Faline

I manage to collect more and more people around me, but does that make them safe or in more danger? Nicolaus's jealousy can snap at any time, I'm going to have to spend time with him soon or it will just get worse and worse. Of course that idea isn't very intriguing, but better than the alternative.

The walk from the solarium to the Lady's rooms is a long one by this route, but it gives me time to think. Remembering to give each animal I pass a light touch, I get a smile each time, and I return one. Get weird looks from Avina but she doesn't comment, it's when we get near an alcove that's not far from our destination that she stops, tugging me into it.

"I'm sorry. I've been stuck in the same room for days and when I come out you're all anyone can talk about. From hearing that you killed a patron to being with Orion and trying to kill my Mistress, butchering a human man, and shoving food down someone's throat. I thought you'd become like every other Vampire here."

I just gape at her. So that's what's on the grapevine, eh? Alright, time to do damage control.

"Okay, a lot of detail was clearly left out in all of that, so we'll start at the top."

I start ticking off fingers as I keep eye contact with her.

"The patron that was killed; yes I am the cause of his death, but so was he. After hearing how he treated Kerry, I wanted to get back at him, so I humiliated him in front of a roomful of people. He came at me in anger so I slit his throat. He was still alive when he was getting dragged away to the Mistress who had 'requested his presence'. From what I hear, he's dust, but it's not from my hand directly."

One finger ticked off, now to another.

"I was with Orion, yes, but not in the way it's been made to sound. I was lost in the hallways when he found me. We were trading friendly insults when he picked me up from walking too slow. The outfit I had been put in had my ass hanging out, so I flipped around and was sitting on his shoulder when he decided to start running down the hallway. That was the extent of that, as he took me to the kitchen then left."

Second finger ticked.

"The trying to kill your Mistress one was probably right, I was going through some kind of episode and attacked her when she made me angry. I didn't touch her though as several others kept me from getting near her. Many of the people who got tossed around probably deserved it anyway. I know Nicolaus and Anthony did."

Now she's gaping at me, so I have to wonder what else she heard about that. I tick off another finger and keep going.

"The butchered human I believe was next. The girl that came running up to me earlier, Danica? I got her away from a man who had hit her and tried dragging her into a room even though she's too young to be used that way. I told Kerry, who was with me at that time, to take the girl to the Mistress while I took her place. It was his sheer bad luck that the room he chose had those hooks hanging around. I had already planned on hanging him just from what he tried to do, but after learning who he really was, I made it hurt more and left him for Orion and the Mistress, who he'd been two-timing from the get-go."

Before I can tick off another finger, I remember what it is and have to laugh, which gets me a weird look.

"You remember when I had accidentally put that pepper on my tongue? And how water had made it worse?"

She gives a faint smile and nods.

"Alright, remember that female Vamp that had sent Max after me?"

Another nod, light bulb starting to turn on.

"Well, she thought she was going to be all big and bad in my face while I had been making meatballs. When she got close, I shoved the meat into her mouth, which just so happened to have peppers in it. Because she'd been acting like such a bitch, I told her that gargling water helps. We could hear her scream from the bathroom from her doing so."

By the time I finish, both her and I are laughing. Then she pipes up with a couple more things.

"And the touching of people on the way here?"

"Apparently all the Weres and Shifters find touch comforting. And since they all like me, Kerry had been asked to approach in their stead to ask me about touch. It's not personal by any means, just a small comfort from someone they consider a friend."

Avina's head bobs as she takes it all in.

"That explains all the smiles and why Danica had run to you. What about with my Mistress? Were you not punished for trying to attack her?"

I purse my lips together and nod.

"I got punished, yes. Could say that's why I'm here again, my continued punishment."

Avina has a touch of worry in her eyes as her head moves again. She shakes it off though and looks at me with relief, her shoulders nearly sagging with it. Reaching out, she takes my hands in hers.

"I'm so glad you're the same. I'd been so sad when I heard everything, thinking that I'd lost a friend. When my Lady had ordered me to stay with your clothes and take you to her room, I was afraid. Just seeing how you are with everyone on the way here though, I knew something wasn't right as it didn't add up."

Hmm.

"Who did you hear those versions from? Didn't think any of the submissives would talk about me like that."

Actually, it isn't all that surprising. Human nature is to gossip, and I've caused a lot of trouble lately. At first, she shakes her head, but then scowls and tells me.

"Most of it was from the other Vampires, they'd overheard some of the slaves talking about things, then guess it just got blown up as it was retold. The big one for spreading around the assumption that you were with Orion was that female Vampire. She really hates you."

I roll my eyes, but now I'm worried. If she's spreading that shit around, she will most likely be squawking it at Nicolaus the first chance she gets. Hopefully, he'll know she's just telling stories.

"She's under the impression that I'm trying to take Nicolaus away from her or something. I've told her repeatedly that she's welcome to him, but she doesn't believe me."

A wide grin crosses my face as I stifle more laughter.

"The other day, she came at me in the solarium as her cat, she's a lynx with really big feet, and stepped on my tail. Nicolaus had been pestering me when she came outta nowhere. After she stepped on me, I got revenge. Her breed of cat has very short tails. I bit into hers and practically skinned it."

Avina looks horrified, but then really thinks about it and giggles as well.

"Before she could come at me, another cat came in from above. A leopard."

The girl smiles and gets a dreamy look. Good lord.

"She got Madaline to back off real quick. Maii was with me at one point, but Nicolaus went after him. I protected him, and your Lady took him out. She also got all the new stuff down in the kitchen. Have you seen them? It's amazing."

She nods with a smile, then her eyes go behind me and she drops. I whirl around, going on the offensive and ready to attack whoever, but have to stand upright when I see who it is.

