The Blood Heiress

Upside Down, Inside Out

Adella

The face that stared back at me looked like me but only in the way that a cathedral resembled a church. My hair was softer, shinier. My teeth strangely straighter and whiter. My nose straighter and my lips fuller. I knew my face, it was mine after all. This wasn't quite the same face I had had before.

And changes to my face weren't the only I notcied. Overall, I seemed to be paler and fitter. And on closer inspection I found that most of my blemishes had disappeared. Whatever had happened last night...well two nights ago now, had to have been the cause of this.

I intended to find out the details just as soon as I had some time to get cleaned up. Immobilized and unconcious for over 24 hours wasn't conducive to cleanliness. I still had grime under my fingernails from the pavement. Flashbacks of the attack assaulted my memory and I resisted the compulsion to go into the fetal position. Blips of terror, red eyes, hooded maniacs. Magicians A helpless fit of laughter bubbled up at the absurdity of my original conjecture. If nothing else proved how unsuited, unprepared I was for my new life; trying to explaining otherwordly cloacked madmen away as magicians did the job nicely. Self-loathing wasn't necesarily a new feeling for me, it hadn't visited often nor in a while. But I felt it creep over me like a thin veil.

Other than the snippets of the attack, everything else that had occured was fuzzy. Shrouded in a hazy mist of red. Especially clouded was anything after I had left Evander's car and entered The Marksman. How had I gone from there to here?

I grabbed for the change of clothes Evander had given to me. Heat crept across my cheeks. When I had awakened, I had been in my underwear. Under sheets but still. The same pair of lacy underwear meant to support my assets under the formal dress. Someone had undressed me. My growing blush darkened.

Evander had been waiting for me. I wasn't sure how long. But I gathered long enough. Sitting there, in that chair, waiting. I felt his eyes on me as soon as I had become aware of my surroundings. His icy blue eyes watching me silently from across the room. I let a shiver through me. The lights had dimmly lit the room then, affording me a better view of his face. Exhaustion etched from his forehead down to his feet. His picture perfect features dulled by it. My disappointment at waking up in a room with him and no one else faded upon the sight.

When he had approached my bed, a flash of a memory came and I had flinched. A snarling monster with Evander's face standing over me while I laid on the pavement. Fangs and glowing crimson eyes coming to my rescue. Had that truly been real? Fangs bared, taking on those hooded attackers, a whirlwind of destruction? Evander paid no attention to my reaction. Instead he had helped me to sit up and in his abrupt manner, gave me a quick run down of the time that had elapsed and what should happen next.

I pulled on the provided pants and reached for the shirt. Holding it up to myself I realized that these were actual pieces of clothing from my closet. This shirt and the pants had come from the clothes that I had picked out myself. I was grateful that whoever had retreived them knew I would want something comfortable. At the same time there was a shadow of concern about how Evander had known how to get them. Who to contact to have them brought here. I had had suspicions he knew more than the average person about my true identity. This all but confirmed them. Why did he know so much and how did he find out?

Once Evander had caught me up with what he deemed important, I had attempted to open up a line of questioning concerning the attack and what I could remember but that was quickly checked. So I had switched to an attempt to find out how much those close to me knew. Another blockade, a promise that my questions would be answered and redirect, as soon as I had a shower and had freshened up. So here I was.

Putting on the shirt finally, I winced. My side was still burning from the inside out. I breathed through the uncomfortable feeling and pulled the shirt down over my chest. On impulse I moved to the mirror and twisted to check my side. An angry red scar was narrowing by the minute. It was still warm to the touch. That feeling, that warmth made me uncomfortable. Brought up more blips of disorienting memory.

Pain mostly, the pain of the all consuming fire that had settled into my bones and sought to burn me alive that night. Thankfully it had long been extinguished by now. All but a memory seared into my brain. With shaking hands I pulled the shirt down all the way.

