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"Yes, yes I'm sure Mason will be just ecstatic to receive this…giant moose," I said to the blushing vampire girl standing in my doorway.

"And, also could you give him these too? They're from the Ivory Coast," she said and handed me a huge bright pink gift bag of blood filled chocolates.

"Yes. Thank you for stopping by. He'll be happy to know that you're thinking of him" – I read the card- "Hannah. From crypto-zoology class." I said and lifted the bag. It was much heavier than it looked.

Her face lit up and she clasped her hands together. "That's me. Can I stop by later to visit him?"

"No. He's still resting. When he's better I'll let you know. Thanks again!" I said quickly and began closing the door.

"I'll check tomorrow?" she desperately called through the crack.

"Please don't."

"Call me!"

"No."

I locked the door and leaned against it, still clutching the four foot tall moose and the thick box of gourmet chocolates. Once again, another admirer had stopped by bearing gifts and begging for a chance to see Mason.

His room had become so full of flowers, and bears, and desserts and other ridiculously opulent things like hand woven blazers and cufflinks and paintings, that some of them had to be stored in the living room.

Mason had offered to let me have some of them, but I wasn't too happy with Mason at the moment. We weren't exactly talking anymore.

After gathering my strength, I made a power run to Mason's room where I dumped the moose and chocolates in the one available space. His normally dark and stately room was fat with balloons and frills and bright colors. He was grouching in the middle of his bed between a winking rabbit and a laughing frog.

Sadly, when I set it down the moose interfered with a conference between a unicorn and a fish causing an avalanche of pretty junk to nearly brain me. I threw the candy and books at the wall and stumbled my way to the door.

The room was silent, and I couldn't help but look back at Mason. I know that I should've just left, but I still couldn't believe that I left the Noctem Solis gala for this. So that I could be his doorman and maid. The day after the gala was a short vacation so I couldn't even use class as an excuse to leave.

For three hours, I put up with his moodiness at the gala. I tried to make him happy. Whenever I saw anyone that he might've been interested in, I'd introduce him. But still he sulked, and managed to ruin my evening as well. The evening that I had been looking forward to for over a week was ruined, because of him.

And then there was Penelope. The thought of her just grated against my nerves for some reason. She poisoned him, and he let her. Not intentionally of course, but the moment he couldn't get what he wanted from me he got the next girl who came prancing by. Did it even matter if it was me? Or was I just convenient because I was always there? And I know how strange it sounds, but that issue was the thing that bothered me the most. I could forget about the gala, and the moping but that…

I sighed and found that the door was locked.

"Mason."

"Not until you tell me why you're so angry. Is it because of Penelope? Because that wasn't my fault. She's a siren. She sings and…she's very good at persuading people ok? And I was starving. So I'm sorry if you're jealous but it wasn't completely my fault so…why are you looking at me like that?" he asked. To anyone else it would've looked like he was remorseful and solemn, but years of experience revealed the slight lift of the corner of his lip as he spoke.

Up above, a little mechanical bird whirred around the ceiling trilling a short rendition of 'Fur Elise.'

The girl who had brought that would probably be happier sitting here than I was. In fact, I could probably walk out and have her replace me and he wouldn't even notice. It didn't matter if I was present or not. As long as the required services were rendered, he didn't care.

"That is why you're angry, isn't it?" he asked, when I didn't respond.

The whirring stopped and the bird landed into a cluttered pile of bonbons that spilled over my feet. I slightly nudged them away, only to cause more to tumble down. Soon bigger things, like books and gift bags wobbled and I hastily tried to keep them away from the ground. At the top, a beautiful little sculpture of a peacock began to fall, and as I tried to catch it, it smashed everywhere. My fingers flew to my mouth in shock and pain and then someone knocked loudly at the door.

FUUUUCK. When will it STOP?

"I can't believe I left the gala for this!" I growled and tried the doorknob again. It was still locked.

"Do you mind?"

"…Is that what this was about?" Mason asked slowly. "You leaving your gala early?"

The pounding on the front door increased, and I tried to remove the cementing spell, but it wasn't working.

"I'm sorry you missed your big debut because you had to take care of me, Elyse, but you know what? No one asked you to do it. I would have been absolutely fine without you. I can't believe the only thing you can think about is the stupid gala!"

I had given up on magic and had resorted to trying to pry open the door with brute strength. Blood was smeared on the golden doorknob. The cuts were deeper than I thought. "Open the door! I don't want to talk to you."

"You should've just stayed there if you loved it so much. We'd both be a lot better off."

"Open the damn door! Leave me alone!"

I clawed at the hinges hoping it would, by some miracle, open, and thankfully due to Mason's frustration it did. It flew ajar, sending me into a pile of soft animals. I pushed them away and scrambled to the front where an over eager visitor was about to break the door down.

The pounding stopped as if she sensed that I was near, and I threw opened it.

"Why hello dear," Penelope said. "I've come to pay my dues. Is poor Mason stable?"

