Bloody Brilliant

Chapter Nine

The sight of our unwelcome guest startled me. Jagger's red-tipped white hair caught me off guard. He was standing a few feet away from Alexander, whose face had gone paler than usual. He hadn't seen me yet, so I figured that I could sneak up on him and surprise him.

"...Wouldn't be like this," Jagger finished saying.

Alexander scowled. "Shut up," he demanded, but his face was full of sadness. His chocolate brown eyes no longer had that tiny silver glint in it that I loved.

He looked over Jagger's shoulder and gasped. "Raven!"

Jagger spun around, and then grabbed my arms forcefully. It was painful, but it was less painful than if he did that when I was still human.

"What did you hear?" he yelled. "What did you hear?"

I wonder what they were talking about before I showed up. "Nothing, really," I admitted softly. "Why are you here, Jagger? Is there something wrong?"

"You know what's wrong," he spat angrily at me. "You embarrassed Luna and Demile."

"You know what's so wrong about all of this? You're always the one seeking revenge, Jagger. Maybe they should grow a set and come back to do their own revenge." I smirked at his shocked expression.

Alexander smiled briefly, then turned around and continued up to his - no, our - attic room. I followed after him, just as Jameson reached Jagger and informed him that it was time for him to leave.

The sun was beginning to rise. I felt it in my bones. If Jagger didn't leave now, he would be hurt by the sunlight, or forced to stay in the mansion with Alexander and me.

Alexander opened the attic door and kicked off his combat boots. He gave me a look that screamed, "Turn around", and then (assuming from what I could hear) he was taking off his pants. To distract myself from turning around, I pulled off my motorcycle boots and changed into a black lacy nightgown that Alexander made Jameson buy for me.

Alexander then unlocked the closet door, exposing the bedside table, the candelabra, the painting of me, and the coffin that snugly fit us.

Alexander lay down first. He shifted in the coffin until he was comfortable, then pulled me down against him. He threw a soft ebony duvet over us, then closed the coffin lid.

^o^

We woke up at the same time, as per usual. My stomach grumbled, anticipating blood, but I looked at Alexander's face with my night-vision eyes.

He was staring back at me, his beautiful brown eyes shimmering despite the darkness. He was clutching the UglyDoll that I had bought him a few days prior to my becoming a vampire.

"Raven," he whispered, then pressed his lips against mine. "I love you."

My eyes closed, happiness spreading throughout my body. I could feel tingliness from the top of my head to the tips of my toes.

"Do you love me?" he asked gently, pulling his lips off mine for a second.

I murmured, "Yes."