Becoming the Hunted

Adelaide leaned her head against his chest a smile about her lips. She’d never truly been treated to a dance like this. It was always about the show. The drips and twirls. But this, it was intimate and close. The nobles that surrounded them seemed to approve. She hummed slightly to the music, enjoying the tune. “This, is perfect.” She replied as she swayed with him. Her hand held onto his that guided her, her eyes looked to their hands and she let out a soft chuckle. She’d never actually wanted to dance with anyone. Not until now, and now this man that she barely knew seemed to have more of her attention than any of the nobles in the room could purchase. It wasn’t about glamorous acts. It wasn’t about the money. It was the way that he looked to her. They way he spoke. It was different than any of the others. He took care of her wellbeing. Even the other night when he’d bought her the two pints of beer...he could have let her keep drinking. Most would have. Most would have loved to take advantage of the situation. But, he didn’t.

Fran moved about on the sidelines her eyes looked to the two curiously. She had a small smile upon her lips as she saw Adelaide smile. It was a genuine smile, nothing like the smile that she had seen so many times from her friend. “Why don’t you make yourself useful and break that up.” Nicholas leaned against one of the pillars. His eyes dark as he stared to the two. “No one needs to see her humiliated like that.” He growled as he looked to Fran then.

Fran drew in a breath, “You do not own me, Nicholas. It is Master Bennett that pays my wage.” She walked away from him then and slipped through the crowd. She bought a fresh glass to Reed whom seemed to be staring nervously from the sidelines. “My lord.” She held the glass toward him. “What are you so worried about?”

Reed looked to her as he looked the glass. “It’s obvious isn’t it?” He questioned and then let out a laugh before he took a drink. “I came from Brighton to get Lady Bennett’s hand...my father sent me. He said that this would be a break for our family. This was the chance of luck that we needed.” He smiled to her. “Yet, her I am, afraid to ask her for a dance again. She seems different tonight….like she’s very tired. Perhaps she is tired of playing such games?”

Fran gave a soft smile to him. “It can be exhausting to be a Bennett.” She winked. “You aren’t out of the running, you know?” She spoke before she disappeared back into the crowd.

Adelaide gazed up to Henry as the song came to a close. “That, was lovely, thank you.” She smiled as her eyes searched his.

“Adelaide.” Fran spoke, “Your grandfather wants you.” She gave a slight nod to Henry before she moved through the crowd again.

Adelaide took in a breath, “It seems duty calls, hm?” She gave a warm smile before she slipped from his arms. Her movements, to anyone paying attention seemed sluggish and as if she had to put far too much effort into them. She made her way to get Grandfather whom wrapped his arm around her waist, he kissed the top of her head and smiled to the crowd. “You called?” She asked softly.

“Why are you wasting your time on him?” Vincent questioned, the smile remained on his lips.

“I find him to be quite charming, grandfather. Much more so than Nicholas.” Adelaide drew in a breath.

Vincent held the smile though a bit of a groan came from him. “I don’t like him, Addie. There is something about him. Something that I can’t quite place.” He drew his brows together slightly.

“Well, at least he isn’t drinking my blood.” Adelaide snapped her hazel eyes locked on her grandfather then.

Vincent seemed to freeze. He stared to Adelaide a long moment. “What are you talking about?” He asked his voice concerned.

“Why don’t you ask Nicholas?” Adelaide shot back with a defiant look about her face.

Vincent drew in a breath, his eyes found Nicholas in the crowd. He clenched his jaw slightly. “Well. I’ll have to speak to him.” He cleared his throat, “But first we must conclude the evening my dear.” Vincent looked over the crowd a moment, most stopped and looked to him. “Noble lords and ladies.” He spoke with a smile about his lips. “This evening has been full of surprises. I do hope that you have enjoyed the festivities.” He met Henry’s eyes and then looked to Reed and finally Nicholas. “We have seen such bravery tonight that even in my centuries of time I have not seen. To conquer more than 3 lycan in one hunt. That is a feat that I believed impossible. Yet. We have a man whom stands among us who pulled off a feat even larger than that. An entire pack was slain tonight.” He raised his glass and grinned. The crowd cheered and most nodded to Henry in appreciation. Nicholas on the other hand seemed to become more frustrated by Vincent announcing this achievement again. “I would like to call an end to our festivities tonight, I do know that it is early, but I want my grand daughter to have a bit of rest a bit of time to spend with the man that brought down the pack. He deserves such time for such an incredible feat.” His eyes locked on Henry again. “We will continue our festivities tomorrow evening with another challenge for the three.” He raised his glass. “Thank you for coming.” He finished off his glass then as others clapped and chatted amongst each other. He glanced to Adelaide. “There, you’ve time to spend with your commoner. Enjoy it, Addie. It may be the last night you get with him.” He then searched her eyes. “And, don’t make things up about Nicholas. That is just poor judgement on your part. He would never do such a thing. He’s a noble, not a monster. I would expect that from your commoner friend, not Nicholas.” Vincent raised a brow slightly. “Good night, Addie.” He kissed the top of her head before he climbed the stairs.

