I don't like where this is going

“No it’s fine, you can stay. It is your home by right either ways.” He said, feeling his own dread grow at those words. She took out an envelope, looking at it, almost considering not to take it but the vampyre was too selfish to deny. “Thank you.” He said in a calm matter. When she suggested they’d go together, his eyes did betray him as he frowned a little. He couldnt just show up. But he didnt think she would understand without knowing the full story. He left her in the study regardless, needing to tend the wound before it bled through.
He went to his room, sitting down with the envelope in his hands. He opened it with a letter opener in the drawer before reading it. Though it didnt really soothe his mind or heart. He however looked at Romeo’s name signed at the end, touching it lightly with his fingers. He ripped the letter apart shortly after. He got up and went to the living room, placing down the pieces of the letter in the fireplace that werent really used unless he had guests who minded the cold. He lit lit up and watched it burn the remaining pieces with a neutral expression holding one little piece in his hand. There were just too many feelings inside of him and no way to vent them properly.

The Parish family gathering was still set to be held, but wasnt until last minute that it was made clear that Eden had gotten sick and therefore wouldnt be participating.

Most of the family was jealous, that was a given. Being named heir as some girl who just showed up out of nowhere sparked questions, speculations and none the least jealousy. Kareema was glad she was there to keep the young vampyress somewhat safe, though the notion of Eden not showing up was annoying her. “If he doesnt want to show up, I’ll just come to him.” She said, not really letting them have a say before she got up and made her leave. She knew where he would be anyway. It wasnt his study, the bedroom or somewhere just anyone could show up. She walked the last few steps to the attic, seeing a window open to the roof. Most of the mansion had a flat roof, actually the one part she was heading to had been made into a small garden. Eden sat in a beautiful chair that was rooted in place by beautiful vines with flowers. He looked up as Kareema stepped out. “Too sick to show up?” She just asked him, walking over to stand in front of him. He was smoking a cigarette, looking up at her with a calm expression. “She’s the heir and you’re not even down there to protect her from your greedy family who’s just waiting to get their cut.” The old vampyress hissed. Eden sighed. “It’s a good headstart. I’m going anyway so she’ll have to assert herself somehow.” He said, Kareema frowning before she grabbed his face. “You are not fleeing from this!”

“You get up and you go sort your family out now! Or I will and it wont be pretty!” Kareema said, pulling the tall vampyre to his feet and pushing him forward. Eden grit his teeth slightly and tensed his hand like he was considering to fight back but he didnt. She pushed him again and then he began walking. He wasnt dressed all too properly, sure he wore a button up shirt but it was undid slightly and the sleeves were rolled up. He however couldnt care for his image. He got in just as the last toasts were made, clearing his throat before people began turning their heads. Kareema showed up behind him, not shy to push him again if he didnt go. He felt the same hungry eyes that Josette seemed to be getting. Even more now that he was weaker. “Thank you all for coming.” He said calmly, not really looking in the direction of Romeo and Josette. He just couldnt bear it. “There has been a lot of speculation and wondering about the legitimacy of Josette Parish. You all best forget your conspiracies and cruel plans. Josette is in fact the daughter of Loralei Parish and I have the papers to prove it.” well at least he didnt have to show them until they had been changed. The crowd went silent and Eden sighed and smiled. “Again, thank you all so much for coming. This time it will be different. I want to ensure that this family wont just focus on who’s pure and who isnt. So there is no need to plan deaths or wish for bad health. You will all get your rightful place. All of you.” He assured them, looking shortly at Josette before he turned around to make his leave. “Where are you going?” - “Away.” He just said, looking at Kareema in the door. But she moved now that the crowd had calmed down.

Kareema greeted Josette with open arms before they went on. She would do anything for the young girl, that much was certain.

Eden hadnt expected to be followed and as he heard the lycan’s voice, he felt his jaw quiver slightly. “I dont want to see you right now.” He just said, walking over to an open window to sit down on the windowsill, lighting a cigarette. Maybe he was petty or cruel or something third but he just felt somewhat betrayed. Not that it was Romeo’s fault. It was their bond. It was them being bound to each other in a way that would never make room for them to really be together.

The lycan joined his side but Eden clearly wasnt happy with it. But as Romeo reached out, Eden grabbed his arm and kept him from touching his face. The plea made him turn his face to the lycan. “Dont.” He just said. He drew in a deep breath. “It’s already enough that you’re staying when I said I didnt want you to.” He said, before he drew a deep drag on his cigarette. He was stress smoking, not really enjoying the cigarette and his breath trembled with anger when he exhaled the smoke. “You hang out with my niece and end up in the hospital, I dont get to hear from you for weeks.” He said. This was the point they were at now.

