Doe's POV:

I was so. Unbelievably. Sore.

I've been sore before after a night similar to last night's, but not like this.

Why the hell were my shoulders of all things sore?

Tearing myself out of an admittedly nice night's sleep and getting ready was easy compared to making my way to breakfast and sitting down while masking the fact that my legs were screaming at me.

I didn't need Khloe noticing and asking what had happened to me since she was supposedly the last one that I saw last night.

Or any of the other slaves here that always peeked as soon as I walked through the doors.

I noticed Austin among them and really didn't want him saying anything to me in general.

I think Lily noticed... or just had some weird intuition to give me the same herbal iced tea with breakfast the last time I mentioned that I was sore.

...I hoped she didn't know why.

Whatever. I enjoyed my tea and toast, chatting idly with Khloe and Nico.

Or just Khloe... Nico looked to be somewhere else. Mentally at least.

Actually, they were both a little off...

Oh my god did they get in a fight or something?

They were fine last night... What could they have fought about between then and now?

"Did Xander mention a time that he should be back?" Khloe spoke, snapping me out of my thoughts before they got too dramatic, "Since Nico couldn't give me a straight answer back when he was the one who was going to go."

Nico's eyes turned away from the door they'd been frequently checking, giving her a little smile that crushed my previous idea.

Thank god... but also why else are they being weird?

"He said around mid-afternoon. 3:30 to 4ish." I replied.

I hoped it was accurate, and after our little romp last night I wanted to really dig into how the trip went for him.

"How do you think he did- er, will do? I mean, was he nervous about it at all?"

I found her questions kind of sweet.

I think she may feel a little guilty that Nico pushed it onto him so suddenly.

"I don't think he really had... time to be nervous," I answered with an amused smile, "We didn't get to talk about it much since he had to hurry and pack, but I think he'll do fine."

I hoped.

I couldn't forget that tense expression he held when I asked about it last night.

It better go well or else I'm marching to that clan myself.

"Something like this is what he's been wanting so even though it was last minute, He was at least mentally prepared."

She nodded, taking another bite of her omelet.

My head rose at the sight of the doors opening, and the dude we'd been waiting for finally walking in to join us.

Who also just didn't look... right.

Marcus had been stressed lately, that much I knew, but this time it was different, and only worsened for a blink of an eye when he saw Nico.

Jeez, what was everybody's deal today?

Poor dude.

"Ayo Marcus hurry up and get over here!" I called out.

I couldn't handle all of my friends being weird.

Khloe turned to beckon him over, but he stayed put, and instead, it was Nico who rose from the table.

"Actually," Nico began in a tone I'd heard before, and it wasn't a great one. It wasn't one that sounded threatening by itself, but I'd heard it enough to know that he wasn't pleased, "Marcus and I need to discuss something."

Marcus what the hell did you do!?

I just watched, confused while he and Khloe exchanged goodbyes, and he and Marcus left after exchanging some words I didn't catch.

My confusion felt a little more justified when Khloe turned her head with a soft sigh and an unmistakable look of distress in her eyes.

I leaned my head forward.

"What the hell was that about?" I asked, somewhat hushed.

"I don't know," She sighed out again, the look in her eyes getting mirrored in her voice.

Oh crap, she was like... Distressed Distressed.

"Something... happened last night" She spilled, keeping her voice low just in case.

"Last night?" I repeated, feeling nerves sink deep into my gut.

I was with them most of last night, and the only other memorable thing was...

"It was after you left," She quickly assured, nudging her plate to the side and folding her arms on the table, "At like... 3ish."

Okay, Xander was long gone by then.

"I don't even know, someone tried coming into our room, and Nico got up and chased them down," She paused, eyes furrowing, "He was gone for... a while. Too long to be normal, but then he just came back and acted like everything was fine."

"Did he tell you what it was? Who else could have access to your door?"

If someone tried coming into our room and Xander went after them, he better at least come back with a good story.

She shook her head.

"He said that it was a mix-up with the cleaning crew." She muttered, her shoulders stopping with her eyes to the table, "And while that makes sense with the door, why was he gone for so long?"

She's right, that answer didn't make sense.

"You think he's lying to you?"

I would If I got that answer.

Her eyes saddened to an extent that made me want to take my words back.

"I hope not," She said with a palatable ache to her words, "He's just been a little off ever since. Even insisting that I stick with you today until Xander gets back so he can sort some things out."

I mean, that was my plan as well unless they were gonna do something else, but that didn't clear her previous worries.

And now I really wanted to stay by her side and help her with this.

"Have you asked him- or like pressed him any further?"

Her lips formed a thin line, glancing more to the side.

"No. Not yet at least, I just don't want to sound accusatory or anything."

Accusatory? For Nico's probably lie?

Had Xander tried something like that with me, he'd never hear the end of it.

I almost voiced that, but something hit me before I could.

The realization that Khloe wasn't me, and Nico wasn't Xander.

And everyone handles things the way it works for them.

Khloe knew Nico better than I did, and I'm pretty sure their relationship was vastly different than mine.

She was already visibly upset, so maybe now wasn't a time to start offering solutions and instead just offer comfort.

"Well, maybe just give it a sec. If it's something that includes Marcus then it's probably something minuscule with the staff or something that he doesn't wanna bother you with."

"Maybe," her reply lacked confidence.

A saddened silence overcame us as the topic seemed to have come to an end.

I glanced to the kitchen, for an idea.

"Do you wanna come see if Lily can teach us how to make something in the meantime?"

Maybe for now she just needs a distraction.

She lifted her head to the woman in question.

