I switched POV's back and forth from Mattie to Bill in this one. I felt the need to try and explain why he was acting like such an ass and he didn't think it was fair I wasn't telling his half of the story. The things I do for that man ;-) My twitter gals will get a kick out of some lines I "borrowed" from a friend of ours, along with the silent treatment.

I do not own any of the characters from Southern Vampire Mysteries. They all belong to Charlaine Harris. Bless her for sharing them with us. Mattie is my very own.

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Chp 14

Bill held me all night once we returned to our room. I cried my heart out, but he never spoke. I knew he felt powerless to help me and that it drove him mad knowing anyone would ever touch me aside from him. It wasn't his fault, I wished I could get him to see that. I had chosen to show what I was capable of when Eric could see it, I had gotten myself involved in all this Vampire bullshit, yet again. It was never because of him, but there was no telling him that. Once he set his mind to something, no one could change it. We fell asleep together, still dressed and without even so much as a kiss.

The following evening, Bill rose before me, which was starting to become more and more common. He was already dressed, drinking a TruBlood and reading the paper when I found him on the couch. I draped my arms over his shoulders and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Nothing. No response at all. He continued reading as if I wasn't even there. I knew he would need time to process all of this, so I grabbed a shower. As the warm water cascaded down my shoulders, I half expected him to step in and hold me. He never came. I tried to occupy my brain with other thoughts, but it's very hard to do when you are faced with a project that kills your spirit and turns your stomach such as this one. I really needed him, now more than ever.

We moved about the room in silence packing our things. Victor had taken the liberty of changing our flight plans so we would be going directly to Las Vegas tonight. I called to tell my parents about the adjustments. I wanted them at the airport even more now. What if I didn't make it and this was the last time I would ever see them? Knowing what I know, it would be very hard to put on a happy face for them tonight.

Driving to the airport, I was met with still more silence from Bill. It was starting to irk me just a bit. What did he think this was doing to me? Did he even care? Of course when we arrived he put on the happy face for my parents, scooping Grace up into his arms and carrying her around. I was thankful that he didn't show them any worry, but pissed just the same for how deceptive he could be. This was showing me a side of him I did not very much care for, but I had known existed all along.

Another 4 hour plane ride went by without so much as a whisper from Bill. I spoke only casually to Victor about my family and he congratulated me on our engagement, apologizing for the unfortunate timing of his takeover. He had always been a good friend to me, I was fairly certain if he thought this was the time to make our move, then he was right. Las Vegas held a lot of wonderful memories for Bill and I. It was there that we solidified our bond with one and other, something I would never forget as long as I lived. Those were such happy times for us before we ended up back in the lion's den once again.

Of course we checked into the Maison de Prés and were given a suite very similar to the ones we had stayed in previously. I unpacked and got my things settled while watching Bill do the same, ignoring me. This was getting stupid and a very large part of me wanted to smack him upside the head and scream, "Are you 169, or 12!" I didn't want to give him the satisfaction of seeing me angry, though inside I was positively seething. I wasn't entirely sure how to behave at that point and did the ticked off girl thing again, I called Victor.

~~**~~

Why is she talking to him? Doesn't she know that it displeases me for them to be so close? She is mine, this is something she should know and I should not need to constantly remind her. I am standing 5 feet away and she speaks to him as if she does not see me here. I know what he wants and that he will not stop until he has taken her from me. I never trusted him, not even when he helped her get away from Felipe's torture missions. I always saw what he was after. He will put her in a position for De Castro to have his way with her and it sickens me that I cannot stop it.

I watch her hang up the phone and set it down on the table. She glances in my direction with a sullen look on her face. Am I to assume the news he has given her is bad? There is something in me that can't bring myself to ask her. My silence will anger her to the point that she will shut me out, block me from her feelings. That is how she always responds when we fight. It is childish, but in this instance, it just may be the very best part of her personality. I do not want to feel her emotions emanating from her when she meets the king. I would sooner see a second death than feel her anguish. At some point, she will forgive me for this.

As I sit on the couch thumbing through a magazine, I can feel her anger boiling over and I know she is close to confronting me. She walks across the room and stares down at me, hands on her hips.

