chapter 7

Trish's POV

I might have dozed off in my bath. I woke up feeling cold and realized that there was no towel in the bathroom. I opened the bathroom door and peek to see if I was alone. I saw Liam on the bed his right arm covering his eyes. Is he sleeping? Do vampires  even need to sleep? 

"You can either join me in bed or act like a complete psycho staring at me, love." He stated.

"I forgot to get some towel before getting on the tub." I replied. "Can you please hand me a robe or a towel?" 

"The towels are in the walk-in closet. The door on the left." He replied and sat down on the bed.

"I'm naked and wet." I stated the obvious. "You can't expect me to walk in front of you naked."

"Love, I've seen you naked more than you can imagine. And I think we've been passed that stage. Don't be scared, I won't bite." He winked at me and it pissed me off.

"I'll fucking murder you in your sleep if you don't hand me a towel." I stated seriously. 

"I want to see you try." He lay back on the bed.

"You and you're stupid games."

I decided to just run to the walk-in closet. I mean, he does have a point. We've more than seen each other naked. I sprint to the walk-in closet but bumped into Liam. Before I can even step back, he captured my lips and kissed me like there was no tomorrow. It felt great to have his lips on mine. I'm pathetic, I know. But I can't just melt into his charms. I can't just fall for him. The moment he let go off me I slapped him as hard as I could.

"How dare you?!" I stated breathlessly.

"You loved it. Don't you even lie?!" He picked me up and lay me in bed.

"Liam, I'll never forgive you if you touch me again." I moved away from him.

"Stop, fighting it, love. We both know that we want this." He was in front of me before I can even respond. "I love you."

"You're an asshole." I slapped him when he tried to kiss me again. 

"I know what I am." He smirked at me while staring at me naked body. "And I love every single thing about you." He pushed me on the bed then he was on top of me. 

"And I'll hate you every single day I live." I closed my eyes when he started to kiss me. "You can have my body but you can never win my heart." I stated trying not to cry.

"I'll take whatever you can offer." He replied then flipped our position. "Now, tell me love am I not as tempting as you are?" He stated seductively.

"No!" I stood up and went to the walk in closet. "Wow!" I exclaimed when I saw all kinds of clothes, bags, shoes, accessories, etc.

"Do you like it?" Liam embraced me from behind. "I'd rather see you naked 24/7 but I don't think you'll appreciate that." He kissed my temple.

"Are you trying to buy me?" I stated in disbelief.

"I didn't recall you being for sale, love." He handed me a towel and a robe.

"Do you mind?" I glared at him after I put the robe on. "I need to change. Can you please give me some privacy." 

"I like to watch." He replied playfully. "Go on. I'm not going to do anything that you won't let me. I just want to make sure you're alright."  

"Liam, please leave me alone. I'm not going to kill myself because I don't want to be like you."

"I don't care. My house, my rules." He stated. "You can't order me around."

"I'm not ordering you, I'm asking." I replied sweetly. "Please."

"Kiss me and I'll leave." He stated.

"Fine. Stay." I stated annoyed at him and put on a sundress.

"See. That wasn't bad. I have something to show you." He guided me to the balcony and the view was amazing. "You can paint here if you like. I don't know what exactly you needed to I have them buy all kinds of painting materials."

"Thank you." I walked pass the materials and looked at the view of the ocean. It was breathtaking. "This reminds me of Stanley and the masquerade."

"Stanley?! Out of all the things that you can remember from this place. You remember him."

"Yeah. His not someone that is easy to forget. I remember the time I spent with him. I remember seeing him die. It's all coming back and I'm lost." I admitted and I started to cry. "I feel so lost." 

"Stop." He embraced me tightly. "I'm sorry I sent Stanley your way. I should have been the one watching over you. I should have not trusted him." He wipe the tears off my cheeks.

