The Vampires Pet

Chapter 30

Song For This Chapter - Aurora, Runaway. 

A day had passed and I hadn't seen a wink of Arthur or Rosemary, though I didn't have the chance being locked in Nicholas's room all day. Nicholas had left for work yesterday and returned late last night, leaving once again before I woke. I wasn't sure what work Nicholas was doing now, but I was sure he was using it to avoid the conflict in the house. 

The job Nicholas gave me was to practice building the shield in my mind and to 'stay the hell out of trouble for once'. I was happy to oblige, though I didn't openly seek trouble it seemed to pursue me with a dedication I hadn't seen before. If only I could 'stay out of trouble' I would, I was sure I had an answer to do just that but I doubted Nicholas would listen. The trouble only started when Nicholas bought me, get away from him, get away from the trouble. 

If only that was easy. 

The rain was hammering down, as if shadowing my mood. The day was dark and sombre, the sun unable to penetrate through the thick fog brought on by the heavy downpour. I found it all serene despite the glum atmosphere, the air was crisp and clear, everything felt less heavy in this weather. It made me temporarily forget the weight of what had happened that was dragging me down. 

I stared at the rain falling on the balcony, soon the rain would be replaced by snow. Winter was quickly approaching and bringing all the evil with it, after all they say winter is the season for evil. I didn't particularly believe that but I couldn't deny that bad stuff was happening as winter was approaching, bringing the cold and darkness with it. 

The longer I stared at the rain, the more I felt my body ache to be out there. After everything that had happened I wanted to do something that made me feel alive, that made me feel free even if I wasn't. I stood up from the couch and walked to the balcony, pausing for a few seconds with my hands on the door handles before opening the door and welcoming the cool breeze. 

I stepped out into the rain, at first the harsh cold stung my skin but I remained under the rain taking it all in. I held my arms out and turned my face up to the sky, closing my eyes and breathing deeply in the fresh air. I sighed as I felt my body relax and the cold sting of the rain disappear. I started twirling slowly, my dress flowing out around me. 

The rain was something that always lured me in quickly, it enthralled me with its poised beauty. To most people, rain is a sign to head inside and warm by the crackling fire but to me, it ignites a surreal energy inside of me.  

My feet padded against the cold wet marble as I twirled myself freely, my spread out arms welcoming the rain. It almost felt as if I was back at my cottage, my feet dancing on pineneedles and dirt rather than marble, my parents spinning around in the rain with me. I was transported back to a time where I was worryless, where I was happy and free. Back then, our hearts were happy and that was something you couldn't diminish, at least that was what I believed until that very happiness was drained from me. 

If only I could go home, where I belonged. Back when my parents were still alive, where I didn't feel I was running away from everything. Running from the truth and the strange feeling in my chest. It was all too crushing for me, I wasn't sure how much of it I could take.

I breathed out, allowing my lips to curl up while I was momentarily back with my parents. I placed my feet down carefully, moving without constraint. I didn't loose my balance once, under the rain with the memories flooding my mind, I was spinning skillfully around like it was second nature. 

I wasn't sure how long I had been outside dancing in the rain, time passed quickly while I was lost in my mind. I hadn't realised Nicholas had returned. I hadn't even sensed his ruby eyes watching me earnestly, I was completely pulled away from everything. 

My dress was completely soaked and clung to me more than it flowed freely now, my hair too though It continued to fly around wildly in the wind. My lips parted as my laughter broke free and filled my ears. The laughter didn't stop and I wasn't even sure why I was laughing but I let it be, I finally felt like me. My parents stopped twirling and smiled at me before they faded away, becoming one with the rain. Perhaps that was why I loved the rain, perhaps the rain was my parents. 

My laughter continued to sing out, the water on my face becoming warm as it rolled down my cheeks. Some of it got in my mouth and left a slightly salty taste, I was no longer sure what was rain and what was tears. 

I finally came to a stop, opening my eyes and staring out at the trees. I placed my hands on the railing, breathing out heavily until my laughter came to a stop and purely became echoes in the wind. My eyes were warm and stung slightly from the tears, my cheeks ached slightly from the laughter. My body wasn't cold despite being entirely drenched in rain, instead it felt warm and whole for once. 

"What are you doing?" 

I turned harshly at the voice, the sudden action making me completely loose my footing and begin to slip. Before my body could hit the solid marble, Nicholas was outside in the rain holding me up by my arm. I stared into his eyes, my lips parted as I breathed heavily. His eyes were turbulent like a blood red sea, boring into mine as if he could see all my secrets, all my pain. 

My body was yanked as he pulled us inside, snapping me out of my trance. 

