Fan Fiction ❯ Kiss Me Hard ❯ Perfect Timing ( Chapter 4 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Chapter Three

Nicole had stayed in his room for about another hour, before forcing him to sleep.

“I’ll still be here when you wake up, Darius.” She laughed quietly as he tried to protest against going back to sleep.
“I know,” He began as she gently pushed him onto the bed, “But you’ll be–“
“Fine. I’ll be fine.” She nodded, making him lay down and pulling the covers up to his neck. When he tried to get back up, she grabbed him by the shoulders and pinned him to the bed, leaning over him, “Trust me.”
Darius struggled a little, causing her to sigh and get onto the bed, straddling his waist and pin him to the bed that way.
Darius stopped, looking up at her and quirking an eyebrow, “You know, I’m probably stronger then you.”
Nicole laughed a little, “Yes, I know. But, you need to sleep.”
He sighed, tilting his head and watching her. After a moment, his eyes started to trail down her body. A grin formed on his lips, “You know...” He whispered as he brought his gaze back to her’s.
Nicole quirked an eyebrow, and he continued.
“This is kinda kinky.”
Nicole just stared at him, a blush forming on her cheeks as she tried to speak, “Uhm...”
Darius laughed softly, “Well, I mean, look where we are–and what your doing.” He paused, as if studying her, then continued, “I never thought you would be the dominant type, Nicole.”
“Gyeh!” Nicole quickly got off him–and just as quickly as she got off him, she swatted his shoulder when he sat up–laughing.
“Darius! Please. Get your mind out of the gutter.” She muttered as she turned her head away from him.
“You put it there.” He grinned, before reaching out and taking one of her hands, pulling her close to him as he swung his legs off the side of the bed.
Nicole looked at him for a moment, before leaning down so her lips brushed against his as she whispered, "Sleep..."
When he went to kiss her, she placed a finger on his lips and pushed him onto the bed so he was laying down, looking up at her.
Darius sighed a little, releasing her hands and folding his arms behind his head, looking up at her for a moment, "What time is it?"
"6:00." Nicole stated simply, "Time for you to sleep for a few hours--or you’ll be tired."
"Mrrh." Darius murred, before shifting on the bed and sitting up, "Fine fine..."
Nicole smiled faintly, "You promise?" She asked softly as she crossed her arms, turning and about to head down the path.
Darius nodded. When she started down the path, he hesitated before grabbing her rose off the bed and calling her name, "Nicole. Hold on a sec."
Nicole sighed and turned around. Darius had gotten to his feet, rose in hand, and walked up to her. He smiled a little, 'Your rose."
Nicole smiled and took her rose, "Thanks." She whispered as she looked up at him. she held onto the rose gently, careful of the thorns. After a moment, she leaned up and gave him a kiss on the cheek, then moved her lips to his ear as he placed his hands on her waist, "Sleep."
Darius chuckled softly, "Fine...Sweet dreams." He murmured as she pulled back. He went to kiss her, but she turned her head and started to walk away, leaving him staring after her.
He quirked an eyebrow as she reached the door.
She turned around, grinning at him, "No more kisses. your stalling. Get to sleep." With that, she smiled a little, "Sweet dreams, Darius." Then she turned and left the room quietly, leaving him watching her, before returning to his bed.
He sat down on his bed, and blinked as he now realized something.
"I've barely known her for a day and she's captured me..." He whispered, blinking as he stared at the roses, taken aback by this realization, "That’s--"