This wound was the one physical reminder I had that I hadn't experienced another horrid nightmare or worse yet a drunk hallucination. I grabbed the provided toothbrush and cautiously held it up. The wound was one but there might be another. My attention firmly on the face in the mirror. If I lifted my lips what would await me? I smiled a thin toothless grin, toothbrush held in one hand my eyes trained on my mouth. Slowly I pulled my lips back and was rewarded with my newly straighter and whiter teeth. I pulled my lips back tighter and examined the gums above my canines. Nothing... There wasn't a single indication that anything had happened there. I ran the toothbrush carefully through my mouth and threw my hair back into a low ponytail. I was finished. I opened the bathroom door to the empty hall. It was time to get those promised answers. I was more than ready.

I walked out of the bathroom and took a moment to admire his space. He had shown me the short way to the guest bath from the guest room and then simply relayed how to get to the study where we were to meet to go over the promised details. It was a penthouse and quite unlike my own home. We were a soaring 20 stories on top of the building that bore his name. It had large rooms and a simple floorplan that made up for what it lacked in amount of rooms with expensive decor and breathtaking views of the city. Every inch advertised his taste and exuded masculinity.

My small fist knocked on the oversized double doors of his study. My hands tremored a little again at the thought of meeting with the man on my own. He set me on edge. A trait that most assuredly served him well as a CEO. He probably leaned into it, maybe even cultivated the persona purposefully. That might mean that he was a different person altogether when not in that role. A girl could certainly hope. But not too much. That ride in his car on the way back had left a deep impression. The casual manner with which he had put the fault on me. The fire inside had been cooled to an ember since the attack but now sent a whispy flame up with the anger that flared at the memory of the car ride, the last time we had been alone.

The doors noiselessly opened inward to a large, modern study. Apples and oranges to the one back at the Russo estate. Bookcases lined one long wall. His modern desk with clean lines sat in front of a large wall of windows. He was not sitting behind it as I had expected. So, I turned my attention to the other end and found an inviting seating area. There he was situated on a brown leather sofa, reclining in a carefree way, whiskey glass in one hand. In place of the suit that still had had my dried blood down one side, he wore a clean navy t-shirt snug against his muscular torso and a pair of designer lounge pants. I couldn't help my eyebrows shooting up in response as that outfit wasn't what I had every expected to find him wearing. It wasn't just the change in his clothing that surprised me, he looked refreshed. I wasn't certain how that was possible in the time it had taken me to shower. It certainly wasn't the strangest thing that had happned, nor the most pressing.

I felt my lingering gaze returned and blushed a little. His eyes running over me every bit as slowly as mine had when taking in his appearance not a moment before. I hastily nodded at his butler in thanks and moved from the door to the couch opposite of him.

"Would you care for a drink?" He motioned to his butler.

"Some coffee would be nice. Thank you." I directed my order towards the butler, I had yet to catch his name. It didn't seem like those types of trivialities mattered to Evander much.

"Feeling better?" His question was honest and I nodded. The shower had been one of the most needed of my life. A coffee cup was placed in front of my on a tray with all the usuals. I took it with some cream and wrapped my hands around the pipping mug. Taking in some greedy sips, enjoying the way the liquid warmth spread through me.

"I don't remember much after the bar." I started right in, figuring the best way forward was a straight line.

"That is to be expected." He swirled the alcohol in his glass, watching the amber liquid as it swirled.

"I sure didn't expect it. Any of it actually." I snapped unsure of why I was suddenly so irritated. His cold, flat tone wasn't unexpected, being his default and all. It still managed to stoked the banked embers inside.

"That has become increasingly clear to me these past few weeks." He dryly responded adding even more fuel.

"What does that mean?" Against my better judgement, I snapped at him again.

"You don't know who you are, what you are and why the first two are important." His gaze was direct and pointed. His assessment felt damning but I didn't know why. My full defenses went up around me. My internal fire roared fully back to life. He sighed. "My words are not a 'dig' against you Adella. Simply stated fact."

I kept my gaze leveled on him while I tried to let his words sink in. True, it wasn't so much his choice of words, though they could have been better. The irritating quality was more in how he delivered them.

