"You're just calling to break things off with him," Rakshasa said, looking himself in the mirror. "No. Shit, I can't." He put his phone down on the counter. "I should really tell him in person. He wouldn't understand."
"Who are you talking to?" Patma asked. Rakshasa's niece looked up at him curiously with large brown eyes.
"Just talking to myself, sweetie. Where's your dad?"
Patma smiled. "He's with Gran-gran." Patma struggled, but eventually successfully climbed on top of the counter, looking at Rakshasa expectantly. "Whatcha talkin bout?"
"It's nothing sweetie." Rakshasa pet her head. "Say, Patma. What do you think of Rahul? Have you met him yet?"
"Uncle Ra-wool?" She giggled. "He's silly. He thinks you're a girl."
Rakshasa smiled. "Yeah, yeah, I know, but has he been nice to you?"
She got quiet, shrugging her shoulders. "I don't know."
"You don't like him?" Rakshasa asked.
"He just isn't very fun." She huffed. "He doesn't like to play."
Rakshasa smiled. "I'm sorry. It's hard for adults to play make believe."
Patma swung her feet leaning back as she began to talk, "Rak. What's a lick-lican-thurop?"
"Lycanthrope?"
"Yeah!" Patma exclaimed. "Whazzat?"
"Well," Rakshasa paused. "Why don't you ask your daddy?"
"I tried to ask Datty." She huffed. "He said they were bad men. He swore so much."
"Your dad doesn't really like the Lycanthrope, but they aren't all bad. I know one that's very nice."
"Can I meet him?" She asked excitedly.
"Maybe."
Rakshasa helped her down. "What are you up to today?"
"Datty said I had to go to ballet lessons, but I don't wanna." She crossed her arms. "Can I hang out with you instead?"
"Now, Patma. You know I can't have your daddy mad at me. You love ballet, why don't you want to go?"
"Jenny is super mean to me. She laughs at my hair and calls me ugly."
"Oh, Patma. You know you are a very pretty girl. Don't let Jenny tell you any different."
Patma grumbled. "I told her that my Datty can become a tiger and eat her whole!"
"Patma!" Rakshasa scolded. "What have we told you about saying things like that?"
"Well it's true! You told me to tell the truth!" She said defiantly.
"Patma, you know better."
"She was being mean! No one believed me anyways." Patma frowned. "They all called me crazy."
"I'm sorry you're having such a hard time at ballet class, but I promise this will all blow over. Try to find something in common with Jenny. I'm sure you two just got off on the wrong foot."
Patma grumbled. "Easy for you to say."
"Patma, promise me you won't talk about tigers with your classmates."
"I promise." She sighed. She walked with him into the living room, looking around before she asked, "Rak, when will I grow into a tiger?"
Rakshasa touched his talisman as he placed his other hand on her head. His eyes emitted a blue flame as he concentrated on the beast that dwelled in her blood. He let out a breath, and the fire extinguished from his eyes. "Not for another six years at least."
Patma jerked away from him. "I wanna change now. And why do I have to be a tiger? Why can't I be a wolf?
"Don't let your dad hear you say that." Rakshasa chuckled. "And when you do change you will wish you had your youth back."
Patma got dressed in her ballet clothes and jumped into Rakshasa's car to get to the studio. As she fiddled with his radio she asked Rakshasa, "If you like lick-an-thropes, then they all can't be bad right? Do you think I could have one as my friend?"
"You may feel different about them in the future, Patma. Lycanthropes are different from us. They're dirty, aggressive and undignified. However, that isn't to say they aren't loyal, vigilant and dependable." Rakshasa shook his head. "But don't get ideas in your head that Lycanthropes will be anything more than civil with you. Your Dad hates Lycanthropes, and he's not without his reasons."
"Does that mean I have to hate them too?" She sulked.
"No, Patma. No one thinks you should hate them. It's just that—" The thought of introducing Colin to his family crossed his mind. "Dogs and cats don't usually get along." He pulled up in front of the studio, waving at the teacher who was waiting for all the children by the door. "Now run along and forget about all this nonsense. Be a kid, a normal kid."
