As Eliot still required actual food for sustenance, he found himself having to eventually leave their chambers in pursuit of such at around seven that evening. Claire smiled after him as the door shut, still amazed that he had not run in fear yet. Perhaps that fact was due to having spent his life hiding a secret of his own from everyone around him, as they were sure to consider him ‘less than human’ too if they ever had proof of it.
She did not have much time to dwell on the reasons he had stayed though, as once again, another voice entered her psyche, is this a good time to talk, my love? Sean’s voice greeted her, immediately bringing a smile to her face.
I have a bit of time, she returned as she took a wistful seat at the edge of the bed, where she could still keep watch on the door for Eliot to return after his dinner.
Speaking of time, I was wondering how much more of it I would have to endure before finally seeing you again, he returned, his own voice sounding rather wistful in her head then too.
Claire smiled as she looked downwards, even if I left tonight, it would still take me at least three months to get back home to you.
Believe me, I’m quite aware of that, he returned sadly, another reason why I wanted to ask.
Well, Nicolas seems to be sorted out now. At least, as sorted as he’ll ever be, she added. But I seem to have found myself another project along the way, as I tend to do, she admitted. She then glanced at the clock, shouldn’t you be asleep right now? Isn’t it just eleven a.m. there?
That’s the one thing about psychic abilities; they tend to still work even when we’re asleep, remember? It’s just too bad we, and Erica, had to learn that the hard way, from my lovely sister, he stated, his voice dropping on the mention of each of them, though for very different reasons.
Of course the mention of Erica, as well as Awsha brought so many dark memories back to Claire’s head, including one of a still yet unfulfilled prophecy of doom. She needed a moment then before transmitting any more thoughts to him just then.
A project, you said? Sean interrupted the silence, sure that he knew the reasons for it suddenly descending on their conversation.
It’s just me chasing that desire I have to fix every pretty person I find. That’s what I do, after all, she returned with more than a bit of self-awareness after nearly three centuries.
So, he’s pretty then? Sean teased.
It could be a she too, Claire smiled again.
Is it? Sean returned with interest.
Claire just shook her head at his continued teasing tone, what about you? I’m sure whatever you’re currently trying to fix back home is much more deadly and dire, in some way or another, she added as her tone dropped slightly.
Exactly why I would rather talk about your pet projects, he returned with a sigh.
It was then that Claire heard footsteps coming up the stairs once more, speaking of which, I think he’s on his way back. I should probably not make him think I’m any stranger right now by trying to carry on a conversation in my head and one with him at the same time, she stated with a bit of regret at the shortness of their conversation.
I knew it was a he, Sean teased back as Claire just rolled her eyes, I love you, Claire, he added sadly.
I love you too, she finished, as she allowed another sad sigh as their contact ended moments before her door did open.
Though it was Hollister who stepped into her room, causing her to tense more than a bit, “So, you told him? Without first giving him your blood?” he added pointedly.
Claire sighed as she looked down, “I compelled him never to hurt any of us first, Hollister. I know this routine by now.”
“I’m sure you do” he told her with another obvious meaning behind his words.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
“Something else you’d like to say?” Claire made herself ask, hard as it was when faced with the awe he inspired once again.
“I just worry that your continued attachment to them is going to cause more problems than it’s worth. For all of us” he added.
“You can read his thoughts, can’t you?” Claire reminded, trying to keep undue sharpness from her tone, “wouldn’t you be able to tell if he was truly a threat, just by looking at him?”
“He could be a threat without meaning to be, Claire.”
“That makes sense” she mumbled.
“Think about it, Claire. He’s one step away from becoming the next bloody emperor of France. And he knows about us now... without any bond” he told her firmly.
“So you want me to give him my blood. That’s what you’re really saying” she added as her voice dropped.
“I thought you said you knew this routine by now” he returned smartly, “so you know quite well that if you insist on telling them, you must have their bond.”
Claire took a long moment, “Haven never bound Sean.”
“And now Haven is gone” he said sadly.
“You know the two things have nothing to do with one another” she retorted, “Haven only used the mental bond on Sean. He never forced his blood on him.”
