Note: SoldierDudette, you told me in your review: "I particularly enjoy that character of Luke. He's very layered (like an onion!)." And the first thing that crossed my mind was "Luke is a vampire, not an oger!" Haha. But I'm glad you like the main male component to this story. Everyone should, he's pretty mouthwatering (like cake). Brunette-in-black, you're too damn smart. And I love it. Give yourself a point for knowing not every vamp is as nice as they seem.
I think (that means maybe) I'm going to give in and dedicate a part of the story to Luke in his pov (later on), because it's not going to work out any other way with the style I am writing. Like, if Allison gets knocked out in a very important part of the plot (because she tends to do that), Luke can go on with the story until she wakes up. I was going to try and make his dedication similar to the way Stephanie Meyer did it in Eclipse; Bella was partly conscience and heard Jacob and Edward's one-chapter-long conversation. But screw that, I'm going to break my own rules. Hell, everyone might get their own little dedication at the end of the story.

Chapter 13 – Pawn

I had to vent the rest of my anger before I left my apartment that morning and went into work.

The way I acted as I left Lucas' place last night was completely unacceptable. And even though there was room for buts, there was no excuse to why I handled myself in the way I did. Yes, I was angry. Luke had told me he hadn't and wasn't going to do a thing against Courtney even though he knew all the terrible things she had done. As far as I was concerned, if he admitted that, it was his fault my mother and Felicia were dead. And for those two reasons, I was allowed to be angry with him. But I had to get over it by tonight. If I acted so immaturely like that in front of him again, he should dismiss me from ever coming back; hell, I wouldn't want me to come back if I was going to overreact on everything said to me. I wanted the truth and I had gotten it; I needed to accept it and not deny the facts and move on from there. Of course, all of this was easier said than done.

I walked the longest way to work and thought over everything I needed to before I entered through those doors to the modeling agency.

Courtney was behind everything that dealt with the slaughtering of my family, and I wanted her dead for that, like Taylor. Luke wouldn't help him contain her. The only reasoning my mind could come up with for all of these points was this: Courtney had pissed Taylor off by breaking every vampire rule in the book, and Luke felt strongly for Courtney and could not destroy her, nor would he aid in others of his kind to destroy her. I didn't want that to be the answer. Why? Because even though I wanted to deny it, I felt something strong for Lucas Hawthorn. There was a small part of my mind that told me there was another reason Luke couldn't harm Courtney, because I made myself believe that he felt something for me in his deep kisses and roses and the protection he cast over me and there was no way he could love her, a monster, if he felt something for me, not a monster. My mind was troubled with these repeating thoughts over and over and I knew I would just have to wait until tonight to get the real story Luke had implied he was there to witness. And then there was the fact that Taylor would kill me if I didn't acquire something useful for him to use... There was also a slight chance that Luke wouldn't be angry with me if I told him I planned on betraying his trust; and he would protect me from Taylor altogether... but that was wishful thinking. I didn't want to be used by Taylor but I didn't want to be dead even more! How did I find myself in this tight situation?

But everything would work out. One way or another, if I sided with the vampire Taylor or the vampire Luke, I would have my way. I wanted Courtney destroyed, contained; unable to ever harm another Lockett or an innocent being ever again. Taylor promised these things, but also death. Luke did not promise these things, but offered life. Maybe if there was some way they could work together, or at least for each other until the problem was solved... I shook my head since I knew I was asking for the impossible.

The rage that threatened my humanity within was escalating instead of subsiding the more I tried to sift through my thoughts.

There was still the possibility that even if I sided with Taylor, I would not die. He told me he would keep me alive as long as his intentions reached, and if Courtney wanted me and my blood, well, his intentions reached to the expansion of my life. So really, it was really he who depended on my life! Not my life that depended on him. If he killed me, Courtney would have no purpose and he would never draw her to him to destroy her. This new factor was a turning point for me and I wondered if he already knew this. Perhaps I should stop by The Vampire Mansion right after sunset, tell him of this information of Courtney's intent, and then go straight to Luke's the get the "why" behind the "what." Even if Taylor already knew what I was going to tell him, it would prove to him I was trying to help and there was no reason for him to end my life on the spot. I could get more, I would imply when I visited, if my life was insured. After all, I thought of all of this as a game. A deadly, loaded, unfavored gambling-under-the-table game and I needed a little something up my sleeve or I was out. To lose was to die, so I needed to be extra careful as I layed my cards down, so to speak.

