"Ethan!" Tristan's voice cuts through the air like a sharp knife and I growl out loud. Too early, Tristan! When I turn around Tristan slowly comes closer and has that specific look.

Oh my, this will hurt. "Yes, Sir," I answer and bow my head slightly in his direction. I can feel his look drilling into me when he comes to stand in a bit of a distance. Daring to look up at him I see the storm clouds in his eyes. Now I also know why everybody got so drop-dead silent behind me.

"What is going on here?" he asks looking down at me the same way I just looked at Eve.

"We train," I answer unimpressed.

"I didn't know you also teach them how to be an asshole to a lady." He takes a look at Eve who just stands there. The bruise that has started to form on her cheek is already about to heal again.

See? No damage is done! It would have actually been worth something if he wouldn't have interrupted us.

I stare at him and he starts staring back at me. I can see him thinking if he will just beat me up here in front of my recruits or if he wants to beat me up in a more private environment. There is nothing else that will come out of this and I actually counted that in, the moment I smelled him standing there behind us.

In the past, I would have fought him till the end, but I will not do that this time. This time I will need to let the recruits see what happens to someone who hurts Eve. That's the only way I can see my intention will deliver some results.

Pain.

A sudden impact between my legs brings me to my knees and I growl out loud once more; this time in pain instead of anger. Tristan's brows rise in total surprise at me falling down. I hold my manliness a few moments as I try to breathe away the pain.

Ha! That's my Lass!

After the first impactful pain left I have to smile. A silent chuckle leaves me when I get up again. Tristan is still staring at me but then turns his eyes to Eve. Her blue eyes have a deep glow and she is in a defensive position to me.

Good thing, I'm not as sensitive as most men. Well, actually maybe I am, but I try to hide the throbbing pain. I think I will feel that for longer than a few minutes, she really didn't hold back.

I straighten out and ignore her. Pain is something I can live with very well. There is nothing to add. From the corner of my eyes, I can see the recruits astonished by her.

"Don't ever call me that again," Eve finally manages to say through her angry clenched teeth. I nod in agreement and fully turn to Tristan who is watching the scene with wariness.

"Did you already tell them the news?" he wants to know and I shake my head.

"Not now," I murmur silently into his direction and he nods in understanding. I wanted to wait until it is official, or maybe I also wanted to wait as long as I could just to make sure I have time to avoid the topic on my own.

Far louder I continue, "Anything else you want to know, my Lord?" as if nothing happened.

"Yes, please follow me for a moment, I need to talk to you," he commands and starts to head outside.

"That's it for now! Do your workout and then you are free to leave for your work schedule," I yell to the recruits and get back a loud 'Yes, Sir'.

Hurrying after Tristan he brings me into a pretty dusty room, which looks almost abandoned. I guess it's some kind of book storage. Coming to stand in the empty room he closes the door behind us and presses a folder into my hands.

I take a look at the documents he shows me, realizing that these are the ones I left behind when I was sneaking out of his rooms. While I wrinkle my forehead and try to think about an excuse for my behavior, his fist comes flying at my face.

I can feel my nose break while my head snaps to the side and I need to make sure not to fall. The documents fall out of my hands spreading all over the floor. Covering my nose I overcome the first shock.

"Hell, Tristan!" I silently curse. I should have seen that coming. He decided for option two at our little staring contest, but with Eve aiming for that one thing that could bring down every man I simply forgot what was before that.

I also nearly forgot how hard Tristan's fist can be. "The Blackwoods seem to have their fun with me tonight," I chuckle grimly while struggling to breath steady with all the blood coming out of my nose.

Tristan all of a sudden wraps his arms around me from behind. I twitch out of surprise and was not even able to pick up the documents from the floor.

He presses my back against his chest and whispers in my ear, "I know what you did there, but if you'll ever lay hand on Eve again I will break your neck," he silently threatens. I knew he would be upset about that detail of my plan to get her a better reputation among the guards.

If I wouldn't be so irritated that he is so close again I would say more than just rolling my eyes. He broke my neck several times in the past already, out of several reasons, but it will just knock me out for a day or two. Over the years, and with enough vampires killed, I gathered enough strength to shorten the time my healing takes.

