The vampire and the assassin

Chapter 23

Time seemed to pass quickly after the night with Xander and the dragon ornament. He never asked to see me, so I could tell him about my family as my punishment, and I hardly saw Dorian either. I guessed Xander had asked Dorian to leave me alone to settle even more on my own. My days were simply to eat, do my job, hang out with the girls and the guys that I'd become friends with, eat again, and go to sleep. The cuts on my arm had ended up healing nicely, and my shoulder had begun to feel better. I knew that I still had to be careful with my shoulder, as any type of bang could knock it out again, but I didn't let myself dwell on it.

I'd just gotten back from work on my own tonight, as Sarah and the rest had been given extra duties. I was totally exhausted from the cleaning, as the vampires had apparently decided to throw a party, so we'd all pitched in to keep the party from spilling over into the other room. I wondered if Xander knew about the party or not. I guessed he had; otherwise, they wouldn't have been doing it. Which then made me wonder just where he was if he'd not asked to see me—had I upset him with something I had or hadn't done? All I remembered was that when I'd left, he seemed happy that I'd given him the small dragon statue, and he seemed happy about the fact that fate always had a habit of making our little chats short and interrupted.

As I got to the house, Glenda was waiting in the kitchen. I had a bad feeling that was beginning to wash over me. She never waited for me at all.

"Hello Rosa, I've just had a message from the main house that the lady of the house wishes to speak with you." I saw the way that Glenda's face lit up with excitement as if she knew what was coming my way. It really put me on edge and didn't make me want to actually go and speak with her. Added to the fact that the last time we'd spoken, she'd basically all but ignored me.

"What about?" I was on edge. Surely, if I had done something wrong, Xander would have pulled me up about it and told me. I hadn't seen him in a few days. I wasn't sure if that was out of respect for each other if he'd been busy, or if it had been something else; however, I'd simply accepted it. After all, what other choice did I have?

"I have no idea, more than likely, about your behavior," Glenda answered. "I've warned you, but you just didn't listen."

I wanted to argue, but instead, I just turned around and walked out the door. I wasn't dealing with her being the way she was. Clearly, she liked the Lady of the House, so no matter what I said to defend myself, I wouldn't be heard.

I headed back to the main house, where a male vampire I had never seen was waiting outside. I didn't know many of the vampires in the house, and in all honesty, I doubted I would ever get to know them. You won't, with only two weeks left until you have to strike, so you need to pull this out of the bag and get your plan moving now.

"Your Rosetta?" He asked in a gruff tone, which pulled me from my thoughts very quickly.

I just nodded as my words seemed stuck in my throat. Was this her plan to scare me into moving my sorry backside into action or something else altogether? I had no idea, but I knew once I stepped inside I'd soon find out what she wanted.

"This way." The male vampire led me into the house and through corridors I'd never been through until we got to the all-too-familiar room where I'd first met Xander with Lucian.

I walked in and lowered my head right away. I'd only met her once, which was when she ignored me on my second day at the house, but I already knew of her thanks to Lucian, as he accidentally let her name slip during one conversation one night. I knew that Lucian had been going behind Xander's back with Helena; however, I had no idea how she fitted into his little scheme of things. From our brief meeting on the second day, I'd assumed that she wasn't involved and knew nothing of what Lucian was up to; however, I'd learned pretty quickly to never assume what people know or what people would do.

"Hello, Rosetta." She finally announced as I got in front of her and sat on my knees with my head lowered. I really didn't like this woman, and I really didn't like the smugness in her tone. I glanced up from under my lashes to see her sitting in the chair that Xander had been sitting in when I'd first arrived; however, she hadn't had any of the air of grace that Xander had held; instead, it felt like she had an air of arrogance about her. "You can leave now, thank you." I assumed she wasn't talking to me as I heard the door shut and quickly lowered my gaze back down to my lap. "Are you comfortable here?"

