AN: Ever notice how Kevin just naturally gets written as a jerk? Anyway, feedback, much adored, both the feedback and the people who send it. inspiredthoughts@hotmail.com ************************ Curiosity Killed... Chapter Four ********************** “Will you sing for me?” “Are you serious?” I shrug awkwardly and scoot along the wall that AJ’s leaning against before looking up at him with big, big, brown eyes from under a fringe of messy blonde bangs. “Well, your band mates are probably talking about new and exciting ways to torture me and I’ve never heard you guys in concert. It’d be kind of nice to say I did before I’m too maimed to enjoy it.” AJ eyes me with some slight suspicion though the twinkle in his dark gaze is back. “You’re really a fan?” I solemnly hold up my hand. “Cat’s honor.” His face clouds over for a moment. “Do you really think we want to kill you? Hurt you? We’re not bad people…” I look away and chew at my lower lip absently with my teeth. “I think,” I reply carefully, “That you are all very good people. There’s a lot of good people in the world but that doesn’t stop them from doing bad things. I have my doubts I’m going to walk away from this without new scars or a headstone to show for it. So, please, sing…” AJ nods slowly. He grabs my hand and we sit on the carpet of the private hotel hallway, our backs to the wall, legs folded Indian style. I close my eyes and smile as one of my favorite Backstreet Boys serenades me softly and try not to think about what my other favorite “boy” is plotting in the next room. Otherwise I might cry and, well, Catherine Roberts doesn’t cry. ************************************************************************************* Nearly two CDs worth of songs later, the door opens, stopping AJ and making me crack open my eyes. Kevin is towering in the doorway, filling it with his large, dark frame and equally fierce blazing green eyes. So, I do the only logical thing. I close my eyes. “What’s she doing?” comes the demanding question. I can sense AJ shrug easily as he responds, “Ignoring you, if I’m guessing correctly.” I give an approving “thumbs up” and proceed to ignore Kevin Richardson. I heard his gentle footfalls and tense as he stops in front of me. I can feel the tips of his shoes brush my legs. He kneels so that his face is level with mine, though my eyes are still tightly closed. “Ignore me while you can child, but I know you still hear me.” Like I could block out that voice if I WANTED to. “We’re not going to kill you, or hurt you, or free you. We’re going to do something else. I’M going to do something else. Dracula prizes you because you resist him, his wiles and charms. You’ve done what no female has managed to do in his centuries of existence. For that he’s granted you immunity, protection, of a sorts. “He’s failed to consider that others might succeed where he’s failed though, child. We’re going to seduce you and in doing so do the one thing that might save us in the Vampire Community, we’re going to best Dracula, the most powerful of them all.” My mouth drops down and my eyes snap open to see Kevin Richardson smiling at me, green eyes flashing as a smirk tugs at the corner of his lips. Brian, Howie, and Nick are behind him, their expressions of enthusiasm a range of different levels but overshadowed by a stronger determination. AJ, who’s still next to me, winks impudently. I swallow and fold my arms across my chest protectively. When I speak my voice wavers, just the slightest. “Well, THAT was unexpected.” And I’m expecting AJ’s response, though I still jump when he howls with laughter. The amused dark haired singer slings a companionable arm around me, though my eyes stay fixed on Kevin’s, “This is going to be fun.” Kevin’s smile fades as his jaw tightens. I couldn’t disagree more. ************************************************************************************* “Call him.” I glare at the obstinate man. “You call him.” A vein bulges in Kevin Richardson’s neck. “You’re being unreasonable child.” I smile sweetly. “I try.” Kevin growls and raises his hand as I stare back defiantly. “Go ahead,” I taunt from my position on the bed, back in the hotel room, of course. “Hit me. Nothing like slapping around helpless women for fun huh?” The second growl is lower in his throat. “Kevin, you hit that girl and I’ll stake you myself. She’s provoking you and you should be mature enough to ignore her.” I blink and grin at Brian who is watching his cousin with a scowl. “Thank you Mr. Littrell.” Brian turns the scowl on me. “If you’d help things along some he’d be less bullheaded. You’re just making things difficult on yourself.” I sniff and draw my knees up under my chin. “I like things being difficult,” I respond petulantly. A smile twitches at the corners of Brian’s full mouth, despite himself. “Besides, give a vampire an inch and he’ll tear out your throat.” “Charming,” Howie remarks dryly as he enters the room. “I cleared our interviews and photo shoot for the day Kevin.” Oh yeah, him. I’d forgotten about him. Silly me. Kevin doesn’t bother to look at his band mate but remains glaring frigidly at me. Welcome back Mr. Intimidation. “Call him,” he demands again, curtly, and thrusts a cell phone in my face. What is it with the Backstreet Boys wanting me to call people? You’d think five grown bloodsuckers would have learned how to use a phone by now, they all have them. “Say pretty please.” Kevin hisses and takes a step closer to the bed, putting him about six inches from the edge. I’m perched securely in the middle, not that the extra foot of distance between us would mean anything if he actually decided to physically harm me. “I’m going to smack her Brian, hard.” “Can I smack him back Brian, please? See, its not so hard to say…” I don’t see the hand that flies through the air towards my face but an instant later Howie is at Kevin’s side, holding his large hand in a grip of steel a breath away from my cheek. Howie’s eyes are glowing gold. “Kevin, out, right now, I’ll deal with her.” Kevin growls again as his eyes slide to darkness and the tips of fangs emerge. I could have done without the visual, really. Howie shakes the captive arm. “Out!” I swallow as Kevin Richardson turns on his heel and stalks out of the immediate room. Howie sighs and hands me the cell phone. “Please call Dracula child, enough with the dramatics.” I shrug and take the phone. “All he had to do was say please…” I mutter as I dial the number I know by heart. Howie chuckles lightly. “And pigs could fly while the sky turns green.” So much for seducing me. The phone rings twice before a familiar voice answers it, low and deep, velvet make flesh and blood and poured into silk. “Yes?” I shiver and answer before I loose my nerve. “I’ve been taken captive by the Backstreet Boys.” Wow, how many girls get to say THAT?!