14A/N: The dreaded operation.
HeathenVampires: Yes, it is. But for how long?
"Tell me about something... anything..." Piers pleaded, fumbling with his clothes. Ingrid watched him in mild disbelief, hoping there wasn't any truth to the reason behind his heightened anxiety.
"Piers," she began softly, rubbing her temples. Said man continued pacing up and down the room, giving Ingrid the impression that he'd wear holes into the old and dusty rugs if she didn't stop him soon. "Piers!" she repeated loudly, snapping him out of his paranoid musings. He hadn't even called her sweetfangs once today, that's how worried he was. "How can someone who ventures alone into the monster-ridden catacombs of a vampire castle be afraid of one breather surgery?"
"That was different," Piers claimed, nervously wringing his hands together. "I can risk my life for you, a million times over, but I'm not really sure if ripping my tonsils out, at the risk of death, is really worth it!"
"Don't be ridiculous!" Ingrid chided, biting her lip. If she was a breather, she was sure she would've blushed at the first part of Piers' comment. What girl wouldn't? The idea of a man risking his life to save a woman against all the odds was nothing short of romantic. The corners of Ingrid's lips twitched and it took everything that the vampiress had not to grin at her friend's words. Piers' next words ensured that she didn't have to.
"I mean, I really want to see my children be born, grow up and carry on the Davis name... If I die, that won't happen!" Ingrid didn't know which thought annoyed her more: the thought of Piers having children with another woman or the thought of him expecting a child from her.
"Which woman would be generous enough to lend her womb to you, Piers?" she taunted, trying to hide her irritation. Piers stared at her, about to open his mouth with a potentially deadly (for him) answer when the doorbell rang. Ingrid looked back at him to find him rooted to his spot, probably out of fear.
For Piers, the operation was starting to feel even realer than it had the night before leading up to now. The vampire sighed out of exasperation, walking towards the door, smelling breather on the other side. She opened the door to reveal a blonde young woman of around her own age standing there, a brilliant smile on her face.
"Hello!" she chirped and immediately let out a surprised 'ooh' when Ingrid hastily pulled her inside, closing the door before a single ray of sunlight could shine into the building. Before Ingrid could return the greeting, she saw the other woman look past her, excited at whatever was behind the vampire. "Piers!"
"Aileen!" said man exclaimed, holding his arms out wide so that 'Aileen' could hug him. Ingrid watched as the pair embraced, a sinking feeling in her stomach. The last time someone was in Piers' arms, it was her. So who was this Aileen? Just then, Aileen pulled away from Piers and looked at Ingrid before walking towards her.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. Forgive my rudeness," the blonde requested, sticking her hand out to the other woman. "I'm Aileen McAllister."
"Ingrid Count," the ebony haired woman replied, casting a glance at Aileen's hand before looking up at her face. She plastered a fake smile on. "Forgive me, my skin is rather cold. I don't want to shock you."
So this was Miss McAllister? Hmm... she was pretty, Ingrid would give her that, in a way that reminded her of Vlad's first love Erin. However, Ingrid reckoned that she was still the most beautiful woman in the room and she was quite confident that Piers knew that too. Wait a minute, why did she care what he thought anyway? He was just a breather...
Aileen dropped her hand and opted for a hug instead, taking Ingrid by surprise. God, didn't the breather know how to take a hint? The vampire awkwardly patted the other woman on the back, glaring at Piers who was directly in front of her and behind Aileen.
Piers watched the exchange with amusement, momentarily forgetting about his paranoia regarding his upcoming surgery. He was 101% sure that Ingrid's glare meant she was jealous rather than angry; he'd been around her long enough to know what she was really feeling, no matter what she tried to pass the emotion off as on the outside. Aileen really was no threat to their... relationship... but Ingrid didn't have to know that just yet. If Piers played his cards right, the whole situation could work to his advantage.
After cursing Piers with her eyes, Ingrid managed to push the blonde breather away. She fake coughed, gently rubbing the centre of her chest. Her actions had their desired effect.
"Oh my, are you okay?" Aileen asked, genuinely concerned about Ingrid's health.
"Yes, I'm just feeling a little under the weather. In fact, that's why I can't take Piers to the hospital or bring him back home," Ingrid explaining, feigning a look of dismay and helplessness.
"Don't worry, that's what I'm for!" Aileen reassured her, resuming her naturally cheerful demeanour. She checked her watch and looked up at Piers, quite alarmed. "Piers, we have to go now!"
"A-Already?" Piers squeaked in a panicked tone. "Can't we wait a little longer?"
Both women rolled their eyes at his childish behaviour. Aileen sighed deeply as if she'd dealt with this a million times before, and strode up to Piers, stopping in front of him. She was only a couple of inches shorter than him (quite a bit taller than Ingrid) so she grabbed his ear with ease, pulling him down to her height.
Piers let out an 'owwwww' and Ingrid openly smirked, impressed by Aileen's bold move. She had to admit, the blondie could be tough when she needed to.
"Piers, will you never change?" Aileen implored, shaking her head. She laughed at Piers' pained expression before dragging him towards the door, looking back over her shoulder at the vampire. "It was nice meeting you, Ingrid. I'll see you tomorrow when I bring Piers back home."
"I'll look forward to it," Ingrid responded, waving at the pair of them. As they closed the door behind them, the vampire found herself wondering just how close Piers and Aileen really were.
She shook her head, willing the thoughts away. She had to go to work today; the VHC was holding the usual monthly meeting today and she couldn't miss it. Piers and Aileen would just have to wait.
"Miss Dracula," Roquelaire, the provisional leader of the VHC, greeted upon seeing Ingrid saunter into the meeting room.
"Mister Roquelaire," she replied, taking a seat near the other end of the table. She and the men sitting near her exchanged their usual dirty looks before Roquelaire started talking about some policies.
Ingrid wasn't really listening though she made sure she looked as if she was. In the back of her mind, there were endless thoughts and questions regarding Piers and Aileen's relationship competing for her attention. Her cold, undead heart twisted at the thought of the pair in question stealing a kiss or two behind closed doors. Or rather, on a hospital bed. She couldn't, for her unlife, figure out why it bothered her so much.
So what if Piers and Aileen had something going on between them? Whatever. So what if they kissed? So what if they were in a relationship? So what if they were... sleeping together? Just thinking of Piers and Aileen in bed, passionately writhing under the bedsheets together, felt like a stake through the heart. It made Ingrid feel sick to the stomach, something she hadn't experienced since getting blood poisoning from Ryan.
"Head of Clans?" a voice prompted, snapping Ingrid out of her thoughts. She realised that everyone was looking at her for an answer.
"Oh yes, I agree," she said casually, hoping that was the right response.
The table broke out into murmurs of agreement and Roquelaire nodded at Ingrid for her participation. He moved on to the next member of the council and she inwardly sighed in relief.
That was it. No more Piers. She'd worked so hard to get her seat on the council and, after having learnt her lesson with Malik, she wasn't going to give it up just because she was busy thinking about a man.
A/N: Review! :)