"You wouldn't be able to resist to me." I started laughing while still crying. "You fucking raped me." I stepped away from him. "I can accept that you're a vampire, Liam but what you did is something that is unacceptable. Stanley used me but I chose it. It was my choice to have him use my body in return for some cash. But you, I liked you. But now I don't know, what the hell I feel when I see. What I feel when you touch me? I'm disgusted by what you did." I cried louder.

"Love, it's my nature to take what I can." He stated sadly. "I'm used to getting what I want and people following my orders. I get everything I want, my way. I don't care if it causes suffering for others but I'm trying to change for you."

"Really?!" I yelled at him angrily. "You raped me."

"Come on, Patricia. It's been done. It's over. I can't unfuck you." He stated trying not to yell back at me. "I already told you that I would do it over and over again if we went back in time. I don't regret what happened between us. Get over it."

"Easy for you to say. Do you think I want to remember it. Every time I close my eyes, I see you and it scares me. You were suppose to be my hero, my sanctuary. You were suppose to chase my bad dreams but now you're the monster that taunt my dreams." I blurted out.

"What do you want me to do?" He asked seriously.

"I want you to stay away from me." I stated. "I don't want you near me for now."

"I can't do that. Not until we are certain your safe." He replied sadly. "Once this problem is all sorted out, you will never see me again. I'm sorry if I cause all this pain for you. I made thousand of mistakes in my existence but I never regret any of them. And until now I have no regrets. I'm pretty sure from the moment you met me I did try to be on my best behavior. I tried to be less vicious and a little less evil. I guess you only see me now as a monster."

"That's not what I'm saying."

"I heard you loud and clear. I will stay away from you once there is no longer any threat in your life. Once Benedict is dead you can enjoy whatever life you want to have. But for now you are mine. And I can do whatever I want with you."

"You're insane. I'm not an object you can own."

"You are mine for now. And you can't do anything about it." He captured my lips and released only once I was almost out of breath. "Let's go back to the bedroom."

"I don't want to go back inside with you." 

 "That wasn't a request but an order." He stated. "I expect you to be in bed when I get back. I'll just get something. Don't try to challenge me, love. You know what I'm capable of."

Gone was the handsome dark knight I see in Liam. What have I gotten myself into? He is right, I can't do anything. I can't stop him. I can't protect myself against him. I sat on the bed crying. I honestly, can't figure him out. He came back after half an hour with a tray of food. I looked at him and he smiled at me sweetly as if our previous argument didn't happen.

"Eat." He put the food tray on the bed. "You haven't eaten in days, you must be hungry."

"Thank you." I ate the food. I didn't really want to argue with him. There was no point. 

"Good." He picked up the tray after I finish eating and left.

I lay in bed and stare at the ceiling. My life is so fucked up. I don't understand Liam. I don't even understand myself. I can't figure out what I'm feeling. I'm attracted to Liam but at the same time I hate him. I wanted him to stay away from me but a part of me just want to be all over him. Honestly, the sex was really great. He does have a point, it happened and he was really nice to me most of the time I was with him. I really wish I have a normal life. Not this, hiding from a vampire that was trying to kill me and staying with a hot vampire who raped me.

The next two days pass by fast. I mean, I just spent it locked up in Liam's room. Not that he wasn't letting me out, I just didn't want to go anywhere. I spent my time painting and trying to ignore him. I mean, really trying. It's hard not to notice him. He was busy with his laptop and phone most of the time. And he just talk to me when he brings me food. It's odd. He used to try to get on my nerves before. I guess our last argument made him keep his distance. 

"Hendrick is back. Do you want to hear the updates about the situation or would you like to just stay here?" Liam stated while I was in the balcony staring at the sunset.

"I'd love to see him." I replied.

"I bet you do." He stated shaking his head. "Follow me, let's go." 

"Wow! This place is magnificent." I exclaimed as we walk around the palace.

"I wanted to show you around but I didn't want to argue you. I don't want you telling me that I'm forcing you to do things." He stated seriously. "Hurry up. You can wonder around later after we talk to Hendrick." He walked faster so I was running behind him.

