markdown-monster-club/chapters/chapter_19.md

# Chapter 19

“Hey, save your stories for later, Tamil!” Michelle called out as she walked past them, carrying a stack of firewood. The sun was setting and she looked ready to start the fire. Tamil stood up and smiled.
“Abraham, would you give me hand to fireplace?” Tamil asked. “I cannot find my way.” Abraham started to get up but then felt Katie stir on his chest.
“Um…what about her?” Abraham asked. Tamil chuckled.
“I almost forgot!”
“What should I do?” Abraham asked.
“Pray perhaps?” Tamil suggested. “Seems like a good idea.”
“Look, just help me.” Abraham hissed. Tamil shrugged and reached out with his foot to kick Katie.
“Katie, wake up. Abraham wants to move.” Abraham’s face went very pale and he looked to see Katie grumble and open her eyes to see Abraham’s face. There was a long pause as the two stared at each other, and the look of sleep and tiredness in Katie’s face suddenly changed to shock, fear, and then rage in a matter of seconds.

“WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TRYING TO DO!?”
“I-I…I’m sorry I…”
“LET GO OF ME!” Katie quickly slithered away from Abraham, blushing furiously and fuming.
“Not his fault, Katie,” Tamil chuckled. “You cuddled up to him yourself.”
“Oh shut up, Tamil! You didn’t see it!”
“Doesn’t mean I do not know.” Tamil grinned. Katie huffed and slithered away, trying hard to focus the other way. Tamil didn’t move, waiting on Abraham to help him. Abraham watched her go and just sighed.
“Thanks Tamil…really helpful.”
“I try…you thank me by taking me to fire?” Tamil asked. Abraham stood up and took Tamil’s arm. “Thank you.” Abraham walked Tamil to the fire pit where everyone was starting to gather. Michelle and Sarah were setting down the wood and putting into a pile to light up. Katie was grumbling and blushing in a corner, watching them work, refusing to make eye contact with Abraham or Tamil. Sarah and Michelle just giggled at this. Up from the beach, the figures of Asher and Calypso could be seen. Her tail still wet, she was unable to walk, so Asher was carrying Calypso to the fire. Calypso had her arms around Asher’s neck and Asher was holding her gently in his arms.

“So we’re all here?” Sarah asked. “I brought marshmallows and stuff to cook!” Everyone sat down. Asher set Calypso beside him and layed her tail close to the logs so that they could be warmed when the fire was started.
“My Asher, you’re quite the gentlemen, aren’t you?” Sarah laughed. Asher blushed and looked away, as Calypso smiled sheepishly. “Michelle?” Everyone turned to see Michelle who was staring absentmindedly up at the sky…the moon was shining brightly…and it was almost full. There was a look of dread in her eyes.
“Michelle, don’t think about that right now.” Asher said sternly. Michelle blinked and looked away, as if pulled out of a daze.
“Sorry…sorry.” She said quietly. “Asher, would you mind starting the fire?” Asher nodded and stood up from his seat. He knelt down by the logs and picked up a pair of sticks and some moss laying by the sand. He stuck the moss between the sticks and began rubbing the sticks between the moss….fast. So fast that Abrahams eyes could barely follow the movements and rotations of the twigs. Soon, smoke was rising from the moss as it began to burn until, at last, a small fire was started on the two sticks. He threw the burning sticks into the stack of logs and began to toy with it until a small fire began to roar to life.
“Thank you Asher.” Michelle said with a smile. She sat down by the fire and watched the flames come alive. Asher leaned back and sat down beside Calypso.

“So now what do we do?” Katie asked. Sarah got up and began passing around sticks and marshmallows for everyone to cook. Calypso had to help Tamil put his marshmallow on as he stuck his own finger several times.
“Well, how about we tell stories…or play a game?” Sarah offered. Suddenly her eyes brightened and she squealed happily. “Let’s play Truth or Dare!” The group laughed around the fire and nodded.
“Alright, but you have to start, Sarah!” Michelle announced. “Truth or dare?” Sarah pondered this for a moment and then shrugged.
“Truth then.” Michelle and the others looked at each other and then turned back to Sarah. Michelle leaned forward and smirked.
“How do you poop?” The entire group giggled at this question, including Sarah. Sarah just beamed and whispered.
“I don’t poop! I just hold it all in! Why do you think my abdomen is so big?” She giggled. Abraham gasped.
“Really!?” At this the whole gang burst into howling laughter.
“Of course not, you dummy! I do too poop! But that’s not something you just talk about!” Sarah cried through tears of laughter. Michelle then grinned and shrugged.
“I guess since I asked the question, I’ll go next.” Michelle offered. This time Calypso jumped up.
“Truth or dare, Michelle?” Michelle smirked arrogantly.
“Dare!” Michelle challenged. Calypso smiled and pulled out some string.
“I dare you to tie your hair in a ponytail.” She laughed. The whole gang ooed and turned to look at Michelle who suddenly looked very concerned.
“But…but I don’t like hair stuff…I like it hanging free.” Michelle whined. Calypso held firm, and after a few moments of silence, Michelle groaned and took the string. “Okay, Sarah gimme a hand with this.” Sarah scurried over and began tying Michelles hair back. Michelle’s face was filled with disgust. Tamil leaned close to Abraham to whisper.
“Michelle does not like hair ornaments. She like her free hair. What you call it, Michelle? Natural hair?” Tamil asked.
“I like my hair to hang naturally…I can’t stand ponytails and crap in my hair.” Michelle grumbled. “Someone get back at Calypso for me!” Tamil leaned back and chuckled at this.
“Truth or Dare, Calypso?” Tamil asked. Calypso thought about it for a moment and then smiled back.
“Dare.” Tamil gave a broad smile.

