Kasie turned left at the light and continued in the direction of Pasha's house. Her heart was pounding.
Once again she wondered why Pasha had insisted she come over at this time of night. Kasie hated to be away from her house after dark, just in case Nathaniel would return that night, but she had waited and waited, days passed, weeks. It had almost been a month. Soon she would be starting her first semester of college. That scared her a little bit, but she had no choice, she needed the degree, and the finances it would bring, if she had any hope of keeping her sister and herself afloat. They were only just managing, and they were beyond lucky the house was already paid for (thank goodness for familial inheritence...as in being the only family to inherit), as well as their cars (last gift from their father) or they would have been ruined by now.
Another light, turn right. Only a few more minutes and she would be there. A turn down a gravel road placed her on Pasha's road. Four driveways later she had arrived.
She knocked on the door. After a moment it open and Kasie took in the sight of Pasha with smudged make-up and tearstains. Without a though she threw her arms around the tall redhead, pulling her into a deep hug.
"Lindsay dumped me." Kasie had known the moment she saw Pasha's face, but rather than retort she led Pasha into the living room and sat next to her on the couch.
"I know you hurt. I'm here for you, cry it all out, I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere."
For the next hour and a half she listened to Pasha's sobs and as she told the story of meeting Lindsay at her health food store. How they hit it off over a cereal they both loved and exchanged phone numbers. How they went out and Pasha felt that it was meant to be, Lindsay was perfect. They were opposites in the right way and similar in the right ways as well.
She told stories of biking in the park, seeing movies, and more. She listed the various restaurants they had visited and eaten at.
Kasie ached for Pasha's pain. She cooed comforting words in her ear and ran her fingers through her long flaming locks, soothing her.
Once Pasha had gotten out all that she needed she went to the bathroom and cleaned up. She came back with a freshly cleaned face and the two sat down to watch a movie. They chose The Brothers Grimm, featuring the dearly departed Heath Ledger (R.I.P. we miss you).
They snuggled together under a large blanket and cuddled like sisters. In a way they practically were sisters, the two had know each other since Devun had first befriended Pasha when the two were 11 and 12. Ten years, Kasie whistle in her mind, the years had really flown by. She remembered how a few months after Pasha and Devun had connected they found Mercede and become a trio of troublemakers, but Kasie still thought of them as HER troublemakers, she remembered many times she had gotten them out of some pretty deep shit.
They watched as the two brothers were yanked out of an inn after 'eliminating' a witch that had been haunting the town's barn. She giggled with Pasha, but hers was directed more so at a memory four years old. Mercede had 'Carrie Underwood'-ed her cheating boyfriend's car and then some (like in Carrie's song "Before He Cheats"). Kasie had been the one to keep the cheating boyfriend from suing Mercede for the damage, and from pressing criminal charges. Lucky for Mercede he was a pot head and Kasie had taken Polaroid s of some of his 'trips' just in case of something like this.
They had reached the part where the two brothers were being controlled by the evil queen and forced to fight when Kasie heard the sound of breaking glass. Pasha had obviously missed it. She was too engrossed in the movie. Kasie gave her a bathroom excuse and went to investigate. As she headed toward where she guessed it came from she picked up an empty candlestick.
She rounded a corner and a fist slammed into her stomach. She just barely kept from retching as she fell to the floor. Her head smacked the floor hard and she cried out. Then the assailant was upon her, his hand smothering her mouth, and Kasie was horrified to see another darkly dressed burglar pass the two of them and head for Pasha. In desperation Kasie slammed the candlestick into the side of the head of the one on top of her. He fell over stunned and instantly she was up and after the other. She had been too slow. The other one had Pasha captured and had heard her approach so he held a knife to her throat. Kasie stopped dead.
She heard the first burglar stumble into the living room after her. She didn't move for fear that she would get Pasha hurt or killed. The one holding Pasha was just a little taller than her and his eyes were dark and angry.
The first came up behind her and clubbed her in the back of the head with his fist. She fell to the ground as her vision clouded. Pasha let out a shriek that was quickly stifled by the man holding her captive.
"Both of you stay quiet, or one of you will die, if not both of you." His tone was cold, and both women knew he meant it.
"Release your weapon purple hair." She let go of it and the other burglar snatched it up and kicked her in the side for good measure. Kasie cringed away in pain, but stayed silent. Her mind screamed for help, terror was making her thoughts hazy.
