Scarlet did her best not to look at the cracks shining through Kyle’s black shirt, attempting to force her gaze to his abs. Focus … focus somewhere else!

She was a little surprised to see Jerry hanging around the bar; a couple of drinks and women were around him, but his attention was on Maëlle. Guess he made it inside. Her nose creased as his stench drifted her way.

Kyle followed her gaze, and the reserved attitude she’d first sensed within him was gone; just like Maëlle, there was a haze blocking Negative Emotions, thereby canceling out the added Emotional Absorption Proficiency Skill.

Just by looking at him, he was releasing an enigmatic casual chill that made her even more uncertain about her feelings, and his tone was friendly but neutral.

“You don’t have to force yourself to act like you enjoy this scene. Maëlle’s got a talent in getting people to do things they’d normally never do. A lot of people here feel out of place,” he whispered, glancing between a few men and women of varying age.

Scarlet gave him a forced smile as they moved past the small groups obstructing part of the walkway. “Oh, umm, is it your ability that’s telling you that?”

Slowing near the entrance, he scratched the tip of his nose while looking back. “I mean, I can’t say they’re exactly like you, but I can understand the signs easy enough, and yes, my Passive Abilities can detect certain things in my environment that help me come to that conclusion. Uh, you see those two men?”

Following his gesture, she found two guys, talking to one another; she could sense distinct negative emotion from the two, depression and desperation. “Yeah?”

“They’re friends, supporting each other to come out, but they really don’t feel confident enough to talk to the three prospective girls they’ve spotted and found attractive … including Maëlle. I suspect she’ll move on them within the next ten minutes, but she’s in no hurry.”

“Wait,” her brow furrowed, blue irises darting between the two parties. “You can tell all that with just a glance? I mean, I know they’re depressed and desperate, but you connected so many dots … they weren’t even on my radar,” she mumbled, feeling a bit exposed under the Incubus’ gradient blue eyes.

Upon zeroing in on the two men, her chest tightening, blood spaced across her gums from the delicious flavor of depression. A lump dropped down her throat, knowing it would be a good meal if she indulged. “It’s like they’re in a den of wolves.”

“Oh?” Kyle lifted an eyebrow. “You can read people’s emotions?”

“Umm, just the negative ones.”

“Huh…” Kyle didn’t respond for a few seconds, vision sliding between several people with an unimpressed expression. “The land of opulence, masking false confidence,” he mumbled.

“What?”

The agent sighed, ruffling the back of his brown hair. “Yeah, Kyle has this thing about false smiles or fake people.”

“Mmh, it just doesn’t interest me,” Kyle sighed, giving her an apologetic smile. “Desperate people do things they normally won’t. They’re so lonely; they’ll go to a club of random people, immersing themselves in a place they hate for just the opportunity to forget their solitude.”

“Yeah, I guess that’s pretty sad,” she mumbled, feeling the ranging emotions that Maëlle somehow had suppressed with her constant attention. If Rachel didn’t offer to be my friend … it’s so crazy how we met. She saved me from Carter. She didn’t even know me, and … I was kind of weird with the blood I was on. She grimaced at the memory.

She turned her focus back to the Incubus as he stared at a few women that were giving him flirtatious smiles. His senses might be better than mine, and I have max Proficiencies … wait, those were men? He can even sense men’s emotions? Can Maëlle? Rachel … shoot, where is she?

Lips becoming a line, her vision tinted red as she filtered out the surroundings. Rachel was only half-way here, and she wasn’t even facing the right way as she watched Duncan and Anthony walking back toward the FBI building.

What’s taking you so long; I mean, Kyle actually saved me from Maëlle! Wait … if Rachel did come, then I wouldn’t have my personal time with him. Gah! I still need to figure out how I feel, and I don’t need her poking fun at me … I’d blush like every two seconds with her commentary.

“Something wrong?”

Scarlet gave a start, blue irises returning as she returned her focus to Kyle; the agent was more than a little alarmed by her sudden eye color change, more than five feet away with his hand gripping his weapon inside his jacket. “Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you!”

Kyle gave him a look. “Dude, Glenn, it’s cool; don’t be so jumpy.”

“Eh, Dude, crazy eyes, man—horror movie one-o-one!”

She tried to give him an innocent smile, forgetting about her fangs. “I was just seeing if—Rachel was going to join us,” she slowly finished as he inched back a bit more.

Rolling his eyes, Kyle sighed, facing her with a neutral smile. “Is she planning on meeting you here; should we wait?”