Patma leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Thanks, Unkey Rak."
"No problem, sweetie. Have fun!" Rakshasa waved to her as she ran into the building. He was still mulling over his own words when he drove back onto the road.
Down to my last twenty dollars. If I don't get some cash soon, the hotel is going to kick me out. I only have two more nights paid for. Colin washed his face off, resting briefly against the porcelain bowl. He would have to come up with a plan. B&Es weren't too difficult, but he didn't have a car to stash any of the loot. He would have to case the neighborhoods and go for places that had smaller, more portable valuables. A quick purse snatch could get him anywhere between fifty dollars to three grand, depending on the purse and the contents inside. It had begun to be unreliable lately as most women had changed over to credit cards, rather than carrying cash. He didn't have the set up for a con job, and he didn't have the resources for a store robbery. Colin shook his head, breaking and entering would have to do. It was dangerous, but it was the best he could do in the time that he had.
A knock sounded on the door. It surprised Colin. It was the first time he had a guest at his room and with a quick sniff he could tell it was Rakshasa. He looked himself over in the mirror and sighed in disappointment with what he saw. He opened his door and smiled. Rakshasa looked like a prince to Colin with his noble demeanor. "You came over."
Rakshasa looked just as handsome as ever. His sunglasses glinted as he looked at Colin. His hands were in his pockets. He stood as if he were posing for a magazine. "Sorry I guess I should have called ahead. Can I come in?"
Colin moved out of the way, letting Rakshasa into his small hotel room. "Would you like some coffee or tea?" Colin switched off the TV as Rakshasa took a seat at the head of the bed.
"No. I didn't really come here for hospitality. I just wanted to see how you were."
Colin took a seat at the foot of the bed. "I'm just peachy. How did your night at the opera go?"
"It was terribly boring. I have grown to hate fat ladies singing." Rakshasa sighed.
Colin clutched the twenty dollars in his pocket and then he blurted out, "Well, if ya'd like something a wee more fun, we could always go to the cinema."
Rakshasa looked at Colin in surprise. "You want to go see a movie with me?"
"Why not? Or is the good doctor too sophisticated for a movie?" Colin teased. "My treat."
Rakshasa looked at Colin with a half-smile. "Now how could I say no to that?"
Colin smiled at Rakshasa. "Great. Let me jump in the shower." Colin got up and entered the small bathroom. He peeled off his shirt and folded it on the counter, turning to Rakshasa who was still sitting on the bed. "You can take anything you want from the mini fridge."
Colin turned back and started the shower; as he turned to close the door he heard the squeak of springs and saw Rakshasa saunter towards him. He'd removed his sunglasses, putting them on the sink counter as he approached Colin. Rakshasa took hold of Colin's red hair, the feel of the man's hand grasping his scalp gave Colin shivers as he was pulled closer towards Rakshasa.
Their lips met in a passionate kiss, Rakshasa pushing his way into Colin's mouth. The steam from the shower began to waft up the curtain and swirl around them as they threw off each other's clothes. Rakshasa's shirt was first, thrown onto the counter next Colin's carefully folded shirt. Colin's jeans soon unceremoniously dropped to the floor. Rakshasa kissed down his neck while Colin began to unbuckle his belt.
Rakshasa began pushing them towards the shower as his hand slipped inside Colin's boxer briefs, sliding them over Colin's butt and onto the floor. "You still need to get clean. Get in the shower."
Colin nodded and jumped into the shower, hissing as the hot water touched his skin. He tilted his head back, letting the water soak his hair. He rubbed the water out of his eyes when he heard Rakshasa enter the small shower.
Rakshasa wasn't especially toned, but he was muscular. His tan skin looked even darker in the dimly lit shower, which made his lighter toned nipples stand out against his pecs. Rakshasa was taller and wider than Colin, but Colin knew he was much stronger.
