'You want me,
Come find me.
Make up your mind. '

- Evanesence -Call me when your sober

Chapter XIII

Dangerous seduction

The darkness struck me the minute I opened my eyes. It took me awhile to adjust my eyes to the darkness. I looked up, then to my side, to find myself lying on my bed, in my room, alone. Supporting myself on my elbows, looked around, trying to figure out what the hell happend to me. Then I felt a sharp, cold pain inside my chest. I grasped my shirt, as though that would stop the pain. It started becoming worser, growing deeper and colder, making me yell out in pain. Someone then barged through the door, letting in a flood of light which came from the chandelier in the hall.

''Giselle!'' Claudes voice yelled, coming to my side in an instance. The pain was unbearable. It felt as though it were ripping me from the inside. I yelled even more, blurring out all voices and everything I saw.

''Claude! What's happening? I'm dying!'' I screamed out. He let out a nervous laugh.

''Don't be silly, you can't die! It's impossible,'' his voice shook, as he reached out for my trembeling hand. The pain came to an abrupt stop, as I lay back down, shaking.

''Claude...what's happening to me?'' I asked, my voice so low, even I couldn't quite hear myself.

''Don't worry, you'll be alright,'' Claude whispered, stroking my face and hair.

''I don't care if I'm going to be allright or not. What happend is what I want to know,'' I asked, getting agitated. I shifted myself to my side, facing him. His face was drenched in sadness. He hesitated for a few minutes before he said anything.

''Well, about six hours ago, you collapsed, and went unconcious. We were quite surprised though, since your half vampire...and for vampires it's quite impossible to faint, and-''

''Cut the bullshit, and get to the point, Claude,'' I said, getting bored.

''We think you have been poisoned,'' he blurted out. Poisoned? Me? How the hell could I have been poisoned? I am officially confused.

''How could I have possibly been poisond?'' I asked, my throat going dry. Claude started playing with my hair.

''Well, remember when Sabar cut your throat? You remember anything at all?''

''Yes, I remember,'' I replied, a vivid memory of us in the forest, and Sabar, runing through my mind.

''It's possible that the dagger he cut you with, was poisend,''

''Poisond? How? I mean, are you sure that the...pain was due to Sabar? What if it has nothing to do with him at all?'' I asked, getting up too quickly, too soon, that I had to collapse back down. My head spun briefly, along with a feeling that I was being sat on.

''It's possible. There's nothing else that could have gotten you poisond...that we can think of, anyways,'' he said, taking my hand in his.

''Why are you so sure that I've been poisend? What if it's something else?'' I questioned, in a flat tone.

''Because...'' he began, hesitating, as though he were struggling to say something.

''Because?'' I continued.

''Penelopé came up with the theory that you had been poisend, so to test her theory, she asked me to do it,'' his face was washed in anguish, as he spoke those words.

''Do what?'' I asked, getting peeved.

''Taste your blood...to...to make sure it's the same. And if it's not, then you have been poisend,'' he whisperd. I wasn't surprised that they did that. I mean, I would have done the same. Atleast I think so. I guess Penelopé asked Claude to do it, since he is more familiar with my blood around here, than anyone else.

''Well, is it the same?'' I asked, getting up. Slowly this time. He lowered his head, and clutched the bed sheets. I reached out for his face, bringing it up.

''Claude...tell me,'' I whispered. His eyes were full of mixed emotions; some of which I recognised all too well. Anger, sadness and love. His lips parted, as though he were going to say something, allthough, all too soon they closed, as he let out a sigh. I noticed his hand was shaking, as he ran it through his black hair, all the while starring into my eyes. I felt tears prickling at the back of my eyes, soon starting to form pools of it, which ran down in a soundless cry.

''Giselle-''

I cut him off, bringing my hand out as though to signal him to be quiet, ''I know Claude...I can feel the poison running through my veins, swallowing up the blood''.

He didn't reply as he crouched there beside my bed, motionless.

''You have to do what I'm about to say right now, for your own safety, Giselle,'' he began.

''What if I don't want to?'' I asked, wiping away tears, using the sleeve of my black shirt.

''You have to...you don't know how hard this is going to be for me, saying such a thing, but for a while, until the posion wears out -or we find a way to get rid of it- you have to stay here. You cannot go out, unless your with one of us, or go into the forest or any place for the matter,'' I could tell that he was keeping his voice low, because it was shaking. There was one thing I couldn't understand though. What had me being poisoned, do anything with me going out? I really couldn't come to terms with that. It was as though his words were flowing right through my ears, as my brain shut down, unable to absorb anything.

''May I ask who exactly made this decision for me, and why?'' I finally asked, my voice cutting like a knife through the silence.

''I did,'' he replied '' for your safety''. My face at that moment was expressionless, starring right through him, like I would look through a window. Allthough, behind this window, there weren't fields of gold, and sunshine spilling around everywhere. All I saw through this window was a dark forest, with stark white trees and rain washing it away into a complete mess. Confusion. Anger. Regret. The exact feelings, breaking the ice which had been embracing my heart all this time, making it feel as though it were beating again. I could only dream of such a thing. My heart is simply a cloud of emotional memories, which rests inside of me, reminding me occasionaly of what it was like to be human again.

