Page 40 of Red

“A what?”

“You already know there are supernatural beings like me. And there are also humans who hunt us… like him.”

“No. No!” She is in denial. “He graduated from Yale. And joined the Marines. He wanted to become a politician and change the world.”

I wait for her to catch on. But she’s silent, only staring at me with a stunned look on her pretty face.

“The government and the elites know about our existence, they always have. There are many reasons as to why, mostly so they can remain in control, but they’ve collectively concluded the public couldn’t handle the truth. The ancient knowledge was hidden away as they started re-writing history, erasing pagan beliefs, instilling fear with various religions, convincing people we are just legends and delusions. Meanwhile, they’re hunting us down for their own benefit. To heal themselves with the werewolves’ saliva, enhance their beauty and longevity with the vampires’ blood, to use the magic spells of the same witches they once persecuted to be burnedat the stake. The ones who are no longer of any use to them, they force into fighting against one another in the gladiator type matches for their entertainment, betting on us with zero regard to our existence. But what they really want is our power. They constantly study and experiment on us to design their own hybrids.”

Silence fills the room as she buries her face in her hands. I only run my palms up and down her naked legs, trying to comfort her.

“So you’re telling me there’s a secret society of government monster hunters?”

“Me being a monster.”

“That’s not what I meant.” She squeezes my arm. “Alex, he recognizedyouspecifically.”

“My family tree is… popular,” I respond simply. She’s not in the right headspace for that one now. “I’ll tell you all about it when we’re in a safer place. No more secrets, I promise. But we need to leave right away.”

“I can’t just leave.” There she goes again.

“I’m sorry, I must insist now. I’ve made him disappear only temporarily.”

“And you don’t think it will be even more suspicious if I disappear at the same time? It’s a small town, everyone knows him, and they also know we were seeing each other.”

“That’s exactly why I don’t want you here to be questioned and potentially in danger!”

“It will be worse if I run.”

Oh, they will never find you, silly.

“Why are you so stubborn?”

“Because unlike you, I am a human. I have certain responsibilities. Before I can leave I need to deal with my job first, and the house, and the rest of my shit.”

I don’t tell her how unimportant all of it is. She has enough to process already.

“Oh God! And what about my parents?”

“We have to go.” I remain firm.

“But… but I can’t live in the wilderness! I’m not build for this!” She breaks down.

“Ah, so that’s what this is about?”

“I want to be with you,” she tells me, gazing deeply into my eyes as if she could reach my soul. “Yet, this doesn’t change how terrifying it is for me.”

“Sweetie, trust me, the place I’m taking you to has everything you’ll ever need.”

“Youare all that I need.”Oh, my heart!“It shouldn’t be this difficult, I know it. But I guess, for a second, I believed that I could have a life here. Like, the other day I was thinking about getting some chickens so I could always havefresh eggs to bake. And I don’t even like birds! They scare the crap out of me!”

I try to hide my amusement. “Julia, you are nesting.”

“I what now?”

“Well, you’re in heat and you’re nesting. It’s quite adorable actually. But you only like it here because of me.”

“Don’t flatter yourself or anything!”

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