RED

Red {4}

The picture is of Ana (Catus' mother). Remember to read Wingless ... and vote ... and comment ... and if you do all those things I will love you forever, so do it.
*

Sanguine. The Vampire King. He looked like Catus, exactly, only lines pinched the sides of his mouth and the bridge of his nose, and of course his expression. Leia had only ever seen Catus look loving, mocking, or sometimes aggressive. He had never been physical with her though. She knew he could knock her down with one slap, yet he had never touched her violently. It was one of the reasons she trusted him. But she would never trust Sanguine. There was a sly look in his eyes, and a permenant curl to his bottom lip. She also knew that on some level, Catus respected or was even scared of his father. Catus respected hardly anyone and was afraid of absolutely nothing else. 

Sanguine stood on the stage and everyone was still. A beautiful young girl walked behind him. She must have been years younger than Sanguine - at least, she looked it.. She had a striking face, black hair, and dark brown eyes. She was possibly the most beautiful girl Leia had ever seen. She also looked very fragile, as if she were made of glass. Leia knew her. Ana. In the school pictures - on the first corridor were portraits of all the girls in red - she looked powerful, and somehow you knew that the artist had not painted her like that, and also that she was not acting. She was powerful. What had happened? Was being married to a vampire so damaging? Leia bit her lip. Catus always treated her gently, carefully - would that change if they were married?

She shook off her worries and clasped hands with Catus. He squeezed her hand and pulled her close, gently teasing back her rich auburn hair. "Stop worrying about whatever you're worrying about," he whispered into her cheek, his lips pressing against the skin stretched over her cheekbone. She arched her back with a blush at once, not sure whether she should come closer to or recoil from his touch. He laughed softly and pulled her close. He always knew exactly how to freak her out.

She pouted grumpily and looked towards the stage, Catus' hand caressing her hip quietly as they watched. She inhaled sharply at his fingertips. He was so close ... too close, to some places. She tensed. He withdrew his hand.

'Don't you like me doing that?' he asked gently. Somehow he understood how sheltered and shy she was and he was careful with her. Leia looked at Ana again, and then back at herself.

If Ana seemed fragile, what did she seem?

"Catus," she mumbled. "This comes every sixteen years, right? The Red Ball ... when the vampire prince is sixteen. How does that work?"

Catus looked away as if he didn't want to tell her. Leia kept on looking at him and he broke down - she was his one weakness.

"When a vampire sleeps with a mortal, she automatically becomes pregnant," he answered at last. "They have to consummate the marriage the night they are married without fail, or both are killed. Then the cycle goes on. The next morning, he bites her to make her a vampire."

Leia intook her breath sharply, her eyes glassing over with tears. How could she do that? She was shy, awkward Leia Bingham. Catus bit his lip and looked at her.

"Leia. I'm sorry," he whispered. "I should have told you earlier."

Leia ducked her head and took his hand in hers. "It's not your fault," she mumbled. Quietly, she grabbed his hand and squeezed. 

He kept on looking at her. "Leia?" his voice was serious, but gentle. She knew that tone. He was about to break something big to her that would probably give her already damaged self-esteem a severe beating. She sighed. 

"Yes?"

"We're going to have to do it," he told her quietly. "You know. When we're married." Tears rolled down her face as she nodded. "You need to open up to me a bit more. Otherwise it's just going to be worse that night."

Leia flinched as if he had struck her and walked out. The minute she was out of sight, she burst into sobs. Catus had been so patient with her. Whenever it came to initimacy with him, he knew to treat her with kid gloves. The slightest thing - even a simple suggestion like the one he had just given her - jarred her badly. Katy would jump at the chance, she knew. In fact Katy would have already done it. Maybe she wasn't the right wife for him. Maybe he wouldn't like her anymore.

Maybe she was crazy. Because she she couldn't do this.

*

Catus watched her go, and sighed. He knew he had to tell her but that didn't make it any easier. She was so vulnerable and innocent, he hated upsetting her. He watched her leave, then got up and walked out after her.

"Leia?" he called. He went looking for her. Finally he found her on a balcony, sobbing her heart out. "Leia."

"What?" Her voice was rough with tears. He took her into his arms and smoothed her hair back, gently kissing away the tears.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said it."

"No, you're right," she said quietly, into his neck. "It's my fault. I shouldn't be so vulnerable about everything."

"I like vulnerable," he whispered.

*

That night, at the party. It was huge and wild. Leia had got an invitation because it was her cousin's party, but to be honest her cousins all hated her. They thought she was boring and stupid. Leia was used to it. That was all people ever thought of her.

Her cousin's great-aunt had been married to some vampire, and that was all the excuse they needed to invite every vampire known. That included Catus. His father didn't allow him to go to "common" parties as he called them, but Catus was a master at sneaking out. Sure, he'd get grounded the next day. But if he knew anything about this type of party, it was worth it.

The first thing he saw when he arrived was her. It was if a spotlight was on her. To be truthful, it was because she was the only person at the party that looked as if she wasn't enjoying herself and wasn't either dancing or drinking. But he saw her, and the first thing he noticed was how pretty he was. He also noticed how naive she looked. He smirked. He reckoned this girl would be easy.

He moved over to her, taking in everything. Her pale green eyes, framed with thick dark lashes, though he couldn't detect the slightest hint of mascara. Her thick auburn hair, her smooth flawless skin, her shy but nervous smile. Red crept along her cheekbones at his intense stare.

"You don't look like you're enjoying yourself," he whispered softly. "My name is Catus."

Shock rippled across her face. She had recognized him. She turned away. He shook his head. Remarkable willpower for such a weak-looking thing. 

"I'm not," she replied abruptly.

He smiled. "Why did you come?"

"My cousins are hosting it. My parents forced me to go."

So it carried on. Still she wasn't interested. It irritated and intrigued him, at the same time. He was itching to take her now, forcing her into everything, but he knew that wouldn't be as satisfactory as pulling her in and then watching her break. And she would be fun to break, now she was putting up a fight. He would cling to her like a shadow until she weakened. Then he would take her down.

Little did he know that the more he clung to her, the more he would feel for her. Then that night ...

"Why do you even hang around me?" she asked one day. He smiled slightly at that. 

"You're cute."

"I'm innocent, and naive, and vulnerable. Why would you-"

He interrupted her. "I like vulnerable." And they kissed.