He dismissed me after that and I was glad to scurry on out of his presence. I just was not in the mood to get sucked on, or worse drained.
My heart was thundering in my chest and I dipped into the bathroom to catch my breath and keep myself under control.
My life had just changed in the span of 10 minutes. I splashed some water on my face, retouched my make-up and walked back out.
It sounded like the party was back on and really just starting to swing. And though I wasn't really in the mood to party I guess I had to put in a appearance. I slipped into my sexy mode and sauntered into the room. A DJ had been set up next to the bar and was spinning some pulsing techno music that the humans were writhing to. The lights had dimmed and the mood was relaxed. Some people were standing in clusters and the vamps were scattered around the room, but I didn't see Felipe. I wasn't sure where I should go and who I should talk to.
I spotted Barry standing next to the window looking out onto the strip. I didn't know anyone else in the room, and they seemed to want to just chill with themselves, and I wasn't sure how one would approach a vampire, so I just weaved my way through the crowd and sidled up to Barry.
He didn't turn to look at me, "You took Castro's offer?" he asked softly. I nodded and he sighed. "I'm sorry. I don't know why I said anything." he confessed. "I was so mad when Sookie outed me back in Texas and then I go and do it to you." He put his hand on the glass. "Working for the vamps isn't so bad, but it changes you and not in good ways." I wasn't sure if he was going to confess anything to me or if he was just warning me.
I smiled at him, "What makes you think I'm so good right now?" I asked him. I was trying to make a joke but it seemed like he wasn't in the joking mood. I leaned into him and gave him a small smile, Hey don't worry about me. I've got a few tricks this vamps haven't seen. I pointed out to him silently. He gave me rueful smile and I was able to relax. I'm not sure why I was growing attached to Barry, I never did that, but I guess we were both the weirdos in the room and that sort of brought us together and that was at least something. So you were there for the Rhodes Bombing? I asked.
He nodded silently, It was the worst thing I had ever seen. Bodies crushed under the building, vamps burning when the sun hit them. The smell was... he shook his head and grew silent. I didn't press him anymore.
The party pulsed behind us and neither of us felt the need to join in. It was just nice standing there with Barry not saying anything, and most importantly not doing anything. I reached out for his hand and he grabbed mine.
It was the most intimate thing I had ever done.
I wasn't sure how long we just stood there, but soon the buzz of drunken brains died down and the driving beat of the music with it.
When I finally let go of his hand and looked around there were only a few vamps and humans left and the vamps were locked in what I thought were intimate embraces till I saw the blood. I made a move to go and stop the blood sucking. I mean they were right out in the open and some of the human's were squirming like they weren't willing donors, but before I could move a step Barry grabbed my elbow pulling me back. I looked up at him fire in my eyes and he shook his head sharply. Well, at least they weren't feeding on me, I thought as his grip eased up on my elbow and we stole out of the living room heading toward the door.
I was going to call it a night. "Ember a moment if you please," called a voice and I stifled a sigh as I turned around. It was the snotty secretary. I gave her a sour look as she motioned me toward her. I tried to keep the tiny stomp out of my step. I was tired and ready to go home and the dull and constant buzz of brains had left me limp as a wet rag. I had never left my shield down that long and I found it had wore me out and now I was cranky. Barry gave me a final smile and a wave and he was on the elevator, and then gone. To his room with his vamps I guessed, I was hoping we could have spent more time together. Really so he could clue me in to all this vamp stuff, but also just because he seemed to be the first real friend I had ever made. All these thoughts were rolling around in my head as I finally stopped in front of Snotty.
"Ember, this is Luis de Castro and he will be staying with you." She introduced a tiny wisp of a vampire. I threw her a look. I didn't need a vamp staying with me. For one half of my house was floor to ceiling picture windows and second I liked my blood right where it was. Which was in my body.
"Why?" I asked her making sure she heard the attitude in my voice. The vampire was smoldering at me so I guessed he wasn't thrilled about this arrangement either.