Adelaide gripped the bannister as she walked down the stairs. She was met by Nicholas as she stepped off the last step. “How could he give you away to that peasant?” He growled. Though, the fact that Vincent placed her with anyone but Nicholas proved that Vincent must have believed some of what Adelaide stated. She knew her grandfather wouldn’t completely shoot her down, but he needed evidence before he acted. “You don’t belong with him.” Nicholas cupped her cheek and gazed into her eyes. A smirk upon his lips as he looked to her. “Don’t you agree?”

Adelaide’s brows quivered slightly as she gazed into his eyes. “Grandfather chose him. Not you.” She replied softly. “Good night, Nicholas.” She gave him a kiss on his cheek before she slipped passed him. She moved to the door and said her farewells to those that were leaving, as she always did. Though she held onto the seam of the door for balance. “Goodnight Reed, we shall dance tomorrow.” She spoke as she watched him step up. “Tonight seemed to run short.” She searched his eyes.

“Yes, of course M’lady. We shall.” He grinned and took her hand and kissed the back of it. “I would like that very much.” He seemed to blush slightly. Almost as if her giving him attention embarrassed him.

Adelaide smiled as she watched him leave. “Good night.” She spoke.

Nicholas glared to Henry as he walked passed him. “Watch your back, peasant.” He bumped into him roughly before he walked from the mansion without another word.

Adelaide made her way to Henry, a soft smile about her lips. She stepped to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Another dance?” She asked, though the room was silent. She hummed a sweet tune, a smile about her lips. Though her eyes looked tired. She swayed her hips slightly and a soft laugh came over her lips. "Nicholas isn't very impressed with my grandfather's choice this evening." She commented. "I think you deserve it though. You did much more than the other two, by far." She leaned her head against his chest as she swayed slightly as if a tune played within her head.

“He is most displeased with me showing any affection toward a commoner.” She smiled up to him. “Just because he was born into it. Plenty have risen to such an occasion like you. My mother was a commoner. Just as you are.” She smiled once again, “Grandfather does think that it was quite the feat, what you did. Killing all of those lycans.” She commented and then fell quiet as he pulled out the talisman. Her eyes looked over the piece curiously. She took it into her hands as she took a step back from him. She ran her thumb over the fine crystal in the center before she hung the piece around her neck. “I’ll keep it close. This...” She looked up to him once again, her hand still held it. “You must have tricked a witch into giving you such an item.” She smirked slightly.

Adelaide then stepped closer to him once again. “Shall we?” She asked as she wrapped her arm through his. “I’ll show you the library.” She smiled. “I spend most of my time there.” She commented as she led him down the hallway. They didn’t go upstairs this time. She led him passed the kitchen full of busy staff. Then they made their way into the back part of the mansion when she pushed a heavy oak door open. She walked inside and pulled him to a couch with her where she grasped his hand as she sat down. “You know, Henry.” She spoke her brow raised as she looked to him. “I must confess something.” She leaned back against the back of the couch. “I’ve never truly had any interest in any of the suitors that I’ve had chase me over the years. A lady never reveals her age, but I’m much older than I look.” She let out a soft laugh. “As I am sure you know.”

