abyss → kai parker [discontinued]

08 | rent

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we could fly,

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Elise's POV

It was quiet when I re-entered the store, an odd atmosphere hanging in the air. I found Kai sitting behind the counter, playing with the till and something in the draws.

"Are you ready?" I asked him, glancing across his strewn back position in the spinny chair. He hummed lightly, completely invested in what he was toying with behind the counter.

"What are you doing?" I asked, then moved towards him, peering over. He had a pocket knife in his hands, flicking the blade out the the cover, then back again. I frowned at his odd actions.

"Kai." I pressed again, he almost jolted out of his focused glare, eyes locking with mine.

"You ready?" He immediately asked, repeating my question from earlier.

I frowned once more, "Yeah, I'm just gonna grab some stuff." I mumbled. Kai nodded lightly, then continued playing with the pocket knife. I didn't question his actions.

There was a backpack thrown in one of the storage rooms, presumably the attendant that was working when this world was created; ridding the empty wrappers and half empty water bottle from the bag. I filled it with crisp packets, drinks, and a book I had found in one of the lockers in the storage room; labelled 'A Monster Calls', it looked interesting, with a dark cover and bold white writing on the cover.

Reading was one of the many things that kept me sane when I was alone, the words seemed my only friend and I used them as an escape from my everlasting hunt to the grave.

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Soon, Kai and I where leaving the shop, walking silently in the ghastly midnight air.

"What was it like?"

"What?"

"I mean being completely isolated for like- what? 17 years?" I asked, finally turning to have my eyes searching his.

"18 years." He corrected, an empty smile forced on his face; and then he paused, staring right though my body.

"It was kinda cool actually- could do anything and no one would stop me." He laughed emptily, sadness mixing with his tone. He was lying.

A pained look was my response, he knew his reply was a lie, he knew that I knew it was a lie.

"And now your in another one..." I trailed, "with me."

Kai offered me another forced smile, and part of me wondered what he was actually thinking. He came off smooth. He didn't let too much frustration out, and seemed to crack a pointless joke every five minutes; if I where him I don't know how I would be feeling.

"Ah this ones not so bad because I'm with you." He breathed, and it lit a fire inside me. My stomach imploded with a warm, bubbly feeling I had never experienced before. A small blush crept up my cheeks, and I coughed, awkwardly turning away from him.

This didn't affect Kai whatsoever, he didn't even acknowledge what he had just said. But it hit me, hard. This was seeming the first time that someone had been glad of my presence, it left me feeling full, content on the inside. It made me happy.

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Kai was asleep for the rest of the journey to Virginia, curt breaths leaving his parted mouth. I occasionally glanced over to him, and he hadn't moved.

About half an hour into Virginia, I pulled the map out of the pocket behind my seat, the directed my way until we where rolling past the Mystic Falls sign.

"Kai-" I mumbled, nudging Kai's shoulder. "Wake up we're here."

An incoherent slur of words fell out of his mouth, and his eyes slowly opened, and sucking a deep breath of air in.

"Wha-" He yawned, "What time is it?"

This was no doubt the most attractive thing I had ever heard, a deep grogginess clinging to his usually perky voice made it husked with sleep. It tore through my eardrums, and though I would never admit to myself in that moment, I had gulped at the sound.

"Erm... About 7AM." I replied, glancing at the dusty dash board, hardly tearing my eyes from the road.

Kai hummed, then focused his eyes towards me.

"So where are we staying?" I asked him, having never been in this town before. Kai shrugged before saying, "The Salvatores have a manor at the edge of town, we could stay there?"

I hummed.

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It felt good to finally leave the car, and a looming tiredness followed me as I went. The Salvatore mansion welcomed us with empty arms, and it looked lived in; probably exactly how it was when this world was created, as there was a spilled cup of water across the floor, someone must have been holding it as time was frozen here.

I knew for a fact I would probably get lost in this house, it seemed to be that big, yet it had a homeliness to it, it felt lived in and a comfort lingered in the air. The vintage furnishings was the main hint that vampires lived here, obviously being decades old themselves.

I took what Kai had said was just a guest room, the size of the room screamed 'master bedroom' but as it seemed this was one of the smaller rooms in the house. Kai took what was believed to be Stephan Salvatore's room, simply stating that he 'likes his style'.

I immediately passed out on the bed, fully clothed and not having anything to eat, concluding that I would eat in the morning.

And then I was left with my sleep, managing to sleep for a full day before Kai had to check I hadn't died in my unconscious state.

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but I'm scared of heights.

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y'all can have 900 words as I'm crazy unmotivated lately.
hope you enjoyed :)

-L