Episode 18: "The Dinner Party."

"He's a freaking wuss!" Alicia yelled.

"Now, Alicia, he's only protecting you. He doesn't trust his family and the last thing he would want is for any of them to get wind of you."

She blew out in frustration. "I get that...but still! He could at least say something to me instead of just hauling me off like cattle!"

Ricky chuckled some as she packed her things. "Alicia, relax, it's only for one night. Maybe two if Christian's family get's greedy. That's rarely the case however. Not with Christian being firm on his one-night stay rule."

"You sure do seem to know a lot about him." Alica said, plopping down on her bed.

"Ah ah!" Ricky said.

"What!" Alicia shot up.

"Christian will be here in the morning. Start packing what you want to bring over, all right? Toothbrush, toothpaste, underwear, etc."

"It's only for two days. How much am I going to need?"

"You never know." Ricky said. "Always pack for the unexpected."

"Right." Alicia said. She walked over to her closet. "Say, since all of you guys senses are heightened, who's to say they won't smell me even if I'm not here?"

"That's a good point to make. But I'm sure Christian will take the necessary precautions of sealing off your room, seeing that he has quite a few. But I'm pretty sure he gave you a room that his family doesn't occupy when they are here."

"I hope so." Alicia said bringing her suitcase over.

Her jaw had gotten a lot better. There was still a mild bruise and a little pain, but she kept up with the jaw exercises her physical therapist reccommened dutifully. She didn't want to be a burden to anyone, especially herself. Plus, she loved to eat. She couldn't enjoy that if she was in pain everytime she chewed.

She placed her newly arrived uniforms in her suitcase, they having arrived in the mail. She assumed Christian was still keeping tabs on her, or at the very least keeping his business in order.

Ricky told her that Christian had sent her a text asking her if anything didn't fit to let her know so she could relay the information to him.

She had scoffed to herself hearing that, but she figured he still felt guilty. And the longer he stayed away from her the madder she got. She understood perfectly well, but that didn't stop the need for them to eventually meet each other, and she'd rather do that sooner than later.

She had tried on one outfit, the classic one and it fit her to a 'T'. The shoes were a perfect fit too. Too perfect but having a bigger size would make her feet look big and she'd rather deal with a perfect shoe size than have "godzilla sized" feet."

She went over to her drawer and packed the essentials and then quickly brought out everything she would need from the bathroom before she forgot. She went back and snagged her medicine before she forgot that too.

"What's your place like, Ricky?"

"Oh, it's a nice little apartment, condo. It's not as far as this place--Christian going out of his way to stay away from us all, ha-ha."

Alicia thought of the form she had seen him in. The long hair. The glowing eyes. And for good reason. She thought.

"It's actually a penthouse."

"Oh really?!" Alicia chuckled. "Look at you!"

Ricky laughed. "But if you tell anyone I'll kill you."

"Ha! Get passed Christian!"

"I can." Ricky said.

The air seemed to grow a little colder in the room.

Alicia looked at her.

"You see, Christian doesn't care enough about you yet if you were to suddenly die. If I were to cut off your head, worst case scenerio our friendship would probably be over, but he wouldn't kill me. At least, I don't think he would."

Alicia swallowed. "Okay..."

Ricky eyed her. "It's nothing personal. I'm just letting you know where you and Christian currently stand. The weight you have over him as I've seen how he reacted with Delilah and going by Alice, well, he'd be grieved at her sudden passing. You and Christian don't know enough about each other yet to be, particularly close."

Alica thought about the conversations they had. About him and his family. About her and her inability to have children. Those were personal things and she doubted he discussed things like that with Delilah. Perhaps she was wrong, but she just kept on letting Ricky talk. She had to admit that she thought they had a good relationship and while they probably still did, Alicia saw the subtleness behind Ricky's words. That Ricky was still a person who could kill her with ease. Probably not over something as silly as blabbing about where she lived, she hoped, but with more serious matters. And of course to have a reality check on where she and Christian currently stood on their relationship.

