Chapter 6:
Author's Note: Sorry I haven't updated in so long. I've been really busy with summer homework. :( High school is already not as awesome as I thought it would be. Thanks for all the reviews, favorites, alerts, etc. Also, thank YOU for reading. :)
Pineapples2daMAX: I apologize for it's shortness. Before I posted the story, I didn't know it would be that short. I will try to write longer.
Shout-out to my beta reader monaxxheart. Thank you for all your suggestions. :DDD
Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy.
I scream, hands flying up into position for defense. Spinning around, my eyes lock onto his and my heart leaps into my throat. It is him.
Without a clock, time had dragged on and I was sure he would never come again. Why should he?
His warm laugh fills up the cell. My lips twitch in response. How can any noise possibly be so beautiful? I long to close my eyes and drown in that sound, yet I resist. He is seemingly harmless, but years of survival taught me better on turning by back from a potential enemy. You could never know; appearances can be deceiving.
I watch him warily, but my anger dominates and turns it into a glare. He keeps laughing at my response to him scaring me. It's infuriating me to no end. I can't believe I made such a careless mistake on my part to not be alert. He, a Moroi, had been able to sneak up on me, a Strigoi. In the outside world, I would've lost my life. Besides, when did I get so jumpy?
If looks could kill, he'd be dead by now. Still, he seems unperturbed, merely amused by me.
Our second encounter is going just as smoothly as I imagined, I think sarcastically. Even if a row of bars are separating us, I can't believe he's here. Adrian.
He looks just as gorgeous as the first time I saw him, maybe even more. His purposely messed hair somehow seems fitting for him. His emerald green eyes are filling up with tears. For a moment I am bewildered, thinking he was crying. Then I realize it's from laughter. It's been a while since I've seen someone laugh that hard, especially at my expense.
The clothes he wear hint at a designer origin. I do not know nor care what brand it is, for I have long since given up on fashion. It is simply not needed in my world. I have to admit, he is handsome in them. He probably looks handsome in anything. He seems like that kind of person.
"Sorry, I couldn't resist," he says after his laughing fit finally ends.
"I can tell," I return with another glare.
"Hey, it was funny! No, hilarious. You should've seen your…" Adrian trails off when he takes in my dark expression. "Chill out. Based on your scream, you sure you're a Strigoi?" His final attempt to make me crack.
I mentally roll my eyes, after scolding myself yet again on my lack of observation. How could I have not heard him?
"Why are you here?" I go for the bunt method, all the while searching for signs of incoming danger. And looking for a way to give him payback for his prank.
He doesn't notice. "Hey, ease up. I'm the one who will change you. Shouldn't you show me some courtesy?"
Cocky bastard. He's right. I relent grudgingly. Cranking up the pleasantry, I tell him, "Sorry. I appreciate you doing so much for me."
Adrian grins, extending one hand thorough the bars. "How about we start over and introduce ourselves? I'm Adrian."
After a short hesitation, I shake his hand. "Aly."
"Pleased to meet you Tiffany."
I grit my teeth, refusing to allow him the satisfaction of seeing me grimace. "Don't call me that."
"Why? Isn't it your name?" he smirks slightly.
Why you miserable little… If there weren't any bars between us, and I wasn't so weak from hunger, I wouldn't put it past myself to hurt him. Yes, the bastardly guardians still haven't provided me any food. I'm still fine though, for now.
"Why are you here?" I ask yet again. Did he not hear me the first time?
" To get to know you better." His answer surprises me. Nonetheless, I can tell he's being truthful. I had been expecting something different, like perhaps to change me already.
"What's the point?" I am annoyed. "Can't you just change me and get on with it?" My hunger is driving me insane, causing me to be extremely irritable.
"Feisty," Adrian comments, to which I roll my eyes at. "I should at least get to know who I am sacrificing so much for."
True. "I mean, in the nicest way possible, why aren't you changing me already? What's with the wait?" I honestly see no reason to put this off. The sooner the better.
"Well, you may or may not know, but this whole change-a-Strigoi thing isn't very common. The previous couple times were spur of the moment ideas. This would be the first time being recorded and a lot of people want to be witnesses. Some of those people are flying in in a couple of days."