"Yeah alright. That sounds fun."

~~~

I carefully closed the door to Nico and Khloe's room, making my way back to mine.

Khloe had lightened up a bit thank god. Enough to when Nico returned to 'keep an eye' on us, she didn't look as down in the dumps.

At around 3:45, Nico got a call stating that Xander had arrived back and I took that as my cue.

My quick steps turned giddy despite my sore legs, excited to be one of those girlfriends that sits him down and massages his scalp while he tells me about his trip.

It was the only thing on my mind, which made the sudden interruption that much more shocking.

"Doe!" My name got called out by a voice that didn't register at first as familiar.

My steps faltered, but I kept on, just turning my head to see the boy that was now jogging to catch up with me.

My chest tightened in annoyance at the intrusion of him in my very lovely plans.

Austin.

He got to my side relatively fast

"What's up?" He asked as if he wasn't the one who started this interaction.

"I'm going back to my room," I told, quickening my steps.

"Ah, Nice," He began, "Word finally got to me that your master was out."

Master. I'll never get used to that.

"Mhm. Not for long though."

"Is that right," He hummed out a sound of disappointment, "seems like I can't get in a good moment with you alone because of him."

I didn't like the accusation, like Xander was the bad guy here.

I also didn't like how suddenly alone I felt in these halls.

It was just us from what I could see.

"Actually," I found myself freezing under the sudden hard grip on my upper arm, pulling me to a stop.

And pulling with it memories I thought by now were gone.

I turned and shot him a glare I wished would burn a hole through him.

And absolutely hated the way that he responded with an amused smile.

"Hey now, no need to get angry," He cooed, "I just wanna talk for a sec. I have been for a while now, but we just keep getting interrupted. Now just feels like the perfect time. I'm not busy, the Prince isn't here. It all works out."

What the hell was this guy talking about?

My thoughts must have been written on my face.

"Ah, right, you pets and your lack of understanding about how these things work," he let out a little chuckle that only added to my frustration, "Look, Doe, I've tried to be cordial. I've tried getting a moment with you to make this come off how I've wanted, but the timing is just never right and I'm losing my patience."

That smile of his kept looking more and more feigned with the edge his voice was slowly adopting.

I staggered the moment he began to push, finding my back against the wall and him now blocking my front.

I was nearly surprised by the fact that I didn't feel threatened, just absurdly annoyed by his actions.

His hand rose, and despite the way I leaned my head away, he pinched a lock of hair between two fingers.

Eyes met mine from above, looking at me like I was a freshly caught meal.

And where that kind of look once frightened me, now I felt nothing of the sort.

Does he not understand how easily I could just lift my knee into his junk?

I'd probably find his stupidity laughable if it wasn't currently keeping me from seeing Xander.

"I think you're gorgeous, and I'd like a moment to see just how far that beauty goes."

I say nothing, my mind instead wandering to more amusing routes like me headbutting his nose or Xander just ironically turning the corner right now.

And yet he kept talking.

"It's hard in this industry to find a pretty girl like this. The heir's isn't my type, but you, I'd make a time with you one to remember."

My eyes narrowed further at the off-handed mention of Khloe.

"What the hell are you talking about," I made sure my annoyance could be heard, but his stupidity might have negated my attempts.

Another one of those odd... piteous laughs.

"I'm talking about sex, Doe. I'm sure you've heard of it. You and me. I could find us a room in a heartbeat."

I grimaced, absolutely disgusted in more ways than one.

"Yeah, no thanks," I said, pushing to get off of the wall, but he held me there and the knee to the junk option became wildly more appealing.

"Think about it," He spoke in haste, more and more of that cheery tone slipping, "It's not often that our kind gets a chance to experience these kinds of pleasures. It's only human after all. Don't you wanna know what it's like?"

Why was he trying so hard to sell this?

"I know what it's like. Believe me, I get plenty," I deadpanned.

The soreness of the arm he was squeezing was more proof than he deserved to know about.

Confusion, then realization crossed his face, and I didn't look long enough to see what came next.

This time I was successful in pulling free and restarting my journey to my destination with a heated stomp.

I got all of about seven steps before I felt another aggravating hold on my shoulder, tugging me back.

"So you'll whore out for a vampire, but not your own kind?!" he barked.

His words caused me to freeze, blindingly hot anger setting fire in my veins.

I'm not sure what it was. The accusations, the assumptions, the blatant disrespect for me and my friends, but I snapped.

All I processed were nails stinging my palms before I turned and my closed fist connected hard with his face.

He stumbled backward, falling down onto his ass.

A hand covered his mouth, both eyes squeezed shut.

I waited till they were open, ignoring the dull ache and stinging pain in my fist.

"I don't know where you find the fucking audacity to talk so much shit about something you know nothing about," I hissed.

The confusion mixed with the shock on his face only aggravated me more, but I turned.

I had to force myself to.

Even as the anger piled and pounded against me, I couldn't deal with it all here.

As much as I wanted to I didn't want to start a physical fight that I wasn't confident it was one that I could win.

I needed something else. I needed Xander.

My feet rushed to the known route, his face being the only thing on my mind to distract me from blowing a fuze.

I glanced down at my hand, noticing the split in the skin spilling over with blood between my knuckle.

What the hell did I cut myself on? A tooth?

If that's the case I hope I knocked it out and he swallowed it.

Something hard hit the side of my body as I turned, leaving me to catch myself and glare at whoever l'd just run int-

Marcus...

"Shit I'm sorry-, "He quickly analyzed me, the concern I had for him earlier today now clear as day on him, "Doe...What happened to yo-"

He glanced passed me, down at the boy who was still on his ass.

I didn't say anything.

I wanted to, but I couldn't, not without blowing up on him too and that wasn't what I wanted, I just kept walking, hoping and praying that he was really home so he could help me deal with this.

Lucky for me, his face was the first thing to greet me when I opened our door.