Soup for the soul

[Jackson Church]

I walked into the pub feeling a little solemn. I felt numb from everything that had been going on. Everything from the earthquake itself to my run in with Scarlet. After a few days with her I just didn't feel like myself, nor did I feel like a minister with a cause. This was a time I needed someone to pick me up, dust me off, and tell me it was all going to be alright. However since everyone I knew was dead, I was pretty sure it was all gonna be up to myself and God to get me out of this slump. And as a gesture of good faith I laid a stack of the missionary cards on a table just inside the door.
I walked over to the booth and sat down, my head held low. My confidence was lacking considering I couldn't help Scarlet, which in return made me wonder who I could help.


The waitress walked over to me batting her eyes. She had on a short mini-skirt, a white lace tank top, and her hair pulled back in a scrunchy, "What can I get ya darlin'?" she asked as she flauntingly bent over the table showing her cleavage. Her body language screamed flirt. "Um just a bowl of chicken noodle soup, and a salad with oil and vinegar." I replied with as much kindness as I could mustard up.It was hard to be positive and nice when you felt so much sadness and hurt in your soul. She stormed off I think a little mad I didn't respond to her advances. 'Dear lord give me strength' I prayed silently as I waited for my food.

[Scarlett Devereaux]

I sat in the dark corner booth of an Irish pub clutching my tattered copy of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. The story was one of my mother's favorites and thus one of mine. My pale fingers reached to turn the page and froze in mid air as the rest of my body went deadly still.

I sensed him before I smelled him and that was all without seeing him at all. I closed my eyes as I heard a shuffling in the booth ahead of mine. "What can I get ya darlin'?" My blood boiled as I heard the flirting tone of the waitress who was seating him. "Um just a bowl of chicken noodle soup, and a salad with oil and vinegar." I heard the twinge in his voice that came with all the toxics. It was that 'I'm always sick' sound that they all carried.

I folded my book shut and stood up from my booth. I hadn't eaten or drank anything, so there was no bill to pay. I had all intentions of walking right passed him without stopping. But, as I came up on his side, my senses were assaulted with everything that was Jackson. I could smell the constant sickness on his skin, the musky maleness that was his natural scent and just below the surface was the faint smell of jasmine and honey suckle. That scent came from my blood flowing in his veins.

I sat down on the opposite side of his booth, facing him and giving him a small smile. "Hello, Jackson." I said to him, my voice neutral. It had been weeks since I'd seen him, a seclusion I'd imposed because I knew he wanted it. I could see the instant discomfort in him that was from my presence alone.

[Jackson Church]

I was sitting still, having a conversation with my Lord when she welcomed herself to my table, "Hello, Jackson." she said almost as cold as her body. I could tell there were no emotions behind her words. I felt my heart do this twinge thing as I looked up to see Scarlet sitting in front of me.

"Come around looking for a crutch? Not gonna find no praise or pity here Scarlet." I said just as cold. The last time I tried to treat her like her former human self a lot of people got hurt. I was very shocked she was here, now I felt violated like my need for something other than canned beef stew was her setting this encounter up, "Was this you? Did you bring me here?" I asked growing very angry with her. I was starting to realize there were no place for safety in this world any longer. Especially now she could track me down anytime she wanted.

I looked over at the waitress who was just flirting with me staring Scarlet down with jealous eyes. I quickly looked away and back at Scarlet not wanting to stir anything up. There was to be no more blood on my hands when it came to Scarlet and anyone else for that matter.

[Scarlett Devereaux]

"Come around looking for a crutch? Not gonna find no praise or pity here Scarlet." He said coldly. I raised an eyebrow at his comment, but said nothing in return. I knew he hated me, his aggravation was nothing shocking. His anger stung me as the blood in his veins began to race with agitation. "Was this you? Did you bring me here?" I shook my head and giggled slightly. "No, I had nothing to do with your decision to come to this pub. In fact, I was here first." The comment was childish, but I was hoping for a smile even though it was unlikely.

I slipped my arms out of my long jacket and let it fall down to my waist. I was wearing a plain, dark purple tee shirt with my black jeans and knee high boots. It was nothing spectacular, but the large diamond ring hanging from my neck made it a great outfit all the same. I folded my hands on the table and leaned forward a little. I kept my distance for Jackson's sake even though I wanted nothing more than to be close to him. I gave the jealous waitress a side ways glare as she stared at me from the bar. "I think your girlfriend is angry with me, Jacks." I said quietly as I looked at her. I turned my head back to him, "Maybe your own conscious brought you here to me, did you ever think of that? Of course not. Good ole' boy Jackson Church seeking out a vampire?! Never."

[Jackson Church]

"No, I had nothing to do with your decision to come to this pub. In fact, I was here first.""I think your girlfriend is angry with me, Jacks."

"She's not my girlfriend" I quickly rebutted as I looked away from Scarlet and started to fidget with the ketchup bottle. She says she didn't bring me here, but was I really suppose to trust a vampire who practically owned me now?

"Maybe your own conscious brought you here to me, did you ever think of that? Of course not. Good ole' boy Jackson Church seeking out a vampire?! Never."

