[WARNING: Chapter 30 has been updated and revised with an additional section added. I would go back and read it again for explanation.]
Hey guys,
It has been a good month and some days since I have updated. I truly do apologies. I have finally straightened out the plot and I'm sorry for all the confusion. It's hard when you're the writer and the editor. School as finally ended! I intend to finish this story and hopeful start a new one.
Special thanks: LndsyElizabth, KristeenW, ammeehhh, Emmalea (Guest)(thank you for the review and apologies), Violet Summers194, brebre4g and NatalieH.
Here it goes!
Chapter 31: White Blank Pages
The irrational woman had blindly jumped at the thought of entering the outside world once more. Niklaus' offer had been so sweet, so opening at the time that the servant could only contemplate on the claustrophobic 6 months she had spent in the jailhouse of a manor. Making her turn her cheek to the damage the city would do to her. Yes, her mind had not been in the right state when she had entered the closed off carriage. Now Kristina was suffering one of the any consequences.
Kristina felt her inside burst into flames as the heat cruised to her cold cheeks. It was back, the nauseous sensation. It was a more then familiar feeling to her, though the pain never became adaptable. Every time the raven-head caught her sight shifting towards the lean vampire, a jolt of anxiety and stress built up like a tidal wave. The analyzing blue eyes on her strained frame confirmed her theory. It was most definitely the stunning man causing the sickening feeling.
Her jumpiness and shakiness was normal, or at leased that's what she told herself. Only yesterday she had been throw to a wall with the strength of a god. Kristina was determined to make the feeling normal if she was to survive the ride to the capital.
The headache for the intoxicating liquor had subsided more then expected. Though it left a distinct throbbing behind, the pain of uncovered memories.
The small human forced herself to remember the events of yesterday. The human had uncovered everything except for what had happened after she seized the full whiskey bottle. Once her lips enveloped around the glass bottle, her actions seemed unknown. Just the fact that she reframed to remember terrified her. Her symptoms seemed to correspond with compulsion. All Kristina could do was wait from the memories, which could possible never return, or take trust in Niklaus' word that he didn't compel her.
The ride to the city had been a descent wait so far. The time swayed like the many days of rain and fog in London and the minute ran past like quicksand. It caused the long gazes to became harder and harder to peal away from. Kristina was sure the silence and awkwardness hadn't helped the time pass either. Though the small window to her right was a reassuring sight. It was the only picture of the outside world. The long stares out the window gave her time to think, to remember yesterday in all its full detail.
The first time she repeated the scene in her mind, the human flinched at every touch or glance. It was skin crawling how close she had been to dying. Thinking back, Kristina didn't deny the idea hadn't seemed so terrifying or displeasing.
Elijah, the noble man that listened to every word she had ever uttered, could have slowly and painfully let her slip into the darkness. He was the only original she knew that had compassion towards her kind, though he was also the man that had laughed at her humanity.
His laughter had seemed so violent, so stripped of any emotion. The vampire was a kind, generous heart but that wasn't the man that had approached her last night. The man that had approached her while she sat numb in her own blood wasn't Elijah. That man had let her blood get in the way of saving her life.
She cursed herself silently for being so human, so oblivious to how her state had affected him. He had never showed his devil face before till that conflicting moment.
His dark green eyes exposing the hunger that lied deep within the inner layers of his being, not to forget his monstrous fangs extended towards her neck. His face exposed in all his vampire glory branded itself in her memory like a death, right next to imagine of Athan's and Nik's devil face.
The changes in Athan's eyes, in his voice and the way he held himself, clarified how different he had become. He was an entirely different person. It was as if he had murdered the innocent man she had loved and stole his memories in order to make her his next victim.
The way he crumbled to the floor and how his head caught ablaze with pain replayed in her mind like a bilious scene. She didn't know what scared her more, the fact that he had sunk his teeth into her neck or the fact that she felt such a surge of energy when he hit the floor. It was like the earth's energy was at her fingertips. Though the fear of herself and of the situation wasn't as strong as her resentment towards the blonde vampire.
The carriage stopped to Niklaus' dismay. The original vampire had enjoyed the silence, much more then Kristina. He had been content with the opportunity to be captivated by the raven-head's features. The bold human bore a beautiful but mysteriously colored dress. When observed at a certain angle, the fabric casted a deep purple mix assisted by a dark royal blue. At other points, the clothing gave off a dark green or an exotic grey. The sleeves started mid-shoulder and hugged tight to her arms till it reached her wrists. There it opened up greatly, flowing down to her hips. The corset was a modest but captivating straight cut at the cleavage area, leaving most to the imagination.
The whole ride, his hands had itched to sketch her, to memorize her from head to toe. It wasn't wise admitting those things. The original would have never aloud his mind to think like this a week ago but it was problematical. He had almost lost her. He had almost killed her.
