Chapter 8: Episode 8 — Assassins, Hormones, Whipped, and A Whole Lot of Understatement

When they reached downstairs everyone was in the receiving area, eating and talking.

"You took your time," Jared says seeing them walk down the stairs.

"Yeah, well, Astrid said she needed a breather..." Damien smirks, Derek chokes on his food, causing everyone to turn to him, not noticing Damien's pun. "Food down the wrong pipe, Derek?"

Astrid gave Damien a questioned look, which he answered with a raised a brow at her as if saying what? Astrid rolls her eyes and shook her head.

"You ok there Derek?" Astrid asks walking toward the coffee table where the food was.

Derek took a swig on his water bottle and raised a thumb. 

Damien sat on the comfy chairs and Astrid settles by his foot taking her share of food and another for Damien. Dimitri watches them moving in sync and frowned, while the others had another thing in mind Astrid was about to eat when she noticed the others watching her. Everyone was watching her, waiting for an explanation after Dimitri's little outburst earlier.

"I won't be able to eat peacefully if you're all looking at me like that," she says putting her food back at the table. No one spoke, "I guess I have a lot to explain?"

"Well, it would be great to know who and what we are up against," Collin says, "Should we be expecting trouble?"

Astrid glances at Dimitri who shrugged; he pulled out his phone and tossed it to Astrid.

"You have five houses eyeing you," he continues to eat, "including Duchovny."

"No surprise there." Astrid mumbles checking out the assignment profile, "The Jetsons as well? Hm, others are underdogs."

"Still, you shouldn't underestimate them." Dimitri says, "You know how father keeps tracks of assassins all over the world? Well, his man was hit a couple of weeks ago and we haven't had any updates on new recruits or how each house is doing. The only thing we do know is that we've lost almost a quarter of our, Uhm, clients since you left."

"It's just been a couple of days," she says. "The house isn't that lame, you still got Spencer and Lila."

"What are these houses?" Derek asks.

"Assassins all over the world have a house of their own, I am- or rather, was part of the Duchovny house. It is one of the most in-demand assassin houses in the world-"

"That's after Astrid joined us. Back then, there was just my grandfather, some old assassins, and me..." Dimitri says. "But no one wanted old killers, regardless of how good they are. In this industry they don't go for the person with more experience, they go for new recruits."

"Why is that?"

"They're disposable." Astrid and Dimitri say in unison.

"Well, wouldn't killing the teacher be better?" Jared asks, "Killing from the root."

Astrid shook her head, "You wouldn't want to kill the source, then you wouldn't have anyone to hire again. New recruits are easy to dispose of when they didn't want to pay the bounty; instead, they'll pay the handler for the assassin's life, which is cheaper."

"All business." Jared nods, understanding.

"Houses need the money, so yeah, it’s all business, either money in exchange for an assignment, or for life. It all depends on who cleans up first." Dimitri explains.

"Cleans up?" Allana asks.

"If someone ID you-" they all gave him a questioned look, "identified you either you clean up the mess first by killing the one who ID-d you or kills the one who is after you."

"The client doesn't kill you; he will hire someone else to kill you." Astrid adds, "More often than not, it will come from the same house as so the payment not to increase."

"Man, this is more complicated than I thought." Derek groans.

"Houses or the assassins, in general, has a law of their own," Dimitri says, "Example, you may only kill an assassin if he or she has a bounty or is your target, if not you will be kicked out of your house and be put on the watch list, your death will be up for grabs, and a bounty on your head will be put by the house of the assassin you killed."

They looked at him intently, their full attention on him as he continued, "Usually, a client goes to a specific house to ask for services. But in Astrid's case, seeing when someone finds out who she really is, no one will accept the assignment."

"Why is that?" Damien asked, leaning forward, interested.

"Every mobster has respect for the house of Duchovny because of Astrid, anyone would admire her work, and it was clean and fast- all business. Even targets welcome or wish to be killed by the Duchovny house’s angel, it was an honor for them." Dimitri says, "In fact as her last assignment-"

Astrid clears her throat giving me a look. "Too much information, Dimitri." 

Dimitri took that as a sign to shut up.

"Well, too much for respect," Allana sat back, setting her plate on her lap. "Now they’re after her."

"The mob isn't after her, it’s the assassins." Derek corrected her, "And with that much amount of money on her head, well, it’s no surprise why they are accepting the challenge."

"So we're talking about a whole lot of houses here?" Damien asks.

"Those five are reckless." Dimitri nods toward Astrid who was checking her profile.

"Why do you say that?" Derek asks.

"He's hiding my records." Astrid says, "No photo, no history, not even saying that I'm a rogue assassin, which would have his life easier."

"Why would it make it easier?" Jared asks.

"A rogue assassin is like a double spy. Me going rogue could mean I left the house for personal reasons, as I have done, or" she paused, "Father Charles can say that I'm killing for my own benefit, which can cause chaos as I am no longer under their laws." she shook her head, "That's when they say, that I pulled a daredevil."

"Daredevil?" they asked in unison.

"Yeah, the hero?" Dimitri says, amused, and shook his head. "He put the law in his own hand, in our case we kill who we want to kill, either just for the money or just for the pleasure of it."

"Have you killed..." Derek asks the question that everyone was thinking of, "just for pleasure?"

Astrid frowns, "I'm not proud to be known as an assassin, but I would admit that it is intoxicating." she says, "The control and the power are unlike any other, But..."

"But?" Ash asks.

"It’s not fulfilling..." she says, "Seeing their life slip away and knowing that it was because of you... It isn't something you can brag about and write on your resume is it?"

Everyone was quiet for a moment watching Astrid stare at her food, losing her appetite as she speaks of her past and scans the little gadget that revealed what her life amounted to in cash.

"I still don't get it, why does he need to hide your records then?" Allana asks.

"No one would take the assignment if they knew it was Astrid, they're after, that's why there's no photo in there," Dimitri explains, he sees her raise a brow. "What is it?"

"An anonymous assassin just signed up," she says. "I need to get online."

"Why?" Derek sits up.

"An anonymous assassin is as deadly as the best assassin," Dimitri says.

"So, the bottom line is we should expect trouble?" Collin asks again.

"I should expect trouble," Astrid says.

"No," Dimitri says, "We are expecting trouble." Astrid gave him a look, "If you kill an assassin we might as well plan your burial."

