Cherry Sugah

Danny Dodger

Nuxy finally dragged her self from the shower. Lack of food, sleep, and to much exercise really makes a girl tired. She pulled the towel off the plastic bar - she guessed it was so it couldn’t be pulled of the wall and used as a weapon. She wrapped it tightly around herself and walked back into red hell - but oh red hell had a cousin, it was the bathroom, which was nice, but still everything was black. Nuxy wondered if he had color coordination problems, so he just made everything one color. She pulled open a drawer to a small chest and sighed.

“Vampire fashion, wonderful.”

She pulled on the undergarments then scrunched her nose at the thong that was shoved in a place she didn’t think it needed to be. She surfed through the drawers for something close to covering her body. She smiled at a pair of black leather jeans.

“Hello sugah.”

“Hello beautiful”, a voice said from behind her. She turned slowly in her crouched position at the chest; it was a wolf she’s never seen before. He smirked and held up a little white tray.

“Hungry?”

Nuxy dropped the pants and walked around the bed to get to him and grabbed it. She sat on the bed and swallowed down gallops of lemonade while taking bites out of a ham sandwich. The vampire stood waiting patiently for her to finish and didn’t bother to keep his eyes off her. She looked up at him when she was finished, still chewing the last bite.

“What?”

The wolf’s nose crunched at her unfeminine action.

“Time to go to the gym.”

She slouched.

“As in working out?”

He smirked.

“Yes.”

She shook her head.

“I don’t want to, go away I’m tired.”

The wolf’s eyes widened.

“They said you were difficult.”

“Not difficult, I just have selective mood swings” Nuxy said laughing.

He laughed with her.

“I can stay a while and tell Gage we worked in here.”

Nuxy looked at him with a shocked expression.

“Whoa- What?”

He raised an eyebrow.

“I really don’t feel like taking you all the way across the house to the gym then work you till you drop, so how bout we both sit here, say we did and don’t.”

Nuxy smiled.

“Alright, sounds good. What about the cameras?”

He looked up.

“Just for show mostly, no one’s ever up there to watch.”

Nuxy nodded.

“Do me a favor and I’ll agree.”

He nodded.

“I’ll see what I can do.”

Nuxy grinned.

“I’m starving and that didn’t fill me up. Can I have another?”

He smirked.

“Sounds fair”. He left the room in search of more food.

Nuxy lie back on the bed and let her eyes rest while she waited. She liked this wolf; he was pretty nice for a ravaging beast. Wolves tend to be a bit more human than vampires, the demon inside them was more manageable than that of the vampires. Still there were some bloodthirsty wolves out there, and powerful too. Most likely why the vampires had them for security.

Nuxy had fallen asleep by the time he got back. He shut the door and placed the new tray on the nightstand. He was about to just leave and hide from Gage for the next hour or so but then a scent caught his nose. He stepped closer to the bed and leaned down smelling her. She smelt of sweet fruits. The wolf’s eyes widened.

“A beloved one.”

Nuxy being the light sleeper she is woke up from his voice.

“Back so soon? I was wishing you’d take your time.”

She stretched and yawned.

“What’d you say.”

He shook his head and smiled.

“Nothing important.”

She nodded and her eyes went to the food.

“Yummy.”

She vacuumed up the soup and crackers and yet another glass of lemonade. The wolf sat next to her, and she could tell he was inhaling deeply, smelling her. She sniffed her self.

“Do I stink or something?”

He laughed, “No, no, no you smell good.”

She cocked an eyebrow,.

“Really, not just being nice?”

He nodded.

“I am enjoying your scent. I’m sorry.”

She raised her eyes brows.

“Weird but very wolf like… sniff away”.

He took it as an invitation by mistake and moved closer to her. When she looked up from chipping the paint off her nails he was face to face with her. She didn’t try to move back just looked at him. His eyes where closed and his face was very placid. He seemed to be relaxed; all his arms and legs were lose. Nuxy tapped his nose for fun and watched as his eyes snapped open. She laughed at him.

