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axesladeInspired by Dido this time
Chapter 9
Of course, things weren’t perfect between them. In fact, the first of many problems started the next morning when Mandy woke up anxious and nauseous. She rolled over in the bed, whimpering and clawing at the bedclothes.
James turned over, reaching a hand out to Mandy’s shoulder in an attempt to soothe her apparent distress.
“Mand, what’s wrong?” he hoped she didn’t think he’d screwed her. He’d never take advantage of her like that, especially after what Brian had done to her last night.
“Mmm, nothing luv. Things are just moving a bit fast” she smiled weakly, kissing him. His usually alluring smell and taste went straight to her stomach, causing it to turn over. She whimpered a little, resting her growing curved nails against her abdomen.
“Where’s the loo?” she muttered miserably.
James propped himself up on his arm, pointing with one finer.
“Down the hall” and almost before he finished he was up and he heard the bathroom door slamming. He stood up, shaking his head. She was hiding something from him, he knew it.
Mandy gasped, hoping the sound of her committing overrode the soft roar that came out with the bile. Goddamn it. Why was the change fighting her now? Then she looked in the mirror at her pale face, brushing her hair over her ears to hide the fur covering them, suddenly realizing why. Fear. She placed a hand on her stomach, swallowing when she felt a slight swelling. She thought Brian had done the job right a few weeks ago, had been living in a numb acceptance of it even, but apparently he’d been a bit too stoned to do it right.
She broke from these distressing thoughts when she heard James’ voice outside.
“If you need me, I’ll be in the kitchen cookin’ breaky” he said cheerfully. She smiled slightly, cursing herself for getting so comfortable with him. She knew this couldn’t be a permanent arrangement. Brian would leak what she was if she didn’t come back soon enough. But for now, God it felt good to be with someone so kind, even if he didn’t really know her.
James turned his head as the floorboards creaked, smiling when he saw Mandy.
“Hey luv.”
“Hey” Mandy walked into the kitchen, grinning wolfishly when she saw…
“What?” James stared as she giggled.
“It’s the apron, isn’t it?” he motioned to the pink apron he was wearing. In fact, it was all he was wearing.
She giggled, sauntering over to him and kissing his neck.
“It’s wonderful, I’ve just never seen a man in an apron before” she nuzzled his flesh, nipping gently.
“Mmm…I think I can just skip the breakfast and eat you instead.”
James laughed.
“I love it, but then the omelet would burn and we can’t have that” he smiled, sliding the mass of egg, cheese and meat onto a plate and handing it to Mandy. She grinned.
“Mmm, looks great” yet as she set the prongs of the fork into it and brought it up to her nose, her stomach took another nose dive and she quickly set the plate on the counter and dashed to the bathroom.
Ten minutes later, James’ sister Roxy ambled out of her room to see James leaning against the bathroom door.
“I hope the omelet didn’t make you sick…” he mumbled. Roxy walked over, smiling.
“What’s up?”
“Umm…my…friend is sick…”
“Your girlfriend?”
James blushed.
“Ah, yeah.”
Roxy grinned,
“What’s her name?”
“Mandy.”
Roxy gently knocked on the door.
“Mandy, hon, can I come in?”
Mandy looked up, willing her arms, legs and face back to normal, letting her nails, teeth and ears stay.
“Yeah” she croaked, still kneeling by the toilet bowl. Roxy walked in, pushing her brother aside.
“Hey…what’s-“ then she saw the look on Mandy’s face, the tears threatening to fall from her eyes. Mandy glanced at her for a second, knowing she knew exactly what was wrong, and started swearing out Brian.
Roxy patted Mandy’s back, turning her head when James stormed into the bathroom.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he exclaimed. Mandy sighed as he knelt by her, putting her mouth close to his ear.
“I didn’t know…at least…I didn’t think it would get this far. Brian used the hanger a week or two back and I bled but I guess…” she shook her head, leaning back against the wall.
“Fuck.”
James wrapped his arms around her, cradling her close to his body.
“I’m going to fucking kill that son of a-“ he cut off as Roxy smacked him in the head.
“That’s not going to help her, is it? I tell you, that temper of yours…”
“Could you give us a minute Roxy?” James snapped at his sister, who rolled her eyes and stood up. James held Mandy closer, placing his face in her hair, whispering softly.
“Go to him.”
Mandy shook her head.