Under the constant barrage of water, Colin's pale body was littered with freckles, which scattered, star-like, against his thickly muscled body. Colin wasn't a body builder or a gym bunny, but he did enjoy a good work out in case his criminal life style ever took a turn for the worse.
Rakshasa's hand caressed Colin's chest as it slowly crept down to his belly. He twirled the soft tuft of red hair at his belly button, as though he enjoyed the sight of another cluster of freckles on Colin's belly and groin. Rakshasa seemed to enjoy his freckles. When he brushed his hands over Colin's spotted skin, Rakshasa's eyes lit up. Rakshasa looked into Colin's eyes as he took hold of his penis, his hand expertly getting Colin hard.
Colin groaned. He began kissing his way down Rakshasa's neck, leaving a small hickey on the base of the shoulder. Rakshasa grabbed a small bottle of lotion next to the assortment of soap, shampoo and conditioner, and rubbed it on his cock. He turned Colin around and rubbed his penis against Colin's entrance.
Colin looked back, shocked. "Wait … you're—"
Rakshasa pushed in, enjoying the incredible tightness of Colin's ass. Colin growled softly, but began pushing back until Rakshasa was fully inside. The feeling wasn't completely alien to Colin, he had been paid to do it few times before, but that was different. He really wanted Rakshasa inside him, and a great part of him wanted to feel what it was like inside Rakshasa. Colin looked back at him, enjoying the sight of his face twisted in ecstasy.
"You're really tight," Rakshasa huffed out, slowly moving his hips. Colin shivered when Rakshasa pulled out, slowly inching away before thrusting back inside. Colin's hands were the only things holding him up in the shower as the water cascaded down their bodies, but as Rakshasa continued thrusting into Colin, his arms weakened, until they could no longer hold him up and his cheek was pressed up against the tiles.
Rakshasa reached around to Colin's waist, jerking him off in time with his thrusts. "Oh, you feel so good." Rakshasa continued to push deeper and deeper inside, his hand focusing on the head of Colin's penis as they continued.
Colin let out a muffled cry when he came in Rakshasa's hand; as he did so his ass clenched, causing Rakshasa to come as well. Colin panted against the shower wall, his whole body shivering from the experience.
Colin shuttered and slumped against the wall as Rakshasa pulled out of him. Colin finally opened his eyes again after having them shut since he came and looked at Rakshasa. The man was looking him up and down, drinking in his visage.
Colin turned to get a better look at Rakshasa, his cheeks pink and his lips red from biting them. "Did you enjoy yourself?"
Rakshasa enveloped Colin in a hug as he sighed. "Yes, I did. Thank you."
Colin bristled at first, but relaxed into Rakshasa's hug. They took turns under the faucet and sharing the bar of soap. Colin washed his hair as Rakshasa left the shower and began toweling off. Once his hair had been sufficiently rinsed, Colin turned off the shower and pulled back the curtain. Rakshasa was pulling up his underwear and pants in one fell swoop. He smiled at Colin as he zipped them up. "Ready to go see that movie?"
Colin grinned. "Isn't this a little backwards? I thought I was supposed to get the movie and then we would come back to my place."
Rakshasa grabbed his shirt off the counter and pulled it over his head. "Who's to say we still can't? I wouldn't mind …" he trailed off and waited till Colin looked at him, "a repeat."
Colin began putting on his own clothes, but his actions weren't quite as elegant. "Well—" He hopped on one foot trying to pull on his jeans. "I would not be—eh—adverse to—come on—getting reacquainted." He smiled when he was finally able to pull his pants up and button them.
Rakshasa kissed him, his mouth firmly on Colin's. "Has anyone ever told you, you have the most adorable accent?"
Colin's cheeks once again grew pink. "Well—no, not very often."
Rakshasa passed Colin his shirt. "Here. As for the movie, I'll drive, but I have no idea what's playing."
Colin grinned. "Isn't that part of the fun?"
