So happy to see more reviews again! I'm surprised at how quick I finished this and I hope you all like it!
Rose parts ways from River once he leads her to the Elevator. She had a refreshing time with him and other Vampires who surprisingly welcomed her decently. Whether or not they knew she was mortal she could not say but River was her protection for the night or for how ever many hours she spent there. She felt herself becoming calmer of the situation and adjusting slowly to her new life for how ever long it lasted. She reaches the top floor and heads back to Baron's room. She frowns when she reaches there. She had no card key and was locked out. The idea of knocking first came to mind in hopes that Baron had returned. If not then she'd have to return downstairs and wait with River.
She raises her hand and pounds on the door while awaiting an answer. She hears footsteps coming down the hall and the door opens, revealing Baron in nothing but a towel tied loose around his waist. She stares for an awkward amount of time before looking up with a huge blush evident on her face.
"Umm" she says dumbly.
He sighs while rubbing his eyes. "You can come in, just give me a minute to throw something on." He says turning away quickly and down the hall to the bedroom.
Her legs fill wobbly when she enters and she collapses on the sofa in ease. God he was built like a God. His skin had no grooves of imperfection and was pale like a statue. His shoulders were broad and his arms would flex no matter what way he moved. His chest had every muscle that could every show on the male physique and she desperately wanted to run her hands down his rock hard form. He had still smelt of the soap he used and his hair was sexy when wet as it dripped down the ripples of his back. She focused on regaining her wits for when he returned. She had felt such a rush of heat and lust hit her as soon as the door had opened and she suddenly wanted to apologize and let him do anything to her.
He walks back into the room while drying off his hair with a towel. He had black dress pants and a long sleeve shirt on that fit tightly on his chest. She felt like she was gawking so she averts her gaze to her hands. It suddenly occurred to her that she was very naked under this dress and he could probably see the outline of her breast perfectly. She felt absurd and wanted to change back into something more herself. Who was she trying to be anyways? It was like she was trying to change to impress these vampires and it was pathetic.
"So you went out I see." He states calmly while parking himself on the edge of the coffee table in front of her.
Her breath hitches in her throat from the closeness. "Shortly yes. I borrowed the dress from River incase you were wondering. He kept me company so I was in no harm."
"I'm not upset you decided to go out. It was probably better you cleared your head with a friend."
"And where did you go?" she asks looking up.
He frowns and turns away. "I had other business to attend to." He seemed adamant on changing the subject.
"Oh okay, I won't pry."
God she was so innocent and easy to lie to that it hurt him. Was she still mad about before? Would she even care that he had been with another woman. He felt inclined to tell her which was silly. It's not as if he was guilty of anything.
"Are you well rested?" he asks.
"Actually I am. Why, am I to do something?"
"I need to talk to the rest of my men but I also have something to tell you first."
"Is it important that I know?"
"I'm afraid it pertains to you. It's about your powers." He starts.
"Umm yeah this may sound stupid but I don't feel like I have any." She says nervously.
"That's because you haven't experienced your change yet."
"My…change?" she questions skeptically.
"I'm not surprised you haven't heard yet. Every super natural isn't born how they are now. You need to transform into a Light Bearer to access your full potential."
"What's going to happen to me?" she asks softly. She was scared; it was written over her face and traced over her heart. He wanted to consul her but he remained in his position.
"Cardinal was sparse on details but you will have a huge increase in endurance as well as a change in your appearance."
"But I like the way I look now." She replies with a tiny frown.
Hearing a woman is pleased with her appearance was rare and he gained even more respect for her. He too thought she was perfection.
"I doubt anything bad will come of it. Legends tell that Light Bearers are very pure and beautiful."
"You've never seen one before?" she asks amazed.
"No actually. We had thought your race to have passed into legend but you…you are meant to be Rose."
"I'm sorry!" She blurts out abruptly.
His eyes widen and for once they aren't hidden by shades. "What are you apologizing for?"
"For everything I said earlier. I was rude and I shouldn't have been. You been nothing but kind to me since I've arrived and I should be more understanding. It's just this is a strange place to me and I don't fully understand you or even myself right now." She breathes heavy after her rant and he stares into her.
"I should apologize to you as well. It's not my place to force you into anything you don't understand and I will try to be more sympathetic to your situation." He says in deep vocals.
"No you don't have to do that. I have enough people coddling me and I need your honesty actually."
He holds back a smile. "Dearest Rose, I believe you'll be just fine here." He says standing.
"If you believe that then so do I." she says with a sweet smile that makes him want to touch her lips to his.
