Make a Wish (Dominique)

[Roderic]

I'm not an overly sentimental being at all. Scratch that. I'm not sentimental at all. However, I can 'understand' that most women are. Understand, being used loosely. I don't actually understand how people can be sentimental about anything, but I'm aware that women tend to be tapped into that part in their brain that just seeps the emotional garbage that I don't care about. Example: Holidays. Jesus died a long time ago (if the guy existed), so let the whole premise die with the guy. Thanksgiving. Wasn't that an American tradition? So why were Canadians wanting to celebrate it? And don't even get me started about Easter. That holiday would be better served with going hunting and bringing back a bunch of those furry bastards for some stew. But, here we are. Thanksgiving day and while Dominique hasn't said anything about it, I'm going to play it safe than sorry. I'm going to make it a holiday she'll remember forever.

I had thought about going hunting on her land and grabbing that annoying Tom, but it all seemed too easy. Besides, she's sentimental about her animals, so maybe next year. I stop and think about what I just thought about. What just ran in my mind. Yeah, I said next year. That implies we're together next year and honestly, I'm okay with that. Hell, I'm more than okay with that. I'm not being sentimental, it's just how I see it to be. And to prove I'm not being sentimental; no. We're not getting married. Been there, done that. It has always been my belief that marriage was a failed practice anyways; look at my parents. And the other hundreds of thousand of people that had been there-done that. Even I was part of the statistic now.

I shake my head and move past that other **** I was thinking. It doesn't matter. None of it does. I know where I'll be next year and I know where Dom will be. Right here. Or in one of our places. Next year, the Tom is mine. Make it into a little project. This years Thanksgiving though....the idea crops up and I smirk. I know where to get my perfect 'turkey.' “Going out. I'll be back in four hours.” I tell Dominique, as I start to head to the door, or in that direction before I stop. “Actually, I will summon you in four hours. On the dot. Be expecting it.” I nod my head, thinking that is the better idea. I want Dominique to be surprised and appreciate my efforts in one go, and not in pieces as I make the arrangement on her kitchen table. “Wear something that you won't mind getting dirty.” I do not stop to give her a kiss. We are not that type of couple, and we are not that insecure that we need to eat the other person's face off before going on with our nightly activities.

I head to my chosen location; Dominique's tattoo shop. I have a loose end to tie up-some chick whose name I can't remember off the top of my head, but her boyfriend was bait to sharks a few months ago when we took some boat tour that ended up as a fishing tour. Good times. I don't really kill women, unless they're vampires, then they aren't really women. They're supernatural creatures that need to be dealt with in the only way there is a way to deal with them at the moment. Death.

I push open the door and right away, everyone that works there stops what they're doing; one by one and just stare at me. It seems they all remember who I am, and what happened that one night, not that long ago. I nod to everyone in there as I scan the bodies inside and find the dumb **** I'm looking for. She's near the clothing and she starts slowly duck behind the rack, but it's too late. I head to her, and wrap my fingers around the back of her neck. “Hey. We're walking.” I tell her as I shove us both to the door. “Tonight is your lucky night.” I tell her, my mood difficult to tell. I'm not smiling, but I'm not frowning either. Or looking angry. Really, what's about to happen to her is a privilege of sorts. Not just anyone would do for Dominique.

”I didn't do nothing.” She starts to stammer as we head out the door and then as soon as we're in the market area, we're gone from view. Teleported right outside the flats I sort of reside in. When the mood strikes me to come back here. Tonight was the first night in about a month, and it was all for a good reason.

“Never said you did. I'm inviting you to dinner.” I tell the woman, no sound of inflection in my voice. “Happy Thanksgiving.” I don't give a **** if her thanksgiving is happy or not, but she needs to think that when I said inviting her to dinner means having her over to eat something. She'll find out later. My hand drops from her neck, and to her back, taking a less direct tactic and more of a welcoming, relaxed one, as we enter the flats. “Women like Thanksgiving, right?” I start engaging her in small talk, because I can tell she's wanting to run first chance she gets. She nods, beady eyes looking for someone she might know, or someone who might give a damn that I had a stranger with me, but there's no one. I press the elevator button twice. I continue with our small talk. “It's Dominique's and mine first one. Sort of a big deal, I think.” I look to her for validation on this thought and she just nods her head. It could probably tell her the sky was yellow and she would agree, just to stay on my good side.

