When she places a manicured hand on my knee, I just about explode.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I hiss out of the corner of my mouth.
Her body tenses, eyes hardening, but her smile remains pasted in place. “I thought I was doing you a favor, Vinny Poo.” Her nails tighten on my thigh until blood is drawn. I don’t bother reacting to the brief stab of pain. After all, I’m used to it.
“A favor?” I scoff. “You’re pathetic.”
“Really?” She finally turns away from the portal to face me directly. “What would your family think when they discover that you left me for Dracula’s daughter?” Her tone is laced with barely disguised horror. “And—” She cuts off suddenly as my Aunt Petunia waddles towards us, her pregnant belly straining beneath her floral shirt. “Petunia, darling! It’s been way too long!” Cheryl air kisses both of the woman’s cheeks. “How’s the little one?”
As the two begin to converse, I take the opportunity to rip Cheryl’s claws off of me.
“I’m going to piss,” I snap when my ex’s eyes narrow into slits. Before Aunt Petunia can catch a glimpse of her hideous expression, she smooths it out and replaces it with a serene smile.
“Hurry back, Vinny Poo!” She waves her hand enthusiastically as I hurry down the bleachers and away from the portal.
“Hurry back, Vinny Poo,” I mock as I press my forehead against the brick siding of the Academy. Each breath seems to be wrenched from my lungs as I struggle to regain control of my turbulent emotions. All I want is to be with Violet right now, to ensure with my own two eyes that she’s safe and well. How is she coping after Barret’s death? What is Dimitri saying to her?
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m slightly overprotective of the tiny vampire. Okay, slightly is the wrong term. I’ll go psychotic if anything happens to her, especially at the hands of my own family members. She’s my mate, my…my love. At least, I think I love her. Is this what love is?
“I don’t want to hear it,” a familiar voice snaps. I lift my head just in time to see Mason charge around the corner, Medusa on his heels.
“She’s going to be the death of you,” his mom hisses, teeth bared. “I refuse to allow that.”
“Refuse?” Mason releases a self-deprecating laugh. “Since when have you ever cared about me? Violet is the best fucking thing that has ever happened to me.” He spins to face his mother completely, rage etched into every line of his face. “So you can kindly fuck off.” His hand trembling slightly, he removes a joint from his pocket and quickly shoves it between his lips. With his other hand, he grabs a lighter, and the distinct scent of Fairy Blossom permeates the air, making me sick. I’ve always hated that shit. Not as much as Violet, but enough for me to stay clear of it when I’m not at parties. I consider myself a social smoker, but Mason? He’s addicted. Already, I can see his time in the arena has made him shaky and unhinged.
“Violet Dracula is a menace that must be stopped,” Medusa continues, gracefully striding forward. She’s abnormally tall for a woman, and unlike her son, dozens of snakes slither around her head. She’s not ashamed or embarrassed of who she is, which is something I can admire. Her words, however, make me want to stab the bitch.
My body coils as tightly as the serpents on her head as I remain in the shadows, both of them oblivious to my presence.
“She’s my mate.” Mason’s voice is as dark as I’ve ever heard it. Pure venom laces his words, more potent than any of Medusa’s little beasts.
“She’s predicted to murder you.” She takes another step forward, but this one feels more threatening than any of the others. When her hands wrap around Mason’s throat, I just barely stop myself from lunging forward and ripping her away. “The prophecy said that Dracula’s daughter is fated to be your death.”
“Violet would never hurt me,” Mason wheezes out, clawing at her hands. After a moment, she releases him with a rather disgruntled huff.
“Either you get rid of her…or I will.” With that threat, she turns on her heel and stalks away, her silver skirt cascading around her like molten starlight. Mason remains behind, panting. His eyes are wild as he tentatively touches the bruises now dotting his pasty neck.
I clear my throat once, and he jumps, startled. The joint falls from his lips, and he quickly stomps it out.
“How long have you been there?” He doesn’t sound upset, only resigned. His shoulders droop ever so slightly as he scrubs a hand down his face.
“Is she going to be a problem?” I ask instead. The thought of anyone harming Violet is inconceivable. Friend’s mom or not, I won’t hesitate to do what needs to be done to ensure her safety.
“I’ll take care of her,” Mason promises, tone bleak.
“I don’t like this.” A chill that’s not from the wind sweeps across my skin, causing goosebumps to pebble on my arms. Medusa is, for lack of better term, a goddess. If she sets her eyes on eliminating Violet…
No. That can’t happen. I won’t allow it to. I will set fire to Mount Olympus before anyone harms a golden strand of hair on Violet’s perfect head.
“I’m worried about her,” Mason admits after a moment of silence. His eyes flicker up to mine before quickly lowering again. The tick in his jaw commandeers my attention. “Barret’s death destroyed her. I don’t even think she’s realized it yet, but she will. Soon. I’m worried what she will do.”
“What if Hux and Jack don’t make it back?” I query, staring in contemplation in the direction of the portal and crowd. From this angle, I can’t see them, but I can hear their cheers as more and more monsters fall through the portal. So far, they’ve been no one I know.
Which only makes me even more anxious.
“They’ll be fine,” Mason assures me softly. He finally closes the distance between us to clasp my shoulder. “They’re tough sons of bitches. As is Vanessa.” He stares at me pointedly, easily able to read me after years of friendship.
“I haven’t always been the best brother to her,” I admit, staring off into the distance like I’m in some kind of cheesy romantic comedy. Fuck my life.
“Are you talking about the time you cut off the balls of that one dude who cheated on her?” Mason questions seriously, and I wince. That wasn’t one of my finest moments. “Or, are you talking about that Christmas when we were ten and you stole all her presents and threw them in a fire? Or the time you tied her up and put her on the table during Thanksgiving and told everyone she was the new turkey? Or the—”
“I get it!” I snap, raking my fingers through my dark hair. “I’ve been a shitty brother.”
“Nah, man. You’ve been a brother.” Once more, Mason pats my shoulder. “I love the little turd like a sister too.” He sighs, following the direction of my gaze towards the waning sunlight. It isn’t quite night yet, so the sky is painted in shades of orange and dark blue. “There’s still hours until the first round ends. How about we go find Violet instead of driving ourselves crazy with worry, m’kay?”