I gazed up at her. She was tall, and clothed in a light blue suit skirt and blazer with a white undershirt and a ridiculously ostentatious sun hat with feathers and beads. Some brunch in a country club was missing a trophy wife.

"Yeah…he's better now."

"Terrific! I felt so terrible the other night. Walking away scot free while poor Mason suffered. I just can't stand being useless," she said and strutted past me into the suite. She looked around, judging everything with a lofty expression. "So I came over as soon as I was able. If there's anything I can do to help, please tell me. I'm completely at your disposal."

All I could do was stare. Where was the squealing panicking girl from the other night?

She smiled and cocked her head expectantly. Her eyes travelled over me haughtily, but halted at my left hand. Her eyes narrowed predatorily. "Darling, you're bleeding. Come here. Let me fix-"

"No!" I snatched my hand away from hers. I didn't want her to touch me. "N-no, thank you. Mason is in that room over there. He's not that sick, but you can stay if you don't mind collecting gifts and keeping him company or…or feeding him if you want."

She pouted and sat on the arm of the couch. "That doesn't leave much for you. What will you be doing?"

"If you don't want to stay, there are plenty of girls who would-"

"No! It's perfect. Absolutely perfect. Good bye, Elyse," she said, and watched me leave. "And dear, don't forget about your hand."

In my room, I leaned against the door and took a few deep breaths. "Absolutely perfect," I mocked.

Perfect? Yeah right.

Perfect.

Penelope was perfect. She was tall, and smart and beautiful. She offered to take care of Mason even though she didn't have to. She dressed nicely, and came from a wealthy family.

Pain shot through my fingers, and I squeezed them tightly. Blood seeped through, and I tried to conjure a healing spell.

Nothing.

But my magic was working a little while ago. This couldn't be happening again! It was just a stupid healing spell! Magic couldn't abandon a person twice! It just wasn't ethical! What could possibly wrong with me now? It was just a stupid little healing spell! The cuts hurt so badly, and I couldn't do a thing about it, because the first aid kit was in Mason's room.

Tears stung the back of my eyelids, in a sudden prickle. This was pitiful. I was curled into a ball in my room crying because my finger was hurting and my only friend was mad at me. And I was jealous. I was jealous because some girl I had just met replaced me and he didn't notice. And because I could never be perfect like her. And because he said that he didn't need me. And because my fingers were fucking hurting! Was the sculpture made of barbed wire?

It was all so stupid, it bordered on depressing. Was there no justice in the world? From what I could see, no. There was not.

So I pressed my forehead to my knees, wrapped my arms around my legs and cried. For the first time in a long time, I cried without caring about seeming weak or childish. I was in my own room, and Mason was busy with his new attendant. It was a stretch, but I was hoping that I was wrong and that there was at least one little modicum of justice left in this world that would allow me to weep in peace.

Then again, I'm never wrong.

"Elyse."

I groaned and leaned away from the door, knowing that Mason would walk in whether I wanted him to or not.

He pushed it open and leaned in the threshold. "Why was Penelope here?"

"Leave me alone," I sneered with surprising resolve. "Go back to eating your chocolates and playing with your- your-"

My strong words quickly burned down to weak whimpers and soon were choked out by a torrent of tears. What was that peacock made of? Acid? My fingers felt like they were going to fall off.

Then I felt the strangest sensation: the feel of Mason's arms not wrapping around me. After years of whining about various things, I guess I came to expect Mason comforting me. It was fine though. It's not like I needed it.

"Why are you staring at me? Leave me alone!" I shouted. "And where's Penelope? Eating bonbons and listening to us argue?"

"No," he said. "I made her leave."

"Oh was she not good enough for you either? No problem. The girl who bought you that moose would be thrilled to help you out. Or maybe the one who brought you the silk suit. Still not enough? Perhaps the one that bought you tickets for the-"

"What do you mean 'not good enough either'? Why did you leave?"

"I'm sorry," I said and stood up wiping my tears with a bloody hand. "Is it lunch time already? Did you want something to eat? Don't worry. Penelope couldn't have gotten far. I'll call her for you."

He caught me by the crook of my arm as I stomped out of my room and swung me toward the wall. He leaned against it so that I was trapped between his arms.

"Elyse."

I grimaced at the floor still cradling my injured hand.

"What is the matter with you? No matter what the time or occasion you always find some reason to freak out. You always find the stupidest reasons to freak out. What the hell would make you think that I wanted Penelope or anyone else here?"

He glowered at me and I stared up at him in utter disbelief.

"What would make me think that? YOU DID, IDIOT. 'I'd be a whole lot better off if you stayed at the gala. I don't need you, Elyse. I never did and I never will. You're useless. Why don't you jump off a cliff and make everyone's life easier you selfish bitch you.' Sound familiar?" I snapped and tried to break through his arms.

"No!" he said, staring aghast. "That absolutely does not sound familiar! I never said those things."

"I read between the lines. But it's ok. I'm completely fine. I had leave the gala, because of you and you hate me and I amputated my finger and I can't even use my magic, but I'M FINE. I'm absolutely positively-"

And here come the waterworks. This time, however, Mason's arms did wrap around me and softly press me into his chest.

