The rest of Christmas Eve was spent first searching for boxes, then packing up most of her apartment, which didn’t take as long as she thought it would. Godwin offered to help, then insisted on helping when she said no. Still, she said no, and though she could tell he wanted to object, she pushed him away, telling him she wanted to do this on her own.

He sulked, which had her wanting to pull him down on top of her, then dipped his head in acquiescence.

She knew he hadn’t gone far, because when she was ready to leave, he was there, turning the corner as if he just had good timing and wasn’t waiting for her the entire time. She was both annoyed and relieved, but instead of telling him either, they walked in peaceful silence to the station.

On Christmas morning she and Godwin arrived at Kennedy’s place around ten, and she was surprised to find Olivia already there.

“Merry Christmas, Seneca,” Kennedy said, pulling her into a hug and placing a kiss on her cheek.

“Merry Christmas, Kennedy,” she replied with a smile, feeling loved. She pulled away and Kennedy immediately moved over to Godwin, pulling him into a hug next. He stiffened, as if unprepared for her touch as she pulled him into her arms. He was nearly two feet taller than her, and the sight was so amusing that she had to cover the smile on her face with her hand.

“Merry Christmas, Godwin,” she told him, pulling him down to kiss him on the cheek before she released him.

He looked uncomfortable, uncertain as to what to do. “Ah, Merry Christmas to you, Kennedy,” he said formally as he extracted himself from her arms. He brushed the sleeves of his his deep grey suit, then dipped his head respectfully, removing his grey trilby. The accent silks on his suit and hat today were lilac, which matched the long, flowing skirt she wore. She had a soft angora sweater on, nearly as deep grey as Godwin’s suit.

Because, of course Godwin had dressed her in the morning when he saw what she had been planning on wearing. She hadn’t even fought him over it, not too much, at least. The clothing he gave her always seemed to fit her like it was tailored for her, accenting her features flatteringly. In Godwin’s clothing choices she felt beautiful and feminine. Secretly, she liked matching him, too. It was cheesy and romantic and…well, she would go along with it for as long as he wanted her to do so.  

“Relax, Godwin. There’s no need to be nervous,” Kennedy soothed as they removed their shoes and coats in the mudroom where the oversized dog bath sat in the corner. It was stored there when it wasn’t in use. She ushered them into the house, which already smelled of delicious things cooking, turkey and potatoes and bread.

“I apologize, Kennedy, but I am afraid I am at a loss when it comes to your Christmas holiday,” Godwin replied, still just as formal.

Kennedy laughed and the sound was soothing. “Seneca, you look fantastic today. Is that new? Come on, come in now!” Seneca grabbed Godwin’s hand and pulled him into the house, following in Kennedy’s wake. She didn’t have time to react as Freya and Frecki jumped at her as she rounded the corner, pushing her to the floor and covering her with dog kisses. Godwin tensed, then laughed out loud. Kennedy joined him as the dogs continued to assault her with kisses. “Off! Off her in her pretty new clothes you mutts!” Kennedy barked at the excited dogs. They ignored her in their enthusiasm over guests.

“I’m glad to see you both, too!” she told the dogs, trying to catch one of the high energy pups. They both dodged her, then ran back in to push her to ground again with more dog kisses. “A little help here?” she asked the bystanders.

“Seneca, what are you doing?!” Olivia asked, poking her head out from the kitchen. “Get in here and help! You’re late!”

Seneca pushed the dogs up off of her, and they continued to attack her with frantic, slobbery puppy kisses as she stood up. “Late?” she barked as she brushed dog hair from her skirt, hoping she hadn’t ruined any of her fancy clothing. “I didn’t know we set a time!”

“Maybe if you weren’t too busy playing house with your new…” Olivia trailed off when she saw Godwin standing behind Kennedy. “Oh. Hi Godwin. Merry Christmas!’

Godwin laughed and Kennedy grabbed hold of the dogs, dragging them by their collars towards the door to the yard. Seneca took the opportunity to pull Godwin into the small kitchen. “There’s not enough room in here for us all to cook. Seneca, what are you making?” Olivia asked, handing her a black apron.

“Merry Christmas, Olivia,” Godwin replied formally, his trilby now gone, probably magicked away. He looked around, the most uncomfortable she had ever seen him.

She pulled him by the hand to the kitchen table. “What have you done so far? I can do whatever, but I can smell the turkey in the oven already. Potatoes? Bread? Does the pie still need made?”

“Seneca,” Godwin said under his breath, “I do not know how to make any of those things.”

Olivia laughed. Seneca moved to her best friend, grabbing her into a hug. Olivia held the wooden spoon she had in her hand out awkwardly as Seneca pulled her close. “Merry Christmas, Liv.” She pushed her away. Under Olivia’s black apron was her current favorite shirt, a blue long sleeved shirt with stripes of yellow, red and light blue around the sleeves and torso, with Rainbow Bright and her weird little puffy cloud friend creature leaning over, the shirt reading Rainbow Bright.

“Godwin, you don’t know how to cook at all?” Olivia asked, making it sound as if he didn’t know something basic, like how to read.

“I am not skilled in culinary arts,” he agreed.

Olivia snorted, then looked over at Seneca with a wry smile. “You really know how to pick ‘em. At least he’s got good fashion sense, though he’s overdressed for cooking. And you, don’t you look fancy. You planning on working in the kitchen in those clothes? Seneca,” Olivia chided, tisking and shaking her head. Something bubbled on the stove and she rushed back over, stirring the pot. “Did you bring anything else to wear?” she asked over her shoulder.

