My crusted eyes slowly opened, the painful dream I had had was leaving me and the hurt it brought with it was disappearing, my eyes only open about halfway I tried to pull my hand up to wipe off my face but there was something in my fingers, looking down I saw that my arms were crossed across my chest, shadows of his own arms with his big hands holding my hands. I didn't want to get up, to leave this warmth that I strangely only wanted to stay near, I couldn't tell if he was awake or not, but I decided to stay still for a little while longer, or until he woke up. His fingers gave a small squeeze on my own as he woke up, causing me to give a small smile. His head tipped down and laid against my ear and his forehead pressed into my still bruised neck, I tried to look at him but the corner of my eye blocked my vision, he took a deep breath and when he released it I thought that maybe he wasn't actually awake yet. I went to move but a small pain shot across my waist, causing a very small noise to escape me in the surprise of pain, as if on cue his hands slid from my own and wrapped around my ribcage, pulling me against him tighter as his head rubbed against my shoulder. I didn't move, knowing that it was probably about three, maybe four o'clock in the morning and I would have to get in the shower and all that before school, so I let him stay like that for a little before attempting to slip out of his arms. But once I tried to move away he held tighter, I gave a small smile and reached down, placing one hand on his own as I now tried to pull of his arms, but he only squeezed more, I let out a sigh. I was able to turn around though, I was now facing him, but he still held my ribs tight, his head was tipped and pressed against my collar bones now. "Dorian…" I started but once I noticed exactly what he was doing I felt a kind of sadness wash over me.

There were tears in his eyes and at that moment I noticed that he wasn't holding on to me because he just felt like it, he was holding onto me because he didn't want me to leave. When he was awake he looked and acted like a cold, refrained, cynical, possessive, and over all intimating and threatening person, but right now he looked like a small abandoned unloved child, all I wanted to do was hold him till that side of Dorian stopped emanating sadness, but I still had to get up. Raising my arms I held him, placing my arms on his shoulders, "Dorian… I have to get up… You have to let go of my waist…" my words were slow but I didn't want to wake him up, just get him to not cling to my stomach for at least an hour, I felt him take a deep breath, he was awake now, he tipped his head back so it was now resting on the bed again, his eyes closed, okay… maybe half awake. I tried to slide his hands off again. But his arms squeezed harder, except this time they were on my hips and he squeezed the bruises, I quickly drew my eyes shut and pressed against him to stop the cry from leaving my throat, my hands were almost shaking because of the sudden wave of pain, setting off all my other bruises with it for some reason, I couldn't take it so I pulled his arms back up to my ribs. Laying there I noticed that he was still sleeping, I would have no choice but to wake him if I wanted to wriggle free, but he looked so peaceful when my hands were around him, I leaned closer, pressing my head against his chest, my ear pressed to hear his heart as my arms wrapped around him, I could at least give him a few minutes to feel like this. After about 30 minutes I looked back up, he looked peaceful still, but I would have to wake him, if only for a few seconds, I let go of his back and pushed away from him a little, my arms now on his chest, I tapped where his heart was,

"Dorian…"

tap tap tap

"Dorian…. I have to get up…" polyp

tap tap tap

"Dorian…hey, wake up…"

Sadly I got nowhere; he only pulled his head down a little and was now facing me, I watching him for a second, his golden reddish hair parted to reveal softly closed eyes. Reaching one of my hands up I placed my hand on his cheek, "Dorian…" I continued, it was still dark out and I had already said his voice about five times and he still wasn't up, he was a very heavy sleeper, not what I thought he was.