"Where are the valuables?"
"Upstairs in my bedroom, jewelry box on my dresser, not very original, I know. There isn't much, and few of any real value."
The tall one let out a growl of anger. The other burglar scurried up the stairs. A few minutes later he returned with a pillow case holding Pasha's valuables.
"She wasn't kidding. There wasn't much, so I grabbed a pair of silver candlesticks as well." The other burglar s voice was nasally, and Kasie finally got a good look at him, he wasn't tall, but not quite short, about average, and a little heavy set.
"Hmm, this is about to turn into a waste of time."
"Well we can do something about that." The nasally voice dripped with lust. Kasie cringed again, mostly in fear for Pasha, this would be far worse for her than for Kasie. She tried to calm down, but she had no hope of doing that.
The nasally voiced one walked over and he grabbed Kasie's hair. She gritted her teeth as he dragged her into the other room. Then his hands were all over her, and she felt sick. Every fiber of her being was screaming in revulsion and disgust. He was pulling her shirt up and his mouth was on her, violating her breasts. Then he was yanking at her pants, scratching her as he went.
"Please, don't." She felt a tear slide down her face.
Then her cheek burned, it took a moment for her to realize he had just slapped her. "Shut-up! I'm going to get my worth for breaking into this dung hole."
Her pants were around her ankles, and her panties just above them. His hands were down there, he forced a finger in and she screamed in pain before she could stop herself. He slapped her other cheek and tears started to flood from her eyes.
He pulled his hand away. "Damn your tight, are you a virgin." She nodded fearfully. "Oh, hell yeah. I got lucky."
She listened to his pants unzipping and then sliding down. Tears blinded her. Her mind reeled at all of this, no single thought even remotely clear. She cleared her mind and waited for the inevitable entrance. She could hear him grunt, and felt something press against her. She squeezed her eyes shut and clenched her jaw.
Then he was gone, her eyes flew open. In the dim light she saw that he was no longer in front of her, she looked around and found him to her left. He was pinned to the wall by his throat. Holding him there was Nathaniel. Her heart fluttered and sang.
"Forget him, you have to save Pasha, I can take care of him."
Nathaniel just nodded and was gone. Right away Kasie was up and she jammed her fist into the nasally one's stomach as hard as she could. He fell over and vomited. She grabbed a pan and bashed him over the head. Then she sprinted to the living room. She arrived panting to see Pasha on the floor, her dress up around her waist, but her underwear still on. Nathaniel had the tall one up against the wall.
"What are you waiting for vampire? Bite me, kill me, see what happens."
"Sorry, but I don't eat garbage." He towered over the taller burglar. He pulled the burglar toward him and then slammed him against the wall. The human's head lolled forward as he passed out.
Kasie rushed to Pasha's side and nudged her. She looked over at Kasie and mustered a weak smile. "I'm alright, are you?"
"I'm fine. Nathaniel saved us both, thank goodness."
"Actually it's thanks to my bond to you and my vampire abilities."
Kasie turned to him as she pulled Pasha into her arms. "What bond?"
"Oh, I forgot to mention another effect of drinking my blood. You see, drinking my blood creates a bond between us. I can feel your emotions, and sense when you are in danger. I can also find you through it, no matter where you are."
"So it's like a build in tracking device?"
"Basically."
"Okay." She turned from him to look at Pasha.
"Are you okay Pasha?"
"Yes, I told you I'm alright, gosh girl. I think I'm still kind of in shock. How about you. Are you planning on putting on pants or underwear any time soon?"
Kasie glanced down at her naked lower end and then looked back up. "I was in a rush to get to you and they were around my ankles so I kicked them off."
"Well go put them back on."
"Fine." Kasie released Pasha and stood up, and there was Nathaniel standing in front of her holding her clothes out to her. He kept his head turned to the side, but she caught a single quick glance at her. She couldn't blame him, he is a guy and she is a naked girl.
"Thank you." She took them and quickly put them back on.
His hand was cool and gentle against her shoulder as he pulled her to him and enveloped her in his long, muscled, pale arms. "I was worried I might be too late. Did he do anything to you?"
Kasie tried to ignore her blood hammering through her veins and making her ears buzz. "I'm fine. He didn't...yeah. He just...never mind."
