Just a Taste by Charlie Tran

Author:Charlie Tran [Tran, Charlie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-09-27T16:00:00+00:00

"So you were trespassing." His mother sipped on the cup of tea she had made, gently massaging the side of her temple as though she was trying to force the information in. Of course my pet had lied and left out a few details, but the outcome was the same as the true story.

"Yeah. It was so stupid, I shouldn't have listened to the guys."

"You're right, you shouldn't have. But then you were attacked by a wolf?" She looked up at him, her skepticism obvious.

"Yeah, just like Jake had been. Right?" He turned to me.

"He's correct."

"Jake did tell me he was worried you got bit. He thought the wolf had rabies, the way it was foaming at the mouth. Have you even been to the hospital? It bit you on the neck, you should get it sewn up!"

Duke jerked away from his mother's grasp as she tried to pull him closer and investigate the wound still healing on his throat. Just the thought of biting him there was making me hungry again. I'd been craving another taste since the first drop.

"I'm fine, Mom. Honest. Thanks to him."

"So, Sebastian. You saved my son from the dog, and he's been staying with you since? A stranger?" Her eyebrow raised curiously, giving me an up and down look.

"Correct. You must understand, Worj is a very small town. There isn't much help for hours around. We have a single clinic that suits our needs."

That skepticism never left, but I was thankful she didn't push the issue further.

"At least you're back home. Thank you for helping my son, Sebastian." She got up from her seat, heading into the kitchen again and grabbing the kettle that still sat on her cooking contraption. As she was out of earshot, I quickly stepped to Duke and grabbed him.

"Something down here stinks, it's burning my nose."

"You do look quite red," he replied, holding my face and turning it left and right, inspecting me.

"I haven't been red in decades." I harrumphed.

"You are super red, though. Is it… oh. My mom likes to hang up her herbs. Maybe it's the garlic?"

I hissed at the mention of such a putrid plant, trying to wave him away.

"I'll retreat up to your room again once you're ready to leave."

"Leave? Already? We just got here."

"What's going on?" his mother asked, approaching us with a new cup of steaming tea. We both looked towards her and pulled away as quickly as we had come together.

"N-nothing! He's allergic to garlic. Even the smell's making him red," Duke said with haste. He was so good at coming up with lies on the spot.

I wonder if he had yet lied to me…

"Poor dear. I have some anti-histamines upstairs, come on." His mother grabbed me by my arm as she passed me, attempting to drag me with her up the steps. As she made it to the first step, she paused. She hesitated as she slowly turned towards me, then to the wall.

To the small mirror.

"Mom, are you alright?" Duke asked, coming after us.

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