The task of keeping the young vampire lord from bounding outside and telling everyone about her was an adventure.

When he woke up calling for his mother, Valentina had been too petrified to move. The ramifications of her the new rebellious side landed her into trouble.
'Who are you?' Niko asked.

She tried to stand still, maybe he'll go back to sleep. At least she prayed he would once he thought it was all a dream.

'Excuse me? Ma'am. I still see you there.'

Valentina turned around.
'This is all a dream.' She slowly said while she wiggles her fingers.
Niko only stared blankly at her.

'You aren't a servant here.' He spoke like a little know it all. Just like his father.

'But I am. Your father just hired me to take care of you. He had an important meeting to go to.'

The boy was very smart, he didn't believe her for a second.

'Really? Why would he hire you? We have so many people.'

Valentina thought fast.
'He said he couldn't trust the staff to not abandon you and attend to other duties.' She hastily lied.

'So he waited all these  years, to finally hire my own babysitter?'
Valentina's palms were becoming sweaty under the pressure. Yet by some miracle she was able to keep her cool.

'Young lord, he's your father. You ask him, I cannot question him in his decisions.' She quickly added.
'He'll be back soon so go back to bed. The sun is still out, it's a beautiful day so there's nothing to see. Sleep okay?'
She walked towards him motioning for him to lie back.

'can't sleep.'
The short phrase sounded like a gavel hammering down.
Valentina could just cry. Now she prayed for Nicholae to return as soon as possible.
Niko scooted down to the end of the bed and faced her, he sat there examining her like an ant under a magnifying glass.

'You didn't get the uniform yet. Maybe I should call one of the...'

'No!' Valentina quickly said. 'One of the conditions in my contract is that I get to wear whatever I want.'

He sized her in her emerald dress. The very one she wore on the day of her death. Fortunately, her death hadn't been too ghastly since there were no blood stains on her. However there were mud stains on the end of her gown.

'If you say so.' Niko said.
'Well. I'm so hungry.'
She couldn't stop him this time. Although she did try to come up with an excuse to keep the boy from feeding.

'Come on let's go.' He gestured to her to follow.

'Why don't you have your food up here?'

Niko sadly responded, 'It's not allowed. They say that I must be watched.'

Valentina had overhead the way Ivan spoke about his Grandson, openly calling him a halfbreed. He didn't have to say the words out loud but it was very much implied that he didn't accept this boy as his grandson. He wanted a pure blooded heir. So Nicholae had to marry from one of the lesser noble families with pedigrees.

The thought infuuriated her for an unknown reason. The same reason that had her wanting to trust Nicholae.
It was madness, that's what it was.

'Well I'm here. So I'll watch you.' She happily volunteered.
The boy's eyes lit up. 'Oh great. So can I have a bite?'

Valentina staggered back.
'No!' She almost yelled.
She quickly composed herself.
'That was one of the conditions. That I wouldn't be used as food.'

'But every human is both. You are human aren't you?'

'I am. But I'm not food. By the way this is a temporary gig, so I'm entitled to my freedom.'
Niko nodded but his suspicion was peaked yet again.

'Fine. I don't feel like drinking blood today anyways. Then go downstairs and tell the kitchen staff to sneak me up some actual breakfast.'

'I'm not allowed in the kitchens.'
He didn't need blood? Then it all made sense to her. Ivan didn't want his grandson because Nicholae had an affair with a human. Taking a closer look at the boy, she saw he wasn't as pale as the vampires. That's why the mother wasn't here. The poor boy was most likely a bastard.

'Wow. You are very useless. All you do is watch me?'

'Pretty much. But I'm not useless.'

'Well then, I don't need you. I'll let Karen show you your way out.' He was heading for the door.

'No! Don't tell Karen.'
Oh she was so screwed. Nicholae the ugly bastard should have broken the wards before he left. Now look at the trouble she was in?

'Why?' The boy crossed his arms.

'I need this job?' He wasn't buying it.

'Tell me the truth.' He demanded irritation taking root.
Valentina groaned.
'Your father didn't go through the proper channels in hiring me. So that I don't get bitten.' She lowered her eyes and played with her fingers.
'You saw how I reacted when you asked me for blood? I have a phobia.' Huge lie. She was neutral to the thought actually, but the boy didn't need to know that.
She looked at the boy once more and thankfully his expression softened.

'Okay. I won't tell anybody. Stay here.' He instructed before leaving.

Valentina exhaled. Her heart was beating hard and fast. She prayed that the boy would keep his word and not say anything about her presence in his father's room.

