A Different World

XI: Given Orders

The wind had begun to pick up outside, orchestrating a small whistle every few minutes that broke through the thickening silence that threatened to consume all of them.

Scarlett sat in her usual armchair, Eleanor in the one directly across from her while all three men and Melissa fought to fit on the vibrant blue couch. Melissa's apartment might have been decorated to bring cheer to the room but it was doing everything but that.

Alexander's eyes rested on Eleanor as he attempted to gauge her mood while Eleanor's eyes laid on Scarlett and Scarlett's laid on Melissa while Melissa's rested on Nathan and Nathan's laid on Eleanor. It was an endless cycle of staring that left Drake to observe as all of them stared at each other and no one stared at him. He didn't mind, as there was no one to see how fondly he looked at Melissa.

Scarlett could feel Nathan's blue eyes upon her, bringing an eccentric warmth to her stomach that she thought she would never feel again. The warmth consumed her, spreading within every nerve ending in her body and clouding her better judgment as it extended through her mind. She closed her eyes in an unsuccessful attempt to halter her burning attraction for him.

Eleanor continued to look at Scarlett, unaware of her battle. She was more focused on trying to figure out what had caused Scarlett to go off on her without warning. In the five years, she had known Scarlett, nothing of the same or similar magnitude had transpired between the two. Her only guess was that it had to do with the unexpected arrival of the king but Scarlett did not seem like the type to be frightened by that or anything.

Scarlett felt tempted to remove herself from the room. She did not trust herself around Nathan, which aggravated her more than anything. She was strong, she could withstand anything yet she could not keep away from the man that had torn through her skin and ripped her heart out without a moments hesitation. The warmth slowly turned to a sickening turn of her stomach, threatening to throw back whatever little food she had consumed throughout the day. Scarlett was never keen on throwing up but she much preferred the sickening feeling than the warmth Nathan brought upon her.

She slowly brought her eyes open again, only to discover five sets of eyes fixed on her, their expressions ranging from confusion to apprehension except Nathans. He looked at her with an emotion she preferred not to put a name to, in fear that she might be wrong or, once again, he was playing with her.

"Are you alright?" Melissa spoke, finally breaking the peculiar silence that seemed to have spanned on for hours.

Scarlett silently commended her for being the only one brave enough to speak before answering "I'm fine," she paused to look at everyone around the room in reassurance, "Are we going to talk about the situation at hand?"

"There is nothing to talk about. We have acknowledged that Sebastian Gates is here, in New York and we all know that we must be more careful now. There will be twice as many vampires roaming around the city and there is only so much one of us can do," Eleanor answered, "The only thing I do request is that everyone hunt in pairs of two. I can't have anyone out there alone and I can't afford to lose anyone, not right now."

Everyone nodded in agreement except for Scarlett. Scarlett used her time, out in the open and away from most of civilization, to clear her mind and disappear from the world, even if it was just for a few hours. Those hours meant the whole world to her and she desperately needed those hours alone to survive in her world. She would not allow those hours to be ripped from her grasp.

Eleanor was quick to see Scarlett's hesitation, "You do understand that these are not my orders but the Institutes? They are the reason you are here and you will do well to follow their commands. If I hear you have otherwise disobeyed my orders and that of the Institutes I will have you reported and I will make sure you are not to hunt for months." Her words were unwavering and hit Scarlett like a brick wall.

Scarlett had never been chastised in that matter by Eleanor or anyone from the institute. In fact, she was known for following orders to the letter and never arguing with her superiors. Scarlett did not know what had fallen upon her that she felt the need to argue against everyone, especially Eleanor.

She could only blame her incomprehensible behavior on Nathan and was happy to do so. In fact, she was happy to blame all her problems on Nathan if it meant she would never feel the sickening warmth in her stomach from looking at him.

Scarlett had come so far in five years only to be set back by him in a matter of minutes. How could she possibly be so week?

"I understand," Scarlett agreed, giving up a fight she no longer wanted nor had the energy to continue.

"Good. You will be with Nathan and Melissa will be with Drake," she voiced in a way that let everyone know that her decision was not up for discussion.

Scarlett bit her tongue, not wanting to start another fight that would only strain her relationship with Eleanor; something she did not wish for, no matter how much she loathed her at the moment.

Scarlett world had revolved around Nathan once; she was determined to not have that happen again. She would work alongside Nathan and prove to herself that he was no longer an essential part of her life but a simple coworker that she would have to put up with for hours at night. Nathan would simply become white noise to her, that was her plan.

She was in control of her own life, not him.

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Last update of the day :)

Hope you guys enjoyed the four chapters

Till next time....