Kierra

Turning back to the counter, I once again glare at the glass bottle. Faline had come back out and is giving me a weird look.

"Mkay animals, first, I need to know if alcohol is going to have any adverse effects on the terminally furry. Second, Faline, try it."

She frowns and looks at it mournfully, shaking her head. One thing I got from her head is that her taste buds are all different now, things tasting nothing like how they should. She may not be able to drink this, but a quick swish could be interesting.

"Alcohol has little to no effect on Weres, our metabolism works any effects out before they can stick. Unless it's some weird-ass concoction that's over two hundred proof. Shifters also have to take in a large amount before they can even get a buzz. Vampires..."

Xavier had spoken up, which has me startling and looking over, frowning. Standing on two legs once more with a towel around his waist, a safety pin is hooked into the side keeping it closed. I smirk and look back into his face.

"Didn't like your skirt?"

I get a cocky grin in response.

"Wasn't quite my style."

Snorting, I watch as Benjamin works his way closer to the kitchen, eyeballing the bottle.

"Benji? You okay?"

Looking up, he nods but then his eyes go right back down to the glass. I glance over at my sister who just shrugs. I push it over to her and point to it.

"From what I saw in your head I know you were experimenting with different flavors to find one that wouldn't be horrible to your tastes. I doubt you can drink it, but dab it on your tongue. From the remembered reactions you had, I think you may be surprised."

She frowns but comes closer, getting out a small shallow plate where she pours a little onto. Breathing a sigh as if she knows she's going to be disappointed, a finger dips in and goes to her tongue.

Everyone watches her curiously, Benji even more so as if he also wants to know. Her face is scrunched up as if waiting for it to be horrific, but after a minute of rolling the taste around, she looks pleasantly surprised. I give her a smug smile as she looks at me.

She slides the plate over to the other Vamp who looks a little skeptical but tries it. From the way he had looked, I'd wager he misses alcohol something fierce. Dabbing in a thumb, he swipes it across his tongue.

Little sister dips in again and starts dancing around as if she just discovered chocolate for the first time. Benjamin's face is also one of remembered bliss and surprise all at once as he also goes in for more. I laugh as I watch them, the males across the room looking at us all as if we're insane. Upon seeing it, she tries to explain.

"Okay, from what I've been able to learn by trial and much error, a human's taste buds are also changed when they're converted. They become much more sensitive. A pepper will literally set your mouth on fire with water making it a lot worse. A strawberry's sourness is magnified ten times. Chocolate... Chocolate tastes awful."

I share a mournful look with her on that one.

"I didn't even think to try the red wines that I had been using in some of the foods I made."

My head shakes at her while I think of how to explain logically.

"I'm guessing those wouldn't taste all that great either. This is a low alcohol content that has a fruit additive. The flavors balance each other so both sweet, sour, and the bite of alcohol can combine on heightened receptors and be pleasing instead of overwhelming."

I get enclosed in a hug as my sister makes a weird sound. I look over to Maii who just has his mouth open wide in a canine grin, her happiness clearly making him happy.

No one's able to resist their laughter when she starts dancing around like a dork again. Even Benjamin who had to push the plate away after several dabs. I poke at him in teasing fun.

"How is it you figured this out when Vampires have not?"

He asks and I just shrug, not sure how to explain, but make an attempt.

"I'm guessing because the same reason Faline had stopped trying; lost hope. I read in her memories how each thing had tasted and felt. It's much the same after you've burned your tongue or have gotten it pierced for the first time. Things always change, it's just finding that balance that works."

He gives me a large smile, flashing fang at me. I smile back warmly as I take another small drink. There's nothing wrong with it, I just wasn't expecting it when I first pulled it out, not paying attention.

The same thing had gone through my head when I first asked Xavier about chocolate for canine Weres. Wasn't sure if alcohol would have bad consequences. I'll keep it around for her, just have to make sure Bastion especially stays out of it.

He was willing to before, but seeing their reactions, I'm afraid he'll get the wrong idea. Same for Maii. Looking over at them, I hope it's something I don't have to hide from them. Bastion doesn't look interested at all, Maii is curious, but I think it's more over Faline's reaction than the actual drink itself.

Seeing as how drinkage is low as well as food, not to mention the other stuff I need to get, I look over to the Vamp male. Without my vehicle here and mom coming over in a few hours, I ask another favor from him.

"Benji? Could I possibly get you to take me to the store before you leave? My jeep is still at the bordello and our mom is coming over later. Need to grab some stuff before she gets here."

I dart my eyes over to my sister then the windows, he picks it up and nods, giving me a smile. Walking over to Bastion, I run my hand through his soft hair, asking him if it would be alright if he stays here with everyone while I make the errand. His eyes are shadowed, but he nods.

His hands turn into fists that I pick up and put to my cheeks, reiterating that no one here will leave him and that I will be back. I know it's too soon to be leaving after the talk I just gave him not that long ago, but this is really important. My explaining that to him gets me a smile and a nod, especially when I mention it's going to be a little difficult to have mom over if Faline can't even be upstairs.

I want to keep our mother as much in the dark as possible so she isn't in any danger. Not to mention it will crush her. Will be hard enough to explain when she really gets up there in age and neither of us ages a day more than what we are now.

