Chapter 10: Ice
The room was as large as a ballroom. Windows made up one wall, similar to her apartment. They looked out over an immaculately groomed English style garden. The floor was marble, which made her wedges click as she walked.
Maybe I should have practiced a little more like CB had suggested... She thought nervously.
Bernabon sat at a large antique desk, but the desk and well as Bernabon were both dwarfed by the size of the room. He wore a light pink dress shirt, a loose, brown vest, and a pair of dress pants.
Even when he is sick he dresses so nicely...
She couldn't help but compare his home to Finn's. Finn's was so welcoming and condensed, but Bernabon's was large and exquisite.
Cold. That's what his home was. It was cold, his house did not feel lived it. It felt worked in. The army of servants that worked behind the scenes, and seemed to control every aspect of the house that Bernabon let them, Pep being a prime example.
Bernabon looked up from some papers he was pretending to be engrossed in to meet Fiona's eyes. His eyes grew wide as he watched her walk towards her desk. She felt extremely self conscious. She didn't know where to place her eyes, so she settled on pretending to look out at the enormous garden behind him. The sky was growing dark and heavy. It looks like there is going to be one hell of a storm soon...
"Fiona, you-you-you look... beautiful." Was the only word he could think of.
She smiled. "Good afternoon Bernabon."
He continued to stare. It made her feel uncomfortable. She clenched her fists. She realized that a slip of paper was in her hand. On closer inspection, she realized that Pep must have slipped her the assignments as she walked into the room. It was the only explanation.
The sooner I give him his assignments, the sooner I can leave this place. She glanced nervously up at the quickly approaching clouds again.
Bernabon placed his fountain pen down, and rose from his desk. "It is so good to see you again!" He strode over to her, and took her hands in his, stepping back to admire CB's handiwork.
She couldn't help but blush. "Bernabon, you saw me yesterday." She corrected him.
He cocked his head to the side and was thoughtful for a moment. "Yes, I believe you are right, but it has just seemed to be so much longer."
She giggled. She couldn't help herself. It was the same old Bernabon. What was I thinking asking other people? She thought with a tinge of embarrassment. Why didn't I just talk to Bernabon in the first place? I had his number. Nothing was stopping me, but other people telling me what a bad guy he was.
She glanced up at his sweet face, and even sweeter hair. Which had regained it bubblegum sheen.
"Oh yes, here are your assignments." She slipped her hands from his, replacing them with the piece of paper instead. He glanced down at it with disinterest. He seemed to be much more interested in her.
"Come with me." He smiled. Taking her by the hand once again, and leading her gently through the ballroom-sized study. At the far end of the room was another doorway, with two matching male servants waiting to open the doors for them. They bowed simultaneously to Bernabon as he entered, he ignored them. Fiona nodded to them in acknowledgement. They bowed curtly to her, and then exchanged glances. Her heart began to beat a little faster. Their expressions were unreadable to her peasant eyes.
They walked into a dome-shaped room. The walls draped with the same heavy curtains she had seen in CB's closet, but these were a deep emerald green. Small old fashioned gas lamps hung from the walls between each set, casting a warm glow on the floors and ceiling. The high ceiling was decorated with the same astrological patterns that were in the grand entrance, and in the very middle, a circular skylight revealed the ominous sky above. Bookshelves hung full of heavy, dusty books. Below the skylight, there were two long desks facing each other.
She released his hand and wandered around the room. He leaned against one of the many bookshelves and watched her intently. She pulled back one of the curtains. Behind each were more windows looking out over the same garden. Rolls of ivy curled around the bottom of each window, and she could see a small stone pathway disappear into a deep thicket.
I wonder what is out there... It doesn't seem like the kind of grounds that would have superfluous pathways stretching to nowhere...
Bernabon cleared his throat. "Do you like it?"
"It is like something out of a fairytale..."
"Good, because I was thinking that since I am a little more... restricted with my activity," He looked bashfully at the floor. "I could tutor you here instead of at the cafe..."
