Da Rules

Alicia's POV

Boy was I glad we were out of that damned elevator. It was just extremely awkward in there, scrolling mindlessly through my phone didn't help either.

Wait, why was I feeling nervous?.Calm down Alicia, it's just a bodyguard, there is no need to stress about it, his words don't matter to you. It's insignificant, totally insignificant I chanted in my head.

Who was I kidding?!. I felt so fucking betrayed when he said those words. What kind answer was I expecting when I asked that question...it wasn't like he owed allegiance to me or something. I squealed internally from frustration.

Taking a quick glance at him. He maintained his calm composure with a straight face as he faced the other way. I wondered just what he was staring at that seemed so interesting I was put as part of the background.

This motherfucker, was I the only one affected by this!!!...Deep breaths Alicia don't let this douche get to you.

I swiped the key card against the card door lock and it made an inaudible beep sound as it clacked open letting us in.

Stepping in the sub penthouse we were greeted with a warm summer time-like atmosphere, it seemed like the thermostat was doing a good job.

"This is our room," I said, pointing out the obvious.

Taking off my coat, letting the warm air feel its way up through my skin as I slumped into the nearest couch I could find sinking into its softness.

"Our room?, We are sharing a room?" Blake asked puzzled.

My cheeks flushed red from embarrassment, what did I just say?. I was thinking about him so much that I said it was our room!. The sub penthouse was designed and decorated to be a two bedroom room suite as per request as the penthouse above us was going under major repairs.

"Sorry this is your room, mine is over there" I said pointing to the white door ten feet away from my position.

I heard him breathe a sigh of relief. Was it that bad if we shared a room?. I didn't know I was irritating...,was I unattractive to him, maybe I wasn't worthy to be part of his circle. 

Sigh.

I was doing it again,worrying about things that shouldn't matter. I cautioned myself, it wasn't the time to think about such things.

I sat upright, putting on a look of professionalism as I looked up to him maintaining eye contact.

"Listen up," I started with as my voice took a rather rough quality "we need to place some ground rules as we would live together temporarily"

"First besides Ian you are not allowed to let anyone in, not room service, neither relatives nor a girlfriend and certainly not a hooker. If you need to urgently receive someone, you could notify me, I'd arrange a room or something." I continued slightly irritated at the thought of him picking up a hooker, well you never really know men and how they think.

Still maintaining eye contact I layed out the second rule "Mind the way you speak to the nobles here, you could get in serious trouble as not all of them are as nice as Ian to let you off. I understand they could be ridiculously overbearing sometimes but please keep communication with them to the minimum,"

"Know your place, you are just a bodyguard" Alicia watched as Blake's face morphed into a slight frown.

She sighed.

"I am not saying you shouldn't defend yourself if they take it too far, just generally avoid or ignore them at all costs, that should be cakewalk for your cold personality"

Blake raised an eyebrow in reaction to her last words, but Alicia didn't notice.

"That's that. Next, no one is allowed to access my room, absolutely no one. I don't care if the Lord made you my bodyguard and you have to follow his every command in watching me. As much as I like company ,I appreciate my personal space even more" I said, stressing on the word King.

"If you go in I'd kill you" I added in a very serious tone.

This was the only rule Blake answered to since she started speaking.

"Yes Alicia"

I stood up from the couch, leaving a dent which lazily rose back up to its original state. Stretching out my arms, as a slight yawn escaped my lips, I darted my eyes around the room trying to find the wall clock, looking at the digital clock at the end of the room. It was about five hours past noon, it was going to be evening pretty soon.

"That would be the last of them. I really hope you can follow the rules" I said as my hands came down to the sides. 

"I have something to take care of, I'd be right back" I declared, proceeding to leave the room.

From the corners of my eyes I could see Blake diligently following behind. Didn't he hear what I just said?I thought, confused.

"OH!!!" I exclaimed as I facepalmed myself mentally, I had almost forgotten he was my bodyguard now. It was natural for him to follow everywhere I went.

"I'm sorry," or not " you can't come with. I am going alone"

"Why?" He asked, giving me a very suspicious look.

Geez, give me a break, it's not like I'm some child you can't let out of your sight. As far as I knew I was considerably stronger than he was, what's the fuss about.

"You see, I haven't introduced you formally to the rest of the Vampires here. Till then I simply can't let you out" I explained letting out a sweet, hypocritical smile praying he wouldn't question me further.

"I don't see how that's the problem, you can always introduce me on the spot,besides I don't think they are going to try anything funny if we are together" Blake insisted, showing he wasn't going to back down so easily.

I pursed my lips thinking of the most plausible way I could explain to let him off my case.

