The cold ones. Part 1, In two worlds

Chapter 20 - She loathes.

“I hear you went outside today in the gardens!” Michelle said with a quizzical brow after I told her of my request for bird seed. Talon had asked me to inform her as both she and Stuart were head of the kitchen and supplies. Anything requested, went through them to order.

I did, with Talon and I think four others that were just guarding or something, but it was nice. It felt good to be outside of these walls for once!”.

“So, does this mean we’ll see more of you? It feels like you’re always hiding away in Talon’s suite”.

“Mmm, we’ll see. As much as I’m getting to know everyone a bit better, there’s still a lot of it that feels….. well….. surreal! You know? I still feel like I’m trying to wrap my head around this whole different version of my life, and everything I ever knew and was taught”.

“Yes, I do know, and I also know it takes time to find your feet and your place here. I didn’t mean to rush you. I’ve just been here for so long now I forget what it was first like. But somehow, over time, they became just like family, although I can see it’s changed over recent years and I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing”.

“What do you mean?”

“Well…” She sighed. “Lord Talon hoped to pass the title on in the near future and he was rather set on it going straight to Kyan, but it seems he never really wants to be here much anymore, he’s always rushing off for weeks or months at a time. I don’t think he wants the title at all! Then there’s Zekan!” She sighed again. “He used to be so easy going, generous and very protective, just like Kyan, but a lot of that has kind of faded away. He just seems so moody and dark all of the time. Ever since him and Lyra got closer, he’s changed”.

“I think she could suck the fun out of anyone!” I snickered quietly.

“You know, every vampire here, I’d trust my life with Ellie. I know you’re still new here, but I’ve lost count of the times I’ve been alone in a room with one of them or seen them angry and not once have they ever laid a hand on me or any of our kind here. But her…. Lyra… I’ve never trusted! In fact, none of us have”. She shook her head.

“I don’t think Talon trusts her either!” I whispered to her as we stood in the quiet kitchen.

“Well, that’ll explain why he had you moved under his care instead of Zekan’s. Just be careful, ok Ellie, because she’s one I really don’t think you should ever let yourself be alone with”.

I gave her a smile and a nod as we both left the kitchen, she turned left back to her room and I turned right, suddenly realising I had to get back to Talon’s quarters, alone. When me and Talon had come back inside after our walk, I insisted I was fine with him leaving me alone with Michelle. I was just excited to see her, another friendly face I felt safe and at ease around, that I didn’t think further ahead about walking back on my own after!

I peeped my head around the wall and peered into the main hall, the grand stairs in sight at the far end. I couldn’t hear the clacking of her heels or the shrill of her voice, so I counted to five and walked as fast as my feet would go, like I was heading out on a mission. My feet were pacing as I stared directly at the stairs, barely inhaling a breath!

Just as I was nearing the steps, I felt a sudden whoosh of cold air flow through my hair behind me. I turned around to see her face leering down at me with a scowl. She took a step, then another and another, closer to me until my back was against the marble staircase.

“You think you’re clever little weakling, getting the lord on your side!”

“No, I don’t know what you mean!” I shook my head with hopes of convincing her.

“But ah. Look!” She glared as her eyes wandered around the room, then back to me for affect. “He’s not here to protect your pathetic human ass! Just one swipe across your neck and you're dead!”

I gulped as I looked into her hateful eyes. “Just let me pass!” I croaked as my voice shook in fear of being in the situation that Michelle had warned me not to be in only five minutes ago!

“You’re not going anywhere!” She seethed as her hand grabbed hold of my arm and I could feel the sharpness of her nails digging into my bare skin. I tried to wriggle out of her hold, but she just stared at me so unfazed, knowing my strength was far beneath hers. “I loathed you the moment I set eyes on you, you disgusting, weak little creature!”

“LYRA! TAKE YOUR f*****g HANDS OFF OF HER!” A voice boomed and jolted the both of us as her hand let go of me in an instant. We both turned our heads to see Kyan staring at Lyra, daring her to go against him.

As far as a death stare could go… his was a winner for sure!

“DID MY FATHER NOT WARN YOU ALREADY?” He shouted as he began stomping towards us. His hands clenching into fists.

“My apologies, I saw her looking suspicious, like she was up to something!”

My eyes darted from Kyan to Lyra as I frowned at her lie. A look that Kyan must have noticed or perhaps hadn’t believed her little excuse anyway.

“That s**t won’t work on me Lyra, you wanna pick a fight, then f*****g pick one with me!”

“No!” She fired, looking anxious as she fidgeted in her spot.

“Then back the f**k off, and don’t let me catch you near her again!”

Lyra kept her mouth shut, she just nodded in response and, with a flick of her hair, she strutted away, flashing up the stairs and back to her room with her chin stuck in the air, trying to keep hold of whatever pride she had left.

It was then that I realised I was completely alone with Kyan for the first time, and now it was me that felt anxious under his gaze.

“I’ll walk you back to my father’s quarters”. He offered, although, by the stern tone of his voice, it sounded more like a command.

“OK”. I simply replied in a hushed voice as I joined him near the stairs.

Each step, he was next to me, and I was so aware of the small distance between us as we walked up the steps. I tried to quiet my breathing, sure that he could hear how shaky it was and not because I was afraid, but because I felt a certain way whenever he was around, or whenever I would hear his voice.

“Thank you for…. For helping me out back there”. I said, finally finding the courage to break the silence… even if I did have to count to ten before I did, to coax myself into it.

“Well, it’s not like you stood a chance on your own!” He scoffed and I knew he meant it as an insult, and it felt like one… another reminder that really Lyra was right when she called me a ‘weakling’ because here… I was exactly that! If Kyan was just a regular human man I would have shot an insult right back at him, but as much as Talon insists on me feeling comfortable here, I didn’t exactly feel in a position to insult one of his son’s, especially one that just stopped Lyra from gutting me!

When we reached Talon’s doors, Kyan set his hand on the handle, just as I was about to. He stood only a mere inch away from me and I found myself looking up at him, somewhere finding the courage to look him in his eyes. They were deep, warm, just as I had remembered them to be as they lingered, wandering over my features. For all of a few seconds, we just stood silently looking at one another, as if trying to figure each other out, but for what reason… I did not know.

“Goodnight”, he suddenly spoke in a stern tone as he opened the door and walked away, without even glancing back.

“Goodnight”. I called back, before entering the room, wondering what it was that made me feel different and perplexed around him.