Chapter 36: Chapter Seventeen - Part Two
Maxwell
I haven’t slept for at least a day or so, because of the excitement of being this close to Charlie. It’s not necessary to sleep, but it allows me to cling to my once human self. Charlie gave me the perfect opportunity to make her into the vampire that she’s going to be one day. I could’ve tricked her and offered her the relief she is so looking for from her wound, but I just couldn’t do it.
Before I know it, morning arrives. Even though this town doesn’t receive direct sunlight this time of year, I can still sense it. I slip out from under Charlie’s hand to get a head start on getting dressed. There’s business that needs to be handled before we leave this afternoon.
Charlie wakes up a few hours after me. She walks out of the bedroom fully clothed, looking well rested. “What time do we leave?” she asks, overly anxious.
“The plane will depart at two this afternoon.” The clock on the wall reads nine. “That leaves you three hours to try to occupy yourself.”
“That leaves me? What about you?” The sound of concern in her voice is barely recognizable as it’s laced with annoyance.
“I have something I need to take care of before we go back home.” I don’t want to tell her that I intend to confront Benjamin about his tactics last night. The quarrel he wants to start is between him and myself. Charlie doesn’t have a place in this. She shouldn’t have even been brought into this century old battle. “Why don’t you go and visit with Grace? Last night you mentioned you were going to go have a chat with her. I assume you want her to explain the unwanted relationship she has with Benjamin. You can also inform her that we’re leaving today as well.”
She agrees with a nod of her head. Easier than I thought convincing her would be. With breakfast eaten and an hour before I have to send her to Grace, we sit on the couch, completely oblivious to each other. I can tell she’s lost in thought. Her stern lips give away what she’s thinking about. Stella. That’s where she thinks I’m going. Even though I can clear her insecurities away by admitting where I’m going, I don’t. She would only offer to come along, which is out of the question, and I kinda like this jealous side of her.
The hum of silence is broken as I touch Charlie’s thigh. She sucks in a breath at my touch. “Let me walk you to Grace’s room. I’ll come get you when I’m finished.”
“What if she’s not there or she’s busy, then what?”
“She’ll be there.” I know that Charlie is carefully insinuating that she wants to come with me, but that’s not going to happen. There might be more than just words thrown at each other and I can’t have her get in the way.
I usually don’t bother in knocking when it comes to Grace, but seeing as I don’t have a key to her room, I have to wait until she answers the door. Her footsteps are slow as if she knows it’s us and she’s dreading the conversation that’s going to be brought up.
“What a pleasure to see the both of you again. Come in, Charlie, I know you’re dying to question me about yesterday’s presentation.” Grace’s perky voice has a sourness to it.
She holds the door open, waiting for me to follow inside, but I shake my head. I look as far into the room as I can. When I see Charlie nowhere in sight, I continue in a hushed voice. “I’m going to pay Benjamin a visit. He sent an unwanted present to my room last night and he needs to learn a lesson.”
“A present? That’s more than what I get.”
“He sent Stella to my room last night, Grace.” That one name is all I have to say for Grace to understand how far her once vampire husband went in ruining her friend’s relationship. I walk away from Grace, who hovers in the open doorway. All that’s on my mind is getting to the council estate.
Once again I’m greeted by Sylvester. No matter how many times I see him, I still can’t comprehend his green complexion. When Charlie asked I had other things on my mind, but I truthfully don’t have a logical answer. It’s infrequent to see someone as unique as him. His deep set voice makes him more monster-like. “Master Barnett, The High Council is unaware of your visit.”
“I realize that, Sylvester, but Benjamin has some explaining to do.”
The library seems like the worst place ever for someone who has not learned a thing over the past few hundred years. However, there he sits elegantly in a large wingback chair with a book open, although I believe it to be just for show.
“Maxwell, I had a feeling I would be seeing you again. Without Charlie, I see. I assume things didn’t go well last night.” The way he says his chosen words makes me sick and feverish with anger.
“As if you wouldn’t know how the evening would conclude,” I spit out.
“I suppose you’re right. I knew it would hinder the fake relationship you have with your soon-to-be bride, but when Stella came barging in here with her high heels clanking on my marble flooring I was a bit disappointed. The fish didn’t take the bait, but there’s always next time seeing as you’re in my pond.”
“Leave Charlie and myself alone. If I see that whore one more time, because of your orders, you will pay.” If my cheeks could flush with anger they would. If my heart could beat, it would be pounding against my ribcage.
“Who are you kidding, Maxwell. You come in here and blame me for your bride’s trust issues. You can fool the others. Hell, even she can fool the others, but not me. I know she doesn’t love you, although she might start to realize now that she might. You can thank me later for that, but she’s not willing to die for you. With one look at her I know she’s repulsed by vampires. After everything that’s happened in the past you think you would learn to pick a girl who loves what you are not despises it. We all know that doesn’t end well.”
“She will be my bride and she will be happy with eternity. I’ll be better to her than you were to Grace, because let’s face it, this is all about Grace. You can’t bear that she disowned you. Let alone the disrespect you got for killing Alexander. You think you would be the one to learn that revenge can’t level the playing field and betrayal can never be forgiven. You interfering with Charlie and me just makes Grace hate you more. Alexander might be gone, but she considers me and Charlie her family now.” I stand my ground and stare Benjamin in his eyes. I’m ready for a fight if he wants one.