"So you're not mad about leaving the gala early. You're jealous," he murmured.

That triggered an immediate jerk reaction and I roughly pushed back. "What?"

"Shut up and let me comfort you," he snapped and pulled me back into him. "Elyse, I would never choose Penelope, or that girl who bought me a suit or anyone else on this earth over you. You're the only one I actually care about. I could never hate you. Feel better?"

When his speech was done, he released me with a benevolent, if slightly devious, smile.

"Why are you smiling like that?" I asked, ignoring his question. My own face was marred by a suspicious lour.

His eyes widened in mock innocence. "Whatever do you-"

"I'm not jealous of her, Mason."

At that, the smile nearly split his face in half. He rubbed his lips together and looked away. "Yes you are."

"No. I'm not."

"You're so jealous you're turning green. You thought Penelope was moving in on your territory and you got so angry your magic stopped working."

"I'm not green."

"Yes you are. To make it up to you, I've decided to make you my date for the Leeds Masquerade Ball. Feel special yet? Do you know how many girls would die for that chance?"

Or rather, how many girls would kill me for taking that chance? He inspected my lacerated fingers and then brought them to his lips.

"They'd hate me if you did," I said and ignored the suddenly nostalgic tingling of his lips on my skin.

"No they wouldn't. You're Elyse. Smart, but slightly scary. My roommate. They trust you," he said.

"Whatever…I'm not jealous though. And should you have your mouth all over my hand? Won't the blood aggravate your tummy?"

"You're so jealous, it's scary. Do you see your face every time you have to answer the door, or rearrange a teddy bear?"

"It's annoying to have to answer the door every five seconds and carry all those balloons and gift boxes," I said.

He rolled his eyes and wiped a speckle of blood from his chin. "Your face does not say annoyed. It says murderous. And insanely jealous. If it helps, I'll throw everything out, and I'll answer the door from now on and demand that everyone stop giving me all this useless crap."

"You'd even throw out the suit? And the season tickets to the philharmonic?"

"I said everything didn't I? If it would make you happy, I'd burn them in a huge pyre in front of my bed. I'd march to Professor Harley in the middle of a class and command him to get his demon minions to remove them."

A startled laugh escaped me at the thought of anyone trying to make Professor Harley do something.

"Really, Mason? You'd do all that for me?"

He squeezed my hand, which he still hadn't let go off and chuckled. "Of course. I love you, Elyse."

Both of our smiles dropped. A second passed, and his eyes widened and I furrowed my brows. "What was that?"

"Nothing," he said quickly. "No- nothing."

"Did you just say that-"

"No…what are you talking about?"

"You said that you-"

"My stomach hurts."

His face blanched, and his breathing accelerated even though vampires shouldn't be breathing in the first place. Before I could react, there was a knock at the front door.

"I think I'm going to throw up."

I shook my head furiously, unable to speak fast enough. "N-NO! No, Mason don't. Not here. Go to the bathroom."

He doubled over, and his hand flew to his mouth. He shook his head and mumbled a few garbled words. I recognized that look. It was a look Penelope would have loved to know about two days prior.

"Mason, don't!"

The soft rapping turned into loud and persistent blows.

"For the love of god, Mason, please!"

A voice told me that I was asking for too much. I should know better. The world was an unkind place, with no pity for the likes of me.

He vomited.

Half congealed blood that stunk of garlic and saltwater was spewed everywhere yet not a drop touched his shirt.

"I'm so sorry, Elyse," he mumbled and tightened his hold on his stomach as if that could undo what had happened.

I shuddered, and tried to mentally separate myself from my body. "It's…it's fine, Mason. Go back to bed."

He nodded, and in the next second was gone, which begged the question of why he couldn't vampire himself into the bathroom two seconds ago.

This was nice. This was absolutely perfect. I couldn't even use magic to clean myself up!

"HELLO!" A familiar voice called through the door. "FIREFLY? We know you're in there. Aunt Dinah sent me and Stanley to check on Mason. They know you poisoned him."

Why was this happening to me? My brother and Mason's brother were pounding at the door and I was covered in blood vomit and I think Mason said that he loved me and I couldn't use magic and I WAS COVERED IN FUCKING BLOOD VOMIT. It was in my hair, and my clothes. Vomit.

I stood in the center of my room, afraid to send any of the stuff splashing onto the carpet.

"Something smells like grossness and blood," Stanley said. "Did Mason vomit? Or…AY? ELYSE? You still alive? Mason didn't eat you did he? Oh lord, I knew this would happen. Leslie, open the door."

There was a click, and then footsteps and aha! The big reveal.

Leslie and Stanley stopped in my doorway. They exchanged the looks that always spelled disaster when I was younger.

Kill me.

There was a pause and then Leslie nudged Stanley. "Hey look. I think she got her period. Spending too much time with humans, I guess."

Stanley nodded. "I'm just glad to know that they're still using protection."

Kill me now.

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