Chapter 24: Chapter Twenty-Four

"Kitten, what's wrong?" Damien said as he hurriedly came into my room, taking me into his arms. He looked down at me with a look of worry on his gorgeous face. I tried to respond, but couldn't as I almost began to cry. He was so beautiful and amazing, how could he really continue to want someone like me? I hated myself for almost crying again. How could I be such a baby?

"It's nothing, Sam is waiting for us." I finally said as I stood on the tips of my toes and kissed him softly. He looked at me quizzically, knowing I was lying. "We can talk about it later, okay?"

He reluctantly nodded his understanding, then walked hand in hand with me back downstairs to where Sam was reading a book, drinking his glass of blood. His bright green eyes ran quickly over the book, flipping through each page in less than a second, his beautiful face calm and content as he read. He looked so at peace as he sat there in his all black suit, I couldn't help but take in his beauty again.

Why were vampires so unbelievably attractive? It must be because they cannot be influenced by things the way humans can. The whites of their eyes will never lose their brightness, and their skin will never wrinkle or age. It's the most envious thing about vampires, to me. Speed, strength, and other abilities were fine and all, but eternal youth was the real envy-worthy trait.

"Sam, here." Damien's voice cut through my thoughts as he tossed some clothes to him. Sam quickly caught the clothes and left the room to change, leaving Damien looking down at me with a look in his eyes that made me feel like cowering. The electric in his eyes was alive with rage, threatening to strike me dead.

"I..." I started to say, but trailed off. I didn't actually know what to say. What is there to say when your boyfriend catches you admiring another man? Especially when it's the second time he's caught you doing it?

Damien closed his eyes and shook his head, telling me I didn't need to say anything. He sat on the couch again, holding his arm out. I slowly sat next to him, trying to hide my fear. If Damien wants to punish me for this, he has every right to, and lord knows I have no way of doing anything about it. I don't even believe I would have a right to, in any case.

"Do you want him?" Damien finally asked, after putting his hand under my chin, forcing me to look up into his eyes.

"What?" I asked, disbelievingly as I tried to comprehend what he'd just asked me.

"This is the second time I've caught you staring at him, admiring him. I think it's a fair assumption that you want him. Is it not?" Damien asked me slowly, his voice low, but his eyes still alive and screaming the anger he refused to voice.

"No, I don't want him, Damien. It's just weird to me, I don't understand it." I said quickly, closing my eyes, so I wouldn't have to look into his eyes anymore.

"What don't you understand, Bast?"

"Every other vampire I've met has been different. You, your guards, Dana, the vampires in your office building..." I trailed off, trying to decide how to say it. "I don't know how to say it in a non-offensive way." I finally admitted, unable to find the words to articulate my thoughts.

"Just say it. I won't be upset with you." He responded, caressing the side of my face softly.

"All the other vampires are solemn, terrifying, and unapproachable. But Sam seems the exact opposite. I just don't get it, Damien. Sam is almost as old as you, right? You've told me once before that the longer a vampire lives, the closer they get to the Recreant stage. Because the longer they live, the lesser their hold on humanity remains." I quickly said what was on my mind, trying to show him my thought process.

We both turned towards the doorway, to see Sam standing there, obviously not sure if he should come to sit back with us or not. Damien nodded his head softly, then poured the blood into his and Sam's cup, then turned back to me to listen.

Damien cocked his head to the side as he listened to me, taking in what I was saying. "So you stare at Sam to try and see if he's like me? Underneath the friendly demeanor?"

"Um... I guess, yeah."

"Bast-" Damien started to say, but was cut off by his own laughter. He laughed so hard the entire couch shook, and I swear some bookcases actually moved as well. "When you were younger, you looked me up. I came into your room and you were watching videos of me. What were you thinking, when you saw the way I was, versus the way I act around you?" He asked me, after calming down from his laughter.

I took a few drinks from my glass before responding. "It felt like you were two different people. Sometimes I still feel like that, like with that young vampire earlier." I answered honestly, watching him as he gulped from his cup.

"Sam is different because he has a firm grasp on his humanity. I on the other hand only have one thing remaining of mine." Damien said as he sat back in the couch across from me.

"What do you mean?" I asked Damien, but he didn't respond. He closed his eyes and leaned back against the couch. From the look on his face, I could tell this was an answer I would not like. I knew this is the reason he was no longer sitting next to me, he knew I would have an adverse reaction to whatever the answer was.

"When Damien lost control with you, and nearly killed you? That is a symptom of not having a lot left to keep him grounded. You are the only remaining part of him in this world. I am different because before I was turned, I had children. Now as a vampire, I've lived to see my great-great-grandchildren and then some." Sam answered for Damien, keeping his eyes trained on the ground.

"But if your family keeps you grounded, why do I keep Damien grounded?" I asked slowly, feeling my heart jumping into my throat.

"Damien was married before he was turned. You are the last descendant of his wife. Her bloodline ends with you, Bast."