"Liam, wait." I tripped and waited for my face to hit the floor but it never happened.

"Are you okay?" Liam asked and I open my eyes.

My heart started to pound faster than usual. Our eyes were glued to each other and every thing else seems to not matter. I was lost in his eyes. We walked together where Hendrick and the others were waiting. They were talking but I couldn't hear them. My eyes was glued to Liam, it was like all I can see was him. It felt like I was seeing him for the first time.  And my heart was pounding loudly non-stop. I'm in love. 

"There is no way. I'm agreeing to use Patricia as a bait." Liam yelled loudly.

"What?!" I stated. "I'm sorry?" I had no idea what was going on.

"There is no way that I'm putting the life of the woman I love in jeopardy. Are you people insane?" He stated angrily. "I wouldn't have put up with all this hiding to make sure she is safe and just hand her over to Benedict. Over my dead body."

"We can't just let Steven rot somewhere, Liam" Natasha exclaimed.

"No, of course not. But you guys suggesting we bring Patricia in exchange for Steven is risky." Liam reasoned. "Would any of you risk the life of the person you love?"

"Why don't we just let Patricia decide herself?" Hendrick stated.

"Wait, hold up. What's going on?" I butted in. "Can someone please, explain."

"See, she doesn't even have a clue what the hell is going on. What you're suggesting is like sending a sheep into a hoard of wolves. She is not going anywhere near Benedict. End of discussion." Liam stated.

"We have to save Steven." Natasha stated. "And I'd fucking stake you myself if you try to stop me. Don't forget that we are equals, Liam. I can take you down." Natasha pushed Liam to the ground.

"Hold it. Stop!" I yelled at them. "Why are threatening to kill each other? I thought we are here to fix the problem." 

"Love, go back to our room." Liam ordered as he stood up. "I don't want you see this."

"No, I have enough." I glared at Liam. "So you guys want to hand me over to Benedict to save this, Steven?" I looked at Natasha and Hendrick.

"No, the plan is to lure Benedict out of his hiding." Hendrick stated. "He wanted you in exchange of Steven. And we can't just abandon Steven." He handed me some pictures.

"What the hell?" I looked at a photo of a boy in an open casket with a stake on his heart. "Is he still alive?"  

"Yes." Liam replied. "As an original vampire, a stake in the heart just simply put us into a state of comma. So his safe. His not dead. And if something happens to you with their crazy plan you will be dead. Do you understand? Love, I can't lose you because of this." 

"And I'm giving you my word." Natasha butted in frustratedly. "I will not let anything bad happen to Patricia. We will make sure that Benedict won't be able to lay a finger on her."

"Okay." I stated. "I'll do it. I'll help you guys save Steven."

"No, you are not." Liam picked me up and walked back to our room.

 "Don't you want to save him?"

"I've put a stake on Steven's heart years ago and he survived it. We can come up with something else than put you at risk. He can be in that state for years and he'll be fine."

"But we can't just hide here. I mean, you guys can survive forever but I'm human Liam. I can't be lock up here all my life. I had so many things that I want to do and if this plan would help me kill the monster who is trying to hunt me down, I'll do it. I'd rather do something than sit here and relax."

"You just can't wait to get rid of me, can you?" He stated sadly.

"No! I just want things to get back to normal. And Hendrick, Natasha, Sam, Mikel and the others also have to move on with their lives."

"I'll think about it. Stay here. I'll talk with Natasha and Hendrick."

It was really sweet how protective Liam was over me. He wasn't lying when he told me that he loves me I can see that now. But I had to do something. I looked at the picture of Steven and I can't just let him rot and suffer. I wanted things to be back to normal. I wanted to spend my life with Liam and explore new thing with him. I love him and I can no longer fight this feeling. I'll do whatever it takes to help them save Steven. I lost my family and I can see how much they care for Steven. I couldn't bare seeing them arguing because of me. They're family and I wanted to be part of it. So I just have to convince Liam to let me help them.