Ilena

7

(Warning, some bits of nonconsensual themes in this chapter.)

Devin tells me that we will talk in a couple of days when we have the funeral but he has to get back for work until then. Apparently, he doesn't have the leeway of his boss that I do. The next two days flyby, I spend most of it at Mom's house making sure she's ok and picking out a couple of things I want of Dad's.

"So the funeral is tomorrow at one, Ill text that to Devin so he can make sure he's here. Are you sure your going to be alright if I head out?" I ask Mom just as she finishes doing some dishes.

"Yes Ilena Ill be fine and besides, I've got Brin and Nola and her husband staying with me, I have plenty of company and if I get lonely Brin has told me to wake him if I need anything. He actually said he was going to be sticking around for a couple of weeks just to make sure I am going to ok, I told him wasn't necessary but you know Brin, never listens to a word." She chuckles, trying to sound sincere.

"I love you Mom, Call me if you need anything." I say as I give her a squeeze and head for the door. The only reason I'm really leaving is because I haven't eaten in a coupe of days and I can hear my moms heart beat in my ears a little to loudly, thankfully I have amazing self control as Charles declares.

I decide to walk back to the hotel instead of call a cab, I could walk halfway back to the hotel by the time one showed up and that's if I walking at a leisurely pace. If I really wanted to I could be back in less than five using my speed, but its so beautiful tonight, I decide to take a nice slow walk to clear my head.

Its about eleven, the streets are quiet and dark, no ones on the streets and most of the houses have there lights off.

But the closer I get to my hotel the brighter it gets and I can hear the sounds of people leaving a bar around the corner, I decide to wander in that direction in hopes of finding a bite to eat. My heels click on the hard sidewalk, I put my hands in the back pockets of my jeans but only after unbuttoning two more buttons from my red dress shirt, revealing the corseted bustier underneath, my hair is loose and free and I'm wear the same boots I was the day we got here. A couple of guys pass me as I draw closer to the club and flirt lightly with them as the stare at my ass while they head down the street.But they don't come after me so Ill try and find some better prospects, I walk past the front of the club and two guys say 'Hey Baby' as I pass by, I turn around and give them my best come and get me look and they both obey like the good little pups they are, I walk past one ally and go to move into the next for my midnight snack when I hear a woman crying, I put my hand up for the boys to stay where they are and peak down the ally. There are three pretty big and good looking guys standing around something and when I look further I find its one woman and she's crying and whimpering like they've scared her senseless.

I sigh, so much for my meal, I think as I wave the boys back and they head back towards the bar looking confused and not remembering why they were following me in the first place. I slip into the ally and put on my best brave face.

"You know women usually don't cry when they've given consent." I call to the men surrounding the woman.

"You should mind your own business girl." One of the men say as they look over at me and then something seems to dawn on him and he stalks toward me. Its only then I see his bright red eyes and realize I've stumbled into something I clearly should have called in heavier guns for, he's a Griever and now that I'm looking I notice all three of them are. s**t, why couldn't I have just minded my own business. All three turn their attention on me and the woman that I had meant to save runs off down the opposite side of the ally.

"My, my, what do we have here." The better looking of the three asks but their all hot even if they are evil. "Mmmm, a woman with a bit of fight in her maybe, oh don't worry Ill enjoy your blood much more than hers anyway." He says seductively as he closes in on me, i really don't have the fighting experience to take these guys on and even if I run they could catch me pretty easily. Of course my other option is to stay and fight, so I do what may be my only real choice and bolt, I use my speed to haul ass across the street and start passing buildings at super speed, one, two only eight more and I'm at the hotel, three, four, five, I'm passing humans, but at my speed they can see me only feel a shift in the wind as I pass them. I look back and I can see two of them chasing close behind and try to pick it up as much as possible but I can only push myself so much. I turn look back once again but suddenly I slam into something hard and almost fall on my ass, but a strong hand wraps around my elbow and tosses me down an ally close by, I slam into a wall and sink to the cement floor. My initial reaction is to call for help, but if anyone came they would either kill them or spell them away.

"I knew you were going to run, now lets see if I'm right about the fighter part, he says with a twinkle in his red eyes as he stalks towards me as the other two join us once again. I quickly climb to my feet and charge at him with everything I have, I punch him square in the face, but his head barely moves and he grabs my wrist and pulls me to him, a rotten stench flows out of him and into my nostrils forcing me to cringe slightly.

"Oooo I like you, maybe ill turn you instead and make you my pet." He says with a venomous smile as I try to pull away from him, "Fry, find something to cut with." He calls and I try even harder to get away from the brut. Fear is seeping into my core even though I know drinking vampire blood wont turn me, I don't know what drinking their blood will do, and what does he need something to cut with for.