I took another path on the sidewalk towards the deli and picked out the biggest sandwich, my favorite fruit, the strongest tea, and the best slice of pie. Perhaps gorging myself would release some of the anger within me. I continued unto work; I was already an hour late, I think. Probably more. It didn't matter right now.

However this happened, one thing was for sure. Tonight would be the night that I would get Luke to tell me about Courtney's past. A persons past contributes greatly to what is happening in the present, and if Luke is descriptive with his tale, I'll get a weakness of hers out of him. Everyone seemed to imply Luke was the Courtney V expert of this situation, and even if he played the romance game with me but then turned around and loved her, well, that would be something I had to accept as well. He was a vampire, after all. Anything I felt for him could be and should be dismissed as quickly I could put a lock on my hormones and emotions.

I walked through the doors of the modeling agency and all of that time I took to calm my nerves was obliterated when my boss yelled at me for being late after skipping a day of work. I was not fired, barely, because Mr. Gay decided humiliating me in front of all my co workers was enough kicks for him for the rest of the day. I really should have just quit, telling that bastard just what I thought about his last name and how it directly described him, but I thought that was a little lame. I didn't need the money (I had tons and I hadn't even tapped my family riches yet) but it was sheer want of something to do with myself, and avoid the inevitable, that made me keep my job.

The only people who could cheer up my day while that troublesome sun was still up and my boss existed as my boss would be Lucy and Daniel. I enjoyed their company and even if I didn't care for 'what was hot in the world' or 'what cute girl winked at me at the coffee shop,' I still was enthused to partake in pointless gossip instead of file pictures and paperwork.

Around lunch time, Daniel approached me when I was sitting at my desk in an awkward position, throwing grapes from the deli into an empty cup that held hot tea earlier in the morning. Right away he sighted my pure boredom and uncaring attitude toward this day, so he grinned a little wider than usual and added a little more excitement into his voice than he should have. "Ally. I owe you big time." He said spiritedly as he walked around my desk and to my side.

I didn't lose concentration from aiming grapes and projecting them into the cup. Most of them missed. "How so?" I asked indifferently.

He looked from side to side and then knelled down next to me at my desk. He whispered, the grin still huge on his face, and he sounded jubilant and his hazel eyes sparkled in pure happiness. "I had the greatest night of my life last night because of you."

I held another grape in my hand but paused before I threw it and missed the cup. I thought over all that he was implying and for the first time that day, I was not thinking of Luke and Courtney and any subjects surrounding those two figures. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

"Best. Sex. Ever. We cracked open the bottle of wine you gave us and the romance started before we even finished one glass." I nodded thoughtfully. The flavor I gave them was supposed to contribute to romance. "Regardless of the wine, though, I think it's always better with someone you love rather than some pretty lass."

I raised my eyebrows a little bit. "You love Lucy?"

"I love Lucy." He answered with a huge smile. It was cute when he actually tapped into the emotions a man could have and expressed them freely. "I just know, you know? She's special and I want to spend the night with her every night and have her make me waffles every morning like this one."

I found myself smiling and I laughed. I felt good for the both of them, genuinely warm on the inside, and I was glad I could contribute into helping their blind crush turn into the love that was meant to be. He laughed as well and ran a hand through his chocolate curls to try and straighten the mess. "We haven't seen each other all day, or you, so I thought I'd just let you know..."

"Thank you." I said sarcastically. "I love hearing about my friend's love life."

He chuckled. "Yeah you do. Because you don't have your own."

That sentence hit me harder than he intended it to. Looks like the distraction didn't last long and Luke came back to the top of my mind. My smile fell as I recalled what the vampire had told me the night before. I sighed as I remembered how absurd I had made my exit, I felt even worse as I involuntarily imagined what my mother would say if she had seen me acting like that at my age. Daniel set a hand on my shoulder and apologized, gaining my attention again.

"Sorry. Are you seeing someone?" he inquired, "Never mind, don't answer that. It's not my place to ask. I just wanted to say thanks." The cheerful sparkle in his eye returned. "If I propose to her and if you were a guy, I'd want you to be best mate." He managed to make me laugh again and I smiled light heartedly so he wouldn't feel the need to cheer my gloomy mood.