I can hear him taking a deep breath of my scent and worry a little. I know how I most probably smell to him. Alcohol, opium and the blood of an innocent; maybe I finally found a perfume that fits my personality? I grin at the thought.

I know I should just be embarrassed about his approach and leave him alone, unwinding his arms around me and just leave.

Move Ethan, that's not so hard.

I try to command my body to reflect my thoughts and my intention to keep Tristan far away from me. It doesn't work. I just can't get myself to do anything but just enjoy his weight on my shoulders.

"When did you start drinking again? You smell as awful as you look tonight. Have you even slept before you left?" he growls but starts to rub softly on my belly.

I still don't move an inch, just standing there and waiting for my nose to stop bleeding. "I think I prefer the broken neck instead of that talk," I speak honestly but this only makes him ducking his face to rub his cheek against mine. Maybe I'm still too wasted to just leave now or be angry at him or fight back.

After all, I like him a lot. I always did. I shouldn't be like that. I'm weak and I shouldn't give in.

His smell and presence calm me so much. I'm a horrible person for doing this to him. Thinking about that hurt girl in my room, are there some silver linings on the horizon for me? Who knows? Whatever he sees in me maybe is something that I need to strengthen?

I bite my wrist and hold it in front of his face. Now it's him who is irritated for a moment and I don't dare to turn my head to look at him. When a vampire offers his blood to another vampire it's like offering all of you as evidence of trust. I never did that before.

This is a very intimate and also intimidating thing to do, but I can't fight the feeling that he earns it. There is nothing besides my blood that I can give him. There is no soul, no real love and not even my body I could offer.

"I didn't think you'd ever offer this," he smiles happily and takes my wrist to accept my gift. The hand on my belly starts to tighten and I can feel his little movements, obviously enjoying it. I can't tell him everything, but I don't have to fully push him away, do I?

I should, but it's already too late now, right? I tense up when I feel his manliness at my back growing. He seems to enjoy my blood a lot, licking my wrist to get the last drops before the wound closes.

"You are blushing again," he whispers amused.

I look down. How embarrassing; I was just gifting him one of the most precious things and he can't hold back telling me how unaware I am of myself in such a situation. To my surprise, he raises his own wrist to bite it and offer it to me. My embarrassment changes to something different and I can feel my eyes totally glowing holding his bleeding wrist in my hands.

Now this means something completely different. If I drink this we are equal. I lick my lips and keep starring at the redness in front of me. "Are you sure you want this?" I ask politely but can barely hold back. The maids' blood smelled tempting, but this.

This smells so good, nothing compared to any human. It smells like him. This is the source of his power and strength. This is something only lovers would do. This means...

"Never was so sure about something," he places a kiss on my temple and I give in. I try to take it as slow as Tristan did, but can't contain myself. It feels like he is invading my body and mind equally. It gives me that warm feeling that comforts my mind and brings me peace.

My mind stops worrying about everything because the only thing that counts is the blood and him. I don't know how much or how long I was already drinking when I hear Tristan softly speaking. "Ethan,... enough," a soft pull on my hair.

I force myself away from his wrist but keep my fangs levitating over the wound that starts to close again. That was close. One should think I already had enough this night, one should think I have a limit and the hunger for more will end.

I didn't.

It doesn't.

I really don't know how the other vampires manage their hunger. Especially Tristan always seems to be totally in control. He gently takes his hand out of my grip and lays it on my cheek.

"Well done. See? It's alright. You didn't hurt me. We are now always a part of each other. Everything's okay," he whispers and I realize it maybe isn't.

I place my head in the nape of my neck against Tristan's chest and he runs his fingertips along my throat. "I'm not good at this," I keep repeating myself once again. A silent growl from behind me can be heard.

"You know that you drive me crazy, right?" Tristan points out in a gentle tone.

"I don't know what you mean. You like to see me bleed and so far you did it twice in a row now. I think that's pretty straightforward," I grin and try to straighten out to finally get out of his arms. He doesn't let me go.

"I need to get some work done," I try to get out of that situation, without any deeper conversations.

"You need to get sober and some sleep," Tristan counters.

