Mates in Another Time

Chapter 5

Moving towards the bathroom she turned on the lights realizing that they had a dimmer adjustment to them. It allowed for her to keep the low enough to not overwhelm her eyes too much yet. Now to get the shower started. Yet, as she passed the mirror, she couldn’t help seeing her reflection. Not believing what she saw, she adjusted the lights up a bit more to confirm what she was indeed seeing. That was her first mistake as she now saw what a mess she looked to be in. Her ebony hair stuck in all directions, while some was still plastered to her forehead from the sweat that coated her face. Moving her hand through her locks she could feel the snarls that were all through her hair. Just disgusted with herself she wanted to get into the shower as soon as possible.

Tearing off the clothes from her body she realized further just how much she sweated. She was filthy. Not wanting those clothes to be near her any longer, she discarded them to the corner of the room before she entered the stall of the shower. The feel of hot water cascading over her was different than when she was a human. She could feel every drop more precisely. It truly was like heaven to feel the gentle liquid clean off the grim her body had been coated in.

Closing her eyes, she let the heat of the wonderful water ease the lasting aches in her body. The change had been nothing what she could have ever imagined. She remembered the pain, but the nightmares were far more painful to her. They were just nightmare but seeing Quinn dying had made her feel off kilter. She just had to remember that he was alive and that it was just a dream, nothing more.

As she shampooed and conditioned her hair, she finally started to feel grimy free. The shampoo and conditioner must have tame smells otherwise she probably would start to have an overwhelming headache from what she had been taught about changing. Smells could become overwhelming at times with the increase of one’s senses. Just like all the noises were at first. All five senses would get easier to control after more time focusing on them. Her sight wasn’t too difficult to handle any longer now that she was used to the light. At least in these rooms. Maybe she should test a higher brightness to just be careful.

Taking the body wash and a loofah she scrubbed off every inch of herself finally feeling refreshed and clean. She stayed in the shower for a bit longer than she intended, but it just felt incredibly good. It was a calming feeling that she didn’t realize she needed until now. Knowing time would be ticking down she finally shut off the water so that she could grab a towel. Thankfully there was a stack that was placed on a small table to the side of the shower area. Taking one to dry off her body, she used another to place around her head to dry her hair. That's when she finally took notice of the clothes Lucian had ready for her on the sink counter.

Walking over to them she wondered what clothes he’d have for her this time. New under garments were of black lace. They would do. It's not like anyone would see her in these besides herself. Putting them on she looked at the last garment that laid there. There wasn’t much and she finally understood that sly smirk he had on his face. The man had given her a small form fitting black dress with spaghetti straps to wear.

Looking to the pile of clothes she discarded she wondered if she could just wear those again. Though that thought died when she focused on them and noticed the smell that seemed to be radiating off them. It was horrifying. How did Lucian stand to be close to her? She hadn't even realized how bad it had been until she had focused on them and the other scents around her had dissipated. Not wanting to smell those hideous garments any longer she grabbed the dress with the box of shoes rushed out of the room, shutting the door behind her. Escaping from one smell she just realized the bed would probably be just as appalling. Preparing herself for the scent to hit her, she noticed there was nothing. Glancing to the bed she noted the whole bed had been changed completely. Someone must have come in here while she had been in the shower to change them.

Thankful for the mysterious person she hurried to change into the dress. The dress accented her body well as it was meant to and knew that at least it felt comfortable. Now that the dress was on she grasped the notion that she would have to hurry into the bathroom again to grab a brush. She hadn't thought about it before leaving the bathroom.

Taking in a lung full of air she dropped the box of shoes on the bed and rushed back in to find the brush in a basket on the sink counter. With it she in her grasp she rushed back out of the small, confined bathroom slamming the door shut behind her. Exhaling she moved back over to the bed to sit down. Removing the towel from her head she set to work gently combing through the long strands. It took a little bit to get through the tangles, but it felt nice once her hair was cleaned and brushed out again finally.

She then opened the box to meet the most complicated looking high heeled shoes she had ever laid eyes on. Grabbing one of the heels, she pulled it from the box mulling over how to exactly wear these. She’d never worn such shoes before but recalled seeing them in stores she walked past. Trying to recall those shoes on others she started by slipping her foot in the shoe and then created a crisscrossed pattern that wrapped around her ankle a few times before tying it. She had to admit they were cute. Not sensible at all in her mind but quite cute.

Putting the other on she stood up and made sure she could even walk in such shoes. To her shock it wasn’t as difficult as one might think and feeling confident, she wouldn’t make a fool of herself she strolled out of the room. Her hair still remained partially wet, but she didn’t dare go back into the bathroom to fully dry the strands. Not with that smell that lingered in there. Everyone can deal with her just the way it was now.

Moving down the hallway she tried to figure out which Lucian was in. This place wasn’t one she knew much about only every being here twice now. She knew Lucian had an office but where might that be. "This way."

Hearing Lucian, she focused on where his voice came from and noticed she was just at the end of the hall from his office. She didn't want to feel like she was barging in, but he already knew she was in the hall so figured she mind as well head inside. Just like the first time she had seen him, Lucian sat behind his desk his eyes closed and leaning back in his chair. Once she was fully in the room his eyes opened to look her over. "You do look very lovely in that. I had a feeling you would. He won’t be able to see anyone else in the room besides you now." At his words Isabel glared at Lucian.

"Why is that important? Instead of wearing something easier to walk in you doll me up?"

He had the gall to just nod his head. "Yes, I mainly want to see Vivian’s anger when she sees you now especially once Quinn gets a good look at you. Oh, don’t worry. I’ve picked up how he feels about you when he got here, and Darius figured it out when he met him. It will be quite enjoyable indeed. Plus, it's not that difficult for you to walk in, are they?"

