The vampire and the assassin

Chapter 17

My eyes fluttered open as I looked up to see a dark canopy on the ceiling on top of the bed. My mind began to figure out where I was for a moment, as I couldn't remember what had happened.

"Take it easy and stay there as long as you need to." The voice caught me off guard as I used my right hand to push myself up, remembering that I'd hurt my left arm. As I sat up, my whole body began to hurt badly. That was when I saw Xander standing next to the bed, watching me carefully.

That was when my mind seemed to remember everything that had happened and how I'd been sitting there talking to Xander, and then... The black had washed over me. My adrenaline had left me, and I had crashed. I could feel the rush of blood creeping up into my cheeks as I blushed deeply at the memory of passing out on him.

"I'm sorry if I made you worry," I murmured as I shifted so my legs were over the side of the bed and lowered my head again. I was really embarrassed. Not about passing out, but about passing out in front of Xander and ending up in his bed. I made a mental note to not tell a single soul about this; otherwise, I really would cause chaos, and I really didn't want that. But I also saw the upside to this moment; it gave me a chance to get some answers and figure out just who he was and what I would do.

"It seems that today you really are making me worry, Rosetta." A small laugh came from his throat as he moved closer to me. "Please don't be embarrassed about what happened. I had one maid get sick and threw up. Passing out is nothing compared to that." He laughed again lightly, trying to lighten the mood; however, I couldn't smile or even laugh at his comment, as it had been the polar opposite of how I'd wanted to get the information out of him. I had hoped that in a few days, I would have been able to get him alone when I'd got some questions together, but now here my brain was scrambling around, thinking up questions on the spot.

"Why do you worry about me?" The question slipped out before I'd even had the chance to think of the repercussions. I tried to move my left arm and winced in pain as it still hurt like hell from having it popped back into place.

"Does it upset you that I am worried?" I could hear a clear worry in Xander's voice at the idea of upsetting me. Why did he seem to have an air of caring for me? Surely it had to be because he'd felt guilty over Lucian and the way he'd treated me. Surely right?

"I just... just feel like that worry should be better placed elsewhere." I looked up at Xander as I saw him lighting a candle near his bedside. Once it was lit, he seemed to take a while longer than he should have to move away from it. He was stalling, either thinking carefully about his next comment or thinking carefully about what he should do.

"Where else should I place my worries?" He turned and looked at me. His face was like stone and was impossible to read. I knew he'd closed off his emotions in that moment. I'd massively screwed up with my choice of words, but at the same time, I was beginning to picture him more. He didn't like to be told what to do or not do by someone. Maybe I could use that to my advantage.

"You should worry about your wife-to-be and the other vampires in your home," I offered. I'd tried to make my comment sound light, as if I were casually saying it rather than telling him what to do, just to see if I could pull it off with him and get him to open up to me again.

"They are all more than capable of looking after themselves. The other humans... they all look after each other. You've been here a short while, and I am assuming that you haven't yet made friends properly with the other women."

I looked away, not wanting to talk about the fact that I honestly felt like I didn't belong in that house, and I didn't belong in this one either. In honesty, I was still yet to find a place that I actually belonged and was welcome to, but I knew I couldn't say that out loud to him as it would lead to a world of complicated and hurting questions I wasn't ready for yet, as I wasn't ready to even admit those truths to myself.

Xander moved and sat next to me on the bed again. I could feel the electricity that seemed to bounce between us as I became yet again more aware of him than I should have been.

"I understand that it must be hard. Coming from Lucian's house to here. Things are very different here than there. I apologize if I am pushing you too quickly. I just want you to be happy in this house and to feel at home here. Tell me about your time at my brother's house. How long were you there?"

"I don't know," I answered honestly as I looked over at Xander, who was watching me closely. I shifted a little and quickly regretted it, as my whole body seemed to hurt with the simple movement, yet I couldn't stand the electricity that was between us either. I knew at this moment I had to be honest, considering I'd already let one or two things slip to Dorian, so I couldn't backpedal now.

"When did you enter his service?" Xander asked as he shifted so that he seemed to gain his own composure so that he didn't have a rage outburst at whatever he was about to hear. I had a feeling that it was coming. I'd seen the way he'd tried to be casual around Lucian, but I could also see the way Lucian got under his skin.

"Do you ask all your staff stuff like this?" I tried to throw him off the question in hopes of avoiding the need to answer full stop. I didn't want him to be mad about the whole situation that I'd been in or feel guilty about it either.

"Normally, my staff come to me and I interview them, and I make sure they know what they are getting themselves into, so I guess you could say yes, I do ask the others stuff like this. If you want, consider this your interview." A sly smile seemed to play at the corner of Xander's lips as if he were enjoying the idea of being at his mercy to answer personal questions. I, however, had no plans to play his games. He's got to play mine before I give him what he wants to know about me.

