Chapter Forty-Four

My Ward

Darren picked up his white shirt from the mat, bringing it to his face to wipe the sweat from his brow. Four hours. Six days a week. Three times a day. Juliet was no joke. Before Mika had left to hunt down the Lord of the Vampaneze, he had warned Darren.

"I trained Juliet for a moment during our time together." A smile had flashed on his stoic face so quickly that Darren almost thought he hadn't seen it.

"Was she a good student?" Darren asked with a laugh.

Mika considered the question, reflecting on their time in the manor's courtyard, Juliet's exuberance as she leapt from tree to tree, as she attempted to attack him, never quite getting her moves right. "She's not going to go easy on you."

Darren's brow furrowed. "How do you know that?"

"I was her first teacher." Mika sighed. "And I didn't go easy on her."

How long had it been since he'd left? Darren couldn't focus on time. Between war strategizing and General reports, he'd barely noticed Mika's absence. Partly due to the fact that his mentor, Larten Crepsley, had taken it upon himself to fill in for the raven-haired Prince and poke fun at Darren in his stead… Feeling the sweat drip down his back, Darren groaned, knowing she was watching him and rolling her eyes. Now Darren knew who to blame for Juliet's ruthlessness.

She stood across the room watching him with eagle-like eyes. Darren's chest was heaving from the workout she'd been putting him through; it was only round one of three for the night, and Juliet was making him practice being on the offensive. Darren was continuously rushing her, trying to land a solid blow by any means possible. Juliet was, for her part, at least trying to let him get one in, but the boy was unable to focus his speed, the true point of the exercise. Juliet could read his moves. He needed to become unpredictable.

Juliet watched as Darren wiped his face with the shirt before tossing it aside and bracing his hands on his knees. He was exhausted already. She sighed. "Break time." She called to him.

Darren heaved a sigh and fell to his knees. Juliet strode over to him while shaking her head. "You're a mess." She sighed and sat next to him as he dry heaved from exhaustion. "We're just getting the night started."

"I know…" he coughed. "I'll be fine."

Darren continued to retch and Juliet absently began rubbing his back. There were only a few other Vampire's in the hall of sport, but the few that around paid them no mind. The first few days of training Darren and Juliet had attracted a small crowd. With her broken arm, Juliet had been forced to teach Darren simple things, like breathing exercises and tai-chi postures. It seemed the Vampires had gotten bored of watching that, so now nobody bothered with the two of them.

"Darren, you need to focus on this." Juliet chided when Darren finally sat up, wiping the saliva from his mouth. "You should have hit me at least once by now, but instead you've burned through your energy, something I've seen you do a lot recently."

Darren didn't speak, instead he sat back on his flanks and sighed.

"Are they working you that hard in the Hall of Boring?" Juliet asked, referring to the Hall of Princes. Darren had been spending more and more time locked within the domed hall with his elder Princes. The war Juliet continued to hear about was apparently inching closer, looming around them. Juliet had only sat in on one meeting. Mika and Arrow spent most of it debating troop delegation and how many units and should they use Guerilla tactics. Juliet had nearly fallen asleep. Though she found herself living with and interacting with Vampires on a daily basis, she still didn't comprehend their problems as her own. She knew she would leave one day, so why bother worrying too hard.

'Help where you can, don't worry about what you can't.' That's what she told herself.

The entire meeting Darren didn't say a word, but his sire, Larten Crepsley, gave his opinion, and the other Princes seemed to listen to him. Juliet had only been waiting for the meeting to finish so that she could take him for training, but it dragged on forever. They couldn't get three exercises in, not before Darren needed to sleep and be up early the next night. Afterwards, Darren and Juliet walked out of the hall. The Vampire sported a sour look.

"What's up your bum?" Juliet inquired.

Darren shook his head solemnly. "I have a lot of responsibilities."

"Obviously." Juliet snorted.

"It just hits me sometimes. I'm so inexperienced compared to the other Princes." Darren's eyes were distant, and Juliet could feel that he was thinking of something important. She didn't pry.

