Morning came and had almost went by the time Juliette finally roused from her slumber. With the soft groan of complaint she gave, she might not have bothered to wake at all if she hadn’t spotted the time on the clock and remembered her house guest existed. Though, Hannah surely drank thrice as much as she did and was likely much worse for wear!
Juliette rolled onto her back, rubbing her fingers over her temple to frown at the ceiling. Grateful the large blackout curtains were blocking out what was swiftly becoming a Noon sun. Humorously realizing the true functions of the heavy fabric that graced all these beautiful windows in Jordan’s office and bedroom.
Then just as quickly remembering why it might not be so humorous at all!
There didn’t seem to be any gaps in her memory, but still… Juliette wasn’t all too sure if what she remembered was actually real. Things often looked quite convincing when the room was spinning and the world was blurry! Worse yet, Jordan was likely to have a good laugh at her expense. How foolish all of that was! To let herself get so worked up and so smashed that she’d behaved like some college aged frat girl. At least she hadn’t sang Jordan a love song and tried to seduce him!
When she rolled again she spied the glass of water and capsules on the nightstand. Hmm. No, if she were going to sing the man love songs and seduce him she would do that sober, the way he deserved.
Half deserved. Apparently he did not have the taste for a fiancé drenched in tequila.
“Pickle brine.” His face didn’t stand a chance from scrunching up in a sense of utter disgust, “And greasy food.” The rock infested fingers clattered with their jingling gesturing as though that was going to help anything in this very second besides him being particularly grossed out. “The greasier, the better.” Nodding her head as though it were to articulate the period to the end of her sentence, hazel eyes looked up under her newest dyed monstrosity. Having seemingly favoured a bright green colour this time over the far more favourable purple. Though he wasn’t sure which part was more offensive right now. The fact she was looking like Ursula’s rejected protégé or the way her ears and fingers were decorated in more jewellery than was ever necessary.
“Stop staring,” Suddenly seeming more aware that his peepers were far too involved with gawking at her like some eighteen thirties freakshow exhibit.
“I can’t help it,” Jordan sneered, “It’s so… terrifyingly mesmerizing.” Pulling her own features to mirror his own, “It’s like looking at a car accident. You just can’t help but be horrified…” Vision fell slightly downwards to at least look her in the eye, “Were there any causalities? Surely no one survived your sudden mutation to,” using the utensil to gesture to just all of her, “This.”
Pure untapped disapproval crept into every feature on that face. Settling some insistent need to pester with great gusto, “Haaa you’re funny. You should do stand-up. You know if the whole egoistical asshole thing doesn’t work out for you. Though that’s really a long-shot.” Crossing a leg over the other whilst she sat perched on one of the barstools facing the island, the slender chin rested across the back of her hand. “You are so good at the asshole part. After all the time in the world to perfect it, it’s kinda hard to beat. Ow!” Swiping back at least one hand that had gotten promptly slapped by the flat of the spatula, taking to rubbing the assaulted appendage. “Well that was just rude.”
“So is your face, but here we are. I have to keep looking at it, listening to it. My life is torture.” Myra glared at him making a pitiful example of trying to soothe the swatted portion of arm. Idly looking at the kitchen tool once more before he slightly turned to prod it into the pan. It might have been already closer to noon, but even he knew that for a pair of slumbering drunken beauties, food was still a need. Which had been Myra’s original suggestion of pickle brine being a good hangover cure.
Probably because it was being vomited out of you after that! “I didn’t come here to be verbally abused.”
“Pretty sure you did.” Meeting her swiftly, as he pointed to the floor beneath his feet. “My house, my rules. Which involves verbally abusing anything that comes inside looking like the thing Theix hacked up on my floor.” Promptly pressing the back of fingers to his mouth, “And you look worse, just saying.”
“Jordan!”
“Yeeeees?”
“I hope your fiancée drives a stake into your heart, just so you know.”
And he thusly waggled a finger through the air, “Honeymoon activities, great idea.” Even she couldn’t exactly resist the snorting giggle at that one, “Nothing says romance like a bit of rough play.”
“Well thanks, now I feel sick. Where is your unfortunate bride to be. Still regretting her decisions? Staring at the mirror asking herself over and over again just where she went wrong in life to attach her young and adventurous being to well…” He could feel her eyes looking him up and down, “You.” Urging himself to laugh as a duo of eggs were flipped over in the pan.
“Have you thought about writing greeting cards, you have such a way with words! So poetic.“
It was amazing what a couple of aspirin and an ice cold shower could do for a body. Juliette had to thank last night’s Juliette for somehow having the sense to eat enough food, drink enough water, whatever it was she did to avoid what could have been a true nightmare of a hangover. Beyond being a twinge exhausted and the mild headache, she’d escaped any further ill consequences.
When she knocked gently on Hannah’s door and took a peek inside, it seemed her best friend had not the same experience. The groggy groan was the other girl bothered to say as Juliette stepped in the room and surveyed the damages.
Clothing and shoes tossed on the floor. A half hearted attempted to change into something else. Thankfully it seemed she hadn’t been sick everywhere, as Juliette would’ve felt obligated to clean that up herself even if the keeper of the house hadn’t been absent that day. Elisa didn’t deserve that sort of torture!
“Good morning, duckling,” Juliette murmured gently, sitting on the edge of the bed. Hannah groaned again in response, not bothering to shift or move. Her face was near plastered into her pillow. At least she’d managed to get herself into some old tshirt last night.
“I see. That bad is it.” responded Juliette.
“I don’t… I don’t why that was a good idea. We’re not- we’re not drinking girls. We’re book girls. Book girls.” moaned Hannah. With her voice coming out so hoarse, it prompted Juliette to get up and head to the small private bathroom to fetch her a glass of water. On returning, she tried urging the girl to roll over and take a sip.
“Book girls indeed.” Juliette replied as calm as she could. Laughing now wouldn’t be the polite thing to do! No matter how funny it were! “Do you want me to bring you up something to eat?”
Hannah’s groan sounded somehow painful and disgusted at the same time.
“No. Gods no. I never want to eat again. Gods. …unh. Did you have fun though?” she added to the end, finally opening her eyes for the first time and lifting her head with a hopeful stare.
“I did. Why, it was a night with everything from covert spying to dramatic revelations.”
Hannah sighed with relief and dropped her head back to the pillow.
“That’s good. Awesome. Now go away forever and let me die in peace.”
Juliette did laugh then, muttering a hasty apology when Hannah cursed at her for the volume. If the girl needed to sleep off her hangover, she was welcome to do it. Juliette wasn’t sure what sort of personal plans Hannah had for herself, but Juliette’s actual wedding was still a good week or so away. She could rest as long as necessary!
Food was very much something Juliette needed, however, along with a good strong cup of coffee. As she made her way downstairs and hit the ground floor, she could already smell something lovely in the air, prompting plenty of confusion when Elisa was supposed to be off for the day.
The picture she walked into was the last thing she expected to find in Elisa’s kitchen.
“I- …hmn. Am I still drunk, I wonder,” she muttered out loud. Unsure if finding Jordan at the stove was more peculiar or Myra’s Punk Rock She Hulk makeover.
The gentle creaking of stairs gave way to at least someone rising this not so quite morning, though which he had yet to guess. Giving a shot of parsley into the pan to fry up with the eggs so they weren’t terribly bland –much to Myra’s harrumphing sound that he should just leave them plain- he had put her to work. Assuring that the skill necessary to work a toaster was well within her realm of functionality. After of course explaining how shapes worked with similarly shaped slots. Indicating the bread was able to slide into the long rectangular area because they were simpatico! Unsure still if Myra’s attempt to glare a hole right through his head was a new parlour trick or if she was willing whatever power in the world to try bursting him through! Thus far, the glares had only been slightly prolonged but no fires or unrealistic geysers of blood came shooting out from him.
With an aggressive tug on the spring lever for the poor abused mechanical item, she sat there. Staring, waiting. And interrupted soon enough when the ghost of tequila present had wafted herself into the room to cause either of them to peer over at her.
Leaving him ample moments to use this very handy tool to point at Myra. It both worked as a gesturing object and a swift item to chastise her with. “Sadly no. Myra’s unnaturally hideous appearance is an eyesore on all sober people too.”
“I swear to whatever god there is Jordan,” She begun making the mistake of pointing and retracting the finger again when it was swatted at. “I’m going to take that thing and shove it somewhere that you will an operation to have it removed!”
He’d eyed the spatula then her. “Such a misuse of kitchen utensils. So violent so early in the day!” As if he wasn’t the one stirring the metaphorical shit pot! “Where have I gone wrong with you?” Mindlessly questioning the world about like it would produce him an answer for such a verbal thought. Till he offered that crooked rascally smirk that spoke every truth he possessed.
“Hrmmmmm!” Growling out her potential ire as she was clearly not entirely on the winning side of banter this day; Myra turned abruptly in her chair. “Run. Seriously, while you still can. Best advice I can ever give you, Juliette. R—eep!” Shortening her cautious warning with a few more slaps of the offending weapon, all arms were tugged into her body. Looking more like a human-sized caterpillar! Fearful that she was liable to lose a few vital body parts.
Staring for added measure with a slow turn to withdraw the feisty odd looking, not quite saber from it’s task so it could be put to proper use; the sound of easy chuckles finally exited. “No Hannah this morning?” Shooting his stare to the ceiling like he could see her through the floorboards and structural beams, “I hadn’t been sure to expect either of you wandering upright this afternoon. I was nearly ready to send Myra in to play good maid.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Or terrifying wake up call. Either works,”
“Keep at it, tall, dark and spooky… we’ll see who gets the last laugh.” For show he made a forced chuckle causing the woman to roll her eyes on cue. “How was last night, Juliette. I heard you had the real fun of going into the Iron Dog. I feel as though I should have come along, Augustus never lets me go in!”
“I’m not sure it is sanitary to swat at beasts with that same tools you’re using on breakfast,” she murmured first and foremost. Attempting to keep her smile subdued and under wraps, she glided over to one of the barstools and slid into a seat. This was such a delightful bit of energetic play, that Juliette wasn’t so sure she had the energy for herself! At least not this morning. The world might not be spinning, but like Hannah, she was feeling a long day of rest was in order.
“My duckling has declared she is not for this world today, so I might go up later to check on her. As thrilled as she was to be at a classic bachelorette, neither of us are quite the drinking sorts. The consequences are dire.” she explained about her absentee friend. Luckily in the long run, Hannah would be just fine.
Chin eventually found it’s way into her hand as she leaned on the counter and turned into her seat to offer Myra a warm, welcoming smile.
“I am not surprised. Had a dark and brooding sir not put the fear of the devil into the lot of them, and had there not been a toothy chaperone at my heels with every shot and dance, I imagine the place is not for us devious sorts. Poke the wrong beast and you might get bitten.”
Juliette was one hundred percent certain that Augustus, Dominic and Emery were of the vampire persuasion. But Myra? She certainly could imagine the woman as a vampire, that was for sure! Better to be a little vague until she knew for sure.
“After the night you’ve had, dove? I think a little beastly addition will only aid with your sobering.” The loud tsking snort from Myra proved she couldn’t believe that even Juliette had leapt upon the board to tease her. Not that she seemed as irritable about it as she was with him but the following of honey green and brown rings may have suggested she was thinking of some sort of clever retort at least. To be pinned for now since there was an obvious missing party that had taken room and board in the home.
Where he chuckled still further at the mention of how Hannah did not wish to be vertical yet. “Classic bachelorette hmm?” He glanced to Myra, “She crawled up the stairs on her hands and feet rather spryly. Tells me it wasn’t her first time either.”
“Oh boy.” The colourful woman smirked. “Sounds like she could use some dire hydration at least. I was telling Jordan previously before he turned into a colossal ass about the effects of how good pickle juice is for hangovers. All the electrolytes in the stuff, perk you right up!” Now it was his turn to make a disgusted noise, “He’s not a fan. Which isn’t saying a lot for someone who can’t even eat human food without that judgemental look on his face!” Tossing that in to make her point that she wasn’t about to let him get a word in edgewise on everything. So he just mocked her when she wasn’t looking at him.
One might have thought they were siblings at this rate!
Then again Myra had always been a cheeky thing even since she fell out of her mother!
Of course in the same tandem she spoke up about her status about having missed out on playing part of the stagette party at a venue that she wasn’t supposed to enter. Namely due to the fact that her and Augustus were not on friendly terms. Just that Juliette suggested slyly that Myra was part of the deviant crowd that would easily perturb those who were suggested by lore to be more dubious! Only that she pointed a ring covered finger at Juliette. “Ah, that’s part of the agreement. I can’t be bitten. No one in my family is part of the menu or is allowed to be turned!” She might have just revealed that she was in fact human. “Isn’t that right, lord.”
Giving the stove a turn to knob, stopping the heat from the surface of range; he gave a low grunt. Then turned with handle as to dole out some of the eggs onto the prepped toast. “It was part of the original arrangement, yes. The Castiel family is pardoned and excused from any bloodletting or possible turning into one of the eternal damned so long as I am in power. ” He hummed a moment, “Your ancestor was just about as big of a pain in the ass as you are. Though I tolerated him less. Had a weird fascination with animals that I am still not convinced wasn’t wrong.”
“Wow… things I didn’t need to know.”
He’d point then, “Make yourself useful,” Wiggling a finger at the coffee maker. Which she seemed to at least comply with. Hopping off stool to round around to grab the tin of coffee grounds. In turn he set the fryer back onto the stove top so he could exchange it for the plate. Offering it over to rest in front of Juliette, resting palm on the surface as well. “Felix and Myra are both human. Myra’s family is probably just as old as your own is, Juliette. Felix on the other hand was a police officer in another state. We had a series of run ins a few years ago and I made him an offer he couldn’t rightly refuse.” Fingers tapped on the surface. Just that he looked towards Myra then, “Augustus and her had a thing… which I recall saying was a bad idea.”
“Mhmm, didn’t care.” She replied totally unbothered snapping the lid shut on the percolator. “Still don’t.” So sweetly she said it too, “But minus that detailing of exposition, so now you know the fun parts of Mister Ancient here. As the voice of reason—”
“Reason?”
“As the voice of reason!” Repeating it with a louder press, “I’m just going to check. You okay with the whole Interview with a Vampire meets real world nonsense, Juliette. It’s a lot to take in and I was even born into this stuff. The only good thing I can say at least it’s Jordan.”
“What the fuck? Am I chopped liver here? What do you mean at least?”
She ignored him, “He might get cranky and stuff but generally he’s the one you want on your side. Some of them have no morality left and just wanna you know… kill things for fun.”
“Still waiting for an answer here!”
Juliette wondered if she and Hannah sounded like this! A couple of squabbling, noisy siblings, shooting commentary back and forth at the speed of light, slipping in right hooks of stinging insults and left hooks of accidental compliments. Her head tilted back in a hearty laugh before she threw up her hands gesturing a surrender to their questions and need for the time to actually function before she could even begin to reply! There was a small flicking gesture at the coffee pot to signal that was a must if she were going to endure any more of this.
She couldn’t help but notice there was a lightness to Jordan now that there wasn’t before. Was this a result of Myra’s familiar visit of comfortable company? Or was it that Juliette now knew his impossible secret, and he could be everything he was without fear or worry?
“I am accepting of Jordan’s toothy interests,” she admitted slowly, tilting her head as if she still needed to give it some thought. “And Dominic. As for the rest, that will remain to be seen. Though, you could do me a favor and discourage Hannah from any ideas about Augustus, if you have the experience. I enjoy a little teeth, but I don’t think she is ready for that sort of commitment.”
That quip came with a wicked lilt to her eyebrows and a falsely innocent smile, all for Jordan’s benefit, before she reached for a fork and happily helped herself to a freshly made breakfast.
By a vampire fiancé no less!
“I am here to stay. …if he has a satisfactory explanation for the origins of our betrothal contract. I’d like to know what a vampire would want with a yet unborn girlchild.” The tone of that question hinted that he better have a very good explanation that didn’t involve he himself attempting to weasel deals for child brides! If this world of vampires were real, this was a question she needed answered and how Jordan had a part in it!
Would it be too barbaric to just throw the spatula and see if it comically clunked Myra upside the head? Probably.
Was he still considering it?
Absolutely!
But the sound of a laugh was enough to dispel his measure of assaulting the human woman with bright obnoxious hair this day. Sighing instead while the motion of plucked out cups from the cupboard were arranged. All the same due to being a set and made in a duplication of three, waiting for an answer on Juliette’s deem of sanity to whether or not all this revelation was enough to make her sprint towards the door. Wishing to press but also not to chase in a needing insistence that he hadn’t just let her discover the truth for a larger accident waiting to happen. Surprised too that he would be this worried about it.
It came promptly enough. Barely staving him off from sighing in a deep relief, “Toothy interests.” Myra chuckled at the selection of reply. Seeming thoughtful secondly when the mention of Dominic was made. But short-lived as it seemed that the absent bacholerette attendee had been charmed by Augustus in the night. “Good to look at, bad at conversation. You want someone who is hollow and dry as a old tree stump, yeah Augustus is your man.” She lamented in a sort of sour way, “But consider it done. As an ex, I have plenty of telling to express that Augustus is the type of guy you would keep to a magazine space. So pretty to look at but that’s it.” Mouth frowned, “Unless Hannah likes the type who whores around like it’s going out of style. And not just with his teeth.” Emphasis was made by eyes looking up and down. Even he was temporarily perturbed by this information.
There were just some things he didn’t need to know about. At all.
Once the machine had boiled its first pot and Myra made use of deft fingers to pour in each cup. Passing them out till she was making a reach into the fridge to tug out the cream to make her poor cup suffer with such an blanching. Ruining a perfectly good cup, it seemed Juliette had more thoughts.
Peeking over cup rim at her and the mention of a necessary explanation of the origin of the contract. Upper lip crinkling in such a way that may have been due to the way she phrased the whole unborn girlchild. “Firstly, love. Gross.” Myra giggled at that genuinely, “Secondly, I wasn’t the one who made the contract. I was still just a fledging myself. A couple decades in maybe… you lose track of time eventually.” Off handed that comment was and shooed in to the air to be dispersed.
Stealing seconds to wet palate with the savoury introduce of black once more. Letting his thoughts gather firstly, “The previous King and the former coven of the court were well… considerably larger than my own. And our history in the era was a little more known. The supernatural was real rather than cheesy books and movies you have now. People didn’t treat the idea of humanoid monsters as laughable farces. They were just as real then as they are now, just in different measures.” It was still strange at points to think back on since the idea of time could be so lost on him. Memories that felt days old could be literal decades old or vice versa! “The contract was originally arranged by your ancestors, Juliette. Wealth tends to lose its merit when you eventually have nothing you really want to spend it on. You collect it like a damn dragon. Hoards of it,” He made a gesture around to the house for suggestion.
Watching Myra come back to sit in the meantime. “From what I recall, your ancestors were not well off. To cut the fat off the question, they came looking to make a deal with the devil. They came to the worse place imaginable with the most funds. A loan if you would and admittedly well…” he gave a dry swallow, “The former king was certainly a fucking pig.”
“Wow, no mincing words there.”
And he literally snarled then, baring teeth at Myra. “The things I’ve seen that man do, I look like a goddamn saint by comparison. There is a reason I killed him and took everything from him.” She held up her hands then as if to deflect the anger that wasn’t actually posed at her. “He would have traded everything just for a pretty little thing. And since we live forever, unless hunted, he was intending to wait for whatever ripened little girl he could take when the mood struck him.”
“Okay okay, calm down mister snarly.”
