Chapter Twelve

Vengeful Sire

Karou had fallen asleep quickly, happy with the peace of mind Warren had given her when he’d tucked her into bed. Although she wasn't sure whether it was prudent to trust what he’d said last off, she supposed it was thoughtful of him to tell her a white lie to keep her happy.

In contrast, Warren didn’t sleep well at all - his restless mind wouldn’t let him. As a result, he’d tossed and turned in the sheets until he’d worn himself out. Only then did he catch an hour or two’s sleep before he was wide awake again.

Rising to sit bolt upright in bed, Warren woke up with a start and couldn’t escape his bed fast enough. In the glaring bathroom light, he’d jumped at the sight of himself in the mirror – Karou was right; his eyes really were silver. Moving further toward the mirrors face, he pulled down his lower lids to inspect his eyes more closely. As fascinating as their colour was, it was just something else to add to how strange he felt. He’d wondered whether he was still asleep and dreaming up this warm, dizzying feeling, but when splashed his face with cold water, he didn’t wake up. Unsure what to do with himself first, he’d tried to sit down on the couch the calming quality of the cool leather might allow him to collect himself, but he couldn’t sit still. The daily newspaper didn’t distract him because the words were all a jumble on the page and he was too wired for coffee.

On his feet, again, he paced the unit’s lounge, and no amount of hair combing was soothing him. There was one thing to be thankful for, at least; that day didn’t have to be usual, it was his birthday and Magnus, and Ellis’ arrival had meant he’d had to schedule in a couple of days off work on short notice. Due to the state he found himself in, he doubted he would’ve been able to concentrate on work anyway. His morning routine had gone entirely out of the window, just like his evening routine had the night previous - and the previous night was all that filled his head. He didn’t necessarily regret anything, but he couldn’t fathom how they would move forward now that he’d given in. The experience was unforgettable, but he wished he could filter Karou’s memory of it in hindsight. To Warren, there was a sense of having bared all, and now he felt vulnerable and at Karou’s mercy. For instance, how desperately he’d clung to her and lost himself in how she tasted was haunting him.

The locks and hinges holding the unit’s front door closed may as well have been made of paper; they burst open so effortlessly beneath her wrath. With the front door torn asunder, she stood there like a dark apparition - his heartbroken and resentful lover. She’d come to take that vengeance the moment she felt he was awake. “You think I can’t feel what’s going on in your head right now?!” Ellis screamed. “You’ve betrayed me.”

“Ellis, don’t overreact.” Warren replied; for now, he tried to appear as calm as possible despite how jittery he felt. He knew that she would enact her violence regardless of whether he tried to reason with her or not - that was just her way. Ellis Denver was untameable in her emotional outbursts, and anger was the one she portrayed best. Braced for whatever would come next, he just stood there between the lounge and the hallway.

Down the hallway, Karou’s door was ajar, as usual, and the yelling woke her up suddenly. She’d been sleeping deeply and dreamlessly, but what she witnessed through the gap in her door was nightmarish. Karou was on her feet and out of bed in a flash; alas, the horror of the scene froze her into place at the threshold. She couldn’t move, but her eyes remained fixed on Ellis and Warren as she lunged at him. Her manicured fingertips gouged into the skin over Warren’s shoulders like harpoons. Her glaring wide and crazy eyes promised how far she was willing to go to keep Warren in his place. The pretty shade of red lipstick she wore was soon awash with blood as splatters burst forth onto her face from Warren’s neck and shoulders – she didn’t bite once or twice but several times. Each time she’d snarl, recoil, and strike again, inflicting yet another set of deep wounds - like a viper, she’d gone in for the kill, and her movements were just as rapid and unforgiving.

This had happened so many times that Warren had become desensitised. Unbelievably, he didn’t put up any kind of fight and stood there immobilised despite knowing full well that he was much stronger than her. Even now, though he was suffering such violence, Warren couldn’t shift the memory of the night before from the forefront of his mind. Consequently, Ellis’ bites didn’t sting as much as the thought of what she was taking from him did. The small part of Karou he’d consumed was being leeched away, and he could feel the zest it had given him trickling away, leaving him colder. It was painfully poetic; his Sire was depriving him of having anyone else to share himself with. He was hers! She was staking her claim, unquestionably.

When Ellis finished, she stepped back, grinning and revelling in her victory, having successfully asserted her dominance. Warren’s wounds might’ve healed at a phenomenal speed, but in their wake remained evidence of her brutality in the form of long trails of blood, which ran down his bare chest and soaked into the waistband of his pyjama pants. Like a scolded dog, he hung his head and stared at the floor with hollow black eyes and unflinching in the aftermath of the storm that had just passed through the tiny unit. Nothing else was said, not verbally anyway, so Ellis turned and left triumphantly with her point made.

