She'd been locked up in her room for four days. By her own choice, of course. Edge sat at the foot of her steps until sunrise of 2nd day. But sleep and hunger over came him so he left her to wallow in her misery.
It wasn't until the fourth day, did Chris decide to inquire about her. He sat on his chair, his eyes riveted on the flames but his mind on Stephanie. Christian seemed a bit distant these past few days, he noticed. And Edge, he only saw him once, when he left the house two days ago to feed.
"Where has our darling been these few days?" Christian lifted his head and looked at Chris. "What?" "Where's Stephanie." Christian shrugged quickly. "With Edge, I assume." Chris stayed quiet for a moment. "You've never been a good liar." Christian gave a half-hearted chuckle. "No, I am. You're just perceptive." Chris continued to stare until Christian looked away, uncomfortable. He let out a long sigh. "She's been in her room." Chris furrowed his brow. "You say it like it's a bad thing…" Christian nodded slowly. "She's gone and locked herself up there. Its been four days." Chris leaned forward. "Why?" Christian looked at the fireplace. "I…I was in my room…four days ago. And I smelt," he paused, "…I smelt blood. And not just a passing scent. It was over powering. It led to Steph's room," He put his head in his hands. "They killed a man. And not just killed…he was mutilated--" "Who is 'they' ?" Chris interrupted. Christian looked up, as if just realizing Chris was in the room. "Edge and Stephanie."
Chris stood. He quickly began to walk out of the room. He ignored Christian's pleas to wait and walked briskly towards Stephanie's room. He walked loudly up the stairs and put his hand on the knob--it wouldn't turn. "Stephanie. Open the door." He called quietly. He could here her movement. It was soft and distant. Chris placed his palm on the wood. "Please…" He sighed. And moved away from the door. He then suddenly turned back and kicked the door in.
The screaming sounds of the wood splintering had Stephanie flinch. She sat in the center of her room, her knees drawn up. She rocked slowly. Chris stood over her, the only noticeable sound was the wind outside. Chris turned his head and saw the obvious shape of a human under a sheet beside the bed. "I've been hearing that you've been a bad girl, Princess…" Stephanie stopped rocking and looked up at Chris, then at the sheet-covered form. "Yes." She whispered quietly. Chris grabbed her by her arm and roughly lifted her to her feet. "Did you think you would so easily go unpunished for a deed so imprudent?" He moved her close and whispered in her ear. "You're self loathing does nothing but humor me, so cease it." Stephanie looked at him, wide-eyed. "I…didn't mean…" "What? You didn't mean to? Oh, that's rich." Chris dragged her over to the body. He pulled off the sheet. She smell of rotting flesh, his them in a strong wave. "You did this." He whispered. "I don't remember." She said quietly. Chris scoffed. "Next you're gonna say the devil made you do it." "I think she's telling the truth, Chris."
Chris turned to Christian, who was at the door. "What are you talking about…" Christian looked down. "I remember…when I was turned. After…Tes--" he paused, "after she died…I remember--vaguely. When you found me. You were arguing with Edge. And you said 'don't play mind tricks with this one and drive it to an early grave' And I was thinking, possibly…" Chris's eyes widened. "Leave us…and take that with you" He motioned to the body. Christian gladly left the room, using the sheet to drag the carrion.
Chris took Stephanie's hand, much lighter now, and guided her to the bed. He sat her on the edge and knelt in from of her. He looked into her eyes, her pupils dilated. "Now, think. What was the last thing you remember before…before." Steph took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
"I…I was in my room. I had just woken up. He was standing over my bed. Smiling. He said…" Steph squeezed her eyes tighter, unsure. She spoke slowly in broken French. "Mon amour, regard…dans mes…yeux et…" She paused. "…et
sommeil. Then I remember nothing else. Until…after." Chris blinked. My love, look in my eyes and sleep, he thought. He tightened his fists. Steph opened her eyes. "What does that mean…I feel like I know it. But I cant grab it." Chris shook his head and stood. "Don't worry about it, just…go to sleep." He turned. Steph stood and grabbed his hand. "Christopher, tell me now." Her tears were still rolling slowly down her flushed cheeks, but her eyes were strong. He wasn't gonna tell her a damn thing. No woman told him what to do. "My love, look in my eyes and sleep." Damnit. Steph furrowed her brow. "What does that mean?" "What does it matter?" "It matters to me…" She looked away and whispered the words. "…in my eyes and sle…" Her eyes snapped back to Chris. "This is some sort of brainwashing…a trigger…hypnotizing, maybe." Chris laughed dryly. "You're crazy." She bit her lip. "Maybe…maybe not." Steph bit her nail and wandered around the room in though. Chris watched her with observant eyes. "He came in the room…why was he over my bed? And then…together we killed that poor man and--" "Shut up. I don't want to hear this nonsense." He snapped. Steph turned to him, her eyebrow arched. Her eyes darkened to a realization. "Christian…his soul cries because it hurts his insides. He is still so innocent." She walked closer to Chris. "But you…you've killed…Ive seen you kill. And you have no remorse. I know. Yet, you seemed so ready to cast stones a moment ago." She leaned her head close to his ear and whispered. "Its not the killing you hate," she paused, "…it's the fact that I didn't kill with you. It was with Edge." Chris backed up. He stayed quiet for a moment. He laughed again and shrugged. "Like I said…you're crazy." He walked out of the room, and closed the door. He sighed and leaned against it for a moment. His eyes fell to Edge who was sitting at the foot of the steps tossing and catching his blade while staring, amused, at his sire. Chris walked slowly, eyes hard gaze on Edge as he descended. Edge stood when Chris reached the bottom. He waited for Chris to speak. And he did. "We need to have a talk. Now."