"Yeah, from what you said, you killing an assassin will turn you rogue, and being the heir of the Duchovny house that's like hanging you out to dry," Jared says.

“No.” Astrid shakes her head.

"Dammit, Astrid!" Dimitri snaps. "Stop being so damn stubborn!"

Astrid shrugs, obviously tired of this conversation. “I’ve made my decision.”

"I'm with Dimitri on this one, angel." Damien says, "You're home, you aren't an assassin here, you are an heiress, as much as you don't like to be one."

Astrid shakes her head, "I didn't come home to be taken care of."

"Well, deal with it." Ash says, "You're home and you're with us, do you really think that we'll let you do this alone?"

"And don't you dare to sneak off again like you did last time." Derek says, "Or I swear to God I will tie a GPS on your ankle."

Astrid looked at all of them and they also gave her a stern look, she stifles a laugh and raise her arms in surrender, "Looks like I have no choice, do I?"

"Damn right you don't," Derek says.

"You do understand that this wouldn't be like the Circle, right?" Astrid says, "It isn't just kidnappers we are against, these are actual killers, they're goal is to kill, and they wouldn't stop until they do kill me."

"And our goal is to keep you alive." Jared says, "Dimitri."

"Yeah?"

"How long do we have until our first expected attack?"

"Well," Dimitri says, "it usually takes a day or two before the houses do make a move, they'll be checking unto her background first that's for sure. Those six are the remaining out of thirty houses that signed up. So I'm guessing there is a possibility that another one of them backs out."

"And how much are they offering?"

Dimitri looks at me for a second, "500 billion."

"500 Billion?!" They gasped.

"It’s not that big guys, don’t be so surprised," Astrid asks.

Dimitri chuckled and gave her a look, "You aren't as special as Cornelius, Astrid. That was out of grudge." He points out, "He killed all the mafia heads just to be the ultimate head. You just killed the mob leaders; I guess you aren't that badass."

"Exactly how many mob leaders did you kill Astrid?" Allana dared ask.

Astrid blushes and bits her lip, "20?"

Their jaw dropped.

"Seriously?! 20?"

"Is this a rough number or an actual number?"

"Actual." she murmured.

"And she did it all in one attack, and on her, to quote, free time." Dimitri chuckles.

"Shut up." Astrid snaps.

Damien shrugs. "So we'd better do some planning then?"

"Not really." Dimitri says, "We wouldn't know when, where or who will attack. So as target all we can do is wait and sit."

"So you're telling us..."

"Not to get your undies in a bunch." Dimitri nods and continues to eat.

"We might as well stay indoors then," Jared says.

"Not really," Dimitri shook his head as he took a bite of his calzone. "That would make us obvious. Better we just go with our business."

They all looked at him with disbelief.

"Astrid is being hunted down by murderers who are too scared of her that they would, most likely, attack on our sleep, and you’re telling us to not do anything?"

"Not do anything." Dimitri rolls his eyes again, "Just be on guard, which I know you always are. And it’s not most likely, I'm sure that's the only time they think they can get Astrid off guard, as if." He snorts and laughed at the thought, they all gave him a look, "None of you have ever woke her up before?" They shook their head, and he laughs, "Well let me tell you that she isn't actually the heaviest sleeper."

Damien raised a brow, which Astrid caught knowing he would react to the fact that Dimitri knows she was a light sleeper.

"The kids at the House tried to pull a prank on me when I was fifteen," she explains.

"And?" Derek asks.

"Let's just say it didn't go well for them," Astrid says in almost a whisper.

Dimitri laughs again, "That's an understatement," they gave him another questioned look that he was going accustomed to as long as Astrid was the topic. "They all ended up in the hospital for a month after Astrid hanged them by the ankle outside her balcony," he explains shrugging off Astrid glares and happily continues. "Broken nose, ribs, ankle and arms.... the list goes on."

"Thank you, Dimitri, for the visual presentation," Astrid says, sarcasm oozing out at every word.

"I aim to please."

"Anyway," Damien cuts in, "so we do nothing and just expect for the worst?"

"Yup," Dimitri says making a popping sound.

They all shrugged.

“Assassin has its down moments,” Astrid says.

"Well, there isn't a quiet moment with you around, that’s for sure." Allana says, "Oh, well." she grins and laid back, trying to lighten the mood, no doubt. "Anyway, I saw the flier for the town ball, they’re throwing a different party for the tens this year, like a rave of some sort..." Allana glanced at Damien and Astrid, "Are we going?"

Astrid rolls her eyes. "Well, with how to counter girl assured Damien that she's expecting him and not to mention the guys to be there, I guess we are."

Allana scowled, "So you've met Andy?"

"That's an understatement," Astrid mutters under her breath, stabbing meat with her fork. "What's her deal anyway?"

"She's the mayor's daughter," Allana says.

"How? By winking at every guy that comes into the shop?" Astrid asks with irritation.

"That's an understatement," Allana says, obviously irritated as well.

"So am assuming that this is a girl talk?" Derek teases.

Astrid and Allana turn to him with a glare. Derek sat back with a smirk while Damien and Collin signals for him to stop by waving their hand over their neck.

"I saw that," Astrid says.

"She's just friendly, that's all," Collin says.

"Friendly my butt. Last time we were here, she was all over you and Ash. She obviously knows how to pick guys." Allana snaps. "She'll never be part of this family, you hear me, Collin Matthews?"

Collin grins, "Yes ma'am."

"That hurts, Allana," Derek says, his hand over his chest acting as if he's hurt. "Are you telling us that we non-Matthews aren't in her standards?"

"I'm saying she's aiming too high by trying to even get to one of you boys." Allana snapped. "That girl's a class A social climber."

"Allana..." Collin warns.

"Well she is and I'm not going to take it back," she says, pouting and continues to eat her lunch.

"Her dad puts her up to it," Ash says. "Mom says it’s because her grandparents tried to persuade her parents to fix an engagement with her, and since she already knew dad that time, well...” he makes a face, "he didn't really take it that well and so he's still trying to get in the family through his daughter."

"So they are just trying to get into the family," Astrid says.

"Looks like it."

"Pathetic." Allana and Astrid say under their breath, making the boys grin.