"You seem to know. Why not enlighten me?" If he wasn't going to bother to filter his tone or word choice, I wouldn't parse mine.

"I would have gladly long ago, had I been allowed to. Shame I had my hands tied. Could have avoided all this messiness." He took a slow sip.

"So, what is this? A chance to frustrate the hell out of me while you dangle what you know in front of me?" I placed my mug roughly on the side table, punctuating my frustration. "Did any of it really happen? Are you just messing with me?"

"Messing with you?" He snorted softly and looked at me with such bemusement, it enflamed my irritation with him further. "Hardly. Why would I do that?"

I stood calmly to my feet, trying to dampen my the flames licking upward inside. "I have just decided that that isn't my problem any more. I would like to return home now. Thanks so much for taking care of me." His eyes widened a little in surprise. Something I knew he didn't feel often. Glad to have been of service.

I made my way to the doors. I could find another mentor. Another way to fulfill that requirement, surely my parents would have understood. My whole world was inside out and upside down and this infuriating man couldn't bother to be civilly forthcoming. The worst part of it all was that it wasn't like he owed me anything. In fact, I still owed him. My hand touched the door and I pushed feeling better the further away I got from him. My flames cooling.

"Miss Russo." I paused at him using my true last name. "Please have a seat."

I whirled on him, stepping back into the room. I took his tight smile as a small victory. "No. I will not sit. Not while you dangle what I want, what I need right in front of me. I will not stay here while you make me feel like everything is my fault. Like you are better than me. Why did you even bother to save me? Wouldn't it have been better to leave me there than to keep having to deal with someone a lowly as myself?"

His glass had been placed down. Hands held out in a placating gesture he held himself upright, his casual reclining position gone.

His words calm.

"If you are done." I only held his gaze and waited, giving his quesitoning gaze nothing to confirm or deny if I was finished berating him. Evander continued apparently satisfied. "Let's start again. I apologize for getting us into the weeds. That was not what I intended by my remarks. I forget that not everyone is used to my...manners."

My eyebrow raised at his admission. Had losing my temper actually worked? My stomach chose then to let out the most embarassing growl. My whole face must have been red as a cherry. He let out an amused laugh and I looked curiously at him. That small noise had done a great deal to humanize him. This whole conversation had actually.

"I also have the unfortunate habit of starving my guests. Forgive me, please." His butler disappeared behind me and an awkward silence began to spread. "Please, Adella have a seat and let's try this again. I believe it is apparent that I am in need of more practice with this sort of thing and you need answers."

"Fine." I moved towards the couch again. "However, if you start turning this around on me again I am leaving."

His said nothing in response, though it looked like he wished to. A snack tray was placed down on the table and I immediately took a small plate and filled it. I felt his eyes on my every move.

"I am curious, Adella. What do you remember happening?" He took up his refilled glass, courtesy of the butler and sat back again.

"I was attacked at the park." I said in between bites. I was far more hungry than I had realized. I suppose sleeping for close to sixteen hours would do that to you. "One of the cloaked madmen, vampires? tried to stab my heart after mentioning some things about how I wasn't fit to live. But I managed to get him to miss and instead he did get my side. After that it is really choppy."

"How about before that?"

"Before I was attacked?" What was with these questions? Wasn't he supposed to be telling me what happened? Answering my questions?

"Yes, leading up to it. Can you remember anything?" I sighed loudly in frustration but still did my best to come up with an answer.

"I woke up in the park and tried to find my purse, wait no. That isn't right. I wasn't trying to find my purse right away. I was trying to hide. Then I remembered my purse."

"Hide from what?" His careful gaze never wavered. My face scrunched with the effort it took to pull forth the memory I wanted.

"From all the heartbeats?" My expression relaxed then and I looked to him in question. I sound insane. He waited without a response so I continued. "The fire inside of me pulled me towards them. It was speaking to me, I think. It wanted me to do unspeakable things." I dropped the food from my hand back onto the plate and placed it all back onto the tray. My appetite gone.

