© Claimed By Him ~ Elektra Orfanos

Inside the mansion, with its opulent rooms painted in gold and red with matching fine furniture I found it to be rather disturbingly quiet. I don't think I'm actually allowed to be inside but I've come so further in, it would be pointless to just back out now. Unless of course the bearded creeper had left anyway not enjoying the party. I caught a shadow pass the doorway and I immediately passed through to follow.

"Slag." I recognised the voice to being Mr Crowly's. As I glanced over my shoulder there he was in his golden skull mask leering at me from the doorway.

"Ass licker." I whispered back but kept my fast pace to catch up to the bearded creeper.

"Where do you think you're going?" Evan continued determinedly.

"I believe that to be my business." I replied coolly. Leave me alone.

"I bet you're up to no good. Go on admit it!"

"Admit what? That I need to do some lady business?"

He cringed. "God you're disgusting."

"By all means Mr Crowly Duke of everything rotten and stale. Leave."

"Luna?" We froze. That was Curtis, we both knew it and somehow Evan's mood seemed to darken more. He stormed up to me standing over me in a threatening stance and I stood just as tall yet still too short to be of any trouble but if all comes to worse I'll just kick his precious jewels.

"You are to stop tempting Curtis. I will not have him fall into your trap, into your seductive revolting world of no morality." For once he had rendered me speechless. "Am I in any way unclear?"

"What do you mean my seductive... What?"

"Don't play dumb with me I know you're game. You're using him to spite me and then you're going to break his heart so I will be left to heal him!"

"You think you're capable of that kind of kindness and that type of unselfishness? Evan you can barely manage a friendly hello."

"I can be kind!"

"Yes because you're so pleasant now."

"Only to you Luna, you are the thorn in my side, always have been always will be."

"What have I ever done to you?"

"Just by breathing do you mock me." He looks savage in the mask and I feel as if the golden fangs will be used to stab me.

"Grow up." The sound of a door closing from above us stopped him from replying. "Looks like I'm not the only one sneaking around."

"I didn't hear anything." He quickly said gripping my forearm.

"Unhand me."

"Come along Ms Mystique."

"You heard it to." I accused. He suddenly gripped both of shoulders forcefully and made me shamefully squeak as he shook me.

"Evan! What are you doing to Ms Mystique?" We turned our heads to look at Curtis. His mask was off and he wore an angered expression that didn't suit well with him at all.

"She's gone lunatic." Evan spat.

"Oh you're so clever." I spat ripping myself away.

"She was lurking around suspiciously."

"I am hardly behaving suspiciously. In fact you're the one following me around like some wild animal."

"Oh you want to talk about wild animals!"

"Evan!" Curtis bellowed. We all heard the music stop outside and footsteps echoing off the walls heading in our direction. Apparently there is someone Evan listens to other than himself because I managed to walk closer to Curtis without Evan grabbing me again. "Luna please come here." He whispered. I was, I was tempted to run to him really but I walked.

"Lady Mystique?" Another voice sounded behind him and lurking down the opposite end of the hall. "I didn't think you were here, I never saw you with your father." My father's friend Count Fourie. The bearded creeper opened a door behind him and he simply slid past giving Count Fourie a knowing look and a polite nod before disappearing down another corridor. They know each other but they're not friends. They wouldn't be with such a difference in social status so what on earth would they be doing?

"I came with a friend sir." I replied curtsying. He bowed over dramatically then offered his arm to me. I avoided glancing at the other two and rested my hand on his arm.

"I'm glad, it would have been a shame for you to miss out on all the fun. And I can see already you have the gentlemen swarming."

"Are you honestly that surprised?" I asked bringing back the charm and pulling off my distracting smile.

"Not at all." He grinned. "You two come along the party is outside." He barked at them and they paced quietly behind us but obviously curious. I can feel both of them stalking us with open ears. "Have you heard about the marquee?"

"I do not care."

"You haven't even heard the gossip yet."

"Read my lips Count Fourie 'do not care'." He laughed. "I thought you were a man that didn't dwell on such petty gossip."

"Guilty."

"Lady Fourie has done a fantastic job."

"Yes, yes now smile once we reach everybody."

"Oh I would rather not bring attention to myself."

"Quite too late for that I'm afraid." Evan pointed out.

"Mr Bloomwood why don't you stay here with her whilst Crowly and I escort everyone back outside."

"Gladly." I was traded over like pass the passel and although I'm grateful I'm also disturbed. Evan looked like he was ready to rebut but clearly he knew he'd embarrassed himself already and left with the count.

"Does everybody recognise me?" I asked him.

"Possibly." He said pulling off another heartwarming smile. But it slipped away as he continued to stare intently at me. "What did he say to you?" He took a step forwarding closing the distance. He must have just realised the boundary he crossed because he stepped back.

By a centimetre.

"Nothing worth repeating."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. Is there something wrong?"

"No, no nothing. Nothing."

"You're a terrible liar." I leaned back pressing the palms of my hands against the wall. "I thought we agreed we'd trust each other. Do you trust me?"

He was hesitant to reply. I could see it so clear in his expression and it unnerved me. Then he made his decision and smiled down at me. "I do."

"Good. I'd hate to think that..." Darkness engulfed me and I opened my eyes to find myself outside all alone hiding out in the hedges of Count Fourie's garden.

I can hear the music far in the distance and chattering of people.

I can't control my movements it's as if someone else is controlling my body and I walked closer to the house but still kept myself away from the party leaning against the damp bricks of the building.

"Lydia." Someone purred behind me. I giggled but I didn't and I didn't turn around when I did. I didn't recognise the man I began to embrace and I didn't want to kiss him but I did.

I did hear the growling. The man who was grabbing me in places he shouldn't didn't hear it but my eyes snapped open looking around the bushes.

"Did you hear that?" I asked in someone else's voice. The man kissing along my breast groaned in response and I found it difficult to concentrate on the growl when I felt my thighs tighten. Then I heard the growling again, I recognised it but I couldn't push my body into pulling away from what's-his-name. Then finally the man raking his hands all over me looked up over my shoulder.

"Can I help you sir?" He snarled. The unfamiliar thoughts hissed at me: We've been caught! Oh what will my mother think? Father is going to shun me! I turned around and stiffened at the dark form of a man, the light shining out behind him made it impossible to see his face.

Then two golden orbs glowed on his face making my skin crawl. "Who are you?" I already know who is! Why would I ask that?

"Alpha!" I tried to call out.

Darkness engulfed me again and I woke up in a red room decorated with golden lion heads, stuffed deer, a portrait of the Count and his two daughters. I am lying on a red velvet love seat with Curtis leaning over me worried. "She's awake."

Sam appeared appeared at his side in a blink of an eye. "What happened?"

I looked to Curtis for an answer. "She fainted."

"Yes I know that." He growled. I noticed the dark stain on his shirt and that blood curdling feeling came back.

"I fainted? I never faint." Panic started to rise within me and I pushed myself up onto my feet. I glowered at the stain on his shirt shaking my head as I pondered how possible it is for Sam to kill people. He said so himself he has killed. Maybe I didn't see Alpha at all.

Then again it was just a dream right?