The Dark Stranger

Click your red heels Dorothy

"The Dark Stranger" © VeGirl 2014

That is how we happen to say goodnight to Layla who is quickly adapting to our twisted schedule, before we go to our cars. "I can't believe why you sleep during the day," Layla whines. "When are you coming to work again?"

"Have I've been gone that long?" I ask with a combination of curiosity and worry, but that only evoke bad conscience in Layla. "No, just two days, I'm just wondering."

"We'll be back tomorrow morning," Vincent reassures to Damian's bemusement.

Layla luckily miss to catch that surprised glance though.

"Sleep tight; don't let the bedbugs bite." Damian gives her a kiss on the cheek.

"-or anything else," Esme discretely flicks in for everybody else with better hearing than my dear cousin. Damian effectively ignores her and continues to kiss Layla until her eyelids starts to flutter and I am getting inclined to join them.

I harrumph. "It's time Damian." I can't stand here watching him canoodle my cousin anymore, so I head for Vincent's car.

Eventually, Layla lets go of her grip on him, says good night and gets inside so Damian can get going.

"You are not driving my car, sugar," Damian objects as Esme heads for the driver seat. "Forget it!"

"So, you think you'll be a better driver blindfolded?" She pulls a scarf from her pocket.

"Probably." He smirks at her

"I will put you in the trunk if I need to."

"You can try."

It is a standoff between two parties, both smelling victory. Suddenly Damian bends forward while clenching his hands to his temples and groaning in pain. "What are you doing?" he is squeaking out while writhing in pain.

"Winning," she answers and the pain he was in has suddenly vanished again. "Will you go willingly or do you want to be tazered again?" She holds out the blindfold for him and he jerks it from her hand.

"Don't bite off more than you can chew, little girl," he murmurs in a cliped tone while pinning her with his eyes as he slides into the passengerseat of his car. Esme slides in behind the steeringwheel and I really would want to be there, eavesdropping.

On the other hand it is relieving to be alone with Vincent and not having to listen to the bickering between Esme and Damian. I want to slide my arm around Vincent and snuggle as he drives, but as soon as I slide a hand over his leg, he wince and I quickly withdraw it again. "Hasn't the wounds healed yet?" I whisper concerned.

"Not the burns from the chain."

"You said you took care of me when I had just fallen; did I have those marks?" I can't remember that clearly and am happy to have Vincent to help me remember.

"No, you weren't thrown out; you fled."

"Why did I flee, did I tell you?"

He turns and watches me with a lurking smile. "You were on your high horses, looking down on the rest of us; that was beyond my paygrade."

I frown. "I'm sorry..."

His smile widens. "You have apologized for that repeatingly, but by all means; please continue."

I glare at him from under my lashes, but can't keep the smile from my face. I'm reminiscing the stay I've had upstairs lately and remember something vital. "They tried to marry me off this time." I notice how his head jerks as he turns to stare at me. "Well, not so much marry me off, but mate me."