Chapter 20

~Tony’s POV~

I kicked the pebble and watched as it bounced across the pavement and into the nearby shrubs, then I kicked another, and another, and another until the boredom got to me and I continued walking.

My mind was everywhere, and I felt like I was losing it. I remembered a time when I could make a half decent decision and stick with it, now I decided on something and I had to rethink it, and question it until I didn’t even know which way to turn.

I did it with Rien, and I was doing it with Malik. I still didn’t trust the guy, that wouldn’t change, but I’d gone from being slightly obsessed with finding out exactly why he couldn’t be trusted, to not giving a rat’s ass about what he did, so long as he didn’t interfere with me.

Then of course, there was the ever present Rien situation. That one was tricky, and more than a little frustrating. I had to decide whether to risk it all again and be with him, or let him move on with his new mate. Then to add another rock to the pile…sleeping with him at a time when I needed my mind clear enough to make a reasoned decision.

I felt like I was being pulled in a million different directions as I fought with logic, lust, my heart and my instincts. The answer was right there in front of me, but I didn’t know which was the right one, and there was no one else out there who could just tell me what to choose.

I kicked another pebble as I walked, and watched it skate across the pavement and slam into the tip a stark white boot.

I looked up, coming face to face with their owner, and my annoyance grew.

“Just what I needed today, my very own ball of cotton.” I issued sarcastically as Christophe approached me, his mouth turned up slightly in a condescending smile.

“Ah, Little Ant, I am surprised to see you without your usual guard.” He said, coming to stand before me, his hands behind his back and his long white hair blowing in the wind.

“Yeah well, I’m surprised to see you on this side of the playground. If you’re looking for Rien, he’s not here.” I got straight to the point, and he looked at me in surprise.

“Look for him? If only such a thing were allowed.”

I raised a brow in askance.

“Do you think that if familiars were allowed to simply call upon the master class whenever we pleased, that Lord Riener’s home would ever be free of guests?” he began. “You are very fortunate to be allowed the chance to dine with one so esteemed Little Ant. I would advise you to treasure it while you still can.” He had the audacity to laugh then, and I felt an almost overwhelming desire to rip the hair from his head.

Instead, I said; “Is there a point to this conversation, or can I get on with my life?”

He seemed to think on it for a second. “I suppose not. I am merely out for a stroll. I must say, I am very surprised to see you so far away from Lord Rien’s dwelling place. I will offer you another piece of advice…do not stray too far without an escort. You would be surprised at just how many in this coven would be glad to see your head mounted on a stick.”

I glanced back to Rien’s place which was only a short walk down the path, and shook my head.

“I think I can manage.” I sidestepped him and continued, I needed to clear my head and a walk alone would do me some good.

“Very well, then I shall offer my services as your chaperone.” He called out behind me, and I snorted.

“No offense Snow flake, but I can take care of myself.”

He appeared beside me, his stride matching my own. “I did not think you foolish enough to utter such nonsense. A frail human, walking through the warrior coven? I could breathe on you and your bones would shatter.” He exaggerated and I picked up the pace and ignored him.

“I noticed that you attended the ceremony.” He said. “I could smell you the moment you entered the court.”

“Uhuh.”

“But do you know what I smell now Little Ant?” he questioned in that annoying self-assured voice that was already getting on my nerves.

“The name’s Tony, use it or don’t bother addressing me.” I growled out.

“It may shock you to learn of this Tony, but I am Lord Christophe, and I shall call you by  whatever name I choose until you have addressed me respectfully.”

I rubbed a hand across my forehead and sighed. “You’re giving me a headache.”

“Do you know what I smell now?”

I shook my head. “No, but I’m sure you’ll tell me.”

“I can smell him. Lord Riener’s scent clings to you like dried mud.”

 I glanced up at him to take in his casual expression. “Jealous?”

He scoffed. “I have no place being jealous. The master class have always been an insatiable lot. It is something one comes to expect.”

I paused and so did he. “So lemme get this straight. You’re risking your life for the guy, and you don’t give a damn that he’s fucking me while you do it?”

His mouth tightened. “Your language leaves much to be desired…and no, when I do become his mate, I will be expected to turn a blind eye to his exploits. That is the way it is done here.”

My eyes narrowed. “Then you’re a fool. No one should have to put up with that shit. In any case, Rien’s not like that, so good for you.” I said drily and resumed the walk.

“Truly? Then what is he like?” he asked, suddenly looking like an eager child. His new demeanor threw me off, and for a second my mind went blank.

“Go talk to him and you’ll find out.” I replied seriously, and for a while we walked on in silence.

