Blood Rites

"I love you," he whispered.

"What's not to love?" she teased.

"Indeed," Fane muttered under his breath.

Decebel stepped back into the room and without looking at anyone he walked across the room to Jen's bed. "Are you alright?" The words revealed some sort of emotion but his tone of voice was just as gruff as ever.

Jen was beginning to get frustrated with his odd aloofness towards her. What the hell, she thought, if he doesn't care why even freaking bother to ask. Just like earlier she decided to handle his coldness with what she did best, flirting.

"I could be better," she told him with a slight pout. Out of the corner of her eye she winked at Sally, who was giving her a questioning look.

"What does that mean?" he asked even more gruffly if that was even stinking possible.

"It just means that my circumstances could be improved, which in turn would make me feel better," she told him innocently.

Jacque was in her bed with her hand over her mouth trying to muffle her laughter as she watched her friend work her magic. The funny part was that Decebel had obviously never met anyone like Jen. He didn't look like he knew what to do. Jacque had a feeling that uncertainty was not an emotion that Decebel often felt.

When he didn't respond to her, Jen crooked her finger at him, indicating that she wanted him to move closer. When he acquiesced and leaned down, Jen grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him until he had to support himself on the bed with his hands and his ear was next to her mouth. Sally and Jacque watched her whisper to him and suddenly Decebel's body tensed, his muscles rigid with statuesque grace. After a moment he stood up, took one last look at Jen, and without a word turned and walked out of the room.

Jen busted out laughing as soon as the door clicked. "Man, that was rich," she said, still giggling.

"Would you like to share, my wicked little friend, what you did to poor Decebel?" Sally asked her with one eyebrow raised.

"A lady never kisses and tells." Jen grinned and winked at Sally.

"There are two very obvious problems with that statement," Jacque started.

"Yah, yah. I'm not a lady, and I didn't kiss him, blah blah. Details, details my dear Watson," Jen said sarcastically.

Jen grinned to herself. She couldn't believe the boldness in the words she had whispered to Decebel, but it served him right for being such a butt head to her. She was just messing with him after all, it didn't mean anything so what was the harm. She ignored the nagging little voice that was trying to contradict her thoughts.

Chapter 11

After Fane had gone back into the room with the girls, Lilly had her mini panic attack and was able to calm down when Alina told her she would slap her if she didn’t. “So he’s on his way here, as in now?” Lilly asked Vasile.

“Yes, as in now. He will be here in about 10 minutes,” he told her.

“Did he say what he wanted?" This time her voice was stronger, more determined.

“All he said was that he wanted to talk with you and that he wanted to meet Jacque.”

“Yes, but we both know there is more to it than that, Vasile. He has to have an ulterior motive to travel all this way. I’m sure he wants to meet Jacque, but that’s not the only reason he has come,” Lilly told him.

“Decebel is going to go down with you. Even though I don’t think he would hurt you or allow harm to come to you I want Decebel to get a feel for things. I have called Sorin, Skender and Boian to see if they could scout around the hospital parking lot and get a look at Dillon’s men,” Vasile explained.

“I’m ready when you are, Lilly,” she heard Decebel say, which was really weird because she couldn’t recall a time when Decebel had ever spoken to her. There was a first time for everything.

“Ok, let's do this,” Lilly said, rolling her shoulders as if she were getting ready to fight.

“She has worn off on you, too,” Decebel said to her as they got into the elevator to go to the lobby.

“Who has worn off on me?” Lilly asked him.

“Jen. She always says these weird comments that make no sense to the situation, and I notice you do it too. She’s like a virus that just keeps spreading.” The last part was said more to himself than Lilly.

“If she is a virus than she is the only one of her kind in existence, and she’s a virus I would catch any day,” Lilly told him, looking at him out of the corner of her eye.

Decebel growled something imperceptible but said nothing else. As the elevator doors opened, Decebel put a hand in front of Lilly so that she would not exit before him. He stepped out and looked around and then motioned to her to emerge, evidently deciding it was safe.

“What happen to ladies first?” Lilly teased, just trying to expel her nervous energy. She knew what the answer was but she just needed something to keep her busy for a few minutes before she saw the man she had once loved with every fiber of her being.

“I don’t know what idiot thought it was smarter to let a woman enter a room before him. How does he know if it is safe for her to enter if he does not check it out himself? It’s actually a much more caring act to go before her, therefore ensuring that nothing will harm her,” Decebel explained, his tone of voice at first sounded with disgust and then it was almost tender when he finished speaking. He might just make a fine catch one day, minus the grumpiness and bossiness that seemed to plague all things furry, Lilly thought.

They hadn’t been standing in the lobby long when the front door opened and Dillon Jacobs stepped through. Decebel started to move in front of Lilly, one of those 'I must protect hear me roar' moments, but Lilly pushed him aside, never taking her eyes off Dillon. She couldn’t help the hurt tinged with betrayal that bled into her eyes. It was 17 year old hurt, but hurt nonetheless.

Lilly straightened her spine and strode forward, trying to cloak herself in confidence that she didn’t feel. Decebel trailed just behind her, a silent reminder to Dillon that she was protected.

Dillon spoke first. “Lilly, it’s good to see you,” he said with sincerity dripping from his voice. That only made his presence worse, to know that he really meant what he said, but regardless of any words he could give her, the fact was he belonged to another woman. Sometimes Lilly just wanted to give life the finger.

“It’s good to see you as well, Dillon,” Lilly managed to force that out, fake smile and all without vomiting all over his shoes. “I don’t want to do small talk ,Dillon. We both know you aren’t here to catch up, or to reminisce about old times, so just get to why you are here,” Lilly told him, realizing that she didn’t have the patience for bush beating today.