Familiar

Chapter 4

Plaything

Disclaimer: Me no own, please no sue

Author's Note: My bad, I thought the main arc would begin here. It sorta does, if you squint really hard... but since this plans on being pretty epic, no hurry, right? I'm making January my NaNo... muwahaha!

I take a breath and pull the air in 'til there's nothing left
I'm feeling green like teenage lovers between the sheets

Ba ba ba ba ...

Knuckles clenched to white as the landing gear retract for flight
My head's a balloon inflating with the altitude
~The Postal Service, Recycled Air

Rachel sat at the large kitchen table with six different girls in front of her. Trent took something to help himself sleep as much as possible, and Rachel couldn't argue with it. She was starting to care for the Elf, Turn take her! And it was still a little too much for her to understand. She tried chalking it up to compounded lust and nothing more. But if that was the case, why was she having a hard time picking one of these girls as one of Trent's temporarily girlfriend?

"So none of you have a problem with being escorts?"

One smirked, "As much as we're getting paid, you wouldn't mind either!"

She was about to write that one off until she noticed the agreement in the eyes of all the others. She couldn't write all of them off... Didn't Trent say they had to look kinda like her too? One girl had very short blonde hair and icy eyes. She was a bit chubby. Actually, as far as first impressions went, she was a girl she would like to have coffee with sometime, but there was no way this was the girl in the picture. Trent would be ridiculed in the tabloids as a 'chubby chaser' if she did.

Huh, would serve him right though...

She kept that idea in the back of her mind for later.

"Okay, hypothetical situation; A demon shows up demanding Trent go into the Ever-After. What would you do?"

"Scream."

"Faint."

"Run."

"Me too, run."

The first girl with a blond bob looked at Rachel, "Does this stuff actually happen?"

Rachel smirked, "Maybe..."

The blond bob looked nervous, "That's it, I'm out." and walked out the kitchen door.

Everyone smiled at each other.

Rachel looked at the last two girls. One was a red head with straight red hair. And not just any red, but a deep, nearly blood color. Her green eyes were bright and clear, and she looked like what Rachel had always wanted to be. The other had waves of brown hair just past her shoulders, her eyes weren't any particular shade, maybe brown or green, she couldn't really tell.

She liked the red-head too, because she didn't try to hide that this scared the ever-loving crap out of her, but she had an older sister in college who had always taken care of her, and now it was her turn to help with her college debt. The brunette seemed a bit sketchy and always itching her pug nose.

Trent came down, "The limo is ready, the plane is waiting for us to take off." he glanced at the two girls, "Did you pick one?"

Rachel smiled proudly, "I did in fact." she beamed a smile at the red-head, "I think Matilda would be prefect! She has the same red hair and green eyes and she's honest and sweet. I could really get to like her!"

The red-head bowed her head and dimpled sweetly at Rachel.

Trent cleared his throat and took a checkbook from his pocket, scribbling away at it. He tore it, and handed it to the red-head, "Thank you, but you're services will not be required." He glanced at the brunette, "You, on the other hand, are going to Cincinnati. Get your things and hurry up."

The girl squealed and ran off, the red-head looked confused until she saw the check, "I-I.... omigod..."

"Should take care of your sister's college."

"She's in UC Davis, not Harvard!" the girl squeaked.

Trent shrugged and inclined his head to Rachel, "After you."

Rachel glared at Trent, upset that though he offered her a choice, he hadn't lived up to it. She put a hand on her hip as the brunette nearly ran to the limo. "Why her? I thought Mattie would have been a better match for you."

Trent scratched his nose, "Our lives are not ones for innocent people. We have darkness in us," he nodded towards the limo, "So does that one. If it doesn't work out, I don't have to worry about a broken heart. Besides, it was a black and white photo, that one has hair similar to yours." he smirked in that haughty manner he possessed, "Though, it's not nearly as messy as yours."

Rachel glared at Trent, and stuck out her tongue at him. He smirked at her as she grabbed her bag and swung it over her shoulder and walked out to the limo. She could feel Trent's eyes on her. Part of her was angry, How dare he check her out after all this! God, like she wanted this anymore than he did!

Then she was proud of herself for seducing the Elf. Her body began to warm thinking about earlier that morning. She felt a bit disgusted with herself when she thought about it, Trent Kalamack! Ugh!

"That's better." came Trent's breathy sigh.

She turned red.

She decided to spend as little time around Trent in the upcoming weeks as possible. Hell, for the rest of her life if she had her way about it!