"I'd wager that's because they've all got a few centuries on you." She smiled at him and Darren shook his head, returning it with his own. "Don't worry, kid. You'll grow into your role."

"Soon, I hope." He said. "And stop calling me 'kid'. I'm not a kid at all."

Juliet rolled her eyes. "I'll stop calling you 'kid' when you're taller than me. Haven't I said that already?" She ushered him into the Hall of Sport. It was only their fourth time training together, and Juliet was still working out the kinks of what she wanted to teach him.

"What's on the agenda today, kids?" Called Vanez Blaine from his seat on the long wooden benches lining the walls of the hall. Though his sight was gone, the elderly Sportsmaster had easily adjusted to using his other senses to 'see', and Juliet and Darren announced themselves keenly whenever they arrived.

Darren groaned at his words. "See?" He motioned to Juliet. "I've already got to deal with it from the others. Cut me some slack!"

Juliet chuckled. "Well we're your elders, Darren. Get over it."

It was Darren's turn to roll his eyes as he followed Juliet to the sparring mat. He eyed her arm in its sling, whilst Juliet bent to take off her soft flat shoes.

"More stretching today?" Darren asked. She shook her head.

"Today I'm going to teach you how to dodge."

"Dodge?" Darren asked incredulously. "How?"

Juliet walked over towards the wall where all the practice weapons were held. Everything from blunt-tipped spears to wooden swords, maces and knuckles. There were real weapons sprinkled throughout for the more seasoned warriors honing their skills in the hall, and it was among them that Juliet spied what she needed. She picked up a handful of throwing knives before returning, dropping them on the mat next to her. "Stand over there." Juliet gestured to the wall behind Darren where a few practice dummies were lined up. "Right in front of one. Line up your shoulders."

Darren complied, but his face was stony as he lined up. The dummies were the size of Vampires, meaning they were nearly twice his width.

"You told me once you traveled with a circus?" Juliet inquired

"It was a freak show."

Juliet pondered this, inspecting the knife in her hand. "You must have fit right in."

"Hah hah ha-" Darren's sarcastic laugh was cut off as Juliet threw the knife straight at him. Darren ducked instinctively, even as the knife landed safely into the wooden shoulder of the dummy behind him.

"You're a flincher." Juliet noted.

Darren stared back at her wide eyed. "This is dodge training?" he snapped.

"In a way…" she readied to toss another knife and Darren tensed. "You learn to dodge after you learn not to flinch."

"You're throwing knives at me!"

"I'm going to miss every single time." She sighed.

"How do I know that?" the young Prince growled. Juliet narrowed her eyes.

"Really?" she said. "Because if I wanted to hit you I would. End of story. Don't flinch." She threw the knife without further discussion and Darren ducked again.

Sighing Juliet picked up another knife and transferred it to her bad hand before pinching the bridge of her nose with her good one. "Darren the sooner you stop flinching the sooner you learn how to dodge."

Darren was frowning, feeling irritated and anxious. "Can you at least explain why?" he called, a slight whine to his voice.

Juliet ground her teeth. "Darren." She said threateningly. "If this is going to work you need to trust me. No questions."

"Do I have to say knives again?" He motioned to the two knives resting within the dummy behind him.

"Darren!" she snapped. He tensed at her tone. "I throw the knives until you stop flinching. Once you are no longer afraid you can learn to detect the trajectory of a projectile. You dodge. Then we move on to hand to hand combat. You stop flinching from my punches or my swings and you can learn to anticipate those. It's about body language, kid. Jesus Cristo!" she was growling by the end of it and Darren heard Vanez laughing from his spot against the wall.

"Listen to the girl, Darren." He called. "You can tell she knows what she's doing by how irritated she is with your actions." The blind Vampire actually slapped his knees in mirth.

Darren frowned and stood straight in front of the dummy. It wasn't usually so hard for him to get into training, but Vanez had never outright attacked him, and all the sparring he'd done had equated to… well wrestling. He watched Juliet twirl the next knife in her good hand. She was waiting for him to say something. Their eyes met, and he nodded to her, back stiff. He barely registered her smirk before she threw the knife at him, the metal whistled through the air before landing with an audible 'THUNK' into the wood dummies head, centimeters above Darren's own.

