And In Your Eyes, I Saw Everything

Knives and Eyes

-Vladmir's Point of View-

Chills went through my body as I lay in bed that night. I remember the way Scarlette's lips felt on mine and the way she tasted. The bittersweet taste of red wine still clung to my lips like my mother with her blankets during the winter months. Oh, how the taste made me sick to my stomach. Her taste was like poison, a part of her unforgiving spell. 

"Vlad, are you awake?" Dean said, stepping into the room and looking at me as I sat up. He had a lit oil lamp in his hand and something silver in the other. 

"Yeah. What do you want?" I said and he walked into the room and sat down on my bed. He slid the package across the bed and I picked it up and unwrapped the silver fabric revealing a mask for a masquerade. I stared at it for a moment and said, "What's this?"

"Riley had me bring it to you. She said that she had heard that you need it and since she'd heard news from someone in town. She used to be a performer for another king and she has a whole pile of these from those days. She hope it'll come to great use to you," Dean said and I stared at the mask, running my fingers over the silver ribbons used to tie the mask on. 

"She didn't tell you why?" I asked and he shook his head, not knowing what was going on. 

"Do you know why?" He asked and I just sighed, wondering if I could tell my hot-headed friend what was going on now. 

"You remember the other day when I talked about Prince Black and my peculiar attraction to him?" I asked fumbling with my words. He stared at me and I saw the beast flash in his eyes at the Black name. 

Not this again. Please, not this again. I don't want to fight with so much going on. I just don't want this to drive me insane. 

"Vladmir, explain to me about you and him," Dean said and I looked at him noticing that the beast had died. 

"I meet him daily and I think I've fallen in love with him. He's holding a masquerade to pick his bride and I must dress as a girl to get in. The mask will hide my identity and I'm close with the dressmaker so the other is not an issue. Elliot must have told Riley about the dance and she's just nice enough to lend me her mask," I said, searching Dean's eyes to find out what he was thinking. He seemed to understand and then again, he didn't. He looked confused and I just wish I could shake the sense into him, make him understand what was going on. 

"I don't think I'll ever understand why you're thinking like the way you are, but I accept this, Vlad. I know you've been looking for love like your mother and father's and I'm hoping everything works out for you. You deserve the best and only the best, Vladmir," Dean said and a smile slowly crossed my lips. He was okay with this that I almost could have swore that I was dreaming. 

"Thank you, Dean. Thank you," I said, giving him a small hug and he smiled. 

"After you visit Xander, you need to come and meet me where we used to train. Queen Luna wants you to be ready in case there is a war. I'd prefer you meet me by sun high, but late afternoon is the latest that I shall be waiting for you. We need to train and be prepared for the worst," he said taking his lamp and leaving. My eyes sat on the mask and I laid it on my beside table before slipping under the covers. 

Sleep took over my body quickly and I was hoping to see Xander tomorrow. 

~~~

My eyes searched the forest floor as I cleaned my father's sword with a cloth that I carried around with me. I felt safer with it by my side and it reminded me of when I was young and I used to battle him with sticks that we found on the castle grounds. It was almost like my father was here with me, even after death. 

I heard the crunch of leaves behind me and I looked over and saw Xander standing there, an upset look on his face and I had had no idea what he was thinking about, but I knew that he seemed quite angry about something. 

"Xander?" I said and I slid the sword back into its sheath before swinging down from my branch and landing on my feet. My eyes instantly went to his sky blue ones and I noticed that they sparked with anger with my glance. "Xander...?"

"You saw Scarlette yesterday," he said, voice catching in his throat as he tried to finish his words. 

"Did she tell you what happened?" I asked, staring at him and feeling my gaze harden as I thougth of those events. I had threatened her and I now don't know what she told him. I had a feeling that it was something awful though. 

"She did. Is it true? Did you threaten her?" He asked looking at me with fear in his eyes as if my answer was going to unleash some sort of unknown horror. 

I watched him and let out a sigh before I said, "Yes. It was wrong, but I threatened her. I didn't want her hurting us. She was going to ruin-" He cut me off. 

"There is no us. You kissed her, threatened her, and now she's sitting in the castle, fearful to come out. Vlad, you never loved me, did you?" He asked and I saw tears well up in his eyes. I grabbed his shoulders and he shoved me away like I had just caught fire. 

"I love you," I said. 

"You liar!" He hissed, laying against the tree and I walked towards him, pinning him in his spot. 

"Listen to me Xander. I. Love. You," I said and he spat in my face, blinding me as he shoved me away. I landed on the ground and when I regained my sight, he was standing over me, knife in hand, and he was pointing it towards my way. 

"You're a liar. My family was right, you Rayne's are all the same. I can't believe I was so stupid though to fall for you. I thought I was loved, but I was damn wrong. If I see you on my property, then you better watch out. I'm trained in knives," he threatened and I stared at him in confusion and fear. 

Without warning and a quick move, his dagger sliced down my the center of my left eyebrow straight down to right under my eye. My hand covered the wound instantly and I watched him with my right eye as he looked at me sadly and walked away, steps heavy. 

Blood ran down my face and so did a few stray tears as I looked at him. 

In his eyes, I thought I saw everything, but Scarlette had made him blind to me.