Blood Ties (NaNoWriMo 2015)

Twenty

My feelings on interior design hadn't changed with three years, I still found it a bit boring, but it was less so with Caiyun. Her enthusiasm was infectious, she was so excited about every design she showed me that, despite my lack of interest in the subject matter, I actually began to imagine how cool it would be to sort of have an apartment again. Take care of my own meals rather than relying on Ife to bring them to me every day. Not having to worry about a vampire stealing my food would be pretty nice too.

"I like this one," I said, tapping the corner of a draft paper when Caiyun had drawn a possible layout for my kitchenette. "I know it's lacking the fall away bit of counter, but we can add that can't we?"

"Yes," Caiyun told me. "But are you sure? This is a more out-dated style, are you sure you want to go with it?"

"Yes," I said. It reminded me of home, the layout with the microwave stuck between cabinets, the stove and dishwasher separated by only one section of a counter. It was like the apartment Mom and I had shared, it felt like home and that's what I had been planning to do with my room, make it feel like home. "I'm a little old-fashioned." I shrugged and gave Caiyun what I hoped was a self-deprecating smile.

"Nothing wrong with that," she said, sweeping the papers away. "I can start as design on a program I have so we can take a look at how it might look with appliances, cabinets as well as some color schemes."

"Nothing crazy with the colors," I said quickly. "I'm not much into that."

"A little color is not so horrible," said Caiyun as she tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. "But I will try to keep that in mind."

I smiled. "Thank you," and a heartbeat passed before I worked up the guts to ask a question ."So, Caiyun, why did Damon give me that pager? I know the basic reason, but when it was turned on this morning-by accident of course, I wasn't in danger!" I added quickly at seeing the alarmed look on her face. "Damon was the one who came to my room, I thought he would have given it to someone with a little more time on their hands. I saw his office earlier today, I organized some of the papers, it seems this blood moon thing is a huge deal. Why is he the one taking charge of my safety?"

Caiyun sighed and regarded me with warm brown eyes. She collapsed my hand in hers, I noted her skin, while very cool was not so cold as some of the vampires I'd had contact with. "Damon's been feeling...guilty about this whole event I could say. He never dreamed what he did eighteen years ago would come back to haunt you. He never wanted you to get hurt the way you have."

"I haven't suffered any serious injury," I corrected, frowning at her. "But I'm guessing that's not what's bothering him is it?"

"No," she agreed. "It's not."

"I was angry with him," I found myself admitting, unable to look at her. I knew how parents were, they probably didn't like hearing someone trash-talking about their kid. I didn't know Caiyun so well, but she seemed kind, I didn't want to hurt her. "I thought a hundred times about what I'd say to him when I was alone with him again. Tell him he was a moron, a complete asshole for not covering his tracks, for failing to make it clear that I was just a spur of the moment decision." I laughed then as I said. "I even thought I'd slap him."

"I don't blame you for that," Caiyun said quickly even as I saw a shadow cross her face. "This couldn't have been easy for you, hell, I don't think it is now either."

"It's not," I agreed. "But when I had the chance I couldn't do any of that, he seemed...Genuinely sorry for what happened and I realized it wasn't right for me to blame him. Damon had no way of knowing this would happen, I forgave him already. Now I'm holding a grudge against the person responsible for the attempts on my life."