"Go eat lunch." I told him. He mimicked tipping an invisible hat toward me before walking away.

It wasn't long before Lucy, that darling innocent star who'd fallen from the sky, had made time to escape from her work to come and chat with me. I still hadn't left my desk and she approached the same way Daniel had walked up. Her face didn't hold a huge grin, but I could feel the warmth of her mood and see the satisfied glow over her youthful features. I tilted my head and raised my brow curiously; and her lips drew into a bashful smile and her pale skin tinted pink as she knew Daniel had already told me.

I stole an absent coworker's chair and made her a seat in front of me. "He didn't give details, did he?" she asked coyly.

I shook my head. "Only... "best sex ever," and waffles in the morning." I told her and the pink on her face burned to a redder color. "My my, Lucy... You've never been this modest before." Since she always called me that... "Usually you think of sex as frivolously as a guy."

She opened her mouth to argue but then closed it and blushed further. She ran a timid hand through her hair and put a few strands behind her ear. "I only make breakfast for guys who were really good... Otherwise they leave without a bite." I contained my amusement and thought about what Daniel had told me earlier; about loving Lucy. "But, I'm so confused, Ally. He's not just another guy, you know?" I seemed to know quite a bit with these two. "I don't know what last night means for us. I like Danny, he's really funny, which I like, and he knows me; he can cheer me up when I'm sad and protect me when I'm scared..." Her shy voice and blush only increased as she made a list.

"Sounds like love to me." I added quickly, hoping for the answer Daniel would want.

"Really? Maybe..."

"Definitely. He's a good guy." The English boy deserved my positive input about him. Lucy shifted in her seat and smiled.

"I suppose..."

I sighed and reached over to gently take her warmly pale hands into mine. "Look. If you're not sure, invite him over just to be together; watch a movie and order in. If there's no pressure or awkwardness about what happened last night, then you know that your relationship with him is comfortable and secure."

"And if there is awkwardness?"

"Then... you both can work through that. But I honestly doubt there will be an awkward atmosphere considering everything you just told me. And he really likes you, Lucy. And you really like him. So no worries."

I winked at her and I knew she knew I was giving her an honest opinion. "Thank you for the advice." she added sweetly and took her hands back. "You give such good feedback for a person who doesn't have a man of their own." I stiffened and her expression sparkled with mischievous curiosity. "Are there any special people in your life that I should know about?" she asked with a wink of her oceanic eye. I withdrew my emotions and wiped my expression blank and didn't reply, but that only confirmed the answer for Lucy. Like I mentioned before, she was smart. "It's that gorgeous blond model, isn't it?" Sometimes too smart.

I disliked her intelligence, but only for a moment. "No." I lied in a quiet voice and looked at the floor. She grinned broadly about her accurate prediction.

"I knew it!" she told me.

"It's not what you think..."

She stood with a tinge of excitement in her voice. "Have you guys done-the-dirty yet? He's too gorgeous for you to say no-"

"No!" I said quickly. "What do you mean "yet?"!" My voice was a little too uncomfortable than I wanted it.

"Don't fight it, Ally. He could be exactly what you've always wanted." She put her hands on her hips and planted her foot on the ground and left no room for me to argue whatsoever.

I paused. I hated the shimmering light around her body that screamed truth. She had no idea how right she was. Lucy was something else...

The subject fell as an unsettling pause passed between us and Lucy stopped troubling me about relationships. We looked at each other for a moment before I smiled. "About yesterday, I want to talk to you. But it'll have to be later in the week, and I don't want to include Daniel. Not yet, at least. You can grasp concepts better than he can, no offense to our favorite Englishman."

She laughed but then nodded solemnly. "I understand, and I'll wait until you're ready, no rush. Later, then." she bid me goodbye with a cute little kiss on her palm and blew it my direction before skipping away. Yeah, Lucy was something else... She always talked about gossip and fashion, but she had a better understanding of the people around her than she realized, or maybe she did realize and played the role of the daft blonde; who knew? I admired her for that.

Nevertheless, my day had finally finished and my mood had risen higher than the gloom that had been cast over me in the morning.

