Click your red heels Dorothy

"The Dark Stranger" © VeGirl 2014

That is how we happen to say goodnight to Layla who is quickly adapting to our twisted schedule, before we go to our cars. "I can't believe why you sleep during the day," Layla whines. "When are you coming to work again?"

"Have I've been gone that long?" I ask with a combination of curiosity and worry, but that only evoke bad conscience in Layla. "No, just two days, I'm just wondering."

"We'll be back tomorrow morning," Vincent reassures to Damian's bemusement.

Layla luckily miss to catch that surprised glance though.

"Sleep tight; don't let the bedbugs bite." Damian gives her a kiss on the cheek.

"-or anything else," Esme discretely flicks in for everybody else with better hearing than my dear cousin. Damian effectively ignores her and continues to kiss Layla until her eyelids starts to flutter and I am getting inclined to join them.

I harrumph. "It's time Damian." I can't stand here watching him canoodle my cousin anymore, so I head for Vincent's car.

Eventually, Layla lets go of her grip on him, says good night and gets inside so Damian can get going.

"You are not driving my car, sugar," Damian objects as Esme heads for the driver seat. "Forget it!"

"So, you think you'll be a better driver blindfolded?" She pulls a scarf from her pocket.

"Probably." He smirks at her

"I will put you in the trunk if I need to."

"You can try."

It is a standoff between two parties, both smelling victory. Suddenly Damian bends forward while clenching his hands to his temples and groaning in pain. "What are you doing?" he is squeaking out while writhing in pain.

"Winning," she answers and the pain he was in has suddenly vanished again. "Will you go willingly or do you want to be tazered again?" She holds out the blindfold for him and he jerks it from her hand.

"Don't bite off more than you can chew, little girl," he murmurs in a cliped tone while pinning her with his eyes as he slides into the passengerseat of his car. Esme slides in behind the steeringwheel and I really would want to be there, eavesdropping.

On the other hand it is relieving to be alone with Vincent and not having to listen to the bickering between Esme and Damian. I want to slide my arm around Vincent and snuggle as he drives, but as soon as I slide a hand over his leg, he wince and I quickly withdraw it again. "Hasn't the wounds healed yet?" I whisper concerned.

"Not the burns from the chain."

"You said you took care of me when I had just fallen; did I have those marks?" I can't remember that clearly and am happy to have Vincent to help me remember.

"No, you weren't thrown out; you fled."

"Why did I flee, did I tell you?"

He turns and watches me with a lurking smile. "You were on your high horses, looking down on the rest of us; that was beyond my paygrade."

I frown. "I'm sorry..."

His smile widens. "You have apologized for that repeatingly, but by all means; please continue."

I glare at him from under my lashes, but can't keep the smile from my face. I'm reminiscing the stay I've had upstairs lately and remember something vital. "They tried to marry me off this time." I notice how his head jerks as he turns to stare at me. "Well, not so much marry me off, but mate me."

"They wanted an heir?" His words weren't just clipped, they were laced in ice.

"Yes, apparently they thought they had a saying in the matter."

"What happened?"

"I wasn't having it so I jumped; me and another girl, sorry; angel," I am rambling freely now that I realise I haven't had time to talk about any of this. "I'm not some freaking pedigree cow or brood mare to just... breed on."

"Who was it?"

"Aurelius." I can't help but to press his name out through clenched teeth.

Vincent snorts. "So that's the one your parents find suitable?"

"That doesn't matter, does it?" I am suddenly furious. "I make my own decisions; nobody is my boss."

"Oh really...?" His challenging expression mixed with that lethal smile is doing things to me. "I'm sure I can get you agreeable."

"Yeah probably." I groan enjoyable, making him chuckle darkly.

The change in light as we pass the tunnel to access the world beyond makes me snap out of the dazed arousal and focus on the reason of our hiding. "Do you think we'll be free from the rogues anytime soon?" I ask silently.

Vincent sighs. "Damian and I have dealt with this kind of problem before, so I'm sure his family can take care of them pretty fast." He gives me a brave smile. "I'm more worried about the one's that captured me."

"...yeah..." I don't know what more to say and we are both silent in contemplation while driving through the dark magically forest until we reaches Esme's house where we park and get out.

I see the doors of Damian's car fly open and both passengers bounce out while Damian flings off the blindfold.

"So angels are good and vampires are evil, is that what you're saying?" I hear Damian's voice and notice the defiant look on Esme's face. "And what are witches then, Momba?"

I haven't realised how strong they feel about each other.

"I didn't say..."