In the space of a few hours, Karou had witnessed how tender vamperic feeding could be, but also how potentially violent too. No sooner had Ellis left, Karou’s feet carried her over the hardwood and in Ellis’ place, she came to be stood before Warren instead. Fighting back the tears in her blurry eyes, she sought the attention of Warren’s. Unsure whether she should reach for him or not, her hands fidgeted at her side. “Warren?” Karou’s sadness echoed through the way she said his name. Her compassion towards him and sympathy for the situation he found himself in was painted all over her face.

“Ca-...” Warren opened his lips to speak but paused to wet them and found his whole mouth dry; seeing how pointless it was, he continued regardless. “Can you fetch me something from my office, please?”

Karou nodded in agreement and walked away with purpose. She knew exactly what the ‘something’ he wanted was without having to ask and returned with three blood bags in her shaking hands. He wasn’t where she’d left him, though, so Karou called out to him and followed his voice to the bathroom. She entered to find him sat atop the toilet with a towel wrapped about his waist; he’d discarded his blood-stained pants on the tiled floor.

“I don’t know how to warm these up for you,” Karou admitted and placed two of the three onto the bathroom vanity before passing him the one she opened. Whilst he drank it down, Karou rested her hips back against the sink opposite him. It looked to be such a joyless act when he tipped back his head to drain the last of the first bag's contents; she could see just how many times Ellis had bitten him from the signs left behind on his skin. She counted eight holes on one side, which meant four bites and another five bites on the other and Ellis’ lip prints smeared the carnage about his skin. It made Karou’s lip quiver in anger towards Ellis and in sorrow for Warren.

Warren caught her staring at the state of him and cleared his throat to rouse her. Snapping out of it, Karou passed him the second part of his meal, and he proceeded to drink it without a fuss. “Karou, she’s done worse. So, stop looking at me like that.”

“Like what?” When she looked at his face again, she was almost glad to see that his eyes were back to their usual blue colour, but it wasn’t as stunning as the silvery shade they’d been the evening before.

“Like I’m a beaten dog.” Sucking the remnants from his lips, he tried to smile, however weakly, but Karou’s mood wasn’t going to lift that easily. Miserable and defeated, she gazed at the floor when she passed him the third and final plastic package. “I guess I am, though, huh? She sure put me in my place.”

“I don’t understand why… What did you do that she thought was so wrong?”

“I baited her; I sort of deserve-”

“No.” Karou protested and lifted her head to stare hard at Warren in defiance. “No, you don’t.”

“I rejected her and insinuated I did so because I would’ve rather spent my evening with you, doing things that we’ve never done. This morning I woke up feeling so alive.” Warren emphasised the word. Truly he’d never experienced such a sensation before. It confused him, but he didn’t care; the euphoria felt too good to carry on tiring himself out overthinking. “My thoughts must have given me away. I guess it made her angry, so she came to put me back in check.”

“You never told me exactly what you made her believe...”

“You read books, Karou, use your imagination. I did.” Warren stood and closed the gap between them. “But I did want to spend my evening with you instead of her.”

Karou blushed wildly, having caught his drift lude thoughts ran wild in her head. “Yeah, but not like that...” Karou muttered, finally tearing her eyes away from his.

Warren didn’t bother disputing her assumption and simply announced: “Karou, I’m going to get in the shower now.”

Karou gave Warren some privacy and wandered into the kitchen, where she thought she’d attempt to prepare a simple breakfast. What seemed like a good idea rapidly went south... and soon the bleeping of the units fire alarm rang through the air. Karou’s eyes shot wide open as she gasped, panicked. With a lung full of smoke, she started coughing and wafting her hand before her face.

When a wet and flustered-looking Warren came to be stood next to her at the stove, she winced; she knew she’d screwed up. “What happened?” He asked, assessing the situation. He’d quickly wrapped his waist in a towel and jumped out of the shower, thinking there was an actual fire, but what he found calmed him down from his initial fright. Now he just stared at Karou at a loss.

“Well, I took my eyes off the toaster for a second, and the toast burned, and while I was dealing with that, my eggs burned...” Karou explained as calmly as she could but didn’t dare look at him. Trying to take the matter seriously was hard because she’d already caught a glimpse of him. “Uh- Warren, you’re covered in soap.”

“I was in the shower if you hadn’t forgotten. I thought you’d set the kitchen on fire.” Warren replied, a little perturbed.

Karou finally plucked up the courage to look at him; her eyes panned his body until she met his eyes from under her thick lashes. He looked pissed, so she pouted like a scolded puppy, trying to appeal to his kinder nature. “Please don’t be angry at me. It’s just toast.”

“You’re such a klutz.” He chuckled, seeing the funnier side of things.

“Buenos dias, y feliz cumpleaños!” Magnus called into the unit. His nose told him where the apartment’s occupants were, so he confidently made his way towards the kitchen and bearing an envelope in his hand. The scene he found was gossip inspiring indeed; a blushing and smiling Karou stood in a smoky kitchen before Warren, who was wet with soap suds smattering his skin, while clothed in only a towel. “Ooh, I do hope I haven’t interrupted...”