"Master." Kristina muttered through her clenched jaw. Her eyes glued to the floor as her fingers played restlessly with each other. She didn't wait for his reply before continuing with her thought. "May we not discuss last night while in town?" Her voice ringing soft and pleading in his ears but the meaning behind the favor was purely of hatred.
"If you desire it, love." Nik replied, slowly rising from his seat faintly annoyed by her plead but honored it nonetheless.
"Think of it as trade." He uttered, out-stretching his hand to her aid through the open carriage door. The exposed sights and sounds of the busy outer market of London, which Kristina had missed desperately, caused her to almost ignore his sly proposal.
"Trade?" Her voice had gained a new volume but he could see her eyes flinch. Her headache had not subsided to a comfortable state yet; Niklaus thought as he absorbed the confusing look Kristina shot at him. Her expression was one the immortal had gotten much too familiar with.
"You will learn soon enough." Nik said flashing a cunning smirk while she hesitated to take his hand.
Their touch made Kristina's brows net. He was so warm, almost inviting with the sudden winter breeze riding across her exposed skin. He wore only a thin coat over his usual white blouse while Kristina shivered against the dry winter temperature in her thickest dress and an even thicker cloak. It must be a result to his state of being, Kristina thought. The subject sent an uncomfortable tingling up her spine. The contemplation made her shiver once more in disgust. She was glad he had not noticed because of the abnormally, chilling wind. Six months with blood craving vampires had not changed her humanly reactions towards their kind.
"Shall we?" Niklaus grinned with an out stretched elbow, gently offering to lock arms.
Kristina gave a childish laugh as she walked past him, leaving his escorting hand coldly. The moment she comprehended her actions, she turned on her heels to apologies quickly but meet Nik's stern face inches from her instead.
"Don't forget your place." Niklaus whispered silently though it was enough to twist Kristina face into a stern one. He hated how easy she pushed his nerves or how easily she denied him the smallest of things.
"It would be easier if you remembered as well." Kristina whispered, her moon colored eyes not stirring for his oceanic ones. "Maybe if you had remembered that last night, last night wouldn't have happened." The grey eyes beauty fired back. The statement whipped time to a stand still as they stared at each other both filled with more then one emotion.
"M'ord, I thank you for saving me but you should have left me-" Kristina was quickly cut off once his face dropped and the familiar royal eyes became harder then steel.
"No more talk of last night. I'm following through on your request. Shall we?" Nik said not looking at her as he offered his arm.
The servant sighed slightly before resting her soft grip on his forearm.
As they walked in silenced, Kristina lost herself in the liveliness of the market. Venders, businessmen and even the occasional gypsy, built the humming of the town square. Though it wasn't like the heart of London, which she was used to. This town, on the outskirts of the capital, was a million times better then another locked up night in the manor.
"What is your business in town, if I may be so bold?" Kristina asked softly, her eyes still glued on the free life of the people while his oceanic globes stole small glances her way.
"Love, you seem to forget Christmas is around the corner?" Nik chuckled lightly as he his thought quickly turned to his siblings: Elijah, Rebekah and Kol. He was no longer shopping for three, thanks to two silver daggers dipped in the ashes of the white oak treats.
The reminder of Christmas made Kristina's jaw tense as her mind replayed memories like a slide show.
Christmas had been Luke and Emily's favorite, making it Kristina's favorite. Memories of the countless hours in snow, with the blonde haired youngsters flashing in and out of view graced a small smile on her face. The past few winters, full of innocence and joy, had been the best moment of her life.
The sight of first snow was truly one of carelessness in her household.
The thought of winter's gift made her mind swerve to the thought of Nik during Christmas. She giggled at the image of Niklaus once human. A small moppy blonde-haired boy jumping around the very decorated tree as his sleepy siblings gathered around.
"May I know what amuses you, sweetheart?" He asked his eyebrows feathered.
"Do you still remember you childhood?" Kristina asked before her cheeks turned bright red in result of her careless question. Kristina couldn't bare the thought of explaining herself to Nik. The vampire would surely have her head.
"Do excuse my question." She proclaimed at once before turning to face him. His eye unmoving from flustered face. Her wide deep grey eyes and her white teeth softy biting down on her bottom lip created a sickening pain at the base of his gums and lower chest.
"Another time, love." He spoke softly, slipping his hand away from Kristina's.
Kristina almost frowned when he pulled his arm away. The heat he once radiated had left her warmer but now as the London wind breezed against her dress she felt the cold the loneliness brought once more.
"I have business to attend to. Play nicely with the locals, go into a couple stores and return to this very spot in two hours." Nik said staring into her eyes as if compelling her, but they both knew it wouldn't work.
"You're leaving me?" Kristina sarcastic asked though seriousness coated her mind.
"If you attempt to leave or to run, I promise you there are a lot more things worse then death, love." Nik smiled flashing her a wicked grin. He was satisfied with her reaction of cold eyes and goose bumped skin.