As the sun sank lower and lower in the sky, I finished the extra paperwork my boss had dumped on me last minute and I was heading out of the door and into a cab. I recalled the street The Vampire Mansion was on, located on the opposite side of town than Luke's estate. How convenient, I thought on the quarter-of-an-hour ride there. Momentarily I wondered what Luke's issue was with Taylor and vise versa. Was there a past rivalry between the two or did they just not get along because of the lack of a common ground? This riddle kept my nerves from rocketing over into nervousness about willingly walking into the house that had death written upon its white bricks. I didn't know how the system of vampires here was run exactly, besides that they used human servants (who sometimes had gotten fed upon), but if I was allowed to walk in and request Taylor Halling to the human secretary seated at her desk to the side of the main lobby, I did not know.

Everything seemed fine as the secretary nodded to me at my request. Only somewhat unexpected was her look, and she picked up the phone and pressed a button. "Yes, it is she. ... I'll send her in." But then again, what we see is only an illusion to the truth. I told Taylor this after the secretary led me down the halls into a room that looked like a small study mixed with a business office; complete with a fireplace, where the flame was dying, and a dead plant in the corner, probably wilted from lack of sunlight because of the thick black drapes over the windows which allowed no light inside. The tall vampire with dark eyes and misleading kindness sat in a black leather chair with his long legs propped up on the desk where a few books and stray issues of the city's newspapers lay. His black hair was slicked neatly against his head with a ridiculous amount of gel and the rest of him was completely tidy and in order. Usually a black trench coat cloaked him, from every time I saw him, but the coat was hung next to the desk and only a white dress shirt and neat black slacks gave him a human appearance; overall he looked like any other tricky business man who didn't get enough sun. He leaned his head back and swallowed a shot of warm liquid from a glass, I could only guess blood, then set the glass down and dismissed the secretary from the room in one fluid motion of his hand. I felt the hairs on the back of my neck rise instantly when the heavy door shut behind me. His friendly smile and inviting gestures signaled trouble to my instinct.

"This building is very convincing, as are you, Mr. Halling." I told him politely. I might as well appeal to whatever better side he had with witty comments and compliments. "No one would suspect a ballroom of vampires when they speak to that doll of a secretary you have working for this establishment; or when they see you, suspect you are anything less of a handsome business man and become jealous of the trophy wife they imagine you have tucked away at home." He poured more blood into the glass from a small bottle and downed that before he removed his feet from the desk and stood, again in one movement that was unnatural but not unmortal. His hands rested behind him, clasped together as he paced in perfectly measured steps that traveled around the room, stopping for a moment at the fire place, then continuing until he stood uncomfortably close in front of me in the place I still hadn't moved from.

His expression was almost cheerful; perfect in the marble skin, but not free as Luke's expression were. Taylor always had that pleasant look, even when he threatened to kill. His eyes reflected amusement for a moment, but then they darkened to the night color without any sure emotion. "You may be able to walk in and speak as you like to Lucas, my dear, but I am less forgiving than I appear." he told me calmly with a stunning smile. His tone did not match the authority he commanded. I took a step back and to the side, then lowered my head and obeyed his wishes. Again, I was the under dog here. I was in no position to be calling anything; yet.

"I have found out-" I tried to explain, but he opened his mouth to shush my syllables and my voice died in my throat. The sly but wicked manner he moved in was alarming to someone who knew what he was capable of, or knew of even half of what he was capable of.

"You will speak only when called upon." he said simply again, and then took a deep breath of air very close to me, intaking the aroma my body expelled and would show him all of my conversation with Luke, and more. It made me so uncomfortable, but I could deal with it. I waited for a moment as his eyes closed and he raised his chin over my hairline. I stood petrified as he worked his talent over with my scent and suddenly I worried about if what I had to "tell" him was good enough. He ran his nose side to side of me, then grinned and opened those dangerous eyes again.

He said nothing, only stared over my form with a dark glint in his eye that wasn't there a moment ago. I spoke, hoping to melt that silence and then get out. "I came here to tell you of Courtney's intentions, if you didn't already know. Now I'm going back to learn more for you, Mr. Halling. So if you'll excuse me; I'm sorry to take up your time." His head followed my body as I swiveled around him and toward the door; though I did not yet turn my back on him. That engaging smile was still resting on his lips and his face twitched to hint a more devious white mask.