He pushed her out until her held her at arms length and bent down to be eye-to-eye with her. "What did he do?"
"Well, first he punched me in the stomach, and jumped me as his buddy rushed by and got to Pasha, but I slammed a candlestick against the side of his head, and stuff happened. I just have a few bumps and bruises. All he managed was to get a finger...in there." She looked away feeling dirty, she couldn't get rid of the feel of his grimy hands grabbing her and touching her, and entering her.
"Kasie, your cheeks are swollen." His concern made her heart ache.
"It's nothing. I'll be fine. In a few days, maybe a week or two you won't even be able to tell it happened."
"Lift your shirt."
"What?!"
"I need to see where he punched you."
"Fine."
Kasie lifted her shirt up to show the slightly coloredspot where one of the burglars had smashed his fist into her. It would be a nasty dark bruise in the morning.
Nathaniel's face looked worried.
"What is it? Is it bad?" She felt fear slipping through her thoughts.
"I think you're bleeding internally, badly. This is dangerous. How far away is the nearest hospital?" He put just the right amount of concern and panic in his voice, to make it convincing.
Pasha perked up and answered. "About 40-45 minutes by car."
Nathaniel let out a growl. "That's too far. Kasie, you'll have to drink my blood. I can hear the blood seeping out and it might kill you in the next 15 minutes." The lie was easy, years of manipulation at his disposal made him an expert.
"Are you sure Nathaniel?" He nodded solemnly, and then he brought forth his fangs and opened up his wrist and pushed it in front of her lips. Kasie reached out tentatively and licked, that weird alcohol-less-woodier-wine taste greeted her and she started sucking it in. She only took in a little before Nathaniel tapped her shoulder to indicate that was enough. She released him quickly and stepped back. "You satisfied Nathaniel?" He smiled and nodded.
"That was kind of gross." Pasha's voice brought Kasie's attention back to her friend.
"Be grateful you didn't have to do it, twice."
"And here I thought you might come to like it. I did use it to save you two times after all...so far." Nathaniel's voice dripped with sarcasm before turning to a joking tone. Soon she would be hot and bothered again and panting after him. This time it would have to work, the more a human had of a certain vampire's blood, the more attached and attracted they are to that vampire.
Kasie sighed and walked over to Pasha, wiping any remaining blood away as she went. She helped pull her to her feet, she stumbled once, still recovering from the shock, but rebalanced quickly.
"We're going to call the police. After they have finished up I'm taking you to my house and I want you to stay the night. Is that okay?" Pasha nodded and smiled. "Thank you Kasie. If you hadn't been here...I don't even want to think about it."
"Do you wish for me to stay as well?" Nathaniel's was slowly returning to his usually cocky tone and that helped to calm Kasie even more.
"Yes, how else am I going to explain this? The local law enforcement and I don't have a pretty history." Kasie thought back to various assault, brawling, and blackmail charges, and more, none of which got very far. She let out a content sigh and smiled. She had always been a great learner and her father's extensive library had taught her about law, art, literature, and more. She still wondered why he had gotten rid of his medical section. Her mother had mentioned it removal in a drunken rant once.
"You say they don't like you and then smile. What are you thinking about?"
"Oh, just remembering a few run-ins I've had with the law, mostly petty things like assault, fighting, aggravated assault, blackmail, and such. They could never get the evidence or testimony to get very far." Kasie smirked at remembering Detective Marsman's various colored faces, from pink all the way to blue-purple.
Pasha's voice drifted in as she conversed with the police informing them of the B&E (Breaking and Entering), as well as burglary, assault, and attempted rape.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Nathaniel's face was blank, but Kasie caught the hint of true concern in his voice.
"It's not as bad as other stuff I've been through. I was terrified of being raped, of course, but I've been through worse. It was also scary wondering whether they would kill me, and/or Pasha, when they were done." She shivered as she remembered his hands, his finger, and them touching and violating her. It was still nothing compared to that summer, but she quickly pushed those thoughts away.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that. Do you want me to accompany you to your home, maybe stay the night?" She was amazed he kept from turning that dirty or finishing with a wink. He had thought about seducing her that night, but was thinking better of it. The effect would last for about 12 days, so he had time to win her.