He listened to him, but it wasnt really soothing. Nothing seemed to soothe the pain in his chest. “I dont know what to think anymore.” He admitted. The last question just made him frown because what then was he doing with her? The lycan got up and began limping away, Eden watching him for a bit before he snuffed out the cigarette. “How far will you push it? She’s an heir now, dont you see that you’re soon to be caught up in something you wont just be able to leave?” He then asked, crossing his arms. “I’m leaving tomorrow. I dont know how long I’ll be gone. But you’ll have plenty of time to play house all you want. Josette will be keeping the mansion in order, so you could just pretend she’s me if that makes you feel better.” He said. He knew he was just being spiteful now but he was so hurt.

He kept his arms crossed, just looking angry and hurt as the lycan explained himself. Even if he knew, it was like the unknowing had crept into his mind and placed a grip around his mind so tight that he didnt even know what was right or wrong. Words didnt usually mean much to him, not when he had been fed so much shit and gossip. Sure Romeo could go down to the others and do whatever he wanted. Eden didnt care if his family knew, it wasnt his family who they had to be worried about. But having that conversation again would just draw them back into the same circle all over again.
Then he spoke of the mugging and Eden frowned as he began opening his shirt. He saw the patch and scoffed, getting up as he went closer to him, looking down at him. “Show me.” He said coldly but also demanding. If the lycan couldnt stand, he’d just push him onto the bed, but remained where he stood. He looked at the patch, reaching over to touch it but not the lycan’s skin, no he was too angry for that still.

He watched as the lycan got out of his shirt, but his eyes remained on the patch. He wanted to see what had happened, with his own eyes so to speak. The patch was removed and he looked at the wound. The mutter just made him lift his eyes to look at Romeo, the addition made him swallow his answer. He would have said no, that it wasnt enough, he wasnt satisfied.
The whisper made him lift his eyes from the wound again to look at the lycan. There wasnt even any satisfaction in seeing him fight back tears. It was like nothing worked. And Eden hated it. “Was that before or after the word got out? About your heoric act, how you saved your girlfriend and is now even more the boy wonder everyone wants you to be?” He asked. He made himself angry with his own words, tensing his jaw as he looked away with a sour expression. “It could never be us, not in public. No, we’d just be placed under a loop, anyone looking for the smallest strain.” He just said sourly, before he looked at the lycan with serious eyes.
“You can break my heart, break it to a thousand pieces if that’s what you want. But I dont want to see someone else paraded in the place that belongs to me.” He then said before he finally sat down next to the lycan, just looking ahead as he didnt know what else to say. He however still didnt want the lycan to touch him, to feel that warm inviting skin against his own.

“I dont know what to believe anymore Romeo.” He said with a sigh, being rather truthful. He just looked out into the room as he sat down, though Romeo’s words made him lift his hands to his rub eyes. “You dont know that. You havent touched me. Maybe I truly just hate you. Had enough, wanting something different.” He said but he was pulling straws at this point that he seemingly didnt have any interest in. He did love him after all. Why would he be sitting here if it wasnt because of love? “Stay there.” He said as he got up to get a new patch for the bullet hole. It didnt seem well enough to stay uncovered. “Who hurt you?” He asked rather than staying in the current topic as he seemed to realize that he was just saying mean things for the sake of feeling something, even if it was dread from seeing the lycan hurt.

He hummed at the scoffing, unpacking the patch, though he looked at the wound. He didnt know if it needed to be cleaned, but he wouldnt know what to do either. The mutter however made him look up at him. “Wasnt he just some lowlife anyway?” He asked because that was what Romeo made him sound like. And if it was a gang, wasnt he just doing the world a favour? The mention of his nightmares made the vampyre sigh. He had nightmares about Laure too when he slept. Even more now that he knew the truth about Josette. The thought made him feel so disgusted with himself so he pushed it aside. He applied the patch as the lycan muttered, “You’re not alone in that.” He said, looking at him, making sure the patch sat well, being mindful of how tender he was, still avoiding his skin if he could.

“It was going well for a while but now it’s stagnated.” He said, frowning a little at the blunt comment about how he looked. There was no reason to lie about him not really getting better. He had been too tense and restless since the rumors had reached him and then the meeting with Josette. “When Josette came by, I saw her wear your ring.” He said, leaning away from the lycan before he laid down, looking up at the ceiling. “It wasnt the only thing but I just felt my whole body tense up and it made a tear in the wound again.” He said with a sigh, looking away from Romeo, towards the open window. He liked it much better up on the roof because he could still hear the commotion downstairs clearly from his room.

The words in the letter would have been enough. Eden hadnt needed some extra confirmation, all it really did was just make him angry. The addition made him hum but he was still looking towards the window. The mention of Laure made his stomach twist and he felt nauseous or anxious or both. He didnt even hear the mutter as the lycan got up. “I suppose.” He said in a bitter tone.
The mention of his responsibility made him sigh. “I cant protect her with your blood still circling my veins.” He said rather bluntly. Yeah, he could speak for her and make promises, but if anyone wanted to attack her, Eden would be powerless. “Get well while I’m gone.” He said, not thinking of his own words and how he had told him to get well in the hospital too.