"God Dammit, Logan!" Kyle kicked his coffee table, feeling slightly better having thrown a tantrum. He turned into the sofa, lying against the arm. He had been sitting there for the past four hours, crying, yelling, and contemplating what to do. His mind was dead set on forgetting all about Logan and his stupid dog, too, but his heart felt entirely different.
He turned on the TV for what felt like the sixth time, scanning through channels to find something mindless to watch. He found X-men playing on one of the channels. He rolled his eyes as Magneto lifted Wolverine up in the air. "Fuck you too, TV." Kyle sneered, flipping the channel over to Bravo. He laughed seeing 'The Real Housewives' was going to be on all day. If mind numbing was what he wanted, then that would surely do the trick.
He lay his head back against the cushion; the women's chattering was surprisingly peaceful. Mala. Mala was an urban legend, she was a ghost, and she was supposed to be just a story. Kyle's parents had even told him the story before they died.
There was a place in Oklahoma called Elmridge that was home to one of the strongest Lycanthropes ever known. Mohegan was his name, a man who had shifted into a seven foot tall beast when he was only ten years old. Kyle's father had told him that he had met Mohegan, once. His mother had remarked about how huge his muscles had been and that he may have been handsome, had it not been for his scars.
Mohegan's sister entered the legends after an incident that took place in Elmridge. Stories of her exploits against the vampire council had reached the ears of the Lycanthropes. She'd had been thrown out of the council once they heard of her treachery, but when they took her to her execution the Lycanthrope turned against their vampire masters and protected her.
Kyle wasn't sure of the details, but he knew generally about what happened. How it was her plan to free the Lycanthrope from servitude and that she encouraged them to fight against their masters. He also knew that she was a snake, because while she encouraged rebellion, she also demanded loyalty to her. Many believed that she would have the Lycans break the chains of bondage only to have them again forged under her rule.
Kyle turned his head back to the TV, smiling as the women began fighting once again. His mind drifted back to Logan. Kyle couldn't lie to himself, he was still curious as to what Logan was, and what did Mala have over him? Kyle looked over at the clock to see that it was already 2:30. He sighed, and then jumped when something occurred to him. "I'm late for work!" he yelled, jumping up and running to his bedroom.
He quickly pulled a polo over his head and jumped into some kakis. He grabbed his name tag and laminate key pass as he rushed into the bathroom. Running into the bathroom he quickly brushed his teeth, ran some gel through his hair and began taking out his piercings, replacing the ones that might heal with clear placeholders.
He was able to run in the doors of the Dallas Center for Rehabilitation just as the clock hit 3:15. Without looking up Kyle's co-worker smirked. "You're late."
Kyle panted, slumping against the counter. "No … I got here at exactly three."
The man grinned and leaned over the counter to look at Kyle. "Sure. You should be glad Martha isn't in. Lucky for you, I'm nice."
Kyle pulled himself up. "Thanks, Jace"
Jace was a short man, only about five foot six, but he had an air about him that was very regal. He had dark hair and pale white skin, his face free of any imperfections.
Jace reached out and grabbed Kyle's arm, pulling him closer. "Who were you with last night?" He took in Kyle's scent and his eyes changed color.
Kyle looked at Jace in surprise. "What? Why? Do I smell bad or something?"
Jace looked him up and down. "No … hmmm, maybe I am just hungry. You know how I get."
Kyle laughed it off, before jumping over the counter and pulling out his files for the day. He flipped through the first one. "Mr. Morris is going to be discharged today?"
"Yeah, his insurance won't cover any more sessions."
"That's too bad; he was making some really good progress."
Jace pulled another file out and gave it to Kyle. "Here, this is a new patient to replace him. Her name is Emma Pierce, she had her pelvis shattered."
Kyle nodded. "All right, I'll go make my rounds." Jace waved him off as Kyle took the files with him into the hall that led to the bedrooms. He brought Emma's file to the front and opened it. She had been in a car crash; her husband had been thrown out the windshield and into a tree, killing him instantly. She'd survived with multiple fractures and a shattered pelvis. She had recovered well at Baylor hospital, but had trouble walking due to the pain in her hips and legs.
