The Vampires Pet

Chapter 26

Once we made it back to Nicholas's home, he grabbed my wrist, a lot more gentler than earlier, and pulled me with him. I was hoping for a quick walk back to his room where I could rest on the couch and try sort my muddled thoughts, but unfortunately today was just not my day. 

The moment we entered through the grand double doors, Nicholas tensed. He growled out and rushed towards the stairs, but we were stopped by an enormously terrifying presence. Whoever stood behind us made me want to dig a hole and climb into it. 

My already weak and exhausted body stumbled before stilling, my head dropped and I sucked in a breath. Nicholas must've noticed because he turned around to face whoever it was, still holding onto my wrist but positioning himself in front of me. 

"This must be the infamous pet I heard has caused a bit of a stir around here." The males voice was strong but cocky, I could instantly tell Nicholas didn't like him, nor the stranger Nicholas. 

"Don't you have a job to do?" Nicholas bit out. 

"Yes I suppose I do. We have the same job you know, but you abandoned your birthright to f**k bitches and kill endlessly." I grimaced at the rudeness of his words. "You see the difference between you and I Nicholas, is that I can still do that while being Lord." 

So he was a Lord too? 

Nicholas's body tensed more, I could feel the anger rising in him and I wanted to stop it. I was certain this man was doing this to get a reaction out of him, Nicholas knew that too but I think today had made his fuse even shorter. My body shook unintentionally at the anger and power radiating around us, I was sure Nicholas noticed. 

"What are you doing here Arthur?" His voice calmer but still edged with venom. 

"I'm sure you know why. As a Lord and respectable gentleman, I couldn't let my darling sister travel to her fiance alone now could I?" 

Fiance? Nicholas had a fiance? I had never seen her before but I wasn't sure I wanted to if she was related to the arrogant prick here. 

"Well then, why don't you be a respectable gentleman and escort your darling sister back home." 

Maybe Nicholas and his fiance weren't on good terms. 

The fear had evaporated ever so slightly with Nicholas standing front of me, so curiosity got the better of me and I turned slowly, peeking out at the Lord. I gasped quietly at the bright blue eyes that locked with mine. His lips curled into a smirk and he stepped forward, his eyes still trapped with mine. 

His skin was a different colour than I was use to seeing, a warm caramel colour that made his blonde hair and blue eyes stand out profusely. 

"She is something." Arthur said.

Nicholas growled and shoved me behind him more. "One more step Arthur an-" 

"And what Nicholas?" 

"Boys." A booming voice came from down the hallway, I yelped slightly. 

We really didn't need another powerful male here. 

"Lord Alexander, your son seems to have forgotten how to greet in laws." Arthur said, I couldn't see his face but I knew he had a smug grin. 

I winced at the knowledge of who just joined us, Nicholas's father. I didn't want to ever meet Nicholas's father, based off the anger Nicholas had whenever he had to go speak to him. I felt backed in a corner now, Arthur was in front of us and now his father was beside us and the stairs behind me. Chance an escape to Nicholas's room?

"I'm afraid my son has forgotten how to act in many ways." His father's voice was rough and aged. 

He was probably like a 400 year old vampire, that unnerved me tremendously. The older they were, the stronger they were. 

"I haven't forgotten father." Nicholas seethed. "Respect is given where respect is due." 

"Nicholas." His father growled out causing me to tremble. 

"Father." Nicholas snapped back. "I have much more pressing matters to attend to. As the previous Lord I am sure you are well aware what we have on our hands at the moment. I cannot stand here and have idle conversation with anyone." 

"I apologise on my brothers behalf for keeping you from pressing matters." Suddenly a feminine voice appeared, great another one. 

Even I wanted to scream out, I was sure Nicholas wanted to do much more than just scream. 

I peered out from behind Nicholas, staring at the beautiful woman with piercing golden eyes. Her skin was a shade darker than her brothers and her black hair made a stark difference between the two, though I could see some resemblance in their face. She smiled softly at Nicholas, before her eyes dropped to meet mine. 

I knew I looked ridiculous with Nicholas standing in front of me and me peeking out like a small child but as usual, I had a problem with tearing my eyes away. It was a sign of disrespect to stare into a vampires eyes but I always did, I was surprised it hadn't gotten me killed yet. 

"Rosemary." Nicholas acknowledges her presence in a slightly friendlier tone than before. 

Then it clicked, this was his fiance. My eyes widened slightly and I hid myself behind Nicholas again, because I was pressed behind him with the stairs keeping me in place, when I lowered my head my forehead rested slightly on his back. I glanced down in his coat pocket, the two daggers from earlier sitting in their comfortably.

I had almost forgotten about what had happened only a short time earlier. Nicholas seemed able to sense the daggers, or magic in them. I wondered if the three vampires around us could sense it too, what if they sensed whatever had entered me when I touched the vampire? They might take me away and torture me.

My heart started drumming against my chest at my thoughts and my breathing became ragid. It felt like I was about to hyperventilate. Nicholas heard my heart, and I saw him from the corner of my eye glance over his shoulder at me. I knew Arthur and Rosemary were staring too, I was praying his father wasn't. There were already enough eyes on me. 

 "As unfortunate as it is." Nicholas drawled out. "I have dire things I need to attend to. It seems my father has been entertaining you thus far, I am sure he can continue to do so." 

I could feel the anger from his father at Nicholas's words. 

"Of course." Rosemary said, I glanced out again and was met with her eyes. 

Nicholas turned abruptly, causing me to stumble forward into him. I glanced at him, still hidden from direct sight. Nicholas quickly flicked the hood of my coat over my head and spun me around, pushing me up the stairs. 