"I'm not sure. I'd have to ask Pasha and Devun." That was bullshit. They would only be all too enthusiastic about her having a man stay the night, in any capacity. Devun had even spoken well of Nathaniel two nights ago, aparently over her initial dislike of him. Sadly, the truth was that she was paranoid he would try to make a move on her again.
"Ask me what?" ~Fuck~ Kasie thought. ~Cue the lesbian pro-vamp~
"I was just consulting Kasie on whether it would be allowed for me to stay the night and watch over the two of you, three including...Devun, right?"
"Oh, of course you can. Gosh, if you want you could probably sleep in the basement in that coffin Devun's making Kasie build for Marcus, it's almost finished."
Kasie cursed Pasha every way she could in her head as she struggled to keep her face free of the rage inside.
"Very well, all that's left is the get approval from Devun, right?" Nathaniel looked into Kasie's eyes and she saw a twinkle of mischief mixed with a sense of triumph in his posture.
"Oh, Devun would be thrilled to have you stay, no worries. We have all been hoping Kasie might find a guy one of these days, and you seem like a respectable sort, what with your damsel rescuing and all."
"Why thank you, I do try to be a good knight in shining armour. I will ask Lady Devun for her permission upon arrival at hers and Kasie's home. Are you satisfied Kasie?" Her jaw tightened and started to ache from the pressure. Nathaniel had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing at her barely hidden anger. She knew she had no way out, and even though he knew he was not planning on trying anything that night, she did not, and she was fuming.
Her words came between clenched teeth. "Yes." All the while she kept the rest of her face still.
Then they sat on the couch awaiting the police's arrival. It only took 12 minutes, and they heard the tell-tale pounding knock.
Pasha answered the door, since it was her home. In walked Sheriff Daines, Detective Marsman, Officer Limerick, and a few others she didn't recognize.
"Sorry we took so long. These gentlemen stopped by from the neighboring parish to inform us about a series of crimes much like the ones committed here. They wanted to come along, since these criminals might be their guys, so we had to jump the other patrol car since its battery had died." Sheriff Daines spoke with a kind and thickly accented lilt.
"That's alright. The burglars are unconscious. The one is in the living room and the other in the kitchen. We left them where they fell just to be safe." (Pasha)
"We made sure they were still breathing, but that ambulance better get here fast, I hit the one in the kitchen really hard, and the other...well, he only got off easy because all he hit was drywall, not a metal pan." (Kasie)
"Why hello Kasie. The ambulance should be here soon. Now who is your tall friend?" (Daines)
Kasie glanced at Nathaniel and spoke before he could open his mouth.
"This is Nathaniel, he pretty much rescued us." She wanted to keep the fact he was a vampire under wraps as best as possible. The Sheriff wasn't too keen on vampires, although Detective Marsman was pro vampire rights, and Officer Limerick was as well, she didn't know about these new guys, they did not look friendly.
"Oh, hello there. I'm Sheriff Daines. This is Detective Marsman, Officer Limerick, Sheriff Kaczynski from the next parish over, his Deputy Walish, and Officer Burton."
Nathaniel gracefully walked over and began shaking all of their hands. "Nice to meet you, I'm Nathaniel Verismun. I am Kasie's boyfriend."
Kasie just about bit her tongue off when she heard the last sentence. Pasha kept silent, but smiled a little deviously. Both admired his perfect execution of that little fib that neither could safely dispute without creating a scene.
"Well can you two ladies run me through what happened while the others take notes, mark out evidence, and check on the burglars?" Kasie was glad it was Detective Marsman they would be talking to, despite their...differences he was a good man and she had nothing but respect for him.
"So what were you doing here Kasie?"
"Pasha asked me to come over, duh. She just broke up with her girlfriend Lindsay."
"You mean 'got dumped by Lindsay,' she dumped me like a sack of potatoes."
Kasie turned to face her and check if she was about to cry, her face was sad, but she showed no sign of letting out even a glimmer of a tear.
"Ah, uhm...I'm sorry that happened. Detective Marsman was still a bit off about Pasha being lesbian, prefering to think she was simply bi or something. Everyone knew he had the biggest crush on her, and no one could blame him with her curves, lips, eyes, etc.
"Thank you Adam." He blushed at her use of his first name. Kasie wasn't the only one skilled at handling law enforcement, especially straight males.
"Where were you when they came in?"
"We were in the living room watching The Brothers Grimm." Kasie didn't delve into detail just in case she had to recall this word for word later.
