Opening the Can of Worms

Just like him? Kurtis wasnt even sure he could get any angrier at this point. At least it seemed to give Romeo some spine in all this rather than just standing there teary eyed and feeling sorry for himself. But was Romeo really just surviving? Because Kurtis couldnt see how it had been necessary for him to go that far. Romeo spun it back at him but Kurtis had to laugh. Sure, Kurtis was a shitty person by all means but he had never done half the shit that Romeo did. At least he could say that he hadnt physically tormented someone just because he felt shitty. “I can barely stomach listening to you right now.” He hissed. He felt the vampyre look at him in annoyance and it made him wonder if the vampyre even cared for all the shitty things that Romeo had done. “We’re done. I dont want to be around you. And if my dad finds out, then who the fuck knows what he’ll do.” He said before reaching out to grab Zaira’s hand, looking at her.

He was ready to leave at this point and just wanted Zaira to come along, especially as Romeo’s remark made his whole arm itch like he could only calm it by turning around and rip off his cousin’s face or something close to it. But then she muttered words that made him frown at her like he didnt quite catch it though he had heard her clearly. Gritting his teeth, he looked at her, shaking his head. No let it just be him hearing shit and not her actually believing all this bullshit. She remarked that he could be an asset but Kurtis looked back at his cousin with a frown. No, like hell he would ask for his help. But then she pointed out something quite obvious and yet terribly annoying. He looked down at the suggestion. “A truce…” he scoffed. He had honestly hoped that it wouldnt be needed. And yet he was the unreliable factor that needed to be controlled. “Fine. A truce. But I dont need his help.” He said like he was sure. Lucius was good enough at fucking things up for himself.

If it hadnt been that it would help Romeo and make him feel better than Eden would’ve never cared to indulge Zaira in what she was. Well maybe, because he also had to remember that it was also the last bit of Laure that was left which meant that she wasnt just any hybrid vampyre. At least her being the more sensible one of the pair made him feel more inclined to answer her question as the two cousins had agreed on a truce. “Well, what your kind is truly called is yet to be discovered, but the names that you’ve been given are multiple. Dhampyre, daywalker. You are immune to the effects of the sun and yet you have our strength. You can blend in perfectly with warmth and heartbeat.” He said to keep it short. He knew he had like some old book somewhere with vampyre knowledge on her being. “If I’m not mistaken, then you are also able to resist the toxin in lycan blood?” He asked, narrowing his eyes slightly. “How does blood make you feel? When you drink it?”

“A frenzy…” he repeated and hummed with a nod. It did sound like something that vampyres did when they werent feeding enough. “And how much blood do you drink? Like over a week or so?” He asked. His hand on Romeo’s was caressing the lycan’s warm skin. He was quite proud of him for having done what he did today. Even if Eden would never do something like it himself; he could admire the courage and gut to go through with it. But right now he focused on Zaira, seeing that she did seem a little lost with what she was. “What about blood types. Do you feel the same need for let’s say your boyfriend’s blood than your mother’s?”

He could imagine from the get go that she wasnt exactly drinking what she was supposed to but he wanted to be sure. But she mentioned the itch again to describe how blood made her feel. He coundnt say he really knew what it was like, though maybe once or twice when he was really stretching out his blood intake. “Well, you need more than a few vials, it seems. Because the itch could be caused by hunger. And for you, anyone with blood in them seems like a buffet right now.” He said with a sigh. “Come.” He told her as he let go of Romeo and went to the kitchen to fetch a couple of vials. “Do you still feel the itch? Like now?” He’d ask if she followed.

Having Zaira here had kept him somewhat calm. It had even distracted him to feel her feelings for just a bit while they held hands. But now that she had left with Eden, it was like Kurtis was unhinged, left with the thoughts of everything bad; What had really happened back then if Romeo said it wasnt like they thought? And did it even matter if it was different at this point? Not that Kurtis had any right to decide what was really valid or what could be forgiven, it hadnt been him who was subjected to it physically. And yet he had felt it through Zaira and it felt far too real for his cousin to even claim it to be fake. He tried to contain himself but he did eventually give in to his destructive nature. He stepped closer to Romeo, as a threat, standing up close face to face. “You’re a fucking liar.” He hissed lowly, shifting between his eyes. No, he couldnt believe him, Romeo was a snake who would do anything to have somewhat control, that was what Kurtis saw when he looked at him. Not some lost boy who had lost everything. He grit his teeth, another threat. It was fair now, no vampyre boyfriend or Zaira to step in. “There’s no way it wasnt real. So dont even try to plant any fucking doubt in her mind. I’ll kill you.” and he meant it. Though Kurtis could mean anything in the right moment and then not actually mean it. Because he had his mask of his own, the one he’d wear to protect anyone who meant something to him. The scary mask that served the purpose of protection. And he felt like he needed it now. “I dont trust you. So dont even try to feed me some lie.”