Scarlet shook her head, doing her best to distract herself from the dozens of women whispering about Kyle and her. “She can find us.”

Feeling a little uncomfortable with all the attention, she pushed forward, leading the charge out of the club. The loud music and flashing lights dampened as she exited. Her hands rose to tame her hair with the sudden gust blowing from the west, and the bright waxing moon falling across the sky brought her mind back to her favorite hare.

Rachel’s drinking that Lunar Energy right now … it does affect her personality a bit, maybe that’s why she’s late. I mean, she was with Anthony, too … did she … well, she’s not shy like me. Maybe…

Another spike of jealousy tightened her chest as Kyle joined her, drawing more than a little female attention outside the club, reigniting the whispers.

Kyle gave her a passive smile. “Got somewhere you’d like to go? I’m not a local, so you know this area a lot better than me.”

“Umm, no, not really,” Scarlet chuckled, trying to ignore the embarrassing implications some of the onlookers were coming up with. She had to glare at one particular group of giggling young girls. He’ll do what with his tail? How old are you?

He nodded toward the east, shooting another frown at Glenn as he kept his distance. “How about the ocean? I like the briny scent, personally.” He inhaled, slowly letting it out. “I think it’s low tide right now.”

She forced a chuckle. “Umm, sure, that’s fine!”

Kyle glanced back at the group of girls she’d glared at. “Yeah, I was a little surprised with how—feral some girls can be.”

“Tell me about it,” Scarlet mumbled, cheeks darkening. “How are you not embarrassed? I don’t get how Maëlle can do most of the stuff she does without falling to pieces, and people are a lot more crude than I used to think.”

A low groan shot past Kyle’s lips as he directed her focus to a pretty blonde woman behind a few large guys as they hung out beside a convertible. “See her?”

“Yeah?”

“Crazy stalker. She’s just using those guys as cover to spy on the dude over there with his friend.”

“Wait, the girl he’s with is just his friend? They look pretty close to me.”

“Well, she likes him a bit, and it could escalate,” Kyle shrugged, hands behind his back as they moved along the sidewalk. “I doubt it, though. He’s friend-zoned her, and honestly, that stalker is obsessed to the point that I’d hate to be that girl. I’m guessing she’s already gotten threatening messages.”

“No way,” Scarlet mumbled, glancing back at the pair before losing track of them around a corner.

“A bit intrusive, if you ask me,” Glenn huffed, still keeping his distance.

Kyle gave him a sly smirk. “Didn’t stop you from using me to see if Heather liked you.”

“Hey, callin’ me out like that,” Glenn grumbled. “Okay, yeah, but still, intrusive as hell.”

“It’s not like I want to know the intimate parts of most people’s lives,” Kyle sighed, rubbing his left horn, avoiding the gaze of all the women staring at him. “To answer you, Scarlet, after the first few dozen, you stop being excited about such common themes.”

Remembering Maëlle’s earlier statement, she frowned. “Experience?”

He shrugged. “You could call it that.”

Their focus moved to Glenn as he cleared his voice. “So, umm, I’ve heard—you’re a Vampire, right? You’re like the Seattle kind?”

Before Scarlet could respond, Kyle lightly jabbed his shoulder. “Dude, insensitive, man. Does she look like the mass-murdering type?”

Scarlet’s eyebrows came together as she glanced between the retorts.

“Ouch, Dude,” he grumbled, rubbing his shoulder. “Hey, I’m just asking—you heard the same shit I did about Miami Beach. That tank was practically painted in blood!”

Kyle puffed out an exhausted breath. “You still haven’t figured that out yet?”

“What?”

“Common sense … why would a Vampire paint a tank with blood?”

“I don’t know … how should I know?”

“No, you’re not getting it,” Kyle growled, making Scarlet feel a little better with someone else defending her. “Logically, what would a Vampire do with blood?”

“Uh—drink it, obviously.”

“Obviously,” Kyle repeated, twirling his wrist for him to go on.

“So … oh…”

Kyle spread his hand as if stating the overt thought.

“Oh … she wouldn’t have painted the tank with blood.”

“Mhm.”

“Then—who did it if it wasn’t her?”

“Dude, just drop it,” Kyle moaned, scratching the back of his scalp. “You know David told you guys it was classified; should stop spreading those stupid rumors. The amount of gossip you guys go through daily is insane.”

Scarlet giggled, drawing their attention, causing a few women that just so happened to be going the same direction as them to mummer among themselves. “Thanks, Kyle. No, Glenn, I’m honestly not a Vampire.”

