Chapter Two
VampLoverNight92
A/N: I'd like to thank the following for their reviews:
Oceanmina101, ARiceFan17, Restless Dreaming Spirit, Christa, Evalen, Vamperia, Lorrayne.Amber.Han, HighTides, Alyrenzia, -Renissance.K, RavenStrike, and Princessciara. I appreciate all reviews, Thank you all. And, I'd like to apologize for the wait, and I'm promising to update soon. I'll probably put deadlines up on my profile page, or you can email me and ask. I'm quite happy writing this story, and I'd like to dedicate this chapter to Restless Dreaming Spirit. I have to admit, this story is the most fun to write because I can be totally idiotic and random and it fits in.
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It wasn't long until I was groggy and half sleeping when he bent his head down to my forehead and whispered, "Good night, Charlotte. Feel better." Then, though I was undoubtedly delirious from exhaustion, I swear I felt him leave a kiss on my cheek.
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I woke up to something stirring and instantly my eyes shot open. The first thing that came to me was my fever, and I put my hand, now cool, to my normal tempered forehead. I sighed in relief, but it was very short lived.
"'Morning, Charlotte. How are you feeling?"
I gulped and turned towards his voice with a certain dread, remembering who I was lying here with. And, I was right because there was Kane…
"I'm fine." I said distractedly as I sort of stared at his face. Admittedly, he was pretty gorgeous for a captor. He smirked, now noticing my awestruck, admiring face, and I grimaced. Asshole.
I went to climb out of bed, but he instantly snatched my wrist and pulled forcibly on it.
"No." he said as he shook his head. "You're warm. Stay here."
"I'm human. I'm supposed to be warm. My fever has broken. Now let go."
"Please? You're making me warm." He said, somewhat baffled and surprised, then he pulled my hand over to his face. "See?" I touched my palm to his cheek and was startled to find out that he was actually normal temperature for a…human? Abnormally warm in vampire standards though.
"Morning." Whispered a tiny voice from the doorway to the hallway as the door slowly slid open and Selene's miniature form gracefully danced into the room and over to my side of the bed. She propped up on her tiptoes to see me and smile contentedly. "Are you alright, Charlotte?"
"Yes. Thank you, Selene." I replied politely, smiling weakly back as I tried to pry my hand out of Kane's who wasn't letting go easily.
"You're not going to die of hyperthermia then?" Selene said, now seemingly close to sobbing or hyperventilating. I can't tell which. My eyebrows scrounged together as I made a questioning look.
"No……" I said, confused as I watch Selene's eyes darting back and forth, trying to decipher my expression. I heard Kane sigh, and he rolled over so he could lean over me and address Selene.
"Selene, who told you that?" Kane asked with light amusment.
"That would be Andrei." Informed Lawerence's voice coming out of nowhere, and I looked around the room. No Lawrence visible…
I peered back down at Selene, and wondered why she was staring up at the ceiling. I followed her line of vision and fell out of bed in surprise, almost crushing Selene's petite form. Not like it would hurt her, but still, I wouldn't want to cause any transgressions against the only soul keeping me alive. Lawrence was on the ceiling, of all places, and his fingers dug into the plaster of the wall before he dropped down lithely onto my side of the bed which I had just vacated. Selene offered me her small hand, a gesture to help me off the ground. I ignored it and stood up with my arms crossed as I waited. Andrei needs mental help. It can't be healthy to act that…evil. Sure, it sounds fun. However, you'll think differently when you're the one at stake.
"ANDREI!" yelled Kane, now climbing out of bed as Lawrence yanked the bed sheets around himself.
"I've kept an eye on that kid all day as ordered. I'm going to sleep now." Lawrence announced, then tightly shut his eyes. The door burst open and Andrei stomped in, causing Lawrence to throw a pillow at him since he was purposely making noise, and Kane to scold him even more.
"Andrei! Don't stomp around! …Did you tell her that Charlotte was going to die?" Kane drilled as he pulled on some clothes over his boxer clad form while pointing towards Selene who had big, wide eyes from almost crying. I watched Kane while thinking, Yes, I'm not staring…damn! I am. That thought triggered Lawrence to open an eye discreetly and stare at me which I noted with some disturbance and, more likely, embarrassment.
"I heard that, Charlotte…" Lawrence teased quietly so Kane couldn't overhear.
"You hear everything, Lawrence." I informed rudely, now a little irked. Lawrence returned to his studious effort to sleep, and I couldn't hear anything over Andrei's shouting.
"I DID NOT! LAWRENCE IS A BASTARD!" denied Andrei. "HE DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING!"
"Ok," Kane relented calmly as he beckoned Selene nearer, "Selene, who told you Charlotte was dying?"
"SELENE!" Andrei hissed, then made fierce glare at her. Selene rolled her eyes, and replied, "Kane, please kill him."
"WHAT?!" Andrei screeched, abnormally loud.
