Hey guys! Back with Chapter 2 here, not sure if anyone will actually be reading this but if nothing else I can get it out of my head. Read and Review as always.

Two figures stood by a fireplace, a dark haired male who must have been the one to speak before and a woman. There was no doubt in my mind who the woman was, even if there had been another female in the room it would be obvious. Her face shape was the same as the man, our father I mentally reminded myself, in the photo I had found in my mother's old things.

Her eyes were a striking blue that seemed to offset her dark, straight hair. From the muscles I could see on her arms and legs, she was athletic too. I jerked slightly when I realized we were both staring without saying anything, an awkward silence had filled the room in the meantime. In an attempt to cut through it, I spoke while praying my voice didn't shake too badly.

"Hi, my name is Zelda." Introductions were a good place to start right? Almost instantly she snorted, only to wince immediately afterwards.

"Sorry, I didn't mean. Well it's just your name is-" Seeing how much difficulty she was having, I decided to jump in.

"I know, my mother didn't mean to name me after a video game character, it just happened that way. I don't take offense to it anymore. What's your name? Our…father didn't tell me." I hesitated before calling him our father, unsure if she would become irritated with me for doing so. Thankfully, she showed no outward signs of aggravation. Instead, she smiled tentatively.

"My name is Leila, Leila Dracul. It doesn't surprise me that he didn't tell you much, he and I aren't on the best of terms lately." I noticed the dark haired man stroke her back in comfort, Leila throwing a reassuring smile over her shoulder to him before focusing back on me. So this is what a healthy relationship looks like… I found myself glad that my sister had her husband to comfort her, I knew intimately how painful it was to be rejected by the ones who should have loved you above anyone else. I didn't wish that on anyone, but at least she had him to help her through.

A flash of longing briefly gripped me before I pushed it back, no need to think on such things. They'd only lead to painful roads. Instead, I smiled back at her. "I didn't talk to him for long, but if it makes you feel any better I don't think he liked me much either."

When I had gone to visit him with the photo, he had gone paper white. While he let me in when I went to his house, his icy tone when he answered my questions had clearly told me that he wasn't happy with my presence. It had been a major blow at the time, having another parental figure disliking me, but before I had left I had seen a picture on the mantel of Leila. If it hadn't been for my prodding, he wouldn't have told me about her at all.

Leila's smile turned hard at one side, "It doesn't make me feel better, but it also doesn't surprise me. I'm sorry that he was an ass though. You didn't deserve it anymore than I do, but let's move off this topic. I have so many questions for you and I'm sure you have some for me too."

I nodded, relieved to be done with the painful subject and on toward more pleasant ones. "I do, but why don't you start. I think I'm still a little too overwhelmed from everything to think clearly enough to pick just one question." Leila gestured to the couch behind her, which I easily wheeled to the side of. Internally, I hoped she wouldn't expect me to transfer to it. While I had gotten better at maneuvering in my chair over the past few years, I still couldn't transfer smoothly. The last thing I wanted was to make an idiot of myself so early on in our relationship.

Thankfully, she didn't bat an eyelash as she sat down across from me with her husband at her side. Before she began her questions, she turned partly to him and introduced us. "This is Vlad, he's my husband which I'm sure you already figured out." Relief strafed through me as the previous tension leaked out of the air, with introductions out of the way we were clear to, hopefully, get to know one another.

Giving him a nod, but not offering my hand, I was surprised when he didn't try to offer a handshake as most people did. Either he sensed that I didn't like touch, or he was the same way. Either way, it worked for me. His lips twitched up, but before I could ask what the cause was Leila pulled my attention back to her.

"So, what do you do?" Leila grimaced immediately after she asked it, what with the question being awkward at best. Trying to stop the tension from coming back, I answered quickly.

"I work in a bookstore near my apartment in North Carolina." She shot me a grateful smile before continuing her questions.

"Do you like it there? The bookstore and the state?" She clarified, after a second. Tilting my head in thought, I nodded after a moment.

"It's fine. I like books and I can read whenever there are no customers. As for North Carolina, I don't have any attachment to it, but I also don't have anywhere I would prefer to be. Moving is a hassle." The snow and ice during winter definitely weren't my favorite things, but that was where I grew up so to a certain extent it would always be home.

Leila nodded in understanding, "I used to work in a carnival, so moving isn't that big of a thing to me." She hesitated here, braced for what I assume was some kind of ridicule. Well, she wasn't going to get it from me.

