A Hymn of Snakes

TWENTY EIGHT

I pulled the spaghetti straps to Kate's dress up to make sure my cleavage wasn't falling out. My best friend stood next to me with a utterly wicked smile on her face, "I can't believe you made me wear this." I said crossing my arms over my chest to hide my skin.

I don't think I would ever feel comfortable wearing something this revealing in public, I was raised in a strict household. I wasn't even allowed to wear tank tops once I hit puberty.

"I was not about to let you go dressed like someone's mom." She said, I knew ultimately it was my decision and that she was only looking out for me. Even still, this was too much for me.

Kate dragged my along the sidewalk as Holstein and Leon followed they both watching us as we disappeared into the club scene. The bouncer letting us in as Kate giggled, the room was filled to the brim with Vampires and Humans alike. Intermingling as if bloodlust wasn't ever a problem in the world. I pulled down the bottom of the dress as it rode up the top of my thighs, "This dress is way too short." I said in english but I noticed there was a mixture of languages, this must have been a popular tourist place.

Her voice brushed my ear as we came to the side of the bar, "Good, you've got the long legs to work it." She told me and I just rolled my eyes. I didn't have a problem with the way I looked, I knew I was good looking. I spent my entire life working out so I had the toned skin and muscles to advocate for my height. Her dark locks growing down past my shoulders now, Ithe's tattoo-like marks bound around my wrists on full display. No one knowing what it meant, I've come to learn that unless you were a witch like me it only meant you have ink of you. "Want something to drink?" Kate asked me as the nerves provided me with the opportunity to refuse.

I've drank before, anyone who went through the Academy did. Even thought we take a vow to abstain it's really heard when it's so enticing. "Please." My voice vibrated against my throat.

"I'll start you on something simple." Kate said flashing her American ID up to the bartender, "I need a White Russian and a Whiskey on the Rocks." The bartender turned as Kate pulled out some cash from her purse, the music blasting over our ears as it became hard to understand what the people around us were saying. The bartender passed the drinks over the wood as Kate handed me my glass.

Drawing but up to my lips as I let the taste burn down my throat in the most cruel way, I cringed as I put it down. Finding myself no longer curious about what alcohol tastes like. "That tastes horrible." I said but not until after I continued to sip on it, it was bad but not enough to put it down. It was simply tolerable.

Kate laughed as I finished it and put the glass down against the bar, "So maybe a fruity one next time, noted." She said as laughed ruptured from the base of her throat, her red eyes gave a flash of it's bright hue as my brow rose. The Vampire looked across the room as I turned my head to see where she was staring and my jaw was almost unhinged. Holstein Schwarz was standing against the wall talking to someone he knew. Wearing normal human clothes that showed off more skin than I've ever seen on him. I watched as my best friend cracked a smile, "Holstein looks good outside the uniform." I rolled my eyes.

That was fast.

"So you're admitting it?" I asked her as I leaned against the railing.

She was way too obvious, this little façade of theirs wasn't going to last much longer if she continued to look at him like that. I knew that look well, it was the same look Alex had for me once. I didn't want to think of him any longer, so I focused on what she said instead. "I still hate him." Clearly lying. I could tell she was full of herself as our eyes matched, the bartender handed me another drink as I wrapped my fingers around the cold glass. She continued, "I am refusing to let myself go through another heartbreak so for now I will be swearing off all men." I nodded in agreement.