…. "They don't even hurt anymore." I tried to convince him, grabbing on to my wrist and hiding the pain that shot up my body, but he didn't stop giving me that look, so I let out a sigh, trying to act oblivious still, "Show me… You know what I'm talking about." I let out another sigh and looked up at him, he looked like that he was still hurt but trying to push it away, slowly I slid my cold fingers to hook on my waist band and pulled it over, not looking at his face to see his reaction. The floor squeaked as he shifted his weight, I couldn't tell if he was mad or upset with himself or if he was mad at me, but I felt his fingers slide to clamp softly on my chin and gently tipped my head back so I was forced to look into his eyes, "I'm sorry." I never would have heard his quiet voice if I wasn't watching his lips, "Sorry for what?" it wasn't that big of a deal, just some small bruises, it's not like I haven't got worse from D'Ablo, his hand twitched on my chin when I thought about D'Ablo breaking my ribs and all the blood that he had drained from me in the few years I had even known who he was. "I never meant to hurt you…" He was quiet but his voice was comforting, I lightly shook my head and pulled my head out of his grasp as I looked straight ahead again, "It doesn't hurt, didn't you hear me?" I could deal with it, it would heal and then I wouldn't even be able to remember the pain, but he didn't stop when I wanted him to. He cupped my face in his hands as he made me look back up to him, "I'm sorry… I would never want to hurt you…" his comment confused me, "So… killing me doesn't hurt?" his face looked more hurt and more upset and as soon as the words slipped from my lips I regretted saying them, I didn't hate Dorian, I had no reason to but I didn't want him saying things like I would never want to hurt you or I never meant to because I already had enough to deal with on that level, I didn't need anymore fake promises or meaningless words. Dorian was further from me now, as if trying to distant himself, and I thought that maybe he really was mad at me and me being a bitch to him just made it so he couldn't hide it anymore, "If all you want to do is drink my blood… It's not like I could really stop you, so you don't have to try and be all nice or act like you care…" I turned to the mirror and started to wash my face, trying not to sound like I didn't cared all that much, and why should I? I noticed in the mirror before I felt anything. Dorian was behind me, his arms wrapped around my waist and wrapping up to hold my shoulders, his face buried in my hair and neck, breathing on my skin, his body pressed against me. The warmth spread from his body to mine, he felt like he was human with his warmth but he wasn't so I didn't really know why he always seemed so warm to me, all he wanted was my blood and yet he was still clinging to me and acting like he cared, if he kept going I would be stupid enough to start to believe him. "I'm sorry…I try to stop… but I lose control and I end up hurting you, I'm sorry…" His voice vibrated against my throat, I didn't want him to let go but I needed him too, slithering around I pushed him off, trying to act busy but failing miserably, "I don't like being away from you… please don't think my words mean nothing. I mean all of my words." I wasn't looking at him, I was now sitting painfully on the floor with clothes on the ground trying to act like I was looking for a shirt that I had accidently thrown in there, with some clothes on my lap, I couldn't think anymore to try to act busy. "I do… It's not for the blood… It's not to tear you apart… It's not to ruin you… It's because I mean it and I don't try to hurt you but I lost myself for a short while- because I want to be around you- because I'm not use to having to restrain myself, but if that's what I have to do to be with you then I will." I dropped my head, and Dorian answered my question allowed, "Yes… Vladimira- I'm saying that I love you." His stepped towards me but before he could hug me or hold me or any of that I stood up and tried to slip past him, but he put up his hands and grabbed my arms. "Let go…" I couldn't deal with this, not this early and in general- ever. "Please… Don't say that." Dorian was looking at me but I couldn't look up at him, I stared at the ground hoping that there was someway that I could scurry away but I didn't, part of me wanted to be able to be with him and feel love again but the other- the smart part of me knew that it was never that simple and it is easier to stay away from any type of love then risk feeling it for even a second. My arms were wiggling, to try to get away and to try to hide my shaking, but he pulled me over and hugged me, my head leaning against his chest trying to pry away while my mind fought, and I knew he could see it all so I was trying to hide it, just waiting for him to laugh and say that he couldn't believe that I actually thought that someone could say those types of things to someone like me. But all he did was hold me tighter and make me look up at him, I tried more to pull away, pushing against his chest, my hands sliding against his shirt and getting me nowhere further from him. My vision blurred a little as tears started to form in my eyes, "No." I had to reject love, I couldn't face having these feelings- the only other people I ever loved I lost, and that's what would happen here if he actually meant what he said and I still didn't know if he did mean any of it. He would leave and I would never see him again, but I still knew that he didn't mean what he was saying, I just wanted him to mean it, I just wanted everything he said to be true and it wouldn't matter if it was or not because if he said it again I would break and truth wouldn't matter. "Vladimira… Please, trust me…" I stopped fighting against him, but not because he took control of my body, but because he was the first person to ever ask me to trust them, no one ever asked me and seemed to never care if I did or not. 'Fine', I thought, I would trust him and believe every word that he told me and when he laughed or he vanished it would be my own stupid fault and there would be nothing I could do but suck it up. His face slowly lit up with happiness and a small genuine smile touched his lips, he forced me to look back up at him and he leaned down pressing his lips against my own, both of our eyes closed and when we opened them he shook his head, "Yes… I am asking to be your boyfriend…. And for you to be my girlfriend." My face blushed a little that he was still reading my mind, I was silent for a small while as he leaned back down and kissed my lips, after a few minutes I finally found my voice again, "Kay… I have two rules though." I watched his face to see whether or not he was going to say okay then I'm gone, or what makes you think I'll follow them, but he gave me neither, instead he waited for me to say what I wasn't thinking. "First: no more reading my mind… it's embarrassing." I blushed a little and he smiled while a small laugh escaped, "Alright, I shall respect that rule and I will respect your thoughts and not invade your privacy." I let out a breath and smiled at him and then I held up my hand, holding up two fingers. "And rule number two…. No drinking human blood." That was a big thing to take, but he didn't seem all that shocked to hear me say it, "While I'm here?" He asked simply, I didn't understand what he meant, "Well… when I am not here I do not have access to food other then directly from the source." I never thought about that, that raised a couple questions in my mind but I pushed them away, "Kay… Then… no killing anyone, or almost killing them." That seemed like a better rule, "And how you do you expect me to keep the vampire race a secret?" I don't think he didn't like not being able to read my mind, "Erase their memories," I said simply, "You're a strong enough vampire, you could manage it." I smiled closing my eyes which only surprised me more when he leaned back down and pressed his lips against my own again, pulling me harder against him, slowly tipping his head away he looked at me, his voice serious, "I'll manage it." I smiled, I couldn't help but feel special that he was actually going to listen to the rules, while they sounded easy I knew that they weren't, even for Otis the second one was difficult. "I have to finish getting ready for school." A smile still on my face as I turned around to look at the mirror, Dorian still clinging to me, even though I said the word school the smile didn't fade. I slowly shifted my weight and noticed that my hips really hurt, I would have to take some pain killers if I wanted to be able to survive all day, especially since I would have to walk to school today because Henry would be going to an appointment first, only the second day of school and he already managed to skip out. Dorian looked at me with a concerned face, as if sensing my pain, "I'm fine." I lied, softly pulling his hands away to stand on my own and actually get stuff done, but he still saw through it, I put my hand on the door as if signaling that I was going to shut it and he had to go find someone else to bug for right yet, but he looked reluctant and I thought he would never leave. Finally he smiled and turned to walk back to my room it looked like and I shut the door, a smile still on my face, I had a boyfriend- a vampire boyfriend… I began to think about what Otis said to me, to stay away from Dorian… how would he take this?

