TO LIE WITH MIDNIGHT ROSES

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RENESSA

•─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────•

Xavier was everywhere.

Watching me constantly, always lurking around the corner or sitting in the chair in the bedroom, standing against the door frame or staring out the window. Watching me and watching me... watch him.

I nearly felt suffocated to death by his presence at this point and his brooding eyes and quiet chuckles. I pretended of course that I couldn't hear him laughing at me when I did something entirely stupid like read certain parts of books out loud but god, I was getting so bored in this room, even reading was getting entirely mind-numbing and the words were beginning to all merge into one as my mind focused on the events that happened the other day.

    I had told him his eyes were beautiful which was entirely stupid. A Vampire surely would not care if I thought they had beautiful eyes. I know he had been the one to ask, surely for amusement purposes if I could guess but I couldn't help but to be honest.

I had felt drawn to his eyes the moment I saw them so clearly in his living room.

It had been three more days and Roman still had not returned.

Xavier had told me he didn't want me leaving the room, now more than ever since Varida had returned and pulled her little stunt down by the Devil's Bath, he wasn't quite sure it would be a good idea. I argued, saying between him and Ryker I would surely be safe enough.

"Loosen your grip before I choke, Xavier." I said, "Who's going to hurt me in a house full of Vampires who are 'protecting' me? As far as I know, nobody knows we are here."

"I'm making sure you don't go exploding anything else or hurt yourself, Renessa." He stated rather harshly.

"Well I won't," I retorted.

"I'm also keeping an eye on you to make sure Varida doesn't come prancing around pulling anymore stunts."

"Oh, I can very well take care of myself."

"Oh, I know you can." He mocked back, "Just not around her."

"At least let me see Ryker." I paused for a moment and then added, "Or Jaxon and Rayya....please?" I batted my eyelashes at him, which had seemed to work because he then finally gave in.

"Fine," He said quite reluctantly, "Ryker is in the library. Down the hall two doors down on the left, I'm sure you'll hear him before you find him."

"Libraries are supposed to be quiet, why would I hear him?"

"Yes, well. Do you think Ryker cares very much about such things? He has never cared much for rules or following the norm, even back when I first met him."

"Good to know," I laughed.

"Very well then, go before I change my mind." His voice was flat and monotonous, with a slight ring of annoyance too.

I had thanked him, reaching out and giving his hand a quick squeeze which seemed to have caught him off guard and for a moment his cold skin and strong hand felt nice against my own. He didn't say anything else, he had only looked away from me while pulling his hand out from mine to open the door. He tilted his head, gesturing for me to go, so I did.

Now, I  walk down the hallway, following his instructions and just as he had said, I hear the sound of rock music coming from a nearby room which catches my attention. Following it, I  pull open the heavy wood door as the smell of smoke and whiskey fills my nose.