CHAPTER 14
COLD SPAGHETTI
Ian was chopping onions and garlic for spaghetti sauce, as Jo took out ground beef to begin making meatballs. Pasta was Jo’s favorite, and Ian apparently caught on to the fact that Jo also loved garlic, seeing as he was chopping so much of it.
“So I guess the whole garlic thing is a myth?” Jo asked, as she seasoned the meat.
“Most of the things you’ve heard about vampires are myths,” Ian said, as he bit a piece of garlic, “besides I would have run from you long ago if that was the case. Vampires are just normal people who happen to have different nutritional needs then everyone else.”
“Very different,” Jo said, as she began mixing the meat mixture with her hands.
Ian laughed, “Yes very different, but what people seem to forget is that we drink blood out of necessity not because we want to. Very few vampires actually choose to become vampires, most of us didn’t have a choice, and the ones that do choose it, do it for all the wrong reasons. They don’t understand the unquenchable thirst, and most can’t control it, especially at the beginning.”
“Was it hard for you?” Jo asked, now rolling out little meatballs.
Ian added the tomatoes to the sautéed garlic and onion, “Yes, it’s actually a horrific feeling. You know that what you’re doing goes against everything you believe, but you can’t help yourself. The hunger is so strong all you can think about is feeding. It took me a long time to learn to control myself. Marcus caught on much quicker than I did; he tried to help me but I didn’t listen, I just wanted to drink as much as I could as often as I could. Eventually the control came and I could feed without killing, and after I met you I lost all desire to feed from humans all together.”
Jo began dropping meatballs into the sauce as Ian stirred the pot. He leaned in and gave her a lingering kiss. Jo pulled back and wrinkled her nose.
“You reek of garlic,” she said laughing.
“Oh, is that right?” Ian said smearing sauce on her nose.
Just as Jo was about to retaliate with a finger full of sauce, the doorbell rang. Ian and Jo looked at each other both wondering who could be at the door at this hour. Jo thought that maybe Isabella had changed her mind, and Marcus must have been thinking the same thing because he was in the kitchen in a matter of seconds.
“Was that the doorbell?”
“Yes,” Ian said,” are you expecting someone?”
“No, not unless Isabella decided to come back.”
Jo washed her hands and went to stand next to Ian as Marcus answered the door. It took a minute for any of them to recognize who was standing on the step. The smile instantly faded from Marcus’s face, as he realized it definitely was not Isabella. Jo and Ian just stood staring in utter disbelief. Jo was the first to recover her senses as the strange encounter from the funeral home came flooding back to her.
“Anna! What happened?” Jo said, stepping forward to take Anna’s hand.
Ian stepped in front of Jo, shaking his head. Jo understood his concern, as Anna’s appearance was much worse than it had been that morning. Her face was smeared with blood and her hair was tangled and knotted, she stood in front of them with her chest heaving inside her torn blouse as if she were gasping for her last breath.
“I can’t stop!” Anna cried out, “I tried but I can’t! Help me! Please!” She fell to her knees and sobbed, grabbing her hair in apparent agony. “Please, make it stop!”
Marcus snapped to attention, he blocked the doorway and spoke over his shoulder, “Ian, have you got Jo?”
“Yes,” Ian responded, as he steered Jo into the kitchen, keeping himself between her and the door.
Marcus took Anna by the arm and lifted her to her feet, guiding her into the house. He closed the door with one hand and kept a tight hold of Anna with the other.
“Take out a bottle of wine and change it,” Ian said to Jo, still keeping her behind him and not taking his eyes off of Marcus and Anna.
“She’s been changed hasn’t she?” Jo asked, rummaging in the cabinet for a bottle.
“Yes, and we won’t be able to get any useful information out of her until she’s had enough to drink.”
Jo took out two bottles for good measure. She took hold of Ian’s hand, which was awkward as he stood with his back to her so he could keep an eye on Anna, who was still crying and begging Marcus to help her.
“We’re going to help you just calm down,” Marcus repeated.
“I tried, I really did, but I couldn’t stop.” Anna was half hysterical, her eyes began to dart around the room and then fell on Ian; she paused and sniffed the air.
“Jo are you just about finished?” Ian asked under his breath.
“There, all done,” said Jo, letting go of Ian’s hand just in time for him to grab Anna around the neck.
“I thought you had her,” Ian said, giving Marcus an angry look.
“I did, she’s fast,” Marcus said, looking bewildered.
Ian took the bottle Jo had handed him in his free hand and dragged Anna to the couch with the other. She kicked and screamed as she tried to free herself, glaring at Jo the entire time.
“Stay there until she calms down,” Ian said to Jo, with apparent concern.
Marcus helped Ian restrain Anna and sit her back down on the couch. Anna’s eyes were wild and she looked so unlike her usual self that Jo had no desire to get any closer to her, not because she was scared but because it was so unsettling to see her in such a state.
Ian opened the bottle and handed it to Anna, whose nostrils flared and eyes widened at the smell. She snatched the bottle instantly and drained it.
