CURSED

Chapter 10 – Plans

"Come here Kitten. I won't hurt you." I could basically hear the unspoken "yet". My vivid imagination certainly did, and went wild with it. But that didn't stop me from obeying him.

I stood up hesitantly and inched towards his position on the bed. He rolled his eyes and grabbed me so that I fell next to him.

Thankfully my bed was nice and soft, so it didn't hurt. Him rolling on top of me was a bit more painful though.

"Gahhh," I moaned as he basically squeezed all of the oxygen out of my chest. He didn't seem to notice or care that he was squishing me. I thought I'd mention it to him in passing.

"Aiden," I wheezed. "It's not that you're fat or anything, but I can't breathe." I'd like to pretend I was able to say it like a normal person, but I paused in between every second word to gasp for breath.

He didn't react for a bit, he just lay on top of me with his hands tangled in my hair, his head resting in the curve of my neck. He was teasing me by panting on my neck, like he was rubbing in that he was perfectly capable of breathing and I wasn't. Bastard.

My hands, which thankfully hadn't been trapped in between our bodies, moved to pull his hair. As much as I hated to ruin his gorgeous hair by ripping out chunks, it was a sacrifice I was ready to make if it meant he'd get off me.

I grabbed a handful of his hair, but before I could pull he spoke up.

"Don't. Unless you want me to take you right here, right now."

Well. Who knew he was into kinky things like sadism. Actually, that's just sort of creepy. I'll have to make sure he knows I'm not partaking in any of that SM stuff when I finally put him out of his misery and sleep with him.

I stayed silent and didn't dare move either. Seconds turned into minutes, and I was getting sort of bored, just lying there. Somehow I figured there'd be more action when I had Aiden on top of me.

I tapped my fingers in a rhythm on his broad back, and considered asking him what time it was. I couldn't see the alarm clock on my bedside table. I hate not knowing the time.

Is it weird that I have a mentally unstable male werewolf lying on top of me and all I can think about is the time and how bored I am?

After what seemed like an eternity, Aiden stopped panting, and lifted himself off of me. Not completely, but he rested on his forearms now instead of just flattening me. He seemed to examine my face, which was either pale from lack of blood flow, or red from not getting enough air. Either way, not a good look on me.

"Okay, I'm ready to talk now." The wild look in his eyes wasn't quite gone yet, but apparently he was more in control now. He better be in any case. I don't know how easy I am to kill, but I also don't really want to find out.

I didn't make any move to say anything to him, so he continued. "I'm not sure if I want to know this or not. But I have to ask." He took a deep breath before continuing. "Do you have any feelings for Hunter."

I closed my eyes in despair. "I love you."

I could feel him tense up, "You didn't answer my question."

"I can't. I don't know. It's just complicated."

He caught my wrist in his hand before I could touch his face. "You've used that one before. It's not good enough. What would you do if you saw him again? If you had to choose I mean. Him or me."

"You," I answered after a slight hesitation.

But he caught that brief moment of doubt. He pushed himself off of me and left me lying prone on the bed. The door didn't even slam closed behind him. I don't know which angry Aiden is worse; the one that screams or the one that doesn't.

I got up eventually, and decided to take a shower. I felt dirty for some reason. And no one would notice my tears in the shower. I sat there for an hour before I realized what it was that I had to do. No one would approve of my plan, so I would keep it to myself. Although Aiden may not care anymore. And Amber might hate me. So, now that I had alienated the two people I care for the most –outside of my family of course- there was only one thing left to do.

Sneaking out of the house was surprisingly easy. All I had to do was lock my door and climb out of my window. Dressed in all black, I disappeared into the night. I'd stayed in my room for the rest of the day, only leaving my room once for food and drink. No one bothered me.

I fell to the ground with a small grunt, but didn't break any bones. That might have made this escape a bit more difficult. Although really, if I can heal others, why wouldn't I be able to heal myself too? How lame would that be.

I didn't know quite where to go, but I had this weird gut feeling that I decided to follow. I tried to stay off the main roads, but didn't really want to go on the dirt paths either. Just because I'm trying to get kidnapped again doesn't mean I want it to be by dirty rapists or drug addicts.

I ended up at a Safeway, in an abandoned parking lot. A few lights were on, but I stood away from them. Vampires can see just as well, if not better, in the dark.

I didn't have to wait long. Dark shapes approached me. All tall, with those cool trench coats they seemed to love so much. It added to the image I suppose.

"So. You've returned to us, have you, my dear?" Hunter asked me, wearing a satisfied smile.

I shrugged, feigning indifference. "You were calling to me. I couldn't resist." It was the truth. I figured out that the pounding headache had gotten less and less with every step I took towards Hunter.

The second the hippie witch broke the connection between him and me, these headaches had started. As soon as I decided to seek out Hunter, the headache almost disappeared. Now, it was completely gone.

I took another step towards Hunter, leaving about three feet of space between us. Enough that I wouldn't feel quite so tempted to kiss him. Of course the whole mind reading thing is a bit of a problem, but he can't hear my thoughts, only when I formulate sentences or words.

"What are you trying to hide from me darling?" He tucked a strand of my still black hair behind my ear. I resisted the urge to hit him.

"What do you mean?"I asked, feigning ignorance.

"I can sense something going on in your mind, but nothing clear." He gave me a slightly suspicious look.

I almost panicked before remembering that he would notice if I panicked. Goddamn supernatural creatures.

