Chapter 24

Faith POV

I began slowly waking up and immediately sensed something was wrong. I was comfortable but it felt different. I tried to sit up but was restrained by something. I screamed in surprise finding Eric's arms wrapped around me and myself pressed up against him, a position I found much too...intimate. He let go of me and I practically threw myself out of the bed and ran to the other side of the room trying to put as much distance between us as possible.

He sat up and frowned, "Well, good morning to you too, Violet Eyes. Care to sleep a little longer? It is four in the morning if you haven't noticed."

"I'd rather not," I said quietly.

He raised an eyebrow in amusement,"Suit yourself."

I started toward my wardrobe and grabbed my favorite turquoise dress that came an inch short of my knees. I grabbed my gray cardigan as well as some nylons and other undergarments and disappeared into the bathroom. I emerged fully dressed and found him still in bed lazily watching me. "Will you please open the door?" I asked. He seemed surprised at my question but he got up and walked to the door produced a key, "You must promise to return here tonight," he said with severity, "I don't want to go searching for you again."

"Fine," I said in defeat. He opened the door and I scampered out. I stopped by the library and grabbed a book. Now I finally had time to read. I then went to the kitchen and cooked myself some eggs and made a sandwich for lunch later. Armed with my book a full stomach and a lunch, I walked out to find somewhere to camp out.

Eric POV

I was much too curious as to where she would go to go back to sleep again right away. I followed at a distance surprised at her stop in the kitchen. She decided to finally settle down in one of the sitting rooms in an armchair by the window that looked out on the mountains. the soft morning light beginning to creep into the room gave it the perfect atmosphere for her reading. I left then, satisfied that I knew where she was.

Faith POV

I had been surprised to find the library full of classics and plenty of other books. I had grabbed The Scarlett Pimpernel and happily read a lot of the day away with times when I went to the music room instead to play around. It neared evening and I hadn't packed any dinner but I didn't want to go through the ordeal so I grabbed my flats and snuck out making sure no one saw me or where I was going lest they tell Eric. I hid at every corner checking the halls. At one point I almost ran into Max and Caleb and as much as I wanted to stop and chat I knew it was almost time for the sunset and that they would be forced to point Eric in my direction if he asked. They stopped and almost caught a glance of me but I ducked behind a pillar and sighed in relief when I heard them pass.

I finally made it to my window and slipped out to climb to the roof. Just in time too. I sat down leaning against a chimney and stared out toward the mountains drinking in the beauty of the sun sinking behind the mountains.

My life flows on in endless song

Above earth's lamentation

I hear the real though far off song

That hails a new creation.

I sighed and sat in the growing darkness trying to process what had happened last night. I was scared of Eric, there was no doubt about that. It wasn't that he was imposing, or the fact that he was a vampire lord, no those things were frightening but they weren't the thing scaring me the most. It was his intentions toward me. His proclamation of marriage and his attempts to seduce me where what shook me. No boy had ever so much as taken me out to lunch and suddenly I'd been kidnapped by a man who wanted everything from me. I could tell he had ulterior motives, he wasn't interested in me as a person, so why would he choose me of all people? I couldn't riddle it out. If he wanted someone to warm his bed he would have his choice at my high school of girls who would probably beg for the chance. Did he see me as a game? A challenge to take up? I shivered at that thought, well, I wasn't going to let him win. Tears came unbidden and slid down my face in the darkness. I sobbed silently, knowing I had to go back. I sat there tears still coming but my sobs subsiding. He'd never specified a time, I would come when I was ready to face him.

Eric POV

It was already eight o'clock and Faith was not back and I was frustrated. She hadn't shown up for dinner either and I was beginning to think she'd gone back on her word and camped out for the night. I set out to look for her. She was no longer in the sitting room, nor was she in the study. In fact, she wasn't even in any of the guest rooms. Now I was worried, had she really tried to run? And how had I not known if she'd gotten outside?

"Maxwell, Caleb!" I called. They came not a couple seconds later, "Faith is missing," I growled out.

"Master, can you not follow her aura?" Caleb frowned.

"I could but she permeates the entire house I can't find a distinct trail," I said in frustration, "what I want to know is how she could have circumvented the alarm system and gotten out."

Maxwell cleared his throat and shuffled nervously.

"Maxwell?" I questioned.

He looked up guiltily, "Forgive me for questioning but are you sure you've looked everywhere?" His voice was nervous.

"What are you not telling me Maxwell," I asked evenly.

" Everywhere, Master, look everywhere, I... I can't say exactly what I mean," he said bowing his head, "I gave Faith my word."

I dismissed them and took Maxwell's advice going and searching the rooms when I felt a cool breeze while searching one of the rooms on the top floor. I turned. The room I'd just left had the window about half opened. She couldn't have, could she? I shook my head in disbelief but went regardless toward the window wondering how she would have managed. There she was, on the roof sitting against a chimney looking up at the stars longingly. "How did you get up here?" I demanded softly as not to startle her. She tensed, "I have my ways," she answered calmly still keeping her back to me.

"You were supposed to come back to the room," I said accusingly.

"I was going to," she said quietly, "you merely specified it be tonight."

"I stand corrected," I conceded and came to sit beside her. She seemed surprised by both actions but said nothing.

"How long have you been coming up here."

"A while," she answered.

It fell silent for a couple moments before I posed my next question. "Why do you come up here?"

She met my gaze, a guarded look in her eyes, "To see the stars, the sunset, the mountains. To be outside." she admitted.

"You only wanted to be outside?" I said suspiciously, sensing she was hiding something.

She nodded slightly, "Please don't take it away!" She pleaded suddenly.

