Manipulations

Romero

It did not seem I was helping Charlene at all. Every day, I would give her some of my power to make her feel happy and at peace when she woke up. For some reason, it did not last long. At some point during the day, her body would expel it. It was more like controlling the mind for a time. No one there ever got to the point where they were as sad as she had been a few days ago. I had never seen anyone cry. If I could only talk to her, but my parents had forbidden me to. They did not trust her completely… I stood over her bed. My finger lightly touched her scalp. I wanted to but decided that day I was going to leave it. See how she would be and react if she was not half-drugged.

It was early morning. I had a full day ahead but wanted to be there when she woke up. So, I started making breakfast. It was nothing more than putting a few things on the table. When she walked out of the room, I could smell it. She was bleeding.

Before she could even say anything. I walked over to a rope hanging on the wall. A servant appeared, and I asked for one of my sisters. When Charlene was more able to control herself, my sister gave her a whole wardrobe of clothes. Seeing Charlene in our garments every day made it even harder for me. My feelings for her were growing. The idea that she would fit into my life was appealing. It could be so easy.

"Miriam will be here to help you with your cycle." 

"Thank You. I wanted to say… If I could be in my Vampire form for a few days, it might go by faster… They don't have as much blood in their veins. Or so Juliet told me." 

My eyes cast to the floor. We did not talk to women about things like that. Certain things on our planet were not culturally accepted. She could see my discomfort and left the room. I felt terrible. I had pushed her away. Charlene had been the perfect guest in every way… But a few times, she had brought up Juliet… I could never get myself to start asking her about her life. I wanted her to forget everyone there and begin to think about staying. 

Miriam came in with a few things in her arms. I nodded to Charlene's room, and she passed me.

***

Charlene

Well, that couldn't have been any more embarrassing. I guess he wasn't going to buy me tampons at the store if I ever needed them, not like Kubra. Since thinking about Kubra waking up from his branding sleep, I knew I had to go back. I just wasn't. What would Miriam bring me to get over those days? If it was more rags, I would freak out. Going to the toilet and wiping with some scratchy cloth wasn't my idea of comfort. After I needed to rinse it out. The servants did some of the work, but…. Not all of the work. Pooping was already something to get used to. Leaves would've been worse… I was missing a toilet, something fierce. At least the vamps had indoor plumbing. Juliet had the best of the planets. I never got around to asking her what they used on Palmyra. 

Miriam walked in with a mountain of rags. I groaned inwardly and changed immediately. For the first time, I had gone back into my Vampire form. If Romero wasn't going to help me… I would decide. If I had to stay like that for two days, it would be fine. Bleeding for six days and having to clean up and stay in my room bored to death wasn't my idea of fun. She also had a pot. I rolled my eyes. Did they not get hemorrhoids if they sat on that thing for hours. All their lives… For how ever long they lived. 

She was startled when she saw me like that. I smiled to reassure her I was friendly. "I'm sorry…." I hissed. Not used to talking like that. My lips were pulled up. I ran my hand over my face. The hairy ears would be something to get used to. The skin around my nose and brow was tight and wrinkled. I reached for the two big slits up my nasal passage that Juliet complained so much about. My teeth nicked my palm. "Ouch."

On En-gannim and the compound, all the men were always in Vampire form. The women… Always in human form. I didn't care what species you were. No woman would willingly want to look like that. I liked the feeling of control that came with it... My mind was alert and focused on everything. After that came the power… Not so much strength but the need to dominate… Oh no… The lust hit me like a punch to the stomach. I fell to my knees, unable to control the rush of emotions. Almost dizzy, I clenched my thighs together. "Aaaa. What was that?" A stupid rhetorical question from the sheer shock. My body knew what that was. Was that how Kubra felt most of the time. My nails dug into my hands. I laughed lightly, trying to control myself. Kubra would not be able to survive if he were there. Miriam rushed over, placing a hand on my shoulder. 

"What is the matter. Are you having pains?"

I shook my head… "Nothing to do with my cycle… Thank You for helping me."

"It is a pleasure for me to help you. We see you as family. Romero has never shown interest in a woman before, and we are very happy for both of you."

My black eyes shot up. The world was strangely gray… My mind was racing. I hoped she couldn't see the concern on my features. Was I on another planet where the women were forced into marriage? I had been there for almost two weeks… Romero was so meditative, and I never knew what he was thinking. I thought it was a cultural thing… The touching. The comforting. I thought he was being polite… If Romero liked me… would he let me go? Were they lying about being able to get off the planet? At least I had no more fear flare-ups. The confidence I had like that turned my cowardice immediately into something I could not place yet. 

