DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING BUT MY OWN OC'S.
Chapter Eight: Emotions Revealed, Gifts Given
I stepped out of the bathroom into my bedroom, putting my dirty clothes in the laundry basket and began to brush my hair, completely distracted, a soft song being hummed from my lips, a lullaby from my youth. I sat down at my vanity, my eyes closed as I continued to get the knots out of my hair. I smiled, happy thoughts going through my mind. After a few moments, I felt the brush taken from my hands. I jumped and my eyes snapped open. I smiled warmly as I saw Rudolph's reflection looking back at me, him setting the brush down.
"There went the belief that vamps have no reflections," I stated, turning around to face him. Only then did I let him see the necklace as I pulled it out of my shirt. His eyes widened as a large smile crossed his face.
"I-I don't believe it!" he said excitedly, reaching forward to take it softly in his hands. "You got it!"
I laughed.
"Tony found it," I said. "I'm just the one that gets to give it to you."
His eyes were glowing in his joy. He pulled me up into a joyful hug, spinning me around. I laughed with him, hugging him back... up until someone cleared their throat. Both of us looked at the door, only to separate with a blush. I reached up and pulled my necklace off, holding it out to Frederick.
"Here," I said. "I told you we'd find it."
His own eyes widened as a smile made it's way onto his face.
"Thank you, my friend," he said. I smiled.
"Don't thank me," I said. "Thank Tony. He's the one that found it. Molls and I just helped."
His smile didn't dim, but then I thought of the second thing I wanted to do for them.
"May I borrow Rudolph for a moment?" I asked. "Rookery gave me an idea today."
Looking concerned, Frederick nodded stiffly. I smiled.
"It'll be another surprise for you if it works," I stated. "Meanwhile, might want to make nice with my parents."
Then I pulled Rudolph to the balcony.
"Take me to the McAshton estate," I said. "We need to get to the masoleum."
He nodded and obeyed, though he looked confused. Once there, I led him deep into the tunnel again. I let him right to Elizabeth and Von's coffin, having him pull it fully open. He obeyed, still watching me.
"Rookery said Vampires can rise again if they curse they were buried with is broken and the stakes are removed," I explained. He understood immediately. I grabbed ahold of the stake in Elizabeth and he took the one in Von. We pulled at the same time, tossing them aside. I was not disappointed.
Von and Elizabeth's eyes snapped open, cries of pain escaping them. I immediately darted to Rudolph and he pulled me to his side. Both risen vamps looked at us, mainly me.
"Hungry?" I asked. They nodded. "I'm afraid you'll have to make do with cows' blood. Times have changed quite a bit since you were staked."
They nodded and rose, following Rudolph and I out into the open. Rudolph picked me up and carried me to the dairy farm, using vamp-speed to get us there on the ground, seeing as to how they were too weak to fly. I waited outside while the three of them fed. I heard them talking, but didn't pay attention. I was on alert for Rookery. He was the main enemy now. Finally, they all came back out. Rudolph was at my side in a heartbeat, making me smile softly, though I hid it from him.
He'd never feel anything for a mortal like me...
That thought killed all of my joy for the moment. I sighed and watched as Elizabeth and Von came towards us.
"Thank you, my friend," he said. I nodded, giving him a soft smile, hiding my sadness even from him. Elizabeth, on the other hand, was no fool. I knew she saw right through it.
"Why don't you gentlemen go on ahead?" she suggested. "Let us women have some time to ourselves?"
Von smiled and gave her a searing kiss before he and Tony transformed and flew away. I watched Rudolph go until I couldn't see him any more.
"You like him," she said simply as we began to walk to the house. I winced.
"Am I that obvious?" I asked sheepishly. She chuckled.
"No," she answered. "But I'm a woman, too. I know how we women try to hide our feelings from others."
I sighed.
"He'd never feel the same," I stated bluntly. "Not for me..."
She smiled a knowing smile.
"He told us he tried to turn you the other night, to save you," she stated. I smiled softly, remembering the feelings his bite had elicited in me. She chuckled again. "You want him to do it again... maybe... even more?"
I blushed deeply.
"Yeah," I answered, then told her everything. I told her how we'd met, how things had progressed... everything up to this point. I even told her all about my feelings for Rudolph and how they'd developed. I always did tend to fall hard and fast. It always got me hurt, too. She stayed silent through it all as I unloaded on her, listening with a growing smile. When I finished, she was shaking her head with a smile.
"He likes you more than you can imagine," she said simply. I shook my head.
"I'll have to take your word on it," I answered. "I wouldn't know."
