Anri woke up badly, filled with dread and regret and surprised he had fallen asleep at all. He was in much deeper with Seth than he was prepared to deal with. When his dreams weren’t filled with Seth S Morrigan, they were plagued with exaggerated half memories of Angelina’s basement. Sighing heavily, he threw off his covers and swung his feet to the floor.

He needed to talk to Seth tonight without anything else happening. Only talking. He had to resist the siren call of Seth’s blood. He should also set the record straight and put some distance between the two of them, at least until he could get himself under control. He had never lost his shit like this, not with anyone. Not even close. Seth had him acting completely out of character, which terrified him.

He sat on the edge of the bed, head in his hands, hair hanging limply around his face. And now Seth knew, really knew, that he was vampire. His stomach twisted stressfully. He was usually so careful and controlled. Seth made him crazy, and last night Seth’s blood flicked a switch in him as if it was his first-blood. The smell of Seth’s blood was irresistible. He found himself unable to resist the desire to taste it, to want to savor it on his tongue and feel it fill his mouth with its salty-sweet copper flavor.

Last night…it felt like Seth was testing him. Somehow, somehow Seth didn’t seem to know himself, to know he was a Wren. How could he not know he was a Wren at his age? He had to know…his actions, and his blood, outed him easily.

Wrens could sense vampires, so Seth should have known already what  Anri was. The real question was why did Seth test him? Why was he playing this cat and mouse game, acting innocent before forcing Anri’s hand? Maybe he hadn’t been trying to test him…maybe it really was just an accident.

He recalled the events from the night before. Seth playing with that pocket knife as he waited for him to close up, then stabbing himself in the hand. Seth had tried to downplay it, but the coppery scent overwhelmed all of Anri’s senses and he knew it was deep. He could smell there was too much blood. He lost himself like a teenager, and then Seth’s blood was on his tongue and…oh god, he was ashamed just thinking about it.

It was delectably good, his rich blood. Before, with the small cut on his finger, that had been just a taste, barely a drop, just a tease. Last night, Seth’s hand bled freely. The smell was irresistible, and the taste… Anri’s eyes unfocused and his mouth watered as he remembered. It was salty and coppery and…there was something else that he couldn’t place. He had never tasted anyone like Seth. He knew from last night that Seth’s flavor was something he would become addicted to if he let himself, a drug, a high he chased, always needing just one more hit. He knew that he would never taste anyone better than Seth.

Which was why he could never allow himself to taste Seth again. If he were addicted…if Seth was his Wren…

He didn’t want to be addicted to Seth. Life was easier without those kinds of…complications. Easier for both of them.

And, there was the big, blaring fact that somehow he kept overlooking. Seth was a man. It wasn’t hard to forget, but somehow it kept slipping past his reason. Hell, he had only drank from other men twice before. The first time it was a test to assuage his curiosity, to see if men and women tasted different. And once it was…well, he did a lot of things he regretted now back when he was with Angelina. He pushed it from his mind, refusing to go down that rabbit hole.

But Seth was…different. Anri didn’t want to think too hard about that, either. He needed to put some space between them. He needed to have someone else around tonight, a neutral third party to keep him on his best behavior. He thought about Seth’s antics with the pocket knife again, and decided it would keep them both on their best behavior.

His stomach knotted with worry. He knew that Seth would have a million questions. He was too inquisitive, and the more he knew, the more involved he would become. This was so…fucked up. How did he fuck this up so quickly? He had only met Seth maybe a few weeks ago, max. He tried to count back, to figure how how long since that first night at Kintsugi. Less than a month.

Less than a month and Seth was smitten. If he let Seth have his way…well…he knew what Seth wanted, even if Seth somehow didn’t. Wrens were attracted to vampires instinctively. With Wrens, it was always a combo deal, blood and sex. It was hard to separate one from the other.

Anri stretched, scratching his head, and decided to take a shower. He was still in his work clothes from last night. To be honest, he didn’t remember a whole lot after Seth left the bar. Simone had come to get him and they walked home in silence. After they got home she tried talking to him, but he didn’t want to talk. He went straight back to his room and closed the door. He heard her as she stood on the other side of the door. He could almost imagine her standing there, hand posed to knock. She didn’t say anything and he was grateful for it. After a few moments of hover she had disappeared to her own room.