At his words she shook her head once. "No, I guess they aren't that difficult. As for Vivian I guess you really do dislike her. I can understand that out of anyone. That means she made it in last night while I changed then. Though don’t you think that acting like such is childish?"

A smile formed and by smile it was a devious grin that appeared on Lucian’s face. “It may be childish, but tell me you don’t find the fun in rankling her feathers more when you can. She deserves to be put in her place and I am just reminding her where she stands in this world of ours.” He got up out of his chair to walk over to her. Lifting his right arm like before he waited for her to place her hand on it and guided her like a true gentleman to the wolves that awaited them. “You'll see what I mean shortly. She has been waiting. I can hear her sighing like she’s been waiting forever. Though I guess it has been over 30 minutes now. Oh, how I do like pushing her.”

With that he steered them out of his office and as they did, she could hear the voices float to her once she focused on them. How come it's not difficult with the sounds? She didn't want to talk out loud in case others could hear them now.

You are just a born natural. Some can focus on locking the sounds out easier than others. You're training probably helped you focus better than most. That made logical sense to her. She had been trained to do such at the academy to help with the transition. Even though it had been a few years since that time it seem it had been engrained in her more than she had realized.

They proceeded to the stairway and down to entrance area before turning into what appeared to be a common area. It was beyond grand and held couches for those to sit yet not be too intimate and crowding for instances like this.

As soon as they arrived, she watched Quinn’s eyes land immediately on her and then on her hand that held on to Lucian. She could see the shift of brightness in his eyes. Was it anger or something more that she wished to avoid? That's when the scent smacked her in the face. It was overwhelming and she knew what it had been. Vivian had made sure her scent was everywhere on Quinn to show he belonged to her. That was fine with her. She knew Quinn was not her’s any longer. There was no need to do this. Just focus on my scent. Listening to Lucian she focused on his smell and noticed how he smelled like a smokey whiskey. It was easy to allow such a relaxing scent like his to wash over her.

With that he guided her over closer to their guests before stopping. He waited tolerantly for them to get up from their seats to show their respect to them entering, and mainly him since he was a Master who deserved all their respect. Quinn and Joshua had both got up as soon as they entered, knowing their place, but of course Vivian kept seated trying to show her dominance. “You do best to remember where exactly you are Vivian. This is my home not yours.” Isabel could feel the energy and power that radiated off of Lucian suddenly and when she looked at him, she saw the hint of anticipation at what Vivian might do to entice him. It was as if he yearned for her to. “Remember who trespassed in who's territory for no cause or contact to me. Under law I could place both these vampires in my cells for such a transgression or even have right to end their existence. No other Master would second guess that thought. Many would just kill them on sight even. Yet, I have held myself back.”

The look Vivian gave him held challenge that Lucian met head long into. The room felt coated in power as Vivian’s tried to overwhelm the room, but with a simple ease Lucian’s own power completely suffocated hers until only his remained. It was such a pathetic attempt at trying to show her status of power but did nothing to relinquish Lucian’s from the room. Not long and Vivian stood up with anger evident in her eyes. “You kept us here long enough to play such games Lucian.”

“Ah, but again this is my home and my rules. You do not get to make demands like you think. You are to wait for me to be ready along with Isabel. It took her a bit to wake to the world. Now to finally present you Isabel my new personal guard and other Second. You can see that she is now a vampire and as further proof I'll let her demonstrate such." Lucian took her hand from his elbow before turning to face her. You probably haven’t noticed yet your hunger, but it probably is best to feed again. This will be two birds with one stone as they will want absolute proof you are mine.

Isabel knew this would be true and best to get it over with now. At the mention of her being hungry she did start to feel the need rise up and it took just that to have her incisors lengthen. At first, she thought Lucian would give her his wrist again, but instead he brought her into his arms. That's when she noticed he turned her just enough so his neck was before her eyes and she could see Quinn’s heated look of betrayal and anger. At least that's what she hoped. Knowing Lucian, she had come to realize he did everything for a reason.

She didn’t have to look at his neck to find the spot she needed. She just knew that right between the shoulder and neck was where she wanted to bury her teeth in. Letting her fangs sink into his flesh she felt the blood touch her tongue and almost wasn’t able to hold back her moan of pleasure at the rich taste. It was beyond amazing and she felt herself pull Lucian closer. She had even closed her eyes from the mere pleasure, but after a few seconds she opened them to glance at Quinn. She just couldn’t help but glance over to him and saw his eyes light up that golden color.

After a few more draws from Lucian, she let her fangs retract and licked the wound knowing it would heal fast but didn’t want to leave any blood behind. As she pulled away, she looked at Lucian and noticed his eyes had brightened like shining green emeralds but they extinguished as he glanced over to the three others in the room. “As you can see, she is fully vampire now. All three of you have nothing more to see and are now welcome to leave my home.” He moved his arm back out for her to take and as he turned to dismiss them, Vivian began speaking.

“Just wait. She was still harbored here by you, and you knew full well she was ours. I should be able to take her home to face the consequences of her actions.” The look of fire that Lucian shot her way made whatever nonsense she wanted to continue to spew end.

"It does not matter to me if you misplaced one of your pets, but when one swears loyalty to another and is changed by them there is nothing you can do Vivian. Nothing. She is now part of my family. You can’t convict her of any crime because she is now sworn to me as her Sire. Nothing before matters to me unless you want to provoke more out of me? I can decide to just imprison both these men of yours in my dungeon instead.” He waited a second to see if she would start more and when she didn’t, continued. “She will be my other right hand along with Darius. Now we are done here." There was a finality to his words and Isabel peered over at Vivian who was red with contained fury. Don’t worry she will say something.