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CHAPTER TWELVE
DIRTY LITLLE SECRETS
Selene hesitated before rapping on the door before her. The door was sharply thrown open, to reveal an irritated – but surprised – Erika.
"Selene?" She asked cautiously.
"We need to talk," Selene replied.
"So now you want to talk?" Erika asked, leaning against the door with amusement written on her face. Then she frowned. "Why weren't you at dinner?"
"I ate just before. I couldn't bring myself to eat so soon after."
"Where'd you get the blood?" Erika asked with astonishment and suspicion.
"Can I come in or not?" Selene snapped angrily.
Erika pursed her lips, but moved out of the doorway. "Five minutes to explain whatever it is you came here to," She snapped.
Selene scowled, but entered the room, nonetheless. Erika slammed the door shut behind them and followed Selene into the room, which remained silent for several minutes.
"Well?" Erika asked with annoyance.
"Something very interesting happened after you left," Selene began. She pursed her lips thoughtfully, trying to think of a way to explain it, not noticing the small, nervous shift in her seat Erika had made.
"Oh?" She asked.
"I received a visitor," Selene admitted. "Do you remember the woman who Michael was talking about when we first came to negotiate? Caelan?"
Erika's face relaxed with sudden relief. "Yes," She said, waiting for Selene to continue.
"That woman is very strange," Selene said.
"So she visited you. What did she have to say?" Erika asked.
"Oh, well we talked about a lot of things, actually," Selene said; now it was her turn to shift nervously. "She was the woman who gave me the blood, by the way. But it's all beside the point. The point is she suggested that I talk to you."
Erika blinked in confusion. "Why me?"
"She thinks you would 'make a good acquaintance'. The thing is, you were right. We do need to start to get along despite our differences, and I was … hoping you wouldn't mind becoming my confidant."
Selene waited for a reply, but Erika simply blinked again. "Me," She finally asked. Her face had hardened, and there was no emotion whatsoever.
"Yes," Selene said with a little irritation.
"Why do you even need a confidant!?" Erika demanded.
"Because I need someone I can trust to help me take care of my -," She stopped quickly, realizing how quick she had come to almost exposing herself. She sat back with a sigh. "Don't ask me why, but I trust you. I need someone I can talk to."
Erika was silent. So this is what it was. The stony ice queen was breaking. Admitting to needing someone to talk to? This was interesting. Had Erika not a need to speak with someone as well, and the person she was stuck following around because of Markus' stupid orders being her usual self, Erika would have said no. But seeing as Markus thought it best for the two of them to become closer friends, she would.
"So what's bothering you? You've been acting more secretive than usual lately," Erika acknowledged.
"I have a problem," Selene admitted.
"I'm listening."
"You must promise not to tell anyone!" Selene said sharply.
She can't be in league with the Lorkai, can she? Erika thought. "I promise," She said with irritation.
Selene looked nervously away. For a while she was silent. "What do you know about vampire pregnancies?" She finally asked.
Erika's jaw dropped. "Are you …?"
"Yes," Selene snapped.
"Who's the Father?"
Selene looked back at her, surprised. That was the first question out of her mouth. Who was the Father?! "Who do you think!" Selene exclaimed.
"Okay, okay. So … does Michael know?"
"No," Selene admitted.
"Is that what happened earlier?" Erika asked. "With the pain? That could be hazardous for the baby! Do you want to lose this baby!?"
"Yes! No!" There was a pause, in which she took a deep breath. "No, I don't. I'm just so confused. I can't risk anyone finding out. If anyone else knows, they'll tell Michael, and I'm not ready to tell him."
"That is understandable," Erika reluctantly agreed. "So you probably don't know what it is yet."
"It's a girl," Selene said. "Sandra."
"How do you … know?" Erika asked in confusion.
"Caelan told me. Plus I've had these … these dreams," Selene said, waving her arm with irritation. "Caelan told me she sent them to me."
"Well what happens in them?"
"I don't know. There's a bunch ofvisions with me and Sandra. The first one I saw I went to retrieve her from a man – I think it was Gaerwn. The next one there was something … I can't remember what it was about, now, but I remember Gaerwn was in that one, too."