"I won't be long and I left you money in the coat pocket. It should suit all your needs. Think it as part of your Christmas present." Nik said lightly before bending down to where they were eye level.
"Do try and play nice with the humans." The vampire said realizing she had been in the company of the supernatural for too long.
"I'll try my best." Kristina whispered, rolling her eyes, turning her back to her master and venturing towards the lovely bookstore. When the human went to sneak another glance at the blue eyes devil, she was surprised to see an empty street.
Time had been of the essence. There was no time for dresses or the rich market. There was only time for the small store opened at the corner of the busy street. It smelt of wet paper and fresh London winter.
Books stood stacked to a human's height with only one caretaker that stood painfully still at the window of the store. Some books formed their own hallways, while others cut off certain twist and turns in the long bookstore.
Kristina felt as if she was in heaven. It was her mini heaven as she sat, her nose borrowed into a poetry book with no author. She was so focused on the book she didn't not realize the woman of her own statured standing only a few feet away.
"It's nice to see a woman in these abandoned halls." A voice said snapping Kristina back to the present. The human took a moment to find where the voice had come from but for sure her eyes meet the stranger's quick enough.
The young woman stood in a striking royal blue dress that nipped in at the waist, showing off her small frame and olive skin that they both shared. Kristina was sure her skin was just the slightest more bronze in comparison. Big doe chocolate eyes, accompanied by medium deep brunette curls that reached the woman's back easily, analyzed her form.
"I beg my pardon for I have disturbed you." She said quickly shifting backwards till she came in contact with a small stack of leather-bonded books. Gasping in shock as that papers sprawl all across her feet, the woman about Kristina's age quickly began to restack the novels.
Kristina laughed as she heard the brunette mutter foreign words underneath her breath.
"I must be more attentive." She responded as Kristina rushed to her aid.
"Do not fret, you will find your stability soon enough." Kristina commented, already making the stack of books again. "I'm glad I have found another young woman fond of reading beautiful literature."
"It would be a gift from heaven to be able to read the English poetry." The stranger stated already helping Kristina up from off her knees.
The servant's heart dropped slightly in disappointment. Kristina had forgotten how grand she had had it. Learning to read and write as a young girl, even if now she had been burdened with the punishment of standing along side vampires, had been one of a kind and only for the elite women.
"How rude of me, my name is Lady Katerina Petrova." The brunette said curtsying softly enough for her dress to hit the floor with a swishing noise.
Kristina knew the name wasn't from the local parts of London or on any part of the humongous island she called home. Telling by her exotic features and slight shifted ascent, she was not descendent from Britain.
"Lady Kristina Alexanders." The raven-haired woman said gently bowing herself.
The next half an hour had been one of great adventures. Katerina had willfully told the grey eyes woman about her voyage from Bulgaria to the British Empire. Kristina found herself drifting in amazement of the Bulgarian's valiant voyage.
"I envy you, Katerina." Kristina said sheepishly as eyes stayed plaster on the sight of her own imagination of the journey.
"Certainly you don't. No one should. My voyage makes a good night-time story but its nothing like the normal life that I thrive to obtain." Katerina sighed, her fingers gently grazing over the leather binning of a book. "Believe it or not, I envy you." The brunette confessed, keeping her eyes glued on the enchanting fabric of Lady Kristina's dress.
Kristina wanted to assure the woman that her life wasn't grand, not now, but she stopped herself from ruining the enchanting lifestyle Katerina had conjured up in her mind.
"I have a present for you." Kristina confessed feeling overwhelming joy build up inside of her. Before Katerina could protest, Kristina ventured off in search of a pen and a parchment.
Once she obtained the pen, Kristina began to write vigorously. When she was done, she folder the letter softly, letting reality set in as she handing it Katerina.
"What is the meaning of this?" The brunette asked her eyebrows feathering slightly.
"I'm giving you what you wish for." Kristina confessed as she dug into her pockets for the gift Niklaus had left her. Her time was about to run short.
"Find someone to read the letter for you. Inside there is direction to my parent's house. There you give them this." Kristina said pulling out another folder parchment, giving it to the flabbergasted foreigner.
"After reading the letter, they will give you an address. Go there and my literature teach will assist you in learning how to read, write and anything your heart desires." Kristina said straining for breath. Nik would be waiting soon.
"Kristina," Katerina smiled, tears forming at the base of her wide brown eyes. She choked slightly before chuckling and putting away the parchments.
"Take this also." Kristina said softly handing her more then half the pounds Niklaus had given to her. "It should aid you."
"I have no words to express my gratitude." Katerina said tear flowing freely.
Kristina brought her new friend into a warm embrace before whispering her final words to the overjoyed woman.
"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me."
What did you think about Kristina meeting Katerina? Next chapter probably my favorite! Please review what you think. It has been a while.