Chapter 45: Chapter Forty-Five

"Jeez, yell it out why don't you!" Val hissed, looking over at Sam to see if he'd heard. When she turned her head, I hurriedly took of the ring and hid it in my pocket. I was surprised she hadn't noticed it before, but I didn't want to deal with the millions of questions I knew she would ask, had she detected it. I know Damien saw me do this, but he said nothing.

I tried to stop myself from laughing, but failed horrifically as I started giggling uncontrollably. I'd missed being with Valerie, she and I could be childish together, without worrying about judgement. "Calm down Val." I finally said.

"So are you going to tell me what really happened?" Val said, her face completely serious as she stared, waiting for me to answer.

"What are you talking about?"

"I heard how those people will killed in your house, so are you going to tell me? Or are you going to continue lying to your best friend?" She asked me, raising an eyebrow, like she was daring me to lie to her again.

"I..." I started to speak, but stopped as I honestly didn't know what to say. I hated lying to Valerie, but there was nothing I could do. It's not my place to tell her about vampires, and I didn't want to upset Damien by telling her. It felt like my heart was being pulled in two different directions, one side being held by Damien and his world, and the other by Valerie and our world. "Val-" I tried to speak again, but stopped once again as tears began to fall.

"Valerie." Damien's voice suddenly said from right next to me. He wrapped his hand around me, and pulled me into the security of his arms, kissing my forehead softly. "It's okay kitten." He whispered in my ear, pulling my face into the crook of his neck, calming me down in ways only he could. After giving me time to calm down, Damien lifted me up; and sat down in my place, setting me on his lap. "Valerie, I know you can be trusted not to tell the police about Bast. I must know how much you can be trusted with, however." Damien said to Valerie.

"No offense, Mr. Edge, but Bast is my best friend in this entire world. I can see how much it hurts her to hide it from me, and it's insulting that you think I'd tell anyone. You shouldn't assume we are all worthless scumbags like her parents, and I'd thank you kindly not to treat me as such." Valerie spat, her brown eyes seemingly black as she spoke, showing her anger. The venom in her voice was surprising to both Damien and Sam, who looked at her with newfound respect.

"Very well." Damien said simply, then nodded curtly to Sam.

Sam sat across from us, and closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened his eyes again, they were blood-red, his fangs fully elongated. "Damien and I killed those men. They attacked Bast, with every intention on raping and killing her." He said, his eyes baring into Valerie, waiting for her reaction.

"So why is she being blamed for the murders? Why didn't you get rid of that?" She asked after thinking for a few moments.

"That one's on me. I told them not to, but I didn't know what my parents were going to do." I responded, lifting my head up to meet her gaze. I felt tears welling up again as we looked into each other's eyes.

"I've another surprise for you, Bast." Damien said, rubbing my back softly, watching me to make sure I wouldn't burst into tears again.

"Oh, but we've only been here for fifteen minutes!" I complained, not wanting to be separated from Valerie again.

"The surprise is for the both of you." Sam said as he stood, and held his hand out to Valerie. "I'm afraid Bast's vehicle can only fit two, so you'll have to come with me."

Valerie turned to me, her eyes wide as saucers, grinning from ear to ear before she jumped up and happily took Sam's hand, and let him lead her outside.

I smiled and walked hand in hand with Damien out to my car, and let him drive to our second destination.

The drive was nearly an hour before we arrived at what looked to be closed fairgrounds. All the rides were turned on, but I saw no one else there, other than the employees.

"Damien, it looks like they're closed." I said after stepping out of the car.

"No, I bought them out for the day. I know how much you love going to the fair, but I didn't want to chance you being recognized." Damien said as he led me to the gate, then held it open for me, Val, and Sam to pass through. "Go on and enjoy yourself." He said after giving me a kiss.

"Really?" Valerie and I squealed at the same time, then ran hand in hand to our favorite ride. Damien and Sam followed close behind us, but declined anytime we asked them to get on a ride with us. I guess the billionaire lawyer Damien Edge, wouldn't be caught dead getting on a ride with his girlfriend. Despite the fact that hundreds of people probably already knew that he bought out the entire fairground for a few hours. It doesn't seem like news he'd be able to keep from getting out.

After getting on every ride multiple times, and eating what felt like double my body weight in food, I ran back to Damien. I jumped into his arms, wrapping my arms and legs around him. " I love you! You planned an entire day for me to be a child?"

"I love you more. And no, my love. I planned a day for you to be a carefree teenager, with your best friend." He responded, walking with me in his arms towards where we'd parked the cars. "Are you going to tell her?" He whispered in my ear, turning back to look at Val who was holding hands with Sam, chatting his ear off happily.

"I was going to, but you know Val. She'll ask a million questions and tell me how I'm too young and everything else. I really just want to enjoy the time I have with her." I responded looking back at her and Sam.

"Understandable. I'm sorry, but I think it best if we headed home now." he said softly, then kissed me on the top of my head before setting me down.

I nodded and went to say my goodbyes to Valerie, which inevitably ended in us both crying.

While Sam drove her back home, Damien drove me back home, his demeanor telling me something was wrong. He was looking straight ahead, driving slower than he normally would, and seemed entirely lost in his own thoughts. I decided to give him time, to see if he would tell me, but he remained silent.

"What's wrong?" I finally asked him when we arrived back at the house.

"I must call a meeting with the counsel." He said, his blue eyes darkening as he spoke. "Although I must admit, it is not something I wish to do. I truly hate convening with those arrogant, cretinous, villainous, lowlife, miscreants!" By the time Damien had finished speaking, his voice was just barely under a scream, his eyes slowly turning purple as he spoke.