Samantha Young - Blood Past

October screwed up her face. “But it wasn’t her fault so what’s her problem?” Noah bristled at her attitude. “How would you feel knowing your father was raping and torturing people in your basement and there was not a damn thing you could do about it-”

“Noah.” Cyrus touched his arm as October blanched at his forthright and biting retort.

“Is there anything we can do?” Christopher asked quietly.

“You have done so much already, friend. But if I could ask young October to make other sleeping arrangements for tonight.”

October nodded, her curious eyes glued to her bedroom door. “Do you think she’ll be OK?”

“Yes,” Valeria answered with a certainty that eased the tight ache in Noah’s chest. “The intensity of it will fade quickly… although I doubt it will ever leave her completely.” Surprised, Noah tried to catch the Ankh’s gaze but she lowered her eyes. He wanted to reach out to her and squeeze her arm in comfort but he knew she would never allow it. Noah hadn’t realised Valeria carried her own kind of guilt around. He wondered what she had done during her time as one of the Unforeseen.

“For now let us leave her to sleep.” Cyrus heaved a weary sigh.

“Can I stay with her?” Noah asked without even thinking about it.

Cyrus seemed to hesitate before he eyed him carefully. “Yes. She might need you when she wakes.”

The overwhelming despair from the night before had vanished as quickly as it had arrived.

Unfortunately for Eden it hadn’t taken the guilty conscience with it. That morning she’d awoken to find Noah sleeping in the computer chair beside her bed, his neck craned at an uncomfortable angle, his features strained with worry.

The sight of him was almost enough to make her crumble a little, to wish that she could trust him.

But worrying about trusting Noah was the last thing she had time to think about. Seeming to feel her eyes on him, Noah had awakened and she’d immediately asked for Valeria.

Val would be able to explain what the hell had happened to her last night.

And she had.

Val had also promised that the guilt Eden felt for letting Ryan kill so many people wouldn’t disappear overnight, but that the intensity of grief from the night before would — it was merely Eden’s new body and spirit acclimating to her past. The paradox between the two was what had caused her mind and body to go into shock. Eden thought she understood. She was trying to anyway. At the moment, she was just glad that it was over. She had honestly felt as if she were going to die from the pain of her past memories.

Now she was just kind of embarrassed. She stood at the top of the stairs of the Douglas’ home, readying herself to join them for breakfast. It was the weekend, so they were all home. Great .

Drawing in a deep breath, Eden made her way downstairs, pleased by the strength in her limbs and how clearheaded she felt.

Christopher sat at the head of a mahogany table littered with food — eggs, bacon, pancakes, toast, syrup, sausages and some ‘English breakfasty’ looking stuff, alien and unfamiliar to her. She swallowed, eyeing this weird black patty thing. OK, stuff that would remain alien and unfamiliar to her.

“Eden.” Cyrus and Noah both rose from their chairs, an old fashioned gesture that made her smirk.

She nodded at them all, blinking in surprise at Christopher and his wife, Alison’s, friendly greetings.

She took the seat across from October, between Cyrus and Mhairi.

“Feeling better?” Mhairi smiled at her knowingly.

Eden nodded. “Much. Thanks for the makeover. Your blood did good.” Mhairi seemed to enjoy the remark, her eyes twinkling. “You’re very welcome.”

“Eden, help yourself.” Alison leaned around Cyrus to speak to her. “There’s plenty of everything and you must be starving. You haven’t eaten anything in a while.” Nodding in quiet thanks Eden reached over and started piling her plate with eggs, bacon and sausages. She felt them all watching her and tried to force a blush down as she awkwardly bypassed the food she didn’t recognise.

“Have some black pudding.” Mhairi nudged her with her elbow, pointing at the weird black patty thing. “It’s awfae good.”

Eden wrinkled her nose. “What is it?”

“It’s-”

“Och don’t tell her, Nana.” October grimaced. “You should have waited for her to eat it before you told her.”

Glowering at the girl, Eden sat back in her chair. “I’m guessing it’s gross then.” Taking a bite of it, Noah shook his head. He swallowed. “Actually it’s quite nice.”

“Yeah but what is it?”

“Pork blood, fats, oats, barley, some spices….”

Her gag reflex immediately kicked in and she shook her head. “I’ve had enough blood for this week thank you very much.”

Mhairi nudged her again. “Good one.”

Eden eyed her in amusement. It was hard to believe the Neith was in her eighties. She seemed more a mischievous teenager than someone on social security.

“It’s not as disgusting as it sounds,” October assured her and as soon as she caught Eden’s gaze her fork clattered to her plate. “Your eyes are a totally different colour… what the hell?”

“The transition,” Valeria explained succinctly, taking a sip of coffee.

Eden eyed the beverage. “Can I have some?”

“Of course.” Alison stood up to lean over the table for the pot of coffee. “Milk or sugar? Both?”

“Black, no sugar, thank you.”

“There’s a surprise.” October smirked.

Eden narrowed her eyes on her. “What does that mean?”

She flicked her fork over Eden’s attire. “Have you heard of colour?”

“So sue me, I like black.”

“It’s a little cliché don’t you think? I mean when you had the creepy, staring soul eater eyes, the whole thing worked for you. But now you’re actually a person you might consider introducing some colour into your wardrobe.”

“And I would take advice from an R-Patz fan because…?”

“Hey, don’t knock the Rob.” October flicked the fork at her again, her tip-tilted eyes narrowing in teenage outrage. “He’s a good actor, completely underappreciated for his talent because of Twi-Haters.”

“Oh yeah, I’m sure that’s why there are a dozen posters of him on your wall… ‘cause he’s a good actor. Riiight.”

At Alison’s muffled laugh, October flashed her mother a venomous look before turning back on Eden. “That’s the thanks I get for letting you sleep in my room? I’ve had to share with Nana for the past two nights, and she’s a cover-hogger, and if you hadn’t noticed it’s still bloody freezing at night h-”

“Tobe,” her father interrupted, shaking his head. “Watch your language.” Eden watched October roll her eyes and slump back in her chair. She found herself smiling. For some reason she decided she liked this girl. She didn’t know if it was bluntness, the accent or the eye-rolling, but October charmed her somehow. “You’re right,” she offered apologetically. “Sorry. I really appreciate you letting me crash in your room. I appreciate all of your hospitality.”

“You’re very welcome.” Christopher nodded congenially.

A comfortable silence descended upon the room as they dug into their breakfast. Eden studied them all as she chowed down on Alison’s delicious food, reaching for a pancake and some syrup once she’d eaten her eggs and bacon. Wow, she was hungry. And food tasted so much better now. It was like all her senses were at full awareness since the soul eater inside her had disappeared, taking with it the overwhelming ‘hunger’.