The elevator opens and we're on my floor. I press my hand tighter on her back, pushing her out of the elevator and towards my door. “Take off your shoes.” I tell her as I kick off my boots. She does it, with a complaint, one that I ignore. I don't want her shoe imprint on my hard wood floor. I open the door, and pick up both our pairs of shoes and toss mine on the mat inside the hallway of my apartment. “Take a seat in the living room. There's a couple spots to pick from.” I say as I watch her head deeper inside, before I go to the kitchen and toss her shoes in the garbage bin. She won't need them anymore.

[Dominique]

There is a lot a person can do in four hours and Dominique was giving it all some serious thought. She could go to a movie. She could play a round of golf since glow in the dark balls are actually a thing. She could get some teeth pulled-not that she needed to. She could set herself up with one of those spiral perms that involves weighing the top of a head down with far more pieces of corkscrew plastic than should be allowed for starters. She could even fly to the east or west coast if she bought the tickets asap.

Or she could simply head to Vita Bella and get ready for whatever Ric had planned. Perhaps that was the best option. He had her hook, line and sinker with the hint that there would be something involved that she should be prepared for. Something dirty.

That was not difficult for her. She owned a custom car and bike shop that required her to be comfortable under hoods and chassis full time. That was dirty. No question about it. Outside that she was spending more than half time sitting on stools with ink guns or scalpels in hand creating art on warm and cool bodies. Harper Rock’s inked alumni knew where to go when they wanted something a little different and Twisted Sister had it. So getting ready it was.

Entering the grounds of Vita Bella had become a routine of sorts. It no longer involved the casual relaxing drive up to the house. All that had changed. Much of the place had wildlife that had populated considerably in the last couple years. Deer, raccoons, moose, more raccoons, rabbits, bear, and yes there are a lot of raccoons, mountain lions and everything else that wanders in from the woods. The nightly community dumpster buffet begins at the stroke of sundown. It is all thanks to a few masked fury bandits and creative maneuvering and the grounds are hopping until just before sunrise.

This particular night was no different. The evidence was quickly apparent in the high beams of the latest car up for a Twisted Sister overhaul as it finally came to a stop. Perhaps everything changes only applies to anywhere else but the northwest corner of the property she owned. The door opened with a few failed pushes and a final kick at the interior panel of the driver’s side. So they needed some door work now that she got her *** out of the vehicle that seen its best days back in the mid sixties. It made it a relic to her worth the time and effort it would take to bring it back to peak appearance and performance.

The shadow walked back to the cordoned off area and straightened up what was left behind. After the mundane task of gathering up the gas station burrito wrappers, empty chili containers and miscellaneous other pieces of garbage she collected the gate was shut and locked. The wilderness party would have to move on elsewhere and once she arrived on the scene it I usually did.

Returning to the car she slipped back inside and drove into the underground garage and parked the beast she would deal with later. It appeared to be the sort of job that would require more than four hours of her time. She would get around to it once this mystery of Ric’s was a done deed. While she made her way up through the various levels of multi-purpose floors she pondered what he had up his sleeve.

Ric was a unpredictable sort at times. She really couldn't take any possibility for granted except the hint he gave which was that of course it would involve getting dirty. Switching on the lights and putting on some music worth listening to had her going through the motions of feeding the indoor menagerie that congregated around her as if she was the answer to their unspoken problem. Bowls with greens were placed for Rufus the ninja turtle and freshly ground raw meats for the dynamic duo that sported the superhero costumes over their bull terrier bodies. The serval that answered to ‘Hello Kitty’ slinked to her dining station perched away from the rest. Once again there was peace and quiet.

Three hours later and less than fifty minutes after she was sprawled out on the white section sofa on the fourth floor finishing the last of a candy apple she could only taste in her mind. The sandals that wrapped her inked rose adorned feet were dark in color and thin strapped securing around her ankles. She gave her deep purple painted toenails and appreciative once over as she lifted each foot in the air. They were passing inspection.

Licking the last of the caramel from her lips she flicked the wooden stick that was skewered through the fruit’s center into the container nearby used for disposal of such unwanted items. The sheer black princess neckline blouse was give a last adjustment by HOPE and LESS. Standing up gave her a chance to do the same with her distressed hip hugging denim pants. The comfortable material had seen more than a few trips through the washer. Under a blacklight the garment likely would reveal it was known to get dirty a time or two or twenty. It was fair to say when Cubby was ready she was too. She glanced at the clock fully prepared for him to make good on his word.

