Forced Affection

Leo left me standing in the hall way. I honestly thought I had something over him. When he pulled me down around him on the motor bike I swear I felt him shutter at my legs grabbing his in a hope to stay on the bike. I guess I had been over confident and he hadn’t liked that. I slid down the wall. There was no point in trying I couldn’t do this.
Already this was the third time today I felt incapable of doing anything. I felt failure and being alone. I needed a phone, I needed to get home, I needed a friend but most of all I needed a tour guide for this stupid house.
‘Hey, you ok?’ came a soft voice from next to be. I swear there had been no one there when I had closed my eyes.
‘Oh. Um I was just wondering where the kitchen is, or my room, or my bags or well anything for that matter’ I said entirely defeated as I looked up at Nicholas, Leo’s younger brother.
‘Here’ he began lifting me up so I could stand on my own two feet.
‘Don’t let him get you down. You might not believe me but he is just as confused and as lost as you are. He hasn’t lived here in about 5 years and well honestly I don’t think he wants to make it easy to fit back in. This is his way of rebelling’ Nick told me as he led me down the hallway.
‘So this is the kitchen. Are you hungry?’ he questioned holding the door open for me.
‘Um yes, I think. I can’t tell anymore. I’m sorry I’m so exhausted nothing feels right’ I replied collapsing at the bench in the kitchen.
‘Yeah I bet you would. Listen there is some stir fry left over from what we ordered tonight on the way home. I’ll heat some up for you’ Nick said grabbing a container out of the massive fridge and placing some of the stir fry into a bowl for me.
‘Thanks that sounds great’ I replied yawning. I didn’t feel the need to make small chit chat with Nick and well to be honest at that time I was glad.
‘Hey loser, we’re heading out. Interested?’ Thomas said coming to the kitchen door and talking to Nick.
‘Hmmm, where are you headed?’ Nick asked grabbing the bowl out of the microwave.
‘Thinking Eureka and avoiding west side where Leo will end up ha ha. So? Count you in?’ Thomas inquired.
‘Go ahead I’m just planning on going to bed. Once I find that of course’ I said smiling as I started eating the food. I couldn’t even tell you what it tasted like, I was too tired and I was eating merely to fill the hole in my stomach.
‘Alright I’m in. What about Ash?’ Nick asked.
‘ASHLEA!’ Thomas shouted as a rustling could be heard and soon Ashlea appeared on the other side of the kitchen through that door.
‘No thanks. I’m thinking I’m going to stay in and help Hallie with everything’ she said smiling at me as she took a seat next to me.
‘Thanks, really but if you want to go out feel free to. Don’t stay home on my account I don’t need a babysitter’ I said not wanting to ruin her night.
‘Please, going out will mean me getting bored and coming home as soon as I can convince one of those larrikins to come home with me. Besides I haven’t ever had a girls night in before’ she said smiling and I couldn’t help but think that it would have been better for me had she went out.
‘Alright it is decided then. We shall see you later’ Thomas said as he and Nick left.
‘So tonight. What is the plan?’ I asked 5 minutes later once I had finished the food.
‘Well I was thinking I could give you a tour of the house. Help you find your way around, get you settled in, show you your room and then most of all I shall answer as many questions of yours as I can!’ she answered pretty much telling me what I wanted to hear.
‘Thank you so much’ I said hugging her.
‘Yeah well Leo didn’t know how to deal with it so he asked me to help out’ Ashlea answered trying to put Leo’s name in there like it was no big deal.
‘Oh. Really?’ I questioned letting go of her. Right now Leo was the last person that I wanted to talk about.

It wasn’t long after Ashlea had showed me around to mansion that she finally got to my room. I was frankly most excited about that-now I would have my own place to retreat to when I wanted to escape.
