Unraveling Soren by Marisa Maichel (books under 200 pages txt) 📕

her shirt, and I admired her before taking off my own. She kicked her shoes off, and I kicked mine off. She unzipped her jeans, and I unzipped mine.

“You have a V,” she said, admiring my abs as if this was the first time she’d seen them.

“Enough about my abs,” I said, even though I was excited that she liked them.

We made love slowly and carefully. I was gentle, and I went slowly until she told me to go faster and be rougher.

We lay in each other’s and our own sweat. This was the first time I’d ever sweated. I didn’t like it. Sweat was sticky and salty and stunk. Sarah seemed to like it, though, and she was turned to face me, just as I was turned to face her.

I admired her naked form. This was the kind of beauty that inspired paintings.

“I want to paint you,” I said.

“Paint me?”

“On canvas. I want to paint your form.”

“I didn’t know you could paint.”

“Not very well. It’s been years since I’ve painted for fun. But you have the kind of body that inspired men such as Leonardo DaVinci.”

“I inspired the Mona Lisa?”

“I’m sure your ancestor did. He’s Italian, you’re part Italian.”

“You’re so weird,” she giggled. She turned over. “Why don’t you give me a massage?”

“One massage coming up.”

As I warmed my hands, I noticed a shadow on the wall. I turned around, and noticed a figure on the window. I got up and the figure jumped down. It was a man; I could see that much. I saw the shadow of glasses as he ran.

“Did…did Beckett Cresley wear glasses?”

“Yes, why do you ask? Reese? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I lied. “Sit up and I’ll give you that massage.”

CHAPTER THREE – THE WOES OF THE CRESLEYS

I was tired and hungry, and now I had a Charlie horse. I growled and circled the living room, loudly protesting the lack of food in the house. I could have gone out and hunted, but it was daylight. Besides, Father told me not to leave.

When the door opened and I smelled the meat, my predator instincts went wild. I jumped onto Father and took the side of beef from him before stuffing myself until I was ready to pop.

“Calm down, son,” Father said gently. “I have more.”

I tossed the ribs to the side and went out to the truck, where there was another side waiting. I growled and took the side before stuffing myself again beyond my point. My jeans were becoming tight, so I unbuttoned them to make room.

Happy with my meal, I crawled out into the yard and rolled in the grass. I shoved my face in the dirt and rubbed myself in it. I looked up at Father, who was watching me in amazement.

I ignored him again and rubbed myself against a young cherry tree, bending it. Then I started digging.

Father had to pull me away before I hit something or reached the dungeons. I panted, my tongue sticking out like a dog.

“Relax,” Father said. “Relax. Take a deep breath. That’s my boy. Stay calm.”

“I-I’m- “

“Shush. Take a deep breath. Now relax. You’re covered in blood and dirt. Go shower, then rest for a bit.”

But we heard something at the same time: the telltale snap of a twig. The problem was, we didn’t hear or smell anything except….

“Again? More vampires?” Father said. “Go inside, Reese. I’ll handle this.”

“Father, I can help.”

“No, no, go inside and take a bath.”

“Shower, bath, shower…”

“Shush. Then change and rest in bed. I will be along shortly.”

I could smell the other vampires as well. I stayed in my room, though, waiting patiently. I thought about texting Sarah, but she was at work and wouldn’t answer her phone. I had an idea.

I got into my Nissan and headed to the restaurant. Sarah’s new job was waitressing at a mom and pop restaurant. She said that all the walking around kept her fit, and the tips were great.

I made it to the restaurant in record time, and the hostess greeted me with a smile.

“Just one,” I told her. “And can I be seated in Sarah’s section?”

“Sure,” she said, and I followed her to a two-person table. I watched Sarah as she asked how the next table’s meal was, then headed over to me.

“Well, hello there, handsome,” she smiled. “What would you like to drink?”

“Water, please. No ice. And the rarest burger you have on the menu. No mushrooms, garlic, or onions.”

“Because they stink?”

“Yes.”

“How do mushrooms stink?”

“They have a fungal smell. You don’t sense it, because your nose is less powerful than mine.”

She brought out the food in record time. She hurried over to where a bratty kid was throwing food, and asked if she could do anything to improve their experience.

“Yeah, you can tell my kid to stop throwing shit,” said the lady.

“With all due respect, I am not a babysitter. Your kid is your own responsibility.”

The lady frowned and snapped her fingers at another waitress.

When her shift finished, she and I decided to go for coffee. I threw some money on the table to cover the bill, plus a hundred dollars for a tip. She looked impressed as she took care of the bill before clocking out and hanging up her apron.

“Bye, Carlos!” she called into the kitchen. “Bye, Gigi!”

She smiled at me as I stood up. “I love Gigi, she’s like the aunt everybody loves.”

“What about Carlos?” I asked.

“He’s more like a big brother. Plus, his sister is on the squad. Do you know Nita Rivera?”

“I’m afraid I don’t,” I said.

“She has the long black hair with blond and red highlights. She’s kind of short, slightly smaller than me, and she always wears skirts because she doesn’t believe in pants.”

“She doesn’t believe in pants? What does she think guys wear?”

She punched my arm. “Stop it. Be nice for once. Oh, here’s Bean.”

“It’s called To Bean or Not to Bean.”

“Shut up. You know what I mean.”