"Were there any others?"
"A couple more. Mostly things with me and Sandra. She's never been older than six in them, though."
"So you know what your daughter is going to look like before she's even born?" Erika asked in disbelief.
"Yes. She greatly takes after Michael in appearance. A little whiny, too," Selene admitted.
Erika sat back with admiration. "Tell me more about her."
Selene stiffened, but relaxed as she thought about Sandra … her little girl. "She's such a cute little thing," She started. "Blue eyes, curly brown hair -."
"Brown hair? Where did she get brown hair from?" Erika demanded.
"It's only a lighter color than mine," Selene fumed.
"Alright, alright. Go on."
"She's very independent. Hates being bossed around."
"That sounds familiar. It seems to me like she's nothing like Michael at all," Erika commented.
"Whenever I see her I see Michael," Selene replied. Then she frowned. "But this child's going to be different than other vampire children," She realized.
"Born of a hybrid and a vampire," Erika said slowly. "Perhaps the child will pick up more vampire than wolf genes."
Selene looked worried. "What if something goes wrong with this pregnancy."
"You've seen her, though. You know she's going to be healthy," Erika said.
"But I don't know what she's going to be! She looks like a normal child every time I see her."
"But …?"
"But I know she isn't. Every time Gaerwn's after her!" Selene said with frustration.
Erika looked edgy. "What about what Simon said?" She asked.
"About stopping Gaerwn?" Selene asked in confusion.
"Yes. What if Gaerwn finds out about the prophecy. There isn't a doubt in my mind that Sandra is the one that Simon mentioned," Erika explained. "What if Caelan told him."
"She wouldn't do that," Selene said, confused about why she even felt trust towards the mysterious woman. "She says that she needs Sandra. Why would she try to get her killed?"
"Maybe she was lying," Erika snapped.
"I … know … she … wasn't," Selene said through clenched teeth.
"Fine. She wasn't. Then how else does he find out?"
"Maybe there's a traitor," Selene relented. "Maybe someone here decides to change sides, or someone is forced to give information. I don't know! I just know he's going to go after my daughter!"
Erika sighed, before sitting back. "I won't let anything happen to your daughter. Neither will Michael, or Markus, or Simon and Derek. Besides, I don't think you have anything to worry about right now. Gaerwn can't know, because only you, I, and Caelan know, right?"
"Right. Unless Simon figures something out."
"I don't think we need to worry about the hermit," Erika said. The two of them laughed together, both noticing it wasn't too weird having a normal conversation without constant fighting. In fact, it was rather fun.
"I wonder what Simon's up to right now." Selene wondered out loud.
Hmm, what was Simon up to. Well, let's take a look, shall we?
Simon finished pulling his shirt over his head, and then looked into the bathroom mirror. He couldn't help but think with some humor, at least I have a reflection. He quickly brushed out his hair, and decided he needed to get it trimmed. It now fell just below his ears. He rubbed his hands together. Alright Simon, time to pull yourself out of this depressing streak, and find yourself a fun time. With this thought, he grinned and strolled happily into the bedroom. Stopping dead, though, when he noticed the figure sitting on his bed.
"What are you doing here?" He demanded angrily.
The figure stood leisurely. Simon growled in the back of his throat as Caelan took a step closer.
"What? You didn't want me to visit?" She asked with a false pout. "Now you've hurt my feelings."
"Why are you following me?" Simon demanded angrily. Now this stupid woman had ruined his good mood. Damn her!
"Now what makes you think you're so important?" Caelan asked.
Simon let out a frustrated snarl, clenching his fists enough to draw blood. Caelan looked at him. "I just came from visiting Selene," She told him.
"What did you do to her?"
"Honestly! You'd think I was a killer the way you act. And I'm not even the one who devours human flesh on a daily basis." She licked her lips a little, looking at him. "You wanted a good time, Simon. Let's have a good time."
"Leave here!" Simon cried. "I don't want to see you again!"
"I think differently," Caelan said, her voice now low. She leaned into Simon, who tried to move away.
"You're evil," Simon said.
"Define evil," Caelan said, her arm snaking around his waste, taking him quite by surprised.