"You came here knowing you'd walk out alive." He said. I nodded slowly. Oh no, please don't tell me I was wrong. "You are not wrong, but you are foolish to think that I don't have my ways to make sure we are completely "on the same page," as you would say."

"We are, I just need more time-"

His eyes widened and that dark glint exploded as I spoke. He rose over me and came closer... far too much closer! "You just need more motivation."

I didn't have time to react to his quick and agile movements. I felt a pain on my forearm at the same moment he raised his hand, it seemed, and a deep slit had been made on the inside of my arm along the vein. Then a cold pair of lips attached to the point of blood flow and a strong pair of hands secured those lips to their position. The handle of the door bruised my backside as I was thrust up against it with a fantastic strength. This violation was exhilarating and terrifying. But I didn't want it, so I did everything I could to stop him. I tore at his hair and kicked but didn't manage to scream as he stole the blood that was pulled as a life force into his being. Nothing worked, I actually only contributed since the sporadic beating of my heart within my chest only added to the amount of blood he could steal before he took too much. My vision dipped into a blurry haze, similar to looking out of a window where fog overtook the outside world. My sapphire eyes were wide and began to focus in and out of the dying flames of the fire as I lost the will to fight a useless battle and remained motionless as he finished. He removed his demon lips that took and a white cloth had been set on the wound by my own hand as he guided it so.

I sank to the floor and he followed in a kneel. I rolled my head with exhaustion, I felt so drained of energy and material, the pounding in my ears was so loud, and I glared at that white face that was still beaming with the pleasant composure after he'd just committed that sort of assault to my blood.

"I can't kill you, because apparently she wants this delicious blood; and my my, you feel a little something intimate for Luke that wants him to take this blood, not her or I."

I was so thirsty. I couldn't even talk back with my sharp tongue. He was teasing me, like predator should the prey. I tried to jerk away when his pale hand came through my long hair but he grabbed harshly at a fistful and yanked my head back to expose my creamy neck to him. A scream of pain broke in my throat. "But you're right, as I mentioned before. You can bring me more. But after Luke tells all he can, you're going to become bait and that's all you will do with the rest of your miserable life; which isn't going to be very long. Courtney will take you and then we will take her, end of the story forever. Isn't that a lovely little happy ending? The Lockett family will never have to worry about Courtney again. They won't have to worry about in-laws either, as a matter of fact." He laughed mechanically as he implied death to the future generations I was supposed to produce. I clenched the cloth tighter on my wound and I thought every horrible thought I could toward him, hoping if somehow he would actually burst into flames as I wished I could make him. His laughter increased, louder and louder until it hurt my ears, and when I told him to die, he stopped and snapped his eyes at mine. "Don't delude yourself with the fantasy that you change the laws that the vampires have written over the centuries, Allison." My name was like poison on his lips. "As Lucas explained, we kill and always will kill. No evidence will be left for your kind to find, that's how it works. The justice you seek for mortals will never be realized." He'd said that last time, too. His hand released from my hair, and a foot found my side as he kicked me out of the way of the door he was trying to open.

"Now go, run along and be a good little victim. And remember, even think about running out on this deal, I will personally come for you and make sure you never see the light of day again."

I mentioned before, I was in no place to be calling the shots. And I still wasn't in that place as I picked myself up pathetically and fled from the building into the streets. Why had I thought I had this under control? Why had I come back here? Had I honestly believed I could have held a good set of cards against the leader of vampires in this city? Luke's phrase from the night before rang in my head like a buzz to comply with the pain in my arm, "You are many things; persistent, ambitious, beautiful but foolish isn't one of them!" Perhaps he had lied to me. Perhaps I was foolish, for ever wanting any part of any vampire, for walking back inside that building and making myself believe I could dominate the vampire Taylor!

I returned to my apartment, not Luke's mansion from the cab that had rescued me from that place. I needed to clean and dress this wound before I went to him.

