Just What I Needed
There was a layer of sweat over my entire body. My feet were aching from dancing on them for so long but it was easy to forget when Charles was so close. His warm skin brushed against mine in so many places on my body that it was almost like he had a few extra pairs of hands. He was flawed, of course, as all humans are, but he was perfectly flawed. It was refreshing to be near someone who didn't move as gracefully as an angel or have a voice like a symphony.
He pulled his face back a few inches away from mine so that he was looking at me. His eyes were natural, mossy green and seemed to smolder against his tanned skin. I looked up at him, our bodies still pressed against each other's while his fingers pressed into my hips.
I knew it was coming the instant I saw it flash in his eyes. His gaze flickered to my lips and he leaned in just an inch closer. I wanted to turn away, or break free from his arms, but an image of Ethan replayed in my mind. I saw him with the girl in the purple dress and knew that by this time tonight, he would have already kissed her. They would have already started to get down to business, and in order to gain her trust he would have to let it go on for a few minutes. For some reason, my stomach tangled into knots at the thought of him with her, and I closed my eyes, ready to give in to Charles just to spite Ethan. Just to spite myself.
But just when I thought his lips were going to crash down onto mine, I was being ripped away from him. I opened my eyes to catch his bewildered expression and I reeled in my captor's arms, facing him.
Isaac glowered down at me, looking disappointed. "Audra, I don't think you want to do that." His eyes were bright gold, almost glowing in the dark atmosphere of the club. I had never seen a vampire's eyes so bright before, but then again, I had never been in the company of a vampire only moments after they had fed.
"Why not?" I asked, though I already knew his answer. I would have been angry if it was Ethan interrupting, but I could never be angry with Isaac. His handsome face was threaded with a hidden concern and almost instantly Charles was replaced in my mind by the glowing, slightly fuzzy feeling I always had around Isaac. I let him pull me close by the waist against his rock hard body and I laced my hands around his neck.
"You've been drinking," he said cautiously. He looked afraid, like I would start yelling at him in a drunken tirade.
I looked at him straight in the eye, which wasn't difficult, and said, "I'm not drunk."
He sighed with a small smile. "I know that, but you're not completely sober either."
"Thanks," I smiled sheepishly, embarrassed that he had to save me from the stupid mistake I was just about to make. He grinned back and tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. I felt safe with him, like there was no threat in the world that could get to me through him.
"Isaac," someone had suddenly appeared next to us and we both looked over. Ethan was standing as still as a statue beside us, sticking out like a sore thumb as everyone else in the club was swaying. As soon as I looked to his face I felt foolish for thinking so highly of Charles. No person, certainly no human, could ever compare to his heartbreaking beauty. His eyes met with mine with no expression, which frightened me more than if I had seen some sort of emotion. Then as quickly as his gaze had landed on me, it was shifted to Isaac. "I'm leaving to feed now," he sounded diplomatic, like he was giving orders. "I should be back within a half hour."
Before Isaac answered I was suddenly aware of a purple flash of color beside us and realized who it was. Jessica had followed Ethan over here, like a leech or a lost puppy dog, afraid he would leave without her. I never let my eyes fall on her, too disgusted to give her the privilege.
Isaac immediately noticed my demeanor change and his hands squeezed me gently, reassuringly. I locked my eyes with his, determined to ignore Ethan and his meal to the best of my ability. "We'll meet you outside in thirty, then," Isaac said to him, giving him a single nod. I could feel Ethan's magnetic aura disappearing and relaxed against Isaac, glad the awkwardness was over.
"What was that about?" Isaac asked me gently, his eyes bent in worry.
"I just don't like her," I shrugged. He lifted an eyebrow at me but then smiled.
"Isn't it perfect then?" He joked, and it took me a moment to realize what he meant, and then I completely agreed.
I didn't feel bad for her. It was a complete contradiction to my view on the subject of humans as blood banks when I first arrived at Ethan's mansion. I had even gotten into a fight, our worst one yet, regarding his treatment of humans. Yet now, as I looked into Isaac's mischievous eyes, I was happy it was her. I was actually happy he was going to abuse her. And even better yet, she wouldn't have any recollection of meeting him, dancing with him, or being with him.
I smiled at Isaac and rested my head against his strong chest. He smoothed my hair with his gentle hand and I was ready to fall asleep in his arms.
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Just as he had told Ethan, Isaac directed me outside thirty minutes after Ethan's departure. Isaac had gotten my coat from the coat check and held it out for me to slide my arms through. I hugged it close as we walked through the door and the freezing gust of air blew my hair back.
"Hey," Isaac threw a steadying arm around me, "you look like you're about to fall asleep on your feet."
