The Delacours: Part Deux

forty-five.

"Don't tell me you two just watched movies and slept all day," I heard Val, pulling me out of limbo.

"What? No. We went on a walk... we talked... I guess we were both tired out..."

"How are you feeling?" she asked as I walked over to the kitchen.

"I'm okay." I rubbed my arm subconsciously.

"What happened to your arm?" Val asked, noticing.

"What do you mean? Nothing."

"Liz... let me see your arm." She grabbed my arm and rolled my sleeve back, seeing the scar. "What is that? That wasn't there before." I groaned.

"Can we not talk about it right now? I will talk about it, I'd just rather wait for Zane and Chris and tell you all at once."

"They'll be home in twenty minutes. They just went to the store to pick up some groceries." I took a breath and walked over to wake Odie up. "Get ready kid... I think you and I are gonna be in big trouble." Odie covered his face in his hand and groaned. He got up, stretched and went to the kitchen where he tried to grab another snack, but Val scolded him. The twins came downstairs after changing out of their school clothes and hugged me. Luckily, Val didn't bring up what happened until after dinner and the twins were getting ready for bed. Odie took one step on the stairs and she called out to him.

"Odie, can you come back to the living room? We need to talk to you." He groaned and the two of us shared a look. He sat down on the couch with his hands under his legs as I crossed my arms. "So what did you two get into today that caused that?" Val asked, pointing to my arm.

"What are you talking about?" Chris and Zane asked. Hesitantly, I uncrossed my arms and rolled up my sleeve. "What the fuck is that?" they asked again simultaneously. I rolled my sleeve back down and began pacing across the living room unsure of how to start the conversation.

"Fuck it... this isn't gonna come out well in any version, so here it is. Odie and I decided to go for a walk for our day together. We ended up near the Wolf Den. The Shrutes were arguing with Dylan about some sensitive topics – Odie went to defend Ella and Bee."

"What do you mean 'defend'?" Val asked.

"They said some pretty nasty things about their kids."

"I threw battle magic at them," Odie said. "I know it was wrong. But they really, I'm sorry, they really pissed me off." I saw Val clench her teeth and Zane and Chris both tensed up on the couch.

"So you hurt your mother? Knowing she's pregnant?" Zane asked.

"What? No!"

"No, no, no. Zane, I didn't get hit with Odie's magic. I was trying to stop him, but he didn't hurt me!"

"So?"

"After all was said and done, Victoria... Victoria fucking bit me," I said, quietly. They all stared at me in silence.

"I'm sorry... I don't think I heard that correctly," Chris said. "I was on a phone call nearly all day and I think my hearing is a little rough right now. Can you repeat that?"

"...Victoria Shrute bit me." He nodded slowly.

"I'm gonna fucking kill that bitch. Dylan needs to get his wolves under control! This is unacceptable! Pregnant or not, a wolf biting a vampire is strictly prohibited!" Chris was halfway out the door with Zane following behind before I could stop them.