Caius picked up the scent of the Original as soon as she walked into the building. Why would an original come to the rented apartment? For a moment, he forgot that Callie sort of 'belonged' to one of them. And he immediately sat up when said vampire banged on the door and Callie scrambled up to get dressed. He grabbed his pants and put them on, not bothering to pull on a shirt. He got to the door before Callie could open it. He gently pushed her behind his back and then opened the door to face the vampire's wrath.
The pink haired original stood outside and she looked really angry. For a moment, a comical scenario played through his mind. A young couple caught making love for the first time by an incredulous adult. What was he to say?
I can explain? Caius would have chuckled out loud if it weren't for the murderous look in the vampire's face. And so he settled with saying something simpler even though close proximity to a hostile vampire made his blood sing for a fight. Callie DID come with him willingly.
"Yes?"Tabitha pulled her hand back as she went to knock again, barely stopping in time to not hit the wolf. Aside from the fact it would be satisfying, it wouldn't give her any answers. She glowered, unafraid of the larger werewolf.
"Callie! You can sleep with whoever you want but you let a mutt bite you?!" Something about that seemed to be unfair to Callie. Why was Tabitha this upset?
"It was a spur-" which seemed entirely the wrong thing to say to Tabitha, her anger seemed to grow, and she looked jusT about ready to attack Caius. Not wanting that, not wanting what must sure be an epic, dramatic battle, she moved past Caius, putting herself between what felt like a rock and a hard place.
"You bit her without her permission?!" that just seemed salt in a wound to Tabitha. She would indeed have attacked Caius, if Callie hadn't stepped in between. Instead Tabitha just about vibrated with unshed fury.
Caius didn't appreciate the derogatory term thrown at him. He met the vampire's glowering stare with a fierce one of his own. But there was something else in the depth of his blue eyes. Guilt. Having the vampire say it out loud only made it worse. But despite feeling that way, he had no intentions of backing down. His heart began beating furiously in anticipation of a fight. Given a little more push and the right amount of aggravation, he would not hesitate to attack. But when Callie stood between them, he tightened his reins on his self control. Having her injured in the line of fire was something he wasn't willing to risk. When he spoke again, his voice was heavily tinged with a warning.
"I'll take care of her. She is no longer your responsibility but mine."Tabitha hissed, an oddly cat like sound, curling her hands into fists.
"You had no right, none at all! She was to be mine!" Tabitha choose her spawns carefully, and she had thought with a little bit more nurturing, Callie would be a powerful witch, and in the long run, Vampire. And now that was all taken away from her. She had less children then Garrett and Lucinda, because she liked to choose her spawn carefully and nurture them.
"Woah, I am my own person! Tabitha, I'm sorry, I'm grateful for everything you have done for me. And I'll do what I can to make it up to you. But you can't change what is. I'll always be your friend," Callie said softly, and seemingly without fear, she engulfed the smaller woman in a hug.
"It wasn't his fault. I'm okay."Tabitha hissed out a breath,
"You won't feel that way tomorrow, Callie." She should have bitten her, turned her, when she had had the chance...but she'd waited too long. She glared at the wolf, furious still.
"Yes, she'll hate me when the full moon rises. I'll watch over her, try to ease it a bit. And in the end, if she desires it, I'll let her kill me," Caius' words had that finality in them. And it was obvious that he meant everything he said, especially that last part.
"I won't hate you and I won't want to kill you," Callie said, spinning about to face Caius.
"So don't you dare say that!" She knew she could speak with conviction now, that it was so easy to say so, but she knew, without a doubt, that she would never want to kill Caius. She couldn't say what she might feel in the heat of turning, but she knew that.
"You better, because I won't hesitate to kill you myself if she's hurt."Caius looked at Callie and nodded despite the worry he felt. He didn't know how the change would affect her. He didn't know what he can do. He had never turned anyone before and the closest to it was when he watched his sister change. He turned his attention to Tabitha but didn't say anything, his silence proof of his guilt.
Tabitha sighed, a sucker for misery. She ran a hand through her hair-had she combed it that morning? She couldn't remember. All she remembered was putting the note down near Garrett so he'd see it. She briefly combed her hair with her fingers.
"So why did it happen?" she didn't seem to think it a rude question.
That was the question, wasn't it?
Why did it happen? A question that Caius can't quite answer. He knew he wanted it. The moment he had laid eyes on Callie, every fiber of his being wanted her. But was that enough? Saying that he did it because he just wanted her? Why did he lose control? He had been with several lovers before and even in the height of his lust with them, he had always exerted perfect control over himself. But this time, it was different. Somehow he didn't think Tabitha would approve of whatever reason he gave her and so he stopped trying to make sense out of it and shrugged.
"Because I'm a selfish bastard and a dick."Tabitha tilted her head, frowning slightly, before shaking it.
