Chapter Four
Remember when I said there were six chapters? I lied. Apparently I can't count so, there's actually five. This one is full of drama and I considered splitting it into two shorter chapters but didn't as they would have been too short.
Disclaimer – I don't own The Little Vampire but I do own Athena.
On Saturday, Athena decided to check on the vampire family in a diverse way and also check up on Tony – who she'd finally discovered the name of. Sighing nervously, Athena raised her fist to knock on the door. She had dressed in black leggings with a long, mid-thigh length scarlet top and red flats. To make sure she didn't freeze, she wore her black leather jacket over the top.
"Can I help you?" a woman with an American accent asked in confusion. She had chin length blonde hair and pretty blue eyes and was wearing comfortable clothes for around the house.
"Hello, Mrs Thompson, I'm Athena Williams. I know your son." Athena wasn't very used to much social interaction but she tried her best.
"Oh, you know Tony? How?" the woman asked in a kind voice. Athena detected suspicion though.
"I obviously don't go to school with him but I do help out in some of his classes when I can – work experience, you know? I just wanted to check up on him after the fight last week," Athena simpered and Mrs Thompson's face softened.
"Well, he's not here at the moment but you can come in if you want," she offered and Athena found it odd that she was so trusting. Maybe she was a good actress after all. She smiled widely and looked around impressively when Mrs Thompson led her along the corridors of the castle. It made her flat look even more depressing.
"You have a lovely home, Mrs Thompson," she complimented as she sat down at the kitchen table. Said woman brought tea over and poured them both a cup which Athena took, despite not really liking tea.
"Thank you, Athena. So, how is Tony doing? He doesn't really talk about it and his teacher told me he has a slight obsession with vampires." Athena almost spat her mouthful of tea out on the unsuspecting woman. Coughing lightly, Athena tried to right her breathing.
"I'm sure that he's exaggerating. Like all children, Tony simply wishes to get his point across. It's different but you shouldn't worry about it, everyone has something they need to believe in," Athena replied as she sipped her tea once more. Mrs Thompson nodded slowly and mimicked Athena's movement, looking deep in thought. She sighed worriedly, hands nursing her cup.
"I just worry about him. He doesn't really have any friends except for the mysterious Rudolph who I'm not even sure is real." Athena really laughed, trying to keep the mocking from the sound.
"I'm sorry, Mrs Thompson, but he is really real. He's a charming boy with excellent manners – a good influence on young Tony. Not that he needs it of course." Mrs Thompson nodded and looked completely relieved before standing up and kicking a box out of the way.
"Oh, I really should move that," she grumbled and Athena smirked at the opportunity.
"I'll do it, Mrs Thompson. Where should I take it?" she instantly offered and the woman looked thankful.
"To the cellar, please Athena. It's just out the hall and on your left," she directed and Athena picked up the surprisingly heavy box with a grunt. It was a good thing she had well-developed muscles or she would have broken toes as well as ribs. She kicked the door to the cellar open then closed before carefully making her way down the stairs, dumping the box on top of another one. She smirked when she saw Rudolph and Anna frozen with their feet covered in some foil.
"Right, I won't ask," she chimed before looking around. Their parents were asleep in the corner but Gregory was nowhere to be seen. "Um, where did you put your brother?" she asked in a hopefully casual tone. Rudolph gave the strange cough he had the night before then gestured to the wicker basket big enough for Gregory. "Ah, I see. Right, you do whatever you were doing." And then she moved towards the basket as Anna and Rudolph donned a thick red blanket and disappeared. Athena gasped as the basket's lid was thrown open and Gregory popped up, still muzzled and still in a straightjacket. She moved around in front of him so that he could see her and was amazed to see him looking slightly sheepish.
"I promise not to bite you," he whispered and Athena had to lean in to hear him well enough. She then smiled at him reassuringly.
"I know you wouldn't – you were just being a hormonal vampire. I get it, I do. And I promise not to stake you." Gregory managed to grin under the muzzle – a real grin – and Athena's heart almost stopped. She wanted desperately to help him but feared his father's wrath. Pushing those thoughts aside, she reached in, loose hair falling near Gregory's face and undid the tough straps of his straightjacket. She swore she heard him smelling her hair but put it off to her imagination as she pulled away.
"Thanks," Gregory said grudgingly and she leaned in, ignoring his muzzle, and put her mouth to his ear.
"Do you want to know a secret?" she breathed and waited until she felt him nod slowly against her cheek. "I wouldn't mind you sinking your teeth into me." Her whispered statement was about way more than a bite and Athena had a feeling he knew that. She pulled away painfully slow and watched his eyes darken considerably as he yanked the muzzle off and latched his hands onto her hips. Her breathing hitched scarily as he leant in, cold breath fanning her face.