"Seriously, if she's such a kickass like what she was trying to show me earlier, I'd be putting on some pride and not flaunting or flirting," Astrid says.

"What happened anyway?" Jared asks then he grins, "He flirted with Damien in front of you?"

"No!" Astrid blushed and put all her attention on her food which she was now stabbing to its second death, "ShewaspushingmeawaytogettoDamien..." she mumbles.

Damien grins. 

"Excuse me?" Ash asks.

Astrid sighed, "Damien introduced me and she practically pushed me aside and referred to me as his lady friend." She rolls her eyes saying the last words.

"You got mad because of that?" Derek asks.

Astrid blush turned to a deeper shade of red, "I'venevermadefriendsbefore..."

"You teach your people to mumble a lot, Dimitri." Jared teased.

"I said I've never made friends before." She snaps, and then frowns, "Even in Russia I can't make friends because they're all busy thinking of some ways to kill me."

They all turned to Dimitri as if asking for confirmation.

"Well, she was getting special attention, private training, own room, control of her assignments and weapons... She even got Albert to serve her." he explains, "Among everyone there, she has free reins. That didn't settle well with the others."

No one had anything to say after that. It felt like they would make things worse than it already is. But Astrid waved her hand, dropping her fork, giving up on lunch altogether, and sighed.

"It’s nothing, forget about it," she leans back on Damien's legs and rested her head on his knee. "Just want to know what it feels like to be normal; you know? No heiress or assassin crap..."

They exchanged looks and nods.

"Well, why don't we go to the ball tonight?" Allana asks.

"Yeah," Derek says, "we can't promise you not to get mobbed though you are a Jacobson- Matthews and well, just look at you."

Astrid gave him a questioned look, "What do you mean?"

"You really don't see it?" Collin raised a brow.

"See what?" Astrid asked, "A mercenary?"

"Astrid..." Damien says.

"Well, that's all I really see." Astrid says, "Besides, I can't go out into the open with you guys with a bounty on my head."

"No one will find you here Astrid." Jared says, "Dimitri said so himself, they won't be all over you until we're back at NSA."

"You don't know that." Astrid says, "You don't know how these people act or think. To them, there is no such thing as a civilian, Dimitri back me up here."

Dimitri shook his head, "You said your home, you left all that behind, didn't you? You won't let that control your life or your family's, would you?"

Astrid stares at him with disbelief. The moment she needed his big mouth he didn't even push through.

"That's settled then," Ash says, "We're going to the town ball."

"And since no one knew of your arrival, well, we can just say you are a friend..." 

Jared says, "A nobody."

"But Damien already told Andy-"

"Knowing Andy?" Allana says, "She won't tell a soul who you are, so she'll get all the attention to herself."

"That's an understatement." The boys said in unison, except for Dimitri.

"Come on Astrid." Allana stands up and pulled Astrid to her feet.

"Where are you going?" Collin asks.

"Getting some girl time," Allana says pulling Astrid up the stairs to her room. "No one disturbs us unless necessary!" she shouts halfway up the stairs.

"Yes ma'am." The boys say with a shrug.

Astrid giggles amused. She glanced at Damien who was watching her as well and winks. She blushes again as they finally reached the top and were out of the boys' sight.

"You got them whipped," Astrid says as Allana leads her to her room.

"Well, if you are the only girl among hot boys like that, you'd need to control them." She shrugs. "Collin, thankfully, I have no problem with. The others, well, they are single I can't really stop them from dating and screwing around, can I?"

Astrid frowns hearing this.

"They've dated?" she asks.

"A lot." she rolled her eyes and turned to her, "Boys and their hormones, you know?" she looks ahead not seeing Astrid’s disappointed look. "And the fact that girls are throwing themselves at their feet and doing their every whim didn't help at all."

"I see..."

Allana glanced at Astrid and grins, "Oh, don't worry Astrid, he was good while you were away." Astrid turns to her, hopeful, "Ash has a pretty nice taste of girls, actually, he just gets bored too quickly, thus it's not you, it's my crap had been linked to him."

"Oh," she was expecting to hear about Damien, but of course she'd like to hear about his twin brother's choice of girls too. "That's good to know."

"Yeah, there’s no need to worry," she says stepping inside her room. "So, do you have anything to wear tonight?"

She shrugs, "I don't even know what to wear in these kinds of events." she closes the door and walks toward the bed, "I mean I've been in these kinds of stuff, but only during assignments."

"And what do you wear?"

"Clothes that Albert prepares for me." she chuckles, "You know how much he wants to turn me into a lady like you and mom."

"Well, you'd be a waste if we don't." she says, "Anyway, town balls are simpler than the ones we prepare at NSA, a simple dress would be fine." then she turns to Astrid with wide eyes, "Did you bring your white dress?"

Astrid thinks for a moment, "Yeah."

"Then wear that."

"It’s raining Allana." Astrid points out dropping down her bed and lying on her back.

"Exactly, no one would think of wearing white." she says excitedly, "You'll be the belle of the ball!"

Astrid rolls her eyes, "I don't want attention on me. Besides, I don't want any more reason for that Andy girl to glare at me."

"She wouldn't do anything to piss off the boys," Allana says as she picks up her bag and rummages through it. "Besides, I'm thinking you'd like to be armed when we go out, so you can hide your guns or whatever you need underneath the dress."

Astrid laughs. "I don't think Damien would like that."

"Well, he's got to deal with it if he wants to date you." she gave Astrid a look.

"D- date me?" she sits up and watches her cousin.

"Please Astrid." Allana rolled her eyes, "Do you really think I wouldn't notice?"

"Notice what?" Astrid looks away, her cheeks heating up again.

"Those look earlier downstairs." she pointed out, "You getting all jealous of Andy... What did she really do?"

"She pushed me away..."

"Ok, so she pushed you away." Allana says, dropping her hands on her side and grins, "Are we talking physically or away from Damien?"

"What do you mean?" Astrid gave her a weird look. "Is there a difference?"

"Well, you are patient, so to push you physically won't piss you off like that, but," her grin turns to a smirk, "on the other hand, if it’s like, just a figure of speech, well, what got your underwear in a bunch?"

"Nothing..." Astrid quickly says.

"Uhuh, yeah..." Allana stifles a laugh, "Keep saying that until you fool yourself, maybe I'll believe you by then."