"What do you mean," I asked as sweetly as I could. Nothing was sweet about feeling like that. Looking like that. I wanted something but couldn't put my finger on it. What was I feeling?

"Romero has never had a woman." She stated plainly.

"Had a woman?"

"Mating?"

"What? But he's ancient."

She smiled. "Yes… He is almost five hundred."

"What?"

She laughed a little. 

"He has never… mated with anyone?" I asked. 

She shook her head. When she did, I knew what I was feeling… It was a venomous desire to maliciously turn my head away from compassion. I had no empathy. "How does that even work?"

"We have ways of making ourselves feel better… It is when we stop that we channel our feelings into our mates." 

"I don't think masturbating for hundreds of years would ever work where I came from." 

"Masturbating?"

"Satisfying yourself… Your needs." 

She smiled. "That is not what I meant. That we keep for the bedroom and is performed by the other person."

I stared blankly at her. She stretched out her arm and lifted the nightshirt I had on. I didn't move. Miriam placed a flat hand on my stomach. Her skin started to form golden veins around her fingers, growing across the surface of her skin up her arms until they sat in her eyes and turned a bright, solid metallic color. Glowing. She was doing something to me. The familiar feeling I had getting up every morning washed over me. Immediate contentment.

I cussed out loud and pulled away from her. I grabbed a rag and pushed it down the underwear they had given me. Panties were another thing I was missing. I wanted to strut out of the room. Her hand rested on my shoulder. I spun around. That time, her eyes were a slight red… My anger was gone in a split second. "F-," I yelled. 

"Is that what he has been doing to me all this time." 

Miriam's guilt-ridden features looked away from me, and busy hands followed. "Romero is not at home anymore. He has a full day. You have the house to yourself… Men and women here do not talk about everything…" She stopped moving around, "You would not have seen him do it, either. He is a master at controlling our abilities… The fact that he did it at all… It tells me that he likes you more than we thought."

I sat down on the floor. If I messed on the bed. I would have to clean it.

"I will leave. You probably wish me gone."

When she used her power on me, the feelings were brief, so sudden, and left again as quickly as they came. In Vampire form, no one was going to control me. I understood why the people were so oppressed on En-gannim. It would take a whole lot to make anyone do what they were told. No wonder he never wanted me in my vampire form. The anger and irritation scratched under my skin. I dragged my black nails through my hair. 

***

For two days, I sat there cooped up in a room or walked around the house as soon as Romero left. And he did leave early and came back late at night to avoid me… It was biblical times all over. Shunned for being unclean. Miriam told me to stay in the house. Being a Vampire didn't help my emotional equilibrium, but it stopped my period by the end of the second day. I went to bed, sighing with relief. I also didn't want to come anywhere near Romero again, thinking how he manipulated me… I also decided to stay a Vampire that night, whether I was going to try and kill him or not. Hated the fact that he had come into my room and touched me while I was sleeping… That was why he was so surprised in the street. When I reached out to him. Why I felt better and stopped crying so quickly. Was I subconsciously wanting it from him? I turned onto the mattress and screamed. 

"Charlene? Are you okay?" He asked from the door.

"I'm fine. Go away." 

I missed Kubra so much at that moment. At least he was honest to a fault. He would never hurt me or force me in any way. I heard Romero leave and go into his own room. I manifested into a Riphath. I sat up happy and, contented and blissfully ignorant. My human mind scoffed at my one form that could sit in a desert and do nothing all day long… Was being a Vampire the key. I had to tap into my emotions… Not my mind and stupid self-control. Like Romero had been trying to teach me. I had changed a few times. Try to practice teleporting… It was sporadic and happened at the oddest times. At least I knew why. I was being drugged.

I went back and forth between all three... Stood up as a Riphath and thought about Romero. I was so angry at him. The only reason I could control my manifestations was… Because he could not get close to me for the last few days. All I saw was red. I was in his room. I had teleported. It had worked. My vampire was somehow connected to all my forms.

His shirt was off, and he was only in whatever they wore for sleeping. It didn't leave much for the imagination. The pants hugged his waist. His thighs and other parts bulged under the thin material. I turned to a Vampire, just in case he tried his ability on me. His features hardened even more if it was at all possible. 

"Don't think about it," Romero yelled.

"Why not?"

"I don't want you to leave. Please do not think about leaving… Or you will."

"I'm not here for your amusement."

"No… You're here for the throne." 

***

Kubra

My eyes flickered open. I was confused, but the unbearable burning in my chest had ceased. Where I was. I waved my hand in the air. If it put the lights on, I was on En-gannim. It worked. I reached out, "Charlene?"

Carl came through the door.

"Not who I wanted to see…" 

"We have bigger problems. Charlene has been missing for two weeks. She changed and disappeared, just like Michael." 