He makes a quick escape back to the bathroom to return the towel before he makes another impulsive move. Leave it to River to supply her with such a revealing dress. She was completely bare underneath and he wanted to pin his body into hers until they both succumbed to temptation. Certainly Max would not approve of his attachment to his investment. She was the forbidden fruit and all he could do was watch, but never touch. It was worse then any feeling he had come across in his vampire existence. She was a fine piece of art to look at from afar; separated by layers of glass that he could never penetrate without paying the consequences. He had to take into consideration of the repercussions that Rose would have to face if he pulled anything and he couldn't do that to her. He hears her light steps follow him until she appears at the doorway.
"I have a bazaar question and it's totally out of the blue so don't feel the need to answer but I was curious about your age. River talked about living forever and I was wondering if that was actually possible." She says while biting her nail nervously. A habit she did often and it had a subtle charm.
"Forever is impossible for every being including vampires. I too can be killed but I do not age or carry illness. I've been alive for over three hundred years." He remarks nonchalantly.
She chokes in surprise. "Holy shit!" she mumbles with a grin.
He smirks at her reaction. No miracle was as beautiful as her smile.
"But immortality isn't all that you would believe it to be. It's been a lonely three centuries with the exception of the company of my brothers. Often times when I was severely injured, I silently prayed to God to just take me away." He scoffed at his own weakness. He had never admitted that to anyone. "A vampire praying to God; comical is it not? I doubt my prayers ever reached his ears."
"You should not be so spiteful. Perhaps you lived on for a greater cause. Look, you have me here now and I'm supposed to be everyone's savior. Do you think for once that I thought my worth to be greater than just a hostess?"
"You are saying that I should not wish for death so quickly?" he remarks with a cynical brow.
"Yes I am. You have more people who rely on you than you think. I would be lost without you." She admits sheepishly.
He felt something stirred inside of him at her words. It burned and yet he didn't want the agony to go away. Any amount of feeling that she created within him was a warm welcome as opposed to the years of hollowness. She had said she needed him and for now that would be enough.
He clears his throat. "Well I need to be going for a little while but I should return within an hour. Will you be awake when I return?"
"Probably. I wish I knew what times would be good to sleep but it's hard with this no sunlight bit." She says with a slight crest fallen expression.
"I'll work something out for you. And I'll supply you with a wardrobe as soon as I can too. I doubt you want to keep borrowing women's left over from River's."
She chuckles. "Yes this dress was nice but I would appreciate my own clothes." She says while gently rubbing the fabric. He felt mesmerize to watch her hands move down her body.
"Promise you'll stay put this time." He says sternly.
"I promise. I think I've had enough of the casino for now. Gambling was never my cup of tea."
He nods before walking out of the bathroom.
"I hope you don't mind but it's quicker to materialize out of her then to take the elevator." He says, waiting for her permission.
"Of course, don't change your habits for me." She says brushing him off.
In an instant he leaves her alone and appears in the underground room. He shuts his eyes while mentally calling for his brothers to return. Sterling and River arrive first while maintaining a glare at one another. They push through the doorway at the same time catching each other by the shoulders in the process. River uses his size over Sterling and pushes through. Baron sits at the table while they join him. Cardinal appears in the middle of the room in a flash while Kane walks through the door calmly. Tristan once again was nowhere to be found.
"God damn it! Where is Tristan?" Baron barks.
"I have not seen him since we left Earth which leads me to believe he either is ignoring the call or has not returned yet." Cardinal puts in.
"I guess we'll move on without him." Baron says with a head shake. Tristan was a great fighter and a good friend but he made it damn hard to earn their trust in him. He was too suspicious and lurked about while disappearing for months on end. Baron still thought it had something to do with Evangeline but he was never quick to ask. Tristan was more guarder then he once was and his anger had no limits when it came to her.
"Why does Prince Charming get to sit in on this after he abandoned us?" River asks peeved.
Sterling ignores the comment and speaks for himself. "I do feel I should state that I hold regret for that, but I cannot change time, only slow it down." He says to Baron.
Baron grinds his teeth while deciding how to handle the situation. He really wasn't upset but his brothers might be if he didn't make Sterling settle for punishment. It was hard to stay mad when Sterling acted so charismatically. He knew just what to say to make people bend to his will. Perhaps he should be leader.
"I'll decide what to do with you after. First we have business to discuss."
"Is it to do with what we talked about before?" Cardinal asks.
"Yes and I want everyone else to listen carefully. Max is handling the war situation very business like and I fear it will have us killed. I want to know what the out come of the future will be and we only have one options to turn to. You all know of what I speak. But I have to consider the change Rose must face in order to become a Light Bearer."
