The vampire and the assassin

Chapter 11

Sarah started by dusting the cabinet that took up the whole back left corner of the room and was filled with different things. I'd started on the other side, and I had been tasked with cleaning the piano that was on the opposite side. As I dusted, my mind began to wonder if anyone in the house could actually play the piano or if it was just a showpiece or not.

"You need to be careful with that new human." The voice made me jump as I turned and looked to see if a vampire had been close, but he was now a bit further away from me with a grin on his face. "So your Lord Xander's new human." He grinned. "When he told me where you'd come from, I didn't think Lucian had anyone so pretty working for him." The vampire was very tall and wasn't dressed how I would imagine one to look. He was dressed in a white t-shirt and had black jeans on with trainers. His hair was a pretty bronze color, and his eyes were dark, almost black in color.

I blushed and quickly lowered my head, as I didn't want to draw any attention, nor did I want his attention in the slightest. Was my being here really such a big deal, and did Lucian know it was going to be a big deal, and that was why he'd given me this task, as he was just prolonging my death? Whatever it was, I certainly wanted to be killed by anyone but Lucian.

"Dorian, you should leave Rosa to work," Sarah called. I glanced around to see that she was still over on her side of the room, and she was still busy with what she was doing. When my heart began to settle back into its proper pace, I finished cleaning the piano.

"Awww, but she's new." Dorian grinned as I moved away from the piano. "Do you play?" He tilted his head to the side, watching me as I lifted my head to meet his dark eyes. I really felt uncomfortable with him watching me. I wasn't sure what it was, but I didn't like it.

"I used to play a long time ago." I retorted back, hoping that the answer would be good enough that he'd leave me alone to finish working.

"Then play something for me." He pulled out the stool for me. I glanced over at Sarah, who sighed a little. At that moment, she'd stopped working and was turning to face us as if she were coming to my defence.

"You'll get her into trouble, Dorian." I could hear the scold in Sarah's voice, but there had also been another tone to it, and I hadn't been sure what that had been all about.

"I'll tell Lord Xander it was all me as I've finally met someone who can play this damn thing."

His comment made me laugh a little as I shook my head as Dorian turned his attention back to me. "What's funny?"

"I was wondering if anyone could play it," I confessed bluntly to him that, as my suspicion had been confirmed, no one had been able to play the very least, and no one had been willing to admit they could play it.

"If they can, no one will play it for me." I sat down at the piano feeling like I should at least do this one thing for the vampire. I'd hoped that it would send him away after that and he'd leave me alone and forget about me. "What can you play?" He asked.

"I only know Fur Elise," I told him. "Not all of it, but some of it, and it might not be that great." I bit my lip as I hoped I could remember how to play the song. It was at that moment that I began to wish I'd kept my mouth shut about being able to play the piano.

"I'd like to hear it." Dorian moved and lent against the piano a little as I put my fingers into position on the keys. I closed my eyes as my brain seemed to pull out the notes from my memory of learning to play it at school with my music teacher. It had been what felt like many moons ago when I'd been going to school in the village.

At first, my fingers pressed the keys slowly. To begin with, it was more out of hesitation. When I had the right note or not, when the first notes sounded right to me, I picked up my speed again. This time the song felt more natural to my fingers and my feet on the pedals as I played the song for Dorian.

I managed to play the first minute or so when I felt like I was being watched by someone who wasn't Dorian. My fingers slipped, and I messed up the song as I opened my eyes to find Xander watching me. I quickly blushed and lowered my head. I had a feeling I was in trouble now, thanks to Dorian.

"Bravo. What you played was amazing until Lord Xander made you mess up." Dorian cheered. "What do you say, Lord Xander? Are you pleased you rescued such an amazing creature from your brother?" I glanced up quickly to see Dorian grinning as he looked at Xander. It almost looked and felt like Dorian was teasing Xander about something. "I asked her to play for me, so please don't be mad at her."

"I should have known it would be you causing chaos, Dorian." Xander seemed to laugh. "Why ask Rosetta to play when you play perfectly well yourself?"

"I like to hear others play," Dorian argued. "Anyway, I should be off and leave your new girl to work. It was a pleasure to hear you playing and to meet you." I heard footsteps walk away as a set walked closer. I didn't need to look up to see who it was. Carefully, a long, slender, cold hand came under my chin and lifted it, so I was looking up at Xander. All that his skin touched mine seemed to feel like it was alive with little electric currents under my skin.

"You do not need to bow your head to any of us in this house. We are equal to you in terms of respect." I noticed how the little bit of sage green that had coloured Xander's eyes had gone now, and his eyes were dark. Did it mean he was hungry? I had noticed how Lucian had always been in a bad mood when his eyes were dark, so maybe it did mean he was hungry.

"S...S...Sorry." I stuttered as he pulled his hand away from my face. I dropped my gaze for a second and then looked up at him again. It really was unsettling to be looking at him, as he was very handsome, and I knew just what I had to do in five weeks. Just keep yourself focused, Rosa; don't let your mind run away with whatever happens. Everything you do has to keep you moving towards your goal.

"It will take some getting used to. If it's at all possible, once you've finished before you retire for the night, could you come and find me in the library? I wish to finish our discussion." I'd completely forgotten our chat last night, and I knew it was coming, but why tonight?

"I will," I told him as a smile seemed to come across his face as he walked away, leaving me. Once he'd left, I let out a slow, deep breath that I hadn't realised I'd been holding on to.

"What the hell was that all about?" Sarah asked once she was sure that Xander had left. She looked at me intently with her brows furrowed together in a scowl.

