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Walking Among Vampires by K. A. Young.
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◇ Nova◇
It was the most uneasy sleep I'd ever had, though the room was luxurious and beautiful, it didn't provide the safety that the underground bunker had all my life. My parents were my guardians and now, I had to put my life in the hands of Korbyn, not that I didn't think he could protect me, but I feared that other vampires wouldn't take so kindly to my presence.
The first rays of light beamed down through the window panes, between the small sliver of a part in the curtains. My eyes opened slowly, my death grip releasing on the top of the covers. It appeared I had been just afraid in my sleep that I had when I was awake. The small stream of light broke through the darkness of the room, my eyes blinking away the sleep and pushing myself up from the bed.
The clothing I had found in the wardrobe fit relatively well, the white long sleeved turtle neck had kept me warm beneath the veil of soft plush covers. Long black yoga pants clothed my legs, my feet bare and cold as soon as they came in contact with the floor. My light brown hair was in knots, gliding my hands through it as I walked toward the curtains. The attempt to untangle my hair had not gone so well, if anything, I had created more problems for myself later.
Maybe a shower will help.
Letting go of my hair, I reached my right hand out to the curtain, taking hold of the fabric and slowly drawing it back. I was instantly bathed it a warm glow, the full beauty and majesty that the sun is, shone down on me. I'd never been so relieved to see the day; afraid it really would have been my last night on Earth staying the night in Korbyn's home.
Oh no, my parents must be sick with worry...probably wondering where I am and if I was even still alive. I didn't mean to cause them any pain or worry, but I knew they were feeling the loss of me not coming home before the sun set last night.
Maybe I can go see them today and let them know I am okay. Who am I kidding, they'd never let me leave the underground bunker, ever again. I'd remain not only sheltered and protected from the world, but also a prisoner to it as well. My one real hope I had, was seeing what would unfold, residing here with the vampire prince. He brought out feelings in me I didn't know I had and I didn't quite understand what they were either. There was a sense of over whelming power that came from him, making me fear it and at the same time, knowing he would protect me.
I had just noticed that the room Korbyn had let me use, overlooked the secluded garden, smiling at how radiant everything looked just as the sun was rising over the forest. That was so kind of him, giving me such a beautiful view to wake up to.
My right hand released the curtain, the sun streaming onto the bed and giving the room ample light without the giant electrical fixture being turned on. It was something so precious to me, but Korbyn could use this electricity anytime he liked, without having a single worry that it might go out and never come back again. These vampires have everything and nothing at the same time. They don't know that everything they possess is truly special and is more than likely taken for granted.
Sighing, I walked toward the bathroom door, pushing it open and reaching my hand around to the light switch...now that I knew where it was. God, his little sister had made me feel so stupid, that I should have known better. She thinks I'm acting...it's not my fault I wasn't born into a life of lavish luxury. I bet she's never had to go without anything in life, having everything handed to her at the snap of her fingers.
If only she knew, what it truly meant to live with little to nothing, maybe then she wouldn't be so self-righteous. One could only hope.
It was a relief to know that I wouldn't have to go down to the nearby stream near the underground bunker in order to bath. Running water was something we had only when I was a child, learning to just deal with the hand we had been dealt. I couldn't say, I wasn't going to enjoy having water coming from a shower instead of wondering if someone would see me naked in the woods.
I lifted the turtle neck over my head, sliding my yoga pants off along with my white cotton underwear, my body instantly feeling the cold of the room. Shivering, I moved to the glass door and slid it back, revealing just how generous the shower was. It could probably fit my family twice...not just once. I stepped over the small barrier, my feet touching the dark red tiles.
It had been so long since I'd been in a shower and the two handles on the tiled wall had me perplexed as to which one I should turn on. Would it matter? Is one a secret trap door? I shut the frosty glass door behind me, trying to relax and keep the bad thoughts away about his sister and how she was planning to kill me.
