Worlds Apart

Sixteen

We turned to each other, and her eyes were practically asking me who it was, which I didn't know. She crossed the room and peeked through the window that offered a view of the porch. Rylie sighed from either relief or stress as she unlocked the front door. It swung open, and in the doorway stood Victoria. Her long black hair was neatly pulled into a ponytail, and she wore skimpy pajamas that had to be impossible to be comfortable in. Behind her was a sparkly blue suitcase and a sun hat that sat on the handle. Rylie stepped away from the frame, giving her room to enter with her luggage.
"I didn't expect you to come over," Rylie said, shutting the door once she was inside. "You didn't text me."
Victoria tossed her ponytail from her shoulder, pulling Rylie into an embrace that looked one-sided. "Do I need permission to?"
The obvious answer was yes, but Rylie was too nice to get bold with her.
"No, but I'd at least like a heads-up." Rylie chuckled nervously.
Victoria surveyed the room, landing her lapis-colored eyes on me.
"I figured I'd stay the night since we're all leaving in the same car. Does that bother anyone?"
Her question was targeted at me, but I wasn't going to fuel her poisonous hatred for me. As much as I'd love to return vile remarks, Rylie expressed her desire for us to get along. Most likely for her sake. I could play the innocent victim if it meant killing Victoria with kindness.
"Of course not," I smiled, "it gives us more time to get to know each other."
It seems I struck a nerve in her with my gentle tone. She said all but nothing as her snake-like eyes tried to detect deceit in my words. I turned back to the fruit bowl, feeling her eyes pierce the back of my skull. Vampires were far stronger than humans. Our bone density was twice theirs, as were speed and agility. Being afraid of someone so meek was laughable. I knew she was too weak mentally to try anything with my back turned in fear of Rylie's image of her. Rylie picked up her suitcase, "We haven't packed yet, but we'll probably just set all the bags near the door so we can leave fast."
Victoria nodded. "I can help. I always pick the best outfits for you."
I picked the fruit bowl up from the counter and placed it back inside the fridge, shutting the door hard to remind Rylie I was there too. And it worked. She turned to me as she placed Victoria's suitcase by the door.
"Let's go pack, Blondie."
Victoria crossed her arms as we passed her. "You never gave me a nickname."
I could compare her attitude to that of a toddler in the way she whined to gain sympathy from whoever was nearest. Unfortunately, Rylie was blind to her tricks.
"You never asked for one. I suppose we could call you Tori if you like."
Victoria pondered this idea, biting her lip as if it were a life-or-death decision.
"That works. Too bad your name is already short, or we could have cute nicknames for each other."
Rylie let me walk in front of her as we climbed the stairs. "Nicknames don't have to be shortened versions of a name. Anastasia's should be something like Ana if that were the case. Her hair is just light."
"Yes," Victoria said, "almost white. How strange is that?"
I didn't have to bite back as Rylie rushed to my defense. "She's albino."
This intrigued Victoria. As we entered Rylie's room, she bent down to meet my eyes and said, "Albino, huh? Don't they have rapid eye movements? Hers are very still."
I turned away to view my things, not giving her the satisfaction of catching me in a lie. Rylie was easy to convince because she wanted to be. Victoria couldn't be convinced if the papers were read to her by a licensed professional. I knew exactly how this vacation was going to be, but I would beat Victoria at her own game. Rylie shrugged at her remark, "It's not like we're doctors. Everyone is different; maybe she got lucky and the condition only affects her appearance."
That seemed to throw Victoria off my trail for the time being. I gathered all my newly purchased clothes and set them on top of Rylie's bed as she opened her drawers and did the same.
"You're taking that?" Victoria picked up ripped jeans from Rylie's pile.
"Well, yes. It's pants."
She clicked her tongue. "We're going to the beach! You have to flaunt your stuff. Y'know, attract some older men who might be willing to pay for us."
Rylie laughed, "Old men aren't my thing. Neither is flaunting my stuff. I think you'll bring them in just fine on your own.
Victoria rolled her eyes. "It'll be hot as hell in these. Don't come crying to me when you want to borrow some shorts."
Why couldn't Rylie see her the way I did? Victoria didn't see Rylie as her own person, but rather as someone to control and own. Even with the unfortunate time wasted in her presence, I could see through her bittersweet words and forced gestures of kindness. The only stump I came across was her intentions toward Rylie. I had already established a one-sided romantic relationship between them, but I didn't know Rylie's feelings for such relation. Considering her obliviousness to Victoria's manipulative nature, it wasn't hard to assume she even had a thought in her mind of what Victoria truly felt. I waited for Rylie to start shoving her folded clothes into a brown suitcase she pulled from under the bed. She placed mine inside it with more care than her own, giving me an encouraging smile that told me it was going to be okay.
Victoria made a loud yawn and sprawled out on the bed, clearly showing where she'd be sleeping tonight. Rylie zipped up the suitcase and rolled it by the door, giving Victoria more room on the bed to spread her long legs into each corner.
"It's not time for bed yet, Tori." Rylie playfully pulled the blankets from beneath Victoria, making her flip onto her back.
"Just about. I need my beauty sleep." She closed her eyes.
Rylie pulled the blanket over her, letting her stay on the bed. I put my hands together awkwardly, "I guess I'll be in the guest room."
