“Why?” she asks bitterly. “What good will it do?”
“It might help you move on,” he says.
“Move on,” she repeats flatly. “I am a Vampire. Strong! Practically unkillable and yet…” She turns to him again, tears in her eyes. “Not only did he overpower me enough to rape me, he almost killed me as well.”
“And now he is gone,” Constantine says. “You are still here. Wanted. Needed, even.”
“Do you want me?” she inquires, her voice going soft as she bats her eyes at him. “Do you need me, Constantine?”
Ah crap. He tries not sigh out loud. He didn’t think she felt that way about him. Certainly, she has never shown it before. Awe and respect, fear even, of course, but desire was never even a flicker in her eyes.
“Arathia needs you,” he says carefully, trying to focus her attention back to her role here. “You are invaluable to Aefre and…”
He doesn’t expect it.
She launches herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her lips to his. She kisses him, trying to force his lips apart, but he refuses to budge. He takes her by her wrists and peels her arms off him with a disapproving look.
“I just want to feel…” she weeps suddenly, turning from him and racing out into the night. Without her Silver.
“Dammit,” he mutters and then spins around as he senses Devon hovering behind them.
“Oh?” Devon asks, raising his eyebrow and crossing his arms. “With the help no less.”
“That’s your fucking job, seeing as you two seem so chummy,” Constantine growls and throws the bracelet at him, “Go and deal with that woman.”
“Seems she prefers you,” Devon says, his eyes flashing. “As usual.”
The last two words are uttered under his breath, but Constantine still heard them and rolls his eyes.
“Oh, grow up and sort her out.”
Devon glares defiantly at him.
“Go!” Constantine roars at him, slamming down Aefre’s ring on the kitchen island in his frustration. Dawn is approaching and he needs Aefre in front of that pit.
Ponte, Italy, March 2015 - Frederick
He is grooming one of the horses when the woman, Marguerite, barrels into the stables as if the Devil himself were on her ass. She skids to a stop when she sees him, glancing furtively left or right as if trying to escape him. He hasn’t had much interaction with her since he arrived back here to watch over Aefre, but she didn’t seem the skittish type before the attack on the castle a few months back.
“You okay?” he asks hesitantly, not wanting to get involved, but needing to say something at least. She doesn’t answer him, as he continues to groom the horse. Just watches him with intent in her eyes.
“Uh, no…” he starts as she approaches him. He is all up for some fun in the barn, but he has his sights on one woman only and this exotic creature, gorgeous as she is, isn’t her.
“You find me attractive still, don’t you? Even with this?” She removes her scarf to show him her ugly scar.
“Is that why you have come here? Because you know I, too, am marked?” he asks, with a squint. Women! They have some twisted notions in their heads. Like it would matter to him one way or another.
“Do you?” she demands, coming closer.
“You are beautiful,” he starts, wondering where this conversation is about to go.
He doesn’t have long to wait as she throws herself in his general direction, only to be hauled back by Devon, who has thankfully, come to his rescue it seems.
“Ahem,” Frederick says, clutching the horse brush in front of him idiotically. “She…”
“I got this,” Devon growls at him and hauls the woman away, kicking and screaming, his arm around her waist as he picks her up and throws her over his shoulder.
“Jesus,” Frederick mutters and blinks when he realizes what time it is. He needs to make sure that Aefre is at that pit. He puts the brush down and heads back to the castle.