couldn’t affect, but that didn’t work either. I told him to lie if anyone came to see him, and I lied as well. I didn’t know what would happen, and I didn’t know what your whole story was at that point. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”
They just stared back at me, expressionless. They didn’t give anything away as far as how they were feeling, I didn’t know if they were pissed, surprised, about to throw me out of the house. No clue whatsoever. The only thing I did know, and that was only because of the blood bond with Ana, was she wasn’t feeling surprised.
“We know this already Juliana. We couldn’t be sure of the extent that it didn’t work, but we knew Christian still knew of your existence, and mine as well,” Ana finally said at last.
“What! How did you know?” I jumped up to face them both.
“I went to see him last night after my shift was over. I told him I was a doctor on call and one of the nurses asked me to take a look at him. He did a great job of hiding his recognition of me outwardly, but his heart started racing the second he got a good look at me. When I nonchalantly mentioned you, and that I was sorry for his loss, he started to sweat, and his heart rate almost became erratic. To any human in the room he would have appeared calm, bored even. He is very good at covering his emotions, but to a vampire you can’t hide your physiological response. He knew what I was, and who I was. I knew instantly you didn’t compel him. What I wasn’t sure of was whether you didn’t do it and lied or couldn’t do it.”
“I couldn’t, trust me when I tell you I tried. I want him to forget. I want him safe!” I was almost yelling I was so adamant in my response.
“I know. I believe you now,” she said.
“Why didn’t you say anything to me sooner?”
“You just got here!” Ana yelled back at me.
“That was my call,” William started saying at the same time, “We already knew he hadn’t been compelled. The reason was the only thing missing. I wanted you to trust us enough to tell us the truth. We can’t work with someone that’s afraid of us or can’t be honest with us.”
“Well, what about now? Do you trust me again? Is this why you started acting indifferent toward me since this evening? Is that when Ana told you?”
He remained silent while looking at me before deciding to answer. He was uncharacteristically solemn tonight.
“Yeah, she called and told me right before you rose, and whether I trust you depends on why you’re telling us the truth about Christian. Why didn’t you say anything earlier?”
“Because I trusted you both with his life once, and I know I always can. I’m sorry I forgot that. I didn’t say anything last night because I was pissed off and let my emotions keep me from thinking, and tonight I was too distracted by you treating me so coldly.”
He eyed me for a moment trying to gauge the truth of my words before he finally softened his stance, just before responding he looked to Ana and she gave him a nod telling him I wasn’t lying.
“Yeah, I believe you, and we’ll do whatever we can to keep him safe again.”
“Great, so now what do we do?” I asked them.
“Now, we get you ready for New York. That means shopping and sparring.”
“Why sparring? I thought this was going to be like a business meeting or something.”
“Technically it will be, but lesson one for you is to always be prepared for the worst. You may be a naturally good fighter, but we need to pick it up a bit. Training starts today, you never can tell what you will be involved with especially when it comes to the Council. Everyone immediately underestimates you which you can always use to your advantage. Don’t let them know the full extent of your abilities, or Christian's either for that matter. Don’t let them know we’ve been training you for anything other than how to survive as a vampire.”
“It sounds like you’re starting a coup,” I told
They just stared back at me, expressionless. They didn’t give anything away as far as how they were feeling, I didn’t know if they were pissed, surprised, about to throw me out of the house. No clue whatsoever. The only thing I did know, and that was only because of the blood bond with Ana, was she wasn’t feeling surprised.
“We know this already Juliana. We couldn’t be sure of the extent that it didn’t work, but we knew Christian still knew of your existence, and mine as well,” Ana finally said at last.
“What! How did you know?” I jumped up to face them both.
“I went to see him last night after my shift was over. I told him I was a doctor on call and one of the nurses asked me to take a look at him. He did a great job of hiding his recognition of me outwardly, but his heart started racing the second he got a good look at me. When I nonchalantly mentioned you, and that I was sorry for his loss, he started to sweat, and his heart rate almost became erratic. To any human in the room he would have appeared calm, bored even. He is very good at covering his emotions, but to a vampire you can’t hide your physiological response. He knew what I was, and who I was. I knew instantly you didn’t compel him. What I wasn’t sure of was whether you didn’t do it and lied or couldn’t do it.”
“I couldn’t, trust me when I tell you I tried. I want him to forget. I want him safe!” I was almost yelling I was so adamant in my response.
“I know. I believe you now,” she said.
“Why didn’t you say anything to me sooner?”
“You just got here!” Ana yelled back at me.
“That was my call,” William started saying at the same time, “We already knew he hadn’t been compelled. The reason was the only thing missing. I wanted you to trust us enough to tell us the truth. We can’t work with someone that’s afraid of us or can’t be honest with us.”
“Well, what about now? Do you trust me again? Is this why you started acting indifferent toward me since this evening? Is that when Ana told you?”
He remained silent while looking at me before deciding to answer. He was uncharacteristically solemn tonight.
“Yeah, she called and told me right before you rose, and whether I trust you depends on why you’re telling us the truth about Christian. Why didn’t you say anything earlier?”
“Because I trusted you both with his life once, and I know I always can. I’m sorry I forgot that. I didn’t say anything last night because I was pissed off and let my emotions keep me from thinking, and tonight I was too distracted by you treating me so coldly.”
He eyed me for a moment trying to gauge the truth of my words before he finally softened his stance, just before responding he looked to Ana and she gave him a nod telling him I wasn’t lying.
“Yeah, I believe you, and we’ll do whatever we can to keep him safe again.”
“Great, so now what do we do?” I asked them.
“Now, we get you ready for New York. That means shopping and sparring.”
“Why sparring? I thought this was going to be like a business meeting or something.”
“Technically it will be, but lesson one for you is to always be prepared for the worst. You may be a naturally good fighter, but we need to pick it up a bit. Training starts today, you never can tell what you will be involved with especially when it comes to the Council. Everyone immediately underestimates you which you can always use to your advantage. Don’t let them know the full extent of your abilities, or Christian's either for that matter. Don’t let them know we’ve been training you for anything other than how to survive as a vampire.”
“It sounds like you’re starting a coup,” I told
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