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“Are we not monsters?” Klaus groaned as he shook his head in disgust. His age was unknown but he still followed the rules of sleeping through the day. He shunned the light and asked that all electric lights be removed before he entered the room. He was a fan of Jean Lafitte’s and the shun of electricity. It was little wonder that he lived in the California desert. He wore a dark suit now, the cane was not for show. He had battled with a slayer once and lost his Achilles tendon, yes there were some things that could still harm us. He had aged since the attack and now wore his hair gray and short. His skin was like leather from the desert air,

“Monsters! Ha…you’re father is a monster. Oh yes, don’t be so shocked my dear. We know all…his blood is my blood.” He gestured to me now as he smiled. It was a lie, the blood in his veins was my own. It was a fog in my memory but yes he was my sire. I smiled knowingly as he looked away.

“I didn’t ask for this…he obviously was still in love with her. I just cut out the competition,” she said in a low voice. He shook his head,

“Then you will always be in an epic battle with the women he keeps. Don’t look so shocked my dear. Be honest with her, Rent.” I stepped out of the shadows as I looked into her face,

“It’s true. I’ve been seeing other people.”

“How many?” Her voice was strained as she fought back tears. I felt a brick in my stomach as I replied,

“It wouldn’t be fair to put a number to it.” I was lying and she was breaking before me. I watched as the large hands from his people settled on her. She let out a scream as she slipped from the chair. I stepped forward as Klaus gripped my arm,

“Let her go to the Box for a time. It will rid her of this ridiculous obsession with the women you keep. She has to learn that you are her master.” I settled as I watched them drag her from the room and out the door. I had never known anyone to be banished from our clan. It ached to even call them my own. Octavius and I had roamed for so long that we had never considered ourselves apart of any family. It had been Klaus’ idea to form one for safety.

“We’re not being too hard on her, are we?” Klaus laughed as he shook his head once more,

“No, have you forgotten how things went with Samara?” I covered my face as I looked away,

“I was hoping everyone would forget.” He shifted his weight on his cane as he frowned,

“You know I could take care of this for you. I mean you have been asleep a long time. You really were not in your right frame of mind.”

“Klaus, I think I’ve lied enough tonight. I need to sleep, you’re more than welcome…” I watched as he had already started down the hallway to the guest room. He stopped as he entered the room and looked back,

“Goodnight, Rent.”

I went to bed but could not sleep. I could feel her pain in the night as she was bound and shoved into a casket. The lid nailed down shut as she was lowered into the ground. Her cries had grown silent as they dropped the weight of another casket onto hers then began to shovel dirt into the plot. She was not in any cemetery I knew. In New Orleans everyone was buried above ground. I had a family crypt in one of the St. Louis cemeteries. I had forgotten since I rarely slept there. It seemed a little too grim to sleep amongst the dead when I didn’t know anyone that still slept there. It was unusually quiet even in the city.

“Rent, I don’t know where I am,” her voice pounded in my head. She was somewhere cold, I could feel ice all around her. The air floated from her mouth as she tried to move within the casket. Her bindings were tight against her skin.

“I didn’t think it was important to tell you about my father. He was never close to us. Please save me…I don’t want to be here…” I lay in bed staring into the darkness as I heard her cries. I placed a pillow over my face and pressed down. Damn her. I regretted making the call to Klaus. I regretted spending more time with everyone but her.

“Go to sleep, Aerin. They will let you out soon.” Her cries seem to fade and I was beginning to fall asleep when I heard her voice,

“If you think I will forgive you for this, you’re wrong.”

I didn’t sleep that night.

I had given up my favorite place to now stand at the old levee near Yasmine’s old dorm. It was hard to believe everything we had loved had washed away. There was still a large part of me that regretted now bringing her over even now. I shielded my eyes from the sun as I placed my sunglasses on. I could see a couple running along the lakefront and chatting. I turned away from them and headed back to my car. It was late in the morning and I had not rested. I had been consumed through the night with Aerin’s voice that I lost sleep. I feared that it would come to a point when I would have to ask Klaus to sever her thoughts from my own. He would gladly do anything I asked at this point. I knew no love was lost with Samara or anyone I had brought over.

“Why do you bother with them?”

“I wear my heart on my sleeve.” He had smiled his toothy grin as he refused my offer of bottled blood,

“I’m sorry but I’m a little old fashioned when it comes to the hunt.” I could see a flutter of life and knew that deep in his heart there was still a thrill in taking a victim. I would have to tell the others to lie low for a few nights now that Klaus was in town.

“I don’t discriminate, if anyone has a belly full of blood; I no doubt will be feasting from them as well.”

“I hear you loud and clear,” I said with a laugh. I had ducked out while he rested now. I found it thrilling his coffin was in my guest room even now. I was glad I had not hired a cleaning lady because I wasn’t sure how I would explain that one. I leaned against my car as I stood a moment staring at the lake and fighting thoughts of Yasmine. I recalled what Chloe had said to Aerin not long ago and had to applaud her. There would never be anyone to outshine Yasmine. I climbed into my car and headed back into town. I would be indulging in carbs and sugar this very morning.

“It disgusts me that he eats their food even now.” I found Klaus and Octavius going through my fridge. They opened take out containers then frowned when they found food,

“Ugh…oh wait…this looks like a blood pudding!” Octavius dipped his finger into the sauce as he gagged,

“No, it’s barbeque sauce!” Klaus tossed the container in the trash as he looked up,

“You cannot possibly enjoy this crap.”

“I refuse to subsist on blood and yes I enjoy it. I am sorry that the lot of you cannot ingest a real meal.”

“I still believe that you pissed off you know who and have been stuck on earth since.”

