Author's Note

I'm finally back... after how long?  No matter, all that matters is that I'm making another update!  I have winter break for the next month so hopefully I can get significantly further into this story, or better yet, finish it!  It is already much longer than I intended; I only expected this thing to be about 11 chapters.  But alas, one cannot predict how long a piece of fiction will become, especially when new plot ideas constantly are jumping out, thirsty for acknowledgement.  Thank you karratranae for reminding me that this story still has fans.  This one's for you!  =^ㅅ^=

 Chapter 14 – Turning Point

"So, where did you go last night?" Jane asks as I finish straightening my hair, "I was almost beginning to think that Rafael kidnapped you or something until you came back smelling like alcohol." I reach down for a handful of my shirt and smell it. I didn't smell anything, but I completely forgot about vampire super-senses. "Did you go clubbing?" she asks. I'm a little conflicted. I don't know what, if anything, the others know about my sister's appearance downtown. I assumed that they would have found out right away since this is basically happening in their own back yard, but Jane isn't letting on that she knows anything is going on at all. Then I think back to what Daniel told me after he dropped me off here earlier this morning.

"No matter what happens, or what you hear, do not tell anybody that you have seen me."

I had asked him why, but of course he drove off giving me nothing but another one of his smiles.

"Yeah," I finally answer Jane, "Rafael gave me a lot to think about, and I really wasn't in the mood for thinking, so I went out to clear my head a little."

"Ahh," Jane says, suddenly giving me a knowing smile, "So, who is he?"

"What do you mean?" I ask, turning around to face her, my heart starting to quicken. She doesn't actually know about Daniel does she?

"Well, unless you spent the night passed out on the club's toilet, you must have left with someone, right?" she asks, cocking an eyebrow up.

"Oh," I breathe a sigh of relief. "Actually, I met some people there visiting from the U.S., I hung out with them and I didn't want to walk back drunk and alone so they lent me a couch in their hotel room."

"You're pulse is quicker than I've ever heard it Anna, but I won't pry into what actually happened. Everyone's entitled to their secret affairs. Caius won't be happy when he finds out though." At that, she smirks and starts walking to the door. I freeze, but the smell of burning hair makes me drop the straightener and whip my head to look at Jane.

"What is that supposed to mean?" I ask, how does any of this relate to Caius?

"You're kidding right?" she asks, turning back around to face me. "It's obvious to everyone in the castle that there's something going on between the two of you."

"How so?"

"Well for starters, he was the one who tried calming you down after you walked in on our tour group. He was in here for hours while you were asleep and wouldn't let anyone else in."

"That doesn't mean anything," I tell her, but deep down I feel like there might actually be some truth to it.

"Doesn't mean anything? You should see the looks he gives Demetri now that you guys are spending so much time together," she laughs.

"Think about it Jane, I'm a human, he's one of the most important vampires out there."

"Which is probably why Caius is working harder than anyone else in trying to find a way to change you," she reveals.

"..."

"..."

"Really?" I ask, but she just rolls her eyes and turns around mumbling something about me being hopeless before she leaves.

I pick my straightener up off the ground and unplug it. Does Caius really... is there something going on between us? I mean, I'm not going to pretend he's unattractive... he looks just like my top celebrity crush after all. But I can't even fathom the idea that he is remotely interested in me.  

"Overthinking is the best way to create problems that don't exist," a voice startles me from behind.

"Oh my God," I exclaim in surprise, dropping my straightener on the ground once again. Poor thing... I am startled to see Caius' reflection in the mirror.

"Caius, this is a bathroom in a woman's bedroom. What if you would have walked in on something?!" I exclaim, still shocked. This is the first time he has been in my room, at least at a time I'm conscious.

"I'm sure you would have closed the door. Besides, it's not like there's anything you do that I haven't seen before." My eyes widen.

"Huh?" I feel blood rushing quickly to my cheeks.

"I've been around humans for a while, you know," he smirks, "and in that time I was a human once too." It is relieving to realize that his comment wasn't referring to me specifically, but something still feels off about him being here. Yet, he only laughs at my face and picks up my straightener. "You seem anxious," he observes.

"Really? I mean, it's not like anyone just cornered me into my bathroom or anything," I tell him, rolling my eyes with a fake sarcasm. He cocks an eyebrow, gesturing out the door with his arms to show that I can leave if I want. "Why are you creeping, Blondie?" I chuckle, making the most out of his out-of-character friendliness with a little humor. Although in thinking about it, my type of humor is more likely to piss him off again rather than preserve the abnormal air of friendliness between us. Shoot. I just couldn't help it. He narrows his eyes slightly at the nickname, but doesn't seem to be otherwise fazed.

"I need to talk with you," he says seriously.

I turn around to look at him questioningly. "About what?" I ask, but Caius only gestures for me to follow him, and disappears from the doorway.

"And I thought we were already having such a nice conversation in my bathroom," I joke, trying to lighten the mood again, albeit more so to help tame my own growing nerves. Caius ignores me and continues down the hall while I try to keep up. I swear, he's probably only going this fast so I become too out of breath to say anything else. At first I assume that we are going back to his bedroom, since it's one of the only places in this castle where nobody would dare interrupt, but he stops in front of the library doors and looks down at me.

"I apologize for taking time out of your scheduled breakfast," he tells me. I can't see any real emotion in his face, so I can't tell if he actually feels bad about it or not.

"It's fine, I already ate." He nods in acknowledgement before opening the doors and leading the way toward one of the tables in the middle of the room. My mind is racing, trying to come up with reasons to why he needs to talk privately with me, especially in such a solemn state. My mind thinks back to my conversation with Jane earlier, when she told me about how people around the castle seem to sense that there's something going on with us. It would definitely be a problematic accusation on Caius' end. However, I can also think of one other reason why he would need to talk to me this morning. My stomach churns just thinking about it, remembering it. As I look down at the swirls making up the polished wooden table, too anxious to meet his eyes, I feel him carefully studying my expression. The antagonizing silence lasts for a few seconds before he clears his throat, requesting my full attention. Looking up at him, I can almost hear what he wants to know.

"I need you to tell me about your sister."