CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Vengeful Sire

Karou had fallen asleep quickly, happy with the peace of mind Warren had given her as he’d tucked her into bed. Although she wasn’t sure whether to trust what he’d said before leaving her room, but 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 – too much life rushed through his veins. He’d tossed and turned in the sheets until he’d worn himself out, but even then, he only caught an hour or two’s sleep. Upon waking, Warren sat bolt upright, with eyes as round as saucers.

In the glaring bathroom light, he’d jumped at the sight of himself in the mirror – Karou was right; his eyes really were silver and shone like white orbs in the luminescence. Moving further toward the mirror’s 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 wondered whether he was still asleep and dreaming up this warm, dizzying feeling that milled about his innards, but when he splashed his face with cold water, he didn’t wake up.

Unsure what to do with himself, he’d tried to sit down on the couch, reasoning that 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 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 because it was his birthday. Considering the state he found himself in, he doubted he could’ve concentrated on work.

His morning routine had gone entirely out of the window, just like his evening routine had the night previous - and that night was all he could think about. There was a sense of having bared all; he felt vulnerable and at Karou’s mercy.

The locks and hinges holding the unit’s front door closed may as well have been made of paper, for it was so effortlessly torn asunder beneath her wrath. There she stood on the threshold, a dark apparition smouldering with rage; his heartbroken and resentful lover come to take her vengeance.

“You think I can’t feel what’s going on in your head?!” Ellis screeched. “You’ve betrayed me.”

“Ellis, don’t overreact,” His external calm was purely for the sake of appearances, to disguise how high and jittery he felt on the inside.

“How could you do this to me?” Elis wailed, playing the victim.

Warren didn’t dare answer her, but the truth was that being close to Karou felt natural once he’d stopped overthinking. He was internally thankful that she hadn’t appeared out of her bedroom because he also knew that regardless of whether he attempted to reason with her, Ellis would enact her violence. His Sire was untameable in her emotional outbursts, and anger was the one she portrayed best. Braced for whatever would come next, Warren stood awaiting his fate.

Although Karou was tucked up in her bed and had been sleeping deeply and dreamlessly, the yelling woke her with a start. Warren’s hopes had been in vain because Karou was on her feet and out of bed in a flash. Peering through the gap in her ajar door, she saw him first, and though she couldn’t see Ellis yet, she knew she was there because she could hear her hysterically screaming insults.

Her wild and wide blue eyes promised how far she was willing to go to keep Warren in his place. The look of fury that distorted the beauty of Ellis’ face terrified Karou and froze her body into place, yet unable to look away.

Amidst the verbal barrage, Warren had merely shaken his head, but his subtle gesture of disappointment was enough to tip Ellis over the edge. Suddenly, the crazed vampiress lunged at him. Fangs bare as she snarled and went in for the kill. Warren stumbled backwards when they collided, but Ellis’ manicured fingernails anchored into him, gouging at the skin over his shoulders like harpoons. There was no getting away.

Soon, the red lipstick she wore mingled with blood as splatters burst onto her face from Warren's neck and shoulders. Like a viper, rapid and unforgiving, Ellis didn’t bite once or twice but several times, and each time she’d snarl, recoil, and strike again, inflicting yet another set of deep wounds.

Inside Karou’s mind, she screamed for Warren to ‘stop her’ and ‘do something’; she couldn’t fathom why he didn’t put up any kind of fight and stood there immobilised despite knowing full well that he was stronger than his Sire.

The disturbing truth was that even if Warren had desired to defend himself against Ellis, he couldn’t have at that moment; her Sirely hold over him was formidable. Besides, Warren had suffered this punishment so many times that by now, he’d become desensitised.

There was one saving grace that allowed him to escape Ellis’ assault; the memory of the night before still lingered at 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 leached away, and he could feel the zest it had given him trickling away, leaving him colder. It was painfully poetic how his Sire staked her claim on him and deprived him of anyone else so that only she remained.

Once Ellis finished, she stepped back, grinning and revelling in successfully asserting 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 that ran down his bare chest and soaked into the waistband of his pyjama pants. Like a scalded dog, he hung his head to stare at the floor with hollow black eyes. Completely unflinching in the aftermath of the storm that had just passed through the tiny unit. Nothing more was said or done after that, and Ellis left with her point triumphantly made.

No sooner had Ellis left than Karou’s feet carried her over the hardwood. In Ellis’ place, she came to be stood before Warren, fighting back the tears in her blurry eyes; she sought the attention of his eyes. Unsure whether or not she should reach for him, her hands fidgeted at her side.

“Warren?” Karou’s sadness echoed through the syllables of his name. Her compassion 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. “Can you fetch me something from my office, please?”