“You can have as much as you want,” Marcus assured her.
“She said you were vampires, but I didn’t believe her,” Anna said, her eyes still wide.
“Who said we were vampires?” Ian asked, already knowing the answer.
“Mia, she said there were others but I thought she was making it up,” Anna said, wiping a hand across her forehead.
“What else did Mia tell you?” Ian asked, making an indication for Marcus to bring another bottle over.
Jo stepped out from behind the kitchen counter with the other bottle in her hand and Marcus was at her side instantly to take it from her.
“Is that blood on your nose?” Marcus asked with a look of unease.
Jo was confused as she reached up to wipe her nose, and then remembered the sauce that Ian had smeared on her moments before Anna had arrived. She had forgotten all about how hungry she was until this very second, and her stomach growled longingly as she caught the scent of the garlic infused sauce wafting from the stove.
“No, it’s not,” she said, as she handed the bottle to Marcus and began to follow him out into the living room.
“Jo stay where you are,” Ian called to her.
“She can’t hurt me,” Jo said, as she continued to walk out with Marcus.
As Jo got closer, Anna’s chest began to heave once again and her eyes grew in anticipation, a growl escaped her lips as she threw Ian aside and lunged at Jo. Ian sprinted after her and before Marcus had a chance to block Anna’s advance, there was a loud thud and Anna fell to the ground inches away from Jo’s feet along with Ian who had run into her.
“I told you she can’t hurt me,” Jo said, picking up the bottle that Marcus had dropped.
Anna was once again dragged back to the couch kicking and screaming by Marcus and an incensed Ian.
“You’re right, she is fast,” Ian said to Marcus.
Jo stepped closer to Anna and handed her the bottle, then knelt in front of her and gave her a compassionate look. Anna took the bottle from Jo but did not shift her eyes from Jo’s gaze. She took a few sips and her breathing calmed slowly.
“What happened to you?” Jo asked quietly.
Anna took another sip from the bottle and wiped her lips with the back of her hand, all the while glaring at Jo.
“I couldn’t stop, I t
ried…” Anna began.
“We know you tried,” Jo said, “why don’t you start by telling us how you got like this, did Mia do this to you?”
Anna nodded, “Yes, she was in my room this morning when I got out of the shower. I didn’t know who she was and before I could scream she had her hand over my mouth and she bit me,” Anna now placed a hand on her neck. “I think I passed out or something because when I woke up I was lying in the woods and Mia was standing over me,” she paused and drank some more then looked at Jo. “She told me that she was a vampire and that she had changed me. I didn’t believe her. She said that there were a group of campers headed our way and that I should drink as much as I could because she needed me to be alert,” Anna looked down and tears fell onto her hands.
“It’s okay, it’s not your fault,” Jo reached out and rubbed Anna’s arm and she flinched at Jo’s touch.
“She said that you’re a witch and I shouldn’t trust you,” Anna said, wiping her face.
“So why are you here?” Jo asked.
“I couldn’t think of anywhere else to go. I mean look at me; I couldn’t exactly go home could I? I went to your house first but you weren’t there, so I came here,” Anna said, looking up at Ian and Marcus, who stood at either side of Jo like sentinels.
“Anna we need you to tell us everything that happened. Can you do that?”
“Yes,” she took a long drink and continued, “the campers came like she said they would, and I…I couldn’t stop myself, I didn’t want to but I couldn’t stop. I was so hungry and I could smell them. I didn’t stop until every drop was gone. Mia just stood and watched, laughing the whole time. She took me to the stream and told me to wash the blood off then took me home and said that I needed to look presentable. When I was ready she said that she was coming with me to the funeral and that if I didn’t do exactly as she asked, my family would be her next meal.”
“What exactly did she want you to do?” Ian asked.
“She wanted me to lure Jo outside. She gave me plenty to drink before I went into the funeral home so I would be able to control myself but I could smell blood everywhere, it was making me insane. I didn’t think that I would be able to make it outside, I was hoping that you would follow me,” Anna said to Jo, “but you didn’t and she was furious with me, she said that I’d be sorry. I spent the rest of the day hiding in the forest until I thought it would be safe to come see you.”
“Did she tell you what she wants with Jo?” Marcus asked.
“No, but she really hates you,” Anna said, looking at Jo, “she gets so angry when she talks about you and she never says your name, she just calls you witch.”
“Well the feeling’s mutual,” Jo said, getting to her feet.
“I can’t say I blame you,” Anna said, “I just met her this morning and I already hate her.”
“Anna, can you remember anything else? Anything Mia may have told you that could be useful?” Ian asked.
Anna was thoughtful for a moment, “No, I don’t think so.”
Jo paced the length of the room and paused next to the kitchen, “Ian can you help me find some more wine bottles? I want to make sure Anna has enough to drink.”
“They’re in the…” Ian began and then stopped short at the irritated look on Jo’s face.