Astrid looks up at her, exasperated, "What do you want me to say Allana? That the boy's driving me crazy? He's overprotective and as foolish as I am; he doesn't like reasons as much as I do?"

"No," Allana sat beside her, "I want to hear from you is what you feel for him?" Astrid looks at her, surprised. "He has been waiting for you, Astrid, all these years."

"He promised-"

Allana shook his head, "Not because of that, Astrid, he waited because he loves you."

Astrid rolls her eyes and dropped on her bed, "Love..."

"Yes, love," Allana says looking down at her. "You do know what that is, right?"

Astrid looks up at her and grinned, "It’s the reason I left and it’s the same reason that I am home."

Allana smiled and nodded, she stood up. Astrid was debating within herself if she should tell her "We kissed," she whispers before she can change her mind.

"What?" Allana snapped back her head her way.

"Nothing." Astrid shakes her head and covers her face with a pillow, feeling her cheeks burn again as the memory of their moment at the chapel and at his room ran through her mind, leaving her goosebumps and a smile crept in her lips as well.

"You said you kissed! When?" Allana jumps on the bed beside her, pulled the pillow off away her face.

“Ow! That hurt Allana!”

“Focus Astrid!”

“I told you, it’s nothing, you’re hearing things.”

“Don’t lie to me, young lady.” Allana pulls her up to a sitting position, “Tell me.”

Astrid rolls her eyes and looks away, "Earlier in town. After the little fight, we had."

"You had a fight already?"

"More of we had a fight first.” Astrid shrugs, “Anyway, it was stupid, he was teasing me about how I was getting jealous of Andy, he told me I should not as I also made him jealous of Dimitri, which I didn't even know." she sounds exasperated, but continued, "So I left him to shop alone and I walked around town. I was hoping he'd followed but knowing Damien, he knew I wanted some time alone to think. But then the storm started, and I was lost and ended up at the town's church where he found me." She looks down her hands; she was tangling her fingers, trying to calm down. She hasn't looked up at Allana once, "I grew up scared of thunderstorms, and you know how Damien gets when he needs to calm me. I hesitated, I didn't want another misunderstanding if I as much as let him comfort me, much more hold me. But I guess fear got the best of me, soon I was in his arms calming me down..." Astrid let a smile slip unconsciously, "Then he told me that he was just jealous of Dimitri taking his place. Then he said it..."

"Said what?"

"That he loves me..." Astrid says if her voice can drop in a whisper more but earning a squeal from Allana.

"What did you say?" Allana asks, gripping her hand and jumping on the bed.

Astrid gave her a weird look, "The truth."

"Which is?"

"That I felt the same way."

Allana squeals again and shakes Astrid, "And that's when you kissed?" Astrid gave a weak nod. "You love him?" She nods again. "Then why the long face?"

Astrid felt tears forming in her eyes, "That time, I wasn't aware that I was the target..." she says, "Now... I just don't want him to get caught in my mess, not any of you. But knowing Damien, he'll never hear any of it." she wiped away the tears that ran down her cheeks.

"Astrid, look at me." Allana orders, "Damien loves you, we all do. I know this mess might be out of our league but trust me when I say that we won't allow anything to happen to you whether it’s against assassins or those pussies at school." Astrid chuckles, "We almost lost you once, Astrid, we won't let that happen again."

Astrid took a deep breath and wipes away the tears, "That doesn't change a thing that you will be put in danger-"

"And it is our decision that we are putting ourselves in." she says, exasperated of her as well, "You have to stop thinking that we can't handle this or that we are on danger, cause quite frankly, you are the one in danger here, and we are helping you out of it whether you like it or not."

Astrid stares at her for a moment and shook her head, "We sure are a foolish family, aren't we?"

Allana hugs Astrid, "We just love you, Astrid, and if protecting you means to be as foolish as you are, we don't mind."

Astrid laughs and hugged her back. Then they pulled apart and smiled.

"Man, I am a crybaby," Astrid says, wiping her eyes dry of tears.

"I think that it’s nice that you are," Allana steps down her bed, "good to know that you are not that cold-blooded killer you like us to believe."

Astrid smiles at that thought, she never thought of it that way. She knows that she didn’t need to say it, Allana knew how that talk helped her and she was thankful.

Allana rolls over and lies on her stomach, "So, what are you planning to wear?"

Allana shrugs, "Quite frankly, I don't know, and I really don’t want to go."

"Well, you said that it was a rave, right? Then we can just do casual." Astrid says.

Allana shook her head, "No, this would be your first ball with Damien, you should be at your best, and I’ll be casual."

"No.," Astrid says sternly, "It would look as if I'm trying to be prettier than you are Allana, that'll just be lame. Even in a shirt and shorts, you're sure to look amazing." Allana stifles a laugh, "Besides, I don't want Andy to think that we have to put in an effort to look better than her."

"To that one, I'd have to agree," Allana says. 

Astrid smiles, she knew Allana would see it her way. Besides she didn't want to ruin a perfectly beautiful white dress by wearing it in weather like this, that would be catastrophic.

“But I still say go for the white dress.” Allana says, “I’ll go casual.”

“Noooo…” Astrid groans, hiding underneath the pillow again. “I’d be completely out of place!”

“Don’t be silly, you’d just be classy,” Allana says with authority that it seems futile to say no.

“Classy stupid.” Astrid mumbles.

Their little banter was put on hold when someone knocked on the door before it opened revealing Damien.

"I said no one disturbs us." Allana whines.

"Well, I'm sorry, but if you haven't noticed, Astrid didn’t have the chance to eat after we interrogated her and you kidnapping her."

"U-huh..." Allana gave a know- it- all- smile.

Damien then walks up to them and settled the food on the side table. Then he sat beside Astrid, wraps his arms around her waist, and pulling her to his lap before giving her a kiss, right in front of Allana.

 A moment later, he pulled out and gave Astrid a grin, he was about to tease her, when he noticed her eyes were red and puffy like she had just been crying again. "Hey, are you ok? Have you been crying?"

Astrid sighs and shook her head, "It's nothing to worry about Damien," she smiled a genuine smile, "Frankly, I think it was the good kind of crying." he gave her a questioned look. "Just don't worry, Damien, I'm fine."