He smiled at that, obviously having heard that loud and clear. It was as breathtaking as it had been before. Before I found out what he'd done to me. The most vivid memory surfaced again; the one of him lashing me.

Hunter stopped smiling when he noticed the direction my thoughts were going. "You want to know why I had to hurt you?"

"Yes," I answered, glad that someone was going to give me some proper answers for once.

"Let's go back to the mansion first, it's not safe for us to be out here too long. Even the werewolves might eventually find us."

I felt a bit uneasy about going to a place full of vampires, but before I could voice my concern Hunter reassured me.

"No one will touch you. They know you are mine. Hurting you would be a death sentence for that vampire and his entire family."

"Oh," I said a bit shocked, "Isn't that a bit too harsh?" Not that I really minded.

"No," he said, dead serious. "Anyone who is willing to harm his future queen is obviously not loyal to our bloodline and must be considered a threat."

We stepped into a black Escalade which had appeared before I could ask my next question.

"The wolves said you didn't have kings, only covens or something?"

He laughed. "There are lots of things they don't know about us. But let me explain, since you will be a part of it all. It is true; we do have coven leaders. Five of them. But what many don't know is that there is one figure higher than them. The King."

It all seemed a bit weird to me, but I think I understood. "So it's sort of like Congress and the President?" Yes, a weird example. But the same kind of structure.

He agreed, "Not only are you gorgeous, but smart too. You'll make the perfect queen. And, being a Guardian, you can protect the entire coven royalty. No one will be able to stop us!"

I laughed with him, but he was too into the whole evil cackling to notice the slight tone of hysteria in me.

"How is Ally?" His sister had been nice to me, as far as I can remember.

"Well, I had to punish her for losing you, but she's recovering nicely. Won't be any scars left by tomorrow I think. I was considering punishing her again, but you came back, so there'll be no need." The way he said this so nonchalantly worried me. It was like he wasn't talking about his sister, but some stranger.

I grabbed Hunter's hand, "Please don't do any mind control things on me again. Once I can forgive, but twice is going to be a bit harder."

He looked deep into my eyes, and for a moment I was afraid he'd figured out my plan. But he hadn't. "I wouldn't do something like that to you ever again. It was just necessary the first time to make sure the wolves hadn't done anything to you. And I knew you were a Guardian and would heal without scarring. Otherwise I would never have done it to you."

We settled into a comfortable silence, and I was left to ponder shallow things like my nails again, just in case someone was listening in on my thoughts.

I decided to remedy this. "Hunter, is there any way I can stop every vampire from reading my thoughts? I find it very disturbing."

He smothered a laugh, "Only my sister and I are allowed to. No one else would dare. But if you want, I can show you how to block others from your mind. Being a Guardian makes it easier for you. Especially now that you know."

"That would be awesome. Thanks Hunter!" Saying those words left a bitter taste in my mouth, one that not even brushing my teeth would get rid of.

We arrived at the mansion, which was located on the outskirts of town. It was nestled in a grove of big pine trees that would pretty much block out all light. It was actually a big cabin, made out of wood. It looked more like a lodge, or a retreat belonging to an old millionaire, rather than a bunch of vampires.

It didn't look abandoned as such. There were no broken windows, no peeling paint - okay, that might be because there was no paint – and the garden wasn't overrun by weeds. It did have that whole dark and creepy thing going on though; definitely a place you wouldn't approach if you were passing through the area.

"So what do you think, love?" Hunter asked me after we had gotten out of the SUV and stood in front of the imposing house.

There wasn't much to say, but I think he wanted some kind of praise. "Well... it's certainly big enough. And um, the garden looks nice."

I almost hit myself, the garden looks nice? What the hell. It was a patch of grass with a hedge around it.

Hunter also looked at me strangely. Well, at least it was a change to that constant adoring look on his face whenever he looked at me. Although I appreciate that more than the glaring I constantly get from Aiden.

"That's...nice." He remarked, probably worried about my state of mind. Can't blame him, really.

"Shall we go in then?" I asked after a minute's silence. "Cause, no offense, but I can think of better things to do than stand out here."

A smug grin appeared on Hunter's face. "Oh really? Did these thoughts include you, me and a bed? Maybe some whipped cream?"

I giggled and swatted his arm in a flirty manner, "None of that until there's a ring on my finger!" Although I'm very tempted...Just the thought of cuffing him to the headboard, and having my way with him gave me butterflies.

The urge to throw up grew in me as he grabbed my face and kissed me, fangs and all. "In case you forgot, you were kidnapped right before we got to have out Engagement Ball. So we are already engaged. We just need to make it official. I've already got my father's permission. We can be married in two or three weeks."

My traitorous body decided to jump on him in ecstasy, whereas my brain was repeating his words over and over again. Every time I think I've figured my feelings out, one part of me goes haywire. With Aiden it's my brain, and with Hunter my body. It's just not fair. Only one question left: does mind really triumph over matter?

A/N: Thanks to everyone that reviewed and read and alerted etc! I love you guys! Especially the ones that give me feedback (hint, hint). Sorry if I didn't get to reply to some of you, but I'm surprisingly busy! I'm leaving to uni in under two weeks, and it's just gonna be so weird. No more parents - they'll be far away.

Also I was busy typing up the next chapter, cause I don't want to have to make you wait 5 months for the next one! But I can't promise it'll be THAT soon, cause of the whole starting uni thing!