My mind drifted as we walked and once again the decision I had yet to make worried me.

“May I trouble you with a question Tony?” Christophe interrupted, surprising me when he used my name.

“What’s that?”

“What is it like where you come from?”

His question confused me. “It’s just like everywhere else I guess, same kinda people, same kinda places…nothing special.”

His brows furrowed. “Yes, but the human world itself, what is it like there?”

I had to pause again, this time looking at him with raised brows.

“You’re talking like you’ve never been there before.”

“I have of course, however only for very brief periods when I am permitted to feed. Otherwise I have not seen much of your world, unless of course you wish to count what I have seen on your internet.”

“What do you mean permitted? I thought you bloodsuckers could go wherever you wanted.

He smiled. “Most can, however I am a member of the nobility. I have waited all my life to get the chance to fight for a place by Lord Rien’s side, my family expects that I should remain pure...in every sense of the word.”

I shook my head. “Pure as in….” I trailed off.

“It is expected that I do not intermingle with the humans, nor should I complete certain acts that would tarnish me in the mind of my mate.”

He said it so casually as if it was common knowledge and I chuckled. “You’re saying you’re a virgin… That’s rich!”

I grinned, then shook my head. The guy came off as a man of the world, overconfident, bordering on cocky; as if he had everything figured out, yet here he was as clueless as an untouched flower.

The irony.

“I hardly see how that warrants your laughter. It is the greatest gift to a Lord of the master class to be presented with the very epitome of purity. Not many can live the way I do.” He continued with that same arrogant lift of his head.

“Abstinence is hardly an achievement, besides, you really think Rien wants to bed some clueless know-it-all?” I ridiculed, and for the first time since we started on our walk, his smile slipped.

I looked away and instantly felt regret. Why should I be the one to feel guilty when he was the asshole Rien would probably end up with. I glanced over at him again to see his mouth pulled down in a frown and his brows knitted in concentration.

I sighed, the guilt had already taken hold.

“Forget I said that.” I mumbled, but he said nothing.

“Ah, I had wondered when I would be given the opportunity to meet the human.” A voice interrupted my thoughts, and I glanced up to see a bloodsucker twice Christophe’s size making his way over to me, with about half a dozen vamps surrounding him.

Beside me Christophe bowed low, but the vamp ignored him, his gaze coming to settle on me.

Rien’s brother.

“I am Marcan and in the event that are too dull-witted to realize it, I am also Riener’s brother.” He insulted, then stared down at me expectantly.

“Then I’m pretty sure you already know who I am, unless you’re too full of yourself to take a look around every once in a while.” I shot back, and without a pause his hand was at my neck and I was fighting to breath past his strong grip.

“Do not think you are safe here boy. I could snap your neck without a second thought.” He threatened.

I clutched his hand, fighting to loosen his grip. “Then do it asshole.” I gasped out, and for a second I saw black dots as his fingers tightened, then he let go completely and I fell to the ground, gasping and spluttering as I tried to catch my breath.

“You are but a fly on the wall I will gladly crush if you dare to insult me again.” He spat, then as quickly as he had come, he was gone and I was being helped to my feet by Christophe, who looked at me with obvious reproach.

“Have you gone mad?” he exclaimed as he held me up, and I ran an unsteady hand over my aching neck.

“Fucking asshole.” I cursed, my voice sounding raspy to my own ears.

“You are fortunate that you still have your life.” Christophe reprimanded, and I brushed his hand away. “That was a foolish thing to do… do you need me to carry you?”

I glared at him. “Does it look like I need you to carry me?” I growled.

I’m sick of this damn coven.  I thought as I rubbed my neck.

No matter what choice I made, I wasn’t staying here any longer than I had to. Fucking barbarians.

I straightened up and glanced in the direction Marcan had gone, then at the street up ahead, and when Christophe shifted slightly beside me an idea formed. I looked up at him with a grin and I saw the curiosity in his eyes.

“You said you want me to tell you what it’s like in the human world right?” I asked.

“Of course.”

“What if I showed you instead?” I asked him, my gaze holding his.

“I do not understand.”

“I’ll show you myself. I’ll be like an unofficial tour guide.”

Comprehension dawned. “You would have us leave the coven?” he asked uncertainly. “Have I not explained to you that such things are not permitted for me?”

“Walking around with a bunch of humans isn’t going to taint you, Rien’s done it a million times, and so has practically everyone here. I’m showing you the place, I’m not telling you to make friends out there.” I tried to convince him, and I could see that it was working when he bit his lower lip.

“I have worked very hard to become what I am.” He told me seriously.

“And I’m telling you…Rien doesn’t give a shit about that. I know him better than anyone.”