"That sounds exciting, what did you do?" I made sure my tone held only my genuine curiosity, not wanting her to be self conscious in the slightest about her career choice. She relaxed at my question, all the remaining tension seemed to flee the room as her eyes grew misty.

"It was fun most of the time, I did an acrobatic act with my friend Marty. He passed away a few months ago." Immediately guilt slammed me, good going Zelda, you've already brought up a painful subject. It's a wonder why you don't have friends. Before I could apologize, she waved her hand. Vlad took it from her lap and pulled it into his own without prompting.

"It's fine. You didn't know, after all." She shifted slightly into Vlad's side before she spoke again. "Here I am asking all the questions, how rude of me. I think it's your turn to ask a few now." Knowing a request for a subject change when I heard one, I wasted no time in doing so.

"You must have visited plenty of places in your career. The farthest I usually travel is to my job. Do you like it in Romania? What kind of sights are here?" Leila's eyes immediately lit up, obviously happy to talk about her home. And so the hours passed with each of us asking questions until my yawn interrupted us.

Leila glanced at the clock before letting out a sound of surprise, "Is it that late already? I can't believe the hours flew by that quickly…" Shaking her head, she stood with Vlad in almost perfect synchronization.

"I'm sure you're exhausted after the flight, if you want we can talk more tomorrow. Have you eaten yet today? It's fine if you'd prefer to eat in your room, I understand needing some time to take everything in." Leila's smile was warm, making me feel more welcome with that one gesture than my own mother had in a years worth of visits. The memory brought a flash of remembered pain before I forcibly focused back on her. That was in the past, better to leave it there and enjoy the present.

"I ate this morning, but was too nervous to eat on the plane. I'll take you up on your offer to talk tomorrow and to eat in my room. I might fall asleep on you if we eat together and I don't want to leave a bad impression." Leila grinned, picking up on my humor and rolling with it.

"I wouldn't judge you if you did, but there's plenty of time for us to talk more tomorrow." Vlad spoke up next, turning to address me as he did.

"If you'll be retiring for the night, I'll have Maximus bring you to your room. He can have your food sent there. For the duration of your stay he will be staying close to help you make your way around our home."

Wariness immediately drowned out my former happiness, it would be nice if people would stop assuming that I'm not capable of doing anything alone just because I'm in a wheelchair. Fighting to not sound snappy, I mumbled. "I've lived alone for a few years now, I don't need a lot of help getting around."

Vlad nodded, "I'm sure under normal circumstances you don't, but my home is difficult to navigate until you have the basic layout memorized. Once you know where everything is and can go where you please without getting lost I will place Maximus back on his regular duties."

His reasoning made sense, even though the thought of having an unknown man following me sent icy fear down my spine. I never did do well with people looming over me, and that was before my injury…

Vlad took my silence as agreement before he continued on, "I will have Maximus sent. He should be along momentarily." So saying, he pulled out his mobile and typed off a quick message. It was only a minute before a knock sounded on the door. Either the man was nearby or he moved like greased lightning.

When the door opened, I was surprised to see the same blond who had accompanied me earlier and had tried to reassure me when my nerves had been high. Now that I wasn't anxious, I realized that he was attractive, very attractive.

His hair hung to his shoulders in golden waves and framed dark grey eyes that reminded me of storm clouds before a downpour. His frame was well over six foot and he was stacked with muscle, now that I cared to notice. He looked more like a bodyguard than a babysitter, and briefly I wondered what was it he did here.

When his eyes met mine I realized that, not only had I been intently staring at his physique, he had caught me doing so. Fire flared up my cheeks, painting them fluorescent red as I debated whether to apologize for staring or pretend nothing happened.

Instead of a comment or a wink, as I expected, he spoke with an easy smile. Neither his actions or his tone reacting to my staring, much to my relief. "It's good to see you looking more relaxed now. Are you ready to go to your room?"

Relief battled with my previous wariness. I was glad he didn't mention my staring and somehow knowing it was him that was assigned to watch me made me less uncomfortable about the situation, but there was still some discomfort. I doubted that would go away until I actually got to know him, if he even wanted to get to know me. He's only known me less than a day and in that time I've been a nervous wreck and now I probably seem like a pervert, staring at him like I was.

Resolving to try my best to present myself as a mentally stable and normal woman, I agreed. "As long as you don't mind, I'd appreciate it. I'm sorry that you're stuck following me around, you'll soon find out that I'm pretty boring."

He shook his head, but didn't come closer as he refuted my statement. "It's no problem, you don't seem boring to me. I would actually like the chance to get to know you better, if you'd permit it?"

