Chapter VIII

Playing The Game

There is no possible way to make studying with a neurotic killer vampire fun. I know this for a fact; I tried multiple times throughout mine and Alec's drilling through Algebraic formulas to make jokes, snide remarks, and a splash of innuendos when the occasion called (every five minutes is the standard, right?). I grant that he seemed to have the most incredible sense of self control, but after we hit the half hour mark it fell apart like the Titanic.

By the time an hour came around…

Forget about it.

"I'm not getting this." I groaned to myself.

"Perhaps you should spend your time listening to instruction." Alec growled, "It would certainly do you some good."

I rolled my eyes, "Let's just go over it again."

"No. Solve the equation."

"How am I supposed to do that if I don't know how?"

His red eyes glared at me, "You pay attention the first time."

After briefly shaking my head I looked back down at the page, desperately trying to remember the formula he'd tried to drive into my head. I really should've paid more attention, but I also shouldn't have said this,

"You know I think I need a visual aide. Can I borrow the stick up your ass?"

"I will not tolerate your mouth Ms. Evans."

"Oh sure, you can't tolerate my mouth but Valentina gets off fine."

"Lady Romano has been properly disciplined for any behavior on her part. Need I remind you that your time in detention has yet to be served?"

"No. Given what tutoring is like with you, I'm already dreading whatever punishment you have in mind for me when I'm out of bed."

He smirked for a second, "Well you won't be serving your detention with me. You'll be serving detention with my sister."

I gave him a wide-eyed are-you-kidding look and asked, "Seriously?"

He smiled, a very sadistic one at that, "Yes, she's rather looking forward to it. Not surprising with the disrespect you showed her on your first day."

"Disrespect?" I said, "She was being rather rude, acting as if I wasn't in the room. Quite frankly she and Valentina are my two least favorite people in this place."

"Watch yourself human." He said, his growling voice getting somehow deeper, "I didn't have to make that contract with you—which you have broken!"

"How did I break it?" I said, slamming my pencil down.

"Section II Clause A, Disobedience is a direct violence of said contract."

"Well, you are obligated to educate me to the very best of your ability according to that contract."

"I am."

"Oh really? Cause it seems like you are just being purposely confusing to soothe your own fucking ego."

He roughly grabbed my chin to make me look him directly in the eyes, his anger clear on his face, "I have no time for your little childish tantrums. I am teaching you and you will obey me whilst I do so! Understood?" He emphasized the last word my tightening his grip on my jaw, which was beginning to really hurt.

I whimpered slightly in pain, "You're hurting me."

That sadistic smile returned, "I'm within my right. You break a rule I can too. Section VIII Quid Pro Quo."

I felt fear creep up on me, letting his words sink in. I gulped and realized my mouth went dry as I asked somewhat raspy, "What?"

He let out a small, breathy laugh, "You really should read the fine print of our little arrangement better." Then he pushed me down to the bed by my chin, causing me to cry out in pain.

"I think we'll take a break for now. I've duties to attend to for now, I'll return soon though Ms. Evans."

I couldn't respond, still recovering from the pain in my torso. When I looked up he was already gone. I sat there in the bed still as a statue for the next hour. I began to think there was a whole new level of crazy I hadn't encountered, for awhile I thought maybe all the intimidation was one big bluff. But that didn't seem to be the case anymore.


"Ms. Evans?" I heard the sugary sweet voice of Valentina.

I rolled my head to the side to see her standing in the doorway, her face smiling that plastic looking smile like when I'd first met her.

"Yeah? What brings you to my neck of the woods?" I asked.

She took a few steps closer, "I think we got off to a bad start. And I hope you won't take what I said to Lady O'Leary to heart. I was just having a bad day."

I glared at her as she sat down at the edge of my bed, still smiling. Did this woman really think I was that stupid, I wondered.

"I'm afraid your reputation precedes you, Lady Romano."

She cocked her head slightly to the side, no real change in expression, "Really? And what do they say about me?"

"No one really had to say anything. You're just a-"I stopped myself; "I have no interest in associating myself with you. And since you have no inclinations either I suggest we stay out of each others faces."

