Control

Chapter Twelve

It was only two hours from dawn when Hope finally arrived home. Locke was sitting in front of the fireplace clearly lost in thought. Hope paused for a moment unsure if she should interrupt.

“Hello,” he said looking up. “Did you have a good time?”

“Definitely,” Hope smiled. “Sorry I was out so late.”

“It’s quite alright,” Locke said. “I’m glad you enjoyed yourself. Did you find a dress?”

“Yes, but I was forbidden to show you,” she said before biting her lip. “If that’s okay.”

He smiled. “It’s fine. I like surprises.” She smiled back at him.

“Lars said that he’s come over to do my hair,” Hope said after a moment of silence.

Locke’s eyebrow shot up. “He must really like you.”

“He also gave me this.” She pulled the necklace out of her shirt. She’d confess to being a little nervous. She didn’t know what he’d think of Lars giving her such a precious family heirloom.”

“He must really like you,” Locke said slowly.

“I should probably take it off,” Hope said reaching around to undo the clasp.

“No,” Locke protested. “Leave it on. I like the thought of you wearing something that belonged to my family. Have you eaten?”

“Yes.”

“Then we should practice,” he said holding his arm out to her.

Saturday night

Hope sat perfectly still as Lars worked on her hair. Her mind was on the man downstairs. Locke had barely touched her since the night they had fallen asleep together and hadn’t kissed her since the night before that. Part of her was relieved; she didn’t know what to do with a man. The other part of her was scared that she had done something to offend him.

“There all done,” Lars said. He had curled her hair slightly. It was bouncy and cute falling lightly around her face.

“I love it,” she gushed. “This looks amazing.”

“I know,” Lars grinned. “Now, let’s get you in your dress.”

“Does Locke confide in you?” Hope asked going behind the privacy screen she had set up.

“Locke confides in Locke,” Lars told her. “He’s not an easy person to get close to.”

“Oh.”

“What’s bothering you?”

“Just… I’m afraid he’s upset at me.” She came out in the dress and turned so he could zip it up.

“Why on Earth would you think that?”

“He kissed me a few days ago and hasn’t since. Maybe I’m just a bad kisser.”

Lars laughed. “I’m sure that’s not it. Locke is… he’s complicated.”

“Yes, he is,” Hope agreed.

“You should talk to him,” Lars advised.

Her eyes widened. “I couldn’t.”

“Alright. I still think you should but I won’t push it.” He smiled. “Well, you look amazing, let’s head downstairs.” Hope followed him downstairs. Locke stood watching expectantly. Hope swallowed, he was wearing an all black tuxedo. He looked amazing.

Locke stepped forward his breath catching in his throat. Hope practically glided down the stairs. Her dress was black and hugged her slim body. It came down to her ankles. The neckline was low enough to be erotic without being slutty. “Dearest, you look gorgeous,” Locke breathed. He took her hands in his when she reached him and kissed her on the cheek.

“Thank you, master.”

“You don’t have to call me that around Lars,” Locke told her.

She smiled up at him. “Thank you, Locke. You look… very handsome.”

Locke grinned, clearly pleased by her approval. “Thank you, Hope. Are you ready?”

“Well, I most certainly am,” Lars said. “I’ll have to introduce you to my mate, Hope. He’s a soldier, but incredibly handsome, and sensitive.”

“I’d expect no less,” Hope smiled. “I’m ready.” Locke helped her into her coat. They walked in silence for twenty minutes.

“Why don’t you guys drive?” Hope asked, shivering. Locke looked down and saw her open-toed shoes. He swept her into his arms and off of the snow covered ground.

“You’d better not wrinkle that dress,” Lars warned.

“You put her in open-toed shoes in winter,” Locke snapped.

Lars winced. “I’m sorry, Hope. I wasn’t thinking.”

“I’m okay,” Hope said wrapping her arms around Locke’s neck for balance.

“To answer your question, dearest, vampire’s seldom drive when not necessary. We don’t feel the cold so we see no need. It’s partially out of respect to nature. Mostly, though, it’s because of our over inflated sense of superiority.”

