The ReunionThe Reunion
I noticed once in their company, I had changed somewhat. I was withdrawn, hesitant on sharing any past knowledge or memories with them. It was almost as though my body sensed their distrust before I truly did. It felt odd to be around them. I had grown used to be alone, I was comfortable with it. There was a difference in being alone and being lonely. I suddenly felt old, responsible, and grown-up. I never thought it would happen to me, I thought I was the most reckless one aside from Brian. But he too, was on the verge of losing it all. A fire began to burn within my gut, signaling determination. I wasn't about to lose, and neither would Brian now that I was here.
I unpacked my bags as soon as I entered my room. It was late, actually almost morning. I decided to walk through the Castle drinking in its beauty. Oh, how I missed the days when were all so close. Laughter was a luxury we all could afford back then. Vibrant, beautiful, full of life we seemed. The memories cracked a faint smile across my lip, as I found myself running my hands over one of the huge portraits of all of us, Gwyneth had hanging in the hall. I stepped back for a moment, collecting myself. Wiping a tiny tear away, I continued to the kitchen for a drink.
Fumbling towards the frig, opening the door shed some light for me. I browsed, looking for a nice red wine, moving fruit, opening strange bottles.
Grasping a rather large green jug in the back, I had finally found my treasure. Generously, I poured myself a glass, gulping as I poured. A voice spoke softly, startling me enough, that I dropped my glass, shattering it on the kitchen floor. "Who is there?" I demand. Coming into the faint light was a face I had not seen before. I grimaced, trying to figure out who it was.
"Its a shame to drink alone, I am sorry to have startled you." He said softly. "I am Logan Montgomery, I came with Tabbs," he looked puzzled, then said, "Just friends, of course."
I giggled slightly, "Of course," and rolled my eyes towards him.
He helped me clean the glass that was all over the floor, then we walked into the den. A crackling fire was roaring in the fireplace, as I curled up in front of the hearth. Logan stood back, momentarily drinking in my profile from the light of the fire. "Your quite striking, but I am sure you know that." He whispered, as he walked past me to the sofa. I gave him a seductive gaze, as I thought to myself, what a dangerous game I was about to play.
We sat talking for a couple of hours. He began to tell me about how he & Tabbs met. He was in a band & she approached him. Even though he rejected her, she continually followed him & his band, until she bedded him. And she sprang upon him the whole vampire thing without hesitation. He thought she was alone but then soon learned of the coven. He told me he thought her actions were that of a loose cannon in our group & that she could hurt us for being too trusting. I thought he was far too intelligent to remain in just her company. He felt he had no choice. At the time he thought she would kill him if he refused her dark gift. So to punish her, he said he stopped any intimacy between them since becoming a vampire. I thought he was truly dazzling in his way of thinking. I wanted to know this man.
We seemed to have quite a bit in common. It had been a long time since I had met such good company. I already felt Tabbs wasn't worthy of his loyalties. I could already tell the way he was looking at me how he was beginning to feel. He fancied me already. ~S~
After the tension had built to any explosive level, I pulled him up the stairs towards my room. Onward with him in tow, to my bed. At the door, he pulled into a passionate kiss, his mustache tickled my nose. I giggled & ran inside. I enjoyed seducing this man purely to spite Lil' Tabbs. It felt as good to me as the sex I was about to have. *L* Tenderness overrode the entire heated hours as we made love. I was biting & licking, while he enjoyed outlining my body with his index finger. It was as though he were committing my frame to memory. Basking in the afterglow of killer sex, I revelled in my accomplishment & couldn't way to see what trouble it stirred.
About that time, the rest of gang rolled in, boisterous & loud. One by one they froze with the strangest looks on their faces as they saw Logan & I talking, only by the light of candles & the fire. Lil Tabbs walked over to Logan, curling around him like a freaking python. I could see the insecurity glowing like a beacon in the night. All I could do was smirk and bid her the fondess greetings. I could see the dispictible taste in her mouth, my kindness wraith imposed. She swallowed and spoke an icy greeting. She routinely begged Logan to retire with her. He did not wish to retire yet, he told her. I felt I had done my work for the night. I focused my conversation with Gwyneth before retiring. I told them goodnight, and slipped upstairs. As I approached the first step, Lil Tabbs had already lit into Logan about me. I couldn't help giggle and throw down the last gulp of my wine.
