Okay, all you Red King Rising fans! I've been pondering a matter and apparently, so have one of my readers so I'm going to ask you guys! Should our dark and mysterious James be a romantic interest for our short tempered and lovely Vanessa Anne? Tell me what you think in your reviews! :] Enjoy!
Vanessa P.O.V.
Surprisingly, Friday came fast and neither me nor Charlie got detention so I got to go home with him on the bus. I had been packing when I heard a knock on my door. "It's open!" I called as I walked into my bathroom. I didn't hear the door open so I assumed it was James, what with him being an assassin and all. I sighed. "James, get out." I demanded. I got my shampoo out of the shower and turned around to see James leaning against the doorway with a frown on his face.
"How'd you know it was me?" he asked. I rolled my eyes and walked past him to my bed where my suitcase was. "Because you said you're an assassin and you came in soundlessly." I said coldly. He sat in my armchair by the bed and sighed. "Why are you so harsh to me?" he murmured. I glared at him. "You can't tell?" I growled. He looked thoughtful and shrugged indifferently. "No, do enlighten me." He smiled. I could feel my teeth sharpening into fangs.
"Well, for one, you almost killed Asa. Second, you broke my brother's wrist, and third, you insist on courting me after I've already said no." I cried. He waved his hand. "Well, in my defense, he attacked me and I was the one killed, remember? And your little runt of a brother, he was asking for it, oh and please forgive me for being persistent." He said, turning sarcastic at the end. I started shaking. "What are you even doing here?" I hissed. He sighed.
"I came here to talk to you about your little pet." He said. I frowned. "Asa isn't my pet, he's my boyfriend." I said. He frowned and started to look irritated. I walked over to my closet and took out a jacket and placed it in my suitcase. "Yes, that's what concerns me." He said. I looked at him and put my hands on my hips. "What, afraid of some competition?" I sneered. He was about to reply when Asa, wearing dark, tight jeans and a plain, white tshirt that clung to his torso, burst in with a grin on his face. He seemed to be ignoring James.
"I can go." He said. My mouth dropped. "Really?" I asked him. He nodded. I squealed and ran to him, giving him a huge hug. James cleared his throat. I looked at him. "What?" I asked. He frowned. "Where are you going?" he asked. "Um, home. With my family." I said. He frowned.
"Your family's dead, Vanessa." I glared at him. "No they're not." I hissed. He nodded. "The Red King—" he started but I cut him off. "Is dead, I know. He wasn't my father." He frowned. "Then what were you doing in his palace?" he asked me curiously. I shook my head and closed my suitcase. "Nothing." I said. With that, I left.
Asa P.O.V.
I was nervous. I've never really had a girlfriend before Vanessa, and now I'm spending the weekend with her and her family. What made it even worse is that I'm only allowed to do it because I have to keep an eye on her brother and his little friend with the dog, I've been watching the kid and I think he has the case, but you can't be too sure.
"Asa, are you okay?" I looked up from my suitcase and into the most beautiful eyes in the world, my girlfriend's. She was wearing one of my band t-shirts, a pair of leggings, and a pair of black flats. I smiled weakly. "I'm just nervous about meeting the rest of your family, that's all." I said. She hugged me. "You'll be fine, I'm sure they'll like you." She replied. I groaned on the inside. I hate lying to her, but I can't tell her that I have to spy on the little runt. Suddenly, Bone's head popped into the room.
"Hey, Vanessa, we have to go." He looked at me and frowned, then walked into the room. I tensed. "Do you have to come with us?" he grumbled. I smirked. "What, is someone afraid of the big bad wolf?" I taunted. He glared at me. "No, it's just I have plans this weekend and I don't want to be stuck with you." He retorted. I frowned.
Vanessa rolled her eyes. "Be nice you guys." She started pulling my arm. "Come on Asa! We're going to miss the bus!" she cried. I laughed and pulled my suitcase behind me. Then we all left the room, went down the hall, through the gates, and piled into the bus.
When I walked onto the bus, people started staring. Vanessa took my hand and led me to the back of the bus where Bone and Gunn were sitting. We sat in the last seat behind them. They were whispering and every once in a while, they'd look back at me. I groaned.
Vanessa squeezed my hand and curled up by my side. I wrapped my arms around her and kissed the top of her apple smelling hair. She sighed contently. I smiled. To everyone, I was some freak who didn't belong and they hated me, so I hated them. But Vanessa was different. She thought I was different and was somehow drawn into it and she enjoyed it. She looked up at me.
"What are you thinking 'bout?" she asked. I smiled. "Who do you think?" I teased. She blushed and giggled. I laughed and pulled her closer. I smiled. The only thing I like about being a shape shifter is that I can hear her heartbeat and how fast she's breathing. Her heartbeat had shot up and was pounding. I laughed softly and kissed the side of her neck.
