Erasure and Affirmation (Hypernaturals 11)

Well Loved

Wyatt was re-applying suntan lotion to Ginger as I walked by their towels. Towels basically how one lays out possession of a bit of the Cove.

I paused. "Hey, guys. Are you doing OK? I know this nudity thing is kinda Vampire-y."

"Are you looking at my body, Adrian?" Ginger asked as Wyatt worked over her anterior surfaces.

"Yes, but that is not why I asked that. Young Sirens, such as at 'The Firehouse' will have sex in front of an audience like it is a sport. I am not sure how older Sirens work, and I am doubly not sure how older Sirens who are becoming younger Vampires work. I just hope you are comfortable with all the skin, and the surreptitious glances." I explained.

"You are looking right at me. Nothing remotely surreptitious about it." Ginger teased.

"The fact you are teasing me about it means you are feeling better. Also, I am making sure that Wyatt does it right and does not miss any spots because you are a redhead, and Vampire redheads get a sunburn. Also blondes. Ask Helen."

"I am fine. I feel better all the time. Physically. Your meetings are helping me with the other parts. I thank you for taking the time." Ginger said.

"Ginger: We have to stick together on that. One survivor to another. Having faced my rapist recently, I need those meetings too." I said.

"What are you going to do with that ... Person...?" Ginger asked.

"No idea. Right now she is getting three square meals a day in prison. That means Crew has to watch her all the damn time. I can't ask them to do that forever, but I can't bring myself to kill her either. She is an addict. So: She sits."

"You could give her to my jailers." Ginger said bitterly.

Now is as good a time as any to tell her what happened, I suppose. We did not because they had their own things to deal with.

"No. I can't do that either. Sandy needs to be watched by people who actually still exist." I explained.

"Meaning... My jailers do not exist?" Ginger asked, confused. She remembers them.

"Not anymore." I said.

"Oh. I see." Ginger caught on. "I did not know that. Thank you."

"Thank Denise. She offed them. Eye to eye. You were there when Victoria condemned them. Denise agreed with the sentence and did the deed. I guess you have not talked to Amber since then, which is understandable. Not as if you all are close. She was there. She did not deal with it well. I utterly understand. Executions are not a happy fun time for anyone. Denise did it and agreed with it, but I think there will be ramifications for her. Vera made her promise to feel no guilt over it." I said.

"I will thank Denise and I will tell her the same thing our lovely Vera did. Thank you too. For everything. For my new life. My new body. My ability to see and walk again. New hope even." Ginger said.

"Well, that was not me either. That is the Siren's lab plus my mom and Jessica. Except the hope part. That is things like this wedding: You laying here naked among friends. Feeling the connections." I said. I looked around the cove. "Here is how we all should be. Astral, Sirens, Vampires, and humans. Joined in love and hope."

"You are a very wise young man." Wyatt said.

"I am well-loved. See my family for how that happened."