It felt strange using Rien to convince him, as if I was ready to hand him off to Christophe on a silver platter.

His eyes narrowed. “Why would you choose to help me?”

I looked at him for a second, then shrugged.

“I couldn’t really give a damn about helping you, I just need outta here for a while…to clear my head, and since I don’t know the way out... I’ll need your help.” I said truthfully.

“So you would use me to suit your own selfish desires?” he questioned and I nodded.

“You in?”

“This goes against everything I believe in.”

“You’re the one who wants to know what it’s like out there. This is your golden opportunity, so take it or leave it.”

He looked around him, then back at me, and for a while we both stood staring at each other, until finally he nodded.

“Very well…. When shall we depart?”

I grinned. “Gimme a few minutes to get something at the house and I’ll meet you back here.” I told him, and when he gave to okay I took off down the street.

I ran back the way we came, through an alley, down some stairs and along the path. Then I ran past a drudge as I entered the house, took the stairs two at a time, down the corridor and finally I was pushing my room door open.

“I was wondering when you’d show up.”

My head shot up at the sound of the voice and I froze in the door way, surprised to see Malik sitting comfortably at the end of my unmade bed.

I released the breath I was holding, and walked further into the room, where I flung open the door of the wardrobe.

“What the hell are you doing in here?” I asked as I searched through the piles of clothes Kaio had had delivered for me.

“I figured it was time I paid you a visit.” He said simply, and I shook my head, grabbing hold of the leather jacket as soon as I spotted it, and slipping it over my shirt.

“Aren’t you supposed to be laid up in bed dying or something?” I asked distractedly, pulling off my cotton pants in favor of the jeans laying on the floor.

“Yeah well…I caved, made Kaio give me a sip of his blood so I could at least make it over here.” He explained.

“If you could take a sip of his blood, then why didn’t you just make him heal you completely?”

“Because I don’t like the idea of being indebted to a vampire, but I figured a sip was worth it, especially since we have a few things to discuss.” He continued.

“I don’t have a thing to discuss with you…now if you’re done, I’d like you to get out.” I said, remembering how stupid I was for listening to him to first time.

I snapped my jeans shut and pulled on my boots.

“Where are you going?”

“Out.” I replied, then ran a hand through my short cropped hair.

I couldn’t deny the fact that I was just a little nervous about going back out there in the world after having being gone for so long. Rien had taken me straight from the desert, to that damn fortress in the middle of nowhere, then to his coven. I’d wouldn’t be surprised if I didn’t remember how to hail a cab.

“Jesus, what the hell happened to your neck?” Malik exclaimed, climbing slowly off the bed and toward me. When his hand moved to touch my skin, I stepped away from him.

“Did Rien do this? Is he hurting you?” he interrogated, almost sounding angry...as if he had any right to be.

“Look, I don’t know what you’re playing at, but I aint interested, so you can take your fake concern, and shove it up your ass on the way out.” I insulted.

I wasn’t naïve like the rest of them, and if he thought I’d be bending over backwards like everyone else to make him feel welcome, he had another thing coming.

“Look Tony I’m only trying to-”

“Not interested.” I interrupted, before walking out if the room and leaving him standing there.

I passed two drudges on my way down the corridor, but managed to slip into Rien’s room unnoticed. I went immediately to his chest of drawers, puling each one open, and shuffling the contents in search of some cash.

It was mostly clothes and useless junk I couldn’t identify. Drawer after drawer was the same thing, until finally I came upon a stack of credit cards and I stared at them in surprise.

A Vampire with a bank account. Now that was something you didn’t see every day. I picked up the first one, turning it around in my hand.

He was using fake names. I shook my head, dropped it back into place, then pushed the drawer shut. When I opened the one below it I finally hit the jackpot.

Stacks of cash sitting untouched amongst his robes. I pulled out a few bills and stuffed them into my pockets, then kicked the drawer shut and left the room.

I made quick work of it, eating up the distance to get to Christophe before he changed his mind. He was standing exactly where I’d left him, looking tall and regal even as he waited, and I shook my head, wondering if bloodsuckers ever just loosened up.

“Let’s go Snow white.” I called when I got to his side and he nodded.

“Follow me.”

                                           AUTHOR'S NOTES

TAKE IT, IT'S YOURS..NOW I CAN GO WATCH MY MOVIE.

ENJOY!

IF YOU HAVEN'T YET, GO CHECK OUT MY NEW BOOK; "A Home For Timmy" 

THANKS AGAIN FOR READING, AND AS ALWAYS KEEP SWEET!

-DoUbLe.A

-unedited.