He huffed at her but still took a breath. Scraping fingers through temple as an afterthought but dared to glare into his cup then. “In such a time, wedding off members of one’s family was currency. Even unborn ones. When you have a stupid man in power that thinks of nothing more than his own insidious lusting issues, you get arrangements such as the contract. Regardless of how old it is, it is still a contract. And I…had… have need for the very thing the old coven spent wealth to help your family created.” He looked towards Juliette then, “I could have done the work to build up a shipping company as well but when I had the perfect little way of getting it done without the years of doing so, I seen an opportunity. Taking the thing the king made with your ancestors and using it now. Just of course, I hardly thought I would come to meet you. And to be surprisingly quick to shirk aside the idea that I simply needed your investment, but to trust you, dove. But that is the general gist of it. Nice and stupid.”
Thank god for coffee. Juliette might’ve added a little cream and sugar to it on a normal morning, but today her stomach needed it in hot black. With the air of an imperious queen, she sipped the dark liquid patiently listening to Jordan’s explanation. The picture he painted came with vivid imagery. Of course her family, even generations back didn’t give two shits about their own daughters. Ready to sell them off for a pocket full of money at the first opportunity!
This former King – of whom she recalled must’ve been the Charles that chatty woman happily yapped about last night – readily traded treasure for flesh. It was enough to make Juliette’s skin crawl even in the here and now. That there ever could’ve been a possibility that she’d have ended up in the hands of such a man.
No. She would have killed him. For all of her threats she had ever made that she wouldn’t actually back up – that one she would have. Stabbed him right in the heart at her earliest opportunity and burned the body the doubly sure. By the way Jordan spoke of him, it seemed he shared that same opinion. Better yet, he was himself the executor of that very plan in taking the King’s reign for himself.
Myra’s bit of chiming in helped keep things a bit lighter in tone, though Juliette did her best not to grin about it.
Funny, that it all could have simply been a business deal for the two of them. A mutual using of each other’s funds and businesses, to lead perfectly separate lives in the process. Yet now he was getting a genuine queen for his empire and she… She was getting a true empire! Hannah’s entire nonsense about destiny and fate didn’t seem so silly now.
How intimidating.
“Now you have me,” she surmised, leaning her elbows on the table and pondering the grand scheme of things. Lusty inclinations and grotesque kinks aside, it seemed rather pointless to trade such a grand sum of money just for a man’s daughter. Especially for a Vampire King who honestly just could have snatched and stolen anyone he wanted. Somehow, Juliette felt there must have been more to it… something more complex and sinister than a bride for entertainment. But that entire ordeal was so very long ago, and with the former King dead and gone, she supposed the reasons no longer mattered.
“Alright then,” she announced, flicking one of her hands at him and resuming the consumption of her breakfast. “You are still my future husband. Though I feel I deserve a fresh proposal at this point!”
He had never liked Charles. Even from the day he was first turned to now, the man was the truest form of vile concentration shaped into a man. There was nothing positive to say about him and anything negative would have had him going on for an entire week! Charles had assured in his rein that both people and vampires alike knew how utterly terrifying their lives were. Nothing more than slaves in both realms and easily traded away for just the right price. The man was no better than a peddler of flesh in all force, insatiable. The very word was made for him.
There was not a single day he regretted killing that grotesque thing. Knowing that what he did of course broke apart the control the immortals had but it was for a point. They were creatures that served no purpose at the time besides feeding their hungers. Devouring mankind in plenty of ways that surely if Charles had survived, the mortal realm would be nothing more than mere cattle! Pushed on the brink of extinction. And then what?
It had been their choice to select him from the nobility he had originally been born into. Upper class family with their own power ties and a father that was a man that worked under the archon. Selected because he was young and had his own drives at the time to follow in his parent’s steps. Just his fate had been altered and a whole new world discovered that even then when the imbalance of the being freshly awakened made him truly the type of monsters that human’s rightly feared. Just, he suspected even now that Charles had made a terrible mistake wanting him to be part of his everlasting army. For it had served to be his end. Alongside Myra’s ancestor at the time, they had worked in tandem to bring every manner of hunter to the king’s abode. Killing easily hundreds of his servants in a blazing fire and weaponry; just that he made a point to kill the man himself.
The only thing he might regret was ever letting that damn blood touch his own tongue. But it was a mark of proof that he was the one that would take over.
Practically tasting the befouled fetid curor on his tongue again. Taking a greedy drink of coffee like it was about to blanch his tongue free from that!
“I do.” Softly he replied, tugging himself out of dreary thoughts to consider the sorrel crowned woman sitting there. Nursing her own mug while Myra seemed pleasantly amused for some reason or another. Though her hilarity grew in seconds after Juliette declared that he was still husband material but tacked on that he had to propose again. “What!” Nearly dropping his coffee on the floor. “I… but… the dock and…” Jordan stumbled uncharacteristically gawping at her.
Giving himself a mental shake, “No.” He decided then and there, “I put more effort into the first one than I thought I should have.” Myra hummed as if expressing he had done that, seeming impressed still. Traitor… “Listen here you little minx, I think you enjoyed the first one and would be upset for me to put barely any effort into a second.” Lids narrowed conspiratorially at her, “Especially when someone told me they loved me the night before.”
“Whaaat… oh this is getting interesting.” Leaning in closer then, “You didn’t, Juliette.”
“What was the words… mmmm oh yes… that it didn’t mattered if you loved me, I wasn’t supposed to be killing people for fun or sport. Which I made clear, I do not.” Quickly he shot a look at Myra waiting for her to dispute that. Which, thankfully she didn’t. Rather it looked like she agreed about it. “It’s too late my queen, one proposal, one empire.”
Juliette was ready to do battle over the idea of a fresh proposal, something more sincere and closer to the reality of their evolving relationship, instead of something born out of her wanting to test his patience and him doing whatever he thought would keep her from causing him grief. It was meant to be all in good fun and of course nothing serious.
Then he decided to dig his teeth into her throat! Figuratively of course. Call her out then and there in front of Myra even, with something she’d barely been aware of confessing last night in her drunken haze!
She couldn’t have. Ooooh, but she knew she did. Let it slip out so carelessly.
Her face felt like it was on fire, and he’d managed to earn the most vicious narrowing of her eyes. Juliette slapped her hand down on the counter with as much surprised fervor as he’d displayed him. The bastard!
“No!” she shouted back. Myra being an audience be damned! “You don’t get to use midnight confessions as a weapon, Jordan Harrow! The first was a fake proposal for a fake marriage! You wanted a true queen for a real empire, I want a real proposal that isn’t some grand ceremony you had your assistant set up!”
“You, oooh,” she hissed, sliding out of her stool, pausing long to quickly swallow down the rest of her coffee. So furious she wasn’t even sure she could have this fight at all without saying some things she ought not to say directly to a vampire king’s face. It wasn’t even about the proposal, of course, she couldn’t care less about that. She’d forgotten in her crush befuddled state that Jordan Harrow had a bad habit of doing wretchedly rude, infuriating things!
Had he intended to bring up the comment like this. Not at all, truly he hadn’t. The whole thing had been more of a stunning revelation that would have been better suited for just the pair of them to go over but the whole means of a second proposal when he damn well thought he did a good job on the first, well, maybe he was being a bit vicious. Then again, he hadn’t actually had anyone tell him something like that before and mean it. Loose lips and passionate moments brought out blurbs of nonsense in such rapid meaningless statements. A portion of his delinquent mind believing that it was simply things made by alcohol influenced suggestions rather than fact. If it weren’t for the way Juliette’s features took on a rather cute red hue, he might have been inclined to believe it was just ramblings of an addled psyche.
But the evidence of something a little more deep rose in those coloured cheeks. Complimented by the thinning of stare and hand making a gavel like slap upon the surface. Looking down to see if there might be an imprint from how hard she smack it.
“Oh damn,” The nattering little audience added her own voice here, a little more into this than she probably should be.
And maybe he shouldn’t be smirking so confidently either! As she was quick to rise up to hack away at the arrangement that had originally been their reasoning to come together. Maybe it was because even if she wasn’t happy with him, she wasn’t off the mark. She had originally made him setup the proposal to make it all look so authentic. When it wasn’t. Though he would hardly call this a fight.
More, him being a petulant little shit disturber and her being caught having to deal with the petulant little shit disturber! If he was supposed to be ruffled, he wasn’t showing it. At least not outwardly but his mind was already working on things, which had to remind the rest of his body not to start snickering when she was resulting to a sound effect to convey her upset. “You know love,” He decided to risk it for the biscuit, “Rather than telling me what I should do and what I could do, perhaps you should leave it to me to do it without your input?” He asked as though it were a question.
“You are guna be a dead, dead, dead man Jordan.” Myra whispered rather loudly, “So dead.”
A look in her direction was enough to have her take another drink, “You don’t have to decide everything that happens.” He understood now why she would want a proper proposal but surely she didn’t have to tell him how to do it. Or that he ought too, he’d like to think that should she have just said it as she did now as to why, he’d come to arrange something where it would be done properly. Instead of being told to do it her way. “Let me ask you my fuming queen, have I led you so far to believe that I wouldn’t think ahead to your care or what you might like or even need without prompting?” There was surely instances thus far that he had proven he could think of her wellbeing firstly over his own.
Though he wouldn’t be too bothered if she thought otherwise. Another sip to the mug before he spared a hand to reach up and point at nothing in the air. “Also, this coming Friday… I have a charity event that will require your radiance. If you can allow me such a luxury that is and if you can put up with your future impish husband for an entire evening.”
“Dead dead man.” Came the repeat. Just that he seemed to have enough of that and Myra went suddenly plopping onto the ground once her chair had flung itself out from under her bottom. Merely only stopping the cup itself from falling to crash into a spray of ceramic on the floor. “Ow!“
“Oh no, you’ve fallen. Let me… not help you up.” He glared over the top of the counter at her, making a few extra gestures to roll the stool further away from her.
“Don’t you take it out on your shamrock assistant,” Juliette shot back, pointing an accusing finger at him. Dead man was right! “And don’t you dare try to weasel and twist words as if had told you how to go about it from the start! I said I deserved one, not that you should do it! And then you dare throw my words back at me!”
Juliette grabbed her plate, still only half eaten so far, as well as her fork and for the tiniest of moments it looked as if she might’ve chucked both straight for his head.
“I don’t want or need your pity proposal. Consider yourself off the hook!” she declared, waving the fork at him, ready to maybe lunge, but instead swiftly took her breakfast with her and stomped away towards the exit and right through the threshold.
Only for a second later, to stalk back, still just as furious.
“I will see you on Friday for the event, you clueless bastard! If I don’t decide to leave forever as you so righteously deserve!”
Shamrock! Why hadn’t he thought of that one, though she was clearly not lucky. Sitting on the floor rubbing her abused butt from the cued fall from her ivory stool! Where he was still possibly thinking of ways to make sure Myra kept her screamer shut, the whole angry affianced demanded more of an focal point. With finger aimed and fury ready to be unleashed like a typhoon; Jordan became a slightly attentive audience. Not so much from a terrifying fear but a little due to innate curiosity. Wondering if she was really mad at him or was mad at the fact that she might have felt something towards him that she didn’t originally sign up for.
And that it was revealed. Not only to herself, but to him now. Unable to take back the words.
Well, she could take them back. After all, she owed him nothing.
Still Juliette made her haughty claims about how he wasn’t allowed to throw choice words back or that she had stated that she deserved one. Idly questioning whether or not she expected him to get all fiery in reply just to start an argument that really had no reason to be. And with a flurry of heated ire she declared that any proposal now would be only seen as a pity arrangement, so she suggested he was off the hook. If he was a naïve man, he might have believed that. He didn’t get to be this age simply believing such things when they were being yelled at him with a fork looking ready to be a jousting lance!
With a stomping exit –he wondered if Hannah could hear any of this and hoped the woman’s head couldn’t for its own suffering- till she popped back in a moment later. Telling him effectively that she really had taken on the appearance of a steamed vegetable. Just broiled right through. Threatening him so easily that all it would take was this for her to decide to get up and leave as he righteously deserved.
So dramatic.
Then a silence came over the kitchen as he slowly curbed vision to rest on Myra having now adjusted to sit cross-legged on the floor. Seemingly staring at the doorway to assure if there would be another reappearance. Leaving them to bate on the tenuous quiet before she broke it. “I do like her. You are going to have your hands full though,” He hummed a little knowingly, “Was that really necessary though, you know the whole retort?”
“Probably not but I can’t say I am entirely devoid of being goaded when I feel like I am being put into a box.” He hummed slightly before wandering around to grab the stool he had stolen from Myra. “Are you just going to sit there, I do have some work to get done and you are unfortunately required for that.”
“Yeah yeah yeah…”
Juliette wondered if marriage was worth it. She’d stalked all the way to her office to finish her breakfast, so that if Jordan dared to follow her into what was designated as her space she’d have ample reason to grab a fire poker and beat him over the head with it. In fact, now that she knew he was a vampire, she could likely to so with gusto with no fear of accidentally killing her dear fiancé!
Jordan being a vampire might be a different sort of issue than she ever thought. Naturally her first concerns had been towards the dangers and whether or not he could be a murderous psychopath with little respect for human (or vampire for that matter!) life. Juliette hadn’t considered that maybe he didn’t have actual feelings at all. That his hesitancy about someone caring for him might not be that he felt he couldn’t be loved but that he could never reciprocate. Care for something he valued as his, perhaps, but never actually love.
She wished she hadn’t said anything at all. Juliette didn’t need him to love her back – she could be content with the life they were building without feelings ever being involved. Yet, now it was out there and he seemed to think there was nothing wrong with dragging her through the coals about it! Juliette could play and tease and have a sense of humor about many things, but this cut a little too deep. And he, in all his Kingly Wisdom, didn’t seem to think he’d done anything offensive at all!
Even long after she’d finished her breakfast, Juliette remained sequestered in her office, dreaming up all sorts of wicked petty things she could do in retaliation. Plotting the potential of giving him the silent treatment all the way until the charity event he mentioned. (Despite being as mad as she was, she wouldn’t wreck what he worked so hard for!) She’d even considered leaving the house altogether, taking up residence in the hotel for a few days to prove that she wouldn’t let him mistreat her the way he liked to harass his minions!
At least she had some respite from her thoughts when she set her attention to casually browsing up the world’s most eligible bachelors on Hannah’s behalf. That didn’t last for long though, as she even considered meeting every single gentleman in a test date of sorts without mentioning that was what it was for, and imagining that might teach Jordan a lesson too! Until she realized he was just as likely to eat those gentleman should she actually manage to go too far in earning his ire.
After a time, Juliette figured it was important to make sure Hannah was still alive, and that Myra’s pickle brine idea could be put to the test. If at least to get something in Hannah’s stomach. She could manage a couple pieces of buttered toast without setting the kitchen on fire as well, so with a bit of hesitation when she first peered out of her office looking for signs of undead life, she went about doing just that.
Had she asked him point blank if he was capable of feeling anything, she might be surprised that he was. Even after so long he had yet to shirk entirely the parts that still could be labeled human! After all, if he couldn’t feel anything at all, he wouldn’t have been so aptly worried about her attending the Iron Dog. Or felt a heated anger towards her ex for appearing like a worm out of a sidewalk crack! Amusement, melancholy… all of it was still very real for him. And he wasn’t so daft that he could say he felt nothing towards her either but he wouldn’t call it love.
And he had some history with the emotion regardless of his current station in life. Just it had been a lengthy time since he had any experience with it.
The only difference in all this that he could see was he had no reason to go about fighting things that he personally felt were futile. And perhaps it was those thoughts that led him to be admittedly sharper with playing with the emotion that might as well be considered ancient history. Knowing somewhere in his head that his intention wasn’t to toy with Juliette but he wasn’t going to tiptoe around it either.
For now the topic on his mind was pushed to the side. Not so ignorant to think that he might be unaffected by whatever thoughts may have crossed Juliette’s mind –slightly believing that her mentality was still skewed to a fight and make the other suffer for their own actions – suspecting he might be in for some style of treat later. Much akin to an angry cat that felt they had been disrespected. Enough to pee in someone’s shoe if they had to make their point known!
She might have been on the prowl to evade himself for now, she’d be given some luck. At least in the aspect of missing vampire as the space to his office was open. No sign of life within with either punk rock star or spoopy mythological beast. At least at first, she’d find her first sign of existence in the shape of Myra coming up from downstairs. Pausing to look at the lady of the manor, before holding up a hand. “Just grabbing some notes the king needs, I wasn’t even here.” Myra smirked playfully.
“Nothing to fear from me, Myra, you are not a raven-haired pain in the ass,” she started off huffing. But, as said, Myra was not the object of her frustrations. Juliette wasn’t even angry as much as her feelings had been offended, and what was there to do about that? She’d dug herself into this hole, knowing fully well it was stupid to have feelings in general! Now she’d just have to suffer through it.
“Feel free to vex him a little more than usual on my behalf, as much as you dare, in any case,” commented Juliette once crossing her arms. Despite the statement, her countenance was far more relaxed than it had been hours ago. Even her headache had long since faded.
“I was going to do a little nursing for Hannah and after I may escape His Royal Majesty for evening. Dinner somewhere quiet and devoid of vampires. Gods, how do you deal with them Myra! Aside from Dominic, they’re either staring me down beyond their condescending noses, or just being blatantly offensive!”
If she wanted to know if there was still some anger, well the commentary certainly provided a view on that! Provided swiftly with the way the fellow human woman had declared her distaste in seconds. Which admittedly she might have found a bit amusing to giggle at. Solidifying her steps on the foundation of the first level as to approach the other. Mostly cause she would have to slip by to go into the office of the raven-haired pain in the ass. “Oh I don’t need permission for that. Though if my butt is guna keep being dropped on the floor, my tailbone isn’t going to appreciate my ability to annoy the shit out of Jordy.” She smirked, even rubbing her rump for good measure.
Thankfully a bruise bum was probably the most she would ever suffer from Jordan. She’d known him her entire life and besides him proving to have a temperamental fuse, he wasn’t prone to actually hurting people. More of a older brother mentality that he’d come in, harass her and then leave with potentially flipping an object over just because she’d have to clean it.
Which she always repaid in kind.
It seemed that Juliette was somewhat calmer at least physically showing as such. Verbally? Probably not.
Just that she paused at the threshold to look at Juliette with her honest question. “I mean they might be a little more spooky than humans are used too but a lot of them are just well… themselves. They just have a large arrangement of personalities, just like us. It’s the quiet ones you want to be scared of, vampires from my history tend to be rather blunt. Honest which I guess just comes cause they’ve been around a long time. Those who sit quietly and just seem to be that sort of otherworldly unnerving at the ones I find are the biggest dangers.” Though something caused her to pause which she let her stare linger on the other. “So here’s a question which you don’t have to answer,” A hand rotated through the air then for something to do, “Why are you getting married if Jordan already is driving you up the wall? If you already want to run away, do you think that you ought to stay in a relationship that is going to have humps, bumps and potholes like any relationship would?”
Myra shrugged, “I come from a pretty happy family. My parents still love another –gross right- but there is always one thing I had to admire was even though my mother married into this whole supernatural stuff with my dad; they stuck together. Sure they’d piss another off but the moment you start needing to run away from another because you are angry, is the moment you should ask yourself should you even stay? But you do you. And if you go out for the evening, try somewhere low key. Like a really good pizza joint, great for a night after binging and learning private secrets.” She smiled then before shuffling on, “Where the fuck was that folder…” She muttered to herself having already forgotten where Jordan told her it was.
“You’re a perceptive minx,” responded Juliette, giving Myra a new sort of appraisal. There may have been eternal ties with her family and Jordan, but it seemed her being his assistant wasn’t just from obligation. Myra had a smart head on her shoulders, under all of that wildly colored hair.
Shifting with one arm wrapped around her waist and her dominant hand reaching up to tap her own chin gently, Juliette did consider her words.
