The Drive into Town

As I drive I catch Trixie feeling and smoothing her clothes. She seemed to enjoy the foreign sensation of actually wearing cloth garments. Occasionally she shifts and tries to rearrange herself in the telltale way of surreptitiously trying to adjust underwear without letting people know that is what you were doing. It seemed she went the whole way and was wearing panties too. On another day, when I was just being her brother, I might have given her a good natured tease. But I knew how much it meant to Trix to be seen as attractive and desirable tonight so I pretend not to notice her squirming. Trix and I had made this drive countless times, usually with me driving, and this was the first time I could remember she wasn’t on her phone for most of the trip. She opens her purse to check it now and then but mostly it stays tucked away. She wanted to give me her complete attention despite neither of us seeming to know what to say.

“I was thinking of trying out that new cafe by the lake.” I say, breaking the ice. “I’ve heard good things.”

“Oh yeah, I’ve been there. It’s really great.” She says too quick. “They’ve got a pooka.”

“A pooka? Is that a dessert or something?”

This elicits and burst of nervous giggles. “No!” She playfully slaps my shoulder. “You’ll see when we get there.”

“Very well.” I then hasten to add. “Hey, if anyone asks we’re just hanging out. Let’s not use the date word, okay?”

“Okay.” She nods and bats her eyes in a way that was meant to be flirtatious but came across as anything but. “But we know the truth.”

“Yeah.” We both titter with jittery joviality.

At just shy of 20,000 residents the town of Winterbloom was a cozy community and the chances of running into people we knew was always high. As I continue to snatch little peeks of my sister I see her anxiously playing with her fingers or feeling the hem of her skirt. Trixie and I were as close as a brother and sister could be. We were friends, confidants, and partners in crime. We had a lifetime of warm memories together and yet the energy in the car was taut with nerves and sexual tension as if we were suddenly strangers.

Laying my right arm down on the center armrest I offer her my hand. She eagerly takes it in both of hers and squeezes it tight just like she does when we’re watching a scary movie. We look at each other for a moment then both start to laugh, and with that honest laughter the strained atmosphere drains from the car.

“Can you believe us?” I jest.

“I know, I know!” She laughs. “We’re being so silly.” Her face relaxes into a soft genuine smile. “I know nothing bad can happen when I’m with you Jake.”

God that touched me. Her other older siblings were an unstoppable eldritch tentacle monster from beyond our reality, a hulking savage werewolf, and a clever calculating vampire, yet it was little old me she looked at with such unshakable faith. With the nervousness gone Trix was back to her old self again.

“It feels so funny wearing clothes. They tickle.” She wriggles around in her seat. “He he he he!”

“Well you sure make them look good.” Although I knew underneath the illusion she was all purple slime her human appearance was mesmerizing. Her curves, her skin, just the way she held herself, all absolutely tantalizing. The way she appeared to fit so wonderfully into her outfit seemed a metaphor for her life. “I can’t imagine how tough it’s been for you trying to fit into a human world.”

“It’s all I’ve ever really known.” She says. “There is still a lot I find weird about you though.” Reaching up she plays a finger through my hair which sends delightful tingles downs my spine. “Like hair. It’s so…so…weird. I mean, just these tiny dead strings of you sticking out all over. Kinda creepy don’t you think?”

I chuckle. “I’ve never thought about it.”

“And it feels so funny too. I can’t even imagine.” She brings her hand down to take mine again then leans in closer. “I think humans are pretty awesome though, most of them. Besides not getting too intimate it hasn’t been too hard getting along. I’m lucky.”

“Oh?”

“At least I wasn’t born a goblin or a troll or something like that. And even among the family I’m pretty lucky too. It is a lot harder for the others. Luci with all of his desires, though you’ve really helped him out with that. Bron with his anger and hunting instincts. And the fact that he’s a lone wolf. Gotta be lonely for him. And Dev, caught between two worlds. Hard to function as a human when you’re sleeping most of the day and she finds it tough to fit in with her own kind for some reason.”

“She told me she has no bloodline, no heritage, I guess that stuff is important to vampires.” As I round the last big bend in the road we can see the town spread out along the valley floor in the distance. We can practically see the whole town from here, even Grimbley Academy and its grounds on the far side could be made out. In the ebbing orange light of evening the buildings of the town glow in contrast to the dark forest that surrounded it and the small lake that abutted its North end. As we sweep down the road into the valley and along the last stretch into town I ready myself to be open for the sights that I knew were there to be seen for those that knew how to see. “How many vampires are around here anyway? Are they common?”

“Common enough. They’re kind of a big deal in the monster world.” She says. “You’ve even seen a bite before, though you don’t remember.”

“What?”

She nods. “Mm hm. Remember back when you thought Grace might have mono that one time?”

“Yeah.”

“Vampire bit her. Took too much too. Almost killed her.” She squeezes my hand tight. “Caused quite a scandal.”

I remember back to that time. I recall visiting Grace, pale as a ghost and overcome with weakness and lethargy. Dad was there too, I remember how he peppered her with questions though her memories of the night before were hazy and she could only reply with vague answers. I also remember…

“Bron took one of his trips up North after that.”

Trix sighs. “Yeah. He tracked the vampire down for Daddy but things went bad. Real bad. He killed three of them.”

“THREE!? Bron killed three vampires?”

“All at once too. You’ve never seen him real mad, neither have I. Dev said when Bron really goes truly savage it is…well, it’s really scary I guess. I hope I never see it.” She says. “He’s not your average werewolf. I think we Devlins are all a bit extra special.” I cannot help but think that I was the lone exception in being exceptional. “Anyway, he disappeared while Daddy and Dev negotiated things. Bron isn’t allowed to mess around with Vamp business anymore, no matter what the reason.” She shudders. “Why are we talking about this on our date!? Yuck.”

I smile. “Sorry. I just have so many questions still. I feel like I’ve barely peeked into this new world.”

“Yeah. Things sure didn’t go the way Daddy thought they would. He was gonna take some time with you but I guess the whole Vespy thing derailed all of that.”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“And he’s been even more busy than normal lately.” There is a long pause before she says. “Daddy wouldn’t have shot. You know that right?” She says with her whole blessed heart. “He…he wouldn’t do that. He would never do that Jake.”

I look over at her wide eyed face and didn’t have the heart to disavow her of her belief in him. Instead I simply say. “I know Trix, I know.”

She smiles. “Daddy is a good Daddy. He just gets grumpy sometimes. He’s under a lot of stress you know.”

“Sure Trix.” I pat her hand then motion forward to the town welcome sign. “But you’re right, let’s not talk about this stuff tonight. We’re on a date here. The night and the town is ours.”

She giggles and nods as she gets back into the spirit of date night. “Yeah!”