The Legacy of Kilkenny by Devyn Dawson
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PRU
We hopped in my car and took a cruise to downtown Oklahoma City to grab some dinner in trendy Bricktown. Technically it isn’t a town, it was more of an old industrial area that still had brick roads and old buildings that had been converted to restaurants, night clubs, and shopping. After losing an intense coin flip, we went to Ta Ta’s to have hot wings, Abel was beaming with happiness. Of course they’re served by girls in barely-there shorts and tight t-shirts.
My first impression is classy trashy. The tables are tall with cheap rolls of paper towels on top of them. I noticed there are a lot of guys in traditional salesman wear, khaki’s and polo’s. I wonder if the wives know where their husbands are spending their lunch hour. After we placed our hot wings and soda order, I headed to the bathroom to freshen up with lip gloss and brush through my hair. Stepping out I caught a whiff of something familiar that didn’t include hot sauce or chili powder.
“Arien” I said to the over dressed man that was lurking outside of the women’s restroom.
“The beautiful princess Prudence, how lucky to run into the princess without her puppies.” He licked his lips seductively as he stared at me with those honey-colored eyes that were undeniably some of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. It struck me that they seemed oddly familiar. Maybe a dream, I think to myself.
“What do you want Arien?” I crossed my arms trying to pull off a nonchalant annoyed attitude.
He stepped forward, taking a handful of my hair and pulled it up to his nose taking a whiff. “Oh, I see you’ve been tumbling around with some of your comrades. Love, you know what I want. Or have you forgotten? I thought your kind had memories like elephants.”
“Well love, I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I smirked. “As a matter of fact, I have a fantastic memory love.”
“Then I’m sure you remember me telling you that I have no problem bringing your friend Allie over to the dark side. She’ll be very good at it too, she is already dramatic. I’ve really become attached to her, and I think her parents are delightful. Like mother like daughter.” He puts emphasis on every word he spoke. “That brother of hers sure has terrible taste in friends, between you and that dreadful Bryon. Did Allie tell you about our little trip to see some of my family? Everyone is just dying to have a little taste of my new lady friend.” He put his finger to his lips in the shhh pose. “Don’t tell her brother, but she is no lady a brother would be proud of.”
Oh, I wanted to stake him. That man could make my blood boil. “I don’t understand why you think involving a mortal is going to make me sway? If you taking Allie is something you have your heart set on, you’ll do it anyway. Oh but that’s right, you don’t have a heart do you? At least one that beats.” I turned around and headed back to my table.
“Oh little love, you just might regret that.” He whispered under his breath, knowing good well that I’d hear him.
Abel was sitting at the table flirting with the waitress. “Hey Pru, this is Chrissy. Chrissy, this is my friend I was telling you about, Pru. She’s dating my best friend Oakley.”
After our clumsy hellos and drink refills, Abel made a promise of a double date. I finally had a minute to talk to Abel alone. I was amazed at two things, one that he said Oakley was his best friend and two, I was dating him. It was probably his way of disassociating from me as anything other than ‘friend.’
“Abe, we’ve got trouble.” I start shifting my eyes around trying to get him to pay attention to the direction I was heading him in. “Your sister’s friend Arien is here, he stopped and said hello to me when I was coming out of the restroom. I don’t think Allie is here but he told me they are going to go visit his family in Louisiana. I don’t know when, but he told me they’re going.”
“You’re kidding me? I can’t believe that guy thinks he is good enough to date my sister. I don’t know what it is about him but he seems like he is up to something.” He pulled off the dumb act just like we practiced. We couldn’t let on that Abel knew anything about the supernatural world that way they wouldn’t suspect he is the one they are looking for.
“I feel like I’m starting to get a migraine. After we eat I think we should head home.”
After fifty wings and two pitchers of soda we went to leave. Abel stopped to tell Chrissy goodbye. How cute is that. “Hey, what’s that under the windshield wiper?” I said.
“Probably one of those pamphlets the bible thumpers leave. I’ll grab it.” Abel reached around the windshield pulling the piece of paper out from under the wiper and opened it. “Oh no, you need to read this.”
I looked at the paper, turning it over back and forth, reading and rereading it a few times.
There is an antidote; it must be administered within one year of infection. It will cost you. A lot. Ttys
“Who do you think put it there? You think it was someone in the restaurant?” Abel was amped up. “That would be great if there really is one.”
“Think about it Abel, they can’t be trusted. Is it worth the risk? Let them turn her and then worry about the so called antidote working? I don’t think so. I still think we need to cut him off before he does it. For all we know, he put the note there. Nope, I don’t trust it.”
“Well, it’s better than nothing. It didn’t smell like him to me. Actually it didn’t even smell like it was in Ta Ta’s, the paper smells human.”