"Pixies? The mountains are far and we have to keep in mind of daylight." Sterling says with a disgruntled face.
"I have not yet asked any of you to come with me." Baron replies.
"You know we would never let you go there alone. Pixies are unpredictable and if we are going to die I'd rather it be together." River says earnestly.
"But what of Rose?" Sterling inquires.
Baron scrutinizes his comrade. "Since when is she of concern to you?"
"I had a small chat with her hours ago and I do declare that she is worth keeping safe."
"Are you volunteering to stay behind?" Baron asks curiously.
"If it is not too bold. If we wait too long for her to change, it may be too late."
"How noble of you." River remarks with a snicker.
Baron remains thoughtful. Sterling was playing a game and holding a convincing bluff. He didn't know his allies full plan and he felt less then enthused to have Rose in his company. But their time was growing thin and he would have to put personal feelings aside to do what was right just as Cardinal had said; don't grow attached.
"Very well. You may stay and look after Rose when we leave but I trust you to keep her at number one priority. If we return and she is harmed in anyway, I will turn your fangs into a pair of cuff links for myself."
Sterling hides his frown. It was an insult to threaten each other after they have been through but he needed his warning to stand clear. Rose was the last chance and Baron was putting his personal interests into keeping her safe.
"When do we leave?" Cardinal asks.
"In one hour. Everyone prepare gear and be ready for the journey ahead. We have to go by foot since we don't know the daylight hours of the mountain." Baron informs.
"Not to mention the Pixies would be on us like that if we just popped up." River says with a snap of his finger.
"Very well. We'll meet outside in one hour, Sterling you can stay in your room I just want you close to Rose. I don't feel the need to move her and I'm assuming she'll like the privacy for a short time."
"Alright. You can tell her I'm the new baby sitter." He says with a grin before leaving abruptly.
River scoffs. "Are you sure you can trust him?"
"I trust everyone here equally. She'll be fine with Sterling. Besides we'll only be gone for forty-eight tops."
"If you say so boss." River says before getting up to pack.
"I'll go tell Rose right now. Be outside in one hour." Baron says before vanishing.
He lands back in the middle of his sitting room where Rose looks shocked to see him appear. She was lounging on the sofa in his robe.
"That was quick. Do you think you could give me some warning next time you show up out of nowhere?" She says with flared eyes.
"Sorry, I was quick to forget but I have something vital to tell you."
"Does it have to do with my powers still?"
"No actually, I'm leaving for a short while."
She frowns while sitting up. "Leaving for where?"
"It's hard to explain now but Sterling will be looking after you. He said you spoke when I was away."
She seemed irked by the news. "Yeah I know him but I'm not pleased to hear he'll be looking after me."
"He volunteered. If you don't trust him then trust in me Rose. I would not leave you with someone I didn't think capable of looking after you."
"I know, I trust you a little more I think." She says beaming his way.
His lips twitched while he felt that same feeling inside again. It happened every time she looked at him with something of admiration.
"I hope to be back to you in forty-eight hours but I cannot predict what will happen."
Hope to be back to her? Her heart fluttered at his words. It must have been a slip of the tongue or her just over analyzing the situation but she couldn't control her hormones from jumping.
"Well, be careful wherever you are going." She didn't know what to do with herself and she ended up walking up to him and wrapping her arms around him. He stays stiff in her embrace and she backs away in a flash. She was accustomed to hugging people goodbye and now she felt like an idiot.
He clears his throat while she scratches her neck awkwardly.
"Goodbye Rose." He says with a steady voice before vanishing in front of her. It was best he left before things became queerer.
She groans when she is alone. Her butt lands on the soft couch while she pulls at her hair. Why did she have to go and make an ass out of herself? He would probably deliberately take his time getting back to her now. She leans back while looking up at the flat ceiling. The moment kept replaying in her head. It was like her body moved before her mind could comprehend what she was doing. He was solid beneath her arms and she was able to take in his spicy male scent. He had made no attempts to return the embrace which was understandable and yet she still felt the rejection. There was a knock at the door that broke her thoughts. She rises to answer and frowns upon seeing Sterling's smiling face.
"Rose, how good to see you again." He says with a wink.
"You are such an ass! How coincidental it is that you volunteered to look after me." She says crossing her arms.
"Your words pain me, I only want to help you." He says feigning a hurt expression.
"You can help by staying the hell away from me!" she snaps. She was about to slam the door in his face; serves him right. He enters in a flash before she gets a chance to do so. He is sitting on the sofa crossing his legs in good manners.