‘So here is your room’ Ashlea said opening the double doors into a massive room. There was a dark oak queen size bed in the middle of the room, a four posters bed that looked straight out of a five star hotel. There was bedside tables made out of the same dark oak either side. There was two massive cupboards either side of the room, with a vanity desk next to one and a large Victorian mirror next to that, a full length one all made from the same dark oak. On the side of the room was also glass doors that led out to the balcony that over looked a plantation and a lake or some sort of water towards the south.
‘Wow’ I muttered as I looked to the desk in the corner with a laptop on top of it and stationary everywhere. That was still nothing compared to the sun couch that was to the side of the glass doors that led out to the balcony. No doubt the bed would be super comfy and great on warm days when the sun shone through brightly.
‘Oh and here are the remotes, one is cooling/heating, the next is the stereo and then there is a television behind that painting see’ Ashlea told me as she pressed a button for the painting to go up and the television to appear on and show the news that the current channel was on. I looked around at the soft grey carpet and the light brown rug under my feet and the dark brown walls that matched well with the dark red and black bed spreads, I couldn’t help but feel like some sort of princess. This room was much bigger than I had expected and well it still intrigued me. I looked at the chest at the end of the bed and decided that I was lucky to ever see this room.
‘What’s that door for?’ I asked looking at the door on the left next to a dresser.
‘Your en-suite silly’ Ashlea laughed pushing me through the door into my bathroom.
‘Wow all this is mine?’ I questioned stupidly.
‘Yeah yours and his but mainly yours’ Ashlea laughed at me.
‘And his? I have to share with him. Of course how stupid could I be?’ I asked falling on to the bed and just laying there as Ashlea fell next to me.
‘Honestly sweetie. Don’t worry. He won’t hurt you. He can’t even if he tried. I think already he would willingly give up his life for your safety’ Ashlea said lying next to me.
I rolled onto my side and looked at her ‘Yeah I’m sure he would that way he knows I would die as well.’
‘What?’ Ashlea quizzed confused now. It was her turn to look at me as I lay back down.
‘We kissed. With blood. Soul mates apparently’ I muttered.
‘Oh my god. That explains so much! That’s why his emotions change so much and he can’t make decisions around you. He is whipped majorly’ Ashlea laughed so loudly it shocked me coming from such a small delicate girl. My immediate response was to hit her with the pillow. She didn’t hesitate she jumped up and hit me back with another one.
‘Please? What did you expect how could I not laugh?’ she questioned as I hit her again.
‘Because you’re not suppose to! You were supposed to help me settle in’ I laughed as she hit me as the feathers from the pillows went everywhere. We both fell onto the bed laughing hard as the feathers fell down around us.
‘Yeah well I think I was helping make you settle in anyway’ Ashlea said laughing and pushing me.
‘Yeah whatever. I suppose you’re doing an ok job ha ha’ I replied sarcastically.
‘Yeah I know. So let’s get down to business. What do you want to know?’ Ashlea asked me sitting on the bed and facing me. I sat up and crossed my legs and looked at her wondering where to start.
‘How safe am I here?’ I questioned firstly.
‘In this house? You are exceptionally safe. Nothing will hurt you here without a doubt. In this city? Not very. I mean if you were with one of us you would be safe I think. But if you were by yourself you would be in grave danger that was why Leo was so worried today. I mean you know this city is primarily vampires but there are the exceptions and you would probably get away with it because you smell of Leo. It is like he has already claimed you as his own and that you belong to him and I’m pretty sure that would frighten away most people. Once the wedding and everything is a go ahead you will become more safer as people will know who you are and will be scared if anything happens to you but for the time being try and stay within in the boundaries of the house so we don’t have to worry so much’ Ashlea finished smiling at me.
‘Firstly, I don’t belong to Leo and I never will. Secondly, if I need to go out to get something or just get out of the house for my sanity will you take me? And lastly can we not talk about the wedding otherwise that food might come back up’ I finished looking at Ashlea trying to take in all the information.