I examined my wound when I'd gotten to my apartment bathroom; it had stopped bleeding but my pulse was still racing and the cloth given to me had dyed pure red. I tossed it aside and I looked at my own image in the mirror and took several deep breaths. My beating heart calmed as my eyes traveled along my dazed hair, my creamy skin covered in a thin layer of perspiration, and I was trembling, but as soon as I realized this I stopped. My mind thought more logically now when I wasn't running in fear and didn't have adrenaline pumping by the liter through my body. Taylor said everything he had because he plays a mind game, not a romance one as Luke does. I wasn't foolish, and he couldn't convince me that I was. I was brave for everything I'd done. I had come so far since the beginning. Only a couple weeks ago had this all begun, the day before my birthday, I had known little to nothing. Now, I had found out who was behind the curse, who had killed my mother, and I had a chance to stop her. That was not foolish at all, it was far from it and this was what I'd been working toward all along.

I looked at the wound again and saw the slight discoloring bruises of Taylor's hands around my skin. I couldn't stay in shock about what just happened, I understood this was part of my goal. This was always expected; getting damaged when I entered the world of vampires had always been a factor. How could it ever have been avoided? Necessary violence, my mind thought. I poured hydrogen peroxide straight unto the wound and it burned so much. I shoved a towel into my mouth and bit hard, screamed loud and it was muffled until the pain lessened.

I wrapped my entire left arm in thin gauze and changed into a long sleeve shirt to cover it, then freshened up with a touch of a perfume I had received as a birthday gift. Luke would recognize Taylor's scent in an instant otherwise.

A new problem had arisen: As soon as Luke answered every question I could think of and told me all he could, Taylor was going to capture me and the only thing I could do then was wait to die. I was still Taylor's pawn and I would continue to be until my death unless I did something about it. And yes, there was indeed something I could do about it. Something Taylor expected me not to be able to do, or something he didn't expect to work out.

I wasn't even sure if what I planned would work out. Hopefully better than the brilliant idea I had to walk into vampire territory alone and unarmed. That's sort of what I was going to do when I went to Luke's tonight, but he was a different vampire with a different disposition. One last glance into the mirror, I nodded to myself and concentrated my thoughts on calm things that wouldn't send me into a panic attack. I was ready to face him. Lucas, the vampire who I couldn't understand because he was so unpredictable and complicated. Luke dipped from an innocent martyr to a cunning killer, then a romantic with a conscience to a dark villain with a taste for mortal fear. And whoever said men were simple creatures?

I arrived to his property by cab and didn't waste a moment before I walked through the black iron gate and to the oak doors with the brass lion head knockers. Again, I hadn't had a chance to touch the curved handle before the door opened for me.

My eyes collided with that perfect shade of icy blue and every word and image I had screened and premeditated in my mind had been wiped blank. I blinked a couple of times and took a second to distract myself with his new look tonight. Hair was messy but not to a point of untidiness, I preferred a natural mess like that. A black tank top hugged his masculine pale form and black slacks hung on his waist and dropped informally to the floor; the contrast between white skin and black clothes made him more illusive, less human looking. But the simple gestures like a hand through his hair and a pull on his shirt to give the effect he was feeling warm, when he obviously wasn't, gave back to the human quality he seemed to effortlessly express. My smiled and I did too, and that was enough to pull me back.

"Traffic was sort of heavy from my office, but I think I made a lot better time than yesterday if I do say so myself..." My tone was light, almost frisky as I regained my train of thought and walked through the doorway. I didn't give him the chance to take my jacket when I slipped the material from my shoulders and set it on the hanger next to the door, but I don't think it phased him. He closed the door without taking his glued eyes off my body and he seemed... distracted from what I was saying. I stood still for a second and tried to decipher his expression; which was a slight frown and very focused stare. I turned slightly and he seemed puzzled.

"What fragrance are you wearing?"

I swallowed and dispelled all thoughts to why I was wearing a scent and concentrated on his question. "I forget the name... it was a birthday present I know. Lavender mixed with-"

"Jasmine and..." he cut me off and then trailed off.

"And?" I asked expectantly, almost nervously.

"Rose." he finished simply. "I like it."