He stepped into the shower, mulling over options for this predicament with Seth. He came up with two semi-realistic options, either ignoring Seth or to trying to get him together with Simone. Anri found himself irrationally and strongly opposed to both. If he avoided Seth…he had the feeling Seth was the type who would give chase if he ran. And the thought of Seth with Simone…of Simone at his neck…of her tasting his unique flavor…of the two of them being intimate together, it made his blood boil with jealousy. His vision turned a hazy red even as he thought about it. Why was he feeling so possessive when it came to Seth? He was growing stupid with his possessiveness.

Goddamnit…that blood. Seth’s blood had spoiled him, turning his mind to mush. Anri turned off the water and dried off. He would ask Simone come along tonight to help mediate, just to be around and keep the two of them from doing anything else moronic. Obviously he couldn’t be trusted to be alone with Seth, not after the events of last night. But…the thought Simone around Seth…he just couldn’t bear it. He didn’t want any other vampires around him, not even his own sister.

He groaned in frustration at his circular thoughts, dressing methodically, trying to think up any different options. He came up with nothing viable. His stomach ached from the stress, and the thought of eating anything was unappealing. Instead, he opted for some coffee, hoping that the caffeine would help calm his nerves. Lucky for him, there was a pot of coffee already brewed, just waiting for him in the kitchen. The smell instantly calmed his nerves a tad, and he poured himself a steaming cup, breathing deep.

In his single minded quest for coffee he had somehow missed Simone sitting at the table with her metalworking tools spread across it. Her hair was pulled back in a sloppy ponytail and she had on a pair of chunky pink plastic rimmed glasses. She looked up at him, staring suspiciously over the rim of her glasses, then returned her attention to her work. She was bending silver wire into shape around a mandrel into what looked like the beginnings of an earring.

“Um, Anni, this makes two times this week that you have been up before the crack of noon. I can tell that it didn’t go as well as I had hoped between you and Seth after I left last night…If I had to guess, I’d say you drank him for real and now you’re feeling all bad about it,” she said matter of factly, her attention completely focused on the thin silver wire. She would hammer the wire, then pull back, examine the metal, then work the wire around the cone shaped mandrel before she started the whole process again. “Wanna talk about it?”

Anri sighed and sat down at the table, careful not to move any of the tools or tiny pieces of metal. He took a sip of the coffee. It was too hot and burned his tongue. He couldn’t stop himself from coughing. “Huh. Probably. I’m actually kinda glad you’re home. I’m…well, yes, course you’re right, I seriously fucked it up.”

“How could you have possibly fucked it up? That boy is so sweet. And sweet on you,” she replied offhandedly, concentrating on her work. She continued to delicately hammer down the small ring of silver.

Anri almost spit out the sip of coffee he had just taken, and this time not because of the temperature. “Sweet on me?! What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

Simone took the small ring off of the mandrel and brought it up to her eyes appraisingly. She turned it to each side, assessing the quality of the shape. As she slid it back down the mandrel she said, “That boy is in love with you. Or, at least, deep, deep like. I’m sure it’s partially because he’s a Wren, but if that was totally the case it would be with me, not you. So, I think he is attracted to you, both as a Claret and as a sexy time friend, if you know what I mean.”

“You think he’s gay?” Anri asked, only a little surprised.

Her head tilted as she thought about it for a moment. Then she returned to her work. “No, I don’t actually think he’s gay. I think,” she said, twisting the small ring down even farther, “that he is gay for you. There’s a difference.” She switched hammers so that she was now flattening it down with a small wooden hammer. “Maybe he’s bi. I dunno. He’s for sure more interested in you than me. I could tell he wasn’t interested in me, not the way he is with you. He’s enthralled with you.”

“Enthralled. That’s actually a good way to put it.” Anri took a deep breath, unsure of how to continue. Blunt, that was probably the best route. “Simone, he knows I’m a vampire.”