“Just Karou trying to set fire to the place...” Warren disarmed the situation and turned to Magnus. “Good morning, mi amigo.” He patted his mentors’ shoulder as he passed. “I’m going to finish my shower. Do not turn that stove back on, Karou!”

“Fi-ine,” Karou muttered as she slumped into a chair by the kitchen island.

“Does he always wander around so scantily clad?” Magnus asked as he joined Karou in sitting at the kitchen island.

“Uh- well, no.” She answered honestly. “Why?”

“He’s usually very prudish about nudity, something about it being avoidable and unnecessarily vain to show off one’s body… I thought he would be more reserved, especially in front of a young lady such as yourself, no?” Magnus seemed to be prying at something, and Karou was falling for it. He’d woken up sensing that something happened the night before because Ellis was in an angry mood and disappeared in a huff before he left their bed.

“I- I haven’t seen him in anything less than pants if that’s what you mean, but that’s a normal guy thing, right?” Karou found the subject awkward, all things considered. Without thinking, she pulled her hair over her shoulder to braid and revealed a great deal more than she’d intended in her nervous fidgeting. The timing was everything; Warren appeared back in the kitchen just as Karou moved her hair aside and immediately noticed the same thing as Magnus.

“Oh, Dios Mio!” Magnus’ eyes were wide, and he looked at Warren with a faint grin.

“I- I can explain!” Warren exclaimed, coming up to the counter to lean between Magnus and Karou.

“There is nothing to explain. Happy birthday, Mijo.” Calmly the Spaniard slid the envelope he’d brought with him over the counter toward Warren.

“Explain what?” Karou asked, still oblivious to the situation.

“The freshly healed bite marks on your neck, mi querida.” Magnus clarified and gave Warren a look.

“Don’t look at me like that.”

“Like what? Open the envelope.”

“You’re looking at me implying I’ve ‘scored’,” Warren whispered through his gritted teeth as he snatched up the envelope and opened it with spiteful ferocity; he did not enjoy Magnus’ provocative tone.

“Oh, God.” Karou hid her blushing face in her palms when she heard what Warren said.

“I'm proud of you. You’ve gotten over a hurdle on your own for once. You have been thinking about doin-”

Cutting off his mentor Warren was trying to brush off Magnus’ exposing comment and held up what he’d found in the envelope, “Why have you brought me a plane ticket to Russia?”

“It’s tough getting you to visit us if not for work-related reasons.”

“I put off having to see Roman if I can help it and with good reason, but thank you.” Warren checked when he had to use it by despite making excuses and tucked it away into his back pocket with a grateful smile.

“If you’re going to Russia, does that mean I get the big bed to myself for a while?” Karou chirped, and mainly said it because she knew it bugged Warren that she commandeered his room while he was away, but his expressive plushie mattress was ‘oh so comfy’.

“To yourself?” Magnus’ interest piqued again; Karou had given him another snippet of information to latch onto. Now inspired he intended to get to the truth and hoped it was a sordid as his inner gossip would've liked.

“Yeah… Like when he’s not in it…” Karou stated, confused that she’d had to repeat such a clear statement.

“Oh, for the love of God, Karou, shut up. You’re making this so much worse.” Warren ran his hands back through his damp hair; he knew she was playing right into Magnus’ hands. He was so persuasive that he sometimes could get people to admit to things they’d never done.

“What’d I say now?” She whined.

“I did it because she wanted to know what it felt like before she’s sired - she’s decided that that’s what she wants.” Little did he know, but he'd just confused matters futher.

“Ah, I’m so happy for you both!” Magnus’ face lit up with a beaming grin. “I’m sure Karou will make a wonderful fledgeling, and it’s nice that you’ve decided to finally bond with someone, besides the unhealthy attachment you’ve formed with my wife, that is.”

“Wait, what?” Warren very much wanted to backtrack; the misunderstandings were mounting up quickly.

“When all is said and done, it’s a good thing that you’ve decided to become a Sire. It’s certainly taken you long enough to realise that there has been something missing in your life. You’ve never committed to anyone, never taken a partner or married; maybe this is a good alternative, no?”

“No, that isn’t what I meant at all! Karou has decided she is going to find someone to Sire her - someone else, not me. I’ve told her it’s a bad idea.”

“Why would you tell her something so ridiculous? Of course, it isn’t a bad idea! And why would she trust someone else to become such a big part of her life? You’ve never lived with another person for so long, not in sixty years, at the very least...”

“It’s only been forty-nine years, actually, but that’s besides the-…” Warren grumbled.

“Still, forty-nine years too long-…” Magnus’ muttered under his breath while Karou spoke out.