I didn't know if he was right, but I nodded and muttered a thank you; flattery didn't pass well with me, remember the modesty. I turned away from him and toward the hallway that led back to the study and that amazing library, but he put a firm hand on my back and faced my body in the direction of the living room. I'd forgotten about the fresh bruise there received from Taylor (that Luke's hand had just pressed on). I winced and suppressed a pained sound; the awkward movement of my body alarmed Luke but I could only smile. "Got bumped there today, no worries." I told him. He seemed concerned and simply turned my body around and lifted the back of my shirt, like that was an okay action to proceed in, to look at the slight discoloring of a perfect circle on the left of my backside. The result of being thrust up against the knob of an office door.

"Luke!" I shouted and yanked my body around, away from his hands. He made a pained expression in response to seeing the injury and acted as if what he'd just done was something totally casual!

"Looks painful. Did you trip over yourself?" He laughed when thinking of the thought. I fumed, but was glad he found it hilarious instead of finding the truth within my mind.

"No." I answered sharply. "Could we just move on to what I'm here for and not waste any more time-"

No one interrupted me this time. I had finally looked into the elegant living room and saw what atmosphere Luke had set and simply found myself lost for words. The drapes had been changed out, from a maroon to a brighter shade of lilac on cream walls, which gave the room a fresh color. The furniture was the same mahogany as it was but everything was arranged to face the fireplace full of a rich fire that warmed the room and made brilliant shadows dance around the room. And if the fireplace light wasn't enough, candles of light colors were lined along every surface and made a pathway on the floor which led to a couch that seated two; a couch where a white tulip, a pink camellia and a red rose were all tied together with a piece of black lace rested on the cushion.

I followed the path of candles to the seat and picked the flowers up with tender fingers, then turned slowly and looked at Luke. He simply stood against the frame of the living room, watchfully, on the other side.

The trio of flowers were fresh but such simple symbols of emotions wilted eventually. Luke tied these together because they all represented something he wanted to express to me tonight. I glanced from the soft petals to his hopeful face, his wonderful form leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed, waiting. I untied the lace the took the rose gently into one hand, since it was the only flower I knew the meaning of. "Passion. Or love." I chose the words carefully, because he'd chosen the flowers carefully.

He nodded and I tossed the rose at my feet, then held up the white tulip. "Forgiveness." he said to me before I could ask. "Or the need of." I understood that one; he wanted mine so that we could continue tonight without a repetition of how last night ended; disaster.

"Which you have from me, for now." I told him honestly and tossed that one to the ground as well. The final pink camellia I held up now with three fingers; I twirled its beautiful structure around as it waited to be explained.

"Graciousness." he told me. And now, as I looked to him, I was honestly confused.

"I don't see how me giving you grace relates to anyth-" I started slowly, but he shook his head and grinned darkly.

"It's not me receiving, sweet. It's you. You need graciousness." His tone was righteous, and I still didn't understand. His build lifted off of the doorway and he took a slow step toward me.

"Why would I-?"

The helpless flower fell from my hand as Luke disappeared from my sight, but came at me with an impossible speed and lifted me from the warmth of the living room to the top of the stairs just above it. Luke cradled my body just over the edge of the tallest stair, showing mercy by still holding on. If he let go... Well, how many people survived a rough journey down a flight of stairs without a hospital visit, at least? I gasped softly and resisted to look down and my hands found the thin black material of the shirt against his chest. He leaned over even more and I gripped tighter; I really didn't want to fall just in case he did let go.

"I should let you drop to the bottom stair,"

My breath hitched, I stopped breathing while waiting for him to continue. "Please don't." I whispered softly.

"But I'm giving you graciousness. Understand now?"

I nodded and he pulled my body up to balance with the floor, and leaned me gently against the wall at the top of the stairs. "Now explain." His hands were more careful now with the injury on my backside and he didn't have to be that way. Not when he knew now, about Taylor. I knew it, dammit all, I knew he knew! I didn't try to hold back any of my thoughts and images in my head about the past couple days. Why I was late yesterday, why I covered up Taylor's scent with a perfume, why I had a terrible bruise on my backside ("bumped into someone"? Who would fall for that? Not Luke). I let him see everything; Taylor and Julia in Thomas's office, what I was awake for with my kidnapping, the maids who were victims, myself transformed into a pale woman for a vampire ball, the rude vampire who was serving drinks, Julia as a gorgeous demon, Taylor's offer, my worry, then my stunt tonight that landed me injured and then led to my freshening up and coming here.

