~x~ Chapter 50 ~x~

I dug my hands through my hair and took deep breaths. I watched mutely as he took my hands gently but firmly away from my head and just held them between us. He didn't do anything. Didn't say anything. He simply held my hands and looked at me. Recognition was there in his eyes and it terrified me. Why did he recognise me? It didn't make any sense. No one knew me personally enough to be able to recognise the way I reacted and behaved now. No one except for my little family unit.

So why did Drew Ozera seem to pick up so much?

It just wasn't fair when I built up more defences around him than when I was with anyone else. I didn't have to be nearly as careful and cautious around others as Drew since I knew that they wouldn't be able to see the signs. Most people wouldn't see the sign even if it smacked them in the face simply because they didn't pay attention to me back then. All they knew was I was useless and pretty pathetic. I used to be rather invisible and I'd somewhat accepted that.

But why did Drew know?

"You're strong enough to pretty much take on the world," he murmured softly. "But you shouldn't try to take that kind of burden. It would kill you."

"I don't try to…" I mumbled. "I just get overwhelmed with that need to protect everything around me. Have you ever felt that?"

He looked pensive for a moment before he nodded eventually. "I didn't used to. When I was younger, I used to just take things for granted. I took guardians for granted and although there were still attacks happening, I used to stupidly believe that we were untouchable because we were royals so we'd have the best protection. But that attack on the school really woke me up in a lot of ways. I knew that I couldn't just sit around doing nothing anymore."

I bit my tongue to hold the retort back. I'd been about to tell him that he never came across as someone who took things for granted. Nor was he stupid. Six years ago, he might still have been a kid, but he was definitely not stupid.

"You're hardly stupid, Ozera. I don't think the word stupid could be used to describe you."

"Was that an indirect compliment?" he chuckled.

"Maybe." I gave him a playful grin. "Depends on how you want to look at it."

"When you ignore questions, is it usually a conscious thing or subconscious?"

"Which one haven't I answered this time?"

"How come Maxwell and Jensen aren't 'refining your skills' as you call it?"

"Oh, Maxwell was asked by another student for extra training. It didn't really matter to me so much whether we had this training session or not so I just suggested cancelling it and I could make the most of this free time to get some choreography done."

"A song for Risqué?"

"Yes, Mister Genius."

"Do you usually choreograph the dances yourself?"

"Not always, I have a choreographer I work with quite a lot and he'd help us out with the dances for Risqué's songs."

"How long have you been dancing?"

"About two years I think. I can move pretty easily because of my training. I had to hone my dancing skills pretty intensively at the beginning though. What about you?"

"I've been dancing for a long time. It was the one thing I loved as a kid, I think."

"One thing? That's kind of sad…" I muttered.

"It was better than running around like a headless chicken, not knowing what I liked and letting others control my likes and dislikes. The royal system tends to do that to young royal children."

I snorted and just barely managed to hold my retort back. He couldn't have been more right about that. In that one week following my parents' death, the royals were ruthless, trying to manipulate me anyway they could without my dad's protection anymore. Even before they had passed away, the other royals would often try to find me alone at court. They would try to manipulate me into what they wanted me to become.

I hated every moment of that. As soon as Dad noticed what was happening, he stopped letting me walk around court alone. In fact, I stopped going to court as often as was allowed for a royal.

"That sounds pretty ruthless." I said eventually.

"I only suffered the tip of the iceberg."

"You mean they could actually get worse?"

Again, he just stared at me with that intense stare of his but thankfully he didn't keep silent this time. Instead, he just changed the topic altogether. In the back of my mind, I wondered if he actually knew what he was doing to me.

"How did your shopping trip go, yesterday? Did you manage to find something?"

"Finding something appropriate wasn't the problem." I grumbled, running a hand through my hair. "Fighting Valiere and Salvatore was."

"You fought? About what? I doubt it was a physical fight."

"They were kind of terrifyingly eccentric about shopping. They kept shoving dresses after dresses at me, telling me that I had to buy them. And don't even get me started on the shoes and accessories. I tell you, those two could bankrupt someone in under a day with their shopping habits."

I shuddered at the idea of giving them free reign of money. It was a good thing that I knew what kind of style I was going for to attend the dinner. If I didn't, Rosette and Maria would've taken full advantage and tried to push my style boundaries.

"I didn't think there would be a day that I would find out there's someone who could compete with my sister in terms of bankrupting her family because of fashion expenses." Drew grumbled, running a hand through his hair.

"Since I don't know your sister, I have no idea how eccentric she gets with shopping, but I suspect that those two paired up might just be able to give your sister a run for her money."

"Let's just hope that the three of them don't go on a shopping trip together. The mall will end up selling out."

"Now that would be a sight! I can just imagine the look on the shop employee's faces!" I laughed.

I was surprised by the somewhat warm smile he sent my way and turned away quickly, wondering if there was something on my face.

"So how about you hum the tune of your new song and tell me about it?" he suggested sneakily.