“He- He doesn’t like me that much!” Karou spluttered, interrupting both Warren and Magnus midsentence. She could see that the situation was getting out of hand as she watched the men’s back and forth.

It bothered her that it was upsetting Warren, and she could sense that Magnus would keep pushing. Although it was sweet that Magnus was fighting her corner, all he was doing was giving Warren a reason to shut her out again. Above all things, she didn’t want to have to go back to square one; Warren was gradually becoming friendlier.

“What do you mean he doesn’t like you?” Magnus’ head swivelled this way and then that as he looked between Warren and Karou. He couldn’t comprehend what Karou was saying when he knew Warren was growing more than a little fond of her. In fact, it was amusing how Warren seemed so troubled by that simple fact, though it was a given that Warren would never say it outwardly. On the other hand, it concerned him greatly that Karou hadn’t picked up on it.

Stunned into silence, Warren just stared at Karou and swallowed hard, dreading what she was going to say next.

“He thinks I’m annoying. Irresponsible and immature. Untidy and clumsy. God knows my allergies are a pain in the butt. He gets so bored during the movies I make him watch that he just... stares into space most nights. Oh, and I steal his bed sometimes, and one time, I forgot to wash his sheets, and he complained about my scent on them and had to sleep on the couch. I got sunburned and took up all this relaxation time when I made him put after sun lotion on my back. I take from his stash of pain medication because of my back issues - uh, I sometimes have to wake him up in the middle of the night even though he works long, hard hours and needs his rest. I- I leave toothpaste in the sink, and I’ve spilt coffee on his laptop before. Oh, and don’t get he started on how mad he gets about my shoes!” Karou was reeling, and once she’d started, she couldn’t stop. “Maybe you should’ve left me in that cell...” She chuckled despite the dark turn her tone had taken. “If he had any other choice, I wouldn’t have been living here for nearly nine months.”

“Warren...” Magnus’ brow furrowed; he looked sad for Karou. “Is this all true? Have you told her these things and made her feel this way?”

Warren had winced internally at every single thing she'd said, but all he could muster in reply was, “Yes, but-” before Magnus cut him off.

“This is why you shouldn’t spend so much time alone. You grow so cold.” Magnus chided sternly.

Given no chance to explain himself, Warren sighed. Karou’s slant on some things was inaccurate, he thought, but perhaps that was how she’d perceived him. Warren didn’t trust that his reactions to her were always easily read because of his chilly disposition, so maybe it was no surprise that she’d misunderstood him when he wasn’t very adept at making his feelings clear. He knew the emotion he felt now, though, oh so well, it was shame. The moments he’d let his wall down for her hadn’t been enough to apologise for the times when he was closed off and generally being an asshole. “Thank you for the plane ticket, Magnus.” With that, Warren left the kitchen and disappeared into his office.

There was a long silent moment in which Magnus and Karou shared a look.

“I - I know I said those things, but please don’t be angry with him. He’s been so kind to me in other ways. There are moments where I get to see his other side.” Karou said feebly; it all seemed a waste now, but the look on Warren’s face as he’d left hurt so much, she couldn’t imagine how he felt.

“You are kind for defending him, but you shouldn’t have to tolerate the turbulence of his moods Karou, you shouldn’t have to put up with so much just on the off chance that he might briefly be amicable.” Magnus reached out and patted the back of her hand. “Karou, I think it’s wonderful that you’re choosing your own path. It must be difficult living here as a mortal and with Warren of all people. If you need any advice, please feel free to reach out to me. It seems that you’re a smart girl; transformation will allow you to move on from here when the time comes, but you’d do well to keep your guard up around Warren from now on.” He stood and left Karou alone in the kitchen and wandered after Warren.

Once the office door was closed behind him, gone was the placid, fatherly man. Magnus erupted and unleashed his fiery rage onto Warren.

“You cruel bastard!” He yellowed. “You are setting that poor, sweet girl up for a fall.”

“What she said-…. She blew some of the things out of proportion! Look, I’ve tried to keep my distance for her greater good, but she’s so tenacious.” Warren sat behind his desk, his forehead resting against his hands, one fist clenched together as if he were praying for forgiveness.

“Don’t think that in blaming Karou, I’ll pity you - remember, I know you too well. She’s hanging on, hoping that you will open up to her. She’s under some kind of illusion that that’s going to happen, Warren. For a moment, so was I, but I see your behaviour has not improved. You’re still the same. Will you ever learn? Not everyone is out to hurt you.”

“I’ve tried to dissolve her delusion that she could be close to me. I don’t understand why she wants to be. But I so easily backtrack in my moments of weakness.”

Magnus perched himself onto the edge of Warren’s desk and folded his arms. He took a moment to think. “I still think siring her would do you some good, then you would have to let her in, but I-”

“I could never do that to her.”

“For reasons which I will never understand, I know you’re not likely to. You haven’t left yourself many options…” Magnus thought a moment and then said, “You could let her go. The mortal’s patrols aren’t as sharp once the bad weather comes. Wait until winter and let her go?”

