Saturday morning Lyssa began to do some cleaning to busy herself. She wanted to see and talk to Bex, but she also knew that was not the best course of action at the moment.
She moved boxes of old finished art pieces that she worked on to the attic. Stacking the boxes four high as she walked down the halls and up the stairs. When she pulled the ladder down for the attic the top box came tumbling down and many of her sketches were spread all over the floor.
With a sigh, she put the three boxes up before kneeling down and picking up the sketches. Her eyes fell on The Girl, the whole box was full of her. She picked up a sketch of The girl laughing into a smile.
“You are cruel to me you know. Always ruining my relationships and reminding me of your face. You are very unfair.” She talked to the drawing.
Then she picked up all the drawings and placed them into the box before putting it in the attic. After that Lyssa went back into her art studio. She paused by her sketchbook which was sitting opened. Without thinking much of it she grabbed it and began to draw in it.
Her hands moved back and forth rapidly as she used charcoal to shade in areas darker. She was locked into deep concentration, clearing her head of all that bothered her. When she was done she stared at it.
Her first official sketch of Bex.
She had the hazel eyes painting but that wasn’t of Bex’s whole face. This drawing was and it captured every little detail perfectly. She stared at it for some time wondering if she liked it or not.
The phone ringing caused her to jump. She sighed and set the drawing down before walking over to her landline phone and answering it.
“Hello?”
“Hello, my darling. Long time no hear.” An overly sweet voice chirped through the line.
Lyssa tensed up and her lips creased into a tight thin line.
“What do you want?” Lyssa spat.
“What do I want? I don’t even get a how are you? How rude.” The girl said, she also had an English accent.
“Lacy I am going to hang up unless you tell me why you called.” Lyssa threatened.
“As irritable as ever I see. Well, I suppose I should cut to the chase. Word on the street is that you have a blood slave. Many of our pack have taken notice. Of course, I said surely not my Val, never. I know how you feel about the idea of a blood slave. Yet tell me why I was in town the other day and saw you with a human girl?”
“I don’t have to answer to you or the pack. I already told you to leave me alone.”
“You know you can’t make it on your own Val. You need us, you need me.”
“I don’t need anyone!”
“I miss you. It’s been over 20 years, don’t tell me you're still mad at me.”
“You left me! For what’s his face. Don’t pretend that all of that never happened. I am done with you Lacy. Don’t call me again. Don’t ever come here again. Don’t ever bother me again!” Lyssa hung up the phone.
She stormed back into the art studio where the blond in the painting stared at her. She narrowed her eyes at.
“So typical of you to think you can just show up whenever!” She shouted at the painting.
She then grabbed a sheet that somehow kept coming uncovered and moved it back in place.
Bex sat in the living room munching on snacks and watching tv. She made a face when she could feel Lyssa’s sudden spike in irritation and heartache. She pushed the emotions away, something she had been practicing at and went back to focusing on the tv.
She winced when Lyssa’s sadness and fear pierced through her own thoughts like a bomb had gone off. Still, she pushed them away and tried to focus on the tv. The more she tried to ignore the strong emotions the more a headache began to form. She sighed and turned the TV off, knowing it was no use.
“Everything okay sweetie?” Her mom asked she came downstairs and saw Bex sitting in the living room with the tv off.
“I don’t know. I think Lyssa needs me.” She sighed.
“How do you know?”
“I just do.” Bex got up and walked to the kitchen after her mother.
“Well, I thought you said you were done with that girl.”
“I am, but she’s still my friend. I can’t just let her mope around her house all day. I guess I never told you this but she’s all alone mom. No family, no friends, nothing but herself. She lives alone. I am just worried for her you know.” Bex set her snacks on the counter.
“She has no one?” Her mom began to worry.
“No one. Just me and now not even that. Do you think maybe I could go see her?”
Her mom frowned.
“Please mom, I won’t stay over and I promise not to get back together with her. I’m just worried that’s all.”
“Fine, but only because I know if I say no you will just sneak out anyway. Be careful, and call me when you get there so that I know you’re safe.”
“Can it be a text?”
“Fine.” Her mom frowned.
“Thank you!” She hugged her mom.