As I approached my door, I could hear them coming still arguing. She was so upset with him, and he really didn't do anything. Its just me, she cannot stand for me to even look, talk, breathe, whatever in the hell, towards anyone she seems to pair herself with. She even got weird over Gwyneth sometimes. It was all too much for me to handle, I had Raine to think about. It was like trying to balance a mortal life. I was really pushing myself way too hard. The last thing I needed to do was cause another mess for me to worry about. I decided at that moment not to pursue anything further with Logan. And I shut my door.
Slipping into my silk robe, I breathed a sigh of relief. It was comfortable here, and beautiful. Through the sheers I could see the sky changing from indigo, to pink, signaling the dawn. I pulled the velvet drapes closed, enveloping my room in lavish darkness. The glow of the candles lit my way to bed.
A surprise knock at my door disturbed my awaiting slumber. I opened the door, to see Logan standing there. Rubbing my eyes, I asked why he wasn't with Tabbs. He laughed, long story he mumbled. Then looking deeply into my eyes, he asked me to go out with him tomorrow night. I was amazed at how that made me feel. Without hesitation I agreed with a smile. He clasp his long cool hands around the cheeks of face and gently kissed my lips. I think I stood there for quite sometime before I opened my eyes. Like a flash of lightening he was gone. The faint scent of his cologne lingered, teasing my nostrils. In my hand was his card with "midnite in the litehouse" written across the back. How did he know , or did he even know that was my secret little place. Perhaps he had picked that very place for his own secret refuge from Tabbs. Hell that would not be beyond belief! That coincendence intrigued me even more.
I needed to speak to Brian about all this. He was my brother & I needed him. I could feel a gentle tug that undoubtedly was him giving me a message. So I tip-toed to his room. Knocking on the door, I heard his frail voice call out to me.
"Hello my little darma-queen. Tell what kind of trouble are you strring now?" He snidely remarked.
He was right always & knew me so well. I snickered, "As if you didn't know..."
"Well," he stalled..."I was giving you the chance to tell me first.." he giggled.
"I seduced Logan, Lil Tabbs' new friend. And I did it largely to spite that bitch, but while I was with him, I began to see a interesting young man. Possibly someone I would like to know. But you know she never lets anything go & she will not let Logan be a free man, she revells in him being her kindred & keeping him so close."
Brian paced while lsitening to me rant. "You know," he spoke..."we all know how Tabbs' can be. But the truth is, she is a part of the coven & now she made Logan a part of it. Now you have thrown a huge wrench into this. You know she will find out. And the reason I think that is, I felt Stefan's presence here last night. He is probably keeping watch on Tabbs, you know he is never far far from her. The man is obsessed with her & will stop at nothing to try to win her affections. I believe you just gave the man the ammunition."
"Damn," I shouted. "I never once came down on her for playing with Jason like she did. Never meaning a thing she said, just using him for her scrathing post so to speak. But never did I raise my hand or voice in disapproval to her. I took every chance I got & raked Jason over the coals for it, but never did I tell her to back the hell off of him. NOw I am getting the thrid degree for what I did. Which must I remind you was an act between two consenting adults."
Brian laid it out on the table for me. It boiled down to the fact that I trespassed on her property & she will take it as drawing first blood. And she will not stop until she feel she has justified this act in her mind. She will undoubtedly seek revenge in many various forms on me until she is satisfied. I knew her, knew this her behavior and fully expected it, but wasn't feeling threatened by it, yet. She wasn't smart or powerful. But I did worry that she would try to enlist someone's help. If Stefan knew what happened last night, I had no time to lose. He would made it a point to tell Tabbs as soon as possible. I had to think.
The next day, we all gathered for evening coffee & chat. Most of us were waking from our rest, a few had beat us to the punch. The smell of roasting coffee beans & a roaring fire, pulled me downstairs, joining the others. Quietly I watched Lil Tabbs & Logan idley chat. I caught his eyes dart my way more than once. I think everyone except Tabbs knew. I enjoyed that. My plan was only to enjoy him while I was visiting. I had no intentions of messing up his perfect little life. Besides, I had a life already in New York. I didn't plan to make waves, but unfortunately I did. I just wanted to play with him while I was there.
