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

“Bram sent the boy here to spy on you,” he said.

“Alexander, we know,” Toby said.

“Oh, you know? Then you should also know that the boy is not as ignorant as he’s pretending to be,” Alexander said.

“Shut up, Alexander,” Father snapped. “Just leave. You’re wasting our time.”

Alexander snarled, but he shut up and sat at the table we were at.

“Spencer, go fix the door,” Father said.

Isaiah spoke up. “Bram was the one who changed me. I was walking around and- “

Kieran walked through the door next. He paused when he saw Alexander.

“What do you want, Kieran?” Father asked.

“I came to- “ His eyes fixed on Isaiah, and widened.

“Isaiah was just about to tell us an interesting story,” I said. “Care to join us?”

“Definitely.” He sat down between me and Isaiah. Isaiah would have been blushing if vampires could blush. Yuck.

“Anyway, Bram was my sire. I didn’t know he was the Head of the Vampire Council. I just knew him because we met at a club.”

“A nightclub?” Kieran asked. He and I looked at each other. Bram at a nightclub? That was unheard of.

“Yeah. He told me that he chose me for a special purpose, that humans were created to serve vampires and vampires were created to keep the human population under control.”

“Bullshit,” Alexander broke in.

“Yeah, I call bullshit,” I agreed.

Isaiah shrugged. “That’s what he said to me. And he…well…I don’t want to go into details.”

“What happened?” Kieran demanded.

“That’s not much of a story,” Spencer said, sneering. He leaned over and kissed Toby’s hair.

“My mate is tired,” Kieran said.

“Mate?!” Alexander shrieked, sounding very much like a bird. “You’re fucking nuts, Kieran. You just lost Thomas!”

“I know, but…” He turned and looked at Isaiah, who had a bemused expression.

“Well, I have to go,” I said. “I need to go clear my head.”

“Go,” Father encouraged. “We’ll take care of this little situation.” Isaiah gulped.

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

I was asleep in bed when I felt someone stirring over me. It was Father. Apparently, once I’d hit the bed, I’d fallen asleep immediately, and felt asleep with my clothes on, including boots. Father eased the boots off first, then started to take my jeans off. I shoved his hand away and undid the button myself, then slid out, taking my shirt off in the process.

“I worry about you, Reese,” Father said.

“Stop worrying,” I replied. “I’m fine.”

“Don’t lie to me. I was a teenager once, believe it or not.”

“About two thousand years ago.”

He smirked. “Yes, I’m an old man. You’re a young man.”

“I know that, Father. But trust me-I’m fine.”

“All right, if you insist.”

“I do and I did. Now good night.”

He frowned at me, then left the room so I could sleep.

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

Sarah was beautiful. Of course, she’s always beautiful, but now she was especially beautiful. She was directing her squad like nobody’s business. Even though the cheerleading squad was not supposed to practice or do anything together until the deal with Kent had been investigated, Sarah and Stella, the other captain, were getting together once a week to practice and work out. Anyone was welcome, but it was not required to attend, since technically the squad had been disbanded until further notice.

Tonight was the PTA meeting, and the entire squad was required to attend to testify against Cella Kent. Mother would attend, as would Alexander and Father.

It was already six o’clock, and the meeting was at seven.

“Time to get ready,” said Stella. All the girls finished their routine, then headed inside the house to get ready.

Thirty minutes later, the squad was getting in their cars to go to the meeting.

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

Principal Turner did not look happy to see me. Chris had her hand on Sarah’s back as she guided her through the crowd. She glared at Principal Turner, who noticed her and quickly looked away. Mother and Selena were there with Sabine, discussing her fifteenth birthday, which had already passed. Sabine had insisted she did not want a bat mitzvah, and Mother was trying to talk her into it.

“Give it a chance, love,” she said.

“Okay, fine. You can plan one,” said Sabine, rolling her eyes. I swear, sometimes my girlfriend’s sister acted more like a twelve-year-old than a fifteen-year-old. Despite that, she was as loved as Sarah, and Mother loved spoiling her.

“I wish you would not wear those shorts,” Mother continued. “I can see your butt cheeks.”

Sabine pulled up the leg of her shorts and waved her butt at Mother. Mother sighed and shook her head.

“Teenagers,” Selena said sarcastically. “Can’t live with them, can’t live without them.”

“I love the girls like they are my own,” Mother said. “As I love Cirino, and Reese, and you, and Kieran, and Taran, and Viktor.”

“Your ex-stepchildren, too?”

“Of course. I will always love those boys like they were my own, as well.”

“Hello, Mrs. Nicolai,” said Principal Turner.

“Hello, Edward,” Mother said.

“Um, my name is Eton,” Principal Turner said, looking uncomfortable. Go, Mom!

“Whatever. I know how you’ve been treating my boy,” Mother said. “And I know that you are reluctant to reform the cheer squad because Sarah is dating Reese. I’ll tell you right now- I don’t know or care what your issue is with my son, you will not take it out on Sarah. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Principal Turner said, looking embarrassed.

To make things worse for Principal Turner, I noticed several parents watching the exchange.

“And another thing-you have been treating Reese like shit lately. I don’t care what your pitiful excuse is, that stops today. Clear?”

“Yes, ma’am. I will investigate further with Cella Kent and make a decision based on all the clear facts.”

“And the facts are this: Miss Kent deliberately abused the girls for months. Verbally, emotionally, mentally, and physically. She will be fired based on the video evidence we have gathered, and I think that all the parents would agree to fire her. If she is not fired, we shall see how you do without a cheerleading squad.”

Principal Turner actually went as white as a ghost. Even if he threatened to disband the squad, he was screwed without it. And based on how he’d been treating me lately, it was not likely to work out in his favor tonight. We had witnesses.