Damien returned her smile, knowing that if ever there is something that's bothering her; she'll tell him sooner or later, in her own time. Damien didn't want to look like a manipulative and nosey boyfriend if he was already one.

He relaxed, still holding her around her waist, running his hand up and down her back, and then started playing with the tips of her hair. "I'm guessing Allana knows?"

Astrid bit her lower lip and hid her face on the crook of his neck, "I just needed to confide to someone."

"That's right." Allana says, "Meaning now is girl time, not you and her time, now you've done your task of bringing her food and being a sweet boyfriend, you can go now."

"And if I don't want to?" Damien dared.

"Well, I hope you are up for hours of looking for something to wear for tonight's ball and not to mention, painting nails, doing our hair, talking about boys and-"

"I'll go if you promise not to talk about boys," Damien says.

"I promise." Allana raised her right hand and crossed her heart.

"Good," Damien says he gives Astrid another quick kiss and settles her back down in bed. "I'll see you later."

"Yeah," Astrid says.

"Get a move on Cayce." Allana teased as she gently pushes him to the door, Damien laughs and leaned back, making pushing him to the door harder. "Damien, go! We have to prepare for the ball."

"It's six hours away." He argues.

"Only six hours away. We have a lot to do."

"Keep it casual, I don't want to be in a fight tonight." Damien said, "You both seem to not know what you do to guys."

"We have no idea what you're talking about." Astrid and Allana say, acting innocent.

Finally, he was outside the door and turned and faced Allana, glancing at Astrid who was laughing and shaking her head.

"I'll see you later angel," he calls out.

"Can't wait," Astrid says, amused.

"Don’t forget your promise," Damien says over his shoulder at Allana.

"I won't." Then she closed the door on his face and locks it, "We'll probably talk about the girls you dated and screwed."

"Allana, don't you dare!" Damien shouts on the other side and started knocking loudly on the door, making Astrid laugh again.

"Go away, Damien." Allana laughs as she walks back to her bag.

"Meanie!" Damien shouted.

"Pussy!" Allana shouted back. "Seriously?! Are you in fourth grade or something?"

They heard Damien laughed until there was only silence.

"I guess that's that," Allana said.

"I guess..."

"Hey, I'll just go check this out," Allana says as she walks to her ensuite, Astrid nods and lied back down her bed. Suddenly she hears a noise outside the balcony. 

She steps down the bed, making sure that Allana was safe in her ensuite, she walks toward the terrace and peeked outside, suddenly someone pulled her and put a hand over her mouth, she was about to fight back when she was pinned on the wall and saw him.

She relaxes, glares at his attacker, and pulled his hand away.

"Seriously Damien?" Astrid whispered- yelled at him. "This isn't a good time to be sneaking around-"

Then he shut her up by kissing her. He cups her face and held her in place as she ran her hand through his hair and pulls him closer. Damien wraps one arm around her waist pulling her closer to him.

He didn't have to ask for entrance this time, as Astrid sensed that he would be deepening the kiss, she opened her lips for him and let him take control and deepen the kiss.

A few seconds more they finally pulled apart, Damien rested his forehead on hers, as they both catch their breath.

"Sneaking around is still stupid Damien," Astrid says, not letting him move away from her.

Damien stifles a laugh, "It was totally worth it." Astrid grins and gave him a light kiss.

"You should go." Astrid says, "Allana wouldn't like you ruining girl time." 

She loosens her hold of him and rested her hand on his chest, lightly and half-heartedly pushing him away.

"Wait." He says, reaching for her hand and wrapping it with his hands, he laid a hand on the wall beside her head, and leaned down on her, "I love you."

Astrid felt her face blushed, but she didn't look away. He held her gaze with his. "I love you."

"I know, I just want to hear it again," he leaned in and kissed her softly and passionately that she feared she couldn't stop herself this time. But it was Damien who pulled away. "Just in case I heard you wrong before."

"I don't think it's something I can ever get wrong or even take back."

"Good." He says giving her waist a squeeze, "Because I don't want you to."

Astrid smiles and shook her head, then she looked around. "How did you get here?"

Damien points at the end of the balcony, only then did Astrid noticed the fire escape at the end of the balcony.

"It was a bit of a climb and balancing act, but it was worth it," Damien says holding her tighter against him.

Astrid stifled a laugh and pushes him away. "You should go. Allana would be out any second."

"But-"

"Damien give me back my cousin right now or else!" 

“Fine!” Damien calls as Astrid fights off her laughter. 

"I can't seem to decide which one to wear I need her now!"

"I'll be right there!" Astrid says, "I'll see you later, love." she gave him another kiss and turns to leave. 

But Damien grabs her by the wrist and pulls her to him, kissing her again, deep. Astrid smiled and returned the kiss.

"Astrid!" Allana calls out again.

They pulled apart and stared at each other. Astrid starts to walk backward, still her eyes on Damien. Damien watch her walk away, as she had a silly smile on her face, biting down her lip, looking adorable that all he wanted was to pull her back in her arms and plant more kisses. But he knew she was catching up with Allana.

He had been spending time with her the most among everyone put together.

He still hadn't let go of her hand, their arms stretched out in front of them until Astrid slips out of his hold and enter the room.

Damien ran down the stairs excited to see Astrid. It has been hours since they kissed outside Allana's balcony and he hasn’t seen her since then. He tried everything, even calling her on her cell phone, which Allana answers and later on hanged up and shut off.

For someone as beautiful as Allana, she was sure irritating. But Damien just laughed it off, understanding how the girls wanted to catch up with each other.

"Hey, where are the girls?" He asks Collin.

"Still in our room." Collin shrugs. "I've been trying to get in, but the only time that door opened was when Allana handed me what she chose for me to wear."

Damien laughs, "You sure they're in there still?"

"Yeah," Collin says, "I can hear them laughing and jumping around, I didn't know that you need to jump so much as you paint your nails and do your hair."

The boys laughed. "They're probably having the time of their lives in there."

"I sure hope so." Collin and Damien said in unison.

Finally, they heard giggles and whispers from top of the stairs, finally, the two appeared whispering and laughing as they come down the stairs.

The boys stared at them, running their eyes up and down. They were wearing short jeans shirt, Allana had a hanging sleeveless shirt over a tube top. 

While Astrid put on what seemed to be a huge black shirt that slips over one shoulder, with sleeves up to her elbows, but the shirt was a bit too long that it was as if she didn't have any shorts on.

