Michael's POV

Her face paled significantly as though she'd seen a ghost.

Close enough I guess...

"Scarlet?"

"Can we talk about this some other time?" She asked almost in a whisper.

Her face looked emotionless and it almost broke me. I felt such a strong need to hold her in my arms, but I knew that she wanted to be alone with her thoughts for the moment. She had a lot to take in and so, I let her go...

"Sure. That's...that's fine."

She gave me a faint, unconvincing smile before standing and walking out of the room, shutting the door behind her.

I sighed and rubbed my face before standing up myself. I needed some kind of distraction. Maybe a scotch would do it.

As I walked out into the main area, I spotted Trina coming from the walk in pantry into the kitchen as she wiped her hands on a dish towel.

"Hey Michael. How'd the talk go?" Trina asked.

I didn't answer. I just sat at the kitchen island and placed my head in my hands.

"That bad, huh?" Trina asked sounding a little concerned.

"Don't worry about it." I mumbled.

It's my fault. It's all my fault. Is she afraid of me? I could sense fear but...scared? Of me? That would kill me! I love her too much.

I heard Trina sigh then move over to the refrigerator and open it up and after a while of shuffling around and beeping of the microwave, my hanging head was in view of a plate of fried chicken.

I looked up and smiled at Trina, my faithful cook and friend.

"I hope this will ease the hunger pangs for now." She chuckled then turned back to the dishes.

She sighed.

"I know it's not exactly what you need, but I'm just a little weak right now... I mean, if you need to..." She trailed off.

She started to pull away her shirt from her neck and I nearly got up from my seat, but my morals kicked in along with a huge dose of guilt and regret as I cast my eyes down to the plate again and kept them there with my fists balled tightly.

"No, Trina. I told you before, it's okay. You're my cook. That is your only obligation to me and that is all. I made a promise and I'm sticking to it. Never again..."

She turned away from the dishes and faced me once again. I could hear all of the worry in her jagged breathing before she could utter a single word.

"Forgive me, but Michael, time is running short! You only have; what? Maybe a couple of weeks? You're growing weaker--!" She pleaded.

"I'll be fine, don't worry. Please don't worry about me. I'll find someone soon." I muttered dejectedly picking up my plate. "Please don't waste your concern on me. It's just not worth it." I sighed then interrupted before she could speak up again. "...I'm turning in for the night. Please make sure Scarlet eats something before bed. Good night, Trina..."

I heard the slight cracking in her voice as she wished me good night then turned to continue with the dishes. I never understood why she ever showed me so much sympathy after all I'd done. So forgiving even though I was unworthy of her forgiveness or even her presence. Trina was an angel in disguise. I owed her my very life and yet she was just happy working as my ever loyal cook.

Oh, dear Catrina...

Scarlet's first trip away as my assistant was fast turning into one great cluster fuck and I was beginning to regret ever opening my big mouth. I couldn't think straight at all and my senses were so messed up, I could have sworn I felt Scarlet's presence even after she left my bedroom. I was a mess and I needed to try to regain my composure somehow, so I headed straight for bed in hopes that the darkness would consume me and my thoughts and make them disappear if only for tonight...

Scarlet's POV

I listened from the couch as they spoke. I had laid down there when Trina had gone to the pantry to return some things. I was going to watch some TV but before I turned it on, I heard Michael's voice. I knew I shouldn't have eaves dropped but I felt like things were still being kept from me. Things that I needed to know...

When I heard Michael's bedroom door close, I got up and walked into the kitchen where Trina was still washing dishes.

"Trina." I called softly.

She picked up a dishcloth drying another plate as she turned to face me.

"Hi Scarlet. I didn't see you come in." She said, the cracking in her voice still slightly audible.

"I heard everything from the living room..." I said getting straight to the point.

She froze in place, nearly dropping the dried dish in her hands.

"Trina, please tell me what you know." I pleaded.

She looked at me with sad eyes for a minute then sat on a stool opposite me, placing the dish to the side. She beckoned for me to sit down as well and I did.

She sat quietly a short while as she seemed to be gathering her thoughts and I let her. I knew this was all very difficult for her.

"I know all about you. I know all about Michael too. You could say I know all you want to know, but I can't tell you everything, honey. That's not my place." She said gently shaking her head full of short, thick, black curls.

"Please. Tell me everything you can. Anything I might need to know because I know you know more than Michael is telling me." I pleaded once more.

