Her body wouldn’t be seen as a feeding. It would be seen as a depraved lunatic and they would hunt him down using his fingerprints, hair and anything else they could find. He didn’t want to be forced into hiding, but that was exactly what would happen if he touched her. No, Madison was safe from him.
Chapter 4
Madison shook her head, laughing softly as she walked inside the house ten minutes later. That was really weird. She couldn't deny that she found the little episode endearing. He’d been so cute when he was trying to flirt. There was no doubt in her mind that he was trying to flirt. She bit her lip trying to stop herself from laughing.
His attempts at flirting were obvious, awkward and unpracticed and unbelievably adorable. There was really no other way to describe it. The big brooding man was utterly adorable. She recalled the expression on his face the last time she turned around and sighed.
He looked completely stunned. She ran the conversation through her head, worried that she might have said something to upset him. She couldn’t recall anything. Perhaps he was overly sensitive and wasn’t happy that she hadn't played along? Whatever it was she didn’t have time to play around.
She spotted the reason as she passed the living room. Jill was sitting on the couch painting her nails while she talked on her cell phone. Madison took a deep breath and stalked forward unable to hide the menacing grin. Jill looked up. Her eyebrows drew together in confusion.
Madison snatched the phone from Jill’s hands. “Whoever this is you’ll have to call back in a month.” Jill’s mouth dropped. “Jill will be enjoying a month long groundation and I’m afraid her phone will be going bye-bye for a very long time.”
Jill shot to her feet as she held her hand out in a silent demand for the phone.
“Oh, I don’t think so.” Madison dropped the phone in the backpack she still carried. “When you earn this I will think about giving it back to you.” With that, Madison turned and walked towards the door. “Oh, by the way you’re grounded for a month in case you didn’t catch that little tidbit.”
“I didn’t do anything!” Jill shrieked.
Madison didn’t bother looking over her shoulder. “Found your alcohol and cigarettes. Incidentally, be prepared in an hour we’re going drug testing.” This time she did look over her shoulder and grinned mockingly. “Should be loads of fun.”
Jill’s face paled. “You c-can’t do that,” she muttered.
“No, but I can,” Grandma’s stern voice said from the doorway. “You be prepared now, young lady. The two of us are taking you for a drug test. God help you if it comes back positive.”
Her mouth opened, but no words came out. Madison jogged up the stairs. “Let me go change. I’ll be right back.”
Five minutes later Madison was downstairs in a pair of hip hugging jeans and a tight tee shirt. In this weather she would have preferred wearing several layers and possibly a blanket or two but she needed to be able to move freely for the fight that she knew was coming.
She found Jill huddled in a corner, refusing Grandma and begging Candy, who looked nervous, to help her. This wasn’t the time for games. Out of fear that Jill would somehow get out of this, and she definitely was not getting out of this, she moved in and grabbed Jill’s arm and tugged her forward.
Just as she expected, Jill tried to fight back. She yanked her arm back trying to get free. Madison tightened her grip and quickened her pace. They were out the door and heading towards Grandma’s Volvo when Jill moved to her second assault, girl punches. There were wild and weaker than a slap, but annoying as hell.
“Let me go!” Jill demanded yet again.
“No,” Madison snapped. Grandma hurried past them to open the back door of her car. She didn’t see Jill’s arm arch back and certainly didn’t expect the powerful half slap-half punch that slammed into her mouth. She felt the bite of metal in her lip. Damn Jill and her gaudy costume jewelry.
Jill stumbled away and made a mad dash towards the front door. Oh no you don’t, Madison thought as she ran after her tackling her to the ground.
“Oh my god, are you insane? Get off me now, you bitch!” Jill screamed.
Madison climbed off her sister as she pulled Jill’s arm behind her back. “Ow, ow! Stop!” She twisted it more. “Fine I’ll go!” Jill snapped. Madison did not ease up on her hold. For some odd reason she just didn’t trust her little sister at the moment.
“Ow! Madison! Stop!” Jill pleaded.
Candy ran out of the house and jumped in front of them. “Madison, let her go!”
“Get. Out. Of. My. Way,” she bit out each word.
“But…” Candy looked nervously from Madison to Jill. Whatever she saw on Jill’s face made her act in self-preservation. She inhaled deeply and looked down her nose at Jill. “I told you not to bring drugs into the house again.” Jill and Madison’s mouth dropped open at the same moment.
“I’m sorry, Jill, perhaps I didn’t do you any favors by letting it slide last time, but,” she nodded to herself, “this is for the best I think.” With that she stalked back to the house, leaving everyone stunned. Not for one second did anyone believe Candy hadn’t given her the drugs.
A sob broke from Jill that had nothing to do with the Madison’s hold. “I-I did pot last week and I-I tried ecstasy a week ago as well…..” she choked. “I’m sorry….I…..I didn’t think….I just wanted Candy to li-like m-me.”
Madison released her hold and pulled Jill into a fierce hug. “Shh, it’s okay.” She was going to slap Candy one of these days. Madison swore inwardly, she knew that was the major reason Jill had been acting like this the past weeks. She wanted Candy to like her.
“I won’t do it again. You don’t have to worry,” Jill said bitterly. Madison sighed. It finally happened. Jill realized in that moment their mother didn’t love them or care about them. It took her fifteen years to do it and Madison felt like someone stabbed her in the heart. She never wanted her sister to feel this pain. It hurt more than anything. She knew that better than anyone. Her eyes wondered over to Joshua who was watching them with bored interest. He already knew.
She forced herself from that knowledge and pushed Jill towards the car. “What? I told you what I did and won’t do it again.”
“I know,” Madison said softly. “But I wouldn’t be doing my job if I took your word. I don’t want you to end up making mistakes that you can’t take back.”