She just smiled softly, then stepped up to the front door of my house with me. Von and Rudolph were waiting for us.
"How was your walk, my love?" he asked her. I almost swooned at how romantic he was.
"Informative," she answered. "Shall we go in?"
I smiled at that. I hoped Frederick would enjoy this gift. Rudolph knocked and Anna opened the door. Her eyes widened in disbelief.
"Uncle Von!" she squealed. I smiled, standing off to the side as the rest of the family rushed out to greet their lost family. Rudolph was in that group, too. I just smiled sadly, watching them... Longing to be a part of them...
"My friend, this is twice now that you have helped us," Frederick said to me. I hid my sadness and nodded.
"If you were in my position, I'm certain you'd have done the same," I said simply, though I knew it was a lie. If he were me, he'd have turned us all over to Rookery or refused to help at all. He nodded with a smile and led his family inside. My heart ached as I watched Rudolph go with them, seeming to forget about me. Without a sound, I took off around the house to my side, climbing up to my balcony, then walked into my room. I shut the balcony door, then went to close the other one, only to jump as Rudolph was standing there, looking back at me.
"You're upset," he stated. I sighed.
"Not now, Ru," I said, turning to go to my wardrobe. He stopped me with his hand gently grabbing mine.
"Don't... don't shut me out," he said softly. I looked at him.
"Ru, when you become human, you'll forget all about me, about all of this," I told him, my words biting a great deal more than I wanted them to. I was just speaking my mind. "I'd rather be safe than sorry."
His hand released mine like he'd been burned, as he stepped back away from me.
"Ru..." I shook my head softly, looking at him in sadness. "Just go."
I then turned around, facing away from him, trying my damndest to hold back my tears. He pulled me into his arms, turning me around to lay my head on his chest.
"I'm not going anywhere," he whispered. That did it. My fragile control snapped and I let the tears fall, soaking his shirt. He just held me, lightly cooing to me, soothing me. I was certain he was just doing what a friend would do... up until Anna appeared in the doorway.
"Brother, darling," she said, skipping in. She skidded to a halt when she saw us. "Um... Father wants to see you."
"I'll be there in a moment," Rudolph told her, not moving from me. Anna saw my tear-streaked face and nodded, leaving again. Rudolph stayed with me for the next few hours until I cried myself to sleep.
I woke very late the next day, almost 2 in the afternoon. I shook my head and rose, showering.
"Hey, Chris!" Molly greeted me. I smiled weakly at her. "We're gonna take Gregory and Rudolph out clubbing tonight. Elizabeth suggested the idea. She said it could be helpful if they learned how to blend into our world. Gregory was excited about seeing you in clubbing clothes, especially after I told him they were typically a little on the revealing side. The boys went out last night with Bob and Tony to get some clubbing clothes of their own."
I rolled that over, then growled.
Elizabeth... you... manipulative, conniving, deceptive- WAIT A MINUTE! It was Gregory that had been looking forward to seeing me?
Hurt welled up inside me.
Why? Why can't it ever be the vamp I want?
I shook my head and looked at Molly.
"Let's go shopping," she said. I nodded and Dottie drove us to the mall.
THAT NIGHT
I walked up to Elizabeth as she came back from feeding while the boys disappeared to clean up for our night out.
"You're wondering why I suggested a night out?" she guessed. I nodded. "Are you aware that Gregory has been following you around like a fly on the wall since you punched him in the face?"
My eyes widened.
"Von suggested that the two younger boys may want to blend in better," she said.
I shook my head.
"And you think clubbing will do this?" I asked, exasperated. She laughed and walked with me to my room to help me get ready. I was wearing a black shirt, a very, very revealing one. It was a simple triangle of pleather fabric in the front, held on by two criss-crossing elastic strings in back. The pants I wore were hip-hugger, bell-bottom black pleather (plastic leather). I had chosen a pair of hooker boots for this outfit. I also adorned a black choker with black roses in it. My earrings were also black roses. Elizabeth did my hair in a way that made it fall in serpentine waves around my frame, accenting my curves (the few I had). This outfit would look terrible if Rudolph's bite hadn't also caused my breasts to grow two sizes larger. I did my usual simple make-up, but added a crimson lipstick, though just enough to make it noticable, not enough to look like cover-up. Once finished, I met Molly in the hall.
"Wow," she said. "Now I feel underdressed."
I grinned and looked her over. She'd done her hair into a just-had-sex style. Her eyes were smokey, her outfit as revealing as my own. She wore a crimson velvet corset on top and black bell-bottom pants down below. Her shoes, like mine, were hooker boots. Her jewelry was all gold, accenting her natural beauty.
