Free Cut by Danielle Llanes

that?”
    “Octavius. Is he lying? I couldn’t imagine anyone turning their back on you.” She was saying what I wanted to hear right now. I put my arm around her as she leaned over and whispered,
    “Be honest, is she prettier than me.” I took in Chloe’s dark hair and eyes, the lack of color in her skin. It hit me that most of our kind went without food longer than most. I thought of Aerin sitting high atop her room with her glowing skin and golden hair. I sighed as I forced a lie,
    “Of course you are prettier.” I only said what she wanted to hear that night. She smiled as she leaned over to kiss me. I made a mental note to keep my distance from Aerin when I returned home. I could recall a time when life with Chloe was chaotic. She was holding onto me as she said,
    “Stay with me for a few days. I miss having you around.” I shook my head as I thought of Aerin.
    “I fear my little fledgling will grow curious and leave the house. I can’t imagine what trouble she will get into.” She laughed as she said,
    “Well, then come back to my place for tonight.” I stared into the dark pools of her eyes as I nodded,
    “But only for tonight.” She nodded quickly as I followed her from the moonwalk and toward the Quarter. I knew she kept a small apartment off Ursuline. I stared up at the lavender building where a man stood looking out at the city below. I watched him until he was out of view. Chloe was calling my name as I hurried across the street. I looked back but the man was gone.
    I stopped the car before my house as I looked up to see her looking down at me. She waved as I waved back. I felt horrible for the things I had done. I turned off the car and headed indoors. I headed up the walk to the house as the door opened. She smiled at me as I neared her; I watched the smile fade. She backed away and headed for the stairs once more. I knew she caught Chloe’s scent almost immediately. For a fledgling, she was incredibly intuitive. I called out her name as she ignored me. I cursed as I turned and headed back for the door. I stopped as I held onto the door handle. This is what Octavius meant. I cursed as I turned around and started after her.
    “Aerin, please, it was nothing. She’s nothing to me now.” I had her for a moment as she stared into my eyes. Lying was not my greatest asset, as her eyes grew dark,
    “Stop lying to yourself,” she replied in a low voice as she headed for her room. It had occurred to me that I had all but moved into the guest bedroom since I had brought her home. I followed her to the master bedroom as she look back at me,
    “This is my room,” I said flatly as I began to undress. She looked away in disgust as she retreated from the room and headed for the guest room.
    I awoke to the sound of thunder outside the house, I lay for a moment in silence. I waited a moment then heard the bedroom door fly open. I sat up as Aerin ran to the bed,
    “There’s a woman outside, she’s screaming your name.” I patted her head as I got out of the bed, Aerin was watching me as I headed for the stairs. I could see a figure outside the door pounding on the glass. I flipped on the light to the foyer as I heard her voice,
    “Let me in! It’s raining out here, I need to talk to you.” It was Chloe. I inhaled deeply as I said in a low voice,
    “This is not a good time.” I could hear her breathing heavily as she growled against the door,
    “I will not forget this the next time you come looking for me.” She eased off the door and was gone into the night. I could hear the crack of thunder overhead as I looked back to Aerin watching me.
    “Was that her?” I nodded; this was not a lie. I could see that I had peaked her interest as I climbed the stairs once again and pushed her along. She looked back toward the door as I shut the lights off.
    “What did she want?”
    “She wanted to meet you,” I said as I put her in bed beside me. She didn’t protest as I put my arm around her waist and