The Vampires Pet

Chapter 28

Clara came not long after Rosemary had left. She always brought a bright perspective when she came, it always soothed me. 

"How have you been Faye?" She asked softly as we sat at the couch. 

Images of the recent incidents flashed through my mind, I suddenly felt uneasy and unsure how to answer. 

"Fine." I said softly, glancing down at my fingertips. 

Clara took the answer with a questioning glance but didn't speak on it again. I wasn't sure how much Nicholas told her regarding me and the phenomenons surrounding me. As far as I could see, Nicholas seemed to keep those to himself. I'm sure it was so he could figure it out himself and probably for his own protection. 

Questions would arise if people found out how strange things were circulating the Lord's pet. Even with his title he couldn't escape everything. 

"Your father looked rather displeased." Clara said with a knowing look in her eyes. 

Nicholas grunted and rolled his eyes. "That man is always displeased." 

"He didn't use to be." 

Nicholas studied Clara for a moment, something flashing through his eyes. "No, just when she left." His voice rough. "Now get to doing what you came here for." 

Another mention of the nameless woman. I had only heard Nicholas refer to her as 'she', never a name. It only grew my curiosity about it all, I wanted to know who she was. Whoever she was seemed close to Nicholas, her leaving obviously stung him in a way I would've thought impossible for an emotionless creature like Nicholas. 

We practiced as usual, it was becoming almost childs play to sense the connection from this distance. I could feel it instantly and my mind would instantly go into defence mode. It seemed to be working in my favor, for now at least. Clara and Nicholas both said I needed to visualize a shield or barrier in my mind to block mind magic, whether it from witches or vampires.  

I was able to feel the connection even if I didn't focus on it, the next step was to create the barrier and keep it strong. Clara said this could be difficult, people can create the barrier but when push comes to shove the barrier isn't strong enough. Most mind magic is pretty strong, breaking down a barrier is a simple task for some. 

So I worked on that but instead of just visualizing a barrier I created a shield in my mind. My thought was to deflect any attempt of mind magic with the shield but I soon came to realise just how difficult that was. Claras mind control wasn't as dangerous as the witches magic but even so I could barely deflect it. 

I sighed and rubbed my temples with the ball of my hand. My head was aching and I had suddenly felt weak and tired. 

"Okay enough of the barrier work, you can practice that more when you're alone." Clara said, smiling softly. "I know you're tired but I have something else I want to try today if you think you can manage?" 

I stared into her green eyes before glancing at Nicholas, it was becoming natural to seek his answer before mine. He nodded his head. 

"I can manage." I said to Clara. 

She smiled and glanced at Nicholas before standing, holding out her hand for me to take. I stared at it for a second before grabbing it without hesitating too long. Before I would've stared dumbfounded at her hand, afraid of the contact but now with Clara I didn't mind. 

"Let's go then shall we." 

When I stood she repositioned me so our arms were locked. Nicholas narrowed his eyes at Clara slightly. 

"Go where exactly?" He asked as he pushed himself off his bed. 

"Outside." Clara said as she lead me to the door. 

"Who said you could?" 

"Me." Clara turned and smiled at him. "It won't take long, come on." 

His eyes narrowed further. "Have you forgotten we have an insufferable bastard here?" I instantly knew he was referring to Arthur. 

Clara rolled her eyes but nodded. "I haven't Nic, we will be quick. He won't even get the chance to see us." 

Clara wasn't taking no for an answer and opened the door regardless of Nicholas's irritation. Nicholas growled but followed us out of the bedroom. He walked behind us, probably scouring the halls for Arthur. Clara kept our arms linked as we walked, I hadn't walked like that since I was young, it felt strange. 

We made it outside without running into Arthur, or anyone else. Clara let my arm go and turned to face Nicholas and I. 

"Okay, Nicholas cover her eyes." I furrowed my brows at her words. 

"What?" He asked, staring at his cousin like she was insane. 

"Just do it." She grumbled. "Do not uncover them until I say so." 