"Ewe, can't you guys wait until you're in a private place?" someone cried. I looked up and saw Bone and Gunn laughing in the seat in front of us. I frowned. Vanessa laughed. Then I started laughing too. "How did you guys even meet each other?" Gunn asked. I paused. I looked at her. She shrugged. "Your choice buddy." She said, patting my chest. They both looked at me. I looked at Bone. For once, he looked interested.
I was about to tell them when the bus made another stop. Bone stood up. "Bye Fidelio." He said. Fidelio smiled and waved. "Later, Charlie." Vanessa stood up and took her suitcase. She smiled at me. "Come on!" she urged. I stood up and sighed, then grabbed my suitcase and followed her off the bus and down the street. I paused when I got to her doorstep. She took my hand and gave it a squeeze. I looked down at her and smiled weakly. Then, we walked in.
Vanessa P.O.V.
"Mom! Maisie! We're home!" I called as Asa, Charlie and I walked into the house. "We're in here!" my mother called from the kitchen. My mouth began to water as I smelled the aromas coming from the kitchen. I set my suitcase by the door and ushered Asa to do the same as Charlie went up to his room. He looked really nervous. I took his hand again and led him down the hall and into the kitchen where Maisie and Mom were sitting by the stove talking. I cleared my throat. My mother and Maisie looked over and their eyes widened. I could feel Asa start tensing up. I blushed. "Maisie, this is Asa. Asa, this is my grandmother, Maisie Jones. And you remember my mother." I said, looking up at him. He hesitated and walked towards them and shook their hands.
"Hello Mrs. Jones, hello Mrs. Jones." He said politely. Maisie looked at him and then at me and beamed at him. "Hello Asa! You're quite famous around here." She said with a wink. I flushed. "Maisie!" I cried in embarrassment. Asa laughed. "You can just call me Maisie." She added. He smiled and nodded, then turned to my mother who smiled. "It's nice to see you again Asa." She said warmly. He smiled at her. "It's nice to see you too Mrs. Bone." He replied.
Then, Charlie came down, smiling. Maisie smiled. "Finally we're all here! Now, sit sit! We have to get some real food inside your little tummies!" she exclaimed, ushering us to the table. When she set our plates down, my stomach grumbled. Today, she made us fettuccini Alfredo for dinner. Asa laughed. We all sat there for a minute until we finally dug in.
When we were done, Asa complimented the food. Maisie smiled and she and Mom sat down. I started to get nervous. Here comes the questioning…
Asa P.O.V.
"So, how long have you known Vanessa?" Vanessa's mother asked. I thought about it. "Um, since I was 10." I answered, our meeting coming back to me. Vanessa smiled. "I remember that." She said quietly. I smiled and held her hand on top of the table. "Well, how did you meet? You never told us." Bone asked. I looked at him. He actually looked curious about it. I blushed slightly.
"Well, Vanessa was playing with Manfred's cape during dinner one day and was talking about how she wished she could be a magician like Ezekiel and I said werewolves are way better." I laughed at myself as I remembered how it played out, she did too. Maisie frowned. "What? You must finish child!" she urged. I grinned.
"You must know how…opinionated Vanessa is." I started. By the looks on their face, I knew they did. "Well, we argued about it until she got so mad, she threw a cup cake at me." I said. They started smiling and tried not to laugh. "And we ended up getting detention together so we spent time together and became best friends." I finished.
They started having fits of giggles and laughter. I smiled and kissed the top of Vanessa's hair. "So how old are you Asa?" Vanessa froze. I looked at her. She started playing with my fingers. "Um, I'm turning 18 tomorrow." Vanessa's mother's eyes widened a little. "Oh, well, you're a young adult then." She said to no one in particular. I nodded.
Suddenly, there was a snap in my head. I didn't expect this. Vanessa thought. I exhaled. Expect what? I asked her. That she'd be so calm about it. I smiled and rubbed her hand with my thumb.
"So, you're the wolf kid." A booming voice said. I froze and slowly looked to the stairs where the voice came from. A tall, dark man was standing there, smiling down at us. Vanessa grinned. "Asa, this is my Uncle Paton. Uncle Paton, this is Asa." She said as he descended the stairs to come join us. I extended my hand across the table.
"Pleasure to meet you Mr. Paton." I said. He nodded. "How you feeling?" he asked. I was confused, but then I realized that he probably knew about Saturday night. I shrugged. "Better, it hurts sometimes, but I'm just lucky to be alive." I said, looking at Vanessa. She smiled. Then, the door rang.
Charlie jumped up. "It's probably Benjamin." He said as he walked down the hall. I looked at Vanessa. "Who's Benjamin?" I asked, even though I was pretty sure I knew. She started glaring when Charlie and someone else walked down the hall. "Not him." she hissed. I looked towards the hall and froze.
James.