Her eyes grew wide. "Here? You mean I would come here after school?"
He nodded. "Yes, Pep as well as the doctors where insistent on me taking it easy for the time being, but I since our discussion yesterday when you were insistent that we continue our tutoring, I had to make some compromises..."
"I don't remember being the only one insistent on continuing out nonexistent tutoring sessions..." She teased.
He rubbed at his neck, and looked down at the floor again. "I had it redecorated to something more welcoming, this used to just be an empty room." It was his poor attempt to change the subject. She took the bait out of politeness, but she was determined to not let Bernabon forget that he was the one insistent on their continuation, not just her.
"I am surprised that you were able to get this done in just one day..."
"Well what can I say? Pep is good at troop morale." He finally looked up at her. "Fiona, there is something I need to tell you..."
At that moment Pep flung the doors open, throwing them into blinding light of Bernabon's study.
"Master Schweet, supper will commence shortly, you will have to say goodbye to your little friend." He sneered at Fiona.
"Well I don't see why she cannot stay for supper Pep." He replied, never taking his eyes off of Fiona, smiling apologetically at his butler's coarse behavior.
Pep was taken aback at this, acting as if what Bernabon had suggested the impossible.
"Oh no, I really must be going..." She began.
"Nonsense! Do you have other plans?" He raised an eyebrow, almost daring her to say she did.
Her mind flashed back to the empty apartment. Cake is out of town, and I would just be returning to an empty apartment...
"I believe Ms. Keadersen's guardian is out of town at the moment, Master Schweet." Pep interrupted. "And we really must have her home before nightfall, I mean she is so young and vulnerable. I would hate to have her return to her apartment in the dark." Pep flashed his snake-charmer's smile at Bernabon, but his plan backfired.
Bernabon's princely complex kicked in, and the fact that it was Fiona no less threw him over the edge.
"Pep, why did you not inform me sooner? Why we could never do that to Fiona!"
Pep's smile grew, assuming that Bernabon was agreeing with his suggestion to send her home.
He snapped his fingers. "Why we could never let Fiona go back to that empty apartment in the big city!"
"It's really not that big of a deal..." She replied curtly.
"No, no, no, but it is Fiona! I could never let my precious pupil spend the night alone in a strange city she has just moved to! The only solution is for you to spend the night."
Pep's mouth began to gape in shock at his master's suggestion. "But Master Schweet, we do not have any of the guest suites prepared! Since your parents are abroad for the next few months, I took the liberty of renovating all of them!"
"Simultaneously?" Bernabon raised an eyebrow of suspicion at Pep's story.
"Well, not all of them," He admitted. "but they are all so close to each other, I would not like a delicate a lady as Ms. Keadersen to have to inhale any of the stray fumes from the current remodels..." His eyes looked pleadingly at Bernabon, but he ignored his butler's unwillingness.
"Well if that is truly the case, then there is no choice other than to let Fiona sleep in my apartments..." He replied, raising his hands and shaking his head in exasperation.
"Well...well... I am sure that I could procure a room for her after all..." Pep stuttered, growing more distressed with his master's replies and general willingness to let someone he deemed so 'low' sleep not only in his house, but now in his personal apartments.
"And have Fiona's health risked due to your inability to plan things out." Bernabon replied a little harder than necessary, it was evident that he was growing tired of his excuses.
"But..." Pep began, slicking the loose strands of his hair back into its perfectly gelled mass.
"No more 'buts' Pep, now please see to it that one of my apartment rooms are prepared to suit Ms. Keadersen." Bernabon had cut him off, ordering him in a very regal manner.
Fiona was a little shocked, the though of someone actually having the courage to order Pep was surprising. But I guess Pep was right, he delivers Bernabon the worth he is paid...
"As you wish, Master Schweet." Pep glared at Fiona, then bowed to Bernabon, and stormed out of the room like a spoiled child that had finally been put in his place.