I pulled her closer and ran my hand through her hair, "Faith, what are you doing up here?" I asked again, "don't fear honesty," I added, "I want your truthful answer."

She shifted in discomfort and looked up, "Everything I listed before is the truth."

"Yes, but I can tell there's something you aren't telling me."

"I can't tell you."

"Why not?"

"Because it's not something I'm sharing with you."

I gently began tracing her jaw "Why not?" I asked, brushing a small strand of hair behind her ear. I wanted to know, I was genuinely curious and I could tell she was holding something back, "You should share things with me as my bride."

She winced at the mention and looked away. "Is it such a terrible fate, Faith? To be my bride," I whispered quietly.

"Yes," she answered hunching her shoulders a little.

"Why," I demanded softly. I wasn't surprised in the least but I wanted to know what was going on in that pretty head of hers, not that I wouldn't know soon enough.

"I'm not going to have this conversation with you," she said brusquely and tried to get up before I gently pulled her back down, this time sitting across my lap.

'We obviously need to have it, Vi," I stated calmly. She sat in front of me looking away and silent, refusing to answer.

"Faith, we don't have to be at such constant odds. I'm only asking you open up a bit. I don't demand much."

"You demand everything! You've literally pulled me out of my life. You're asking for things that I'm unable to give. Don't think I don't know exactly what you want from me." She looked up at me her eyes clouded with confusion, "Eric, I first saw you in a crowded hallway almost three months ago and you know what my first impression of you was? Cruel, cold, and self-centered," she paused looking out at the mountains instead, "First impressions aren't always right, but mine hasn't changed concerning you."

"I wish it could have been different. It can be different. I admit I show these traits you've listed more than I should, but it is in my nature. I'm not just trying to use you though. I want you to be happy but you must be my bride, soon."

She hung her head and I felt a tear land on my arm that was resting across her lap, "I don't understand...why you're do-doing this to me."

"You are my bride," I restated softly.

"No, I'm not."

"Faith, it's not something you can change, it's not even something I can change."

"I don't want to hear anymore. You've said plenty about forcing me into a loveless relationship."

I sighed deciding to concede and change the subject. I looked down and once again saw that she was wearing the locket I'd wondered about so long ago. "What's in this locket?" I fingered at it looking at the details carved into its front cover. She looked over at me curiously, "Why would you care."

She thought so little of me, "Because I am curious about you, Faith. I want to know you. I've told you that before," I explained calmly.

"It's a picture of my family on one side and my great aunt on the other. She passed away about a year ago."

"Was she special to you?"

"Yes, extremely." She said turning back to look out toward the mountains, "She mentored me in my faith. I'm named after her, well my middle name. Elaine." She paused after and sighed, and I saw the tears she was desperately trying to hold back.

"What is it, Faith?" I prodded gently.

"No," she said shaking her head and trying to get up to leave but I stopped her and tried to catch her eye gently pulling her back to sit.

"Faith," I tried again gently. She looked up, eyes still shining and confused. She hadn't missed the fact that I was using her name. It was worth a try if it made her open up to me.

"I miss them," she finally said so quietly I barely caught it.

It took me a second to understand who she was talking about, then I remembered, her family was in the other half of her locket.

"They must be so worried," she said with a swallowed sob.

I was conflicted, I didn't know if the information I had would make her more upset or put her at ease, but I decided that she deserved to know.

"They aren't worried about you anymore," I confessed quietly, "I took care of that."

She looked up in alarm, "What?"

"They think you're gone." I stated quietly, "I had Marissa and Maxwell... they believe you're dead, Faith. I had to make sure they would not worry about or look for you."

She stared at me dumbfounded and a bit appalled, "How would they ever believe that without seeing proof?"

"My kind has power over the human mind."

She looked at a loss for words so I continued, "We can warp memories, tweak them to fit our story."

She still looked confused so I decided to give an example, "Take this book," I said grabbing the one lying beside her, "If I wanted to, I could convince you this book was anything other than..." I paused to look at the cover,"The Scarlet Pimpernel and they would believe it because I wanted them too. I could convince you that you'd never read this book, though knowing you, you have, or I convince you this is a new book the I wrote," I explained.

I saw the understanding light her eyes briefly before being replaced once more with fear. She fell silent again, and turned away.

I sat there with her in silence for a couple moments. I still had her tucked under my arm and I looked over her bathed in the moonlight. I slowly dipped to kiss her slow and sweet, trying to withhold my possessiveness and lust and merely kiss her for the sake of loving the feel of her lips on mine. Though they were inexperienced and scared I'd never so much enjoyed kissing anyone as much as I enjoyed kissing her. She pulled away fearfully and moved from my side and, though I was disappointed, I let her go. I could tell she was confused and upset and as much as I wanted to demand what was on her mind I merely followed her as she started carefully toward the window. I followed all the way back to my chambers wondering what she was thinking.

"Good night, Eric," she said quietly before turning over in bed away from me.

"Good night, Faith," I answered back.

Not another word was spoken that night but I pulled her close again after she'd drifted off.

A/N: Hey guys! Wow that was kinda a long chapter. :) (though I'm sure you guys aren't complaining! haha) I hope you got a little more of a glimpse into Eric's personality. He's not a complete monster! I needed to demonstrate that because he's going to start looking pretty darn terrible soon. (oooo foreshadowing!) haha. So yeah hope you like it. I'm guessing you guys have ideas of where this is going! And I know there's a lot you still don't know. MAJOR INFORMATION HOLES but trust me on this. (Faith's just as in the dark as you, just remember that.) ;)