Seth's Mess 9b

I was lead down the right hall to what appeared to be office spaces. Many signs were hung outside the doors listing businesses that I came to realize were somewhat run out of the house and completely run by vampires.1

The room I was lead to didn't have a sign, but instead a door plaque reading the name 'C. Stone PMHNP, CNS.' Jason rapped on the door and it was immediately opened.2

Seth sat in the chair facing the door and the man who I assumed to be Stone sat catty-corner to the door. 3

Stone appeared to be in his early thirties and with style. His hair was fashioned in a way that seemed too old for him though and his clothes were professionally stiff. “Please, take a seat. My name is Christov Stone.” It almost bugged me how out of place he seemed. That he should work in a less sophisticated business than a psychiatrist. “I've been looking forward to meeting you after all Seth has told me.” It was his face that set him out of place. It was too hansom for a desk job.4

I sat wearily as Jason snuck out the front, no acknowledgment needed. 5

“So, Seth has told me his story up until this point and I understand that this... this 'event' has created a change in your relationship.” Christov started out blunt; just what I wanted to hear. 6

For the next thirty minutes Christov, Seth, and I sat and chatted about 'our relationship' since the change and what we thought of the house. I was definitely reluctant to speed right into such a sensitive subject but Christov seemed very interested in where I stood next to Seth.7

“Sorry about that.” Seth apologized right off the bat.8

“For what?” He and I were walking the halls. This session had been his last for the day. 9

He lead me upstairs. “Stone was kind of badgering you and I let him.”10

“He had his reasons-”11

“Yes, but I should have done something.” It occurred to me then just what Seth was getting at. He saw himself as my protector and that the situation we had just left had been hostile for me.12

He saw himself as a failure. I gripped his hand in mine. “I'm fine. We're fine, and Christov was only so persistent because he needed information on me. You can't act this way with everyone here. They have reason not to feel comfortable with me here.”13

“Why do you say that?” Seth pulled me to the side of the hall to let a group pass us.14

I contemplated whether or not to let Seth know that Jason had begun to tell me what I maybe shouldn't be learning. Honesty is the best policy. “Jason told me that hume-ans don't usually stay here like I do.”15

“I wouldn't believe a word he said.” Seth blew the notion of me hanging around Jason off but I knew that he wasn't happy about it. 16

We continued to walk until Seth's room was reached. I followed him in stopping outside of the kitchen as he grabbed his 'drink.' I was surprised to see the thick red liquid coated by glass instead of plastic and by just how savagely Seth gripped it. I feared the glass might break under the pressure but it held strong as he drank the whole of its contents down. 17

“What?” Seth's voice was harsher than he had meant it; I could tell by the way his head drooped slightly as if ashamed of the simple and lonely word that had escaped.18

“Is there a difference?” Seth looked confused. “Between the glass and plastic.” I knew he had seen me watching but now that I had brought it to his full attention he appeared guilty.19

A shrug. “Easier to drink, I guess.”20

“What type was it?”21

“Can we not do this?” Seth slammed the bottle on the counter. The glass still stayed intact. Heavy-duty.22

I had jumped at the bang though. “Kailey, I'm sorry.” Seth walked slowly towards me. “I just don't think that those kinds of details are important.”23

“It was a simple question.”24

Seth raised an eyebrow in response to my persistence before storming off into the bathroom. I waited until I heard the shower start before I went to the sink to check the label. O negative. My blood type. 25

The fact he wouldn't even speak the truth to me made me wonder what else I would have to find out on my own. I hoped to be seeing a lot more of Jason in the near future.26

Seth returned from the shower not long after I had decided to contemplate my sneaking around from the edge of the bed. 27

“What are you thinking about?” He asked the question as if he had been reading my mind. For all I knew he could have been and just not told me.28

But if he was going to be secretive then so could I. So much for honesty. “Nothing.”29

We left the room after a moment of justified avoidance. I in the bedroom, he in the kitchen. Once in the halls everything seemed back to normal though. We both smiled at each other in apology and gripped hands.30

“I wish you would tell me more.” I hoped that what I had said wouldn't upset him again.31

“I know,” Seth cleared his throat. “But you know I'm scared to drag you in deeper.”32

If he won't tell me, I know who will. I contemplated telling Seth just what I though, then decided better. The more I boasted about my connection, the more likely I would end up getting Jason in trouble.33

Seth lead me down the staircase after accepting that I had let the subject drop. We walked in what was more of a mosey to the outside grounds. The Sigismund House was waterfront and lead Seth and I out to a small wooden gazebo that overlooked the shore. We stayed there for a time where Seth had me tell him about school. He wasn't interested in telling me anything about his 'classes.'34

“Why don't I stay the night?” I asked. “I'm sure I could get a ride to school with someone.” I was referring to a friend from school of course, knowing Jason would be asleep.35

“I don't think that would be a good idea.” Seth started. “I'm not comfortable with you here without me awake.” I knew that there were obviously other humans who stayed at the house as a work force and as protection for those sleeping the day away. “In fact you should probably go soon.” Seth stood.36

So did I. “Why the hell are you still trying to push me away when you need me. I know that you understand that, so what are you trying to pull?” I had started yelling, not good, because I understood just how well a vampire could hear, and became immediately embarrassed.37