“Well I hate to break it to you but I’m not religious and I’d think he would have squashed me a long while ago if that was the case.” Octavius looked up to the sky as he said,

“I’m sure there is a bolt of lightning with your name on it.” I managed a laugh as I noticed most of my fridge as in the garbage.

“Uh, you do know I recycle most of this stuff.” They looked at one another as they laughed,

“You are a hoot,” said Klaus, “next you’ll tell me you’re afraid of global warming.”

“As much as I love you both I really don’t want it to just be us for another thousand years.” Octavius groaned as he replied,

“That would be a damn shame especially since the whole damn place would go dark. I mean do you know how to keep a power plant running?” Klaus shook his head,

“I made shoes in my human time.”

“Great…looks like we’re bringing an electrician over before the whole damn place goes down. Can they at least be female?” They looked at me once again as they shook their head quickly,

“Have you not learned anything in the last twenty-four hours?”

“You know me…I have them already lined down the block,” I said with a laugh.

“Don’t force me to break this Styrofoam,” said Klaus holding a take out container in front of me. Without thinking I reached out and grabbed him. I held him tight as I felt myself unravel in his arms. He held onto me as he handed his cane to Octavius.

“Hey there, it’s going to be fine. This will all be like a dream after awhile. I know it hurts, Rent. Do you want me to take care of her?” I knew he would end her short time as a vampire if I asked. I groaned as I backed away from him. Already I was feeling wrong for having shown this much emotion.

“It would be selfish to do that. I did this to her. Any fledgling would have done it.” Octavius interrupted as he went to the intercom that had come to life. Klaus reached out as he touched my forehead,

“You know you mean a lot to me. I will do whatever you want.” I nodded as I crossed my arms. I stared at his pale arms as I replied,

“You know you are strong enough to walk in the sun, Klaus.” He nodded as he compared his arm to my tanned bicep. He smiled as he replied,

“It seems wrong to mislead people into thinking I’m like them when I really want to rip their throats open.”

“I think most of Los Angeles is like you,” I said with a laugh. I turned to see Octavius standing at the kitchen doorway.

“Aerin’s sister is here. She wants to see her sister.”

“Tell her to it’s going to be a long plane ride,” snapped Klaus as he took his cane and headed for the foyer. I could see the redhead wearing a green terry cloth track suit waiting patiently as I followed. She beamed when she laid her eyes on me but looked at Klaus with a bit of unease,

“Is Aerin here?”

“No, she went out with friends to dinner.” Lie. She nodded as she looked to the parlor then back to me,

“Is it alright if I wait here?” She looked to Klaus as he sucked his breath in then headed off into the house. I knew in his heart that if this were his home, she would be dinner.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea.” I glanced to Octavius as he stared at her.

“Is something going on here? I mean is she in some kind of trouble?” I shook my head as I stepped closer to her,

“I’ll call you when she gets home. Go back to your hotel. Everything is fine here.” She was staring into my eyes as her eyes glazed over for a moment then cleared as she nodded,

“Um sure, I’ll do that.” She turned away slowly then headed for the door. She looked back at us then said,

“You know my dad tried that trick on us all our life and it never worked. I’m not sure what game your playing, Rent, but I will find out. I’m sure you’ll want to remedy this before my dad comes around here.” And with that the door was shoved closed by Marc. He looked at us all then said,

“Was that a threat? That sounded like a threat.” I felt it in my bones that Carter would not be thrilled his daughter was spending time in a coffin somewhere up North.

“Oh stop being a baby, she’s going to be more than fine. Carter will be happy and everything will return to normal.” I looked to Klaus as he wiped his mouth then shrugged,

“I couldn’t pass up a good meal.”

“Who was in my living room?” Octavius inhaled the air as he groaned,

“Did you kill her sister?” Klaus stopped as he cursed,

“That was her sister? Carter’s daughter? Well, I guess this visit has been great but I think it’s time I head home.” I looked to Octavius as I cursed inwardly,

“This is not good.”

“Do you want me to take care of Aerin?” I shook my head,

“Just get her out of that coffin for god’s sake.” He nodded quickly as he began to retreat from the house.

6.

I stood on the corner of Coliseum with Nina on my arm as we crossed the street. The air was cool as summer was now fading away. I looked at her as she smiled at me. It felt wrong to be this happy with her. I thought about Aerin lying in a coffin somewhere far away seething in her anger toward me.

“What are you thinking about?” I shrugged as I looked into her green eyes and replied,

“I was thinking about Aerin.” She nodded as I had recently come clean and explained as much as she could comprehend.

“Well hey, that’s good that you’re letting yourself think about her. It’s good to make amends with everything that happened.” I nodded as we followed the tour into the house open for the public.

“I heard this place was for sell.” I looked to the tour guide as he smiled and nodded.

“That’s correct, oh Mr. Tres! How wonderful you stopped by. Is the house on Harmony ever going to join the list of houses to tour?” I laughed as I took in his round face and receding hairline, he wore thick glasses and I knew this was the highlight of his otherwise quiet life as a realtor.

“Actually I was thinking of putting the house up on the market. I think it might be too big for me.”

“Let me guess, not enough parties for that ballroom?” I nodded as I smiled,

“You got me! This house is actually more to my liking. I wasn’t thrilled with the fact that the Dumas family felt it only necessary to have two bedrooms.”

“I agree although I do love the enormous closet in the master bedroom. Mrs. Dumas really loved her shoe collection.” I was aware of her love as I had found old Polaroid pictures in the drawers of her shoes. I was also aware that the tour guide named Ted was a fan as he was staring at Nina’s red heels.

“Uh yeah, so are you the one to talk to about this place?” He shook his head as he handed me a business card,

“You’ll want to call my brother David, he’s handling the sale. The previous owner was just fed up with the city and the repairs after the hurricane.” I looked around the manicured yard then to the house; which was in no great disrepair.