‘I know you don’t belong to Leo but that’s how people think. If you want them to think otherwise you have to make sure that people can see there is a mutual respect between both of you and that you both trust each other. But until that, you will just be his. Secondly, if you ever want to get out, let me know and I will be right next to you and if I can’t do it I will get someone for you who I trust. There is a girl I want you to meet her. Her name is Arden and I think you will like her-but give her a chance before you judge. Lastly no more wedding talk’ Ash answered lying down on the pillow and looking up at the roof.
‘So I shall never be respected then?’ I asked.
‘Um I can’t judge that? I’ve tried to see how it works out between you two but every time I think I see the definite future for you both it changes’ Ashlea responded as I lied down next to her.
‘Changes? How?’ I quizzed.
‘One of you change your mind on how you feel. You either decide you want to be together or you don’t and it keeps changing. The only ending I haven’t seen is you both dying. So I think it is safe to say that you both haven’t fully contemplated the idea of that’ she replied not making eye contact with me.
‘Does he wish I was dead? I mean I can’t read him. Ever. I struggle so much when it comes to him. My emotions change whenever I’m around him and I hate it’ I whispered.
‘He has wished you change or be different, he has wished you to disappear and go away but not death. There was that short time after you hit him though that I’m glad he didn’t follow through on his desires. Believe me you can read him, you just haven’t realised yet. You mistake the signs for wrong signals and every time you think your getting some where he doesn’t want to make it easy and so he pushes the boundaries. The same as you do-don’t even bother trying to deny it. Your emotions are something I can’t help with but Drew could if you wanted’ Ashlea finished watching my reactions.
‘Please can you explain something more too me. Promise that is the last because I’m exhausted’ I started.
‘Whatever hun I shall try my best’ Ashlea responded yawning.
‘Can you explain Leo’s friends to me? I mean what powers to they have and should I be concerned about them?’ I whispered quietly again.
‘Of course! That’s an easy question. Ok firstly there is Drew Matthews. Leo and him have been friends since forever. Drew is good quality, a little annoying at times and very male like but he isn’t someone you should be concerned about. Drew can manipulate emotions. That was what I was getting at before. Whenever he is around he can change the emotions of people, normally without them realising but there has been cases that without the people’s knowledge and permission for it, it hasn’t always worked. I assume you will be like that. For the manipulation to work on you, you will have to accept it and allow him to do it openly. I assume I can’t be sure’ Ashlea said rolling over and lying on her stomach.
‘Yeah that makes sense. Today when we pulled up on the motor bike Leo relaxed even though he had been angry the whole time and well I could feel some sort of sensation tying to happen to be but I fought it off and denied it.’ I told Ashlea.
‘Yep that would be it. Then there is Lucas Marchello. He really is a sweet heart. Honestly possibly one of the nicest guys I have ever met and well to be honest I still don’t know why him and Leo are friends but they are.’ Ashlea began before I cut her off.
‘I met him today. He creeped me out. I mean he was nice but he seemed like he had an ulterior motive the whole time he was with me’ I responded feeling as though I could tell Ashlea anything.
‘That’s because he did-he was trying to distract you long enough for Leo to get there remember?’ Ashlea laughed at me.
‘Oh yeah right. Well I forgot. Anyway what is his super power then?’ I teased.
‘Lucas is very special, he can show you memories that he has seen. By simply touching you he can show you anything he wants that he has seen, he doesn’t do it every time he touches you-just when he wants but honestly it is so special I have never came across anyone like that before’ Ashlea responded as she gazed off into deep thought.
‘Ash, am I detecting a crush here?’ I laughed at her.
‘Oh please, could you imagine that. Do you have any idea how hard that would be to try and hide form Leo? Really it is too hard to hide anything from Leo. He is a lie detector and well you’re the only one to have ever stumped him and he can’t handle being just another person like one of us when it comes to your thoughts’ Ash told me truthfully.
‘But sometimes he is so on track with what I’m think it isn’t funny, sometimes I really do think he knows exactly what I’m thinking! It scares me.’ I finished.
‘Well if it helps I think you scare him more. Talk about only girl never to have fallen for his charm-they only girl never to want him-the only girl to rival him with anything. Yeah just slightly I think you scare him, in a good way’ Ashlea replied leaving me dumbfounded.
