Mates in Another Time

Chapter 2

At her words he sat up from his seat to move around the desk and to get to where they both stood. “Why don’t’ we have a seat. It should be quick, but having such lovely ladies standing is not a polite gesture.” That’s when she noticed the chairs and couch over on the other side of the room that he motioned over to. There was even a fireplace that was flickering with gentle flames to the side of them giving a pleasing atmosphere.

Cassandra led them over to the couches first with Isabel followed her. Once she took a seat Isabel took the seat next to her while Lucian took the seat across from them. Mind as well get straight to the point. Meeting with his eyes she kept her focus hoping not to get lost in them. “I do appreciate you helping me, but I have lived with vampires long enough to know that none do anything out of kindness. What is your price?” She knew her words were blunt and probably not respectful to someone assisting her, but Isabel needed to get it out there. One thing she didn’t want to do was skirt around the edge about this.

A smirk came to his lips while a gleam of amusement passed through those emerald eyes of his. He glanced over at Cassandra briefly and she could tell there was a hidden message in the look they shared. Before she could mention anything, Lucian’s eyes were on her’s again. “There isn’t much. I am not like others you have met. I have already set up an apartment in my city and paid a few months' rent for you. This way you have time to get accustomed here and able to pay your own way. I’ll also ensure that you have some money to start out on as you probably have nothing else with you besides what you are wearing right now from the looks of it.”

Those words made her realize that she truly did have nothing, but the clothes she was wearing. She didn’t want anything to way her down and just was acting on impulse when she escaped. There wasn’t much she owned anyway.

“I’ll also make sure to give you an identity here with documents. I’ll ensure those are sent over to you in the next few days as a legal adult. No point in putting you in school when you probably already tended plenty of it at that academy. Plus, you are old enough that it isn’t needed at this point in human society. Cassandra informed me about the necklace, so you should be safe here and not be found easily. I will let you know if I hear word of them coming to my territory to look for you, but I doubt they will bother. As you are aware, Viktor and I are not quite friends. We tend to avoid one another if possible. However.” Of course, there was a however. “If anyone by chance from Viktor’s area finds out you are here, I can only do one thing to continue to protect you. You know what that means.”

He would have to change her. Would that be so awful for him to be the one to change her? In all honesty, him turning her would be much preferable than Viktor or Vivian. That would be the only way that he could ensure Viktor and Vivian couldn’t have her. If he changed her, then being her sire would mean he had claim over her. Such would break anything that bound her to Viktor.

They wouldn’t go up against Lucian as he had too many behind him. It was one reason Viktor avoided any confrontation with him. Viktor knew he would lose.

There was even a chance that this would never have to happen either, and she could live a quiet, normal life for once. “I can accept those odds, but I will ensure to pay you back for everything you lend me. I won’t take no for an answer since you are aiding me when you don’t have to.”

“I can accept that. Since we are in agreement, I’ll let Cassandra help you to your new apartment. I won’t bother you unless I hear word of Viktor’s men requesting access into my city. If you ever do need me though, please feel free to reach out to me. My door is always open to those in my territory.” There was something behind those eyes. Something more that she wasn’t able to put a finger on. “It was a pleasure meeting you Isabel and always lovely to see you, Cassandra.”

Another exchange happened between them before Cassandra abruptly got up and out of the office with her following right behind. Isabel wanted to ask what that look meant, but never had the opportunity while they were in Lucian’s home and the timing felt wrong. Without a second word they were back in Cassandra’s car.

Maybe it is best to just let it go. Both had helped her and didn’t have to. Yes, it was probably best to let it go and just get acquainted with her new life.

******* *******

Nine years had passed since she started her life in Lucian’s territory. For the first few years she always felt like she had to look over her shoulder, always worried that her past life would catch up to her. She trusted Lucian to let her know, but she just couldn’t stop herself from being nervous in the beginning. She had been young. Only seventeen and finally able to feel free for the first time in her life. Lucian had kept his side of the bargain by providing her with everything she needed to live here. The apartment was simply perfect for her. It was a one bedroom, one bathroom combo that fitted her needs. Once he provided her with a birth certificate and driver’s license, she was able to find her first real job at a gym as a trainer. With all her training at the academy, she knew how to train others in what they needed.

Being around humans that knew nothing about the supernatural world was a blessing. It was just simpler to be around them even though supernaturals saturated the city with no human knowing the better. Well, except for her. She knew they existed but kept it to herself. Better they think she was like the rest of the humans rather then get involved where she didn’t want to be. Just worked best for her to keep that concealed.

For all it was worth, she honestly was enjoying her life here more than she ever thought possible. Even now she was enjoying her day off sitting at her favorite coffee shop to escape the cold fall day.

