The Vampire's Executioner

Chapter 10

It was a half an hour before Lizzie made her appearance, but it didn't really matter. The appetizers had just been taken off the table, and everyone was preparing for the main course. She idly wondered just why they were eating food when they normally fed off of humans, but felt that the question wasn't exactly appropriate. She had taken a shower, which was nice and refreshing, and she had decided to dress somewhat nicely, with fitted black slacks and a maroon shirt. On her feet were black ankle boots, and her hair was swept up into a somewhat messy bun.

Upon seeing Lizzie and hearing her heart beat, the women that occupied the table snapped their eyes up in her direction, their bodies immediately tensing.

Nikolai stood up, hoping to alleviate the tension before things escalated. "Everyone," he said, gesturing to Lizzie who was standing at the table rather awkwardly, unsure of where to sit. "This is Elizabeth Grant, and I invited her to stay with me until the assassination attempt has been thwarted. She excels in her field and I figured she would be the best person to protect me."

"And the militia?" the blonde said, her voice tainted with a slight eastern-European accent. "Can the militia not protect you? What does the girl provide that the militia can't?" She glanced over at Lizzie with cold blue eyes, completely dismissing the her presence as nothing important.

"Miss Grant is the top assassin at the NDS," Nikolai explained. "She was highly recommended."

"Plus, you never know who is behind the assassination attempt," Lizzie said, trying not to offend the woman but wanting her to realize just how serious the threat was. "It could have come from anyone, and until we figure out whom, it's essential that I stay here in case I'm needed in any way."

"Are you implying what I think you're implying?" She flipped her hair.. For a woman so beautiful, an ugly look distorted her features. "Do you really think that I," she glanced over at the other woman, "that we had something to do with such a thing? Do you even know who we are?"

"Marie," Nikolai snapped, narrowing his blue eyes at the woman in the red dress. Lizzie glanced up at him, surprised to see such a firm look on his face. However, Marie was right; Lizzie had no idea who these vampires were, but that didn't take away from the fact that what she had said was still true. Nikolai glanced over at Lizzie and seemed to agree with her, though she had no idea what he was thinking. "Miss Grant, I've introduced you to them, but I haven't introduced them to you." He gestured over to the raven-haired beauty first. "This is Lewis's betrothed, Karina Albusel." Next, he looked over at Marie. "And this is mine, Marie Cozma."

Lizzie flexed her fingers before coiling them into fists. She knew that Nikolai was most probably engaged to someone, especially with the announcement that he was indeed taking over the throne, but she didn't know it would be to someone like Marie. From what she could tell of Nikolai, he was brooding, mysterious, and arrogant. Marie, on the other hand, seemed a little more high-strung. And loud. To Lizzie, she looked like a screamer.

"Nice to meet you," Lizzie murmured, taking a seat on Nikolai's right, directly across from Marie. She hoped she sounded genuine. "Pardon me for saying, Ms. Cozma, but with all due respect, I have no idea who might be making threats against your fiancé, and I feel that it would be hard to trust anyone, really, until I--" She glanced over at Nikolai who had taken his seat at the head of the table. "We are absolutely certain of their innocence."

"I do not like that," Marie said in a cold, dismissive tone, glancing down at the table in front of her.

"I'm just surprised you are actually eating with us tonight," Nikolai said dryly, glancing over at Lizzie with a look on his face that matched his tone. "You must be starving. Are you starving?"

She stopped herself from rolling her eyes, forcing them to lock with Nikolai's. "Yes, well," she said. "I decided that I should probably give your fists a break from pounding so thoroughly on my bedroom door. I wouldn't want you to actually injure yourself."

Nikolai smiled. Marie, on the other hand, was frowning, twisting her hair around her finger. Lizzie could tell she was growing increasingly upset with the agent's presence in Nikolai's home, whether she was protecting him or not.

She didn't seem to like it at all.

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