‘Is there any other friends I should know about?’ I questioned trying to cover my shock. I don’t think I did very well, but I was glad for Ashlea pretending she didn’t notice.
‘Yeah Nathan Orcino. He creeps me out sometimes. He is well, you know you judge him when you meet him. I’ll let you have that pleasure all to yourself’ Ashlea said sourly.
‘Ok I’ll get that luxury. So his super powers?’ I asked just assuming they all had them. I’m sure to be Leo’s friend they had to bring something unique to the table.
‘Super powers? I love that. Is that what you really think they are?’ Ashlea asked me.
‘Well yeah. What would you call them?’ I questioned.
‘Defence mechanisms. Something to give us an advantage up on the enemy or rivals’ Ashlea responded carefully as though she wasn’t sure how I react.
‘Like a weapon?’ I questioned again.
‘I suppose kind of. Not one that is given to you but trained I think’ she tried to explain.
‘Oh so like fighting, skills not physically weapons but rather our bodies and what we can do oursleves’ I explained.
‘Yeah exactly. I guess. Wait anyway Nathan is a tracker. A very good one as well. Nothing much gets passed him and well once he a scent he won’t shake it off. Sometimes he just disappears for days chasing a scent he caught one day, just because he has too. Like he has no control over it’ Ashlea explained.
‘So I’d never be able to run away from him?’ I asked not even thinking that this information would get back to Leo.
‘Hmm. I’m not sure. I do believe that if there was someone who would give him a run for his money it would be someone like Leo. But I’m sure as hell that you could hide from him. I don’t think you would ever escape him, but I think you could run’ she finishes.
‘And sometimes that’s the next best thing’ I muttered.
‘Yeah, I think it is. Especially if it lets you have relief’ she responded but I think she was thinking of someone else and not me.
‘But I couldn’t handle always looking of my shoulder.’ I tell her.
‘It wouldn’t be any different to now. Would it?’ Ashlea questioned.
‘Yeah I think it would. Because we don’t look over our shoulder all the time. Things don’t hunt us so to speak, we hunt them. Therefore only when we are on a chase or something that we need to watch our backs.’ I told her not even concerned.
‘It is funny how different we are and yet there is so much Slayers and Vampire have in common’ Ashlea said and as much as I wanted to deny it, because we are nothing like them I saw where she was coming from.
‘Yeah I guess you’re right. Even if I don’t want to admit it’ I replied smiling at her.
‘Yeah well not to worry your secrets are safe with me, well as much as I can keep them safe from Leo.’ Ashlea told me and I trusted her. There was no doubt that she wouldn’t run straight to Leo and tell him everything I had told her tonight.
‘Ash, thanks for everything. You’ll be the one to keep me sane I swear’ I said smiling meaning every single word I said.
‘Yeah well I think you’re the first real person that I can trust not to tell Leo anything and everything as well’ she replied smiling. It was then we realised that this was a friendship that nothing would break as much as there was strain.
‘Oh before I do go to bed. I want to tell you two things. Firstly, there is a friend of mine that will cause you heaps of trouble. It is Drew’s little sister-her name is Skye- and well she has been in love with Leo since well...forever and I think she is classing you as a threat so you’ll be on the top of her list to ruin. But not to worry I will help you out as much as I can. And secondly if Leo gets home tonight he generally sleeps naked. But that wasn’t what I was warning you about. I’m warning you that at the moment he is lost and confused so his mode swings change so quickly. So be careful. He wouldn’t intentionally hurt you but with alcohol I think he won’t have as much control as he should on his first night here. If anything worries you just yell and I will be here so quickly he won’t have time to do anything. Promise’ Ashlea finished sitting up.
‘Thanks for everything again Ash’ I said hugging her and kissing her good night.
‘Goodnight-see you in the morning’ she said leaping out of my room closing the door leaving me to my room and my thoughts.