Then after that Bex ran upstairs, got changed, put her shoes on and ran out the front door. She walked to Lyssa’s house finding her way easily. When she got there she stood at the door for a moment feeling hesitant to knock. Lyssa opened the door before she even could.
“What are you doing here Rebecca?” Lyssa asked.
It was clear she had been crying as tear stains streaked down her cheeks.
“I uh, felt you. I just thought maybe you’d want someone to talk to.”
They stared at each other for a moment. Then Lyssa took a deep breath and stepped aside, letting Bex in.
Lyssa led her to the art studio Bex gasped at the sight of it. It was destroyed. All the paintings and drawings of the blond beauty ripped up and obliterated. All except one. The one Bex saw the last time. It still lay in the corner, halfway covered up.
“Lyssa! Look what you’ve done. You ruined them all. They were beautiful.” Bex frowned.
“She’s not beautiful she’s a hideous monster and I hate her.”
Bex sighed and got on her knees and started cleaning the mess. Lyssa watched her.
“Don’t just stand there help me clean up,” Bex grumbled.
Lyssa kneeled in front of Bex and grabbed her by the hands forcing her to stand again.
“You are not my maid Rebecca. You are my… friend.”
Bex smiled a soft smile at her.
“Come, I want to show you something. This is not why I brought you in here.” She led Bex away from the mess.
Lyssa led her over to the sketchbook and handed it to her. Bex’s eyes went wide at the beautiful portrait of herself.
“It is my personal tradition that when a new muse inspires me I always give them my first portrait of them. It’s yours now Rebecca.”
“Wow, Lyssa. I don’t know what to say. I mean, thank you. I really like it.”
“Thank you, for coming to check on me.” Lyssa smiled at her.
“Are you okay?” Bex asked.
“Now who is the one asking questions. Yes, Rebecca, I shall be fine. Old wounds still not healed is all.”
“Talk to me. I wanna know more about you. About your past. About the blond and the girl who looks like me. You can talk to me you know. It’s okay.”
Lyssa sighed and walked out of the room, Bex followed her.
They walked upstairs Bex was led into a grand sized ballroom with a single piano in it. She gasped at the sight and her jaw dropped.
“Wow!” she said in amazement.
“Emm.” Lyssa walked over to the piano.
She ran her fingers on the keys causing notes to echo off the walls of the room.
“I have a lot of baggage Rebecca. Meaning there is a lot about me that once you know, you can never unknow it. Which is why I am hesitant to open up to you. I guess you can say I have had my fair share of bad experiences. Betrayal is a common theme in my life and as that is so, I have learned never to trust anyone.”
“But I’m in your head, you feel what I feel. Sometimes even before I do. How could I ever betray you without you knowing?”
“It has happened.” Lyssa clutched the center of her chest. “It has happened and I shall never forget it.” She whispered.
“Then tell me. How can you expect me to just be comfortable around you when I don’t even know you?”
Lyssa held out her hand to Bex signaling she wanted to dance.
“Oh I uh, don’t, I mean I can’t—”
“Shh, just step on my feet and I shall guide you.”
Bex swallowed loudly and carefully stepped on Lyssa’s feet moving her arms to Lyssa’s shoulders. Their bodies were pressed close and Bex could do nothing to hide the blush in her cheeks or the emotions that bubbled up inside of her.
“Back straight Rebecca.” Lyssa grabbed Bex’s right hand and placed it on her hip. Then she grabbed Bex’s left hand and into locked their fingers.
“Alexa play a waltz,” Lyssa called out.
Bex made a face that said seriously?
“What? You think just because I am an old mean vampire that I don’t know how to use technology?”
“Well sort of I mean you still have a landline and I have yet to see any computers in this place or tv’s for that matter.”
“Ah, Rebecca there is still so many other rooms left in this house to be explored. Just because you have not seen it, does not mean it’s not there.” Lyssa smirked.
A soft waltz began to play and Lyssa began to move to the rhythm. Slowly dancing with Bex.
They moved in silence for a while until Lyssa began the conversation again.
“So I have given some thought as to what you said to me.”
“And?” Bex looked her in the eyes.
“And, you were right. The only reason why I love you is because of her. You remind me so much of her. Even now. It is painful for me to be around you.”
“Who is her? Who is this girl, tell me.” Bex begged.
“Her name was Elizabeth, and she was divine.”
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