A Kiss That Bites

Kile drove slowly down the familiar winding dirt road that lead to the Savalides house, thinking hard about his current mission that was given to him. He really didn’t want to detonate the bomb or kill anyone in the Savalides family. He knew the family well; they always tipped him well during the holidays. They knew he struggled to provide for his family and did their best to make sure they were taken care of.

But his family was the exact reason he was going to such extreme lengths. Kile’s knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel and he bit back tears for the death of his sister. He pressed the thumb between his eyes and took a deep breath. He pulled the car off to the side of the road so that other cars could still pass, though he seriously doubted that anyone would come down this way.

Kile only knew of one other person who ever made their way down the winding dirt road and that was the guy who cut the grass at the Savalides’ house, but he didn’t have brain power to spare for the nameless gardener. He sat there for a moment thinking, and finally decided that the best way forward was to go on foot. He unbuckled his seat belt and reached across to the passenger seat and picked up a backpack.

He opened it to check the contents and checked off the items in his head: detonator, handgun, and silver bullets. He zipped the bag back up and got out of the car. The loaded gun was an extra precaution. He couldn’t take the chance of meeting anything on his walk through the woods to the house.

It would be a long walk, and Kile hoped the sun would be setting by the time the house came into sight. The darkness would help him cover his tracks. He carried the backpack carefully, so as not to knock the detonator. If it went off to early, well, that would mean the end for him and his family.

Kile felt his throat tighten once more at the thought of his now dead little sister. Sighing softly to himself, he began walking into the deepening night and prayed once more he could do what was asked of him.

***

Agatha was softly humming as she swept the all ready clean wood floor and every once in a while she would glance over at Rupert who was enjoying a cup of Earl Grey tea. It pleased her greatly that the handsome, young man was around to enjoy one of her tea sets. If only she could tell him about the Blood Mark and Angerona's lineage. She cursed whatever spell had been cast on her, for it made her quite mad in the head and it only got worse as the years went on.

Yet, around Rupert, she found she had moments of clarity and in them, she wished she could think that clearly all the time. If only she could gather her thoughts fast enough to be able to speak, then maybe, just maybe she could find some help for herself and her granddaughter. Things were going on that no one knew but her. Anubis help her, she really hoped she could get this out in time.

Sighing softly she put the broom away in the closet next to the old, white fridge and shuffled softly over to the table. Rupert looked up from the newspaper laying on the table and smiled softly up at Agatha as she approached. He cared for the elderly woman and was happy Angerona had enough trust in him to take care of Agatha while she was away. The fact he was here made his inner wolf content to be around the female and take care of her.

Rupert could see that Agatha wanted to tell him something and sat there quietly. Letting her gather her thoughts and like a perfect gentleman, he waited for her to speak.

"Rupert… I wanted to tell you something important. Before my mind slips again. It’s about our Blood Mark. I… Are you enjoying your tea, dear? I think tonight is a full moon. Oh, wouldn't it be lovely to have tea under a full moon?" Agatha said as her eyes slowly glazed over again and did not understand why she felt a wave of frustration all of a sudden.

Rupert gave a start at the word Blood Mark and gave pause when Agatha began chattering again. He couldn't tell if what she said was true or if it was one of her crazy ramblings. However, his instincts told him there was more here than what was before his eyes and he should pay close attention. With that in mind he knew he should call his father and talk to him about Agatha. Something wasn’t right and he wanted to help this woman who he was beginning to believe was his fated mate.

Each moment in her presence confirmed what his instincts were strongly telling him and if it was so, then he must do all in his power to take care of her. That was one of the first signs a Lycki has met his fated mate and that made his inner wolf seem to almost purr with satisfaction. Rupert gave her a brilliant smile before speaking to her.

“That would be lovely, Agatha, but first allow me to call my father to let him know I’ll be staying here this week. Tonight we can have a lovely cup of tea under the full moon.” Rupert rose from his seat and made his way to the phone.

He needed to talk to his father about many things, one of them Agatha. He needed advice right away and knew his father was the only one that could help him. After all, his father was centuries old and knew a great deal. Maybe his father knew something about Agatha he did not know. Rupert hoped beyond all hope that his fears about Agatha weren’t founded in fact.