I stopped playing with the bottle and shot a look at her that made it obvious her comment bothered me, "And why would I do that? Huh?" In my own mind I measured my need for her.I would never admit it if I did secretly long to see her. She took something from me I would never get back. My innocence. She held my fate in her hand, I wasn't a stupid man. I only thought it was the opposite way around. I couldn't do anything for her, but she could strike me dead and manipulate me like a puppet. Her blood was poison, even more poison than the toxins in my veins. I was a cautious man though, and God help me if maybe I did need her even if just a little.
The world wasn't black or white anymore. There were places in between and I was careful not to go there.

[Scarlett Devereaux]

"And why would I do that? Huh?" Ahh, I'd touched a nerve. I smiled softly and leaned back against the booth, pulling my hands in to my lap. "Touchy, touchy." I said to him, knowing I was grating on his nerves. "I know you feel it too, Jacks. The urge to seek me out, the need to feel my skin on yours, I know you feel it all just the same as I do. I also know your disgust at those feelings." I leaned across the table, getting as close to him as the barrier between us would allow. "I can taste your self loathing on the tip of my tongue and its very bitter, Jackson."

The jealous waitress brought his soup and salad to the table and quickly moved away as my red eyes met her blue ones. "I once had blue eyes, you know." I said, mostly to myself, as I watched her walk away. Turning back to him, I finally let the sadness that consumed me every time I thought of Jackson, fill my voice. "I know you don't want to see me.. So tell me to go. Tell me to leave and never come back, and I will."

[Jackson Church]

"Touchy, touchy.""I know you feel it too, Jacks. The urge to seek me out, the need to feel my skin on yours, I know you feel it all just the same as I do. I also know your disgust at those feelings." I can taste your self loathing on the tip of my tongue and its very bitter, Jackson."

I let out a heavy sigh as I glared at her my lips pursed together as I bit my tongue. She was wrong. I remembered what she had done to that shifter in the back alley. I remember how she left her for dead and then turned on me, "You're wrong." was all I muttered at her trying to retain my composure. She disgusted me still with her woe is me mind games. I held up the hand with the scar from the knife she thrust into it as a reminder of our struggle that night, "Did you forget?" Maybe it would also remind her of the broken ribs I walked away with as well. She may have forgotten or brushed it off, but I had the scars that would never let me forget. I may have forgave her but it didn't mean all was well. That night was hell for me and those other people involved. I still dreamed about the blood of that shifter running down my arms as I helped that guy Nick get her away from Scarlet.


"Scarlet.." I started to speak before the waitress interrupted me with my food. Her blue eyes were very real, very...human. Scarlet must have noticed them too, "I once had blue eyes, you know."
"Yeah, well, I once didn't have any scars" I replied softly as I grasped my hands together to silently bless my food.

"I know you don't want to see me.. So tell me to go. Tell me to leave and never come back, and I will."


I unconsciously rolled my eyes at her, "You'll just find me again anyway." I said softly as I prepared my food to eat it. I suddenly realized I took my emotions out a little too much on the salt shaker. I had way to much salt on my food and not enough pepper. I looked at her disappointed, "I wanted to help you but you took advantage of my good will. You bit me and then you tried to hurt me when I tried to stop you again from making a mistake. What is it with you vampires? Really? Do fangs really give you the right to bully?" I focused that disappointment from her face to my bowl of soup, "Now look what you made me do."

[Scarlett Devereaux]

I unconsciously rolled my eyes at her, "You'll just find me again anyway" I said softly as I prepared my food to eat it. I suddenly realized I took my emotions out a little too much on the salt shaker. I had way to much salt on my food and not enough pepper. I looked at her disappointed, "I wanted to help you but you took advantage of my good will. You bit me and then you tried to hurt me when I tried to stop you again from making a mistake. What is it with you vampires? Really? Do fangs really give you the right to bully?" I focused that disappointment from her face to my bowl of soup, "Now look what you made me do."

I watched as his bowl of soup spilled all over his lap. It was almost in slow motion for me. Which is saying something, because nothing is ever slow for me anymore. I plucked the green cloth napkin from its ring beside me. I'm sure it had once been a soft fabric but years of washings and a global devastation had left it sorely lacking. I held the napkin out to him, letting it dangle on the tip of my fingers. When he snatched it out of the air, I sat back with a sigh. "You forget that I grew up in the south, don't you, Jackson. Do you have any idea how many years I had to smile and nod for all of the sanctimonious bible thumpers down there?" My voice was soft and lacking all of the emotions that were raging inside of me. Go me.

I stood up in a flourish, putting everything I had in to looking as non-human as I possibly could. He had hurt me and I had let that take control of me. But as I stood there staring down at him, feeling my very soul pulling toward him, I knew what I had to do. I stepped from the booth and leaned down close to him, our noses almost touching. "Let us not forget what I am, Jackson. I am the monster you wanted me to be. I will haunt your dreams until the day that you day." I closed that mere space between us and let my lips rest against his cheek. I didn't kiss him but, my lips moved against his skin as I spoke. "But, let us also not forget that in those very same dreams, you will grow hard with desire for me. The monster who makes your blood boil and your heart race."

I could hear his heart pounding in his chest as I stood up with inhuman speed. "Think on that for a bit." I put my talent in to my voice and let it resonate down around him as I walked away. The old, rusted bell above the door let out a mournful sound as the thick wood slammed behind me. I had no idea where I was going but, I knew it was going to be as far away from Jackson Church that I could get.

::EXIT SCARLETT::