She traced along the back of his hand as she closed her eyes. “I don’t think this is the first time that Nicholas has done this to me.” She admitted after a long silence. “In fact, I think he’s used me to win most of his competitions...because I’ve awakened after time out with him and...I was weak, exhausted even...I always attributed it to the drinks...I haven’t had anything to drink in quite sometime because of it.” She drew in a breath and looked to him. “What made you choose to kill the entire pack?” She asked. “Did you know that it would sway my grandfather into favoring you?” She gave a smile, “I wasn’t even sure if that would sway him. He seemed to hellbent on ridding the competition of you.” She smirked slightly. “Though perhaps he is beginning to see the darker side of Nicholas.” She spoke as she gazed into his eyes. “Or maybe he is beginning to see that a commoner isn’t so bad? He had no choice when my father chose my mother. Perhaps he is beginning to see that he once again doesn’t have a choice.” She laughed lightly as she lay her head against his chest. “How long have you been turned, Henry?” She asked softly. “Most humans that have been turned remember it no matter how long ago it was. Was it your choice?”

Adelaide watched him carefully her hazel eyes seemed to dissect each word he said. As he spoke of the hunt she gave a smile, it was smart of him to do what he had. She knew that the pack would have rebuilt into a stronger more violent group of Lycan. Now they did not have the chance to do so. She drew her brows together slightly when he finally answered her last questioned. It wasn’t his choice. It hardly ever was. Be it carelessness on the aspect of the vampire that turned the human, or other such reasons. “I’m sorry, Henry.” She spoke her voice soft. “I don’t think that any human should be turned unwillingly. We aren’t savages.” She spoke and let out a sigh at the end. “I’ve seen all too many humans turned by careless vampires that don’t realize the damage that they are causing. I’ve seen the anger...the despair that it causes. You are ripped from everything the moment that you are turned.”

She reached up and traced along the scar upon his brow. Her fingertip traced along his jaw as she seemed to study his features. She was so close to him now that she could nearly feel his breath upon her face. “I can only imagine what it must be like. I was brought into the world a monster.” She let out a slight sigh. “Or at least that is what most call us.” She gave a smile to him. “I believe that there are plenty of monsters in the world, not all of our kind fit that bill. Yet, there are plenty that certainly fit the description. Whomever turned you is a monster.” She paused a moment before she searched his eyes. “Are you angry because it was not a choice?” She questioned softly. “Were you left alone?” She then paused a moment. “You must have been. You’re not part of a coven.” She drew her brows together. It truly bothered her. “Have you found the one that turned you so carelessly?” She was curious. The questions seemed to rattle out quickly like a spilled bottle of wine. "Sorry...Henry... you don't have to talk about it....unless you want to. I....know it must be hard."

Adelaide smiled to his first comment. It was a true statement. Though, some had bigger monsters than others. “You’ve hidden it well. Though, I don’t know much about you Henry.” She spoke with a raised brow as she gazed into his eyes. “Many young vampires make the mistake of turning a human. Sometimes it isn’t even a purposeful choice when we are young. We don’t know how to control our actions. Some enjoy it...” She shook her head slightly. His smile caused her to smile. Then when he spoke of telling her more of his past she grinned. “Well, I’m certain that you’ll win.” She spoke, she sounded confident. “You wouldn’t break a promise. Would you?” She winked before she kissed his cheek. She then gazed into his eyes another long moment.

The door pushed open and the sound of clicking heels filled the room. Fran appeared through the shadows, she held a small plate of snacks for the two to share along with two drinks that had already been poured. Within the center of the tray was a candle and a single rose. Fran gave a soft smile to the two. “Master Bennett thought that you might enjoy this.” She looked to Adelaide. “Are you feeling any better?” She asked as she arranged the items on the tray so that they were more accessible.

Adelaide gave a nod, “A little.” She spoke with a soft laugh. “But I’m also being allowed to relax.” She smirked to Henry before she reached forward for her drink. She smelled it, “Whiskey?” She asked with a curious gaze as she looked to Fran.

“Yes, a fine barrel aged sort with a bit of the vintage mixed in. Your grandfather mixed it himself for you to enjoy.” She glanced to Henry. “Is there anything that I might get you my lord?” She asked.

“You could answer something for me Fran.” Adelaide spoke as she swirled the glass around, her eyes upon the liquid. “How many times?” She asked, she didn’t have to specify. She knew that Fran would know exactly what she was speaking of.

Fran lowered her eyes slightly. “I can’t say for certain. Last night was the first that I have truly witnessed...” She bit her lower lip. “I am sorry I didn’t speak up sooner. He threatened me.” She confessed.

Adelaide gave a slight nod before she took a sip from her glass. “I wouldn’t put it passed him.” She replied before she lay her head against Henry’s shoulder.

