Teeth

Chapter Twenty-Two

Thomas hadn't thought to ask why Paige hadn't come back to the house. He had been so shocked that August hadn't killed her like he'd said he would that he'd completely forgotten to ask why he was being given an address instead of being sent back into the basement.

The streetlamp flickered and threatened to give out as smoke billowed around the bulb. The girl was leaning against the fire escape door, staring blankly at the opposite wall as she smoked. She didn't seem to have a care in the world except returning to work when the cigarette was ended. He envied her.

Truth be told he would have been glad to be out of the house, even without the news of Paige's siring. When he'd woken in the late afternoon it was to find the house in an uproar. He'd considered staying in Spencer's room and waiting it out but the constant flurry of activity could be heard through the walls, the chatter carrying on the stuffy air. He was barely out of Spencer's bedroom door when he was accosted by William. The older man had grasped him by the shoulder and steered him to see August despite his protests.

In the bedroom August was the picture of calm. He smirked at the sight of Thomas and explained that Paige had been turned, that she was at her apartment with Spencer, and that they were expecting him once the sun set. Thomas simply stared at him, not sure whether he should thank the man or be angry that he'd been lied to. Instead, he stood until William broke the silence by biting him, teeth going straight through the seam of his t-shirt.

William had only taken a little. He claimed that he should be bonded to his brother and that having someone close would be good for him, new as he was. Arguing wasn't an option, not when the blood had already been taken. Not to mention that he remembered William's threats about breaking his fingers or killing him for disobeying him. Having a brother was better than having a man out for your blood. He'd not asked William if the biting would have to continue if they wanted to keep the bond. In his opinion, that wasn't something brothers did. Not to mention that the wound in his shoulder stung sharply, clouding his thoughts.

It was only as he'd left the house that he'd thought to question it. Spencer had been very clear in the rules they lived by. Sire bonds were dangerous and had to be destroyed. Were the same true of brothers? He hadn't even known brotherly bonds were possible for vampires.

Still, it wasn't important to think about that now.

His teeth sunk easily through the shop girl's neck. Her scream pierced his ears like high notes from a violin and the thrilling high at the sound was equal to the rush of pleasure from the taste of her blood on his tongue. The cigarette she'd been smoking fell to the concrete and rolled away. She scrambled at his arms. The pain of her nails in his skin made him draw from her all the harder.

A growl rumbled through his full throat and vibrated against her skin as he shoved her backwards. The back of her head hit the brick with a hard crack and the air, drenched in blood, continued to sing long after her scream had ended.

Breathing hard, Thomas pulled back and released her. She slumped to the ground and the acrid smell of burning hair wafted up into the air. He looked down, let out a low laugh and stepped on the end of the cigarette.

By the time he reached Paige's apartment, the stars were showing as pale freckles across the sky's dark cheeks, hidden under a blush of city glow. He climbed the stairs to her door and knocked, his foot tapping until he heard the latch click.

"Has anyone ever told you you'd be late for a funeral?" Paige said.

She beamed at him. Her skin looked paler than usual but it made her dark eyes stand out all the more. He could imagine the flush of blood in her cheeks and the thought of tasting blood on her lips was as intoxicating as the first scent of a kill he'd caught in the club with Spencer.