Chris looked up at his home. He inwardly chuckled at Edge's "castle" reference. Although austere like a castle, it was nothing but. There were no servants. No fine tapestries in the foyer or living area. Yes, they were wealthy. Far wealthy than anyone could imagine. But after Tessa died, the small glimmer of hope they had for the well being of the mansion died with her. He walked into the arched front door and into the living room. He plopped down on his one luxury item--his velvet chair.
Stephanie giggled as she and Edge came in. She was still on her alcoholic high. Not to mention the wonderful "alive" feeling blood gave her. Edge held her close to him as they walked in front of the crackling fireplace. Chris glared at them before turning his attention to Christian who was unusually quiet. "What troubles you?" He shrugged and sat in the frame of a chair. Chris rolled his eyes. "When the most boisterous becomes the most silent, there tends to be something amiss." Christian thought about dodging. "Those women…" He looked at Chris. "Don't you feel any remorse?" Chris looked him dead in the eye. "No." Christian lowered his head, now feeling ashamed for bringing it up. "I do." Steph said softly. Chris's head snapped to look at her. "This coming from someone who's fed twice." He scoffed. Edge stroked Steph's hair. "Shhhh. Its okay, love. Remorse it natural…in the beginning." He looked at Christian. Chris waved his hand. "Enough of this nonsense. The night is young." Edge smiled. "Yes. Lets do something. A celebration of our newest addition." Chris laughed. "Well…that's a bit…much. But do whatever you want." Edge smiled. "Great. Christian? Come help me choose the wine." Christian followed Edge, grateful to get away.
Steph sat where Christian had been sitting. The rhinestones of her dress glittered in the moonlight. Chris stared at her, masking any attempt for her to decipher his feelings. Stephanie looked at the door. She could leave right now… "You wouldn't get far." He said calmly. Steph jumped a bit. "What?" "You heard me." She stared at him for a moment. "Why are you keeping me here?" She whispered. Chris sighed. "I am not keeping you anywhere. This falls upon Edge's head. Not mine." "Well, then why is he keeping me here?!" A glimmer entered Chris's eye. He stood. "You wanna know?" Steph narrowed her eyes. "I don't know. Do I?" He moved in front of her. His hand softly caressed the left side of her face but his eyes remained hard. He leaned over her right ear. "You look like his wife." He whispered. Steph quickly turned to look at him. There faces were inches apart. The look in Chris's eyes briefly changed before he moved back. "In fact," He continued. "Its uncanny…"
Edge walked back into the room with Christian in tow. "I gotta bottle of wine. Circa 1950. So this should be good…" He trailed off when he saw the look of death Steph was giving him. "Are…you okay, Stephanie?" She blinked and the look as gone. "Im fine. Circa 1950? Now that's what I call a vintage." Edge nodded and handed her a wine glass. "Its not like Ill notice." She continued. "Im already drunk." She laughed. Edge looked at Chris who was staring off into the distance. Edge nudged him with a glass. Chris shook his head and continued his void stare. Edge shrugged and uncorked the bottle. He was about to pour the wine to Christian when Steph spoke up. "Oh, allow me." She took the bottle from his grasp. Edge smiled strangely. She carefully poured the wine into Christian's glass and then her own. She put down her glass and turned to pour it into Edge's when she suddenly reared back and smashed the bottle across his chest. Edge jumped back giving a surprised yelp. The room got quiet. Edge looked at his soaked shirt. Steph held the neck, the only remaining piece of the bottle, in her hand. Steph brought the jagged edges across Edge's chest ripping his shirt…his skin. Steph threw the glass in the fireplace, shattering what was left. Chris laughed at the display and sat gingerly in his chair as he watched with amused eyes. Edge brought his hand over his wound, above his heart. His hand came back bloody. He looked at Steph silently. Anger was surging close to the surface. "I consider myself a fair man…" He said with quiet anger. He grabbed Steph by the shoulders and viciously slammed her against the wall. "So I'll give you a chance to explain." Green fire roared in Steph's eyes. "How dare you. You ruin my life so you can play some sick fantasy of yours. I am not your dead wife. Got it? I don't want to be her. Everything I had…I fucking lost because of your selfishness." Edge turned his head away from Steph and looked at Chris. Chris covered his smile with his hand. "Oops. Was I not supposed to say anything?" Edge turned back to Steph. The fury inside Edge quickly subsided. "Im sorry you see it that way. You've been given the privilege to join--" Steph raised her hand to silence him. "Privilege? Well if that isn't the biggest load of sh--" Edge slowly covered her mouth with his hand. "Dear Stephanie, why dwell on the past? It can be changed." He moved away from her. Stephanie slowly slid to the floor. All of this killing…it didn't seem real. "Im not a murderer…" Christian came and knelt by her side. "You're not. We feed for survival." She looked at him through her tears. "So we're animals." Christian looked down. "Well…I--"
Chris had had enough. "Enough of this nonsense. Christian, tend to Edge and his…lesion." Christian sighed and stood. He and Edge left the room. Chris looked down at Steph. "Get up." Steph drew her knees up and rested her head on them. "Get up!" He commanded. Steph continued to cry. Chris clenched his fists. He though about dragging her by her hair up the stairs before reason took over. He grabbed her and tossed her over his shoulder. "Put me down." She whimpered. Chris moved silently through the dark corridors. He kicked her door open and walked in, tossing her on her bed. "Your self pity is wretched." He said dryly. Steph looked up at him. "Screw you. Get out." Chris furrowed his brow. "This is my house…" "And this is my prison." Chris rolled his eyes. "Hardly." Steph stood from the bed and walked towards him. Chris backed up a step. Steph smiled coldly. "What's the matter?" She moved closer. Chris backed away till he was against the wall. "Do I scare you?" She asked with wonder. "You're too much like her for your own good." Chris straightened and moved close in Steph's face and had her backing away now until she bumped into the foot of the bed. She sat down and looked up at him. "Stay away from me." He said coldly. And then he was gone.