“I’m not running away from him, rather… for him? If that makes any sense. It is hard to control my temper, especially in the case of someone so obtuse, that he often thinks I am upset when I am not, and then cannot seem to handle it when I am. And I cannot tell if it’s because he is so used to having this only his way at his speed that he doesn’t stop to think someone else has a different perspective, or if he is actually quite sensitive and assumes that a bit of fighting means everything is soon to end at it’s worst. Either way, if he can’t handle me shouting at him, it is best I go simmer elsewhere until I can stop seething.”
Juliette finally sighed, squeezing her eyes shut as she tilted her head back and let her arms go limp. Myra had a point! Was this really what Juliette wanted for the rest of her life?
“We could be happy,” she muttered first. “…but I also did not mean to confess anything so soon. I’ve barely gotten use to it myself, let alone now having to deal with how he handles it! I swear, the vampire nonsense is so much easier to manage!”
“That’s my middle name. Myra perceptive Minx Castiel.” Pulling fingers through the air as she declared the value of such a claim. Though at this rate she just might actually use it! Surely it would annoy more than just Jordan. Oh what fun.
But of course she seemed invested enough to ask a question of a broader spectrum simply to see what thoughts it might provoke. Although she hadn’t expected an immediate reply which caused her to stop walking once more. It was rude to walk away from so she stopped. Pivoting on foot so she was facing the other woman as she expressed she wasn’t running away from Jordan per say. Waiting a moment to hear all the facts before humming as she took it in.
“Okay from my perspective here’s my opinion. You stated it is hard to control your temper in front of someone who is well as blunt as a rock through your window.” She narrowed an eye as with a slight lean in, “Both of you came into this under the assumption it was to be a contractual marriage. No affection, no love all that stuff. So taking that into account, Jordan is going to behave as he normally does and you will behave as you normally do. Just now things have changed. You confessed in a way that you care and he in turn is doing it his own way by letting you know the worst thing he dislikes about himself. You think he likes being a vampire for like centuries?” She asked mostly rhetorically. “You could be happy but Juliette, you both came into this as a contract. You didn’t date another to learn about each other slowly. So of course it’s frustrating. What you see in him and things he sees in you has no filter. No learning experience. Both of you just jumped in head first. But that’s not the end all, be all.”
Pointing towards the floor then, “He’s been alive for eons. Existing in a position where he has been kinda a slave for a while and then a leader for the rest. Alone. So its natural that he probably doesn’t think of sharing anything and tends to do things at his own speed because he’s never had that person to rely on. Then you, you’ve come from my knowledge a rather complex homelife. With a family that mostly shipped you off to their wants and did what they wanted while forgetting about, then pairing on your ex who is seemingly a wingnut, I don’t think either you or Jordan have gotten to know another.” She made another open arm gesture, “Jordan doesn’t have anyone besides the flings to base any affection off of to know how to treat you, he needs to be guided. Similarily, you had David who was from what I read so far a pretty miserable person. And you are treating Jordan in the same value that you might treat David, with anger. The two of you haven’t done the dating scene to grow and adapt to what another needs. There’s nothing wrong with liking another, goodness girl. He might be a vampire but the fact he trusts you enough to let you know what he is, has to be a good sign. Just he’s daft when it comes to deeper care. You can’t expect him to know what to do when you don’t teach him and vice versa. It’s time you both learn and talk. Rather than him being all smug and you getting all huffy. Neutral grounds, lay out your cards.”
Scratching her head a second Myra let out a soft cackle, “It may not seem like it Juliette, but Jordan does care. As someone who has known him for a long time, if he didn’t care… he wouldn’t even call you by your name. Let alone affectionately denote pet names. It’s small things that get overlooked sometimes. And well I hate to say it, him mentioning your confession so crudely was probably his way of stupidly expressing that he was interested. Just be glad he doesn’t pull your hair like some little school boy.”
Juliette never thought she’d be getting sage advice from someone that looked like a lime pin cushion. However, she did stay put and listened, letting Myra’s words soak in as she mulled it about in her own head. Only shifting once or twice on her feet to cross her arms, here and there giving Myra an imperious squint of her eyes when she wasn’t so sure the young girl was correct and then to appear to take it into reconsideration when she made a point.
“I suppose in some respect, all that instant honesty and willingness to trust each other has now backfired. We assume we know everything we need to know and forget we skipped so many steps. I really thought those steps were unimportant. If we trust each other, why bother with all the little things…”
Well, it was hard to stay angry when it was all put into context like this. Though, Juliette still found it frustrating she was the one always having to bend and adjust first, to be patient with Jordan’s multiple lifetimes of bad habits. Despite Myra’s insight to him, Juliette wasn’t sure he was ever going to figure it out!
But in the meantime… she wasn’t willing to give up on him either. She would at least try her best. Despite all his nonsense, something about Jordan made it worth the effort.
“Alright, alright, you have made your points,” Juliette admitted with a wave of her hand, allowing the girl to escape at her will. “But I am still going to leave this house for dinner and let him twist in the wind until bed time! Pizza seems like a good enough idea and I can bring some home to soak up Hannah’s Tequila Nightmares.”
Why bother with the little things?
She smirked at that, “Without the little things, how can you appreciate the big things?” Who knew some of her father’s preachy wisdom would come in handy. Maybe not for herself but others? Absolutely. And why wouldn’t she say this to Jordan, because unlike Juliette, he had a talent for shooing her out the door whether she wanted too or not! Not that he wouldn’t listen but he was a dodo when he wasn’t in the mood to hear.
Still there came a honest to goodness laugh when she was suddenly being dismissed. “Spoken already like a vampire queen,” Going ahead to arrange a curtsey at her, “My lady.” Making it sound entirely insincere as she was intending it to be. Snorting for an added effect till she was looking up and rolling her eyes at the suggestion of twisting in the wind. “God you’re both so dumb.” There was not even an effort to cover that one up, watching a moment longer to be sure her commentary had been heard before agreeing to the idea of Juliette going out for the evening. Now the fun part was she would know but like hell she was going to tell Jordan about it. He could find out with Juliette’s absence and maybe that would give the woman the sort of reaction she wanted.
Clearly she wanted something dramatic like Jordan somehow storming to find her. Maybe more so, it was not easy to tell. Nor was it her place to do so, “Get some good ‘za for me in spirit!” She offered once she slipped through the open door way into the study, thankfully her memory of the folder was given a break. Snatching the item off the desk to come trotting back out, “We’ll be downstairs in the library if you need us.” Maybe not so aware that Juliette didn’t know that downstairs was well… something of the sort. “I’ll make sure Jordan gets a drink in too so maybe he won’t be so fussy later.” Like a baby, ha!
Cheeky girl. Luckily, Juliette took her comments in stride, giving an easy laugh despite being insulted right to her face. In this case Myra might’ve had the right of it. She and Jordan both had quite a few things to learn!
It wasn’t until Juliette had walked away and Myra had disappeared downstairs that Juliette stopped in her tracks.
Downstairs… in the library!
Oh, the sneaky bastard! He really did have the best of secrets hidden down there! What an almost irresistible temptation to give up on her time alone, to instead go downstairs and explore what must be an extraordinary collection of books. Juliette was still not sure exactly how old Jordan could be – a hundred years and more? There must be all sorts of wonderful tomes down there hidden away!
Blast it. That treat would have to be saved for another day.
With the daydreams of a hidden library now taking precedence in her mind, Juliette dropped in on Hannah upstairs for a few minutes to make sure she was still breathing. She encouraged the girl to get up and take a hot bubble bath, and if she felt up to it, to wander downstairs and review the folder of potential future husbands Juliette had begun to put together.
Once she was satisfied that her friend would be alright for the time being, Juliette called herself up a car to drop her off in town. Now not just with pizza on the agenda, but perhaps toying about with the idea of stepping into a bookstore and finding a peace offering for Jordan.
It wasn’t particularly often that Elisa would call, let alone express that she would be taking an extra few days off. Nor was it in his usual behaviour to expect the housekeeper to fret about not being back that night because as she expressed, was helping out her daughter with the grandchildren while being ill. With a great deal more of consoling than he thought he might ever need to expend on the elderly woman –less she think he was going to take her out back and make her cut her own switch to beat her with for missing a day- it took him certainly long enough to express that it was fine. That she was already a dedicated worker. Knowing that she might be fretting more over the fact that dinner wouldn’t be served but he hardly thought much of it.
He personally wasn’t helpless in the kitchen –even though he didn’t eat the food that often save for presentation when necessary- but he knew what he was doing! And as Myra stated, if she was hungry she could always order in.
Which he had to only consider her while they sat in the cool basement to wonder just what sort of messy arrangement of a meal she would order. No doubt a type that would have her promptly booked out of the space before she could ruin any of the books here! Many of them more valuable than her entire life!
The space itself was thankfully clean. Something he took pride in even as the hearth nearby was alight with a flowering orange and red. Safely guarding the rest of the space behind its iron covering to avoid stray sparks from jumping out to ruin pretty much everything that he had collected over his years! Liable to make him properly lose his very mind if the action came to be! Every vampire had a particular quirk about themselves and he was clearly meant to be a librarian in some sort of life or a very snobby book collector for the way he treated them like precious children. More likely to kill someone over them than anything else!
“So, Vienna is still where Alyssa wants to meet?” Myra asked as she lounged across the leather upholstery of chair like she had never been taught how to sit in one. Arms off one side, legs across the other.
“Yes, it’s just a meeting. Nothing sealed or concrete as of yet. Since if we comply with the merger that will have Rosendey and the Avantage aligning together, we still need Juliette’s shipping company to properly finalize it all. Can’t ship things of their quality anywhere without a good strong company that is willing to take that sort of claim.” He had slightly envied Alyssa for branching her path into the pharmaceutical wing of the new age. Developing items that were both good for the mortal kind for their benefit and to work in ways that assured her own coven was properly fed. The woman was clever and he wished he had spent more time investing in her smarts years ago. “Just first we need to get the shipping company stable and for Juliette to do her work as she wishes too.”
“Which is why Rosendrey did the whole large scale loan or whatever to assure they can start fixing up the company.” Myra asked being sure she had this all straight.
“Yes.”
“Hmm…. Interesting. A lot of back and forth if you ask me.”
“Good thing I wasn’t asking you.” In reply she gave a hard snort, “What time is it?” Knowing he could have looked at his own watch or phone but felt he might as well just ask since Myra was just right there. Looking at her own phone.
“Quarter to seven. You’ve successfully hung out in your basement like some moody teenager for more than five hours, good job!”
“The things that amuse you, will never cease to amaze me.” Though his attention rose to the closed door of the space. It had gotten a bit later and he hadn’t exactly paused long enough while organizing all the things he would need for this meeting with Alyssa to stop and consider the glaring part that well, he hadn’t seen Juliette for a while. Nor did he know if her guest was still alive, though he figured she had to be. Then again, she did state formally that she would be busy with her own things so if he thought about needing to check on her it felt mostly fruitless. Simply more of a bother. “What are you smirking at?” Like he could damn well feel her grin on his shoulder.
“Nothing. You just seem suddenly more alert and quizzical to the fact that you’ve been down here allllll day and not even a interruption.”
Straightening back with an audible crack that was moved to be repeated to neck, stroking palm across the plain. “I wouldn’t expect an interruption since I haven’t shown anyone how to open this space besides you and Felix.”
“O…oh. Hmm so… so Juliette doesn’t know what is down here.” Head was shaken, “She might now. I dropped it earlier when she said she was going out tonight. Sooo… yeah. Surprise.”
“God you’re an idiot. I’m surprised you can manage to breath involuntarily!”
“I can’t believe you’re going to make me answer that big heavy door myself,” complained Hannah, cheerfully through Juliette’s tiny phone speaker. “In this time of my most dire hour.”
“If you can wander all the way downstairs to my office, you can stumble your way to the door. You’ll be glad you did. They make the mozzarella in house and it was all quite good. I made sure there are some breadsticks and those little stuffed mushrooms.”
“I don’t even like mushrooms, those are your favorite! I thought you were bringing it all back with you, are you still out being a raging dragon?”
Juliette scoffed.
“I’m not a raging dragon, you mean little duck. I did find this lovely used bookstore, though, and meant to find a book or two to charm Jordan and I got a bit distracted,” she admitted with a mutter.
The used bookstore was a good several blocks away from the small pizza place she’d enjoyed a quiet vampire free dinner, and well worth the walk. Fresh air had perked up her spirits and she kind of liked the idea of seeing if she could find the perfect book to dazzle Jordan with, even if she were mad at him. Myra’s lecture had done it’s job in getting her to realize there was a lot of dazzling to be done. To go back to the beginning and actually attempted to date her fiancé.
It was absurd, really, but she’d discovered a nice store she’d never been in before! So this was a win already. Juliette was going to end up walking out with a few volumes for herself as well at this rate.
“Put the mushrooms in the kitchen for me, I’ll be home soon enough,” grumbled Juliette – until she made a soft excited oh! and snatched up a dusty old leather bound thing to flip through the pages. Jordan must’ve had all manner of things in his library, and could possibility already own anything she could ever think of… but there was something very special about finding an old copy of something that had little notes scribbled in the margins, giving thoughts and insights to owners of the past. A little window into someone else’s relationship with a book.
“If you take too long I’m going to start snooping around your house, fair warning. Places like this always have secret attics and passageways in the walls. Did you find anything neat when you did up the office?”
“Nothing you can get into,” she answered. No need to mention the secret basement with the secret library. If anyone would be just as curious to immediately go snooping down there, it would be Hannah. And so far, the girl hadn’t mentioned any of the strange vampire things from last night, so Juliette was fairly secure in knowing that Hannah didn’t know anything. At least nothing too dangerous for her.
“Just eat and drink some water. And don’t snoop. If you do stumble into Jordan tell him I’ll be there shortly. Well. If he asks.” she grumbled, doubting he even would!
“It’d be more fun to tell him you’ve ran away to be a feral wolf in the woods.”
“As if anyone would believe I could survive without running water,” laughed Juliette. “Behave. He already has his Myra there to vex him, he doesn’t need another.”
No matter how much that amused Juliette to imagine Jordan, world weary, surrounded by a couple of pesky girls. At least until he were frustrated enough to chuck them both in the fireplace. Goodness, maybe she should get home a bit quicker than she thought.
Eventually his curiosity was too strong to remain within the super secret hidey hole slash library of his juvenile dreams. Peeking out from the space that had been the space where plenty of otherworldly dealings happened alongside keeping the blacked out bottles of more than just a good vintage year under seal; Myra had naturally attached herself to his backside. Creeping out one he had made sure the coast was clear out of pure habit and she followed suit. Tugging the shelve made door closed with an audible click coming back to announce that it was all locked up.
Idly checking the particular item that appeared as just a generic knickknack that acted as the handle for unlocking the door, to make sure it was still as it should be. As everything on the shelf was. Knowing better than to leave only one thing clean on it as it would simply signal which one article on it was the correct piece. Always reminded of stupid movies where secret places were found because the dumb fuckwit hadn’t cleaned the whole space to avoid it.
It was no surprise he didn’t like such movies. He couldn’t handle how stupid some people were made to be. Common sense was more of a fairytale than he was!
“The old man is curious to when you will be appearing to darken his doorway.” Myra spoke up –not even sure when she had tugged her phone out of pocket again. Urging him to glance down at her or rather her phone to see the glaring message of Arthur declaring exactly that. When is Jordan planning on darkening my doorway.
“Well that’s rude.” Staring at the bubble, “You’d think with the length of time I’ve spent around your father, he ought to be sending me gift-baskets for putting up with you. At least to keep me from begging for him to return to my confident than his snot nosed annoying brat of a broccoli head daughter.”
“You love me and you know it.” Fingers flew across the screen panel with ease, somehow managing to walk and text at the same time. Only affirming his thoughts that Myra was a freak of nature… even if he stepped back to let her ascend the stairs first. By no means preparing to catch her if her dumb feet caught the lip of the stairs because she wasn’t paying attention and fell backwards. And if anyone asked if he gave a shit, they were liars! “And sent…”
“Sent… sent what?” Asking as soon as he was sure she was firm on the ground once more, giving her a light push to move out of his way. Letting his gaze idly glimpse about the house in a way that may or may not have been curious to the absence of a certain someone.
“Just to pops. You know, told him that if he wants to talk to you, he knows where you live.”
“Great… I enjoy being preached at by Arthur. It’s my favorite.” God he wished he didn’t say anything for the look that appeared on Myra’s face was practically telling the devil not to be evil. “Myra, whatever you are thinking. Don’t.” Round hazels looked at him. Holding her phone in front of her with all the conspiratorially presentation ever imaginable. “I swear to all that is holy,”
She grinned and madly started typing. “What… What are you doing!” Was this terror he felt! Surely not! Though he had this overwhelming urge to slap her phone out of her hand. If he didn’t know how expensive they were to fix or replace, he just might have! And just like that as they stood at the maw of the downstairs, he felt dread overcome him. “What did you do?”
That impish grin was something of a hellish arrangement. “Simply told him that you were getting married and really could use some counseling of a successful married man.”
“Of all the evil things you could do! This by far is the worst!” Not that she seemed to care, if anything she looked rather proud of this fact.
“You could use a father figure,”
“You could use some soap in your mouth!” Horrid ideas, “Don’t you have any other place to be than in my house harassing me with your demented plots. I have better things to think about like that of my currently absent fiancée, not a… talk with Arthur. Good god, you’ve damned me.”
“And that’s for being a bonehead.” Making a check through the air like this was a plan all along.
“So what’s down there?” announced Hannah from the foyer.
At least during some point of the day she’d taken that bubble bath, so she was fresh faced and clean, but she wasn’t exactly dressed. Somehow being comfortable enough to be wandering around the manor house in an oversized t-shirt and a pair of bunny slippers. One could only pray that she was also wearing underwear.
With wide eyes peering curious at them both, and a slight lean to see the basement door, she also seemed to be precariously balancing a small pizza box, her iPad, and takeout bag atop them both. The aromas hinting at spicy tomato sauce, freshly baked bread, and parmesan.
She wrinkled up her nose then with the most amused, knowing expression.
“I see. You’re looking for our missing lady fair. You won’t find her doing laundry, that’s for sure.”
Then with a brightened smile at Myra, she shifted her bundle of goodies to one arm to wave.
“Hello! We haven’t met yet, I’m Hannah Lucas. The new new lady of the house. Are you hungry? You can eat Juliette’s mushrooms, it’d serve her right for running off to have fun without me.”
“What!” They both seemed to have the same response when another voice came between them. Turning to look towards the foyer like a couple of poorly articulated goons to stare at the woman seemingly missing the lower half of her attire. Seemingly just right at home with really no further reason that she either was just as cuckoo as some other people he knew or Hannah just was easily made comfortable in strange places. Which truly he wasn’t going to bother thinking about.
Just that his attention vaguely altered to look at the arrangement of items she was balancing, and then speaking with an expression he was sure he didn’t exactly like. Glancing down in the basement. “You never know,” Jordan decided to follow along with Hannah’s suggestion that Juliette might be down doing laundry. “Or at least, I never know.”
How did he get so outnumbered in his own house. So much estrogen!
“Hannah Lucas, pleasure. Myra Castiel! I guess we will be walking down the aisle together come next week.” Pinching the bridge of his nose as Myra decided that was how she was going to introduce herself, he might have become a praying man this very second. “Though the new new lady part is interesting! I didn’t think Jordan could handle more than one clever dame, though I don’t think he is even doing that part correctly.”
Mouth parted ready to snap off some retort but he just clamped his mouth shut just as quickly. “If you are going to insist on sticking around to be a thorn up my ass, then do as you please.” He gave Myra a look that might have finally decided he was finished with just alllll of this. “Please help yourself to whatever you wish Hannah within the kitchen. Myra, don’t be a pest any more than you already are.” Stepping back with a extraction of himself from their meet and greet.
“Where are you going?” She asked then.
