Blood and Silver: First Bite

Tell All

The girls sat at the diner after school drinking bubblegum milkshakes and sitting at the furthest booth in the corner, out of earshot of everyone else.

‘Ugh I hate this booth!’ Said Hannah. ‘You can almost feel the cringy make out vibes from all the pimply teenagers that have sat here before! These seats are all sticky!’ She continued, taking a pack of wet wipes out of her handbag and wiping furiously at the seats.

‘Han, seriously, you do realise we’re still teenagers, right?’ Chuckled Abigail.

‘Yeah, but you know what I mean. I feel dirty sitting here!’ Hannah laughed.

Abigail didn’t know what on earth she was going to tell Hannah, so she just started from the beginning. She told her about Mrs Smirnova giving her the necklace and saying it would protect her. About the thing in the woods, the bite, her healing, and all the mention of werewolves in Mrs Smirnova’s books. She told her about Mrs Smirnova being some kind of witch. She even mentioned the sparks that occurred when Jackson touched her. Hannah looked at her incredulously.

‘I’m sure it’s just coincidences. And reasonable explanations!’ Hannah protested.

‘I mean you said Mrs Smirnova was a strange old woman. She was probably losing her marbles. And maybe whatever bit you didn’t bite you that hard. Maybe it wasn’t even your blood and it was just from an injured animal? And maybe Jackson didn’t want you to say anything because it was his pet that bit you, and he didn’t want animal control to take it away and put it to sleep!’ She protested, her mind racing with possibilities. ‘And there might’ve been a lot of static in the air that day. It happens! Maybe your necklace reacted to the chemicals in your perfume. Come on Abigail, there’s gotta be a reason explanation for all of it.’

‘Maybe,’ said Abigail pensively.

‘But he wasn’t all that interested in the bite until it went away. Why would he worry about me saying anything to anyone about something that didn’t seem to exist?’ She asked.

‘I can’t help but feel that there’s something more to it.’

They heard the jingle of the bell above the door, and looked up to make sure no one was coming to sit near them.

Abigail froze. It was him. Jackson and her locked eyes and he smiled, making a beeline for her.

‘Hey Abigail!’ He said brightly, and turned to Hannah. ‘Hi, I’m Jackson.’ He announced, reaching his hand out to shake hers.

‘Hannah.’ She said, shaking his hand. All of the anger she had over him ghosting her friend seemed to disappear. She felt small in his presence, and although he didn’t make her feel uncomfortable, something about him felt commanding and demanding of respect.

Abigail just stared at him, trying her best to let her annoyance at his radio silence show on her face, rather than the total awe and wanting she was feeling inside.

Jack noticed her faux angry face.

‘So yeah I looked all over the woods and couldn’t find your phone, sorry about that. I meant to come over here earlier and let you know but some work stuff came up and I’ve been out of town for a while.’

His words seemed to make everything okay, so Abigail let her guard down, and her lust for Jackson was clear to see in her eyes. He seemed to pick up on her and gave her a cheeky grin.

‘So, what are you two up to?’ He asked, his eyes glancing down at the Russian book.

‘История оборотня и защита’ he read out loud, in a perfect Russian accent.

‘I have the English version of that book. It’s a bunch of old wive’s tales, very entertaining read.’ He said.

‘Really?’ Asked Abigail excitedly. And English version would be even better than getting their translated. ‘Could I borrow it, please?’ She asked.

Jackson laughed. ‘Sure, but you won’t find anything useful in there. It’s a bunch of ramblings from some old wannabe witches. Quite funny actually.’

Abigail and Hannah shot each other a glance.

‘Look, I can see the bond between the two of you, I know you’ve told her everything about that night in the woods, including the shoulder injury I asked you to keep to yourself, but if you want answers, there’s better places than that book. By the way, what is the penalty for breaking a pinky promise?’ He asked, half angry and half jokingly. He wasn’t lying, he did notice the bond between them, as it seemed to surround them in a glow, as if they were linked by some otherworldly force. It was a bond he recognised.

‘Caught me!’ Said Abigail, putting her hands up. ‘I can’t keep anything from Hannah. But yes, I’d like answers please.’

Jackson nodded. ‘I wouldn’t expect you to keep anything from her, she’s part of your pack. So I guess I’ll have to tell both of you everything!’ He winked.

Both girls thought that ‘pack’ was a strange word to use, but put it down to Jackson having a different upbringing to them as he had lived in the town all life, and had been exposed to a vernacular that they had not.

‘Do you remember how to get to my cabin?’ He asked. Abigail shook her head, so he grabbed her notepad and pen off the table and started to jot down a map and directions.

‘GPS won’t find it, you’ll have to go old school.’ He chuckled. ‘Come over to my place on Friday after school.’

Abigail was in the middle of agreeing when Hannah stopped them.

‘Friday isn’t good.’ She said.

Jackson looked at her, perplexed.

‘It’s Abbie’s Birthday.’ Turning to Abigail she said ‘I know you don’t want a party but I do have something small and intimate planned for you.’

Jackson looked at them both. ‘Your Birthday, huh? So how old will you be?’

‘Eighteen!’ Abigail blurted out, half excited that she was telling him that she was legal.

His face dropped. Was she too young for him?

‘I have to go.’ He said abruptly. ‘We’ll make a plan soon, I just have some work that needs to be taken care of urgently.

Abigail and Hannah looked at each other incredulously. What the hell just happened?

Abigail looked at the notepad with directions to the cabin. She folded the sheet of paper and put it on her handbag.

‘See,’ said Hannah, interrupting her thoughts. ‘He’s an idiot.’