"Let me go of your going to regret it, my friends are very powerful people that could cut you down with barely a look." I warn him hoping a threat might make him take pause.

"Well if your dead you wont be able to tell them and if your a Griever then they will kill you for just being what you will be. So I don't think I have a thing in the world to worry about." He says and pulls my body firm against his chest, he rip my head to one side and roughly bites down into my neck as his claws rip into my back, I scream out. This shouldn't hurt that much but it does and there's nothing I can do about it, suddenly I feel someone pulling on my hair and then I hear a ripping sound and panic once again as tears stream down my face, their cutting my hair off, why, who does that. The leader is ripping into my neck and back, draining me of my blood much quicker than I thought possible, I'm feeling weak and my legs buckle under the strain of trying to fight my way out, it doesn't matter though, he's holding me firmly against him. The two others are laughing as the move away from me.

This is how I die, I thought if I was a vampire, well I felt invincible, I didn't really ever think of the possibility of dying after i had been turned and now I am.

Their leader pulls away from my neck laugh, sounding like he's high, "Your blood is intoxicating, if I didn't know better id say you were something different all together." Hey says sounding curious. But then starts looking around like something's wrong, I weakly turn to look at the other two and they look confused and worried as well. Suddenly I'm falling as the leader drops me and I see all three of them catch fire and then burst, like each one of them had eaten a stick of dynamite. My head smacks hard on the concrete and a moment later I feel strong arms wrapping around me as they lift me up and then we speed off at super human speed. He pulls me firmly against his chest and his scent fills my nose, he smells like lilies and sandalwood God why do all immortals have to smell so good, well all of them not turned purely evil anyway.

"Where are you staying?" He asks me as he slows down but only a little, his voice is strong but his tone is soft.

"Top floor." I say weakly as I motion to the hotel with my head and then immediately regret the decision as my head fills with a whole new kind of pain that cause me to groan out, I can feel him frowning at me though I still haven't seen his face.

"Its not safe to go in there now, the cameras will catch us in the elevator and someone might call the cops...we can go to my place until your healed enough." He says and I nod my head but much softer than I had the first time, he speeds off again and I'm forced to lay my head into the crook of his neck to keep from hurting it further. I feel him stiffen a little, maybe its because he thinks my fangs are to close to his neck, but I would never bite him with out consent that's just not who I am.

"Don't worry, I only bite when asked." I say weakly but he seems to relax a little. I hear a door open and close, and the air around us stills as he lowers me onto a couch, careful to lay me on my side. I look up at him as he kneels down next to me, he has dirty blond hair, deep blue eyes, he smiles down at me and if I wasn't in my current condition, I might have melted into a puddle. Damn why do all immortals have to be so hot.

"I'm Evan, those were Griever's right, did they make you drink their blood?" He asks firmly but I can tell he's trying to keep a certain level of softness in his voice.

"No but it doesn't matter, I immune to their particular brand of infection." I groan out as I try to assess the damages.

"Whoa, you took quite a beating from what I can tell, you need to try and relax while I figure out the best way to treat you." He says sounding way more concerned that he really should.

"I'm sure ill be fine." I say weakly as I try to sit up and the world spins. He pulls me against him once again and then turns us so that he sitting on the couch with me in his lap, my head back in the crook of his neck, he needs to be careful any other vampire and they might take this as an invitation.

"Here drink." He says in a deep voice that vibrates through my chest, I guess it is an invitation. I lean in a little closer and elongate my fangs just as I feel him tighten his grip on me. I puncture his skin easily and sink my fangs deep into his skin until I feel a pop and blood gushes into my awaiting mouth as I greedily suck it down. He taste amazing, his blood is sweet but also kind of earthy and rich, I can see why he was hesitant on the way over, it might be hard for one to stop.

"Oh god." He moans quietly into my ear and I wrap my arms around his neck and shoulders as my strength starts to come back to me, I adjust so that I'm straddling his lap and I can feel how much he's really enjoying it as his length presses into me through his jeans. I can tell he's trying desperately to keep is hands where they are instead of on me but his hands end up on my thighs anyway.

I feel revived and know I need to stop otherwise he's going to become too weak, reluctantly I retract my teeth and lick the wound closed but I kiss the skin there sensually and feel Evan breathing heavily underneath me. What am I doing I barely know this guy but how do you not like the guy who just saved your life.