I nodded, "I just want to go to bed." It had to be somewhere close to two in the morning. "What's taking Ethan so long?"
"He had to drop the human off at home," he explained. "Sometimes obstacles arise." I admired his usage of the term 'human' as an insult, in this case only.
"Such as," I prodded, looking at him sideways.
He shrugged, "The possibilities are endless. There could be another person at her house," he said. "She might not have a key with her, in which case he would have to break in. Even animals can be a nuisance." I smiled at the thought of Ethan in the predicament of being harassed by a little barking dog as he was bringing its incapacitated owner home.
"Where did he feed from her?" I asked him in a hushed voice.
Isaac, too, lowered his voice. "Probably the car," he answered. "Same place I did." I wrinkled my nose, realizing that I would have to get into the same vehicle. Would their blood be in there? "It's easier in the winter months," Isaac was telling me. "That way, as soon as they're unconscious, you can just drive straight to their house."
"Does it hurt?" I leaned in closer to him, worried that someone might hear.
He looked directly into my eyes intently, simply staring for a few seconds. I blushed at the question, feeling silly for asking. Isaac had never given me that kind of reaction; He was always willing to freely answer any question I had.
"Not always," he answered finally, though still gazing into my eyes. "For some, it can feel like the exact opposite of pain."
"How were you changed?" I whispered cautiously, afraid that he might make this the first of my questions he would leave unanswered. Unfortunately, I knew that would be the case as Ethan's shiny black car squealed up to the curb and abruptly stopped.
"Another time," Isaac smiled, though for once he didn't look happy with his beautiful smile on his face.
"Ready to go?" I heard Ethan ask, and without remembering that I was ignoring him, my eyes fell on him.
His eyes were the first things I noticed. They were the color of pure gold, like his eyes were literally made of the element. He was gazing back at me so strongly it was if he had some sort of power over me. I could feel static electricity swimming through my veins and reaching each of my limbs. I knew I looked like an idiot gawking up at him, but the sight of him was so immaculately, genuinely, mesmerizingly beautiful that I couldn't look away.
Ethan reached down to pull open the car's back door without breaking our stare. He motioned for me to get in and without even thinking I took a step toward him. Isaac was already climbing into the passenger side when I finally reached Ethan. The metallic sound of Isaac's door shutting made me jump and at the same time, I heard someone calling my name.
"Audra?" It was Charles' voice. I spun my head, my hair whipping around my face, and watched him emerge from the crowd that had gathered outside. He looked confused as his eyes darted between Ethan and I. Charles simply stood, unmoving, waiting for me as if I had a choice to make. What was he doing here?
I glanced up at Ethan's icy face. It was mostly blank, but I could see the beginning of a snarl starting to form on his lips and the malice burning in his aurous eyes. His arm shot out in front of me and he grabbed the car door, making an unmistakable and indestructible barrier.
There was no trace of me that truly wanted to go with Charles, but Ethan's possessiveness triggered a riot inside of me. I wanted to defy him just to prove that he didn't have that power over me. I wanted him to know that I was sick of being his obedient house pet. I wanted to be able to push his arm away and run away from him.
Yet when I looked over his arm, covered with the black sleeve of his jacket, I knew it would be impossible and foolish to even try. My heart fell into my stomach and I swallowed my pride. Charles continued to stare at me expectantly, his eyes on me alone. I gave him one regretfully sorry look, though as selfish as it was, I really was only feeling sorry for myself, and fell into the seat of the car, defeated.
Ethan shut the door in my face and I watched through the tinted window as Charles turned away. Isaac stayed quiet as Ethan got into the car and switched the gear into drive. He punched the gas pedal so hard that I was thrown back into the seat, my eyes seeing only blurred lights as he weaved through traffic.
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As soon as we entered the mansion I made my way to my room. Of course, I said a short goodbye to Isaac, but I was so exhausted it was hard to push myself just to get up the stairs.
I entered my bathroom and immediately yanked off my clothes. I jumped into the shower and tried my best to get as clean as possible. It was like I was cleaning tonight away from my memory.
The hot water felt wonderful. A majority of my time in the shower was spent just standing under it, letting it soothe my muscles and warm up my skin. Most of the effects of the alcohol I'd had were wearing off. It could have been an hour that I was in the shower, but I wasn't the one paying the bill.
After a while my eyelids started growing heavy and I regretfully turned off the water. My robe was luckily hanging on the hook beside the door and I pulled it around my body. It was fluffy and clean and smelled like it had just gone through the wash. I smiled into it sleepily and opened my bathroom door, ready to fall into bed.
Yet instantly, a freezing gust of air hit my face and I froze, figuratively, where I was standing.