I was confused at his action, I was sure it was to hide my hair but they must've seen it already. Then I remembered my hair was pinned back, so it was doubtful they caught a good enough glimpse of my silver hair. I was grateful Nicholas thought to cover it. 

I felt the three pairs of eyes on us as we walked up the stairs, Nicholas remained behind me to somewhat shelter me. Once we had made it to the hallway I released a deep breath I didn't know I was holding in. Nicholas ushered me into his room and locked the door securely behind him, something he hadn't been doing as of late. 

I pulled the coat off and dropped onto the couch, my mind working too quick for me to understand anything. 

"I don't like him." I mumbled. 

"Good." Nicholas said, I glanced up and furrowed my eyebrows. "Don't." 

Don't like him? I wasn't planning on it. 

He paced the room a few times before peeling off his coat and grabbing the daggers from the pocket, he threw them on his bed and stared down at them. His arms were crossed tightly over his chest causing his muscles to fight against the material of his shirt. I stared at him for what seemed like hours, while he stared at the daggers. It was almost as if he was fighting internally with himself, over what exactly, I wasn't sure. 

"I'm sorry." I eventually mumbled, unable to handle the dense silence. 

Nicholas snapped his head around. "For?" 

"I shouldn't of touched that symbol." I said quietly, staring into his crimson orbs. 

"Well at least you are self aware." He said. "Sometimes." 

I pursed my lips but couldn't disagree with the 'sometimes.' I knew I could be ignorant just as well as I could be aware, though lately I think ignorance has been particularly attached to me. 

"I truly didn't know that would happen." I mumbled. "I am not even sure what happened." 

Nicholas studied me for a few silent minutes before taking his eyes back to the daggers. It was all still a mystery to me, to Nicholas as well. Everything that went down was bizarre, maybe it was a set trapped by the witch and one of the vampires were suppose to touch the symbol. Maybe it was a warning, to show the vampires what the witches and revolters felt towards them. 

Or perhaps what happened, happened for an entirely different reason. Whatever the reason was, I wanted to figure it out so that could never happen again. It had almost felt as if I had been possessed and I truly did not fancy going through that again. 

Nicholas suddenly grabbed the daggers, putting them away in his bedside table draw. 

"You stay here." He said walking past me, I noted he didn't take his holster or gun off. "Do not open the door for anyone." He growled lowly, his eyes drilling into mine. 

I nodded. "Where are you going Master?" I asked. 

He stared at me for a moment, letting silence consume us. "To find someone who can give us answers." 

Then he turned and walked out of the door, I heard it lock and sighed. His whole 'Don't open the door' was unnecessary when he locked the door anyway, I couldn't open the door. I let my body go limp on the couch, staring out the windows at the trees that were swaying softly in the breeze. 

Who could Nicholas possibly find that would give us the answers he didn't know? Nicholas always seemed like the one with all the answers, who knew more than him? God? 

While I lay on the couch, I heard a quiet purring coming from outside. I furrowed my eyebrows and walked to the balcony, there I saw Phantom sitting at the door staring through the glass at me. I quickly opened the door, letting him come inside. He meowed gratefully at me before sauntering over and behind the couch. 

I followed him and watched as he pushed the small chest out from behind the couch. My heart clenched at the sight of it and I quickly dropped to the floor and grabbed it. 

"What are you doing Phantom?" I asked softly. 

I eyed the wooden chest before grabbing the key from its hiding place and opening it. I stared numbly at the only remaining items from my parents. I hadn't managed to grab anything that belonged to my grandmother, all her things were still at the house. I wondered if people had ransacked the home or left it be. 

I wanted to go back. I wanted to return to my simple life, where the only thing I had to worry about was my daily chores. I didn't have to wonder why these strange occurrences happened to me, or if my life was in danger from Nicholas or any other vampires. My life was fine before, I was alone but I didn't mind that, at least I don't think I did. 

I'm never alone for long here, whether it be Nicholas, Clara or Phantom. Someone is usually around, making idle conversation or teaching me new things. I didn't hate that part of my new life, I liked Clara and Phantom. Nicholas was less likeable but I could've ended up in worse hands, he made sure I was aware of that. 

I pulled the small and old journal from the chest, staring at the worn cover before opening it gently. The last thing I wanted to do was injure it, this was my fathers personal journal. I heard a sudden slam and snapped my head to the balcony as the door slammed open letting a strong gust of wind inside. I yelped and dropped the journal, covering my face from the strong winds as I crawled to close the door, properly this time. 

I took a deep breath and returned to where I was sitting. I picked up the journal, that in the wind had been knocked around and opened on a random page near the back of the book. I stared at the page and read the fine lined cursive writing of my fathers. It was a poem. 

Come home to the forest,

Where time goes slow and the breath is mellow,

Where thoughts find rest and calm comes to nest. 

Come home to the woods, 

to be friends with the trees and listen to the breeze, 

to wander through trails and mend your sails. 

Come home to nature. 

When your heart is hurting or your soul needs healing.

When something feels wrong or you just need a place to belong.

The forest awaits. 

Come home. Be healed.

I stared at the words, the awoke something inside of me. A tingle rushed through my body and I took a deep breath, closing my eyes and imagining my parents. The way my father smiled as he wrote his poems. I felt a calm wash over me, even in death my father was always right. He always knew what to do.

I remembered when he would tell me, if it were answers I seeked, then all I needed to do was close my eyes and find them within me. I closed the journal and held it tightly against my beating heart.  

Maybe the answers were closer than they seemed.