It urked her. Ricky didn't even have to say anything that she did. Still, Alicia took it to heart, playing it off as to not let Ricky see her sudden change in mood.

Ricky however knew she had struck a nerve within Alicia. She felt guilty about saying it at all. Why had she said it? Oh, that was right. Because she automatically placed Christian in front of her as a means of defence. Christian was not there right now. In one swift movement she could snap her neck and Christian wouldn't be able to get to her in time. Not that she would. She liked Alicia very much. Even if the girl was right. Christian would protect her if he was there. Everyone at the cafe knew better than to harm her, herself included, but she wasn't Alice. Even Delilah.

She was the new girl for now.

As they finished packing Alicia was trying to hide her change in character but it weighed heavily upon Ricky now. She was her momentary caretaker. She shouldn't make her feel unwanted. Unwelcomed. Unappreciated.

"Alicia, look, I'm sorry. I don't mean to make you feel uncomfortable. I shouldn't have said it."

"No, you should not have." Alicia said. "But, at the same time, it does put things in prospective and it does remind me to stay leery of all of you."

Ricky was mentally banging her head against a wall at this point. "Alicia--"

"I get it." Alicia looked to Ricky. "I'm the new human bloodbag. The donor. To all of you, excluding the other humans working there, I'm...proabably a liability?" She paused and thought about that.

"Alicia--"

"But anyway! I'm doing this for the money!" And her goals were once again renewed thinking on what Christian did. What he planned to do if he didn't stop. That was to kill her. She didn't want to be under a roof where she risked sudden death for wanting to help someone. That old saying of 'you can't just help anyone' came to her mind and Christian was one of them. She was human for one. What could she possibly give him? Other than her blood which was strictly on a professional level at this point, she couldn't give him anything more. She wouldn't allow herself too.

He would have to earn her. That went without saying for any woman, but for her it was deeper. She could very well be dead had Christian not got ahold of his emotions, his power. A fractured jaw, excuse her, barely fractured jaw and she lived?! She could only imagine if he lost all of his marbles, or better yet, was in his right mind and had the urge to kill. No thank you!

"Alicia!"

"Huh!" she looked to Ricky.

"You were daydreaming."

"Oh, I was?" Alicia laughed. "Sorry about that. Let's finish packing."

"Okay." Ricky said, sensing her mood was a bit lighter than before but still weighed down upon something.

"Alicia?"

"Yeah?" She looked to her.

"Just like at work, even now, let me know if something bothers you, okay? I won't know if I hurt your feelings or not unless you tell me."

Alicia nodded. "Okay." Not! She didn't want to come off as weak.

"I mean it. Too many people hold their emotions in for fear of not wanting to look weak or vulnerable. You seem like just the type. That's why I'm letting you know that you can."

Alicia gave her a look. "And let's say every little thing you did or said to me annoyed me or made me feel sad? What would you think then?"

"First of all, does what I say or do make you feel a certain way?"

"Other than what you said earlier, no."

"That's good. Because if you got your panties in a bunch everytime somebody said or did something you didn't like I'd call you a baby or oversensitive weakling." Ricky froze not sure if what she just said offended Alicia or not.

Alicia was not offended. But it didn't help her already locked-up-tighter-than-a-drum-feelings either.

"Anyway!" Alicia broke the tension. "Let's just get out of here!"

"Right!" Ricky said, greatful for the break in atmosphere.

Alicia chuckled to herself. And she thought she was the overthinker?

***

He appeared in his house, in his room. He drew in his wings and then they vanished, a few feathers lingering in the air. They dissolved into orbs of light.

Ricky had neatly piled the broken pieces of wood in a corner.

He relived that night over in his mind in vivid detail as he looked around his room. When he mustered up the courage to confront Alicia he would ask her what she was thinking when she decided to disturb him. She didn't know any better, he knew.

His hair receding to it's original length he eyed the wood in the corner and waved his hand across it. It flew to the opening in his room and retached itself, becoming a door once more.