“He’d just hurt me more. He’d think I did something to keep it from working. It would be better for everyone if I just get a hanger and…” she winced at the thought. But it had to be done. What would happen when the baby was born? Maybe it would look normal at first, but come the first full moon…
James groaned softly, shaking his head.
“No…it’s wrong. I’ll be the father” he gently took her hands, smiling.
“It’ll be our baby. We’ll run away, start over…”
Mandy smiled widely, hoping her fangs didn’t show too bad.
“Oh sweet, that sounds wonderful. I’ll dye my hair, change my name back…” her smile faded abruptly.
“Oh…but Brian would never sign the papers…”
James’ eyes widened.
“But why? Does he hate you that much?”
No, he just likes lording my curse over me, she thought. But she said instead,
“No…he just likes owning me. I’m a piece of jewelry to him, nothing more.”
James sighed.
“Oh God…I forgot about the album too…” he saw Mandy’s look of confusion and smiled.
“I got a deal after some scout saw me in Rotterdam.”
She sighed, wondering why all the wonderful ideas always had to be burned up by the facts. Then, she smiled,
“It can work. Listen, I know it'll be easy to convince the press I'm absolutely batty right now, Brian'll vouche. We can say I'm just taking a rest to get my senses back, and I can stay here with you until the album's recorded”, she smiled,
“I'm sure I can convince Angel to forge Brian's signature if it's a matter of a child, she adores babies”, she kissed James deeply, pleased when his taste brought on a warm comforting feeling instead of nausea.
“God...I know it's ridiculous, but I love you so much...” she ignored the fact he was in only an apron and his underwear and that she had bits of saliva and bile sticking to her face and that her ears were still covered in fur, pressing against his body.
James gently wiped her hair down with a damp cloth, causing her to shiver until he moved past her ears, smiling,
“It'll be perfect luv.” He kissed her deeply, pushing her down onto the floor. He stopped quickly though.
“The baby…”
Mandy smiled, kissing him, nibbling his lips before sitting up.
“Worrywart. But I guess you’re right, we shouldn’t rush things. I should probably call Angel to come bring my things anyway.”
James nodded, insisting on carrying her to the phone. She giggled and he just shrugged, kissing her nose and setting her down on the bed. While she phoned Angel, James slumped into his room and opened the casing on his piano. Flexing his fingers, he let his hands drift up the keyboard lightly, until he let them drop with a graceful 'plunk' on the first chord.
About thirty minutes later, Angel came to the flat with a large paper bag. She smiled when she looked at Mandy, until she saw the bruise on her face,
“What happened?”
“Brian and I had...a fight yesterday”, she sighed,
“Thanks love”, she dumped the bag out on the bed, picking up the box of hair dye and trying to remember what she looked like with brown hair. Then she remembered the scrapes she’d given Brian last night, smiling a little.
“Hey…does he have a scar on his face?” she asked, unsure how deep the cuts were.
“Hmm? Oh, yeah…” Angel blushed a little. It was always awkward for all of the entourage when Mandy’s ‘condition was brought up.
“Well, I have to get back. There's a party,” she kissed Mandy chastely and walked out. Mandy sighed and opened the box.
James didn't even hear the doorbell ring. His mind was consumed with the music that flowed throughout his being. Hearing Mandy pad softly into the bedroom, he cut the song short...and gasped in amazement.
Mandy smiled, leaning her head against the doorframe,
“Scared you that much?” she ran her fingers through her now-brown pageboy,
“I didn't even recognize myself for a moment.” she sat down on the bed then,
“You play beautifully, by the way. I just know your album will be a smash”
James looked down sheepishly,
”Sorry, I didn't mean to uh…sound...like such a jerk.” he smiled,
“It looks smashing honey, simply smashing.”
He got up from the piano bench and sprawled himself out like a cat on the fluffy comforter, gazing up at her.
“How can you be so beautiful. It must be a sin to be that gorgeous.”
“Sin is nonexistent,” she giggled, though she wondered again what he would think if he knew how ‘sinful’ she really was.
“I'm not really beautiful. I know that. People swoon at my feet and kiss me, but it's just because Brian shines so brightly, and I'm some pin adorning his shirt” she said, without feeling a bit of pain as she said. She wasn’t beautiful like this. If she could only show him her real self, then she could agree with him about her beauty.
“And don't try to convince me I am. I...” she shoved away the thought of telling him why she had run away to London. That was stupid. He’d leave her then; maybe even threaten to kill her like Michael had.
“It's hard to believe I am when I'm with someone as beautiful like you”
James pulled her down beside him and buried is face is her now brown locks, sighing.