“The cold would take her.”

“Sending her to her death is no crueller than the emotional torture you’re putting her through…”

“That’s a little too honest, even for you, Mag’.” Warren grumbled. “I thought about putting her in the basement. I’m not surprised she said what she did when she knows I’ve considered that to be an option.”

“Hmm, yes… I remember you’re rash decision to let her see the farm…” Magnus rolled his eyes. “But why is that an option?”

“She could stay here. She wouldn’t be out there and dead. She wouldn’t feel any pain, and I-... I could still see her.” Warren's whispered reasons grew quieter and quieter the more revealing they became - he let go of the latter with great hesitation. He could never admit that he didn’t want to let Karou go, besides, his mentor would question why that was. Truthfully, Karou had become a pleasant distraction from his mundane routine, but he kept in mind that he wasn’t looking for a casual lover and certainly not for romance either. Although he wasn’t ready to admit it to himself, what he felt for Karou was quickly turning into an infatuation. As long as that was all it remained; simple, counterfeit feelings caused by cheap and fleeting emotions of lust and thirst, he thought he could sustain it. The problem was that perhaps he was already leading her on, which hadn’t been his aim. He wasn’t looking for devotion, but maybe it was too late to hope that Karou wasn’t already when she’d so readily defended him against Magnus.

“What on earth happened last night?” Magnus sensed something playing about the fringes of Warren’s aura, something he’d never felt there before. Something was changing or had changed, even if Warren was fighting against it. What he said struck a chord. “Why does it matter if you see her again?”

“Last night? It started when I refused Ellis. After all the talk, I just wanted to relax on the couch, have a drink and… spend some quiet time with Karou - I guess I’ve gotten used to doing that every night. You know she brought me a new tie for my birthday.” Warren smiled weakly; he still couldn’t get over how sweet the gesture was. “She was only going to give me a peck on the cheek, but I took it too far and kissed her, and then… I bit her.” Warren dropped his hands onto the desk before him and sighed deeply. “Don’t worry, Ellis already stopped by first thing this morning to punish me for the betrayal.”

“I think you like Karou more than you’re ready to admit. I will go find Ellis and put her in her place for you, and when we have dinner tonight, you should invite Karou to join us.” Magnus could see that Warren was about to object, but he pulled a face and lifted his hand to stop Warren in his tacks - the gesture from his mentor told him not to dare challenge Magnus. “Because it’s your birthday and you would enjoy having her there. Ellis does not own you, and she doesn’t get to dictate who you keep company with.” Standing from the desk, Magnus stroked his fingers over his manicured beard. “Enjoy her while she's mortal; don’t take advantage, though, because if someone does Sire her and she stays here then you’re going to have to rethink your reasons for keeping your distance.” I dread to think what you’ll do if she becomes involved with them. Maybe he needs that icicle heart of his breaking to see he can love someone…

“There’s just one small problem... I’ve made sure that all the vampires in the Compounds are under the illusion that I’ve already claimed her. They wouldn’t dare lay a fang on her for fear of being disposed of.” Warren admitted, and again his chest felt tight with shame. He’d pulled so many strings to get Karou within his reach but was failing when it came to letting himself take her.

“My, my, what a sticky web you’re weaving yourself.”

Magnus left, and Warren hid away in his office, so Karou sat watching a movie she had no interest in; it was just background noise. Curled up in her corner of the couch, she had her sketchbook propped up on her thighs as her left hand scrawled over the page. The image wasn’t of any significance; the film’s opening credits had inspired her, all it was was a feeble distraction from the feelings of turmoil that stirred her stomach to sickness.

Around five-thirty that evening, Warren came out of his seclusion. A plume of smoke escaped from behind him like he’d walked through the mist given off by dry ice; in reality, he’d just been smoking a lot. Warren enjoyed the occasional cigarette but had been known to up the ante when stressed.

Collectively, he smelled of liquor, leather, and tobacco when he passed Karou on his way to his bedroom. Inside, Warren shed his t-shirt and changed into a casual sage green button-down. As he rolled up its sleeves to his elbows, he popped into the bathroom where Karou heard the telltale sounds of toothbrushing and his electric razor. Trimming his beard at any other time than the morning told Karou he was getting ready for an occasion. Warren confirmed her suspicions when she heard him making a phone call – he requested that someone bring him a dining table from storage. Karou presumed she would have to make herself scarce again for the second evening in a row. Seeing as today was his actual birthday, she supposed he’d want to celebrate it with those closest to him, even if the truth was, he’d rather not see Ellis at all.

