"Conceited", Lola Young

Aidan kept on staying as far as possible from Stanislas, and the atmosphere was still tense. We had nothing left to do apart from waiting, and the inactivity was not helping. Stanislas was glancing at Aidan at times but irremediably looked away the moment Aidan could have caught his gaze.

I took my vampire's hand and led him into the storage room where we would be alone. "Maybe...," I started and trailed off.

"You rarely hesitate like that, my love. What's on your mind?"

"Well, I was wondering what is on yours. I know you said you did not want to talk about it but..."

His smile crumpled and his eyes darkened. He did not answer.

I tried again. "Maybe, you would benefit from talking to him. Not necessarily for him to answer, but just for you to say what you have to say. He is here. And I think you need it."

He shook his head. "There's nothing to say."

"There is plenty to say, my love. But it is just a suggestion, of course. If you think it is not good for you, then forget about what I said."

He took my hand. "No, I... I'm sorry. I didn't want to dismiss you."

"I know, my love. Do not worry."

His eyes locked with mine. "I'm scared. I just fear that if I open the dam, I won't be able to close it, and that it would destabilize me, and that it would backlash against me, and..."

"What do you mean by backlash?"

"I already feel guilty enough," he whispered.

"My love, this is not about that. What happened happened. We already talked about this. You cannot feel guilty for having been turned. It was not your fault. Now, I know you were not the same man in the past, and you cannot erase that, but you have changed. The point here is just to express your feelings and your fears for them to stop consuming you. You are the only one who can do that."

He nodded. "Do you really think it could make me feel better?"

"I hope so, yes."

"No, I think you are right. I just don't know if I have the guts to do it."

"I am there. James is here." I paused and smiled when I added: "And Stanislas is enchained. How better the situation could be for this conversation?"

He chuckled. "You're right. I may try."

I lifted my hand to touch his face when I heard some screams. Aidan and I rushed into the main room where Stanislas and Anna were calling for me. I followed their gaze and froze.

At the top of the stairs stood Lucas, blood pouring out of his mouth and nose, his eyes bulging out in terror. Before I could say or do anything, he swayed and fell over the railing of the stairs.

Aidan caught him in his arms before he touched the ground and I ran towards them.

Lucas was weak but still conscious. He looked at me. "Elise," he whispered with difficulty. "Help."