*author notes: as listed in the tags, this is a mature story with mature themes. If blood or language or violence makes you uncomfortable, please don't read it. Look out for yourselves. Lots of love, Nat*
A few weeks passed and Kier's visits became increasingly more common. He would show up on the doorstep in the middle of the night with flasks of blood in a satchel and Edward would make him tea.
At the same time, Edward started to come out of his room more often, and occasionally he would venture into town with Richard, his skin mostly covered. Very few people ever mentioned the fact that his skin lacked almost all color, and when they did, he would mumble something about having been sick. Richard always covered for him.
"There's a party next week, at the Williams; would you like to go?" Richard asked one morning, walking into the parlor with the mail in his hand.
Edward looked up from his book. "A party? No, no, I don't think so."
"Oh, come on, Ed, we haven't been to a party in ages. It could be fun."
"You know I detest parties. Girls looking for husbands, idle chit chat, dancing—" he made a face and shuddered.
Richard shook his head and picked up his letter opener. "You are a stick in the mud." He sliced open a letter and immediately hissed.
Edward smelled the blood before he saw it. "Richard? You okay?"
"I'm fine, I just...my hand slipped." Blood was leaking from a neat slice across the palm of his hand. It dripped onto the carpet as he showed his injury to his cousin.
Edward's mouth opened and he felt his fangs pushing through his gums. Fuck. The urge to knock his companion to the ground and drain him hit him so suddenly and intensely that he felt dizzy. He took a step forward, his eyes turning red.
"Ed?" Richard stared at the vampire coming toward him. He took a step backward. "Ed—Ed, stop. Stay there."
"But I'm so...hungry," he growled. He lunged across the room and Richard let out a terrified yell. Suddenly, Edward was yanked backwards by a freckle-faced boy, his reddish hair wild and his eyes blazing a bright green.
"Edward!" The boy yelled. "Edward, stop!"
Edward shoved the newcomer away and headed towards his cousin once again, only to be knocked across the room. He scrambled to his feet and snarled at the boy, who growled— roared?—at him, moving between Richard and the vampire. He had become decidedly more wolf like in appearance, canines becoming sharper and longer, nails lengthening into claws. "Richard! Go!" The boy yelled.
"Get out of my way, Kier;" Edward hissed.
"Richard, I said go!" Kier yelled again.
Richard just stared, frozen in place. Kier turned and shoved him into the hall, just as Edward slammed into him. He yanked the werewolf backwards and his fangs sank into his neck. Kier screamed and he struggled in Edward's grip; he dug his claws into the vampire's arms and Edward released him with a cry of pain. Kier moved quickly while Edward was distracted, knocking him to the ground and catching him in a chokehold. Edward yelled angrily, teeth snapping as he fought Kier's hold.
"Edward, stop! Stop it!" Kier snarled. "Fight it! You're stronger than this!"
"But I'm so hungry!" Edward screamed, gnashing his teeth.
"Drinking your cousin won't help!" Kier's hold on the vampire tightened as Edward writhed.
After a few more moments of struggling, Edward went still and his eyes returned to normal, his fangs retracting.