[Roderic]

Tonight was going to be perfect, in the sense of perfectly macabre; But Dominique deserved it. At first I tried to do the things most people would attribute to a person with less than sane tendencies. I’ve shown Dominique some of my absolute worse, unimaginable, and depraved tendencies; to others and to her, and still she remains. On top of that, Dominique not only remains, but she comes back for more. Don’t get me wrong, she’s given me everything back in at least two fold, and here we still are. Whatever this is--it’s okay. It’s ‘safe.’ I think of that word loosely, because I know the next person who came around and heard of the things we’ve done and will do, they would summarize that our ‘relationship’ is anything but ‘safe.’ It’s masochistic, sadistic and flat out insane, but it’s us. It’s what we know.

Rainbow; I think that’s what what’s his name’s face’s girlfriend’s name was. She’s resting comfortably at the dining room table in the kitchen in her assigned chair. It’s not a very big table-what do I need a big table for anyways? It’s four chairs, each on their respective side, with Rainbow in the chair with its back to me. She’s currently ‘napping,’ but that’s what happens when you are deprived of oxygen for a set amount of time. Your body passes out for a few minutes. I did give her a some of Skylar’s booze from the fridge first. I know how important it is to be polite to your guests. You have to show them a good time, then give them dinner and finally, clean up, before their departure. That’s the gist of things that I read online for hosting a successful dinner party. And my girl deserved to have a real successful party. She wouldn’t forget this night any time soon.

While Rainbow was taking her ‘cat nap,’ I had prepared everything up real nice. I have set out two plates and on those plates were bowls. Cutlery adorned both sides of the plate and bowl combo, and a clear glass; a tumbles was due north of everything else. I can’t eat, but it’s the presentation that counts, right? In the middle of the table was a gravy bowl that was the size of a head, because, well, it was a head. Okay, a partial head of a cow. Just the bottom part of it. Next to the partial skull were two tall candles. Nestled in the legs of what used to be a crane; only there was no crane body attached to the legs. A project I had started and then taken in a different direction; the end results was a candelabra of sorts. Which served no purpose until tonight.

I step away from the table, my eyes fall on a large wooden tray table that’s been tucked against the corner wall. It’s currently blanketed by an old off white colored top sheet; a surprise for later. Without further ado, I summon Dominique to the apartment, smack dab before me. “Glad you could come.” I say with a grin as my eyes move off the covered tray table, and lan on what is as much mine, as I am hers.

[Dominique]

Like clockwork there was no waiting for what was to be expected. Right on the dot the summon took hold of her and with her arrival she discovered she was joining him in his apartment.Curious dark orbs scanned the room slowly without moving her feet to follow their assessment of what she was arriving to. The greeting delivered was intriguing. What had she come to? Her attention stays with him while her gaze works over the room once more. The still body at the table was quickly made out to be one of her employees, Rainbow.


The woman was in all appearances taking a power nap that usually would kick in after the bird fest was in the midst of digestion. Now that bird was on her mind she took note of the rather long spindly legs that she was pretty sure meant a bird of some sort, big *** bird in fact, was not going to go any farther from where Ric last dealt with it. Sticks of wax replaced the body and once the uniqueness of the web free toes perched on the table wears off she remembers a book report she did on the source of candle holders. Cranes. Right? From what she recalled the members of the Gruidae family make lousy swimmers. Obviously the specimen now part of a festive display of Ric’s creation was also a poor runner.


“Me too. A lot of what I see piques my curiosity and…” HOPE reaches out and threads lightly through Rainbow’s hair at the back of her head. The warmth in the chaotic strands said she was still alive. For how much longer she was confident would be revealed as the evening progressed. “I see Rainbow was able to make it.”


LESS stretches just enough to run a fingertip over the partial skull of what likely moos or something close. It was leaving her guessing and it was new. Most of the animals she dealt with were alive, kicking and still dressed in their original skins and coats. Ric was offering a different view and she was giving it the consideration it deserved each time he introduced something new to her which lately was in fact nightly. It was never boring and this...well this was a work of art with celebration in mind.


“You have outdone yourself.” Pleasantries was really not even close to what she was intending by her comment. It was a fact. This was something that she had never had done for her. A table set with her in mind and for Ric it was an epic demonstration. Her gaze skimmed over the white sheet obviously covering something in the corner. If he wanted her to know what was beneath it he would have left the sheet off of it. “Thank you for inviting me.” Again she looked down at what showed no movement or promise thereof anytime soon. “And Rainbow. Let me guess Foster is all tied up?”