“No, but I’m sure I have something here I can still fit into…” she said, thinking about what might still be here.

Olivia looked over to her, then to Godwin. “You… nuh-huh… Seneca, may I speak to you in private?” she whispered.

Seneca blushed. “Godwin, why don’t you see if Kennedy could use some help with the dogs?” she asked.

Godwin narrowed his eyes, then he dipped his head to her. “If you insist,” he agreed, reading the situation.

“Just for a little bit. Then I can teach you how to cook,” she soothed. Olivia snorted again, returning her attention to the bubbling pot. “Liv!”

Godwin nodded, then turned, heading to where Kennedy was.

“What?” Seneca snapped once he was gone.

Olivia turned back to her, spoon held close to her chest with both hands. “You match!!! OMJesus, Seneca, you both match. That is so freaking cute, and sappy. Weren’t you the one insisting he didn’t like you like that? He’s so freaking into you. You didn’t pick those clothes out, they look way too good on you for that!”

“Liv!” she objected, blushing and looking away from her friend.

Her submissive actions only encouraged her friend further. “Tell me, tell me! Tell me everything!” Olivia wiggled in anticipation, not unlike the excited dogs earlier.

“He’s just in the other room, Liv!” she balked, pulling the apron over her head and tying it around her waist so that she didn’t have to look at her best friend.

“It’s that juicy?” Olivia whispered loudly. “Tell me, you know you want to! Oh, and while you’re talking, peel those sweet potatoes. Gotta get them into the oven in like…shit, ten minutes. Peel faster, fancy-pants.”

“What about Annabel? Has she come in since?” Seneca changed the subject, grabbing the bag of yams that Olivia had motioned towards. She started peeling into the large tub atop of potato peels that already lined the bottom.

“No, she hasn’t been back. Don’t bring up a sore subject. And, don’t change the subject, either!”

Seneca sighed. “Tell you what?” she relented, only mildly paying attention to the yams she was peeling.

“Details! I want the deets, Seneca! You have been AWOL for nearly a week…you moving in with Godwin or something?” she teased. Her blushed deepened, her vision laser focused on her hands. Olivia gasped. “OMJesus, you did, you dog!”

“Not all the way…” she defended weakly.

“NOT ALL THE WAY?!” Olivia practically yelled. “You totally haven’t left his love nest! Are you guys screwing like bunnies every day?”

She wasn’t sure if it was possible for her to blush harder. She felt Godwin’s spectral touch on her neck and she flinched, the knife slipping into the flexible skin between her thumb and palm. “Shit!” she swore, dropping the knife and pulling her hand to her mouth instinctively. The taste of her own blood filled her mouth.

Olivia looked over, then dropped her spoon to the stove and rushed to her side. “You cut yourself! Oh man, hold on, I’ll go get, I mean…” her friend fretted, pulling her hand towards her so she could inspect it. “You cut yourself deep. Okay. Go wash it good, do you think we should go to the ER?”

Kennedy rushed in, followed by Godwin until the kitchen was too crowded and she was insanely embarrassed. “I’m fine. It’s just a cut. I’ll be fine, it’s no big deal. I’m going to go to the bathroom to wash it off, Kennedy, could you help me bandage it? I’m fine,” she insisted to a skeptical-looking Olivia. Godwin watched it all with mild concern, not saying anything.

“Shouldn’t you be helping? Your girlfriend is bleeding to death,” Olivia snapped at Godwin as he watched Kennedy escort her from the kitchen.

“Shut up Liv!” Seneca yelled down the hall.

“Girlfriend?” she heard Godwin ask with mild confusion. “She is not my girlfriend. And she very obviously is not in any danger of bleeding out.”

Kennedy closed the bathroom door, blocking out any response Olivia might have had. “That’s not going to end well, is it?” Kennedy said with an angry looking frown. She wasn’t mad, she was worried, Seneca could tell, but her face made her seem like she was. Seneca’s stomach dropped like a brick as she worried about the conversation that Olivia and Godwin might be having.

“I hope they don’t kill each other…” Seneca said, stomach sick with worry as she bit the inside of her cheek. She washed her hands in the sink, the water running red with her blood.

“Godwin’s a lover, not a fighter. It’s Olivia you need to worry about. This is deep,” Kennedy fretted, pulling her hand from the water to inspect it closer. “Hmm…do you think it needs stitching?”

“I don’t know. I don’t really want to…” she said with a frown, wincing as Kennedy poked her finger into the cut.

“I know it’ll heal, but if I don’t stitch it it might scar…” Kennedy hinted heavily, her tone implying she should let her stitch it.

“Kennedy, I don’t want to ruin Christmas. I don’t care if it scars. You know, maybe it should, or Olivia might notice…” she trailed off, staring at her freely bleeding hand. She turned the water off with her other hand.

“I know I told you never to tell her, but you were children then. She’s been your true friend for ages, Seneca. You should tell her, then you wouldn’t always have to lie to her about certain things. It might also help you explain about Godwin…” Kennedy advised, moving to the medicine cabinet to grab supplies.

“Tell her?!” Seneca squeaked, the worry in her stomach turning to dread. “I can’t, Kennedy. She’d hate me forever. I mean, I’ve lied to her for our entire friendship! She would never forgive me. She hates liars. Hates them.” Tears sprang to her eyes, some from the anticipated pain of the needle that Kennedy was preparing, but most of it from the thought of Olivia hating her. She couldn’t deal with that, she just couldn’t.