"And I wonder if all angels are good, why are they dropping like hail from the sky?"

I decide it is time to make my presence known. "Hey there!" My smile might have been little forced. "Play nice now!"

They glare at me.

"We're actually trying to save your ass by taking you here against better judgement." I glare back at Damian who shows little to none gratitude in my eyes. "I suggest you be a little respectful." I scowl at him and even though I want to spent a healthy amount of time alone with Vincent to really enjoy our sideeffect of the vampire blood, I can't accept this. "Get in!"

Damian raises his brows challenging.

Esme glares at me before she resigns, unlocks the door and walks inside with me on her tail.

"Hrmm, hrm..."

Esme and I turn bemused to look at a defiant looking Damian standing on her porch, harrumphing.

"Why are you just standing there?" Esme says annoyed. "The house is getting warm."

I have to bite my cheek to not snicker as Damian clenches his teeth. "You have to invite him in," I hint. "Vampire, remember."

A regretful expression washes over her. "Oh yeah, sorry." The look of defiance is back again. "Come in."

"Thank you for your hospitality, Momba." Damian gives her an incredible strained feign smile. "It's very nice of you to invite me in."

"Yeah, I'm sure it will come back and bite me in the ass," she murmurs and Vincent and I gasp.

"Only if you ask nicely." He glares at her.

"Her name is Esme, or Esmeralda; what's with the Momba?"

"Oh shut up," Esme snarls. "Isn't it time for you guys to head to your house?"

I keep standing there with my brows nearly touching my hairline while Vincent snickers. "I'd love to take this girl away from you guys." He snakes an arm around my waist and pulls me towards the front door. "See you tomorrow."

"I don't want to get back here tomorrow and find out that you've killed each other." I give them a pointed look.

"I can defend myself." Esme glares at me.

"Yeah, but what about the poor guy?"

"Really funny," Damian clips but follow us to the door. "Don't do anything I wouldn't." He has a glib smile on his face.

"Is there anything you wouldn't do?" Vincent ask.

"No." He smirks.

"Be nice!" I shake my finger at him while stepping outside.

"Nice guys don't get the wicked girls," he points out to Vincent's amusement. "And who want the good girls?"

I roll my eyes at him.

"They'll be fine," Vincent comforts me in the car.

"Yeah, I know." I sigh resigned and takes the proffered hand. "I just don't want to think of them right now."

"I'll do my best to make you think of something else." His tone is suggestive and the wink of his eye glints.

"Lucky me..." I give him a flirty look through my lashes. "Lucky you were the one who found me when I first came here."

"And lucky I fell for you."

"Such a cliché... for an angel."

* * *

It is an amazing feeling to once again wake up in Vincent's arms. He pulls me closer and I snuggle in his arms. "Good morning gorgeous."

"This is the best part of the day," I mumble luscious.

"I rather enjoyed last night," Vincent mumbles while kissing me on the neck. "Especially the part where you were tied to the headboard."

I started to laugh. "I must have been out there, because I don't remember that at all." His kisses proceeds, my pulse quickens and I start to imagine the scene he mentions. "Was that where you had me on my back?" I whisper and start to enjoy this game we are playing.

"No, I meant later when I had you up in your knees with that lovely ass in the air." He squeezes my butt and I am pretty much pro any suggestions he has by now.

I moan out loud by and as his hand slide up over my breast he pinches me.  I flex my hip backwards, grinding against his obvious arousal. I can hear Vincent's breathing change as he starts to grind slowly, teasing me. "Do you think our friends have killed each other yet?"

"Fuck them!"

Vincent chuckles and turn me around to keep up the blissful treatment. "I've missed you." He kisses me along the neck and I'm just about to enjoy it when I hear Esme's voice through the secret radio channel.

'Please don't! I can't take anymore...'

Both Vincent and I freeze. "Esme is in trouble!"

'Damian, you're killing me...'

I don't think I have got dressed that fast ever before.

"He's eating her?" My tone was a shriek as we raced down the stairs and through the front door. "I thought she said she could defend herself?"

Vincent has the car in drive before I'm able to close the door. And then we're off. I noticed animals in the forest, getting scared of our race to save our friend and felt a little bad for them. I just couldn't allow Damian to eat my friend. Before the car is still I jump off of it and run to the door and fling it open.

"Esme! Are you okay?" I race inside, trying to find her and Vincent is right on my tail. "Esme?" I call again.

"Yes...?" we hear from upstairs.

We bust up the stairs where we meet Esme in the doorway wrapped in a white sheet.