"Oh." I say for lack of a better response. I am seriously not thrilled. Now there would be people watching me like the circus freak I am. Bummer.
"Yup. Bummer."
Although it wasn't a very funny comment, I laughed. It was exactly what I was thinking.
Adrian fakes a surprised face.
I look at him curiously. "What?"
"You can laugh? I thought you were one of those people who were always so serious."
For some reason, that bugged me. I didn't want him to think of me that way. Being a Strigoi didn't allow you to laugh and joke around all day. Our undead dead lives were constantly at risk and we cannot afford to lose concentration like that. I did not tell him
I tried to change the conversation. "Hey, judge people after you get to know them. You don't even know my favorite color."
He seems glad for my cooperation. "Fine. What is your favorite color?"
"Blue. What's yours?"
"Can't you tell? Green. Like the eyes you think are so beautiful."
My face almost manages to blush. He remembered? I am so embarrassed for my outburst the other day.
"Umm…" Real classy, Aly.
He tries—and fails—to hide a grin. "So what kind of person are you?"
I think. "You mean besides being a vampire Strigoi? I guess I'm… hmm… I like music." I do not know who I am. I've never given much thought to it. I consider myself a murderer, but that is not something I want to say to Adrian. "Who are you?"
Adrian mock gasps. "You mean you haven't heard of me? I'm an Ivashkov."
I frown. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Achem. A partyboy?"
Strange. "A player?" He grimaces, but does not deny it. Huh. I mentally make this trait the first piece of the mental puzzle I symbolize as him. "But you don't like the label." I say this as a fact.
"I can't help what others think of me. Wait—scratch that. I can. But I've changed." Adrian seems almost desperate for me to believe him.
"I know how that feels. You think I like what people think of me just because I'm Strigoi? Just because ninety nine point nine nine nine percent of the rest of them are bloodthirsty monsters doesn't mean I am. Anymore." I add.
He is at a loss of what to say. Silence hangs between us. It makes me uncomfortable and I ponder how to break it.
"Why don't you sit down?" Our whole conversation has been said standing up. He must feel tired.
"I will if you will."
We sit, me behind bars and him on the other side.
"Aren't your clothes designer? Shouldn't you treat them better than that?" I suddenly wonder.
"It doesn't matter. I can always buy new ones."
Hmm… a rich boy. I tell him as much and am rewarded with a quick grin. Another piece is added to the puzzle.
He asks another question. "How come you don't know about the Ivashkov reputation? What's it like to be a Strigoi?"
"Curious much? I've stayed away from populated places in case I… slip. Besides, the Ivashkov peope I knew don't have the reputations you say they have. They were kind and caring." I leave out his second question. There's nothing I'd rather avoid then tell him about all the horrors I've caused. I do not wish him to think badly of me.
Adrian seems to understand my reluctance to answer it and drops the question. I am grateful. "Ouch. So I must seem like one of those players who go through many girlfriends to you, don't I?"
"Not really. 'Player' and 'party boy' are on my list about you, but I'm still trying to figure you out. There's more than that to you."
He is surprised by my response. I feel bad for him. Most people have stereotyped him as they do me. I doubt many give him a second opinion. I understand how he feels.
"How do you know?"
"I just do."
I believe hours fly by, even though it seems like minutes. He asks me questions, and I answer, also repeating his questions back. I have added more pieces. He is also passionate about art, caring, obviously fun and outgoing, but also has a side he doesn't let others see. Of course, there's an infuriating piece to him. One second he makes me laugh, the next I want to murder him. Adrian seems to hold me, and probably, others, at arm's length. I wonder why.
We talk until he has to leave, for which I am extremely sad. Adrian promises me to visit soon and I believe him. Strange, for I cannot remember the last time I trusted anyone. Promises can be broken, but I don't think this one will be.
I do not even remember my hunger until I am left in his absence. Hopefully, the guardians will change their minds. I can maybe last a few more days, but after that, I do not even want to think about the consequences.
Tell me truthfully. Do you like this story? Don't worry, the good parts are coming. Please review!