The party started at 6 pm. He would have preffered it never, or at least a little later so they could leave sooner. It wasn't even a party really, it was just a nosy meeting to check-in on him. He'd rather deal with the Elders than his family--his parents especially.

Stepping down into his room he prepared himself for his unfortunate company.

***

Alicia eyed the clock. It was a little passed 8 o'clock now. She wondered how Christian's dinner party was going as she placed a tray with dirty dishes on the counter for Dwayne to take into the kitchen.

Her return to work worked up a small buzz. Ricky had told them she a health issue that needed to be taken care of while she was out.

She no longer wore her splint, but every now and then would stretch her jaw when she had a few moments alone.

"Thank you, new girl." Dwayne said. "Making my job harder."

Alicia laughed and rolled her eyes. "Yeah right." She was wearing her new maid outfit.

Guys, including Dwayne and Roycel ran her over with their eyes. She was cute.

Dwayne chuckled and took the tray away.

"So, you have any idea where Christian is?" Delilah asked, smoothly pulling up beside her.

"Ricky said he was having a dinner party, remember?" Alicia said going around the counter and grabbing a wetcloth. She began wiping down the counter.

"Yeah, but he hasn't been into work either? Ricky said he had some business to attend to, but I say it's too much of a coincidence that you both disappear and reappear at the same time? No?"

"Nope." Alicia said. "I had a medical issue to attend to and Christian had his own business to take care of? What's odd about that? Plus, Christian is the boss. He owns this place. He doesn't have to come in here at all if he chooses not to. He's on his own payroll."

"Ha! Girl's got a point." Dwayne said, coming back with a container of dishes.

"Good point. But I still say something fishy happened." Delilah eyed her face. "The left side of your cheek looks a little different than your right, Alicia. Did you have a little accident? Did Christian hit you for getting out of line?"

"Okay Delilah." Ricky came over with a smile. "Your shift is over for the night."

She gasped.

"I'll be sure to clock in the hours you did work." she said.

"Ha! So that proves something happened!"

"That proves you being out of line." Ricky's eyes narrowed and Delilah barely made out the minor glow that surfaced. "It is none of your business what Alicia or Christian or what anybody else does on their own time. We all lives outside of this cafe. Now pack up your things. You are done for the night. I'll be sure to let Christian know of the matter."

Delilah looked around the cafe. All the workers were briefly looking at her while they attended to the customers. Every now and then someone would have to put Delilah in line but she had never been sent home.

Embarrased and on the verge of tears, she chuckled. "Okay, I'll back off. But I still say I'm right." She went around them and walked into the back to get her things.

Alicia had watched her go and then eyed the cloth in her hands. Her mouth watered and she felt hot and nervous.

"Alicia? Are you all right?" Ricky placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Yeah..." Alicia turned to her.

It was obvious that she wasn't.

"You want to go lie down in the back? In the conferance room? I can have Julia let you in?"

"Um, no. Actually I'm just going to go to the bathroom." She said.

"Okay."

Alicia went in the back, all eyes on her.

Roycel had been wiping the same glass for the last five minutes watching everything play out. Medical issue or not, he knew it wasn't the whole story either. Delilah was right. He knew his boss could disappear anytime he wanted to, but the fact that he rarely did unless he had a special engagement with his family, which all his employees were aware of, or he just didn't care to come into work which never happened, there had to be another reason for his absense. Or he could just do whatever he wanted without them knowing. He wasn't subject to sticking to a certain behavior just because everyone else was used to it.

This in mind, Roycel placed the glass away and prepared to take the order of a couple guys who had sat down at the bar.

"Say? Aren't you a little young to be working here?"

"The age requirement is sixteen." He said, drying his hands on a white cloth. "What can I get you both?" He said with a smile.

"Yeah, I mean here at the bar?" They said.

"It's illegal to drink. Not serve." He said. "If you feel uncomfortable I can get the adult bartender over here?"

"Could you please, son?"

"Sure." He said. "Dwayne?"

He turned his head.

"Can you take their order? I'll swap with you?"

He nodded. "Ladies, would you excuse me? Roycel will take your order now?"

