"Having been given so much, we reason, how could we expect not to be brought as low as Lucifer for the staggering presumption of our love?"
Stephen King
***
It was evening when Abbi started to get tremendously bored and uncomfortable.
They had sat in his room while the sun swelled and sunk into the horizon, he reading to her and she sprawled across his bed, drunk in each other's company. His smooth low voice was the sweetest of lullabies, she wanted to lose herself in each syllable, but Abigail tried not to think this way. Listening intently to the story, Abbi tried not to admire Nate from afar, to not focus on unrequited romance or trysts. Unfortunately, the book was a romance, a romance at it's finest.
Already, the "L" word had been mentioned seven times, and couple in question were now exchanging it once again as they blinked into each others ungodly stares. Or so Nathaniel had read.
She was starting to get uneasy. Whether it was the feeling of love that had squashed her spirits, or the fact that Nathaniel wasn't looking at the page when he said; I want to spend eternity with you, our love is undiminished and pure, and nothing could make me happier than to love you. His eyes were, instead, focused solely on Abigail.
She sat up on the bed, running a hand through her hair as she looked anywhere but his face and his burning gaze.
"Nate," said Abbi, sounding impatient, "Can we do something that doesn't require strong emotions? I have the sudden urge to stab someone."
Nathaniel cocked his head and set the book down, eyeing her up and down and ultimately making her squirm.
"Well, I could try and find a big enough knife to suite your needs, but I do have to ask, who do you plan on stabbing?"
Abbi sighed, closing her eyes for briefly. She thought about it for a moment then responded with a dramatic sweep of her hand. "Society."
Nate cracked a smile, the act making his eyes ignite like blue fire."Oh. How nice." He said, most likely to humor her.
Abbi sat back down, ignoring his pleading eyes for her to join him on the floor. Ever since her confrontation with Alexander, plagued thoughts had weighed down her mind, and she didn't want to be caught near him.
"Is something bothering you?" Nathaniel asked, his tone comforting, yet overly curious.
She shrugged innocently. "No, why would you think that?"
He rolled his eyes pointedly, and rubbed his chin. "Well, it was just a guess, considering that you want to stab someone with a considerably large knife and you're not interested in the literature I'm so gratefully reading to you."
It was her turn to look him over, her eyes trailing over the expression on his face. "First of all," Abbi started, her voice disgruntled, "it was your idea to use the considerably large knife. Secondly, I am not that interested in romantic literature." That was a lie, and he knew it; any romantic novel was her favorite.
Nathaniel gave her a demeaning glare at the excuses."Is it what my father said to you? Is that what's bothering you? Why you locked yourself in the bathroom?"
Abbi blinked, his bombardment of questions catching her off guard. She opened her mouth but nothing came out, and so, Abbi sat there like an idiot before Nathaniel stood up started toward her.
"Abigail," Forgetting how fast he moved, Abbi didn't know how to react when suddenly, he was standing in front of her.
With the back side of his hand, he brushed the side of her face, letting his fingers linger underneath her jaw. The brought a wave of heat in it's wake.
Abbi jerked her head away and ducked under the space beneath his arm, her back rigid. She turned around, shooting daggers at him. "Please Nathaniel, get a hold of yourself." Her tone was like a blade of ice; cold and sharp.
She didn't want to face the look in his eyes, so swiveling back toward the door, she watched a nearby point on the wall.
"I ... don't understand ..." He said, confusion lacing over the hurt.
She turned back to him once more, raising her eyebrows. "What don't you understand?"
"Us." Nathaniel said firmly, his eyes leeching her own of any emotion she was trying to keep hidden. It hurt her far beyond anything else to see him so helpless but the alternative was much worse, in her own eyes, and she would rather loathe in her own pity than never see his eyes again. "I thought-"
Abbi raised a hand and stopped him. This was going too far for her own liking. "I don't know what you thought, but whatever it was, you probably deluded yourself into thinking it was the truth." He opened his mouth to speak, but Abbi wouldn't let him.
"There is no us, Nathaniel. And whatever awful fantasy you have playing in your mind is wrong. The only thing that should ever be between us is space. Consider it a Contract, of sorts."
His brow furrowed, and his eyes darkened till they were unreadable and brooding. "Contract?" He asked softly.
Abbi nodded, delving into the details of her proclamation; only trying to make it hurt that much more. "Yes; contract. I think it would be wise if there was some terms of agreement we could go by; just like your vampire laws."
"Laws?" His face was turned, and perplexed. She took it further, much further than what was necessary.