Her question caught me off guard, so I lifted my head to see a dark smile across her face. "Don't get too comfortable while you're here, Rosetta; you think you have my husband-to-be wrapped around your fingers..." She carried on ranting, but my brain froze during the conversation. What was Helena talking about? Had Lucian not told her what was going on and why I was there? I frowned and looked down at my lap again. She called Xander her husband-to-be. Did that mean she didn't know anything Lucian was planning and was actually enjoying going back and forth between the pair of them? I had no idea, but it was all making my head spin a little.

"You've been here two weeks, and you seem to want to parade around here like you own the place."

"I...I don't understand what you're talking about." I finally decided to voice my thoughts. "I haven't spoken to him since that second day off he gave us all." I was really struggling to understand this woman.

"Mmhmm... If that is the case, then why is my husband-to-be refusing to let Lucian see you? What game do you two have going on?" She tilted her head to the side as she looked at me, as confusion washed over my face. Just what game was this vampire playing? I would have assumed that Lucian would have filled her in on the plan unless it had been a present to her—his death and the killer all at the same time. At the thought, my stomach seemed to twist and almost threaten to bring up the contents at that moment.

"I... I... I had no idea. No one has told me. I'm not playing any games. I am just doing as I have been told to do." I looked at her as my brain seemed to drown in the confusion of why the woman had asked me to meet her. Had she asked me here to scold me, or had she asked me here to warn me away from Xander? I had no idea; I really didn't.

Helena got up, knelt down in front of me, and whispered in my ear. "You have a job to do; that is why you were brought here; don't forget that, and don't think about getting all cosy with Xander, or I will make you regret it." The comment caught me off guard, and something in me snapped in that moment. It was almost as if she were one of those bullies from school all over again, and I certainly didn't take it then, and I wasn't going to take it now.

"I know my job." I began darkly, in a whisper, to speak to her as I lifted my head to look into her dark eyes. "And my job will be done on the night of your wedding, as agreed, so then you can jump into bed with Lucian. Don't you ever dare threaten me again, or you'll be the one regretting it." I had no idea if she was in on Lucian's plan; if she wasn't, then I was in big trouble, as I was sure she'd go running to Xander to get me kicked out. If she was in on the plan, then I was safe, I figured, but I couldn't have been one hundred percent sure. I moved my head away and then got up and walked out. I wasn't letting this woman have the last word. If she wanted to cause a scene and get rid of me, fine, but I doubted that her words held much weight in the house, considering I knew it was Xander's house and these vampires followed Xander, not her. I slammed the door hard behind me, hoping she got the picture that she wasn't going to mess with me and get away with it any time soon.

As I got outside, I stopped, put my back against the wall, and took a few deep breaths to calm myself. I knew if she'd wanted to come after me, she could have done so, and she could have pretty much ended my life at that moment, but I had a feeling she wouldn't have, nor would she have gone running to Xander about my bad behavior considering what I knew. That seemed to be my ace in my sleeve with Helena.

"You looked stressed out." Dorian's voice came from next to me, which made me jump. I looked at him and saw him laughing at me. "What's wrong? Xander upset you?"

"No, I was summoned by his lady," I muttered as I pinched the bridge of my nose and let out a frustrated sigh. I had to do that rather than what I actually wanted to do, which was punch something to let my full frustration out of my system.

"Ah, I forgot Xander's been away a lot over the last few days. I guess it's because I've seen him before he left and I've seen him last thing when he got back." He shrugged. "What did the wicked vampire of the north want with you anyway?" I watched Dorian lean casually on the side of the house with his arms folded over his chest, watching me intently. I really hated being under his gaze, as it felt like he could see everything about me.

"Is it bad if I say I don't actually know what she wanted from me?" I asked with a small laugh. "I'm not sure if I was told off or if I was being warned."

"Ahhhh." Dorian looked up at the sky as if he knew where the conversation was going. "She's trying to get you to fall into place, behave, and leave Xander alone, even though he is the one coming to you."

"Thank you... I tried to tell her that, but it felt like my words were falling on deaf ears."

"That is Helena." Dorian grinned. "Wrong in every single way for Xander." He sighed.