Jumping in the shower I looked down at my bruised body, the scars that masked and tangled, twisting around the front of my legs, for the first time in a long time I felt special and the scars only reminded me that I was really stupid and then doubt myself a little more at the thought that maybe he really didn't like me or anything like he said, after all I had only known him for a little over 2 days… and in most of the times I was sleeping or passed out. I slowly got out of the shower not wanting to face him but wanting to be near him, whether to hear his lies or as he said truths, I wanted to be near him again. After brushing my teeth and my hair, after getting completely dressed for school, hiding some of the bruises with bracelets they were still in the process of becoming nothing but still managed to hurt, I walked out of the bathroom. Walking across the hall and into my room I grabbed my shoes and socks and sat on my bed, wondering if Dorian left or if maybe he stayed around and was roaming around the house. Getting off the bed, I slowly walked downstairs, hiding the pain incase Dorian popped up, but once I reached the kitchen I assumed that Dorian wasn't around. Reaching into the cabinet I pulled out a bottle labeled Tylenol and popped the cover, though what was inside was not Tylenol, it was stronger and addicting but numbed the body, Vicadin. I swallowed the pill and was surprised to turn around and see Dorian again, standing in the doorway, looking at me like he was trying to figure out what I was thinking without breaking the first rule. I tried to act like I didn't just swallow a pill but he caught on pretty quick, his face soften as he raised his hand to brush my cheek but I quickly moved, pretending I didn't see him reaching for my face, "You hungry?" I turned back around to look at him, he needed to eat and I wasn't sure if he would feel comfortable just reaching into a freezer to take food, but then again it was Dorian… but then again, he was very different when I was around. I watched his somewhat long hair shift as he shook his head softly, walking towards me again, his hand still in the air but now pressing against my chest like he originally planned; I tried to not over react or anything, "What?" the words came out hushed as he leaned against me again and pressed his lips against my forehead, I closed my eyes halfway, enjoying it but trying not to, I couldn't be sure yet and not that I wasn't trying to believe him but I wasn't sure if he was completely telling the truth when he said that he didn't like hurting me, not wanting to end up having to hide more bruises, I didn't mind the pain, just trying to hide it was the problem. His neck slowly straightened as he pulled his lips away and looked down at me, his deep dark eyes peering as if they were glowing, and they started to close again as he leaned back down and I felt something warm and moist press against my almost closed mouth. My eyes shut and I wasn't sure if I was surprised or relieved that he didn't force his tongue back into my mouth, but I felt my lips get wetter as his tongue did slide around my bottom lip, his clothed arms slowly finding their way around my own covered arms and holding my back, pushing me against him although softly, he seemed like he was getting taller as my head tipped further and further back but his lips stay connected with mine, my head tipped all the way back while my body was still straight- almost, other then where Dorian was pulling me against him, I felt his breathes get deeper and shorter, but I didn't bother to open my eyes to look at him. His fingers started to push into my back, picking me up slightly as his lips pushed harder against mine and his tongue slid around my bottom lip faster, I opened my mouth a tiny bit more and I felt his tongue slide against my teeth, hitting the gums and slithering around as if searching my mouth, remembering last night. Last night when he did this it didn't- but almost, hurt, it didn't taste right, but right now he wasn't being as mean and he was actually being gentle- it tasted sweet. I loosened my own tongue and let his slide against it, slowly pulling me closer and closer to him, we had already been touching from the beginning but it was as if he was trying to merge me with him, I liked feeling Dorian's touch, pinned between a counter and him, slightly pushing against the counter till I almost couldn't breath and let go, letting my pale and frail hands slide up Dorian's clothed arm to rest on his shoulder as he continued to press harder against my much frailer body. My lunar hands connected around, holding lightly onto the back of his lightly tanned neck as he kissed hard and his tongue moved faster, I decided to kiss back for the first time, and his body gave a slight shake and he instantly pressed harder against me while my tongue slipped into his mouth over his own, exploring his mouth for the first time. I felt one of Dorian's hands slide up a bit and wrap on to my shoulder, as if trying to pull me down while his other arm held me up, his lean body began to press against mine like his breathing, quickly close and then just as quickly loosened, repeating this as if trying to force me away but not wanting to. Heat was seeping through his clothes as he pressed himself against me in short pulses, his tongue moving quicker and quicker around my mouth, then slowly his head started to tip to the side while he lightly kissed down my cheek to kiss behind my jaw and down my neck. Opening my eyes slowly I looked up at the ceiling still as I didn't bother to move my head, tipping my head to the side though to allow him to press harder against my still lightly bruised skin. Spurts of liquid fire shooting up my body while an almost disgusted feeling washed over me, Dorian was causing all but the disgusted part, I didn't like human interaction but I found myself in love with his touch, ever since he first set his hand on my chin, but I felt disgusted with myself that I was allowing him to feel like he said for me.