"Nicolaus. Good, I actually need to talk to you."

His eyes widen a bit, but he looks pleased. Long hair is pulled back like usual, clothed in a shirt, jeans and shoes. Wow. Not used to seeing him with clothes on. Looking around, I spy an open room with chairs and couches.

I know I'll probably regret it, but I head for the room that turns out to be another den-library combo. Planting my rear on the desk with legs hanging over it as I face him, the door is left open. Avina right outside and in position.

Don't want her any closer if he lashes out. Reaching back, he pulls out his hair tie and runs his hands through his hair. The brown strands fly out with their red streaks, catching my gaze.

Coming closer, he picks me up before I can protest and takes me to a couch. Setting me on it then collapsing himself, head in my lap, my fingers sink into his hair. Figure that's what he's wanting, guess Anthony isn't the type to play with hair.

Tangerine eyes watch me a moment, dilating in pulses before they close. Holding his head up, I reposition to a more comfortable angle. Turning to fully face him with legs crossed, that's where his head lays. My lap is small enough that even with his head touching my belly, his shoulders aren't pressing my legs down. One arm lays over his middle while the other reaches up and plays with my leg.

Doesn't matter how quickly I tell him, he'll only move when he's good and ready. The real confusion is that even with all my remembered pain caused at his hands, my feelings towards him are still all jumbled.

The hand at my leg rubs over the leather, kneading firmly. Thanks to his human genes and the combined Vampire mess, his hair is thick and long, red streaks natural even though they look fake. It's not just his mind that's all weird, his body is too if you take in both the hair and his eyes.

"What color were your eyes before you became a Vampire?"

Said orbs open as I look down at him, my fingers playing with soft strands. As soon as my hands had gone into his hair, his face had relaxed, the madness within his eyes retreating before they closed.

"That is not what you wanted to talk about."

"Well no, but I'm curious."

He gazes off for a moment, concentrating before frustration takes over. I run my fingers over his eyebrows, telling him to forget about it. His features once more smooth out and relax as I touch him, keeping my touch light on pale skin while I again become sad for him.

Will I forget what color my eyes had been? Can't even imagine the hell he'd had to go through. Considering what he put me through, his was probably worse for his mind to have broken.

I put my hands back into his hair and run my nails over his scalp. Noticing goosebumps rise on his arm next to me, his eyes flutter but stay closed. Well, better now rather than later.

"What I do want to talk to you about, is the rumors that seem to be flying around lately about me."

Now his eyes open, looking right into mine before he looks over my face. Making the circuit then going back to my eyes.

"I've heard them. I also know they aren't true. Madaline has been very insistent that you've been sleeping with the whole house and making me look the fool."

Seeing the look on my face, he smiles. His hand moves from my leg up to my cheek where he rubs the back of it against my skin.

"That right there tells me what I need to know. Having watched how you are in the kitchen with all the slaves first hand, it can be plainly seen that you only see friendships, nothing more."

Glad to see he knows that, as I'm sure the relief on my face shows. Him watching me doesn't even faze me anymore.

"Then she was only too happy to tell me about the lion, how you were seen with him and he was touching you. Skin to skin."

I make a sound of disgust, but this one I know I have to explain. Both for me and him, since the mentioning of it has his eyes flickering. My fingertips go back to his face and trace his bone structure.

"That is true and false."

Orange eyes spark at me, so I roll mine.

"Will you chill out? I'm not bumping uglies with every damn person in this place. You should know that. What I mean about it being true and false is that he was touching me and I him, but it was because I was getting carried down a hallway."

He had been grinning at me, but now scowling again.

"I'd gotten lost in the hallways when I was in that damn skimpy dress. Right after leaving you and that she-bitch, actually. I ended up running into him, literally. He and I seem to have developed a sibling-like thing and were trading insults back and forth, one being that my legs are short and therefore move too slow. He picked me up, but thanks to that dress, I would have been flashing my ass everywhere, so I turned so I was sitting on his shoulder. He then ran down the hallway. Pretty sure that's what was seen since we went by some people. I promise you I'm not sleeping with the lion. Unlike you and Madaline, I don't screw those who I look at as a sibling."

That last part had to get thrown in so he didn't try to bring up for me to promise that I haven't slept with everyone. Can say I'm not screwing 'everyone', as I'm not. Just one.

He blinks at me, a little startled.

"I am not screwing with Madaline."

His face alone tells the truth of that, pretty sure he would admit it if he had. I raise an eyebrow though as if I'm unsure.

"She seems to be under the impression you are."

He scowls, but it isn't directed towards me, so I move my hands back to his scalp when his abrupt laugh startles me so much I jump. My heart having about jumped out of my body has me feeling its pulse in my damn toes.

"Not cool dude. So not cool."

My hand goes over my chest, the other gets grabbed by his where he takes it to his mouth and smiles at me.

"She is very jealous of you. She knows I will not touch her, and she is blaming you for it."

Great, I'm her outlet. That's just perfect.

"I heard what you did to her today. That wasn't very nice."

He says that, but by the giant smile on his face, he isn't upset that I did. My shoulders rise and fall as he nibbles at the side of my palm.

"She keeps wanting to start shit and act like some kind of queen bee. You'd think after everything I've done to her, she'd leave me alone. But nope, she has to be stupid, so I make her look it. Well, not as much as her clothes do, but close."

He's trying to stifle his mirth with my hand but failing horribly. When like this, he's someone you can really fall for, but because of how he was turned and possibly even before that, he's too broken. Too broken for me anyway.

If his Master never finds him, I hope he can one day find someone who will give him what he needs. Anthony and I clearly aren't it. Without thinking, I lean down and kiss his forehead.