“To fucking work out or something! I need to think without your mere existence upon my neck.” Yes he knew the words he selected was poorly chosen but at this rate, he was content to leave the hens clucking and him to decide if he could turn into a bat and fly into the sun. Who knew at this point! “Don’t let my existence bother you.”
“Oh it doesn’t.” Chuckling easily, Myra grinned at Hannah. “Did Juliette at least have a nice time out by herself, even if she abandoned you?”
There he went, the tall, dark, and handsome lord of the house. In such a fury that Hannah could only watch with her green eyes blinking wide, until he vanished to where ever he thought he could brood best.
Hannah immediate burst into joyful laughter that seemed to make it’s way all the way down to where she stumbled two steps sideways from the force of it.
“I love him! He doesn’t have a clue about what to do with her at all, does he!” gesturing with her shoulder, she beckoned Myra to follow her. “Join me in the kitchen, best not give his lordship anything else to huff about else he grow horns and terrorize the night.”
Hannah truly had no idea how close to the truth that statement actually was.
“Should’ve known if she left to a bookstore by herself that she’d get lost and not come back. I write them and I have sense enough to check my watch now and then. At least they’ll kick her out at closing.”
In the kitchen Hannah set own her bundle of goodies on the counter and proceeded to go adventuring through the cabinets without any sense of shame. She peeped in the pantry, the drawers, and cabinets themselves until she found a nice variety of snacks and a plate or two. The fridge received the same treatment, where she briefly debating chilled white wine until the memories of that morning’s hangover changed her mind. A bottle of ice cold sparkling water it was!
“Are you really Jordan’s Best Lady then? That’s pretty neat! I don’t know what sort of groomsman thing Jordan is going for, but my dress is this soft seafoamy green if you’d like to match.”
It was an infectious sound that bid her to easily join in. Not so hard but certainly daring not to spare a breath for less than a cackle at the sheer fact that all of this came together about as well as one might have guessed. Although she would take pleasure knowing that throughout the day she had eventually succeeded annoying the king to finally take flight away from her. It wasn’t often she won but she savoured every minute of it, even if she was withholding the comment that he might be more bothered about Juliette’s absence than he wanted to admit.
And she didn’t want to suddenly know what it felt like to be a javelin either if she pushed those buttons. “Not a one. But I don’t think either of them know what to do with another. It’s like a pair of headless chickens,” Remarked the other seeming having no loyalty in the sense of suggesting otherwise. Vouching for the goodness of each when truly, they were their own worst enemies rather than another.
Lips curled into a crooked beam, “I don’t think I want to give him a reason to go all snorting bull on us.” There was no reason for her to go home quite yet, especially now that she got to put a face to the maid of honour. Happily tagging along as she raised a bit of a brow, “A bookstore. Oh god, they’re both book dorks.” As if that was truly the worst thing in the world, though she wasn’t so daft not to notice the way she expressed that she wrote them. “And a book dork’s best friend is a writer. Yeah that tracks. Surprised Jordan hasn’t been dogging at your side out of his love for such things. Must be trying to really behave or he is that bothered that Juliette bailed.” Still lips curled some further, “Unless she hides in a corner somewhere. You can’t kick out what you don’t find.”
Was that a good idea, probably not. Though she wasn’t here to offer good ideas!
With cupboards raided and her butt returned to a stool that wouldn’t be flying out from underneath once more, Myra only glanced to her phone once. Purely out of habit, “I am. He might be all snarky and bitchy right now, but his practically the brother I never wanted and tried to return at xmas time. I am sure he would have asked Felix, but that guy does not do people. Conveniently working the day of the wedding, so I am sure he arranged that to avoid being in public. So it’ll be even more of an unconventional wedding that what’s already coming together.” Helping herself to arrange the food out for ease of snatching, there came a thought about the dress the other was to wear. “I’ll keep that in mind. Suppose I ought to keep myself somewhat reasonable and presentable. Though admittedly, I had no idea what colour theme they were going for. It’s not like Jordan has been forthcoming and I’d rather avoid upsetting Juliette. The look she gave him this morning, I thought I was going to be caught in the crossfire! But he did piss her off something fierce, thought I might witness a divorce before the wedding!”
“I didn’t think they would even get this far! Queen Judgey McJudgerson tends to decide whether or not she likes someone in those fifteen minutes of meeting them, and if you’re on the bad end of the stick, it’s off to the dungeons with you.” she laughed about the whole thing, as if it weren’t really anything to be concerned about at all.
Once Hannah got herself a glass full of ice for her water, she plopped her own tush down on a stool and got to raiding the pizza box.
“They’re too much alike, I bet. Like looking in a mirror and seeing yourself and everything you’re afraid of and getting spooked.”
She demolished half a piece of pizza in one very large bite, using that time her mouth was too full to talk to dig out a couple breadsticks and pour her water into her glass of ice. For a second she tilted her head, considering the objects of their conversation carefully. By the time she swallowed and slid the pizza box over to Myra, she had her train of thought back on track.
“You know, I’m not surprised that they’re both phoning in the wedding itself. Juliette doesn’t really like big public spectacles, she really only hosts them because rich people love giving their money to people who host parties. To be honest, if she does a runner I doubt it’ll be because of Jordan. She lights up when she talks about him, and by the way he’s having his tantrum he for sure adores her. More likely she’ll start thinking about all those people staring at her and think jumping off the boat and drowning will be a better alternative.”
Hannah leaned toward Myra with a conspiratorial whisper.
“She is an over protective mother monster, but she is so much more squishy than me! An absolute baby!”
“Honestly, same. I thought for sure that well the first few minutes would have been a complete disaster. Though from what I heard, it wasn’t exactly smooth sailing either.” Of course Felix could have told her that the restaurant had exploded into fire with the two of them snarling like a cat and dog. She hadn’t been there so honestly the only other witness could have spun her a yarn to whatever degree he thought he could safely get away with. Which with how things had been with the two, maybe Felix had been pulling her leg. She’d never know otherwise! Yet she too had to ponder about the Judgey McJudgerson comment wondering if that was a Juliette defense mechanism. To develop a first impression on those few seconds to protect herself. It seemed possible even if it might not have been the whole truth.
With her thoughts ruminating on that a moment, she took the chance to follow in Hannah’s footsteps. Helping herself up to raid the fridge for a some of that sparkling water though forwent the whole glass part. Keeping the bottle as the item to drink from, “They have similarities, that much is for certain. Though they have good differences too that I think they could learn from.” At least that was the hope. If she had anything to go by with watching her parents marriage for the last twenty four years –minus the parts she couldn’t recall as a eating pooping dumb baby- she noticed how they balanced another. Where one’s weaknesses were the other’s strengths. Working together, but it didn’t happen overnight. She knew that. Heard enough tales to understand that just because you married someone, didn’t mean it was perfect. Marriage took work to make it function! And that by all means it was the greatest and worst job someone could ever have.
As the box was slid towards her with no further need to take the invite to snatch a piece for her greedy gullet, eyes could have gotten lost in her own head for how hard she was rolling them. “Jordan is the same. Hates large events, I think he’d rather have a arm or leg amputated. But deals with them when they have to happen but you’ll watch him go from charming host to grouchy old codger as the night wears on.” Liable to bite someone just to make them go away. Yet she had to wonder on the insight about Juliette. Smirking softly in a far more affectionate way. “He does care about her, just the guy hasn’t had a real relationship in a long time. So he’s probably both clueless and probably scared of getting close to someone again. From my understanding, his last relationship didn’t end well.” Never mind the fact that his love may have been eaten by the old king. “He’s absolutely the worst critic of himself, so the way the two of them butt heads probably sets his dumb brain to worrying that he is doing something inherently wrong.”
Exactly as Juliette called it out earlier, but she couldn’t tell Juliette that she was right. Her best friend though, absolutely! This was now a hen pen where they cluck freely.
Filling her gob for a good couple appreciative bites, the idea of Juliette leaping off the boat did make her snicker. “Why do I think I need to get you a leash, Hannah. Like one of those kid backpacks that you can make her wear so you don’t have to worry about her going overboard?” Sure that Juliette might not appreciate the idea but it was comical! At least to her.
Yet as she leaned in to tell her a secret, there came a easy gasp. Not entirely faked as she didn’t know if she believed that Juliette was ever squishy or soft. The woman presented herself so strongly that she might be likely to believe that pigs could fly sooner than being convinced totally that the Bryon heiress was a mushy soul. “I actually don’t think I would ever think that of her. She’s so well… strong willed. Stands all and proud. Comes off as the type of woman that would crush skulls with a smile if she had the ability too. Do as she says sort.” Not a villain but certainly someone that didn’t tolerate anyone daring to think of doing anything against her will. Or approval.
Then again there was that similarity between the two lunkheads. The vampire king often being seen as untouchable and immovable, cruel and heartless just to get whatever he needed done.
Surely Hannah had examples of Juliette’s softer nature, much like she had many of Jordan. Able to easily recall that regardless of how they bickered like two stupid kids; he’d been one of the first people that had been involved with some of her biggest accomplishments. And sometimes her biggest failures. He was stupid, certainly but maybe squishy too.
God it was a good thing he couldn’t read minds cause he knew she thought that, he’d probably come through the wall at her now!
“Juliette’s got a strong defensive streak hmm? A fighter mentality which I guess comes from her background… maybe I am just taking a stab in the dark but, she didn’t have the best childhood, did she?” She knew some things of course but it was different coming from a person’s mouth that actually knew something. “I like her, so naturally I’m curious. And worry that she might be putting too much weight on her shoulders to be well… a wall rather than a person.”
It could’ve be assumed that Hannah had no loyalty at all – that she was nothing more than a gossiping backstabber, ready to spread all of her best friend’s private secrets with no regard at all. That couldn’t be farther from the truth! As Best Friend it was Hannah’s duty to help guide Juliette through things that she was being too stubbornly stupid to think clearly on. The woman had been Hannah’s cheerleader almost since the moment they met, so making sure she was able to settle down somewhere with people that’d take care of her was a priority.
Hannah hadn’t been able to derail her from ultimate asshole that was David Gates. Even when she’d tried her absolute best! The man had gotten his tentacles into Juliette before Hannah could do a thing, then, well. One had to contend with Juliette’s opinions and sometimes the girl insisted she was right about things even when she wasn’t and there was no changing her mind until she figured it out for herself.
Everything was so much different with Jordan! Not just in how she talked about him, but in the way she talked about herself and her own future too. Juliette was always so pessimistic about the world, hyper focused on the business and nothing else. Now she was talking about trying new things like gardening and conservatories! How neat that she’d met someone that was inspiring her to expand her horizons!
“Her parents were awful,” admitted Hannah, snatching up a breadstick to dip into some marinara. “I grew up in a bunch of foster care homes myself, and when you run into bad parents they tend to be more obviously abusive and whatnot. With the smacking and the calling you mean things. Her family is sort of insidious, as they say they love you and are doing the best for you, but everything they do is like… undermining your soul! Narcissist for sure. Like they think she is an object for them to see themselves in, but when she didn’t come out the way they wanted, they made it seem like she was ruining their lives.”
“Ugh and then David,” she practically spat. Just saying his name left such a bad taste in Hannah’s mouth that it almost ruining what was otherwise a fantastic meal!
“If her parents hadn’t sucked so hard, I doubt he’d have gotten a foothold at all! He swooped in encouraging her to be all petty and vengeful. The evil little psychopath knew exactly where to apply the praise so it’d feel all warm and fuzzy. Bah! Thank goodness she did finally realize what he was! If she’d been still on his hook when Jordan came into the picture, we wouldn’t be here at all.”
Hannah finally shrugged her shoulders.
“It’s no wonder she doesn’t really believe in love. I bet she’s actually more upset that she has feelings about Jordan at all, rather than being mad at him directly. Having icy walls is easier than being a person but she’s meeeelting. And I love it! Even if things don’t work out in the end with Jordan, I just want her to be open to it and try, you know?”
It was always different to read about someone on a bit of paper or files. It was a soulless neutral territory that didn’t offer the personal understanding that voice could from someone who knew it on either a personal level or seen it themselves. Even a little bit.
So far in her observation of Juliette, she could tell the woman had handbuilt a protect little barrier around herself. Nice and secure with the bravado needed to assure no one had even the inkling –less they were either stubborn or stupid- to try and take down what she had put her blood sweat and tears into. There was nothing truly bad she could say about the woman. Thus fair, she had quite liked Juliette since she had a brain in her skull alongside a strength to speak that very mind. But there was no hidden agenda that didn’t show that she had to be afraid of getting close to others. Because other’s could ruin what you built. Claw it apart and subject you to a pain that was so deep that it never felt like you were ever going to be whole again.
Doubly so when those cruelties came from someone you trust unconditionally. Parents… lovers… close friends.
To hear Hannah say that her parents were awful at least affirmed what she did know. But to listen to it from a inside source, it was a little more chilling than she might have shown. Idly wondering how she personally would have felt if her parents had done the same to her. Coming to a quick understanding that she most likely would feel a strong sense of loathing towards them. Not inclined to consider them as anything more than the egg and sperm donor. That they did the creation part that the rest that came with the role as parent was no longer theirs to have. They had no opinion or concern that should validate what the child would think.
Taking the crust from the pizza to similarly dip into a sauce, eyes remained situated on Hannah. As she nearly have venom dripping from her lip when she spoke David’s name. Seemed the guy had a talent for people hating him. Guy should be in politics.
“I’ve heard some things about him.” Myra admitted. Yet there was something strong about the way Hannah spoke with a conviction. Not just about David and the people that maybe shouldn’t be called parents, but how she spoke with understanding that it was probably a terrifying prospect that Juliette could have ever felt something for another person, let alone quickly for Jordan. After knowing a shirking sensation of jaded and costly affection in the formers, wouldn’t you then be naturally apprehensive to the idea that a new flicker of that flame but also be potent?
“Hmm.” Myra contemplated for a showy moment, “You’re probably right. Though I hope things actually do come together with them. Maybe cliché but they are both battered and bruised, they could certainly use another to mend the aches that aren’t so simple to do alone.” Stealing a second to make sure that at least Jordan wasn’t suddenly in the door way like a fucking serial killer, “So… you as a writer. How would you write their tale to have a decent conclusion?” She asked then wondering what sort of plots could spawn from such a mind.
Hannah threw her head back and cackled almost like the wicked witch of the west! If Jordan were still lurking somewhere in the house, he’d no doubt have been worried they pair were in the kitchen plotting something truly dastardly. Rather, Myra had asked Hannah about her absolute favorite thing ever, and she was delighted to get to talk about.
“I write romance novels… the dirty ones everyone is afraid to admit they read,” she answered, looking pleased as pie about the fact. “All my characters solve their problems with true love and tons of kinky sex, you’d think I’d know everything there was to know about relationships.”
She pressed a finger to her lips to denote a secret being shared. This time there was a little bit of a hint of embarrassment, but she grinned wide all the same.
“Truth be told, I’ve never done it myself. I’m still trying to find that perfect dream and here Juliette just stumbles into this fated romance with a weird betrothal and a dark prince. But I guess if I could write them into their perfect ending, I’d have a glorious scene in the pouring rain where they confess they can’t live without each other, and their enemies are somewhere in the background getting mauled by a wolves or something. Just for a little drama.”
Giggling, she reached out to give Myra a playful swat on the shoulder.
“I like you! The dummies need us their corner, don’t they? I’m glad he’s got someone that cares about him in his life, or I might be a little worried. Those true loners always end up being crazy.”
“Wow, I did not expect that!” She wasn’t much of a reader truthfully. She’d rather sit and watch a show or a movie than mindlessly drawn her eyes across a page and forget two seconds later just what she had read. It was truly just a time waste on her part, but she had not expected this little pixie doll like woman to express that she was a romance smut writer. Even more so surprised when this girl could cackle like no man’s business for some great Halloween house of horror’s theme but could be suddenly so softly embarrassed to say that she had never been actually involved with such actions. Pulling a narrowing eye across her to silently question if she was telling the truth.
“We clearly need to find you someone to put into practice such things.” Myra echoed no sooner, even scouring her mind to think about whom could even be up Hannah’s alley. Like she was doing the girl a solid, which strangely made her reconnect with something. Lifting a finger up to promptly point at her, “Not Augustus! I was supposed to sway you away from that one, I’ve dated him. The guy is more of your serial type sex hound that has no interest in actually anything besides what he wants. Not. Worth. It.” Articulating each word as not to let this woman fall prey to Augustus –for more ways than one. “Trust me.”
She took a drink as if that would be the cement to that statement. Shortly smirking at the way the writer suggested she would detail the two dumb bunnies in a scene of confession. Snorting a little, “I think the wolves is a nice touch.” Primo stuff. Surely Jordan and Juliette would find that little detail worth it too!
The swat was met with a laugh. Earnest and deep while taking quick to agree. “Same. You’re good stuff, Hannah.” Yet mouth slightly tipped downwards at the suggestion that the true loners were the crazy ones. Which she wasn’t particularly wrong. But she was also born into this otherworldly stuff since well, she was the oldest. Meant to take over as the advisor to Jordan on the human side alongside a few others that were thankfully not so active lately. She didn’t particularly like the other two advisors and they didn’t like her. “I’ve grown up around Jordan, been more of that brother I never wanted but didn’t know I needed.” She admitted somewhat shyly. “Our family has always been involved with the Harrow side. But, I think he really did need someone to annoy the shit out of him, to make him care. Otherwise hmm… he probably would be that crazy loner that the news ought to be fearful of.”
She shook away the thought then, looking at the arrangement of food before helping herself to another. “Juliette’s guna miss out on this at the rate she’s taking her time.”
“I wonder if the two of you realize that banning me from a man just makes him that much more interesting!” Hannah retorted, following up with another laugh and a wave of her hand as if she understood the warning and might heed it. “At least I hope you have better prospects than Juliette has dug up for me so far, hmm… have a look!”
Hannah reached for her tablet to turn it on, showing off scrolling list of bachelors Juliette had accumulated so far. All fine, upstanding gentleman. Perfectly perfect in every way. They were going to spend hours nit picking the lot of them.
There was nothing more unsettling than two adult women giggling like they were simply missing the cauldron in front of them while throwing in puppy dog tails and snake eyes. And people thought vampires were scary, they clearly hadn’t ever re-entered their own home to listen to the sounds of merriment that surely had to be done in a conspiratorially manner. Idly checking the floors for some low hanging fog or that Theix had turned completely black. Sitting in a corner with claws extended as mouth parted in a hissing gnash. Whatever the two of them were doing, he wanted no part of it. Promptly taking stage left to exit in the intention to lurk away within a safer region of the house that at least had proper bathroom facilities to shower away the cling of sweat sticking to body.
Even yet he had spared as a second to look past the banister towards the kitchen as though to double check that the best course of action was to escape upwards rather than truly seeing of the two deviants where up to no good.
Needing barely that thought that if something happened, he could claim innocence since he would have no idea. It was all he needed to practically bolt up the stairs with a figurative flame chasing behind. Taking them by the two’s till feet were firm on landing. Bidding him entry to the chamber of muteness as to find the aforementioned thought cat had made himself comfortable within the space. Nestled upon the singular chaise before devoid fireplace. “Wise choice,” He muttered sparing fingers to scrape over kitten’s head. Perturbing him from his eighteenth hour of napping, mewing in slight confusion to wink wonk baby blues at him. Short lived as head pressed to seek another bit of affection finding it was a fleeting experience due to owner slipping away to the facility that would be of use.
If he had burnt off the coupling of billowing steam from inside, it might have to be checked with the equipment that had suffered the subject of his irritation. Checking internally the plains of thoughts to see if there was still ire lurking somewhere within the expansive space only to find the prickling bother that anointed itself with a certain woman’s name, starting with a J. Knowing the time had grown late but sought not to use the measure of communicative device to perturb whatever solace she went seeking for. No sooner cursing the intrusive contemplation that might want to spare itself to think any deeper upon the dear besides what they already drew in the sand. Each of them properly independent people, needing nothing from the other save what had come to be offered thus far.