"No, you're not. If that was the case, I don't think Callie would be here. Tell. Me. The. Truth," Tabitha demanded, seemingly the answer was important to her, and she planted her hands on her hips, waiting. Her gaze flickered to Callie for one, brief moment, and then back to Caius.
Caius looked straight into Tabitha's eyes. He took a deep breath and spoke the first thing that came to his mind.
"Because I think...no...I feel that she belongs to me. Not you, not the coven she used to belong to, not to anyone who wants to claim her. Just me."Tabitha nodded as if satisfied, Callie however was confused. She looked to Caius, wondering how he could feel like that.
"What?" Tabitha looked towards Callie, and said
"Wolves choose mates based on who will progress the pack the most. Werewolves do the same, only it tends to be a little more potent," she gave a shrug.
"Is...is that true?" she asked Caius, looking to him, wondering what about her would be so...special.
Caius looked at Tabitha.
"Somehow you just made that sound simpler than it really is," he looked towards Callie.
"Yeah, I guess that about sums it all up.""Because I am not a wolf and don't know how it works, but i do understand soul mates and true love," Tabitha blinked, had she really just said that? She frowned, and shook her head again.
"It makes it easier for you, doesn't it? Means I can't kill you" if the wolf couldn't control it, she couldn't be angry.
"But..why me?""Why not you?"Callie blinked, a little perplexed at that. She supposed it wasn't an easy question to answer, but still...She supposed she didn't know what it was like, to just...know like Caius seemed to. At least...not yet. Would she, after she turnned? She watched Tabitha step back, and leave, glancing towards her friend, then back to Caius.
"But...I'm a witch...I wasn't a wolf...how does that work?"Caius watched silently as the vampire left before he turned his attention back to Callie.
"It is possible that you won't think or feel the same way for me after you turn. What we have now will mean little or will mean everything after the full moon. Even though you're certain now that you wouldn't hate me or that you wouldn't want to kill me... well, we'll see tomorrow, won't we? I'll stand by what I said so there will be no need to hold back on your rage. I'll make sure you don't hurt anybody else."Callie bit her lip, suddenly uncertain. She could imagine what the turn involved, but to not have feelings for Caius, after the turn? She didn't think she could stand that thought. What was worse was that she couldn't assure him, because she didn't know.
She drew in a deep breath.
"But I don't want to hurt you, either" The more she thought on it, the more she decided she didn't want to think on it, and she said
"Can we do something? I don't want to think about it when I could be enjoying time with you."Caius saw the worry on Callie's face. He sighed and reached out. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her head.
"I don't know what will happen but I'll be with you every step of the way." It was really the only assurance he could give.
Callie nodded, leaning into Caius,
"I know, and that makes it easier," she said softly, before giving him a smile.
"Well, I don't know about you, but I'm famished!" She said, blushing slightly.
At the mention of being hungry, Caius stomach rumbled loudly. He laughed, the tension and worry gone from his face temporarily.
"I suppose that makes two of us. Let me just put a shirt on. I can't really go around town half naked. You might find yourself with a lot more competition for my attention," and with that, the charming and playful look was back.
Callie gave a laugh, and for a moment, she thought that everything would be alright.
"Aw, okay" She said teasingly, running her fingers through her hair much like Tabitha had, to brush it out, she muttered a few words, to deal with other issues. Like brushing her teeth,for one.
As soon as both of them had freshened up, Caius led the way out.
"We don't really have much in terms of food in this place so we'll have to go out and get some. What do you want to eat?"Callie thought for a moment. She supposed she actually had a choice, and that prospect was a little daunting.
"Um there is this pancake place I always wanted to go to but couldn't...maybe we could go there?" She asked, a little hopeful.
"Pancakes, huh? At this time of the night? Sure. Lead the way," Caius responded in an amused tone. He reached out and took Callie's hand, intertwining his fingers with hers.
How could it be any different when just his touch was enough to send shivers down her spine? Callie was sure that it would be the same-if not more so-after the turn.
"It's morning, and pancakes is breakfast stuff so why not?" she said with a smile, leading the way, Callie led the way to the pancake place, enjoying the city itself, she glanced up at the sky.
Caius tilted his head up to the sky as well.
"The change will take place as soon as the full moon rises up in the sky. There will be no stopping it and it'll be...painful... I'm sorry, Callie. If I just gave you a chance..." he sighed and ran a hand through his hair, frustration clear on his face.
"I know you think it's not my fault. But... I just can't help but feel like I've robbed you of your life."Callie wished he would stop blaming himself. She didn't know how she could stop him from doing so.
"You did give me a chance. And you haven't robbed me of my life. Four days ago I had no life. I was homeless. Covenless, and I hadn't eaten for...I can't remember. You're given me a chance to have family again, and that's worth some pain," she stopped, and leaned up to kiss him.
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