She looked at him, then, placing the hammer on the table. “He’s a Wren. Of course he knows.”

“No, he didn’t, not before last night somehow…”

“You did drink him!” she exclaimed, placing the mandel down on the table.

“Um…not exactly…but yeah, I guess, there was an, um, well something happened last night,” he fumbled, trying to explain. He already regretted saying anything to her. Couldn’t this be over already? Maybe he should just go back to his room. The idea was enticing.

“Something?” Simone pressed. “Something like what?”

“Well,” Anri started, “um, Seth, might have cut himself. Pretty bad.”

Simone leaned forward, pointing at Anri with the mandrel. “Oh, oh! I bet you played medic. Shit, Anri. Tell me you didn’t. You did. I love this story already.”

He ran his hands through his still damp hair. “Shut up! But…I did,” he admitted. God, this was fucking embarrassing. “I…I can’t help myself with him. I told you how it was with just a small cut on his finger. That was just a taste, a drop. He sliced open his hand last night. Like a stab wound right in his palm. I have no idea if he meant to do it or not, though I don’t think he did. He tried to hide it from me.” Anri turned his head, remembering the scene again. “But the smell….that smell, Simone! His blood is a fucking drug. I can’t stop myself, I can’t control myself.”

Anri took another drink of coffee and continued, “He tastes so goddamn good. Like, the best thing I’ve ever tasted, but even better. I can’t compare him to anything else. He will ruin me. I can’t be around him. I can’t control myself. The cut was fucking deep! He bled so much. And then…well, I bit him. I bit his cut…more…um…more than once.” Anri wanted the ground to open up and swallow him, he was so ashamed. The shame grew as his desire pricked up as he imagined the events.

Simone didn’t say anything. She put down the mandrel and picked up her coffee, took a sip and set it down. Running her finger along the lip of the cup she said, “Well, shit, Anni.”

“Simone, this is fucking scary. I’ve only known him for like a month. He doesn’t know me at all and he wants to be…I don’t know what he wants. I ran away last night. I told him I would talk to him in tonight, I promised, but I’m terrified. I have no idea what to do.” Anri looked up at Simone, somehow hoping that she would have the solution. “But, I do know this. I want his blood. Really bad. Just thinking about him with another vampire, it makes me boil. I’m so fucked.”

“Yes, sounds like you are,” she agreed lightly.

“Simone, the worst of it all…he liked it. He…by the time I came back to my senses, he was curled up on my lap, looking content. He was so calm, and I was freaking out. He accepted it, and wanted to talk. I seriously think he doesn’t know he’s a Wren. Isn’t that fucked up? He was so cool with it last night that even that scared me,” he fretted. Somehow his hands were tangled in his hair again.

“Anni, he’s a Wren. Of course it felt good. Even if he doesn’t know, which seems unlikely, he would totally enjoy what you two did together last night. You did, too, I’m sure, at least until you freaked out like it was your first time being vampire,” she said, picking up some metal scraps from the table.

Anri burned from shame. “I…it was…no! Nevermind, that part is irrelevant.”

“What part? The part about you enjoying it, too?” she teased without looking up.

“Simone!” he snapped. “I didn’t!”

“Yes, you did, Anni. You can’t help it. And, if his blood is as good as you say, well, how could you not enjoy it? This is who you are. One day you might accept yourself, but that day is not today. You need to talk to him. Don’t ignore him, you know? You drank him, you owe him at least one conversation, right?”

Anri looked away, out the small kitchen window. Frost covered the bare branches of the trees and sparkled like diamonds in the harsh morning sunshine. “You…you’re right. But…I have no idea what to say to him. I’m afraid I won’t be able to control myself around him. I’ve never lost control like that with anyone…at least, not like…I mean…”

“Anni, were you close to your lust last night?” Simone asked, looking at him sideways.

Anri sucked in a deep breath. “Ah…I probably had a day or two before I would have needed blood, so no, not bad, but getting there…”

Simone looked at him using the same look his mother gave him when she caught him saying something stupid. “So, you were close to your lust, then a grade-A Wren comes in and bleeds all over you and you’re gonna hold that against yourself? You won’t lose control tonight, Anni. Even if you want to drink him, you won’t lose control. Your blood lust should be sated, especially since he is a Wren.”