“Just because I dress feminine and have green hair doesn't make me beautiful. Beauty is on the inside. And you are beautiful inside and out.” He turned over onto his back, letting her snuggle up underneath his arm, laughing as she licked and nibbled her neck with animalistic lust.
“Don't let anyone tell you you're not beautiful, dahling. You're gorgeous, and not just your body” though that's fairly stunning, she thought,
“Brian...I know he's pretty. But inside he's...well, you know.” she shook her head,
“I'm nothing special. I guess Brian and I complimented each other because I had the humanity, he had the beauty,” she flung her hands out in frustration,
“I really do need to forget him,” she kissed James,
“I don't do a good job of starting over well, do I?” How can you when the thing you’re running from shows up every month with bone cracking and barks?
James grinned, “I'm sorry to say, that no you don't.” he laughed lightly, and tousled her hair playfully.
“Have you thought of any names for the little one? I'm sort of partial to Christina, but that’s if its a girl. If it's a boy, maybe Seth? I dunno…I'm horrible at this.”
Mandy swallowed tightly. She hadn’t thought about it ever since the first one Brian had taken away. Why think of names for something she’d lose anyway? And it was almost impossible to think of one now. The only thing that would come to her mind was the thought that this child could be like the twins, who she always claimed were well adjusted but were really living in secret with no friends and always in fear like she was.
Sensing her discomfort, James quickly changed the subject. “Oh! Guess what? I start recording next week! You know what that means?” he growled, making the hair on Mandy’s neck shoot straight up, and slid down beside her,
“We have a whole week to do whatever we please...”
Mandy laughed and ran her fingers down through his hair to rest on his back, dragging her claws along the flesh tenderly. She nuzzled his neck, lapping up his sweat, pleased when he held her closer. If she could just change enough to get the urge to leave her alone, enough to arouse him besides the nights of the full moon when she could sneak away, maybe this would work.
“Mmm.…I don't think either of us are leaving this bed for very long, if I have anything to say about it” she grinned, letting him remove her shirt. They didn’t go very far, since James was still foolishly worried about hurting the baby, but by the end Mandy was wondering if he didn’t have a drop of wolf blood in him as bit her body and then he lapped at her between her legs, making her let out an unbridled howl of pleasure.
Chapter 9
Of course, things weren’t perfect between them. In fact, the first of many problems started the next morning when Mandy woke up anxious and nauseous. She rolled over in the bed, whimpering and clawing at the bedclothes.
James turned over, reaching a hand out to Mandy’s shoulder in an attempt to soothe her apparent distress.
“Mand, what’s wrong?” he hoped she didn’t think he’d screwed her. He’d never take advantage of her like that, especially after what Brian had done to her last night.
“Mmm, nothing luv. Things are just moving a bit fast” she smiled weakly, kissing him. His usually alluring smell and taste went straight to her stomach, causing it to turn over. She whimpered a little, resting her growing curved nails against her abdomen.
“Where’s the loo?” she muttered miserably.
James propped himself up on his arm, pointing with one finer.
“Down the hall” and almost before he finished he was up and he heard the bathroom door slamming. He stood up, shaking his head. She was hiding something from him, he knew it.
Mandy gasped, hoping the sound of her committing overrode the soft roar that came out with the bile. Goddamn it. Why was the change fighting her now? Then she looked in the mirror at her pale face, brushing her hair over her ears to hide the fur covering them, suddenly realizing why. Fear. She placed a hand on her stomach, swallowing when she felt a slight swelling. She thought Brian had done the job right a few weeks ago, had been living in a numb acceptance of it even, but apparently he’d been a bit too stoned to do it right.
She broke from these distressing thoughts when she heard James’ voice outside.
“If you need me, I’ll be in the kitchen cookin’ breaky” he said cheerfully. She smiled slightly, cursing herself for getting so comfortable with him. She knew this couldn’t be a permanent arrangement. Brian would leak what she was if she didn’t come back soon enough. But for now, God it felt good to be with someone so kind, even if he didn’t really know her.
James turned his head as the floorboards creaked, smiling when he saw Mandy.
“Hey luv.”
“Hey” Mandy walked into the kitchen, grinning wolfishly when she saw…
“What?” James stared as she giggled.
“It’s the apron, isn’t it?” he motioned to the pink apron he was wearing. In fact, it was all he was wearing.
She giggled, sauntering over to him and kissing his neck.
“It’s wonderful, I’ve just never seen a man in an apron before” she nuzzled his flesh, nipping gently.
