[color=9e0b0f]“W-what… I… how dare-”[/color]

Cassandra raised an eyebrow at the wordless fury.  He seemed about ready to attack, and though she couldn't do much, Cassandra was willing energy to her hand, to summon fire should he strike.  

It proved unnecessary.  As soon as the anger rose, it ebbed, and the vampire turned quickly, leaving the scene with the last word.  

[color=9e0b0f]“Whatever. For your sake, you better live up to that claim.”[/color]

[i][color=f26522]Oh, I will.[/color][/i]  But she didn't say anything, just put her hands in her pocket, finding the forgotten can.  She supposed they were on their way to their new home, and to bed, so there was no sense drinking it. 

The two went made their separate ways to the dorm.  Since he was taking the bus, Cassandra went on foot.  She could stand up to him, but it would still be awkward as all hell if they had to sit together on a bus right after.  She decided to make her way slowly, to catch the sunrise, but it was still dark when she arrived.  So, she hopped the fence instead of heading straight in, and sat in one of the patio chairs, facing east.  She watched the sky lighten all the way until the disk of the sun was completely free of the horizon.  Then, she decided, she really should get some sleep.  

~~~~

The vampire noble was back to his superiority complex(or maybe he had an [i]inferiority[/i] complex, and this was his compensation) the second she walked out of her room in the evening.  

[color=9e0b0f]“To me at once, dog!"[/color]

She didn't dignify that with a response.  Her eye flicked to him briefly, but she made to walk right past him without a word.  Unfortunately, he waylaid her, and spat a stream of his pompous garbage in her face, jabbing a finger into her chest.  With a minor effort of will, a flame licked up from her breast, to burn his finger.  To his credit, he completely ignored it.  

[color=9e0b0f]"You won't obey me?"[/color] he concluded [color=9e0b0f]"Fine, enjoy your freedom to roll around in your filth like the swine you are. But make no mistake; we are not equal. We never will be. If you won't do as you're told, then I have no use for you."[/color]

[color=f26522]"I suppose, then,"[/color] she retorted dryly, [color=f26522]"That you have someone else to feed from?"[/color]  

She walked out the front door, very glad that she had already dressed and showered.  She knew from here on out she would have to take the "passive resistance" route.  She thought he seemed like mostly bluster, but another outright verbal objection and he might become dangerous.  Her hand shook as she reached for their shared mailbox, face scrunching in puzzlement at the little red flag that had not been raised last night.  

Pulling the invitation out, she read it in the lamplight, carelessly at first, but then again more closely.

Cassandra sighed inwardly.  She would [i]have[/i] to report this to Dominique, whatever their mutual feeling toward each other was right now.  Her political education made her all too aware of what a Sinnenodel might be playing at.  That dumb bastard was her ride to the top, even if he was dead weight half of the time.  

Well, it was time to head for Rose Hall.