Seth pulled me closer and brought his voice to a whisper. “I had hoped not to advertise you so bluntly to the rest of the house, but I suppose that that plan has failed.” He looked out to the water then back into my eyes before continuing. “The thing is, Dem explained quite clearly that you are my responsibility when at the house, and I’m not sure that I’m up for that yet.”38

“What kind of trouble do you expect me to start that you couldn’t handle?” I was confused and Seth’s insecurity was becoming my own.39

We both sat as he explained, his arm wrapped around my shoulders. “You are a catalyst for both my calm and my rage-”40

“I am no-”41

“Please, let me finish.” Seth held his free hand up in a signal silence. “You are my calm when you remind me of who I was and my rage when you remind me of who I have become. This is because I know that you don’t accept me.” 42

Another signal for silence. 43

“You had me figured out before, as a person, and I know you strive for that now. But won’t let you because letting you know who I have become means I can never save you from all of this. Maybe you don’t want to be saved, but I won’t let the world you know change any more than it already has. I won’t be the one to corrupt what life you have away from me. I miss what I knew and I don’t want you to have the same regrets.”44

I contemplated everything he had just told me for a moment before coming to the conclusion that there was only one thing I could tell him. “I will stay by your side as long as you let me.”45

Seth sighed in only what I could assume was relief for my compliance. “I want you near me, I really do, but everytime you are here, all I can think about is anything that could go wrong.”46

“I do understand your concern for me because I am human, but don’t you think that I am just as concerned everytime I leave you?”47

Seth seemed to think my reasoning over for a minute. “Kailey...” Silence pierced my patience. “Not on a school night.”48

“What?”49

“You have school in the morning.” I wasn’t getting it. Seth just laughed in response. “I’m saying you can stay for a night this weekend.”50

I hugged Seth with all my might. He still laughed, until my lips met his. I had missed him so much and I knew I was letting it show. Seth wrapped around me to grip my shoulders, my fingers tightening in response entwined in his hair. The smell of him circling me; eyes light like I was dreaming, breath slow. Lips wandered to my jawline, my neck. A familiar feeling, cold and sharp.51

Seth was on his feet before I could grip my scream in my throat. He whipped his head back and forth in was appeared to be denial. His lips mouthing ‘NO’ over and over.52

My hands lifted to feel the skin that had been caressed so gently by my new greatest fear. They slid from one side, so perfect, to the next, still bandaged. I stood and took a breath; hand reaching out. The connection lasted for less than a second before Seth was out of sight. I knew he was going to need time before he forgave himself for a move that I’m sure was complete instinct. How do you train yourself to stop something that second nature? Something tied that closely to survival?53

“You two are quite the entertainment. I can’t even remember the last time a hume was allowed to stay in as close quarters with Sigismund as you. Dem must see something he likes.” Ashe walk out from behind a willow and up to the steps of the gazebo in three strides.54

“There the whole time were you?” I was conscious of my slowing heart.55

“You think we would leave you two alone so soon?” A cigarette was produced. Ashe placed it between her lips but continued to talk all the same. “As you can see he’s not quite ready for such trust.” The Zippo lit, creating a dancing flame impervious to the light breeze.56

My eyes shifted to the direction Seth had taken.57

“He’ll be back after he’s cooled down.”58

“Are you so sure about that?” I questioned.59

Ashe snickered, exhaling her puff. “If he’s not back by dawn then he is not welcome back. He knows that.”60

I was confused. No one had explained to me that he was under some sort of house arrest. “Why?”61

“Because Seth is so young, in terms of his transition I mean, he needs to be monitored. He is being followed now of course, but he is also confined to the grounds as well as the house during the light hours.” Another drag. “He is no special case. This is how we handle all the newbies.”62

I thought back to when Seth had explained the rage I caused him. “Maybe I should go home now.” 63

Ashe started walking towards the garage so I followed. “I’d come back tomorrow though. For sure he’s going to have a rough day, and I want to see just what kind of power you have over him.” A sinister smile appeared on her face.64

“What do you mean?”65

“Well, you control his emotions. You should have seen him before you showed up tonight. He was a total wreck.”66

Without me? “You mean during his classes?”67

“He didn’t even make it through his classes. I’ve never seen someone so unstable before. I mean, this kid has some power but he can’t control it.” Ashe turned to me again and took another drag. 68

I stopped dead in my tracks. “Power?” I wanted to know so much more about the new Seth and it seemed he was the only one reluctant to fill me in. “What kind of power?”69

“Look, it is definitely not my place to be spilling to you, but I will tell you that if I were in Dem’s position, I would be keeping you even closer.”70

“To keep him stable you mean?” Ashe ignored my question and lifted the garage door. 71

I had never seen the inside of the garage because there had always been a car ready for me in the drive so when the lights flickered on my mouth dropped. From the outside it looked as if the garage could hold, say three cars. But what I saw were about twenty. The concrete that they were parked on sloped down to fit under the house and underground.72

Ashe put her cigarette out on the smooth ground and then placed the butt in her pocket. “I haven’t driven a Ferrari in a while, let’s take the red one just to be as flashy as possible.” My driver chuckled and made her way past a yellow and black Ferrari to the red one. Vampires.73

“So if I’m important enough to keep around just for Seth’s sake then does that mean he is more special than I am assuming?” I asked as I buckled into the leather seat.74

Ashe started the car. “You are trying to get more information out of me than I was planning on sharing. It is going to stay my way.”