Grabbing up my list, I get Xavier's sizes and a rough estimate of what Maii's are. Going to have to guess in shoe size for him by what I recall in seeing of his feet. Which isn't much. Just have to go for a bigger size and work back.

Since both pairs of my boots are now gone, I have to wear tennis shoes. I hate shoes. My scowling and griping at them has Bastion smiling and Faline rolling her eyes.

Grabbing my keys and wallet, I leave my phone with her, Benji showing he has his with him. Debating on switching to jeans before just saying screw it, I grab a light coat that has inside pockets to put my wallet in and put the keys in the sweatpants pockets.

Waving to everyone as a whole as I walk out after the tall Vamp, the snow is still coming down, and a little heavier than it had been at first. Benjamin's car, which is actually an SUV, is set so high, I have to almost jump into it.

His smirk at me gets him a punch to the arm, which just makes him laugh. I seem to be amusing as hell tonight.

This morning.

Whatever.

"Just couldn't wait to be alone with me again, could ya?"

I scoff at him as I buckle up, preceding to tell him to drive, or I will.

"Sure you could reach the pedals?"

My eyes narrow at him, but he just grins, starting it up. Checking the time on his dash and looking towards the cloudy sky, I get a little nervous that he'll be cutting it very close. His windows are tinted pretty dark, but UV rays won't care much.

"Just how deadly is sunlight to Vamps?"

Asking for both him and so I know for my sister, she had burned just on the run to the vehicle, but I need to know the extent.

"Very. Within minutes of being exposed, we're nothing but ash. The older the Vamp the faster it happens."

I nod. Sister will have a little time, but not much, and it will only shorten as she ages.

"I'm guessing sunblock isn't a thing?"

"You watch too many movies. We do not sparkle and sunblock is a joke since it's not like you can put it on your head if you have hair, let alone your eyeballs. We can be up during the day, obviously, just not in the light. We're weakened during this time as well."

Nodding, I motion him to continue. Not looking for trade secrets, just need to know all I can so I can protect my sister better.

"Vampires do sleep, but only need a few hours as long as we aren't exhausted. Items like holy water, mirrors, coffins or dirt, garlic, and turning to mist are all hogwash. We aren't creatures of the devil or come from hell. There are many different stories of what and where we come from though, no one's entirely sure or just speculating. The holy items though, they will work if the belief behind them is strong. An atheist holding a cross at me would just get him laughed at. Doesn't have to be just a cross, any holy symbol works, the belief behind it is what counts."

Think I'm going to have to write this all down when I get home, just to keep everything straight.

"Only the very old ones have knowledge of what we are and they aren't very chatty. The whole coffins and dirt thing I know came from centuries ago, it having been safer to sleep in or underground so there was no risk of exposure to sunlight. Stakes to the heart can kill, just as it can kill you. Same with chopping off heads. I don't know of a single creature that cutting the head off of will not kill it, same with fire."

He thinks a moment then amends what he claimed.

"I guess there are those who can survive the staking, but they'd have to be really powerful and you probably don't want to be around them period, and those with the ability to control fire could probably survive through it just by keeping it away from their bodies."

I turn in my seat to face him, bringing up a leg to get comfortable. Whenever I'm a passenger I always have to have one leg up. It's a rule. Watching his profile in the dark as we go under street lights, don't think I ever really appreciated just how handsome Benjamin is.

Then again, I think my damn hormones are on the fritz. Experience earlier really not helping matters.

"Vampires have abilities like that?"

He nods, glancing over after I finish wiggling around. Never been in his vehicle before, so not used to the seats. His scent is strong within, so I roll the window down a bit.

Guess that's one way to cover your scent; drown your own in that of a stronger smelling Vamp. Not saying he reeks, just that he's probably had this car for a long time and been in it when he's been in tiger form. My constant shifting around has him sending me looks.

"These seats aren't made for the way I'm sitting, bear with me."

Chuckling, he moves things around on the middle console, it being one of those that work as a hidey-hole to put smaller stuff in. Files are tossed onto the back seat with practiced ease and stashing pens and smaller notepads into the console compartment.

After it's full, he closes it. With the armrest lifted up, the cushioned compartment is almost flush even with the seats. Making a small sound of happiness, I'm able to get one leg brought up comfortably.

Sending me a charm-filled grin, I snoop a look at his backseat. File folders, a briefcase, and several books are stashed on it. No fast food bags or coffee stains. A thicker blanket and leather coat are laid out though.

"Okay, I get most of the items back there, but what's the blanket for?"

It reminds me of the bigger one that Orion had tossed back for Faline that smelled heavily of his lion. Animal requirement?

"Safety measure if I'm out longer than planned, as well as something to lay on when in tiger form in here."

Makes sense. Although the picture of a giant tiger cuddling up with a blanket is frankly kind of adorable. Wasn't able to quite stifle my grin in time, he looks at me in question.

Instead of answering, I get into the compartment and tug out one of the smaller paper pads and a pen. Closing it again, I lean back against the door and start doodling on a blank page as he drives, sending me curious glances.

"Mind telling me what store I'm going to?"

"Oh, yeah. Guess that would be helpful, eh? The big shopping center on Riverside."

He switches lanes, scowling as a slow driver pulls in front of him. Kind of works for me though since it's less jarring to my doodle. The smirk on my face has him getting antsy as I keep looking up, just to make him squirm.