As she expressed times before, she was fine. Needing not his damnable fretting, if only his own thoughts would get with the program to take that as gospel.
She was fine.
She was fine.
She was fine!
Giving the door a swift brunt of his foot to assure its sealing, to scrub garment from frame with a slightly more aggressive toss upon hamper than truly necessary, he had other things to press his mind’s eye upon. And it didn’t include the cackling duo of doomsday below! Nor a woman that had no need of him save monetary value.
Juliette’s return home was late – later than she intended! Thus, she found herself sneaking in through the front door as if she were some teenager about to get in trouble for breaking curfew. Really, she blamed Hannah for not crying more to come home faster. It was too easy to pick up a book, start reading, and just disappear for a few hours!
Luckily, she’d returned with a bounty of treasure in her arms.
Curiously, she could hear Hannah and Myra giggling away in the kitchen, but instead of interrupting what was some good natured bonding, Juliette tip-toed her way up the stairs for the master suite. As tempting as it was to go in the opposite direction and invade the hidden library that beckoned, it was better done on a day where she had all the time in the world to explore the shelves.
And when she wasn’t having a scuffle with the master of the house.
Wretched man was in the shower.
Juliette paused a few steps into the room, books in her arms and gave a soft frown. A sudden sense unwarranted fear washing over her. Thinking suddenly, that maybe backing right back out the door could be the better option. That perhaps she was a coward after all, and that it was better to never know what Jordan actually thought about her. She was perfectly fine before in not knowing! Things were so much better when all she had to think about was business meetings, instead of this wanting and hoping and potential of disappointment around every corner.
Perhaps she should instead be brave – more than brave! Aggressive! March into the bathroom and ambush him while he was naked so he couldn’t escape without scandalizing the whole household.
She really ought to stop doing that though. He’d likely develop a phobia of showering, of fear that she’d come screeching in like some sort of banshee with whatever thing she was mad about that day. Then they’d never have a chance to do the fun things.
Still not entirely sure she was making the right choice, Juliette stayed. Pausing only when a plaintive mew stopped her by the sofa, to give the furry prince his petting. The books she rest on the coffee table – again thinking of leaving them there and fleeing – but instead slipped off her shoes. Off to the wardrobe she went to quickly change out of her clothes and into something more comfortable for bed.
Then it was the choice again – go downstairs and join a pair of cackling ladies? If anything she could fuss more about Jordan. …but then it really wasn’t Hannah or Myra she wanted to be around. Scoffing under her breath Juliette took up residence with the cat in front of the barren fireplace.
Snatching one of the books up to read, but really just staring blankly at the pages.
It wasn’t perfect but it at least was able to take his mind away from the glaring elephant in his thoughts that sat there like some stupid overstuffed mental poltergeist with equally big dumb stupid eyes gawking at him. Forcing the stubborn bits of thoughts to turn away less he offer it a chance to get any better and weigh on mind; to press into the things he needed to do. What was still loose strings and admittedly, starting to think about a back-up plan for when this inevitability failed due to that not to be mentioned elephant.
Dropping expletive knowing that any secondary plan would just result in more time being needed! One couldn’t just erect a global business from the ground up in a day, let alone weeks! Nor where there any other decently sized and functional shipping businesses within the damn area that he could casually saunter in and offer them a neatly organized package of a deal.
Scratch my back, I scratch yours thing.
Time was something he had plenty of. And none at all. At least not when it came to cementing solidarity to take over the only other group left of bloodsuckers that could be a threat later. One he wanted to corner now before they got some wise idea on how to instead cannibalize his side. A dreary unwanted reality that could not be ignored.
Nor did he want to approach Alyssa with now a half baked plan, it would only besmirch his name. And that was not acceptable. Suppose he ought to look out of state, even if that would be costly. Looking for another shipping business that might want to alliance themselves with some added funds to encourage their growth… something.
He needed to go over his notes.
With a hard turn of facets to stop the flow of water, making an reach over to towel to scrub top to bottom with the final being the wrap around the midsection. Barring any indecency at this time –not so sure he trusted his own home in a funny way. At this point, he just wanted to air on caution since he wasn’t sure what sort of diabolical pranks or schemes were being concocted in the kitchen. Finding a cool slip of dread down his spine once more. God damn it, he should have sent Myra home on her fucking broom or whatever the hell it was she drove now. A broom felt applicable.
Damnable witch…
To thrust that thought out of his head like an abandoned dumpster baby, he might have found the other contemplations were likely to be given the same treatment. With door parting and fan inside flicked on when lights were turned off to let the moisture vent away, he came up short. Blinking certainly faster than intended to blink over the situated woman with book and cat upon lounger. Merely missing the ambience of firelight to bathe her in some sort of detailed blurb of her being there. “Juliette.” He heard it, the accursed sound of both surprise and that little quirk of relieving awe she was there. It had no place to be there! Urging him to promptly shake head like that would make the traitorous sound leave.
Well she was fine. Just as he thought.
Straightening shoulders alongside features as to keep aside the sensation of respite from touching any portion of visage; footsteps carried him along the path past the seated area. “I won’t be in your hair, I’ll leave shortly.” He replied with more of that forced control, passing from the open space towards bedroom partition. So he might locate suitable attire to dress for comfort and modesty within the homestead.
“Maybe we should get a dog,” announced Juliette, glancing up from her book to give a thoughtful look of contemplation. “What do you think of big Irish wolf hounds? Then you might get to go sleep in a literal dog house whenever I’m angry.”
She spoke with such calmness, considering her heart was beating a thousand miles per hour. They didn’t even have a real actual fight, why was she so happy to see him and dreading talking to him all at the same time? Why did he have to look so good damp and in a towel.
Well, at least she knew now she was honestly done with being mad.
“I shouldn’t have threatened you with leaving,” she admitted, going back to her book, though again not actually reading the pages. Juliette was just too afraid to see the expressions on his face. Books didn’t make faces! “You’re still wrong about everything, of course. But I’m not going to leave you forever just because you hurt my feelings.”
She did pause, frowning slightly and tapping her fingers on the bound leather of her book.
“Would you stay?” she asked, hoping that it sounded cool and casual and not as if she were begging. Wondering briefly, that if he didn’t, would she chase him down or just let him go? She lift a hand to point quickly at the books left on the coffee table next to her. A peace offering as well as a lure!
“Those are for you.”
It was probably a good thing he was closer to the wardrobe with the partition all aiding with coverage for he was only one leg in some damn pants when she made that comment. A dog house! Him!? “I might as well just live elsewhere then.” He muttered clearly enough barely cooling the glare that was housed upon scrunched features.
A dog house… what an old fashion way of thinking and he was the one who was literally hundreds of years old! Yet she said it so easily, with such a relative calm that he wouldn’t be surprised if she did buy some massive ass dog just so she could have a smaller house with not the animal’s name painted on but his own. Why on earth would he want to even entertain the idea, as a joke or fact.
Managing to at least guide the second leg into its right location of pants, she spoke once more. Suggesting that she shouldn’t have threatened him with leaving, which had momentarily caused shoulders to slightly decompress. And jerk right back up when she declared he was wrong about everything. Everything!? Oh how gracious she was. Why he might as well just tell her to buy a fucking collar and leash if she was just going to believe that she didn’t have her own faults and he was simply the stupid mutt in this house that should have a rolled up newspaper swatting him on the nose. “Well gee, thanks.” Dry the comment urged full of sarcasm. If that was her way of apologizing for her own part –not his- he heard better coming from a lying child. “Can’t wait for the next time.”
Locating a simple shirt at least to tug over and muss with hair, did he part around the corner once more. Tossing a look towards her that thankfully was still blue rather than red, like he was sure was liable to come. As she asked him to stay and then pointed to the books on the coffee table. Thinning stare at them, “You know Juliette, I know I have my faults and flaws. I’ve lived with them a very long time and get to look at them regularly because they are a unfortunate part of who I am. And I’ll apologize where it is necessary because yes, I overstepped a line earlier this afternoon. It was wrong of me to be so brazen and callous in both downturning your commentary about the want for something genuine like most little girls dream of, alongside speaking curtly with a mischievous intention on what came in a drunk muttering the night prior. So yes, I am sorry for being insensitive. I mean that, but damn you if you think that I will tolerate anyone treating me as an inferior being because I make errors.”
He frowned at her, directly at her. “I am not perfect nor would I even dare call myself as such. Especially in avenues that involve interpersonal relationship that should not and will not be controlled by a harsh hand that I am familiar with. No one deserves that nor would I place that upon you.” Head shook, pinching the bridge of his nose next. “But the moment you suggest I am wrong about everything and that I deserve to be put outside like some miserable dog that piddled on the floor because you are upset, that’s my line. I won’t tolerate it nor condone being treated like some dainty little bitch supposed to be on my hands and knees pleading.” Filling lungs then with a explosive sigh, “So no, I will not stay. Not when I am liable to be the one carrying everything wrong at all times. I won’t be your scrape goat or easily bought off. I might care for you, but I won’t be owned by you.”
So they were going to have an actual fight.
Juliette wasn’t sure if this was good or bad. She’d seen him furious enough at others, but generally with her it’d always been a bit cool and collected. Maybe a mild offense here and there as if she’d inconvenienced him or wasted his time in those first few weeks. Then later just as calm, but more in that looking down his nose as if it were her fault anyway and that he just needed to ride it out. Never this, where he genuinely looked as ready to storm out the house the same as she did earlier in the day. Somehow this was the scariest thing she’d ever seen.
She slammed her book shut and set it aside, hopping to sit up on her knees on the couch, digging her nails into the side arm of it.
“That’s your take away!” she shouted back. “That I actually want to throw you into a dog house! Funny, how you’re allowed to be snippy-snipey whenever you please, throwing out insults this way and that, ribing jibes and hilariously rude little jokes, but then as soon as I do it, suddenly you are incensed and won’t tolerate such behaviors.”
Oh this wasn’t enough. It was petty for sure, but Juliette scrambled up to her feet to stand on the sofa so she could be tall enough to at least be able to shout at eye level. No doubt she appeared to be some shrieking harpy in black silk, but if that’s what she thought she was… some vicious thing that was trying to collar and leash him, well. He was going to get a vicious thing!
“I never said you were wrong about everything in the entire universe, you over exaggerating dramatic ass! I’ve never tried to treat you like my little bitch lap dog with a chain to drag you on your knees – and why are you so blasted obsessed with not being on your knees!” Everyone in the house might’ve heard that one, thank goodness Elisa was safely away! Juliette might have been casting spells the way she flicked her hands this way and that, finally coming to hold them as little fists when she got frustrated enough to actually growl a huff.
“Not everything is about trying to dominate you, stupid! I don’t want to dominate you, I just want to be with you, and sometimes beautiful unperfect you will piss me off! Sometimes I will be wrong and sometimes YOU will be wrong, and that’s okay. It’s okay to fight with me, Jordan, I’m not going anywhere!”
If he wasn’t actually furious right now, he might have started to laugh watching her scramble up to stand on the couch so she could be at a better eye level with him. Sure that some helicopter mother out in the world had her senses going off, looking to panic about not standing on the furniture as so. It would have been a perfectly hilarious moment, just the cloud being pressed over his mind was enough to dampen the humour.
Rather the woman was prompt to naturally back herself. As she hadn’t disappointed on that merit yet. Sure fire and wild like a hurricane, she begun her defense. Though he could truly due without the name calling finding that it was low-brow and positively terrible considering he was not going down the route to deem her as anything less than her name. Being called an ass or a bastard as earlier had been, if she thought it was cute, he was highly disagreeing. But something struck him as she bellowed out about being on his knees.
And it snapped. Stepping closer where the small table behind the chaise kept him from getting too close whilst rings of burning blood appeared to sink into her. “I’m fine with being wrong! That’s natural, that’s how life goes.” Fangs were bared at her though he kept his hands well to himself. Simply settling for peering at her with cardinal rims. “When you have your entire life taken and put into the hands of another, you tell me how that feels and how much you will battle anything that comes even remotely close to it!” Barking back, “And when you are forced to watch everything you know burn around you, die around you, then you can damn well ask me why I am obsessed about not being on my knees.” Dropping octaves to hiss the words through teeth, “I’ve been bought. I’ve been sold. Treated like a precious little thing who gets treats when they do something right. Belittled and called things much worse by people that mean nothing to me! Yet you can stand there calling me every name under the sun, declaring that you don’t want to dominate and yet… whatare you doing?”
“Damn you, Juliette. Truly, damn you.” Head tossed in a pitiful shake. “I am not your past! Nor will I result to this behaviour of screaming at you as if you are lesser stupid person when I know you are not. So why do you get to screak like your hair is on fire, demean by senseless names?” Giving his head a slight tilt at her, “I doubt you’d appreciate it if I was stooping to such levels to associate you in such uncalled for manners, would you not?” As he looked down to her balled fists, “There’s a difference between fighting Juliette, and aiming to hurt because you want too. Words and actions are powerful tools. Things that cannot be taken back even after an apology, but they can be mended.”
Once more he looked her up and down, “You preach about not going anywhere and yet, you were swift to vacate this place this afternoon. And I can guess it was because you wanted to make a point, rather than to call me aside privately so we could speak as adults. We are not teenagers who barely have a grip on their emotions. Instead you sought an action out of me, to assure that how I felt was in a sense painful, did you not.” Then gestured to the books, “Then I suppose you purchased the books as a way to try and tidy up the upset I might feel because the one damn person I sought to work with as a partner and trust enough to be honest with, felt a little guilty by her actions. Instead of merely apologizing, you attempt to bribe. Like a materialistic parent who doesn’t know that sometimes words hold more strength than gifts.”
Slowly he exhaled a sigh leaning back, “You say you aren’t going anywhere but I don’t know if I can trust that. I understand a need for space but I don’t comprehend the measure of being petty or cruel simply to glean a reaction. So,” Arms crossed over chest then, looking at her rather than down. “Here’s your chance Juliette, I’m not going to feud with you over semantics. Nor am I going to beg or plead for you to do something against your will. The contract for Bryon Shipping is on your desk and I, will be downstairs. Do as you want, however you want. You are the compass to your own goals and choices. Not I, or any other.”
His eyes went vermillion red and she knew she went about this horribly, terribly, wrong. In the heat of the moment it was hard to pull it back now that it’d gone this far, and if she had any sense, she ought to just let him walk out before that flash of teeth went snapping in her direction!
“It’s all well and good for you to be so self-righteous about name calling when you’re the one getting it! As normal sentences can’t be just as bitter and cutting and cruel. You’re going to dare condescend to me that you are not my past – I am not yours either! You can’t throw up eons worth of walls and then get mad at me when I’m frustrated!”
Another growl and she stomped her foot on that sofa, nearly losing her balance in the process before having to wildly pinwheel her arms to right herself. That didn’t stop her though, then pointing her accusing finger right at him.
“You don’t even give me the chance to apologize properly! You’re pissed at me because I walked out the door and I deserve it for that, because it was petty and I’m sorry! But could you shut up long enough and let me explain I only left because I was afraid I was going to blurt out something hateful and start this exact stupid fight because I’m afraid I’m just throwing my feelings at a brick wall.”
Her voice cracked with that and quickly she pressed her wrist to her mouth, willing that aching burn in her throat to stop before she ended up erupting into tears. It might’ve already been too late at this point!
“You always dismiss me. You dismiss everything I say. You tell me to do whatever I want, that it’s all my choice. It’s not worth fighting with me. Not worth fighting for me. That way when I do leave, it will be all me, and you can sit here in your castle content that you knew it all along.”
“You can’t throw up two decades of walls either!” Whirling back to face her for some rather good remarks that he couldn’t help but tag along on! Pressing fingers into his own chest, “You just gave one hell of a perfect comment that isn’t just encompassing me. How are you so quick to point out the obvious when you are doing the exact same thing?” God they were surely two horned beasts at this point smacking their skulls together even though there was glaringly obvious behaviours that they shared. Not sure he liked that sort of revelation right now but damn it, it was right in front of him.
And so was her nearly fallen ass over tea kettle as she begun to flail about. Urging his own steps back as though he was going to snatch her from the air should she fall –oh… he could’ve… nevermind- but she was on a roll. With slick coordination to get back up so she wasn’t about to meet the solid ground with the whole of herself, a finger was once more aimed at him. A conducting baton to this rather more heated argument than he probably meant to start! Too late now, it started and this fire was burning hot!
Which he was prepping to launch in on top of her thoughts as she declared he hadn’t given her a chance to say something other than the starting comment of being in a dog house! There was always a better way than that, which was saying something cause he wasn’t exactly being reciporciative either. Damn his mind that could see outside its own idiocy but was so deep in it that saying otherwise would be too blunt and out of character! “Juliette you ha—” Whatever was readying to gear up, stopped.
Shoulders slumped when she suggested that she was afraid that what she felt was going to be met with cold stone. Weakening the resolve swiftly as it was probably the first thing he heard in all this that might have been far more sincere even at the height of bubbling ire. Arms drooped at his side, blinking the peculiar hues at her.
Sufficiently stalling breath and word alike. Taking additional moments of deafening silence as she came to the deciding quips of him being dismissive. Something he couldn’t say he wasn’t doing, because he had been. Convincing himself long before this very moment that so long as he didn’t actually try or suggest anything that might be seen as an attempt of control or swaying proposition, that she wouldn’t feel trapped. That he could sit contently aside and know that if something went sideways, it wasn’t because he had held the reins or something equally barbaric. But in turn, it made him seem truly without conviction!
Basing it all on the simple fact that for him, being chained even by imaginary links was enough to threaten everything. That it was easier to keep that door open and if something happened, he could just shrug it off. Go oh well and move on. As he always had. Being his own cheerleader that took the concept of being used as part of life. That so long as he knew what could happen, then he wouldn’t have to worry. Care. Think about it! Never concerned that he’d ever have to content with actual emotion because well, why? If he offered a life that had every open door, then there would be no need for anything more!
“It’s not worth fighting with you.” He repeated softly, “Disagreements happen. It’s natural, but one doesn’t need to turn to screams and shouts. I don’t… like it.” Jordan sneered more to himself, “Fighting in such a way is different than speaking to another like people. Like we matter. I am not saying things are perfect, far from it. But when you need to turn to crass names, shouts and balled fists; you aren’t fighting for a purpose… you’re fighting as a means of protecting yourself.” Scruffing fingers through his hair, Jordan expelled a heavy breath. “I’m not going to fight with you Juliette. I refuse. You aren’t my enemy, at least I don’t think so. But… you are right… I don’t fight for you either. As… the concept evades me.” Admitting that was a little harder than he thought it would be.
To be this old and still not know everything, who would have thought such things possible.
“To be dismissive means that you don’t have holds here. Bars or chains. Ropes or leashes, free to come and go. Take as you please and to feel secure in your own way that things are as you want. I had no intention of you ever adopting any sort of feeling for me besides respect at one point. If that. Suppose I don’t know what to do with the idea of you or another having the concept of feeling because well…” he arched a brow at her from that sanguine stare, “Why?” An all encompassing question that really had no defined answer.
Smirking suddenly to himself, pressing the heel of palm into his forehead no sooner. “Pathetic…” the word was aimed at his being, not hers. “I am not devoid of feeling, regardless of what you may think. It’d be a hell of a lot easier if I was but it would also mean things would be so much more dangerous for you and other humans. To lose those emotions makes me no better than my predecessor. I just… don’t want you to waste such things on me when in the end, you’ll be disappointed, alright.” Did he like saying that, no? But was it the truth, absolutely.
“You’ve got many years ahead of yourself once things are concluded, you shouldn’t senselessly hitch your self to someone that drives you nuts, Juliette.”