"Now we're talking." She called, beaming. "You just closed your eyes that time! Still a flinch, but PROGRESS!" She picked up another knife. "We've got all night to make you fearless."

'The kid has resolve.' Juliet thought, sighing as she continued to sit with Darren while he recovered. 'But that mental prowess isn't going to get him anywhere if he can't focus.'

"You're stressed, I get that…" she said while she moved to stand. Her mended arm creaked as she used it as leverage to get to her feet and she made a mental note to massage it later. "But there are ways to relieve stress before we come to train. You've got to be ready for these bouts, Darren. I can't go easy on you."

"I know, I know." He sighed, finally done with his heaving. "I just… I don't want to let you down anymore than I do the Vampires."

"If I tell you you've already disappointed me can we move on?" Juliet remarked dryly. Darren laughed.

"Please say that isn't true."

Juliet shrugged, rolling her shoulders under her thin blue tank. "You're a work in progress. But I could give up now. You're giving me reason."

"Please, no!" Darren said, shocked. He scrambled to stand. "I'm fine. I can still train, I swear!"

Juliet couldn't help but laugh as boy tripped on his way up. She leaned over and extended her hand, allowing Darren to use her for leverage. "No, no. Training is cancelled. You need a break."

"I've got no time for breaks." He grumbled.

"There's always time for breaks!" She snapped. "You think I trained night and day without any free-time for the past fifty years? Please! Even I know a glass of wine and a good manicure can save a life." She extended her hands in womanly fashion, wiggling her fingers for effect. Darren laughed again.

"Okay, but even if I wanted a manicure, we have no way to get one."

"Ah, but you do have your own spa!" Juliet's eyes were sparkling.

Ten minutes later and the pair found themselves in the Hall of Perta vin Grahl. Juliet had grabbed a few candles from the store rooms and began lighting them on the torches and setting them around the rim of the large pool. She also had a small pouch that she had picked up from her room, and Darren had no clue of it's contents. The waterfall was deafening, so Darren shouted at her.

"This isn't a spa. That water is freezing!"

Juliet shrugged. "Beggars and choosers." She replied. "Besides, I give great massages. The water won't even matter."

Once she had successfully set all the candles around the rim of a small section of the pool, Juliet began to undress. Darren blushed profusely, keenly aware of the last time he and Juliet were in the room together the moment she revealed her navel.

"Ah… are we getting naked?" he asked.

"I suppose I could massage you over your clothes if you really want." She mumbled, but continued to remove her clothes. Before Darren realized she was completely naked, her clothes in a pile against the wall. Juliet slowly lowered herself into the freezing water that reached her hips. Darren was fighting a losing battle against his hormones as he tried not to stare at her bare breasts.

"Darren, they're tits. Get over it and get in here, gods." She sounded exasperated, even as she pulled the small pouch towards her from its spot on the edge of the water.

Darren clenched his jaw and began undressing. He'd left his shirt in the hall of sport, the white fabric had been drenched in sweat and was in need of a good wash. He sniffed his armpits after he removed his pants and realized he was in need of a wash as well. Bashfully, Darren cupped his manhood as he strode towards the water.

Juliet pretended not to watch the young man as he entered the water, but she examined his form, making a mental note of his lean physique. Even with his young body, Darren was finely toned, his pale skin was nearly flawless and he had great musculature. Defined arms, a budding six-pack, and legs that some women would swoon over. Juliet sighed. 'It's official. Just about every Vampire is built like a Greek god.' She thought.

Darren sank into the water, allowing it to reach his neck. It was freezing cold, but the lapping caused by the waterfall felt amazing against his aching muscles. Juliet let him float around for a few minutes as she readied her secret remedy. In the pouch were a few bath beads she had brought. Even mentally handicapped and not in control of her own body, Juliet had remembered to bring something to pamper herself with. One of her favorite pastimes was an aromatic bath or foot soak. The beads were eucalyptus, rosemary and mint scented. Perfect for relieving stress. She took one of the small, gelatinous beads and massaged it between her hands, allowing it to turn into a slightly sticky paste.

