The vampire and the assassin

Chapter 8

The knock came again, and my heart raced even more. I'd have to answer whoever it was on the other side of the door; they had no intention of leaving until I'd spoken. Maybe if they heard my voice, they'd realize it was the wrong room.

"Rosetta?" As I heard my name being called, my heart seemed to freeze, as the voice was new but yet the same soft voice that had asked me a question earlier. No, I couldn't face Xander again. I needed space, not for him to be here right now.

"Yes..." I stuttered, hoping he didn't want to come in. There was no way in hell I was allowing a vampire near me when I was pretty much naked.

"May I come in?"

My mind began to swear over and over again at what he'd asked. I couldn't simply answer no, as I knew it would be rude, but I'd also feel embarrassed to be sitting there talking to Xander with just two towels around me.

"I have a dressing gown for you."

A sigh of relief came out. "Yes, please come in," I called quietly, pleased that I'd sat in the chair that had the back facing the door. I just had to hope that my back was covered by my long hair so that he wouldn't see the scars. I knew the topic would come up sooner or later, but I just wasn't ready for that conversation at this moment in time.

A slight breeze crossed over my bare shoulder as I heard Xander open the door, but he then shut it quickly. I heard the click of the door, and the cold breeze was gone. I could feel him standing behind the chair I was sitting in; it was as if, since we'd touched at our first meeting, every piece of me had become very aware of him when he was close by. His arm reached over my shoulder as a black, thick fleece dressing gown lay on my lap.

"I will turn around while you slip it on." His voice was still soft and gentle towards me. Was this his attempt at making me feel at ease around him because he had an idea just what trouble his brother had put me through, or was this simply his usual manner? I had no idea; I just knew I'd soon find out, considering I had five weeks until his wedding. Five whole weeks to make a plan about how to get close to him and how to kill him.

I heard a shuffle as if he'd purposely made a noise so that I knew he'd turned around. I quickly stood up and put the dressing gown on, still with the towel around me for extra warmth. I tied the belt around my waist tightly and then sat back down and dropped my head a little. I still wasn't sure what mannerisms he expected, so I decided to keep with what I knew, keeping my head down as a sign that I wasn't going to try and fight him.

"Done," I whispered quietly. I didn't know why I answered him so quietly; I certainly didn't answer Lucian quietly. I used to simply ignore Lucian or answer him back with silence or sarcasm. I couldn't help but wonder if that had been part of the reason he'd kept me alive all this time.

I heard Xander turn, walk past me, and sit in the other chair opposite me. I felt his eyes watching me intently. I didn't dare look up to be met by those beautiful sage green eyes again; let me tell you, it was hard.

"Do you feel better after your bath?"

"Much, thank you. I am sorry I didn't come to you clean." Why had I even said that? I guessed it was because, as much as I hated my parents for everything, that was the one thing that had always stuck with me. If I was meeting anyone, then I had to present myself clean and respectfully to them, and I certainly hadn't been able to do either of those things with Xander.

"I do not expect any less from my brother Rosetta." He answered, but his voice didn't seem to be directed at me; it sounded as if his head was turned away from me, so I lifted my head for a little peek to find him looking at the fire with a slight frown on his face. As I looked at him, I found myself wondering just what he was thinking at that moment. He's probably wondering why he agreed to take you in.

I winced a little after hearing his words and quickly lowered my head and turned it away as if I were a naughty schoolchild being scolded by my teacher. I wasn't sure what made me do it—whether or not it was hearing him state what he was really thinking about the whole situation or if it was simply hearing him say my full name and not the one I'd preferred.

"Why did you wince away from me, Rosetta?" His question caught me off guard, and I frowned a little. "You do not need to defend Lucian around me. I know how much of a monster that vampire is. It really does anger me that humans go and work for him."

"It wasn't my choice to work for him." I bluntly told Xander, and then instantly regretted it as I felt his gaze on me. Why had I let that slip? I didn't want Xander's attention. I didn't want him studying me and figuring me out; I had to be the one watching him from a distance to figure him out.