Bernabon let out a loud sigh and smiled at her. "Sorry you had to see that, sometimes he just gets so fickle about the strangest things. I really don't understand where he gets the audacity to continue argue with me about my orders."
She returned his smile. "Maybe he needs to be put back into his place every one in a while."
He nodded. "But I hate to be so cruel..."
"Master Schweet?" It was CB at the entrance Pep had just disappeared from.
"Yes CB?"
CB played with her hands nervously. "I have been instructed to prepare Ms. Keadersen for Supper. If that is alright with you..." She glanced up at him for a moment, but looked down at the floor once again after he met her gaze. Why were all these people so intimidated by Bernabon?
"Yes CB, that is a grand idea. I too shall go get changed for supper." He winked at Fiona, and strolled out of the room. As soon as the door had swung shut behind him CB rushed over to Fiona and grabbed her hands. CB's were clammy and shaking.
"Pep is not happy about you staying Fiona, I just want to warn you that, and Pep is tricky. Please be on your guard during dinner." She squeezed her hands encouragingly, and forced a smile.
"Now come on, let's see what we can do for your big dinner date." CB winked, forcing herself into a pseudo-cheerful mood. This only made Fiona angry. Who does this Pep guy think he is?
The door to Bernabon's dressing room clicked open, and Pep let the light fall onto a small sliver of his face. "Master Schweet, supper is ready."
Bernabon was standing in front of a mirror, admiring himself. "Please come in Pep, I must have a quick word with you."
Pep groaned like a teenager, and reluctantly stepped inside Bernabon's dressing room. "What is it Master Schweet?"
Bernabon turned his attention away from straightening his tie in the mirror, and his eyes narrowed on Pep's tall, dark from. "Pep, is everything in place?"
Pep clicked his heels together and saluted. "Yes Master Schweet." He chanted, imitating a soldier.
Bernabon rolled his eyes, and turned his attention back to the tie. "You can really stop that Pep. And don't think I haven't noticed how roughly you treated Fiona today..."
Pep swallowed hard. Bernabon Schweet may be able to play a sweet prince to those he wanted to impress, but Pep knew whose child he was. Pep knew he could be just as cruel and conniving as any other piece of trash that clogged the hallways of the esteemed Vincent Academy, but what they lacked was breeding. Bernabon on the other hand, had been molded many generations of meticulous planning and breeding. He would one day assume the position among a few men who controlled most of the corporate conglomerates on the face of the earth. Yes, this boy was born and bred to control power, but also to be controlled by it. He wore a painted mask of princely charm, that covered a twisted and determined mind. The last thing Pep needed was some goodie-two-shoes new money girl coming in, and wiping away Bernabon's ancestor's ultimate plan of power and glory. Couldn't Bernabon see that Pep only did this for his own good? Or had he worn the mask of princely charm too long, was he actually becoming a caring young man instead of a twisted Prince Charming he was raised to one day become?
"Well Pep? Do you have anything to say for yourself?"
Pep looked Bernabon dead in the eyes, acting as if they were equals instead of master and servant. None of the other servants had the audacity to do so, but to be fair, Pep wasn't like most servants...
"Master Schweet, I am only trying to do what is best for you, and for your future." Pep bowed.
"And what makes it your right to do such a thing?"
"Because your parents left you in my care." Pep knew that this comment was underhanded, he knew how Bernabon felt about his estranged relationship, but desperate times called for desperate measures, and Pep had determined the quick extinction of any relationship between the two teenagers to be the best action.
"You are right Pep." Bernabon replied in a sickly sweet voice. Pep looked at his young master in confusion. "My parents are not here." He continued. "But you are not a substitution for them, you are simply a babysitter, an overpaid, bitchy babysitter, and if I find that you have EVER laid a finger on Fiona again, and treat her the way you treated her earlier today. Well..."
Bernabon strode over to him, and stood eye to eye with the butler who had raised him. His face was unreadable and frightening. "I want you to know that there are worse things than losing an paycheck or two..."
