Lola stood pressed against the wall. Her body was frozen in fear, and her memories played in her mind. She shouldn't have stayed. That night would be the beginning of the end for her. She should've run.
Her chest rose with each deep breath she took. The two guys towered over her, waiting to hear what she had to say.
"Lola," he said her name so gently. "Please, tell me what happened that night."
She swallowed and looked into his capturing eyes, avoiding the guy standing next to him. She counted: one, two, three.
"Melissa was bitten," she said. Lola giggled. It rose from her throat and exited her lips before she could stop it. The giggles turned to laughs, and then her head flew back as the laughter peeled out of her. "She was bitten," she laughed. "That's no..." Lola laughed so much that she could hardly speak.
"Lola, look at me."
She shook her head and covered her mouth with her hand. "That's nuts. She was bitten? I mean, who goes around biting people?" She laughed and covered her face in her hands.
"Vampires," the other guy said, unbothered.
Lola turned her head. The last remanence of her laughter washing out. She noticed the serious looks on both guys. They weren't laughing. They weren't even cracking a smile.
"Lola?" A soft, inquisitive voice broke through the silence.
She looked behind Jax and saw Melissa looking wonderingly around.
"No," Lola whispered. Melissa's eyes widened when she looked at the guy standing next to Jax.
"Oh my god, you're Ash!" she squealed.
He smirked, his eyes glancing at Lola before walking to Melissa.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," he said and reached out his hand.
She gushed as she touched him, and he brought her hand up to his lips.
"I like your scarf," he said and played with the string.
"Oh, uhm, thank you." She blushed.
Melissa looked away to hide her red cheeks; her eyes flickered over to Lola, and they grew.
"What's wrong?" she asked. Melissa looked at Jax and back at Ash. Slowly, the pieces were being put together.
"Take it off," Ash said.
Melissa gulped. She looked at Lola's shaking head.
"Why?" she asked.
"Because I'm asking you nicely. I don't usually do that."
Melissa forced a laugh. She felt the tension, the danger. She slowly starts fiddling with the scarf. Her fingers shook when she grabbed a hold of the knot.
"Melissa," Lola said.
"Shh, it's okay. If everyone does what they are told, no one will get hurt," he said with a cheery smile.
Lola narrowed her eyes on him in disbelief over how someone could take pleasure in inflicting fear on others.
"Good girl," he mused and took the scarf from her hands.
He pressed his thumb against his tongue, wetting it before pressing it against her neck. Melissa closed her eyes and winced when he pulled down over the wound.
The makeup washed off, revealing the marks hiding underneath.
Ash looked up. He locked eyes with Jax. "Thank you," he said to Melissa, handing back the scarf.
The girls looked at each other, wondering if this was the end.
Ash pressed his fingers under Melissa's chin.
"You can go now." She looked at Lola, who tried to smile to show her that it was okay to leave.
"Actually, I came to meet Lola, so I'm gonna stay." Melissa wasn't an easily intimidated person. She lived for the thrill of debating, persuading, and vocally winning every fight. Her tongue was sharp and fast. In the mock trials in school, she rarely lost, but this wasn't that. This was real life, with real dangers and two big guys staring at them like two pieces of meat.
Ash chuckled. He scanned the girl who had just opposed him curiously.
"This is family business. Not for your ears, I'm afraid," he said.
"Family?" she asked and turned to Lola.
"Leave," he ordered more sternly.
"It's okay. I'll find you later," Lola assured.
Melissa reluctantly nodded and turned on her heels. She looked over her shoulder, turned in the doorway, and cast one last look over the room. She turned the corner, and then she was gone.
"Mmh," Ash moaned, biting down on his lip as he looked out into the stairway.
He grabbed his black shirt and pulled it. The golden ring on his finger glimmered in the light.
His chest pushed through the fabric and outlined every muscle.
"You can leave now," Jax groaned. He clicked his tongue and shook his head.
"Come on, cousin. The fun is only beginning." He gestured with his arms in the air, like a showman.
His eyes locked on Lola's, and he was enjoying the show immensely.
"Leave."
There was that growl again. Lola shook her head. She couldn't have heard correctly. It was probably just a hoarse throat.
"Pack your bags, little one. You're coming home with us," Ash said.
Lola walked backward toward her bed.
"Wait, what?" Her eyes grew wide. This had to be a dream. She turned and looked at the bed. She was probably sleeping there as they spoke. She would wake up soon, and this would all be over.
"Leave!"
Lola fell back on the bed. She covered her mouth and stared wide-eyed at Jax, who had just made the walls shake from the force of his voice.
Ash raised his hands.
"I'll be waiting at home. Don't take too long. I'd hate to have to make another visit," Ash said as he walked out of the apartment.
Jax was heaving, puffing his chest out, and staring at the floor. He took a moment, and then another, before turning around and checking on Lola.
"What was that?" she breathed against her hand.
"Shit," he cursed when he saw how she scared she was.
"It wasn't supposed to happen like this." He reached out his hand and took a step on the creaky floorboards. Lola's hands shot out in front of her body.
"Don't." She begged and hoped he'd keep a distance.
"Lola, please. Don't be afraid of me."
She scoffed, a million thoughts spinning around in her head at the same time.
"Don't be afraid of you?" she murmured under her breath. "I don't even know you! You break into my home, you sit and wait in the dark with a fucking knife in your hand, and then my door is busted open because you want information from me!" Lola moved away from the bed. She walked toward Jax, her chest heaving in anger as she spoke. "You threatened my friend, and how-how did you even know about our conversation?! I mean, have you heard all of this? Your voice, you growled like a fucking wolf, and then you have the nerve to ask me not to be afraid of you?!" she seethed and walked up in front of him. "Fuck you, Jax. Get the hell out of my home and never contact me again."
Her shoulder slammed into his as she passed him.
This wasn't her first brush with death or danger. Lola recognized the anger, the one that gave her the strength to survive, a rage that consumed her and didn't vanish until she did. Lola looked at her closet. She didn't have many things in case she'd have to leave again.
When Jax left, she would pack a bag, and she would run as far and as fast as she could.
"Lola."
She turned around. He hung his head and raised his shoulders. His eyes dripped with guilt. What does he have to feel guilty about, she thought.
"I'm not leaving without you," he said, pinning her down with his gaze.
Lola ignored the smoothness of his voice, the frown on his forehead, and the throbbing vein sticking out on his neck-all of which were good distractions to make her care. He was worried. The vein indicated that. The frown showed how he regretted each word he said, and his voice was different. The words spoken to her made her body react.
"Then I guess you're not leaving." Her voice cracked, but she stood tall and refused to move.
Jax walked closer. Her eyes followed his every step and the movement of his hands.
When he was near, only inches away, he sighed. "Know that this is for your own good. You'll forgive me someday."
Lola's eyes narrowed on his hand, which reached back into his pocket.
"Jax, no!" Her mouth was covered by the cloth, and dry herbs fell to the floor. The rest went down her air pipe.
"I'm sorry," he whispered and held a hand behind her back to keep her from falling to the floor as she passed out.