Bringing my hand down I sat them on his chest and started to push against him, not wanting to push him away but not wanting allow him to go any further, saying things that I didn't want him to regret and that I didn't want to hear while I knew all the while that it couldn't be possible for him to like me because I had only known him for such a short while. Dorian didn't stop though, he only pressed his moist lips harder against my skin and his body harder against my own, but his head stopped sliding down my neck and was now sucking at the skin on my collar bone, I could feel my skin getting nipped at by his still human teeth. Unfortunately my voice wasn't on my side and wouldn't talk to him to get him to stop, but instead only a small cry came out when I felt his teeth press against my skin, nothing more then a small press that didn't even break the skin but he held his hold and all I wanted was to push him away. I tried to yell at him in my mind but then I remembered that I had told him not to read my mind and almost on cue as I went to speak he picked his head up and pressed his lips against my own and before I could close my mouth his tongue slithered inside. Slowly opening my eyes I tried to meet his eyes but his own eyes were closed and I noticed that my face was blushing, I tried to pull my head away, tried to tip my head down to escape him but he felt me start to pull and instead just cradled the back of my head in his hand as he pushed my head against him and kept me from tipping it. Just realizing, I noticed that my knees gave out and instead of me collapsing to the ground I was laid back on the counter, thank god that Nelly liked to keep it clean and nothing was on the counter that would break. Trying to push against him I realized more about the predicament that I was in, Dorian had one of his large smooth hands holding my wrists above my head, my head stuck in between my upper arms- unable to move, while his other arm went across my stomach and then lifted up and held my shoulder down so I couldn't turn over on my side, but in order to keep my back flat, or just because he felt like it, his chest and stomach leaned over and pressed heavily against my own. My knees were pressed tightly together to move Dorian with all my force in one strong blow, but they didn't do very much, only slid and rotated my hips while he continued to cram his tongue down my throat, my tongue vibrating as I still tried to talk but the words were muffled by his mouth.

Most of Dorian was pressed against me, holding me down and restraining me, the thought hit me slowly but once I had figured it completely out it only made me that much more concerned, I never told Dorian that he couldn't control me. His hand let go of my shoulder and slid up my neck to rest on my cheek, his breath was quick and heavy, I was trying to squirm free but I couldn't, there wasn't anything that I could do, I was throwing my body around but I wasn't able to slide off the counter or get Dorian away, my eyes were squeezed shut the entire time. I felt myself get dropped onto something, forcing me to open my eyes as the air jumped out of my lungs, but before I could catch my breath or register anything that had happened Dorian had slid up from my feet and now his entire body was weighting my own down further into the couch. His hand was no longer holding my wrist, so I brought my hands up and set them on to his collar bone, trying to push him and throw my body the other way, but I couldn't and instead I felt Dorian grab and push himself into the couch more. Dorian placed his hands on my cheeks, pinching my face to stay still while his body began to shake and pressed harder against me allowing me to feel his restrained thrusts that hit my legs, his tongue still swimming violently around my mouth, he pulled away. I needed him to stop but I was slowly loosing my edge to want him to, I was going to continue to try and get away and put up as much of a fight that I could until he went away or I won. He clamped his hand over my mouth as I threw my head to the side, staring at the back of the couch, still trying to get away but I was loosing and I couldn't get my head together to think of a way out, he kissed down my cheek again, kissing behind my jaw and below my ear. His teeth gently clamping on my pierced ear lobe and tugged a bit as his still free hand managed to slide down under me and slowly slide to touch and hold the underside of my left thigh. Stopping a small cry like noise in my throat I squeezed my eyes shut again, pushing against his chest to get him to stop and go away, even though he was probably reading my thoughts he didn't respond to what I was saying and only continued to lightly kiss and roll his tongue over my skin, causing random spurts of fire in my core. I couldn't let him do this, I pushed hard, digging my fingers to grab onto his collars and a small sound escaped his lips into my neck but it didn't sound pained, but instead like he was enjoying it and trying not to. Letting go of his collar bones I tried push harder, he kicked his feet against the arm rest, sliding himself up a few inches as my hands slid further down his chest, I felt him squint his eyes quickly and hold them shut while his body jerked against mine and pushed me deeper into the couch. Feeling another tick in my head Dorian started to kiss my skin a little harder and bite my neck a little deeper, I didn't want to get away anymore, instead just hold him close but still not continue to get any further, he slowly squeezed his hand around my leg, only his fingertips really pushing against me, as his other hand slid off my mouth. Now that his hand wasn't in the way to stop me from speaking I tried to force words out but my body wasn't allowing me to, his hand slid down my arm until it reached my hand, my arms still tingling from his touch. His hand wrestled with the bottom of my sweatshirt as he pushed his hand up and under my shirts and rested his hand on the top of my bare rib cage, his fingers tipping into my skin but his nails not cutting. Breathing seemed difficult to him as he pressed against my collar, his breathe short but deep, his body was trembling now and my own body was starting to like it, I turned my head to look at him, to get him to stop, part of myself still in control, but as soon as I opened my eyes and he saw my face he only brought his lips back to mine and didn't bother asking for entrance. My eyes instantly closed and I tried to pull my head away, though a small part of me still didn't want to, I tried to push against his fast breathing chest but a small noise only escaped into my mouth as he bit my lip gently, pulling on it, I forced my head back, trying to pull away while I was still sane. But it only allowed him to softly bite down on the front of my neck, I could feel his lips press into a smile as a small noise vibrated my throat, my hands instantly stopping with their pressure against him to allow him to push harder into me, dragging his fingers down my rib but not scratching, causing my heart rate to bump faster. Wanting him to push harder against me, I set my hands on my own chest, resting them under his chin, he pressed a little harder and his movements became a little quicker, I felt him tip his head to look up at my face, I was beat red- I could feel it, but he still continued to press his lips against me and softly bite. I forced my hands into fists, squeezing the ends of my hoodie between my fingers and palm; I let my head go back to its normal angle- I had to get out of this. I was arguing with my own body more then I was with him, of course he wasn't helping me in anyway, but I let the sickening feeling return to my body, he didn't mean what he said and it was my fault for letting him get this far, my fault for deciding to say fine, clearly he wants someone but that someone isn't me and I am just an idiot for thinking that anyone could ever feel that way about me. He continued what he was doing, although it was softer now, I could feel him staring at me again, his face holding some type of sympathy that I didn't deserve while his body acted on its own. He continued to kiss my neck but no longer bit it, my body was still wanting more while my head felt like I was getting torn apart because of what Dorian had said, what he hadn't said, and what he was doing, I could feel something building up in the corners of my eyes. But I couldn't cry, if anything happened then it was my own fault and crying would just show how pathetic I was, I was a gullible arrogant moron, I felt something brush against my cheek, forcing me to slowly open one eye. Everything about Dorian had changed, everything about him was calm, comforting, and anything but what he just was, his body was no longer pushing against mine but instead lightly laying over me as if hovering. His right arm was bent under him and resting against me, his palm lightly cupping the left side of my face, while his other hand held the top of my head gently. I felt his weight shift as he looked me in the eye, a tear had fallen down the side of my face and when I realized what he had done I didn't know how to respond but to look at him with just that look, confusion. He kissed the tear away, holding my gaze in his own, his body still trembling but I could see him trying to hold it back, again he lead down and kissed my forehead, I had no idea what to do. I wanted to ask him what he was doing, why he was doing it, and what exactly was he planning on doing, but I couldn't force any words to come out of my throat, or even form correctly in my brain, though I was still hoping that he wouldn't read my mind, I knew that he was and that meant a whole lot more then him just breaking a rule. I tried to move, pushing my fisted hands against his chest, not wanting me to look at me like that anymore, that look of care and understanding with a little bit of sympathy- I didn't want it or deserve it.