"William Compton, this is ridiculous! What's with the silent treatment? I'm getting pretty sick and tired of it and I have half a mind to walk out that door right now and not come back!"

I continue my feigned reading as she waits for my response. She won't be getting the one she wants.

"You may do as you please, behave however you like."

She stomps off, grabbing her phone and leaves the room. I have made her angry enough to shut me out, I cannot feel her much at all. Although it pains me to do so, I am very glad I have succeeded.

~~**~~

I stomped off down the corridor about as pissed off at Bill as I had ever been. I screamed out to the empty hallway.

"THAT ANTEBELLUM ASSHOLE"

A couple walked out of the elevator bank just as I said that and gave me a strange look.

"Sorry, undead Civil War veteran boyfriend is giving me a hard time."

I made that out to be such a casual statement that they just nodded as if it were normal and walked away. I also noticed I said boyfriend. At this point, I had no idea if the word fiance' was able to roll off my tongue. I walked onto the elevator and made my way down to the bar. I sat down and ordered a TruBlood. Let's be honest, I like the taste of it now so much better than soda or juice. I confused the hell out of the bartender when I asked if he could also get me a burger. I sat there drinking for all of a minute before Victor slid himself onto the stool next to me.

"You're troubled, I can tell. I'm sorry it's come to this, but it is truly the only way I can promise your protection for all time."

"Protection? Putting me in a position to be quite possibly raped and drained is what you call protection? That's seriously warped Vic!"

"Matilda, keep your voice down and for fuck's sake do NOT keep discussing details in the open."

I grunted at him and took a sip of my TruBlood.

"I see you're drinking it exclusively now. I could tell the other night that you were changing more than we knew possible. Compton should have been more careful with you. He gave you too much of his blood, or was it you that took too much? You seem the type that enjoys a little scratch and bite on a nightly basis."

He placed his hand on top of mine when he spoke. This was the first time I had ever felt Victor was coming on to me. Sure he was continuously flirting with me, but he did that with anything in a skirt and I began to see it as part of his personality. Bill warned me about it constantly at home, but I never listened to him. Victor was good to me, never let me get hurt, and I trusted him. He had an angle and I was just now seeing it.

"Forget it Victor. No matter how angry I am at Bill right now, that will never happen between us. So you can just put those thoughts out of your pretty little head and order yourself a drink instead."

He chuckled at me and asked the bartender for a glass of royalty.

~~**~~

I feel like a ridiculous stalker boyfriend staring at her from across the casino floor. I sit looking at her and trying to listen to their conversation. Does she want him? She is certainly sitting close enough to him that it appears that way and what in heaven's name is she drinking? TruBlood? I told her not to do that in public, she will draw attention to herself. She is already so pale that I worry she will be mistaken for one of us. I feel a small smile creep up onto my lips as she takes a bite of a cheeseburger immediately thereafter. She is not so far gone that she has given up human food entirely.

My smile leaves my face as I see him place his hand on hers. What the fuck does he think he's doing? I want to run over to them and scream at him that she is mine, but I know I cannot. Instead I get up, hands in my pockets and stroll out into the night air. As I walk alone down the strip, all I can think about is my beautiful Mattie. I realize that I cannot offer her a fancy car to drive or take her out to glamorous places all the time. I have no flashy suits like Victor and I am not the social creature that he is. I am a much simpler man. I enjoy the peace and quiet of our home, my books and my piano. Her quiet company sets me at peace most nights, even if she is a bit more spirited than I am used to. She makes me laugh and smile more often than not and holding her is my joy. I love her. I will not lose her to this Lothario whether he becomes my king or not.

~~**~~

I saw him watching from the corner of my eye. He thinks I didn't, but I always know when he's lurking around brooding. Bill can't hide much from me anymore and whether I am angry at him or not, I do love him. He's playing some stupid game by not speaking to me, but I'm sure he has a plan. I'm also sure it's dumb and mine is a better plan, but I'll let him go on thinking he has the upper hand in the situation. After all, if I'm going to marry the guy I should get used to letting him think he's getting his way.