“Shh, girl,” Kennedy said, speaking to her like a spooked pup. “She can’t hate you. I’m sure it will all work out in the end. Now, let me see your hand.” She pulled it towards her without waiting, wrapping a dark towel around it and applying pressure. She held it firmly for a minute and Seneca tried hard not to squirm at the pain.

They both looked towards the door when Olivia’s voice raised up. “Are you freaking serious? What is wrong with you?!”

Seneca tensed, trying subconsciously to pull her hand to her chest, but Kennedy held it firmly. “Hold this tight, can’t stitch you until the blood slows down anyway. Hold it, girl, and I’ll go deal with those two, and also make sure those potatoes don’t turn into sludge. Stay here,” Kennedy told her firmly, still talking to her like one of her rescue dogs.

She didn’t wait for Seneca’s reply, assuming that Seneca would just do what she told her to. She did, holding her hand firmly over the towel, willing herself to stop bleeding. She could feel the wound on her hand, a pain that throbbed with each frantic beat of her heart.

“But Kennedy!” she heard Olivia yell. She heard Kennedy hush her, and then they were all talking, she could hear the hum of it, but she couldn’t make out any words. She thought about moving to the door to eavesdrop, but Kennedy’s command had her staying where she was.

A moment later Kennedy let herself back into the bathroom, shutting the door behind herself. “You need to tell her, or she’ll never understand, and things’ll get worse. Now that you’ve bound yourself to an incubus, things will only get more confusing and muddled, and she’ll have more and more instance to misunderstand. If you value your friendship, you need to tell her soon.”

“Bound?!” she exclaimed, flinching at her own tone.

At first Kennedy didn’t say anything, just gave her that look that told her it was obvious. “You didn’t?” she finally said, the skepticism etched into her features.

She bit her cheek harder, trying hard to keep from crying. “I did,” she barely whispered, feeling like she had done something wrong.

“Christ, girl, everything is gonna be okay. Relax,” Kennedy insisted. “I like Godwin. He’s good people. He obviously treasures you, just Olivia can’t understand it, she’s missing pieces of the puzzle. You have to tell her if you don’t want to lose her friendship.”

Seneca felt the first tear fall, then another, and then all of them at once, as if the dam was opened. They leaked from her face and Kennedy scowled. She pulled Seneca’s hand, carefully removing her bloody compress, then pulled her hand back to the sink. Kennedy washed it again, carefully lathering soap and holding her hand tightly when she tried to pull away reflexively. Once the soap was washed away she nodded, seemingly pleased with the progress of her healing. Seneca wanted to say something, but her whole body was wracked with the force of her tears and the pain in her hand.

“Shh,” Kennedy cooed. “This is going to sting, you’ll be okay. Deep breath now,” she said as she plunged the needle into the cut flesh. Seneca squeaked, forcing herself to hold her hand still while Kennedy plunged the needle in and out of her flesh, pulling the clear fishing line through her skin.

She closed her eyes, focusing on her breathing while Kennedy stitched. The pain was real and intense and helped distract her from thoughts of Godwin and Olivia. In what felt like an hour, but also only a minute or two, Kennedy pulled tight, then tied off the knot. “All set, girl.” She stood up, moving to the sink to wash her hands and the rest of her tools, which were all covered in blood. Seneca hadn’t realized she had fallen to a kneel.

She looked down at her hand, which had stopped bleeding. It throbbed painfully and looked swollen, the stitches angry-looking. And then she saw the blood, red splatters and blots all over her skirt on either side of her black apron.

“I ruined the skirt!” she said through her sobs, her crying renewing. “G-g-godwin gave it to me. I s-s-suck!” She wiped her snotty nose and wet cheeks on her soft sweater before she could stop herself, then fretted over that, too. “I’m the worst!”

“Hush,” Kennedy said as she put materials away. “Stop that, now. Go out there and keep Olivia busy. Godwin left to keep the peace. He’ll be back shortly.”

“He…left?” she asked, trying to stem her tears. She could still feel him closeby, and hadn’t realized he had gone. That he left had her stomach twisting in knots. “Where’d he go?”

Kennedy shook her head. “He said he had something to take care of, and that he’d be back in a bit. Olivia is spittin’ mad. You need to calm her down and manage her before she burns the daylights out of my turkey.”

She snuffed, swallowing down her tears. “I’m sorry, Kennedy, for ruining Christmas,” she lamented.

“Hush, girl, you didn’t ruin anything,” Kennedy insisted with a frown.

She tried not to break out into tears again. She went to wash her face to clear her tears, somehow forgetting the painful throbbing in her hand. Wincing, she tried to use her hand to turn on the faucet. She could feel the cut healing already, but she could tell it would take a while. She had cut herself deeper than she thought. Her thumb refused to bend at all, pain radiating through her hand up to her wrist when she tried.

Another round of tears threatened to fall and she pushed them away, taking deep breaths, wishing Godwin was here to consume her nearly overpowering emotions. Kennedy handed her some tissue and she blew her nose as best she could with only one working hand. Her right arm seemed prone to accidents recently.

She sighed heavily, preparing herself to leave the small bathroom. She turned back to Kennedy. “Thanks, Kennedy. I love you.”

“Love you, too, girl. Now go calm down your best friend.”

Olivia’s anger was an almost physical wall as she moved back into the kitchen. Her face softened when she saw Seneca’s hand. “Stitches?” she asked with surprise.

“Kennedy thought I should. It stopped the bleeding.”

Olivia scowled. “Since when does Kennedy have medical training?”