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“Wait. You’re not?”

She shook her head, giving him a wink while showing a toothy grin. “Nope!”

“But—the fangs and blood?”

“Mhm!”

“Not a Vampire?”

“Definitely not!”

“Then … what are you?”

Wearing a mischievous smile, Scarlet ignored him. “So, Kyle, you worked for a tourist company, right?”

“Yeah, back in Canada.”

“What about your family?”

Kyle’s cheer dampened slightly. “I was an orphan, and I never really connected much with any of the other kids or social workers.”

Glenn growled, realizing she wasn’t going to answer him. “If she’s not a Vampire … maybe one of the other types of Vampires—Lilith?”

Scarlet bristled, a small pool of her blood spiking outside her body, mind returning to the memory of her parents’ bloody coffin; her nose burned with the guilt hitting her chest. “I’m not a baby killer!”

She shot a glare at the agent. “I don’t sit in baby’s blood!” Jaw locking, her fangs punctured her lip, fist pressing against her left breast. “Besides, that—would probably be a Legendkin, not a Mythickin … not me.”

“Dude, cut it out,” Kyle stated, shoving him a few feet away. “Think about what you’re saying.”

Her nose twisted, trying to rid herself of the thought. “Fine, if you really want to know, I’m a Vespertine Reaper. A Mythickin. Happy?”

“Reaper?” Glenn gulped, regaining his balance while staring at her bloody lips. “What the hell does Vespertine mean?”

Kyle shook his head, giving him a disgusted look. “No more. Scarlet, ignore him. You need to let things go.”

“Hey, I’m scared of all this shit, man!”

Chest heated, Scarlet glared at him. “You’re in the wrong job, then.”

Kyle rubbed the back of his neck, giving her a concerned frown. “You want to go talk somewhere alone?”

“Dude, I’m supposed to…”

“Yeah,” Scarlet replied, creating a blood portal.

“Shit!” Glenn barked, leaping back while all the women behind them gave similar reactions.

“It might not feel good…”

Her eyes widened as Kyle walked through without a word. Stepping after him, she winced as the sharp shifting breeze pulled her hair in her face. Scarlet tamed her wild locks, the pool of crimson liquid returning to her body.

She’d transported them to a previous spot she’d seen while looking for him earlier, the beach as the tide was slowly rising from its low position.

Kyle sighed, moving to a nearby washed-up log. Dropping into it, he ran his left hand through his hair. “Sorry, Scarlet … he’s normally a good guy, but that went too far.”

Scarlet licked her lips, feeling her lips heal. “It just—it brought back bad memories.” Looking away, she took a long breath before letting it out in a slow stream. “Can you really sense my emotions?” She asked, trying to repress a tremble threatening her lower lip.

“Honestly, no.”

“Why?”

He didn’t respond; it felt like her heart was tearing apart, knowing the reason. It was The Reaper; Scarlet was the reason for everything. It’s my life … it’s not yours! Why is everything about you? I’m sorry—I give—make it stop.

Scarlet sturred below. Hmm?

Fighting back the tears, she pulled back her bangs to look at him. His somber eyes were on the sandy floor, long-tail lying across the shore.

“I don’t want to lie…”

“Then don’t … please,” Scarlet whispered. “I just—hate all this—hate the assumptions—this t-thing inside me.”

Kyle closed his eyes, took a breath, and looked up at her. “I’ve been unconsciously filtering out your emotions; when I first met you … there was something there that scared me.”

Scarlet smiled, whipping at her bloody cheeks while chuckling softly. “Right—of course, even an Incubus wouldn’t want to touch me … a crazy stalker’s fine, though. No, I’m fine—I’m alright,” she hiccuped. “I’m a good person—I’m not bad. I know it—Rachel knows it.”

No … everyone thinks I’m you—you’re becoming me, but it’s my life, Scarlet! Mine! No more! I want to be there for people and not be sick! I’m not fine—it’s all your fault! This life is mine; it never was yours!

He shook his head with concern. “No, it’s not like that.”

She giggled, sniffing as blood dripped down her nose. “No—no? What, then—not like what? Really, I’m losing my mind here,” she cried.

Lips becoming a line, he sucked on his lower lip while glancing away. “If you really want to know—I could show you.”

“Please—anything … just—something, anything…”

He held out his hand, giving her a soft smile. “Take my hand.”

Scarlet dropped to her knees, unable to fix the glasshouse falling around her; Rachel flew over the bank, landing a few feet away while skidding to a stop in the sand. “Scarlet!”