Kyle walked into her room, a smile firmly on his face as he walked to the end of her bed. "Good afternoon Mrs. Pierce, my name is Kyle. How are you feeling today?"
She turned her attention from the TV to him. "All right I guess."
"I see here," he opened the file in his arms, "that you need physical therapy to help you walk and to alleviate the pain in your legs, is that correct?"
She sat up, her face scrunching in pain for a moment before she nodded to Kyle. "I don't know what you can really do about it, though. The doctor said I should come here, but I don't really see the point. It hurts, but it's something that will just heal with time, right?"
"Yes, Mrs. Pierce, but if you don't stretch the muscles or exercise the limbs you could lose muscle and functionality in your limbs. Right now your bones have mostly healed, but without physical therapy your recovery time could be as long as six months."
"Wow …" She lay back against the pillows. " I've already been in the hospital for almost a month, and now you're saying I have to stay in this place for another six?"
"No, ma'am. I think with a lot of work and some discomfort we could get you up and back on your feet in four to six weeks." Kyle smiled. "May I?" He gestured at her legs. She nodded, allowing Kyle to touch her. He uncovered her legs and lightly felt up and down them, testing the muscles as he moved his hands. "Did you run before the accident?"
She smiled. "Henry and I used to jog every morning before I went to school. I'm a school—ow—teacher. Before you ask, Henry is my dog."
Kyle nodded, turning his attention to her pelvis, lightly touching it to test pain tolerance. She hissed as he put moderate pressure on her hip bones. "Well, it looks like this will be a pretty quick recovery, Mrs. Pierce. I would like to stretch your legs now, can you tell me a little bit about your dog?" Kyle pulled her leg up, stretching the calf muscle as he looked at her.
She seemed to notice the pain less as she talked about her dog. "Henry is my Scottish terrier. Every morning at six a.m. he would get me up and insist that we start our morning right. He would grab his leash and drop it right next to me when I was putting on my—ah—shoes. He is always really good about not pulling on the leash when we jog, he just stays right next to me, his little toe nails clicking on the sidewalk as he would scamper to stay close to me. He's a small dog, so it's hard for him to keep up sometimes, especially during the end of our jog." She chuckled at her story, but winced when Kyle began working on the second leg. "Whenever we are only a few blocks away from home, Henry will get this second wind, then run with me all the way up to the door. James …" She shook her head. "James always had breakfast ready for us. He spoiled that dog, giving him sausages and bacon after we came home."
Kyle grinned and gently put her leg back down. "All done. Tomorrow I am going to have you do some aqua therapy. I think with some weight distribution you'll be able to walk in the water tank with only a small amount of pain." Kyle marked her chart and then smiled at her. "Your little dog sounds cute. I will talk with the staff about getting a day where someone could bring the dog in here to see you."
Her face brightened. "Really? Henry could come here?"
Kyle grinned. "Yeah, we do whatever we can to cheer our patients up. I will let you know what days he can come in, but you have to promise to try to work through the pain tomorrow. It will be difficult, but remember the harder you try now, the quicker you can go home."
She reached out and grabbed Kyle's hand. "Thank you."
Kyle clasped her hand in his. "I'm just doing my job. Have a good night, Mrs. Pierce."
He walked into Mr. Morris's room just as the clock was reaching 4:30. The old man had finished packing his suitcase, and turned to look at Kyle as he walked through the doorway. "Oh, Kyle! I was hoping I would see you before I went home."
"Mr. Morris, I heard you were being discharged." Kyle walked closer to him and picked up his charts from the end of the bed. "How is the pain in your arm?"
Mr. Morris looked down at his right arm and then made a fist towards Kyle. "I think I regained the strength of when I was twenty. Look at this muscle!"