"You really don't give up, do you, Ozera?" I drawled.

He smirked and gave a nonchalant shrug. "I guess that makes the both of us."

I pursed my lips and thought about it. I thought back to the way he could move when he danced and knew that I would need his help. Without my dance choreographer here to instruct me, I was running out of ideas on what I could do for this new promotional video. Annoyingly, I had to admit that he was a better dancer than I was with more tricks and moves up his sleeve than I did.

"No way in hell." I told him eventually. "It's too risky here but you can hear it and hum it in your head." I passed him my iPod and headphones. "Track 3."

I was surprised when he suddenly pulled me to him and spun me away. He smirked at my stumble and adjusted himself to make sure that I didn't fall. "Follow my lead," he told me simply and he really began to move.

As much as I didn't think it was possible. Drew was actually a much better dancer than my choreographer. He showed me moves that I didn't think would be possible and somehow he ignited my competitive spirit and we ended up having an intense dance-off. By the end of it I was completely knackered and fell onto my back, breathing heavily to try and get my breath back.

"So it seems that there is something I am better at," he chuckled, sitting beside me.

"At least I know that I could still kick your ass." I retorted, pouting.

"You really do enjoy that fact, don't you?"

"I pride myself in being a good fighter." I told him simply. "Before dinner, there's something I want to do. Do you know where I can find Eric?"

I didn't think that it would be possible for the temperature to plummet considering how Drew was a fire specialist, but goosebumps scattered across my skin as tension rose. I looked up to see the dark and anxious gleam in his eyes.

"Drew?"

"I'm surprised that you have to ask. I would've thought that you'd know."

"Well I don't. Hence I'm asking." I grumbled. "Seriously, why do you have to get all dark and angry whenever Eric is the topic of conversation?"

"I told you, it's not my story to tell," he told me, his voice stiffening.

I gave a heavy sigh and sat up so that I could grab his hand. With brute force, I tugged him down and he fell onto his butt with a thump. He shot me a glare and rubbed his back a little. "That was unnecessary," he complained.

"You care, I get it." I reasoned with him. "But get your nose out of it. I can take care of myself, Ozera. You seem like the type of person to get in too deep when people you care about are concerned. I'm not saying that it's a bad thing, but it's not a good habit to have either."

"Is it bad that I want to look out for my friends?"

"It's not a bad thing. But just remember not to get in too deep. You're a little intense when you care so much."

"So are you telling me to just sit back and watch when I know that something is heading for disaster?"

I gave a frustrated groan and smacked him in the shoulder. "I take my earlier comment back. You really do have your stupid moments after all. Either that or you're too damned stubborn to listen."

"I'm not being stupid," he protested.

"You really are." I told him firmly. "I'm not telling you to just sit back and do nothing. I'm telling you to just ease off a little. You keep telling me that I'm a tough girl, so believe that I can take care of myself. You've been giving me enough advice and warnings already. I'd be an idiot not to take them into account."

"So you're going to do something about it?"

"I'm not talking about this kind of thing with you."

"You're getting embarrassed," he pointed out, shifting closer until I could feel his breath on my face.

"I get flustered easily, I admit it now." I grumbled, pulling away to keep a reasonable distance. "Happy?"

"I didn't think that I'd meet someone so stubborn again."

"There are a lot of stubborn people in the world, it's not just me, you know?"

"So, are you going to do something about it?"

"Seriously, you just won't give up."

"You make rather interesting expressions, Valentine."

"So do you, although yours are usually irritating all-knowing smirks." I complained.

"If you find Ingrid, you can find out where Tom is and he'll be able to tell you where Eric is." Drew told me suddenly.

I blinked in surprise since I didn't think that he would actually get around to telling me how I could find Eric. "Thanks. I'll see you guys at dinner."

"Stay on your guard, Valentine," he advised me sternly.

"You make it sound like I'm heading into a fight."

"With Eric, I wouldn't be surprised. He doesn't like letting things slip out of his grasp."

"I've come to realise that about him but he's just going to learn that he can't always have things going his way."

Drew handed back my iPod and he simply watched me as I left the training room. As I headed back to the dorms to find Ingrid, I was surprised to bump into Eric considering how I hadn't seen him for the past couple of days.

"Hey there, Kylie," he drawled, giving me a charming smile. He wrapped his arms around my waist and his lips moulded over mine. At first, I kept my lips shut, fighting against his kiss, but then one of his hands found my jaw and clenched, prying my mouth open to him.

I mustered my strength and pushed him away. "We need to talk, Eric."

"You sound rather serious there, Kylie."

"I can't keep our compromise anymore."

"Have you found someone else you like?"

"No, but I don't want this. I'd rather we just went back to the way things were."

"That's a pretty tough request you have for me, Kylie. You haven't given me a fair chance."

"Eric, I don't want to sleep with you." I told him bluntly. "You don't want to get to know me, do you?"

"That's hardly fair when you haven't given me enough time."

"You've had plenty of time to try." I tried to reason with him.