"What do you mean?" I asked, confused about where the conversation was going.

"Xander needs someone... who matches him." Dorian looked over at me. "Helena is the polar opposite of Xander and she is a piece of work. He needs someone who will put him first and who will care about him..."

"Do you have someone in mind, as you're talking as if you know the perfect partner for him?" I couldn't help but laugh.

"There is a lot I know about people, both humans and vampires." He grinned. "Anyway..." He moved, took my chin between his thumb and finger, and lifted my head up to look me in the eyes. We stood like that for a few heartbeats as he then laughed quietly. "Rosa, Rosa, Rosa." He sighed.

"What?" I asked, confused, about what he meant.

"You'll find out soon enough; I am pleased to see you are coming out of your shell a lot more now." He laughed. Anyway, shall we get moving away so Cruella Deville doesn't decide to cause more trouble?"

"Sounds like a plan." I couldn't help but laugh as I yawned a little. "Besides, I have something I want to do too."

"Well, I'll walk you back then." We walked side by side as I looked up at the night sky.

"When is Lord Xander back?" I needed to know so that I could start putting everything into action, considering I was exactly three weeks away from the wedding. I knew the time would soon slip away, and now I had to rely on whatever attention he wanted to give me to get me what I needed, which was getting close to him to find the perfect time.

"Hmmm, back tonight, maybe tomorrow. I know he did tell me, but I forgot." Dorian nudged me lightly. Why do you want to confess something to him?"

"No, ummm... We were supposed to have a talk, but we've not yet had it. I just wondered if he was serious about what he asked me or not." I told him honestly.

"Ah... He was probably serious about whatever it was he asked you about. Xander doesn't do serious very often, and when he does, normally hell is about to freeze over." Dorian grinned as I nudged him back, even though he never even moved, as it was like trying to shove a block of marble.

"I just feel bad that he asked me something and said we'd catch up soon, and that was like... about four days or so ago." I shrugged.

"That's hardly any time for us. Weeks are like hours to us. Time means nothing, and I am very sorry to announce it to you." I couldn't help but roll my eyes at Dorian's comment as a small shiver seemed to run over my body. "You should get in and get a shower to warm up. The weather is starting to drop now as winter is beginning to grow closer with each passing day."

"I will," I told Dorian as we got outside the house. "Oh, ummm, could I ask a favor?"

"The price is quite high to pay for favors from me." Dorian grinned darkly.

"Oh, ummm... then.... it doesn't matter." I blushed a little. As he saw the blush, he laughed quietly to himself and shook his head a little.

"Does it involve Xander?" He asked simply.

I nodded as I felt the blush in my cheeks burning even brighter. Why was I blushing like that? I was simply reeling Xander into me so that I could do my job of getting close. I had no idea, but I had to stop it and keep my head clear and straight if I was to do this without any mess-ups.

"Then this is a one-time deal. I will do it for you, next time you pay the price."

"Thank you." I smiled brightly, even though my cheeks were bright red. "Could you tell him I haven't forgotten about our conversation." I nodded to Dorian. "And tell him I'm ready to have that conversation."

"Will do." Dorian's head seemed to snap around to the main house as if something had caught his attention that he didn't like. "Get yourself inside and out of the way of the cold." His tone had seemed to go from the light and playful Dorian to full-on business, and trouble was coming, Dorian. "We don't want you wrapped up in this." He muttered and then took off quickly to deal with whatever had caught his attention.

A cold shiver ran through me again as I looked back at the main house and swore that I could see someone looking in my direction. I really didn't like it, and I didn't like the feeling of being on edge again. I turned to head towards the house when I heard my name being called from the path nearby.

I let out an exhausted sigh and, against my better judgment, allowed myself to wander the path. Who was calling me at this time, and why the hell were they calling me? I was exhausted and just wanted a hot shower and my bed; food was pretty optional at this point of the night. I felt myself yawning like a crazy woman as I tried to keep my attention to who had called me. Whoever it was had better have a good reason for dragging me away like this, or I might end up killing someone before Xander's time was up.