Chomp

Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9:

Usually I would have made something like meatloaf as the main course on a Monday night. I liked to cook based on the first letter of the the weekdays. Weekends were free game and I was too lazy to spend my time making meals when I could eat out or order in. However, tonight wasn't any boring Monday night. I wasn't sure if Rayna Belvoir would like the pasticho venezolano I'd made, or the caratas negras with tajadas.

I was scrambling around the grocery store for a good hour and then around the kitchen as soon as I got home. Uncle Hector rose a brow when he saw the ingredients splayed about the counter, an amused spark in his dark eyes. My hands raked through my hair for the thousandth time, eyes darting at the clock every so often.  

With my father it was important to show my Venezuelan half through his cooking. My mother, as I said before, had never been much in the kitchen but I was able to pour my heart and soul into any dish. Unsurprisingly, it was one of my guilty pleasures and Theo constantly questioned why I wouldn't just become a professional culinary chef after high school.It was more of a secret passion and I hate being under pressure. I've seen Hell's Kitchen. 

"Hot date tonight?" I glowered at Uncle Hector who stood in the doorway with his thickly muscled arms folded over his chest. 

"Just the opposite actually," I grumbled, "I don't even know if she eats human food."

"Relax, sobrino," he chuckled lightly, giving me a rough pat to the shoulder, "No woman can resist a Vasquez. Not for long, anyhow." 

"Too bad Theo got all the charm. Maybe I can get out of this scrap by winning her affections with my cooking," I sighed reaching into the cabinets to retrieve the plates and bowls. 

Theo came home just in time to help set the table, and mom gave us all a questioning look. I had told her that Rayna Belvoir would be coming for dinner, but I guess she wasn't expecting me to go all out. On a normal night, we'd use plastic spoons and paper plates. 

"You should go and change or something," mom informed me pointing out the annoying food stain which had gotten onto my shirt. 

"I'll be right back." I took the stairs two at a time, worried the doorbell would ring at any moment. 

Slipping out of the soiled shirt, I pulled on a fresh plain T-shirt and washed my hands and face. My hands brushed over the skin that was healed, no scarring or lesions left behind. Everything was buzzing with anxiety, fear, and a sick feeling at the pit of my stomach. I heard the doorbell ring and Theo's suave voice drifted up the stairs to greet our guest. 

Rayna's eyes found mine instantly as I took my time down the steps. She was wearing an olive green dress that displayed smooth flawless legs down to her black ankle boots that gave her an extra three inches in height. Her hair was swooped into a high ponytail and she sent a red-lipped smile my way. I returned it half-heartedly before my mom cleared her throat. I hadn't realized I'd been staring. 

"Thank you for coming, Rayna," mom smiled too widely for my liking, "We're happy to have you for dinner."

"Thank you, Mrs. Vasquez."

"Oh, call me Tina," mom insisted ushering everyone into the dining room. 

Uncle Hector and Rayna Belvoir were introduced as I escaped into the kitchen to collect my thoughts and the food. Once a bit of everything was on everyone's plates, I watched as my family and Rayna dug in. A mellow flow of conversation began about school, work, and other random topics. I couldn't really concentrate on any of it, too busy watching Rayna's mouth work and wondering why I couldn't see her . . . fangs? 

"What's your secret?" I shook my head realizing that all eyes were on me. It was Rayna, or Ray as she had emphasized, who had directed a question at me. 

"I'm sorry, what was that?" my eyes narrowed on her. 

"I said 'This is really delicious. What's your secret?'" 

"There is none. I just cooked it," I answered through clenched teeth. 

What the hell did she want from me? 

I hardly tasted anything as I ate, my eyes trained on Ray the entire meal. Afterwards, my mom left for work and Uncle Hector decided, for some odd reason, that I was a smart and responsible guy that wouldn't try anything with Ray. He went to bed as soon as my mom was out of the driveway. Theo waggled his brows, saying that he'd see me in the morning. It was barely eight o'clock and Ray was making her way up the stairs and into my room. 

I closed the door behind us and turned towards her. She looked as irritable as she had when we were partnered up in English. This is the perfect opportunity, I thought grimly, she could kill me now and no one will have even seen it! My gut lurched at the thought but I refused to throw up a perfectly good meal. 

"I should have killed you that night at the park," she said finally meeting my gaze. Hers was like steel. 

"So why didn't you. Why take the trouble to carry me all the way home and place me in my bed?" I asked crossing my arms. Ray closed her eyes and let out a sigh.

"Someone was watching us, so I couldn't just kill you. It was too great a risk, just as pushing you down a flight of stairs would be," she gave a slight smirk, "That was quite the stunt you pulled today. Now everyone thinks I want to kill you for other reasons."

My brows furrowed in confusion. "What stunt? I didn't-"

"Kissing that girl in front of everyone? If I'd have done you off, I would have been suspect number one with a solid motive," she growled, "But now, there's a bigger problem come to town and we're both in danger."

I was finding all of it too much to process at once. My burst of spontaniety had actually kept me alive the rest of the day and I had crazy little Lizzie Miller to thank for that. Maybe I'd kiss her again as a reward tomorrow . . .

"You mentioned someone else wanting to kill me. Why?" 

Ray stood, walking around my room aimlessly. "I've made a few enemies over the years. Others who want to hurt me," she explained stopping to stare out of the window, "And what better way to do that than to target a familiar? My familiar."

"Familiar? Wait, this doesn't make any sense!" I replied shaking my head and running both hands through my curly black hair. Her words were giving me a headache and the churning sensation in my stomach hadn't disappeared. 

"Perhaps not to you, a human, but I don't live in the human world and neither do they. A familiar is a a companion spiritually connected to another being of supernatural sorts such as a witch and so on," Ray began, "Most known are animal spirits and others take the form of humans. They depend upon each other for survival. Kill one and you've killed the other."

I stalked slowly and quietly towards her, Uncle Hector's pocket knife in my hand. Her back was still turned towards me as I waited for the right moment to sink the blade into her. My heart beat loudly in my ears. It was time for this to end. 

"I'm your familiar then?" I asked carefully. 

"No," Ray said with a short bark of laughter, "Not even close. It's all the more reason you should be afraid."

My hand dropped and so did my courage.