"Be careful what you wish for." She smirked at him teasingly, dragging her tongue along her lips gradually and his eyes followed the movement.
"Athena, are you alright down there?" Mrs Thompson called and Athena snapped her head around to the door at the top of the stairs.
"Just coming, Mrs Thompson!" she yelled back before looking back at Gregory. Steeling herself for heartbreak, she pressed her lips to his before pulling away and scarpering up the stairs and away from the stunned vampire.
"What took you so long?" Tony's mother asked, standing next to a man Athena didn't know but suspected was Tony's father.
"I'm sorry; I couldn't really find anywhere to put it safely. And you have interesting things in your cellar." She grinned at her own joke before holding her hand out to the man. "You must be Mr Thompson. I'm Athena Williams." The man shook her hand and smiled.
"She helps out in some of Tony's classes at school and came to check on him after that fight with the McAshton boys," Mrs Thompson added and Athena smiled.
"I had better get going now, though." She glanced at the dark sky outside. "I have things to do before the day ends. But thank you so much for the tea, Mrs Thompson and it was so lovely to meet you." The pair waved her off as she exited. When out of sight of the castle, Athena broke into a run, feeling something was greatly wrong as she pelted towards the cemetery. Her breathing grew slightly uneven but running was something she was good at. One of her shoes flew off and she growled, picking it up and carrying both of them in her hands. Athena's feet grew beaten but she continued to run until she reached the cliffs, wondering why her feet led her there instead. She halted and stumbled, clutching her throbbing ribs as she saw Gregory standing on the edge of a cliff and swinging a silver necklace around his head. He turned around but didn't stop swinging the necklace and smiled at her. She grinned back before collapsing on the nearest rock to try and soothe her ribs. God they hurt.
"You ran all the way from the house?" Gregory asked and she nodded, swallowing heavily and trying not to stare at his delicious looking lips.
"I think your parents are on their way," she gasped out, looking towards the sky at the comet that would make all of the vampires human. Anna soon landed on the cliff and sat on the rock that Athena was leaning against and Gregory continued the call. Both girls waited patiently until a familiar Land Rover pulled up and Athena groaned. "Great, now they're going to know I'm in this crazy mess too," she complained as Freda and Fredrick got out of the car and Anna bounced over.
"Mother, father, we found Uncle Von's grave. Well, Tony found it and he saw the stone in a vision. He and Rudolph are after it now," Anna cried and her parents approached.
"May their quest be fruitful." Fredrick stepped up towards Gregory. "Thank you, Gregory." The addressed boy turned and smiled at his father before doing the same to Athena and she let out an oddly girlish giggle. Whoa, that wasn't something she was used to, she thought as Gregory finished the call and bats descended. He then came over and surprisingly held out a hand for her to take which she did. She pulled herself too hard and smacked into his chest, looking up into his eyes.
"You have pretty eyes," she found herself saying and then blushed furiously. His hand rose up and stroked along her cheek, intensifying the blush. Gregory did not smirk as she expected him to but smiled gratefully and continued affectionately caressing her cheek. If he continued doing that, Athena knew her heart would collapse from moving too fast. He leant forward and Athena truly believed her would kiss her.
"I'd love to sink my teeth into you," he breathed and Athena's heart flat out stopped.
"What is this Gregory? A human?" demanded a nearby vampire and both teenagers snapped their heads around to face the ancient being. He, like Freda and Fredrick, was dressed in ancient clothes but he was scowling.
"Of course I'm human! And this is not a free for all either, so if you bite me, I'll stake you." Gregory breathed a very quiet laugh against her hair as she said that and she knew it was because he knew that she didn't carry vampire-killing weapons. Stupid, attractive git. The vampire she had addressed growled but stomped off to wait.
"They only have a few moments more," Freda said worriedly as Mr and Mrs Thompson joined the group. Athena tried to subtly hide behind Gregory but he kept a firm grip on her waist and she waved sheepishly to Tony's parents when they spotted her.
"Thanks for that," she hissed in Gregory's ear and felt a shiver roll through him.
"No problem," he replied shakily.
"After all of our wondering, all of our waiting, I have left our fate in the hands of two small boys. It's all my fault. I won't ask for your forgiveness – I don't deserve it."