I know that isn't what Rylie wanted from the look in her eyes, but we both knew better than to argue with the sleeping beast. She guided me to the other room, which I realized I hadn't even been in until now. It was about what was expected of a guest bedroom. Unlike Rylie's, the walls were bare, and the bed was a plain beige color. It looked to be the size of a twin, clearly too small for two people. A small black nightstand sat beside the bed with a lamp on top. A small dresser was placed on the wall facing the bed, similar to how Rylie's room was set up. The only difference was the absence of a television and personality.
"You can sleep in here. I'll probably take the couch since Victoria has claimed the bed." She chuckled.
"Why do you let her treat you that way?" The words fell from my mouth.
Rylie's eyebrows drew together. "Like what?"
I shrugged. "Like she owns you. Or like, you have to do everything she says just because you don't want to argue."
I said the wrong thing. I watched Rylie's soft face grow sharp and shadowed by the lamp's light. "I don't know what you're talking about. Victoria is my friend."
I felt my mouth move without my saying, "Friends don't force themselves into your space. Or throw tantrums when you disagree on the smallest things."
"Anastasia, stop. I know getting to know someone is hard, but you barely know her. She's been there for me more times than I could count; she's a good friend."
I wanted to tell her Victoria didn't see her the same. She didn't just want to stay a 'good friend'. I watched Rylie wait for me to say more and to dare question her judgment. I knew I said enough, and I knew I was already too late. Victoria had wiggled her way into Rylie's life and dug her claws into her neck to secure her captivity. Rylie was too wrapped around her finger to notice this "friendship" was doing more harm than good.
"I'm sorry." I faltered.
It seemed to do little to calm Rylie's brewing anger. She was far too stubborn to be told what was good for her. She had to experience it for herself, which is what I'd let her do.
"I like having you here, but if this is how it's going to be the whole week, then don't bother."
I let her leave me alone in the room, making it the first night I'd slept alone since I escaped. I got too attached to people I'd never see again. To a life I'd never see again. I felt the warmth drain from my body as I stood in the middle of the room. My fingers dug into my arms as I tried harder to hug my chest and feel the embrace my heart needed. The air was suffocating, and maybe I'd let it. I couldn't stay here. Not when my heart was beating out of my chest and the air was taunting me. I waited on the bed for the door to open. For a knock on the wood. But nothing ever came. It felt like hours before I opened the door myself, feeling my legs ache from the stillness I had sat in for so long. I peeked outside and saw only darkness coming from downstairs, hoping that Rylie was asleep by now. I crept down the steps to confirm my suspicions, and there she was, curled up on the couch with a blanket far too small for her. I almost felt bad if my mind hadn't pushed the wet memory of her anger toward me to my front. I tip-toed to the front door and fiddled with the lock until it clicked. The locks here were different from the ones in the castle; they were far quieter, fortunately. I slipped into the hot summer air and gently shut the door behind me. I breathed in all my lungs could hold, letting the smell of gasoline and cut grass linger in my nose. I needed to leave, even if it was for a few hours. There was no way I could operate Rylie's vehicle, nor would I know where to go either. So I started my trek along the sidewalk. I stayed under the streetlights to avoid the creepy darkness that followed me. It was relatively peaceful, except for the few loud cars that sped by. The sidewalks were littered with trash and gum that had been spat out. I realized then that I'd been a fool because I'd left with only socks on my feet. I wouldn't need protection like Rylie thought I did; I could take care of myself. The swift breeze tore strands of hair from my once tight braid, slipping through my clothes, until I was forced to hug my body for warmth. I continued my walk until a bright sign was ahead of me. I picked up my pace, avoiding the rolling wrappers and discarded plastic cups. As I neared the lights, I recognized the shop as the place where Rylie filled her vehicle with fuel. I'd forgotten the name, but there were other cars with people waiting outside of them. I observed from my place on the sidewalk that it looked to be two men and a woman. A spike of anxiety pushed my body back from taking another step. What are you doing? I couldn't answer that question. But I knew I needed to do something—anything—to distract myself. It had been years since I tasted human blood, and the aroma was intoxicating when I let my primal urges take over. I could control myself around Rylie because I chose to. I didn't know these people; they meant nothing to me. I knew the cost of feeding off humans, which is why we abstained from it almost completely. As they evolved, they started documenting every life that came into the world and left. They spent years investigating homicides, and even their technology made it practically impossible for someone to die with no explanation. Most vampire families stopped feeding on humans after disappearances or strange circumstances of death caused a commotion. Families like the Rambovas cared not for the consequences of our species being discovered, as they fed carelessly and discarded the bodies so they'd be found. It was like a game to them. Being able to watch the victim's family scramble to come up with explanations as to what happened. Almost always, the authorities ruled that deaths were caused by animals. I could be careless tonight, only tonight to take my mind off the hurt I felt in my chest. I could put that hurt on someone else. I watched the woman rearrange the trunk of her vehicle, dropping her phone and bending in an awkward way to pick it up. A man from inside the shop rushed out to her aid, holding her hand and walking her to the passenger side door. As she turned, her stomach expanded, giving me a full view of her pregnant belly. She was out of the question. I could take a life without remorse, but only one. I observed one of the men getting back into his car and beginning to drive from the station. This would be easy; I just couldn't be seen.