Chapter Twelve

Investigation

Kathy rose from her seat warily, watching the wild-eyed Juliet glower at her. The question hung heavily in the air, keeping both of them on edge.

"Desmond Tiny…" the blonde began. She would need to choose her words carefully. "Is my employer, and also… once he was interested in adopting you."

Juliet tensed at the information. All her time spent at the 'orphanage', not once had she been looked at by prospective families. Never considered, only overlooked and outcast. It was understandable, considering her skin tone, a rarity in these parts of Romania, so much so in fact, that she had never seen another dark-skinned person in the town, and although the townsfolk never spoke of it there was plenty of prejudice around the country, according to what Highland used to say of his travels. She had never thought anything of the adoptions of her friends. Year after year the number of children at Highlands estate would dwindle, the halls and rooms started to echo until it was only her and Kathy, and then Kathy left… wanting to seek out a newer, better life in a big city somewhere far from their small town. The sudden knowledge that she could've been one of the 'lucky ones', one of the children who gained a family, struck her heart like she'd never felt before.

She had to blink back tears before replying, "And how did you manage to fall into his employment, and gain this knowledge?" her fists clenched, suddenly enraged at the thought of her promiscuous friend sleeping with her would-be father.

"I was hired on as his secretary," Kathy said, nonchalantly casting her eyes to the side. "He's a very… eccentric man."

Juliet slowly sank to the floor, recounting the dream she'd had. 'Desmond Tiny', the tall, bestial woman. Some sort of argument… Running… Waking up was almost as frightening as the dream as she'd encountered Mika's bloody visage. Something inside of her knew that what she'd seen hadn't been just the dream of a deranged young woman, but the memory of one. A memory triggered by violence, by the 'mock fight' with Mika.

"Kathy… please leave." She sighed from the floor. Kathy crouched next to her friend and reached a hand to her shoulder.

"Jules, I don't know what's going through your head right now… you have to-"

"Don't call me 'Jules'," she snapped, shrinking away from Kathy's touch. "You know more than you want me to know, and you refuse to trust me with that information. You call yourself my friend?" she cast her pain-filled eyes up towards Kathy's and the blonde recoiled away from her. "Get out of my house." She glared. "I don't know… if I ever want to see you again."

The blonde snarled at her. "Well is that how you treat your only friend Juliet Andères?" she hissed. "The person who's taken care of you for years whilst you secluded yourself away in your manor, shunning the rest of the world?" she headed towards the doorway to the atrium, and the large manor doors. "One silly fling with a Vampire and you think you can walk all over people?"

Juliet's breath hitched. "How did you-"

"Don't bother talking to me until you've learned what a selfish bitch you're being." Kathy shouted. "You're making such a mistake! I guess I'll just add it to the list." The smug line of her voice was all Juliet could hear over the creaking and slamming of the large doors.

Then she was alone.

She was beside him before he could react, all screeching and claws. Mika barely recognized Kathy, but for her outfit and hair. She was howling like a hellcat, her hands moving fast but not fast enough for his Vampire speed. He dodged one of her assaults and stared her down, wincing at his tattered clothes and the numerous bleeding scratches along his arms and torso. Kathy looked wild, feral, and hunched over, teeth barred and panting.

"You will regret your decision." She hissed, pointing an accusing claw at him. "You will rue this day, and you won't even remember why." She cackled malevolently, the sound taking hold of him and paralyzing him. He crumpled to the ground. Vaguely he could see something walking over to him, but he couldn't move his head to look up. It crouched beside him, red eyes shining in the blackness of night.

"Cherish her, Vampire." It hissed. And then it was gone.

And Mika was left scratching his head, confused at what had attacked him. Suddenly he was worried for Juliet, she was left with Kathy and they could have also been attacked. He pushed himself off the ground, somewhat unsteadily, and raced the distance to her manor only to find the door splintered around the hinges as if a great force had pushed them closed in rage. Immediately the General ran inside, desperate to check on the woman he coveted so dearly. He found her curled up on the parlor room floor, sobbing and shakings. Mika fought back the urge to chase down whatever beast it was that had damaged her doors, and quietly moved closer to her, crouching down beside her. Juliet's head snapped up, and a rage-filled glare met his eyes, but immediately softened to distraught, which only served to worry him even more.

"Mika-" she gasped, eyes following the scratches on his torso and arms. She reached for him and gently he took her hand and pulled her into his embrace where she began to sob again.

"I won't ask if you won't ask…" he whispered into her hair, inhaling her scent.

Juliet took a shaky breath. "There's nothing to ask. I just found out my oldest and only friend had been lying to me, keeping secrets from me about my own life! I kicked her out… I'm so angry… I'm so confused. She called you out for what you are." Mika glanced down at her and she met his gaze warily.

"Mika, she knows you're a Vampire." She sighed, wiping away her tears. "I was so afraid to tell you… I thought you might hunt her down… I know she lied but… but I don't want her to die! I don't know. I don't know what to do! I don't know who to believe! I'm so alone." she began shaking and crying all over again, breaths coming in ragged gasps, and Mika fought the urge to crush her small body to his.

Loneliness truly was Juliet's biggest fear.

He kissed the top of her head and pulled her even closer. "I am here, Juliet, and you can trust me. Vampires are honorable, and hardly ever lie, and I would never hurt you or your loved ones." Unknowingly his hand had begun stroking her back and she relaxed slightly in his arms, her shaking lessened and her breathing came easier. He briefly thought back to Paris Skyle's vague words. That the General had a decision to make, and soon; and as he looked down at the woman in his arms, his heart swelled with rare emotion, and he knew his decision was made.

They sat on the floor for what seemed like hours, until finally Juliet ran out of tears, and her entire body relaxed into his, sleep taking over her. Carefully Mika lifted her up and carried her up the spiral staircase into her bedroom. Mentally drained, he nearly climbed in with her before catching himself. It was nearly dawn, though, and he needed to sleep.

As he was exiting Juliet's chambers, he recognized the wooden box on her vanity and quietly lifted it up to take with him back down to the parlor. He sat the box down on the coffee table and sighed. Walking over to the hearth, he extinguished the fire and cast the entire room into darkness. No windows, perfect for a sleeping Vampire General.

He stretched his broad frame out on the larger sofa in the middle of the room. The piece of furniture barely had enough room for his torso, and his legs stuck off of the sides, but he didn't want to be away from Juliet. He knew she would need him when she woke up, and he planned on being there for her. His thoughts drifted once more to Paris, and the beast he'd been attacked by, but couldn't remember how or when, and he hoped the old Vampire Prince hadn't encountered it on his journey. There were so many questions swirling around in the air, but Mika couldn't be bothered with them just yet. The many mysteries of Juliet Andères would be there when he woke up.