Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 57310 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57310 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
“Hey, so, just to make sure, have you taken any moonshine?” I asked.
“Never,” he replied just as the song ended.
“So,” he said, “now you believe me?”
He’d proven he wasn’t under the influence of moonshine, but now I had another unexpected issue to deal with. And it was a big one.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“Well?” Charlie pushed, wondering if I was going to help him or not.
We went back to our table and sat. I had to give his question serious thought, because while he’d proven he wasn’t on moonshine, the dancing trick also meant that some of my feelings back on the island hadn’t been drug induced.
That mystical, intense connection I’d felt while Stark and I danced had reached deep inside my bones, practically bringing tears to my heart. Not out of sadness or fear so much, but because being with him in that moment had felt like warmth on a frigid night, a fresh breeze on a hot, sticky summer day, or a spicy queso taco-lupa on an empty stomach after a long night shift. Or maybe it had been more like a life raft floating in an ocean of the unknown, because no matter where I was, or how bad things got, I knew he would always be there.
Point was, the feelings I’d experienced had been real, and it terrified me. Deeply.
I love a monster…
Worst of all, his actions had proven he didn’t feel any of those things I’d just mentioned. At least, not for me. And there was nothing more horrifying than having my heart irreversibly attached to someone who would use, manipulate, and harm me.
So what should I do? I couldn’t fix him or change myself to accept such a damaged man.
I can’t tell anyone. Not ever. This secret had to be taken to my grave. I mean, how could I convince anyone that vampires were evil if they knew I was genuinely in love with one?
“So?” Charlie pushed again.
“It’s incredible. The music and dancing really worked on my sister. How’d you figure that out?”
“I told you, not all vampires are bad. And luckily for us, we have a fairly ancient one on our side.” He leaned back in his chair triumphantly.
Well, it sure as hell wasn’t Stark helping out. He was all about saving himself.
“You ready?” Charlie produced a vial of golden liquid, the same color as our prize-winning whiskey. It had to be his tester batch of moonshine.
“Here? Now?” I looked around the room, checking to see if anyone was watching.
“I’m told the flavor isn’t great, so you can mix it with whatever you want.”
That must’ve been why Stark had given me the strawberry protein shake. He’d wanted to mask the flavor. And provide me with twenty-seven essential vitamins and minerals. How thoughtful, I thought sarcastically.
“Why put a pig in an Easter dress?” I grabbed the vial and removed the small black cap. The smell hit me like a bag of dirty underwear.
“Damn. What’s in it?” I asked and then swiftly held up my palm. “Wait. No. Don’t tell me.” Because it was probably something gross. At best, moonshine was an ancient narcotic, and like I’d said, I just wasn’t a fan of drugs. Doctor’s orders only, and even then, I was a pill about pills. Mother Nature had given me a fully functioning body, and I trusted her more than humans.
Except when it comes to the fact she made vampires. Why? Wasn’t like we humans didn’t have enough challenges.
Lately, we’d been turning against each other. Right, left. Young, old. Rich, poor. Those who were still drinking the Kool-Aid and those who were pretty darn pissed off at the masses drinking said Kool-Aid. All brought to us by the powers that be, just hoping we’d be too busy fighting amongst ourselves to notice they were about to help vampires conduct a major power grab, one that would put us all on the chopping block.
The only thing that could save us now was uniting against a common enemy. But could we get the word out around the entire world in time? And if we did, would enough people believe the truth?
I had to admit, either way I sliced this turd, it was still a turd. God, if we beat the vampires, you’d better not have ET showing up on my doorstep next.
“Here goes.” I threw back the vial of moonshine and swallowed, instantly gagging.
“Drink this.” Charlie pushed my coffee toward me.
I grabbed the brown mug and chugged, super thankful it was our normal lukewarm sock water. People didn’t come to the Flaming Rooster for a caffeine fix. They came for the strong drinks, new chest hair, and no-frills atmosphere.
“Bleh!” I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.
“How do you feel?” Charlie asked.
“Like I licked an overripe ball sack.”
“I won’t ask how you know what that tastes like, but any effect?”