''I don't understand, Claude. I'm confused. Care to explain what the hell is happening?'' I asked, rasing my voice on the last sentence. He reached out his hand, in attempt to stroke my cheek, but I flinched away, starring him down with angry eyes. He looked at me in sadness. If he could cry at all, I think he possibly would have, as his eyes turned a very dark shade of burgundy, almost black, bursting with a flow of emotions.

''When you were unconcious, your subconciousness was still here. You started to scream out in pain, then you slowly calmed down, and began to speak. You mentioned Vincents name, and Sabars...do you remember seeing them or hearing them, at all?'' He asked, changing the topic so quickly. I closed my eyes, in attempt to race through what I could remember. I do remember hearing voices, but I don't actually remember seeing anything.

''Yes, I do remember something. I remember hearing...voices,'' I whispered.

''Voices? Who's voices?'' He asked, his voice sounding urgent.

''I heard Vincents voice...he was calling my name...and...he told me that he's watching us...our every move,'' I replied, trying to recall the moment when I heard his harsh voice.

''Is there more to it?'' He asked.

''No,'' I said, looking up into the high ceiling of the room. For some reason -allthough it was white- it started to swirl into colours, making me dizzy. Immediatly, I looked away, back into Claudes eyes. He didn't reply.

''So is that why you want me indoors?'' I asked, trying to break through the rather annoying silence.

''Yes. We're scared that you'll probably hallucinate or something, and attempt to follow the sounds,'' he said.

''How did you know that I heard voices though?'' I asked.

''Because we heard you talking...mentioning Vincents name, as I said earlier,''

''But I'm not that stupid as to follow a random voice,'' I said, my voice -which held a touch of confusion to it- staying in the same level of volume as before.

''Oh come on Giselle, we all know how eager you are to go after Vincent. You would do anything to find out where his location is currently at,'' he joked in a dry manner, allthough his face was serious, not showing a slight bit of humour.

''But that does not mean I am to be held a bloody prisoner here,'' I screamed. I really could care less if anyone heard me. I have rights, and I am not going to be held captive, as though I might be a nuisance to the outside world. As if.

''Yes it does! It's for your own safety!'' Claude yelled back, his eyes growing even darker. I think he was trying to intimidate me, allthough he was failing miserably.

''I don't care if it's for my on safety. I am experienced enough to know what the hell I am doing, don't you think, Claude?'' I yelled, standing up on the bed. No matter how much I scream and shout, my voice always tends to sound sarcastic for some stupid reason.

''Yes, you may be experienced, but you are not as strong and powerful as Vincent, are you?'' He asked, making me even more furious, as his voice was calm, making me look like a stupid little moany kid, and him a sophisticated, mature man. Don't be surprised when I burst into flames one day.

''I don't care! That doesn't matter...what matters right now, is that Violeta gets home safe and sound. Nothing else matters, capeesh?'' I asked, trying to stay calm, and hoping my teeth won't shatter into peices, as I constantly gritted my teeth.

''Fine, but you're not going anywhere,'' he said.

''Just watch me,'' I retorted, jumping off the bed and onto the floor in one, swift movement.

''I shall be doing that twenty four seven, now,'' he replied.

''Yeah, whatever. You can't stop me,'' I hissed into his face, and stromed out of the room. I realised I was in my black scoop neck shirt and denim skirt. For some reason I was bare footed. Maybe someone took my shoes off whilst I was unconcious, for extra 'comfortability'. Comfort my ass. I was unconcious. I probably wouldn't have felt someone punch me; yet boots on my feet.

As I was about to step out of the room, I felt Claudes' arms around my waist in an instant, as he whispered my name against my neck, sending shivers down my back.

''Is this your way of stopping me? Seduction?'' I laughed.

''In a sense, yes,'' he whispered.

''Then it ain't working,'' I said in a bored tone, and tried to pry myself free of his strong arms. When I finally managed to free myself, I made my way downstairs into the lounge. I was half expecting to see everyone there, but it was empty. I walked into the kitchen. No one there either. I started to panic, wandering what happend to them. What if Vincent got to them before I did? What if my theory was correct. They were being kidnapped one by one? I serached the whole house, coming last to mine and Claudes bedroom. No one. Nada. Empty.

''You looking for someone?'' Cloudes voice echoed throughout the room. I turned around, to see him leaning against the doorway. For some reason, I began to feel as though Claude was the one to blame due to the missing people of the house.

''Yeah. Where is everybody?'' I asked, moving closer to him.

''You aren't scared to be alone with me, are you?'' He questioned, smiling, revealing his white teeth and incisors, which were way sharper than mine.

''No. And why would you ask such a question. Since when have I been scared to be alone with you? I mean, I spent a couple of hundred years alone with you,'' I replied, curiousity getting the best of me. He was up to something. There was an air of menace about him, which really struck me.