So fueled with adrenaline, that when he’d actually admitted something deeply honest, the real painful truth, that she’d sucked in a breath so sharply and held it for so long that the for a split second she saw spots and thought she might faint. As if she were some damsel so overtaken with emotion that staying on her own too feet was difficult. Juliette wondered if in that moment her heart had stopped too, as now that it was beating again, it thumped hard enough that her chest hurt.
“I don’t-” she paused, face scrunched up as she tried to find the right words. Her volume had dropped considerably, down to a shaky soft whisper. “Fighting is all I know how to do? No one listened to me, no one cared what I had to say. No one cared what I did, unless of course it wasn’t what they were planning and then, well. People learn to listen if your words are scathing enough.”
There was a dangerous swaying on her feet, her head feeling a bit too empty now that she wasn’t shouting and flailing around with fury.
“I assumed you weren’t listening either. You say you didn’t want me to feel trapped or captive, because you were once trapped and captive. But… it’s a bit different for me? I was never leashed or collared, I was set loose and adrift. Expectations for certain, but they’re so shallow and forgettable that as soon as I am out of sight I am also out of mind. I may as well not exist at all.”
Wisely, she sank back down to sitting safely on sofa cushions, tapping her fingers to her collar bone as if willing herself to remember to keep breathing. With a mystified expression on her face, she continued.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you. I don’t want to fight you or be your enemy either. I certainly don’t want to own you,” she admitted with a heavy swallow. Blast it, she hadn’t wanted to cry and make this more of a scene than it already was, but Juliette was having to quickly brush tears away before he caught wind of them. “I want- I want to belong to someone, to actually be connected and tethered. To have someone that is also mine in turn.”
“…and I wish you realized that you are worth that effort. That you’re worth me fighting for you. Even if I am having to fight you to do it.”
That was pretty obvious at this point. That she was prone to fighting for everything, anything and something to get what she needed done. To hear her stating that to fight was all she knew, he could have sighed dramatically. She had proven it plenty that her drive to fight over flight was pretty much on overdrive. Which fairly, he could look at the facts he had learnt in their time together and the information sapped through networks about Juliette Bryon was just that. A fighter. Just there came a point one had to ask when did you stop trying to batter your fists through everything or bark the loudest to get through to someone!
He could be hard-headed, certainly! But he was not deaf. Figuratively or literally.
To hear the reasons as to why her nature was to combat, he could feel remorse. As naturally as he could breath, it made sense that when one only knew how to do one thing, it was hard to change course on a dime. It took time, patience and slow adjustments to start correcting the mentality that was as prickly as a pissed off porcupine. Similarly, he had much to learn in ways that was the direct opposite.
That his hand was so off the lever in a relationship that he might as well not even be in the same state! Working so strongly on the mentality that to be hands off and generally lackadaisical was beneficial for her. When in reality, it was doing more harm than good. Where to hear her speak about how she had been so left to her own whims, that the comfort of a home and a person within it giving a damn was so inviting! Well that would take him learning to understand. Though she had to understand that there was a difference between being someone’s slave and someone’s better half.
As she slunk down to the safety of the couch once more –less she want to try toppling off again- he took that chance to slow the distance. Laying grasp over the backing to lean weight into wrists, considering her silently as not to broach her need to speak with him trying to get a word in edgewise. Witnessing the swipes of pesky drips that were most likely trying to be avoided. “Suppose that there lies my bafflement. To belong to someone within my point of view means to own them.” He did understand in verbal concept what she was trying to convey and it wasn’t a measure of literally controlling someone. It was just the comfort of knowing someone gave a shit about you. Unconditionally.
Not a foreign concept to him. Just… forgotten.
With grasp tightening across the back of the furniture; feeling its composition of wood and cloth alike beneath tough – leaving the blooming rings to peer across the frontal arrangement of mantle and upwards to the two similar pots balanced on either side, he took a deep breath.
Localizing her soon enough under stare. “I guess it will take some learning on both of our parts, now won’t it.”
It would surely take some time to learn, as even then her first instinct was to assume his comment was a cut towards her. As if she were the bigger problem, and it wasn’t a combination of issues they both shared. Perhaps she was the problem, as a gentler kinder person with a limitless amount of patience would be far more effective with Jordan!
With a heavy sigh she leaned back on the sofa in a slump. At least they’d made it through this moment without either of them leaving! Juliette wasn’t sure how she would’ve taken it had he decided to walk out of this conversation before they could reach a mutual understanding.
Then, with a strike of inspiration she sat up straight again. Myra’s observations had not gone unforgotten. All of those little steps and things that Juliette had previously thought were unimportant, were clearly things both she and Jordan needed.
“…a green fairy did whisper some things that might be useful.”
Rolling to turn around and sit on her knees, Juliette placed her hands over Jordan’s, giving an imploring stare as she explained.
“That when you skip all the steps and don’t do the little things, the bigger things don’t ring as true. So then, we should start from the beginning, I think?” she leaned back enough she could hold out her hand in a gesture for shaking. “I am Juliette. I love my work, but I spend so much time doing that I don’t have hobbies. I hate social parties, but I do rather enjoy getting dressed up for them. I love animals, and books, and boats, and dancing… and I would like to go on a date with you? Not a business meeting, or social event, or wedding plans… a simple date.”
Wouldn’t this all just be easier when they were just business partners. He knew how that shit worked inside and out. Where one could find a loophole. Yet in this arrangement that had started off so simple, it became so much more.
Complicated. Vexing. Humorous and melancholy.
Where the measure of patience wasn’t just so easy as just pushing aside a document without a signature. Where this was between two adults that clearly had their own problems in various ways that were both similar and so utterly different. Making it feel so needlessly more than he knew how to plan for. A thing he highly hated. To be unprepared felt like the greatest part of himself was being show for weakness. That things, were liable to fall apart with no obvious way of fixing it.
“Hmm?” Blinking at her when she spoke about a green fairy. Needing seconds more to decipher that before feeling a sort of internal cringe, “Oh hell…” Green fairy or more like green witch?!
Rather than spit the venom riddled comment out, one too note of how she seemed to be quick to follow whatever advice Myra had extended. Claiming hands to rest over his own. Extending the unnatural view to rest upon her while lending his best listening ears. And to find bafflement at the end of this statement that if steps were skipped, how could the bigger things matter. Needing to start from the beginning.
Beginning?
Well it seemed that she was on the train of thought that steamed right ahead into an introduction that felt better suited for a speed-dating scenario. Causing a smirk to tilt at the corner of mouth as she pointed out some things he knew and other’s he didn’t. Finalizing the very thing with one utterly simplistic thing. One request.
So he sighed, “Alright, alright.” He could ignore her little way she went about this but he needed to get off this soapbox of just shooing her off. Glancing at hand as he shook his head towards it. Taking the thing up to treat as she wanted, a perfectly normal handshake. “I am Jordan, though the correct way to say my surname is Svárna. Old and found in eons ago.” Made simple so people wouldn’t need to stumble over the pronunciation. “Rosendrey is a name I’ve used over countless business ventures throughout my lifetime. Social events are the bane of my existence, nor will you ever see me dress in anything brightly coloured.” He thought trying to meet her introduction, “Swimming and the ocean are probably one of my first loves and I do prefer to go boating often. And, I’ve always had cats since they are self sufficient animals and the two urns there,” he made a look up to the white and black pots on the mantle, “Are the ashes of both my parents. So if you intend on changing anything in this room, I ask you don’t remove them or toss them out accidentally.” Using a hand to ruffle the hairs at the back of skull, he let out a muted sigh. “As I don’t have a sun allergy,” He smirked at her, “But I can resist the sun for a couple hours. It still annoys me but I won’t burst into flame.”
Just in case she was ever worried, “A simple date… I think that’s perfectly reasonable. Though what does a simple date consist of? You realize the last time I spent time properly courting a young maiden, I was in my early twenties. Times have made a drastic change since that era.” A devilish grin overrode the smirk, “I doubt you would like to be traded for a sack of grain or a goat for your hand, hmm?”
Juliette was so relieved to see that devilish grin of his that her immediate response was to smile just as wide.
He’d also told her a wealth of new information in just a few sentences. They really hadn’t spent enough time together just getting to know the tiny details. How could they both be so foolish. They thought they could build an empire on pure willpower alone, which… honestly perhaps they could! But would it truly be a long and lasting thing if they didn’t put in the work to make it strong down to it’s very core? That started with them, regardless of where they landed in the future.
“I think you are past the trading goods for a wife part, Jordan,” she murmured with some amusement. “Let’s run off to the ocean for an afternoon? We can spend the day under the docks out of the sun, maybe take out a small boat if I can stomach setting foot in the sea. I suppose if you teach me to swim, we might have one less way our wedding might potentially kill one of us.”
There was a slight shift to her features as her smile twisted to a thoughtful, troubled, chewing into her lip. Juliette tapped her hands on the back of the sofa before ultimately giving a heavy sigh. That awful flush of pink was on her cheeks again, she just knew it!
“…in the spirit of trying to express what I am actually thinking without letting it wind me up until I am yelling. I need you to hold me? Physical reassurance. …gods this sounds so ridiculous saying it out loud! We had a very intense conversation, and Hannah is obsessed with this idea of love languages and touch is very important – to me at least – and I don’t mean to sound like I am attempting to seduce you or blurting out that I love you again as that is not what I mean right now. I-“
Juliette promptly shut her mouth. There was a small flick of her hands, as if she wanted to erase that entire blundered statement before she moved to cover her face instead. Why was it easier to face him down with her shrieking when he was red-eyed, fanged, and practically snarling! Trying to be honest about her feelings and what she needed was more horrifying than risking death with a vampire!
It was a slow but easy sound. Coming from the depths of stomach up to make the timbre tremble with a genuine chuckle. “Maybe by a few centuries. Though most women even then from my perspective weren’t fond of being traded like cattle anyways.” Sure if he could focus long enough and recall from the past, he might be able to detail such things. Though there were plenty of things he could say if he had the chance to just sit and think about it. But it wasn’t important. Listening to what she wanted to say right now, was. No more screaming and shrieking at another like two prowling alley cats.
Finding that she wanted to take that step on the idea of just a singular date as one to the ocean side. Putting themselves beneath the sheltered shade of a dockside while entertaining the idea of boating. The very thought leaving a phantom but good smile on face till it turned a little into a sincere press at the idea of teaching her to swim. “You could just buy that marshmallow looking gown if you want to make sure you float if ever something happened. Keep you and half the boat alive.” The amount of fabric surely could double as such before he was shooing aside the thought. Less he find it too amusing for too long.
Just that as his attention rotated once more downwards to find her, the low light from his point of view didn’t exactly tame her cheeks to oblivion. To be hidden in the dimness here, and of course it seemed to be paired with a need to say more.
To get off her chest something that may be a little more difficult than she was familiar with. Which proved to be curious at first then interesting next. Listening to her start off strong only to rattle herself down into a state of private embarrassment. “I know what love languages are. It makes more sense than horoscopes and nonsense stuff that valley women like to hear about because it’s the latest trend. Pairing what I know and what you’ve just told me about how you were mostly the child left to wander with nothing to hold onto, physicality would not be not so out of the normal. Plus I know it’s more than just sex. It’s as simple as just holding hands.”
Adjusting his posture to straighten so he might round form around the chaise to come and sit alongside. Letting his body move to be clearly open. Taking a chance to look at the way she had flicked her hands previously before reaching to offer his own to her. An open gesture to take and to show he wasn’t hostile to decline her from what took guts to say. “You’ll just have to be a bit patient with me, Juliette. All this… is new. It is not that I intend to anger you but it is bound to happen. No matter how much I know and how many things I can do, this… a relationship that isn’t straight business or me having to be the one in charge of countless rogues is a task that I have not spent time before doing. Flirtation and gratifying needs to get both a release and a hunger fed is far different than actually doing things because I care for someone. I have a lot to learn in the ways of making you feel desired in more than just bedroom affairs. So you may have to coach parts of that but I am not asking you to write me a complete map. Just… patience.”
Bringing up that awful giant marshmallow dress was enough of a shock to have her sticking her tongue out and making a face at the thought. Though she doubted it’d help her float at all with how much that monstrous thing weighed. It’d drag her down to the bottom of the ocean and she’d come back as a giant marshmallow sea ghost.
He offered her his hands and she took them, but finding that wasn’t near enough, she helped herself onto his lap and threw her arms around his neck. To bury her face into his shoulder and just listen to him breathing until she herself could take the same slow deep breaths. Letting all of that built up tension and fear melt away until she was no more solid than a puddle of limbs.
“You’ll have to be patient with me as well,” she mumbled, pulling back to cast a concerned frown and examine his face. “I’m unfairly quick to anger, I know I am. And I know that makes it hard to tell when I am just teasing and when I am serious. I can’t say I won’t sometimes get so frustrated and yell about things, but I do promise I won’t try to use my words as weapons anymore. No more mean spirited name calling.”
“If I go too far you can diffuse me, just a-” she tapped the tip of his nose murmuring a soft boop, “and I will stop and take a breath. …or maybe not literally that, I might bite, but something! Just don’t walk away from me. Or let me walk away.”
A tad surprising to have her immediately seem like the motion of hands wasn’t enough to tame her need for something more, having her become a situated gopher in lap. Tying arms up around himself as though she might be worried he would suddenly become a pile of jell-o under her grasp. Sadly he could speculate enough that her need to be buried in affirmed private thoughts of just how much she had been well… neglected.
He could be petty. That information was by far nothing new but it was certainly strange to feel a dastardly want to somehow invoke a justice at the hands that had managed to leave her feeling like she might not ever be valid enough for someone to want to simply hold. Less he get the bright idea to start making a vendetta list on her behalf, he’d loop arms around her midriff. Circling all the way around till fingers could clasp into another. Going so far as to use the proximity to lay a press of lips across her apex. Slowly watching her rise back so she might be able to see his expression rather than to guess it by tone of voice.
Seeming to have finally let lose the last shred of anger that would have been the reason for the snapping snarling and red eye glaring menace of former. Allowing the alm to slowly melt to take control so the optics of curious origin would return to a far more humanoid appearance. Nodding idly as it did so, arranging the knowledge she was telling him into the forefront of his mind. Easily picked up if he need it. Which he suspected he would be.
“It’s all I ask. I know people will fight but the moment you drop to behaviours that are looking to render the other as a person you need to cut down, it’s too far. Truly, I am not your enemy. I don’t wish to be.” Re-using former words to make it clear that his intention wasn’t to be a villain, but he had expectations even if they were going to feud. Demeaning someone that you cared about, was not the way to do it. Rude names even in hot moments was surely a telling exposure to just how little maybe another cared.
Wrinkling nose no sooner at the suggestion that he ought to try to use it to diffuse her, Jordan hummed. And shook his head seemingly following the same path that it wouldn’t do him any favours. “I’ll think of something, I’m not a fan of people walking away from me either.” Admitting that would be doing her a favour, just narrowing sights some. “I’m pretty damn good at slamming a door closed from across the room to stop that from occurring. So I’ll come to find something that can diffuse you hopefully, it may just take some trial and error. And biting, shouldn’t that be more my thing?”
“You are not my enemy,” she affirmed with a nod. For him, but mostly to remind herself. She might have to make it her mantra to help cool her savage temper the next time she looses it, but she would remember.
The red was gone. Juliette wasn’t sure when that happened, but the moment she noticed it gave her curious pause. Enough to pull her arms from his neck and to brace her hands at his cheeks to tilt his face gently, this way and that to see if there were any hints of burning embers still hiding away in the blue. Stroking her thumbs along his jaw as she did, for just as much as she needed the physical attention, giving it was her showing of affection. Far easier and more natural to her than using words.
“Is it your thing?” she asked, knowing full well he had said so long before even revealing he was a vampire. “What if I wanted to do some biting myself? It’s only fair.”
Something else gave her pause, drawing her hand back to peer at her palm where the small papercut was nothing more than an almost invisible hint of a wound.
“…this must have been difficult for you.” she mumbled, gesturing with her hand to clue him into her thoughts. In hindsight, his eagerness to leave the room was nothing to do with her at all – at least not what she had assumed! He’d been exposed to fresh blood and needed the moment!
Then her fingers curled over her palm as she frowned and a new thing occurred to her. David had done it on purpose. At the time she’d thought just to be petty and hurt her in a way he could get away with… but he’d waited with baited breath for a reason, didn’t he? He’d even hissed and huffed at her before that Jordan wasn’t what she thought him to be.
…did that mean David had an inkling of what Jordan was?
“Oh no,” she whispered. “Oh Jordan… I think he knows.”
Held within palms so carefully, there rose wonder to what she was doing. Following her along with sights that were natural once more. Human rather, maybe not natural. Wondering idly in the depths of thoughts just what on earth she was expecting to see but sought that it wasn’t necessary to ask about. Or needed to be learnt either. Allowing himself to be temporarily at ease. Letting cheek fall to rest somewhat upon her grasp. While physicality wasn’t entirely his language, it wasn’t abhorred either. It was still welcomed.
Smirking no sooner when she asked if the biting was his thing. Tugging lamps to once more find her so near, “Is it? I suppose I might be swayed enough to let you try at your leisure.” Sparing reach to separate –laying the space of palm across back and other to raise. Taking upon one wrist to rub thumb on the inside of forearm. Denoting the heel of palm with an affectionate press in hopes it might at least be working to aid her want for that connection. Though she seemed to be thinking about something. Soon addressing the space where former cut had been.
Turning his focus upon it as though to expect the glistening slice to still be present. “I’d love to say it didn’t affect me, but that would be a crock of lies. There’s nothing quite like the first scent of fresh blood that just hits veteran vampires the same way as new fledgings. There’s a particular ache in your jaw that doesn’t feel like it can be soothed till you sink teeth down to the core.” Nose was wrinkling once more, “It’s… intoxicating. Enchanting and so… hard to ignore.” Even now there was an involuntary shudder with the mere thought.
While he had his own reserve of the red, there was nothing quite the same as fresh from that of one’s being. Still warm, and beating in time with that of the heart. Knowing that each thump of the life giving vessel was just providing a seemingly endless supply. “It can drive you mad.” Jordan muttered giving his head a stern shake. Rattling away the thoughts less he focus too long and give freedom to a control that was meant to be his. And not giving away to a primordial hunger.
“Hmm?” She seemed to be thinking even still. Palm shut and for a moment he had to wonder if she worried about what he had to say.
Just, she came to whisper something that caused him to pull in a breath. “I don’t think he knows, love. But he may know something. I’d love to tell you that I’ve been digging into him simply because he has harmed you and pissed me off, but that not the whole truth. Something I couldn’t say till you knew what I was. But, if he knows something or is getting close to learning such things… action must be taken.” Fingers walked up forearm so he might stroke tips across bicep, considering her rather seriously. “Juliette… if David learns of this, he may either need to be turned into one to be put under control by either Emery or Augustus or… I may need to remove him permanently. But… but I… want to know what you think rather than just making this choice.”
Immediate panic was what she felt. Churning deep in her stomach in such a sudden lurch that it was painful. It wasn’t even that Jordan was already aware or had been looking into it. David potentially knowing what Jordan was, for this long… for potentially since when? The day she met him? Surely then at the earliest, unless he’d somehow dug out about the betrothal contract from her Father before she had even known herself!
That was so much time for him to have plotted. Juliette knew well how David could be, to play off being a crass lay-about, blasé to the world. Then turning around to find every single weakness hiding and ever so slowly dropping in little drops of acid until you were corroded away.
He couldn’t be much of a threat to Jordan the business man. She’d worried a bit about his safety maybe, but he handled himself well enough.
Jordan the vampire, though? There was so much to be destroyed.
Juliette shifted, with full intent to scramble for her jacket and shoes. To get that gun she had stashed in her purse, to find David wherever he was presently loafing about and shoot him.