While Trent gave the brunette, 'Maeve', a quick rundown of of the story she would be regurgitating to the press, Rachel tried to read something to keep her emotions in check. Trent said something about going riding together with Maeve and Maeve twisted her ankle. Rachel rolled her eyes, how harlequin of him.

She thought on the comments Trent had made about her emotions echoing in him. Obviously, it had some bad side-effects, but it could be fun! She could get angry at him and he'd feel angry, for once. No matter how cool and collected he seemed, she would know he was feeling exactly what she was feeling.

She frowned, it would be wrong though, as tempting as it was. This had the feeling of a spell and she wondered if her mom could figure it out. Her mom was amazing at charms, if a bit on the crazy side. Though, with Takata—Donald—around, she had mellowed a bit.

Oh God, what was her mother going to say? She had already hinted around about a relationship with Trent when she had asked her about a Pandora charm... She was sure her mother had found out about the article already. If she hadn't read it herself, she was sure someone had told her.

Oh, God! She had probably called the house asking for her! She felt the blood drain away from her face, Ivy and Jenks would know! Oh, shit, what had she done?!

"Rachel?" A calm inquiry from Trent shot her back to reality. Right, keep emotions in check.

"Just thinking about getting back home." she said in a way that explained her panic.

"Is there anything you need?"

"A blindfold and a cigarette." she muttered.

She heard a snort of laughter from Trent, and barely heard a 'That makes two of us' from his direction. She relaxed a bit, knowing that this cover up was as much for her sake as his. She could use the lie Trent was offering and give it to Ivy and Jenks, it was plausible enough, no one would have to know...

"--But I don't want to stay in an apartment! I think I should stay with you, in your mansion!" came Maeve's whine.

Trent frowned, "I don't think that's a smart idea."

"But if I'm supposed to be some big-shot girlfriend you're bringing back home, would you really have me in a separate apartment?"

"She has a point." Rachel said with a smirk. She enjoyed watching Trent feeling uncomfortable.

Trent glared at her, "My home hasn't been a very safe place lately. What with all the unexpected visitors."

Rachel just wish he would have said 'Demon' and gotten over it. "You have a bajillion forms of security Trent. I'm sure she can help Maggie or something."

He pouted, "Fine. I'll have a spare room made up."

Rachel basked in her victory for a moment. She went back to her book, or tried to. She kept wondering how the pixie was going to react and how long Ivy was going to take off for when she found out. She knew David would be AWOL for a while, and she couldn't blame him. Crap on toast, what had she been thinking? The lie kept looking like a better and better alternative...

"I'm going to sleep." Maeve grumbled, "This is too much to remember!"

Rachel glanced at the thin line of Trent's lips, "The bedroom has a noise ward on it, no one should disturb you."

She smiled and kissed Trent on the cheek, "Thank you!"
Rachel held back her giggling until the door closed and she let out a guffaw, "She kissed you!"

Trent had already taken out a handkerchief and was wiping the side of his face, "I know."

"Starting to realize I was right about the first girl yet?"

"No, it's just going to be that much more satisfying when I send this one home."

The young witch sighed and pretended read her book, "Saturday is coming up. I'll go talk to Al to see if he can get rid of this."

"Since he put it on me." Trent muttered darkly.

Rachel turned and saw Trent lost in thought. It was strange how she would have liked to have this go both ways at times. She would like to know what he was feeling, if only to be able to prepare herself whenever he came around. Prepare herself from what? A dark part of her mind asked. From when he's about to kiss you senseless in the hallway?

She could feel Trent bruising her lips again and sighed.

Trent looked up from his hands at Rachel, "Stop it."

She bristled, "I'm a woman in my prime, I can think what I want."

He rolled his eyes and went back to his thoughts.

She gave a little smirk, wondering how far she could push the elf. Since he couldn't read her thoughts, he wouldn't know who she was thinking about, would he? And anger hadn't put a dent in his armor... but lust did. Lust seemed to be the undoing of the carefully manicured appearance of Trent Kalamack.

Hehehe...

She leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes. She smiled bittersweetly to herself as she remembered the birthday night with Kisten and the fake capped fangs that poked her teeth and the look of Kisten's eyes as she wore them. She could remember Kisten's touch, the time in the elevator, the way his pheromones drug through her. She could remember the way Kisten and Ivy both had played with her unclaimed scar, and it brought images and feelings of Trent sucking on her scar earlier in the day. She recrossed her legs and lay in the glow of the memories.