She took his hand out of desperation, a new source of emotion mixing inside her. Rachel faded into mist as Kyle’s voice became crystal clear, tone low as he gave her a shameful look.

“You know … I hate fake faces—because I’m fake; I look down upon all these addicts around me when we’re one and the same.”

Scarlet swirling despair was held at bay as she listened to Kyle. “These things I’m feeling?”

He gave her a weak smile, guiding her to sit next to him. His firm hands were soft and warm against her cool skin as he rested it against his thigh, staring down at it while speaking.

“Yeah, mine—a shitty ability, right; who would want to share this with someone?”

“You’re so empty,” Scarlet whispered, letting the void embrace her.

“Like an alcoholic or pill addict, I know I need to learn to live with all the things I can’t change. I hate that I feel nothing … or I’m reeling in pain.”

He released a humorless laugh. “I don’t even think Maëlle’s caught on.”

Scarlet frowned. “Then—when we first met you? You’re an addict to what?”

“Tension, in general … same as Maëlle—although, she has her preferences,” he whispered. “You know, Glenn said he’s been through the same shit in his twenties … said he started drinking to deal with his back pain and told me to just walk in a club and take a few hits, and it should do the same … it’s not.”

He closed his eyes, right hand closing around his horn. “I sucked out so much emotional energy from three women that I left them borderline lethargic, but I felt so straight for a moment … all that weight lifted off me—I could fly.”

A smirk touched his lips. “You know what? Glenn said he hadn’t had such a good time on an assignment; women just threw their attention at us. I hate it … I feel empty, or I’m reeling in pain.”

“You can’t stop?” Scarlet asked, remembering back to the first time she’d tasted live blood when Corrupted and how good it was, she didn’t want to stop, and once Maria had cleansed her, the guilt and pain that gripped her. She’d been tempted at the time, and that’s what made her run and hide.

Shaking his head, Kyle huffed. “It’s hard … seemingly impossible. I’m not hurting people—I need to survive, too … David told me, but—I’m on the edge, every time I feed. Of course, Maëlle could never feel that pain with her habits. I just can’t do it, though … just take a bit more until I feel alright.”

A lump dropped down Scarlet’s throat. “What about me?”

Kyle gave her a sad smile. “I’m not the same as Maëlle … I’m a Dreamwalker Incubus. You’re in a lucid dream right now; Rachel’s waiting right now, but she’s terrifying—my instincts go on high alert when she’s around to avoid her. She was moments away from separating my head from my body when you touched my hand.”

A warmth embraced her heart. “Yeah—Rachel’s awesome—like my cool, protective older sister.”

“With you,” Kyle sighed, giving her a sincere smile. “I’m like a moth drawn to a flame.”

“Moth to flame … w-what do you mean by that?”

He looked into her blue eyes. “You’re deadly, extremely dangerous—I know that, but something about you tells me it’s worth the risk. I didn’t want to invade your emotions because I’m scared, but it’s not only that darkness that draws me in but this emotional hurricane. I feel connected to that part of you that tells the world you’re alright—when you’re not.”

Her heart beat faster, feeling her wild emotions stabilizing, and realized he was feeding off her, but at the same time, it didn’t feel bad.

“Your past tastes bitter … I feed a bit differently than Maëlle. I can see you this morning, the angst you feel with Rachel still sleeping upstairs as you stare at yourself in the mirror … a devil in the morning, warning yourself how this day might end if you slip up. You’ll be good for all the times you never could.”

A bloody tear fell down Scarlet’s cheek as her nose burned, but the weight of the memory was quickly sucked away.

“How tight you lock up when remembering the night of The Oscillation … the horrifying events you had no control over—forced to live through a nightmare you wouldn’t wish on Carter or any other person that you hate or fear.”

“I just want to be normal,” Scarlet mumbled. “I don’t want to be this.”

Kyle’s moved with compassion. “I know the feeling … thank you for lifting this weight off me, Scarlet.”

She could feel the emptiness being filled, and after a short breath, she blinked, realizing she was leaning against the dead tree. Wait … it’s over?

Looking up, she yelped as Rachel lifted her off the ground, giving her a crushing hug.

“Hey, you’re okay? I didn’t want to interrupt, but when I heard something was wrong…”

She grunted, returning the hug as bloody tears dripped down her cheeks. “Thanks, Rachel … I love you.”

“I love you, too! Let me know if something’s wrong, okay?”

“Okay,” she choked.

