In Our Image: The Hollow

Chapter Sixteen: Madison

Two months later:

Another night at The Hollow and I'm just sitting here behind the bar watching the door. Part of me wishes Jude would walk in again and part of me hopes he stays away keeping us a secret. It has been great seeing him so much though the sneaking is bound to catch up with us sooner or later. I sneak out when I can; we meet at the waterfall or other neutral grounds. Sometimes we meet at the malls, others at The Sycamore.

I'm almost positive Lady Clair knows about us but turns a blind eye. The fact that she allowed Trevor among her ranks shows a kind of open mindedness even Father is lacking.

Trevor is really special; the three of us seem to get along better than any of the Quintons. Trevor said that he never belonged to a clan, that his were killed off by Blythe and the Quintons long ago and that Lady Clair took pity on him and took him in. He definitely doesn't seem like a monster, in truth he doesn't have to be. The wolves can live off of human food or flesh though almost all prefer... well you know.

It is getting a little emotionally draining living a lie, pretending to hate the Tibalts and then whenever I get the chance there I am right with Jude.

"Hey bar troll, you have company... and please get it out of view of the customers, it's bringing down the value of the place would you?" Chloe says with Bailey looking on from behind her.

Can we trade Chloe for Jude please?

I look around and see a girl standing in the dark, she is halfway in the hallways leading to the restrooms.

Shit, again?

I nod at Mishka who already knows; I walk from behind the bar and make my way towards the girl. A group of men pass by her on the way back from the restrooms; they give her a disgusted look and go out of their ways to move around her.

"What are you doing here, I just saw you..." I ask the strung out looking woman.

She collapses into me throwing her arms over me, "Please... I need it again; just one more and I swear I'll be good for a few days."

I pry her off of me and nudge her backwards a bit, "Do you want to die? If I keep this up there won't be anything left of you!" I whisper loudly at her.

She begins to cry; she opens her blouse and pulls her hair to the side revealing her neck to me.

"I'm ok, I... I'm ok I swear. Please just a little, I need it, I can't... please just once I swear I'll be ok." She pleads as she sways back and forth presenting her neck to me.

There are bite marks all across her neck, even some on her breast and a few on her arms.

Oh my God... I did this, I fucking did this. I made this, this poor, sad and wretched thing... God help me, I did this.

"Please... I'll do anything, please just one more for the week even, I need it so I can see my kids."

What... WHAT!

My heart, my black fucking monster heart is breaking, she is a mom? I guess it never occurred to me that a tag can be anyone.

"Please, fuck I will do anything please let me get to my babies." She pleads as she shoves herself into me throwing her neck at my mouth.

She reaches up and puts her hand on my cheek; she can tell I am upset.

"Hey... it's ok... it's ok." She repeats softly but shakily as she slowly pulls my head into her exposed neck.

I fill tears forming in my eyes and the tearing of my gums as the tools of a monster spring forth. I kiss her on the neck softly as she begins to breathe heavily and then, I sink them into her already damaged flesh. I feel her moan and become heavier in my arms as I suck more of her life away. She is in heaven, in the middle of The Hollow filled with people and music blaring in all directions this woman is in the happiest place on earth as I pump venom into her.

I pull away and she falls backward on the wall then slides down on her rear. Moaning and smiling as if mid orgasm, I bend down to her and wrap my arms around her. She doesn't care; she would have me again if I let her.

"Go home... If I see you again before this week I will kill you." I whisper in her ear before I stand up and return to the bar.

You forget why they call us cursed ones sometimes... moments like these are stark reminders.

Mishka walks up to me after she hands a man across the bar a beer.

"Hey baby girl, you ok?"

I nod my head up and down and then I slowly bend down and sit behind the bar out of view of customers. Mishka can see that I have been crying.

"Madi..." She says as she drops down with me.

"Madi what is it?"

I shake my head and wipe my face, "I just... fuck Mishka... I don't know if this is me, I mean I can't do what you all do. Father said some of us never adapt... that some of us..."

Mishka cuts me off, "Madison you were young when Father took you and you didn't really even live. You were thrown into this so fast, I don't blame you for not thinking like us but baby... they are food. It helps if you pick tags that well... are kind of shit humans to begin with, makes it a kind of justice. I mean it's what I do. Hell half my tags are abusers, woman beaters, murderers... just the real bottom of the barrel shit humans.

In the end though Madi, this is life now... not much we can do about it, almost none of us choose to be this way, we just... what else can we do?" She finishes by kissing me on the forehead and returning to the bar where a guy is banging on the top for service.

She's right, what are my options... not eat or just, take myself out?

My phone vibrates; I pull it out and unlock it to see the message I have.

Hey Madi, It's Trevor. Something happened, Jude, he needs to see you about some super important shit after your shift... you need to come alone though.

Ok now I'm really going to lose my shit.

Trevor, wtf... what is going on is he ok?

The dot's that show a message is being typed annoys me now.

Just come Okay?

"Madi baby, a little help up here please." Mishka calls from the other end of the bar.

Damn him, Jude you better be ok.