I glanced nervously at Nicholas, I didn't want him covering my eyes. He rolled his eyes and came to stand behind me, I turned to stare at him over my shoulder. He glanced at Clara before staring down into my eyes, his face was passive but slightly annoyed like he was being hassled into playing with two children. 

"Face forward then Fairy. I won't bite." He smirked. 

I gulped and turned forward staring at Clara until my vision became blocked by Nicholas's warm hands. I shuffled uncomfortably at the small distance between Nicholas and I, and his hands covering my sight. My heart beat slowly began to drum a little faster. 

The sound of the soft breeze filled my ears, leaves brushing up against each other and the soft breathing from Nicholas. Though my heart still drummed at a steadily faster pace, I slowly began to feel less uneasy. I was wondering what was happening, what Clara was doing while I couldn't see. What even was the point of taking away one of my senses?

The small tugging feeling in my mind gave me an idea of Claras plans. I felt her reach for a connection. I took a deep breath in and didn't directly try to reflect it but didn't allow a complete connection. I was in my mind now, though I could still hear the noise from what was surrounding us, I had almost forgotten Nicholas was behind me covering my eyes. 

As if sensing I was blocking him out, Nicholas spoke. "Good work." He said quietly causing tingles to rush down my body. 

"What?" I asked numbly. 

"Being this close I can sense what you're doing." He said. 

I shuffled on my feet. "Oh." 

The connection, or rather the attempted connection, dropped. I furrowed my eyebrows slightly and waited for a few seconds, hoping Clara would speak and allow Nicholas to remove his hands, however it never came. Instead I suddenly felt another intrusion, this time it almost slipped past me. I had a feeling it was because of distance. 

While focusing on the connection I felt a breath of warm air on my neck, I shivered and squirmed. "Where is she?" 

"What?" 

"Clara." He said. "Where is she?" 

"How would I know?" I asked. "I can't see." 

"Exactly." Even without being able to see him I knew he was smirking. 

I tried to work out what he meant. He wanted me to tell him where Clara was but I had no idea because I couldn't see, but apparently that was the point. Was I suppose to find her based off the connection perhaps? I had read that once you're trained profusely you can pinpoint where the person who was connecting to your mind was but I wasn't that trained to do that. 

Despite that, I took a deep breath and tried to focus on the connection, on where Clara was. I had a feeling she was a fair distance away based on how the connection almost slipped past me, I still wasn't trained enough to feel the connection from a far distance. I tried to create the scene in front of me in my mind and after a moment of intense focusing I managed to do so. Next step was trying to find Clara. 

I tried to put emphasis on the connection to my mind, trying to imagine a rope or something that lead from me to Clara. I started chewing on my bottom lip, finding this more difficult than I thought it would be, I knew it'd be hard but not this hard. 

My head was starting to ache and my eyebrows furrowed together in annoyance, I was focusing as hard as I could so why was nothing happening? I couldn't even sense a direction Clara could be in, it was frustrating me. 

"I can't do it." I bit out. 

"Don't focus too hard." Nicholas said behind me. 

My eyebrows furrowed further at his words. "Then how am I suppose to find her?" 

He chuckled softly and I knew he was shaking his head. "Let it come naturally Fairy, not forced."

I sighed and bit the inside of my cheek. "I don't think it will." 

"And that is exactly why it won't." 

One last try, I thought. If Nicholas thought it would come naturally, then maybe it would but I had my doubts. I took a deep breath and tried to relax my body, instead of focusing intently on the connection and finding something to lead me to Clara, I let my mind clear. 

For some bizarre reason, my parents appeared in my mind. I furrowed my brows but let them be, they faded away into the air making my heart ache and then the lake from my dream appeared. A moment of panic hit me at the sight of the lake but it quickly calmed and the lake faded the same way my parents did. 

I wasn't sure why the lake seemed to be haunting me, my parents I could understand but the lake was strange and it always gave me an unexplainable feeling that wasn't exactly bad but I was never sure if it was good either. 

