Page 28 of The Vampire Curse

“No,” I snap. “Vampires are dangerous. Do not let pretty dresses and trinkets fool you into thinking otherwise.”

She drops the hem of the gown, hurt and annoyance warring in her expression. “How can you say that? You are well fed, and I doubt he would send you with these things if he was not taking care of you.”

“A—Mr. Devereaux is not like other vampires… Did you forget about the one that took mother?”

I say “took” but we both know I mean killed.

“Maybe something else caused her death?” she offers. “Your vampire looked terribly mean and violent when he took you, but… look at you. You’re fine. You’re more than fine.”

I don’t know why I’m arguing with her, or how this became a fight so quickly. Alaric is not a bad man, and it twists my heart to even talk as if he were. But it's far more disconcerting to think Kitty could have her opinion changed so easily by material possessions.

I worry she will be careless in town, that she will leave her home during a claiming and cross paths with a vampire and suffer the same fate as Mother. After all, marriage doesn’t protect anyone from being claimed. If anything, it’s more likely to doom them faster. And women, especially beautiful ones like Kitty, are more likely to be claimed.

“Yes, he did. And yes, I am alive,” I say, calmly trying to ease away from the argument. I don’t want to fight with her. I want to spend time with her. I want to share smiles and laugh with her again like we used to. “But I have come across other vampires, ones that wouldn’t hesitate to kill you to quench their thirst for blood and violence.”

Kitty’s face pales and the bitter taste of guilt coats my tongue. She nods, accepting.

I lay the dress out in her arms and quickly untie the dress I have been in for two days.

“Do you think I have time for a bath before I get ready?” I ask. I am glad to have made it here so fast, but I do wish we'd made a stop in Durford for the night.

I suppose that in itself is another problem I will have to solve eventually. Now that Alaric has broken our bargain and freed me, that leaves me where I started. Though perhaps I can stay with Kitty until I find a job to work until Xander and I can marry.

I will write to him first thing in the morning to let him know I am back.

She giggles and I eye her over my shoulder. “By the time they finish boiling the water for you, the party will have already started! Besides, the only rooms that have working plumbing are Abraham’s parents.”

“I suppose that was a ridiculous question,” I say, peeling my dress off and letting it fall to the floor.

“Clara!” Kitty gasps. “What has happened?” She grips my shoulder and spins me around.

My dress falls to a heap on the floor. I quickly bend down to pick it up and use it to try and cover my arms.

“You said he wasn’t hurting you… butlook,” she hisses. “Both of your arms are bandaged. Why did you lie?”

“No, Kitty, please. It wasn’t him. I swear it. I wouldn’t lie about this.” Except… even if her assumptions had been correct, I think I would lie. It would only distress her at a time when she deserves to be happy.

“You can tell me the truth,” she whispers as if there was a chance we could be overheard. “He can’t get to you here. If it’s him, I will have Abe—”

“No, Kitty. It wasn’t him,” I repeat, this time I keep my words slow and calm. “It was an accident. I was in a part of the manor I shouldn’t have been in. I did this through my own carelessness. He was the one who found me and bandaged my wounds.”

There. Nothing about that is a lie, though it is not entirely the truth. I don't want to worry her with the full details.

A part of me feels uneasy talking about Alaric to her, I don’t want her to know anything about him.

She presses her lips and arches a brow.

A dull throb starts behind my eyes. “Let’s not talk about such things now. I am here for your wedding and we have an engagement party to dress for.”

Kitty holds onto her doubt for another second before I can see it visibly melt away and her mood brighten.

After helping me dress, we walk arm in arm down the hall. The quiet between us since she saw the bandages has felt heavy with our unspoken words.

I clear my throat. “You are looking well, Kitty.”

“You’ve said that already,” she says, then lifting her chin a fraction she adds, “You keep calling me Kitty. I prefer Kathrine now. I’m too old to be Kitty, and besides, I will soon be a married woman of status.”

“Kathrine it is then.” Her full name feels strange on my tongue. “You must be getting the best medicine money can buy. I’m glad to see that they are taking such good care of you.”