Page 59 of Beasts

“Amelia the blood is going to clot if you don't do it soon, and it's going to be a lot worse.” Oliver reminds me. “If you don't want to do this, you can just tell us.” I look at him and around at the faces that are staring at me with anticipation. They have so much fear in their eyes, but no one is willing to tell me to go ahead and do it. They all are giving me the option to back away. But after everything, what all of them have done for me this only one thing I can possibly do to make it up to them. I could never live with myself knowing that one of them or a few of them might die because I don't do this now.

“Is there any other steps after drinking this?” I confirm.

“Nothing.” I tell myself that if I do this quickly then I should be okay. I step forward and grab the glass, but I look up to the sky as I take in a deep breath. I close my eyes and lift the glass up to my lips and let my head fall back as I chug the thick liquid quickly. Thankfully it's not too much, and it's pretty much become just a mouthful. I open my eyes to check that the glass is empty and place it back on the table in front of me before I promptly cover my mouth with my hands. I want to gag, but I can't, so I focus on making my throat swallow. As it goes down, I feel extremely queasy. “Hey, get her some water.” Promptly, Niles runs into the house to get some water. Meanwhile, I think I'm about to faint.

“Come back inside and sit down.”

“No.” I respond. “Water would be great, but I think I'm okay.” I'm lying, but I don't want them to think I'm too weak. The taste in my mouth is horrible. A little bit like a strong metal fence. The only reason I know what that tastes like is because I was challenged to lick an icy pole fence when I was younger. I had to get a shot after that. When Niles returns with a glass of water, I chug the glass just as quickly. Once I'm done, Hendrik, Richard, and Niles all give me a big group hug. I'm surprised at first, but I'm really enjoying it. Once they let go, even Kane, Valentine and Seth give me a huge hug. Each of the guys thanks me for something that I don't really understand.

“Alright, enough excitement for one night everyone back inside.” Despite the glass of water, I still have a very strange sensation in my mouth. All I need to do is make sure it stays down.

“Yes, please. There is pizza still right?”

“You can have as much as you want.” I give him a cheeky smile before the guys usher me inside. As we walk in, I want to confirm just a few things.

“So you said there were other things to do with being whatever I am now to you guys. What kinds of things do I need to do?”

Valentine is the first to respond, “Nolan will probably help you out with it, but you're gonna have to keep an eye out for us a lot more often than you are now.”

“How so?”

“You know how Nolan makes sure that we are keeping ourselves in check and that we're not accidentally killing anyone along the way?”

“Yeah?”

“Well, it pretty much becomes your job to make sure that we aren't making complete idiots of ourselves.” Richard continues.

“You're also going to be responsible for taking care of otherworldly situations that happen in our general vicinity.” Niles adds. “You have to be a leader during these situations. It's pretty much during those times we're okay with being commanded around. You also have full control of our other forms.”

“By other forms he means like our cat shifted forms.” Hendrik explains. “You also have control over Nolan’s wolf or Hugh’s gargoyle, hell, even over Oliver's more vampiric form.” Oliver has a more vampiric form? I'm not sure I want to know.

“We're also going to have to start you on combat training. Have you done kickboxing before or something like it?” Hugh asks me.

“Does ballet count?”

“No.”

“Then I have no experience.”

“Don't worry, we'll work on it.” I have a really bad feeling I’m going to get my ass kicked. As everyone goes back to their original positions in the living room, the banter and laughter starts to pick up as they argue over pizza slices, which are now cold.

“What are going to do when Mr. Pierce comes with a new Fallen and they can’t command us?” Echo asks Nolan.

“Oh, right.” Seth says, interrupting them and dashing back upstairs.

“I’m not sure what he has planned, but we have a lot to think about.” Nolan answers him. “At the moment I’m trying to figure out how we fit someone else in here. I got a call asking if we could but technically with Amelia in the last room-”

“Nolan,” I interject, “, I said before I’m happy to move out. Mom offered to help me with a down payment for a rental and I can-”

“I am not forcing you out of the house, besides with what just happened I think you should stay here for as long as you’re happy to.” I shrug my shoulders and smile at him, taking a bite of pizza. At least I tried, and the cheese is really helping to get that awful taste out of my mouth. “Would you move upstairs with Oliver?” Halfway through swallowing I forget how and choke on my food.

“Whoa, dude,” Richard cuts in, “, she’s Seth cousin or something right? She’s in a double room why doesn’t Seth move in with her? Moving into Oliver’s room is just a little weird, not to mention presumptuous. Though I totally ship them.” He snickers, looking out our faces he stops smiling. My face is burning in embarrassment.

“Hold up.” Valentine says, pointing at me and behind me at Oliver, “Have you two already…?” I grab the couch cushion behind me and promptly place it over my face, letting myself slouch into the couch. “Holy crap. I knew those bruises were from sex!” With as much force as I could muster I throw the pillow at Valentine who blocks it, but it goes flying into Hunter instead. Most of the guys are acting like girls with all the noises they are making. I fold my arms and huff. I’m not ashamed but this is so embarrassing! I see Oliver start walking away from the threshold of the room.

“Hey, where are you going?” I ask him.

“As far away as possible.”

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