“She stitches up dogs all the time, so stitching me up is easier. She doesn’t have to shave me first, and I sit still better. It’s fine. What can I help with?” Seneca said lightly, trying to soothe her friend.

“You’re not a dog!” Olivia glowered at her hand angrily. When Seneca didn’t respond she breathed out heavily. “Whatever. Fine. Well, you’re on stirring duty, since you’re down a hand. Come here and whisk the gravy. Don’t let it burn.”

“Okay,” she agreed, moving to the stove and taking the small whisk from Olivia. She followed directions, gingerly mixing the savory smelling gravy. “Where’s Godwin?”

Olivia flinched and her shoulders hunched. “He left,” she growled unapologetically.

“He left?” Seneca asked her friend, trying carefully to keep the peace for as long as possible. With the mood Olivia was in, she knew it was just a matter of time. “Where did he go?”

Olivia didn’t say anything at first as she walked a steaming pot of boiling potatoes to the sink, then drained them into the waiting colander. Once the potatoes were safely in the strainer, she put the pot down on the counter next to the sink and with a heavy sigh.

“I don’t know, Seneca,” she said tightly. “He didn’t tell me.”

“What did you say to him, Liv?” she asked, still whisking the gravy. Olivia moved the potatoes back to the pot.

“I didn’t start it, Seneca! He said that you guys weren’t dating! I know you are….intimate with him. I thought, I mean, he, he just, gah!” she exclaimed, grabbing the antique hand masher from a drawer. She poured in milk, butter and salt without measuring, then began mashing angrily. “Seneca, he doesn’t…I don’t understand him! He said doesn’t want to date you! I, he, what the fuck does that mean?!” She mashed harder.

“I already knew he didn’t see me as a girlfriend, Liv,” she agreed. “I-”

“But why? Why are you okay with that?! Seneca, you deserve so much better. Why do you always pick the worst men? He’s taking advantage of you, and you’re letting him!” Olivia remorsed.

“It’s not like that, I swear. Godwin is just…different. You don’t understand him, he’s not as bad as that, Olivia,” Seneca tried to explain. “He isn’t taking advantage of me.”

“He said you were partners, like he’s your pimp or something!” she exclaimed excitedly, pointing a potato covered masher at her. A glop of half-mashed potatoes slopped onto the floor, both of them watching it fall.

Seneca sighed heavily. Olivia was perceptive, she always had been, and this time she had hit relatively close to the mark. How was she supposed to explain this and make Olivia understand? Would she understand the real answer? There was no way Olivia was going to let this go, no way for Seneca to explain this away with any excuse. Kennedy was right, she realized. If she wanted to keep Godwin and Olivia, she would need to explain it to her, and it would have to be the truth.  

Maybe…not today, though. “He’s not my pimp, Liv. We have…an arrangement. I promise I’ll explain it all to you, but maybe not while you are cooking?”

“Then when?” Olivia demanded, moving the mashed potatoes to a bowl. “Turn off that burner, that gravy is done. I think…” she trailed off, opening the oven. “Yup, the turkey is done. Can you get Kennedy to come in here and help me carve, you know, since you’re all handicapped?”

Seneca sighed heavily, then nodded, moving the gravy from the burner. “Soon, Liv. Tonight. After dinner. I don’t want to ruin Christmas any more than I already have.”

Olivia deflated. “You didn’t ruin Christmas, Seneca. You’re not-a-boyfriend did.”

“Shut up, Liv. He didn’t ruin anything. Leave Godwin out of this. This is my fault, I didn’t explain it to you properly. I will, just…tonight. I want to come over to your place, spend the night, and we can talk. It’s been forever since I’ve stayed over at your place.”

“And now you’re defending him! Taking the blame for him! Goddamnit, Seneca, you’re in an abusive relationship! Please, break it off with him. He’s no good for you!” she practically yelled, her face pinched with frustrated anger.

“I…it’s not like that, Liv. I…please? Just…I will explain, just…I’m sorry,” she said, trying to figure out what to say to make things better and failing. She snuffled, holding back yet more tears.

She could tell Olivia wanted to say something, but she held her tongue. She shuffled her feet for a second, then looked up at Seneca. “Stop, Seneca. Just stop. Don’t cry. Please? I’ll drop it for now. I seriously can’t think of anything you’ll tell me that will change my mind, but we will talk later. I’ll leave it, please go get Kennedy.”

She sent Kennedy to the kitchen and she could hear them talking softly. She sat down on the couch, pulling her phone out of her small purse. Where are you? she texted Godwin.

Nearby. I offended your friend. My apologies.

She sighed heavily, feeling bad in general. I’m spending the night with her tonight. K thinks I should tell her about me…and us.

Several minutes passed and Godwin didn’t respond, her nerves getting more and more bunched up by the second. Finally her phone chirped, making her jump. Come to the door.

Her feet took her to the door before she realized it. For some reason, she hesitated before she opened it, just for a second. She knew he was on the other side, could almost feel his heat through the door. When she opened the door he was there, looking so cool, sexy, and handsome that it had her butterflies dancing around her stomach. He was too good for her, and yet here he was, here for her.

“Seneca,” he said, worry in his voice. “I apolog-

“Shh, Godwin,” she hushed him, pushing him out the door and closing it gently behind her. It was cold out, but she didn’t feel it so close to him. She pulled the lapel of his suit with her good hand and he stepped closer, close enough so that she could wrap her arms around his neck. Her lips were over his and she kissed him, needing to feel him. He kissed her back, his arms wrapping around her waist.

