The Vampire's PA
Chapter 26: Saying goodbye

Alexander and I ended up making out for the most of the night and when I woke up to forcefully go visit my human friends I was completely exhausted. Maybe telling him that I was falling for him hadn’t been the best idea, not that I was complaining, he was a great kisser.

Our kissing had almost gone further than just kissing quite a few times and I had needed to tell Alexander that I was a virtues maiden quite a few times more or it certainly would have gone further. I had told him very half-heartedly though.

I groaned when I turned over and pulled the sheets tighter to my body and slowly opened my eyes. Not surprisingly Alexander was already watching me with interest, “Hello.” I said softly.

“Good morning my love.” Alexander said happily and very lightly pressed his lips against mine.

My heart missed a beat, “I’m tired.” I complained as I snuggled closer to him to burry my head in his neck and he held me tightly.

“Then you definitely shouldn’t go visit your friends today, you can just say here… all day… with me… and we can pick up where we left off… and-” He said sounding too happy for his own good.

“I definitely should go visit them, at least I’ll get in a good night’s sleep.”

“But I don’t want you to go.” He complained like a little child. “I want-“

The door burst open and Cherise half danced in with a big smile on her face, “Good morning you two!”

Alexander immediately went protective, “Who said you could come in here? Get out!” he was out of bed before I could stop him.

“What’s the problem?” Cherise asked innocently when she threw open the curtains. “I just came to make sure the two of you get up so you can go visit your friends Ash.”

I sat up and rubbed my tired eyes, “Whoo hoo.” I yawned, “What time is it?”

“About six thirty.” She replied easily.

“Six thirty?! No one gets up this early! Goodness!” I fell back into the pillows, “Just let me sleep a few more hours…” I was almost back in la-la land when the sheets were ripped off of me and I flew out of bed thinking the world was coming to an end.

“Come on, come on.” Cherise said, “You need to get going or you’ll only have a few hours to visit your friends.”

“I really don’t care.” I told her and I leaned on Alexander for support.

“What did you do to her?” Cherise suddenly went at poor almost innocent Alexander.

“He kept me up all night.” My eyes snapped open when I realised how strange the words had sounded coming out of my mouth, “But not in the way you’re thinking!” I quickly corrected myself when I saw her face.

“You two really need some time away from one another.” She muttered, “So come on, we’ll leave as soon as you’re dressed.”

“What about food?” I asked.

“We’ll leave as soon as you’re dressed and you’ve eaten.”

“We’ll leave?” Alexander questioned.

“I’m going to make sure you leave Ash alone with her friends and that you come back to spend some time with your brothers. I’ll stay with her so you won’t have to worry about something happening to her.” She said happily, “Am I the greatest sister or what?”

“What.” Alexander replied.

“The greatest.” I said unenthusiastically.

“Glad we all agree.” Cherise smiled at the both of us and marched out of the room again.

After Alexander had threatened his brothers and told them in excruciating detail what he would do to them if they demolished his house, we were ready to leave. Our goodbyes were rushed along by eager Cherise and before I knew it we were back in the city where we’d disembarked only a mere two weeks ago.

“It looks exactly the same.” I commented as we walked through the streets, “I expected it to look different for some reason.”

The humans who we passed all smiled at us and some even went as far as to greet Alexander casually like he was an old friend. He smiled at them all but honestly he didn’t look all that happy. I watched him with a concerned frown and intertwined our fingers.

To say Alexander looked shocked by my actions would be an understatement, but after a moment’s hesitation he grinned, pulled me closer and slung his arm casually around my shoulders. Having me near him seemed to set him at ease so I leaned into his side as we walked while he whispered sweet nothings in my ear. Some things he said had me blushing ferociously and I elbowed him in the ribs at least ten times before Cherise said, “Can you two please make a decision, quit it or get a room, because all the love flying down the street is making me kind of sick to my stomach.”

“Well I think we should definitely get a-“

I elbowed Alexander in the ribs again before he could continue with his cocky sentence, “We’ll quit it.” I looked at him meaningfully, “Won’t we?”

“I won’t be seeing you for two days you know.” He informed me solemnly, “I’m going to miss you.”

I looked away from him and smiled bashfully, “Oh… well-“

“You’re starting again.” Cherise informed us with a frown.

“Sorry.” I apologised.

“Mind your own business.” Alexander told her and with one last glance in our direction she continued walking.

“Seriously though,” he asked me softly as he took hold of my chin, “Will you be alright without me?”

I snorted, “You make me sound so helpless.” He watched me doubtfully. “I’ll be fine! I’ve managed to survive seventeen years of my life without you, literally on the dot seventeen years. I think I can handle myself for two days.”

“But who’s going to chase the spider in the bathroom away?” He asked.

“That was a one-time thing.” I countered, “And you have to admit that thing was huge! It was at least as big as my hand.”

“So you say; my damsel.”

“Apparently this is the place.” Cherise called us over from where she was standing in front of one of the houses. It was massive! No even a quarter as big as Alexander’s mansion but still… massive!