Suddenly I'm flipped onto the couch, my freshly healed back being caressed by the soft fabric as he looms over me. His eyes are pinned to my lips and he seems to be trying to holding himself back, but why? I lick my suddenly dry lips and find a spot of blood there, I lick it clean as he holds his breath.

"f**k it." He swears breathlessly and closes the space between us, his soft lips meeting mine abruptly, sparking a fire in my core and making me arch against him. It almost makes me forget that I was just attacked and almost died.. Just as suddenly as it all starts it stops as he practically throws himself across the room away from me, I sit up and stare wide eyed at him curiously.

"I'm sorry, your names Ilena right?" He asks and I nod my head in bewilderment, "s**t, of course you are, he's going to kill me." He says as he wipes his face seemingly in frustration.

I stand, facing him. "Two questions, how do you know who I am and who's going to kill you?" I ask remaining calm, no use in getting upset before I know the information.

"Darious Avent sent me when he found out you father was dying, he said that your father would tell you the truth about your heritage and that you would be in danger and need protection. I've been here waiting for you for the last three years, though I didn't know you would be a vampire. He must have let that slip his mind." He said as he start pacing.

"Why did he send you, does he trust you?" I ask wondering if I can tell him about my true mother.

"He sent me because I've been his friend since we were kids and he knows he can trust me to keep my mouth shut and protect you no matter what. Why?" He asks moving closer to me.

"My mother was a vampire, but I only became a vampire thirteen years ago. My dad tells me I grew up as a titan with a power that's been kind of curbed until now apparently I have to stop touching metal to be able to access it but since I had to curb it as a child I kind of have a complex about it." I say and watch as he sinks into the closest chair, wide eyed and mouth gaped.

"You should not exist, no wonder no one has ever heard of you. Your the baby that was supposed to have died in child birth. Your mother was the princess, oh my god, you cant tell anyone about this, your life could already be in danger." He says getting up and closing the curtains on all of the windows.

"Yeah, I get that." I said sinking back down into the couch.

"Hey don't get discouraged, from here on out I'm with you every step of the way. Why don't we start with something simple and fix your hair, it wont grow back for about a month but you might want to at least make it all the same length." He says and walks into what I assume is the kitchen.

"So were shaving my head then?" I ask as I reach up and inspect what hair I have left, it really is a disaster. "I guess Ill have to invest in a hat." I grumble, really only to myself.

He comes back out with clippers in hand and fifteen minutes later, my hair is cut and I'm wiping off the excess. He uses a towel to clean off my shoulders and I sigh, realizing that my shirt is in threads and remove it the rest of the way from my body. I'm standing in front of him now in my corseted bustier, jeans and boots.

"You know your making it very hard for me to be a gentleman." He drools and takes my shirt to the trash and then heads back to what I assume is his bedroom, a moment later he comes back with a back button up shirt and a hat. I throw on the shirt, rolling up the sleeves and tying it at the waist after buttoning it up to in between my breasts, I put on the fedora and look up at him.

"How do I look?" I ask making a show of my new outfit.

"No one has ever looked better in my shirt, I can guarantee that." He says but frowns as he moves closer and slides his thumb against the side of my neck where I had been bitten by the Griever. "Unfortunately, this is one scar that will never go away. You need to make sure that when your asked about you don't paint yourself as a victim, even if its true. If you say the wrong thing it can haunt you for the rest of your long life." He says and leans down and kisses the scar, I shiver under his touch and breath out shakily. "We should get you home before something happens that I wont regret but your father will still kill me for." He says with a sigh and heads towards the door and opens it to usher me through. We walk back to the hotel in silence, mostly because we both know that someone could over hear our conversation, but as soon as we enter the elevator he's grinning widely.

"I don't know exactly what you looked like with hair but damn if you don't look hot with a shaved head." Evan exclaims unexpectedly making me blush a beet red, which just has him smiling wickedly down at me.

"Your determine to get yourself in trouble aren't you." I ask with a chuckle.

"I wont tell if you don't." He flirts and starts to back me against the wall when the elevator stops and the doors open, I push past I'm playfully and head inside of the room we've rented and head towards the kitchen.

"I don't know about you but I could use a drink." I say pulling out a couple of glasses and a bottle of bourbon.

"Bourbon, I didn't expect you to be a hard liquor kind of girl. But then again there are a lot of things about you that you cant tell from looking at you." He says grabbing a glass and holding it out for me to fill, I oblige him and then fill my own, I chug the first glass and pour another to drink a bit slower.

"So your a Titan right and so is Darious Avent, who's my birth father, who sent you here to protect me. But so what's supposed to happen now?" I ask sounding curious and confused at the same time.