"I don't know – Tony's a pretty amazing kid. He'll surprise you," Athena couldn't help from commenting but couldn't say anything else as Gregory's hands drifted across her stomach. Oh, it was far too intense. Ever since that discussion about blood, Athena's hormones had been raging out of control around Gregory and he seemed to feel the same, deep attraction. She noticed, vaguely, that Tony's parents were smiling at her gratefully and only barely remembered her compliment about their son.
"Tony's near," Anna said airily and Athena glanced around anxiously along with his parents.
"Where?" Mrs Thompson asked quickly.
"There!" Anna's finger pointed to the sky and an outbreak of murmurs spread across those gathered. Athena smirked as both Tony and Rudolph landed with the former approaching Fredrick and handing over the Stone. Gregory looked grudgingly amazed as Tony ran to join his parents and Athena beamed happily as Fredrick began the ritual.
"You know that I'll disappear, right?" Gregory murmured into her ear and Athena's muscles all locked into place at the thought.
"Disappear to where?" she asked quietly, tensing her grip on his arms that were still around her waist.
"I don't know. But I'll be human, at least." Great, he didn't seem particularly bothered by their separation. This is what Athena got for growing attached to someone! It happened too hard and too fast and she was just broken at the end of it whilst Gregory didn't care. But she didn't say anything, merely watching as a beam of bright red light the colour of her top shot from the comet to the Stone. But the ritual was interrupted by a familiar face bearing a neon cross and covered in seaweed, hanging from a giant balloon thing.
"Ah crap," Athena moaned as Rookery let out a yell, shooting towards the vampires and kicking the Stone from Fredrick's hand. He caught it as he landed and brandished the cross around, sending everyone including Gregory for cover. Athena snapped to attention and stomped forward to Rookery. "Ready for round three, moron?" she snarled and he swiped the cross at her. Pushing the pain of her ribs to the side, Athena ducked and kicked his stomach then punched his face when he doubled over. He smacked her across the face and she was sent sprawling.
"Alright, that's it," Mr Thompson decided and marched forward, socking Rookery straight to the jaw then shaking his hand in pain. Athena grinned as Mrs Thompson followed.
"I don't think so," she said mockingly, knocking the cross out of the way and punching him in the stomach then in the face. He went to get her back and Athena launched herself at the vampire hunter, sending him sprawling that time. They both rose and Athena kicked him across the jaw with a victorious 'HA!' before kneeing his private areas.
"I wonder what her parents think of this," she heard Mrs Thompson say. The distraction meant Athena got hit to the nose and groaned.
"Do I look like someone who had stable parents?" she cried to the Thompsons before elbowing Rookery to the jaw, kicking his stomach once more and sending him teetering to the edge of the cliff. She followed after him and made to shove him over but his hand shot out and she gasped as pain shot through her heart. Looking down, her eyes met the rough, sharpened shape of a stake. Rookery shoved her backwards and she landed in someone's arms but she had no idea whose they were as stars burst across her vision. She vaguely saw Mr Thompson gently tapping Rookery and the vampire hunter went flying over the edge of the cliff with a terrified yell, throwing the amulet away. "That's for breaking my ribs, you prick," Athena whispered just before the sound of a 'splash' reached their ears. A laugh alerted her to the fact that she was in Gregory's arms and she felt utter relief at that fact. She looked up and saw that her head was on his lap and he was staring down at her in terror, the weak laugh he'd given having vanished abruptly from his face.
"I'm so sorry, Athena. But you are not going to die," he told her and she coughed on a laugh, feeling blood trickle from her mouth. She found it oddly ironic that she would die by a stake to the heart.
"I don't think I'm going to live either, Gregory," she breathed and he looked stunned that she'd used his name.
"Tony, you know what we want. Wish it! You have to wish it!" Rudolph cried as the family's heads flew between Athena, Tony and the comet. Gregory caught Athena's eye again and smiled weakly at her as Tony held the amulet to the sky and red smoke started swirling around everyone. Gregory leaned forward and Athena used most of her energy just to hear him whisper in her ear.
"Even when I'm human, I'll find you and sink my teeth into you. I promise." Athena smiled sadly and choked again, not finding it likely.
"I don't think you'll find me unless it's my grave." She knew she was being a pessimist but the pain was too intense to fight off. Gregory glared down at her before returning his mouth to her ear.
"I will find you, my love, my mate," he whispered before the smoke swallowed him whole. The last thought that Athena had before darkness consumed her was 'he waited THAT LONG to tell me I was his mate!?'
"Gregory," she breathed and then she breathed no more.
Now, I know this entire story seems a little rushed. But I just wanted a short, simple, kind of fluffy romance thing on here – that is my defence. Anyway, see you in three days for the final chapter! Love Bianca :) x