Kyle got to his feet, folding his arms, and she saw the real Incubus as his glowing cracks radiated light. “Thanks, Scarlet, and I’m sorry I worried you, Rachel. If you still feel comfortable talking, then maybe we can tomorrow.” He glanced past her at the ocean. “I think the sun will rise soon. Last time, I remember you not wanting to get caught out in it.”

“Tonight? Yeah,” she gasped, finding it hard to breathe with the Lunar Hare’s arms squeezing the life out of her. “I’d like that,” Scarlet replied as Rachel released her death grip, making her feel like an inflatable balloon.

“Alright, but next time, I’ll see if my FBI friends will join us,” she mumbled.

“Some real shit,” Kyle sighed.

“Not that I think Glenn is terrible or anything.”

“I’d say he’s a dick,” Rachel growled. “His suit accidentally ripped right off his body when I passed,” she hummed, giving her an innocent look.

“Don’t say that in front of Maria.” Scarlet chuckled. “Thanks.”

“Well, for real, Maria would have probably straight knocked him out, and even Fiona might have given him some choice words.”

“Even Fiona?”

“That’s how much we care about you.”

Looking down, Scarlet rubbed her left arm. “That means a lot.”

“Well, think I’ll start heading back,” Kyle said, stepping into the ensuing silence. “I’ll walk back … I got a lot to think about.”

“Oh?”

“I’ll tell you tonight when I get everything straightened out in my head,” he promised with a bright smile.

“Okay,” Scarlet whispered, retreating as she felt her face reddening. “See you tonight! Let’s go, Rachel; I don’t want a sunburn … or to turn into ash.”

Rachel and her started walking away; she could feel the Lunar Hare’s focus, even if she wasn’t directly looking.

“You sure you’re okay?”

“Mmh … yeah, but I’m still a bit lost. I don’t know how I really feel about him.”

“Well, we’re young, right? We got time.”

“Young, who knows?” Scarlet giggled.

“Don’t you have death eyes that can tell?”

“Well, yeah, but that costs too much blood,” she growled. “It’s pretty liberating, though … it puts a wall between Scarlet and me.”

Rachel didn’t seem to know how to respond because she faced forward with a soft frown.

A thought popped into her head, and she puffed out her cheeks. “So, what took you so long? You know what that Succubus did to me!”

“Yeah, made you dance,” she chuckled. “How was the Rumba?”

“Terrifying!”

“Oh? You seemed to be enjoying it,” Rachel mused, holding her left hand behind her back while giving her a teasing look. “Besides, I was winning a game with Anthony, and I totally won!”

Scarlet giggled at her friend’s triumphant grin. “Oh? How was that, huh; make any progress?”

Rachel gave her a warm smile, tone softening. “I heard my parents talking before they went to bed … my mom’s talking about officially adopting you if it’s something you’d like.”

She slowed to a stop, eyes widening.

“Yeah, really,” Rachel chuckled before she could ask. “We’ll have to look into a few things, and it was just a few comments, but I know my mother … well, I’m pretty sure I do.” She mumbled, looking to the left.

“We’ll be—sisters?”

“Real sisters,” Rachel replied, opening her arms.

Scarlet stepped forward, numb as her arms slowly closing around her sister’s back, body starting to tremble. Her tears mixed into Rachel’s sports bra, face pressing into her chest. The pain and guilt remaining in her heart dissolved as a new hope sparked in her heart.

They stood on the sidewalk for over fifteen minutes with strangers, giving them odd looks as they passed. Once her emotions settled, Scarlet whispered. “I’ve been lying—saying I’m fine. I’ve been feeling so…” Her throat caught.

“I know, but I’m here for you. Sisters forever, right—I’ll even watch that Japanese crap with you if you want.”

She laughed, nose burning as her tears continued to cycle. “Thank you—thank you…”

Pulling away, Rachel gave her a wink, tears in her own eyes. “So, umm, actually, a lot might have changed with Anthony and me. We got into a playful game.”

Rachel laughed as Scarlet smeared her blood across her cheeks. “You said that,” she smirked. “What type of game?”

She hummed, using the back of her hand to clear her own face. “Most attractive features; not a puffy face, of course.”

“Right?”

“Well, without a doubt, I won!”

“Of course! Man, you’re super excited about that,” she giggled. “Okay, tell me all about it!”

They made their way back to the FBI building; Rachel guided them to the frustrated agents, looking for them all night. Her new family was already asleep, so they prepared for bed, and both used the queen-sized inflatable mattress their parents had brought, quickly drifting into their dreams.