"I told her not to do it." I fell back down on the bed. 

"You're not even worried?"

"What do you want me to do. Freak out and run around like a headless chicken."

"Do you Vampires care at all."

"You can hardly point a finger. You couldn't even kiss her in the cave… Leave any opportunity you get. No wonder she clung to me."

"Oh! We're having this discussion?! Great lets… You guys haven't slept together. How long has it been?"

I rubbed my forehead with my hand. "Did Juliet tell you?"

"Don't be stupid. I know Charlene better than you. You guys never slept together at the bonfire. She ended up being too drunk. After that, if you guys did… She would've been different with you and me… And don't forget that night we almost kissed again."

I lost it. More than I usually would. The bond the branding had created had bumped up my drive to a whole other level. I jumped over the bed and grabbed him by the neck. Carl had been training. My arm was off him in a second. I had thought I would pin him easily. He was already a big guy, and we started going at it. Things were breaking, and then the door opened. 

"Kubra?" Miné's little voice rang out over the room. We both stopped immediately. I landed on one knee and held open my arms. She ran into them, hugging me. Then she turned and held out her arms to Carl. He took her smiling, bouncing her up and down. "When is mommy coming home. I miss her." Carl gave her a big hug. Warden was standing at the door, leaning on the frame, shaking his head. "Why are you fighting?" She asked. 

"Just wrestling… We were practicing… You've seen us fight before." I tried to save the situation.

She nodded. 

"Mommy will come home very soon," Warden said and came over and took her from Carl. "Come, little one. Let the men… talk." 

"No fighting," Miné whispered. 

I felt terrible. A little girl held all the power in the world over the men in her life. I sat on the bed and reached for the packet of cigarettes on the side table. The moment I pressed that thing into Charlene, I knew it had worked. I couldn't actually wrap my mind around it. I was almost sure she didn't love me… When Carl said he would do it… I almost walked away. I had thought she would say yes, regardless of my feelings. The thought of anyone else touching her made my blood boil. 

"If she was dead. I would be dead. She didn't appear at the Werewolves. They would have killed her on the spot. All we can do is give her time. Hope she figures it out."

"Kubra… You're feelings have changed."

I loved Charlene… Nothing had changed. Even if I had never known love. She invoked all those feelings in me. I was worried but still too irritated with her. I could be angry and in love. Stupid boy. The thought of her in some compromising position. Maybe alone on a planet wondering. Or even with some new race… I felt she deserved it. Whatever she was going through. When she came back… Things were going to change. I would have to put my foot down. Even if it was only one boundary at a time. The biggest one was standing right in front of me. 

"Kubra… I think we should talk about the possibility that she might… In the end, want more than one husband."

A pit formed in my stomach, hearing the words out loud. I needed to talk to someone… Charlene was now a creature… And… A Vampire and Werewolf all in one. How would we cross that bridge? 

***

I left Carl there, but he followed me anyway. "Where is everyone?" 

"Still in the medbay."

"Why?" I asked as the doors opened. 

"You're awake," Juliet said softly. She was still in bed. Everyone got up to meet me and say "hi." 

I stared at Juliet. Something had happened. "What's going on with you? What did you do?" I asked.

It seemed like Juliet wanted to cry. Carl walked over and hugged her. "Don't mind him. We had a little tiff about Charlene." 

"You did? So he not angry that she's gone?"

"No." Carl wiped under her eyes with his thumbs. He peeked at me over his shoulder. "I forgot to tell you, Juliet is pregnant, and it's Marcus's baby." 

"She's what! Why did no one say anything." 

"You were a little preoccupied that day… Felt it wasn't the best time." Juliet whispered.

All my anger washed out the window. I picked Juliet up and spun her around. I was so happy for Marcus. Wanted to cry… "Are you really going to be a father?" Marcus nodded. I pulled him into my arms. "Congratulations are in order… It's been a long road." He clapped me on the shoulder. "Where is Michael? Though he wouldn't let you out of his sight… Where is Jessy, come to think about it?"

"While you were sleeping… a lot happened," Juliet said.

The cries drew my attention. I knew those cries. "Juliet! What did you do? Is that a Chadari baby?" I asked without even turning around.

"It's Fahan's child." I pressed her arms tightly. "They have Michael… I wanted to exchange them, but… Fahan is still sleeping. They didn't want to do anything after the branding."

Fahan had branded his mate. I had to sit down. It was all a bit too much. Two weeks was too long… Too much happened in that family. If so much had happened there… What the heck was Charlene going through?

"You have no idea what you've done." I wanted to shake her. "Someone is going to get hurt. The question is just, who?" 

The room was quiet after that.