"Did you give in?" He learned forward and the eager edge to his question made me look from the food I was no longer hungry for to his face. His face startingly close.

"No. Of course not." I drew my brows together. The whole story sounded so fantastical and yet not a single doubt of its believability from him. "This doesn't sound insane to you?"

He sat back and laughed again. "You are very much sane Miss Russo."

"There you go again." I crossed my arms and sat back. I had answered his questions he could give me something in return.

"I am not following." He swirled his glass a few more times and eyed me. Weighing carefully his response.

"Using my birth name again. No one is supposed to know it is mine. Yet, I had a feeling you knew. How did you know?"

"All in due time." Infuriating.

I raised a questioning eyebrow at him. "Well if my story doesn't sound insane to you then I take it that you must have seen this happen before?" Trying a different approach, I wasn't going to give him a chance to cut in with more inquiries.

"Yes, not precisely the same. But to answer your question; I have seen and watched this happen before. Many, many times over. Though it often has a very different ending."

"Which part? The part where I wanted to go after anything with a heartbeat I could hear? To do who knows what to them when I found them." He took a sip but didn't interrupt. "Or the part where I was bleeding on the ground after being attacked by some very disturbed individuals?"

"Ah, well those disturbing individuals were not a first, persay, but that particular part of the night was a new experience."

"The first part then, others haven't held themselves back?"

"No, they have not."

I shuddered at the thought of what would have happened if I had given in. Very unwelcome feelings had bubbled up that night and strongly compelled me to act. I had managed to hold myself back. What had happened many times over when others hadn't?

"And while it shows great fortitude and strength that you could. It would have been better for you if you had."

"Evander, would you please stop talking in riddles? Why would it have been better for me? What even was happening then? If you know I beg that you just tell me plainly." I realized too late that I jad casually used his first name. He hardly seemed to care. Good. if he could use mine without a second thought I could use his.

"To answer your first question 'plainly'. I am bound by certain rules. If I break them the consequences will be bourne by you. If you are willing for me to do that then I will. Otherwise, I will continue to skirt the line as I have and hope that you can draw your own conclusions."

"What rules?"

"I believe you are well acquainted with them already." His brows raised meaningfully at me.

"Wha...?" I racked my brain, focusing on the untouched food in front of me. My lips pursed, my brows knit together. Which rules? I only knew of one set of rules, infruriatingly vague rules that were metered out one at a time...was he referring to my trust? My head whipped up to look at him, one eyebrow raised slightly. "My trust?"

He nodded and a slow, genuine smile spread on his face, transforming it from his cold neutral to a dazzling, inviting expression.

"My trust won't let you tell me what I want to know?" I watched his smiling face with confusion. He nodded again.

"Not just myself Adella. It stipulates that you must discover everything on your own or through others not associated with it." I quickly picked up on his meaning.

"Ben too?"

"Yes, anyone associated with the estate, buisnesses and the like that had also known your parents." This information flooded my mind as I tried to sort it out. Completely eclipsing the events of two nights previous for the time being. "And before you ask, I do not have any 'why' for you where this is concerned." He left me to my thoughts for a while. Having some fresh coffee brought in while he continued to sip on his whiskey. Evander seemed quite comfortable with waiting, no impaitience showed on his perfect face.

"So, what am I supposed to do? If I get you to give me what I need to know then that negates my trust? I lose? But if I don't get some explanations I also lose." I paused running through what memories I had in horror. "What if it happens again?"

Evander looked grimly at me. "It will. Not to put too fine a point on it. The only way around this is for you to remember what you can about the evening in question. If, though I do hope it is when, you can put the pieces together on your own I can elaborate unencombered. But you must put those pieces together."

"And how am I supposed to do that precisely?" My voice held a plaintive whine even to my own ears.

"I believe what we were doing was working before someone became impaitient."

He wore a cocky grin, one that wouldn't have been out of place on a certain bartender's face but certainly looked to be so on Evander's. My heart ached a little and I redirected my thoughts.

I nodded hestantly.

"Alright, let's try again."