"I'm perfectly able to do my work," assuring him.

"I don't doubt you with that, you lead people into battle while you've been drunk, but I'm pretty sure you taste even better without these substances in the finish." He lays a hand on my shoulder and licks my mouth corner where some blood from my broken nose starts to dry.

This time I'm sure I blushed. I think he is doing it like I just taught Eve; using my weakness. I growl at him. "I don't need care like a newborn. If that's an order I'll follow but disagree; if it's just a suggestion I would like to leave now." My cold tone hit its target and he loosens his grip.

I can feel him silently watching me, while I get the documents together from the ground. "Are you okay?" Tristan asks silently and I release a deep sigh before I turn to him once more.

"Yes," looking at the documents in my hands I frown. I hate this kind of stuff. Paperwork. Tristan once more touches the back of my head to place a kiss on my forehead.

"You'll do great," and with that, he leaves me alone in that dusty room.

Finally alone I take a few moments to reflect on what just happened. My intentions were to get Tristan further away from me, not offer him the most precious bond that vampires can have. I wouldn't say I succeeded, but it felt so good to fail that I'm not entirely sure.

Maybe I'm lunatic, and that's why I think one and do another thing. I wonder how often I took 'just another' sip from that whiskey bottle. I know that I don't like the man that alcohol makes out of me.

Weak bastard.

With a grim look, I also leave the room and can see Tristan talking to Eve at the end of the aisle where I stand. Her look wanders to me and she seems a bit startled, looking back to Tristan who then also takes a look at me.

I straighten out and remember that my nose is just about to heal and the bloody marks down my linen shirt and the armor maybe look worse than it is. I don't care what she thinks happened and turn to leave to head back to my room.

Maybe Tristan is right that I should get some sleep and calm down over the happenings, but I can't. Not before I untangle my thoughts and figure out how to proceed with Henriette; and I also shouldn't forget about that Dr. Nowak – and Warlow, of course.

I sigh silently when I head back to my room to once more face Erwin before I will need to figure out what to do with that maid. My head starts to slightly spin and I take a moment in front of my door to get myself together.

Taking my nose into my hands I can feel that it is still broken, but already better than it was. Grinning at myself I unlock the door and enter to find Erwin half asleep on one of the chairs and the maid staring at the ceiling turning her head to me.

No break for me as it seems. I give Erwin's foot a push with mine to wake him and he hurries to get up looking at me for a few moments. "Your nose looks broken."

I roll my eyes. "You don't say," I snarl but Erwin comes closer and I know that his instinct tells him to take a look at the wound but I step back and frown.

"That's it for tonight," I inform him in a cold tone. I have enough of all these ups and downs in the last few hours. I want to get some things done and don't worry about someone's feelings; or that someone worries about me. I'm old enough to take the consequences of my doings.

He finally nods after thinking a few moments. "I'll wait for further instructions for her wounds in my rooms. Please don't let it go untreated," he says politely before he leaves without another word.

Turning to Henriette who watched the scene in silence her eyes grow wider as she sees the dried blood from my nose all over me. I sigh once more, before turning around to start washing it off.

I'm pretty thankful that she doesn't ask or say anything but just let me take off my armor and start wringing out my linen shirt in the sink. Maybe she is just afraid of me in general.

Looking in the small frameless mirror in front of me I check if my nose at least heals straight and doesn't end up even more crooked than it was before. Just because we heal, doesn't mean that our body knows how to grow back correctly.

Running my fingers along the thin and still very sensitive skin I have to admit that I really look horrible tonight. I raise an eyebrow when I see a little movement behind me in the mirror. I guess I can't ignore her there any longer.

Sitting down on the ground and leaning against the bed I can hear how she tries to sit up, flinching at the pain she must feel. "How long are you awake?" I ask her to just break the silence. She won't start to talk to me otherwise, I'm sure.

Her voice is silent and fragile. "Only for about twenty minutes."

I nod while leaning my arms on my knees. "How do you feel?" As she doesn't answer I turn my head to look up at her. When my eyes meet hers she hurries to give an answer.

"It hurts."

I keep on looking at her and she presses the good hand against her chest all tensed up; definitely afraid of me. I turn away my head again to give her at least some space.

