Bitter Revenge

Chapter 11

(Stella King's POV)

The pitter pattering of the shower could be heard through the door, as I leaned right next to it. The water shut off and a couple minutes later, out came a vampire in a towel. I felt a burn on my cheeks, but made sure I didn't take my eyes off her. "Are you going to wear the same clothes again? Or do you want me to lend you some clothes?" She looked up at me, her wet hair taking on a blue-ish color. "I wouldn't mind wearing the same clothes, but if you have unused underwear that would be great." I felt my cheeks burn hotter, as I ran my hand through my hair. "I'll buy you some, but if you could wear the same just for today that'd be great." She nodded and walked back into the bathroom to put her clothes back on. I felt a sudden nervousness grip my heart at the thought of learning something new about Fiona. I want to gain her trust, because I really do hope I won't have to kill her like I was ordered to.

The door opened and out she came again, and I was a bit wary if she tried to run off. I won't lie, I installed a deadbolt outside the door. She didn't seem to try to run off, as she sat down with her hands behind her back. I cuffed her and sat, legs crossed, in front of her. I leaned forward, a little excited to hear what she had to say. "What can I say? Oh! Here's a fact for you, I was born in Florida and have lived here my entire life. I've never traveled outside Florida." The tips of her mouth quirked up, clearly amused by her anticlimactic fact. I just chuckled, smiling wide. "Good to know. I was actually born in Australia." Her eyebrows shot up, her right eye stayed a little more shut than the other due to her scar. But I found it a little cute, I kinda wanted to ask about it. But I knew she wouldn't answer. "You're Australian, Strawberry!? Where's the accent?" Her raspy and low register made her voice and nickname tickle my spine. I giggled at her question, allowing some of my accent to slip through. "I've lived in America long enough to adapt my voice to lose the accent, especially since I moved here when I was relatively young. I've forgotten a lot of the Aussie slang anyway. What were you expecting me to say? 'Cranky mate!'" I joked, making a chuckle slip through her pale lips. "I'd be lying if I said I would have NOT been disappointed if I didn't hear that."

I felt like we were warming up to each other, so I tried to keep the conversation alive. "Why haven't you ever left?" She just shrugged, leaving it to my imagination. "Never felt like traveling? Been too busy to leave? Been attached at the hip with family or something?" I must've hit a nerve, because the muscle beneath her eye jumped up as a frown quickly invaded her face. "I told you my fact for the day. Also, what am I gonna do while I'm here? I'm gonna get bored." I sighed, thinking of a solution to her problem. "Give me a second. I'll be back." I unplugged the TV I kept in my room, which I don't really use myself. Alongside the remote. Then carried it to the room without dropping it or breaking anything else. I propped it up on the table, tilting it to face her. Plugged it in, then handed her the remote before leaving her a comment. "I'll probably have to get a longer handcuff. Or maybe I should just leave you to walk freely." I joked, even as Fiona avoided looking directly at me. "Enjoy Netflix."

I left the room, feeling two burning dots on my back. Clearly, I touched a sore spot. I need to figure her out now, but I can't force it out of her. I might as well be doing what I've been ordered to do. But I refuse to kill without reasoning! She kills people, I get that. But why? When did she start deciding she wanted to kill? Is she being forced by someone else? Is there a whole organization we aren't even aware of? There are so many possibilities, and I'm not going to take a life just because of what's on the surface. She kills, but it's why she does it that determines life or death for me. But then again, I was ordered to kill her on the spot by my High Priestess. And what did I do instead? Hold her captive. Oh Moon Goddess, I hope I'm doing the right thing.

I called it an early night after that, I don't have work tomorrow but there's a mini party at the coven for a birthday or something. I don't remember. I laid still in the darkness of my own room, my eyes closed as I tried to get some sleep in. I tossed and turned, trying to find a comfortable spot, with the perfect temperature. I got frustrated and sat up in bed to check the time. How in the world is it 2 in the morning?! I laid down at like 10! I groaned and wandered downstairs, hoping I could distract myself for a little before trying to sleep again. I heard the TV playing something, so I silently unlocked the deadbolt and cracked the door open. The scene before me was... unexpected. She was slumped to the side, still sitting. Her eyes were closed, and her face was serene with sleep. The remote was laid on her stomach, and the TV continued to play some sort of show with giant people trying to eat little people. How wonderful for me to witness this.