Pep waited until Bernabon left the room, and then smiled to himself. "I obviously do not give myself enough credit. Why was I frightened of this girl making him lose this ferocity." He chuckled. "She actually inhibits in. Oh Bernabon Schweet, you are so twisted that your princely mask has begun to tear at the seams, and the more you try to hide it, the more it shines through. Oh no, you will be just fine. That broken heart was the best thing that ever happened to you..."
Fiona tugged at the hem of her midnight blue dress. Oh glob, why did CB have to put me in something so frilly and big? I thought we were just having supper, not going to the opera.
CB had taken her share of liberties with her hair and makeup as well. Her hair now hung in a loose bun pulled up with several diamond-studded combs.
"CB please, I don't think I need to look so gaudy for a simple supper!" She had pleaded with her overenthusiastic stylist as she shoved more combs and pins in her hair, and then doused her with another can of hairspray.
"Oh shush it. I never get to have any fun anymore, I specialize in women's clothing, and since Master Schweet's mother has not been home in months..." She mumbled through a mouthful of pins.
"Shouldn't you be with her then?"
CB shrugged. "She can pay someone else to travel with her, but my job is to be her at home stylist."
Fiona attempted to nod, but CB smacked her playfully. "Don't move your head! I am almost done, and if you mess this up, I will beat you with this box of combs."
"Sorry." She blushed, and turned her attention back to her reflection. Her light makeup had been transformed into heavy evening makeup of blues and golds.
"Hey CB?"
CB glanced up, and met Fiona's gaze in the mirror. "Yes?"
"What are Bernabon's parents like?"
CB stopped her harassment of Fiona's scalp with the box of combs, and stared off thoughtfully for a moment before resuming her work with renewed vigor.
"Mr and Mrs Schweet are... They are... powerful."
"What do you mean?"
"You've no doubt heard the gossip about Bernabon and Bonnebell while attending VA? Well, let's just say that what they did to Bonebell was tame compared to what they could have done."
"What do you mean CB?"
CB sighed as she shoved another comb into her hair. Fiona winced. "I mean that they are some of the most powerful blue bloods in the world. They are not only one of the most wealthy families in the world, but they also have breeding, which is a very rare combination these days. I think that is why Pep is so rude to you to be honest, he doesn't want you to get too close to Bernabon and ruin the bloodline..." She looked up apologetically in the mirror at Fiona.
Fiona couldn't help but admit that such a thought hurt her heart. "So I am not worthy of Bernabon?"
"Well, you might be to Bernabon, but his parents and the rest of their society might have something else to say about the pairing, and the gossip... Oh the gossip. I wouldn't wish that gossip on my worst enemy..." CB shuttered.
They were quiet for the remainder of the time CB took to put on the finishing touches as she had done earlier that day. I just have to get through this dinner, then I can feign illness, and get to bed... I don't think Bernabon will push me...
By the time Fiona entered the large dining room the windows were shaking due to the severity of the wind. A warm fire crackled in the hearth filling the more private dining room with warm light and heat. Bernabon was waiting for her. He pulled her chair out for her, and then walked over to one of the servants standing at attention by the entrance, and whispered something in his ear. The servant nodded respectively and proceeded to pick up all of Bernabon's dining implements on the very opposite end of the table, and place them next to Fiona.
The servant pulled out his chair for him as he sat down. "Sorry about that... It was probably Pep's indiscreet way of making us sit as far away from each other while still being in the same room." He chuckled lightly. "I knew he wouldn't give up that easily..."
"What do you mean?"
He glanced at her, unaware that he had spoken this thoughts aloud. "Oh pay me no heed, I am still a little loopy from my fever..." He smiled weakly at her.
She decided not to pursue her questioning any further. She didn't want to embarrass him. CB had told her what Pep thought about her. She had decided not to care about the social restraints everyone except the both of them followed. I am not going to let these people get to me. If Cake could do it, I can too...
