Meet my maker

Surrounded by books on the library floor, I've lost count of how many I've read. I actually just have to flip the pages, cover to cover. My mind absorbs the content. Like super speed reading. Alarich and I have been at it all day and we are coming up short.

"Perhaps we can send an envoy to look at other realms libraries. We have so many history texts here and we still have no answers" He looks down defeated blinking his weary eyes. "That would take too long, maybe it's new. Something that has never taken place before".

Arlo enters on a skateboard. He is wearing one of those nametag stickers. You know the ones that have 'Hello my name is' on them. Naturally, the 'O' of his name is a winky face. I stopped questioning his behaviour a long time ago and just accepted it. Alarich seems to have given up also as he just shakes his head.

"Queenie, your phone is going off" He skates over to me holding the phone out "Arlo, I don't do phones, deal with it" He takes a seat beside me, flops down and his head is on my lap, he starts going through my phone. "Queenie you might want to take a look at this. Not every day you see such a fine specimen" He tilts his head to the side.

"What specimen?" Alarich asks. Arlo throws the phone to over to Alarich. "WHOAH! So that's a wolf dick" Honestly, you'd think a King would have a bit more sense than to send a dick pic. "Arlo, how is Helena any updates" He stands up and rubs the back of his head. "Ummm I forgot, 2 secs" He pulls out his phone and starts typing away. "Aw shit, sent it to the group chat".

A moment later Dante, Janice and Mara enter. We see Helena walk right passed the open door, completely obvious. She's wearing one of Arlo's shirts, one side of it tucked into black jean shorts. A studded belt, ripped fishnets and a pair of combat boots. We all look at Arlo and Alarich asks first "Are you dressing her Arlo?" Arlo shrugs

"I think she looks good. It's how I'd dress if I was a chick" Dante slaps the back of his head "I told you to leave her alone, not make her your doll" Janice scoffs "She's more like those yippy little dogs old ladies have" Arlo pushes his brother "Look dude, I like her, You missed your shot. You didn't seem too cut up about it, when you were with that girl the other night"

My gaze snaps to Dante, he walk towards me "Majesty, I... I thought you were tired of me now. I'm sorry" I laugh "Dante whatever you do in your time, is none of my business" Arlo's face slowly drops as he realises the meaning of our exchange. He dry heaves and retches "Dude, she's like our mother" I've never felt so insulted in my life, and I've lived a long time. This time Dante punches him in the arm.

"Anyhoo, slap my tits and call me Ethel cause here she comes" He whistles "Here girl, come on" Helena bounces in the door. "Sorry guys, this place is huge. I walked right passed and..." She looks at the nametag on Arlo's top "O.M.G!! Your name is Arlo!! I've been calling you Arnold. Why didn't you say anything??!!" He puts the balls of his palms, in his eye sockets in frustration.

I walk towards Helena, I look straight in her eyes "Helena, you will tell me what you are and why you smell human but don't taste it". Silence. "She's definitely under the haze" Janice adds. "I'm telling you all she is not human, have a taste."

Arlo stands behind dazed Helena and wraps his arms around her protectively "No, not my Helly" I cock an eyebrow "Fine, Arlo you bite her and we will all have a taste" He shakes his head "Arlo I love you but I will not tolerate defiance" He sighs and whispers in her ear "Sorry Hels"

His fangs extract and he bites her neck. His arm tightens around her waist. One hand holding her head to the side. A pleasing purr rumbles in him. "That's enough Arlo" Dante says, his hand on Arlo's shoulder. Arlo is still drinking and shrugs the hand off of him.

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" I command. His eyes shoot open, snake like slits are staring back at me. Startled, I blast him off of her and he smashes through a shelf "Restrain him" Alarich and Dante grab him before he can pounce back on Helena. I lick my thumb and place it over her bite wound. Don't want to risk drinking her blood.

I rush over to the restrained, snarling and snapping Arlo. "Come back to me, You will not drink from Helena again or allow others to" His pupils return to normal and he slumps down, no longer fighting to break free. I nod, Alarich and Dante let go. "What happened?" He jumps up and goes straight to Helena. Alarich and Dante on his heels. He holds her face and examines her.

"I don't know, She tastes amazing. I couldn't stop. I can't explain it" Janice walks over to me "Arlo's eyes were like his, It has to be connected" Well no shit "So he took over Arlo's body?" I shake my head "Although, he is powerful and can cause a lot of problems in his current status, our kind and not even me, have that ability"

Arlo still clinging on to Helena, turns to us "It was very much all me" I walk back over to the pair and face Helena "Whatever it is, her blood is the key" Mara pipes up "Majesty, instead of finding more unanswered questions. I think enough has happened to know, It's time to wake him. You've restrained him before you can do it again"

Janice places a hand on my arm "I will aquire another trap to hold him. I will reach out to the witch queen for resources" I place my hand upon hers and nod. "It's a risk, a serious risk. I may not be able to resist the sire bond after all this time. I will need several back up plans in place. Dante and Alarich, help Janice aquire what she needs. Tell no one, it's a need to know operation"

They all leave the library. "Helena, you won't remember what has happened. You will go back to Arlo's room with him and stay until told otherwise." Helena blinks a few times "Oh man did I zone out? You can let go Arnold, I mean Arlo. I'm ok, I'm really tired. Can I stay with you tonight?" He offers her a smile and wraps his arm around her shoulders. "I will see to it that your things are moved to Arlo's room. Goodnight" They walk out. Helena chatting away to Arlo. How the boy stands it, I have no idea. I guess I should rest and prepare to meet my maker.

"I can tell you're thinking of me". I thought he was unusually quiet today. "Hard not to when you've been a constant in there recently. "Why now? After all this time, why haunt me now?" His beautiful laugh swirling in my head "500 years and I don't think you've replied mentally before, You honour me, my love" I roll my eyes not that he can see it, maybe I will send a mental image of it. Ha! take that.

"Maybe you should take that as a hint. Answer me!" He sends a memory of him kissing my neck. "Don't Thorne, I will never let you touch me again. You make me sick" His touch has always been able to erase the bad, I hate myself for it.

"If you want answers, come get them"