhead, making little chattering noises, and I smiled up at them. There were no cars on the streets, and now that I thought about it, I’d only seen maybe one or two the entire time I’d been here. I passed by the candy shop and The Wicked Quill. Smiling to myself, I debated popping in to see how Mr. Hottie was doing, but I decided not to poke the beast—the beast being Freddy, of course.

The smells of pumpkin, cinnamon, and spice flowed through the air, as did the scent of crackling flames as I passed the tall wrought iron torches lining the dark street. I glanced upward, staring at the twin moons hovering overhead, and marveled. I also wondered how that even worked. I figured the oceans in this world were tumultuous, imagining the impact those moons had on the tides. And then it got me thinking... Could those moons be the reason for all the supernatural stuff?

Moons had strange effects on water, and many scientists also assumed they had the same effect on the human bloodstream. Could having an extra moon in the sky be the reason everything was so topsy-turvy? I wondered if they even had scientists in this world—or would they be called alchemists or wizards? There were so many unanswered questions just eating away at me. I thought for a second about going back to the bookshop, but thought better of it and continued down the road. I’d save the questions for later; I just needed some alone time.

I reached the manor a short while later and set my bag down on the porch. I was about to head inside when a purple, glowing light caught my eye. Rounding the side of the house, my eyes widened when I took in the sight of the most beautiful garden I’d ever seen. I hadn’t left the house at all in the last week, save for the trip into town, so I’d never taken the time to explore as I freaked out alone in my room about raising the dead. Now I wish I had gone off to explore. There were vines swirling up the lattice walls, covered in night jasmine and glowing purple berries. I saw flowers with deep blue petals and a massive Venus fly trap over by a fountain. The plant was at least a head taller than me, and I knew I needed to stay clear of it. I wasn’t in the mood to become any plant's meal.

It was a night garden, and the plants and flowers seemed to reach upwards, as if basking in the twin moons’ glowing light and thriving on it. Everything smelled of jasmine and rose, with the deep, earthy scent of mulch. There were gnarled, curling black trees dotting the property in the exact place I remembered the oak tree in the mortal world. Everything was similar to the place I remembered, but the differences were striking and beautiful. It was as if a painter had taken the image of my home and turned it into a dark wonderland on canvas.

The chirping of crickets filled the night, and the hooting of owls answered them to fill the silence. I made my way to the stone fountain in the center of the garden and took a seat on the edge. Water trickled down the statue of a fawn, which seemed to be dancing, playing a piccolo, and balancing on one single hoof. The water pooled below me, and I reached out, running my fingers over the surface.

In the rippling, dark water, a looming shape caught my attention, and I tilted my head to try to see it better. There was some sort of glimmering light in the water, but when I reached out to touch it, I realized it was only a reflection. I turned in my seat and squinted towards the back of the house. There in the moonlight was a pane of glass, shining through two gnarled trees.

I headed towards it on slow steps, curious about what else the aunties were hiding back here. When I broke through the shrubbery and branches, I was amazed to find a massive glass-paned greenhouse. It was made of tall, black wooden beams interspersed with square glass windows. The glass was all fogged up, and I could barely make out the plants inside pushing up against the windows. Excitement rolled through me. This was something the aunties definitely hadn’t had back in the mortal world. It used to be a dry patch of grass back here.

I crept around the side of the building and found a door facing away from the main house. It creaked open, and a musty, warm breeze rushed out, blowing my hair from my shoulders. The warmth felt nice against my skin, so I immediately shucked my cloak, hanging it up on a little hook I spotted near the door. I looked around and noticed the air seemed to be tinged slightly green. There were plants of every species and vines dripping from the ceiling. I could barely make out the moons above me, shining through the glass.

The moonlight was the only illumination, but it was enough. I could faintly make out the sound of trickling water coming from every direction. When I squinted upwards, I noticed tiny droplets of water were raining down over some areas of the room, seemingly coming from thin air. I could tell right away that it was some sort of spell the aunties must have woven in order to keep their plants healthy. It was genius.

I tried not to disturb the plants as I wandered around. The ground was made of purple-colored moss and felt kind of like walking on sand as my feet sank in with each step. I could picture spending a lot of time in this greenhouse, maybe curled up with a book or listening to music. It was tranquil, and most of all, it was away from everyone else. As far as I knew, nobody else had discovered this little hideout, and with the rain spell in progress, I assumed my aunties didn't have to come in here to water the plants very often.