"Strange." Nicole muttered as she headed to the stairs, "We barely know each other...I wonder if he easily captures woman like that..." She wondered as she walked up the stairs slowly, rose in hand.
When she reached the top, she looked about her.
"Maybe I should sleep?" She questioned herself, not really knowing where to go from there.
The hallway was dark--and dare she say it--it had an unwelcoming feeling.
The candles were blown out, as if someone walked to each one and capped them, extinguishing their calming aura and warm glow.
Nicole bit her lip as she crossed her arms, "Perhaps I will--"
"And who are you?" Came a male voice from down the dark hall.
Nicole froze, a small hint of fear creeping up her spine. She didn't know what to say--for about half a second.
Finally, she responded, "Nicole..."
"And what purpose did you have down in Darius' quarters, Nicole...?" Inquired the voice as the figure slowly walked down the hall.
"I...I..." She stammered, and the figure chuckled. Nicole glared, then spoke, "I wanted to see Darius about something--"
"Did he give you that rose?"
'Damn, this guy is persistent...' Nicole thought to herself. She desperately wished some form of light would shed visibility upon the one whom spoke.
"Yes. He did. What of it?"
"It's a beautiful rose...Much like yourself. Tainted by time, yet unharmed by society..." The figure chimed, coming into her range of sight--which was fairly close to her.
"Your human..." He whispered softly, "A blood servant to Darius--?"
"I'm no such thing." Nicole snapped, "I'm just a girl he saved."
"Ah-hah..." The man chuckled, "Darius is smart..."
"What do you mean?" Nicole asked, her voice drenched with suspicion. The man simply grinned down at her as he held up a candle and lit it.
It illuminated his face.
Surprisingly well, one might add.
He had short, blonde, spiked up hair with amber eyes that glistened mischievously in the dim candlelight.
He was indeed a vampire–his fangs visible as he gave Nicole a charming smile.
His skin was, of course, pale.
He was dressed in a black T-shirt with simple, worn-blue jeans.
His attire was simple–nothing held a purpose to impress. Unlike Darius.
“But” thought Nicole to herself, “Darius was trying to impress me I suppose…I wonder, if Mark hadn’t showed up, would Darius still have visited me? Wait…” A thought occurred to her, ”How did he find out where I lived?”
Finally, the man smirked, “Don’t think too hard, now.” He churred.
Nicole snapped back to reality at the sound of his voice. She hesitated. What was she to say? Finally, she blinked as she remembered what he had said, “Wait, what do you mean by ‘Darius is smart’?” She demanded, crossing her arms and frowning.
The man grinned, “Has he kissed you?”
“Yes–Wait, how--?” “Before or after he gave you the rose?”
“After–“
“And let me guess.” He grabbed her hand and held it up, running a finger along her index finger lightly, “You pricked yourself on a thorn after he gave you the rose–but before he kissed you.”
“Wha--? How…” Nicole stammered, confused.
“Then.” The man leaned forwards, “To top it off, he made a promise to protect you…correct?”
Nicole stared at him in shock. Now she was truly lost as to how he knew all of this.
“How did you…Why…” She blinked, before he spoke once again.
“Well…I can’t blame him. I guess you do look like her. The red hair, green eyes, slender figure–“
“Hold on!” Nicole snapped, obviously frustrated.
“What do you mean I ‘look like her’? Who?”
The man just watched her, before he shrugged, “Why don’t you ask him yourself?”

Silence.

Her mind now numb, she struggled to gain some kind of grasp on this new information–which was simply that she wasn’t the first.
Finally, she spoke.
“Was she someone he loved?”
“Yes.” The man answered bluntly, “She was also a slayer.”
Nicole nodded a little, then whispered.
“Did he kill her…?”
The man went silent, then shook his head, “No…She tried to kill him, actually. It was her job–to kill vampires.”
Nicole frowned. She went silent, and the man smirked.
He reached forwards and grasped her shoulder.
“Don’t worry. Darius sticks to his promises–“
“The way you predicted everything…you made it sound like there’s been many others before me…”
The man shook his head.
“No…That’s just how he captured Cassia…”
“That’s her name?”
“Yes.” He nodded, “Cassia Turcotte.”
Nicole nodded a little, “What’s your name?” She asked curiously.
“Scott.” He held out a hand for her to shake.
Nicole did indeed shake his head as she spoke, “Do you come here often? Scott shrugged a little as he released her hand, “this is a sanctuary. I try not to abuse my privilege to come.”
“But are you here more then others? Or should I expect to see more?”
Scott smirked lightly, “Oh. If you stay with Darius, be prepared to see more–just be careful though, Nicole.” He added, his voice growing serious, “Most don’t take well to vampires courting humans.”
“Courting?” Nicole quirked an eyebrow, “We just met–“
“The safety you felt from the kiss is…desirable, right?” Scott grinned, “You’ll want more.”
Nicole blinked, before bowing her head slightly.
“When he kissed me–do you think it was to just calm me? Take my mind off of my recent problems...?”
Scott went silent, as if thinking, then spoke.
“Darius is....An unusual vampire. He’s compassionate and sympathetic–which means he is also extremely dangerous.”
Nicole raised both eyebrows, and he continued.
“Most expect vampires to be cold blooded killers–and so, they are prepared for that type of vampire. But, vampires like Darius...They are some of the best hunters. They kill their prey with kindness and compassion. Darius, for example, would be able to lower his prey’s guard–then strike with perfect timing. It’s amazing...rarely does this plan ever fail.”
Nicole went incredibly silent, and Scott chuckled.
“But, don’t worry, Nic...” He whispered softly, placing his hand on her arm.
“Like I said. Darius keeps his promises.”
She nodded weakly, then spoke.
“Curious, thought,” She began, “If this strategy is so ‘fool proof’, then why doesn’t every vampire use it?”
“Ah-hah!” Scott exclaimed, grinning, “Now that, M’dear, is an excellent question. Come.” He tugged her arm, leading her down the hall.

