Dead Before Dawn: The Vampire Curse

Chapter 27 - Misunderstandings

Max woke up in his underwear. Someone had stripped him and left him on the floor of what his groggy brain informed him was a cell. There were things written all over the walls, but he couldn't read them. They made his skin feel tingly.

They also made him want to laugh.

It was the most bizarre thing. He knew he should have been worried, possibly terrified, but all he wanted to do was giggle about it. After all, someone had just seen his lucky Captain America undies that were on the verge of falling apart, which was embarrassing. He liked to wear them when he visited new places.

"Good you are awake."

It was Ms Oshiro again, only her voice seemed to be coming from everywhere. He sat up and looked around, but he couldn't see any speakers. Not that his check was very thorough, because the walls kept moving in and out of focus as he swayed where he sat.

"What are you and what have you done with the real Max Statton?"

The question made the laugh that had been threatening bubble out of him. He couldn't help it, he giggled.

"Am I high?" he asked and giggled again, because it came out all slurred.

Now that he thought about it, he could smell flowers again, only much stronger, with a musky scent underneath.

"Tell us what spells you are using and we may let you live."

It sounded like one of his movies and made him laugh even more.

"No spells," he said. "Wouldn't know a spell if it bit me."

"What is your name?"

"Max Statton."

"You are yokai, what is your name?"

"Max Statton."

It went quiet for a bit and Max blinked hard and tried to get the wall in front of him to come into focus. Then he looked down, caught sight of his underwear again and giggled some more.

"Why did you undress me?" he asked as curiosity wandered through his brain.

"To find the spell marks."

He was surprised when he got an answer and it made him smile.

"No spell marks," he said and almost fell over as he looked around again. "Well, 'cept this."

He patted the cross on his chest fondly. It had saved his life, after all.

"Hurt like a bitch," he added, simply because he felt the need to.

He traced the edge of it with his finger as he was left to his own devices for a few seconds. It really was a very pretty cross, Thomas had done a great job.

"What does the cross do?"

He looked up again and swayed as Ms Oshiro's voice came back. It was annoying not being able to tell where she was. He felt like he was talking to air.

"Where are you?" he asked.

"Outside," she replied. "Tell me what the cross does."

Max looked down again and poked at his own chest.

"Keeps me human," he said, feeling melancholy all of a sudden, "...ish."

"What are you?"

"No one really knows."

He couldn't help remembering what Yulia had told Anton.

"Never seen something like me before," he added, shaking his head and almost toppling himself over.