I shrugged my shoulders and took hold of the left one, slowly turning it on. The cold water cascaded down my body, the feeling was relaxing, the water quickly soaking my hair. It was refreshing, lifting my hair up and feeling the water beat down against the back of my neck, releasing the pressure of how tense my muscles were. Who knew fear could make your body so sore?
With my back to the shower head, the water running down over my shoulders, the coolness slowly began to change, warmth replacing the soothing water that ricocheted off my body, water droplets splashing the shower walls.
"Oh wow...warm water," my voice was lost to the sound of the water, my body loving and accepting this wondrous feeling. If we heated water over a fire, then we could have a very brief, but vivid "shower", but standing under the water in this moment in time, it appeared to never run out. The steam lifted away from my skin, swirling into a small cloud at the top of the shower ceiling.
In an instant, it went from warm to excruciatingly hot and I screamed loud, jumping away from the waterfall coming from the shower head. The water had burned the skin on my right arm, my scream turned into a soft cry.
Evil shower...you had me fooled you were good.
I tried to reach for the handle, but the water was in the way. Trapped between the wall and the steady stream of lava water. This is ridiculous, I need to get out of here. I attempted to move my hand through the water, only to scream once again, the tears filling in my eyes as I withdrew my hand away.
I barely heard the sound of the door opening, Korbyn's voice frantically calling, "Nova?!"
He probably assumed someone was hurting me, not that I couldn't figure out how to use a stupid shower. I stifled my cry, but he heard the small sound of a sob I couldn't hold back, escape my lips and slid the glass door open.
"Nova?" His eyes scanned the shower, finally resting on me as I coward by the wall. He quickly averted his eyes, reaching out under the pocket of water and gripped the left handle, turning it and the sound of the running water came to a standstill.
Embarrassed, I wrapped my left arm around the front of my chest, hiding myself away from him in any way I could. He had ducked around the sliding glass door, and when he appeared in the opening of the door, his eyes were lifted to the ceiling, his right hand reaching out and holding the ebony towel out for me. I stepped quickly toward him, taking the offering and quickly wrapping the fuzzy soft towel around my cold and exposed body. Once it was secured into place, I cradled my right arm in my left, my eyes drifting to the dark red skin that had been struck by the searing water.
"Butterfly?" Korbyn's voice startled me.
I whispered, "I'm covered..."
At the sound of my response, his captivating sapphire eyes locked onto me, the look of confusion on his face once again, made me feel stupid, like I should have known better.
"Are you okay?" His voice was soft, reassuring me it was okay to speak with him and that he wouldn't treat me the same way Bronwyn had.
"No," I replied, "The water burnt me...I didn't know it could get that hot." Guess I know why there are two handles now. I mentally slapped myself for not even having that thought cross my mind.
Korbyn, held his hand out, waiting for me to show him the damage. I hesitantly reached my arm out, allowing the touch of his cool fingers to trace over it, while my arm rested in his other hand. His dark hair shrouded his features, his attention completely on the burn.
"It doesn't look too bad," he lifted his face, his eyes staring into mine, "I'm sorry, I should have known that you might not have known about the water heater. There are two handles," he pointed to the left one, "You now know that one is for the hot water," pointing to the right one he stated, "You'll find cool water comes from that one and between the two you can get the perfect temperature."
"Why are they designed that way?" I asked, he absentmindedly rubbed the pad of his thumb against the skin away from my burn, my heart fluttering for a moment.
Korbyn noticed this, releasing my arm from his hands and running his right hand through his hair, "Most individuals are right handed, so in an emergency, our instincts is to use that hand first, so that is why the cold water handle is already within our reach, knowing we'll grab that one first."
"I'm stupid," I sighed, shaking my head as my cheeks flushed.
Korbyn smiled, "Butterfly, I'm sure you'll show me just how naive I am about how humans really are. I'm looking forward to our private sessions..."
Until next time! <3