“Well I dont believe that.” He hissed. Why else had Romeo made him come here and bring Zaira along? Just to explain himself and then that would be it? Romeo however knew what buttons to press and Kurtis felt his hand clench up, really wanting to just lash out. And yet he didnt. It felt like it was something Romeo wanted, like some obscure plan to twist Kurtis to walk in a direction he didnt want to go.
“Shut the fuck up. I dont give a shit who you sleep with. This isnt even about you. It’s about what you did. What you’re now saying you didnt do, as if it even fucking matters now.” He gave him a push to create some distance, avoiding the urge to hit him while soothing some need to get physical. “There’s no way you’re even feeling bad when you smiled the way you did while you did it.” He said, shaking his head. Just remembering it made him so angry once again, though it wasnt like he had stopped being angry. “But Kurtis I didnt do it like you think.” he mocked him now, shaking his head again. He had to get some distance, going to some random door to the outside to open and leave through. He grabbed his smokes and lit a cigarette aggressively.

The nicotine could keep an outburst at bay. He knew Zaira would be so disappointed if he did anything, even if they both agreed that Romeo most probably deserved it; Well Kurtis at least believed she’d agree. She wasnt as prone to violence as he was, but there had to be a limit to even the truest pacifist. Romeo spoke and he did try to not listen, because he knew he wasnt in a position to take in anything in, that at least could be viewed in an objective non-reactive sense. Kurtis was emotional, that was always his biggest issue. And though he tried, the words still got to his ears, through his head. Because eventually he’d think it all through. When he wasnt so angry and hurt. He smoked the cigarette, looking out on the view. “You’re a piece of shit.” He mumbled, lifting a hand to pinch his nosebridge a little, closing his eyes hard. He felt like he could get a headache from all the information and yet it seemed like he hadnt been listening at all. “… why…. Just why, do you even give a shit about this fucking family? You’re finally free? And now you want to cry about being free? To love whoever, to not have to crumble to the pressure of filling out a dumb ass role you didnt even know if you fucking wanted?” He said, not looking at Romeo, though he was a little baffled. If Kurtis found out tomorrow that he was not actually a part of the Trevino family, the last thing he would was to look for ways to stay connected to it. And though Romeo and him was so different, it clearly seemed that they werent anymore. He looked down at the railing in front of him like he was considering something. Maybe go out of his way to be somewhat helpful; even if he believed that Romeo didnt deserve it. He would’ve wanted someone to say it to himself had he been in that situation. “… you think you lost everything when this family kicked you out…” he mumbled, but he didnt even know where he was going with his own words. He was just a dumb teenager. He snuffed out the cigarette and turned to Romeo, seemingly a little calmer now but it could shift in an instant.

Owe them? What could he really owe them? Kurtis didnt ask but just looked at Romeo. It was somehow sickening how the adults had treated them both, but Kurtis couldnt quite see it from Romeo’s perspective. Even if Romeo had just been a puppet all this time. He noticed how Romeo changed and he kept his eyes on him for a little while before looking back ahead. He sighed and shook his head. “Dont. Lucius already said all that I need to know about his lawyer.” He sighed and shook his head. Was it even a surprise? “You’re not family to them anymore.” Though that was already obvious, Romeo had said it himself. Though his last sentence seemed like he had more, he instead just closed his mouth and made a slight shrug.

Romeo snapping was surprising but at least Kurtis knew he took it seriously. Not that he was really doubting it, but the reminder was nice. He couldnt agree more with what Romeo said, it was exactly how the family was and would be like. But then Romeo continued and as he went, Kurtis frowned. No, he didnt get to go just because shit was getting frustrating. Kurtis reached out and grabbed his arm in the door, standing halfway inside and outside. “So what, you’re just pussying out now?” He hissed, keeping a tight grip to keep him there.