However, when he just stares at me in disbelief, I turn to leave him with his regrets. Almost through the door, his voice brings me to a stop. “Was there a threat mixed in your words, Maxwell?”
“No, there’s no need to threaten you; you’re doing just fine in ruining your self image. One day the council will see you for who you really are. For the time being, I’m just telling you where you stand. Be honest with yourself, Benjamin. If it wasn’t for your loss of Grace, you wouldn’t even know I exist in this vast ever growing vampire population. Have a good day, your majesty.” Storming out the doors, I refuse to look back.
Benjamin’s digging his own grave and I want to make sure he knows I’m here to fill the hole after he falls in it. The discussion between him and I didn’t last as long as I thought it would, so when I see the perfect little shop on the car ride back to the hotel, I decide to stop. Charlie’s not expecting me back for a few more hours, therefore I have enough time to browse for an ideal gift.
At a slow pace, I make my way to Grace’s room. Grace opens the door in a better mood than she did before. Maybe Charlie is rubbing off on her or more like Grace is rubbing off on Charlie.
“I’m not interrupting anything, am I?”
“No, just some girl talk,” Grace replies.
“You know we’re leaving today, right?”
She nods her head in disappointment.
“You’re free to join us on the flight back,” I offer.
“I wish I could, but in the eyes of The High Council I’m Benjamin’s bride and therefore I can’t leave until the presentation is fully concluded,” she retorts.
“Fully concluded, but isn’t it done?” Charlie asks, rounding the corner.
“For you and Maxwell it’s done, but there usually is a celebration that all the vampires attend to mingle. I would leave, but I can’t.” Grace’s happy demeanor fully changes for the worst. No matter how much I tell Benjamin to leave Charlie and me alone, I can’t save Grace from his evil ways.
“I wish I could make things better,” Charlie offers, patting Grace’s shoulder gently.
Grace smiles kindly back, but doesn’t speak a word. Letting her get her peace before she has to face The High Council again, I lead Charlie out of the room.
“A vampire gala of sorts is happening tonight?” Charlie says as soon as we enter the elevator.
“You sound like you’re interested.” First, she wants to leave as soon as possible and then she hears that there’s going to be a party resulting in her wanting to stay.
“Maybe.” Is all she says as she looks at the floor. Her eyes are toward the ground and the tip of her right foot grinds into the lush carpet that covers the elevator floor as if she’s weighing the idea.
“If you want to stay, Charlie, we can, just say the words.” There’s no way I want to be at that party, but if Charlie wants to, I will. I’m so deep in my own misery that I almost miss the quick nod that Charlie gives me as an answer. “I said say the words, not agree with them.”
“I want to go to the party.” Her childish whine makes me smile. “I’m just a little bit curious.” She holds up her index finger and thumb, leaving a little gap between the two to signify her little bit of curiosity.
Trailing behind her without saying a word, I follow her to kitchen table where she plops herself down on a chair. Her stiff back tells me everything I need to know. She’s determined.
“Are you sure this is the best idea?” The words could cost me, but I have to ask. I have to make sure she fully understands what she’s saying. A glare is all I need to back down. “I’m just saying, Charlie. I thought vampire parties didn’t agree with you considering what happened last time. Nonetheless, if you want to go, we will. The party starts at eight.”
“Oh, we’re going,” she says as she stands up from the kitchen chair. She struts over to the couch, falling onto one of the cushions.
She’s never shown this drive before, but I do find it quite pleasing. I sit next to her while she rests her eyes. I don’t have to wake her when it gets closer, because she wakes herself. Sitting back, I watch her jump off the couch and prance to the bedroom.
She pokes her head out the doorway. “What would be suitable to wear?” she asks.
“These parties can be very...revealing.” Is the best way I can explain it. The women wear the shortest skintight barely visible dresses and most of the men have either their button-down shirts open or no shirt at all.
A squeal comes out of Charlie’s mouth in excitement. “Grace packed the perfect dress.” Since when did she get on such pleasant terms with Grace?
Oh Jesus. I can only imagine what Grace packed that would be appropriate for this party. I refuse to degrade myself and follow the unwritten rules of seduction for this event. I have been to four prior to this. Let’s just say I was young and naïve. I took every advantage made available from inviting two women with me one year and neither one of them escorted me back to my room, because they were passed out in the corner from being fed on too much.
The clicking of heels pulls me out of my flashback. She clears her throat several times to get my attention. It’s not as if I don’t want to see her in this supposed dress, but I know that some part of me is going to want to cover her up. Just the thought of searching eyes scanning her body makes what little blood I have boil.
The thoughts I had about people’s eyes violating her are proven correct as my own eyes react that very way when she comes into view. The metallic silver and black dress barely reaches mid-thigh and the deep v-neck shows excessive amounts of cleavage. With her hair pulled up to show her slightly tan flawless neck—except for the fading bite mark—and shoulders, I begin to feel aches in more places than just my mouth.
“Do you need to get ready?” she asks, totally oblivious to my inner battle of bedding her right now.
I unbutton a few top buttons on my shirt. “All ready.” I don’t want to go to the party any more than I did from the start, but I look at the bright side of things. The most beautiful woman alive will accompany me.
“Let’s go tell Grace we’re attending,” Charlie speedily says, hanging on my arm.
“Very well, but just know that things might not be pleasant at this party.” There’s much more I want to say. There are things that happen at these events where vampires from all over the world attend. I don’t want to scare her or ruin her happiness, so I keep it to myself. I just have to be on guard at all times.