“And then Sean got himself killed over a decade after Haven left, without even understanding why. Which is exactly why Haven had to flee west after embracing Sean without the Prince’s permission. And then, Haven died. And now Sean is stuck with a crown he never wanted” he recited that very brief history of their own past. “See, problems.”
“Fine, we’ll leave” she stated with a sniffle as she stood.
“Leave?” he asked as if the word burnt his tongue as he said it. “This is not a problem that can be solved just by running away, Claire.”
“But if I take him and go, it at least won’t be your problem anymore, right?” And with that, she began moving to gather their things.
----------------------------------------
It was just before eight when Eliot finished his rather solitary dinner and moved to get up from the large table in the dining hall which was only even entered on the extremely rare occasions when Hollister entertained any human guests. As he stood, he startled more than a bit to feel hands come from behind him to rest on his waist. At the same moment, cold lips touched the back of his neck, just below those black curls.
Through those cool kisses, Aidan spoke, “and what have you... gotten up to, tonight, lover?” he asked, the innuendo obvious,
“Aidan” Eliot breathed the other man’s name, without turning to face him just yet.
“Apparently not enough, as you feel extremely tense right now” Aidan pointed out as he turned Eliot to face him, while remaining close, Eliot’s eyes not able to meet his just barely darker ones quite yet.
“Just have a few hundred things racing through my mind tonight, I suppose” Eliot gave him an answer, while still avoiding eye contact.
“Considering our conversation last night, I’m assuming all your former lovers have been male as well. So that can’t be what’s gotten you so wrapped up in your own head, can it?”
Eliot looked down, “no, that’s not it, exactly.”
“Exactly?” Aidan raised a brow as he brushed a lock from Eliot’s face, “I’m going to need more than that, darling.”
“Can’t you just read my mind, and know?” Eliot dared.
Aidan looked more than a bit thrown by that as he raised a brow, “how much of that wine did you have? Are you confusing me with Nicolas now?”
“Don’t you all do that?” he made himself ask, finally moving his eyes to Aidan’s face to gauge any reaction there.
That was when Aidan’s expression darkened as he finally stepped back, “so I see you did go try and find the end of that sentence, after all” he stated shakily, which caused Eliot’s gaze to falter again, “and no, we don’t all do that” he added in a low tone as he turned away from Eliot to absently adjust a painting behind them.
“You mean, Claire can’t do that either?” Eliot had to ask.
Aidan scoffed, “Claire can’t stand the idea. She barely forgave Sean for learning that skill. I wasn’t going to risk her being just as angry at me for learning it too."
Eliot let out another shaky breath, “It wasn't our lovemaking that made me so... tense, as you say. At least not until after I found out... what you all were” he confessed.
“Yes, I think I deduced that much in the last thirty seconds” Aidan returned, still pretending to be more interested in the painting than their conversation.
“Just last night I was in a ménage à trois with not one but two...” he shook his head, “and one of them was even a female. And that is also...” he let his voice trail off, “it’s hard not to be just a little shaken right now” he whispered.
“Technically it was more voyeurism when it came to the female in question, considering you didn’t actually touch her” Aidan couldn’t help pointing out wryly.
“I’ve touched her. Just not the way you did” Eliot corrected, though weakly.
“So, again, wasn’t technically a ménage à trois , was it?” he repeated, only casting the tiniest smile over his shoulder at the slightly taller of them.
Eliot couldn’t help a small chuckle, “still, my point remains.”
“And what point is that?” Aidan finally turned back to him, “so even though we had an incredible night together, now you’re suddenly afraid of us? Both of us?” he had to add.
“I’m trying not to be” Eliot said softly.
That was when Aidan looked more closely at him, his concern deepening, “she never gave you her blood?”
“Pardon?” Eliot asked as he looked up, his face slightly paling.
“Never mind” Aidan sighed, “the fact remains that Claire and I were... what we are, when you first met us, and when you crawled into bed with us, just as we are now. So what has changed, really?”
Eliot looked down once more, “I’m trying, honestly, I am” he told him softly.
“You already had one hurdle to overcome with Claire, and now you apparently have another. So perhaps she’s the one you should be ‘trying’ with, right now” he stated quietly before offering Eliot another light kiss before moving out of the room once more.