A/N: Yeah, I had this writing spaz. So…two updates in one day—on the same fic! Review, tell me what you think. Suggestions, anything like that is welcome. And if anyone knows if Jager has another, more recent, fledgling besides Fala let me know. I'll change it. Thanks!
Chapter 11: Confrontation
I stand in the park, hidden by trees, and take one last look at the place Emmie and Elyse both call their favorite. Then I close my eyes and will myself away with the thought of a vampiric town. I know I am in New Mayhem the moment I appear in the nightclub. It must be a vampiric instinct; I've never heard of this place with splintered mirrors for walls. I pick Jager out from the crowd immediately, and much to my dismay, my heart jumps at the sight of him.
Why does it have to be so complicated? I demand of myself. Why can't I just hate him, kill him and get it over with? But what would that accomplish, anyway, besides vampires fearing me for my strength?
I make my way through the human and vampire crowd to where the vampire I want is sitting. He looks so relaxed, friendly, but on guard at the same time; his legs are stretched out in front of him, a smile is on his face, but his gaze is sharp and doesn't miss a thing. I stand in front of him in a heartbeat (how ironic an expression).
"Elyse," Jager greets me as if my showing up here is no surprise. But the expression in his black eyes tells me he is curious, even slightly concerned.
"This your new fledging?" the vampire sitting with him asks casually, and my gaze snaps to his face. Black hair, black eyes, but his skin is pale and tattooed designs decorate his bare, muscled arms. His beauty leaves me momentarily breathless, like all vampires do.
Jager nods slightly. "Elyse, this is Aubrey," he says shortly.
Aubrey grins mockingly at me. "Pleasure," he offers.
I scowl. "You've been telling everyone about me?" I growl at Jager. "About how you murdered me? Like I'm some prize, and you can be proud of earning an enemy?"
Shock crosses Jager's beautiful face for a moment as he processes the first words out of my mouth. But that expression is quickly replaced by hard anger, and I realize I may have said too much in front of Aubrey.
"A fledging is a vampire's possession, his pride, little child," Aubrey explains, his voice laughing. "Jager can talk about you all he wants."
What does he say about me? My scowl deepens. "I wasn't talking to you," I snap. I am furious, at both Jager and Aubrey.
Jager's hand is suddenly wrapped around my wrist; he pulls me down into his lap, despite my squirming. "It isn't wise to insult another vampire, little Emmie," he says, his voice low. I want to slap him when he calls me by my old name, but I can't because his fingers are holding my hands down. "You are no longer human prey, but I can't protect you. If Aubrey wants, he could kill you for your rudeness and I can't do anything about it."
I purse my lips and stick out my chin defiantly, but say nothing. He is probably right; although that would be the last thing I'd admit.
Aubrey is chuckling aloud beside us. "He's right, you know," he adds to Jager's comment. "But since you weren't aware of that, I'll let you go this time."
"Thanks," I mutter sarcastically, and Jager hears. His grip tightens on me.
"Stop it," he warns. How is it that he can make me feel like such a child?
"I need to talk to you," I tell him. "Alone."
"I'm busy. You can wait," he replies dismissively.
I narrow my eyes and growl softly. I sold my house. I have nowhere to go, I grumble silently, hoping that will make him listen.
Go have a drink. Calm down. I'll get you when I'm finished, he answers with a sly grin.
That'll only give me more time to dream up ways to butcher you when we're alone, I retort angrily. He laughs aloud.
"All right," he answers. "Aubrey, I have to attend to little Elyse now. We'll finish later?"
There is more laughter, laughter at me, in the other vampire's eyes. "Of course," he nods.
Without warning, Jager snakes an arm around my waist, pulls me to him, and we disappear.
-vVv-
I open my eyes to a bedroom, dark not only because it is nearly night, but because the walls and decorations are all black. "Where are we?" The words spill out of my mouth before I realize Jager is still holding onto me. I yank myself out of his grip, fury bubbling into my throat.
"My room here," he says as if it is obvious. "You wanted to be alone, didn't you?"
I blink. Yes. But not your bedroom. I don't add that it's not helping the lovesick half of me to be alone in this dark room with him.
Jager leans back against the wall and crosses his arms over his chest. He's smiling. "So what is so important that you had to come find me?"
"We weren't finished. You left." I frown, not trusting him and his apparent innocence.
"Finished what?"
I take my time answering, trying for the moment to keep the anger out of my voice. "I'm still…very unhappy with you for changing me. I'd rather kill myself right now than live like you and your kind."
"You seemed to be doing fine this past week," he points out, and I groan.
"Not the point." I take a step closer to him, flexing my fingers. Control, I remind myself. I can't afford to lash out at him before I finish talking. "You have no idea what you've done to me. Just because you're selfish, you want me. You're no different than any of the other damn boys I've met. The only thing you had over them is the curse of immortality. And sharing it with me."
He laughs softly. "That's all? Emmie—"
"Elyse," I interrupt.
"—No one's stopping you from falling on your own knife. No one's stopping you from using illusion to make yourself ugly, if that's what you want. But vampires, you must understand, value beauty. That is one of the major things we look for in a fledgling," he adds. "Don't just throw it away."
"Speaking of fledglings," I say through gritted teeth, "I am not a prize you can go around telling people about. I am a human—or I was, at least, until you made me into this monster. And if I chose, I could be strong. I don't like it when people laugh at me. Watch what happens to them. And you."
"You don't have a chance against Aubrey," he says mildly, and catches my left wrist to pull me to him. I sink my other fist into his stomach and he lets go of me, eyes flashing.
"Do you want to know why you're such a big deal?" he demands, already recovered from my punch that would have seriously injured a human. He's angry now, but I don't regret it. "I haven't changed anyone in centuries, Elyse. My last fledgling before you was Fala. And trust me, you don't want to meet her. Especially if she hears the death threats you're giving me." Not that you'd be able to do anything, anyway, he taunts silently.
"Shut up!" I scream. "Stop talking in my head! I hate you. Don't you realize that? You murdered Emmie. I know she hated her life, but after she met you, she changed. She thought you were worth it. Thought that maybe after meeting you she'd be able to do something with her life. Only--you—took—it—away. Bastard." I spit out the last word and rake my nails across his face.
He snaps. I suddenly find myself pinned against the wall, Jager's furious face inches away from mine. Something like fear stirs in my gut, but I refuse to acknowledge it. "Let go of me." The words are whispered, but he hears me without trouble. And doesn't move.
Pressure crushes my mind and I almost cry out, but I bite my lip and stare Jager in the eyes. "You can't hurt me," I gasp vehemently. I lash out with my own, untrained power, and see him visibly flinch; I don't know how to use just a little. The pressure recedes.
"Watch your back," he advises roughly. "I might decide you're too much trouble to keep around."
I force a laugh. "In that case, I'll be far away anyway. And when I come back, it's you that I won't keep around."
Jager's hard lips suddenly break into a smile, an expression so inappropriate at the moment. "Emmie," he whispers. "Elyse."
Now what? I press, and shove away the urge to roll my eyes.
His face comes closer, until he brushes my lips with his, gently but so briefly. I find myself longing for his touch again. He pulls away, never breaking eye contact with me.
Get out.