My body started to tingle and I realised I was completely oblivious to Nicholas behind me now, it was like he wasn't even there anymore. I was almost fully in my mind. I felt a dull tugging, as if something was trying to pull me in a certain direction. Though there was no rope or line to follow, there was a feeling and I was sure it was where Clara was. 

I went to raise my arm up in the direction but something stilled me. It was like a warning of approaching danger. I snapped out of my mind just as Nicholas removed his hands and spun around, growling under his breath. 

"What is going on out here?" Asked a very amused Arthur. 

Chills went down my spine and I turned around to face him and Rosemary. How long had they been there? 

"What do you want?" Nicholas asked. 

I was standing slightly behind him but not hidden from Arthur or Rosemary. I felt someone grab my wrist and gasped, snapping my head to the side to see Clara. She looked apologetic at my reaction and gave me a soft smile, I instantly relaxed. 

"Oh don't mind us, we were just observing the strange things you do with your pet." Arthur said, his blue eyes connected with mine. 

I didn't look away even when a wave of nerves washed over me. I was locked in the stare by something eerie, it somehow reminded me of what happened to me with the dead body earlier. It was like I felt the death and evil from Arthur. 

He took a step forward, instantly causing Nicholas and Clara to react. Nicholas took a step forward too and Clara stepped in front of me to my left so I had Nicholas and Clara on either side, somewhat shielding me.

"She has quite the protection squad." He said smugly, a malicious grin plastered on his features. 

I glanced at Rosemary who had an impassive expression as she eyed everyone in front of her, her eyes resting on mine a little longer. 

"Why are you so interested in her Arthur?" Clara asked, glaring at him. 

He shrugged nonchalantly. "I'd like to ask Nicholas the same question." 

"Well unfortunately you don't have the privilege to ask me anything." Nicholas bit out. "Especially questions regarding what belongs to me." 

Arthur simply chuckled, a chuckle that made my body shiver involuntarily. Rosemary still showed my emotions or reaction, she just silently watched her brother rile up Nicholas. If she was Nicholas's fiance she should of stopped her scoundrel brother. 

"You hate humans Nicholas." Arthur said, watching Nicholas's reaction. "Or have you already forgotten what happened to her  because you've been staring at that pretty face? She'd be disgusted in you." 

I felt the rage roll off Nicholas in violent waves. For a second I could've sworn he had a red and black glow surrounding him, but as quickly as I thought I saw it, it was gone. Arthur mentioned the unnamed girl, and as always it sparked something inside of Nicholas, something dangerous. How did Arthur know the girl if they were practically enemies? 

Like a bat out of hell, Nicholas was in front of Arthur before I could even blink. His tremendous bout of speed seemed to make the world slow down. Just as Nicholas reached Arthur, Arthur went flying back. His body slammed into one of the marble pillars and I swore I saw the house shake at the force. I gasped in shock and brought my hand up to cover my mouth. 

"Nic!" Clara yelled suddenly, her eyes were wide too. 

Though Arthur had it coming, I didn't think this would end well, clearly neither did Clara. Arthur got up, an demonic grin on his bleeding lips. He dusted himself off and stared at Nicholas, his eyes turning red. 

"Arthur don't." Rosemary suddenly spoke up, staring at her brother. 

"He threw the first hit sister, now I'll finish it." 

Arthur darted in front of Nicholas, throwing a punch that Nicholas dodged. They were moving with inhuman speed, proving difficult to see who was throwing the hits and who was receiving them. 

"Nicholas!" Clara yelled out, watching helplessly. 

I stared at the two flashes, my human eyes barely able to focus on them. Then suddenly it all came to a stop, when my eyes focused I realised only Nicholas was standing there. I furrowed my eyebrows just as Nicholas whipped his head around to me, someone grabbed me from behind causing me to scream. 

I was pulled backwards until my back slammed against something, I soon realised that something was Arthur. One arm was wrapped around my ribs while the other one was pressing something cold against my neck. Everyone else was frozen in their place, staring at me with slightly wide eyes. 

None of them gave me hope I'd survive it.