She quickly went into the closet once more. The curtains were closed in here as well. But there was enough light sleeping through to see the large space.
She could get lost in this closet alone.
The hall way went on about a quarter of a mile with various turns.
How could one person wear all of this. She peeked at the first on her left and saw rows of shoes that went on and on.
This had to be for everyone in the household, surely not just Nicholae.
She went further and looked at the next turn. It was a section dedicated to watches.
She ventured down a couple of turns to inspect the array of posh clothes and jewelry. A glittering ruby necklace caught her eyes and her hand automatically went to her throat.
She immediately envisioned herself wearing the breath-taking jewel. The ruby was cut into a blossoming rose and it was the size of a pebble. The golden chain was thin and so it didn't distract from the stone itself. The design made the rock appear to be floating on its own. She found it to be magnificent.

It was the hardest thing to tear herself away from the sight and return to the room.
'Hello? Hey, where are you?' Niko whispered.

'I'm here.' She came out from the door when his back was turned to her.

He hid himself at the far side of his father's room, under his desk.
The wandering person wouldn't see him if they were to open the door. They'll only find him if they knew where to look.

It was truly a lonely picture he boy presented.

She sat far enough for him so she wouldn't risk bumping into the desk thus not making contact and thereby revealing that she was a spirit.

'You love waffles and bacon, huh?'
It was obvious from the way he scarfed down the plate of food.
'I love all food. Especially since I'm not allowed to have a human diet.'
Valentina was appalled.
'Does your father think keeping you on a vampire diet would make you pure?' She asked a little to passionately.

'You don't know anything about my father. He loves me he doesn't care if I'm pure or not. And he gives me whatever I want.' Niko defended his father with a mouth full of eggs and bacon.
Of course he did. They could afford whatever they wanted anyways. She saw that clearly in the closet alone.

'But love isn't all about material things, Niko.'
She forgot to call him by his formal title and tried to correct herself.
'It's fine. You can call me Niko.'

'She's right son.'
Valentina jumped at Nicholae's unexpected entrance.
'You can't buy someone's love.'
Valentina quickly blocked the boy from his father's line of sight.
Niko had been caught eating human food. Valentina quickly tried to come up with an excuse or a way to defend the boy from whatever punishment he would face.

Niko shifted to get a better view and frowned at is father.
'I told you not to leave me and you did.'

'You were fast asleep. And I asked no one to bother you.' He stared at Valentina who avoided his look.

'But I didn't need a babysitter.'
Nicholae did a double take.
'A wh...'
Then it all clicked. It was a lie she must have created.

'Niko, this is Valentina, but you've already met. I'm sorry. I know you hate being treated like a kid. Although you are.'
His father tried to grab him but Niko moved away.

'I know I said Valentina was right about material things not being a substitute for love, but...'
He revealed a gleaming bar of milk chocolate.
He had Niko's attention, and hers. Niko tried to whisk it from his father's fingers, but he was too slow.
'I'll only give it to you if you..'

'I forgive you Papa. I love you! Now hand over the chocolate.'

Nicholae did exactly that and laughed as his son covered his face with chocolate. Valentina longingly watcher on as the boy consumed the bar.

'We'll have to get rid of the evidence.'
The sides of his eyes crinkled when he smiled widely at his son.

Valentina could only stare. Nicholae was handing the boy more human delicacies.
She should apologize but he didn't know what she meant by her initial words of wisdom.

'Why don't you go in there and take a long bath. Erase all evidence of your crimes. I'll deal with the plate.'

Niko quickly obeyed his father and entered the bathroom.
The second the door shut, Valentina turned to him, peppering him with questions before he could do the same to her.

'Did you see Semi? Did you talk to her? Did Osei allow her to come at all? Did she get to tell you about me?'
Nicholae gestured for her to breathe.
'I did talk to Semi and Osei. But we weren't able to talk about you.'

'So what took all of your time?' Valentina was frustrated. Semi didn't even miss her?

'They'd agreed to align themselves with me. We were going over the terms and conditions.'

'Well you can't keep me here? Do you know how dangerous it is? Your son knows about me.'

'I wonder how that happened?' He asked sarcastically.
Valentina hesitated before stuttering.
'H-he's a very smart child. Give him some credit.'
'I know. That's why I want to protect him from all those who mean to harm him.'
There was an undeniable love burning in his eyes for his son.

'Osei will be attending the truce banquet next week. It was one of the conditions.'
Her brown curls bounced as she nodded vigorously.
'But what will happen to me?'

'You'll simply stay by my side. Until I can find out the truth.'

She groaned and eyed him with all the fury she could muster.
Oh how she hated him.

A/N
So we seen that Nicholae is a liar... to some degree. But why would he lie to keep Valentina prisoner?
I love theories, so let me hear yours.

And Valentina, always judging Nicholae.
Don't you think she should already give it a rest?
Personally I don't think so should, if she remembers him killing her, there's no amount of good that could erase that- in my opinion.
Well... thank you my lovelies for choosing to read Walking with the Vampire.
If you still aren't following at this juncture, you should be definitely mulling over all your life choices. Lol.
Please vote, comment, share and add.
Thank you and Love you all.

So until the next time.
UNTO THE NEXT CHAPTER!!!