"It would be wise for you not to touch me, not that I want you to anyways." Abbi faked a shudder, making a frown with her lips. Nathaniel was taken aback by this, as his eyes followed her movements painfully. "Secondly, I don't really want to speak to you; your boring, and terribly misinformed about my feelings. Also ... I don't to go anywhere alone with you. That would lead to undesirable approaches, as well." She smiled pleasantly, hating every minute of this torture.
He looked angry now, but kept his rage hidden inside while he twisted his hands into fists.
"Do we have an agreement, Mr. Drake?" Abbi said professionally, holding out her hand.
It was at that point when Nathaniel finally looked outraged. He scowled heavily at her, while his lips lifted from his teeth as if he was going to growl at her.
"Yes, Abigail," He spat, not daring to touch her hand; like it was poison - which, even though she had wanted, still hurt - "we have a deal."
In all forms of rigidness, Nathaniel turned away from her and strode to the door. The slam behind his resounding figure made her flinch, as Abbi sunk to the ground and hid her face in her hands.
******
Nathaniel was in a torrent of frustrated anger.
Oh, how her words cut his heart out and left it a seeping mess of blood.
Mr. Drake ... He scoffed, glaring at the floor. Do we have an agreement? He turned her voice around and around in his head; each tantalizing word was bent on destroying him from the inside out.
She had said she didn't like it when he touched her ... But he did. He wanted to take her in his arms and hold her for the rest of this forsaken eternity. He wanted to kiss every problem away from her mouth, wanted to tend to her every need. Nathaniel wanted to see that smile, wanted to stare into those golden eyes.
But Abigail said she didn't want him; didn't even feel attracted to him in the same contemptible way that he did her.
Nathaniel didn't understand, he couldn't cope with the rush of feelings her decree had settled inside him. His chest burned with fury, and he stopped.
Making a loud and pained noise, he slammed his fist into the nearest wall he could find. His knuckles didn't feel anything, but Nathaniel was sure the wall did; it was curved to outline his hand. Just great.
"Nathaniel, what is going on?"
His head snapped up to meet the nervous gaze of his father. The man had a deranged look lining his face, while he stared at his son with up most scrutiny.
"This is all your fault!" He hissed towards his father. It was then that Nathaniel realized the protruding sharpness jabbing into his tongue, and the red haze filling his vision. His father held up his hands and stared at his son.
"Calm down, Nathaniel." He ordered; his tone was harder than normal.
Briefly, Nathaniel knew there was someone else in the room. But he didn't care, his eyes were locked on Alexander, a look of absolute hate spilling from his glare.
There was a set of hands on his shoulders now. Ones that were firm and respectful, fingers that demanded his attention. Nathaniel turned his head roughly to the beholder and stopped dead. Nathaniel could feel his fangs lessening back into a normal state, and his eyes falling from red to a restless, and despondent blue.
A young man stood in front of him, his expression deadly calm. He had a round face, almost too perfect, with plain, withered blue eyes and dark hair slicked back. He wasn't stunningly attractive like any other vampire one might come across, but instead his features were utterly seamless, with such a unflawed face that he almost seemed dormant and boring.
He stared at Nathaniel expressionless, while suddenly a smirk haunted his mouth.
Nathaniel gazed at him. "Grandfather ..." He mouthed, shame writing his eyes.
"Nathaniel, what a peculiar state to witness you in. You were almost a grandly behaved boy when your mother was ... still around. It appears your father has missed a few points. How tragic." All the while he was speaking, he kept those unadulterated eyes locked on Nathaniel, and also seeming to share a look with Alexander. His voice stayed in the same quiet monotone.
"Grandfather I-"
"Lucifer its-"
Both Alexander and Nathaniel tried to account for their behavior.
Lucifer smirked waning, his eyes briefing over some scale in his head before he then turned his head away and pretended like nothing just happened.
Nathaniel breathed a sigh of relief. It looked like Alexander wished to do the same.
Nathaniel's grandfather started walking away from the both of them, his footsteps echoing into the grand ballroom, and although he appreciated the attire of the room, his eyes looked unimpressed. "I see you removed the decor my daughter so precariously set up. Disappointing, for that was fine furniture, indeed." Both of the gentlemen behind him scurried to catch up.
Alexander blanched, while trying to get Lucifer's attention. "Yes, I do apologize, My Lord, it is only that we didn't want to face the loss of her. It hurt too much at the time."
Lucifer clicked his tongue. "Your a vampire, feelings don't matter anymore." He said distastefully.
Nathaniel dared to clear his throat. His own body language was cautious. "Grandfather ... why exactly are you here? Not ... that I don't enjoy your company, I am merely curious." He back-tracked.
Lucifer gave him a pointed look of disgust.
"I am here to judge your choice in Subjugate."