I smiled and we made our way down the stairs. The boys were both waiting at the bottom and turned to look at us, only for both of them to freeze, their jaws opening just a bit as their eyes ran over us.
Rudolph wore a silk crimson button-up shirt, the top three buttons undone. His pants were a simple pair of black pants (not dress pants, I assure you, but not jeans, either). He wore a pair of black shoes as well.
Gregory chose to wear a skin-tight black wife-beater, a muscle shirt. His pants were a pair of cargo pants, black in color as well. His shoes were a pair of combat boots.
I smiled at them both.
"Ready?" I asked. Both of them snapped out of their dazes, nodding. I smiled again and looked at the adults. Dottie walked over and grabbed the keys. She drove us there, the ride strangely silent.
"Let me know when you're on your way home or if you need a ride," she said, driving away. I then grinned at Molly. This was my scene.
"Come on!" I said, grabbing her arm and we ran to the door, going right on in. The music was pounding, causing the entire room to vibrate with it. The boys looked uncomfortable, but I laughed and pulled them to a table towards the side of the room. Gregory smiled at me.
"You look delicious," he said, giving me a devilish grin. I chuckled, sending him a flirtatious wink.
"You don't look too bad yourself," I told him. He smirked, then pulled me out to the dance floor. I smiled and we let loose, dancing away. He was good at this free-style stuff. It made me laugh at some of the stares we got. After that dance, Rudolph took over where Gregory had been. I just chuckled and continued to dance. His style of free-style happened to be close and personal. I enjoyed every moment of it, soaking it up like a sponge. The boys kept switching in and out on one another. I just happily danced the night away.
"All right," came the DJ's voice. "Last dance of the night, people! Choose a partner. This one's a slow one. Ma Belle Evangeline."
I smiled and waited. Soon enough, Gregory came to me and took me into his arms. The song began and we danced like we'd been dancing partners our whole lives, something that garnered attention from everyone around us.
Look how she lights up the sky,
Ma Belle Evangeline
So far above me yet I,
Know her heart belongs to only me.
Je t'adore,
Je t'aime,
Evangeline
You're my queen of the night,
So still,
So bright...
That someone as beautiful as she,
Could love someone like me...
Love always finds a way,
It's true...
And I love you, Evangeline.
During the instrumental break, he and I got everyone else to stop dancing as they watched us. We were fluid, like we were one person...
Love is beautiful!
Love is wonderful!
Love is everything,
Don't you agree?
Mauis' oui...
Look how she lights up the sky,
I love you,
Evangeline...
We ended with me bent backwards in his arms, looking up at him. I blushed at the way he was looking at me, his eyes hard to read, but I saw hunger deep within them. Then, slowly, he leaned down and... and...
"Gregory!" came Rudolph's angered voice, breaking the spell. Gregory pulled me back to my feet, releasing me as he turned to his angry brother. I looked between the two, suddenly feeling very small. Gregory was looking at his brother angrily and Rudolph looked back at him with just as much anger. I swallowed hard.
"Hey guys," Molly said, walking over. "Let's get going. They're shutting the place down. I all ready called Mom and she's on her way."
I breathed easier, knowing well she knew what she'd interrupted. Both boys nodded but said nothing. Gregory placed his hand on my back and guided me outside. Once there, we all piled into the car. The ride home was filled with me and Molly telling Dottie about our night. The boys just spent the ride shooting daggars at one another. When we got home, Gregory walked me to the door, ignoring his little brother for the moment. He brought my hand to his lips again and kissed it softly, his eyes mesmerizing my own.
"I thank you for all those dances this night," he said softly. "I also hope you'll forgive me for being so forward."
Before I could even ask what he meant, he leaned down quickly and... he kissed me. My eyes widened in shock... and he was ripped off of me. Rudolph stood in front of me, positively fuming. Shit had officially hit the fan.
"Von! Frederick!" Molly called in pure panic as the boys began to fight. It was an all-out war. Both older vamps darted out to the boys and separated them. Both were breathing heavily and looking at one another with immeasurable hatred.
"You knew I fancied her!" Rudolph snarled. My heart skipped a beat as my eyes widened.
"I knew no such thing!" Gregory snarled back. "You never expressed it! Do you even know anything about her?"
I looked from one brother to the other.
"And what could you possibly know?" demanded Rudolph, struggling in Frederick's grip. I swallowed hard.
"That's enough!" I said loudly, causing all four heads to turn my way. My own anger simmered up within me. "I refuse to be fought over like a bone with no meat or value. Come back when you can grow up!"