When the two reached the main room, they both sat down in chairs.
“Now,” Scott began, crossing one leg over the other and resting his elbows on the arm of his chair while he laced his fingers together, “You ask why vampires just don’t do what Darius does. And there, M’dear, is a simple answer to that.”
Nicole tilted her head as she leaned back into her chair, “Oh?”
“Yes. Vampires are, bluntly put, The Living Dead. And so, that’s why it’s easy for us to be cold blooded killers...Oh, the irony in that.” Scott laughed a little, before coughing lightly and continuing, “Anyways, some of us, however few, were able to keep out human emotions intact. And so, as you see Darius now–that’s how he would’ve been when he was alive.” Scott paused, then quickly added, “Except for the blood lust he gets every now and then.”
Nicole nodded, “What’s he like when he gets–“
“Blood lust?” Scott finished her sentence.
When she nodded, Scott went quiet again. Except this time he grew quite serious.
“Nicole...When Darius is in blood lust–you must at all cost, stay away from him.”
“But–“ She began, but he cut her off.
“No. There is no possible excuse to avoid this.”
Nicole sighed, bowing her head. Scott frowned, and pulled his chair close to her and slipped two fingers under her chin, tilting her head up so he can look her in the eyes.
“He will kill you, Nicole. Promise or not.”
Nicole fell silent, frowning as she met his gaze. She didn’t know what to say. The thought scared her, but something in her wanted to believe he would be able to recognize her if he went into a blood lust rage.
Scott knew what she was thinking, and sighed, placing hands on each cheek, as if trying to make her think on the same way length as him.
“He will go blind, Nicole. He’ll change completely. I wouldn’t even trust him with my life–and he’s my own brother for crying out loud.”
Nicole blinked, her expression now blank. She was quite taken aback by this.
“Brother?” She said abruptly, pulling away from him to look at him, “You two don’t even look alike–“
“I know.” He cut her off, leaning back in his chair and resting his elbows on the arm rests again, lacing his fingers, “Though we are brothers. Our mother’s were different, but our fathers are the same.”
Nicole went silent, and sighed, bowing her head, “What am I supposed to do if he goes into a blood lusted rage...?”
“Lock yourself in somewhere. Or, better yet, run. Run like hell. As fast as you can–and as far as you can. Get away from this place...because he’s tasted your blood...he’ll want more of it.”
Nicole closed her eyes, but nodded.
Finally, another voice spoke.
“Scott? What a surprise to see you here...”
It was Darius.
Nicole looked over her shoulder and noticed Darius standing in the door way, rubbing his head, “I heard your voice, but I thought I was dreaming.” Darius walked towards them.
Nicole frowned a little and looked at Scott, whom stared at her intently, as if trying to get her to promise him.
She nodded a little, before getting up and leaving the room. She walked up the stairs and down the hall to her own room.
It was 8:00.
Once Nicole entered her room, she moved to her bed after closing the door and sat down, sighing lightly as she looked at her hands in her lap and frowned.

Darius watched her leave, then turned upon his brother, “What did you tell her?” He demanded once he heard her door close.
“The truth.” Scott stood up, looking a his brother as Darius stood by the chair Nicole once sat in, “If she stays with you after what I said, perhaps she’s truly worth it–“
“How dare you.” Darius growled, and Scott smirked.
“We’re you going to bite her?”
“No.” Darius muttered, “I promised I would protect her.”
Scott shook his head, “Well...Brother, you need to learn that she’s human. Your protection can only go so far–an d you have to be careful about that. If the slayers find out...If Cassia finds out–“
“They won’t.” Darius snapped.
“But if they do. They will torture her so they can get to you.” Scott finished.
Silence hung between the two as Darius remained staring at his brother, then turned to look at the stairs.
“Go.” Scott walked up to Darius and whispered softly, placing a hand on his shoulder, “Talk to her. She needs you right now...I’ll still be here.”
Darius nodded, and turned to the stairs.
He quickly walked to them, and up them. Pacing down the hall, he dreaded to see what she looked like after her talk with Scott...
“What will she think of me...?” Darius dare thought to himself as he came to her room.
He never knew what room she was in–he was just able to track her body heat.
Darius stared at her door, before–