“Mmm…I think I can just skip the breakfast and eat you instead.”
James laughed.
“I love it, but then the omelet would burn and we can’t have that” he smiled, sliding the mass of egg, cheese and meat onto a plate and handing it to Mandy. She grinned.
“Mmm, looks great” yet as she set the prongs of the fork into it and brought it up to her nose, her stomach took another nose dive and she quickly set the plate on the counter and dashed to the bathroom.
Ten minutes later, James’ sister Roxy ambled out of her room to see James leaning against the bathroom door.
“I hope the omelet didn’t make you sick…” he mumbled. Roxy walked over, smiling.
“What’s up?”
“Umm…my…friend is sick…”
“Your girlfriend?”
James blushed.
“Ah, yeah.”
Roxy grinned,
“What’s her name?”
“Mandy.”
Roxy gently knocked on the door.
“Mandy, hon, can I come in?”
Mandy looked up, willing her arms, legs and face back to normal, letting her nails, teeth and ears stay.
“Yeah” she croaked, still kneeling by the toilet bowl. Roxy walked in, pushing her brother aside.
“Hey…what’s-“ then she saw the look on Mandy’s face, the tears threatening to fall from her eyes. Mandy glanced at her for a second, knowing she knew exactly what was wrong, and started swearing out Brian.
Roxy patted Mandy’s back, turning her head when James stormed into the bathroom.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he exclaimed. Mandy sighed as he knelt by her, putting her mouth close to his ear.
“I didn’t know…at least…I didn’t think it would get this far. Brian used the hanger a week or two back and I bled but I guess…” she shook her head, leaning back against the wall.
“Fuck.”
James wrapped his arms around her, cradling her close to his body.
“I’m going to fucking kill that son of a-“ he cut off as Roxy smacked him in the head.
“That’s not going to help her, is it? I tell you, that temper of yours…”
“Could you give us a minute Roxy?” James snapped at his sister, who rolled her eyes and stood up. James held Mandy closer, placing his face in her hair, whispering softly.
“Go to him.”
Mandy shook her head.
“He’d just hurt me more. He’d think I did something to keep it from working. It would be better for everyone if I just get a hanger and…” she winced at the thought. But it had to be done. What would happen when the baby was born? Maybe it would look normal at first, but come the first full moon…
James groaned softly, shaking his head.
“No…it’s wrong. I’ll be the father” he gently took her hands, smiling.
“It’ll be our baby. We’ll run away, start over…”
Mandy smiled widely, hoping her fangs didn’t show too bad.
“Oh sweet, that sounds wonderful. I’ll dye my hair, change my name back…” her smile faded abruptly.
“Oh…but Brian would never sign the papers…”
James’ eyes widened.
“But why? Does he hate you that much?”
No, he just likes lording my curse over me, she thought. But she said instead,
“No…he just likes owning me. I’m a piece of jewelry to him, nothing more.”
James sighed.
“Oh God…I forgot about the album too…” he saw Mandy’s look of confusion and smiled.
“I got a deal after some scout saw me in Rotterdam.”
She sighed, wondering why all the wonderful ideas always had to be burned up by the facts. Then, she smiled,
“It can work. Listen, I know it'll be easy to convince the press I'm absolutely batty right now, Brian'll vouche. We can say I'm just taking a rest to get my senses back, and I can stay here with you until the album's recorded”, she smiled,
“I'm sure I can convince Angel to forge Brian's signature if it's a matter of a child, she adores babies”, she kissed James deeply, pleased when his taste brought on a warm comforting feeling instead of nausea.
“God...I know it's ridiculous, but I love you so much...” she ignored the fact he was in only an apron and his underwear and that she had bits of saliva and bile sticking to her face and that her ears were still covered in fur, pressing against his body.
James gently wiped her hair down with a damp cloth, causing her to shiver until he moved past her ears, smiling,
“It'll be perfect luv.” He kissed her deeply, pushing her down onto the floor. He stopped quickly though.
“The baby…”
Mandy smiled, kissing him, nibbling his lips before sitting up.
“Worrywart. But I guess you’re right, we shouldn’t rush things. I should probably call Angel to come bring my things anyway.”
James nodded, insisting on carrying her to the phone. She giggled and he just shrugged, kissing her nose and setting her down on the bed. While she phoned Angel, James slumped into his room and opened the casing on his piano. Flexing his fingers, he let his hands drift up the keyboard lightly, until he let them drop with a graceful 'plunk' on the first chord.