In the hall, Karou watched him checking himself over in the floor-length mirror one last time. Smart but casual, Karou thought he looked good, but it seemed he wasn’t satisfied when he unbuckled his belt and tucked in his shirt before refastening everything back up. Warren finished evaluating his appearance and slicked his fingers back through his hair as he moved away from the reflective surface. For now, he said nothing to her when he passed her by, wandering purposefully into the kitchen. Karou sprang up from the couch and poked her head around the corner to find Warren standing before the fridge, gathering several ingredients onto the island near a chopping board.

“Are you having a dinner party by any chance?”

“Yes, why? You’re not offering your culinary expertise, are you?”

“Ha- luckily for you, no, I’m not.” Karou gauged that, thankfully, he wasn’t in too bad a mood due to him making a humorous comment. “Uhm- when is your said dinner party?” Karou still hadn’t had a shower or gotten dressed that day and figured she’d need to soon if she had to been seen out and about in the Compound.

“We won’t be eating early, probably around seven. Why?” Warren set a large roasting pan onto the countertop and placed a plump chicken into it. He seasoned the bird before sorting through the array of vegetables he had laid out on the work surface.

“I was just wondering when you needed me to leave, that’s all,” Karou admitted as she watched him prepare dinner. She couldn’t help eyeing him and quickly found herself lost in a daydream.

The scent of cigarette smoke and liquor from earlier had been replaced by fresh mint and his rich cologne, but mostly, she watched his hands and forearms, which he’d so casually revealed by rolling up his shirt sleeves. She found them arousing in their distinctive masculinity - a modest display of his strength, she thought. Sometimes rippling pectorals and abs was too intentional honed to be a turn-on. Something about the way the veins, muscles, and tendons twisted and flexed under his skin made her want to hold onto herself tight. Maybe that way, she could assimilate a fraction of what it might feel like to be held by such strong arms and caressed by his capable, dexterous hands again.

“You’re not staying?” Warren asked, symbolically cutting Karou’s fantasising short when he pulled a sufficiently sized knife from the block. Innocuously he began to chop his way through the vegetables before adding them to the roasting pan in a ring about the chicken.

“Uh… I didn’t think I would be invited.” Karou stuttered as she pulled herself from her daze. “And, besides, I’ve... got nothing to wear.” She rolled her eyes, trying to make a joke and play it cool, despite what she’d been dreaming about him doing moments earlier.

“You are invited. Magnus would like you to be there, and I know you have plenty of dresses you could wear because I brought them.” Warren turned to glance at the oven; it was just about getting to temperature. Taking a bottle of olive oil, he poured a few healthy glugs into the pan and added a generous splash of white wine before placing the lid over it and sacrificing it to the oven’s heat. Now he set about gathering potatoes to peel.

“A dress?”

“Or not... Wear whatever you like, but why'd you keep them if you’re not going to wear them when the occasion arises?”

“Alright, I guess I could wear a dress, but I just don’t think you’d enjoy the atmosphere if I joined your birthday dinner party. I mean, after what happened earlier, I doubt Magnus likes me very much anymore; he seemed kinda mad, and Ellis, well, she’s never liked me.” Picking at the sink around her fingernails.

“Magnus was angry with me, not you. You were just brutally honest. He thought I might’ve changed; he hoped you’d had a positive effect on me.”

“Are you angry at me for what I said?”

“Not angry, no. I think I, as well as Magnus, just wished that what you’d said wasn’t true... for your sake.” Warren filled a pot with water before dumping the mound of potatoes he’d cleaned of their skins into it. Setting the pot onto the stovetop, he turned up the heat to boil them and then set about cleaning up his mess, scraping the peelings from his chopping board into the trashcan; he set down his knife with a great sigh. “While I know what you said isn’t a complete lie, I don’t understand why you said it when you did. You said it as if it was to defend me somehow. Do you really think I don’t like you? That I hate spending my evenings with you? That I dislike your scent?”

Karou finally looked at his face, and his expression was one she’d never seen him make; he was desperate to fathom his way through his confusion. It was usually her reeling off question after question, but now he’d posed three to her in a matter of moments. She had to answer carefully.

“Well, Magnus was getting ahead of himself when you mentioned I wanted to be sired. When he jumped to the conclusion that you would do it, I wanted to defuse that assumption just in case, it made you angry. So I kinda told the truth for your sake, but I might’ve gone overboard on the honesty front. I just assumed he knew you so well that it wouldn’t matter to him that you are how you are around me. I thought he would think something like, ‘ah, that’s just Warren being Warren’. And... I think that sometimes, for little snippets of time you like me, that you enjoy some of our evenings together, but I’m not completely sure I understand your feelings about my scent.”

“And the rest of the time, you think I’m just indifferent toward you?” For now, Warren didn’t want to divulge his thoughts on her scent; if he did, their discussion could quickly get off peist.

“Yeah. I get it, though. I’m sorry I’m such an inconvenience.”

“Yes, you are, but I like you for longer periods than snippets, Karou.”

“Like sometimes a whole day? Like your day off when we went to the lake? That was a great day.”

