The Witch's Brew

Chapter Twelve: Silas

I growl when I hear my cell phone ringing. I didn’t even have to look to see who it was

“Hello, mother.”

“Silas! Baby, I miss you so much!” Her grating voice cooed on the other end of the line, “My baby boy, are you taking care of yourself? Are you almost ready to come home?”

“Mom, no, I’m still working through my blood addiction… and finding who I am in the process.”

“Well, your sister told me uh that she’s worried about you…”

“Mom, I am fine, okay, I get it, I’m the baby, and you worry about me because of that and my addiction, but I’m fine… really.”

“Sweetie, you sure?”

I sighed heavily and then groaned into the receiver. “Yes, Mom, I’m sure. Just busy finding myself.”

“Well, your sister said something about you seeing uh some people…”

“Yeah, and before you start lecturing. I am thinking about keeping clean.”

My mind wandered yesterday, and the way I caved and drank some of Iris’ Blood. I couldn’t tell my mom that she’d be furious. I leaned against the hallway of my small rental cabin.

“Well, that’s good. I’m proud of you, Silas. Keep up the good work, and if you need anything, just remember I’m only a phone call away.”

“Yeah, thanks, mom.”

I hung up the phone and sighed as my shoulders slumped. My head hung forward. What the f**k am I gonna do? What if I can’t overcome this addiction, and I keep feeding off of Iris? What if I end up feeding off of Kai? What would werewolf blood do to me…

I pushed myself off from the wall and walked down the short hallway. I made my way back into the living room. My gums felt like they were on fire. My fangs begged to be released from the slit behind my eye teeth. I needed blood, and I needed it now. I was pacing back and forth in front of the leather love seat as my hands gripped the side of my head near my temples.

“f**k I can’t keep doing this to myself!”

The next thing I remembered was the white-hot searing pain as my fist made contact with the wall. My skin split at the knuckles as blood slowly trickled down my fingers. I hiss as I pull my fist from the dent I made.

“f**k it all to hell and back!”

I head into the bathroom for the first aid kit. I cleaned my hand up and bandaged it with a wrap. The pain in my knuckles slowly started to subside as my accelerated healing started to kick in. I left the bathroom and grabbed my car keys.

“I need a f*****g drink.”

I walk into the bar, and Iris’ face brightened up, and her smile reached her ears.

“Silas!”

I smiled at her, and I couldn’t help but feel like my spirits lifted with her bubbly personality. I perched myself on the bar stool. I sighed as I rubbed my temples. A small groan escaped past my lips. When I noticed her gaze fell to my bandaged hand.

“What happened to your hand? Did you get into a fight?”

God’s she was so kind…. I shook my head as I slumped over on the stool. “Nah, I got mad and punched a wall. My hand should be just about healed.”

She looked at me and smiled. Her lip twitched upward on one side. It felt like she could see into my soul, which only made my face flush. She was trying to peel back the layers I had so carefully built over time, where I had crafted lies. That was the only way I knew how to keep my addiction from my family. Until even that exploded, and Amelia saw me feeding on some poor sap back in a New York City alleyway.

“I’m fine now, so please don’t worry, Iris… I f**k… I just had a bad morning, that’s all.”

“Hey, it’s good, I’m just glad you’re okay, is all.”

She reached her hand out for mine and squeezed it. A small smile tugged at her lips.

“Is there anything I can get you?”

“Whiskey straight, please.”

She had given me a subtle nod of her head as she poured my drink. The music playing on the overhead radio was soothing, some random jazz song. I tapped my foot along with the beat while I threw back the whiskey. I needed to feel the burn as it glided down my throat.

“So you wanna tell me what’s bothering you?”

“Nah, not right now… Just a lot on my mind…”

She gave me another quick nod. Her brow creased, and her fingers tapped on the bar top that reminded me of a nervous tic. Was she really that worried about me? I looked away as guilt ate me inside out. I didn’t want to cause her worry, but I also wasn’t good at voicing my emotions, and I don’t want her to see me as weak.

“Promise, I’m fine. You don’t have to worry your pretty little head ‘bout me ‘kay?”

“You sure you’re fine?”

I nodded. “Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye.”

“Okay, but if you ever need to talk, I’m here for you. You know that, right?”

Another small nod in her direction. “Yeah, I know that, baby.”

She smiled. “Good, and don’t you forget it!” She giggled a little as she went to take care of another customer.

I chuckled and shook my head as I watched her work. f**k she’s perfect. I can’t believe I found her and Kai, too. I couldn’t pull my gaze away from her as she kept working. The way she interacted with customers and the way she carried herself with confidence made my heart pound. She was a beauty, and she was one of the kindest people I have ever met.

“Hey, Iris, when you get a chance, can I have another whiskey?”

“Yeah, give me a second!”

As she smiled, her eyes creased, and it felt like she was glowing with how her face lit up. It was contagious, and I couldn’t help but smile back. She finished up cleaning a now-empty table and made her way back to the bar to pour me the whiskey I asked for.

“Do you want it straight again?”

“Yes, please.”

She flashed me another blinding smile as she finished pouring me the drink. “Enjoy.”

“Thanks, beautiful.”

I throw back the whiskey and grimace when it burns the lining of my throat.

“Just what I needed.”