Vampire Bride

Chapter 6: Part Two

Maxwell

With my attention being put toward Eugene and The High Council, I don't have time to see Charlie within the week. It feels as though every cell in my body is on fire knowing that she's so close but yet so far from reach. I take the risk in trying to escape watching eyes to see her tonight at the dance club, recalling Juliet expects her to show up.

Doing everything inhumanly possible, I try to convince Eugene to make himself comfortable in the hotel he's staying at while I spend some quality time with my bride. He accepts my offer after much bribing and I instantly head out.

Sitting in my usual corner, I search the dance floor. It's later than I wanted to arrive, but when there's no sign of Charlie or her friends, I take a breath of relief. There's just something about witnessing her enter the large over crowed room that pleases me.

With what feels like eternity later, I see her friends, including Juliet, arrive and indulge themselves with drinks. They dance to the music without missing a beat and when not a single one of them look at their phones or the door, a gut-wrenching conclusion that Charlie isn't coming causes my excited jitters to die. A quick glance at my watch tells me it's after two-thirty in the morning.

Standing up and straightening my shirt, I walk effortlessly through the crowd toward Juliet. She stops with a jolt as if I scared her. "Hello, handsome," she says as a greeting.

"Juliet, right?" I say, ignoring her flirting.

"Do I know you? I'm pretty sure I would remember if I ever saw a gorgeous man such as yourself."

"We've never met, but we have a mutual friend...Charlie."

"Of course, you're here for Charlie. Everyone's always interested in Charlie. She never mentioned you." There's a hurt scorn in her voice from the fact that I'm here for someone other than herself.

"It's a little secret between us, but a secret you're in on as well now," I reluctantly say.

"That girl is always keeping the good stuff from me. She's not coming tonight, some big party tomorrow. I'll tell her you were here for her."

"Not necessary, I'll see her soon enough." With that said, I turn away to leave the building, considering there's nothing for me here. The slightly cold air feels comforting against any exposed skin as I step out onto the sidewalk. There's also a relief from being away from Juliet's roaming hands. Even though I specifically stated I was there for Charlie, that didn't stop her from trailing her fingertips over my chest.

Charlie might be busy or plain out refusing to go to club anymore due to my assumed presence, but that doesn't mean I can't see her. Soundlessly climbing the steps of Charlie's front porch, I pick up the artificial rock and unlock the door. A smug smile spreads across my face at all the obscene words she would spew in my direction if she knew that I knew about this key, let alone breaking into her house.

Before unlocking the door, I take time to assess the inside. All the lights are off, leaving everything covered in darkness and then I sense her calm breathing, indicating that she's sleeping and not awake. At a quick pace I enter the house and make my way to her bedroom.

Before even entering the bedroom I see the outline of her unmoving body under the covers. Instantly, I go to her bedside, which allows me to examine every detail of her face; it lets me enjoy her beauty without her doubtful glare staring back at me. Clenching the blanket between my fingers, I lift it to see her curled body in her pajamas. Goosebumps break out on her bare skin. Within seconds, she grabs fistfuls of the blanket and pulls it closer to her face with incoherent mumbles escaping between her lips.

I side with my better judgment and let her sleep. Determined to leave the house before I change my mind and do something I'll regret, I head to the front door. As if this endeavor would be easy, her phone's ringtone blares throughout the house just as I pass the threshold of her bedroom.

I freeze and try to conceal myself in the dark hallway. Shuffles of her in bed can be heard; however, she doesn't wake up to answer the phone. I assume it's Juliet calling to inform her of me asking for her. So much for letting her sleep.

Slowly making my way past the kitchen table, my hand brushes against some of the stray papers. The small handwritten notes and schedules that fill the pages pique my curiosity. Picking up random sheets, I read through all her plans for this supposed party at the Liberty Hotel tomorrow night. At least Juliet wasn't lying about Charlie ditching.

I leave in disappointment and allow my mind to wander on the walk back to the hotel. Scenario after scenario fill my mind on how I can go about courting Charlie. Maybe I should be more old-fashioned. Maybe I should be more modern like the men who fill the streets in this day and age. Two completely different men and I have no clue as to which one I should become. Then there's the fact that if she's unwilling to give me a chance to have a civil conversation with her, I'll never know which she would prefer. So...maybe I have to be both.

Or maybe I have to give her a forceful push in the right direction.