Vampire Heart 31

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Scroll 32: Far Away
Vicente sighed as the spell took effect. He could see how happy he made Naoko, so his own wants were nothing compared to her happiness. He smiled at her when she glanced over at him and held her tightly when she hugged him. He kissed her cheek after she kissed his cheek several times in a row.
"Vicente, I can't thank you enough." Naoko smiled at him before kissing his cheek again. "You either Claude, Dameon, Jaden..."
Jaden and Dameon just nodded and smiled at her. "Anything that makes you happy is what's best," Vicente replied as Naoko walked out the door.
"I'm going to get a shower," Naoko announced.
"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Vicente asked.
"If I'm not, you'll save me, right?" Naoko asked.
Vicente blushed, "Of course." He smirked as he watched her leave the floor and pass the ten feet mark. He moved toward the entrance of the attic and sat on the top step.
Are you okay?" Dameon sat down beside Vicente and was joined by Jaden and Claude.
"Yes, I'm fine, Dameon," Vicente replied.
"I know you're not now," Dameon replied. "You've never called me by name, ever."
"If you're bothered, then tell her," Claude said simply.
"She's happy. I'm not going to destroy that for me," Vicente replied as he bit back his emotions again.
Jaden placed his hand on Vicente's shoulder, "You've got to do something. You'll kill yourself if you keep bottling everything in like this."
Vicente shook his head, "I feel so distant from her like we're never going to be the same, ever."
"You're not. She'll be able to move more freely," Claude said simply. "Then again, so will you."
"But I don't want to. I want to be with her," Vicente replied as he ran his fingers through his hair.
"Then tell her. I know what you want most, and Naoko is what you want. Don't be a pansy!" Dameon shouted.
Vicente leered at Dameon before smacking the back of his head, causing him to tumble down a few of the stairs. "I don't bottle everything in. Dameon knows perfectly well that I hate him."
Dameon stood and rubbed the back of his head, "You don't have to be so mean."
"Neither do you," Vicente replied coldly.
"If you don't tell her, I'm going to. I liked you better when you were too busy gawking over Naoko to bother hitting me and it's only been five minutes..." Dameon hissed.
"Look, just tell her that you feel like your drifting apart," Jaden suggested.
"It might work. I'll need something better, though. I don't want to be scrounging for thoughts," Vicente sighed.
"Vicente..." Claude stood up quickly, but before he could say anything else, Naoko screamed.
Vicente darted down the steps, opened the door and was instantly in the threshold of the bathroom. He stood there, staring at Naoko who was nude, embarrassed and not sure how to react. He shook that off and turned away from her quickly. "Kill it!" Naoko pointed toward the far end of the hall where a vampire was inching forward.
Vicente nodded and slammed into the would-be assailant. He quickly threw the vampire out the window it had entered through and slammed the window shut before locking it. He turned toward her and blushed, "I didn't mean to..." Naoko was covered by a towel, now, and just as red as Vicente. "I'm gonna go get dressed..." Naoko said nervously before trotting into their room.
Naoko closed the door again and hurried to get dressed. "I can't believe that just happened," Naoko whispered. "I had better talk to him after my shower..."
Vicente sat on the edge of the bed, "I can't believe I didn't knock...but I didn't think to knock. I just wanted to know if she was alright..."
"Are you okay?" Claude asked from the hallway before opening the bedroom door.
Vicente stared up at the three other vampires, nodding only once. "I'm alright."
"What happened?" Jaden asked.
"I threw the vamp out the window. Nothing big," Vicente replied flatly.
"What aren't you telling us?" Dameon asked.
"He saw her nude on accident," Claude explained.
"Shut up," Vicente growled.
"Then don't think it if you don't want me to see it," Claude replied.
"If it was an accident, she'll forgive me, right?" Vicente asked.
"Why wouldn't she?" Dameon asked.
"I'm not sure if it was an accident or what..." Vicente sprawled out on the bed. "My luck is just horrible..."
"Don't say that. I'll tell her you're sorry and you want to talk to her," Jaden assured him before changing to bat form and flying out of the room.
"I'm so screwed..." Vicente bit his lower lip and stared at the ceiling.
"I hate seeing you like this. Wanna beat me up?" Dameon offered.
"I'm not in the mood..." Vicente replied.
"I'm going to make the mistress some breakfast. I'll return to the attic afterward," Claude said simply before leaving.
"Tell me what's wrong," Dameon muttered. "I've known you the longest, so maybe I can help?"
"What were you in her dream?" Vicente asked, his tone depressed.
Dameon lowered his gaze to the ground before he sat on the bed. He sighed sharply, "I didn't tell you this."
Vicente sat up, "Why would that matter?"
"I was you. She wants you. She has since she met you. You are the only thing she wants," Dameon said quickly.
Vicente blushed, "I doubt that...I do appreciate you trying to make me feel better, though. You're a good friend."
Dameon smiled, "Glad I can help. I'm going to go help Claude." Dameon stood and darted down the stairs quickly.
"Naoko, are you decent?" Jaden asked as he lightly rapped on the door.
"Yes, I'm dressed," Naoko replied through the door.
Jaden opened the door and quickly took his bat form again, flying in and landing on the shower curtain rod, upside down. "I'm a messenger..."
"For Vicente, I assume," Naoko guessed before she ran the brush through her hair.
"Yes. He really is sorry," Jaden assured her.
"I didn't think it was intentionally done," Naoko replied.
"He's depressed now..." Jaden muttered.
"How depressed?" Naoko asked.
"He called Dameon by name," Jaden replied.
"Wow, he must feel bad..." Naoko muttered.
"Please fix it...I feel better when he's the fiery bully..." Jaden admitted.
"He's good at that," Naoko agreed. "I'll talk to Vicente," she promised.
"Thank you, mistress," Jaden chirped.
"Anytime," Naoko assured Jaden before he flew out of the room.

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Vampire Heart 33