"Get out!" she says pointing to the door.
"I rather like my place here." He replies.
She huffs while closing the door. "I don't need you to baby sit me. I'll be fine here."
"Everyone else begs to differ. The change is upon you and trust me when I say you'll want someone here with you."
"Oh so suddenly you're the expert on Light Bearers."
"No but whether it be a curse or a blessing, a super natural change is never pleasant."
She is intrigued by his words and approaches slowly.
"Do you know what it will feel like?"
"Wonderful and painful all at once. Like everything you thought you knew about pain will be washed away and yet you will obtain bliss"
"Do you always talk in riddles?"
"If I answer that then I'm doing all the work for you. Sometimes it's better to learn about someone on your own." He advises.
She thinks about what he has said and decides to ask him something. "What was it like to change into a vampire?" she wonders.
His face contorts into rage. He stands abruptly and brushes passed her to leave.
"Wait I'm sorry." She says reaching for him.
"You'd do well to unhand me mortal. There are some things in life you'll come to learn that are not pleasant." He hisses.
She retracts her grasp from his arm while looking at him wide eyed. "Is there anything I can do?" she whispers.
"Yes, you can heed my advice and stop pretending you care about everyone. Vampires aren't too keen on false pity. You'll last longer that way." He says walking away.
She watches his looming figure retreat to a door across the hall. He closes the door not forcefully but curtly enough to let her know he was not to be disturbed. At least he wouldn't be far incase she did needed help, though she wasn't sure if he'd want to now. Evidently he did not like to talk about his past and she could not help but wonder why.
Baron straightens himself out once he was in the fresh midnight air of Nocturne. He couldn't shake the humming feeling inside his body after Rose had made a move to touch him. He had been rendered stiff like a statue. Her smell had penetrated more then his senses. She was trapped in his mind and damn it the feeling was good. He didn't know how he'd be able to concentrate on his journey to the mountains and he considered calling the whole thing off if it wasn't so important. He was tempted to go back upstairs and take her for hours on end and then hold her while she rested her light head on his chest. Her dark locks would look beautiful spread out across the pillow underneath him. She had smelt like summer fresh apples and it mixed well with the musky scent of his robe she was adorned in. She seemed to decline at the news of Sterling looking after her and it gave him peace of mind. Maybe she would miss his absence, but he pushes the thought aside.
River is first to join him with a grin on his face and a red drip of liquid left on the corner of his mouth.
"You missed a spot." Baron points out.
River wipes his mouth with his hand and licks off the liquid. "Thanks, I didn't want to waste that. Hope you don't mind but I fixed myself an aperitif before leaving. I need a good drink before take off." He jokes.
"Don't you have another load coming in soon?"
"Yeah I'm catering to one of Maxes social gatherings. Those politicians are so corrupt that they break their own rules. I mean really, they outlaw Demon blood and then hire us bootleggers to give them their fix."
"I don't hear you complaining." Baron notes.
"Fuck no, I love it! Being above the law has its privileges."
"Well just remember it's your business not mine. I don't even take in the profit for it."
"I could cut you in a deal if you'd like?"
"No I prefer to make honest money." Baron says flatly.
"Suit yourself. You and Tristan are the only two who don't. He's never here though so him I understand."
"There's nothing to understand about me. I don't like doing dirty work and I think it's landed our world in a rut."
"Perhaps Max is to blame?"
"He is and I know it's not my place to say but I actually agree with Tristan about him. Doing his dirty work on the side has lost its pizzazz."
"Come election time you ought to run. I'd vote for you." River says with a child like smile.
"I'll keep that in mind." Baron remarks blandly.
The others join shortly while looking like a high class missionary unit. Everyone was loaded down to kill while still maintaining a social dress code.
"I brought a map though once we are in range of the mountains I doubt will get lost." Cardinal says.
"Shall we start east then?" River asks.
"Through the woods and past the plains is the shortest way. We don't want to get too close to the werewolves' territory though so stay away from the western edge of the woods." Cardinal warns.
"We'll run for spurts of one hour and stop for a quick rest. Remember we are going into this blind; I don't know how welcome we are going to be with the Pixies."
"Warn us all you want boss, we ain't turning back." River says. Kane nods in agreement and Cardinal is staying in place as well.
"Alright than. Let's get there and back as soon as we can, I don't want my last memory to be of ugly Pixies and their scarred mountain." Baron says with distaste.
His men laugh with him and they take off like lightening into the night, kicking up dirt and leaves as they go. There was no telling what would happen and Baron was determined to make it back no matter the consequences. He had to live long enough to see Rose's beautiful smile one last time.
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