Chapter Eleven
Oliver didn't offer me any explanations and prevented me from attempting to ask for one by drowning any sound I might offer with music on our way back home. As soon as we had achieved a distance away from the mysterious man, the tension that had accompanied Oliver was suddenly diminished. It was as if Oliver was two people sharing the same meat suit.
When he parked the vehicle just outside the building, he was suddenly gone. I hesitated before stepping out of the car and looking around. Oliver stood by the front door, peering back at me with a serious look crossing his face. When he caught me watching, his familiar smirk slid into place and he indicated with a small tilt of his head for me to catch up.
I quickly walked the distance to him, but just as I was within talking distance he was gone again, the front door opened in his place. I paused again, frowning as a slow irritation began to form within me. I wasn't stupid. He was avoiding my questions and being quite obvious about it.
I stepped into the mansion, spotting Oliver midway up the staircase. He leaned against the railing, watching me determinedly. His ginger hair shifted over his face in a way that cast his features into near striking intensity. For a moment, I allowed my eyes to trail over his being, allowing his alluring existence to distract me. And then I took the steps with purposeful strides.
I could sense him about to play his disappearing game again. Before I took another step, I suddenly blurted loudly, "Who is Des-?" My question was interrupted by a hand over my mouth. The light of his touch sparked over my skin and erupted throughout me. Oliver released his full hand to replace just a finger over my lips carefully.
"Let's keep that between you and me, alright?" Oliver suggested in a hushed voice. I disagreed with his words, but my voice was lost behind his touch. He ran his fingertip over my lip slowly, watching the glow follow his touch with interest.
"Where were you?" I heard the familiar drawl of Theo's voice from the top of the stairway. Oliver didn't pull his eyes from me, but a slow smile grew on his features. It was only after a moment of silence that his black gaze moved from me to Theo carelessly.
"What? Are you my mother?" He asked sarcastically.
"The sun is almost up," Theo responded simply. I wanted to look at him, to address him as well, but Oliver kept his mystical hold on me until I felt much like a blissful, mindless prisoner.
"I don't think it was me you were worried about," Oliver stated deviously. He abruptly turned me towards Theo, pressing his body against the length of mine from behind. He ran his hand under the cloth of my shirt, his flesh trailing along mine to bring that addicting warmth throughout me. "How do you like our little musical pet's new look, Teddy?"
Theo looked cross for a moment, though I wasn't sure if it was because of the nickname or because he disapproved of my outfit. Oliver's lips brushed over my ear momentarily, drawing my attention enough for me to lean my head back against him, leaving the flesh of my neck and shoulder revealed vulnerably.
"You're being childish," Theo answered dully, his only reaction being in his raven eyes which were drawn to my bared skin almost hungrily.
"Maybe a little bit. It's unusual to see you so envious," Oliver cracked with amusement, but not altogether unkind. He reluctantly released me carefully so that I didn't slip on the steps under me. "Go on, little devil. Say hello to Theo."
I turned to look at Oliver, feeling as though he was playing another game of his. Without his touch on my skin, the warmth of his presence was dimmed. I was left with a clear mind and the chill of my stand alone existence. For a moment, I considered using this time to finally ask exactly who the Desmond man was to Oliver, but something about his expression was pleading with me to be agreeable and silent. A part of me wasn't that type of person; the agreeable type. But another part of me didn't want to upset or otherwise displease him.
I decided to leave my line of questions for another time. Instead, I turned my eyes back to Theo, the man I had been forced to room with for weeks and only now had been allowed to see since then. My face must've lit up immediately, for he looked startled in response. I quit wasting my time and sprinted up the last steps of the stairway almost eagerly. And then I paused when he took a step back to avoid my touch. This hurt me, not physically, but still so.
"Don't look at me like that, Katia," Theo ordered sternly, turning his own gaze away momentarily, "You nearly died just being stuck with me. And I think it would've been kinder to let you do so." I was quiet a moment, but then lifted my chin stubbornly.
"I'm not a mindless puppet. I'll look at you however I wish," I answered sharply, causing a short surprised laugh to erupt from Oliver. I took the last steps, stepping in front of his tense form. My body felt flushed so close to him that for a moment I felt I would lose my confidence. I found I could no longer look into his intense eyes and instead moved my gaze to his hand which gripped the railing of the stairway firmly as if he was trying to keep himself from running away.
I absently ran my hand over his, my heart missing a beat as I felt the glacial stone that was his flesh. I tilted my head slightly, meeting Theo's tense eyes almost shyly.