He pulled very lightly, just a suggestion, at her emotions. She nodded without breaking off the kiss, but he still didn’t take them. Balling them up quickly, she sent them, her worry and stress and dread of the conversation she would have with Olivia that night, her agony over ruining Christmas. He moaned softly into her mouth and she stopped pushing them through. He shook his head slightly, then pulled them from her, stepping them both back so that her back was against the door. His manhood pressed enticingly against her belly and she had to fight to keep her fangs from dropping.

Her head was spinning by the time he pulled away from her. “Godwin…” she mumbled, distracted by how light and free she felt. His eyes were pure silver pools and she longed to fall into them. She wanted him, wanted to take him right now. She moved forward again, trying to capture his mouth, but he pulled away from her.

Her heart clenched and he cupped her cheek, his face falling. “Hansa,” he muttered, running his thumb over her cheek as he slid his hand behind her neck. “I will return, but I am not coming back inside. Please enjoy this time with your family. I will gather your things so that you may stay with Olivia. What will you tell her?” he said softly, barely louder than a whisper. He rested his forehead on hers.

She sighed. Her hand throbbed, helping to cool her lust. She bit the inside of her cheek, worrying it with her teeth. “The truth. I’ve lied to her for our whole friendship, but I don’t know if I could have told her the truth before now. She hates liars, she’ll probably hate me after this, but I think…you know, if I don’t tell her…being with you, she will come to hate me anyway. She hates you, but that’s only because she doesn’t understand. She thinks you’re pimping me out or something stupid like that,” she tried to explain, feeling like she was doing a bad job of it.

Godwin’s response confirmed it. “Pimping? I do not think I know what that means.”

She sighed heavily, wishing she could stay out here with him. She could hear movement in the house, which meant Christmas lunch was ready. “I have to go back inside, Win. I…I love you, Win. I’m sorry about today.”

“Seneca, hush,” he chided, kissing her cheek tenderly. “I understand. How is your hand?” he asked, grabbing her gently by the wrist, pulling it to up so he could inspect it.

She flinched and his hand fell away, making her feel bad. “Sorry, it’s fine. Kennedy sewed it up so I won’t scar,” she said sullenly, hiding it behind her back.

“I will return,” he said. He placed one more chaste kiss on her forehead before he turned and left.

She watched him go, but he didn’t look back. A shiver crawled down her spine and she turned around heading back inside the house.

Dinner was surprisingly normal, Olivia acting like herself, even if it did seem a little forced. Seneca apologized for not having gifts for Kennedy and Olivia, and both women rolled their eyes, reminding her that she had been through some pretty crazy events in the last few weeks.

They watched the second half of The Christmas Story, catching it in the middle. She and Olivia could recite it word for word, and they did. Kennedy left after the credits rolled, beginning the process of cleaning up after dinner. She and Olivia watched the first half of the movie, turning the TV off when they got to the point where they started, then made their way into the kitchen. Kennedy immediately yelled at her about possibly getting her stitches wet, then forced her to sit and watch as she and Olivia cleaned the kitchen. They chatted as the women bustled to return the room from the crazy mess it was back into Kennedy’s normal, tidy kitchen.

There was a knock on the door and Seneca practically ran to it, but Godwin was already gone, a paper department store bag on the step. Her heart fell that she couldn’t see him, but she understood why he didn’t stay. Still, she missed him. She hadn’t realized how natural it felt to be with him now, and their time apart made her feel uneasy.

“Who is it?” Kennedy called from the kitchen.

“No one,” she replied, grabbing the bag and stepping back inside the house. She wished she had fed from him more recently, she could only vaguely feel him, and that was if she was really concentrating. She could feel Josh more strongly, and even that was just a general idea of where he was.

“Huh,” Kennedy huffed.

She returned to the kitchen. “Sorry about no pie…” she apologised.

Kennedy snorted. “I couldn’t eat another bite if I wanted to. I think I’ll start eating again as my new year’s resolution.”

Olivia rolled her eyes. “I love pie. I think I’ll take a raincheck, once your hand is healed. You can make it up to me,” she teased, but it made Seneca feel bad regardless.

“Can we wait to exchange presents?” Seneca asked, guilt budding in her stomach. “I’ll have them next week. I’m sorry…”

“Seriously, stop feeling bad. No one is gonna hold this against you,” Kennedy soothed.

“I will, but only until I get a present,” Olivia teased. Seneca smiled, but she didn’t feel it.

Kennedy kicked them out shortly after that so that she could bathe the snow-muddy dogs. The drive to Olivia’s house was strangely tense and quiet. Olivia’s music, some type of gothic metal with bassy masculine crooning played in the background, the only noise during the whole trip. The man’s voice, deep and haunting, tickled something in the back of her mind, giving her this sense of deja vu. Attributing it to stress she pushed it away, watching the grey, frozen city roll by out her window, thinking up explanations for Olivia that wouldn’t expose her secret, and finding each one more and more convoluted and ultimately pointless.

Quite frankly, she was tired of lying to her friend. She wasn’t prepared to lose Olivia, but she would be understanding of whatever Olivia decided to do once she learned the truth.

It felt like she was heading to the gallows by the time Olivia parallel parked on the road a block from her apartment. They trudged through slushy snow, the wind picking up and pulling at their winter clothing. It was definitely getting colder out as the day wore on. The sun had fully disappeared by the time Olivia was shoving her key into the outer door to her building even though it wasn’t even six o’clock yet.