“You wolves are so weird. What’s your name anyway?”

“Would you believe me if I said Wolfy?” he said smiling.

“Really now, do you expect me to?” Nuxy replied, as she looked at him skeptically.

He shook his head, “I suppose not. My name is Mike, nice and boring.”

She nodded her head, “Nuxy.”

Mike got a quizzical look on his face.

“Tell me, because this just rattles my brain, who in the world calls their child Nuxy? Is it even a real name?”

Nuxy laughed.

“It’s a German inspired name but no it’s not really on any record, just the ones that were buried with my mom when she died. She wanted something no one else had.”

He shrugged.

“It’s… original.”

She laughed.

“I happen to like my name, it’s empowering.”

Mike joined the laughing.

“You ´re defiantly an empowering person as well”.

Mike looked at his watch.

“Well beautiful, looks like it’s about time I leave, so try to get some sleep. I’m sure Gage will be bothering you soon enough. I think he’s infatuated, you should have heard him raving about how you’re so undomesticated and bla bla bla, you know?”

She giggled.

“He’s just mad because he can’t control his lust for me. Stupid sex driven bloodsucker. You’d think for his age he’d have more control, but I really don’t care about his problem. I just want the hell out of here.”

Nuxy smiled sweetly at him, “Wanna help?”

Mike laughed as he stood and headed for the door.

“Nice try, but no cigar”. He left after that.

Nuxy sighed while looking longingly at the door; she wanted that only sane person in the house back. He was good company and seemed sane. Probably the key word here was “seemed”. She stretched her legs out from under herself and wiggled her toes. Then she raised her arms and stretched them and flopped back on the bed. She was glad she never had truly gotten dressed or she would have had to get up to take the outer layer of cloths off - she hated sleeping in anything more then her undergarments.

Chimi sat crammed in a little chair at a desk.

“We should have invested in better furniture for this place, this is ridiculous”. Taz looked up from his finished drawing.

“Just figure out how much we got.”

Chimi scratched her head; “I was never one for math, that was Nuxy’s job.”

Taz rolled his eyes.

“Just do it.”

She glared.

“Shut up I got it.”

Taz had to hold back from rolling his eyes again.

“Well.”

She sighed.

“We have a couple million, but you know that’s not going to take us too far in the weaponry department. It’s going to cost us a pretty penny to get something that takes down vampires and wolves.”

Taz nodded.

“We need ultraviolet ammo cased with silver so no matter what it hits, bang.”

Chimi grinned, “Big bang.”

Taz smiled.

“I’ll make the call, you sit and study.”

Chimi pouted.

“This mission looks more and more like school every second, first its math, now study time. You know I dropped out school because of this shit.”.

Taz laughed as he gather up his drawing and placed them in front of her.

“Study.” Then he walked outside, cell phone in hand.

Benny groaned waking up from his surgery. He was completely numb.

“Hello.”

His voice was raspy and itchy. His scrunched his nose as the nurse came over.

“Don’t try to talk. Your surgery was a success, your head ´s all cleaned up.”

Benny nodded and his mood brightened when he saw Gage walk through the door. He smiled and muttered a raspy, “Master.”

Gage inclined his head.

“I’m glad to hear you’ll be fine.”

Benny smiled and refrained from talking like the nurse said. Gage sat beside him and gave the nurse a looked that screamed “Get out.”

She hurried off and closed the door behind her.

Gage reached over and put one of his now cold hands over top of his son’s.

“When you get better, I promise to bring you into vampirism just like you wanted.”

Benny’s eyes widened - he’d been hounding Gage on the subject of changing him for years. Gage had insisted that he wasn’t ready. Benny chocked out a “Why now?”

Gage smiled.

“I’m tired Ben, I want to lay down and not worry if some crisis is going on at the office. I need to retire.”

Benny nodded and ignored the pain gnawing in his throat as he talked.

“Your going to stay close?”