I stepped out onto the terrace, allowing the onshore breezes belt my raven locks. Gazing towards the sun that had already set, the sky was a beautiful array of reds & deep purples, blending with the darkness of the ocean. It was breath-taking here. But I had not figured out why I had this overwhelming sense of dred. It ate at my stomach as badly as the hunger. Taking a sip of coffee, I pulled my robe tightly around me, watching the sky grow black. Softly a pair of arms slid around me, almost comforting me. The sweet smell of vanilla enveloped me, it was Gwyneth. She rested her head on my shoulder as we stared towards the horizon quietly together. I put my hands on top of hers, holding them slightly, & smiling. "Don't you wish it could always have been like this?" I asked. "Its so tranqil here, Gwyn"
Replying softly, she says, "Yes, I love it, but if Brian wasn't so ill, I would enjoy it more." she added with a small sound of reluctance. I turned to look at, still holding her fragile hands. "I am here now Gwyneth, " I said reassuringly. "You can stop worrying, I won't let anything happen to any of us. Brian is my brother, I know Davidson will help or least tell us what we can do. In the meantime, you should be worrying more about planning the party for Halloween. It will be perfect Gwyn, I promise." smiling, as I spoke to her. Her eyes broke the gaze-like stare, as she tightly squeezed my hand. She then moved the subject to Logan, going on & on about how sexy he was. I managed a laugh, and told her I thought he was hanging with the wrong vamp. We giggled together like teen-age girls. It felt good, not always did we get to laugh about things together. It had grown so stale between many of us. But I could catch moments of it, reminding me constantly of what our coven was & how it is no more.
By that time, Lil Tabbs came out to interrupt my kodak moment. God how I loathed her. Of course, trailing a few feet behind was Logan. Raising an eyebrow his way, I gave a good evening, then retired inside. Gwyneth & Tabbs made themselves comfortable on the lounge chairs, as Logan stolled towards the shore. I watched every step he took until his frame disappeared over the sand dunes. A hand touched my shoulder, startling me. It was Richard. "Morning," I said. "Hello." He murmured, then continued his walk to join the others. Before I stepped in, I looked back towards them, above, watching from a window, was Brian. It seemed sad, I turned & came inside.
Putting my hands in the poskets of my robe, I climbed the enormous stone staircase to my room. I felt something in the pocket, & retreived it. It was the note Logan had given me. I kept walking, thinking of him & what the possibilities were. Before I realized it, I was at my room.
Once inside I began to prepare for my meet with Logan. I watched out the window, as a wonderful warm breeze blew past me. My how life had changed us all. We used to be so close, now things seemed secretive, distrusting. Just being here ate at my stomach constantly. I had to get out. Escaping to the terrace, I leapt into the night.
How refreshing flying was to me. Nothing helped settle me more than flying. The sense of control, yet a sense of freedom. The moon shown full, guiding my way to the decaying litehouse. I still found it beautiful in all its aging beauty. Just outside the entrance, I landed , drinking in the magnificent structure. I immediately sensed his presence. Logan was already inside, I felt. I climbed the wretched staircase, to find him lounging comfortably in an old chair. Sitting there silent, he oozed sensuality. My eyes squinted, as I desired him. He spoke softly to me, how glad he was I came. I told I wouldn't have missed it for the world. ~Thinking to myself HA, I would take any chance I got to put it to Lil Tabbs. After all, I felt she deserved it.~ Even though my intentions to seduce him merely to piss off Lil Tabbs were vague, his intentions for me were even more vague. I could not be held solely responsible. He is a grown vampire & capable of making his own choices. As far as I knew Logan was not Lil Tabbs' kindred. Otherwise her hold over him would be greater. He chose to come here & he had chose me, for tonight anyway. ~EG~
He stood, tall, thin and extremely handsome. It was very satisfying knowing I had met a man whose confidence seemed to exude him much like mine. I used most of my powers of seduction to get everything I wanted in my dark immortal life. I did not know yet what I wanted with this man. Maybe it was because of my rivalry with Tabbs. I still did not know. But I began to feel uneasy once we were alone. I felt catty & vindictive, and yet he had no done a thing to me. I sensed something threatening to my world. Like he could change me if I let him too close. That felt threatening enough to me. I valued my independance. I felt I needed air again, that smothering feeling overwhelmed me again. I ran outside the litehouse, bidding him an abrupt goodnight.
I heard loud voices coming from the castle as I approached the terrace doors. Inside I found Tifani had arrived! I ran & hugged her, squeezing her tight. She had arrived with two of her subs, Nick & Sage. She had sent them to their quarters for the time being. It was so nice to see her. She was truly a star. Her presence was as huge as a celebrity in the room with all of us. She, too, brought a different breath into this coven. So we had arrived with the exception of Davidson & Stefan, and I doubted they would come. He was going to let us learn this lesson all on our own.
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