"Sure." they said.

"Why couldn't you do it?" He asked as they walked up to each other.

"You couldn't help but hear, right?"

He scoffed. "Yeah. Hit and miss right?"

"Yeah." Roycel said. "Just hope it doesn't become a problem."

"It won't." Dwayne's eyes flashed yellow.

"Oh, yeah, yeah." He said.

Dwayne chuckled as he went to the bar.

"Hello ladies? What can I get for you?" He smiled down at them.

Alicia sat in a stall trying to get her mind together. All in all it wasn't that bad, she tried to tell herself. Wasn't that bad? Her jaw had been fractured! Fractured! She wasn't sure she'd ever be able to really live it down. Even if she was making a full recovery. Her mind had Christian's form on repeat. Those eyes. His expression of mercilessness.

Maybe she just needed to give him a good piece of her mind. Or she could contine to let it break her. Even her own advice about learning to cope with life or let it break you was wavering.

She shook her head and stood up. She took those feelings and locked them all away. It wasn't easy. Some still seeped out but what could she do? Die? Even she knew that was too drastic.

Time. She just needed time to adjust to everything. Except she'd never fully adjust to this. At least here with these people that were anything but human.

As she opened the stall, a couple girls came inside the bathroom.

They all smiled at one another and Alicia waited until they were inside the stalls to stare at her reflection for a moment. She placed her hand against her cheek. In a year, less than that there'd be no evidence of her jaw every being fractured or bruised. But she'd remember it.

Why was it urking her so much! How come she just couldn't let it go!

The toilet flushing made her exit the bathroom swifty. Angry at first, she fell into a bout of confusion not sure if her forgiving him or letting it pass was a sign of forgivness, weakness, or foolishness on her part.

***

"Ah, Christian, I will say this food is delicious. You never fail to deliver." An elder spoke.

"Except on himself..." James muttered and finished his glass of Brandy.

"James." their mother spoke.

"James has a point." the father spoke.

Christina rolled her eyes. She sat next to her twin.

"Something wrong, Christina?" an elder had observed her reaction, Demitri to her annoyance.

"No. Why would you ask?" She eyed him.

"Oh, you seem like you had something to say on your father's response to agreeing with your brother? Perhaps I am seeing things?"

"Christina what do you have to say? You don't agree that your brother should pick a side?" He asked her.

Here we go. The twins thought in unison. Though they couldn't hear one another's thoughts they briefly cut their eye over to one another before looking away.

"I agree with whatever Christian decides to do." Christina said. "Within reason, of course. We wouldn't want him going off the deep end." She looked to her brother.

She just had to toss in her own plans subliminally and he caught it.

"Going off the deep end? What does that mean?" their mother looked at her son. "Suicide? That be deplorable!" She didn't sound too convincing to Christian's ears.

"Not to me." James finished off another round of Brandy.

"James!" their mother looked to him.

"Oh, come on! Let's cut the bull!" He shot up.

"I think he's had too much to drink?" Farah said.

The Elders watched, not intervening. It was interesting and entertaining to watch for some. This was after all, the outcasted family that everyone knew so much about.

Christian looked at his brother.

"It be a miracle, wouldn't it Christian?" His eyes bore into his younger brother. "To just end it all? Cut all ties. No strings attached? Death would be better than being whatever the hell you are? Right?"

"Son, calm down now. Take a seat." The High Elder spoke.

James looked his way, and then slowly sat down. "Excuse my manners, High Elder."

He nodded once. "Christian, would it be?" he turned his attention to the blonde male.

He looked to the man. "Yes, it would."

The Elders conversed with one another.

"Daniel, do you hear your son?" the High Elder spoke to the father.

"I do." He said. "And I agree with his actions."

"Daniel!" his wife looked to him appauled.

Christian smirked at his father.

Admist this all Farah was on her third drink. One of the elders frowned and took the bottle from her.

She smiled sheepishly.

"Father, you can't be serious?" Christina spoke. "He is your son." She took a sip of wine. "Whether you want to acknowledge that or not." She added.