Pushing against him while pushing myself down into the couch further didn't get me anywhere, I felt Dorian's body tighten as he held his spot, I tried to crawl through the small gap that I had created, but to do that I would have to push off the couch. Looking at the window again, almost hoping that Nelly would walk in so I could break away, but Dorian just put his thumb on my chin and moved my head so I would look at him. His eyes were glossy for some reason which only added another reason that I was unable to look at them, he looked as if he was going to cry, finally his quiet voice managed to break the humming silence, "Vladimira… I'm sorry…" Desperate, a bit shaky, he sounded like he wanted to add more, but as soon as the words left his mouth I felt guilty, I am not worth enough to make someone feel bad for something they did to me- there was no way that someone could logically feel bad for doing something to me, it was me, I was an example of everything bad, pathetic, and stupid. He went to speak again, he was reading my mind, but I cut him off, "For what?" I tried to look up at him, but I couldn't, he seemed shocked by my response, I could feel a tear forming in my eye again for some stupid reason, I felt a new bruise forming on my body while the ones on my wrists were also now a little bigger. I watched his mouth instead of his face, and I squeezed my eyes shut when he leaned back down to me, driving my chin into my chest to try and get away, but I felt something press against my forehead, and then my cheek. Keeping my eyes shut for well over a few seconds I finally- slowly, peeled them open, noticing now that the room was at a different angle, I was no longer laying under Dorian but instead sitting up against the arm of the chair, looking past the shoulder in front of my face I stared at the opposite wall, my knees up to my chest but my arms in between them. Dorian slowly pulled away and for a second our eyes met, but I quickly looked down to where his arm stretched across me and wrapped around my shoulders while his other hand held him so he could lean against me. As if sensing something Dorian jumped a bit and froze, I didn't know what to say or do other then look up at him, searching his eyes to make sure everything was okay, but nothing in them said he was. Leaning forward more I kept staring at his face, turning my head around to see if he was staring at something in particular but the door was still shut and there was nothing there, slowly I placed my hand gently on his shoulder, pushing against it more then holding it, and just as slowly Dorian looked down at my hand and then back up at me.

"What is it?" I knew there was something a bit different with Dorian, he saw things, like I did when I slept, he had a vision of some sorts and his face looked as if he wasn't very happy to see it, I never am. He didn't seem to of heard my question so I asked again, "What is it, what did you see?" Shifting a little to face him as he leaned more against the back of the couch, not looking at me I watched as what looked like a tear formed in his eyes, I placed my other hand on his shoulder again as my hand fell off when he moved, but he still didn't seem all together. Staying still I waited for him to come back too, not really knowing what to say when he did but I could tell he was doing everything he could to hide what he was experiencing, although he didn't need to. His hand found its way up to my knee to grab my other hand, I held it tightly, hoping that he would be able to feel it and know that he was okay but his expression didn't change, and he went to pull away from my hand but I held tight. Instead I was pulled across his lap, quickly pulling myself together, moved my still folded knees to the floor and set myself atop of them, still holding his hand though I was now sitting at his feet in front of him, I looked up trying to meet his eyes, still holding his hand. Finally I saw him give another small jump and I knew that he was back, although confused for a moment, he was fine, I wanted to ask again, but I kept in mind that if he really wanted me to know then he would tell me, his eyes locked on mine till he noticed that my hands were holding his almost shaking hand. Quickly looking back to me he looked like he was going to cry again, I knew he might want to cry but he was Dorian- he didn't cry, I couldn't let him give in to tears that he probably deserved to shed because I didn't want him to regret it, he was the tough scary guy, "What's wrong?" I tried to nonchalantly push away his need to cry and cover it with something else and let him sort it out later but that didn't look like it was going to work. My breath hitched slightly as I found myself pulled onto his lap and into his arms, my hands no longer holding his hand but folded against my chest, he was hugging me and I was so shocked I didn't know what to do. It sounded as if he was going to cry again, his breath was shaky and uneven, without thinking I pushed my arms around him, folding my arms tightly around his quivering shoulders, and I felt him squeeze around my waist more. Feeling his break silently I knew he was crying and my natural instinct kicked in, speaking softly I tried to comfort him, "Shhhhhh…. What's wrong?" I squeezed him a little tighter and brought my left hand up to brush his hair back, although most of his face was buried in my shoulder causing most of his head to be pushed against my face, I weaved my fingers through the back of his short hair, brushing it.