"The doctor stitched you up, but you won't be able to use your arm a few weeks. I meant it when I said you'll live if you want to, but I can't allow you to go anywhere at the moment." I lick my lips. This sounds as if I'm about to enslave her.

"I know..." she murmurs silently.

At least she understands. "Dr. Johnson offered to take care of you if you don't want to stay here during your healing process. He has his rooms in the basement."

"I know," she repeats.

I get up to get a cigarette and let myself nearly fall to the ground again where I just sat. Taking a draw I watch the smoke going its way over my head. "Did you like the truth, little lady?"

I can feel her twitch in my bed and lie back again. "I'm alive," she concludes.

"You got me a doctor." Making another pause as she speaks and making me look up to her. She has closed her eyes. I'm pretty sure she is still drugged even though my head finally starts to fully clear.

"What am I now?" she asks silently and I have to smirk. We don't tell the humans everything, just as much as they need to know and sometimes they just make wild guesses when seeing some happenings.

"You are a wounded maid in the bed of a vampire, not able to run away and fully at his mercy. What else?" I meant to joke but her face grimaces and I'm not sure if she will start crying again at any moment. What to say to prevent that?

"But you are also lucky, that this vampire doesn't long for your life."

I can see the struggle on her face. How oblivious she is. If she would have met me while I was hunting outside she would be definitely dead by now and Erwin would not try to heal but perform an autopsy on her.

"For now you can sleep here and I can bring you food if you are hungry, but as long as I didn't get you another clean dress that covers your wound you won't be able to leave this room. Not even to get to Dr. Johnson."

She whispers an okay, but still struggling with tears. "I won't tell anybody. I promise, Mr. Vinge," she all of a sudden says and manages to open her eyes to look at me.

"I heard you talking to the doctor."

I raise an eyebrow. He said that I nearly made her sleep forever, but she was awake? If she heard that she most probably also know that I would be in big trouble if she does. If she would have wanted to blackmail me, she could have done that easily by asking Erwin before I came back. Killing her maybe still is an option right now; at least in her world. My features get softer.

"I won't touch you anymore, Henriette," I assure her. "Do you need anything right now? I have a lot of work to do, and would need to leave again."

I stomp out my cigarette in the little tin ashtray I took with me from the table. "You will leave me alone?" She is surprised and I have to chuckle.

"Unlike your wound, mine is already healed." I point at my nose. Her eyes inspect my face and she knits her eyebrows.

"No scar...," she murmurs and I nod. She sits up once more and reaches out her hand to my shoulder blade, running her finger over a deep scar there, "...but you have scars all over your back," she wonders and I get up to get yet another shirt this night. She will be able to figure that out on her own. I have to suppress a smile. She just dared to touch me.

When I take the jacket from the chair, after getting my tie bound, the letter from Cassy falls out. I pick it up to start reading it. It's a full report of what she found out about the guest, Dr. Nowak. From what he told Celeste, he is a frequent traveler and comes from a city called Trnava somewhere in the Austrian empire. He got turned in Warsaw.

I wonder how she managed to get that out of him so easily. He came here from Wallachia, was traveling through Poland and trying his sciences of shoveling holes into the dirt to get old belongings out?

I have to re-read, but that's what Celeste wrote down. Usually, Cassy's reports are very precise, sometimes even a bit flowery, this must mean that she had no clue what he was talking about. Well done, Dr. Nowak, you annoyed Cassy.

That's something rarely happening as she always seems so fascinated by everything. In between that little information, she was sure to tell me how much she likes me to visit her more often as she feels pretty lonely. I roll my eyes.

"You were still human when you got those!" Henry suddenly tells me her conclusion. Wow. That took a while. I tie the letter and the folder I got from Tristan together and hide it in one of my wardrobe drawers.

Maybe Erwin gave her some kind of substance that makes her think slower, or she is that way. That would also explain why she got here in first place and why she gave in to me at all. All prepared I make my way to the door.

"Wait, please," she makes a little pause when she sees me standing still to take a look at her, "I... I just want to...," she stammers.

I getback to her once more sitting down at the edge of the bed. "What is it, littlelady?"