Chapter 12: "Whiskey"

Gillian had to admit that she was very nervous.
She was afraid of what Steve would demand as a payback.
She was afraid, of what she was capable to do.
She was afraid to see him again.
It was just a kiss Gillian, she scolded herself.
He wanted to humiliate you.
She ran her hands over her eyes, and then rubbed the scar on her left side, which had begun to ache suddenly.
She felt sick, and she wished she had taken some blood before she came here.
Restless, she ran up and down on the carpet.
She caught herself checking her appearance in the reflection on the shiny glass top of the desk. She had not used any make up for weeks, and dark circles lay under her eyes. She looked exhausted, and on the edge of her strength.
Shit, why do you care how you look like? Gillian scolded herself, and slumped down on one of the sofas.
Her eyes fell on the backpack, and she thought about the bottle that was in it.
Damn it, she thought, slid off the sofa, squatted in front of the backpack on the floor, and pulled on the latches.
She pulled out the bottle of whiskey, which already did not contain much liquid any more, and unscrewed the lid off impatiently.
She put the bottle to her lips and took a long sip.
The whiskey spread warm in her stomach, and calmed her down immediately.
Gillian sighed and leaned back against the sofa, still sitting on the floor.
She closed her eyes for a moment.
She longed to sleep.
To sleep.
In a large, comfy bed.
Or a cushioned, tight coffin.
When she opened her eyes, Steve was standing infront of her and looked down at her.
She had not heard him enter.

"What the hell are you doing?" he asked.
Gillian looked up at him defiantly. "After what's it look like?" She lifted the bottle and took another sip, just to provoke him.
His brow wrinkled in angry and he grabbed the bottle out of her hand.
"Hey," called Gillian.
He took one look at the label, and then looked down at her coldly. "Whiskey, Gillian? I thought that was the preferred drink of your mother."
He might just as well have slapped her. "Shut up," shouted Gillian. "I am not my mother!"
"Then do not behave like her", he calmly replied.
With the bottle in his hand he walked over to his desk.
"You can`t tell me what to do," she hissed.
He put the bottle on the glass plate.
"Maybe not ..." he said. "But I can save you from doing a mistake."
Gillian feebly slumped to the ground. She hat already committed far too many errors. A number of mistakes had lead her here.
"You can`t protect me from anything," she whispered to herself.
Steve leaned against the desk and crossed his arms over his chest.
Gillian looked at him defiantly. "Come on. Out with it. What do you want me to do for you?"
"Have you been successful then?" Steve asked.
"You know that perfectly well," she hissed. "Otherwise I would not be here."
"Then you have found the grave?"
Gillian grimaced. "Yes, I have found it. It was intact. I entered it. And I have ... found what I was looking for. I think ... ,"she concluded reluctantly.
"So I kept my word," Steve said proudly.
Gillian laughed. "Gannen Harst has kept his word. But no matter. You want something from me. So out with it. What shall I do? "
Steve was silent. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Stop that, Steve. Do not behave as you have to think about, what you could ask for. You knew from the beginning what you want. So, say it at last. But I will not turn Darren Shan in to you. And I won`t do anything, that could do harm or hurt Larten Crepsley!"
"Clearly," Steve said, wrinkling his nose. "Your cherished master is taboo."
"Yes, he is," Gillian repeated firmly.
"But you did not spare my master," Steve stated and squinted.
Gillian snarled: "Murlough? May I remind you that he was the one who has attacked me first?"
"He is your master, too," Steve said. "And you should be a little concerned about the fact that he's dead."
Gillian laughed softly.
"Name it, Steve." She looked up and looked him straight into his shimmering violet eyes. She sighed. "Shall I bring you to Vampire Mountain?"
He shook his head.
"Or inside?"
Steve was silent.
Gillian frowned. "I can do that, if you want to. I can get past the guards. Do you want that I kill someone?"
Steve just looked at her.
"Someone of the Princes?", said Gillian. "That won`t be an easy fight, I'll probably kick the bucket, but if you want me to try ..."
Steve shook his head again.
Gillian frowned, "So, what do you want?"
Everything from Steve's snotty look was gone. He looked at Gillian, and seemingly embarrassed, he said:
"Stay with me, Gillian."

"What?"
"You heard me. I want you to stay. Here. With me."
Open-mouthed she stared at him.
And shook her head. "No ... I can`t ..."
"Why not?" Steve open his crossed arms over his chest and pushed away from the table.
"No ..." Gillian whispered.
Steve went into a crouch beside her. "I ask nothing of you, what you cannot do."
Gillian looked at him.
He glanced at her openly and honestly. Like he really wanted her to stay.
"Steve ..." she breathed tortured.
"Where else can you go?" He asked quickly.
Restless Gillian slipped away from him. She stood up.
Steve also rose again.
"The vampires have cast you out," he said relentlessly. "Where are you going to? Back to Cirque du Freak? You know that you can`t. They would track you down there immediately. "
Tortured Gillian turned away. She didn`t want to hear it.
But Steve continued: "And Larten Crepsley? To him, you can never go back again, without bringing him into trouble. They will also execute him, if they found out he hides you!"
"Stop it ..." Gillian whispered weakly.
"Stay. Here. With me," he said urgently.
Gillian turned at the sound of his voice. The Vampaneze in the body of a teenager looked at her from haunting violet eyes. "With the Vampaneze you mean," she sneered. "I'm not one of you. I will not kill to feed myself."
"Nobody demands that," said Steve. "You can do and be whatever you want. You are not my prisoner. You only should stay with me."
Gillian chewed thoughtfully on her lower lip.
What was his plan?
Mr Tiny had said, that she should choose a side.
Did he mean this?
Wanted he, that she opted for Steve?
But she would never opt for Steve, she was on the side of Larten Crepsley.
Even if the side he was on did not want her.
She guessed what Steve was about.
If she stayed, she would get used to him. She would get used to the Vampaneze.
She'd start to like him.
Shit, she already liked him by now sometimes.
How did he always manage to make her so vulnerable?
Mr Tiny wanted her to choose a side.
Perhaps it was just as well to get to know the other side?
Since she would be on Lartens side anyway, it might be very good to stay with Steve to have just decided NOT to be on one side.
If only she were not so damn tired.

Steve still looked at her.
"Steve ... I can not decide, let me sleep over it, tomorrow I`ll ..."
"No," he insisted. "I kept my part of the bargain. Now it's your turn!"
Gillian swallowed.
"I am not asking the impossible," he urged her. He stepped closer to her. A whiff of his scent wafted over to her. "I just want you to stay. By my side ... Please. "
His words roared in Gillians ears.
There was worse, he could have demanded.
And Gillian actually knew not where she could go to otherwise.
He was right: he wanted nothing that she could not do.
Steve kept his word.
Her hands were moist, and her heart beat excitedly as she said: "All right ..."

She took a deep breath.
"I'm staying."

... to be continued
The Vampires Student Part V: "The Lord of the Vampaneze"

COMING SOON