“More like thirteen months, Karou... Now, will you go start getting ready for dinner? They’ll probably arrive early, and I’ve yet to set up the table.”

“But I haven’t been here for thirteen months...”

“No, but I first met you in August last year. It might’ve seemed like I just tolerate you, but honestly, it was just because our meetings’ timing was less than ideal, and the circumstances were... are difficult. Well, that and as you often remind me, I am kind of a jerk when it comes to being sociable. Now go put on a dress.”

Stunned by what he’d said, she just followed his request and wandered into the bathroom, mulling it all over. Who the hell is this guy, and what has he done with the real Warren?

Once she was showered and had pampered herself a little more than was routine, Karou exited the bathroom wrapped in her towel and stepped the short way across the hall into her bedroom. Her hair practically did itself, meaning it dried reasonably wavey, and she then tamed it into soft curls with a brush. Though she wasn’t much good at hairstyling, she pinned back two strands on each side of her face, so at least it looked like she’d done something. Stood before the mirror in the hall, in her underwear, Karou placed one dress over herself and then another, picking between them all while keeping an eye out for Warren; she could hear he was still busy and out of sight. Eventually, she settled on a simple strappy summer dress in a lilac shade of purple with some pretty floral embroidery on the chest panel. She accompanied that with a light grey cardigan and remained barefoot for now as she wandered back into the unit’s main living space.

A dismantled dining table had been delivered to the unit by one of the Compounds staff, and Warren had reassembled the parts and placed chairs before the four place settings. While he was distracted with finishing setting the table by arranging the wine glasses, Karou came to be stood across the table from him and asked a question that weighed heavily on her heart.

“When you said you like me, what were you really trying to say?”

“Just that during the times I’m less than nice to you, it’s not because I don’t like you. Is that enough?” He knew it was cliché to make the ‘it’s not you, it’s me’, excuse but it was true. Though he didn’t look at her when he said it, he smiled in that lop-sided way she liked when he finally did.

“It’s enough to know you don’t hate me, yeah.” Karou nodded; this was a truce then. “Dinner smells good. Can I eat it?”

“Yes, I made sure you can eat it. Wouldn’t it be inconsiderate of me to cook something that the only person at this dinner party who actually depends on food to survive couldn’t eat?”

“Hmm, I guess, but it’s your birthday. It would suck if you didn’t have something you enjoyed.”

“I’ll enjoy the occasion regardless of the food, Karou, don’t worry.” He was trying to imply he’d enjoy her company discreetly. “Oh, just one thing, please make sure you sit next to Magnus.”

Karou just nodded in reply. He must want to sit next to Ellis.

Before long, their expected dinner guests arrived, and Magnus made a b-line for Karou. He hugged her, kissed her cheeks, and told her how pretty she looked. It was a sweet gesture, but she didn’t take him too seriously - he was probably just being polite, she thought. Together they went into the kitchen, where Magnus poured her a glass of wine from the bottle he’d brought along with him. As she sipped it, he filled her in on the wine’s vintage and list of flavours to note. She knew so little about wine it all went over her head, and honestly, she still didn’t enjoy the taste of it that much.

Meanwhile, in the lounge, Ellis and Warren seemed to make amends. “My jealousy got the better of me; I know now that it was unfounded. I’ve no cause to feel that way,” Ellis said as she smoothed out the fabric of Warren’s shirt over his chest. He listened to what she said and understood the underlying meaning - she meant to say that he had this evening to prove to her that she had no reason to be jealous that he lived with Karou. How was he supposed to get through his birthday dinner trying to be friendlier towards Karou so as not to dispel what he’d only just told her while playing Ellis’ game and convince her that he had eyes for no one else but her? He wasn’t even sure the latter was true. If he’d asked Magnus, he would’ve informed him that it was indeed extremely far from it. Their conversation hadn’t long started, and already Warren could feel a headache brewing behind his eyes. He steered Ellis towards the dining table and promptly left her there with the promise of returning with alcohol.

Warren arrived in the kitchen to collect a bottle of wine for the table, already looking stressed out. “I know you’re trying to protect Karou from her, but do you think you can subdue her a little? She’s making hidden threats already.” Warren said, thinking that Magnus was alone. When Karou peered around the Spaniard’s arm, Warren froze.

“If my being here really is going to ruin your dinner, I can just leave.” Karou offered.

“Nonsense, you’ve put on that pretty dress. I’ll deal with my wife.” Magnus disappeared from the kitchen with a bottle of wine, hoping to mellow the viper sat at the dining table.

“He’s so sweet. He’s only been here five minutes, and I think he’s told me how pretty I am at least as many times.” Karou chuckled into her wine as she took a sip. “Would you like some too?”

“I think I’m going to need something stronger.” Warren poured himself a generous glass of scotch and necked it back before pouring another and doing exactly the same. Already the speed at which he’d begun drinking alarmed Karou, so when he brought his third glass halfway up, she set her hand into his wrist to stop him from getting it to his lips.

