Tommy
Briella’s home was non-assuming, small, and in disrepair, but it was clean and tidy, at least on the outside. There was even a small patch of flowers planted on the other side of what was once a white fence.
Someone had tried to make it homely. And I was guessing that someone was Briella herself. Even from just looking at her pictures, I could tell she was that type.
Nice.
I threw a glance at Raze as shouting started from inside the house. It was so loud that we could plainly hear it from outside. He shrugged his shoulders when the yelling from the house increased. Two male voices. One loud and gruff, slurring his words, and the other trying to calm whoever was having a fit down.
Was this really the home of the girl I had seen in the pictures? I just couldn't imagine her living there. Maybe I was being an old romantic but I couldn't picture her living anywhere but somewhere nice. Somewhere like her.
And there it was again, that word.
Nice.
Closing my fist, I had barely touched the door to knock when it swung open. A man stood there; his face was thunderous. No, not a man, a boy. One in his late teens for sure, but not one I would call a man.
“I...” I stuttered to a stop. His hair was blonde, cut short, but that was the only detail I noticed about him before we locked eyes. They were the same shape as Briella’s. Slightly too big and round, and they were a shade of blue so light they seemed grey. The exact same colour I had imagined hers to be.
“Can I help you?” His voice was clipped, not that I had expected anything else. He didn't know who I was. I was just some stranger wearing a vest knocking on his door.
“I am Bl…Tommy,” I corrected quickly. “That's Raze.” I motioned behind me to the hulking giant that was loitering by the gate swinging from its hinges. “We are here to ask some questions about your…” I faltered again. I was guessing he was one of the younger brothers. “Your sister, Briella.”
I had never been good with the whole talking to humans thing. Sure, I was better than I had been a century earlier, but it wasn't something I enjoyed doing. Usually I avoided it at all costs. It was hard enough being accepted by other paranormals let alone humans.
One blonde eyebrow arched upwards. “Tommy?” His eyes darted between us. “The one my sister is dating?”
Dating? I swallowed hard before throwing a glance at Raze, the question clear in my eyes. “Dating?” I mouthed silently.
He shrugged, a small smirk turning up the corners of his mouth. Scowling, I turned back to the boy.
“Yeah, I'm a friend of Briella’s.”
He just stood and stared at me, almost like he didn't believe me. And who could blame him? I didn’t know his sister, only what I had read, but I couldn't imagine her dating men that looked like me.
Rough, hardened men.
Still, if that was the story he had been given so I could get this meeting then so be it. I had no choice but to play along.
“She never mentioned you.” His eyes scanned down to my cut, lingering on the patches on it before he finally lifted those feminine eyes back to my face. “You don't look like any of her other boyfriends.”
Cocking my head to the side, I stared him down. “Does she have many boyfriends?” I was actually curious. Blade hadn’t been able to find any but that didn't mean she didn't have any. Maybe Briella kept her private life, well, private. “That she introduces her family to?” My voice came out jealous.
Behind me, Raze laughed, and I made a mental note to punch him in the face when we were alone.
“No, of course not. I didn't think she was even interested in dating to be honest.” Something that looked strangely like guilt flickered into his eyes. “But then I never asked. None of us asked. She's just always there you know.” A pained shrug lifted his shoulders. “Looking after us.”
“And not taking anything for herself?” I don't know what made me say the words but I knew they were true.
“Yeah, if you know that you must know her.” His shoulders slumped. “I'm Karl.” He thrust out a hand. It lay there between us as I contemplated what the hell I was meant to do with it. Behind me, Raze chuckled again.
Curling my fingers around the much smaller man’s hand, I gave it a slight shake. Karl shivered as my power swept up his arm. That's all it took for his body to react to me. For it to scream that I was dangerous, that he should run and hide. His brain might not have understood what he was feeling, but his body did. And I knew it was telling him to cower.
I might go by the name Tommy, but I was still Bloody Bones. A name change hadn’t changed that.
“Tommy,” I repeated. “Any chance we can come in?” I didn't want to have this conversation on the doorstep. I didn't know the area, and I doubted it was dangerous for a man like me, but I liked to be sure. With my back to the street I felt too exposed. And I wanted to see the inside of the house. The place that Briella called home.
“I don't know...my father...” Karl’s hand closed around the door, pulling it slightly to hide the hallway from view. “He's not taking Briella’s disappearance very well, and…”
