“Give me a ten-minute head start, okay?”
I nod, unable to speak. There’s a roaring waterfall in my head as my blood rushes, readying me for the hunt.
Elodie disappears down the stairs to the lawn. She walks to the treeline and stops to pull off her dress. The fading sunlight cups her curves, outlining her in gold. She’s no longer human but otherworldly. A goddess of the forest.
Then she steps into the shadows and becomes real. She hangs the dress on the tree, smiles back at me, and slips into the woods.
I pull out the item she put in my pocket. It’s a black hood with a skull painted on the front. Suddenly, I’m too hot.
But I wait. She gave me a fancy watch and a black turtleneck for Christmas after Kaiser and I had made fun of the big city fiancé’s watch and clothes in one of the movies. I don’t wear the turtleneck, but I like the watch. I half expected her to put “Big City Fiancé” on the back, but instead, she put “Big Bad Wolf” with a little heart, followed by “Bunny.”
It’s my second favorite gift, and I’ll treasure it forever.
After ten minutes, I pull off the watch and put it on the railing. Kaiser will see it and make sure it gets back to me. If I wear it, it might get broken. I’m going to be careful and watch out for Elodie’s ankle, and she’ll hold back because of my gunshot wound, but still, things are going to get rough.
I pull off my shirt. The cool air hits my skin, but I’m still too hot. I wait until I’m about to enter the forest to pull on the hood. Before I do, I sniff the breeze. The scent of Elodie’s arousal hangsin the air. I grab her dress and bring it to my face, inhaling it. So sweet. So excited and ready for me.
I drop the dress and pull on the hood. My world grows dark, my vision narrowing to the trail ahead. Finally, I lope into the forest to hunt, find, and claim my perfect prey.
Kaiser
A glintof silver brings me out onto the deck again. Jaeger left his watch on the railing. I pick it up and pocket it. The woods are silent, betraying no secrets, but I know Jaeger’s out there, hunting hiselita.
I could stand out here and wish for things I don’t have, or I can go inside and drink. So I head back inside. I walk right behind the bar and grab a whole bottle. The bartender only smiles at me. I almost wish he’d start something.
I need a good fight. I need to shed some blood and feel some pain. To know I’m alive.
The liquor burns, but it’s not enough. If pain is going to be the only pleasure I have, I want more. A lot more.
But out here at the Lodge, I’m surrounded by Fraternitas. My found family. I don’t want to fuck up anyone’s happiness more than I already have. The last time I did that, Jaeger almost died.
I’m done with that.
I’ve always been the angry twin. I’ve had to be, to make sure my brother and I survived.
Jaeger doesn’t hold onto things. He never has. He lets life roll off his back and finds his happiness where he can. He’s like a hero in one of those fucking movies.
I’m glad he found happiness with her. But on days like today, it only serves to remind me there’s no happiness to be had for someone like me.
“Kaiser.” St. James is at my side. He’s such a quiet fucker. Always has been. He was smaller than the rest of us as a boy. We protected him because some people are giants, even though they’re small. And his intellect has saved us all.
“St. James.” I lift the bottle in a mock toast. We have him to thank for all of this—the Lodge, the wealth, the power. But I’m not feeling grateful.
“Come with me to the library. I have something to show you.”
“What?” I grunt, but I follow him to the room lined floor to ceiling with old books. I never come in here, but it’s nice. I don’t read, but I like the smell of leather and paper.
I set the bottle down on a side table. St. James drifts over and repositions the bottle on a coaster because he’s civilized like that.
“I have something for you.” He takes a square piece of paper out of his pocket and sets it on the table.
“What’s this?” I ask without looking at it.
“A job.”
I need a job. I need something to take my mind off everything.
The piece of paper is a photograph of a girl with a backpack, smiling shyly at the camera. Her hands are tight on the backpack straps like she’s nervous, but there’s a wistful light in her eyes.
