When Vail neared, she tried to keep her gaze on the fireplace. The closer he got, the more nervous she felt, she knew he could sense everything about her. How fast her heart raced when she neared him, when he touched her. She could not hide anything from the vampire. What surprised her next was that he stopped in front of her and instead of searching for an ideal location from which to feed upon, he merely held her hips gently and his eyes met with hers. It was if he were studying her every feature. 

She listened to his words, they werent out of dryness or sarcasm or even condescending. They were of genuine curiosity borne out of concern of her situation. Did that mean Vail really [i]did[/i] care about her welfare more than just having access to her blood? He noticed her torment and instead of ignoring it, he challenged it, asked her why continue to let them torment her? He asked her why she should even return to that predicament, it wasn’t that simple, she was in too deep now already without even realising. Maybe even before her father died. 

As he brought a hand to the back of her neck, she almost lost balance. Being so close to his charismatic vampiric charms held their power over her still. She was not immune to his aura. It served its purpose in that it forced her to look at him, she couldn’t escape his gaze. In that moment, she was rendered speechless and time itself seemed to slow down. Her eyes glinted in the firelight as she looked at his hazel pearls. After slowly hearing his second reiteration about not going back at all.

“I have to…they could…kill my mother. They could go after your family…they have leverage.” She had no idea the extent of Vail’s feelings toward her. She thought to him she was only prey, something to feed on and enjoy like a fine wine. It wasn’t if she could just walk away from him but she did avert her eyes to elsewhere. “Besides, I have nowhere to run. They will find me.” They had Saints everywhere, even in the farthest reaches of the Scottish Highlands. She had read of that in her father’s journals. 

It was nice he showed some care for her awkward situation. He even told her that he didn’t think she should stop fighting if she were outnumbered. Did he think she were [i]that[/i] skilled to fight the Wynters and The Order? She was alone in this fight. The Hygraces wanted nothing to do with either party and keep in hiding, as it was in their best interest to do so. Even if Vail did not, that only made two against a good many Saints and Wynters. Even if they had Ray’s assistance, it still wouldn’t be enough to beat them. But she [i]could[/i] rally the honourable saints against The Order…it would be a challenge, but doable. 

She sighed softly at Vail contemplating his words further. She then dared to ask, fearful of the answer he might give would hurt her feelings she had inadvertently developed for him. “..Are you actually concerned about my safety or…worried you won’t get to drink my blood anymore?” She [i]had[/i] to know his true intentions, she could not just keep assuming the worst. She wanted his honesty.