Begrudgingly, he had to agree. He didn’t feel bloodlust at all. In fact, he felt completely sated. He nodded, avoiding having to say it aloud.

“Do you want me to come to the bar tonight and talk to him? I could bring him back here, we could talk alone,” she offered.

“NO!” He exclaimed too loud in the small space. He cringed, then more quietly said “I, ah, I mean, no, I really am not comfortable with that. I don’t want…I don’t want him to be alone with any vampire. He’s so…tempting. It’s not safe for him.”

“You don’t trust me with him?” Simone teased with false offense.

“Simone! I…no, it’s not, I, ah…” Anri stammered.

Simone smiled gently. “Anni, I’m kidding you. Trying to lighten up the mood a bit. You’re so serious it hurts. It’s hurting me. Literally. Not figuratively. It is literally hurting my head.”

“How do you think I fucking feel?” Anri whined. Anri’s coffee cup was somehow empty now. The coffee sat like sloshy lava in his stomach.

“Anni, first of all, you should drink some chamomile or something to calm you down. Coffee when you’re like this is going to send you into fits. Second, it’s probably not as bad as you think. You know you have a tendency to overreact to things. Third, calm the fuck down. You know?” Simone said. Anri attempted to interrupt him but Simone held up her hand, silencing him. “So, you talk to him tonight. Bring him here, or find someplace you can talk privately. Not the bar, obviously.”

She thought for a moment, then said, “Don’t bring him here. If you are going to cut it off with him, you shouldn’t bring him here.”

“Simone, I’m so worried that this is going to turn into something like with Angelina,” he muttered, wringing his hands and looking away from Simone.

“That bitch? Anni, this is nothing like that. Well, I guess it’s a little like that, but that girl is crazy. I don’t think Seth is crazy, I just think he doesn’t know what he’s doing, so he’s a bit…overwhelmed? Definitely not an ‘Angelina’ situation,” she said firmly.

“But what if it is?” Anri asked, pained.

“It isn’t, Anni, but if it is, then we deal with. It won’t be like last time. I’ll be here for you this time. That’s why we stick together, you know? It’ll be fine. Talk to Seth. Work it out. Maybe he can be your Wren, eventually,” she said gently.

“I feel like if I drink him again, I won’t ever be able to drink anyone else. He’s so…” he trailed off.

“So dramatic,” she sighed. “Seriously, you should have been a playwright. Instead, you manage a bar. Ignoring the blood issue for now, you need to talk to him. Don’t run away tonight. If you need me, call me. I’ll make sure I’m available.” Simone stood up and walked behind Anri, wrapping her arms around his neck and leaning her chin on the top of his head. “I’ve got your back little bro. This is not another ‘Angelina’ thing. Trust me, I have a good feeling about Seth. Lady’s intuition. I never made any jewelry for Angelina, the bitch who shall not be mentioned again.”

Simone lingered for a moment, then went back to her seat, picking up the mandrel again, turning it over in front of her. “This one is going to be really nice, too,” she said proudly.

Anri groaned. “You’re actually making the ring for Seth?” he asked incredulously.

“I told you, I have a good feeling about him. Go talk to him. I’ll finish this up and you can give it to him tonight. I’m almost done. I was so excited about it I cut and polished the stone for it last night. I just have to finish shaping and cleaning it, then I’ll buff it up really nice.” She picked up a small file and began to rub it against one side of the wire.

Anri stood up, giving Simone an appraising look. She didn’t look up from her work. “Go back to bed, Anni. You’re exhausted. I can tell you didn’t sleep.” He nodded, though she didn’t see it. As he headed back to his bedroom she called after him, “Oh, and Anni? Try not to bite him tonight!”

“Screw you, Simone,” Anri said grumpily.

“I love you, Anni!” she called cheerfully. “Sleep well, dark prince! I’ll wake you when the sun goes down.”

Chapter 7: Accidents Will Happen part 2

Chapter 9: Well, That Was Completely Unexpected