Chapter Thirty-One

All About You

Mika paused at the entrance to Juliet's room. Darren stood behind him, waiting patiently for the elder Prince to enter. As he lingered, Darren watched his face, immediately concerned by the deep crease to Mika's brow.

"I will stay out here." Mika finally said, straightening and smoothing out his clothes.

"Are you sure? If you give her this news-"

"She will hate the idea of living as much as she hates me. Darren this woman did not beg me to save her life, quite the opposite if you remember…"

Darren paled at the memory of her slight frame impaled upon Mika's broadsword. "I remember." He fought the urge to shake himself, unwilling to show his emotions at that moment in front of his strictest mentor. "What do you want me to say to her?"

At his question Mika seemed to pause, unsure of the correct answer. "The truth, I suppose. That the Princes are willing to keep her alive until she poses a threat."

Darren scowled. "That's not good news."

"No it is not, but it is better than what she had previously."

Sighing Darren nodded and walked past the black-clad Prince. "Wish me luck." He whispered. Mika nodded grimly.

Inside, Jewel watched as the small Vampire boy approached her. She knew, just knew that Mika was standing on the other side of that wall, listening intently to everything within. "Well, this is unexpected." She said before Darren reached her.

"I'm sure this is hard for you," he began, completely unaware of what to say. "But I've got some news."

Jewel narrowed her eyes. "I take it you're here to tell me because the big and brooding one believes if I hear it from someone less threatening I will be… less threatening." A smirk ran over her features and for a split second Darren had déjà vu of one of the many times Desmond Tiny had smiled at him like that. Like a promise of pain.

Knowing this was just his mind playing tricks on him, Darren tried to ignore the shiver that went down his spine, though he admit he was still uneasy from the way he had seen her last: larger than life. Looking at this slim woman, barely able to hold herself upright in a hospital bed was a strange change from the ferocious, insane, deadly one of before. "We're going to keep you under observation." He said finally.

Jewels eyes went from malicious to uninterested. "Wow just like a real hospital. 'She's crazy, let's keep an eye on her for a while!'" Though she turned her head, Darren could very clearly see her roll her eyes.

"Well would you rather be dropped on the stakes for the attempted murder of a Vampire Prince?" He asked.

"What would it mean for your people if that's what happened?"

Darren frowned. He thought that was a yes or no question, but here she was rebuking him again. "I don't know, I don't think a human has ever been tried…" He stopped, realizing what she was really asking.

"Like a Vampire. Interesting. You're either treating me like a human or you're treating me like something inhuman. Either way, you're all convinced I'm not one of you. Mika must have spoken to you." Her tone was like a long sigh. She was exhausted. Darren pulled one of the wooden chairs over to her bed.

"You're good at changing the subject." He remarked, plopping down next to her, careful to keep his distance. They had loosened the chains on her wrists at Mika's request, giving her just enough room to sit herself up, but that may also be just enough to strangle someone… maybe.

"I'm not going to hurt you kid." She snapped, clearly aware of how his demeanor had changed once he was closer to her.

"That's not what you said last time we met." Darren pointed out. She was silent, looking at him. "Do you even remember?"

"I remember a lot of things. Not really a lot of people." She cleared her throat, in need of a drink and Darren handed her the glass of water from the table near the bandages. As she took the glass from him she smirked. "And I think I'd remember an idiot like you." Quickly she splashed the water at him, soaking his clothes. Darren stood abruptly.

"What the-" before he could finish his exclamation Jewel threw the clay cup at the wall directly behind him, shattering it.

"Get the fuck out of here." She snapped. "And thanks for the news."

And just as quickly she leaned back and shut her eyes, intent to ignore him no matter the noises he made as he stormed out.

Mika stood silently by the entrance as Darren stormed out, soaked in water.

"She is unpleasant." Darren groaned. "How is anyone going to get any information out of her?

"Did she hurt you?" Mika asked, clearly alarmed at Darren's foul mood.

"No, she just tricked me into giving her some water so that she could threaten to hurt me." He began to take off his shirt and sighed.

"I am surprised though. She said she would not hurt you." Mika began walking away and Darren followed him.

"And then she threw a cup at my face!" Darren rebutted.

"She missed. Do you really think a warrior like her would miss a target like you from so close?" Darren could swear he heard a smile in Mika's voice.

"Mika what are you trying to say?"

"Every medic she's been in contact with has at least one scar, or a dozen death threats following them. You walked out of there with a free shower."

"You think she wants to talk to me?" Darren asked, finally feeling optimistic.