"Kasie said she had to pee and got up and left."
"I had heard what sounded like glass breaking, but I wasn't sure, I think Pasha missed it, so I went to investigate, just in case. I grabbed a candle stick along the way. I was not about to potentially confront possibly hostile criminals with nothing to protect myself with. I'm not stupid."
"I didn't hear the glass breaking, because I was too engrossed in the movie. Sorry."
(Kasie)"Don't feel bad. We all know how you get super into whatever you watch. That's nothing to be ashamed about. Now, let's see...I rounded a corner and all of a sudden a fist slammed into my stomach and I fell to my knees and I barely kept from vomiting he hit me so hard. Then he jumped on top of me as the taller one went out to the living room where he got a hold of Pasha."
(Pasha)"I had thought I heard something, but I just figured you'd stumbled or kicked something. Then I thought it was you coming back to tell me something or ask for a bandage or whatever. Then I felt a knife slide around my neck and his hand clamped over my mouth, I still tried to scream, in case Kasie didn't know he was there."
(Kasie)"I slammed the candlestick against the side of the guy's head as hard as possible and got up to get to Pasha. When I got there the taller one had the knife to her throat so I stopped dead."
(Pasha)"Then that shorter one stumbled in after her and hit her. The tall one made her drop the candlestick, well let go and let the shorter one take it. The short one kicked her, I didn't know why then, but I'm guessing it was repayment for the candlestick to the head. They asked where the valuables were and the short one went for them."
(Kasie)"She told them there wasn't much and few of them very valuable, and they were pissed when her word proved true. So they decided to...violate us. Or at least try to."
(Pasha)"Please don't ask us for details."
"I wouldn't dare. Take your time. You don't have to share anything too painful or traumatic." His words were very gentle, kind, and soothing as he tentatively patted Pasha's shoulder. Kasie could tell he was working hard not to blush, and with a glance at Nathaniel she saw that he had noted this as well.
"Tell me what you can of what happened next."
(Kasie)"Uh, well..."
"I showed up." Nathaniel jumped in to save Kasie from screwing up.
"And?"
"Took care of the ones attempting to rape my girlfriend and her best friend." Kasie had to put in double effort not to give away any of her negative internal reactions to his reuse of that word in reference to her. Pasha had to work even harder not to snicker or otherwise give away her entertainment at Nathaniel's teasing of Kasie.
"How did you...go about doing that?"
"I pulled those pigs off of them, obviously." It wasn't hard to believe since he stood over six feet tall and was covered in lean, but obviously powerful, muscles.
"Ah, yes, and what did you do with them?"
"I knocked out the one and Kasie pan-slammed the other one."
"I see. And why did you come over?"
Kasie tried to come up with something, but her mind couldn't find anything that sounded even remotely believable to her or that would stand up to being checked out.
"Kasie had asked me to come over as well since I've become good friends with Pasha as well and they both wished me to be here. I'm also very good at getting people to laugh."
Detective Marsman looked at him skeptically for a moment. Then Nathaniel struck an exaggeratedly silly pose with a ridiculous and hilarious face (A/N:i'm being lazy imagine your own image) and the three humans chuckled at how absurd he looked acting so goofy in a silvery gray suit.
"Jokes aside for now. Is there anything else?"
First Kasie, then Pasha, and finally Nathaniel all said no.
"Alright, I want to do a follow up interview tomorrow morning around 10 or 11AM with all of you."
Kasie felt her heart jump into her throat so fast she nearly started gasping for air. Luckily her brain came through in time. "That won't work. I have work then, as does Nathaniel." She didn't need to look at Nathaniel to feel the relief radiating from him.
"Then call off."
"Fuck no! Or are you going to recompensate me for those missed hours and money so I can pay the electric bill?"
"Fine. When, then, can you two come in?" He sounded a little irritated, but not angry, just very, very bored and tired.
Kasie glanced at Nathaniel and mouthed 7 or 8 and he nodded. "Around 7 or 8PM, depends on when we are allowed to get out of work."
"Alrighty then."
They all turned as they heard the ambulance arrive. After that things just blurred together for Kasie. She stayed out of the way as best she could. She vaguely recalled Nathaniel putting her in the passenger side of her car and helping Pasha into the backseat murmuring something about taking them to her house and watching over them the rest of the night.