She sighed looking down then back up at me.

"He's a half-blood. You already know that much." I leaned in closer as she started. "A full vampire will jump at the sight or smell of blood by instinct. Michael is different. He does crave it but he takes it when he needs it. He's not as reactive around blood as a full vampire. Not until he begins to need it more than he craves it." She said then took my hand in hers like she was going to tell me something bad.

Oh god...

"Unlike a full vampire, Michael isn't completely immortal. Regular blood supplies...they're what keep him alive..."

My eyes widened at the revelation...He's dying...

"The longest he can go is around a year and he's coming close to that now which is probably why he didn't notice you were in the room earlier because his instincts kind of preserve themselves within until he reaches his peak." She explained.

"Wait. What happens if he doesn't get it before then?" I asked cautiously.

"First, his vampire instinct will become enhanced and take over meaning, he'll go out and feast on the first vulnerable person he sees. This will happen by night. If for some reason he doesn't get it, by morning he will be very sick and if he still doesn't get it then he'll..."

My eyes widened.

"No. He'll find someone...right? He can't...No!" I said with tears threatening my eyes.

Trina raised a hand to her mouth and turned her face away. A tear escaped her eye but she continued.

"He just won't. He cares too much for people. Especially after...well...you see, I remember it happened before. It was too much of a close call that night. Fearing the very worst, he locked himself in a volt he keeps in his cellar at his home back in New York and gave me the combination. He-he told me to give the key to his cousin, but I just couldn't leave him in there like that...so I opened the volt later that night..."

A tear slipped from my own eye as I squeezed Trina's hand in silent support. After a short breath, she continued.

"His eyes were sunken in. His body had almost shrunk in size. He just looked so weak and I was so sure he was going to die that very day, so I did the only thing I could think of and I offered myself to him as a last resort out of desperation."

"If you don't mind my asking...why doesn't he feed off of you anymore?"

She breathed in with her eyes closed.

"At the time, I was unaware of the consequences of him feeding after not having his regular blood supply until the very last minute. He needed so much blood from me that day that I could have died. He was weak but his instincts were still taking over his body much more than his own soul, so he took what he needed until he was back to normal again, but it was too much for my body to handle... He rushed me to hospital when he realised what was going on. When I woke up, the doctor told me that I went into hypovolemic shock and he was surprised I made it. Ever since then, Michael never took blood from me ever again."

I was silent for a while. I looked down at my hands as I thought about everything Trina had just said.

"Trina? Do you have a mark? A protection mark?" I asked still looking down at my hands.

"Yes. I know that you're probably thinking about what Michael said and it's true. He was the first to draw blood from me but I don't know how it feels. The very first time, I was unconscious and the second time, when he was weak, I cut myself first. The mark is necessary so that he can have an idea where you are if you're in danger and so that no one else can draw blood from you."

"Why were you unconscious the first time?" I asked completely ignoring the last things she had said.

"It's a long story. Listen. Just think about this carefully, okay? He's trying to protect you because he cares about you so much. He wouldn't suggest anything if he thought it was unnecessary. I'm sure you know that. He's not trying to use you in any way or anything like that. He just wants you to be safe."

I nodded then stood up from the stool I was on.

There was never a doubt in my mind that everything that he is doing and has done is to protect me. I really did trust him.

I walked around the island, then pulled Trina into a hug.

"Thank you, Trina and I'm sorry. I know it must have been hard for you to open up to me like that." I mumbled into her shoulder.

"It's alright, honey. You're very welcome, but let's just keep this between the two of us for now and please," She smiled placing a saran wrapped plate in my hand. "Think about it. It's worth it. Trust me."

I pulled away from her and smiled faintly.

"I will..."

"Good. Get some rest now, sweetheart. Good night."

"Good night, Trina."

I went to my room and got into the shower attempting to wash all of the stress away. I then changed into my pyjamas and got into bed with so much on my mind that I tossed and turned, unable to sleep. When I did finally close my eyes. Tiring of my own restlessness, a picture of Prince flashed before my eyes and I found myself in front of Michael's room door in without a second thought, shaking in fear.

I knocked lightly on his door and he hummed his response. I gently opened the door and popped my head into the darkened room. I could just barely make out Michael's shirtless silhouette from the dim hallway light flooding in as he lay on the bed with his head propped up with one hand beneath his chin. When he saw my face, he propped himself up in bed with a shocked look on his face.