"What do you think you're doing?" Simon demanded. Caelan playfully nipped at his neck. Simon jerked back in surprise. Caelan laughed and then moved back, pulling Simon with her. Then she pressed her lips against his, her fingers roaming down his shirt.
"What are you doing!?" He repeated when she moved her head away.
Caelan pulled back with a sigh. "Trying to seduce you. I suppose it isn't working, is it?"
"No," Simon snapped.
Caelan fell back on the bed. Then, she surprisingly let out a laugh, though it was bitter. "He was right. I can't believe he was right."
"Who was right?" Simon asked curiously, stepping a little closer. "You're Father?"
"No. My Father's a bumbling idiot, bent on destroying the only other immortals left. All because of that stupid -." She stopped short, glancing at Simon. "Why am I telling you?"
"I don't know," Simon said. Then he frowned. "Why do you keep coming here?"
"You're different. I like you," She said.
Why?"
Caelan burst out laughing. "Why? I just tell you I like you, and you say 'why'?! Well there you go. I like you because you're you, and that's all I want. But hush, no one must know about this little secret. When I heard you think about having a good time, I decided to come. I didn't think you'd actually turn me down."
"Under normal circumstances, I probably wouldn't," Simon said, allowing his eyes to drift over her. Then he frowned. "But you're my enemy."
"For crying out loud! I am not your enemy!" Caelan exclaimed. "I helped you get Kay back, I talked Selene into … well, that's a secret. Hmm … there seems to be a bunch of those going around, lately."
"What are you talking about?" Simon asked. This caused Caelan to grin greatly.
"I know something you don't know," She called in a sing song voice, standing up and twirling around the room, allowing herself to flicker in and out. She stopped suddenly, though, and then stood behind Simon.
"You know what Markus would say if he were to seem me in here with you?" She asked.
"What?" Simon asked.
"He wouldn't say anything. He'd just kill you," She said simply.
Simon stared at her in surprise, his face pale. "Excuse me?" He asked.
"Markus hates you," Caelan told him. "Can't blame the poor guy, though."
"Why does Markus hate me?" Simon demanded. And how did she know if he hated him? Sure, Markus had treated him a little indifferently, but it was because he was a Lycan, right?
"Because I like you, and Markus doesn't think I should become involved with a Lycan," She told him. She moved around him, and met his eyes, waiting.
"What would Markus care?" Simon asked, looking her over warily.
"Ah Simon, how little you know," She said with a false sigh.
"Are you and Markus … seeing each other?" Simon asked.
"Eww!" Caelan cried. "If I was seeing Markus, do you really think I'd risk being here? Yeah, right, I think I value my life."
"But you can risk mine!? You just said Markus hates me! And he'd kill me if he knew you were here!"
"Relax, Simon. Just relax." She smirked at him, and then turned around, and pulled his arms around her. "He's been the only Father I've known. A sort of … Dad's worry, for his child. My real Father wouldn't even be half as understanding as Markus is. He's just about given up on me!"
"But you're still a Lorkai," Simon said softly. He hated that he actually felt rather comfortable holding Caelan. He really needed to get out.
"Only by birth. I have no ties to them. I'm a traitor."
"You were going to kill Derek."
"It was a ploy to get Michael to come with me. Anything I might have done would just be a convincing illusion. Did I mention I think adopting Derek like you did is incredibly sexy?"
"Is it?" Simon asked, with laughter in his voice.
"Very," Caelan replied.
"So … you're definitely a good guy?" He asked.
Caelan turned to him with a smile on her face. "I'm your average girl, as long as you don't have a problem with green eyes," She said. Then she took off her sunglasses and tucked them in her coat pocket, before looking up at Simon. He looked her over for a minute, and then drew her closer.
"I think I love 'em," He replied. Caelan smirked as Simon leaned down and kissed her. I always get what I want, she though pleasantly, returning the kiss.
AN: Hmm, the Caelan/Simon part wasn't originally supposed to come out as 'touching' as it did, but oh well. Was it just me, or did Caelan seem out of character? Oh, PLEASE REVIEW. Love it, hate it, just LET ME KNOW!