He let out a small laugh, and instead of feeling like an idiot I knew that the laugh was forced and that he didn't find anything funny, but I still waited for him to collect himself before I asked another question. Nuzzling his face into my neck and shoulder he squeezed me tighter, his warm breath uneven as it hit my chest and neck, "You…" he started and I could tell that he was still trying to choke back tears, "You….should never be this forgiving…" As if catching himself he stopped talking and froze a little again, like a new wave was coming over him, quickly I pressed a little harder, trying to 'summon' him out of whatever he was thinking and I felt him trying to regain himself, "H-People…" I listened intently, he was going to say he- at least I think he was but he continued, "People… you get hurt- and yet… As soon as someone says their sorry… you open yourself to them…" I didn't know if he was mad at me or in a long run calling me a whore, but I kept listening, I didn't know exactly as to what he was talking about because I couldn't think of a specific moment, "Please… don't do that…" I pulled away a little to look at his face, but I only managed to be able to see a little over half of it, he didn't look me in the eye but continued to look over my shoulder. "What do you mean?" my voice was smooth compared to his normally singing like voice, "You get hurt… don't do that…" I could see his face change a little as he looked like he was about to cry again but instead of continuing to stare at him I forced myself to hug him again, allowing him to catch a breath.

After minutes I heard my alarm in my room go off again, signaling that it was now 7:20, the time when I have to leave my house and start walking to school, although I normally rode with Henry I was too lazy to take the time off. I didn't move as soon as I heard it click onto the radio because Dorian was still seemingly uneasy and having problems trying to sort through everything in his brain, though I wasn't exactly sure as to what would effect the centuries old vampire, making the thought of it in my head just that much worse. Only a little under a minute after the sound went off I felt Dorian pull away, allowing me to slowly pull away making sure that he was okay and not just faking it or something but I could tell by his reaction that he was no longer reading my mind. Searching his eyes I tried to check before I stood up, but when his eyes met mine I could tell that he wasn't and that me staring into his eyes wasn't helping him. Slowly standing up I noticed that the pill I took earlier had worn off and now the pain in my hips were back, but I ignored the pain and walked around the couch leaving a still semi-upset Dorian on the couch to stare at a window. Reaching my room I turned off the alarm, realizing it was now 7:33, I would have to run to school in order to make it there by 7:45, I guess I would be late then, no way I would be able to walk comfortably, let alone run. When I reached my alarm I sunk to the floor at the side of my bed, leaning against and on the bed while my legs folded underneath me on the floor, my arm still outstretched to turn off the clock though I had now been off for well over two minutes. Suddenly I was downstairs and I was no longer standing, I was looking off to my left to see around the bottom of the stairs, looking at the living room and bits of the dining room visible, I looked up to my left to see Dorian's face, looking down at me with a bow smile, I noticed that he had me cradled in his arms against his chest, his left arm under my knees while his right arm wrapped around my shoulders, causing me to blush and him to give a small laugh. I went to move to get down but he held tight, I noticed that he was smiling more as a small laugh echoed in his chest while he watched my red face turn redder the longer he held me there, I was extremely nervous and I didn't know what to do which just made all my movements that much more disgraceful and him laugh all the more. Finally I managed to scoot out of his grasp, almost falling as my feet clumsily hit the ground, falling towards the wall to keep me off the ground, my face still glowing red, but quickly my back was on the wall with my hands loosely bent up to rest near my shoulders while Dorian stood in front of me with his hands pressed to the sides of me, boxing me against the wall, my face remaining the bright red. My heart pounding against my chest making me just blush even more, his smile faded from the bow it was but still present, feeling his breath hit the cold sweat on the nape of my neck as he leaned closer to me. His lips brushing against my ear as he leaned even closer, only his face though, the rest of him not in contact with my body, his breath whistling around my ear as he gave a small laugh at my still bright red face. Heat emanating from my shoulders up to reach him, a shiver running down my spine as I felt him softly nip at my earlobe, causing me to have an uncertain feeling, it didn't hurt though normally that should but it was almost so brief that I desired it again, except more. Giving off another small laugh he pressed against me tightly for a second, his whole body basically wrapping around me and enveloping me, the lightening feeling shooting up through me again, but just as quickly I was sitting in the kitchen, sitting at the long oak table in a chair that had been pushed in and then suddenly there was a blood bag in front of me, the tip cut off for someone to drink out of it, I looked up at the hand holding it. Dorian looked at me with such a mixed expression I could tell what exactly it was that he thinking or feeling, so many things wrong with the current situation. First it was my house and he was giving me food? That wasn't right. Second it was almost 8 in the morning, too early to eat, I rarely eat in the morning, only when I don't eat the night before and I'm afraid I'll slip up in school. Third, it's so extremely awkward to eat in front of someone, I rarely do and when I do, it's barely any. But before I could speak any of these, my mouth freezing halfway open once I saw the blood bag I looked up at him but before my eyes could focus he had already bent down pressed his lips against my open mouth, slipped the blood bag into my hand, and left the room. I stared at the bag for a few seconds, but decided why not? I stood up, walking over to the sink as I chugged it, school was going to be starting very soon and while it's not like I couldn't just run and be there in less then a minute the fact that it would hurt was the problem I was facing. Drinking almost three fourths of the bag I dumped the rest down the sink, turning on the water to allow it to be washed down and then placing the bag in the orange hazardous container under the sink. Turning off the water and turning around I was stunned to see that Dorian was standing in the doorway again, a strange look yet again on his face, I went to say something but my body froze again as I looked down and noticed what he had in his hand.