"You're drenched." He said, giving my body a once over before he grabbed a towel from the closet and threw it at me. 

The towel landed on my head and I softly pulled it down and dried my face. When I removed the towel my eyes locked with Nicholas's, his hawk like eyes narrowing ever so slightly on my own. 

"Sorry Master." I said breathlessly, staring at his wet tousled hair and clothes. 

"Go take a bath before you catch a chill and die." He said as he grabbed his own towel and tried his face. "I don't want to go through the trouble of getting another pet." 

"Of course not." 

I trodded through the room, leaving water puddles in my wake. I winced at the mess I made as I grabbed a dry dress and headed to the bathroom, Nicholas stared at the water on his sparkling polished floors. 

"I'll clean that up." I mumbled as I walked past him. 

From the corner of my eye I saw him shake his head with a smirk, then I closed the bathroom door and dried my body off. The chill from the air was starting to get to my wet skin now so I dried and changed quickly. When I left the bathroom I noticed Nicholas had changed into a dry shirt and the water puddles on the ground were gone. 

I furrowed my eyebrows and stared at Nicholas. "Huxley came." He said. 

I narrowed my eyes, sure Huxley was fast but I didn't think he could get up here and clean the floors that fast. I shook my head and sat down in front of the now lit fire, brushing my hair out slowly so the heat from the fire could dry it. 

"What were you even doing out there?" Nicholas asked as he sat on the ground beside me. 

"Pretending I was free." I whispered quietly. 

"What was that Fairy?" 

"I was enjoying the weather." I said, ignoring his heavy stare. 

"Enjoying the rain?" He asked in an incredulous tone. "Was that rain dance summoning more or asking it to leave?" He chuckled to himself. 

I rolled my eyes and shook my head, my lips twitching, wanting to smile at his ridiculous comment. I hummed in response, closing my eyes as I continued to brush my damp hair out. The sound of the fire crackling was calming and even Nicholas's presence wasn't making me feel tense or uncomfortable. After dancing in the rain, my body felt unbelievably light. 

After what seemed like hours of comfortable silence, I opened my eyes and turned to Nicholas. His eyes were closed as he soaked in the warmth of the fire, as if he sensed my stare he opened his eye a crack and glanced at me. 

"How was work?" I asked softly, noticing his darkened under eyes. 

"Tedious." He answered, sitting up and rolling his shoulders before glancing back at me, I furrowed my brows at the glint in his eyes. "Give me a massage Fairy." 

I blinked at him a few times, making no move to do as he said. I raised my eyebrows, not entirely sure if he was being serious. He gave me a look as if to say 'hurry up' so I hesitantly sat up and shuffled behind Nicholas, sitting on my knees. I stared at his shoulders for a few seconds before placing my hands on them, kneading his muscles softly. 

His body was completely relaxed under my touch, he wasn't on edge and obviously trusted me not to do anything bad. Though it was probably more that he knew he could over power me in the blink of an eye. I could feel his muscles were strained, no doubt from all the work he has been doing and from what happened with Arthur. 

I never actually realised vampires could strain muscles, I mean they could heal flesh wounds so I always presumed tense muscles didn't affect them. I continued to massage his shoulders gently, watching as Nicholas closed his eyes. My hands made their way up to his neck, massaging the back before move to the sides of his neck. 

My hands involuntarily tightened as I massaged his neck. If he was a human I wondered if I could just wrap my hands around his throat and strangle him. With those thoughts in my mind, my hands started to inch towards wrapping around his neck until he spoke and caused me to stop. 

"Are you trying to strangle me?" He asked. 

He turned his head and stared into my eyes. The thought crossed my mind but I couldn't tell him that, so I remained silent, my hands resting on his shoulders. I didn't divert my gaze, we stared into eachothers eyes as if we were challenging each other to speak first. 

"I'll take the silence as your answer." He said shaking his head with a displeased expression. "You know it hurts to know that after all I have done for you," I rolled my eyes at his theatric tone and his feigned hurt expression. ",My fairy would still try to murder me in cold blood."

I dropped my hands from his shoulders and sat down, shaking my head at his mischievously wolfish grin. 

"Have you ever thought of being an actor Master?" I asked. "Perhaps a career change is in need?" 

Nicholas chuckled. "Is that a compliment I hear?" 

I shook my head, trying to hide the twinkle of amusement in my eyes. "A backhanded one." 

"A backhanded compliment is still a compliment." He said, flashing me his pearly white fangs. 

"I don't think that's how it works Master." 

His expression was etched with mischief, he looked like a cheeky young boy. I let my eyes smile while I stared at him, a few thoughts dancing around in my mind. Days like this, they weren't so bad.