Gage’s smiled was lost.

“I don’t know, for a while yes. But not forever.”

That was all Benny needed, a little more time to let go. He really did think him his father.

Gage stood and left the infirmary floor of his house and headed toward his garage. As he walked a wolf came to his side and walked with him.

“Gage, as a friend I’m warning you that this girl isn’t something you should mess with.”

Gage looked over at his long-term friend and smiled.

“I’m a collector of beautiful things Mike, she’s like a piece of art, it’s beautiful no matter how horrifying it is.”

Mike laughed, “She is a scary little thing isn’t she? She ´s like the classic kitty with claws, all cute on the outside, but inside is the heart of a man, or should I say vampire, eating tiger.”

Gage walked proudly.

“She a breath of fresh air, and she’s absolutely mad.”

Mike nodded.

“I agree, I brought her a tray of food and she didn’t even seem to care that she was only in her underwear.”

Gage looked over at him sharply.

“What?”

Mike stopped his friend.

“Chill man, I’m not touching her, I’m not a stupid as you are”.

Gage shook his head opening the garage door; “I’ve got to get away from here for a while.”

Mike grinned.

“Come on let me driving it.”

Gage rolled his eyes and handed him the keys to a custom built car. The power was uncontained and raw. Mike’s eyes light up.

“To the office.”

Gage got in the passenger seat.

“For an alpha wolf you ´re extremely immature.”

Mike shrugged as he started the engine and let her purr to him.

“I live my life one day at a time, otherwise why be an immortal if you don’t enjoy it?”

Gage raised his sculpted eyebrows.

“Hmm I suppose, soon enough friend.”

Mike nodded and shot out of the garage.

They hit 170 on the highway and Mike had to scream over the blasting music.

“Bet I can get her to 210.”

Gage rolled his eyes, “Go for it.”

Mike shifted gears and pressed down on the NOS. The car sped up and jerked their bodies back pushing them into the seats. Mike hollered as the speedometer topped out. Gage laughed at his furry friend as he slowed it down and pulled into Gage’s life long investment.

“Blood Rush”, was a custom built car and motorcycle shop. They sponsored racers that would promote them by driving their custom gear around and showing off. This brought in a cash flow so high, that Gage could afford just about anything. Their gear was hand crafted and built for perfection and speed. This was of course how Gage and Mike met. Mike had a crave for speed and Gage had the know how and tools to supply it.

Mike got out.

“She a slow thing but she’s got amazing control.”

Gage nodded.

“We need to get our faster cars like her, controlled.”

Mike growled, “You can’t contain a true beast, bwahahah.”

Gage looked at him for a moment with a blank face then burst into laughter.

“I swear you’re the only person on this earth that can make me truly laugh.”

Mike strutted proudly into the office part of the building.

“I do what I can”.

Mike propped his legs up on Gage’s desk as he did paperwork.

“You know what’s coming up?”

Gage raised his eyes for a moment, “No, I really don’t.”

Mike sighed and let his feet down and leaned in.

“The girl’s birthday.”

Gage put his fancy ballpoint pen down and gave his attention to Mike.

“What girl?”

Mike grinned, “Nuxy.”

Gage looked extremely bored with the subject.

“And why per say should I care.”

Mike frowned.

“Really now Gage have a heart.”

Gage smirked.

“Never had one to know how.”

Mike rolled his eyes.

“You should get her something, or take her out.”

Gage sat proper, “I have no reason to.”

“Well you could get to know her better, maybe let her get to know you.”

Gage sighed and went back to his paperwork.

“Why would I want to do that?”

He scribbled across the pages waiting for an answer. Mike shook his head and leaned back.

“Denial will eat you alive.”

Gage continued his paperwork without further conversation. Mike sighed, bored to tears now.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, I have some things to do.”

Gage nodded without looking up.

“Tell the clan I send my best wishes.”

Mike bobbed his head as he walked out the door.

Gage placed his pen down and leaned back in his office chair.

