~~~
Tristan returned several hours later. He looked like a man on a mission. He climbed into bed, where she was sitting.
“Hi.” He looked focused.
“Hi. Any luck?” she asked. She’d been reading a book, well, trying to. She was having major trouble focusing.
“Not yet. But from here on in anyone who you come into contact with needs to believe that you’re mesmerized. There’s a pack mentality and if someone is deemed to be weak, they’re taken out. I can’t be seen as weak. I won’t be. There are at least a few vampires who would love to have my position and an unlimited number of vampires who’d love to have you, if they knew about your blood. You need to appear to be totally under my thumb. You need to follow my lead and do what I say, no questions asked. Others who see you should not even notice you. If you behave the right way, they won’t. Okay?”
“What do I have to do? What exactly?”
“When you’re in the presence of others, just do what I say. Don’t hesitate. Don’t question anything. No matter what I ask you to do. You’ll sit at my side. You won’t look anyone else in the eye unless they speak to you. Then look, but blankly. Vacant, remember? You can’t react negatively, no matter what you hear and no matter what you see. No matter what I say or do. If you do, it could be bad; very bad. I’ll try to make things as simple as possible, to minimize risk. The boss won’t be there Friday night so it’s just colleagues you’ll have to see then. Saturday you’ll meet him briefly.”
Panic rose in her, “I’m a terrible actress, Tristan. I’m like -- the worst poker player ever. Ever.”
He put both hands reassuringly on her shoulders and gave a gentle squeeze, “You can do this. I’ll bring you out for just a little while Friday, I’m doing a masquerade party so that’ll hide your expressive eyes, mute the reactions a little. It’ll be loud and noisy. We’ll mingle and maybe have a dance or two and then you’ll be back up here.”
She furrowed her brow and whispered, “Okay.”
“Kyla?”
“Yeah?”
“I told you that there’s a change in me…”
“Yeah.”
“I have to hide that when I’m with them. I may seem different to you. Sam said I don’t seem myself. Joe is acting suspicious. I need to try to hide the change in me.”
The monster? The silence between them seemed to stretch. The flight or fight response was rising in her, it was hard to push back down, she’d had it as part of herself for so long.
“Don’t,” he said.
She felt like she was about to fall apart.
“No.” His voice was wary.
She looked at him defensively, “No what?”
“I feel it. You wanna run.” She’d seen a lot in his eyes so far but never expected to see fear there and that’s what she now saw.
She shook her head, “I won’t.” She reached out and touched his cheek. He leaned into her touch.
“I’ll protect you. I promise you that.” He looked serious, deadly serious. He grabbed her free hand and pulled her closer. She decided to believe him. She had to put her trust in this man that she’d just met less than 2 weeks ago, this man who had kept her after his friends kidnapped her and presented her bound and gagged to him as a gift. This man who had taken her body, her blood, her freedom…but who had now said he thought he loved her said he was going to keep her safe. Life sure took some unexpected turns.
“I think maybe I shouldn’t feed,” he let go of her and started to pace, “I think maybe it’ll help me be more like…more like what they’re used to.”
“Tristan…” she could see how conflicted he was.
“I know. I’m going to try,” he leaned over and touched her face. He looked lost, sad.
“Hold me tight?” he asked and pulled her down onto the bed. She wrapped her arms around him and he put his head on her chest.
“Tighter,” he whispered.
She kissed the top of his head and squeezed. She thought about the stories she’d heard so far, the ones where vampires went crazy because they couldn’t get the enchanted blood.
What if he goes crazy?
He lifted his head and looked her in the eye, “You’re shaking. Hey, stop. It’s okay. I’m strong. I’ll be fine. It’s just a few days. I was fine when you were in here and I didn’t feed from you for those few days. I’ll be okay. Sam went to fetch a pet. You’ll see how she acts. You’ll know what to do.”
“What? No.”
“It’s fine. She won’t remember.”
Kyla’s stomach churned. Some poor girl was being abducted right now so that Kyla could learn how to act mesmerized? What else would she have to endure beyond mesmerizing?