Fran gave a nod when Henry spoke of his request. “Of course.” She glanced to Adelaide a moment and then back to him. “Anything that happens I will report to you, no matter how insignificant it may seem.” She gave a soft smile. “I trust you’ll keep her safe?” She searched his eyes.

“Hasn’t he already?” Adelaide pipped up, a smile upon her lips. She looked to Henry a moment, her expression softened. “He thinks he owns everything.” She spoke. “If you were to ask him, I already belong to him because of the agreement that he has made with my grandfather.” She looked away from Henry then as she shifted to place a bit more space between them. She took a sip from her glass and shook her head. “When we speak of Lycans, we call them monsters, yet we have enough living amongst us that are worse than some of the Lycans.” She let out a soft laugh.

Fran shifted slightly as she drew in a breath. She was in an uncomfortable situation. Though, she cared for her friend and she didn’t want to allow anything to happen to Adelaide. She cleared her throat and then gave a nod. “I’ll check back soon.” She spoke before she showed herself out of the library.

Adelaide looked to Henry a moment. “I turned a human once, when I was young.” She spoke as she relaxed into the couch. “I nearly died...” She let out a soft laugh. “I thought he loved me, and he was ill.” She glanced to Henry. “He had a sickness that none of the doctors could figure out and his body was beginning to wither away. I’d known him for a few years, I snuck from the mansion at night to meet him. We would go to dinner, to the parks, walk through the city. Anything to spend time with one another. I told him what I was, and he accepted it. In fact, he was curious, he asked so many questions.” She took another sip of her drink. “When he fell ill he asked me to turn him. He wanted to be saved, he was in so much pain. His body was failing him. I sat with him overnight at the infirmary. I watched as his breathing slowed...” She closed her eyes a moment. She’d never shared this story with anyone, but she felt compelled to tell him for some reason. “I didn’t want to turn him...I told him that the life of a vampire was nothing like he imagined….but when he was near death...he begged me to save him.”

Adelaide ran her fingertip along the rim of her glass before she drew in a long breath. “So...I did what I had told him I would never do.” She closed her eyes slightly. “His blood was like poison. I could feel my muscles tighten the moment that I began to drink from him...I didn’t give in though. I lost consciousness after I finished the ritual, I had given him just enough of my blood to change him. When I woke, he was gone. I was in my room. Nearly a month had passed...grandfather was furious with me, though it was understandable. I had put my life on the line...and for what?” She looked to Henry, “The man that I thought I loved abandoned me.” She let out a soft laugh before she took a long drink. She looked to Henry again, “He died not long after.” She spoke, “A hunter killed him, and he deserved it. He only wanted to be changed for the power. He was a monster...” Her voice was soft as she lifted the glass to her lips once again for another sip. “My stories aren’t the best for bedtime either.” She gave a soft smile.

Adelaide glanced to him as he responded. “It had to happen, otherwise I wouldn’t have learned.” She lifted her glass to her lips and took another drink. She smiled when he spoke that he owed her a story and she leaned toward him slightly, interested. She raised a brow slightly, a bit of a smirk formed. “I bet they do. Most do. I’ve only had one other human ask me to turn them, I also denied. I’ve only turned the one, and I refuse to do another.” She spoke her lips pressed together at the end. Then when he questioned about the hunter she drew in a breath. “It was dark.” She spoke, she lifted her eyes to look to Henry. “I couldn’t tell you what his face looked like.” She gave a slight frown. “I chased after Peter.” Her eyes glanced away. “When I finally found him, he was in some form of trouble. He’d killed so many humans that he was pushed from London and the surrounding areas. I chased him to Finsbury...and I regretted chasing him. The moment that I caught up to him I saw the glint of the blade as it came down upon Peter.” She paused her eyes fell away from him. “All I remember was the shadows that hid the attacker’s face...but I didn’t stay to try to chase the hunter...I ran.” Her voice was merely a whisper. It was a painful memory. Even if Peter deserved the death that he had been given. He had been her only love.

She gave a weak smile to Henry as she lifted her eyes back up. She then looked back to her empty glass. She reached forward and set it upon the table before them. “I learned a lot from that mistake.” She spoke her eyes stared to a bookcase across the room from them. “It wasn’t something that I would choose to do again. Though, it has made that decision easy for me...” She glanced to him, “That is the only time I’ve had a run in with a hunter...you said they can be tricky? Have you escaped a hunter before, Henry?” Her eyes were studying him once again. “I’ve not known very many vampires that escape hunters and live to tell the tale.”