''Just making sure,'' he said, smiling even wider.

''Claude, what's the matter with you today? Your're not acting yourself lately,'' I said, pulling him into a hug, wanting to feel his body against mine, as I longed for it. Actually, the deal with me and Claude is, that whenever we argue, or stay away from eachother for long periods of time, or even just a minute or so, we long for eachothers touch. It sounds cheesy, but it really ain't...realisticly.

He hugged me back, resting his head on my shoulder.

''Well, that's rich coming from you Giselle. After all, people have always complimented me on my acting skills,'' he said. What was he on about? Since when could Claude act? I grabbed him by his shoulders, and looked him in the face.

''What are you on about? Are you sure the poison from the testing didn't get to you, too?'' I asked.

''No, not at all,'' he smirked ''I'm being serious. You really think I can't act huh?''

''Act? Since when did you act?''

''Oh, I thought you knew...Vincent acts, you know,'' he whispered, in a chilling voice. And not even in the good way. I slwoly backed away from him.

''Vincent? Who was talking about Vincent here?'' I asked, my head racing in thoughts, as my voice shook from nervousness.

''I was. Vincent can act Giselle. Pity you didn't know by now, because if you did, you could have gotten yourself out of this mess,'' he replied, stepping closer to me, as I backed away.

''What mess? What are you saying?'' I shouted, hoping that I could colapse, so I wouldn't have to listen to this nonsense.

''I am saying this,'' he said, and with those words, he started to change. I mean physically change. Morphing into an entirely different person. The more he changed, the more the person seemed familar.

''Vincent? What have you done with Claude?! Where is everybody?'' I yelled in his face, when he finally changed his entire appearance. Vincent just dropped his head back and laughed, as though this were some comedy show or something. He hadn't changed a speck. The last time I saw him, was about seven years ago, when I attempted to kill him in France. His last location. He still had the young, handsome aristocratic face, alongside the olive complexion and long, white as snow hair, which was neatly tied back into a sleek ponytail. His looks were deceiving. He may look like a twenty year old, apart from the white ahir, ofcourse, but he has been alive for nearly nine hundred years. His white hair was due to his shape shifting capabilities, which I'm sure he practiced alot. He practices with his vampiric powers like a wich does with her wichcraft and spells.

''I haven't done anything to Claude,'' he smiled, allthough, it was really evil looking.

''Then where is he? Where is everyone else?'' I asked, my voice calm, measuring up to his. I wasn't intimidated by him one bit. I never was. No matter how powerful he were.

''Claude went hunting along with Nicola, Oliver and Luciano. As for Penelopé, I simply shifted her back to my coven. It was hilarious. You should have seen the look on her face. She didn't know what was coming her way,'' he smirked. I felt disgusted.

''If you lay a finger on anyone, I will kill you with my own bare hands,'' I threatend, jabbing my index finger into is chest, allthough, I doubt he could feel that.

''Don't worry. I haven't done anything to your precious family...yet,'' he replied.

''What about Violeta? What have you done to Violeta?'' I asked, raising my voice.

''Calm down, I haven't done anything to her either. Allthough, she does enjoy my company, alot,'' he smirked. This creature is vile, I tell you. I brought up my hand to slap him across the face, but he caught my wrist in time, as I was about to slap his brains out. If he had any, for the matter.

''Why are you doing this? And what the hell are you doing here? You know very well that we can easily kill you. They will be back soon, from their hunting, and find you here,'' I said, in a harsh voice.

''I came here so I could personally make you disapear, since my demons can't do the job properly, and since your such a nuisance,'' he smiled his demonic smile.

''Then what was the point of poisoning me?'' I asked.

''So that you could be distracted for a while, whilst I carried on with my plan,'' he replied simply, as though he did this sort of thing every day. Which I'm guessing he did.

''Why poison only me then?'' I asked, ''I'm sure you want all of us gone''.

''Yes, I do, but your the strongest, now, aren't you? Plus, your family has been bugging me ever since, and there is no chance that I'm going to let your so called 'powerful' reign become competition to mine,'' he smirked.

''Since when did you have a family?''

''Oh, I have a family allright,'' he smiled ''they're called demons''.

''Well you and your family are going back where you came from. Hell,'' I hissed, pronouncing 'hell' so slowly, that it made him flinch a slight bit.

''That won't be happening dear, since you will be dead by then,''

''If I die, there's going to be something worser than hell you'll have to go through,'' I spat.

''And what's that?''

''My family. The Illuminatis, dear,'' I hissed.

''They're being taken care off, by my newly summoned demons, who happen to be shifters. They are currently stalking your family right now, whilst they hunt. Then they'll shift them back to my coven,'' he growled.

''Are you forgetting that I'm half vampire half slayer. You're going to have to get through me first,'' I growled back, ready to pounce on him any minute.

''Be my guest,'' he hissed, full of anger.

''My pleasure,'' I replied. Let the games begin.