Chapter Fifteen.

“You’ve been really out of it lately,” Chloe said to me as we walked from our last period class to our lockers together.1

“I know, it’s just… it’s complicated.” I sighed, opening my locker and putting all of the books back in before grabbing my jacket out of it and then locking it again. I was glad to have no homework on a Wednesday.2

“When will you hang out with us again? We like, really miss you.”3

“Yeah, like, really miss you.” Jasmine’s voice echoed, and Hannah nodded beside her.4

“Uh, well,” I bit my lip; Dedrick had left on a business trip that morning – what business he did, I’d never know, because he refused to talk about it – and wouldn’t be back until Friday night. “I guess I could hang out today.”5

“Yes! The four of us again!” Chloe cheered. “We’ve all been growing apart since the year started…”6

“Oh don’t get all melodramatic on us in front of everyone, Chloe,” Jasmine scolded. “Let’s go to my house; my dad is making steak and shrimp for us.”7

“What’s the occasion?” I asked.8

“He hit it big at work.” Was all she said.9

***10

“So, basically, your dad is amazing.” Hannah said, biting into a piece of steak greedily.11

“Yeah, he is,” Chloe agreed. 12

“What does your dad do, Jasmine?” I asked, popping a piece of buttered shrimp into my mouth. Jasmine only shrugged.13

“Oh, this and that,” She was picking at her food. “He doesn’t really like to talk about it.”14

“Oh,” I nodded, pretending like I understood. Suddenly, my cell phone rang and I cringed; I knew who it was, because only one person called me anymore.15

“Hello?”16

“Babe,” Dedrick’s voice sounded strained. “You need to come to the mansion.”17

“Actually, I’m with a few friends, so I think I’ll be out for a bit. I thought you had a business trip?”18

“No, Amelia, you could be in danger. I had to cut my business trip short.”19

“Would you stop saying that so much? I’m fine, Dedrick –”20

“They killed Dahlia,” He said, raising his voice, and I could tell he was holding back tears. “They could be coming after you next.”21

“Oh my God… is Violet… alright, I’ll be right over.” I closed my phone. Jasmine was looking at me with a stoic expression on her face. “I have to go.”22

“Shocking,” She said. Where had Chloe and Hannah gone?23

“What’s that supposed to mean?”24

“I never get to see you anymore. None of us do; that stupid blockhead runs your whole damned life now. Yes, Dedrick, I’ll be right home, Dedrick… What the hell happened to you?”25

“Nothing. I have a boyfriend, Jasmine, what’s the big deal?”26

“Forget it. Just go run to your precious boyfriend.” She spat back at me, and I shot her a glare before hurrying out of her room and down the stairs.27

I cursed myself the entire way to the Rochester’s. Jasmine was right… Dedrick had gotten pretty controlling. He always said it was because he worried for my safety, and I believed that… I had to – what else could I do? It’s not like he was terrible to me… I mean, I definitely felt love between us more often than not. It was just the times where I felt like I was a puppet for him that bothered me. I needed someone to talk to.28

“So, you feel smothered?”29

“Yes, and I know that it may be for my own good, but… it still doesn’t feel right.” I was sitting in one of the chairs in front of Gregory’s desk again, and he sat with his fingers laced.30

“Dedrick is… at an odd time in his life,” Gregory said, and I could tell that he was choosing his words very carefully. “I can’t honestly say I understand what the boy is thinking, anymore. In fact, right now, he’s entertaining a few of his associates in the lower east wing of the mansion; and I have no idea why they are here.”31

“Isn’t this your house, though? I mean… the family’s ways seem pretty old fashioned – aren’t you the head of the household?” I asked. His eyes held mine for a few moments, and his smile faded. I could swear I saw tears in his eyes.32

“Yes, that’s right.” Gregory cleared his throat and stood up from his chair. “I can’t blame Dedrick for how he is acting; he just lost his sister and her husband, and I’m sure it’s taking its toll on him just as much as it is the rest of us.”33

“Who killed her?”34

“One of the Hunters, it seems. Vampires usually don’t kill others unless their clans are feuding, and things have been pretty peaceful between the clans, as of late.” Gregory gripped the edge of his chair tightly and turned around to face the window. “And I’m sure the bastard who did it got a nice bonus for such great work.”35

“I’m so sorry,” I said. My finger started burning again, so I began scratching it. I hated it when the damned thing burned.36

“Is that a nervous habit of yours?” He asked, without turning.37

“Huh?”38

“Your finger; scratching at it like that.”39

“Oh, actually, I started doing that when I got the bruise from Dedrick’s rose. It’s never fully healed.”40

“Hmm,” He turned, and walked over to me, holding out his hand. “May I please see it?”41

“Uh, sure,” I said, and I raised my hand so that my palm was facing him. His eyes widened for a few moments before he regained composure. “What is it?”42

“Nothing. Does it burn now?” He asked, taking a few steps away from me.43

“Yes…”44

“Dedrick is probably looking for you, then. You’d better go find him so that he doesn’t worry for your safety.” Gregory waved his hand towards the door and went to stand at his window again. With nothing else to do, I left the room and went to the Lobby.45

Sitting down in a comfortable chair, I sighed and laid my head back. What Gregory had said was true; Dedrick was probably just fazed about Dahlia. If she was my sister, I would’ve been upset about it, too. This was all probably just really hard on Dedrick, I told myself, because he now has a girlfriend and some sort of business to run, apparently, and a sister that dead. I frowned at the thought of Dahlia being dead. It saddened me to know that I would never be able to meet Dedrick’s sister; Violet’s mother.46

Violet; I wondered how she was doing. It couldn’t be easy on a girl to loose her mother and her father at such a young age. I missed my mother terribly, and she wasn’t even dead… she just wished that I was.47

“Sorry for ruining your afternoon,” Dedrick said, making me jump. He kissed me lightly and then took a seat next to me.48

“You didn’t really ruin it… I just never get to see my friends anymore, and I don’t think that’s fair.”49

“But, baby, I just want you to be safe.”50

“I’m not an actual baby, you can let me play with the other kids every once in a while,” I said, and he narrowed his eyes at my mockery. Shrugging, I crossed my arms and returned his look. “I’m a girl, not a puppet.”51

“I’m sorry that I can’t make things perfect for you here,” He said with a frown.52

“It’s not like that, Dedrick,” I sighed, putting my hand on his cheek reassuringly. “I just feel like I’m trapped here; like when my mom grounds me!”53

He smiled at that. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. Well, if it weren’t for my guests then I would be spending more time with you, but, as it is… I don’t really have the time.”54

“Oh,” I drew my hand back and he kissed me on my cheek.55

“I love you, Amelia.” He said quietly, before leaving me alone in the Lobby. Again.56