We both ordered a cappuccino, and then we sat at a booth in the corner. Sarah went to the bathroom first, though. While she was in the bathroom, I noticed Ariella Spears across the room. She was looking at me. She came over and sat in front of me.

“How are you?”

“I’m okay,” I said. “How are you?”

“Not so good. You were right, Reese. You can’t trust werewolves. I wish I’d listened to you.”

“Well, it’s okay.”

“No, it’s not. I acted like a bad friend, and I hate myself for it. Can you forgive me?”

“Of course,” I told her. “Want to be friends again?”

“Friends,” she said, holding out her hand. I took it and shook it.

“So, what else is going on?” I asked.

“There’s a girl named Candace,” Ariella said carefully. “I think I’m falling in love with her.”

“You’re bi?” I asked.

“I think I might be. So, we have another thing in common-we’re both bi. Candace is so amazing. She’s sweet, and funny, and rich, and she’s gorgeous. She has this blond hair and these wide blue eyes and these long black lashes.”

“Hi, Ariella,” Sarah said, scooting next to me.

“Hi, Sarah,” Ariella said. “The girls want to go to a Jason Mraz concert this week. Are you in?”

“Count me in,” Sarah replied. “Text me the deets, and I’ll be there.”

“Done.” Ariella looked at me. “So, how is your family?”

And then we talked for two hours as if there had never been a rift at all between us.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was happy and humming by the time I got home from my surprise date. I was friends with Ariella again, and we’d forgiven each other. I told her that Uncle Soren had found Mitra and was falling hard for her, and she said “Good for him. He deserves it.”

I told her about Kieran, Kellan, and Apollo. I told her about Grandfather, Louis, and Father. She told me about Chips, her betta fish, and talked about her parents getting separated. Apparently, she’d caught her dad in bed with his assistant from his law firm. Her mother found out, and became angry. Now she was living with her mother while her dad found another place to live.

When I walked into the living room, Uncle Soren and Mitra were making out. I averted my eyes and walked up to my room. I glanced back. Mitra was feeling my uncle’s large biceps.

I went up to my room and started playing on my guitar. I hit a few random notes, then found a rhythm and started playing “A Reason to Fight” by Disturbed. I got into it, playing the song over and over again, until Louis shouted at me to stop, as I was giving him a headache. I played a few more notes just to annoy him, then checked my e-mails.

A few notes for the Council, some favors to answer, a few pleas for help, and one from the dealership where I got my Nissan GT-R, asking how I liked it. I replied back in order of importance, then looked through my bookshelf for something of interest. A few of Sarah’s books were scattered around. I chose one about dragons and sat in my reading chair.

I was on chapter four when I scented unfamiliar vampires.

More strangers? I’d had more than enough of those lately. I looked outside, looked toward the woods, and spotted a small male vampire eyeing the house. I turned and went downstairs, where Father waited.

“Stay inside, Reese,” he said.

“I’m going to confront him,” I said.

“No, you’re not. Spencer will. Spencer, go see what he wants.”

Spencer nodded and headed outside. Toby followed after him.

CHAPTER FOUR – WATCH

I went outside after Toby, despite my father’s protests. He followed after me.

“Who are you?” Spencer called out to the strange small male. The male leapt down. He had ear-length messy black hair, tanned skin, and dark brown eyes. He was sort of cute, in an emo sort of way. His clothing was distinctly teenage. He wore a Blood on the Dance Floor t-shirt, black skinny jeans, and studded faux-leather boots.

“I’m Isaiah,” said the small male in a high-pitched Spanish accent. “My leader sent me to see who else was here. Who are you guys?”

“You don’t know much about the royal family, do you, boy?” Spencer quipped. Isaiah shook his head.

“You mean you guys are…?”

“These are two members of the royal family,” Spencer said, gesturing to me and Father. Isaiah looked confused.

“I’m Reese Emerson,” I told him.

“And I am Prince Reese’s father, Mordecai Emerson,” Father said.

“Nice to meet you,” said Isaiah, kneeling. I noticed that his eyes were lined with gold eyeliner. It made his eyes sparkle.

He focused in on Toby then. Toby blinked, then started to look uncomfortable.

“Who are you guys, then?” Isaiah asked.

“I am Spencer, the head guard,” Spencer said. “This is my mate, Toby.”

Isaiah looked disappointed.

“Who is your leader?” I asked. Isaiah looked at me.

“My leader’s name is Bram,” he said. We looked at each other. The Head of the Council.

“Come inside, Isaiah,” Father said. Isaiah followed us into the house.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alexander

I was not surprised that the Council sent the boy to check on the Emerson home. As I watched from the shadows, I wished my son was beside me. Both of them. My son Kieran, and Reese, who should have been my son. Cirino, too, but he was still an infant.

My insides churned as I watched Isaiah follow the guards into the house. My phone vibrated in my pants. I looked at it. My wife sent me a text message.

Marina: Where are you?

I couldn’t respond, not yet. I was sure of a few things. I didn’t trust Isaiah, not one bit. My instincts were to go in and protect my boy. My son. My child. I took a careful step forward. Then another.

I leapt down from the trees and landed perfectly on my feet and hands. Then I headed to the Emerson home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Reese

Isaiah settled himself at the dining room table. Before he could speak, though, Alexander broke the door down.

“What the hell, Nicolai!” Father shouted.

“Don’t trust the boy!” Alexander yelled, ignoring Father.

“Alexander, what’s