Let's Play!

" Yes, please."



She purred, turning into the nearest room, letting him lay on the ever maintained bed, herself sitting down upon the edge of the bed, laying back upon the covered, across the foot of the bed as he was already resting now.

Darryn didn't even cover up. The man just lay down and all but passed out.



However, when he did wake, the first thing his eyes settled on was Ashleigh's form. It was strange to watch his expression. You could almost catch his thoughts. At first, his face lifted into that beaming smile so reminiscent of old times, but then it faded and he looked away, shaking his head at himself.

Asheligh enjoyed the smile, but at the other look, she looked down.



" I am sorry to cause that."



It was not an enjoyable look, and it was not comforting, or reassuring, or anything else. She should have left him to die in the snow. she should have done what she knew to be right, to keep to solitude. then she would not feel this way.... Wasn't it because of the hurt men could cause that she'd sworn off of such things? Now here she was....



slowly she moved on the bed, attempting to rid herself of such thoughts, climbing up to darryn, hesitant to touch. Would that upset him too? She might outrank in public and power, but in private, hidden away, he had all authority now. She had given up anything. she was hurting from the thoughts that assaulted her.

Darryn shook his head.



"You didn't cause it."



He watched her hand moved and reached out, actually taking her by the waist. He tugged just slightly, though not in a suggestive way.

" I should have just told you who I was before."



She purred gently, snuggling to his chest.



" You'd not have wanted a thing to do with me, and you'd be fine, and so would I."



She stated softly, that small glimpse of hurt showing right now.

Darryn's arms slowly folded around her. She seemed so small today. He wasn't used to that. And her words! Oh! They made him feel bad for her. They more than hinted. 'And so would I,' she said. She was not okay. The man leaned down and actually went so far as to hug her lightly.



"Your birthright is not who you are."

" It is when everyone else imposes it upon you to the point you must either die, or live in a rabbit hole, alone as a hermit, for the rest of your life."





She replied gently, now her lower lips quivering ever so slightly as she fought not to cry. she was stronger then that. A broken heart twice...

Darryn slowly rubbed her back. Then, he quietly spoke.



"You're not alone."

" Only for now."



She replied faintly, placing her face in his chest now. This woman could be broken. If you got into that tiny little clamshell she called a heart. and if you crushed the precious jewel inside, you could destroy her. She'd had it happen once, and the jewel had been mended, and the clam was the wiser, clenched ever tighter.



But it had grown weak in it's isolation, it had dared to trust, letting in another... only to learn it was a pointless effort. Their was a reason their hearts did not beat. they did not have a place for one in their life style. Hearts were only there to be broken in their race, until it was broken to the point of no return.

Darryn's eyes lowered, just holding on to her while he was allowed. He even ventured to speak after a while.



"What about you? If the world was perfect, what would you want?"

" ... I do not know....you... or... to be born without a heart to break.... ."



She was struggling, you could almost hear the tears choked back as she took in his scent, his feel, his entire being. it was all her's, for this moment.

Darryn sighed gently.



"I'm here. But the other... Even us who knew nothing else still have hearts."



Born vampire.

Ashleigh shrugged at the thought, looking up at the noise. she wasn't kidding about the hauntings.



" then you, or not to be born at all."

Darryn just nodded slowly. Then, he jumped at the noise.



"Skye?"

" the house does have ghosts."



she replied simply, not worried as the bed got moved to the other side of the room, or the fact that they were randomly covered. It was how this placed worked, for her. Always friendly.

Darryn just chewed on his lip. Then, he gave a slow nod.

" Sorry."



she purred lightly, shifting and kissing his cheek lightly, having barely caught herself before kissing his lips.



" ... so, where would you like to go from here?"



she asked, looking him over. It felt like death row to her. What would the last meal be?

"Wherever you want to go."



Darryn offered her a small smile.

" With you."



She replied.



Him. She wanted him.

Darryn slowly sat up.



"I want to eat something."

" Alright."



she purred, shifting and slipping from the bed, wondering into the kitchen, and climbing right out the window into the moonlight. That was the only way she knew for certain she could get out. all kitchens had windows in this place.

Darryn followed her, a little curiosity nagging at him.



"Where are we going?"

" Their is no food in that house worth eating, and I'd get lost trying to find the kitchen that had it, so I am going somewhere with a limit of four rooms, and obvious doors."

Darryn smiled faintly, just moving in her wake.

Soon they were inside a tiny mom and pop shop that was nearby, Ashleigh smiled kindly to the elderly woman who asked them what they'd like, and if they'd like one of the couples booths, to which Ashleigh quickly agreed. She took em even when she wasn't here with someone! They were secluded, private. You could be making out and only the waitress would ever know. ( Which met everyone who worked there, and later on, everyone in town would know... but at least you weren't being stared at XD )





Sitting in the tiny, set off area, Ashleigh looked over the menu as a formality, ordering for both, as she did not think Darryn would be familiar with the weird names for the dishes.



Who knows a combo meal Peeling the paint?

Darryn sat with her, looking about. He gave a soft smile.



"It is quiet."



He said it like it was a good thing.

" Isolated, and hardly frequented. it's been owned and run since five years before the house went up. Since the house went up, no one comes here. It's nice though, people stay away."



She knew all the areas around here to keep out of sight for forever. She just couldn't live in that house for forever.

"I don't know... There could be a couple more and it would be okay. Diversity."



He gave her a pointed look. Eating people?

" Oh, enough come for that."



Ashleigh replied with an eyeroll.



" How do you think the house maintains the reputation? "

"It eats people."



Darryn was being serious. The house was just a little bit... okay a lot bit spooky.

" Well, yes."



She replied honestly, smiling.



" Mind you, we can explain all but two. Those two we're not even certain of. But the house is safe. For myself, or you."



Why him? It seemed to just... know those things.

Darryn smiled lightly, shaking his head. He looked up as the waitress approached. He would eat his shoelaces at this point...

Their were two glasses filled first, monster like goblets, and then the large plates of wonderful home-like home cooked goodness covered the table. Meal time.



Ashleigh actually downed the goblet first. it was blood mixed with a small amount of wine. They weren't stupid. THEY knew why they were alive. Keep the woman covering your hide fed

Darryn ate. Oh, it was nice in every way. It was nice in the sense that it seemed more natural. It was nice in the sense that it made him feel better.



Thank you.

It is the least I can offer the man that reminded me what it was like to be happy.



And what it was like to lose it. But that part didn't matter, butter to love and lose, right?

Now his chewing and scarfing slowed.



I'm sorry I turned out to be such a disappointment.



Darryn reached over, just taking a sip of the drink... and then he swallowed the rest in two gulps. He really needed that.

Ashleigh shook her head slowly, chewing in an almost thoughtful manner.



" Never a disappointment. "



Heart breaking bastard, perhaps. Not disappointing though. she was coping as best she knew how. Loving was not something that happened too often to vampires, once. Let alone twice.

Darryn was just silent now, pushing the food around the plate. He seemed to have lost most of his appetite - which was HUGE if she remembered anything about this man. He was quietly staring at the plate. He didn't believe her.

Ashleigh watched him for a small while, shaking her head.



" You need your strength, eat."

"I have it. Would you like me to break something for you?"



Darryn glanced at the woman.