"I can see that you're quite uncomfortable, Kylie so I won't push you any further," he sighed, running a hand through his hair but before his arm obstructed my view of his eyes, I saw the feral fury shimmering in those orbs. Deep down, I began to wonder if I'd somehow unleashed a monster. Was this really as easy as it seemed? Was I making the right choice?

"Thank you, Eric. I'm sorry about this."

"I thought we could work out."

"We both want different things."

"So it seems," he murmured.

"You never really wanted me as a girlfriend, did you?" I asked cautiously.

"I like you, Kylie," he told me so earnestly that I began to doubt myself. "I really do, but it seems that you don't feel the same way."

"It's just too soon. This is only my second week here. I'm still trying to get to know people."

"Maybe another time then?" he suggested.

Caution stirred. From the tone of voice he used, it didn't seem like there was a maybe but more like he would make it happen again. I didn't know why he was so certain that there would be another chance.

"Don't you feel anything for me?" he asked suddenly, moving closer, so close that I had to back away. Something flashed across his eyes and he followed my movement until he backed me up against the wall. "Isn't there something between us?" he whispered, his breath on my lips.

My mouth went dry, my mind blanked, my body slackened when I looked into his eyes. His leg pried between mine, keeping my body upright. Eric's body pressed into me and he dipped down until out lips were mere millimetres away.

"Eric, stop…" I spoke. Even to my ears it sounded like a feeble protest. In fact, it was downright pathetic.

"Kylie, give me more of a chance. It's hardly been fair when we've barely spent time together."

"You've had the whole week and all you've done is press me up against the wall."

"Or the ground," he added cheekily, his nose brushing my cheek as his lips sought for my ear.

"That's not helping your case."

"I didn't have yesterday. I had intended to find you for a movie but you were out shopping."

I stiffened and pulled my head away from him. "How did you know about that?"

"I asked your friends where I could find you and they said that you were out shopping. So you've gotten yourself invited to a royal dinner, congratulations."

Again, I really didn't like the snide tone he used. It was almost as though he was jealous but refusing to distinctly show it. "It wasn't intentional, it just sort of happened."

"Considering how close you are with the guys, it was only a matter of time that you caught their parents' attention."

"You make it sound like I planned this." I demanded, pushing him away. "I'm not such a calculative person, Eric, but it seems that you are."

"Being calculating can be useful in our community."

"It's a sad and a cruel way to live for you and those around you." I warned him. "We're not pawns at your disposal for you to use as you please."

"It's worked well enough so far," he said, completely unfazed by my warning.

"It's not going to work with me, Eric. I can promise you that."

"That's a shame, Kylie," he murmured, pressing close to me once more. "We could take over the royal courts, you and I."

"I didn't take you for a 'take over the world' kind of guy."

"I'll admit that I didn't think too seriously about that idea until you came along."

Frowning, I pursed my lips. "I don't see how I fit into this equation."

"You have determination that I don't see in many other people's eyes, Kylie. I thought that we could work out, but I guess not."

"No, so can you please back up? You've got a terrible habit of just pressing people against the wall."

"What can I say? You just have that effect on me."

"It's a bad habit, Eric. You should learn to tame it."

"You really are different. Girls have never complained before."

"There's always a first for everything." I scoffed. "Seriously, Eric, back up."

"In a moment," he whispered before pressing his lips against mine. His fingers clenched against my jaw, prying my mouth open. I gasped in shock when I felt his teeth scrape against my tongue and bottom lips.

I slammed my hands into his chest, shoving him away. He stumbled back with a wheeze and anger swirled in his eyes. My breath caught once more as his gaze bore into mine and I fell to my knees. He was pressing into me in a heartbeat and this time his lips sought my ear lobe, his fingers digging into my waist, scratching my back beneath my shirt hard enough to draw blood.

I shuddered and tried to push him away but for some reason my body wasn't listening to me. "Give into it, Kylie. Give into me," he chanted, his voice settling heavily in my mind.

His fangs pierced my ear lobe and I felt the blood drip onto my neck. Instantly, his lips and tongue followed, lapping up the red liquid from my skin. My body began to grow hot and for a brief moment, I felt like I was losing myself. Fear gripped me when his fangs brushed against my neck, scraping but not hard enough to break the skin thought certainly enough to leave marks.

Why was I letting him do this to me?

Before he could really bite me, he was suddenly yanked away and I looked up to see a furious headmaster glaring down at Eric.

"To my office. Now!" Martin commanded with a voice simmering with anger. "Valentine, get to the infirmary."

I watched as Eric walked away, not a single hint of remorse in his eyes. If anything, the gleam seemed to say that this wasn't over and that he would get what he wanted. Eric Cooper really was far too persistent for his own good.

Martin sent me a concerned glance, his eyes still swirling with fury at what Eric was trying to do. It was forbidden for a Moroi to bite a dhampir in school and Eric was definitely pushing to break the rules. Numbly, I picked myself up and headed for Rosette's office in the infirmary. Boy was I in for an earful.