But the touch to her arm made her pause, and then Jordan’s words more still. He was asking her of what to do on the matter. Not making the choice himself – as in this case, honestly! He should do whatever ever needed to do to protect himself and his people! – but actually asking her for her choice.
Swallowing hard she nodded quickly.
“Don’t turn him, Jordan. Gods, if he already knows I am not certain if he hasn’t already offered up blood and body to be turned himself! If ever was someone to become an actual thing of nightmares he would. Every vitriolic part of him would be worse a thousand fold. I’ll shoot him myself if I have to, but he can’t know. He can’t.”
It was a hollow sound. Deep and empty like a bottomless hole. Inclining chin up as though he might be thinking of looking down at the entire situation from a figurative roost when in reality, her comment merely seemed to speak further to the chaos that appeared to be swimming in her thoughts. “Let me put it as such. If there was someone stupid enough to turn him into one of us, I’d know.” Which was something he wasn’t about to explain just how many eyes he had in places. “Fledglings are much like baby birds. Reliant on their parent. The first couple of years, they are pathetic little mongrels that rely on the one who turned them, to teach them. And they feed from them for at least a good six months at least. It’s very much like a parasite and host situation. He’d be a wreck and most likely too stupid to control it.”
He considered a moment, “All of us freshly turned are. It’s the price you pay. Surviving that time is a case of whether or not the one who turned them wants to deal with that responsibility or not. It’s incredibly unpleasant.” Leaning closer as fingers climbed to brush rather coyly across the hollow of her throat, “Hunger is a very very ugly thing to feel. And I would love nothing more than to watch him thrive in pain for it.” Blue glinted with a malicious light. “For a boy that has had a golden spoon in his mouth from day one, I’d take very great pleasure watching him suffer when the one of many things that keeps humans and animals alive; to instead be his madness.”
There was something truly despicable watching someone resort to tearing themselves apart when they couldn’t take the pain, the torture and the maddening screaming of your own mind wanting nothing more than a single drop.
Still, he knew she was right. Glimpsing sideways in thought. “My dove, calm. Whether or not he knows something or not; we mustn’t move without purpose. Or calculation. David would have to have indefinable proof to even begin down the rabbit hole. I know people in this time welcome the idea of bloodsuckers as a kink or fantasy; but to come out and suggest it was real. He’d have a lot to prove not to seem like a nutjob. And I’m no storybook vampire.” Turning tapping fingers to cup the full of palm across her neck. Letting the warmth seep from hand into her. “Things that people think affect vampires do not all affect me. Even if they do, I am not so helpless.”
Jordan tilted a little so he could nudge his chin in pointing towards the bedroom door. “Vampires are not the only thing that live in this world, my queen. And there are many ways to assure that should someone try their mad science or witch hunting techniques, that I could evade.” Slowly he looked back to her, “I agree he mustn’t get a chance to know, but if he wants to dig down into the hole that badly… he may not like what he finds.” He could only hope that there was a small semblance of relief lent to her, “Juliette, you won’t lose me. And I won’t let you dangle,” With a bold strike telling him to lean closer, lips pecked across the line of jaw. “If he wants to open that pandora’s box, he will be sure to find no hope at the bottom of it.”
He made it sound like truly the most terrible nightmare to happen to a person. Agony and suffering to turn and then continue on to live a life haunted by the call of blood.
It left her suddenly wondering: could she choose that life? He lived a long time well before she was even born. Should their relationship go the distance, at some point age would become an issue. He would stay the same as he was right now, and she would just grow older and older. Eventually she would have to decide if she wanted to stay or go. And if she stayed, did she want Jordan to have to watch her wrinkle up and die, or would she instead decide she’d be willing to share this eternal life?
This terrifying train of thought was too much for the here and now. Something she could set aside for future Juliette to have to deal with. For now, in the present, there were things she could actually focus on.
“You speak like someone that’s lived so long that he might forgot just how dangerous someone unpredictable can be,” she muttered. He was right, though. She couldn’t very go find David and shoot him out right. What he thought he knew and what he actually knew were two different things. There was no sense in acting until necessary.
Still, what a frightening thought. That David was out there, not just mad at her with some petty schemes, but possibly something so much more dangerous.
Jordan’s calm confidence about it, in partnership with warm hands and gentle attention was infectious, at least. Though she was still wary, at least she could breathe a little easier.
“Sometimes I think nothing affects you,” she mumbled first, seeming a bit frustrated about it, but turning her head to softly press a kiss to his cheek and to return her arms comfortably around his neck. “You’ll be extra careful if you see him? He’s so very good at catching one off guard.”
“I have lived so long but I wouldn’t go to say that I forgot how wildly unpredictable a person can be either. I just know the facts of some items that rarely change.” Looking at his former words, he could see why she thought that. Yet there were some things that didn’t ever really move outside the box of expectation. “And I have you here to assure that even if I do forget; I can be reminded.” Assuring that regardless of what he did know, Juliette knew more in the ways of David Gates.
However, there was no need to start fretting about a demise that he wasn’t sure was coming. Surely David knew something or was close to that very same thing, but to say he had them in the palm of his hand. Hardly.
He’d seen better men attempt to locate the truth they didn’t need to know and fail. This one wouldn’t be successful either.
Leave it to her however to say something that was good enough to temper his train of thought. Pulling it to an abrupt halt as to study the features so near. Before gracing lips upon cheek and sink limbs back in purchase around neck. “If nothing affected me, I wouldn’t have been fuming at you just previously.” A soft statement, shortened so he might nod. “I will. I have no intention of letting David get the better of me, nor do I intend to let him think he has found anything out. And… what of you? Surely you do not think you are excused from his insanity?”
“Hmn,” the soft thoughtful hum was murmured against his cheek until she pulled back to frown.
“He likes to manipulate, to needle a person where it will be long and drawn out. Where it will hurt the most and do the most damages,” she explained first, then paused to give it careful consideration. As what Juliette cared for most back then, was quite different to the here and now. In fact, many of her priorities had changed drastically even in the past few weeks.
“There could be an attempt to sabotage my business, but even without Rosendrey involved I could manage that easily.” she mused. “Targeting my family would be pointless. I do worry a bit about Hannah being on his radar sometimes.”
“As for me directly,” Juliette smiled soft but wide. “Getting physical resulted in him being stabbed, and I hadn’t even meant to. I imagine he is thinking twice about what might happened should I mean it. He’ll never want to risk himself.”
Juliette shifting drawing her arms back to place her hands on his neck and then brushing softly down to his shoulders, where she kneaded thumbs and fingers gently into muscle. Since he had fuming at her earlier, he likely needed a little squeezing to help ease some of that tension away.
“You are the best target to hurt me,” she admitted softly. “I doubt he realizes the extent as to why just yet. With my business involved and my future, and now perhaps his own personal insult after you dressed him down so badly. To ruin you will hurt me more than anything else.”
So David was the type of pathetic loser that spent more time honing skills in deviant arts rather than doing something to be beneficial to society. The sort of male that was better to use for things like speed bumps in parking lots than something constructive.
As much as it might be rather easy to simply express to one of the covens to earn his favour all they needed to do was make David disappear forever, it wouldn’t be a proper fix. Or a good solution since well, the gnat was of course still attached to a higher end family. Meaning he wouldn’t be able to just vanish into nothing without someone trying their best or hiring the best to investigate how such things could happen. So it was better in theory than in actual practice.
Although he could delight in dark thoughts that might at least play with a strong amusement to what sort of dastardly things could be done to David. By his own hands. At least to humour the demented part of his thoughts while putting focus back to Juliette to listen how the man would most likely seek ways to hurt her. Which wouldn’t be through family and her business was important but that wouldn’t be something she couldn’t handle.
The mention of Hannah as enough to make him glance once more to the door. Straining to hear the two cackling witches with no actual success. She could be someone of worry but of course, that was a what if. Still worth putting a pin of thought into.
As fingers sunk into muscle to knead –leaving him momentarily surprised and promptly weakening with a deep hum that only favoured towards pleasure-, he had to force himself to still stay focused. Fluttering irises over her to hear that he was most likely the best way for her to be harmed. Turning lips to sneer momentarily, “Boy needs more than just a firm comment of his poor mannerism,” Furrowing brow up at the very thought, it was short lived. Softened no sooner. “Alright well, so far we have to lay on the side that David thinks he knows something but one cannot give him the satisfaction of having it confirmed.” He had to think about this constructively, “Suppose I’ll have to get more eyes on him in reply. Figure out what he knows and whether or not he is actually a threat or just a brat that thinks he is.”
Juliette nodded her affirmation to his conclusion, almost absently, as if she were far more involved and concerned with the attentions of massaging his shoulder than the conversation at hand. Really, it was just a relaxing sort of thing sit here like this – somehow helping her wheels turn and process faster than if she were in a panic pacing the room.
“If it were me alone, I might have plotted out a well constructed convoluted plan,” she admitted, still working it out in her mind. “Lay out irresistible traps here and there I know he’d dip his fingers into. More than one so it wouldn’t seem some unseen had was pulling the strings, but rather he following his own whims.”
She shifted her hands from shoulders to neck, gently finding the spots where muscle still wound tight and pressed fingers in soft circles. Worked her way up to the back of neck and onto scalp with her rubbing.
“I’d lead him off to some other country, where it’d be simple enough to land him in a prison that is not so easy to get out of, even with wealth. It’d be worth the investment to spend my own to keep him there.” she muttered darkly.
Ultimately, though, she shook her head at the entire idea.
“That doesn’t quite work with you involved, since there are too many unknown things. Better to let you handle it as you will. If you need me, I am here. …though, I do ask if you might have someone watch over Hannah?” she requested with a pause of her hands. “I don’t think he will bother with her, but who knows who he’s been in contact with and what they might dream up. I don’t want even the slightest risk that she’d be collateral damage.”
Tugging an involuntary noise out of him to find that while he certainly didn’t feel the tension until it was prodded at. Eliciting a low grunt paired with a groan that might have sought to question just how the hell such a build of pressure even existed without him being aware of it. At least on a conscious level. Straightening back slightly while she seemed to use the tips of fingers to both knead at spaces long forgotten and to probe out the intentions of what she would have done should she be confronting David alone.
“Tempting.” Jordan agreed with the idea of traps. “But too much involvement on our part. I find that sometimes the best thing to do with noisy dogs at one’s door, is to let them think they found something. And when they seek to confront you about it, you have nothing they want. It’s entirely theatrical. Let them grow frustrated and furious till they make a mistake that we can pounce on.” Trailing peepers from features down to consider chin to throat. Lingering maybe a bit pointedly there though he was simply staring. So far.
Thinking. Smirking no sooner, “Why be so cruel to another place in the world. They would not have asked for such a village idiot to be placed at their steps. Though maybe we could just lure him into a shipping crate and dump it into the sea?” Leaning somewhat forward then to decidedly take a chance to flirt affections upon ivory column. Some habits died hard after all.
Lips stilled however when she suggested that with him involved, such things didn’t work. But also to suggest that it would be best to let him handle it. “I appreciate the sentiment, love. But you aren’t just someone I want lurking in the background. He’s a united pain in both of our asses, I feel this would be a good moment for us to work together. You know him best but I can certainly use your appraising eye to be sure I do not overlook something.”
However there was still the question that lingered on how to assure that the other person she gave a damn about was covered. At least given some protection in which he had to linger in thought. Searching over the people he would trust before humming. “I suppose I could convince Dominic to step in and lend a hand. Someone she already knows but we both can trust.”
Juliette did love the idea of dumping David into the sea. It seemed to be her favor idea of a slow torturous death, no doubt cemented in her mind forever from her own trauma. Truly the worst thing she could think of!
“I will never be just a voice in the background,” she murmured with an amused smile. Turning head to brush gentle kiss to his temple, and resuming the soft strokes of her fingers through his hair until the suggestion of Dominic being Hannah’s caretaker had her tilting back in a loud laugh.
“Dominic! That is true, I suppose a familiar face wouldn’t be a suspicious babysitter… But I do wonder if he’ll even agree after our exciting night out. You had him in such a panic that I’m not sure he breathed a breath until we were back in the house.”
The poor man. At least Juliette agreed he would be safe choice. He seemed to care enough about her and Hannah’s comfort, even despite Jordan’s ire looming above him. Nor did he seem to have this air of being someone sly and dangerous, that she might worry about Hannah getting swayed into something she ought not be apart of. Better still, it might be more of a break for him as Hannah won’t be anywhere near a club full of vampires, and simply out and about doing her usual Hannah’s things. Simply keeping an eye out for David possibly making an appearance would be a breeze. And it would only need to last until Hannah left for home.
“I approve at any rate,” she confirmed with a slight nod and a nuzzling of her nose at his cheek. “Do you think they are still downstairs pondering if we have killed each other, or have they taken to migrating through the house to listen through the walls?”
So long as she met the mettle in those words. Not to just be a voice in the distance that was suggesting rather than giving proper council. As known he could be a bit reckless when the mood struck and for this, he suspected it would be in all of their interest for him not to just swoop out of the darkness to drag David into well… his final chapter. Taking the placement of lips as a sort of promise that she would not be silent or behind him. Allowing him a momentarily chance to pluck through his thoughts to whom might be the best to saddle Hannah with.
Coming up with Dominic as the man was already known and was particularly good at being inconspicuous. Though he might need a bit of additional gifts and things to affirm that his own weakness to the sunlight wouldn’t sudden having him flaying flesh off. Things that could be dealt with later, smirking instead as Juliette spoke that the vampire assistance might be due to panic once more. Not due to him, but the girls. “I don’t think he would decline either. This is the most fun he’s had in years!” Laughing at his own statement, “I am sure he would be eager to be part of a bigger plot rather than just hiding away inside the bar waiting for something interesting to happen.”
Of course being given a special task in mind would surely leave Dominic feeling like he had been hand selected because of good behaviour. Which wasn’t far from the truth!
“Good. Then I’ll get him to start playing dedicated observe and host to Hannah when you are not near.” Leaning into her affectionate nuzzle almost felt like a ploy when he brought up the two.
Leaving him to frown some, trailing hands down to idly play at feminine waist. “If Hannah wasn’t human, then I’d suspect they’d be pressed against the door right now. Waiting for all the best pieces of gossip and potential blackmail.” Though he may have given that a second thought to be sure he felt that was wise. “So I think the latter. Which I suppose we ought to make an appearance down there. Though the way they were cackling like a pair of witches earlier, I almost fear what we could discover.” And yet, he gave her a gentle patting. “Though you should venture down there. Hannah did have food when she was wandering earlier, so you should most likely eat something.”
“You would send me down to be at the mercy of a pair of gossipy witches,” she remarked, leaning far back to give him an examining squint of her eyes. It didn’t last long before she broke into a wide grin, returning to gently cup his face and give him a quick kiss.
“I suppose if I am not fed, Elisa will return home and accuse you of starving me.”
With a great deal of regret, Juliette slipped off his lap to climb to her feet, brushing her hands down her hips to smooth out the black silk of her nightgown. She debated fetching a robe, but the nights were still warm enough and she doubted Hannah nor Myra were the sorts to be scandalized by perfectly simple bedtime attire. Juliette figured it was good to check up on her friend at the barest minimum and to affirm things were alright. Otherwise Hannah might be liable to create one of her romantic scenarios that were so often ill conceived and disastrous, that they hindered more than helped. And Juliette wouldn’t put it past Myra to be just the sort to be all in to helping plan out shenanigans, especially if they involved vexing Jordan.
“Will you come to bed with me later, though? And not spend your whole night in your office? …or your secret library lair.”
It was just a long stare as she queried whether or not he would send her to the mercy of the developing witchy coven in their home. Seeming already sold on the matter and sure that out of the two of them, she would be the better fit for company than himself. Already properly outnumbered in the sexes game within the manor, thankfully she didn’t seem to mean much by it. Denoting with a fleeting press and a comment that surely Elisa would be after him if Juliette wasn’t fed. “I wouldn’t be surprised. I think she frets enough as it is, I don’t need to give her another reason to add more to that.”
Nor did he really want to be lectured about it. Sure that he would be if the option was risen to do so!
Best to avoid.
With the departure of her fair frame leaving lap, hands seemed to have a momentarily emptiness. Left to linger on air till they sought purchase to make a fruitless comb on locks that had been left to their own station to dry. Not that it overly mattered, especially as he still had work to do.
Which seemed to draw her to speak once more. Locating her under grasp when he pushed up to stand as well. Rotating shoulders just enough that a welcomed cracking shot up one’s spine with a gnarly crunch. Taking to rubbing fingers across the space of neck with contemplative thoughts. To hear her asking for his company and now understanding how she flourished the most with the contact of another, he was less inclined to say no. But not without a smart grin appearing, “I am surprised you aren’t seeking to see such an area after Myra ratted it out.” Damn woman, “Though yes, I can come to bed. It’ll be a strange habit to complete on a more regular basis. At least until you are venturing across the lands to set down your new facilities.”
With a gesture to indicate for her to lead the steps out of the room, whether or not she felt the semblance of attire was fitting; he was on the other mind. Pausing only a moment to scurry around and snatch that of garment from its lazy state. Returning promptly as not to spare a second, before draping the item across shoulders of the black silked minx. “Don’t need to give them any ideas, now do we?”
What exactly did he think those girls would infer by a simple black night gown, that they couldn’t already dream up on their own? Especially with the nature of Hannah’s novels… Juliette realized then that she wasn’t certain if Jordan actually knew about the sorts of books that Hannah wrote. Not only did that fill her with mischievous delight, she was just as amused at him bringing her a robe. There was that hint of his old fashioned habits sneaking through again.
“I felt you were a more important priority than scouring through your hidden collection, no matter how tempting it was to see if I figure out my way through your conspicuous bookshelf. We ought to do a bit of work to the basement, because anyone with sense would wander down there to see that single shelf and wonder what sort of things might be behind it.”
Leading the way out the room and casually down the stairs, Juliette took the time to put her robe on proper. Sliding her arms through the sleeves and loosely belting it.
“I was also hoping you’d join me on some of my trips. When you are able to,” she said from over her shoulder, casting him a grin, expecting him not to dare follow her towards the kitchen and to detour to his office instead. Juliette couldn’t hear a thing from the kitchen, though, which was quite suspicious indeed. Had the wicked things truly snuck off to listen in on conversations?
“You say conspicuous and yet, have you considered that it led to somewhere at all?” Asking honestly since well, surely she would be a viable source of information for that. “I’ve not had someone yet sneak inside, so I would say my methods of madness aren’t entirely too obvious.” Of course he wasn’t trying to go something Batman quality and hide all sorts of levers and doors in every place imaginable, but he had tried to make the shelf at least seem nothing too unusual. “Though is someone is looking and wants to find my infinite wealth, they may have to try harder.” Smirking somewhat till his ears were nearly prickling upon that last step on the main floor.
Straining to hear absolutely nothing. Urging him a moment to ponder just how truly eerie the quiet was compared to some snorting broodmares from the kitchen. Pulling vision to check around them for an added means of security.
Waiting for something unpleasant to pop out. “I will always make time for such things, Juliette. You simply have to tell me when.” Just that his attention slightly deviated to look towards the hallway that lead out onto the pool deck. Peering longer than necessary, “That way my love. Myra’s probably giving the grand tour.” Turning to slide a little towards his right before slipping towards that of the seating area between their offices, “If you need me, I be but a beckon away.”
She didn’t deem it necessary to explain that no, she hadn’t suspected the strange bookshelf the first time she saw it… but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t have eventually wondered why the solitary thing was down there and nothing else, even if she hadn’t been searching for secrets!
Instead he got the very childish flick of her tongue sticking out at him, before the grinned wide and whirled away to head off towards the kitchen. First to make sure she did have a few bites to eat, thankfully to find that there were at least a few of the stuffed mushrooms saved for her. Juliette devoured a few, making herself a quick cup of tea in the process.