"Mr. de Castro likes to protect his investments." she said simply. Oh great a vampire bodyguard. "So Luis will be staying with you. Do what he says." she instructed like I was a child. I may look like one, but I wasn't. Well not technically, but she wasn't to know that. I finally turned to give this Luis a once over. He wasn't much taller than me and he didn't look much other than me either, well when he was made a vampire he wouldn't have been that much older than me. He had the longest eyelashes on a boy I had ever seen, ever time he blinked they swept his cheeks, which were high and chiseled against his sharp jaw and straight nose. Though pale, his skin was still the color of warm carmel and his inky black hair was gathered up in a ponytail that was tickling his collar. In a single word he was gorgeous. And at the moment he was supremely pissed, and I couldn't blame him.
I shrugged, there was no getting out of this. "Well can I go home?" I asked Snotty. She gave me a curt nod and walked off in a huff. Bitch, I thought and I was tempted to poke at her sub conscious till she got a headache, but that was a mean. I turned to Luis and was startled that he was already at the door of the elevators. I hadn't even heard him move.
"Let's go," he said. His voice was surprisingly soft, but I didn't think for a minute this vampire was a push over and I stepped onto the elevator with him in tow. It was novel for me to be next to a guy that was barely taller than me. "How old are you?" I finally blurted as we waited for the elevator.
He turned those chocolate brown eyes on me, "I am 735 years old. I was turned in 1291 when I was 15 human years old." he said with a simple dignified air. I was stunned and speechless. I didn't know what to say. I didn't expect him to be that old, well I was right about his human age, but it just never occurred to me that he would be that old in vampire years.
"Who turned you?" I asked and I knew it was the wrong question when the look on his face changed. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to offend you." I said hastily. Now would be a good time for those doors to open. Not that I thought he could be restrained by any of the human guards in the casino but I hoped he would be less likely to kill me in front of witnesses.
"My father," he said simply, but his face didn't change. I figured this was as good as time as any to just stop talking. We finally came to a stop as the doors hissed open and I almost fell out in my haste to escape his smoldering gaze. These heels weren't made for scrambling away either. So not only was the vamprire pissed about babysitting me he was just plain pissed at me. I hurried through the immense lobby and was glad to feel the cool desert breeze on my bare shoulders once we were outside. It had a calming effect on me and with my shield back in place I was in command of myself.
Marshall was off duty, so someone else got my car. I didn't really care I just wanted to go home and crawl into my bed and sleep till I couldn't stand it anymore. We both climbed into the car without saying anything and I drove out of the parking lot. I usually drove like a demon, but I didn't want to give Luis another reason to be pissed at me so I kept myself at the speed limit. The car groaned under my light foot as if it were dying for me to open her up and tear down the freeway toward Henderson.
"I will need some True Blood," he finally said. I have to tell you I relaxed like butter on a warm biscuit when he said that. At least he wasn't planning on draining me once we got to my house. I nodded and turned into a gas station. He handed me a credit card, "AB negative." I nodded and slipped out of the car. There wasn't much going on, it was nearly 5 a.m., and I was the only person in the gas station and the attendant looked bored to be even serving me.
And he didn't offer to help me lug the huge case out to my car and Luis didn't get out to help. What an ass, I thought as I dropped the case in my trunk and slid back into the car. The whole thing took less than 5 minutes and we were back on the road toward my house. And since he didn't offer to help me with that case I floored it. Screw him if he wanted to act like a brat. I didn't ask him to come have a slumber party at my house.
"My father tells me that you are a stripper," he mentioned like he was commenting on the national budget or something.
I turned and looked at him, "Well buddy if you want a private show you have to pay like everyone else," I snapped. He chuckled softly and grew quiet. If I thought I could beat him I would have punched him right in the nose. Since I didn't want to talk to him I turned on my radio just to give me something to listen to all the way home.
I could hear Prada barking as we pulled into my garage and I cut the engine. I had forgotten to order a dog walker for her. I really hoped she hadn't done anything in the house. I scrambled out of the car, cursing my shoes and my carelessness. I threw Luis a look that told him plainly he could get his own damn blood out of the trunk, and hurried to let Prada out. She shot out of the house and ran out into the front yard. I pulled a face, I didn't like her doing anything in the front yard but I guessed I deserved it for forgetting to get her a dog walker. Luis was watching her sniff around the yard like she were a moving piece of dirt that had offended him. I ignored him and walked into the house. I was tired and most of all now hungry.
