He didn't say a word as they made their way back to the car. For the longest time she thought that meant he had hated the show. It wasn't too bad, she had felt. For a type of movie that she herself never was much interested in, it had been quite entertaining.
"Well?" she asked as she unlocked the car doors.
"It was rather enjoyable," he said. She was delightfully taken by surprise. So the night wasn't a total waste. "What did you say that was called again?"
"A western. I thought you may like it, it seemed like your type of movie."
"Why is that?"
She gave him a look that suggested he should know the answer. "You just seem to be the violent type."
He smirked. "Quite."
She checked the time on the car's clock as the engine hummed to life. 2:30. "We should head back to the house now. I can show you around somewhere else tomorrow night but the sun will be up too soon if we stay."
"Isn't there a place to stay here?"
"Yes. But not without the possibility of one of the others finding out about it. You really shouldn't even be in this city at all right now."
"Why? Are you afraid that I cannot take care of myself?" He was teasing her and she knew it. Surprisingly she didn't mind it, yet. "Are you afraid that Jonathan might discover my whereabouts?"
She took a deep breath, trying not to let him worry her too much with this line of questioning. Although she took a moment to picture the lovely thought of her brother actually meeting him. "Not at all. I am simply cautious of the fact that you shouldn't draw much attention from the Elders."
He sat there looking at her for a while as she drove her way back toward her other car, still currently parked in the darkened alley he left it in. He watched her face, trying to figure out more of her. "Why do you let them have such power over you?" he asked.
She wasn't expecting that. "They just do. They are more powerful." She wasn't lying. But still, she did not like her own response. It had felt borderline deceptive to her.
"Are they really? From what you've told me so far, I have yet to see the real danger from them. Perhaps to a mere fledgling maybe, a child with no one else to support them, but I don't understand why you feel so threatened by them."
Was that a compliment? She wasn't sure. "They control everything in this city Kain."
"So leave."
She felt her anger rise. How dare he? He did not know her, how could he sit there and accuse her of whatever it was he was trying to accuse her of?
"I can't." she stated. She truly felt it to be the truth at the moment.
"Can't or won't?"
She gritted her teeth. How she let this man assume he could just completely disrespect her like that...
And with that the conversation ended. Furious, she pulled up to the area he had told her he left the second car.
"You know the way home?" Not that at this moment she wished for him to return. Instead hoping for him to take off somewhere he would take a liking to and stay. She didn't care if he took her car with him or not...it had been bought with her Master's money anyway.
"Of course." he said as he exited the vehicle.
"K. I'll meet you back there."
He nodded swiftly before shutting the door and disappearing into the shadows, his soft soled boots further muffling his already amazingly quiet step. She drove off only after hearing the other engine start up and saw the second pair of headlights cut through the night.
She watched in her rearview mirror as he pulled away from the alley, evaluating his every move. He was good, especially considering it was a stick shift. She was just about to let go of her former anxieties about his driving abilities when he suddenly sped up, passing in front of her before reaching speeds that made her glad he was in the cheaper model. If you could consider more than $100,000 "cheap." "Show off. But you're not going to beat me in my own car."
She smiled as she felt the inertia pull her head back when she stepped on the gas pedal, her own monster quickly speeding up to catch its partner.
She ignored the stop lights and lane markers, her only concern being getting back to the house before he does...and making sure he watches as she does it.
Suddenly she saw the unique shape of her other car's tail lights and rapidly closed the gap between the two of them. Pulling up beside him, she honked the horn twice. She peered into the untinted windows of his car and grinned as she saw him smiling back at her, knowing what she wanted from him.
She blew past him momentarily, her heart racing at the competition. She didn't even care if she won in the end...just playing the game was the thrill itself. It had been so long.
He quickly retaliated, matching her car side by side, almost close enough to hear each others hearts beating.
They continued this way for almost an hour, nearly scaring the hell out of a cat that was about to cross the street. Neither one of them gained much ground over the other, although she cussed when she knew Kain was a least a tad further then her. She would have preferred to have gone like this the whole way back to the house, her whole body felt so good for the first time in what felt like forever, but she realized that their plans would have to be cut short by the horrible gas milage that each of the vehicles got.
