Don't Say a Word

Eleven

Nicolette closed her eyes, turning her attention away from Griffin. She was beginning to feel uneasy standing alone in the center of the room. She could feel everyone staring at her and could hear, but not make out their whispers. Sabra moved away from her when Nicholas entered the room, returning to his side. The whispering seemed to stop when he entered the room. Everyone turning their attention to Prince Madeline and what her ruling would be.

"Very well, shall we begin." She didn't have to tell everyone to sit and settle down, they did it immediately at her voice. Nicolette looked around her to see if she should sit, but saw no chair remaining for her. "Your report Griffin." Madeline kept her gaze on Nicolette as she awaited a response.

"Your Majesty, we found this child out in battle with one of the Gangrel, a female, named Amber. She bested Amber, and with our encouragement released her to us." Nicolette looked down, she did that in self defense really, but she wasn't sure that would matter here. "Broken and breakable, with me she should be. Or us, with we?" He frowned looking focus for a moment, but Madeline was not phased by his antics. "In what way was she bested?" 

"With touch she took her power, with thought she spent her blood." The whispers began again to fill the room. "With us she tried to burn, tried to burn" his voice lowered, faltering into his other personality.  "Thank you Griffin." She lifted her hand silencing the room again. Nicholas sat at the edge of his seat, nervously bouncing his knee. He didn't dare speak out, he'd made his plea it was up to the Prince now.

Madeline lifted, walking closer to Nicolette. She stood before her, lifting her chin to meet her gaze. "We have laws to obtain, it is my responsibility to uphold those laws. Though controlling a vampire society is different than controlling one such as yourself. I should like to hear from you child, do you wish to return to Nicholas?" Nicolette blinked, looking from the Prince to Nicholas. She chewed her lip, not wishing to hurt him, but she didn't want to belong to anyone. He had been very kind to her, but she wasn't anyone's property.

She lifted her hands to begin to sign her response. Something she had been learning, unsure if the Prince would understand. This brought a giggle from Griffin. The Prince touched her hands to stop her, turning her gaze to Griffin. "Something to add Griffin?"  "She speaks, Majesty. Her tongue is not broken, but her heart. Her mind literal to instruction."whispering then "Don't say a word...don't say a word" Nicolette flinched at his words, a tears stinging her eyes. She lifted her gaze to the lights to dismiss the tears that threatened to fall. 

The Prince rolled her eyes, she just couldn't help it. She hated decrypting his explanations, but his insight was invaluable when she could understand him. Griffin sighed in frustration, standing and walking to them. "Allow me, Majesty." Turning a reluctant Nicolette to face him, "No burn, no burn" he mumbled as he took her mind. The entire room shivered at the thought of a Malkavian entering and altering anyone's mind. 

He projected into her mind the simple instruction from her mother only. "not a word Nicolette"she heard in her mothers voice. She gasped, gripping his arm tightly. "Not a command, dear child. A plea, yes, for that moment alone. Let it go, let it go." he fought to urge to sing, damn tune was catchy he still hummed the next line before continuing. "You will speak" though only she heard "honestly". Nicolette nodded, her mind unable to resist his power. His strength and age over powered her greatly. He let go of her, taking two steps back he began to look himself over. "Yay, no burn."

Nicolette blinked a few times, chewing her lip as she thought of the right words. "You were saying, child?" The Prince asked. Nicolette swallowed before her voice, soft, but hers answered. "I. It's just that, I don't belong to him. He's beautiful yes, he's been kind true, but I'm not his. I'm not anyone's. I didn't ask to be part of this world. I just want to go home." Her hand flew up and covered her mouth, unbelieving that those words came from her own lips.