I had some leftover kung pao chicken in the fridge and I grabbed it with a coke and popped it into the microwave to heat up. Luis was just standing in the doorway between the kitchen and the garage looking like he didn't have anything to do. He was really creeping me out.
He growled and I looked up at him, "You have to invite me in." he said slowly like I was stupid.
I hopped off the counter as the microwave dinged, "Well excuse the hell out of me. I don't get too many vampire house guests. Please come in," I sneered as I grabbed my food and stomped off to the living room to watch some TV. Prada trotted in after me looking very pleased with herself. She jumped up and snuggled in next to me as I sat down in my favorite oversized chair that just swallowed me. I switched on the TV. 'The Other Guys' was just getting started and I smiled. I had been trying to catch that movie for a few weeks.
I guess Luis was exploring the house, because he didn't come into the living room with me. I had three bedrooms upstairs, and my master bedroom was downstairs. At the top of the stairs to the right was the first bedroom and I only had a twin bed and a TV in it. A few girls from the club had slept in there when they were hiding out from their boyfriends or drug pushers . Maybe a night or two, I didn't want them brining that drama around my house, but I wasn't mean enough to not give them a place to crash when they needed it.
The second bedroom across the hall was my work out room. I didn't think I would gain any weight, but I had to keep everything tight and taunt. I made my living from my body I had to keep it tight working order. A jack and jill bathroom connected my workout room to the room next door. That room was my office. My computer was sitting atop a silver and glass desk. I knew I had a ton of emails and maybe a few bookings to go through. That made me smile, because that meant more money.
"This is all yours?" he asked.
"Damnit," I almost jumped out of my skin. "Will you make a noise or something." I asked glaring at him as he sat down on my couch and fixed those brown eyes on me. "Yes this is my house. I live here alone." I answered.
"How can you afford this?" Well wasn't he Mister Nosy today?
I moved over in my chair so I could look directly at him, "Hmmm, so I'm guessing you want to hear my whole story since Felipe couldn't dig up anymore dirt on me huh?" I asked him. He didn't show that he wanted me to continue so I did. "Ok well here goes. Are you paying attention?" I asked him sarcastically. He motioned for me to keep going. "I was kidnapped while on vacation with my parents in Prague. I was sold into sexual slavery to an American living in Japan. He didn't start abusing me till I was 6. When I ran away from him I stole some of his money." I shrugged and popped a piece of chicken into my mouth and the sting of the spice almost caused my eyes to water.
"How much did you take?" he asked me softly. I couldn't tell if he was upset over me stealing the money or if he was just asking me a question.
I fidgeted in my seat. "Well I just took everything he had in one of his bank accounts." I said.
"How much did you take Ember?" He asked with a final air.
I sighed, "Almost $900,000," I told him softly. One of his perfectly plucked eyebrows raised and he leaned back into the sofa looking like he belonged there.
"Do you fear this man will come after you for his money?"
I shook my head, "Not if he likes his life the way it is. I've got enough on him to bury him six feet under. Oh sorry," I muttered. I didn't know if vampires like grave humor, but Luis waved off the apology.
"Why did you ask my father for so much money if you have enough?"
"A girl like me can never have enough money. It makes me feel safe. No matter what happens to me. If I need to just drop everything here and leave I can. And I will be taken care of." I told him.
"You work for my father and he sent me to watch you. Nothing will happen to you." He said like I should just relax and be happy about that. I looked at him.
"If that helps you sleep during the day. But I spent almost 7 years with a man who told me he was going to take care of me and he made me have sex with him before I turned 7 years old." I pointed out to him and he looked at me sharply. I shrugged.
Damn it was tiring being around him. "Do you want this man dead?" he asked like he was asking to borrow a bowl of milk or something. I looked at him trying to keep my mouth from dropping open. I can't lie and say there weren't nights I wished he were dead. There were plenty of those, but to actually be presented with that question in such a nonchalant manner chilled me to my core. I didn't have one single doubt that if I said yes that he wouldn't wake up in the morning.
