Stephen stood at the window of his dark room looking out over the yard. He could see sunlight beginning to peak through the trees and knew it would soon be time to disappear into his coffin for a day of sleep. He also knew he was far too angry to sleep. How did his world turn upside down so quickly? First George appears out of nowhere and now Lee was back? Stephen reached for an old bust on one of his bookshelves, wrapped his hand tightly around it and hurled it angrily at the wall. It shattered into pieces on the floor. The raging vampire looked down at the results of his anger and felt no better. Lee was dangerous and things would not be ok until he was gone.
He remembered the last time he had seen Lee. He had barely been able to control his anger that day and without Mary there, would have broken way more than a little statue. Lee had effectively ruined his life and now he was back for more. Who was going to be the victim this time? Darby? Or innocent little Bailey? She was too new of a vampire to defend herself and naive enough to be taken in by Lee's radical ideas.
As if he had summoned her with his thoughts, Stephen took one more look outside and noticed Bailey sneak through the shadows and crouch behind a bush near to where George and Lee stood talking. He sighed and shook his head.
"That dumb girl is going to get herself killed and I want no part of it," he decided, closing the window shade. He stepped over to his coffin, climbed inside and closed the lid.
Bailey crouched behind the bush doing her best not to make a single sound. The sun was coming up slowly but surely and she knew the two vampires would only be there talking for a few more moments but anything she could learn about Lee was better than nothing.
"Stephen is never going to let you stay here. You have to know that. I'm sure I can convince Darby to let you into the guest house but that can only be temporary," George was saying.
"You and Darby seem pretty cozy in there," Lee responded, with an emphasis on "cozy."
"I would hate to disrupt that."
"I'm sure you would," George said, not sounding sure at all.
"What about the new kid? Bailey? She seems fun and unattached."
Bailey felt her face flush red. No one had ever described her that way before and especially never an attractive man.
"Maybe we could find a place in the city together. I could show her all the best hunting spots and some secluded spots for...other activities."
Bailey's eyes widened as she heard this and she desperately tried to stop her imagination from running away with her.
"Lee, stop messing with the poor girl and just tell her you know she's listening," George's voice said. Bailey gasped and tried to get up to scurry away but fell backwards onto her butt. Within a second, Lee was standing next to her staring down and she couldn't decide if she was scared or thrilled. He smirked at her and his piercing brown eyes made her feel safe and in danger all at once.
"I-I'm sorry to have spied on you. I just wanted to know who you were and Darby wouldn't tell me anything."
"She probably never will," Lee admitted. "But I'll be happy to tell you anything you'd like to know. Maybe inside though, since it is starting to get bright."
Bailey looked up at the sunlit sky and hissed quietly at the pain in her eyes.
"We can go to the guest house," George said, moving into the shadow of a tree. "Darby may not be happy you're back but I know she wouldn't want you fried. At least not on your first day."
"How kind of her," Lee sassed. He bent his arm at the elbow and offered it to Bailey.
"M'lady if you would be so kind to accompany me to the guest house. I do believe I owe you a story.
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