About thirty minutes later, Angel came to the flat with a large paper bag. She smiled when she looked at Mandy, until she saw the bruise on her face,
“What happened?”
“Brian and I had...a fight yesterday”, she sighed,
“Thanks love”, she dumped the bag out on the bed, picking up the box of hair dye and trying to remember what she looked like with brown hair. Then she remembered the scrapes she’d given Brian last night, smiling a little.
“Hey…does he have a scar on his face?” she asked, unsure how deep the cuts were.
“Hmm? Oh, yeah…” Angel blushed a little. It was always awkward for all of the entourage when Mandy’s ‘condition was brought up.
“Well, I have to get back. There's a party,” she kissed Mandy chastely and walked out. Mandy sighed and opened the box.
James didn't even hear the doorbell ring. His mind was consumed with the music that flowed throughout his being. Hearing Mandy pad softly into the bedroom, he cut the song short...and gasped in amazement.
Mandy smiled, leaning her head against the doorframe,
“Scared you that much?” she ran her fingers through her now-brown pageboy,
“I didn't even recognize myself for a moment.” she sat down on the bed then,
“You play beautifully, by the way. I just know your album will be a smash”
James looked down sheepishly,
”Sorry, I didn't mean to uh…sound...like such a jerk.” he smiled,
“It looks smashing honey, simply smashing.”
He got up from the piano bench and sprawled himself out like a cat on the fluffy comforter, gazing up at her.
“How can you be so beautiful. It must be a sin to be that gorgeous.”
“Sin is nonexistent,” she giggled, though she wondered again what he would think if he knew how ‘sinful’ she really was.
“I'm not really beautiful. I know that. People swoon at my feet and kiss me, but it's just because Brian shines so brightly, and I'm some pin adorning his shirt” she said, without feeling a bit of pain as she said. She wasn’t beautiful like this. If she could only show him her real self, then she could agree with him about her beauty.
“And don't try to convince me I am. I...” she shoved away the thought of telling him why she had run away to London. That was stupid. He’d leave her then; maybe even threaten to kill her like Michael had.
“It's hard to believe I am when I'm with someone as beautiful like you”
James pulled her down beside him and buried is face is her now brown locks, sighing.
“Just because I dress feminine and have green hair doesn't make me beautiful. Beauty is on the inside. And you are beautiful inside and out.” He turned over onto his back, letting her snuggle up underneath his arm, laughing as she licked and nibbled her neck with animalistic lust.
“Don't let anyone tell you you're not beautiful, dahling. You're gorgeous, and not just your body” though that's fairly stunning, she thought,
“Brian...I know he's pretty. But inside he's...well, you know.” she shook her head,
“I'm nothing special. I guess Brian and I complimented each other because I had the humanity, he had the beauty,” she flung her hands out in frustration,
“I really do need to forget him,” she kissed James,
“I don't do a good job of starting over well, do I?” How can you when the thing you’re running from shows up every month with bone cracking and barks?
James grinned, “I'm sorry to say, that no you don't.” he laughed lightly, and tousled her hair playfully.
“Have you thought of any names for the little one? I'm sort of partial to Christina, but that’s if its a girl. If it's a boy, maybe Seth? I dunno…I'm horrible at this.”
Mandy swallowed tightly. She hadn’t thought about it ever since the first one Brian had taken away. Why think of names for something she’d lose anyway? And it was almost impossible to think of one now. The only thing that would come to her mind was the thought that this child could be like the twins, who she always claimed were well adjusted but were really living in secret with no friends and always in fear like she was.
Sensing her discomfort, James quickly changed the subject. “Oh! Guess what? I start recording next week! You know what that means?” he growled, making the hair on Mandy’s neck shoot straight up, and slid down beside her,
“We have a whole week to do whatever we please...”
Mandy laughed and ran her fingers down through his hair to rest on his back, dragging her claws along the flesh tenderly. She nuzzled his neck, lapping up his sweat, pleased when he held her closer. If she could just change enough to get the urge to leave her alone, enough to arouse him besides the nights of the full moon when she could sneak away, maybe this would work.
“Mmm.…I don't think either of us are leaving this bed for very long, if I have anything to say about it” she grinned, letting him remove her shirt. They didn’t go very far, since James was still foolishly worried about hurting the baby, but by the end Mandy was wondering if he didn’t have a drop of wolf blood in him as bit her body and then he lapped at her between her legs, making her let out an unbridled howl of pleasure.