Kyle smiled seeing the elderly man boasting about a small bump of muscle on his bicep. "Wow, Mr. Morris! You really have gotten all of your strength back." Kyle marked the chart with his pen before putting it back down. "Remember, just because you're feeling good now, don't forget to do your daily exercises. I don't want you to give up using that stress ball, just because you think you're Hercules!"
Mr. Morris laughed and nodded. "Don't worry, Kyle, I will be sure to use that chart you gave me every day."
"Who's picking you up today Mr. Morris?" Kyle asked, taking the man's luggage as they walked out of the room.
"My daughter. You met her before—Stephanie." The old man grinned at Kyle. "She's pretty, isn't she?"
Kyle nodded, and smiled at him, ignoring his insinuations. "Yes, she is very beautiful, you should be very proud to have such a wonderful lady as a daughter."
Mr. Morris grinned. "She's the best thing that has ever happened to me." He turned to Kyle, and quickly gave him a hug at the door. "You take care of yourself, Kyle. Thank you so much for all of your help these past few months."
"You have a wonderful day, Mr. Morris, and please don't let me see you here again." Kyle chuckled. "We will miss you here, though."
Mr. Morris smiled. "Goodbye, Kyle."
"Goodbye." Kyle grinned, waving at the man as he left with his daughter.
From a distance Kyle could see a man in dark sunglasses getting out of a cab, and as the taxi drove off he could see Vanessa standing next to him. He sighed, looking over as Logan walked towards him. "Logan, what are you doing here?"
Logan tilted his head and quickened his pace. "Kyle … Please let me explain."
"Explain what? You work for Mala. You're a hunter. You don't trust me enough to tell me anything about you. What did I miss?" Kyle crossed his arms, glaring defiantly at Logan.
"I didn't come here to fight with you, I don't want to cause you trouble at work, I—"
Kyle interrupted him, yelling, "Then why would you come to where I worked? Why would you come here? What were you thinking?"
Logan visibly shrank. He lowered his head as if in shame and said softly, "I was just going to leave a message with your front desk. I didn't think—"
"Yeah. You didn't think."
Logan dropped Vanessa's halter and reached out for Kyle, his hand landing on Kyle's shoulder. "I didn't come here to upset you." Logan's thumb caressed Kyle's shoulder and then he squeezed it. "I want to talk to you, when do you get off of work?"
"No time soon." Kyle shrugged off his hand. "Don't you have a florist to see anyway?"
Logan looked sullen and then attempted again. "Tomorrow, then? When can I see you?"
Kyle looked inside briefly and then back to Logan. "All right. Tomorrow at noon, I will meet you at your hotel room, ok? You have the same one?"
"Yes." Logan looked as though he wanted to bend down and kiss Kyle, but then stopped himself. He straightened up and took hold of Vanessa's halter again. "I shall expect you at noon."
Kyle turned around and walked back towards the building, only looking back once to see Logan hailing another taxi. Walking back inside Kyle saw that Jace was watching him; obviously he'd been eavesdropping. "What do you want, Jace?"
"Who was that?" he asked, and Kyle noticed that his teeth had fully descended, so that Jace's canines touched his bottom lip.
"What do you care? Why are you so excited?" Kyle asked, feeling a twinge of anger come over him.
Jace turned to Kyle, trying to force his vampire teeth away. "I don't know. I just have this strange tingling all over my body. He doesn't make you feel like that?" Jace grinned. "I wouldn't mind sucking on his neck."
Kyle roared, "That's enough! Keep your dirty thoughts to yourself, and keep Logan out of them! He has enough vampire trouble without you adding to it!"
Jace looked around scared. "Kyle. Shut up!"
Kyle clapped his hand over his mouth, closed his eyes and groaned. "I'm—I'm, oh. I'm so sorry, Jace!"
Jace turned away. "No. Don't be. I never forget what I am, and you shouldn't either." He stormed away, clutching the folders he had been carrying to his chest. Kyle called out to him again, but he was only ignored. Kyle sighed; today is just not my day.