Page 39 of Ghoul Kisses

“Did you find anything?”

“Yeah, it’s him alright; going in after her when she walked into the bathroom.” He turns left at the stop sign and continues down the highway.

“I think someone that works in the mansion sent Pete after her.”

I stoke my smooth chin. Who in the mansion would want Sarah dead? She doesn’t talk to anyone except Odessa and me.

“My only suspect is Mae,” Jack says.

I know she doesn’t like Sarah, but would she go to the extent of having her killed to get me back?

“After I fucked her, she went on and on about how she wants revenge on Sarah. Man, that female is a nutcase.” Jack shakes his head at the memory.

We arrive at the shore on the island. The water is deep blue, and the clouds block sun. I will never forgive Mae if she sent Pete after Sarah.

“I built a frequency transmitter to keep vampires off the island,” Jack says. We both jump out of the SUV and he places it in the sand. I squat down.

“Mae sent me messages saying she needs to talk,” I say.

“Yeah, she wants to know if you are okay with me banging her,” Jack says nonchalantly. I don’t care who she is fucking as long as she leaves me alone.

“Yeah, I am,” I say with relief.

I need to talk to Mae to see if she knows anything about the attack. If she sent Pete after Sarah, then she will be charged with treason and executed, even though we haven’t had an execution in three centuries. Things will go back to the old days, starting with her. I need to meet with David and Nicholas about rules and regulations among the ghoul race while we live among humans. I bang on Mae’s bedroom door, and she swings it open. Her white hair is braided down her back. She has on tight black pants and a yellow sports bra. Her skin is flushed. She smiles when she sees me.

“This is a lovely surprise.” Her voice is cheerful.

“Cut the bullshit, Mae.”

Her brow shoots up and she gives me a puzzled look.

“You sent Pete after Sarah,” I say. I want her to think I have proof she did it.

“What the hell are you talking about?” She fists her hands on her hips.

“The vampire that attacked Sarah the night you went out.”

“I don’t know any vampire!” She screams.

“I might not like the human, but I wouldn’t do that; believe it or not! I care about your happiness!”

“Bullshit.” I am so fucking mad I could punch the wall.

“I’m telling the truth.” Her voice breaks.

“When David gets back, we are going have a trial and if you’re lying, you will be executed.”

Tears pour down her cheeks, and I feel bad because I don’t like to see any female cry, but I have to let her know what is up. I have to protect Sarah.

“How can you be so cruel to me?” she whispers. Ignoring her question, I turn my back on her.

“Oh, I see; three centuries with me didn’t mean anything to you, huh? Tell me what she’s got that I don’t.” I turn to face her and her face is red with anger. I can’t help that Sarah makes me feel alive and likes me because of who I am and not what I am. She doesn’t care if I’m a ghoul. Mae cares about me too, but I believe she only loved the idea of me. She never once asked me what I wanted or how I felt; everything was about her. When Mae nursed me back to health, she did it for her own benefit, she wanted the glamorous life, and the royal treatment. She saw my wealth and my status. When I don’t answer her question, she balls up her fist. I felt dead on the inside when I was with Mae.

“Just tell me! I need to know!” She pushes and slaps me. I stand there taking the blows. Finally, her arms get tired, and she slams the door in my face.

Feeling shitty about the blowout that Mae and I had, I wander to the room where Sarah saved Jack’s life. When I see her, she is speaking to Dr. Edward with a clipboard in her hand. She jolts something down and walks to a bedside. The smile on her face says she loves her job. She takes an instrument and puts it in the ghoul’s mouth. Moments later, she looks at it. Sarah pulls a computer to the bedside and begins typing. The ghoul asks her a series of questions. I listen to their conversation.

“Your temperature is 104, which is normal,” Sarah says.

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