Refuge (Vampire!Levi x F!Reader)

Chapter 11

--sorry there wasn't any update yesterday, a lot has been going on and my mum came home from hospital a few days ago so i've been caring for her mostly. hope everyone is staying safe--

Luck was short and your patience was thin as you rummaged through your wardrobe, sifting through countless garments in search of something specific. Everything that was hung up in your wardrobe was hand-made by the finest designers that your father could find. Each dress was tailored to you - unique, and they always made you stand out.

Standing out was the last thing on your mind. No, you wanted to blend in. How could you blend in with villagers if the only clothes you had were made of silk and donned with decoration? You needed something dull, something to make you almost invisible.

Sighing, you stepped back and closed the doors of your wardrobe. After breakfast, you had taken a bath and changed into fresh clothes.

The dress that Hanji had given you lay on your bed. You were going to get it cleaned, it was a nice dress after all. You sat on your bed, next to the dress and looked down at the floor. There was no way that you could buy the clothes you needed, it would be too suspicious.

As you left your room, upon deciding to widen your search, you caught sight of Mr Smith with the doctor following closely behind. He had his briefcase in one hand and a grim expression on his face. If he were a cheerful character, then his expression would have concerned you, but the family doctor was hardly a happy man and so you were sure that your mother was fine.

"Ah, Lady Y/N, the doctor has just seen your mother," Mr Smith stated, even though you had already figured it out.

You smiled at the doctor, and waited for him to speak. He cleared his throat and ran a hand over his thinning, brown hair. "She is well, just a cold and a fever. I have prescribed bed rest and lots of it."

"Thank you doctor, may I go see her?" You asked politely.

The doctor pulled his lips back into a thin line. He grumbled at first, but then reluctantly said, "if you wish to, Lady Y/N."

You moved past the two men, walking at a steady speed, before you turned the corner towards your parents' room. You moved further down the corridor, passing portraits of relatives on the wall. One of the paintings that hung on the wall was framed in an ornate golden frame. Inside the frame was your parents, looking elegant in tailored clothes. Your father stood behind your mother, one hand placed on her shoulder while she sat in a chair with you sat on her knee. Obviously, it was painted years ago and you were only a toddler back then. A more recent painting of the family hung in the dining room so that various dinner guests of your father's could see it.

Resting your hands on the door, you pushed it open. Your mother was tucked up in bed, a glass of water on the nightstand and a book in her hand.

She peered over the top of the book and smiled at you. "Hello, dearest," she said while placing a bookmark in its place. She patted the side of the bed and you walked towards her.

"How are you, mother?" You asked, perching on the side of the bed.

She had a red nose and sniffled when she talked. "I am fine, everyone worries too much. What are you up to then, love?"

"I just came to see how you were feeling, mother," you lied. You hoped you pulled it off flawlessly, but your mother had always been hard to fool.

She raised one eyebrow and gave you a knowing look. "Now what are you really up to, Y/N?"

How could you pull this one off? Chewing your lip, you began to talk slowly, piecing it together as you went, hoping each bit tied in nicely. "I want to help in the search tonight, mother," you said. Her eyes widened slightly, but she didn't interrupt you. " But, I don't want to go in any of my usual clothes. I want to help the villagers find this person, but I don't want to get recognised, because..." you trailed off.

"Because you're afraid of becoming a target?" She suggested.

"Yes!" You blurted out rather suddenly. Heat flushed to your cheeks and you averted your eyes, slightly embarrassed by the little outburst.

A small smile graced your mother's pink lips. "I'm sure if you ask Mr Smith he can help you." She took one of your hands between her cold ones. "You've always had a pure heart, Y/N, I'm glad you want to help, but just promise me you'll stay safe."

"Of course I will, mother," you replied. She let go of your hand and you slipped out of the room to go find Mr Smith.

After looking for what seemed like forever, you finally found him in the kitchen, preparing a pot of tea. The pot was small and white, made out of delicate china and decorated with dainty pink flowers. Mr Smith put the lid on the pot of tea and placed a cup and saucer on the tray with the pot along with some sugar cubes.

"Mr Smith?" You called out quietly in the doorway.

He didn't turn and continued working, "what is it, Lady Y/N?"

"Mother said I could ask for your help," you stated.

"You can ask for my help at any point in the day, Lady Y/N," he said smoothly, placing a small metal spoon on the side of the saucer. "What was it?"

"I need you to find me some clothes," you said.

"Lady Y/N, excuse me, but I am sure that you do not require assistance looking in your wardrobe," he said, picking up the tray and turning around to face you.

"No," you said quickly, "not nice clothes. I need some common clothes - I want to help look tonight."

He stood there for a few seconds, figuring out what to say. His nose twitched and he locked eyes with you. "Consider it done. Now, if you excuse me, Lady Y/N, your father needs his tea."

You moved to the side and let him pass. "Thank you Mr Smith!" You called. "Can I have a sugar lump?" You added sheepishly.

"Only one," he said sharply, before leaving your line of sight.