"Darren, c'mere." She called. Darren looked to her and stood, water dripping from his form as he made his way to her. Juliet tried not to stare as the water left trails down his body. He stood the same height as her, and the water reached his hips as well. Following that water down to his hips was a dangerous game Juliet struggled not to play.

"Sit." She motioned to the spot in front of her. Darren looked at her questioningly but seemed to believe she wasn't about to drown him, so he sat cross-legged before her. Juliet went to his back and dropped to her knees, the water resting just below her breasts. "After this, you're gonna fall in love with me." She smirked and ran her hands over his shoulders. Darren flinched for a moment, and Juliet resisted the urge to chide him. "My massages are legendary. Well, they are to me anyhow, since I've only ever massaged myself. But I'm confident."

Juliet's hands massaged and kneaded Darren's shoulders expertly, and Darren leaned into the pressure, eyes closed and head lolling. She ran her hands between his shoulder blades, finding the knots in his back. A few Vampires entered the hall to bathe and watched, eyes full of curiosity as Juliet massaged their Prince. Juliet paid them no mind, in a co-ed bath she was sure stranger things had happened in Vampire Mountain.

"That smells good…" Darren mumbled contently.

Running her thumbs down the outline of Darren's spine, Juliet began working her way down Darren's mid-back. Darren let out a few sighs of contentment, but stayed relatively quiet, to Juliet's relief. She felt a little awkward bathing with the kid after everything he'd said to her. His budding feelings, coupled with his sexual inexperience, plus her near ogling of his body earlier… Juliet knew she was sending the kid mixed-messages, but she couldn't help it. Yeah he was cute and growing on her. 'And damn, he's got a cute butt!' she sighed as her hands massaged the top of what she could only describe as very pert cheeks. Quickly she changed trajectory, and moved her hands around to Darren's midriff, kneading the forming abdominals gently. She was leaning forward with her hands around Darren's front palms splayed when she noticed Darren tense. Lost in her own thoughts, it took Juliet a moment to realize her breasts were pressed firmly into his back.

For his part, Darren did his best to hide his surprise when Juliet not only massaged his behind, but his abs as well. He felt the softness of her breasts on his back and tried not to acknowledge it, but it was almost too much. Her hands were surprisingly soft and her body was so close to his. His face was hot, somewhere much lower began burning up in response as well.

"Sorry." She sighed, backing away immediately. Darren clenched his jaw and caught her hand with his own as she began withdrawing them.

"Don't be…" he said breathily. Still holding her hand he turned to face her. Juliet's tan cheeks were flushed in embarrassment. "I wasn't complaining."

"You wouldn't." she commented, narrowing her eyes. Juliet tried to pull her hand back from him, but Darren kept his grip and began pulling their bodies together. "What are you doing?" she sighed, seeing the look in his eyes. Juliet desperately wanted to pull away from him, but her body allowed him to bring her closer.

"Juliet?" he asked.

"What?" she mumbled warily.

"I'm going to kiss you, and I don't want you to laugh of push me away."

Juliet almost broke out laughing at his words, but the hard set to his jaw and the fierce look in his eyes made her stop. She knew she shouldn't let him do it, but at the same time she couldn't find a reason to make him stop. "O-okay…" she whispered.

He pulled her body to his with an expert tug on her arm and caught her in his arms. Juliet's hands moved to his hard pectorals, their eyes were locked.

"D-Darren, this isn't right. I just wanted to help you relieve some stress…" she sighed, forcing herself to tear her eyes from his. The moment her words escaped, she knew his response. Focusing her gaze on the strong line of his neck she nearly shuddered at his words.

"You are."

