Not So Wicked

Chapter 2

"You know, I'm starting to think it must be some kind of sick and twisted morning ritual that you have planned out for me every flippin' morning, Elvie!" Came Drake's incessant shrills at the side of my poor, unfortunate head. "Why is it so hard for you to simply throw away your bags when you're done? It's simple, really, it is. Once the thing is empty, just pick up the bag, open the lid on the waste basket and toss the bloody thing in it!"

"If you already know that nine times out of nine I'll leave a bag, or two, laying around in the kitchen, why don't you just stay out of it, or wear a blindfold when you do go in?" he just stared at me as though I had made the most idiotic comment in the world.

We were on our way to school in the Blood Mobile, our whole neighborhood just loves clichés, not just Mom and Dad. According to them they named it that to play on how the human world views us; better to laugh than cry and all that jazz, I say it's a bunch of old farts with a terrible sense of humor. The bus looked like a complete replica of a human school bus, but instead of being yellow it was all black, with unnecessarily tinted windows. The sun here wasn't the same as the one in the human realm, it was made so that it wouldn't harm vampires. Every class had its own bus; freshmen, sophomores, etc., elementary and junior high used the same system too. It wasn't exactly out of necessity, everyone here could either flash, run or even walk faster than the bus. They say we were being forced to ride what most of us refer to as the death trap as part of our just in case training, forcing us to always know how to fit in with human society should that need ever arise. I call it nothing more than a complete and utter waste of time.

I mean, really, I can understand us learning algebra, arithmetic, chemistry (especially for the alchemists and the wizards), even the home economics (what better way to help witches learn skills to prepare potions and spells?). But taking the friggin bus? What did that have to do with anything? From what I've heard, most of the human kids don't even take a bus to school.

We were the first stop on the bus route, which is why I was being forced to endure Drake's tantrum. He'd get up once we made it to his best friend, Kyle's stop. Kyle was an alchemist that was constantly trying to find a way to transform the look of blood for Drake to be able to consume it without the fear of accidentally seeing it and inevitably passing out in the process. So far, he hadn't had any luck with the process. Oh, Kyle was able to disguise it's look, but while doing so the blood lost its consistency and necessary components. Then Drake would not only lose his lunch, but end up looking like that Linda Blair chick on steroids. It was never a pretty sight.

Kyle and Drake were thick as thieves, I don't think there's anything they wouldn't do for each other. And the two of them together were a couple of goofball, forever playing pranks on some not too innocent, unexpecting soul. Kyle wasn't drop dead gorgeous or anything, but he was easy on the eyes. Smooth, chocolate brown skin, large, light brown eyes that seemed to see everything and then some framed by thick black lashes most of the females were completely jealous of, topped with thick, full lips they gave the most infectious smile. He wasn't as tall as Drake's five eleven dangly frame, but damn near.

I must have dozed off listening to Drake drone on and on about how I had wronged him this morning, and how oh so inconsiderate I supposedly was. Which shouldn't have surprised me considering I had been faking like I was in a desperate attempt to get him to shut-up. Though he didn't stop until I actually did fall asleep, his voice acted as some type of really messed up lullaby.

The respite received from dreaming of having real life fangs and sinking into the nice, juicy, tender flesh of a human donor was short lived by someone tugging at my hair. Make that three identical someone's to be exact. I sat there and wondered if I stayed really quiet would they just leave me alone so I could get back to my gourmet, salivating worthy dream. I should have known better. "Elvie, give it up. We know you're woke since the snoring's stopped."