It was all I could do to keep my jaw from hitting the floor. Everyone else I talked to back home reminded me often of my blandness, and yet here stood a man who had known me less than a day and was sure I was somehow interesting.

His expectant look had me shaking off my surprise long enough to respond. "That would be nice. I don't have many friends, but there's never a bad time to make a new one."

Idly I noticed Vlad stroking his beard in thought while Leila grinned at me, but most of my attention was focused on the blond at my side. It would be nice to have a friend, the fact that he was eye candy was another bonus, but it felt like lifetimes ago when I last talked to someone outside of my work.

Now I have a sister who seems nice and a possible new friend in the form of a giant, blond Viking. Maybe I could get his phone number before I leave, if he wanted to keep in touch afterwards.

I was broken out of my thoughts by Maximus moving to stand alongside my chair. As I craned my neck back to see his face, it occurred to me just how tall he was. I had vaguely noticed before but sitting next to him now made me feel even smaller than my severely diminished height. And yet, despite his towering form I didn't feel the rush of fear I expected. If anything I would say I almost felt…safe. The previous mild wariness was still there, but my usual reaction to a male being in my personal bubble was noticeably absent.

Deciding to ponder on it later, I bid my goodnights to Leila and Vlad before turning to Maximus. Instead of reaching for my chair handles as I dreaded, he moved to the door and opened it for me. "Would you prefer me to push your chair or lead?"

Pleasant surprise flushed through me at his consideration. I wheeled past him while being careful to not roll over his feet. "I would prefer you lead, thank you for asking."

Many people over the past few years had simply grabbed my chair and started moving without asking and it was deeply unsettling every time. I was more than glad I didn't have to tell him not to.

As I followed him down multiple hallways that all looked similar, I was mentally thankful Vlad had assigned Maximus to me, because I would have gotten lost in this maze. My gaze slid to my guide as my mind wandered to my odd reaction earlier. It was only when he stopped that I realized I had been staring at his rear. I snapped my eyes up to his while praying he didn't realize where they had been previously. I almost sighed when he showed no reaction other than to open the door for me.

Rolling inside, I sucked in a breath of amazement. Everything was wheelchair accessible, the table was lower with a section taken out for me to pull up to and the bed was low enough to easily transfer to it. Usually I just made do with everything being too tall for me, my modest paycheck not allowing for the specialized furniture that would make things easier, but this was the most luxurious room I had been in, ever.

I jerked when Maximus cleared his throat, whirling around to see him waiting for something. A light bulb flashed on above my head, he was waiting for my opinion. "The room is lovely and I appreciate everything Vlad did to make me feel welcome. I forgot to tell him that in the other room, can you relay it?" I hated asking him to act as a messenger boy, but with my memory I would only forget again come tomorrow.

Maximus nodded, no signs of irritation, before he shifted back to the door. "I will be staying across the hall from you, if you need anything shout or pull the rope. I'll be with you momentarily." With that, Maximus bid me goodnight and exited the room, leaving me to my own thoughts.

Today had been an emotional rollercoaster with flying over eight hours on a plane, meeting Leila and the surprising resurgence of hormones I thought dead years ago. I felt like going straight to the ridiculously comfy looking bed and passing out, but a sudden growl from my stomach reminded me of why that wasn't an option yet.

As if in response to my thoughts, a knock sounded at the door. After telling them to enter, a lady who I assumed was a member of the staff came in with a tray of food. She left just as silently as she came, only stopping to tell me to leave the cart outside of the room when I finished. The food smelled delicious and I felt my appetite return with a vengeance. I didn't realize how hungry I was until I had devoured the entirety of the plate.

With my stomach now calm, I finally turned to the bed. I marveled at how easy it was to transfer to as I locked the wheels on my chair. I still fell half the time when I switched to my bed at home, but as I sat on the edge of the bed I had barely broken a sweat. It was such a small thing to feel happy over, being able to sit without making a fool of myself.

My hands stroked the fabric, the soft comforter feeling divine against my palm. Feeling giddy, I threw my weight back and laughed when I bounced. This was the best I've felt in years, and it was all thanks to meeting my new sister. As I laid down after situating my legs under the comforter, I felt a flash of excitement for what tomorrow would hold. I would talk to my sister some more, and maybe even chat with Maximus too!

I drifted off with a smile on my face and hope in my heart. That lasted all of three hours before I bolted upright in bed, a scream jamming into my throat.

I'm evil :D