The vampire and the mistress

Chapter 12

I'd put the butterfly charm away after I'd sat thinking about what Cordelia had to tell me, I'd then got changed and snuggled into bed. I had a feeling that Xander had no plans on coming to bed tonight as he was too wrapped up in his phone call about either Liam or Lucian. Either way, I hated them both and hoped they burned in hell for making me miss out on so much time away from Xander because he was chasing them.

I couldn't get comfortable or relaxed, so I got up and took the book off the fireplace and sat in the chair, but the humid temperature was too much, so I went and opened the balcony door and then sat back down. I'd hoped that by reading, my mind would relax a little, but I found I couldn't concentrate on the book as my head was still turning over questions about Mirror's Edge. I let out a frustrated sigh and shook my head. Not now, Rosa; concentrate on the words, not that stuff.

I put my head back down to focus on the words of the book when a knock came from the door. I frowned a little, as I hadn't been expecting anyone tonight.

"Come in." I called as I shifted myself and set the book down in my lap. The door opened and to my surprise, it was Glenda who had walked in. She bowed her head to me a little, which made me feel uneasy even more. Just what was going on, and just what was this woman up to? I knew from past experiences she didn't like me in the slightest, and I knew she'd rather that I was kicked out than living the second chance I'd been gifted by Xander and also by Dorian, as he'd been the one who'd done most of the talking to keep me here.

"Hello Rosa."

"Hello Glenda." I shifted a little more in my seat and sat up a little straighter to show her I meant business if it was a fight or argument she was looking for tonight. I was ready to let the anger and frustration I was feeling out if it came to it. "How can I help you?" I couldn't help but feel a little on edge as Xander had told Glenda that because I was human and I could understand what the humans were feeling a little better than him, I was to deal with any issues. I hadn't been keen on the idea of being the go-to woman; however, I knew I had to do something to help Xander out in the house, and I knew I certainly couldn't let this woman know how much I was scared of her after previous events.

"I was hoping you and I could have a talk and try to resolve our misunderstanding since the humans have all left now and the vampires are... Doing whatever it is that vampires do." I really hadn't liked her tone in the slightest. I knew Glenda had been team Helena, and since she'd left, I'd noticed from time to time the dark looks that Glenda had shot my way when she had been in the main house and I had been around. I'd also noticed the way she'd often avoid the main house at certain times when she thought I was around more. The only problem with that thought of hers was that I was always around somewhere, either lessons with Marie and Dorian or with Xander or simply just enjoying a bit of me time in the gardens or in the library. I'd become more confident to leave my room knowing that no one was going to say anything to me in the slightest as they knew one way or another word would get back to Xander about what had been happening.

"May I ask where this has come from?" I asked bluntly as I moved the book off my lap and watched the older woman. "I mean, let's be honest, from day one you have never liked me, Glenda, so what has made you change your mind? If it is to keep face and grace with Xander, don't worry, I never told him about that night." I muttered darkly.

"I am merely trying to fix this relationship. Lord Xander has made his intentions of keeping you around Rosa and has also told me that I am to speak directly to you about things in our house, so the least I can do is try and fix this rocky relationship between us, and if I am to report any problems to you, I do not want our personal issues to come between us."

"I'd never let that cloud my judgement." I snapped at her. "I just want what is best for all of you, even if you don't want what is best for me."

Glenda let out a small sigh. "I see that this conversation is pointless." She muttered.

"It's not that it's pointless, Glenda; it's more that I don't trust your intentions, knowing how close you were to Helena." I told her bluntly. "So there will be no fixing anything between us; we will keep our relationship purely professional. If you need something on a professional level, then I will help you; if you need something on a personal level from me, then I cannot help you." I watched Glenda's face darken at my words.

"I would never come to you for anything on a personal level. You are nothing more than a brat who thinks that everyone owes her something and that everyone should bow to her because she's been given the golden ticket."

I slowly stood up and looked at her as I moved and came face-to-face with her. "You know nothing of what's happened here in this house, Glenda, so don't pretend you do know, and I certainly wasn't handed anything on a plate. I had to fight to get here."

"But you'll be falling off your throne when his mate comes along." Her words caught me off guard, and I had to stop for a moment and not say anything else. She didn't know, and neither did any of the other humans; it had been kept a secret at my request. I knew if I carried on this argument, I'd slip up and say something I certainly hadn't planned on saying or wanted her to know.

"Was there anything else you wanted?" I asked her as coldly as I could manage in the hopes that she thought she'd won this round.

"Just for you to know that you will always be in Helena's shadow. You will never be nothing more than a lover on the side to Xander, and when Helena returns, which she will, you will regret trying to take her throne."

Glenda's words pushed me over the edge as my anger opened up like the flood gates holding back a tide.

"Over my dead body will Helena return to this house." I warned her.

"Your right, you will be dead, as I'll put money on Helena being the one who kills you herself to teach you a lesson for everything you've done, and when that happens, I certainly won't be shedding any tears for you."

"Get out." I snapped in anger as I felt my hand clench. I was ready to lash out at the old woman, but I had a feeling that was what she'd wanted. She wanted me to lash out and hit her so she could go running to Xander about it.

Glenda laughed as she left the room. I didn't hear what she'd said; I'd only heard one word, and that had been pathic. She slammed my door behind her, and I felt everything break in me. I had to leave my room before I broke something in anger. Not trusting myself to go to my normal calm spaces without breaking something, I went out onto my balcony and stood clenching and unclenching my fist to try and get rid of my anger. I knew it was going to take a lot to calm this fire down inside of me with what Glenda had said, and all I could think of was, where was Xander when I needed him the most tonight?

I took a few deep breaths to try and calm my angry racing mind and when I felt a little more in control of myself, so I'd decided to head back in. I'd left my book where I'd been sitting and then got into bed and curled up. I wasn't going to let Glenda win this, not by a long shot, so now it was simply game on between her and I.