I took a whiff of the paper and he was right, it didn’t smell like Arien, it didn’t smell like anyone I knew. “You’re right. I guess it’s a start. We need to talk to her though, and soon.”
We drove back home bouncing ideas off one another as to who we thought it could be. We never came up with anything, but it set a fire under us. At least it gave Abel some type of hope and sometimes that is all we have, hope.
When I got home I sent out a few e-mails and looked online for any information about the antidote to the vampire virus. To me it didn’t really make any difference, the best way to handle it would be to avoid him turning her in the first place. I picked up my cell phone and called her, after two rings I went to voicemail. Great, now she is hitting ‘ignore’ when I call.
I heard Oakley outside my bedroom door, “Come on in Oak.” Just what I needed, more stress to deal with.
“I come baring gifts.” From behind his back he pulled out a plate that had two chocolate chip muffins, hot from the oven. “I already had one, or maybe two.” He grinned sheepishly at me as he handed me the plate. Oakley turned my office chair around so I could fully face him. “What’s going on P? You’ve been in your room since you got back from Bricktown.”
I stood up and put my arms around him. “I’ve been trying to find some information. Look at this.” I handed him the note from my car.
“Where did you get this from?” He smelled the paper and handed it back to me.
“Well, look I don’t want you to start flipping out or anything. Promise me you’ll keep your temper in check. Deal?” I held up my right hand in the ‘oath’ position.
He held up his right hand. “Promise. Now tell me what’s going on.” He sat down on my bed with his arms crossed against that magnificent chest of his.
Damn, I thought to myself.
“We kinda ran into Arien.” I put my hands up trying to stop him before he went off on me. “You promised, now just let me tell you what happened. Okay?”
I could tell he was having a difficult time trying to keep his end of the promise. He was adorable when he was frustrated. I’m getting more and more demented in my ideas of adorable.
“Prudence, I’m going to lose my patience soon, so finish your story. Please.”
I told him the story about going to Ta Ta’s and the talk I had with Arien. I told him the story ended with the note on my windshield. For a short-lived story we ended up talking about it for the next hour. His frustration was more over me not t
We snuggled up on my chaise lounge and watched “The Son of Dracula”. I had become slightly addicted to old vampire movies in the last few months. There must be some type of rule against weres watching vampire movies, sue me.
I rolled over to face Oakley, my heart raced a little as I scooted up so I could look him in the eye. My hand slowly roamed up his wine colored polo, feeling his muscles hard as rocks underneath my hand. I knew it was wrong and against what my father said, but damn, a hot guy that made your heart flutter was very hard to resist. He closed his eyes. With a big grin on his face, I could tell he was enjoying the tease of my hand. I draped my leg over him, pulling myself up to straddle his waist. He scooted over to lay flat on his back, never opening his eyes. I leaned forward so I could whisper in his ear. “Are you enjoying yourself?” He nodded his head yes. I whispered again. “I want to hear you tell me you like it, I want you to tell me that you want me to kiss you.”
“You have no idea how badly I want to feel your lips on mine.” He opened his eyes, they held mine as I lowered my face closer to his mouth. His arms went up behind me, slightly pulling me closer, like I wasn’t moving fast enough for him. I can’t lie, I was enjoying teasing him. “Pru, please.”
I couldn’t take it any longer. I leaned all the way down and kissed him. His hands were in my hair and rubbing up and down my back. He tugged on my shirt until he pulled it over my head. I was extremely thankful I decided to wear my not so secret pink bra. His hands were on my sides as he went up and down my ribs exploring me like he was memorizing the feel of me on his hands. We rolled around on the chaise lounge, mouth to mouth, hands exploring each other just enough to peak our imagination but not enough to regret. His hand reached between us trying to tug on the button of my jeans.
“I can’t.” I whispered.
He stopped and put his arms around me. “Okay. I told you before, we wouldn’t do anything you aren’t comfortable with. Kiss me.” He pulled me to him.
I kissed him just a little longer but could feel my mind and heart fighting each other and now my hormones were kicking in and I wasn’t so sure I could hold out. “I’m sorry, we’ve got to stop or I’m not going to be able to resist much longer.” I was slightly out of breath and reached for my shirt pulling it over my head.
The movie was playing in the background but it wasn’t enough to drown out the footsteps that I could hear outside of my door. I jumped off Oakley and ran my fingers through my hair trying to get my bedhead to relax. Oakley heard it too and he sat up pulling down his polo.
I heard the knock on the door. Oh crapola, I thought to myself.
“It’s my dad.” I whispered. “Hey daddy, come in, the door is open” I was crossing my fingers Oakley didn’t lock it behind him when he came in.
“Pru, Oakley.” He moved his head back and forth between the two of us, as if he was trying to get both of our attention. “Am I interrupting something?” He asked.
