“Oh God, what is that?” she says, tipping to one side and resting her face on the arm of the couch.
“Ask him,” Ava says, pointing at Viktor. Her anger is back as quickly as it left.
“It is a reaction to the change. Have you fed?” I say.
“No. I was putting it off as long as possible,” Viktor says, putting his hand on Texas' shoulder.
“Ow, ow, ow.” Texas curls her feet up on the couch, and Viktor tries to hold her. “I did not sign up for this.”
“Just take some. It'll be better after you do. You shouldn't have waited this long. All you men are the same,” Ava says to Viktor, moving to comfort Texas.
Texas looks up at him. “Grow a pair,” she says through gritted teeth.
“Take it from the wrist. It is easier to hide,” I say. He picks up her right arm and brings it to his mouth.
“The left,” Texas says, “I'm right-handed.”
Viktor switches to her other arm, turning it back and forth as if to find the best spot. She winces as he bites, but her arm unclenches from around her stomach. I watch Viktor, judging if he is going to be able to stop. His eyes close and he focuses. It reminds me of the feeling, the rush of blood filling my mouth and how it sparkles on my tongue.
“That feels really weird,” Texas says.
Ava is watching her, but also Viktor, making sure he doesn't take too much. His eyes snap open, and he shoves her arm from his mouth with so much force it bangs into the coffee table.
“Ouch!” Texas cradles her arm to her chest. “What did you do that for?”
“I had to stop. Otherwise I would have killed you.”
Texas examines her wrist, where a tiny bit of blood drips. She wipes it off with her finger and holds it out to him. “Don't waste it,” she says, smiling.
Ava rushes to get a bandage to cover the wound. Viktor takes her finger and licks the last of the blood from it.
“Good boy,” she says, patting him on the cheek with her other hand.
Ava comes back with some gauze and bandages Texas' arm.
“That wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Too bad we couldn't, like, suck it out and store it or something. Or freeze it! We could make you blood pops.”
“Doesn't work that way, Tex,” Ava says, gathering up the remnants of the bandage packaging. “The blood is only good when it's in your body. I don't really understand it, but that's how it works. It's no good once it's left your body.”
Texas' eyes go wide and she stares at Viktor. “You know I'm starting my period next week. You're not gonna attack me, are you?”
“That is not the kind of blood we desire. So you are safe. You will smell better during those days, but I will not attack you, Tex,” he says.
“Good to know, 'cause that's really gross, FYI.”
“Yeah, I thought about that, too,” Ava says, squirming in her seat. Humans are so squeamish sometimes with silly things.
“It is not something you have to worry about,” Viktor says, glancing at me.
“Good to know,” Texas says, glancing at her wrist. “I'm going to need to get some chunky bracelets or a watch or something. How much are you gonna need?”
“Not much,” Viktor says, which is what I told Ava.
“God, it's like you all use the same playbook,” Ava says, brushing her hand across her neck where the scarf hides her wound.
“How's your neck?” Texas asks, noticing.
“It's fine, actually. I think I'm getting numb to it or something.” She shrugs.
“We should do something,” Texas says, getting up. She wobbles for a moment on her feet and grabs her head. “Whoa, head rush.”
“Be careful,” Viktor says, getting up and holding her until she's steady. I see his hands linger on her. He has adjusted to the Claiming well.
“I have to pee,” Texas announces when she's stable on her feet.
“I'll go with you. Make sure you don't fall in.” Ava takes Texas' arm and leads her down the hall, throwing me a look over her shoulder.
Viktor and I wait until the girls are out of hearing range and hear their chatter resume before we speak.
“Who will you contact?”
“I'll start with Kamir and Rasha and move from there. I have not seen them in about forty years, but that is not unusual for them.”
Kamir and Rasha are from India and prefer to stay in seclusion, but they are both at least five-hundred and have made many other noctali. Somehow they became friends with Viktor before I was changed, and they kept in touch via email since then.
“Do you think they can be trusted?” I ask.
“I would not go to them if I didn't think so. I never trusted Cal, but I trusted you,” Viktor says. The quip would bother me, if I were bothered by such things.
“Do you think they will come to us?”
“They enjoy travel every fifty years or so. I do not think they have been to Maine before, so that should attract them. They rarely leave their palace.” Viktor told me stories of their sumptuous palace and their many children.
The girls are coming back, so we stop talking before they come down the hall. Ava and Texas are laughing, so that is a good sign.
“Stop talking about us,” Texas says, sitting back down next to Viktor. “Hey, we were talking and we think we should totally do a human night. Ava told me about when you went to Miller's, and I think it's an awesome idea. We never really got to do our date. Did you have anything in mind?”
“Yes. I have not been on a boat in a very long time. I flew when I came here a few weeks ago. Would you like that?” Viktor says.
“As long as you call me captain, and I get to wear one of those awesome hats,” Texas responds.
“I will find one for you, captain.” He salutes her. She giggles and ducks her head into her shoulder.
“Gag me,” Ava whispers.
“I heard that,” Texas says, glaring at Ava.
“I meant you to,” Ava says, sticking her tongue out at Texas. “We should get back. My mom's doing a thing and she needs some help.” She twists her hands together as she does when she's nervous.
“Speaking of your mom, I haven't been over to your house in forever. What's up with that?”
Ava cringes and I feel her anxiety. She hasn't told Texas about her mother's illness, but I know she will feel better after she does.
“Tell her,” I say.
“Shut up,” Ava says, looking down at her hands, spreading her fingers out.
“Tell me what? Are you about to tell me the thing that you've been keeping from me that I've been trying to get out of you forever?” Texas exaggerates the word forever, drawing it out.