“So this is where Fabian lives.” I stated to no one in particular.

“Actually this is where Rose and Nadine live, they moved in together with those males after we arrived here.” Alexander’s grip around me tightened possessively.

“Know it all.” I muttered.

He shrugged, “I just asked around.” His intense gaze met mine, “I make it my business to know who exactly I’m leaving you with.”

I walked up to the front door when Alexander finally let go of me and looked around cautiously. “Go on.” Cherise urged me, “They’re your friends.”

With a heavy sigh I knocked on the door and it flew open almost instantly. Rose stared at me disbelievingly, “Ash?” Then she threw her arms around my neck in a hug and nearly killed me, “You’re still alive!”

I coughed and tried to pry her arms loose, “Chocking, chocking, not breathing.” I patted her arm, “Good to see you too Rose.”

“Sorry.” She apologised when she let go of me and she looked past me to where Alexander and Cherise were standing awkwardly, “You brought company, did you?”

“Yeah…”

“Come on in the lot of you then.” She opened the door and gestured for us to come in.

Once inside I could hear voices coming from one of the rooms on my right that I took to be the living room. I looked around, it was nice, “You’ve done well for yourself.”

“Fabian gave me this house and I forced the gang to move in with me since I didn’t want to live alone. It turned out great for all of us.”

“I’m glad you guys are settling in.” I said and Rose led us to the room the voices were coming from.

I had been right, it was the living room. Nadine was casually lying on the couch with a book in her hand while the three boys played a card game.

“Go fish.” Kevin stated dramatically.

“Do you have any…” Troy carefully looked at his cards, “Sevens?”

“You see right through us dude.” Rustin said and he threw two cards in Troy’s direction.

“Hey guys.” I said awkwardly and everyone turned to look at me.

“You’re still alive?!” Troy asked boldly.

I sighed, “I can see why you and Rose make such a good couple.”

Nadine was up the moment she heard my voice and she embraced me in a manner similar to Rose. “Good to see you’re still alive and kicking.”

“Kicking indeed.” Alexander muttered lowly and I was sure he was referring to the kick I’d given him two nights ago that sent him flying off of the bed. I’d apparently missed quite a scene since I slept right through it all.

“I did apologise.” I told him without thinking that I was in the middle of a reunion.

He smiled in that seductive way of his, “Very thoroughly.”

All the things he meant by those two words made my cheeks heat up and I quickly turned my attention back to Nadine who looked like she was in some state of disbelief, “So how’ve you all been?”

“Kind of good actually.” Rose replied for her when she continued to stare, “I have to say I like this place a lot more than I liked New York.” Then she whispered like it was a state secret, “We can do what we like here.”

I smiled and happily said, “Alexander does have a different way of ruling his people than Viktor does.” My five friends stared at me like I’d suddenly sprouted wings and I cleared my throat to ease the tension, “I was wondering if I could stay here for a few days.”

Rose beamed at me, “Of course! It’ll be like the old times. And we have TV here!” She clapped her hands excitedly.

“Thanks.” I said and then risked it all, “Can Cherise stay here as well?”

“Who is Cherise?” Kevin asked and his expression matched all those around me. Absolutely clueless.

I pointed to Cherise who was momentarily distracted by a ginger cat that was trying to claw her face off. “Don’t worry about me Ash, I’ll replace my own place to stay. “Alex,” she stated firmly when she finally got the thing off of her and it ran around the corner, “you’d better get going.”

He sighed heavily, “If I must.”

We turned to face one another and a tense silence hung in the air as everyone waited to see what was going to happen next. Alexander pulled me into his chest for a hug and I was glad that he wasn’t displaying too much affection around my friends, “Take care Ashira.” He whispered in my ear and pulled back to give me a soft kiss on the cheek.

Shivers swirled around inside my stomach at the feather light touch of his lips against my skin. “Y-You too.” I struggled to get the words out with my mind still spinning halfway around the world. I will just have to wait for it to come back before I spoke again.

“Now I am very against you kicking me out of bed but these other guys… aim for between the legs love.”

Well, leave it to Alexander to say this like that. “Whatever floats your boat.” Oh wow it seemed like my mind had returned from its world tour.

“You better hope my boat stays afloat,” he told me with a playful wink, “Because you’re in it too. Furthermore, please don’t talk to strangers, if it’s fight or flight I recommend screaming for Cherise, watch out for vampires though I doubt they’ll get close when they smell me on you, be careful with paper so you don’t get a paper cut and don’t take candy from strangers. Don’t wander off alone; watch out for snakes, spiders or any other form or any other creature that might harm you. Don’t-“

I put my hand over Alexander’s mouth before he could continue, “Like I said, seventeen years.” I sighed, “I only have one thing to say to you: stay out of the kitchen.”

Alexander sucked in a breath and grinned, “Low blow.”

“You asked for it, I mean, seriously? Watch out for paper?”

