House of Blood

Chapter Seventeen.

I almost rolled over onto Chia. She scratched me. I checked the clock, four in the morning. I shoo Chia off the bed and try to fall back asleep. 

I don't know when I fell back asleep, but I woke to Paul tapping my shoulder. "Breakfast is ready, if you're going up." He told me. "Mmhmm.. Thanks hon.." I said, sleepily, and sat up. He left and I showered and dressed without anyone else bothering me. Michael handed me a plate with a pancake or two on it, then went back to the kitchen. I sat down. Vince looked over at me, then turned back to his conversation with Hannibal. I look around the table. Chucky thought it was a good idea to sit next to me. Freddy was on my other side. "Back off Frederick.." I growled when he placed his hand on my leg. My eye felt better, but when I had looked in the mirror, it was still angry and red. Occasionally I caught someone staring at me. Brahms and Norman were out in the garden. They saw me watching and beckoned me out. I shrugged and joined them. "What's up?" I ask. Norman held up a bunny. It was alive. "It's hurt, look.." He said. I checked the bunny over gently, and found a long scratch. "...Okay.  Bring soap, warm water, and a pair of tweezers.." I said. Norman went inside, Brahms looked at the small bunny in my hands. "Can you grab a string or something?" I ask. He nodded and went to the shed, coming back with a ball of twine. I instructed him through a slipknot and had him slip it over the bunny's head. Norman came outside with a bowl and some soap. He put the items down and I gently put the bunny in the water. I started poking through its fur for ticks. I found one or two around it's neck but not anywhere else. I killed the ticks and went back to bathing the small animal carefully. 

I wrapped it in a towel and let Norman carry it inside while Brahms washed the bowl and tweezers in the kitchen sink. Hannibal saw him holding the small animal and looked over at me. I glare to tell him not to hurt the bunny, which I named Chamomile. Chamomile nibbled a shredded piece of lettuce I had given him.  Hannibal sighed and walked off.  I sent pictures to my friend, Alex, who replied 'Again? Really?', and went offline. I rolled my eyes and went back to bandaging Chamomile's side and released him back into the garden. He ran away back into the bushes.

 I planned to have someone take me back into town for my stuff, and went to go ask people. The Lost Boys were ruled out because of sunlight being an issue, and Vincent didn't wanna go because he would have to take off his mask. I asked Michael, Hannibal, and Bo and none of them agreed. I refused to ask Freddy, even though he could shift into someone else, and Charles would be the last person I ask. Billy and Stu were discussing something when I went up to their rooms. Norman and Brahms were going to the store, so I was forced to go back up and make Billy and Stu pay attention to me. They told me no. I went downstairs again, and Charles pinned me to the wall as I was coming down the stairs. "Hannibal told me you need someone to take you back to your place.. I'll go..?" He said. 

I try to push him off and he fell down the stairs. "FUCK!" He yelled from the bottom. "I THOUGHT I WAS FUCKING DONE FALLING OFF THE STAIRS! BITCH!" He scrabbled to his feet and growled at me. I was trying not to laugh, tried to pass a snort as a sneeze and left the house, carrying an empty bag for my stuff. Vince tapped on my window. I let him into the car. "Hey. What's up?" I ask. He showed me a piece of paper. 'I decided I would go with you.' It read. I smiled as he gently removed his mask and put it carefully in the backseat. I kissed his cheek and he immediately reached up to touch it.  He looked over at me and smiled faintly. I start the car and left the forest to find my place. I turned on the GPS and got to my place in about an hour. Alex was at my place. "Hey. Where ya been?" He asked. "With Vincent." I said. He looked over at Vince, who waved. "Him?" He asked, looking back to me. " I nod. "Hey, I'm Alex." Alex said, holding out his hand. "He doesn't like talking.." I told Alex. "Oh, okay." He replied, nodding. "Should we go inside? It's cold out here." He asked. "Sure, why not?" I said, leading Vince inside. He looked around to the raven that had let himself in and was now sitting on his post. "He asked what the raven is." Alex said, reading Vincent's sign language. "Oh. That's uhh, Soul, I think." The raven cawed and held out his leg. On his leg was a light blue band. "Yeah, that's Soul. The other one with the orange band is Pumpkin. She's probably not here right now.." I held out an arm for Soul. He came right over to land on my arm and watch Vincent. "I've been trading with them. Soul gave me one of your bracelets for a key ring. Here's that back, I don't need the key ring. I'll leave you two to.. do stuff.." Alex said, handing me my bracelet and leaving. I pet Soul's feathers and let him outside. He flew up to a tree. I left Vince in the kitchen and went to my room to get my clothes, as a lot of my stuff was still here.