Once she had a warm cup in her hands, she couldn’t help but be curious enough to see what Myra and Hannah were doing outside by the pool of all places. Half wondering if they had heard all of the shouting and decided to escape outside lest they be witnesses to a murder.
She stepped out with her cup, peering curiously about and hoping she wasn’t wandering into some sort of skinny dipping girls party. Juliette wouldn’t have minded, but she suspected Jordan would be scandalized to the moon and back!
It was a nicer night under the heat of the full day still burning slowly off. Making the pool area certainly feel a little less stagnant as other parts of one’s home. Though the whole intention of being out here was to in fact, avoid the desire to go up the stairs to press one’s ears against the door. They hadn’t been exactly subtle about the fight that erupted. Warranting a suggestion that they leave by her idea instead of lurking to hear what could have been screamed. Deciding that it probably was better to err on the side of caution in case someone started yelling about vampires or covens or anything else that was taboo no-no talk to human’s tender baby ears!
Plus, she also wasn’t personally a fan of listening to it herself. Surely able to start her own bouts of words being tossed left, right and center, but whatever was going on between the two of them well… it belonged to the two of them.
Needing no audience to start selecting sides or hooping when someone got a zinger off on the other.
The birdcage itself was thankfully in possession of lights. Allowing the area to be easily lit under the faded twilight, that it was easy enough to see without risking accidentally falling into the water. Though it had lights at the bottom of it, so if someone fell it well… maybe that was on them!
As the door opened, she sat up in one of the arranged poolside chairs. “Ah, there she be. Alive and well, with head still attached. And not one at her hip either,” Myra called with an obvious point towards Juliette’s hip. Like she was expecting Jordan’s head to be severed and resting there to be tossed haphazardly into the pool water. “And you’re not carrying a suitcase nor dressed for a climatic storm out, so I assume you both are finished bickering?”
“I don’t know, storming out in a nightgown would be beautifully dramatic,” chimed in Hannah from her her own lounge chair, apparently inspired by the idea, as she quickly swiped on her tablet to bring up her note files and tap something in.
Juliette examined them both, taking a sip of her tea as she wandered further out onto the deck and took a quick glance around. Almost as if she were a mother looking for signs of boys or for other trouble deftly hidden by the two girls. Finding nothing to be concerned about… so far!
“We’re going to duel at dawn, actually. Pistols preferably. I think I can take him,” answered Juliette with a tilt of her head. Now that she thought about it… could Jordan be talented with an old fashion pistol? He was certainly elder enough for it! In fact he must’ve had a whole host of other hidden talents still yet to discover.
And here she was with so few of her own. She wasn’t going to be a very impressive Queen of Vampires at this rate. Really, it was no wonder they seemed to be so curious about her. Aside from the help her business was going to provide, Juliette wasn’t sure how she’d fit in on the vampire side.
“Your advice was useful, Myra, thank you,” she said first, feeling the need to give the girl her dues! “A stellar advisor. It wasn’t an easy conversation but we did have it, and I think we might be better for it.”
“Really!” exclaimed Hannah with some surprise, looking up to appraise her friend as if she needed to make sure this wasn’t just some story Juliette was telling to be reassuring. “And you’re down here telling us about it instead of having copious amounts of sex. I guess there is still more talking to be had.”
Scepticism appeared, “Would it though? If we weren’t in a warm climate, how truly beautifully dramatic would a young lady storming out in her nightgown in the dead of winter be. Unless you think frost bite is sexy?” Turning that into a question that no one ought to ever ask! Doubly so when Myra looked strangely thought about it. Like it needed a second thought to determine that black cold dead digits were glamorously fashionable. Thankfully having the idea that it wasn’t before pushing it aside.
Allowing her a chance to follow where Juliette’s gaze wandered. Was she expecting something to come leaping out now of all times? Or had Jordan given her a terrible idea that she best be leery of? One had to wonder but not bother asking.
Probably due to the clever wit that spoke at the idea of being two dramatic western wearing gunslingers that were ready to draw at dawn. “Now there’s a love story for you Hannah. Ol’ west with two gun toting sorts.” Smirking at her own joke, “At least let us be witnesses to this arrangement. I might be curious to see how you both fair with a gun.” Was she condoning this idea? Maybe. Did she think either of them would win? Probably not.
With plenty of comments ready to be uttered on a whim, it would seem the queen to be would prove to dull her remarks. Putting pause so one might blink curiously. “Oh… well now. I was starting to worry after all the noise coming from upstairs. Though if it helped and you two are on better graces then I’m glad. I might tease but I don’t actually want you two to fight with each other.” Although if she wanted to praise Juliette for being to stand up to Jordan, she would have to keep that for another time. After all, she probably didn’t realize how many people really didn’t do that. Then again, most people wouldn’t wisely go toe to toe with a vampire, at least in her thoughts.
Just whatever joy at the council given, was properly tainted. Head jerking over to Hannah, “Wow, we really need to find you a man. Do you really wanna know about your friend having sex upstairs, that’s almost as bad as learning about your parent’s still doing it!”
“Can’t be grossed out at the idea of your parents doing it if you don’t have any!” chimed in Hannah with a pair of finger guns and a wink aimed at Myra, and a closing cackle.
Juliette, of course, pulled an immediate face, her own parents coming to mind and just… no! Goodness, heavens and hell no! She never wanted to think about such a thing again. As far as she was concerned, she just exploded into existence, no parents involved. It seemed Myra had that same feeling in thoughts of Jordan, one she considered a brother, to be involved in anything actually salacious.
“She doesn’t understand family dynamics, you will have to forgive her,” apologized Juliette on Hannah’s behalf.
Hannah snorted.
“Oh, don’t be a baby, of course I do. I sure don’t write incest, that gives me the willies.” she defended. “On the note of men, though, the list you have me was just AWFUL. They all have the personality and looks of unbuttered toast, Juliette. You ought to be ashamed of yourself.”
Frowning, and taking all offense, Juliette paused mid-sip of her tea. “Excuse me? Exactly what is wrong with them? I put a literal Prince on there, Hannah!”
Hannah shoot a wide eyed look to Myra, gesturing at Juliette with a See! I told you! sort of look.
“They’re all so boring and perfect! Do you know what this Prince does in his spare time? Charities. That’s it. He just shows up to charity parties, signs checks, smiles, and stands there like his head is full of pudding. You don’t get to marry a guy into BDSM Vampire Sex Clubs and then hook me up with Prince Pudding Skull, Juliette Byron!”
BDSM Vampire Sex Clubs? Where on- Oh! Juliette burst into laughter!
“Mmm touché.” Okay so she couldn’t argue with that one. No parents, can’t be weirded out by the fact that they might still be into another! Doing things that were better left undescribed for any child’s ears. Nor did she really want to think about Juliette and Jordan either, finding that it was pretty much on the list of things that were in large red letters of hell no. They could be freaky weirdoes all they wanted, so long as she didn’t have to hear about it.
But there was something absolutely endearing and hilarious seconds next when Juliette and Hannah begun their own friendly banter. Finally getting a chance to witness the dynamic in a small degree that seemed as a perfect segway into the sort of men that Juliette had detailed into a list for Hannah to have. And boy howdy, did she do some work. “Truly, I was starting to think as we looked over the list that you might have a fairy’s wand in your arsenal. Bippity boppity booing all too perfect candidates for Hannah. We were just missing the dance and song to pair along with it. Especially since there was a prince in there.” It had been truly magical and really, who the hell wanted perfect.
Which meant she could gesture at Hannah, “The woman writes smut romance. Surely no prince charming is guna be suitable.” And turned that opened palm motion to a point next, “Girl, trust me. You don’t want none of that either. Don’t need no K-mart special Fifty Shades of Grey up in this.” Of course she couldn’t exactly tell Hannah that the vampire BDSM wasn’t exactly correct. Especially if you knew Jordan, the guy was liable to turn into a raging monster if someone tried to even used anything BDSM on him. Then what, they’d have a crazed vampire king on the loose! Sounded like bad juju if she ever heard one.
“At this point,” She couldn’t resist chuckling at Juliette laughter. “I think you are going to have to find a balance between not perfect and perfect. Somewhere in the middle. Someone that Hannah clearly wants to live out her fantasies with and without potentially scarring them for life because they are a Disney Princess in disguise.”
“Yes! See! I want someone to live out my filthy BDSM kinky fantasies with!” Hannah agreed!
“You don’t want BDSM, Hannah-“
“How would I KNOW! I haven’t even tried it yet!” she shot back. Looking around to see if there was something to throw in Juliette’s direction, and in finding nothing having to huff instead.
Juliette sipped her tea with all the imperious, look down your nose, collected composure of the Queen Mother. Moving to gracefully take a seat in a nearby chair, as apparently this was going to be a longer conversation than she’d intended.
“True, you have no idea. No idea at all, as many of those perfectly nice gentleman all have torrid secrets. Interesting secrets. Tragic backstories, with all sorts of trauma and broken hearts needing a mending,” she muttered into her cup.
Hannah rolled her eyes.
“Still the worst liar in the world! Okay, I’ll bite, then. What’s Prince Pudding’s torrid secret?”
That gave Juliette pause, forcing her to stop and squint at Hannah from across the deck. There was a long stretch of silence as she searched her mind for the answer.
“…well, he is a man of few words. But blast it, Hannah! You don’t give me much to work with! You said you were tired of being blindsided by bad guys! Naturally that means you should be looking for someone that is open, and honest, and good. A what you see is exactly what you get sort of person,” insisted Juliette.
Hannah sighed heavily, leaning over her hair towards Myra to gesture at Juliette.
“See? Doesn’t know a thing about romance. I hope Jordan knows how to bring it,” she exclaimed. “Myra is going to take charge of my destiny, Juliette, I am sorry to say. You are a true friend, but a terrible wingman. After I have my meetings and book signing, we should go prowling.”
Juliette wrinkled up her nose about all this nonsense, but honestly! Trying to find Hannah a date was like trying to find a needle in a hay stack. Good luck to Myra.
“Oh, that does remind me. We’re going to send Dominic along with you whenever you’re out and about in town. For… reasons. Mysterious reasons. Drag him into your city prowling if you must, Jordan told me he is enjoying our nonsense.”
There was a not so subtle gesture that seemed to agree to the idea of just how would Hannah know if she didn’t like something, unless she tried it. Surely that quip of a maternal figure somewhere was chiming those words. Though probably aimed at some food on a plate that was being pushed around rather than eaten, but that was semantics! Although she would personally agree that looking into the vampire territory of having them live out her newbie dreams of such bedroom affairs was not the way to go about it.
But bless Juliette’s heart, she was trying. Looking the part of monarch that seemed to be having to give in at this time to listen to her jester’s. To hear what they had planned even if it was slightly stupid. Such patience!
Of course she expressed that surely behind all those good boys, were ones that needed their boo-boos kissed and burning secrets revealed. Things that wouldn’t be polite conversation. It was like watching verbal ping-pong! The back and forth seemingly going in neither’s favour till Juliette gave her best plead that she was attempting to go by Hannah’s requests!
In that moment, she looked at Hannah. “Look I am not here to boast about Jordan’s ability to romance but well… he might know how to do the trick.” She felt dirty saying that, “Ugh.” Suddenly licking her arm like the dirt was about to come off her tongue. Of course there was more to this that promptly amused her. Stopping her antics to point to the air. Declaring an idea, “To the biker bar it is! The rougher, the better!” Was she kidding? One would have to decipher that one on their own!
Yet Juliette mentioned Dominic and her brows nearly flew off her head. Questioning just how that guy had been enlisted and just what was the purpose. Surely not to be a gentleman for the sake of chivalry! Breath expanded in a bark of a laugh still, “Yeah he would like the nonsense. Dom’s like that cool calm kid everyone likes but when you get him alone, dude is a whole other level of a freak.” Myra smiled, “In a good way. He’s not that proper, just under Augustus and Jordan’s watch, he’s the best assistant you might ever meet.” Which how this led her to look at Hannah, “Now you wanna try something, that boy knows his way around some knots like no one’s business.” Lips curled devilishly, “More to that book when you get those pages open.”
Typically she wouldn’t advocate for a vampire but truly Dominic was good shit.
“Oh do tell me more,” chimed in Hannah, her grin growing as wide as the Cheshire cat’s, leaning over the arm of her chair with her chin in her hands.
“NO,” announced Juliette quickly, nearly dropping her tea cup. “No. no. no, not Dominic. He is for escorting purposes, or even nonsense shenanigans if you insist! But not for play dating!”
Good gods, this is not what she had in mind about sending Dominic off with Hannah! Of course he would be safe? Maybe? Not for kinky sex games though, absolutely not. There was a NO VAMPIRE policy where Hannah was concern, and Juliette gave Myra the most vicious of squinted eyes for even putting this into Hannah’s head.
“No Augustus, no Dominic. I feel like you’re some mother hen trying to keep me a virgin forever!” lamented Hannah with a sigh.
“I’m serious, if you want to run off with Myra and drag Dominic along for the ride to some rowdy biker bar, I am not going to stop you. But you can’t romance Jordan’s assistants!” warned Juliette.
Hannah huffed again, but that slow smile splayed out on her face quickly enough.
“Fine, fine, you can stop your worrying. Dominic isn’t even my romancing type! Even though Myra’s glowing review says Dominic might be the perfect person for me to test drive a little something before I find my one true love!”
“I cannot,” exclaimed Juliette, her eyes going wide as she waved a hand and promptly got up. “I cannot with you, Hannah! You’re a wretched duck and I wish you all good luck in your hunting. Please don’t tell me about it – I do not want to know! I’m going to bed.”
Hannah giggled with wicked delight, giving Myra a wink now that she’d won this silly debate.
“Goodnight sweetheart! Enjoy your kinky fiancé!”
Goodness if she glared any harder, she might burst into flames! Devious cavorting flames, but ones all the same. Listening to how swiftly Juliette was against the idea of letting Hannah get even impishly acquainted with one of the better bloodsuckers. Had she not been trying to keep the secret herself, she might have started to list off reasons as to why Dominic would surely curb any wayward ideas Hannah had. But instead, there was mother eagle now presented, ready to flash her talons to protect her precious little darling. Liable to tear out eyes if she needed too!
Had she actually been afraid of Juliette’s wrath, there certainly would have been a quick apology. Alas, such things weren’t the case this eve.
Grinning like the devil itself had climbed itself into her body while the queen declared in a notable decree that she no longer wished to know any information about such things. Which she suspected was a lie. “Oh god Hannah, noooo!” Myra lamented seconds after the whole commentary about kinky fiancé was brought about. “Keep that up and I will find you mister perfect and stick him with you for eight hours straight with no escape!” Suggesting it was a terrible punishment to endure! About as much as even thinking such horrific thoughts!
Bleh, where was the mind bleach when she needed it!
“I am doing… what?” The voice queried in an obvious confusion through the speaker of the phone. Surely scratching his head as well to fit the motif of baffled monkey. “Wait… how did this come about?” The good thing about vampires was the fact they didn’t sleep all that often. So it made it easy to phone the plucky assistant to give him his new orders. Which were on the table now to be questioned.
Barely curbing the cockeyed smirk upon the stationary device. Rocking the bottom of stout glass back and forth as an thoughtful action, sloushing the vibrant red back and forth in its hold. “Pre cautionary measures.” The sloe fitted king replied gradually, “I thought it would be best to have you continue some extra work. Prove that gargarious worth that keeps you at the top of my list for every and anything, Dominic. I wouldn’t offer this task to just anyone.”
Audible humming came through. Uncertain at first, growing into understanding that knew the words were not one of falsified praise. “So… that means you’ll have Eden prep some items that ought to allow me to wander as free as a bird for a while?” Naturally that curiosity would be the first thought. Encouraging him to grunt in agreement. “I guess if that’s the case, I really have no reason to decline.”
Leaning back into the cushion of the chair, Jordan plucked up the glass to consider it’s gory radiance. “I’ve already addressed the woman to draught up some drinks to stave off the unfortunate effects the younglings such as yourself suffer through.”
“Not everyone gets to be well over four hundred years, sire.” Mild irritation was given but not enough to warrant a snide reply back. “You and a few others are the last of your reliquary kind.”
“Oh, clever. I’ll let that even slide just to impress the mood I am in.” If there was a mumbling of secondary thought on his end, Dominic didn’t voice it too loudly. “Then I’ll be sure to let Hannah have your number for whatever whims she decides to bring you along too.”
There it was, a mild grumbling that was basted in uncertainty. “So long as it isn’t dress shopping, I will survive.”
At least Juliette now knew the perfect way to render Myra in agony should the girl ever aim her wicked teasing in Juliette’s direction. If all it took were a few mentions of Jordan in tantalizing positions, Juliette had more than enough comments about that both in reality and in imagination!
As she escaped her way upstairs, she did worry that maybe the girls’ budding friendship might be nothing but trouble in the future. Surely Myra wouldn’t let Hannah wander into anything she wasn’t ready for? The woman wrote things that’d make a stripper blush. But reality was not the same thing as romanticized paragraphs in her novels!
None of this was even her responsibility, why was she so worried! If Hannah wanted to try experimentation instead of following her heart into some dramatic love affair, then she should. What did Juliette even know about it anyway, she’d only now talked her own fiancé into a date with just the two of them. She had to put it out of her head, and let Hannah be Dominic and Myra’s problem for a little while!
Thus, once Juliette crawled into bed, she let it all drift out of her mind. Though, when curling up under the blankets she did softly giggling to herself. One day Hannah was going to blather her theory of BDSM Vampires directly to Jordan and Juliette was going to enjoy the look on his face when she did.
There was an appreciative ear listening to the time that he heard Myra’s voice finally enter the house and mention that it was past her point of staying longer. Bidding a easy parting to Hannah alongside some other commentary he couldn’t particularly gather it’s meaning. Deciding that perhaps he didn’t wish to. Sometimes ignorance was bliss for all the right reasons.
Only that the moulding advisor had poked her head into his office as he finalized the drink of a thickened variety. Peeking an eye towards the scoundrel of a young woman and pitied idly inside his head whomever eventually she settled down with. Not so much for the fact that whomever was the unlucky soul would be brought into the rather farfetched world of supernatural creatures, but rather dealing with Myra’s rambunctious and dubious behaviours. Surely whomever took that rank beside her would have to either be clinically nuts or a saint. The verdict was still out on which one was the right gamble.
Thankfully, she hadn’t much more to say in bidding adieu. Just some fiendish quirk of a smile before turning heel to flee the room. Promptly continuing the action to leave the estate, returning the number of guests within the home down to one.
Turning lights out after he stashed the glass for later cleansing from plain view, the door to the study was shut. Checking the manor for any wayward lights left on before taking his own stride up the stairs. Pausing only due to the fact that he could hear Theix somewhere on the main floor batting something rather jingly around. Hoping it was a toy and not something he ought to be concerned about. After all, he had agreed to come to the room this evening as per the ranee’s asking. After the explosion of words and clarifications that arose in the aftermath, he had no will power to venture into dangerous territory so soon!
What was the saying? Happy wife, happy life? Surely there was some merit to such words!
Stepping over the threshold with an intention of denoting it was him entering, the push upon door was made to hopefully finalize the means of the night. Stepping forward to bid himself welcome once more as to check whether or not Juliette had settled to bury into the bed with or without him.
Juliette’s intent was to stay up reading something interesting until Jordan found his way to bed. But after such a long day of ups and downs it was hard to keep her eyes open and the bed was so obnoxiously comfortable. She was quite nearly drifted to sleep whe heard the door.
Rolling just enough to throw her arm up and brushing her fingers together to make a soft beckoning sound, she also whispered a psspspspspspspsss, assuming the subtle noise was that of Theix stealing away into the room for a place to spend the night as well!