"What?" I was confused. "I thought he was supposed to be like that with everyone." I looked at Sarah, hoping that this was the very confirmation that I needed that this was all an act. Maybe Xander had just officially slipped up, and now I was about to have all the proof I needed to know that this was going to be an easy job.

"He is a kind vampire, but I've never seen him act like that with anyone other than his wife-to-be, and even that is now minimal interaction in a loving way these days. He will talk with us and have a short chat; most of the time, though, he will check-in, and it is only a quick conversation. I mean, you've been here; what a day? And he's asking if it's possible to finish off a conversation with you." She tilted her head to the side, looking at me as if asking me what really happened.

"He was just talking to me last night about everything. It's not like it's anything personal or anything." I told her defensively. I really didn't like the way that Sarah was telling me in a roundabout way that Xander was singling me out; for what reason, I had no idea, and I wasn't sure if I wanted to find out or not. I mean, part of me did, as it meant that I was getting closer to him ready for the wedding night, but the other part of me was questioning if it was too soon to be getting close to him.

"Just... Just be careful. Vampires like to play games, and not all games are good. I'm not sure if he's doing it to annoy his wife-to-be, and if it is, then you need to stay away as she's not a kind vampire. If it's another game he's playing, just please be careful and don't get wrapped up in it."

"I'll try," I muttered as I turned my attention back to the piano, shut the lid on the piano keys, and carried on tidying up. My mind was mulling over everything that Sarah had told me. Things I was learning fast were becoming interesting and complicated at the same time.

Once we'd polished and swept the foyer in silence, as it seemed that we were both wrapped up in our own thoughts, we moved on to another small room. Sarah told me that once that room was done, the rest of the time was ours.

"So that other vampire..." I had heard a name, but I wasn't sure if I had heard it right or not.

"Dorian?" Sarah asked as she polished and I swept. "Dorian is so sweet, but he can be a pain in the backside. He enjoys messing with Lord Xander. From the whispers I've heard, Dorian and Lord Xander are pretty good friends. I guess that's why Dorian is the only one who will mess with Lord Xander. There's also Lord Xander's second in command. Marie. They are also good friends, and she will protect Lord Xander no matter what."

I stopped sweeping to listen to Sarah as I bit my lip. I made it look like I was thinking about everything she was telling me when I was actually taking it all in to see how I could use that information for my end goal. I just knew that when I carried out the deed, I needed to make sure Marie was far away and that Dorian was also far away. I wasn't sure how I'd do that, but I had to find a way to do it.

"So if Marie and Master are good friends, why isn't he marrying her?" I asked as I tilted my head a little.

Sarah just shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. I'm not a vampire, nor do I move in that circle to know things like that. I mean, Lord Xander loves Helena a lot, which is why they are to marry, but... I guess Marie doesn't like him like that."

"Marie already has a mate." The familiar voice of Dorian came from the doorway with a grin as he leaned against the door frame, watching us both. "Everyone knows that. Her mate isn't in this house, and normally a vampire who has a mate in another nest, house, or whatever you want to call, all of this would leave. Xander even offered to let Marie leave to be with him, but she said she didn't want to leave; she was happy here, and her mate is happy where he is, so they have a long-distance relationship if you will." Dorian grinned. I, on the other hand, am completely single and always looking for a little fun with humans and vampires."

Sarah rolled her eyes as she carried on. "What did you want, Dorian? I thought you said you were going to leave us alone to work about an hour ago."

"That long ago? I thought it was only five minutes ago." Dorian teased. "Anyway, I came for the new girl. Your Lord has asked me to accompany you to his library." Dorian looked at me with a playful grin on his face and mischief in his eyes. I knew Xander hadn't asked Dorian to take me to him. Xander had asked for me to go when I'd finished, so what was Dorian's game?

"I thought Lord Xander wanted me to see him once I was finished." I offered it up in hopes of catching him in his little lie.

"Well, you are, aren't you?" Dorian argued as he looked me over at where I was lent on the brush.

"No, I was..."

"You are now." Dorian grinned. "Both of you are considering that this room was already spotless. Now, Sarah, shoo... I won't tell if you don't."

Sarah looked over at Dorian. "Are you being serious?" She asked.

"Deadly." Dorian smiled at her. "Now, if anyone asks, you've finished." He told her while she nodded at him. "I'll make sure your friend gets back to you safely. I promise."

Sarah tidied up what she had brought into the room with us, took the broom from me, and looked up at Dorian, who was only a fraction bigger than her. "Dorian..."

"Mmm."

"Please don't let Lord Xander use Rosa. She's been through enough with being in Lucian's house; she doesn't need to be dragged into any more games." I blinked a few times in confusion. Sarah was sticking up for me. I'd never had anyone take my side or even make a comment like that. Part of me seemed to break down and doubt what I was doing, but then the other part of me reminded me that it was for my freedom.

Dorian leaned forward and carefully lifted Sarah's chin so they were looking into each other's eyes.

"What makes you think Xander wants to use your friend for a game? It's true that she came from Lucian's house, but why would Xander take her from him to play a game with him or anyone else? Is it because of what happened to you?" Dorian grinned. "Don't worry, I won't let anyone hurt her." He dropped his hand and offered it to me. "We shouldn't keep him waiting any longer than he already has been waiting."

I looked at Sarah, full of worry and full of questions, but I knew I'd have to simply catch up with her once I'd spoken to Xander. The thought made my stomach turn a little as I put my hand into Dorian's unwillingly, and we walked away together. Just what had I gotten myself into in this house?