Chapter 52: Dead and Gone
"After an eventful couple of days, it's been nice to catch up on old times. I don't know if I want you to go or if I want my private bachelor pad back"
Lucien joked as he helped Violet pack her things into a suitcase. She had nudged him playfully while folding her dress. It had been an interesting week to say the least. She had been grateful that he was opening his home to her considering of their mysterious history. Both he and Marcel knew it would be best to hide her there knowing that Tristan or the Strix weren't going to be looking at his penthouse. It was weird not being able to just walk outside and get air or going to get what she wanted. Luckily, Lucien supplied her with enough blood but she couldn't decide if that was a good or bad thing.
"You deserted me the first time so I guess I am returning the favor even though you know where I'm going to be. Thank you for everything, I know you didn't ask for this"
"It has been a pleasure to have your ex-girlfriend run back into your life and you forced to take care of them or their new boyfriend will kick your ass…Besides you aren't too bad and you are definitely not hard to handle. Not that I can't handle women"
"You just never know when to stop talking, do you?" Violet asked looking his way. He always seemed to just be running in circles with his speech and it was always amusing. "I'm glad you know I can handle myself because you wouldn't be worrying about him kicking your ass, it'd be me"
Violet perked her head up at the door as it cracked open down the hall. Alexis had stuck her head outside of it looking at them before quietly closing it. Half of the time she forgot she was even there as the girl made no noise or attempt to talk to her. "What is her story anyway?"
"Oh nothing for me to share" She looked at him trying to press him further. "I found her okay? I thought she needed some help and I took care of her. In return, she showed me certain things with her gift. She's not a fan of vampires but she obviously likes me"
Violet faintly laughed. "Seriously stop making these awkward sexual jokes. You are such a creep"
She had shoved the remaining things in the suitcase once she heard a knock at the door. Checking her phone that was lying on the couch, she put her hand out if he was going to get the door or she was. Lucien hadn't let her open the door the past couple of days but they both assumed it was Marcel. Sure he would have been ten minutes early but who else would it have been? He had walked over and opened the door after peeking out of the eye hole. Violet watched and saw Marcel walk through the door and into the penthouse. Her eyes had lit up and she zipped over into his arms. This reunion had been long overdue. Marcel had held her close and closed his eyes thankful. Lucien waited for a moment before rolling his eyes.
"Oh come on…"
As they pulled apart, Violet laughed quietly. "Jealous much?
"Look if you both are going to take this any further, I'd rather it out of here so I won't be scared for eternity"
Marcel had laughed and thanked him once more. Lucien felt like he had been a God the last few days as everyone was constantly thanking him left and right. He handed her the suitcase and she had hugged him goodbye. It wasn't like they were never going to cross paths again but Violet took the hug just in case. According to their future, she wasn't even going to be around in a few months. No harm in having a long goodbye just in case.
The vampire King and Queen were walking down Bourbon Street looking at the carnival that was going on. She was ready to be home and to sleep in her own bed instead of Lucien's. She was also ready to be familiar with the place seeing that she couldn't go in half of the penthouse due to Alexis.
"So I hate to bring this up but I told Lucien to keep an eye on you…You know after everything"
Violet had taken the suitcase from his hand as she passed a few people. She knew what he was referring to but didn't want to comment on it. "Yeah well I was supplied enough to keep the edge off. I didn't lose control if that's what you are implying"
With all the people on the street, they had to keep certain words hidden just in case the people of touring heard that there were real vampires walking the streets. She had been telling the truth but bending it a little. Lucien had gave her blood to keep the hunger down but it wasn't like she was slipped an extra one or two sometimes. Violet had always had a way with words and she could portray hungry and or sick just to get more blood.
"I wasn't implying anything, with these Strix vampires keeping my on my feet, the last thing I need would be you going all crazy and me having to pull you back from the edge"
"I'm fine; I'm walking past all these people without any trouble. You know me, I'd be freaking out if I wasn't"
"What did he do to you?"
That had caught her attention and she stared at him for a moment. She had been on the end of receiving and giving torture and she had had worse. But the things Tristan had done, the way that made her feel was something she hadn't felt in a long time. She hadn't been a Ripper since the early eighties and it was something she had suppressed constantly. Violet was always ashamed of it and if there was a way she could erase it, she would have. Once they reached the compound gates, he opened them for her as she went inside. Violet was ahead of him as he was closing them. Her suitcase had dropped to the ground as her eyes trailed down.
"Marcel?" Violet called out as he approached. Turning to her, he noticed her looking down and followed. Looking at his shoes, he moved away.
"What the hell…" Marcel left a shoe print of blood. Violet moved a few steps forward to the fountain as she saw something floating in the water. Reaching her hand inside the pink water, she pulled out a pearl necklace.
"I'm not even home and this is my welcoming? Who's is this?"
He wiped the blood off of his shoe making sure it was blood and it wasn't just a prank. Why he thought that, he really didn't know. Violet had studied them seeing them as familiar but couldn't exactly think of whose they were. "Well someone is either dead or hurt, do I want to know who…"
"This leads to the upstairs; I can smell the blood up there"
She glanced behind her shoulder at him and paused. She had ignored that she had smelt blood waiting for him to say something first. It wasn't like Violet was trying to hide a murder; she just didn't want him to think the Ripper was starting to come back.
Marcel had motioned for her to follow him as they got to the bottom of the stairs. Bending down, he picked up a dark blue ballerina slipper. She was just as confused as he was as they slowly inched up the stairs in caution. They were three stairs away when someone walked out of the room.
"Aarick?" She called out as the boy walked out of their bedroom with a shocked and surprised expression.
The boy had a long sleeve white shirt on but had random splotches of blood covered all over him. He had a little in his hair and the two vampires just stood there staring at him wide eyed. It was weird for Marcel after doing all his research and planning thinking that he was her brother. It was a surprise to him due to the fact that he thought he would never even meet him. He was waiting for the right time to talk to Violet about him so adding him on top of this situation was strange indeed.
"I came here to find you and I searched around down here thinking you'd be somewhere. I didn't realize this place was that big so I wandered around. I don't know if anyone was even here so I walked up the stairs and that's when I saw the blood and the girl lying on the bed. I rushed in to save her but she was already dead by the time I reached her…I don't know what happened. You told me to come here to find you so I did and…"
"It's okay, take a deep breath and tell me who it is"
"I don't know who she is; I've never seen her before. She has blonde hair"
Violet had looked at Marcel before flying up the stairs with him on her heels. She skidded to a halt when she saw the body lying on the bed. Covering her mouth in shock, Marcel ran past her and picked up the lifeless women. He checked her pulse then looked at her shaking his head. She had swallowed hard as tears began to form in her eyes. Marcel had bit his lip and looked towards the balcony doors seeing as they were open.
"I'm so sorry…I had no idea"
The vampires had looked at Aarick who was leaning against the doorway scratching his head. She had stepped over and turned him away from the horrific scene. Blood was everywhere, it was almost as if someone took red paint and decided to redecorate. One of their biggest allies and friend was now dead.
"What do we do? I mean what can we do?" She asked.
Marcel had hardly any time to think about anything as he never let go. "We need to call Klaus, he needs to come home…Tell him Cami had been murdered"