"Scar? What's the matter?" He asked full of concern.

"I...I couldn't sleep." I half confessed.

I also just wanted to lay with my ill friend a while in hopes that I could bring him comfort somehow as much as he brought comfort to me.

A sigh of relief left his lips that it wasn't anything serious as he moved over in his large bed. He threw aside the book he was reading then patted the space beside him without question. I sauntered into the room then climbed onto the bed beside him and cuddled up next to him. He wrapped his arms around me and finally, I felt safe again.

Things were still so scattered in my mind and sometimes, I didn't even know what I was doing, but this definitely felt right to me.

Even though I had lost my memory at one point, I didn't feel the least bit uncomfortable going straight back to the way things used to be. We used to watch movies together and end up falling asleep together just like this. Usually it would be the three of us. Me, Michael and...

"Janet..." I whispered.

"What?"

"Your sister. Janet. I remember her!"

"Things still coming back to you are they?" He chuckled.

I turned to face him and strained my eyes to see his beautiful face within the darkness of the room.

"How is she? Has she changed much?"

"She's doing great. She's dabbling in acting now."

"Really? Wow! I told her she could do anything she put her mind to." I sighed. "Has she...ya know..."

"No. Janet was lucky. She was born dormant. I was, as some of my family tend to call me, "a rare specimen". Usually, it's really difficult for vampires to get pregnant even my mother being mortal herself. Everyone was even more shocked when they found out she had Janet after me. Usually if a vampire gets a mortal pregnant, the baby is a vampire or a dormant vampire which is essentially a human. I was...different." He explains.

"I see."

There was a short silence between us until Michael decided to break it with the inevitable.

"Listen. About earlier..."

"Let's not talk about that right now, okay?" I then gasped. "Oh my goodness! The meeting today-"

"Relax, girl. It's fine! I called Mr Priestley while I was waiting for you to wake up and rescheduled for the meeting to commence tomorrow morning."

I sighed with relief relaxing once again in Michael's arms.

"I'm so sorry Michael. I make such a mess of things."

"No you don't. It wasn't your fault, so don't worry about it. Let's just get some sleep."

He kissed the top of my head in the way only he can then leaned over and switched off the lamp dismissing the subject altogether.

"Goodnight Scar."

"Goodnight Michael."

Eventually, I felt myself drift off into a peaceful slumber right where I felt safest.

********

The next morning, Michael's alarm went off and I was quick to hit the dismiss button. I didn't want to wake him just yet.

I climbed out of bed, careful not to wake the sleeping Adonis when removing his hands from my waist, then crept out of the room. I slipped into my room then got washed, dressed into a form fitting, button-up, short sleeve purple dress and applied light makeup.

I stepped into my black heels and grabbed my watch trying to fix it on my wrist as I walked out of the room but I bumped into a firm chest on the way out and dropped my watch in the process.

Michael knelt down and picked up my watch. His pyjama pants riding dangerously low on his strong hips.

"Good morning, Michael." I said cheerfully avoiding dropping my gaze to crotch level.

He gently grabbed my wrist then put on the watch leaving a small kiss on my hand making me blush furiously.

"Good morning." He replied with a smirk on his face, his voice skill husky from sleep.

I turned my head away trying to hide my reaction as the the smug bastard rubbed his thumb over my knuckles still grinning at me.

"I noticed you shut off my alarm this morning. May I ask why?" He said in a low but playful manor.

Why does he do this to me? What has gotten into him this morning???

"You...you looked tired so, I thought that I'd get your paper work ready and put it away then come and wake you."

"You really are a great assistant, you know that?" He said.

"Thank you Michael. You should probably go and get ready." I said smiling up at him.

Even in heels he's taller than me!

"Alright. Can you call Bill for me and give him the--"

"Schedule? Done." I smiled having already sent Bill the schedule via email early this morning.

Michael raised an impressed brow then smiled.

"Well alright then. I will be with you in about an hour."

I nodded then started walking away.

"Oh and Scar?" He called out.

I turned to face him again.

"You look beautiful by the way." He winked.

I blushed then turned around again.

"Thank you." I murmured then made my way to his office.

I had made a decision. It was difficult for me but I decided to stick to it, no matter what the consequences may be. I was not going to take any chances, so I mentally prepared myself for the coming events for this evening and the talk I was going to have with my long-time friend...