"Thanks." I walked towards him, he had gone upstairs and grabbed my backpack, not that it was very heavy, it only had a notebook and a book in it, but the fact that it was upstairs was the problem. When I reached him I went to grab the backpack but as I reached for it he pulled it away, his face had a smile as if he thought my face was priceless, I didn't know what to say to him, so I just scowled at him, I didn't have times to play games, I had to go to school very soon and I was running out of times, as much as I wanted to, packing as much sarcasm into the thought as I could, I didn't have enough time. Giving him a more questioning glance he finally did something that said what he was doing, he turned around and pointed at his back, I could tell the way he was holding his other arm that he actually expected me to jump on his back. I gave a small laugh, "Do you really expect me to do that?" I moved my head to the side a little to get a better view of his grinning face; he had a childish grin that told me he was teasing me. "Well you have two choices…" he began, not turning around anymore to look at me, but instead looking over his shoulder still, I crossed my arms, shifting my weight- force of habit, but he clearly wanted that type of reaction, "Really now? And what are my choices?" I heard the small deep laugh echo from him again, he was having fun, and it was making me blush again for a few reasons. "… You can either jump on my back-" "No- no way." I cut him off, but it only made him laugh more and he moved so fast I barely even saw it till he got to where he was going. Standing behind me he wrapped his arm around me, placing the palm of his left hand on my right cheek so gently that it tingled at first, causing me to blush yet again. "Or…" he continued with a laugh in his voice that said that he enjoyed me just cutting him off more then he found it rude, "I'll carry you like I just did all the way to school…" I blushed again, turning my head to look up at him with a look that begged him to be joking but he only laughed more and leaned down close to me, my whole body now leaned into his embrace, in my ear he whispered and I instantly glowed red again, "If I can resist long enough…"

My first reaction was to jump out of his arms, but it was mixed, part of me wanted to run away because I was nervous and the other half wanted to stay with his arms wrapped around me. Freezing instead I stared straight ahead, he leaned down and placed a small kiss on my neck, holding his face there to breath on my neck, sending a shiver down my spine. Time seemed to be at a standstill but I slowly snapped myself out of it, "I have to go to school…" He slowly breathed out again, almost like a sigh, knowing that I had to but also knowing that I didn't want to, that he didn't want me to leave. Slowly reaching I found my backpack and nonchalantly took it out of his hand, him being so lost that I don't think he even noticed till I started to walk out of his grasp. I didn't want to though, his arms were warm and he understood and accepted me- why wouldn't I want to stay surrounded by that, but I had to get to school, I gave a small laugh as I heard him give a small growl in protest. Walking hurt my hips though, but I swallowed the slowly decreasing pain and tried to just get through the day without anyone noticing, especially Otis.

The breath in my throat hitched as I was suddenly lifted off my feet, my whole body on edge at the sudden movement, I looked up to find what had caused it only to see a smiling Dorian looking down at me. Quickly catching my breath I felt my face heat up, burying my chin into my chest as to hide my face he gave another small laugh, but it was cut short and when I looked up he seemed genuinely concerned… or maybe angry. Following his gaze my heart stopped for a beat, standing in the living room was D'Ablo.

Trying to climb down out of Dorian's grasp I was denied when he only held me tighter, I broke my eye contact to look up at Dorian, "Isn't this…" D'Ablo paused for a minute, a smirk playing on his lips, "Sad." Dorian tightened his hold on me, I didn't know why he was so concerned, I could handle myself, and then I felt his telepathic message, Stay still, don't speak… I'm sorry for speaking telepathically, but I will not read your mind-, I cut him off in my own mind, It's fine… he gave a small squeeze as if accepting my reply, him and D'Ablo were having a stare down that I only now noticed. "It isn't very polite to have private conversations, keeping me locked out, I know we haven't gotten along well, but there is no reason for rudeness." D'Ablo seemed to be enjoying himself, though Dorian definitely had an upper hand even with me in his arms.

