AN: I like this chapter. Hope you do too. More fun stuff coming up. Feedback? inspiredthoughts@hotmail.com ************** Curiosity Killed... Chapter Twenty-Seven *************** I’m watching Brian from the corner of my eyes as Kevin drags me along the back halls of tonight’s venue. All the other Boys are around me, with a few spare security guards. I’m not really paying attention to where I’m going; content to let Mr. Dumb Pants be in charge for once, as I ponder the choices that have been plaguing me for the last several days. Of course, that means I don’t notice when Kevin stops abruptly. I run smack into his broad back, my nose dinging a shoulder blade. “Oww! Dammit Kev, a little warning next time.” I rub my petite nose crossly and glare up at my so called boyfriend, err kidnapper, who’s totally ignoring me. I poke his back with an indignant index finger. “Kevin…” AJ tugs on my elbow. “Cat, I wouldn’t…” I raise an inquisitive eyebrow. “Why not? Why can’t I…” I trail off as I step to Kevin’s side and get a good look at what has stopped him in his tracks. I stop myself and rub my eyes, wanting to make sure it truly is my nightmare made blood and flesh. Well, at least flesh. The blood is an optional thing. Lydia smirks seductively and licks painfully red lips as she sways forward, close enough so that she can trace red nails up Kevin’s bare arms. Only I’m close enough to see him flinch and suck a deep breath in through his own cold lips. “Hello Lover,” she purrs, voice a husky rumble that raises my hackles. The Vamp Tramp is decked out in a clingy number that’s as red as he lips and nails. Lydia is pretty, in an tall, dark, and deadly sort of way. She’s nearly equal to Kevin’s height, and has legs a mile long with a body that would make a centerfold jealous. Her hair is the perfect shade of midnight and reaches past her back like a thick silk waterfall. Vivid cerulean eyes seem out of place against her unearthly pale skin and her face has the clean, clear features of Spanish conquistadors. Hell, she’s probably related to a few. “Oh hell no,” I spit with quick anger. Lydia pauses and turns her languid blue eyed gaze to me with deceptive calm. I tense as I feel AJ and Brian moving closer to my back. Nice they think I can take care of myself and all. I stand stiffly as the Vampire assesses me, cool disdain clear in her face as she studies my leather pants and jeweled long sleeved top. I didn’t pick out the damn outfit by the way- Kevin did. He has better fashion sense then is healthy in a normal adult male. I feel her pointed stare dwelling on my neck and lips. I don’t think I want to know what she’s thinking about. “You… I don’t like you.” She tilts her face up as her claws continue to trail up and down Kevin’s arm lazily, silent threat in their slow movement. “Lover, why is Catherine Roberts here? She irritates me.” Oh lovely; Lydia is just as beautiful, and insane, as I remember. Why do all the crazies want me dead? Why can’t I have some normal enemies like any other run of the mill girl? Kevin swallows heavily and I can see him thinking fervently, trying and discarding half truths that never make it past his lips. Wuss. I snort and rest balled hands on my hips before tossing back ash blonde hair. Lydia’s stare narrows as she sidles closer to a distraught Kevin. Hello cat fight (I’d win!). Anyway… “Who let you out of your cage Lydia?” She hisses, predictably, and bares slender fangs. “I should rip out your heart and eat it while it beats in the palm of my hand.” I pretend a yawn. “Boring; come on Lydia, can’t you be just a little more creative with your impotent threats?” A low growl slips past her façade of humanity and she abandons Kevin in order to intimidate me. I blink as she towers before me, blue eyes turning white in their sudden provoked rage. Her fingers reach up to trace a line under my throat and I can sense AJ and Brian trying to crowd closer. “Stand back!” I snap. “I fight my own fights dammit.” Lydia chuckles and leans forward to nip the tip of my ear. I stand still with well trained effort. I’m too proud to show her how fast my heart is pounding right now, even though she can probably hear it. “How about I slit your throat wearing a wedding dress so that it’s stained red with your blood? I could serve it to Dracula in champagne glasses…” She sidled still closer. “The wedding dress?” I ask innocently. “I don’t think that would fit in a champagne bottle, let alone a glass…” She snarls suddenly and I can feel my panic rising in an insuppressible wave. Great timing, that. “I could break every bone in your body, one at a time, and dance to the tempo of your screams. I could feed you blood day after day and watch you weaken on the only food that sustains me until I take your life.” I take a deep breath. “Or you could back off because if you harm one hair on my head, Dracula will take every one of your half assed ideas and do something truly torturous to you.” I roll my shoulders, reach up, ignoring the bile in the back of my throat, and push the Vampire away with a disdainful index finger. “Go on, shoo, go play with your bones.” Lydia is a force of fury, blazing before me. Yay for me not cringing. “Your protection with Dracula is growing thin Catherine.” I glare back with a baleful stare. I can’t match her beauty and I can’t match her insane rage, but I can sure as hell try. “I am Dracula’s. He is my Lord and if you try to taint what is his, you will suffer and you will die and damn the Council’s protection.” She screams, an ugly sound of a monster wearing a mask of humanity. “I will see you dead and rotting!” Lydia whirls away from me, again feigning the carefree calm of the mentally unstable. She sways back to Kevin’s side and offers her cheek for a kiss. I watch, disgusted, as he winces but complies with his sire’s whims. Kevin brushes the ivory of her skin with the same lips he’s been kissing me and she shoots me a triumphant smile with fangs. “Good boy,” she purrs as her hands move to caress his dark hair. “I’ll be waiting in your hotel room after the show.” And with that audacious remark Lydia licks her lips and saunters away. The Backstreet Boys offer up a collective sigh of relief when she’s gone. I, on the other hand, am thoroughly pissed off. I turn to rail at Kevin, “How in the world could you date that, that, THING!” He looks sad and worn as he stares at me, green eyes dark with pain and regret. “Catherine…” His trembling hands reach for me. I jerk away. “Don’t touch me, just, don’t. I can’t handle you right now, not after that, not after her touching you.” “Don’t you think I know that!” he yells. “I die again every time she touches me.” “You’d still be alive if you hadn’t let her touch you in the first place. You all would be alive and happy and, and, I wouldn’t be here. I’d be home; I’d be safe!” Kevin roars, “I will keep you safe!” I flinch at the rawness behind his words but tell him the truth anyway; he’d be able to sense a lie. “You don’t know how.” He sucks in a deep breath and steps back as if I’d struck him with fists instead of words. I take a deep breath of my own and hate how afraid I feel. Mortal danger isn’t nearly as fun as horror movies would have you think. Brian steps up to my side and places a cautionary hand on my shoulder. “Cat…” “I need to stay with you tonight Brian. I can’t, won’t deal with HER again.” His eyes are warm and blue enough to drown in. “Of course. Are you all right?” “I… I need to go lie down for awhile. I’ll be on your bus.” Brian releases me and steps away. I don’t say anything as AJ, Nick, and Howie silently ring me and escort me back to the buses. Apparently I’m not the only one to think that Lydia’s off her rocker. AJ touches my hand as I go up the bus stairs. I pause for a minute and he smiles up at me softly, so beautiful to look at it nearly breaks my heart. “You did good in there Kitty Cat, better than I could have. Better than I would have tried to.” I smile tiredly back at him and bend down enough to kiss one tanned cheek softly. “Thanks Aje.” He pulls away surprised and touches his cheek, a pleased grin replacing the smile. Howie shakes his head and Nick gives me a thumbs up. I flip him a rude gesture before going onto the bus. Ever notice that I never seem to do anything but run away since I’ve become a Backstreet hostage? I think I’m finally tired of running.