Chapter 10

"Hope! Get in here right now!"

Hope swallowed, she knew that tone of voice better than well. Her mother was very upset about something. Thankfully she knew how to handle her mother; she had learned that along the years.

"I'm coming, mom!"

Quickly the placed her book on the table and hurried out of the library. Where was her mother?

"Mom?"

She was in Hope's room. Oh no… What had she found? Hope tried to hide things she didn't want her mother to see, but unfortunately it was very difficult to hide anything from Aurora. She had a habit of "inspecting" Hope's room regularly. The word "privacy" didn't include Aurora's vocabulary. Hope had got used to that in this house and she knew better than to pick a fight. Yes, her mother was beyond overprotective and old-fashioned, but Hope loved her.

Sometimes Hope still wished that her mother would understand that she wasn't a child anymore. She would be 18 after few months. At least Lucien understood that and he wasn't as strict as Aurora, except about one thing. Dating. Neither of them allowed Hope to even talk to boys. Not that Hope would have dared to do that anyway. She had never spent time with the people of her own age; she wouldn't have known what to say.

Sure she had sometimes hoped to spend time with other children when she had been a child, but now… She didn't really have much social skills; she would have probably panicked if she would suddenly have to spend time with other young people. She had no idea what they liked to do or talk about. Her life had been sheltered to say the least; the only people she usually talked to were Aurora, Lucien, Uncle Tristan and sometimes the members of their staff.

The only "boys" she spent time with were her bodyguards. They were all vampires, highly trained and experienced soldiers. Hope never left home without them. Not that she went anywhere very often. This mansion had been her home for the last 10 years. It was outside New York, but Lucien also owned few properties in the city, including a very luxurious penthouse. Sometimes Hope got to spent a whole weekend there with him. It was their father/daughter time, Hope loved it and she was always looking forward to it.

Lucien was a very busy man, but he often said that he was never too busy to spend time with his beautiful girl. Hope didn't really see herself as a beautiful girl, but hearing nice things from Lucien always made her happy. Neither Lucien nor Uncle Tristan was at home right now, they both had to travel a lot. Sometimes Aurora went with Lucien, but lately she had often stayed home. Hope couldn't help but to feel a little nervous as she entered her room. Aurora was standing in front of Hope's dresser with her back turned to the door.

"Mom?"

Slowly Aurora turned around; she was holding something in her hand. A lipstick.

"What is this?" she asked icily.

Hope swallowed.

"I…I…"

She wanted to kick herself; she should have hid the stupid thing better. She had only wanted to try it. Her mother never allowed her to put on any makeup and she chose all Hope's clothes, just like she always had. The clothes were old-fashioned, very chaste, dresses that had maybe looked cute when Hope had been a child, but she wouldn't have wanted to look like a doll anymore. That was one of the reasons why Hope enjoyed her weekends with Lucien so much; he allowed her wear whatever she wanted when they were alone. Aurora's eyes narrowed.

"Where did you get this?"

"I… I found it."

Aurora crossed her arms.

"You found it?"

"Yes," Hope murmured. "I think it's one of the maids, I just… I wanted to try it. Alone in the bathroom. That's all. No one saw me."

Aurora stared at Hope with a blank expression for a moment before speaking.

"Did you want some boy to see you?"

"No, I didn't, I swear."

Hope didn't move as Aurora marched in front of her and grabbed her chin.

"If I find out that you are lying to me…"

"I'm not, mommy, I'm not. There's no boy. I… I don't even know any boys."

Aurora leaned closer and ran her thumb over Hope's cheek.

"No filthy man will ever touch my little doll."

Hope shook her head.

"No, mommy. I… I won't let them."

Aurora's lips curved into a smile, she kissed Hope's forehead before wrapping her arms around her.

"You know mommy loves you."

"Yes, mommy. I love you too."

Hope rubbed Aurora's back; she was relived to notice that her mother seemed calmer.

"You do understand I have to punish you for this?" Aurora continued after a moment of silence.

Hope nodded.

"Yes, mommy."

Usually Aurora grounded her, which meant that Hope wasn't allowed to leave her room or then she took some of Hope's personal belongings temporarily from her. Aurora pulled away and stared at Hope.

"You will go to bed without supper tonight. And you are grounded."

Hope nodded again.

"I understand, mommy. I'm sorry."

Aurora cupped Hope's face.

"You know I'm only doing these things to protect you."

"I know, mommy. Thank you."

Aurora kissed her forehead again before pulling away.

"Your father will be home tonight, you know I have to tell him about this."

"I know."

Thankfully Lucien wouldn't be angry. He would scold at Hope because that was what Aurora expected, but he wouldn't really be mad. Why would he be since he had been the one who had bought the lipstick to Hope? During their weekends he took her shopping and let her choose anything she wanted. He called her his princess. He was the most important person in her life and she loved him with all her heart. She would have done anything for him.