“Whoa! Easy there. If you carry on like that, it won’t just be Magnus spouting nonsense.”

“But you do look pretty.” Warren lowered the glass, understanding her point, but he downed his third drink regardless of her hand. “I won’t make it through this dinner sober.”

“Liquor makes you lie.”

“No, it doesn’t; I can lie whether I’m drunk or not.” Warren defended, but Karou gave him a look of disbelief as she sipped at her drink. “I told you I wasn’t drunk last night, but I still think you don’t believe me.”

“I’m going to go sit at the dinner table now and try and forget that you just brought that up at a time like this. You need to eat something or start drinking water. Your tongues already loose.”

“Hmph, seems liquor has affected someone else’s mood too. That wine's made you sassy.”

Karou didn’t reply; she just smirked and walked away.

With the table set and the food revealed, they’d all began serving themselves. Karou had done as Warren requested and sat next to Magnus, and Warren guarded her against Ellis even further by sitting across from her, but that meant she had the task of not meeting his eyes too often.

Warren didn’t take heed of what Karou had said and chose to stick to scotch. He ate a small portion, and he didn’t touch a single drop of water throughout their meal.

Overall, the dinner had gone quite well, and once things started to wind down, Karou quickly realised why Warren insisted on getting so drunk. Ellis was all over him and casting snide glances her way any chance she got. Magnus pretended to be oblivious and stuck to enjoying the company of Warren and herself and kept the conversation alive and hilarious; he was quite the comedian.

Inevitably Magnus and Ellis left, but Karou knew the drill; Ellis would be back.

She helped Warren clear the table in silence and took off her cardigan to help him clean the dishes. Karou decided to wash up while he dried and maintained her silence, but she could feel his eyes on her the whole time. It was driving her crazy and making her self conscious. What is he staring at? When he set the dishtowel aside, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. What’s he doing now?

With her hands still submerged in the sink, Karou froze when she felt Warren push his body into her back. She squeezed the dishcloth tighter when his fingers pulled her hair back so that he had access to her neck and shoulders. The moment Warren’s lips set against her skin, a shiver ran down her spine, and when the strong hands she’d been dreaming about touching her earlier held onto her hips and pulled her back against his own, Karou took her hands out of the warm water and grasped the side of the sink. Surprised and excited by how forward Warren was acting, her back arched, and her head tipped back as she made a whimper she had no control over. It would’ve been easy to let go and immerse herself in the moment, but Karou couldn’t help worrying about the cause of his actions as well the consequences. She wondered whether now that he’d taken one bite out of her had she unwittingly become part of some sort of blood pack - had she made a silent vow to become all of his meals?

Finally, she believed that his judgement the night before wasn’t remotely blurred by liquor because right then, the amount of scotch he’d consumed had inspired him and nothing more, she was sure. He seemed so out of it, his movements so trance-like; allowing him to carry on felt wrong. It made her feel dirty even to consider letting him continue. I told him not to drink too much. She wished he hadn’t because she wanted to give him free rein and just enjoy wherever it was.

“W- Warren, Wh- What are you doing?”

“The best things tend to happen when I stop thinking around you.” He mumbled behind her ear. “Don’t you agree?”

“But Elli-” Her breath caught in her throat as he continued to kiss down her shoulder and boldly tugged the strap of her dress down with his teeth. “Ellis will be coming back.”

“That’s what I feared when she blatantly insinuated I’d have to sleep with her tonight to dissolve her jealousy,” Warren explained as his hands wrapped about Karou’s waist and his nuzzled his face into the hot spot on her neck where her blush began.

What he said made her feel horribly objectifed! “That being the case, I don’t want to be your appetiser!” Now Karou was sure that stopping him was the right thing to do. Holding back the tears of anger that she could feel filling up her lower eyelids, she quickly found the strength to push Warren’s arms away and turned about to glare at him.

“She can go to hell! I’m tired of being a pawn in her game.”

“And I’m not going to be a pawn in yours! You can’t pick me up and use me when you’re bored of Ellis’ games.”

“That was never my intention.” Warren backed away in respect of Karou’s refusal. He picked up the dish towel and held out his hand for another clean dish to show he was willing to make amends - they could go back to washing dishes together as though nothing had happened, even if when he licked his lips, he could still taste her on them.

Silently agreeing to dismiss the whole thing, Karou turned back to the sink. “When do you think Ellis will arrive?” She asked, passing him a utensil to dry.

“Magnus spiked her last few glasses of wine so she won’t be bothering me tonight,” Warren admitted casually.

“You said that so matter-of-factly I’m not sure if you’re telling the truth.”

“Well, we can put the TV on and wait for her if you don’t believe me?” Warren suggested with a deadpan expression. Equally as calm, he reached out and placed the strap of her dress back into place on her shoulder.