He brought his hand to her cheek and trailed his thumb along her jawline, gazing at her full lips. Juliet instinctively licked them, causing Darren's eyes to widen imperceptibly, before narrowing. He brought his face to hers. Juliet's eyes darted around the room, noting how low her candles had gotten, how quiet it was other than the harsh noises of the waterfall. They were alone. 'That's not a good thing right? Then why am I excited?' her heart began to race.

Juliet wanted to push him away. He was so young! She was so old… But at the same time, they both looked around the same age. Albeit he looked like an unfortunately young eighteen and she a very fortunate young twenty-six…

The moment his lips touched hers, Juliet felt herself melting. Had it really been so long since she'd been kissed? Since a man had looked at her the way Darren just had? He was just hitting her at the wrong time. She was in need of a lay, that's it!

… but his inexperienced kiss made her falter. He was so young… so young and impressionable. Dirty thoughts raced through her head and she clung to Darren for purchase even as she felt her knees go out. He was tracing her lips with his own, as if marking them to memory. She felt like the first time a man had kissed her, lips soft and plying at her own, as if asking a question, asking for permission.

Her lips were soft, silken like a caramel that melted on your tongue. Darren felt Juliet go slack in his arms, her fingers digging into the solidity of his chest. Had she let out moan? He felt lucky there were no others in the hall with them. He didn't exactly know what he was expecting to happen when their lips met, but he hadn't expected Juliet's complete surrender. Instinct led Darren's hands to her hips, pinching and pressing against her soft flesh. Her nipples against his chest began to harden, and Darren bit back a groan at the sensations that rocketed within him.

At the sound, Juliet seemed to come to and broke away from him, placing her hand to her mouth in shock. Darren's fists sat by his side, clenched tight, like his eyes. He was ready for her to hit him, but the blow never came. He looked up tentatively to find Juliet standing under the waterfall, arms wrapped around her midsection. Warily, he approached her.

"Juliet?" he whispered. She put one hand to her mouth and with the other beckoned Darren closer. He stood with her under the water, the pressure of the falls heavy on his body, forcing his eyes closed.

He felt her hands on his body, running down from his shoulders to his waist, teasing circles on his flat stomach. Darren groaned, and Juliet cut it off by slanting her mouth over his. Her arms encircled his neck, deepening the kiss with the weight of her body, and Darren wrapped his arms around her waist, feeling her plump breasts pressed tight against his chest. He knew she could feel his erection, the length throbbed against her stomach as she kissed him. As he kissed her. As they kissed.

Juliet was moaning into his mouth and the vibrations sent shockwaves through Darren's body, forcing him backwards, out of the waterfall. He felt her tongue swirling against his lips and sighed at the sensation, allowing her tongue into his mouth, which sent a whole new wave of feelings through his inexperienced body. She had pushed him back against a wall, and he was holding her so tight against himself he felt every curve of her body.

Abruptly Juliet broke the kiss, leaving Darren panting and aching. She looked at him with her ethereal eyes and he met her gaze with his unsteady one. He was clenching his fists off and on as if for control. She stood a few feet away from

"This is wrong." She sighed.

"No it's not." He said quickly. "It doesn't feel wrong."

Juliet smiled coyly and Darren's heart jumped. "Of course it doesn't. It never does. That's why we have to be rational." She shook her head, "Look at you…" she sighed and reached for him. Darren caught her hand and pulled him to her, attempting to lock her into one of his mesmerizing kisses again, but she turned her head and his lips pressed to her cheek and neck over and over. "You don't know what to do with yourself." She pressed her hands to his hard chest. The chest of a young man, trapped between youth and maturity.

"You can show me." He sighed into her skin.

Juliet shivered at his words. What would she do for the opportunity to teach a young, virile man how to pleasure her. "I can't do that. That's not where I'm supposed to be tutoring you."

Darren snickered. "Extra credit?" he asked.

Juliet continued to shake her head. "No Darren, stop…"

He grit his teeth and grudgingly released her hand. Juliet remained close to him, absently stroking his chest.

"This could have been bad…" she sighed, eyeing Darren's throbbing erection. Though impressive, from his body, Juliet could tell he still had more growing to do. 'DAMN.' She inwardly sighed.