Jo walked into the kitchen with Ian close behind her. She pretended to rummage through the cabinets, and when Ian bent down and gave her a quizzical look, she whispered so softly that barely a sound escaped her lips.
“Flirt with her,” Jo said, as she closed a cabinet.
“What?”
“Flirt with her,” Jo repeated, standing back up and grabbing a bottle of wine from the cabinet, then setting it down on the counter before making her way back into the living room.
“Wow, you can really turn wine into blood?” Anna asked.
“Yes,” Jo answered, “so you don’t have to worry about running out.”
Ian strode slowly back into the room and casually sat on the couch next to Anna, who suddenly looked uncomfortable. Jo made the excuse of getting a wet towel for Anna to clean herself up and left the room. Ian shot Marcus a quick glance, which clearly indicated he should leave the room as well, and he followed Jo to the main floor washroom, asking if she needed any help.
When Jo and Marcus were out of view, Ian relaxed into the couch and stretched his arm around the back so that it rested behind Anna’s head. He knew that although Jo and Marcus were out of sight, Marcus was well within earshot.
“So I guess I owe you an apology?” Ian began.
“For what?” Anna stuttered, her eyes shooting quickly sideways to sneak a look at Ian.
“I was a little rude to you the first time we met. I was having a bad day and I shouldn’t have taken it out on you, I’m sorry,” Ian gave her a slight smile that resembled a shy schoolboy.
“It’s okay,” Anna said, chancing another peek at him.
Ian leaned forward and held Anna’s gaze for a moment, “I never noticed how incredibly green your eyes are.”
Anna smiled shyly and folded her hands in her lap, her eyes constantly darting sideways at Ian.
“I always thought you were smart,” Ian said, taking advantage of the lingering smile on Anna’s face, “I guess Mia thought so too or she would have gotten somebody else to help her.”
“Well she’s not very happy with me right now,” Anna said, the smile fading from her lips.
“Don’t you worry about Mia, I won’t let her get away with what she’s done to you,” Ian said, as he brushed a piece of hair out of Anna’s face.
Anna gazed deeply into Ian’s eyes, “What are you going to do?”
“Well it would be a lot easier if I knew what she was up to,” he said gazing at her, “then I would have something to work with,” Ian paused and ran his hands over his face, “are you absolutely sure you don’t remember anything else Mia said? Anything at all that might be useful? I know she must have really shaken you up,” he said, patting Anna’s knee, “but I need you to think really hard, she must have said something to you.”
Anna turned her body slightly toward Ian, “Everything from this morning just seems so hazy. I remember her saying that she would get Jo one way or another, and if she couldn’t get to her directly she would have to figure out another way to do it.”
Anna sat quietly, Ian could tell she was desperately combing through her memories of the morning to find a morsel of information that she could relay to him. He once again patted her knee and got to his feet.
“It’s okay if you can’t think of anything else, maybe something will come to you later,” Ian said with obvious disappointment on his face.
“No wait,” Anna said, pulling Ian back down on the couch, “I remember her mumbling something, she spent a lot of time mumbling to herself. She said something about getting the two of them apart, but I don’t know who she was talking about. She said that maybe separating them was the answer.”
“And at the funeral home she asked you to lure Jo outside?” Ian asked, staring Anna squarely in the eyes.
“Yes.”
Ian sat with Anna staring at him. She was replaying the entire morning in her mind on fast forward trying to remember something else she could tell Ian, anything to keep him talking to her.
If the approaching footsteps did not give away Marcus and Jo’s return, the pout on Anna’s face sure did. Jo walked in with Marcus trailing behind her, she handed Anna a warm wet towel and a hairbrush.
Ian began to play with the golden band on his finger as he gave Jo a meaningful look, an act that did not escape Anna’s newly fine-tuned attention. Anna reached out and grabbed Jo’s hand and was suddenly jolted in her seat, a split second before Ian was in between the two of them.
“I’m sorry, I just wanted to see your hand,” Anna said, shaking off the lingering sting in her own hand.
“Why?” Jo asked, and then caught Anna’s eyes sneaking a glimpse at the band on
Ian’s finger. “To see this?” She raised her hand to show Anna the mirror image of Ian’s ring.
“You’re married?” Anna’s face reddened and her jaw tightened.
“Yes, did Mia forget to mention that to you?” Ian answered.
“Yes she did,” Anna was clearly furious with herself for not seeing through Ian’s obvious flirtation, and she glared at him in pure hatred.
“Don’t be angry,” Ian, said as he knelt down in front of Anna, “it was the only way to jog your memory. We need to know what Mia’s up to.”
“It wasn’t very nice.”
“I agree, and once again I’m sorry.”
“I’m the one who should apologize,” Jo interrupted, “I asked him to.” She took the towel from Anna’s hand and began to gently wipe the dry blood from her face. “It’s important to know as much as we can, we can’t let Mia have the upper hand or we’ll all be in trouble. Thank you for helping us and I’m sorry I asked Ian to flirt with you, you’re right, it wasn’t very nice.”