#this is the only competent moment of Nat's attempted contract kill

[albatris]

snippet sunday?

snippet sunday?

snippet sunday?

The sunlight itched at his skin through his car window. He was trying not to think on what he was about to do, but by virtue of trying not to think on it, he was thinking on it. It was this huge, hulking thing in his brain that his thoughts skittered around; he could tell it was there by the way his mind bent around it, desperate to avoid it. Nat ground his aching teeth, and winced as fangs ruptured forth and pushed a few of his human teeth out. He spluttered and spat the bloody teeth out into his lap, saliva trailing down his chin.

What you’re about to do will feel good.

What you’re about to do will feel right.

What were the names of Kinley’s children?

Where had he married his wife?

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

A voice hissed to Nat’s left. “Watch out.” And, “Over there!”

Nat shoved himself low in his seat, glancing around, but there was no one nearby, no one watching him. His hallucinations weren’t a warning—they were just nerves. Anxiety rising further, Nat scratched subconsciously at his arms with his claws, drawing blood. He brought his forearm to his mouth to suck on it and he tasted the bitter twang of the Garble on his tongue. It was already twisting in his veins, raring for fight or flight, spurred on by his panic.

He stewed in his thoughts like that until he heard a chime of laughter from the front door of the house. Two small children barrelled outside followed by a slim woman in a blue sundress and sunhat. Nat watched them intently, stupidly hoping to spot something that might indicate they were terrible, awful people who deserved the scene they’d walk into later that day. Kane Kinley appeared at the door then, too, and kissed his wife on the cheek to see her off. The wife and the kids trailed down the driveway and off down the road, towels and cooler in tow, and Kinley closed the door after them.

Nat waited a few minutes. Air hissed in his ears and something tapped him on the arm. He sucked in a deep breath and pushed one out, steeling himself, then he started his car. Around the corner, he parked between some oak trees, tucked off to the side of the road. Kinley’s brush fence loomed next to him.

He didn’t want to get out, but he did. He looked left and right and left again to make sure no one was watching, then attempted to hoist himself up over the fence to Kinley’s backyard. Now that he was under the full gaze of the sun, his vampiric agility was reluctant to help him. The Garble was lethargic, complaining.

Help me get over this fence and I’ll give you something good for it, Nat tried. Whether it helped or not, he wasn’t sure, but he managed to haul himself over. He landed with a thud on the balls of his feet, and immediately dropped low to the ground, certain Kinley would have heard him. His ears strained to pick up any signs of movement.