About halfway through the meal, two servants entered from a side entrance, and pulled the curtains shut in an attempt to block out some of the howling wind. Fiona nodded to them as they exited, while Bernabon continued to chat, ignoring their presence completely. He must be used to it since he has grown up with it...
She couldn't be completely sure, but one of them looked awfully familiar to her. His cocky swagger even when intimidating the other servant's precise movements, the jet black hair slicked back, the pale skin.
Marshall...?
She shook her head. No, that's impossible. I am just seeing things...
During dessert the storm grew three times stronger. The wind now throwing itself violently against the windows, like a drunkard beating his way into a closed bar. Insistent and sloppy. Halfway through, the lights went out.
Fiona gasped in alarm. The room was pitch black, for the wind had blown the fire out simultaneously. She felt a hands caressing her hand and her cheek. Bernabon's hot, sweet breath on her neck. "Come with me." He teased her. Her heart began to beat faster as he took her hand in his and escorted her to the door leading out into the frighteningly deceiving hallways. They had narrowly escaped the quick re-eneterance of the two servants from earlier, both carrying freshly lit candles in their white gloved hands, they were obviously searching for the two missing teenagers.
One continued his futile search in the nooks and crannies of the room, calling out their names as if they were frightened, lost children, and he the doubting mother hen. The other, the one with the slicked back hair turned out into the hallway to see them vanish down the hallway, Fiona's long dress making scratchy swooshing noises as she ran hand-in-hand with Bernabon. The servant ran his long fingers through his hair and smirked.
"I will have to give Bubba more credit. He really does move fast when he wants something... But he really must know that I am just getting warmed up... And this time, I am willing to play dirty."
The servant shrugged and spun around to head back into the room where his companion was still calling for his master and his guest. The companion looked up from under the table where he had been searching to find him standing behind him.
"Oh Mr. Lee, it is truly terrible! I cannot find Master Schweet or his young guest anywhere! Where could they have gone to?" The young servant looked up at him, his eyes rimmed with tears, no doubt fearing Pep's wrath for loosing Master Schweet and the girl he seemed to despise so much.
'Mr. Lee' patted the young man -no, really boy, for he was younger than him- on the back. "Don't worry Jeeves, we will find them. I mean, what possible trouble could two unsupervised teenagers get into in a house filled with empty bedrooms late at night, in the dark?"
The boy sunk to the floor and began to weep. "I-I-I-DON'T GET PAID ENOUGH TO DEAL WITH THIS!" He wailed.
"Is that so?" Pep voice asked quietly. Marshall turned around and his blood ran cold. Pep was standing luminously behind them. His smile cold and cruel. "Find them."
Bernabon led her through the winding hallways. Wheezing and clutching his heart as they ran.
"Bernabon, should we slow down? You look pale..."
He wheezed out a laugh as they ran. "Now you are the one being a little odd. How are you able to gaze upon my lovely complexion in this darkness?"
She said nothing. He laughed sweetly at her. "You really are too cute."
She blushed. Now thankful for the darkness that cloaked both of them.
"Where are we going?"
"You'll see! But for the remaining time, try to keep your voice down, I don't want to be caught so early in out adventure!"
"Adventure...?"
Man, maybe this boy isn't an exact replica of Gumball. I mean Gumball would never go "out on an adventure" with me, yet alone be the one to plan sed adventure. Unless he was the one sending us out on one of his errands...
They reached the end of the long hallway and slipped through a partially cracked door.
A match was struck, and the lamps slowly sputtered around the study room. He shook the match and pulled open one of the curtains that had been drawn closed in the storm.
"The windows have been outfitted with hurricane resistant glass..." He said a little boastfully.
"And why ever would you do that?" She raised an eyebrow at him from her spot on a clawed couch, covered in the same green as the curtains.
"Call it a man's intuition..." He smiled as he stood silhouetted by the flashes of lightening dancing in the sky he was gazing at.
"It almost seems like you... planned this or something..." She whispered.
"Hmm?"