The human with a challenge of saying anything whatsoever seems to be missing out on the gathering. The brush of her fingers over the back of Ric’s neck is enough contact between the two to convey her appreciation for the moment. Her shoes were removed and placed beside his at the door. She hated her feet covered and he had a thing about his floor. It always balanced out just like they did from the first night they met.

[Roderic]

At the mention of Rainbow, my eyes move to the woman who wasn't going to be bothering us any time soon. "She didn't want to miss the festivities. Thanksgiving only comes once a year." I informed Dominique before glancing back to the white linen sheet for just two seconds. All would be revealed in due time, and now was not the time. She compliments the layout, and I just shrug my shoulders. I did not do this for any form of recognition, it is what is apparently required for the festivities.

I don't celebrate holidays. Ever. I find most of them to be unnecessary, or a flat out lie. For instance, why celebrate Christmas, if you don't believe in Jesus? But, I supposed I could be 'thankful,' and take some time out of my schedule to pay respects to those things I am appreciative of. And, make it something of my own. A twist of what was expected, and how it was celebrated, to something only I would understand. She would understand. "The skull broke before I could make it what it was supposed to be." I confess at the large bowl, my eyes on the skull of the cow. "I adapted." I shrug. It's something she knows I can do all too well. "As for the legs...I had thought of adding them to another animal to make something from an Asian mythological story, but then I recognized I didn't have the wings to suit the creature." I tell her flatly. I don't believe in any of that crap, but some people do and those people pay money for crap like that.

I think about how best to answer the question about Foster. I decide to wait and pull out a chair for her to sit in, but don't instruct her to do that yet. "When was the last time you saw, Foster?" I ask, casually as Dominique moves to put her shoes in the rightful place. Foster, was no friend of mine, neither was his tart there in the chair. My first encounter with the guy led to him missing a mouthful of teeth-his problem, not mine. "Haven't been able to track him down for some time." I tell Dominique openly, because it's the truth. Tracking Foster down would be an impossible task, simply because...bait never lasted long in the ocean. Too many fish that were hungry.

[Dominique]

That was a bit of a stumper. When had she last seen Foster? He pretty much did his best to avoid her after the whole issue of Ric cutting out part of his tongue and the shitstorm that followed it. Threats, ultimatums and general red tape with hospital and police finally played out and it was eventually cleared up with a nice chunk of money seeming to be just what it would take to ease his pain, suffering and general silence. It didn’t cease his fingers from working overtime. Foster still took the recuperating time to send hateful emails which were more amusing than anything. Somewhere along the way he went radio silent which was odd with as bitter as he was.

Rainbow was a bit more forgiving. Partly because it wasn’t her tongue that was involved. And the fact Foster was a total *** to Rainbow when he was sent home to recover likely didn’t help matters any. He was missing out on being more than he was capable of being. Not only that...he was flat out missing and all but forgotten. The extra work left in his absence would fill someone's pocket that needed the extra hours.

Humans became less of a reliable investment for Dominique over the years. She was reminded of this as she eyed Rainbow’s position which was unchanged and then finally glanced to Ric who was rather relaxed over the idea of Foster being MIA. It didn’t require a PHD in rocket science to come to the conclusion Ric saw Foster last and most likely was honest with his announcement that he had not been able to track him down in any current attempts he may have or had not attempted. She shrugged.

“It has been quite some time.” Not that she was counting the nights that went by without word from him or mention of him from Rainbow. “Obviously your methods are effective.”

Her attention shifted to the candleholders and the table set up once again. All of it spoke to her. That was what effective decorating was about. Whatever it was it had to draw in the one who was taking in the presentation. And she confirmed he succeeded when she looked to him with a full focus that would not miss anything. He proved several times he was not to be underestimated and this was hardly an exception.

“Not that I am missing him…” She nodded down at Rainbow. “Or her for that matter.”

Dominique made her way a little closer to where he stood but still left some distance. The scent of Rainbow’s warm body feeding the artificial scents of moonflower oil glazed at the back of her neck and likely the inside of her wrist was only a mild distraction. The scent she singled out that was Ric’s seemed to rule above the scattered traces of sealant and materials used to preserve the various parts that created the arrangement on the table.

“I would offer you a fresh cow but I don’t have any on hand.” Cattle in general was one thing she had not added to the farm or vast space of Vita Bella’s grounds. She gave the bowl he spoke of more consideration. “I have a selection of wings that are up for grabs if needed.” Her eyes drift to Rainbow. “Is she our prized turkey that we are going to stuff or tear apart and make a wish over?”