"I hope you die." Selene notified, feigning a sweet and casual tone while maintaining an innocent smile. Kane turned his attention to Selene with a grimaced, shocked, and concerned expression. He knelt donw in front of her and squinted his eyes.
"Selene?" Kane said slowly, and she nodded. "What made you say that?"
"YEAH, SELENE! WHAT THE HELL! YOU NEVER SPEAK UP AND NOW YOU'RE TELLING ME TO DIE?" Andrei screamed at Selene, succeeding in making her small figure flinch at every infliction. When Andrei was completely finished, she blinked a few times then grew tense.
"YOU'RE THE ONE WHO WAS TELLING ME HOW CHARLOTTE WAS GOING TO DIE, YOU—" Selene shouted back, standing her own ground for once. I was pretty much awed at Selene after that performance which would have continued if Kane hadn't raised his voice in the midst of it.
"NOW, BOTH OF YOU! You're going to get along. If I can deal with Lawrence and Charlotte, you two can deal with each other. Selene, if you'd like Charlotte to keep on living, behave." Andrei began protesting as soon as my name was mentioned, and I was dreading what Andrei's comments.
"That's not fair!"
"Andrei," Kane said, still disguising his anger pretty well, "When Selene is finished with this friendship, you may keep Charlotte's blood but until then you aren't going to kill her. Understand? We live by rules here, and you'll obey me or leave."
"Tried that once, Andrei. It's not a good idea." Imputed Lawrence sleepily as he rolled over to get more comfortable.
"I thought our move was for the better." Added Selene bitterly, then lightly pranced out of the room. Andrei glanced between Selene, me, and Kane before making an uncertain attempt to retreat to the door. Kane caught the collar of Andrei's shirt as the door slammed behind Selene, and Andrei was lifted almost two feet off the plush carpet by the scruff of his shirt. I observed with interest. I'm beginning to see how they function. So far, I learned, when Selene leaves, it's probably in my best interest to follow suit. It seems when she's not here to witness anything, the boys go crazy. Kane was now holding Andrei by the shirt and pushing the kid's back into a wall while issuing some threats about what will happen when he's disobedient or alarms Selene again. Andrei nodded nervously, and then, when let loose, darted away from the room. Lawrence stirred and rolled in my direction on the bed, shuffling the sheets and entangling himself. He peeked open his eye warily, then gestured for me to leave the room. I didn't need any more asking than that. I swiftly made a bee line for the door left open in Andrei's anxious escape, and I might have made it out if it weren't for one problem. The vampire, Kane, blocking my only exit. I slowly titled my head up to carefully meet his eyes and shudder. His eyes were a blazing crimson, more surreally beautiful and more dangerous to my physical health.
"Where are you going?" he asked, and I stuttered for a few moments as I deliberated my chances of making it pass him. Not good odds, so I settled with, "Uh..uh.um…Anywhere you tell me to?" I cringed in uneasiness as I said it, but he seemed appeased. I couldn't help but stare now. He's so….morbidly angelic. Wow. Oxymoronic.
His expression switched from anger to annoyance in a flash. "Are you going to stare and drool over me all day?"
I , while flustered, checked myself to make sure I wasn't staring as much, then stomped of in a huff after adding, "As if. You're hideous." Yeah, I know, I was lying. And, apparently, he knew it too. I could hear him laughing all the while I walked down the hallway. How annoying. I shakily opened the door to Selene and Andrei's nursery, and stuck my head in. Andrei was sitting cross-legged on the tea table while Selene primped her face with horrid amounts of makeup. They're like real kids…
I stepped into the room, shut the door quietly behind me, and saw Selene smile at me before I sat down on one of the chairs surrounding the table. Let me tell you, it was a tight squeeze. Those chairs are made for children's forms. Andrei glowered at me, then acknowledged my presence with, "How can you sit on that chair? It's half your size." I shrugged, then he smiled. Wait, he smiled…
Oh god. He's going to kill me. I can see it now! His little sadist smile says it all…
"Andrei, what are you doing?" Selene asked, suspicious. See? I'm not the only one who thinks he's up to no good! Selene slipped off her vanity stool and padded over to my side. Her little pale hands wrapped themselves around my shoulders, and she hissed at Andrei in an animalistic manner. I flinched and turned to look at her, and she smiled back as if nothing had happened. I gave her my best 'what was that?' look and she ushered me out of the room. Taking my hand in her tiny, cold one, she dragged me, rather forcibly, down the hallway. Guess where she drops me off at? Yeah, his room. My captor, Kane. And the vampire who lives to torture me. She politely knocked on the door, making little staccato taps, before a voice called out and the door opened. Selene pulled me in, then closed me in the room after ducking into the hallway. I spun around and glared at the door, thinking she'd enter as well, and mentally making rude comments because she had not.
"Charlotte." I heard Kane's voice call out and I realized that the room was even darker than before. Usually, I can at least make out forms and faces, but now I couldn't see anything. I felt something touch my arm. And, I screamed. Of course. A hand clapped onto my mouth and I sighed. Kane.