But it was a nice view, for her to look so calm. I felt bad she couldn't get truly comfortable with her hands cuffed but I had no choice. I've never held anyone captive before, it's not like I have experience! While I was stuck in my own head, admiring her, she groaned and the serenity on her face was overtaken with discomfort. Sweat started to build on her brow, and her eyebrow started to twitch. She muttered something under her breath, so I got closer to try and hear what she was saying. My ear was mere inches from her lips, when she tossed again in discomfort. "V-Violet.." The single word shocked me so much that I jumped up and stared at her. Violet? A woman's name. Who is she? Why is Fiona dreaming about her? Finally, I saw something that really scared me. A singular drop ran down her cheek, leaving a dark trail of sorrow on her face.

The sight rocked me to my core, never in a million years did I expect to witness such vulnerability from Fiona. From the little I've seen of her, she's reserved and prefers to keep to herself even with a friend she's had since forever. She's pretty hot and cold, one minute she's joking around and the next she's scowling. Her eyes give her away though, there's always such a deep sadness in them. A longing I can't put my finger on. I left the room and sat on my couch, feeling more awake than before. I can't sleep now, fantastic. I turned on the big, flat-screen TV and put on a show as I served myself a bowl of cereal. I rocked the couch all night, until sunlight slipped through the glass doors next to my kitchen that lead to the backyard.

I finished my last episode for the day and decided to get ready early, doing my morning routine at 5:30 in the morning. Once I was all prepped up in casual jeans and a T-shirt with the Royal Coven ceremonial robe, I decided to check up on Fiona. Even if I was admittedly scared I'd see that again. Seeing her cry over someone reminded me that as much as she's a vampire, she's also human. She has people she holds close to her heart, and she's clearly experienced some sort of loss. I cracked open the door to see gray and blue orbs turn in my direction. "You're up early." I teased, and she just smiled weakly. "Yeah, I don't tend to sleep for very long." Or is it because of that dream? "Ohhh~, you put on the coven robe? I always wondered why you witches wore those ridiculous things." She giggled, clearly poking fun at the robe that I equally hated. The thing was a horrendous light yellow that looked like someone pissed on it. But I did like the Royal Coven emblem. A gold crown with crisscrossing swords with a red background. "We don't wear these things because we want to. There's some ceremonial crap going on today so I have to wear it."

She giggled, clearly finding it funny that I was in this get up. "Besides my horrible getup, I'll be gone for quite a long time. I'll bring you back something to eat though, I promise." And I don't exactly know how I'm going to pull it off, but I can't just let her starve. I don't know how often vampires need nutrition. But it's been at least 2 days since she's eaten and she looks fine. "Sure, I'll be fine for like a good month. Vampires start starving after a month." I nodded, a little amazed to be honest. I walked to my living room, silently muttering a teleportation spell. Unfortunately, I'm not too used to this certain spell. But I pulled it off, teleporting into the middle of the forest that really was just a couple steps from the big council hall. I could see other witches from the Royal Coven entering the hall, a lot of familiar faces. Mostly old acquaintances that I probably studied ignis magic with, which is my specialty. Fire magic.

"Hey Stella, it's been a while since I've seen your face." A familiar, warm voice said from behind me. I turned with a smile to my best friend that moved away to New York a couple months ago. "Harley! What brings the big city girl down to little' ol Florida?" She pulled me in for a hug and I reciprocated, smelling the city air on her clothes. "You kidding? Florida is way bigger than New York. Also, it's my uncle's birthday. And since he's in the Council everyone has to come to celebrate." I puckered my lip, because I totally forgot about that. Harley laughed, conscious that I had totally forgotten. She swung her arm around my shoulders and walked us in, while I took in her appearance. Her dark chestnut hair was dyed blue at the tips, and I finally got to see the nose piercing she got months ago that she facetimed me about scared shitless that it would hurt. I won't lie, I wanted to die throughout the entire party.