Karou nodded; she knew exactly what the ‘something’ he wanted without asking and returned with three blood bags clasped in her shaking hands. Warren wasn’t where she’d left him, so she called out and followed his voice to the bathroom. She entered and found him sitting atop the toilet with a towel wrapped about his waist - his blood-stained pyjamas lay discarded 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.

While he drank it down, Karou rested against the sink opposite him. It looked so joyless when he tipped back his head to drain the contents. What struck her the most was how many times Ellis had bitten him; his vengeful Sire had left carnage smeared about his neck in the form of lip prints, blood, and bite wounds. Karou counted eight holes on the right side of his neck, which meant four bites and another five sets of fang pits on the left. It made Karou’s lip quiver in anger and sorrow.

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, stop looking at me like that. She’s done worse.”

“Like what?”

“Like I’m a beaten dog.” Sucking 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 was so wrong?”

“I baited her; I sort of deserve-”

“No.” Karou protested and lifted her head, and glared at him defiantly. “No, you don’t.”

“I rejected her and insinuated it was 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 pretend it wasn’t real. “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 the drift of his lewd thoughts. “Yeah, but not like that...” She muttered, finally tearing her eyes away from his.

He didn’t bother disputing her assumption and announced: “Karou, I’m getting in the shower now.”

Karou gave Warren some privacy and wandered into the kitchen, where she decided to attempt to prepare a simple breakfast. What seemed like a good idea rapidly went south... and soon, the bleeping of the unit’s fire alarm rang through the air. Karou’s eyes shot wide open as she gasped in panic. 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 as if to chide her as he assessed the situation. He’d quickly wrapped his waist in a towel and jumped out of the shower, thinking there was a full-blown fire in the unit, 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 too...” 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 c-…” She choked back a laugh, “… covered in soap.”

“I was in the shower, if you hadn’t forgotten? I thought you’d set the fucking 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.

Just then, “Buenos dias, y feliz cumpleaños!” called a familiar voice into the unit. His nose told him where the home’s occupants were, so he confidently made his way towards the kitchen carrying 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 mentor’s shoulder as he passed. “I’m going to get dressed. 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.” Magnus seemed to be prying at something, and Karou was falling for it. He’d woken up sensing that something had 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 difficult getting you to visit us if not for work-related reasons.”

“I put off having to see Roman if I can help it, with good reason… But thank you.”

“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 expensive plush 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 as 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 his mentor’s hands.

“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.”

“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 have to my wife.”

“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 taken you long enough to realise that something has been 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, Mijo? 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.

“Ay! 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 mid-sentence. 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, she didn’t want to go back to square one when Warren was gradually becoming friendlier.

“What do you mean he doesn’t like you?” Magnus’ head swivelled this way and then that and looked between them.

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

“I’m annoying, immature, and inconveniently here. Untidy and clumsy, and I ask too many questions. My allergies are a pain in the ass. I like boring movies… Most nights, he... stares into space so he doesn’t have to watch them. I steal his bed sometimes, and one time, I forgot to wash his sheets, so he had to sleep on the couch. I put him in awkward situations, like when I got sunburned and had no one else to put the lotion on my back. Even though I try to be quiet, I wake him up in the middle of the night ‘cause my stupid back hurts, and I feel bad ‘cause he works long hours and deserves a rest. I- I leave toothpaste in the sink. I spilt coffee on his newspaper. I can’t cook, either; just now, I almost burned down the kitchen making eggs... Oh, and don’t get him 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 point 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 detail of Karou’s rant, 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. It wasn’t the first time he’d heard his icy disposition made him hard to read, so it was no surprise that Karou misunderstood him. Though he wasn’t very good at making his feelings clear, he knew the emotion he felt now; Karou’s slant on things caused him to feel ashamed. 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.

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 too kind for defending him. I understand that he must make it difficult living here, but don’t allow his bitterness to taint you or sway you from choosing your own path.” Magnus reached out to pat the back of her hand, then stood and left Karou alone to follow Warren into his office.

Once the office door was closed behind him, gone was the placid, fatherly man. “You cruel bastard!” Magnus scolded, “You are setting up that sweet girl for a fall.”

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

“Don’t think that by 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. I believe the girl’s words and see you haven’t changed. 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 do 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.” Contemplating, Magnus’ rubbed over his chin. His voice softened when he asked, “Is your life so awful, Mijo?”

Warren didn’t reply, but the dead look in Warren’s eyes answered the question well enough. Magnus sensed the dead end, so he moved the conversation on.

“You haven’t left yourself many options. You could let her go. The mortal’s patrols aren’t as sharp once the bad weather comes. Wait until winter and let her out?”

“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,” 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 an option.”

