Chapter Fifteen - word count 2106 - Download the PDF
15.
      By the time they got back to the compound, Seth had managed to step away from his abyss of insanity.  The one that dwelling on those memories always caused.  
      He’d also realized some things.  Firstly, women could not be trusted.  Seeing Veronica had brought all the old feelings of fear and betrayal back in to his mind’s spotlight.  There was no way he’d allow another woman close enough to let something like that happen again.  Kyle had done that to them once, it had cost Kyle his life and Seth an eternity of guilt. Seth would not make the same mistake. Drew had made him forget that for a while, he was glad that he had remembered before it was to late.  He’d protect Drew, teach her and make sure she was at home with her new people, but that’s all he was willing give her of himself.  Anything more would risk his heart getting involved, he was already too attached to her. Now he just had to find the balls to tell her what had happened between them had been a mistake.  
      “Listen up.” Seth spoke as they pulled up to the compound’s main house.  
      “You can all head up to bed.  I’ll brief Gabe on the situation.  There is no real reason for all of us to do it.”  
      No one argued as they went into the main house.  They were treading carefully around Seth.  He was edgy and needed a little time to get over seeing Veronica again. They all remembered clearly the wreck he’d been sixty years ago when Kyle had died. He hadn’t eaten for a over week, had refused to come out his room.  Gabriel had been worried Seth might try and follow Kyle.  It had been a relieved group of mythos the day Seth came out of his depression and started living again.  No one spoke of Kyle, the mention of his brothers name made Seth tense and hostile, but they all knew Seth still went to visit Kyle in the mausoleum.  He would never forgive himself for killing his brother.
      
      Seth walked into the darkened living room, the only light came from the plasma screen TV.  Gabriel was exactly where Seth had known he would be.  Flung across a two-seater couch, one leg dangling over the arm and the playstation controller, cradled like a lover in his palms as he played Final Fantasy X.
      “How many times have you played this game now?”  Seth collapsed into an armchair facing the huge plasma screen.
      “I don’t know, about fifteen times.”  
      “You know it begs the question.”
      “Why?” Gabriel flashed a tooth grin.
      “Yeah.”  
      “That question has a simple answer my friend.  I love this game - it chills me out.  Something I think you need right now.  Was it bad?”  
      Seth didn’t have to ask how Gabriel knew that he’d had an encounter with Veronica.  Gabriel knew things he shouldn’t be able to know.  That was just the way it was.  
      “Yeah, pretty bad.”  
      “Catch.”  
      Gabe tossed a Corona at Seth who caught it and deftly twisted the cap off, taking a long pull of the beer.  
      “Thanks.” He was quiet a moment then said. “You should have let me kill her Gabe.”  
      “Couldn’t do that.  Veronica still has a part to play.”  
      “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
      “Why are you going to punish Drew for Veronica’s actions?” Gabriel answered Seth’s question with one of his own.  
      “Damn Gabe, stay out of my head.”  
      Gabriel said nothing letting the silence stretch.  A long enough silence and he knew Seth would answer his question.
      “No woman can be trusted.”  
      “Now that is a load of shit and you know it.  You trust Selphie, even Jade for that matter. So how can you even say that?”
      “You know - you have a foul mouth for an angel?”
      “Where do you think I learnt it from?  And you’re avoiding my question.”
      “It’s not the same, those women are my family.”  He shook his head.
      “You aren’t going to change my mind Gabe, so give it up.  Besides there is nothing between Drew and I.”
      Gabriel snorted.  “Wanna tell yourself that again?  You might just start believing it,  ‘cause I sure as hell wont.  I know you have feelings for Drew.”  
      “And Drew, what are her feelings?”  Seth could have kicked himself for letting that question get past his lips.  
      “You’ll have to ask Drew that.”  
      “Asshole.”
      “See? Now ask me again where I learn my bad habits?”  
      Gabriel took a swig of his Corona then asked
      “So, you gonna tell me what Xander had to say?”
      “That vampire is such a pain in my ass.”  Seth told Gabriel about Drew’s near miss with Xander and what the vampire had told them in the meeting.  
      “Looks like we are going to have to try and talk some sense into Dragon.  He is all gung-ho to take his sister home.”  Gabriel sighed when Seth had told him everything.  
      “If you ask me they should ease up on the kid a bit.  Let her have something of a life.  She’s so protected they might as well put her in a cage.”  
      “You said it.” Gabe nodded.  
      
