Master of Vampirism (Part #2) ✔️

Chapter 10: Be careful what you wish for

My heart sank to the bottom of my gut.

A thread of doubt pushed through, followed by a subtle pang. But I couldn't quite name it yet.

"Really?" I asked. "Seriously?" There was no better wording.

"Yes." Caiden shrugged and turned the chair towards me. I closed the door, letting the darkness of the room envelop me.

"It's-" I cleared my throat. "It's my birthday."

"Spend your birthday with me." Caiden said immediately, the indignation was gone from his eyes, replaced by resolution, certainty. "We can stay in, watch movies, order pizza, just like we used to."

My heart lit up at the thought. Just like we used to. Back when everything was normal. When I wasn't a bloodsucking monster with superpowers such as walking in heels all day and turning into an emotionally unstable bat.

Still, no matter how happy normal made me feel, there was that thread of doubt again, nameless and haunting.

"I thought we could go to Paris together." I whispered. "It would be fun, I promise. It's a city of love, you know?"

Caiden smiled weakly.

"I would love to go to Paris with you, Chloe, but only you. I don't want to go with Ian or William." His head dropped, his gaze gliding across the floor. "Last night... I flipped out and I'm sorry. I don't know what is it about that guy, I just can't stand him."

Why did I always feel like walking some invisible line? Why couldn't anything be clear? Without doubts, without issues, just... simple.

And right now, I couldn't tell Caiden I would push Ian away. No matter how easy it would be to promise. A part of me was well aware I would never keep that promise and saying it would be a lie.

But I couldn't tell him the truth, either. I didn't want to lose him.

"Tell me why." I searched for his eyes. "And don't tell me you don't like Ian, or that you want to spend my birthday with me and only me."

Caiden bit his lip and leaned against the backrest of his chair, an expression of concern enveloping his facial features.

"You've left so many times before." He said finally. "And yes, for the past few months, you've been really trying, don't think I don't know that. But I'm still scared I might lose you. So I'm acting like a complete idiot because I don't want that and I want to spend some time with you with everyone else away."

The words he said made sense. And I understood him perfectly. One way or the other, half of my life was somewhere else at the moment. Perhaps it was time to be here right now, without other people, without distractions.

"Okay." I nodded. Caiden glanced at me.

"What?"

"I won't go to Paris." I shrugged, even as that thread of doubt squeezed my heart with its treacherous tendrils and revealed its name to me.

Resentment.

"Really?" Caiden grinned. Just seeing him smile warmed my heart like nothing else in the world could.

Then why did I feel like crying?

"Yes, really." I mimicked his grin, hoping he couldn't see the pain in my expression. "I'll spend my birthday with you. You're right," I wasn't sure whom I was trying to convince, "spending some time together without distractions is going to be good for us. I missed you."

"Ah, it's going to be great." Caiden's smile remained intact. "We can watch a bunch of movies. I really missed spending time with you."

"But," I interjected, "I want you to give Ian a chance."