“I call this meeting to order,” said a tall woman with short red hair. “My name is Barbara Clymer, and I am the head of the PTA. First things first, we need to discuss the cheerleading squad. Play the video.”

The videos were played of Kent yelling at the squad, calling them heifers, calling them whores, insulting their looks and their performance, how they dressed, how they practiced, and so on.

“We will now take a vote on whether or not to fire Cella Kent. All in favor, raise your hands.”

Almost everyone raised their hands. The only one who didn’t, I noticed, was Principal Turner and a tall man with silver hair.

“So that’s done. Cella Kent is officially let go from the position as cheer coach. Next item, the issue of soda machines…”

So that was done. I noticed Principal Turner glaring at me.

“Hey, problem?” I asked.

“You’d better watch your mouth, boy?”

“Why do you hate me so much?” I asked. “Is it because I’m goth, because I’m Asatru, or is it something else? God forbid, do you have a crush on me or something?”

Father put his hand on my shoulder. I noticed that we were being watched now by the whole session.

“Turner, you have been bullying Reese for too long. Leave him alone!”

“People like him should not be allowed in school!” the principal yelled. “No one likes a freak!”

“A freak, am I? You’re not the first person to call me that, and you won’t be the last. But coming from someone who is supposed to keep me safe, who is supposed to watch over me….”

“Just shut up already! No one likes you!”

Father stepped forward, and Principal Turner turned as white as a sheet. Father grabbed Principal Turner around the throat.

“You have threatened and insulted my boy for the last time. The very last time. I would watch your back if I were you.”

“Father,” I said, tugging on him. He ignored me.

“Mordecai, we are being watched,” Mother said. Father looked around at all the people watching him. He let go of the scared principal, then turned to me.

“Come, Reese. We are leaving.”

When we got home, I found myself trying to control my stomach. Isaiah and Kieran were making out on the porch. Kellan was nowhere to be seen.

“Get a room!” I shouted. Isaiah ducked his head, looking embarrassed, while Kieran glared at me.

“You know what I think?” Father said. “I think that you, Kieran, are fucking Kellan and Isaiah to get over Thomas!”

“Do not speak about Thomas!” Kieran growled.

He jumped on Father, who immediately started pounding him. Alexander and Grandfather ran out, along with Uncle Soren and Louis.

“Stop them,” Grandfather said, a desperate edge to his voice.

Alexander grabbed Kieran, and Uncle Soren grabbed Father, who struggled.

“Mordecai, what’s gotten into you?!” he cried.

“Ask him,” Father snarled, pointing at Kieran.

“Kieran?” Alexander inquired.

Kieran took a deep breath. “Fine, I’ll tell, but only if Soren admits to Reese what he did with that cute green-eyed brunette.”

“Excuse me?” I breathed. “Oh my gods, you didn’t!”

“No! I just…well…I was already drunk and I…well, kissed her,” he admitted.

“You son of a bitch!” I pounced on him, only to be grabbed by Louis. “Bastard! Let me go! I’ll pulverize him!”

“Reese, it was one time, and she told me that she would not date me,” he continued. “She said maybe in another life, but she found you first.”

“She what? I swear to God, I will fucking kill you, Soren!” I jabbed Louis in the gut with my elbow, and then started toward my uncle. Father grabbed me first, managing to get out of my uncle’s grasp for a moment.

“Reese, look at me,” Father said. “What Soren did with Sarah is nothing compared to what Kieran did with Faolan!”

I looked back at Kieran with narrowed eyes. “You fucked him.”

“In simple terms, yes,” he said. “What am I supposed to do? My true mate is dead, and now I am lonely and alone again. Being lonely was the worst thing to ever happen to me.”

“Dude, I was single for sixteen years, until I dated Evan,” I said.

“Lonely is not the same as alone,” Alexander said in a gentle tone, the gentlest I’d ever heard him speak. “If you had come back to me, maybe you wouldn’t have been lonely!”

“Go die in a ditch, old man,” Kieran snapped. “That’s it! I’m leaving again! And this time, no one can stop me!”

“No, Kieran- “Alexander pleaded.

“Kieran, there are rogue vampires about,” Grandfather said. “They’ll kill you.”

“Death is better than this,” Kieran hissed.

“You don’t mean that, Kieran,” Alexander said. “Please, stay. If I lost you again, I’d never forgive myself! At least talk to me first! Talk to Marina!”

“No! I’m gone!” Kieran shook off Alexander and ran off.

“Louis, go find Kellan, he’s the only one who can talk sense into Kieran,” Grandfather ordered.

Louis ran off, and Grandfather took up the task of preventing me from killing Uncle Soren.

“I have to find Sarah,” I said, and then took off toward her house.

She was in her room, in the process of taking her shirt off. I climbed up the ridges of the house to her room, breaking the screen. She jumped at the sound, then turned and saw me.

“Reese, you scared me,” she said, sounding relieved.

“What exactly happened between you and Soren?” I asked. I turned off her radio, which was playing a song by Corinne Bailey Rae.

“He got drunk, and he kissed me,” she admitted, too hastily. I grabbed her shoulders.

“And what did you say?”

“I-I said…maybe in another life, but I found you first.” She blushed and looked down. “I’m sorry, Reese.”

“No, no, it’s not your fault. It’s his. I will fucking kill him.”

“Reese! Not okay!”

“I don’t give a damn! You are attracted to him! I have to get rid of the competition!”

“Doesn’t he have a girlfriend?”

“Oh gods, yes! Mitra! I swear, I’ll get revenge.”

“What do you mean?”

“I will tell Mitra.”

“Reese, don’t.