"That's not how things work here, I can't go around personally doing the introduction, God knows just how many people actually live here"

"I am the daughter of the lord," I resumed, my mouth went bitter as soon as those words left my lips.

"It's highly degrading for me to do that, it's kinda tradition here to introduce new *important* occupants over an an event where all would most likely be present, like this night's dinner"

"But still…" 

"Blake I think you are crossing the line!!!" I hissed, beginning to get annoyed. "I think I can manage myself just fine outside this room's door."

He stared at me for a while, stunned at my sudden outburst. What's with the surprised look of his?. I didn't think our relationship had gotten to the stage where he would question my actions, I wasn't some petty princess who was constantly in distress. Besides Ian, I didn't think anyone in this building could compete in strength with me. He deserved to be yelled at.

"Fine" He replied in submission "You have an hour, if you aren't back in an hour, I can't promise I won't come get you"

^Yeah right^ I thought, rolling my eyes ^If he could find me that is.^

"I can work with that," I sneered, "Deal."

With that I walked out the door slamming it behind me. I wondered if this is how my life was going to be from now one. Like hell I was going to allow that, I can't add daily arguments to my to do list!.

I needed to get rid of him soon.

Blake's POV

"But still…" I began trying to persuade her.

"Blake I think you are crossing the line!!!" She scowled, clearly irritated by my persistence. "I think I can manage myself just fine outside this room's door."

Startled by her abrupt change of tone, I recalled a rather unpleasant memory. I could remember much too clearly, like it happened just yesterday. When I was about eight years of age, before Sir Louis, my dad became Mayor, Stella and I had accompanied a senior vampire to retrieve numerous blood packets from the trading center. It also happened to be the first time I met Alicia,as she was on her once a month patrol through the kingdom.It was a really chaotic place to be in as a lot more families also get their share of blood being distributed.

In all the ruckus, we had managed to get our fair share, just in time to make an early return home. In a haste to get out of the crowded area, Dennis; the name of the vampire I accompanied, tripped over a rock sending the rather large paper bag which held the packaged blood into the air.

Alicia, who wasn't too far away from our position, was surrounded by guards. Everyone present at the center seemed to deliberately avoid her and take great lengths not to cross her path. She was speaking and smiling with a woman who seemed to be in her mid thirties, got soiled with blood from some of the burst packets.

"I am so sorry Princess Alicia '' Dennis apologized as he kowtowed trembling in the little girl's presence.

I and Stella were mystified by this act. Afterall she was in our age group, we didn't expect Dennis, someone we respected and looked up to, to be so frightened by someone so young.

"I'd get that dress cleaned right away, please forgive me" He added pleading in a shaky voice.

Alicia didn't say much, in fact she was completely silent all through his pleading. Simply waving her hand she ordered one of the guards to arrest Dennis, and continued smiling at the older woman.

"Hey, he said he was sorry let him go!" Stella yelled surprised at her actions.

"Yes, please do let him go, he could buy you a new dress if you want" I pleaded knowing how important Alicia's position was in the kingdom.

She stopped smiling, turned and looked straight into my eyes "You are not worthy of wiping dust out of my shoes, much more getting me a benefiting dress. I..." She replied, like our voices sounded annoying to her.

"That was rude" Stella pouted, displeased with what she heard.

SMACK!

A hand heavily went across her face leaving an imprint of five fingers and an outline of a small palm. Alicia threw the gloves she had worn earlier like dirt putting on a new one handed over to her by one of the guards.

"Never interrupt me" She said, staring daggers at Stella who held her cheeks from pains, challenging herself not to cry.

"He will be out in five years, that is if he doesn't do anything that makes him stay more than that" Alicia said referring to me.

I wondered how she could be so arrogant and still hold so much power.

Gritting my teeth I replied "This...I would repay you for this humiliation"

She stared for a while, amused at my statement, with a psychotic smile she came close leaning in " I'd be waiting, you might want to get a little stronger before doing that." She whispered into my ear.

"Let's go, I think Dad should be back by now" She said immediately, switching into a thrilled expression.

"I can't wait to tell him all that happened today" She added, immediately leading her Entourage away as she waved goodbye to the woman, not giving me time to respond.

PRESENT

I smiled mentally, 'We are almost there Alicia. Looks like your temperament hasn't changed much from your child self.'

I wouldn't even care if she got hit by a moving train. But I was a person of dignity, I wouldn't just throw work ethics into the air for personal reasons, besides I really needed to fix whatever was the cause of my pain.

"Fine" I gave in "You have an hour, if you aren't back in an hour, I can't promise I won't come get you"

"I can work with that", She replied visibly pleased "Deal"

With that she walked out the door slamming it behind her. What a drama queen, I thought as I slumped into the nearest couch I could find. 

"I better get treated soon" I whispered to myself.