"Oh, but I do." She grinned, "I'm often called to dine in the presence of the Volturi, due to my success in the school, we often discuss what I plan to do when I graduate. But all Master Aro has spoken of is Miss Marni this and Miss Marni that, despite the fact you haven't even attended classes yet."

I didn't say anything; I was actually inclined to agree with Valentina's obvious befuddlement. I hadn't done anything, and if I did it wasn't good.

"Oh it happens all the time when new students arrive. They love 'fresh meat.'" She laughed as if we were sharing a private joke, then her face began to turn grim, "However, I couldn't help but overhear that Professor Alec is teaching you while you are ill. Now I found that to be very intriguing."

She looked me in the eyes as her voice lowered to a sort of strangely soothing tone, "Tell me exactly why he's tutoring you."

And in an instant I answered, "He offered to help me become a title student so I might be able to see my family."

Wait, I thought, Where did that come from?

Valentina nodded in understanding, "I see. Now Marni, tell me exactly how he intends to do this."

"He's going to-" I stopped myself.

"Yes?" She pressed.

I held my lips shut, biting down on the inside of my mouth to do so. The more I refrained from answering the harder and harder it got to do so. I could tell something was definitely up, and Valentina seemed disturbed by it too. Once she broke eye contact to stare into space for a minute I felt better, taking in a deep breath.

She seemed to be doing the same, than looked back at me, "Sit up."

My body began to ache even more so than it had when Alec pushed me, I felt like I was itching to get up and the feeling increased as I kept trying to fight it.

"Sit. Up!" She demanded.

My torso was screaming in pain, and I bite my lip to keep from whimpering until I tasted a little blood on my lip. My eyes watered until tears streaked the sides of my face and my hands gripped the sheets tightly. I found myself begin to relax when I closed my eyes, but I was back to that small itching feeling to sit up.

Then it stopped and I was fine. But I heard Valentina screech in anger as she grabbed the lamp on my nightstand and smashed in on the ground.

"What are you?!" She screamed at me. When I gave no answer she huffed and loudly stomped out the door, slamming it behind her.

I breathed slowly, trying to regain my energy. I was interrupted by a growl I heard. I half closed eyes flew open to see Alec standing at the foot of my bed, his eyes dark and his face looking very… Hungry.

I raised my head cautiously, putting a hand out in front of me as if to hold him back, "Alec…" I said, panicking when I felt some blood from inside my mouth splatter from my mouth in his direction. I placed my hand on my mouth to cover it and felt that it had gone to almost a little below my chin.

My panic turned to terror when he suddenly jumped on me, grabbing the hand I had used to cover my mouth and he began licking it. I tried to pull it away but he kept a firm hold, cleaning my hand of the blood. When there was no more to the found, he turned his crazed expression onto my face that same sadistic smile playing on his face. I screamed, hoping someone would hear, as his face swooped down towards mine.

Just as I felt his lips on my bloody ones, he was gone. I looked to see him being held back by that big guy, Felix, and Demitri standing by observing. I crawled backwards into my headboard; away from where Alec was apparently calmer but still looked like he was holding on by a thread.

"Calm down buddy, we'll go hunting, just calm down." Felix said to him. Alec nodded and allowed Felix to escort him out.

Hyperventilating, I turned to Demitri who looked fairly impassive, "Might I strongly suggest you do not speak of this to your classmates? After all, what good would it be to frighten them?"

I only stared at him, shaking and breathing hard as my heart pumped rapidly against my chest.

"Are we agreed?" He said, his voice switching to a more commanding tone.

I barely nodded my head before continuing to hyperventilate again; he nodded back, "Excellent." He took a few steps towards the door, and then turned back to me, "I recommend patching up that lip to avoid any other accidents in the future."

Once he left, I fought to keep my breathing under control. Tears were forming in my eyes and I kept shaking uncontrollably.

It no longer was a bluff or merely a risky game. I was afraid of these people, and what they could do. I felt it in my bones and in my beating heart. I hated the feeling of dread that came over me; it was like when I first got here or when I was kidnapped, feeling helpless and alone.

No, I told myself, No more! I don't want to be afraid; I don't want to be helpless anymore! I am going to get through this and I am going to go home!

I just need to learn to play this game, follow these rules, and win right out from under their noses.


A/N: FUN FACT: This chapter was originally called Selfish Beings, but the content changed so the title had to too.

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