What does he know anyway?

He sighed and shuffled his papers into a folder and stood.

Looks like nothing is getting done today.

He walked out of his office and slided the folder into his secretary’s drop box. A perky red head popped up out of no where.

“Guess what!”

Gage blinked a couple times.

“Carol really do you have to do that?”

Her smile widened, “Old habits die hard. Anyway Guess what!”

Gage sighed and leaned against the desk near him.

“I have no clue.”

She grinned, “Your taking me out for dinner!”

Gage cocked his eyebrows up.

“Really now and why am I just hearing about this.”

She came closer, flirting it up.

“Cause I just thought about it.”

Gage stood causing her to step back.

“I’m busy for the next month.”

Carol frowned, “You always say that.”

Gage smirked, “And you always ask.”

She sighed, “Alright fine.”

She disappeared with a shimmering dust left to know she was actually there.

Creepy fairies.

He shivered off her glamour magic and made a slow walk to the parking lot.

Nuxy’s eyelids flicker open and a sigh escapes her lips.

“Good morning red hell!”

She sat up and slided her legs over the side of the bed and sat there for a moment. Her body wavered, trying to wake it’s self up. Her body was folded in half and she stared at her toes for a long moment before forcing herself to stand. Leather pants caught her eyes once more and she pushed her legs toward them. With a sigh she knelt on the floor and dug through the litter dresser for a T-shirt. She pushed the tight fitting clothes to the side and pulled out the only wife beater. She slipped the shirt over her arms then over her head and then stood griping the pants in her hands. She knew they were going to be tight by the look of them. She pushed one of her legs through the holes then tried to balance on one leg to get the other one through. Just as her foot got caught on the leather and she lost her balance, Mike slipped into the room.

She looked up at him from her tangled position on the floor.

“Hey.”

He nodded his head.

“Hey.”

She could see the amusement on his lips and could tell it was taking everything it had for him not to laugh at her. She pulled her caught foot free, then pushed it through the pants. Her back arched up and she pulled the pants over her butt and buttoned them. Mike offered his hand as she went to stand but she waved him off.

“I’m fine, I just don’t have the best balance in the world.”

He nodded.

“Yeah, well good thing you’re dressed. Gage wants to see you for breakfast.”

Nuxy groaned, “Do I have to?”

Mike laughed a little.

“Yeah afraid so.”

Nuxy slumped.

“Fine.”

Mike led her through the halls making small talk.

“You know, he’s really not that bad once you get to know him.”

Nuxy looked over.

“I really don’t care what he’s like.”

Mike bit the inside of his lip.

“I think you could at least try to be civil.”

Nuxy rolled her eyes.

“Civil? The freak of nature kidnapped me, fucked me senseless, and now what? He wants to have a nice little chat about politics? Sorry Mike I’m just not a forgiving person and I don’t particularly like vampires.”

Mikes eyes locked with hers.

“What about wolves?”

Nuxy hid her blush.

“I really haven’t had the chance to get to know a wolf before.”

He nodded.

“Maybe if you can get your self out of this mess we can hang out”

Nuxy raised an eyebrow.

“Maybe. I think you’d be a good friend.”

Mike smiled and opened the dinning room door for her.

The dinning room was completely void of life; even Gage wasn’t there. Nuxy turned to Mike and he just shook his head.

“He likes to make an appearance.”

She rolled her eyes

“I’ll see you later?”

He nodded and left, closing the doors behind him. Nuxy took a quick walk around the rather large dinning room. Mostly scouting for weapons to use and also to admire the art that hung on the walls.

The doors she’d come from opened and Gage walked through; he then closed the door in the faces of his entourage. Nuxy looked over her shoulder at him; he was back into his expensive suits with his shinny black shoes. His hair was gelled to perfection, and his eyebrows were sculpted. Nuxy almost laughed - he was more high maintenance than she was.

I hate him.

She gave him her best smile.

“Good morning Lassie.”