"Oh, it was nothing..."
He turned from the world ripping around outside and focused his suddenly very frightening gaze on her. His eyes were not the sweet Bernabon Schweet, Class President, this gaze was menacing and mesmerizing.
"Nothing that you say is 'nothing' Fiona. I know this as a fact."
"And how do you know that? You barely know me..." She could feel his gaze burn into her.
He walked over to her, so he was standing before her, and knelt down so his eyes were staring into hers, searching. "Must I repeat myself? Don't you remember what I told you when we were sitting together in the cafe?"
She turned away from him, not wanting to remember what he had said.
"Fiona... Please look at me." His hand caressing her cheek, he forced he head to turn back towards him. She closed her eyes in defiance. He sighed in frustration.
"Bernabon... I can't get involved with someone right now. I need to get back home..." She glanced warily at him. His face was expressionless and cold. I wonder if this is the face he uses when he is with his parents...
"I told you to call me Bubba when we are alone."
"I would rather call you Bernabon." She smiled shyly at him. His grip tightened slightly around her cheek.
"No, please call me Bubba. I want you to." He pleaded.
She could see the cogs whirring around in his mind as he searched her face for an explanation. He gasped, withdrew his hand, and drew back over to the window, turning his back to her. "Have you learned about my history with Bonnebell and the Lee clan?"
She nodded, unable to speak. How could he decipher that from my reaction...?
"As I thought. I was wondering why you were so cold and formal all of a sudden..."
"Berna..."
"Please don't!" He screeched pleadingly, covering his ears with the palms of his hands as his knees gave out, and he fell to the ground.
She ran over to him. He was clutching his heart again, in the same way he had been in the cafe. "Bernabon? Bernabon? Berna... Bubba? Bubba?" She shook him. He was shaking. Suddenly he looked up at her, tears streaming down his face.
"I'm sorry." He sniffled. "This is extremely undignified of me." He wiped fresh tears from his face. Her heart felt like it was going to crack in two.
"I hoped that when I met you..." He trailed off, winced and clutched at his heart.
"You hoped that things would change when you met me?" She ventured.
He nodded weakly and smiled at her. The icy rain continued to slash against the windows. Bernabon shivered.
"Come on, let's take you back to Pep. I think he should know if you are not feeling well." She left him and walked over to the doors, but they were locked up tightly. She pulled with all her might, but they stood strong and defiant.
"Do you happen to have a key?" She smiled worriedly.
He reached down into his shirt and searched for his key. "Shit..."
"What is it?"
"It must have fallen off when we were running." His eyes darted around the room. "We are locked inside."
"Don't worry, I can beat on the door, and some one has to come... right?"
She fell exasperatedly to the floor. "Do all of your servants have cotton in their ears? I mean... Sheesh, I have been calling out for at least twenty minutes..."
Bernabon produced a golden pocket watch from his breast pocket and flicked it open. "Twenty-two minutes to be exact." He winked.
She groaned and rolled over. "So what do we do?"
He glanced at her and smirked. "Did you ever think about trying that door over there?" He raised a shaky finger to another set of doors she hadn't noticed.
"You couldn't have pointed that out before you let me bang on the doors for twenty-two minutes?" She glared playfully at him.
He shot her a pair of big puppy dog eyes "You seemed very intent on trying to get out that way, and every time I tried to say something, you said that you were fine and I quote 'I got this Bubba!'. So I decided to wait until you tired yourself out like you just did, and then I would have an easier time reaching you." He carefully stood up, and glided over to the door, pulled on the handles, and forced them open.
She blushed a deep scarlet and followed him through the door.
They were once again in his ballroom study. She ran over and tried the other set of doors, but they were locked as well.
"Come on, I know another way..." He grabber her hand and walked briskly over to the corner of the room, where the wall of windows met an adjoining wall. He pressed his hands against the wall which hesitated, and then groaned open, a secret entrance had revealed itself. He winked and pulled her inside. The secret entrance revealed a long, dark tunnel.