“I dare you to kiss Asher.”

Calypso’s smile vanished almost instantly and Asher nearly fell over in shock. The entire group gasped and looked at Calypso to see if she would do it. Tamil just grinned, knowing that he’d caused quite a situation. There was a look on his face of sheer amusement…as if this was his plan for a while. Had he? Tamil was a mystery…it was hard to tell what he was thinking sometimes, but it was quite clear that he was intelligent; far more than Abraham had given him credit for.

“Now hold on a second!” Asher stammered. “She…she doesn’t have to do that! Don’t I have some say in this?”
“Oh don’t pretend like you don’t want it.” Sarah giggled.
“I’m willing to bet that’s what you two were doing out on that rock earlier anyway.” Michelle snickered. “What’s wrong with letting us see it?” With each comment made, Tamil only smiled bigger.
“Oh stop being so bashful and just get it overwith!” Katie shouted happily, smiling just as big as everyone else. Asher turned to Calypso who wasn’t looking at him, but staring at the fire.
“Calypso, you…you don’t have to do this…it’s fine.”
“No Asher,” she whispered quietly. She turned her body to face Asher and placed her hand on his shoulder near his neck, pulling herself to him. Asher made a slight twitching movement, as if to escape her, but then he relaxed and watched her look up at him with her beautiful blue eyes. “I do have to do this.” She leaned up to Asher and closed her eyes as her lips touched his.
At first it was just a light brushing of the lips, barely a tease. Asher just stared for a moment, his eyelids fluttering over his blood red eyes. Finally he began to close his and give in to her advance. He leaned into the kiss and their lips met. They shared the silent kiss…and not a sound was made from anyone. Nobody laughed…nobody catcalled…nobody whistled. They watched the always silent and strong Asher, kiss the lips of the shy and beautiful Calypso.
“It’s about freaking time.” Katie whispered with a soft smile.
“Amen to that.” Sarah whispered, as Calypso and Asher finally broke the kiss. As they broke apart, the two only stared at each other for a long moment, with a slight blush on their faces. Calypso quickly scooted away from Asher bashfully, almost ashamed of what she’d done. Asher just sat still, processing what had happened.
“Ya know, I’ve always pictured the two of you kissing…I was expecting something more…I dunno…steamy!” Michelle noted.
“Shut up.” Calypso muttered.
“I mean, after reading those Twilight novels and other vampires love stuff, I thought-”
“DON’T EVEN START!” Asher barked. His uproar caused a surge of laughter from the others, breaking the awkward silence. Abraham found himself laughing as well, joining in the fun. He then turned and realized that it was Tamil’s turn.

“Tamil,” Abraham spoke up, “truth or dare?” Everyone turned to look at Tamil.
“Truth.” Tamil answered. “Am not so good at dares.” Abraham thought long and hard about what he wanted to ask Tamil. He knew so little about him…but he could only ask one question in this game. What did he want to know most?
“Tamil, how did you join the club?” Abraham asked. The club all groaned and laughed.
“C’mon, what kind of question is that?”
“That’s not embarrassing at all!”
“Do another!”
The only person who didn’t laugh was Tamil, who only stared off into the void. Abraham waited until everyone calmed down. Tamil breathed in and sighed loudly.
“It is…interesting question.” Tamil pointed out. “I was last to come to the club, as you know.”
“But how did you find it?” Abraham asked.
“The same way everyone else did…Michelle.” Tamil said.
“It’s true,” Calypso said quietly, “Michelle was the first to join the club, and she’s the leader…which means she’s in charge of recruitment. Whenever she hears word about a monster in need, she goes to them and brings them to Solomon. That’s how most of us got here in the first place.”
“So…where did Michelle find you, Tamil?” Abraham asked. “Were you in Egypt?” Tamil didn’t look up at Abraham but only stared out into space…as if deep in thought.
“Not Egypt…found me in dark and cold place.” The club fell silent as Tamil spoke…all listening to his tale. “I tell you whole story.”