“No, not at all daddy. We’re just watching an old vampire movie.” I pointed to the TV.
“You sure have the volume turned down low for a movie you’re watching. Vampire movie? Kid’s these days,” he said, as he stepped closer towards us.
My brain was rapidly firing trying to cover my tracks. “We didn’t want to wake anyone. Are you going home now?” I tried to be as casual as I could but I was sure he could smell pheromones in my room. Just what I want, my dad to know when I’m physically attracted to someone. Joy.
He stepped closer closing the gap between us, he sits down on the bed, leaving Oakley and I sitting together. “Oak, I’m sure Pru told you how I felt about the two of you having a relationship.” He looked over at me.
“Yes sir, I’m aware that you’d prefer us not being romantically involved until our mission with Abel is complete.” He lied like a pro.
“And you’re in here doing what? Watching a movie right?” My dad was completely onto us.
“Yes sir. I stopped by to check on Pru after she got back from her drive. I am in complete understanding of your order sir.” Oakley was very good at this. I was going to remember to question him about any untruths he may have told me.
“Hmph.” My dad grumbled. “Actually, I’m glad you’re both together, it keeps me from having to repeat myself. I’m here regarding Shaynie. I just left her room. I heard her crying when I was walking by.” Oakley and I were shocked.
“Is everything okay?” I was totally in disbelief.
“She is a sensitive girl Pru. I guess she feels like an outsider. Bryon has done a good job of entertaining her but when he isn’t around she feels left out. You and Abel went out for a ride and you didn’t invite her to go with you.”
“What? You’re kidding me? She is crying because I didn’t invite her out for a drive with my student. That is ludicrous. I’ve asked her to go run with me, I’ve invited her to go shopping. I’ve tried being a good hostess to her. I didn’t ask for her to come here so I don’t understand why I have to be the one to make her feel welcome.” I was seething.
“That might be true Pru, but she is a guest here until we figure out if she is a good fit for our Pack. Until that time, I expect you to make sure she is welcome to tag along with you. This” he flung his hand back and forth between Oakley and I and the television. “Would have been a good opportunity to invite her into your room. She may have liked watching a movie with you both. I’m not going to limit your time together, Oakley and Pru, but do know that I do not want a full blown boyfriend girlfriend situation. I am fully aware that you both have imprinted on each other that is obvious. I can’t control you in a relationship because that goes against the laws of nature, but I am ordering you both to practice some self control. Understood?”
“Understood.” We said in unison.
“I’ll do what I can for Shaynie, but I’m not going to deal with some chick that can’t keep her emotions in check. That is one of the first things we learn, don’t they teach that to them in the Dallas order? Never mind. Like I said, I’ll be nice to her but there are times she can’t hang out with Abel and me. Actually, there are a lot of times she can’t be with us. Hell, I take her to school, I share my house with her when she could have gone to Choctaw. Why don’t you get Vince or one of the guys to play nice with her?” I was feeling just a little bit snarky about this turn of events with the little Miss. Shaynie.
My dad stood up and headed for the door. “I will talk to the guys and your mother, but keep in mind, she relates to you because you’re close to her age. I’ve got to get back to Choctaw; I have a meeting with one of the chain grocery stores about carrying our jellies. I want all of you to come out there later this week. I want you to have a complete plan for the next new moon and Allie. After Father’s Day we have to take care of Abel, time is running short. I sensed it in him today when we squared off against each other.”
I got up to hug him. “I don’t have a plan about Allie, I’ll come up with something though. Quick question. Have you ever heard of an antidote for the vampire virus? Something that is effective if done within the first year?” I didn’t think telling him about the run in with Arien was a good idea right now.
“I’ve heard that before, but I’ve never heard of anyone finding it. Good night, and remember no mating.” He kissed me on the forehead.
“Oh gross dad. Bye.” I locked my door behind him. “Ohmigod, that was so close!”
“He’s right Pru. We aren’t any good to Abel if we’re not focusing on him.” He pulled me onto his lap.
“You’re so kidding me.
“Pru, it doesn’t matter, we’ll be together soon. If we’re doing this next month, it is just around the corner.”
I knew he was right, but I wasn’t going to admit it. “Okay, but I still want to kiss when we can.” I leaned in kissing him ever so lightly. “What about Shaynie?”
“It seems fishy. I don’t get a good vibe from her. I’ve been trying but she pulls off this impression that she is superwoman and then she is crying in her room because you didn’t invite her out to play? Yeah, that just doesn’t sit well with me. I’m going to monitor her a little closer. As a matter of fact, why don’t you text me when she’s around so I can make sure she isn’t up to something. I might even check out her room this week.” He gave me a big hug and told me goodnight.
Chapter 22.