"What do you want?" My tone wasn't exactly mean, but it was not welcoming either, I heard Dorian's breath hitch, remembering now that he told me not to speak, Sorry, I was not going to stay quiet either way, did he forget it was me? "Oh, well… I came to see how my darling Vladimira was healing after our last encounter, hoping the dreams have subsided?" D'Ablo knew that Dorian wasn't told of this, and the whole thing was locked away with several marks, by D'Ablo himself, so that Otis- or any other vampire would find out. What? Dorian didn't seemed very pleased with what D'Ablo had said, I'll tell you later… he was silent, but still giving off the feeling that he wanted to hear now, Promise. He seemed satisfied with that answer and turned all his attention back to D'Ablo, "After your little run in with Ignatius, I wanted to make sure you healed all right." He smiled again, enjoying the game he was playing, though he was the only one playing, I shrugged in response, "The little batty had nothing on me." I gave a smartass answer, my natural reaction to anything to serious, denying the truth completely because Ignatius had almost literally ripped me apart, throwing knives at me like a dart board and punching me like I was a punching bag. D'Ablo seemed thrilled for once that I was being a smartass, so much so that he joined in, "On the contrary, as you would say it, he had a whole lot on you." I almost wanted to laugh at his attempt but when I looked up to Dorian I became confused, he looked very angry and he looked as if he was trying not to collapse, I forced myself out of his arms to stand next to him, looking up at him though he was bent over a little.

"Ah, so it works." D'Ablo clapped his hands and took a step closer, I turned around to look at him, "What works?" Dorian fell, collapsing to his knees, shaking violently; I put my arms on his sides to keep him from tipping too much one way, keeping my eye contact with D'Ablo. "Well… I had this small… charm; if you will… made for me, just for Dorian, I figured I could level the playing field." He shrugged his shoulders and walked closer. "What did you do?" I looked down at Dorian, trying to sound as calm as possible, "I didn't do anything, but… since he can no longer move, I suggest you back away from him, or he's going to get hurt." D'Ablo was smiling his sickly smile, the one he used when he thought he was on top of everything, Dorian clasped his hand on my arm as if to tell me not to listen to what he was saying, but I did anyway. I could protect myself but not both of us, I pushed him back gently, softly leaning him against the wall, I stood up to look at D'Ablo, "Why? Like a punk like you could managed to hurt him." I spoke to him, though I had already done what he had recommended, I didn't want him to think he had the upper hand, because although he didn't want to admit it, we were pretty evenly matched.

"But see," D'Ablo started, stepping closer still, "I can hurt him," he paused for dramatic effect which really wasn't necessary because I was already listening to his every word, "by hurting you." Before I could even comprehend what he had said I was trying to regain my focus as my back slammed and bounced off the wall, landing me on my ass, "Shit." I mumbled; he was using his vampire strength, the cheater. The crack slowly registered a few seconds after I had hit the ground, the pain even slower, my arm wrapped around my side as I felt at least two now broken ribs. I managed to stand up and look as though nothing had just happened, D'Ablo stood a few feet away, but still too close for comfort, in front of me; shrugging his shoulders like it was nothing. "Come now Vladimira… After everything, you should have learned by now how to protect yourself." He was getting ready to attack again; I could see it in his eyes. My heart was racing but I couldn't seem to think straight, it was like I was looking through a dirty window and instead of see the mountains behind it all I saw was the dirt on the window. I took a defensive stance and readied myself for his attack, but everything seemed slowed down, by the time I noticed that he had moved he was already inches from me, I threw myself to my side, trying not to hurt my throbbing ribs any more than they already were. Landing on my feet I pounced towards the door, trying to maneuver to get behind D'Ablo but he caught hold of my knee, driving his gloved thumb into the back of my knee, I could feel the blood pouring down but just as quickly he had me thrown into the wall again. I didn't understand. My ribs were cracked, my knee was gushing blood, everything was throbbing, my mind was hazy, but it was D'Ablo, I could win against him, at least damage him a little in the long run but it had only been a few minutes, how could he already have damaged me this much? He reached for my throat, but instead I bit his hand, almost ripping off a chunk completely, he quickly withdrew his hand with a hiss, and just as quickly slapped me across the face, sending my face to meet the floor. Again D'Ablo tried to grab me but this time I didn't even see his hand, chocking me while pinning me to the wall he gave a small laugh. "I wasn't expecting you to be able to put up this much of a fight, but I can quickly fix that," I felt him squeeze tighter around my throat, I brought my hands up to rip at his arm but he wouldn't let go, my lungs began to ache, I realized that I should have been kicking him too but for some reason I couldn't multitask, though my mind was already hazy now I knew I was dying when the edges of my vision became blurred, everything around me seemed so loud and hectic though I couldn't understand any of it. The dirty window I was looking out became smaller and smaller and in the tiny frames nothing I saw I could comprehend, my lungs feeling like they were shriveling up and about to fall off just made my head reel more and I could feel my body become distant. Finally, everything just stopped.

I wasn't aware of when, but at some point my air returned to my lungs and the aching and hollowing feeling I was experiencing disappeared. I was comfortable, till I felt a sharp pain in my side and noticed that my leg felt extremely cold around and below the knee. My eyes felt extremely heavy and they didn't want to open, but I forced them open anyway, though my eyelids fought and continued to blink slowly and only open halfway. Everything was sideways, only when I saw Otis standing in front of me did I notice that I was laying on the living room floor still, Otis was bent down in front of me, and then I was being lifted up, but it was by Otis. He started to yell at whoever was picking me up but his voice was muffled to my ears, I wanted to turn my head to look, I didn't know who it could be, but when they lifted me they managed to somewhat ease the pressure on my ribs. Otis was getting closer and closer till my face was comfortably pressed into his side and arm, I wanted to get up, I've been through a lot worse than this but yet I still needed to be carried, no way. Trying to wiggle out of whoevers, I think Otis', arms, I couldn't move very much but I guess enough to make an impression,

Vladimira, you're injured… sleep now.

Before I could argue with the voice I found my eyes no longer wanted to stay open, no longer wanted me awake, forcing me to drift back into a black world but in a much more peaceful and comfortable way.