Hello Darkness

Chapter Fifty-One

After cleaning sand out of places I didn't know I had, I change and go to find Victor. I walk across the hall quietly and knock on the door before opening it.

"Victor-Oh shit! I'm sorry." I cover my eyes, my cheeks flushing.

"You've never seen a man in his boxers before?" He takes his time pulling up his jeans.

Never someone so perfectly toned. I hope he doesn't notice my pause as I take him in like a beautiful piece of art. The kind you analyze and makes you question the thoughts of the artist. I follow his scar down his neck to where it stops with a tattoo libertà, like a roadmap to his heart. He doesn't need to tell me what it means for me to know it's important to him. The attention to detail told me enough.

Silver-my father said silver scarred, maybe it was a longer exposure. I hold back a shudder thinking about the pain he must have endured.

He remains shirtless as he sits back on his bed distracted by the television. A renovation show of all things.

"Come sit. This is my favorite show."

"Vampires have favorite shows?" I laugh at the extremely normal activity.

"On occasion when we aren't out murdering humans and turning into bats, we like to watch a little television. How do you think I learned to decorate this place?"

His room is slightly larger than mine, only instead of a red lounger he accents the room with green porcelain lamps. "It's just so normal."

He shrugs. "Sorry to disappoint."

I slide onto the bed, leaning back against the pillow.

He slips on a maroon shirt and brushes my thigh as he pushes himself next to me. I tell myself it was an accident. "You need to rest anyway. I gave you a run for your money."

"You think so?" I fling myself over his waist, straddling him. Placing my hands firmly on his chest. "Dead."

He nods approvingly. "That's how it's going to be?" He tosses me off and I grab the only thing I can cling to-his shirt. A tear shreds the still air and exposes his sculpted chest. "That was my favorite shirt. You better hope I don't catch you." He slides the remainder of the shirt off.

"Oh no. I'm so scared." I feign backing against the wall. He scoops me up, tosses me over his shoulders, and slams me into the bed. I'm surprised there isn't a loud crack. His bare chest presses hard to me.

"Not so tough now?" A crooked smile sneaks across his lips.

"Get off me, you big lug." I try to push on his shoulders, but he clamps my wrists in his hands.

He laughs. "That's not how this works. Focus."

I struggle beneath his weight. Elbows in shoulders and knees in thighs. All so-close. I focus my energy on my arms and pull my wrists free and push him up just enough to move my legs. I lift my legs shifting my energy to them and place them under his chest, pushing hard, he flies across the room. I gasp as he hits the wall causing a picture to clatter to the floor and slip the frame.

"I'm so sorry!" I jump to my feet.

He stares at the ground for a moment his muscles tight. His jaw loosens as he cracks his neck. His eyes lighten as they meet mine. "I just broke my number one rule. Never underestimate your opponent. Very well done." I sit back crossing my arms feeling very pleased with myself. He walks to the small fridge in the corner. "Would you like a drink?"

"That would be nice. I haven't had anything since yesterday morning."

He stops, the glass clinking on the counter, and turns his head to face me. "You've got to be kidding me. No wonder you were so terrible in your training." He pulls out a larger glass and fills it.