Bloodlust

Temporary Home

— VENICE —

After several long hours and one stop in New York to refuel, our plane touched down in Utah. I had a stomach ache from the pasta fed to us for dinner and Macay was exhausted.

Between my naps, he was always awake. He probably hadn't slept a wink on the flight. I'd noticed he worked on his laptop the whole time.

Just thinking about work and the real world gave me a migraine. I felt nervous, as though we were returning to a universe I hadn't been a part of for years.

Once we deplaned, we had to walk through the airport to go through customs. My heartbeat throbbed in my chest.

What if my forged passport didn't work? I would finally shrivel and die if I went to jail.

Macay held my hand in his the whole time while lugging his suitcase with the other. We waited in line with other arrivals until we passed through customs.

I took a huge sigh of relief once we entered the outer part of the airport where the restaurants and stores were.

"Nervous, huh?" Macay chuckled.

"A little," I admitted, wearing a sheepish smile.

My smile brightened at seeing the green glow of a familiar mermaid graphic. I tugged shyly on his sleeve until Macay looked down at me.

"Should we get you some coffee?" I asked.

He shook his head and released his fingers from mine. I felt a flicker of disappointment, only because I was in an unfamiliar place with no idea of where we were headed. It was going to be hard for me to feel safe in public for a while.

But then his arm circled my waist and pulled me toward the airport exit.

"I'll be alright once we get out of here," he told me. "I'm not driving. My sister is picking us up,"

His sister!

I felt myself go pale. I hadn't considered meeting his family. What would we tell them?

We stood outside at the curb. A chilling wind whipped through the covered area and raised goosebumps across my arms and legs.

"What's her name?" I asked.

"Brita." He flashed me a tired smile. "She's a little rough around the edges, but she grows on you."

I returned his smile before looking back at the cars driving by. I was too physically and emotionally exhausted to feel nervous about meeting her. While I hoped we'd get along well and that I'd like her, this was only a temporary situation. I wouldn't have to put up with any of the pack forever.

A black Chevy truck parked directly in front of us and Macay stepped off the curb. I followed suit as he tossed his luggage into the trunk.

He opened the backseat door and gestured for me to climb in. My chest felt tight but I nodded. He shut my door and climbed into the passenger seat.

Meanwhile, my gaze ticked to the figure in the passenger seat. She had straight dark hair that brushed her jawline. I returned her cold gaze in the rearview.

"Hi," I greeted with a smile. "I'm Venice."

She looked away.

"Brita," said Macay, giving me a look. "Like I said earlier."

I chuckled once at that. "It's nice to meet you, Brita."

Her face was tan and hard from the sun. Judging by the firm set of her lips, she didn't smile often. I didn't take her reaction to me personally, assuming things would improve over time.