AN: Look for a plot surprise next chapter, things are starting to pick up! :) inspiredthoughts@hotmail.com ***************** Curiosity Killed... Chapter Twenty-Six *************** “I challenge you to a game of life and death.” Nick stares at me, obviously unimpressed as he raises golden brows to the hairline of shaggy gold hair. “Isn’t it life OR death?” I snort. “Not for you.” He smirks and rises, taking the video game with him. Standing, he towers over me, an immortal Adonis with a baseball cap. Those teenies are really, really are on to something. I’m not sure if it’s a good something but well, sometimes appearances count more than they should. Especially when they’re Nick Let me Screw you Carter. “I’ve kicked your ass so many times it isn’t even funny any more Cat.” I growl and kick the carpet with bare toes, irritated with the reminder. “I’m getting better,” I mutter darkly. Nick chuckles darkly and stretches, raising lanky arms languidly over his head as his shirt rides up enough to reveal a pale stomach and equally fine golden hair. I resist the urge to scratch his belly, barely. “You’re still nowhere near the best.” Howie, coming out of the bathroom, groans as he flips carefully styled hair with the ease of a celebrity. “Don’t tell me you both are going to play video games again. That’ll be three nights in a row.” Nick shrugs. “She challenged me. I can’t say no to a challenge D.” Howie turns a disapproving glare on me. I glare staunchly back. “Don’t give me the evil eye. I didn’t sign up for this whole girlfriend charade, remember the kidnapping part? I don’t have to like ya’ll’s lifestyle and I don’t. You get up early, pack often, spend a lot of time traveling, and even more partying. I don’t like clubs, especially clubs with the Backstreet Boys.” Nick snickers and throws a long arm around my slim shoulders with companionability that annoys me for no real reason. “I thought you were a fan Kitty Cat.” I shrug his familiar embrace off of me with clear distaste. “I’m a fan of ya’ll’s music, not ya’ll, all right?” “Kevin will be crushed.” “Kevin won’t care a smidge.” Nick chucks me under the chin in a gesture that’s endearing and annoying all at the same time, rather like Nick himself. “He might care more than you’d think.” I shrug off the trace of truth in his words before I let myself believe them. A woman’s version of care is slightly radically different from a man’s. A Vampire’s version of care involves closing your eyes after they drain your blood. Not exactly cuddling and long walks on the beach, all right? “I’m a means to an end Nick, don’t confuse things.” He shrugs and chuckles. “Yeah, the things Richardson will do for sex.” Howie rolls his eyes in disgust at us both. “Fine, if ya’ll are going to be downers, stay here. Make sure she behaves Nick.” Nick wriggles his brows. “How about we misbehave in all the right ways?” I smack him and turn to Howie. “Did you just say ya’ll?” The dusky skinned singer blushes scarlet and shakes his head vehemently, sending perfect hair flying. “No…” “You just said ya’ll!” I exclaim with glee. Nick tips his baseball hat towards his band mate. “Howdy sir.” Howie flips us both off and strides out of the room to go join the others. I turn back to Nick. He stares down at me. “So I’m in the mood for wild, kinky sex, you in?” I wrinkle my nose up at him. “Do any of your lines actually work?” “Since I was twelve.” “Eww! Come on Nick, you and me, two-player life and death games on PS2.” “I don’t know about you but I have another two-player game in mind.” “Not happening Carter. If you want sex that bad, go solo.” He stretches and shrugs after thinking it over. “Nah, too predictable. All right then, let play, maybe you’ll surprise us all, upset the odds, and win a game. Or at least tie.” “Screw you Nick.” Nick snorts. “Baby, with the way its going I’ll be lucky to get there before Kevin.” “I am SO kicking your ass.” “Fifty bucks I beat you.” I scowl. “I’m boastful, not stupid. Let’s play.” ********************************************************************** “So, umm, how many times am I going to have to wipe the floor with you before you accept the inevitable fact that I’m better than you?” I grit my teeth, nearly two hours later, and resist the urge to smack him, hard. I manage to grin sweetly instead. “Is inevitable your SAT word of the day?” “Cat…” I whistle innocently and he reaches over, plucks the controller out of my hand, and kisses me soundly before I can draw a breath for protest. I’m not sure what I’d be protesting because, hi, Nick, yummy lips, warm tongue sliding to touch my own. Talk about good old fashioned seduction. He pulls away after several nice minutes. I stare up at him and touch my lips. “What was that for?” Nick shrugs and kisses my cheek. “I like to be unpredictable.” Weirdo. We move to the bed so that we can properly sprawl out and watch late night cartoons. Nick and I don’t get along, but I’m comfortable with him, more comfortable than I’ve been with any Vampire. I don’t mind having him near, or in my face, or yelling at me. I know he can kill me just as easily as the others, perhaps more easily, but I’m not afraid of him. After some poking and prodding he ends up on his back, his head propped up by pillows. My head is resting on his stomach and the blankets haphazardly thrown over our legs. His fingers trail though my hair and I allow it because the action is soothing and I’ve certainly had enough stress in my life lately. I’m actually almost asleep watching Tom and Jerry when Nick speaks. “You… you’re the first one in a long time to make Kevin seem happy. He’s not happy often.” “Nick…” He tugs gently on my hair to get my attention. “No Cat, trust me, I wouldn’t tell you this if it wasn’t true. It’s just… I wish- I wish we weren’t like we are. I saw you with AJ. I saw how afraid you are of us, of what we were turned into. Kevin will never forgive himself for that…” I sit up slowly and turn to look at him, face pale with knowledge. He stares back at me, more serious than I have ever seen the laughing, mocking blonde pop star. “Kevin blames himself because Kevin brought Lydia into your family. Kevin loved her and opened the door. Kevin is the reason you are all Vampire. That’s why Kevin is determined to guarantee your safety by trumping Dracula. Why he’s determined to seduce me.” Nick reaches for me and I back away until I’m on the edge of the bed. “Catherine…” “Kevin blames himself the most for Brian…” I whisper. “Brian was happily married with a child, a family. Lydia turned you all but Brian lost the most. Brian lost his wife and his son.” Nick looks away from me, mouth tight. “Brian doesn’t blame Kevin, none of us do. Kevin blames himself enough for the four of us. We’re brothers; we’ve never been anything else. We let Lydia into our midst because we trusted Kevin’s judgment- it hasn’t failed often.” “And you lost your world because of it.” “We did.” I swallow and rub my eyes. “What would you all do if you were powerful enough to stand against the whim of the Council, if you bested Dracula?” Nick sucks in a deep breath and holds it for a long moment before replying slowly, “Live, the best we could, with what life remained to us. Let Brian see his family again, if only to say goodbye. I’m not as optimistic as Howie and AJ and Kevin. I know they could never go back to before.” “But he still loves them.” He laughs harshly. “Brian will always love his family- death and eternal life won’t change that.” “You’re all fools…” I step off the bed and go towards the door. “Cat?” “I need to be alone for awhile,” I reply softly, “I’ll be in Kevin’s room.” I can feel Nick’s eyes watching me as I leave. I can feel him judging me. I can feel him hoping. I can feel my own defenses crumbling. I can see what little future I have left unraveling before my eyes. I have some tough decisions to make.