The Heart Of A Vampire

chapter seventy eight: post escape

His face was hard, cold and expressionless. He didn't even look down at her as he began to carry her back to the bedroom.

She faltered, about to speak- she didn't know what she would say, hell, if she even should have said anything, but ultimately, words failed her and she slumped down, defeated.

He used his shoulder to push the door open before stepping inside, making it to the bed in a matter of a couple long strides before setting her down on it.

It was only when he had once more wrapped her up in the plush velvety sheets, having seen to it that she was safe, that he spoke.

"Where did you think you were going?"

Her eyes widened slightly at his tone- it was dark, lacking any kind of affection.

Certainly not a manner in which you'd expect someone who just kissed you to speak.

"I.." she began "Bathroom. Yeah."

He sensed the lie immediately, having spent enough time around her to sniff out any trace of dishonesty the moment it entered the air.

"Uh huh. Try again."

Her eyes flickered from side to side, desperately racking her mind for any kind of excuse.

Finally, she gave up.

"I- I wanted to leave."

He stood up, towering over her, his piercing red eyes narrowing slightly.

"I'm afraid that's not an option. You'll be staying right here, where I can keep an eye on you. You're mine. Understood?"

She blinked, thrown off by his attitude.

"No. Not understood. What are you talking about?"

"I'm not here to fight," he responded "Stay put, or I lock you in here."

He didn't know what he was doing, what he was saying. He loved her, he knew that- and he had her, at last.

He'd kissed her, gotten to bathe in heaven for a minute or so before it was over, and now he found himself clinging to her desperately, not wanting to let her go.

He needed her.

She had to stay with him- she didn't have a choice anymore.

The moment his lips touched hers, she lost any autonomy. She was his.

Her attempt at an escape had only managed to solidify his stance on the matter- it had instilled fear in him, a staggering fear of her leaving, never coming back.

And so he found himself taking on a crueler role, shifting back to his usual self- the person he was when he wasn't around her.

He could tell that she was startled, even intimidated, by his behavior, which was odd coming from someone like her.

But either way, he swallowed back any guilt, meeting her eyes coldly. 

"When can I leave?" she asked after a moment, clearly having realized there was no point in arguing with him.

He would always come out on top.

"When I say you can."

"That doesn't answer my question!" she protested.

"You'll get used to this," he said simply, disregarding her words. "I'll have you moved to your own bedroom later today."

"You can't keep on hogging mine," he added, trying to sound more casual, teasing, in an effort not to scare her too much.

He knew that he had to draw a limit, after all. He couldn't make her hate him.

With that, he gave her a swift nod of a goodbye before stepping out of the room.

Evangeline heard the click of the lock behind him and gulped.

She was now on her own.