"What are you wearing?" Jared frowns.

"Something casual," Allana says walking toward Collin.

"You wouldn't be making this an easy night," Collin says, reaching for her waist, running his hand on her bare skin. "You should change."

"No." they said in unison.

"Girls," Ash says, "this may be a small town, but that's exactly the same reasons why the boys here have greater hormones issues than those boys in NSA."

"And I'm pretty sure you boys can handle them for us, right Astrid?"

"I don't mind manhandling a few boys," Astrid says, glancing at Damien who rolls his eyes.

"You're keeping us from hanging out with the other girls, aren't you?" Derek says, doubtful. "And by others, I mean Andy."

"No, we're not." They say.

"We don't mind if you want to hang out with other girls." Allana says, "We can hang out with each other or some of the local boys."

"Not while wearing that you're not," Dimitri says. "You will start hell if you do that."

"It'll be a walk in the park, I'm sure," Allana says.

"Fine." Damien says, "You want this the hard way? So be it."

"What?" The boys ask.

"You better start that walk to town." Damien says, "I am not driving you two there."

Astrid raised a brow, "Fine then, let's go Allana." She pulls Allana to the door and started their walk.

"Astrid are you serious about this?"

"Yup." she says, "They need to know we have some backbone. I mean, seriously? Do we look like we take crap from assholes? Where's the trust, sheesh!"

"You do know that the town is like an hour or so walk from here, right?"

"Then we better do more walking than talking, don't we?" Astrid winked at her and quickens her phase.

Allana grins and jogged to catch on links arms and grinned at her. "Then good thing it’s no longer raining and thank you for sneakers."

Astrid nods and a few minutes later the car was right behind them and Ash rolled down the window.

"Astrid, get in the car," Damien says.

"No."

"Astrid-"

"No thanks, we were said to start walking, so we are." Astrid says, "Go deal with guilt."

"Allana?" Collin glances at Allana with pleading eyes.

"I'm not leaving Astrid," Allana says as stubborn as Astrid. "You boys should go, the ladies are waiting."

"Fine, your call," Damien says again and drove off, driving pass a puddle getting the girls a bit wet.

"What the-"

"Jerk!" Astrid shouts. While they too can hear the boys arguing as Damien drove off.

"What's wrong with Damien?" Allana snaps, her legs now splattered with mud.

"This is exactly what I was worried about," Astrid shook her head, "him being more protective than he already is."

"Wonder what he'll do after his birthday."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, he'll be 18, which means Uncle Rhaumwald would be handing over half of the family's company to him." Allana says, "And he'll have as much control as Uncle has, maybe he'll hire more guards for you."

"The hell he would." Astrid shook her head.

"He's just worried, Astrid," Allana said.

"That's an understatement."

Allana laughs and shook her head. "I remembered after Collin's 18th birthday, she practically asked my parents to have me live with him and provide for me." Astrid glances at her seeing her looking amused at the thought.

"My parents, being who they are, agreed that I can live with him, but have to turn down his offer of providing for me, I am there only child, after all, they can more than manage." she rolled her eyes saying this making Astrid laughed. "Collin didn't agree but they finally came to an understanding that I can live with him and he'll provide me maids, chauffeurs, and guards- in addition to those that my parents already hired for me." she sighed, "I didn't need any more help and told Collin, and all he said was he doesn't want me to lift even a finger under his watch." she stifles a laugh, "He even said, if necessary he'll hire someone to carry me around, or go to school for me."

Astrid laughs as well. "That's sweet."

"Yeah," Allana agrees, "I love Collin with all my heart, but sometimes he goes over the top with things. Whenever I tell him what he's doing is too much, he'll just say, you'll get used to it. But the thing is, I don't want to get used to it."

"Why not?"

"Astrid, we're rich now, but we won't always be rich." Allana says, "What if something happens in the long run? The money he's spending now, we can start saving with it already, and I don't want to be some brat who won’t even know how to wash dishes or turn on an oven."

Astrid laughs, "That's your decision Allana if you ask me you are thinking of this way too much. Trust Collin that he'll take care of you and won't let you go bankrupt. He practically grew up beside grandpa; he learned from the best, all the boys did."

"I know..." Allana sighed, "I guess I'm just scared."

"Well, we'll deal with it when we get there." Astrid puts an arm around her shoulder. “For now let’s get this night over with, seeing we ended up as each other’s date."

Allana laughs and nods, then looking ahead, she smiles, "That might still change."

Astrid followed her gaze and saw the car parked ahead, with Damien waiting for them, sitting over the hood of the car.

"What are you doing here?" Astrid frowns.

"I came to pick you up, grouch," Damien says with a grin. "The boys aren't actually pleased with me or your girls right now."

"What did we do?" Allana pouts.

"Do you girls have any self-preservation?" Damien asks, "Or have you forgotten what your effects are to boys? Collin can't stop hitting me on the head saying you’re probably pissed off with him too."

Allana frowns, "Is he with you? Of course, I'm not mad at him, I am disappointed with you boys though thinking we can't handle ourselves, I'm not crazy mad at him."

Damien sighed, "He's at the ball with the others. C'mon, they're waiting."

"No thanks," Astrid says.

"Astrid, can you please stop being so stubborn and get in the car?" Damien says through gritted teeth.

"No," Astrid says, "Not until you understand that not all the time you need to be so protective, that not all the time we're going to start trouble and that not all the time you boys would be there to have our back." she snaps, "If you haven't noticed, we can actually take care of yourself."

Damien shrugs, "We know that Astrid, but with you girls wearing that? C'mon! Even we can't control ourselves!"

Allana and Astrid turned to him with a wtf look.

"We are always with you girls and we practically immune to your hormones, but seeing you girls on those clothes? You are just way too much of a tease right now."

"Because of these clothes?", Allana asks with disbelief, Damien nods. "You have got to be kidding me! The next thing you'll tell us is we'd need to keep a distance from Derek, or he'll start the mating season early."

"Well, with Derek its mating season all year round." Damien jokes, "But we can't have that urge of him triggered by you two."

"You are talking about my brother, cousin, and friends, you do know that, right?" Astrid asks.

"They're still guys with needs," Damien says. "To say that we can't keep our hands away will be an understatement."