“You are a fragile little human.” Was all argument he stated. “Now,” he said and pulled me tightly against him and he looked over me at my friends who didn’t look like they knew how to handle the situation at all, “I appreciate that you will let Ashira stay here for a few days.” He actually bowed his head a little at them, “However I would like to say…” he trailed off sweetly and his eyes zoned in on Rustin who cowered under his deadly gaze, “Hands off.” His fangs elongated and his eyes burned bright yellow as he hissed at Rustin. “She’s mine. You don’t look at her, you don’t touch her, you don’t even breathe the same air she does. You don’t come near her and I swear, if I hear you came close to her, I will rip out your heart and shove it down your throat.” He growled possessively and his grip on me tightened to the point where I couldn’t really tell where I ended and he began.

I hated to admit it but I found his possessiveness extremely attractive.

Rustin looked like he was about to pee himself so I decided to step in, “Al right, that’s enough possessive vampire for one day.” I tried to free myself from Alexander’s arms but to no avail, “Go to your brothers and spend some quality time with them and tell them that I forbid them to thrash your house.”

With one last threatening look in Rustin’s direction Alexander turned his attention back to me, “They do listen to you more than they do to me.” He pressed his forehead against mine and whispered, “Hopefully we can do something about you being a; and I quote ‘virtues maiden’ when we meet again.”

Holy hell. What was he-

His mouth cashed onto mine with full force.

He sucked my bottom lip longingly and I quivered under his touch. So much for not showing too much affection around my friends. I wanted to throw my arms around his neck but he stopped me by taking hold of both my wrists and with a light bite to my bottom lip he pushed me away.

He smirked hungrily as he watched me, his eyes still bright yellow and his fangs long, “Just a little something to remember me by.” His eyes softened and before I could say something he said, “I love you.” And then he vanished.

I stood there staring after him and after a moment I licked my lips. I could still taste him. I touched my mouth absentmindedly, “The jerk.” I muttered to myself with half a smile.

“He vanished!” Kevin exclaimed.

“I didn’t even see a blur!” Troy seconded him and they went on gushing about how fast Alexander was while Cherise, Rose and Nadine crowded around me.

Cherise sighed heavily, “And this is a fine example of why the two of you need some separation time. Do you remember yesterday when I asked you if the two of you have ever kissed and you said only twice?” she didn’t wait for an answer before she continued, “Something tells me the number has dramatically increased over night. Literally. What happened last night?”

Colour flooded my cheeks, “N-nothing happened! And who are you to judge?” I shot back.

“Oberon turned me right after the first time he kissed me so I was relatively safe, you on the other hand…”

“Seriously, Ash, we need an update on what exactly went down between you and Alex over the past few weeks.” Rose chimed in excitedly.

“Yeah,” Nadine seemed just as eager as Rose, “Because he has gone from looking at you like he just wants to be near you to looking like he’s about to pounce on you.”

Cherise threw her hands into the air, “That’s what I said!”

“You guys are crazy.” I told them all.

“Hey,” Rose said, “You’re the one who went from slapping a vampire when he kissed you to wanting to wrap your arms around his neck and you’re calling us crazy?”

“I thought you hated vampires Ash.” Nadine said, “What happened to you since then?”

“I fell for him.” I said and a hush overcame the room.

Cherice understandingly patted my back, “The curse of being a Promise angel to a demon. You just can’t resist them.”

“A demon?” everyone chorused.

I sighed, “It’s a long story.”

So after a few hours of talking, another few hours of the boys trying to teach us how to play card games and a few more minutes deciding which room I will be sleeping in, I found myself sprawled out on my bed.

The house had only five rooms and Rose had gladly offered to take up residence with Troy for the time of my stay. I think she was a bit ecstatic about it actually. I mean they were dating and all but the words Rose and used were, “We’re not like you and Alex.”

I wasn’t sure what exactly that was supposed to mean. They seemed cute enough around each other to me.

Cherise had vanished a few hours ago, saying that she would be back the day after tomorrow to take me back to Alexander, claiming that any more time away from him will result in him destroying his own house. I chose not to ask.

The sun had set a few hours ago and everyone had gone to bed, Rose happier than the rest of us and I couldn’t sleep.

I tossed and I turned but I just couldn’t get comfy and my mind wouldn’t settle down enough to let me sleep. Only twenty-four hours ago Alexander and I were- Those thoughts were definitely not helping with the whole falling asleep ordeal.

I got out of bed when I heard the grandfather clock in the hall strike twelve and I wandered to the bathroom. Maybe I’d be able to fall sleep after I’d washed my face.

I switched the light on, marvelled at the wonder of electricity and quickly washed my face. I inspected myself in the mirror and looked down into the basin to replace blood dripping into it. Small droplets of blood splattered on the white and I put a finger under my nose to stop it.

My nose was bleeding. Interesting, I couldn’t remember that that had ever happened before.

When I finally got the bleeding to stop falling asleep was easy, but I woke up the next morning with the sheets beneath me soaked with my blood.

Blood was seeping out of every pore of my skin and my mouth tasted like blood.

Something was wrong with me.

I was ill and yet the only thing I could think of was Alexander. He was so going to kill me if I died.