I was bending down to smell a bush that was covered in velvety black roses when I felt a chill race down my spine. A coldness washed over me, and it felt like every shadow in the room pulled closer. I knew I wasn’t alone. I tried not to react because I didn’t want to panic, but my body locked up and my fight or flight response began to kick in.

I was ready to bolt when a sudden, icy touch on my shoulder stopped me in my tracks. Though I had yet to turn around, I suddenly knew without a single doubt exactly who was in here with me. His scent curled around my body next—leather, smoke, and sage. Norman stood absolutely still over my shoulder, as if waiting for me to make the first move.

I did. I moved quickly and turned to face him, needing him to know that this was my space he was invading. But when our eyes clashed, I sucked in a sharp breath as my heart plummeted to my stomach. Norman’s angular face was gaunt, making his cheekbones jut out. His black hair was stark against the ivory pallor of his skin, and his lips were bloodless. Tiny black veins crept under the thin skin near his eyes. He wasn’t breathing. In fact, it seemed like he was holding his breath.

“Norman?” I whispered, knowing for some reason it would be a bad idea to startle him. “What’s wrong? Oh god, you need a doctor, or maybe the aunties. You don’t look so good.”

His eyes flickered between mine, but he didn’t say anything. He just reached out and skimmed one finger down the side of my cheek. His touch was ice cold, reminding me of the feel of his skin when I’d found him dead in the school bus. I shivered at the memory.

“You’re freaking me out right now,” I said. I rubbed the tops of my arms, suddenly cold instead of pleasantly warm.

“You smell so good,” he murmured. His voice was low, deep, and almost a purr. He moved his gaze from mine, landing first on my lips and then descending to my throat. I swallowed, and his eyes tracked the movement, his pupils expanding until his eyes were nearly black. “Like crisp leaves and honey...”

“Norman,” I said, a little sharper now. “Did you drink any of the blood you got from the blood bank?” I’d seen him go in there, so I knew he had it. But from the look on his face,

“Why would I drink that swill when I have the most delectable source right here?” He licked his lips slowly, like a man dying from thirst. Fear skittered through me, but not only fear. There was a hint of thrill, too. Thrill at the way he devoured me with his eyes, hungering for my blood... and something more that made an ache right between my thighs.

I could see it there in his eyes, plain as day. The same look he’d given me countless times—the look that had me giving him my virginity over a year ago—went right into his skillful, strong hands. Back when our lives were so different, when we were humans and normal, and life was full of endless possibilities. He was looking at me like I meant something to him, but it was impossible. He hated me with a passion.

“You need to go drink. Fe told you you’d die if you didn’t. You’re being reckless.” I was trying to talk some sense into him, but I failed to notice the way he slowly prowled closer until he was inches away.

He looked into my eyes again as he said, “I want you really fucking badly, October.”

My name on his lips nearly stopped my heart. “You don’t know what you’re saying,” I said. “It’s the bloodlust talking, Norman.”

He laughed bitterly and coldly. “I think I can tell the difference for myself. I want you, October. You and your blood call to me every second of every day; they always have. I’ve never stopped wanting you, not for a single second, and I think you already know that. I remember how good we were together and how you made me feel alive with just a single touch. I remember the way it felt to finally have you beneath me, and I want it. I want you again.”

Shaking my head back and forth, I tried to back up. Tears started to prick my eyes. These were words I’d imagined hearing for such a long time, but it was all wrong. Or…was it? I didn’t know anymore. My body screamed out for his touch. I craved everything and anything he could give me, but was it what he truly wanted? Did I? Could I go down that road again? I’d been without him for so long now that I felt like flinging myself into his arms and sobbing into his chest. I wanted him to want me to stop the pain raging inside of me.

“I can see you puzzling it out, but you need to stop thinking for one damn minute. Let me take care of you, October.” He grinned, a flash of fang sparkling in the low light and sending my blood zinging. “I’m tired of fighting this. I’m tired of denying myself the things I crave.”

“Which is it, then?” I asked. “My blood or my body?” I was almost afraid of the answer.

His fingers skimmed my neck now, and I could have sworn the tips of his nails were just a bit longer than I remembered. I felt them graze my skin, right over my pulse. “Is there a difference?”

---