Surely the limp woman was more apt to feel grateful if she made it out of the room alive when whatever had a sedate effect over her wore off. Something gave Dominique the impression that this would not prove to be the case when the night was over. It was the beginning of the holiday tsunami of what she viewed as “I still give a **** and so should you.” The sooner it was over the better. Until it was there would always be someone who was needing a job, some extra cash to make their season brighter. The twisted shops would be more than happy to tap into their enthusiasm.

[Roderic]

Everyone and everything plays their part in this world. Some people are destined to do great things, some, not so great, while others do absolutely nothing of any value; negatively or positively with their life. I consider those people to be cannon fodder. Expendable. Foster was one of those people and so was Rainbow. Dominique seemed to realize that too, given her comment about not missing either one of them.

"Good." I say, because she will never see Foster, or parts of him ever again. After tonight, there won't be much of Rainbow left either. Dominique's offer has me raising my brow. I wonder what wings she might have that I could not find or get here. That would have to be sorted out later-much later. Another night. Tonight was all about Rainbow and the festivities.

When Dominique refers to Rainbow as a prize of sorts, I look at the woman again. I'm not sure I would call, or think of her as a prize, but she was an offering none the less. I just nod my head, then extend a hand to the table with the white sheet. "Keeping her around remains problematic. At least keeping her around as a stuffed human, is. Besides, I think that is more fitting for a different holiday. The one that is approaching." I grin a little, thinking about Dominique's 'agenda' for that night. I'm skeptical she, or we can pull it off, but she seems set on it. It would be an amazing thing to see if we did pull it off.

"But you're not off base." I commend Dominique on the way her mind worked. Or, the way she recognizes how mine works. "The holiday has the tradition of the wishbone being broken. We seem out of one." Ric looked at the table and all its splendor before he moved to the covered table. "Or are we?" I ask as I pull the sheet off with a fast arm, before tossing it to the ground. Underneath the sheet was a wide arrangement of tools brought from my taxidermy store. My gaze moves from the tools, as I have no need to look at them. I know what's on the side table. They fall on Rainbow, indicating how we were going to be getting our very own wishbone.

[Dominique]

Obviously Rainbow was about as with the program as one of Ric’s well stuffed creations. She had faded into some place, more likely than not with his hands on assistance, that she was no longer reachable. Even if she was it would change much about what she was going to do next. There was a part of her that was stirred at the prospect coming to mind. It left her more than a little curious. She neglected to take the time to really check out the human form of a wishbone when she was carving out the two warm hearts she got her hands on last Christmas. She was working on limited time and being that her sire was the recipient as well as the product of the two humans reproduction she moved fast. What had she missed that bloody night in Toronto? Anything? She tilted her head to the side to take in the profile, or lack thereof, that the sedate employee offered.

Warm wide chocolate orbs didn’t raise from where they were focused. Two years ago she would have been in a different place viewing what she was. Certainly she would be torn between two places within her. One where some sense of conflict fueled by debilitating residual human guilt did a hell of a number on clouding the reality around her and the other fighting to take hold of what was refusing to submit. It was a long lost war that would not quite end thanks to the part of her that refused to accept what she was. That was then. Now she embraced it. The inner fighting had ceased. Full acceptance had evolved into some darker sense of strength and self-awareness. The power that came with it clarified what had been difficult to absorb. This was her destiny all along. What she was at the core and it was set free from the constraints of time and morality.

HOPE reached out across the table where her eyes remained pinned. The healthy appearing flesh beneath the heavy colorful permanent ink fanned out as the protrusion of claws jutted through the flesh of each tip. The shadow’s black cloud formed and chased after the hand that left it in it’s wake of continued movement. The length of the lethal razor sharp claws considered war worthy weapons hovered over the head beneath that was held up by the table beneath Rainbow’s face. The warmth of silky smooth hair was hard to miss as it curled and wrapped like non-threatening tentacles around her progressing fingers. HOPE lifted enough that the strands appeared like strings to a life sized marionette as they splayed. Finally Dominique eyed Ric as he revealed the impressive collection of tools that clearly were maintained with time and well deserved attention.