"They were the original servant's hallways, but then we updated the house. None of the current servants outside of Pep know about them. I have explored a few of them, but never this one, but maybe it leads to a way out..."
She held his hand tightly as he instinctively took the lead, feeling his way down the hallway. She didn't like not being in charge, but something about Bernabon leading seemed so out of character that she couldn't complain.
They were in complete darkness, but she could feel their feet clatter against dusty cobble stone, and hear the constant 'drip' 'drip' 'drip' of water leaking from some unseen crack above their heads. He halted his determined stride in mid step. Causing her to bump into his back.
"I feel something!" His clammy hand squeezing tightly around hers in excitement.
He really is not feeling well, but he is trying to do the best he can...
"This is the best I can do. It seems like the heating has stopped working. It really is an awful time to have a power outage, I mean it is wet and cold, but not cold enough to stay inside and sip cocoa." She whipped her hands against her dress as the fire in the large brick fireplace roared to life. Wrapping her back in threads of comforting heat. She glanced down at her dress which was tattered and torn from her twenty-two minute assault on the door, followed by her wanderings through the grimy hidden passageways of Schweet Manor.
CB can scold me later...
Bernabon moaned, clutched at his heart and shivered. "Cold. It is so cold."
She rushed worriedly over to the bed he had collapsed on upon entering the room, and discovering there was no way out.
"Please Bernabon... I mean Bubba. Just lay back in bed. I am trying to heat the room a little with the fire, but it isn't going to do any good if you don't stay under the covers."
"It's so cold though Fiona." He whined.
"Come sit up for a moment." She ordered briskly as she helped him sit up. His clothing drenched in sweat. "We are going to need to get that shirt and jacket off you."
He nodded lazily and began to pull off his jacket, and unbutton his shirt. She quickly spun around and blushed.
He chuckled. "What's the matter? Is the brave and daring Fiona afraid to see her tutor without his shirt on?"
She stole a quick glance at him. He was leaning back comfortably on the fluffy pillows and smiling kindly at her. "No, it's not that!" She snapped. "It's just that you are my tutor, and I don't want to get any weird ideas in my head about what you look like without your clothes on."
The room was quiet. The fire crackled and snapped, casting oddly distorted shadows on the back wall. He finally broke the silence.
"Is that all you think of me as? A tutor?" He could not mask the hurt in his voice.
She turned to face him once again. "Bernabon... You don't want to get involved with me... I... I am complicated."
"And I am not?" He gestured towards his heart. "This is not complicated?" He gestured to the room.
"Well..."
"'Well...' What?" He urged her, becoming more upset and angry.
"Bernabon, you were finally beginning to heal from your heart break, and then I show up, and... Well no wonder Pep hates me." Her voice soaked in emotion. "Please don't fall for me Bernabon. I can't be responsible for killing you."
"Fiona..."
"No, please don't..." He ignored her pleas and hobbled over to her and swept her up into his arms.
"Fiona." He breathed into her ear, pulling her tighter against him. She began to sob.
"Fiona, I don't care about your past. I will never expect you to tell me, but I also want you to know..." He tilted her chin up to look at her face. Tears still streaming down her cheeks. "I can't stand the thought of not being with you. From the moment I saw you, I was in love with you. I can't explain it exactly, but I can't get you out of my head. I want to be by your side all the time."
He took her face in his hands, their faces so close. "Please don't cry." He swept his tongue up both her cheeks, licking away her tears. She didn't stop him. His words, his touch, too comforting.
He pressed his forehead to hers. He mouthed her name. "Fiona... I love you. I love you so much I can hardly stand it." He pressed his lips gently to hers. Soft and soothing like warm milk. She welcomed his kiss. Surprised by her willingness, he deepened it. His hands slid down her neck, and his fingers danced playfully around her collar bone, and twirled lazy spirals with the fallen strands of her long hair. She jumped a little because his touch tickled. She wrapped her arms around her neck, no longer bashful of his naked torso. She felt him shiver. She pulled away and gazed into his eyes.
