The Kiss From Hell

4

My 16th birthday was rolling around in a few days. Gage has been bugging me for the past 3 months about what I want him to get me. By bugging, I mean constant, irritating begging to tell him my deepest desires. The truth was, I just wanted to fit in, but that's not something that can be bought so I shied away from all birthday talk.

I never wanted for anything. Susan and William bought me anything I wanted, or even showed an interest in. I already knew they'd bought me a Ford F-150 in shimmery purple for my sweet 16th. Aside from a warm bed, more money then God, and a sense of stability, I never felt like I actually belonged. The three of them seemed like they just gelled. They had weekly family meetings away from the house that I was never invited to. They told me it was because Gage needed some one on one time with them, but they always seemed to act differently around me afterwards. I hope they didn't regret bringing me home. Gage had grown into a huge, beast of a teenager, turning 18 next year and he couldn't be happier. He said something about "finally inheriting his wealth", whatever that meant. Susan and William were always home, except when they went on their lavish conventions or holidays. I stopped wondering how they could afford this place and accepted my luck in being placed here.

I was visited occasionally by the Handlers from the orphanage. My parents never knew of these visits as they somehow always seemed to coincide with their times away. I felt myself growing stronger each time the Handlers came and went. Almost as if I was sapping strength from them. Oddly enough, this happened whenever I was around anyone for a long period of time, but never once with my family. I could feel the power building inside me, an almost desperate plea for a release, compiling with trepidation for...something? I felt like a typical teenage girl, but also not. I hadn't gotten my menstruation cycle, puberty hit me like a ton of bricks, I almost sprouted my womanly features overnight.

My eyes shifted from blue to grey constantly, depending on how I was feeling. My hair started changing, intermittent white showing like well placed highlights. I had curves in all the right places. So much so, I've had to deck quite a few men in the nose after they thought it was appropriate to make a move on me. It always brought me dark pleasure watching them scream and writhe on the floor as the sickening crunch of their nasal bone crunched against their skull. I always stared into their fear-filled eyes, watching my own reflection change to one of a blood-hungry monster. It took all my willpower not to suck their energy stores dry.

I still didn't understand what I was, or more importantly, who I was, but I must admit, I was intoxicated on the power of what I could do. Everyday, I found new uses for the energy I stole. I could create entire gardens just by willing it to be, I once created a butterfly so beautiful she hurt to look at.

Susan had tried to contact the orphanage to find out where I came from. Particularly when I kept getting expelled from school for beating up the boys who were acting inappropriately with the other girls. Once, I broke my math teachers arm so badly he had to have 3 surgeries just to place it properly. He deserved it though, I watched him take photos of the girls, I even caught him grabbing Melissa's hair as he shoved her on his desk. That's really when I snapped. Her fear filled my nostrils and I followed it to where he was beginning to violate her. If security hadn't stopped me he would have had more then one broken arm. Of course, Susan backed me up, but it wasn't enough as the principal simply didn't believe my story and Melissa was too scared to corroborate. So here I was, in this giant library, surrounded by books of all kinds, being harassed by Gage about my birthday.

"Come on, sis, what can I get you? I've tried thinking of what you'd want, but I'm drawing blanks," Gage sounded like a whiny baby, but I could see the gleam in his brown eyes as he spoke.

I scratched my chin, "hmmmm, let me see...I'd like one pony, 2 dogs, 3 cats and 57 koi in a big pond around the house."

Gage punched my arm, "awww come on, be serious!"

Fine, I'll tell him the truth, maybe finally I will get to go on the family vacations.

"You really wanna know?"

"Yes, more then anything," he eagerly leaned forward until he was inches from my face, the sun hitting his iris just right, making his chocolate brown eyes turn into swirling pots of honey.

"I....I want to go with you on the family vacation next week." I hung my head, refusing to look up at him, deeply afraid of rejection.

I heard a sharp intake of breath, and saw flakes of dandruff fall on my sweatpants as Gage scratched his head.

"I dunno, Lizza, I'll have to ask mom and dad. I didn't know you ever wanted to come with us, and it's just sort of something we've always done. Let me run it by them and see what they think, okay? Your birthday is in 3 days, then it's Christmas, then we go on the 27th for our weekly day trip." I could hear the sadness thick in his voice. He wanted me to go, but didn't want to promise it.

I slowly took his hand in mine and stroked it reassuringly. "Okay, big bro, I will trust that you will try swing this for me. I just want to feel included in the family for once. I watch you go and come back looking so relaxed and refreshed, years younger even, and I want to spend time with you guys too."

Gage moves to get up and stops, grabbing me roughly and giving me a big bear hug.

"Alright, my wild haired sibling, I will inquire with our parental units." I giggled at his vernacular and slapped his arm as he moved to the exit of the library and shuffled down the hall.