Luke's eyes were wide and he was both enraged and amazed with what he saw. His face was hardened into a frown as his eyes traveled down to my left arm and he carelessly ripped the sleeve off to expose the white gauze that had already been bled through.

He peeled off the gauze and examined the wound and bruising in the pattern of hands smaller than Luke's... "My powers have developed for over four hundred years, that ignorant fiend. He should know a simple mortal couldn't fool me by thinking of a few random thoughts. You were practically screaming the vampire ball when you stormed away last night! What is he playing at?"

That comment hurt, but so did physical pain, so I was quiet and let my dissolving sapphire eyes express what I was feeling instead. Luke paused his building anger, his obvious discomfort and frustration, to swoon over the drop or two of blood that had risen from the healing wound. I gasped when thinking of Taylor again, the horrific equivalent of rape he had performed but to the blood instead of body. Luke saw this image as I thought it and jerked his body away from mine and turned his eyes away from my wound.

He continued. "And you, the one I cared to explain to about how foolish you were not, you go out and walk right up to his estate?" Again, I was quiet. His tone was disbelief, angry, escalated. He paced unpredictably and looked from me to the ground. "This isn't your territory, Allison. You can't just walk on whatever grounds you want here. You're not at home." Sharp words, cut me like a double-edge blade on the inside. "Taylor is dangerous; you remember him from the first night you saw him," Yes, in the alleyway examining Felicia's dead body. "He wanted you dead from the beginning! Why would that have changed; because I took an interest into you? No, you stupid girl, I've been protecting you from him this entire time, why would that change as well? Why didn't you tell me he approached you? I could have taken care of everything and that would have never happened!" He pointed at my arm.

I could have been on the verge of tears. But I kept thinking too much to let emotion sweep over my physical body. "If you knew Taylor had approached me, why didn't you bring it up last night?" I asked weakly, still stabbed, metaphorically, against the wall. His atmosphere lightened drastically as he heard my tone, how harsh he'd been and how hurt I was. He came closer and took my hand fondly into his.

"There are such qualities as trust, loyalty, and alliance where we come from." I swallowed hard, the only thing that had kept me from telling him about Taylor's offer was... fear, and my own selfish pride. Pride that swelled in my way to admit what I needed to the right people. For example, Lucy and Daniel and telling them my true identity; I'd been lying to them for years. "If I've ever given you a reason to doubt I wasn't going to protect you, or I would willingly let harm come to you..."

No, you hadn't. You never had, I thought while shaking my head. "I need clarity. Now. That's all." I said. He leaned down and kissed my knuckles tenderly, his eyes avoided my wound definitely.

"On everything or some things?" he breathed.

"Everything. You haven't given me a real reason to doubt you but I still did and I still do. Please." I was pleading. I didn't even really know what I was pleading for. Stories, explanations, reasons, formulas. Everything. I doubted his feelings for me, even now as his lips touched my skin. I doubted his alliance with me over Courtney. I doubted he'd help me destroy her.

""Everything" may take more than one night."

"That's fine. I'll wait here during the day until night. I could occupy myself for a century in your library... I'll quit my job too; I've actually been meaning too lately..."

"Slow down." He said. I nodded. Quit my job? Had I just said I wanted to do that? Well yes, now that I thought about it. I hated my boss and the superficial scene, though I did enjoy the hobby of picture taking. Royal Courts were more my thing though... He finished kissing my hand and raised his head with a silly chuckle. "Lavender Jasmine and Rose? What sort of scent is that?" He referred to the fragrance he'd described earlier. "I smelled Lavender Jasmine and Halling. Besides the last one, you smell divine." He told me with a devilish grin.

It made me laugh, and he seemed enthralled when I did so. Eagerly, almost, he led me back down the stairs and back in the midst of the warm living room full of what any other person would describe as romance. There was a thick animal skin carpet in front of the fire place, possibly a bear skin, but he sat me down on that and joined me at my side, half facing the fire place, half facing the terrace through the window to the back.

"Clarity. Where do I start?"

A/N: Apologies to cut it off from there! I had to stop somewhere, because this chapter was borderline 8,000 words, which is double from the average length of earlier chapters and 2,000 more than the chapter before it. I don't want to dump an acne co. steel weight on your head after handing you a paperclip, honestly. The next chapter is literally coming right after this one, so don't worry.