      An hour or so later Seth got to his room, a little bit buzzed from the beers he’d put away while talking to Gabriel.  He greeted Khan, stoking the sentins head.  Seth sat down on the edge of the bed and checked under the connecting door to Drew’s room.  Her light was on.  Good she was still awake, he had to go talk to her now.  Before the he lost his nerve.  
      Drew was waiting up for Seth.  She was worried about him.  Veronica had really done a number on him, tonight’s encounter with her had shown Drew just how bad it must have been.  So she breathed a sigh of relief when she heard his knock at the door.  
      “Come in.”  She called
      He opened the door and poked his head around it.  
      “You still up?”  
      “Yeah, come in Seth.”  
      He stepped into the room, and almost turned around and left again. She was curled up on the bed, her sentin stretched across the foot of it.  Drew was wearing a deep red satin robe, and he was pretty sure what ever was under it, was tiny.  He didn’t need to do this to himself.  He could come back in the morning when she was wearing proper clothes and his imagination didn’t run images through his head of what the nighty under the robe, or the woman in the nighty, might look like.  
      He cleared his throat.  
      “Are you okay Seth?” Drew asked.  
      “Yeah, yeah I’m fine.”  He ran a hand through his dark curls.  
      “Listen we need…  What happened in the alley...” He started pacing.
      Drew stayed quiet, letting him find the words to say whatever was sticking in his throat.
      He stopped and turned to face her.  
      “Drew I’m sorry, what happened between us tonight.   It can never happen again.  It was a mistake.  I should never have let it happen.”  He didn’t wait for a reply, he just turned and went through the connecting door.  
      Drew stared at the door, her heart felt like it was breaking in two.  That was not what she had been expecting.  He’d just ended it, whatever ‘it’ was.  Drew wished she could go punch Veronica again, she was the reason Seth had pulled away from her, Drew didn’t doubt it for a moment.  She’d lost him and she hadn’t even really had a chance to win him yet.  
      “Damit, get a grip on yourself woman.” She scolded herself as a tear rolled unheeded down her cheek.  She had too much pride to throw herself at any man.  If Seth didn’t want her then that’s the way it had to be.  She would just have accept his choice.  
      Khettah raised her big head then stood and moved over to curl around Drew’s legs.  
      All will be well.  Don’t cry Drew.
      Drew dashed the tears off her cheek, giving the sentin a watery smile.  
      “I hope you are right Khettah, I really hope you are right.”  
      
      “It’s out of the question.” Dragon was not even going to argue with them.  “There is no way I can leave my sister here.”
      It was ten in the morning and Gabriel had requested a meeting in the conference room.  Dragonselen had agreed to the meeting but that was all he was agreeing to.  
      Seth was on the point of screaming in frustration.  It wasn’t as if he didn’t have enough going on right now.  He’d gotten no sleep and he had a headache that would probably burst an artery in his brain.  In about a half an hour he had to meet Drew in the Gym for her first lesson in shifting, and he didn’t want to.  Every time he got anywhere near her he felt his gut knot up with regret that he couldn’t have her, and his body ache with need.  
      On top of all of that he had to sit here and listen to this arrogant asshole, who refused to listen to a word they had to say.  
      “Why can’t you understand this?  If you try and leave with your sister Sandamar will capture her.”  
      “Do you think I could not defend my own sister?  I am not fearful of this vampire you all seem terrified of.  He is no threat to the might of the dragons.”  
      Seth scrubbed his face with his hand and decided he better keep his mouth shut.  
      Gabriel leaned forward in his seat.  
      “Don’t underestimate Sandamar, he is extremely dangerous.  Added to that he is determined to get your sister.  We’ve explained to you why.  Please Lord Dragonselen.  Stay at the compound.  Sandamar will not attack here.”  
      Dragon slammed his hand on the table.
      “Enough!  We are not incapable of looking after our own people and I am sick of you suggesting we might be.”
      “That’s not…” Gabriel tried to say
      “I will listen to no more of this.  I leave this evening – with my sister.”  
      “Please Lord Dragonselen, at least leave during the day, when it is less likely that Sandamar’s vampires can ambush you.”  
      “And more humans are about- no - we leave this evening.”  
      “I’d like to travel with you.”  Darius said from the doorway.  
      Dragon turned to sneer at him.  “Why?”  
      “I have always admired your people and Lady Namara has kindly extended an open invitation to me, should I wish to visit.”  Darius lied like a master.  
      It worked because Dragon nodded his head.  “You may return with us if you like.  Please excuse me,” he got up to leave.  “I have preparations to make before we depart.”  
      When he’d gone Seth asked Darius.  “Are you sure you want to go with them?”
      “We can’t get him to say or leave Namara here, and if I’m along at least they have a slightly better chance of winning a fight with the vampires and trolls.”  
      “It’s a good idea Dar.” Gabriel agreed.  “If I thought Dragon would let me I’d send the whole Omega team along.”  
      Darius snorted. “Hold on I’ll email Lucifer quick and tell him to make sure the demons have ice-skates.”
      Gabe laughed.  “That’s about what it would take.  I can’t say I’m happy with you putting yourself in this amount of danger.”
      Darius shrugged.  “Danger is my job, besides, I can’t stand to see Namara leave when I know how much danger she’ll be in.  I have to go with.”  
      Gabriel nodded understanding what Darius meant. “Did you arrange with Crimson to take over the whole Tech Center while you are gone.”  
      “Yeah, he said he’d fill in for me.”  
      “Good luck then.  Keep me updated.”  
      Darius smiled.  “Don’t I always.  I’m gonna go pack.  Talk to you later.”  He tossed over his shoulder as he left.  
      Gabriel looked over at Seth, the lycos was staring into space deeply lost in thought.  
      “Don’t you have a lesson to prepare for?”
      Seth twisted his lips in distaste.  
      “You don’t have to remind me, I know.”  
      “Well get you ass in gear then.”  
      Seth rose and walked out the room without saying anything further.  
      Gabe watched him leave.  Selphie had spoken to Gabriel not long after meeting Drew and Gabe knew what the nymph believed.  Selphie was never wrong with it came to this type of thing, but it didn’t hurt to help things along.  So whether Seth liked it or not, Gabriel would make sure that Seth and Drew spent a lot of time together.
 
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