A knock sounded at the door. It was soft, and seemed reluctant. Nicole looked up from her hands and at the door, then called, “Come in.”
The door opened, and in came Darius.
Nicole bit her lip, and looked down at her hands again. She slowly got to her feet so face him, “What can I do for you, Darius?”
Her voice was bare, deprived of emotion. It sent chills up Darius’ spine.
He sighed, “I’m sorry.”
“For?” Nicole asked, once again her voice was empty.
“For you having to learn about me that way. I would’ve explained everything–“
“I’m scared.” Nicole’s voice broke, looking at him, “I’m scared of you...Of this place...Of the rose I hold in my hand...” She looked down at the black rose.
Darius just stood there. He expected her to say something along those lines, but to actually hear her say them...
He walked up to her slowly, “I promised I would protect you, Nicole–“
“Can you protect me from yourself?” She whispered, looking up at him.
He froze once he stood before her, looking down at her.
He closed his eyes, “No...” He whispered, “I can’t...”
“Then your promise means nothing. Cause the protection I need is from you.” She whispered softly, watching him.
Nicole couldn’t believe the words that came from her mouth. But in a way, she could.
She just realized the man she kissed was a killer. He could be playing a game with her right now, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Waiting...

Darius sighed, before finally, reaching out and placing a hand on her cheek, “I’m Sorry.” He whispered, “I...Never should’ve brought you here. I knew this was going to happen...I know your scared...but you need to trust me, Nicole.” He opened his eyes and looked down at her.
Nicole let him cup her cheek. She actually titled her head into his hand as she gazed up at him.
She took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled as she raised a hand and grasped his that was on her cheek gently, “Can I trust a man I just met...?” she asked, looking up at him.
Darius hesitated, before nodding, “I believe you can trust me.”
Nicole bit her lip gently, looking up at him, then bowed her head, “I can’t.” She whispered weakly, “I stare into your eyes and see warmth, kindness, and compassion...which is what makes your dangerous...I’m scared of you. Of what you are...Of what Scott told me...how can I truly trust you, Darius? How?”
Darius frowned. She was right. Those few things did make him dangerous...’But only to those I hunt!’ He thought desperately.
He bit his lip. He didn’t know what to say. How to comfort her. Make her feel safe...
Darius wrapped his arms around her suddenly, pulling her close to him in a sudden embrace as he kissed the top of her head, “I don’t know how to make you trust me.” He murmured, his voice heavy and quiet, “I just met you, and I feel like I know you. Its strange. The feeling haunts me–bringing back memories I can’t erase.”
Finally, he took a deep breath, pulled back, and looked at her face, his brilliant yellow eyes holding her deep emerald gaze, “I couldn’t kill you that night because when I pulled back to look at you, you captured me with your eyes alone. The eyes I stared so coldly into...Those eyes alone held strength I could not control. Could not destroy...such a thing deserves to thrive...And even now,” He ran his fingers along her cheek, “I cannot harm you. Not even pluck a hair from your head. For to me, you’re also delicate as those roses in my chamber. I’m afraid of hurting you by simply running my cold fingers along your cheek, or by keeping my arm around your waist. I’m scared of myself. And you. Your scared of me, yet here you stand close, not pushing me away...I respect you, Nicole...And that is one of the many reasons as to why I could never hurt you...” Nicole stared up at him in shock. She certainly wasn’t expecting such words to come from a creature she was to believe to be so cold and cruel. She didn’t know what to say or what to do. She longed to hug him. To kiss him. But something stopped her.
Something told her to wait.
She reached up and placed a hand on his cheek, before asking, “And did you say these words to Cassia...?”
Darius almost immediately responded with a bold, “No.” She fell silent, and so, he continued.
“I admit that there are many things about you that remind me of her. But those words have been spoken once–and to you only. Cassia never walked away when I pulled her close to me when I was on the bed, and she never left me hanging when I went to kiss her...You do not fall to sweet seduction. Cassia did–and therefore...we never had this chance to speak like this...for after our blissful moment, she left to return to the slayers. She came to see me often...Yes...But...we never truly talked...”
Nicole nodded weakly, “Okay...” She whispered, a faint smile parting her thin lips.
Darius hesitated for a moment, before he leaned down and kissed her softly. He placed a hand on her cheek, drawing her into the kiss.
Nicole, for once, was not taken back by this kiss. The moment was perfect.
“Perfect timing...” She thought of Scotts words as she leaned into his kiss, closing her eyes and wrapping her arms around his neck.

'Perfect timing.'