"Thank you for saving my life," I told him quietly. I lifted myself to my toes, leaning forward to rest a kiss against Theo's cool cheek softly. He stood unmoving like a statue, not a breath entering or leaving him. When I lifted my lips, I traced his cheek with my free hand sweetly as if drawing my own words on his skin.
"Come on, Katia. You're going to make Theo fall through the floor," Oliver called for me, somehow having passed the both of us without notice. He stood waiting by the hall that would lead to his room. I looked from him to Theo, who stood silent with his eyes closed firmly.
"I'll see you later, Theo," I promised, reluctantly removing myself from him. Even as Oliver's warm grip led me away, Theo didn't move from his position. It was as if he had become a part of his surroundings; cold and inanimate.
Oliver didn't stay the night with me. He watched me as far as taking off my jacket and stretching on his bed before he refused another step further into his own room. When I asked where he was going, he only smiled mischievously and said 'not far'.
It was like that the following night and the nights after that. Where Theo had spent most of his time in his room ignoring me, Oliver spent most of his time elsewhere. He would come hours after I had awoken alone, teasing me with soft brushes of his touch, and speak of parties and wild nights without me. He obviously thought risking my presence at these events was no longer worth the consequences.
And when the sun began to rise outside, Oliver would watch me sink under his covers comfortably before hesitating. Just as quickly as he came, he would go. Something told me he was honest when he said he wasn't far, though. And so I never felt resentment towards his neglect.
~...~
I was watching Oliver and Miles shooting and throwing grenades at each other. Of course, it was only a video game. I sat in a lounge chair with Oliver, curled up against him with exhaustion. Oliver was aggressively pressing buttons on the controller, cursing under his breath at Miles as they attacked each other.
Being around Oliver helped me learn more about his "family's" dynamic. Oliver seemed respectful towards most of the others, besides his minor quips and sarcasm. But of all the others, Miles appeared to be the one he was most familiar with. Miles appeared occasionally, pretending not to see me if I was around and talking only to Oliver. They would drink alcohol, though they never got drunk. And they would play games together while arguing over silly things from sport teams to car equipment.
This was one such night. I had found my own skill in video games was severely lacking. The controls confused me and the violence startled me. I could watch them play, but otherwise I was useless.
Oliver was shirtless, allowing the warmth of his touch to run over my flesh as I lied against him comfortably. I was lost to the world before long, my eyes drifting shut as I swam in the content buzz of his addicting arms. I didn't even notice the break in his game, in which he chose to run his fingers curiously over my bared skin innocently.
"Have you fucked her yet?" Miles' voice was far away, unable to stir me. Oliver tensed against me, but didn't take away his warmth or otherwise disturb my peaceful state.
"How about you shut up and focus on the game," Oliver responded with a laugh, trying to divert the question easily.
"Seriously?" Miles ignored his request with disbelief, "You haven't, have you? Are you crazy?" There was only a sigh as Oliver refused to respond.
"I bet the minute you take her, she glows all over," Miles stated deviously, his tone darkening significantly. Oliver growled under his breath, anger starting to seep into his veins. "Don't worry, when it's my turn I'll let you know. That is, if Levi doesn't mess her up before then."
"Shut up," Oliver snapped furiously, "If any of you so much as touch her wrong, I'll-"
"You'll what? Seb said we share, the rules apply, and as long as we don't kill her we can do what we want. Your turn is almost up. It's not my fault you wasted your time being nice-guy Oliver," Miles was quiet for a moment, the game abandoned in the background as Oliver fumed. "You're not mimicking, are you?" There was a deafening silence after this particular inquiry.
"It's... hard to understand," Oliver answered carefully, his fingers circling an area of my arm slowly, calming him over time. "Theo isn't mimicking."
"He totally is. He's not even from Genesis," Miles disagreed sharply.
"He's not mimicking. You should see him with her. It's like he's bound," Oliver hesitated, as if he wasn't sure he should say his next words. "I thought I would take her for everything the first chance I got. But when she looks at me... she trusts me completely. There's not even an inch of fear. I mean, look at her. Have you ever seen a witch or human, knowing what we are, trust you like this?"
"She's not a witch or a human. She's a spell. If you're not mimicking, you need to snap out of it, Oliver. Because I can guarantee you one thing: that thing in your arms is mimicking. And when it's my turn, I'll show all of you just how fake her devotion is."
"And if she proves it real?" Oliver's voice was deep with uncertainty. But Miles was confident and certain.
"We're vampires, Oliver. We don't taste food. We don't feel warmth. And we don't love. It's called a curse for a reason."
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Music: Exorcism by Clairity
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