Still Olivia didn’t speak, and so neither did Seneca. Olivia didn’t say anything to her until they were both in her apartment, winter clothes left by the door. Seneca moved to the kitchen and filled up a kettle with water, placing it on the stove to heat. She grabbed two mugs and found the stash of teabags she left here for emergencies, then placed both on the coffee table. Olivia didn’t have a kitchen table in her small apartment.

“Is it that bad?” Olivia asked sadly, breaking the silence.

“Huh?” Seneca asked in confusion.

“You only make tea for me when you have something bad to tell me,” her friend said with a frown, eyeing the mugs.

“Really?” she asked. “I didn’t realize. I mean, it’s, ah, well, I don’t know how you’ll take it,” Seneca said, sitting on the floor so she could prop her elbow up on the table. Her stitched hand was starting to itch, and she knew that the stitches would have to come out before she went to bed tonight or they would hurt even worse to remove tomorrow.

“That doesn’t sound like good news, right? See, I told you Godwin isn’t good for you.” Olivia sat down aggressively on her elderly burgundy loveseat, which had a plywood board beneath the cushions from where the springs had long since been removed.

“You need a new couch,” Seneca said as she watched Olivia try to find a comfortable spot .

“Don’t change the subject, Seneca,” Olivia grumbled.

“I’m not, I was just stating a fact. Sorry,” she apologized, feeling absolutely horrid. She was glad she had been able to feed Godwin earlier, because if she hadn’t, she would probably already be crying. “I just don’t know how to say it.”

Olivia nodded, pulling her knees up under her, leaning on the arm of the couch. She didn’t say anything, just waited for Seneca to tell her whatever she was going to say.

She took a deep breath, then stopped thinking about it. “Liv, I’m real sorry I didn’t tell you this sooner, but I didn’t know how, didn’t think you’d-”

“You’re pregnant?” Olivia burst out.

“NO! No, Liv. I’m not pregnant. Geez…” Seneca groused. The kettle started a low hiss, so she stood up and moved to the stove, removing it from the heat. She poured the water into the to teacups, the smell of bergamot rising from them reminding her of Godwin.

She returned the kettle to the kitchen then sat back down.

“If you’re not pregnant, then what’s this all about?” Olivia demanded impatiently, picking up her mug and bringing it to her lips. She blew the top of the cup, the steam swirling around her face, then put the cup back down.

Seneca took a deep breath, then blew it out slowly. “I’m a vampire.”

Olivia looked up at her, her eyes narrowed angrily. A few tense seconds passed where she didn’t say anything, her face contorted with her frustration. “Fine, don’t tell me. I don’t care,” she said, getting up off the couch. She headed over to the door, grabbing Seneca’s coat. “Why don’t you just go back to your pimp,” she snapped, thrusting Seneca’s coat towards her.

“Olivia!” Seneca exclaimed. “Stop. Listen to me. I’m being serious.”

“Screw you, Seneca. You’re messing with with me. I don’t…you’ve been weird lately. What’s happening with you?” Olivia lamented, her voice catching as she fought back tears. “I’m so worried about you, and you’ve been so distant lately, and then you say you’d tell me and then you’re messing with me. Go away, Seneca. I can’t deal with you right now,” Olivia cried out, dropping the coat onto her lap. “Just go.”

Shit, this was not going well. “No, I’m not leaving. Sit down, Olivia,” Seneca commanded. She was going to have to show her, that was the only way she would convince her to listen, the only way to convince her that she wasn’t just messing with her.

“Why are you doing this, Seneca?” her best friend begged. “I’m so worried for you, and you’re just-”

“Sit down,” she commanded again, speaking to her friend in the best imitation of Godwin.

Olivia scowled, then threw herself onto the hard, plywood based couch. “Fine,” she growled angrily.

Seneca sighed heavily, then closed her eyes, trying to force her fangs. She was so stressed right now that it should be easy to let her nature slip through, but years of training not to expose herself in front of Olivia had it so that she couldn’t make them come. She thought about Godwin’s blood, about Josh’s blood, about sex, but nothing was working. She opened her eyes in frustration.

“Hold on a minute,” she said, standing up and rushing into the kitchen. She was digging around in the junk drawer, looking for something sharp.

“What are you doing?” Olivia asked skeptically.

“Hold on, I’m looking for something. Wait, please, just a…” she trailed off when she found a small multi-tool. She flipped open the blade and tested it, but it wasn’t sharp enough, so she threw it back in the drawer. She saw a round disc of sewing needles and grabbed them, slamming the drawer closed as she nearly ran to the other room.

“What do you have?” Olivia asked suspiciously. “Sewing needles?”

“Shut up, Liv and give me your hand.”

“Why?” she asked, narrowing her eyes.

“Just do it. I need to show you or you’ll never believe me,” she said, grabbing her friend’s arm.

“You’re being weird, Sen,” her friend whined, trying to pull her hand away. Seneca held it easily and Olivia’s eyes flew wide with disbelief. “Please, you’re scaring me.”

“I’m going to poke your finger with this needle,” Seneca said calmly, though she was feeling anything but. “I can’t seem to make my fangs drop, I need to smell your blood.”

“Seneca,” her friend whined. “Please stop. I’m sorry, just…Ow!” she yipped, trying and failing to pull her hand away from her. She could smell Olivia’s fear, and now her blood, too. It was enough, she was able to relax into her vampiric nature. She felt her fangs drop and she sighed in relief.

Without thinking she licked the blood from Olivia’s finger and was immediately disappointed at the flat taste of it. Drinking from Godwin and Josh ruined her from other people’s blood. With a start, she realized that she had just drank from Olivia. It hadn’t been her intention, she only wanted to call her fangs. Guilt and shame filled her.