“Hmm, yes… I remember your 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 could never admit that he didn’t want to let Karou go; besides, his mentor would question why that was.

After seventy years under Magnus’ persuasive influence, Warren had never faltered in his belief that he was better off alone, until now… Truthfully, Karou had become a pleasant distraction from his mundane routine. Though he kept in mind that he wasn’t looking for romance, he wasn’t ready to admit that what he felt for Karou was quickly turning into an infatuation. 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.

“I think you like Karou more than you’re ready to admit. You should invite Karou to join us for dinner tonight.” Magnus could see that Warren was about to object, but he lifted his hand to stop Warren in his tracks. “Because it’s your birthday, and you would enjoy having her there.”

“But Elli-“

“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. “Oh, and Warren, enjoy her while she’s mortal but don’t take advantage because if someone does Sire her and she stays here, then you’re going to have to rethink your reasons for keeping your distance.”

“There’s just one small problem with that... I’ve made sure that all the vampires in the Compounds are under the assumption 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.”

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 the 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 tell-tale 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.

For now, he said nothing to her and passed by and into the kitchen. Karou sprang up from the couch and poked her head around the corner.

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

“Yes, why? You’re not offering your culinary expertise, are you?” Warren joked while standing before the fridge, gathering several ingredients onto the island near a chopping board.

“Ha- luckily for you, no, I’m not.” Karou gauged that he wasn’t in too bad a mood. “Uhm- when is your said dinner party?”

“We won’t be eating early, probably around seven. Why?” Warren set a large roasting pan on 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 and quickly found herself lost in a daydream. The scent of cigarettes and liquor had been replaced by mint and 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 mused. 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 and safe-looking arms and be caressed by his capable, dexterous hands.

“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 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.”

“You are invited. Magnus would like you to be there, and I know you have plenty of dresses to wear because I brought them.” Warren turned to glance at the oven; it was just about getting to temperature.

“A dress?”

“Or not... Wear whatever you like, but why did 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 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; he seemed kinda mad, and Ellis, well, she’s never liked me.”

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

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

“Not angry, no. I also wish that what you said wasn’t true... for your sake.” Warren’s meal prep continued until he was finished, and he set down his knife with a great sigh. “I know what you said wasn’t a complete lie, but 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 hoped I was telling 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. I thought he would think something like, ‘ah, that’s just Warren being Warren. I mean, I think that sometimes, for little snippets of time, you like me and enjoy 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-piste.

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

“Yes, you are, but I like you for a lot longer periods of time 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. Now, go start getting ready for dinner. They’ll probably arrive early, and I’ve got to set up the table yet.”

“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 tolerated 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 more than was routine, Karou exited the bathroom and into her bedroom to collect some clothes. Standing 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 is your birthday. It would suck if you didn’t have something you enjoyed.”

“I’ll enjoy the occasion no matter 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. 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? Their conversation hadn’t long started, and Warren could already feel a headache brewing behind his eyes. He steered Ellis towards the dining table and promptly left her there, promising to return with alcohol.

“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 me 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. You two have some wine and relax, si?” Magnus disappeared from the kitchen with a bottle of wine, hoping to mellow the viper sitting 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. “D’you want some wine, then?”

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

“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 dinner sober.”

“Liquor makes you lie.”

“No, it doesn’t. I 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 just smirked and walked away.

With the table set and the food revealed, they’d all begun 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 heed what Karou had said and chose to stick to scotch. He ate a small portion and 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 while 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.

Inevitably their guests left, but Karou knew the drill; Ellis would be back. She helped Warren clear the table and washed up while he dried. She'd taken off her cardigan to save her sleeves from getting wet and thought nothing of it. Karou could feel Warren’s eyes on her the whole time, and the silence between them grew heavier. What is he staring at? She wondered. When he set the dish towel 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, waiting to find out what he would do. When she felt Warren push his body into her back, she squeezed the cloth tighter. When his fingers pulled her hair back so he could access her neck and shoulders and Warren’s lips set against her skin, a shiver ran down her spine. When the strong hands she’d been dreaming about held onto her hips and pulled her back against his own, Karou grasped the side of the sink with white knuckles.

Seduced by Warren’s forwardness, Karou pressed herself back against him, and it wasn’t long until she yielded a whimpered, the kind that tormented and delighted him. His eagerness grew, and it would’ve been easy to be swept away, 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 blood pact - had she made a 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.

“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 insinuated I’d have to sleep with her tonight to be rid of her jealousy,” Warren explained as his hands wrapped about Karou’s waist and nuzzled his face into the hot spot on her neck where her blush began.

What he said made her feel horribly objectified! Now Karou was certain 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.

“That being the case, I don’t want to be your appetiser!”

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

“Well, 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.