"Even though I've already been here a week?" I couldn't help myself as my comments just seemed to slip out in an argumentative way, but Xander just seemed to laugh quietly at my comment, as if that thought hadn't crossed his mind in the slightest.

"Let's say I tried to interview you; however, we were disturbed, so we couldn't talk properly. Tonight, though, there will be no interruptions. So now it's your turn." He smiled a sweet, charming smile that made my heart miss a beat for a moment. So this was the game that we were going to play. I'd make it work in my favor too, then.

I let out a small sigh as I lowered my head and fiddled with the hem of the dress for a moment or two as if I were thinking about where to begin with the story, as I knew he'd want more answers from me, but I had to remind myself I had to come out on top of learning things about him. That had to be my end goal for tonight.

"I was out in the chaos of all the vampires and werewolves attacking." I decided to answer honestly, well, as honestly as I could manage: "Lucian caught me when he'd come to raid the place I'd been staying with a group of people. The others were out; I was the only one there at the time. Lucky for them, bad luck for me, I guess you could say."

"It does not surprise me that my brother was among all that chaos," Xander muttered, then looked up at the ceiling. I noticed the way he seemed to close his eyes as if he was trying to keep his composure in front of me. Had I just told him something he'd known all along, but hearing someone confess what he knew made him even more angry? I had no clue, but I felt like I was going to find out through this conversation.

"Why do you do that?" I asked, wondering if he would answer me or not. I'd been semi-honest with him about my past; now it was his turn.

"Do what?" Xander's gaze came back down to me, and his dark eyes fixed back on me.

"When you hear something you don't like, make yourself look away or turn away from it."

"I don't want to upset you by losing my temper," Xander muttered. "I want so badly to lash out and hurt my brother for what he has done to you and for making you scared the way you are. Please don't tell me you are not because you are quick to look away from me, you seem to hesitate to answer certain questions, or you mull it over as if you need to decide what answer you should give that won't upset me. For the record, I would rather hear the truth from anyone than a lie or a watered-down version of the truth." His voice wasn't his usual calm voice, he seemed tense when he let it all out the way he had.

I thought over his comment for a moment and then nodded. He had a fair point. I did the same as him; when I felt uncomfortable, I would either look away or skip the question completely. "Ok." I whispered quietly. "Some things that I'm willing to share, I will be more honest and won't water down my thoughts. As long as you tell me why it feels like you're singling me out from the others,"

"I promise you, Rosetta, I'm not. I would do this for anyone who needed help. Has that been why you've been avoiding me all week?"

"Yes," I told him simply. "Sarah noticed the way you were finding me to talk to or send Dorian, and I didn't want to be singled out. I just wanted to fit in." Even though treating me differently would make it easier for me to kill you as you wanted me close, my brain screamed, but I knew I couldn't tag that on out loud otherwise I would cause trouble.

"Ok." Xander nodded to himself. "I will try and remember that." He looked up at me. "It has been so long since I have been able to talk to a human-like this that I forgot how things like this can make others feel and that you're trying to settle in at the moment."

"I didn't mean to upset you." When the words came out, I honestly meant that, as I didn't want to upset him as he was simply just trying to help me.

Xander laughed a little as he looked over at me again. "I find that ironic. I have been the one upsetting you without knowing it and you told me, and yet you're the one apologising for hurting my feelings. You certainly are a strange human, Rosetta."

"Master, can I ask something of you?"

"You can if you never call me that again. Either call me Xander or Lord Xander, as the other humans prefer. Personally, I prefer Xander, while they opt for Lord Xander when they do speak to me."

I couldn't help but smile a little at how human he seemed to me, despite being wrapped in a monster's skin. "I will do that from now on for you," I told him softly.

"And what can I do for you?" He asked without missing a beat.

"Please call me Rosa instead."

"Rosa...Rosa..." He nodded to himself. "I will from now. Why do you prefer to be called that?"

"I've always hated my name for as long as I could tell people I hated it." I shrugged. "I guess it's also a reminder of my life before all of this too."

"That will have to be a conversation for another day, I am sorry to say, that is if you wish to speak with me again."

I looked up at Xander. "I would, may I ask one last question?"

"Sure." He looked over at the door and then back at me.

"I've noticed how, over the time I've seen you, your eyes have gone from a sage green colour to black. What does that mean?" I'd noticed Lucian's eyes had always been dark when he'd been in a bad mood and when he'd attacked me for my blood. However, I couldn't remember if his eyes changed colour after he'd bit me and drunk my blood or not. Usually, I'd pass out after he'd done it.

"My hunger." He confirmed. "When my eyes are a lighter colour, that means I've fed recently; when they are dark, it means that my hunger is slowly creeping in. However, I can keep my instincts at bay better than most, given how old I am. I certainly won't attack you like Lucian did if that is what you are worried about."

"How old are you?" I didn't know why the question had slipped out of my mouth but it had.