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to drink from you. I just couldn’t call them, couldn’t think of any other way to-”

“Oh my god, oh my god, shit, shit, shit,” Olivia screamed, scrambling away from her awkwardly. She fell over the other side of the couch to the floor, then pushed herself across the floor until her back hit the far wall. “Your eyes, oh shit, Seneca!”

Seneca closed her eyes, breathing deep. Olivia’s heartbeat was too loud in the small room, her fear scenting the air enticingly. She was suddenly glad she had tasted Olivia, she knew that she couldn’t be lost to her lust despite the stress and fear in the room. She didn’t want to taste Olivia again, had no desire to drink from her.

“Calm down, Liv,” Seneca soothed, stepping closer to her.

“Stop! Don’t come over here, Seneca!”

Seneca sighed, her chest tight with the rejection she felt from her best friend. “I’m still me, Olivia.”

“This is like Lost Boys, you know, where Sam discovers his brother Michael has been turned into a vampire,” Olivia babbled, her eyes wide with panic. “Only, we aren’t brothers, but I always felt like you were the sister I should have had cause we both know mine is a cunt. Please don’t bite me, I totally like you better than her. Shit. Are you gonna bite me? Please don’t bite me. I bet I taste horrible. I have a horrible diet, you know I live off a steady stream of coffee and sour straws. Oh god, Sen, oh god, what the fuck…” she trailed off, her wide, fear-filled eyes locked on her fangs.

“It’s not like that at all, Olivia. Please, calm down. I’m not going to bite you, I promise,” she said gently, holding her hands out before her placatingly.

“Oh, shit, Sen! Godwin turned you, that’s why he said you aren’t his girlfriend! Are you dead? When did it happen? Did it hurt? I’ll stake him, Seneca!” Olivia panicked. She started to cry. “I didn’t even know you died! Did that asshole Chip actually kill you and Godwin gave you your second life?”

“What?” she exclaimed. “No, nothing like that. Please come back over here, calm down Olivia. I’m still me. I promise. Nothing has changed, I was born like this. Chip broke my arm, that’s all. Come back here, I’ll explain it all, I promise, please stop freaking out. I won’t be able to make my fangs go away if you keep on scenting the air with your fear.”

“You can smell my fear? OMJesus, Seneca, I can’t, you can’t just ask me to be okay with this!”

Her heart twisted in her chest. “I’m sorry, Liv. I’m still me. This is who I’ve been the whole time, I’m the same person you’ve always know. Think of it as a genetic thing, like a medical thing,” she asked, trying to beg her friend to understand.

“Seneca, you just told me you’re a goddamned vampire! It’s not like having a third nipple or finding the identical twin you never knew you had. You’re telling me you’re something out of an Anne Rice novel and I’m supposed to be okay with it?!” Olivia yelled, her face turning red. “My best friend is a blood-sucking vampire, and always has been one, and I’ve been so dumb and naive my whole life? I never knew?” Olivia snuffled through her tears. “I never knew. Never. Just a stupid, clueless human. Guess I was at least good for a laugh, right?”

“No, Liv, it was never like that. I couldn’t tell you! How would I have told you? I was afraid of this, of how you would…I mean, I’m a worthless vampire, no better than a parasite. I’m sorry, Liv,” she sobbed. “I can leave. I’m sorry. I’ll go, you can call me if you can accept it, or you can text me and tell me to go to hell. I…I understand,” she had to stop, her breath hitching with her tears and the pain of the thought of Olivia never speaking to her again. “I…I can’t change who I am, and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before. I’m sorry,” she said, hot, fat tears streaming down her cheeks. She moved woodenly, feeling like the world’s biggest fuck-up. “Sorry, Liv. I’m so sorry,” she apologized again, sitting down to put her boots on.

After her boots were on, she wiped her face into her already ruined sweater, trying to figure out where she was going, the pain in her heart overwhelming. She stood up, put on her coat and grabbed Godwin’s overnight bag. She hesitated, one hand on the doorknob. “I really am sorry. Goodbye, Olivia. Love you,” she said softly, but it carried across the room.  

“Wait,” Olivia said, barely a whisper, but she heard it. Her voice was raw with emotion, and Seneca could smell the salt from her tears.

She exhaled, hesitating at the door.  

A moment of heavy silence passed before Olivia said anything. “You’re not dead?”

She couldn’t help but laugh. She leaned into the door, pressing her forehead into the cool metal of it. “No, I’m not dead, or you’d have gone to my funeral and buried me. I’m alive, heartbeat, pulse, fully functioning organs. Vampires are…well, like I said, it’s a genetic thing. I was born a vampire, though I didn’t start drinking blood until I was thirteen, once I went through puberty,” she explained. She didn’t move, terrified that if she did she might spook Olivia and start the whole ordeal over again.

“Born…well, that’s new. Suck it, Twilight. Hmm… You can be in the sun, and you don’t sparkle,” Olivia said, working through this new information, trying to process it. She snuffled from across the room and Seneca longed to hug her, but knew better.

Instead, she stayed by the door, fully dressed to escape back into the elements. “I burn pretty easily, you know that. I eat food, you know that, too.”

Olivia sighed heavily. “Come back, Seneca. Please, don’t leave, okay? I’m trying to figure this out. Can you…I just need some time. Can you come back inside? Take your coat off, please?”

Seneca’s tears had almost dried up, but Olivia’s emotional request had her sobbing again.