"Rachel..." came a cautious growl from Trent.

"Read a book or go to sleep." She returned back, blithely. She remembered Kisten's hands on her hips, pulling her towards him. She tried to imagine his long, sleek fingers. But they weren't the same, the were long and elegant, not nearly as sleek. She could smell a deep forest, bits of silk on the breeze. She moved her thoughts back to Kisten, the way his face looked when his eyes dilated in pure bliss. She could almost feel the water's breeze against her face as they went out for another private tryst. She remembered the way it felt when Ivy bit her and took blood, how their aura's mixed and pulsed in pleasure.

"Stop, Rachel." came a nearly pained groan.

Okay, she had hit the limit and let out a pent up sigh, "Sorry, just day dreaming." She took a glance at Trent. His head was thrown back and he was breathing hard. The silhouette of his body was almost artistically perfect. The straight nose, tousled hair, elegant line of his neck and Adam's apple... She noticed his ears and felt herself blush as she remembered Trent's revealing bit of Elven anatomy, and what caused him to reveal such a thing. He turned and looked at her, eyes a dark and vivid green. It was that same look vampires gave her when she had crossed that fine line of food and lust. It made her swallow nervously. Oops.

"Deep breaths Trent. We don't want a repeat of this morning." she said cautiously.

He shook his head, as if trying to clear it. He got out of his seat and walked to the bar in the bar, his hands on the fine wood and nearly digging into it. "You play with fire, and you expect it to go away once you realize it's out of control? Now wonder you're life is the way it is."

"Hey! I'm trying to let that go."

She thought it the same time Trent said it; "Try harder."

She saw the problems Trent was having and felt bad. It was one thing to have fun with the poor guy, it was another to make him suffer. She walked over to him and put her hand on his shoulder, "Look, I'm sorry. I'll stay away from tempta—"

He had spun around with the damn Elf speed and pinned her against the counter and kissed her, bruising her lips. The first thing in her mind was; Well, should have seen that coming...

He took a quick breath, his smugness returning when he saw her dazed look, "That was your last warning."

Rachel rolled her eyes, tired of arguing, "Shut up and kiss me!"

He smirked as he bent his head down to her lips again. Rachel was furious at him, and herself. Trent fucking Kalamack—bad choice of words—Trent freaking Kalamack! She was kissing Trent and she was enjoying it! She could smell a deep woodsy scent that assailed her senses and then, something else hit her and she felt weak in her knees.

He took a breath from her lips, "We Elves have our own tricks in the bedroom, Ms. Morgan, care to find out what they are?"

She swallowed nervously, but said nothing. Trent hugged her tightly and sucked on her lips leisurely. This was more thorough then the last time and he felt her tighten again.

She broke the kiss, "Two unclaimed vampire bites."

He chuckled, and moved to her ear, biting softly on her lobes, "It seems that you've made my job much easier, if I cared to take that route."

Her nails tightened against his back, "Figure it out before I change my mind!"

He breathed softly on her other mark and she felt her world spin, "We do this in my time now. You had your chance to escape me."

She fumbled to the buttons on his shirt before giving up and ripping his shirt open. She heard the rewarding 'ting!' of his buttons scattering in fear. She began to fumble with his belt when he had grabbed the hem of her shirt and pulled it over her head in one smooth and graceful motion.

"Carus..." he whispered softly. Rachel almost didn't hear it, she was swooning with the feel of skin on skin. He was surprisingly warm to the touch. Not hot, but definitely warmer than normal. "Sentio." he whispered softly and her world spun. It felt like his mouth was on everything, everywhere. She became overwhelmed in the feeling and screamed in ecstasy.

Maeve woke up as the plane began to descend. Trent was reading his paper and the smell of forests, redwood, cinnamon, and vanilla greeted her. She frowned until she saw a candle burning. Oh, made sense. She glanced at Trent, "Weren't you wearing a different shirt earlier?"

"Spilled coffee on it."

"That sounds like a good idea." She said. She went to the bar and the coffee pot and saw a single white button on the counter. Huh.

She took the coffee cup and sat next to Trent, "You look good in turtlenecks."

"Cincinnati is colder than Napa." he said simply.

She smiled happily, thinking about going to Cincinnati with Trent Kalamack as his girlfriend! Her inner fangirl squee'd. She glanced over at Rachel, covered to her neck in a blanket. "Wow, she's really out."

"It's been a very tiring day for her."