"Do you have to scare me?" I demanded then shoved him, now knowing his location with his hand gripping my jaw. He stumbled, though I couldn't possibly hurt a vampire, and then I heard him do a low growl. Which reminds me, what's with Andrei? And Selene? And where's Lawrence.
"He's in his room now." Kane answered, then I nodded. Took me a while, but it dawned on me—he read my mind again.
"Don't do that!" I hissed venomously. "I can't stand it!" He chuckled at my outraged tone, and switched the topic.
"Now why are you in here again?"
"How am I supposed to know?!" I shouted a little too loudly since he was standing right in front of me. "Selene just dragged me out of the room and threw me in here!"
"Hmm…you shouldn't go near Andrei for a while." He advised contemplatively after a few minutes of awkward silence. I nodded. No big deal, really. Not like I enjoyed Andrei's presence
"Now what?" I inquired, curiously.
"We should probably have dinner. What with Andrei planning to eat you and all." He said nonchalantly. I gapped, my mouth barely hanging on its hinges, at that.
"WHAT?!" I shouted, then reassessed myself. Yeah, I knew he wanted to drink my blood, but I didn't know he was…well, seriously going to try.
"I can hear Selene's thoughts as well. She's calming Andrei down."
"Is that why he smiled?" I said pensively, more to myself, with my finger tapping my lip.
"Most likely. Selene is going on about how she read his thoughts…maybe you should attend dinner in here?"
"Please?" I begged, then fumbled around on the wall, searching for a light switch. I found it, flicked it on, and Kane groaned when I slid the switch up to full light. I smiled ruefully at him before toning the lights down a bit. "Sorry." I mumbled, scared he'd be mad. And, he was.
His breathing was loud and his eyes were quite wide with rage, making me frightened and nervous. He stalked over to me, very predatorily, and his arm shot out. His hand was about to wrap around my jaw when I whimpered out of fear and anticipation. That sound snapped him out of his anger, and he immediately took on a calm composure, thrusting his hand to his side. I flinched out of reflex, and I caught his apologetic expression before it melted into an emotionless mask.
"I'm going to bring your dinner here," he said coldly as he left, slamming the door behind him, "Don't move!" I glared down at my feet, still clad in high heeled combat boots, wondering if he meant it as in 'don't leave this room' or 'don't move from that spot'. Probably room, I thought, as I pranced over to the bed and hopped upon it. Feeling the plush bedding and soft mattress underneath of it, I mentally dare myself to jump on it. I gained a mischievous smirk, and logically calculating that Kane wouldn't be back for a while since he just left a second ago, I had time to have some fun. I climbed onto the bed, stood, being careful not to fall or hurt myself, positioned myself onto the center of the mattress before assuming my jumping. I went up, down, up, down, as I restrained from laughing out loud. My hair was raising and falling and I was having a lot fun just jumping on a vampire's bed, making me wonder why I hadn't thought of this before. Suddenly, the door jerked open and Kane made his appearance holding the promised tray of food. The food looked pretty good too, I thought hungrily and my stomach growled. I continued jumping even as Kane glared at me, set down the tray, and stood beside the bed.
"What the hell are you doing?" he demanded, hands on hips and a grim facial expression. I halted, my hair still a little messy from bouncing, and gave him my best innocent smile. He squinted his eyes, a little menacingly. "Get down." I sighed and plopped down on the bed, cross-legged, then accepted the tray of fries and a hamburger from him graciously. He strutted back to the door again, and I followed his figure with my eyes. Still amazed at how gorgeous he was, as I thought, God, he's so sexy.
"Am I really that sexy?" he called with amusement, flashing me an irresistible smirk, before the door fully blocked his silhouette from view. I chewed on a fry before calling back, "Yes, you are. Where are you going?! Get back here!" He never answered, only chuckled, as he swept down the hallway and into the dining room. I sat demurely on the bed, thinking about my isolation, and chewing absently on the food. I vaguely heard footsteps in the hall, two sets, and listened carefully as they passed, going into the dining room as well. Andrei and Selene, I guessed. I glanced down at my food, wondering if a maid or something cooked it, for it was actually rather delicious.
"I cooked it." said Lawrence, giving me a start, as he sat down heavily on the side of the bed as he cradled a classy, black glass with a sloshing liquid for contents. We sat in silence for a few minutes after that, but it wasn't uncomfortable oddly enough. But, I was getting rather unnerved as to why he came in.
"I didn't want you to dine alone." He supplied casually as he set down the glass on a bedside table before leaning back onto it's smooth surface leisurely. "You're alone enough as it is."
"Thank you." I appreciated the gesture. It was sweet, if anything. He flipped over onto his stomach, and gave me an appraising glare.
"Charlotte, you want to go home, right?" he asked carefully, then I shushed him with, "Lawrence! Kane can hear us!"
"No, he can't. He can't read my mind, and yours can only be read if he's very close by. You give him too much credit, honestly."
"Alright, if you're sure." I agreed, uncertainly. "Yes, I want to go home."