"No, I don't want him dead." I told Luis. He seemed to accept my answer and we settled into a silence. I turned my attention back to my TV and my food. I was finished in no time and I got up to take my dishes into the kitchen and Luis followed me.
"I will need somewhere to sleep during the day." He said as I opened up the dishwasher to dump my bowl and fork into it.
"Can't you take one of the bedrooms upstairs?" I asked.
"They have windows. I can't risk it." He replied simply. It was if he were a teacher and he was trying to explain to a child why they couldn't eat glue.
I sighed and straightened up to look at him, I kicked the dishwasher door closed with my toe. "Well all of my rooms have windows. I mean my whole house does. Where do you think you can sleep?" I asked him grabbing another coke out of the fridge.
"I will make some calls before I sleep to have a place made for me, but for now I can sleep in your closet."
I looked up at him. It was still nice that I didn't have to look up far. "In my room?" I asked though I clearly knew that was what he meant.
"I won't disturb you." I screwed up my face to say something snarky and nasty, but I stopped myself. I had signed up for this and I guess this was the price I was going to have to pay for working with the vampires. Wish someone had told me that before I signed up, though it didn't seem like I had a choice in the matter.
This was going to be a rocky relationship.
I sighed, "Come on then its almost dawn and I'm dead tired." I shuffled out of the kitchen down the hallway toward my bedroom. Prada shot ahead of us to claim her spot at the foot of my bed. I guess she was sacred Luis was there to take her place. I smiled.
My bedroom was located down the hall from the kitchen and living room area. It was the only room on that side of the house. My massive bedroom was dominated by my king size bed and its over the top cream colored headboard. I loved my bed, and so did Prada and she was looking as smug as a French Bulldog could look as she turned around on the bed a few times before settling in.
Luis took it upon himself to sit down on my bed and I frowned. I said he could sleep in my closet not make himself at home on my bed. "I do have to change you know." I pointed out to him. I was still wearing my dress and my hair was all over the place.
He leaned back on the bed propping his hands behind his head. "I am not stopping you." he seemed amused about something and I was honestly too tired to see what that was, and I didn't want to try. Getting the thoughts of vampires was scary enough, I didn't want to chance saying something or reacting to something unspoken in front of them. So it was best to not even tempt myself.
I popped my hands on my hips and glared at him, "I told you. If you want to see me naked you have to pay like everyone else." Living, breathing human or not he was still a male and I know what they all wanted and he wasn't getting it from me. He could call up one of those fangbangers from his daddy's party for that.
He reached down into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. He proceeded to throw a few hundred dollars bills on the bed. I could feel the heat radiating off my face. "I told you're father that none of you damn people get to treat me like a whore. So you know what you can get the hell out of my house and find your way back home." I stomped out of my bedroom in to my bathroom and slammed the door.
I was glad I got the door closed before the angry tears slid down my cheeks. "Damnit," I muttered snatching up a face cloth and wiping my eyes. I hated crying when I was upset, but I couldn't help it. He knocked on the door and I ignored him, I didn't have anything to say to him. He knocked again and again I ignored him as I walked into the closet to change out of my dress and hang it up. I had a bad habit of throwing my clothes on the floor and leaving them, but this was a nice dress. I pulled the dress off and hung it up on the hanger. I was in the process of taking off my underwear when I turned around and Luis was standing in the doorway of my closet. "Oh my god!" I shouted. I was naked he was just standing there watching me. I yanked my bathrobe from its hook and threw it around myself. "What the hell are you doing in here?" I shouted at him.
"You didn't answer when I knocked. I thought something was wrong," he shrugged.
"And so you just stand there and watch me undress?" He shrugged again and walked into the closet looking around and inspecting the place like I wasn't even there. I let out a frustrated squeak and stomped out of the closet.
I jumped into my bed and turned my body away from the bathroom. He actually made a noise as he walked back into the bedroom. I guess he wanted to make sure I knew he was there. "I've upset you and that was not my intention." he said.
I turned around and looked at him, "Yeah whatever," and turned right back and around and went to sleep.