I then slammed the door behind me as I stormed to my room. I didn't even greet Elizabeth as she stepped out of her room. I slammed my own door and then went to the bathroom. I started the tub, the whirl-pool. I made the water as hot as I could stand it, then stripped down. I washed my make-up off in the sink, then stepped into the tub. I laid down in it and relaxed, letting the jets ease my aches and pains from using muscles I normally don't use. I looked up at the ceiling.
Why me? Now I have two vampires desiring me... Why can't Rudolph be as bold as Gregory?.. Why am I even comparing the two?
A soft knock came on the door to Molly's room.
"May I come in?" asked Molls.
"Go ahead," I answered, my voice giving away my frustrations. She came in and began to remove her own make-up.
"Wow," she said finally. "Who'd have guessed that you'd have boys fighting over you, brothers at that! Add on the fact that they're both vamps and we've got quite the picnic!"
I shook my head with a sigh.
I paused inside her room, hearing her and Molly talking.
"I don't know what came over me downstairs," she said softly. "I mean, I've always wondered what was going on in their heads, but... I guess I just wasn't ready to find out..."
"You do know that this whole disaster was Elizabeth's way to force the two of them to voice their feelings where you could hear them instead of just telling Von," Molly told her. I swallowed hard. "Von told her how they both felt about you and she decided to play with fire. She heard your side of the story and, I guess it made sense to her mind."
There was a sigh.
"I just wish she'd have left it all alone," she told Molly. I swallowed again. "Don't get me wrong, I find it rather flattering that the two of them like me... but..."
"But you don't really like Gregory," Molly stated. There was a chuckle.
"You know me well," was her reply. "However, I will give him points for being so bold."
Molly laughed.
"Yeah!" she agreed. "I bet you just loved how he just took charge!"
Chrystal laughed, too.
"Yes, and no," she answered. "But I don't think I could handle a boyfriend that was always calm, always patient, always polite... Gods! That would drive me insane!"
They both laughed again. I felt like I'd been slapped. Did she like me at all? She didn't like Gregory... but did she like me?
"So... if it had been Rudolph with you that last dance, would you have hesitated as you did with Gregory?" Molly asked. I felt like my whole life hinged on the answer.
"Yes," was the reply. I felt my heart sink. "I wouldn't want to push Ru too far... I don't want him to be uncomfortable around me... I want him just as he is, a wonderful, caring, gentle man..."
My heart lifted again, but not fully.
"So, you like him?" pressed Molly.
"Molls," Chrystal answered slowly. "I think... I think I may... love him..."
My heart soared as I closed my eyes in victory.
"I mean, after Elizabeth and I talked while I was getting ready for tonight, a lot of things became clear," she continued. I couldn't help it. I was hanging on every word. "I told her how Rudolph tried to turn me and how it didn't work..."
"And?" Molly pressed.
"Well... I also included what his bite had done to me," she continued, a tone of slight embarrassment distinguishable in her voice. "It... It was not unpleasant at all..."
I swallowed, remembering that bite. She had tasted so... so... divine...
"You got turned on by it, didn't you?" teased Molly.
"Yeah," was the quiet reply. Molly laughed. "Gods! I enjoyed that... I'd even go for another attempt to turn me if it meant reliving what I felt just then... My whole body felt like it erupted into a living flame... It was so... breathtaking..."
I swallowed again, feeling the heat in the air go up a notch.
"So... you were kinda hoping Rudolph would have kissed you first, huh?" Molly pressed. There was a giggle from her mere seconds afterwards. "Girl, if you were any redder, I'd be wondering whether they switched your head with a tomato or not."
I heard no more as my heart soared high. I'd always made fun of those who acted rediculously because of love... Now, I think I understood them. I heard the door open and, without a second thought, I pulled her to me and planted my lips on hers. There wasn't even a second of hesitation before she kissed me back, her hands tangling in my hair as she wrapped her arms around my neck. I broke and kissed her again, wrapping my arms around her waist, pulling her body flush against mine. I smiled victoriously as a soft whimper escaped her when I pulled my lips away. So, I kissed her again, then pulled away to look down into her face. She looked up at me breathlessly, her gaze completely dazed.
"You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that," I told her softly, leaning my forehead against hers. She smiled, closing her eyes.
"You've no idea how badly I've wanted you to," she replied, then kissed me. I gladly returned it, letting her feel every ounce of passion I had for her.
Okay... This is where I leave you until I get at least six reviews. Once I have those, I'll be sure to write another chapter. We're almost to the end, so this should be interesting.
Thanks a ton!
Viper-Sindel