He pouted a little at the sudden removal of her lips from his. "Hey, I was really enjoying that..."
She pressed a finger to his lips, silencing him momentarily, "Bernabon... I want us to both take some time to examine what you have just said to me. I want you to see if you still feel this way in the morning, maybe this is just your chill talking."
"But I know it's not the..." He moved his lips closer to hers, but she stopped him. "I said I wanted US to take some time, that means me too. I need to think about you, but also about me, and my future."
He pouted and nodded. "Now go get into bed, you are still freezing!" She ordered pointing one finger towards the bed.
"As my lady wishes..." He kissed her hand and glided over to the bed.
She slapped at her cheeks, trying to make the blush ease from her cheeks. "No, keep it. I like it." He teased as he lifted the covers and slid inside.
She stuck her tongue out at him, all of the formality of their relationship had disappeared that evening. But would it stay that way...?
"One question: Where are you going to sleep?" He glanced at her playfully.
"On the floor I guess, or maybe I will sleep in this chair." She walked towards the cream-colored chair that sat next to the fireplace.
"I forbid it Ms. Keadersen!" He ordered jokingly. "If you sleep on the floor, then so will I." He threatened.
"Then where do you suggest I sleep?"
He wiggled his eyebrows at her, and pulled the covers on the opposite side of the king sized bed back. "Oh you have got to be kidding me." She gasped.
"Well then I guess I will have to sleep on the floor with you..."
"Oh no you don't. I can't let you sleep on the floor."
"And I cannot let my lady guest sleep on the floor. You must treat yourself like the lady you are!"
No one has ever called me a lady before...
She glanced warily from the chair to the bed. "I promised I won't do anything to you. Cross my broken heart" He made slashing motions over his heart in the shape of an "x".
She walked slowly over to him and slid rigidly into bed.
"You can't seriously expect me to sleep next to that filthy dress." He looked her ragged dress up and down.
"The dress is not going." She screeched, throwing a pillow in his face.
"Well some of it has to..." He replied, reaching over and ripping the skirt off just above her knees, and throwing the dirty fabric to the floor. "Much better." He sighed and settled back into bed.
"Well at least one of us will be able to sleep well tonight." She grumbled.
He began to shiver uncontrollably like he had when they were in the study room. An idea struck her. "Bernabon..."
"Bubba!" He corrected.
"Fine, Bubba, don't get the wrong idea, but I have an idea that might help you get rid of that chill." She said, cuddling up to his back, filling his icy body with her heat.
He sighed happily. "Oh, much better. I might have to keep you around for your medicinal properties alone." He teased.
"Just be quiet and go to sleep." She mumbled, burying her burning scarlet face into the safety of the pillows.
In the middle of the night, she felt a strong pair of arms lift her from her resting place next to Bernabon, and carry her down the dark hallway.
It must be Marshall Lee the Vampire King. I must have fallen asleep at his house while watching one of his movies, and he is flying me back to the treehouse. This has all just been a bad dream...
"Oh Marshall I had the most terrible dream..." She mumbled.
He looked down at her as he placed her on a pile of freshly made and folded sheets.
"Shhh..." He whispered, caressing her face. "You can tell me all about it in the morning."
"M'kay. You should come over for some of Cake's Bacon Pancakes, I know you don't like non-red food, but I don't think even you will be immune to them."
"Are you asking me out on a date after I have just carried you from a bed in which you were laying next to a half-naked man? You sure have some cheek... But I will accept." He replied playfully, knowing that she would not remember their conversation in the morning.
"Good night Ms. Fiona." He called as he began to close the door. "One more thing..." She began to stir. "I want you to tell Bubba there that I called you first, and if he ever tries to do anything that audacious again, I will personally see to it that he wakes up in a strange foreign town with no teeth." He paused. "I love you that much."
He closed the door and walked briskly down the hall to make his report.