“Allow me…”

No further words were added to the verbal suggestion that coupled the rise of HOPE over her puppet of choice. The dexterous spearing of her right claws into the upper neck and jaw of the female who never saw it coming quickly hooked and locked down through the flesh and facial muscles. The slick strings of spasming ligaments and tendons quivered around her imbedded flesh. Gradually the sacrifice went with the slow pull of her hand to draw what appeared to be the lifeless body of a rather talented tattooist over the table without interrupting the setup ric spent so much time and thought in arranging. Once Rainbow was positioned as if she was peacefully on her back, legs together and arms at her sides staring up blankly at the ceiling above the shadow’s claws retracted and left no sign of anything taking place other than the human blood coating her fingers. The blood that slowly met her lips with the rise of her hand to her mouth. Each was washed clean and her lips afterward with the cool tracing tip of her tongue.

“Anything else I can do?” She watched him from where she stood. So many ideas came to mind.

[Roderic]

What Dominique does surprises me. The way she manhandles Rainbow like she's nothing more than a cabbage path doll in weight and size. Did I even expect some mild reservations about my plans for the night? Maybe. Do I think she holds people like Rainbow or Foster in high regards? Not really, but these are people that she's known longer than me. I expected something other than what Dominique just pulled off.

I take a moment to reflect on Dominique as a whole person. I believe that if I had proposed a thing like this to her months ago, she would have had a much different reaction. But maybe not-it didn't seem that she cared much about Foster and the face job I gave him few months ago. Maybe, the few times that spurred a reaction from Dominique, was because when things happened to her, or to her things, that flipped a special switch with the woman. I decided after these silent, thoughtful insights, that it didn't matter. Dominique was right where she needed to be since we're on this journey to Crazyville together. It was evident in her response with Rainbow a few seconds ago.

"No. That will do for now." I tell Dominique with an approving nod of my head-two nods to be precise as I look at our dinner guest. I go to a chair and pull it out, then make a gesture implying that Dominique should sit in said chair. When she does, I move away to the blanketed tray table to present a wide array of 'tools,' for our dining use tonight. "Curious thought." I begin, by pulling the sheet off the table. "When food was a thing-an essential requirement, what was your favorite part on the feathered friend?" I pick up a large meat cleaver and stare at the reflection of the wall behind me, while in thought on what had been my preferred taste on the big bird.

[Dominique]

Dominique gives the chair a casual but effective glance. It would appear she was noting it as if she had seen the particular chair numerous times and all that was different was that he was offering it to her. Which he was. That was not exactly a nightly occurrence. It was more like if she wanted to sit she found a surface and sat her *** down on it and claimed it. To hell with wasting time on asking for permission or waiting for him to pick one and move it out for her. She made her own choices> She always had. Anyone who thought it was a sign of respect of either party to grab was deserving to *** plant themselves on the floor. Want something call it yours, make the moves and make it happen.

HOPE brushed lightly along the edge of the table as she slid into the space open between the position of the chair and the length of dining surface in front of her. Once her body folded at the hips she felt the glide of the seat beneath her meet the backs of her legs. While her body lowered she observed the source of the hard to ignore coppery sweetness of human blood cooling in a slowly expanding pool in front of her beneath Rainbow’s head. There was a mercy in what she viewed as a fitting end to a life that was littered with less than stellar moments that always left the woman coming up short and unfulfilled. Rainbow hardly had the drive to move beyond the repetitive not quite but almost opportunities to remove herself from the side of the notoriously disappointing Foster. Even his going missing did nothing to motivate her to move forward. Perhaps Rainbow was closer to fragments of the shadow’s own past than she consciously gave thought to in the past. Was there some sense of closure spread out before her? Could that be the sweetness of reward in the air that found depths of her dead lungs and the savory last traces of something that fed her deeper within than she first anticipated it would?

Ric pulls her from the temptation of over thinking what it meant when she sank her claws into a woman’s skull. The lethal lengths were tucked away until the need called for their return. Everything else was about the evening ahead. He asks about turkey consumption and her history with it. Now comes the fact that few really know about her. Partly because it never really came up outside her family back in New York. The same family who had been deceased over the last five years.

“So this is where I confess to being kind of picky about poultry.”

That was putting it mildly. Her grandmother swore every year something was wrong with her bowing out on eating turkey on Thanksgiving. Thankfully her grandfather was the one to have her back in a battle of wills against the only woman she would ever be afraid of if she was still walking. Her eyes lifted enough to pin his.

“I was the one who would grill her own steak and bring it to the table which did me no favors with my Sicilian born grandmother who was possibly the best cook ever.” She leaned back and got comfortable in what was now her seat as far as she was concerned. “Red meat. I lived for it until I went through that whole bleeding heart thing over eating anything with a set of eyes period.” She glanced at the lifeless Rainbow then back to Ric. “How about you?”