She let her eyes shift over the others from her corner table to see those that lingered and talked. The atmosphere was warm, and laughs rang about while more customers walked in to get their morning pep in a cup. Picking up her cup of tea, she gingerly sipped the contents, testing to see if it had cooled off enough for her yet. As soon as it touched her lips, she knew it was close but still not yet there. As an alternative, she just kept the cup in her hands to soak up the warmth while she waited.

Out of the corner of her eyes she noticed someone coming in her direction. Without a word, this woman strolled right up to her table, dragged the chair out and sank onto the wooden surface of it with her cup gripped in her hands. “Man, it is cold out today.” The small woman was bundled in layers, though it seemed they weren’t providing her with much warmth.

“It sure is, though you could make that less of a problem for yourself if you wanted to Cassandra.” She was a witch after all and one of the best from how Cassandra loved to boast about herself. It was hard to believe she was the best witch with her being five foot two and small as a child. Her pixie-like face never seemed to help that either. No one accepted her being a twenty-eight-year-old woman, but she was indeed such. Oh, and she was one of two supernatural beings that knew about her knowledge of the supernatural world. Somehow, they just seemed to click as friends. The escape had seemed to bond them as they got to her apartment nine years ago. “Though looks like you forgot a hat.” Her burgundy hair was all over the place from the wind and looked to be a tangled mess.

Using her hand, Cassandra tried to get her hair back in a normal order but failed to tame it. Seemed she was going to avoid using magic to help her just yet. “I’ll fix it when I go to the bathroom. I must have lost my hat and plan to buy a new one this evening.”

At that, Isabel pulled the so-called grey puffball hat from her bag and deposited it on the table. “You left it at my place last night. I figured I should bring it.” The smile that brightened Cassandra’s face was contagious to Isabel.

“Thank the goddess I have you as a friend. Now I don’t need to worry about getting a new one. Also, thanks for calling a cab last night to take me home. I was a bit of a mess.” That was an understatement. She had been crying when she had been knocking on her door. Turned out the guy she had been dating had decided to cheat on her with some blond girl. She had walked in on him with his pants to his ankles and a head between his knees at his office. “I’m never dating a damn office guy again. How cliché of them all to be having their way with their secretary. Good riddance. Best way to get over a guy is to find another. Maybe the barista behind the counter.”

“Maybe. He does look like your type.” One night of getting drunk with a friend and crying it out appeared to have allowed her to bounce back. That was one trait she admired about Cassandra. She could always bounce back, especially when it came to dating. Isabel had been on one date in the last nine years and that was a failed attempt. The guy had been nice, but when she was with him, she felt guilty. Thoughts of Quinn invaded her mind and ruined her mood. There was no point trying to be with someone right now. For some reason, even with so much time apart, she still seemed to not be over Quinn. Though they could never be together either. He was probably a vampire now and had moved on from her anyway. Maybe she should try again with someone else.

Cautiously, she took another sip of the Earl Grey tea and was rewarded with the warmth that was perfect. The warmth slid through her and warmed her up from the inside. “Maybe we could go on a double date one of these days. It’s been years since you’ve tried dating. It might be time again and might help get over you know who.” Cassandra had found out about Quinn on one of their drunken nights and understood her need to take her time. Perhaps she should take her up on the offer this time.

“Maybe we could.” At her words Cassandra’s smile broadened and made her smile again in return. Her mood was always so infectious. “However, I don’t want to try today. I’m going to enjoy my day off by going for a walk to then go home, get in my sweatpants and read a book under the covers.” Even though it was cold outside, a walk would help get the pent-up energy she always felt she had. It was an itch that had gotten worse by the day these last few months. Like a shoe was about to drop.

“Okay, sounds fair enough. You’re crazy to walk in the cold, but I get it. Well, I’m going to go fix my hair and try to snag me that barista. Maybe he might have a friend that will want to have dinner sometime this week.” That sly wink and off Cassandra went. She was on a mission and there was no stopping her now. Not able to stop the smile from her lips, she waved to her friend and decided to leave as well. Shifting out of the chair, she grabbed her scarf first to wrap her neck in. Once it was wrapped around her, she grabbed her dusty blue peacoat to don on and button up. She fixed her long chestnut hair by pulling it out from under her scarf and coat then pulled out a cream-colored puffball hat that was yanked on. Grabbing her bag from the chair, she braced herself for the frigid wind that would welcome her.

The first step outside caused a shiver to go through her. It truly felt colder now after being tucked away in the warm cozy coffee shop. Now that she was out in the cold again, staying out in it didn’t seem appealing. No, her couch and blanket seemed more appealing now. However, that nagging feeling overwhelmed her making her uneasy. She needed to walk off the tension or go to the gym at least. With a sigh she decided to get moving. It was better to just start walking and that would help the chill in the air not to feel so bad. Just a few blocks would help. Then she could walk the rest of the way home instead of getting a taxi. That would help this nagging energy to calm down.

“Isabel.”