"I'm not quite sure, I'm supposed to call your father and let him know what's going on but I want to assess all the information first. Do you know who your mother was?" He asks as he pulls out his phone and starts typing something into it. I pull off the fedora, setting it on the counter, and scratch my head with one hand as I try and remember the woman's name and get used to y new hair cut.

"I think my dad said her name was, Alexandria Spayord." I said and he spits out some of his drink and drops his phone.

"You have got to be kidding me." I hear muffled from one of the bedrooms and then Charles and Blake come storming out from the back of the hotel room, though Blake doesn't really seem to know what's going on. The moment Charles's eyes land on me though, any other emotion he might have felt melts away and only concern is left. I quickly put back on the hat and hide my face but with in a moment he's pulling me into his embrace and inspecting every inch of me. "What happened to you and who the hell is this guy?" He asks abruptly and I notice that all he's where is a pair of low hanging jogging pants and I can see every hard sexy line on his body. He was waiting for me to come back so he could seduce me, I guess he got more than he bargained for.

"I was attacked by three Grievers and ,this is Evan, he held a very strong hand in dispatching the creeps that decided that i would make a better Griever than vampire." I say trying to take Evan's advice into account and not give myself away before I decide exactly how I'm going to play it.

"I knew i shouldn't have damn well let go alone." He curses and pauses as he takes into account the man who saved my life. He turns back to look at me with a questioning look, "And what I over heard, the princess and King Titan are you birth parents? Shit." He starts pacing when I nod my head, no point in keeping the truth from him now that hes over heard my conversation. Damn I should have been more carful. I swing back another glass of bourbon as Charles grabs a glass and pours his own and I refill mine and Evan's once again. "And you, where do you fit in to all this?" Charles asks sounding a bit panicked which is a big difference from his normal persona.

"King Titan as you so call him, sent me to protect her now that she's been told the truth." He said casually as if were not really talking about something that could get us all killed. Blake is just standing at the end of the counter looking unfazed by the whole thing, probably because he has no idea who these people are, but then again I don't really either, I only know what I've been told recently.

"Oh well that's just fantastic." He says and chugs some more of the bourbon. "You know I remember thinking, in twenty or thirty years some smuck is going to be risking his life to protect that little secret. There are just way to many movies for that not to happen. But I didn't really think..." He rubs his hands of his face in defeat, "Ah f**k, ok so what's the plan from here. I mean do you just go back to work as planned or is the King demanding your presence?" Charles asks sounding worried.

"I have to call him and report, from there we will figure out what will happen to our princess from there." Evan grins slightly and I know its because Charles is more fazed by this new information than he his.

"You know we could all get killed for just knowing this. We cant tell Kent, he's to straight and narrow. And you know I'm not going to speak up because apparently I care about you than my own life." He pauses but continues to pace the floor and then stops in front of Blake with a curious but threatening look. "Blake, where are you on this?" He asks trying to hold the threat from his tone but doesn't really succeed.

"She's my maker, ill follow her anywhere and she knows it. No one will hear of this through my lips, I can assure you of that." He says smirking a little at Charles defensive stance about the whole thing.

"You realize you could get killed?" I ask shyly, I don't want anyone dying for me when they don't have to.

"I don't care and besides, I pretty sure, King Titan would make sure I die if I say anything anyway. I think I'm good keeping my mouth shut and letting fate decide." He say as he pats me on the back and heads over to the bar for a drink. Bourbons not really his thing, he's a tequila man.

I've tried to not touch any metal since my dad told me about the curbing reaction and I can feel a little bit of electricity running across my finger tips, its such a strange feeling and I turn my hand over to watch the intricate detail play across my skin like water from a spring trickling across a leaf. I hear Charles gasp as he comes to study my hand as well and then tries to poke the bear as he reaches out to touch my hand and gets shocked.

"Ow, damn sparky." He begrudges as he blows on his fingers and moves to the other side of the kitchen island from me and I grin at his new nick name for me.

Suddenly I'm feeling a light headed and dizzy, and my knees buckle as I my body heads towards the floor and I feel strong arms wrap around me once again, "You just cant keep your hands off of me can you?" I ask in a slurred voice but I haven't had near enough alcohol to get me drunk.

"Your right, I cant keep away." Evan chuckles as he picks me and Charles opens the door to the bedroom we were staying in and Evan lays me down on the bed and removes my boots and covers me up. "Now you get some rest so that I can torcher myself tomorrow with trying to keep away." He chuckles and my eyes drift closed as he walks back out of the door and Charles gives me a kiss on the top of my head. Hopefully, the morning will shed more light on this grave situation.