"Are you okay?" I look bemused at her since she looks fine; actually very fine.

"Sorry." She's blushing and that's when it hits me. She's absolutely not in need of any assistance from us.

Damian pops up in the doorway to the bedroom, affirming that with a cheeky smile in his face. "You're a little inconvenient, but if you insist, I'll make room for you." He slides his arms around Esme's waist and she smiles at him.

I actually slap my palm on my forehead and growl. "What the hell?"

"Sorry, I wasn't aware of the channelling."

I glare at them.

"Well, your adventures in the bedroom aren't that stealth." Esme is glaring back at me defiantly and her revelation is putting a crimson hue in my own cheeks.

Damian is cracking a laugh which Vincent is joining in quickly.

"So, you have like a private porn channel?"

Esme and I snicker embarrassed at Damian's enquire. "I'll try to restrain myself."

Damian is cracking a laugh that Vincent is joining in quickly.

"Perhaps we should get out and stop this rescue attempt," I mutter and head for the stairs.

"I think you've already ruined the moment, delicious." Damian is smirking at me. "You might as well stay." He and Esme heads for the bedroom while I do the walk of shame down to Esme's kitchen in the company of a snickering Vincent.

"Stop giggling," I hiss at him. "My god, they've hooked up? They were tearing each other's eyes out yesterday." I do my best to straighten my hair out with my fingers before I pour water and coffee in the machine to get those essential drops to get me going.

Damian's smirk is the first to meet me in the kitchen and the two guys start to snicker again. "I think it was sweet of you to come defend her virtue, but you might be too late."

"Oh... shut up," I growl and slump down on the chair. "And what about my cousin?" I'm sure my tone of voice is a bit juvenile, but that is all I can manage at the moment.

"That's no problem, the more the merrier. I'm sure I can convince her she's into it." Damian smirks. "You don't have to be jealous." He has suddenly a grip on my chin and force me to look into his eyes. "I can convince you to join as well," he smirks.

My irritation makes something just pop inside and he is thrown backwards with a surprised expression in his face. My own surprise is as profound as his. "Did I do that?" I look stunned at Vincent who accepts my new defence mechanism without questioning.

"Sure you did." He is sipping coffee with a calm expression.

"That's impressive." Damian is quickly on his feet and discuss this ability with Vincent when Esme is walking into the kitchen. She walks straight up to Damian and slide her arms around him.

"This is weird," I frown.

"Those green eyes and that red hair is compelling." Damian smirks. "And she has that sweet scent swirling around her." He bury his nose in her neck while she giggles.

"Esme!" I snap, certain that he has compelled her.

"Stop worry, I can defend myself if I want to."

"She has just found out that charm and stunning beauty aren't my only perks," Damian smirks and the turns to Esme who smiles back at him.

"With fear of adding further to that smirk; he is great in bed!" Esme roll her eyes upwards in bliss, making us all laugh.

"Aoleon!" I exclaim. "I have to go get Aoleon back." I suddenly remember her and wonder how she's doing. "Hopefully someone has been able to show her around. She was pretty shook up when I left."

Yeah I also desperate wants to change the subject at hands.

"It's confusing at first." Vincent takes a sip of the coffee. "I'm sure she'll get the hang of it."

After a breakfast that Esme magically and instantly fix for us, Vincent and I head to the old monastery to fetch Aoleon.

As always the people there is happy to help and several of them are very happy to see Vincent again. While we are surrounded with people, the girl I left my friend with comes walking towards us with Aoleon. Her face holds a smile, but not the over the top happy smile I expected. I meet them to hear how things have been and the girl starts to tell everything they have been up to.

"You're Vincent?"

I snap my head around and surprised I notice Aoleon looking curious at us. "Oh yes, this is Vin, my husband; and this is Aoleon, my friend."

"How nice to meet you Aoleon." Vincent smiles as he offers her his hand in greeting.

"We busted out together." I can hear the pride in my own voice. "She has a guy down here she needs to see. Have you contacted him?"

She looks a little confused and even a hint of embarrassment. "Err...no, but..."

"No problem, I'll help you as soon as we've got this latest of crisis out of the way." I sigh with the smile intact. "Things will work out."

"Yes, it will work out perfectly," she smiles.

"We should get back to our house." I thank the girl and we head out of the house while something is certainly nipping at my concience.

We stop by Vincent's car and I hold the door open for Aoleon to step inside.

"How lucky am I to have both of you here together...?"

I furrow my brows as I notice the glib face and the sinister tone of voice colouring her words.

"Now I get two birdies in one blow."

.