"Urgh!" Allana shouts "Get in the car, Astrid."

"What?" Astrid asks surprised.

"Get in the car." Allana says as she opened the door of the backseat, "Collin is at the ball, surrounded by hormonal girls, and with Andy lurking around. I will not stand here and get there seeing her spreading herself thin for him, which is very likely." she steps inside the car and slammed the door shut.

Astrid sighs and walked pass Damien, who grabbed her by the hand and pulled her to him.

"Astrid..."

"Allana's pissed off, Damien, we should go." Astrid tries to pull away from her hands, but Damien tightens his hold.

"And so are you." Damien says, “Look, we should have just dropped it and let you girls have your way. But the thing is, I haven't seen you since the balcony thing and, well, I don't want to spend the night having to glare at every guy who has the guts to look at you, much more those who'll ask you to dance with them."

Astrid sighs, "Damien, I'm going there with you. I'm not there to flirt or catch the male population's attention. We dressed up for you guys, not for them. Where's the trust?"

"I do trust you, angel. It’s those boys that I don't trust."

"And I'll take care of them personally if you don't get ahead of me." Astrid rolls her eyes making him laugh. She shrugs, walks up to him, and reached for his face. 

“Remember when I told you that the only one who I'm comfortable with to touch me is you?" he nods, "Then shouldn't that be enough reason to know that I am not planning to have anyone touch me?"

"And what about Allana?" Damien asks.

"Allana and Collin's engaged, do you really think that she'll be dancing with anyone else aside from Collin?" she gave him a look, "Collin won't be taking her out of his sight, that's for sure."

Damien sighs and pulled her nearer, wrapping his arms around her waist. "I'm sorry for making you walk, making you think that we don't trust you and for ruining a supposed first date."

"Apology not accepted."

"Astrid..."

"You owe me another date, a better one." she demands, "Just us, no chaperones."

Damien laughs, "Yes ma'am."

Astrid smiles and gave him a quick kiss, "I'm sorry for being stubborn."

Damien chuckles and stood up, “It's one of your best qualities."

"Let's get a move you love birds!" Allana shouts.

"Yes ma'am," Damien says.

Astrid shook her head, "She got you boys so whipped."

They laughed; Damien then pulls her to the passenger seat and opened the door for her.

Soon they were on their way to the ball, in jeans.

"Wow, this look..." Allana looks around, "different."

They stepped into the town's meeting hall where the ball was going on full swing. It looked like a prom gone wrong.

"Hey, Damien!" Andy walks toward them and gave Damien a kiss on the cheek.

Damien steps back and pulled Astrid between him and Andy. Andy looks at Damien’s hold on Astrid and glaring at her for a second before smiling back to Damien. "You're late; the boys had been here for a while."

"Yeah, I had to pick up the girls," Damien says over the loud music.

Andy again glanced at Astrid then at Allana. "Hey, Allana, it’s been a while."

"I know." Allana forces a smile, "Collin and I had been so busy since his 18th birthday. He can't wait until I turned 18 myself so we can start planning the wedding."

"Yeah..." Andy says with a nod, her face telling them the thought of Collin and Allana getting married didn't settle well with her.

"So, Andy, Uhm, this is..." Damien looks around thinking of a subtle way to say what he thought, "different."

Andy quickly smiles, "I know right? It’s so cool to have a chance here and not be so classy and puffy you know?"

"But isn't it a bit..."

"Ominous." Astrid offers.

Andy glares at her, "What would you know with what ominous is when you're all perky and pink?"

"I'm sorry," Astrid glares back, "this isn't ominous at all, this is just plain pathetic."

"Yeah, you would know."

"Andy." Damien steps in; Andy looked back at him surprised as if forgetting that he was there.

She glares at Astrid again. "Food and beverages are over there, go help yourselves."

"Thank you," Damien says and walks past her.

"Hope you don't choke," she whispers to Astrid.

Astrid smiled at her, "Well, luckily I have Damien to save me."

They walked toward the beverage area and Damien ordered colas.

"Well, that too was different." He says as he hands them colas.

"Told you she's a bitch." Allana says looking around.

"They're probably upstairs," Damien says not wanting another Andy fight with Astrid. "Let's go." He wraps one arm around Astrid's waist and another arm over Allana's shoulder, keeping both of them near.

The moment they got upstairs where almost all the teenagers who didn’t want to do anything with dancing were, Allana lit up seeing Collin. She slips out of Damien’s hold and ran to where Collin was.

The moment other boys saw her, they catcalled, and wolf whistled.

She stops and glares at them. "Seriously? No name-calling?"

"Well, we can do more..." A boy says with a smirk.

"And I'll do more than just punch the living daylights out of you if you even lay a finger on my fiancée." Collin appears behind Allana and wraps his arms around her waist. "So keep your hand to yourself."

Allana gave them all a smile and turns to Collin, wrapped her arms around his neck, and smiled.

"That was hot," she whispers, making Collin laugh.

"Thank you." he says, "Now, come on, the others are over there, you can laugh at them trying to get away from the girls."

Allana laughs, "Astrid wouldn't like that."

They reached where the boys were and saw that Astrid and Damien were already there waiting for them.

"You told those boys who’s the boss, cousin?" Astrid teases Collin.

"Yup." Collin says, "Until this little lady here went and told me that I was hot, then those boys saw who my boss was."

"She got you boys so whipped." Astrid laughs.

"Thank you, but I'd like to rest for a while," Ash says as he moved away from the mob of girls surrounding them and walked toward their table, he sees Astrid and lit up. "I knew Damien can't take the guilt."

"Actually, it was your cold shoulders that made him pick us up." Astrid says, "You guys are so girly with your tantrums."

Ash laughs, standing behind her and kissing her on the cheek, "You love us anyway."

"Yeah, yeah..." Astrid rolls her eyes. Then she turns to watch the girls again, one by one, they were glancing at her. Then she felt an arm around her shoulder.

"Ash, what are you doing?"

"I don't want to go back in there," Ash says with puppy dog eyes.

"Then just tell them no instead of being incest," Astrid says, leaning on him.

"You think I haven't told them that?" Ash asks.

"Well, you can't hold me like am your girlfriend the whole night." She glances at Damien who she caught grinning.

