Eighteen Summers by Jessie M Page B

rest now. There has been too much excitement for one day. My Lady must be exhausted.”
    They all leave and I am alone. Alone with my thoughts, my worries, and my newly adjusting vampire mind and body. I am not tired or fit for resting. I feel like exploring. I know that the lower levels are the vampire bedchambers but the media rooms and the other main rooms in the house await. I set off up the stairs to the very top of the building. Most of the doors are locked, but the few I enter are mainly reception rooms. There is a library, but it is full of similar books to the ones in my room. I find the media suite and sit at a computer turning it on with joy.
    “A little bit of YouTube I think.” I mumble to myself happily. But it is not to be. I do not have the password to log in.
    Oh damn it and fuck my life.
    I leave the suite in acute disappointment and wander downstairs to the kitchen. I look through the cupboards and fridge and help myself to some red wine diluting it with chilled water. Then I make my way back to my rooms again. I need to get something to do or else I'm going to go crazy down here. I knock on Nico's door as I pass, maybe he can give me the password. He doesn't answer. But being the nosy girl I am, I just need a quick peek inside his room. I try the door and it opens. I quickly step into the darkness. I can see reasonably well, with my newly enhanced vampire vision. My eyes take it all in instantly. Nico and Sofia lie before me, naked on his bed, wrapped together in a passionate embrace. I am so overwhelmed with jealousy, and intense physical need, that I can't stop the strangled noise that escapes me. I stand and stare brazenly as they both look in my direction. Then I rush out, banging the door shut behind me, run along the corridor and back into my room. I lock my door from the inside with the key and slam the bolt across. I know I am overreacting. I know they do this together. But to see it happening is another thing entirely, it's like rubbing salt in an open wound, it hurts so badly. What remains of my human side won't accept it.
    He's my guardian, and he belongs to me now.
    But despite my jealousy, I don't hate Sofia. She was here long before I was. I'm suffering from a confused mind and an inner turmoil that I can't bear.
    I lie down and want to cry. But no tears will come. It appears that vampires have no tears. All I feel is a deep hurt and a harsh burning in my throat. I ignore the knock at my door a few minutes later. I try to ignore the louder insistent ones that follow and the demands to open the door. In the end I get up and let him in.
    “What the hell d'you want?” I ask nastily as he marches past me and inside. I shut the door behind him and turn to face him glaring.
    “ You have no right to enter my room without my permission. It is my private sanctuary.”
    “ Maybe you should lock it in future.”
    “ I have never locked my door before, there's no need. So, what did you want?”
    “ I need my password for the computer.”
    “ I have not arranged one for you yet.”
    “ Then let me use yours.”
    “ No, everyone has a different profile. You will have to wait until later today.”
    “ I'll just die of boredom then, while you have lots of fun with my maid.” I can't help the hurt tone in my voice.
    “ You have well and truly spoiled my fun for now.”
    “ I'm sure you can get back into it if you try hard enough, go have a bash...” I snap at him unkindly, my eyes flashing with rejection and anger.
    “ My Lady's behaviour is not becoming of her station.”
    Suddenly I lose my cool and stomp around the room letting rip with a loud rant.
    “MY STATION? Well you can stuff my fucking station, because from what I can see, it's nothing but a burden. My life is at risk. I am having to sneak away from a brutal sadist who I have been mated to without my consent. I cannot go anywhere or do anything. The only two people who ever cared for me are probably beside themselves with worry and