She pulled up beside him again, their speeds enough to rack up a serious fine if they were caught. Rolling down the window, she looked him in the eye and was glad to know that she wasn't mistaken...he was enjoying their game just as much as she. She nodded her head towards the gas station that was coming up, and whispered to him that they should decide on a finish line. He readily agreed...something she hadn't known him for. Maybe he could give in when it suited him.
They both pushed the cars as fast as they could go, both wanting so badly to finish first. In a photo finish, they both screeched to a halt. She sliding the back end of her car, rather accidently, around to end up facing the other way.
Turning the ignition off, she stepped out of the car...noticing the station attendant's jaw drop at what he had just seen.
Kain got out too, without Disguise. She laughed...the attendant probably wouldn't notice the oversized claws anyway.
"It appears that despite your best efforts I have won." he sated matter-of-factly.
Now she knew he was crazy!
"No, Kain. I won." she was sure of it.
He looked incredulous. "Perhaps in your own mind...but I was the one to cross the line first."
She glared at him. He just couldn't admit defeat, could he? But her laugh threatened to give her good mood away. "If you say so Kain."
It was a long way back home after they had filled up at the gas station. He had gone on without her as she stayed behind to pay. It took her at least another hour to calm down after her race with Kain. She hadn't felt that good in years. And to think...all she had needed was a ride through the city.
She sighed as she neared her house though. She had thought often of what Kain had said before on her drive back. She was no longer mad at him...but he had brought up questions that she would have rather remained unanswered.
Truth be told she had no reason to stay here. No good reason at least. She had enough money to go anywhere she wanted and the other vampires here would hardly miss her. The comfort of the Mansion was hardly enough to keep her anymore. She was miserable here and all she had to do was leave. But yet she stays...why? 'Can't or won't?'
She pulled into the garage, glad that he was obviously home now too.
Stepping into the living room, she noticed Kain was relaxing in the one large velvet chair.
"You finally returned." he said.
"I found it a little hard to keep up with you tonight." she teased.
"Most do." he stated simply. She wouldn't doubt it.
She plopped down on the couch, taking off her shoes and flexing out the soreness in her feet. It had been a long night. She had thought of not wearing the heels tonight but for some reason decided to anyway. She knew what she had to do now...and tomorrow she was cutting off all the 3-inch heels.
She let her eyes rest over him now, taking in every detail she had neglected before. She let herself be drawn to him, watching his chest rise and fall with each breath, his head tilted back and his eyes closed softly. He looked to be enjoying the cool breeze that was coming in from the balcony next to him. He had removed his shirt, his large muscles laid bare now to her. She looked at his face, the way his long hair was pulled away and over the tips of his pointed ears. She had never seen white hair on a vampire before. At times, most times, he seemed to have such a hard expression, so much so that she thought he would end up with a permanent scowl on his face one day. But now, as he relaxed against the soft velvet, the muscles in his face were finally allowed to ease away from the nightly tension he seemed to go through. His golden eyes, when he opened them, no longer seemed as severe and were almost pleasurable to gaze into. Much harsher then the golden of her master's, yet somehow more pleasing.
He was attractive. She had noticed before but not quite like this. Never appearing to notice her concentration on him, he seemed to be throughly immersed in his own languor.
It was quiet except for the sound of the waves coming in from outside. The lights were turned off, allowing the moonlight to filter through the thin drapery. A peaceful followup to a few hours before.
"It's won't." she said, breaking the silence.
He was jarred from his relaxation. "What?"
"You asked me 'can't or won't?'. It's won't. I won't leave."
"Why?" he was honestly curious.
She turned to look at him. "Because he's all I've known."
He hadn't completely expected that. He never took her for the type to let herself be dominated like that. "Your master." It wasn't a question.
"Yes." she was relieved to have finally said it.After all these years it took a stranger to drag it out of her.
He sat for a moment, contemplating on what to say. He wasn't one to play the comforter or the shoulder to cry on so he came up with the best he could. "You can do better." he said plainly. She nodded. Confidant that the conversation was over, he made his way back to bed but was stopped by the feel of her hand being placed in his.
"Yes, I can." she said softly.
Standing up to match his height as much as she could, she reached her other hand up to cup his face, her fingers running through his soft hair. His eyes closed at the pleasant sensation. Gently, she drew his face towards hers and felt her lips rest on his.