The vampire and the assassin

Chapter 27

Xander and I left his room together; he'd told me to wait in the hallway as he ducked into a room next to his and then came out with my jacket. I thanked him as I put it on, wondering what it had been doing in the room. I wasn't up for debating such little matters with myself or even Xander, as I was just going to enjoy this whim of his and learn as much as I could to make the final choice on what to do. I followed Xander as we walked down the stairs.

"Don't worry about any of the humans seeing you tonight. I told Glenda to send minimal staff tonight as not much needs cleaning. If a vampire's room is trashed, they will have to deal with it themselves. It will teach them for having a party and not telling me about it." He grinned as he offered me his arm. I put my arm through his as I looked down, focusing on where my feet were going on the steps as I wasn't used to wearing high heels down stairs. In all honesty, it had been a long time since I'd worn high heels full stop.

When we got to the bottom of the stairs, relief washed through me that I'd not fallen, as Xander had led me out the main door and outside, where a car was waiting for us. I couldn't help but feel a little light about it. I wasn't sure if it was relief that we were getting away from the house or simply relief that I wouldn't be in a house where there was a chance that I'd bump into Dorian again.

"Ladies first." Xander gestured to the car, so I carefully and as graciously as I could manage got in, slid across, and strapped up. Xander got in after me as the driver shut the door and walked around the car to the driver's seat. Just what was Xander's plan for tonight? I couldn't help myself, so I asked.

"Where are we going?" I really hated surprises, and I especially hated them when they involved company that I was still on the fence about despite Xander growing on me.

"You will see." He just laughed.

"Ok, please tell me there will be food." I asked as my stomach growled, which made Xander laugh again. I knew I wouldn't be able to sweet talk Xander into telling me where we were going; If Xander was anything like Lucian just a little, I knew how stubborn Lucian was so I guessed Xander was just the same.

"Yes, I promise there will be food." He smiled, watching as the driver began to drive us to wherever we were going. I had no clue where, and I was a little scared. "I thought it would be nice to get away from the house, on neutral grounds, if you will, so we can talk; we won't be interrupted either." As he said that, he went into his jacket pocket, took out his phone, and turned it off. "I've left Marie in charge, so she can handle whatever happens tonight."

"Shouldn't it be your wife-to-be who deals with any trouble?" I frowned a little in confusion.

"Normally yes, however, after tonight and last night... If I am not there, then Marie is in charge. If Marie is with me, then it will be Dorian. All the people I trust the most and who have never let me down."

I bit my lip and turned to look out the window as my head seemed to swim a little in confusion. What had Xander meant?

"What's wrong?" He asked, making me turn my head to him again.

"What you said... it's worried me a little." I answered pretty honestly. "I mean, I don't like your wife to be a whole lot or anything, and I have my reasons as to why, but if you've made that plan that the people in charge are not her, then..." I broke off, not sure where my thoughts were heading. Why was I even bringing this up? I wasn't sure, but I felt like I needed to get it off my chest.

"Why do I trust her still?" Xander offered to me. "I don't anymore after tonight and last night and what she did. She's shown her true colours." He let out a sigh. "Which is making me doubt a lot of things."

"I guess I was thinking more along the lines of, I hope I haven't caused any trouble between you two." I'd honestly meant it from my heart the comment, as the last thing I wanted to do was cause trouble in Xander's personal life. I mean, it was bad enough that I was to end his life completely...

"Helena and I..." He let out a sigh, as if thinking about how to word what he wanted to say. "We are two very different people, and we have always clashed; however, the tension between us now... It is getting worse." He admitted.

"I'm sorry if I'm sounding so blunt or if my questions seem rude in any way."

"That's why I appricate you Rosa, for being blunt and telling me things I need to hear." Xander laughed. "Your going to ask why I am marrying her then aren't you?"

"Yes." I told him softly.

"I do not know anymore."

"Why did you fall in love with her?" I shifted in my seat so my body was more angled towards Xander so that I could talk to him openly. I hoped I could at least learn something about him tonight that I'd be able to use to help me. I still had no real plan.

"I don't think I have ever been in love with her. Vampires and humans.... we are different."

"Then help me understand." I noticed the way Xander smiled for the first time what looked like a sincer smile at me.

"How about I tell you about it while your eating, that way you won't be distracted by conversation." This time it was my turn to smile the first sincer smile I'd managed to muster up in years.

"I'd like that." I shifted in my seat again and looked out the window to see street lights passing us as we drove.

The rest of the trip was quiet; however, it didn't feel like an awkward silence; it was nice, comforting, and welcoming, and it certainly hadn't been what I'd been used to in the past. Eventually, the driver pulled up in the car park of a restaurant. I honestly had no clue where we were, but I was going to cut loose and let myself enjoy it for the night. The driver came and opened my door as Xander opened his own door. I got out and looked around. It was somewhere new, and I was pleased to realise I'd never been here with Liam and his... Clients? Victim? I wasn't sure what to call them; I was just pleased that it was a place that would give me happy memories for the future after I'd regretted my choice in life yet again.

"My treat to you. To apologise for letting this happen." Xander offered his arm to me, so I put my arm through his.

"You really don't have to apologise." I told him. I was secretly pleased he felt that way, though, as it meant I got time with him on my own with no distractions or interruptions.

"We will have to agree to disagree." He chuckled as he led me into the small restaurant. As soon as we walked inside, it was very busy for the time it was. "It's not just humans who come here." He whispered in my ear. "We have a table this way, away from the chaos, I promise." I stayed with Xander, scared of who or what was actually in the room. I could feel a couple of pairs of eyes looking at me, but I wasn't sure if it was me or Xander, for whatever reason.

We walked down a corridor with wooden flooring, and the walls were all lined with wooden panelled walls, which were made of a light-coloured wood. I had no clue what the name of it was, but it looked beautiful on the walls, which had what I would have guessed was Japanese-style art work.

A young man stood by an open door and gestured for us to go inside. Xander moved to the side to allow me to go in first. I looked around at the low table in the middle of the room and the pillows. I couldn't help but laugh a little as I looked across to see Xander thanking the young man as he slid the door shut.

"I thought we could come somewhere different. I am hoping you've never been here." Xander sat down and took off his jacket as I took my coat off and laid it next to me on the pillows.

"No. I'm not originally from around these parts." A small blush crept across my face as I realised I'd shared willingly a piece of information about myself.

"Oh." Xander seemed surprised as he passed me the menu. "It's not japanese food, it's normal food, I just really like coming here and doing my business when the location choice is my choice."

"Makes you think of home?" I guessed.

No, it makes me feel closer to my mum, I never went to Japan. I keep telling myself I would travel there one day to visit and take in the sights and sounds and find out as much as I can about her, but I guess... I'm not ready for that acceptance in my life yet." Xander shared with me equally.

"Do you want a glass of wine?" Xander got up as if he was about to go and order drinks for us when I shook my head.

"Could I have a coffee instead?" I saw a flicker of something cross his face, but it had happened so quickly that I hadn't been sure what it was, but he just laughed.

"I'll be right back." He left the room and headed back the way we had come, as I heard his light footsteps down the hallway. I looked down at the menu as my eyes darted over it. I'd noticed a couple of things that looked nice on the menu, and eventually I settled for a shepherd's pie with vegetables. After the night and day I'd had and the night before, I decided I needed something warm and filling rather than something light or something that would only fill me for a little while.

I sat looking at the same spot as my thoughts began to rumble around in my head, I couldn't seem to hold on to any one thought because I found as soon as I grasped on to a thought it seemed to escape my mental fingers and slip away. I guessed that's what happened when I let myself enjoy a bit of freedom.