“I’m s-s-sorry, L-liv. So-so sorry!” she bawled, sliding her coat off her back. She slid down the door, unable to make her body move. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” she moaned over and over again through her tears. She heard Olivia move and looked behind her, her face a snotty, tear-stained mess, to see her best friend, her true friend, crawling towards her.

Olivia didn’t even hesitate, she wrapped her in a hug from behind, squeezing her tightly as they cried together. The sat like that by the door, Olivia holding her from behind while she hugged her best friend’s arms close until their tears subsided.  

“You look like shit,” Olivia told her, then they both laughed. “I’m sorry,” she said, squeezing her tightly. “I think I understand why you didn’t tell me before now. Why’d you tell me now?”

Seneca nodded her head. “I can’t lose you, Olivia. I had to tell you now, because you need to understand my relationship with Godwin. And, honestly? Because I’m tired of lying to you. You deserve to know. I feel wretched that I’ve kept this from you for so long.”

“While we are doing this, any other dirty secrets you want to air out?” Olivia half teased.

“Can we talk somewhere where my underwear isn’t soaking up the puddles of slush from our boots?  

Olivia snorted, then stood up, pulling Seneca up with her. She pulled her into a hug the minute her feet were under her and Olivia hugged her back hard. “I love you, Liv,” she whispered.

“I love you, too, you dorky vampire,” Olivia teased. “Come on,” she said, pushing her away briskly, “let’s drink that tea. Bet it’s tepid by now, right? Perfect tea temperature.”

Olivia led her back to the couch and she sat down on it. It was exactly as comfortable as the plywood implied. “You really need a new couch.”

“Yes, yes, you said that already,” Olivia sniffled, wiping her eyes on her sleeves. “So, you’re a vampire. Let’s talk about that. You eat food but you also drink blood? Have you ever drank mine?”

“Wow, you’re already back to yourself, going straight for the jugular,” Seneca teased.

“Oh, was that a vampire joke?” Olivia quipped.

“No, I mean, you know what I mean,” Seneca replied, flustered. “And, aside from just now? Never, not once. I’ve never fed from Kennedy, either.”

Olivia sighed in relief, then guilt covered her face. “I’m sorry that I was scared of you, Seneca,” she apologized. She leaned forward, and her hands trembled as she picked up the mug. “OMJesus, I can’t, I mean, vampires? You have vampire teeth! You’re eyes are red!”

She chuckled softly. “Yes, I have vampire teeth. They only come out when I need blood, or when I’m feeling intense emotions or, ah…when I’m, ah, intimate,” she admitted softly, flushing.

“Do you drink people to death?” Olivia asked, her eyes asking if she was a murderer.

“God, no!” Seneca barked. “I don’t need much, I only need a little bit every week or so. I don’t drink everyday, or at least I don’t have to…”

“Okay. So…Godwin knows…does that mean he’s a vampire, too? Is there a club? How can you tell if someone’s a vampire? How did you keep this from me for over a decade?!” Olivia said excitedly.

“No, Godwin isn’t a vampire, he’s…something else. He knows. He knew from the first time he met me. He said he could tell. I don’t think there’s any way in particular that most people can tell a vampire from other people unless you see them in their lust.”

Olivia sipped at her tea, probably more for something to do than desire for the actual beverage. “Lust?”

“Oh geez, this is…yeah. When my eyes turn red like this and my fangs drop, that’s a vampire’s lust. If I don’t drink blood regularly enough, my lust will rise up and I could lose myself to it for a short time, where I would feed from the first person I could catch. I don’t ever let it get that close,” she tried to explain.

“You said intimacy, meaning sex?” Olivia said, her mind skipping all over the place. Seneca watched her connect the dots. “OMJesus, that’s why you dated big beefcake dummies. You weren’t dating them, you were draining them. That’s how you stayed with Chip so long. I guess that makes sense now. How did he never catch on? With you biting him all the time?”

“Ah…so, I can blur the memories of someone I’ve just drank from. And my bite feels good, so it’s distracting. It helps if there’s sex to distract the ‘big beefcake dummies’, too,” Seneca answered, feeling shy, wringing her hands in her lap. She picked up the mug and sipped at the tea, breathing in deeply, associating the scent of bergamot with Godwin.

Olivia sighed, then laughed weakly. “Seneca, I think I need a minute to process this, I’m going to go pee. Don’t leave while I’m gone, Seneca.”

“I won’t,” she promised. A moment later she was alone, and the stressful aftershocks of the situation hit her so hard her hands started to shake. She bit her cheek, worrying the scarred flesh between her teeth. Wanting a distraction, she decided to see what Godwin packed her in her impromptu overnight bag. The bag crinkled as she dug into it.

Inside she found a brand new toothbrush and box of toothpaste, a pajama set with a tanktop and shorts in all black, tags still on them. Under that was a simple black pair of underwear, honey-scented shampoo and conditioner, a bar of purple soap studded with lavender buds, a hair brush and lavender-scented lotion. Under all of that, separated by a layer of tissue paper, was her outfit for tomorrow, a fresh pair of dress socks and her office shoes, her favorite pair of khakis, a white camisole and her favorite navy-colored sweater with the high, floppy neck.

The care and attention he put into her overnight bag had her heart swelling, full of love for him. She really didn’t deserve him, but she would try.

Olivia came back after a few moments, looking calmer and more collected.

“Okay, I get it, I think, why you lied to me our whole lives. I’m trying not to be mad at you,” she said, flopping back down onto the couch. “Does Kennedy know?”

Seneca sighed, preparing herself for a long night of explanations.

The Game Chapter 27: Skelis

The Game Chapter 29 coming soon!