"Good." He replied.

Her eyes were shining. "You're a Casanova, you know that?"

"No. I just know what I want."

"Me?"

"You." His eyes were hard, looking more and more like a boy.

She chuckled and shook her head over and over. "You've earned my attention with your ballsy acts tonight." She said. "If only you were ten years older… or I five years younger…"

"In ten years I won't look much older." Darren grumbled, tearing his eyes from her naked form. "You still don't get that."

"Darren." She said.

"What." He sighed.

"You're in the running, though. You need to get that." She was still stroking his chest and he shuddered.

"You were right." He replied, confusing her.

"About what?" she asked, removing her hands and stepping back from the young man.

"After that massage, I think I love you." He locked his eyes on her, and Juliet fought her swoon, though her knees wobbled. She controlled her body.

"I- I'll keep that in mind." She sighed quietly. "I promise I'll never call you 'kid' again. Not after tonight…"

"Good." He said gruffly.

Juliet sighed, looking at Darren's face. He was clearly unhappy. "Darren?" she asked. He looked up at her, hurt in his dark eyes. She leaned into him and tenderly kissed his lips, pulling away before he could wrap his arms around her waist and change her mind again.

"This is for the best. You're not emotionally mature yet." She said. Darren frowned even deeper. "I mean it. Look how pouty you're getting. This could get ugly if things went any further."

Darren sighed and scratched his head, seeming to come to his senses. "You're right."

"I usually am." She smirked.

"I'm not giving up." He snapped, eyes set on her. "You're gorgeous and smart and witty and I could love you."

"You could love me…" she agreed. "If I wanted you to. But I don't. I've got enough problems. Vampire boyfriends I grew out of a long time ago." Juliet waved her hands flippantly.

"But-" Darren began.

"But," she countered. "I know I'll be using tonight as fuel for a few… intimate times I'll be having. Unfortunately this means I will have to make a rule to never massage you again, so you're losing out here in more ways than one." She strode away from him back into the icy waterfall to dampen the last of her passions. She called back to him after she finished. "Our secret, okay?"

Darren's face was flushed from her words, his mind reeling all at once from her rejection and her admission and the hope he felt. He looked down at his member and sighed. "Our secret." He called back, but he knew she had already left and dressed. He slid down to sit in the water. Though he had failed to convince Juliet to see him as sexual partner, or even a boyfriend in general, he had succeeded in making her acknowledge him as an adult. That had to mean something. He smiled up at the ceiling. 'It pays to try…' he thought, reliving the nights events he decided that it had been the best night of his life so far, even with the rejection.

'Naïve boy…' Juliet thought as she strode into her small room. She flopped onto the pile of discarded cloths and self-made pillows she used as a bed and sighed. 'Of course I suppose he isn't quite a 'boy', is he?' she recalled his erection and blushed. For all her years of sexual experience, Darren's actions had surprised and enthralled her. She was seconds from making a huge mistake with him.

'A mistake I could really use.' She groaned and curled into a ball to alleviate the aching at the precipice of her legs. Unfortunately she was in no place to be sleeping with anyone, unsure of if she would randomly go crazy again. 'Not to mention Mika lurking around all the time.'

Mika. Tall, broad-chested, eagle-eyed, Adonis-built, well-hung Mika. Mika who Juliet had been quietly missing as the days and months and years have gone by since he left to participate in the Vampire war. She imagined his muscles flexing and tensing as he hefted his longsword, swinging it expertly. The twist to his hips as he took down foes with expert grace. Sweat dripping down his bare chest as blood crested, splashing onto his pecs.

Juliet mentally slapped herself.

'I am not about to masturbate to an ex. Not me. Not ever.' She groaned again. 'I just need to go to bed. My hormones are wack.'

Before drifting off, Juliet came up with a mental plan to ruffle Darren's feathers the next night during training by acting as if their encounter never happened. 'Knowing teenage boys… that might make him try harder. And I wouldn't mind turning him down again, if it meant him doing a similar kind of convincing.'

Sleep overtook her with a smirk on her face.