Xander laughed as he got up and offered me his hand to help me. "That is another question for another day dear Rosa."

I lowered my eyes as I felt a blush creep over my cheeks.

"Promise me there will be no more fighting vampires and getting yourself hurt." He lifted my head to look up at him as he seemed to move a little so he was only a few inches from my face. "I really don't want anything to happen to you, Rosa."

"Why?" I couldn't help myself yet again, as I felt like I hadn't gotten any answers out of him from our conversation; it had only just left my head spinning.

"Because you are the only one who has ever sat and spoken with me and, dare I say it, asked me questions. Normally, humans will be polite to me but never have a conversation with me except for Glenda. It could just be that they are scared of me. Do I scare you?"

"Very much yes," I admitted. "But Lucian scares me more."

"Why do I scare you?"

"As I know what a vampire is capable of doing," I answered simply. I wondered if being honest and having this conversation with him had opened him up a little more to allow me to slip into his life to do my job, but I still wasn't sure, and I knew it would take time; I'd certainly expected it.

There was a small silence between us where neither of us spoke, but we both seemed wrapped up in our own thoughts and the silence wasn't uncomfortable either, it was peaceful.

"I'll be right out," Xander called as he let my face go and stepped back. "You should head back to your room." He went and got one of his jackets and put it over my shoulder and buttoned up a couple of buttons. "We don't want people worrying because of the blood on your clothes and make sure tomorrow you get some rest. Doctor's orders, not mine." He grinned. "Dorian will walk you over there. Seems like you are his new human best friend." Xander went to the door and opened it where Dorian was standing outside the door.

"Come on Cinders, it's time to get you home before you turn into a toad."

"I think you have different stories mixed up there." Xander laughed. "Sweet dreams and rest well tomorrow."

"Thank you." I smiled and walked out to Dorian as I walked next to him. My mind was in a swirl of turmoil over what had just happened. I certainly hadn't gained any insight into his life, but then again, I had gained some perspective. Maybe that was a small win.

"You seem away with the fairies. Everything ok?"

"I don't know," I confessed to Dorian as I looked up at Dorian. My head was still a swirl of mass confusion.

"What happened? I mean I know about how you got hurt... Having Xander as my good friend and also being on good terms with Marie helps but... After that..." Dorian had stopped once we'd got outside, as I took a slow deep breath to catch my thoughts.

"We were talking, and then I got him all worried because I passed out. Then, when I woke up, he kind of told me off, and..." My head couldn't pull together just what had happened. I wasn't supposed to be trying to make friends with Xander; I was supposed to be getting close but not close enough to let him suspect anything, and then I was to kill him. Yet I was beginning to feel like I was getting swept up in some whirlwind.

"Well, he couldn't have been that mad at you if he put you in one of his favourite jackets to go back to the house in. I guess it was to hide all the blood." He muttered. "I heard you hurt your arm badly."

"It was just cuts. Nothing serious compared to what I've had before." I shrugged as a matter of fact.

"I can tell he was reluctant to let you leave tonight and only did so because Helena had come back." Dorian rolled his eyes and put his arm around me. "So anyway, you had fun talking to Big Boss Vamp?" Has he grown on you yet?" Dorian had the annoying look of knowing something. Usually, I'd start a fight with smug people like Dorian, but I knew the odds were against me in a fight with a vampire, so I just had to hold my tongue and not pull any punches. Yet.

"I don't know... I mean... No... I mean... Urgh..." My good hand rubbed my forehead. "I'm just tired. I just want to get to bed, Dorian."

"Hmmm. Ok, let's get you up to bed then." Dorian, without any question or warning, scooped me up and carried me back to the house.

"Hey! I am capable of walking, you know." I complained loudly, wondering if he'd put me down, but he didn't. He just carried on walking with me.

"I know you are, but you said you passed out earlier and I didn't want the walk to be too much and you passed out on me again out here." He had a calculated grin on his face. I only knew that look as Liam had used it on me many times and I'd come to know it as his. You're going to do it, otherwise, they'll be hell to pay. However, this time I wiggled and complained loudly.

"Put me down!" I snapped as Dorian finally gave in and put me down. Clearly, he didn't like argumentative people.

"Fine, don't say I didn't offer."

I rolled my eyes at Dorian as I saw we were pretty much outside the house. "I also move faster than you, so I got you home quicker too."

"Thank you," I told him in protest. I hated Dorian; I really hated him at that moment.

"Since you're not at work for the next couple of days, we can hang out. So I'll meet you out here tomorrow night. Sweet dreams princess." Dorian winked and then headed back to the main house.

I let out a sigh as I felt more drained after being with Dorian than I'd felt all day. I pinched my nose with my left hand and then headed inside. I knew trouble would be coming once Sarah saw my state. That was the part I was dreading the most. Dear, whatever god or goddess was listening to me at that moment, please let Sarah be asleep so I could creep in and just go to sleep and not deal with this tonight.