Page 33 of Blood Lust

“Change of scenery.”

Charlee won’t let it go. Her eyes, outlined in dark colors, make her look like a raccoon, and this little tidbit of what she considers genius, is the bright shiny object she won’t let go of.

“I’m willing to try it if she is,” finally relenting. It goes against my instincts, but I am desperate to help my beloved.

My sister looks far too pleased with herself and is practically skipping when Wren and Chandra conclude their session for the evening.

“Just go to a bar and pick up some random human?” Wren’s face screws up in disbelief. “Are you out of your mind?”

“Hear me out. You eat some donor blood before we go, so you’re not even hungry when we get there. You get out of here, practice all the self-control stuff Chandra has taught you, and have a light snack. Ba-da-bing, ba-da-boom, in and out, easy peasy, lemon squeezy.” Her eyes are bright with excitement as if everything is just that simple. “I’ll be with you the whole time. You’ll be fine.”

I take Wren’s hand in mine, bringing it to my face and brushing it against my cheek. Turning it and placing the softest of kisses, I give my oath. “I will be with you the whole time as well, lit-”

“NO, you won’t.” Charlee looks like an angry demoness.

Brow furrowed, I feel Wren tug her hand away, and when I open my mouth to speak, she stops me. “Charlee’s right.”

The sting of her rejection is more wounding than the sword that started the end of my life. It is as if she’s ripped my heart out of my body and holds it in her palm simply because she can. My sister’s look of victory is detestable. “Wren, I-” My words fail me.

With a gentler expression on her face this time, she reaches for my hand again and brings it to her chest, clutching it with both hands. “Oz, you’re not going to be there every time. I need to learn to do this on my own, and rely on myself.” Her eyes close, and she takes a deep breath before opening them again, a sort of fury behind them.

Ferocity.

“I am strong. I am not a weak creature that needs to be protected at every turn.”

I’ve been smothering and inserting myself into every aspect of her nights.

Hovering near her like a worrying hen over her chicks.

Wren is right. She absolutely can do this without me. If she fails, she’ll fail because it wasn’t meant to be yet. If she succeeds, she does because she’s put in the hard work and earned it. Though my instincts tell me to protect her from the world doesn’t mean I should.

They are right, and it pisses me off.

Swallowing down my pride isn’t easy. It hurts like a scorching iron going down my throat. But I will do anything for Wren.

Anything.

“Very well, then I will support you from here.” Despite how hurt I had been just moments before, the smile Wren gives me now heals all of my wounds. She needs me to trust her. She needs me to let her take care of herself. They are right, a time will come one day when I won’t be able to be there, and if she grows too dependent on me, she will never flourish into the creature I know she can be.

I will not suffocate her.

I will build her damn wings from my peeled flesh and bones if it means I’ll see her soar.

The next night, when I watch her ride away with Charlee, looking like a haunting angel, I decide to bury myself in my art. I have been planning a new piece for some time, a surprise for Wren. She can watch me create something the next time. Heating my forge, and laying out all of my metal sheets, already etched with the markings of where I need to cut, I began to bend and mold the metal to my whims.

All the while waiting for my little bird to return home.

CharleeinsistsIshouldtry again. Convinced that a ‘change of scenery’ will do me good. I have reservations about it and think I will kill another human again. Oz tries to assure me it is less likely since I have just fed so recently, so I decide to give it a try.

It is going to be a girl’s night.

Oz agreed to stay home, thank goodness.

I let Charlee have her way with my hair, makeup, and clothes. She chooses something I definitely wouldn’t have on my own. Tight jeans, a cropped black shirt that shows my midriff, and the makeup is her usual glam goth style. I flat-out refused the heels and instead favored some black boots. It is not me by any means, which is apparently the point?

Charlee says I will be a ‘sultry seductress’ even though I feel like anything but.

It is nice to get out of the house. She drives me down to Callery on her bike. I should have known she would drive a motorcycle. It fits her personality. She manages the mountainside roads effortlessly, and though I’m reasonably certain we are going much too fast the entire time, I know she can’t lose control.

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