"You've finally arrived, Charles." 

Mariella Cosworth, the only other Vampire I knew in London, or in England for that matter.

We grew close as friends over the years, and sometimes... almost rarely, she visits and we talk about life, to keep our humanity alive.

"I didn't think I'd see you so early in the day." I hum out, closing the door behind me.

Looking at her- if Eloise had saw her dressed as she was, there's no doubt in my mind that she would get the wrong idea about her visit, and even though she was a very beautiful woman, she had a certain taste for... clothing.

Or simply not wearing any.

In my time, she'd what we'd call 'fallen women', a loose woman with loose morals, despite her once higher statue in society, she was certainly living how she wanted, still without a care.

"Would you please put something on." I grab the nearest piece of cloth and throw it at her, then walk over to sit behind my easel.

She snickers then shrugs as she gets up from her laying position of the sofa. "You're so boring Charles, you must try and lighten up."

"What has you in such a mood, you can tell me you know." Her voice turned sultry as I shot her a look of disapproval as I picked up a paint brush.

"It wouldn't have to do with that sweet little bird I saw leaving a few moments ago?" She asked with a smirk, making me glare at her.

What did she just.. say?

She saw her leave, how could I be so foolish to not assume that Mariella would notice her here? 

Her scent had filled the halls of my home, making her incredibly difficult to ignore, Mariella must've noticed the moment that she stepped inside my halls.

I drop the paint brush and stand up and look down at her, a damning thought crossing my mind that would keep Eloise from her gaze... even if she was the only vampire I knew, Eloise was mine.

"The human is under my protection, she's not to be touched." I spoke deadly silent, not tearing my eyes away from hers as they widen.

She puts her right hand up and rolls her eyes. "I won't touch her, she's not exactly my type Charles."

I scoff out turn my back to her. "Everyone is your type, but not her."

"You don't even look at her, am I clear?" I nap my eyes to her and she sighs out, but nods her head nonetheless.

"Fine, fine, just shut up already." She gets up from the sofa and starts slipping her red silk dress back on. "You're worser than my dear departed daddy, he was always such a bastard."

Her eyes go to mine, then she smiles. "Just kidding, you're nothing like him." 

"So who is she, a pet?" 

I give her a warning look, making her look away and grin, disliking the nickname 'pet' the moment it left her mouth.

Eloise wasn't anything of the sorts, I wasn't going to harm her, nor use her in any way, in fact I didn't know what I was doing or what the plan was, everything was going oddly not my way for the first time.

Yet, despite Mariella feeding on humans, I trusted her to keep her word and not touch Eloise, she would have way too much to lose going against me.

"She's William Ruthenvolt's daughter." I said, continuing my painting.

"HA!" She laughed out. "That is just beautiful, oh my."

"You like her... how deeply entertaining my day is turning out to be!" She cackles, as my jaw clenches at her rude behavior.

I knew I probably should've not brought her up. "I think the poor girl would disagree with you."

"Indeed." She smirked, coming to stand behind me.

"But..." She places her hands on my shoulders as they slow travel down the front of my top and undo the buttons of my shirt, making me turn my head to see what she was playing at.

"This girl... do you plan on telling her our little secret?" She asks slowly, making me grab her hand to stop her reaching further.

"Our relationship isn't like that." I button my shirt back up, at-least not yet I thought in my head.

"Then out with it!" She crosses her arms. "What is she to you?"

Eloise Anderby, what was the word she used earlier?

'Dating' 

Right, that was it. "We're dating."

Mariella had never looked so stunned in all the years that I had known her, and all those years we had known each other, not once had I brought up the words to her, nor anyone else for that matter, which is what made this so interesting to see.

Her reaction was exactly how I imagined it.

"Wha-Wh... d-d-dating!?" She stuttered out, taking a step back. "Charles- that's-"

I cannot paint under these conditions, which was now starting to agitate more than I thought it would, I put the brush down and get up from my seat and move past Mariella, who was still looking at me with a perplexed expression on her face.

"You heard me, we're dating and going to start seeing each other more." I looked back at her, my eyes hard.

"That's all you're getting, now drop the subject." 

Finally, silence filled the room as Mariella closed her mouth and looked away, her eyes focusing on the canvas I had been working on for the past few days, not needing to ask what she's thinking as her face is telling me all that I needed to know.

She thinks I'm being foolish, perhaps I am, a part of me knows it, but a big part is really just exhausted of being miserable, and being around her makes me feel anything but miserable, so why not?

If it's just her then... I can control the outcome, as long as nobody else finds out.

"This will end badly Charles, you do know that you can't protect her forever." She turns and faces me, her face stoic as I stare at her.

"I know." I knew that much, there were other vampires, there was a system... one I wanted to steer clear from.

"You're a fool for someone whose so damn smart, the sooner you get bored of her the better." She sighed heavily before sitting herself back on the sofa in the corner of the room.

"Our lives are already miserable enough, I don't want them poking their nose into my business either, just because you're my patron."

Her words hit me with some hard questions, ones I wasn't ready to face, knowing that I already know how dull life was without her in it, and the thought of her no longer here would surely make it worse.

Bored... 

I never once thought her boring.

Although she has some points, having them interfere in our lives could cause problems, some irritation but most of all, disruption, especially since last time when I turned down a job.

The Vampire council, they were only made up out of five of the most oldest vampires in Europe, but from what I know and heard, Vampire's simply refereed to them as 'The Elite council'.

 What a bloody joke, even for me, I detested the government when I was alive, and I detest it still even when I'm dead- although they didn't see it that way, they saw it as a threat- a warning.

Keeping Eloise away from them is my best option, if they found out about her then they would finally have something to use against me, to force me to join them.

I'd kill them before they laid a finger on her. "They won't find out, as long as you keep your mouth shut."

Mariella scoffs. "You're my oldest friend, I may be a blonde but I'm no fool Charles, I do value my life, or what is left of it." She said sarcastically.

"I'm just warning you, it is simply forbidden."

This is turning into quite the depressive visit, it was starting to dread of my mood, any moment more and I'm going to become increasingly annoyed, I needed to get out of this conversation.

"Do you still have that painting I gave you, in 1892?" I ask, causing her to look at me confused.

"Yes, somewhere in storage I suppose." She mumbles out, thinking. "Why?"

"Eloise has put a charity together for children in need, I'm donating a piece from my collection, I'd appreciate it if you would also do the same." I simply said, making her brows raise.

"For the children." I said, making her scoff.

"Eloise huh." There was a pause before she turned and looked at me, defeat in her eyes.

"I'll get my assistant right on it, just don't expect me to come." She huffs out, making me sigh, knowing how she was feeling, given I knew all about her and her history.

Especially with children.

"I wouldn't dream on it." I walked over to her and sat down next to her, making her shift in her seat.

"It's been many years since you've spoken so casually with me, I'm beginning to think you've gone soft on me, Lady Cosworth." 

Turning her gaze, her crimson lipstick spreads as she grins widely at me, her bright blue eyes shining in the darkened room, she leans her chin on the palm of her hand and scoffs.

"I could say the same to you, Charles."