Poisoned Ivy

Chapter 26

Benji had decided to take us to the small lake down the road in an effort to get us out of the house. Guess that swimsuit was important after all. 

"Cole, where's the sunscreen?" Benji asks as he's rifling through his pack. 

I hear Cole rustle the blanket we're on as he lays down his book and responds, "Check the door in the truck."

I watch through polarized sunglasses as Benji starts walking down the gravel trail, heading towards the parking lot. Cole sighs and quickly returns his nose back to his novel.

I roll over onto my side, holding a big wad of my hair in my hand. "What are you reading?"

"Shakespeare." He mumbles.

"What's it about?" I press, I recall seeing a few books by Shakespeare in my house, but they were never opened.

"Romance." Cameron interrupts as he walks up to our blanket from the shore, kicking a bit of sand onto my bare feet as he playfully tosses a wet football in his hands. I look up at him, his platinum hair drenched, and therefore slightly darkened, by the lake water. I eye water droplets as they curve their way down his chest, as if painting his beautiful model figure to be cherished forever.

Cameron addresses his brother, "What did Shakespeare know about love? He was English, not French."

Cole sighs at the third interruption and puts his bookmark in the pages, closing the book. "He knew at lot more than you will ever claim to."

I can already tell this blanket is too hot for my sunbath. I roll my eyes as Cameron bickers with Cole over the romantic messaging in Shakespearean literature, and my gaze wanders out on the lake. Roman and Henry are wading in the water, though I find it strange they're not so rowdy, especially since we have the small beach to ourselves.

Cameron calls my attention back, "What do you say Ivy?"

I turn back to him, "I'm sorry, what?"

"Do you want to play Marco Polo?" Cameron prompts.

I turn to Cole and he explains, "It's like hide and seek, but the seeker keeps their eyes closed, and whenever they say 'Marco' the hiders say 'Polo', so the seeker tries to find and tag people based off hearing."

I lay back over on my stomach, "No thanks, maybe later."

Cameron nudges my foot with his toes and starts to pout, "C'mon Ivy, we got here hours ago and you haven't even touched the water."

"I'm tired." I yawn as I try to fall back asleep, but I'm startled awake when I feel my bikini strap smack my spine like a rubber band. I let out a yelp and all eyes on the beach dart my way as I sit up.

I give Cameron the death glare, but he's quick to point, "Don't look at me! Cole did it."

I eye Cole, who has reopened his book. He shrugs, but his eyes don't leave the cream pages, "It got us some silence for once."

I turn back at Cameron with my done face, warning him to stop pestering me. He admits his defeat and returns to Roman and Henry.

Before I can lay back down, I sense Benji's return, and he makes his way straight over to me. "You look a little pink Ivy, let me help you put some sunscreen on your back."

I pull my shirt on and tell him, "No thanks, I was about to head back to the house."

"Ok, well take someone with you. I don't like having you kids out there alone." Benji replies. "Cole, can you go with her?"

"No, Benji, please I'll be fine. It's just a short walk, I want to stretch my paws anyway."

"Ivy." Benji's tone lowers darkly, "You need at least another day before you can shift."

I raise my head up towards the sun in frustration, "I am fine. Just leave me alone." I start to move away from him, heading for the trail home. My blood itches underneath my skin, muscles taught, ready to go the minute they're not looking. 

Benji tastes my lie and grabs me harshly by the wrist, pulling me back. He snakes his other hand around my neck, pinching at my moon mark. I wince, falling to my knees with a pained cry. I gaze into his brown eyes as my vision blurs and fades to a panicked black.