"Oh, I acknowledge that he's my son. Only it be much easier if he was born one way or the other."

"Or if I just didn't exist at all?"

"That would help." Daniel said.

"Daniel!" she looked away from him and to her son. "Christian you are our son! Even if we don't--I don't understand you half the time, I don't regret...having you..."

"I'm surprised you said that without gagging." Christian said. He turned to the High Elder. "High Elder, if dinner has pleased you, would you like to discuss whatever important matters are on your mind?"

"Yes." He said. "Though I was aware of your family quarrels I was not aware it was to this extent. Christina does not inform me of such personal matters after all."

They looked to Christina as she finished eating the rest of her food, eyeing them all with brief mishief.

Demitri frowned in disgust.

"Daniel, Linnea, Christian is your son. It was because of your union that we now have a...possible hybrid among us. It was forbidden in the first place and now you cast him out like he's a bastard?"

"Don't you feel that way?" Christian spoke.

"Yes," he said. "Though I shame myself by calling you a bastard. It its beneath me and you are far from it I have observed. Look at this home you built? The businesses you have changed and created? That is not the works of a bastard. That is the work of a man fighting against all odds. Even it is temporary relief for your impending problem, and ultimately doom."

Christian gave him a look along with everyone else.

"Come now, Christian. As of right now you are the strongest in the house."

The Elders gasped.

"Oh sure, I'd give you a run for your money, we all would, but it would take nearly all of us to restrain you?"

"Restrain me?" Christian said.

"Yes. I have forbid hybrids in this world for this exact reason. Never mind the missing, daddy-never-loved-me factor. You refuse to pick a side and even if you did whose to say because of your mixed heritage you won't become a hybrid still? Any of you?" He eyed the rest of the Royce children.

They looked at one another, Farah looking at her palm.

"Oh get over yourself." An Elder spoke to her.

"You know you've been watching me quite a lot all evening! I'd say you're a pervert!"

"A woman a pervert? How about a woman with basic motherly instincts?"

Linnea looked down.

"With all this being said, either you turn and pick a side, Christian, or risk eternal slumber."

Everyone at the table gave looks of shock excluding Christian.

He remained composed. Something the High Elder admired about him.

"High Elder, you can't be serious?" Linnea spoke up. "He's our son! You can't just have him locked away!"

"Oh like you care woman!" he spoke to her. "If you didn't see just how serious this all is I'd doubt you'd be this concerned."

"With all due respect High Elder, I do care for my children. I love all of them--"

"Except Christian." He interrupted her. "You don't know how to view him when you should only view him as you son and that is all. Just admit what your husband already has. Pick a side or die. There is no inbetween. Heavens...Christina, darling, I had no idea you had to deal with such parenting."

Christina smiled some and poked her food around with her fork.

"High Elder, what is wrong with having a hybrid? Why the fear behind it all? Was there perhaps one before our time? You were here before us after all?" Daniel asked.

Christian darted his eyes to the High Elder hoping he'd catch something within the man's eyes and he did. Though he didn't know what. That was his proof. That was all Christian needed.

The High Elder saw him staring at him and wondered what Christian had seen in him if anything at all.

One of the Elders chuckled.

The High Elder looked at them sharply with a hint of anger, Christina observed. It gave her goosebumps. She didn't think the man could ever look angry.

"Something funny, Mika?" Demitri asked.

She continued her laughter, the Elders watching her confused.

"Mika, what is so funny-"

"Oh! The secrecy is unbearable!" She interrupted the High Elder. "I was hoping one of you would get the brains to ask that question instead of just assuming there wasn't one!"

"Mika!" The High Elder said.

"Oh kill me Eugene if you don't want me saying anything!" she cried. "After all, it was our son you exiled away due to his own mixed heritage!"

Everybody's eyes widened including Christian's.

Silence weighed heavy upon everyone at the table. The hypocrisy of it all.

"Well!" James slammed his hand down upon the table startling everyone. "I think this calls for some dessert!"