"What do you mean?" I could hear the anger in his voice, and that was the last thing I wanted to do after only just getting here. I certainly didn't want to anger Xander in the slightest, so I simply shook my head and turned it away, further deciding the best thing I could do was not say anything, and I'd just have to hope that Xander would also drop and forget the conversation, even though part of me had a feeling I wouldn't be so lucky.

"Ah, ok," Xander muttered. "So let's change the conversation away from something that upsets you and angers me." He laughed. "Ummm... May I ask how old you are?"

"Twenty-four." I answered as I began to fiddle a little with a loose piece of cotton from the hem of the dressing gown as I turned my head back, so Xander was once again looking at the top of my head.

"Oh." Xander sounded surprised, which made me lift my head and look at him. He looked surprised, but as he saw me looking at him, he smiled at me. "Family? Children? Partner?" I knew he was just trying to have a general conversation to get to know me, but I turned my head away, not wanting to go into any of that with him. All of those things were too personal, and it felt like he was pushing far too fast for my liking. Not only that, but how could I tell someone that all of that had been taken away by two people in my life?

"Ok, so family life is personal to you." There was silence between us. I don't know why I did it, but I decided it was my turn to ask him a question. Part of me told me that I had to test the waters with him to find out if he was going to be open to me like he expected from me.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" I turned and looked at Xander, seeing confusion wash across his face as if he didn't understand my question. "Glenda told me that you've never taken any of his offerings to you, so why me?" So much for not getting him angry or letting my anger get the better of me. My words had come out much harsher than I had wanted; however, it was too late to take back my tone.

Xander laughed quietly to himself as this time he looked down for a moment and then ran his hand through his hair and looked back at me. "How to explain that... I guess I do owe you that answer at the very least." He frowned a little again as if he were wondering how to word it so he would be understood. This was something I hadn't been expecting. "I never took my brother's gifts because I do not trust him. I will be honest; I do not trust you either." I blinked a couple of times at his honesty and then looked down again. I knew it had been coming, but to hear it said out loud so bluntly had thrown me. "However, you unlike them... You had something about you. While they all seemed like deer in headlights, you seemed to have more of a fighting spirit, and I knew if I left you with my brother, then you wouldn't have a happy ending. Not only that, I saw the way you bit your lip at one of my comments, as if you had to contain your laughter or your comment." I glanced up to see him grinning as if he'd been pleased with that fact.

I perfectly understood his words and what he meant. He'd taken me to give me a chance at life, and a piece of me felt thankful towards him for giving me a chance.

"I am not like him, Rosetta; I will not keep you hostage here. If there is somewhere else you'd rather be... Then tell me, and I will help you get there safely." I frowned a little in confusion as I lowered my head again to debate it with myself. I could run right now and be done with it, but I knew Lucian would have hunted me. He was like a dog with a bone; I knew that all too well.

I went to lift my head and speak when the door opened, so I quickly lowered my head again.

"Oh, Lord Xander, I didn't know you were in here with Rosetta. I'm sorry..."

"No, no, I was the one who intruded. I knew you'd gone to find clothes for our newest house member, and I didn't want the poor woman to sit cold with just the fire, so I brought her a dressing gown for extra warmth." I glanced up from under my eyelashes to see that Xander was now standing up. So that was going to be the end of our conversation. I lowered my eyes again as I bit my lip, finding it interesting how he'd soon jumped to his defense about how nothing was going on. He was the one in charge, not her, so why did he think he had to explain himself? I had no clue, but in my mind, it seemed like an interesting fact.

"I will leave you two ladies to get sorted. Have a pleasant evening Rosetta, and thank the human women for me. They continue to do an amazing job."

"I will, my Lord."

I heard the door shut and then I lifted my head and looked at Glenda who had some clothes in her arms. "Let's get you dressed and over to the servant's house. You look exhausted and hungry."

I took the clothes from Glenda, and keeping on the dressing gown, I fiddled a little and managed to get the towel off and get dressed. I stayed in the dressing gown to keep myself warm, as it had been so long since I'd felt warm. The whole time Glenda and I had been silent, my mind had been turning over the conversation. I had an option open to me if I wanted to take that risk.