" I know someone else who wouldn't like that," Ash whispered, Astrid looks up at him surprised, making him laugh. "Don't worry little sister," he ruffles her hair, "I don't mind, I like that you'll be taken care of." he let goes of her and shrugged, "Just sad that I'll probably be trampled by those girls along with Derek, Jared, and Dimitri."

Then a girl walked up to Ash and ran her hand down his arm, “Want to dance, Ash?”

“Hey,” Astrid steps between them, “can’t you see we’re having a moment here? So just back off.”

The girl glanced at Ash who just shrugs, the girl shook her head and gave Astrid a glare before leaving.

“Feisty.” Ash teases, “I like.”

Astrid nudged him making him squirm for a second. 

“Poor Dimitri,” Allana says, “after living a life in secrecy he’s now being mobbed.”

“He isn’t that discrete with the ladies, trust me,” Astrid says, taking a sip on her drink. Damien gave her a look, “Well, he is an heir of a rich family too you know, the boss’ son, you really think the girls won’t throw themselves at his feet?”

“U-huh…” Damien grins and looked back at the boys. “Sure this isn’t based on experience?”

“What does that supposed to mean?” Astrid asks.

“Well, he followed you all the way here and he is practically turning away from his family to save you, tell us something about that,” Damien says.

“He’s just like a brother to me, he looked after me when I arrived there.” Astrid says, “He was my constant companion but that’s it.”

“No midnight escapes? No secret rendezvous after assignments?” Collin teases.

Astrid scrunched up her nose, “Especially none of those.”

“U- huh…” Allana nods, “So you just practically have him whipped.”

“What?” Astrid gave her a look, “No I don’t”

“Then why risk his life for you?” Allana asks wiggling her brows.

“Which side are you on?” Astrid asks.

“I’m just interested.” Allana gave her a smirk.

“He’s just as whipped as the boys here are.”

“And who says you got us whipped?” Ash asks.

“Who said I don’t?”

“Show me,” Damien says.

“Show you what?” Astrid gives him a look, knowing he starred this stupid conversation.

“That you got us whipped.”

“Seriously?” Astrid stifles a laugh, “You want to get embarrassed, here? Now? In front of all the ladies?”

“I don’t mind the girls here seeing.” Damien says, “Quite frankly, I don’t care.”

Astrid grins, “You asked for it.” Astrid shook her head, then she walked past him and toward the mob of girls.

"Where are you going, Astrid?” Ash asks, sounding worried.

"To help you boys out, what else?" she stood at the edge of the mob. "Hey!" she shouts, but no one turned to face her. They watched her from the table, amused. "HEY!" she shouts louder, getting pissed by the minute; no one seems to be giving her any attention. "WOULD YOU ALL SHUT THE HELL UP!?!"

The girl turns to her, surprised by her outburst.

"What do you want?" The girl who invited Ash for a dance step up.

"My friends," Astrid points at the boys, "give them a break, ok? We're on vacation, and it’s not in our itinerary to be mobbed by girls when we're supposed to be having fun."

"Yeah, well, it’s not in our itinerary to get fucked off by a little bitch like you."

Astrid glares at her, “Jared! Derek! Dimitri! Get your butts off there right now!”

The three boys hurriedly rushed to her and stood between her and the girls.

“Get your butts on the table and stay there.” She says.

“But- “

“On the table.” Astrid snaps again, making the boys hurriedly walk to the table.

“Who do you think you are telling these boys what to do?” a girl walks up to her.

“Who I am is none of your business, so I’d appreciate it if you leave me and my family alone as I said, we’re on vacation and we didn’t plan to pick up skanks on the way.”

Astrid then turns around and one girl grabs her by the arm making her turn around and slaps her.

“What the- “

“Astrid-”

“Sit down!” she shouts at the boys who were now all up on their feet, even Damien. “Sit down, or I’ll personally throw you in the middle of these mob again.”

The boys sat back down, they loved girls, but not like this.

Astrid then faced the girl, “If that is all you have, then listen to this, missy, get your filthy hands off my brother and friends before I do I for you. And if I see you even a meter from us, unless they asked you to dance or whatever, I will drag you and hang all of you whore’s upside down, do you hear me?"

They all stared at her; eyes filled with mixed emotions. Then Astrid turned and walked back to their table.

“You know, if looks could kill, you’d be dead by now with how those girls are looking at you,” Collin says.

“Well, good thing I’m the one with the killing experience.” She says, then she turns to Damien, “What?”

“Nothing, angel…” he says, looking away and smiling, “Nothing.”

Astrid rolled her eyes, “Boys…”

This time everyone in the table chuckled and looked away when Astrid gave them all a look.

“Yeah, she got you whipped,” Allana says and laughs.

Hours later, Astrid was by the balcony that overlooks the makeshift dance floor, watching couples dancing. One of them, Collin and Allana.

“Hey…”

“Hey…” she mumbles back.

“You still mad at me?” Damien asks.

She shrugs, “No, I’m just… I don't know… I’m thinking of so many things right now that I don’t know which one to handle first.”

“Am I one of those things you are thinking about?”

“Yeah.” She says honestly.

“Am I being a burden?” Damien frowns.

“What?” Astrid looks up at him, surprised. She shook her head, “No, no, love… It isn’t like that.”

Damien felt relief, “Then what is it?”

“I just,” she sighs again and watched Allana and Collin, “feel selfish bringing you into my chaotic life. Now, I’m probably being watched and you’re being too close that they’ll probably put you down first.”

Damien chuckles and put an arm around her waist and pulled her close to him, “You are thinking too much.” Astrid chuckled, “One, I don’t think you are being selfish, I do want to be here with you, which brings me to number two, I don’t care if you are being chased by these bounty hunters or assassins, I’ll be beside you because I want to be and third,” he rested his forehead on hers and dropped his voice into a whisper, “I don’t think they’d be crazy enough to kill the love of your life right in front of you.”

Astrid stifles a laugh not taking away her eyes from his, "How's your wound, by the way?"

"Pretty ok," Damien says, "Good thing the nurse gave us a waterproof bandage."

"We should check it out at home later."

"Anything you say, angel," he says.

Then she wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him. He smiles and hugged her as well.

She hears him laugh and looks up, giving him a questioned look.

“Allana is right.” He said, “You do get us whipped.”

Astrid smiles, “That’s an understatement.”