"I think she doesn't want to hurt you." Mika said, making the turn for the dining hall. "Perhaps just play with you."

Darren's smile faded, clearly not reassured by his words.

Early the next night Darren and Mika were once again standing outside of Juliet's medical room. Mika handed Darren a covered dish of food.

"Normally I would bring this to her, but I believe she will actually eat something if she gets to throw part of it at you." Mika smiled, a rare sight and Darren knew that he was taking Juliet's interest in him as an optimistic sign.

"Is this broth? Because I don't think I want scalding liquid on my face." Darren asked.

"It's not. Go on in. I'll be out here again."

The moment Darren took a step inside Juliet groaned. "You again?"

"Me again."

"Are you being punished for something?" she snapped. "I mean I know I am just for having to look at your ugly ass, but this hardly seems fair to you. What is there some sort of Vampire caste system and fugly brat are the bottom rung?" She was stretched out on her slab, obviously uncomfortable, wringing her hands in their binds.

Darren took a deep, calming breath. "I've got food. It's for you."

"Really, you may as well just eat it in front of me, that's how much I care."

"Well I would but I already ate and I wouldn't want to gain weight and become even more fugly." Darren snapped.

"Honey," Juliet said quietly, pretending to file her nails. "You couldn't if you tried."

Darren sighed and dropped the tray on the table, once again pulling a seat up next to Juliet's bed. "Tell me why you're acting like this. Why aren't you threatening me like you do the other Vampires?"

Juliet looked up from her mock filing. "You're just a kid," she said, shrugging as best as she could. "I'm not that kind of person. I couldn't kill a kid."

Darren frowned deeply. "You really don't remember the other day?"

"The past three weeks have been a blur." She nodded.

"You've only been in this room for a few days." Darren scoffed.

Juliet's filing ceased at his words. "It feels like so much longer." She sighed.

"Everything feels longer when you're tied to a bed. But you keep attacking people so nobody is going to let you go."

Juliet opened her mouth to retort but stopped. "Go away small Vampire." She said instead.

"I'm not small, I'm just growing." Darren snapped.

"Exactly, you're just a kid. And believe me I want to want to hurt you. To kill you. But I can't. I can't bring myself to hate a child. No matter what kind of disgusting monster he is. So leave. Before I overcome my common decency."

Darren didn't budge, instead he stared her down. A harder task than he'd imagined as Juliet's gaze bored into his and he realized she meant every word she said, and more that went unsaid. But he had promised Mika he'd help fix things with her and it started with conversations like this.

"Fine." Darren sighed, standing. "I'm out."

"Good."

"Bye." Darren waved from his spot standing above his chair, heading towards the exit.

"Buh-bye!" She snapped.

"See you tomoorow."

"See you- wait I BETTER NOT!" But it was too late, Darren had already walked out the door.

"Fucking kid." Juliet growled, rolling her eyes.

Later that night Darren showed up in her room again. This time he brought something she appreciated.

"I'm not much of a drinker," he said, placing the two mugs of ale on the table and dragging it closer to Juliet's slab. "But-"

"I've had men tell me I do crazy things but you're the first one to say I drove you to drinking." Juliet scoffed.

"You're that kind of crazy." Darren nodded. He offered her one of the mugs, and Juliet met his eyes, flicking between him and the alcoholic goodness before her. She smiled and reached out her hands.

"Ah-ah!" Darren snapped, pulling the mug away. "Warning for you, do not throw anything at me tonight or you will never- EVER- get out of those chains. Got it?"

"You drive a hard bargain small Vampire." She sighed. "Gimme the booze."

"Say you won't throw anything at me."

"Ever?" She asked.

"Ever."

"You just changed the terms!" She snapped. "That's unfair. I can't bargain away my only means of enjoyment!"

"This is an exercise in trust. Trust that I will give you this mug and maybe you'll get something else." Darren gulped, hoping the bargain was working.

"Alright." Juliet sighed. "But you have to move the table closer. I can't hold this thing the entire time."

Darren nodded and handed her the mug before scooting the table closer to her. Juliet sighed contentedly before nodding. "Thank you." She said, then she threw the entire contents of her mug at Darren's face. Drenched in ale, all Darren could do was stare as she set her mug delicately on the table and picked up his.

"Small Vampire, that was lesson number one. There is no such thing as trust." She lifted the mug up in salute then took a hearty swig, retching as she swallowed "Oh by the gods that is awful." She gasped, then gestured at Darren, still motionless and dripping. "Go get more!"

Darren sighed then shook his head. "I'll be back with a pitcher."