“Very true,” Lars said.

“If I had seen that your toes were exposed I would have taken my car.”

“It’s okay,” Hope protested.

“No, it isn’t,” Locke argued. “I’m not taking proper care of you.”

“Locke,” Hope said, “you’re taking great care of me. Not that you have to. I can take care of myself.”

“Of course,” Locke nodded with a small smile. “Can you still feel your toes?”

She wriggled them. “Yes.”

“Alex!” Lars called. A tall brunette turned to them. His handsome face broke out in a smile and he walked towards them. The two men hugged. “I missed you when I stopped by the house.”

“Sorry, babe, I was still training,” Alex said.

“Well, I’m glad you stopped in time to get ready,” Lars said giving his mate an obvious once over. “You look scrumptious.”

“As do you,” Alex said grinning. He turned to Locke who was still holding Hope. “Good evening Lord Brennan.”

“Hello, Alex,” Locke said. “I do believe I’ve told you to call me Locke. You are family after all.”

“Sorry,” Alex said.

“This is my companion, Hope,” Locke announced.

“Hope, this is my mate, Alex,” Lars said.

“Pleased to meet you, my lady,” Alex said with an old world bow.

“I’d curtsey but as you can see, I can’t,” Hope said.

“Are you hurt?” Alex asked.

“Her feet were cold so I figured that carrying her would be faster,” Locke said. “Speaking of, I’m going to head inside.”

“Sounds good,” Lars said. “We’ll see you inside.” Locke sat Hope back on her feet and took her hand as they walked in. He took her coat and handed it to a broken looking young man at the door along with his. Hope’s eyes wondered over the hall as Locke led her down it.

There was nothing personal here. This was so different than Locke’s home. She supposed that that made all the difference. Locke had a home, it felt warm and inviting. This place felt more like an exhibit, cold and impersonal. There was a huge crystal chandelier in the center of the room. It was beautiful but Hope couldn’t help but think of The Phantom of the Opera. The floors were polished solid wood. There were round tables set on the sides of the room covered in white table clothes and a long table in the back of the room with punch and hors d'oeuvres set up.

“This is nice,” Hope said smiling up at Locke. “The set up, I mean.”

“It is,” Locke agreed squeezing her hand lightly.

“Hope!” Anabel called, walking over with Salem. “How have you been?”

“Good,” Hope said allowing the other woman to take her arm and lead her away from Locke.

“I’ll come for you for the first dance,” Locke told Hope.

“I wanted to introduce you to a few people who I think you’ll like,” Anabel told her. She walked over to two pretty women. “This is Hope, she’s Lord Brennan’s mate.”

“Hi,” a woman with red hair said. “I’m Lacey, and this is Kayla.”

The blonde, Kayla, smiled brightly. “I love your dress.”

“Yes, it is beautiful.”

“Thank you,” Hope said smiling. As the women started chatting about decorations Hope let her eyes wonder. She spotted the twins standing together. They were dressed in matching white tuxedos with their hair pulled back. There was no sign of Selena.

“Oh, shit, the Wonder Twins noticed us,” Lacey said.

“I keep telling you the Wonder Twins were a boy and a girl,” Kayla said.

“Ask me if I give a shit,” Lacey said. “Point is that they’re… just… annoying.”

“Careful,” Anabel said. “They’re vampire now. You don’t want them to hear you saying that.” The two men approached. “Darn it.”

“Ladies,” one said.

“Hello,” Anabel said.

“I don’t think that we have been properly introduced,” the other said primarily to Hope. “I am Romulus.”

“And I am Remus,” the other chimed in.

“I’m Hope, pleased to meet you.” She gave a curtsey.

“The pleasure is all ours,” Romulus purred.

“Gentlemen,” Locke said walking over. “Ladies, may I steal my date back?”

“Of course,” Anabel smiled. “I’ll see you soon, Hope.”

“Bye, nice to meet you,” Hope said placing her hand in Locke’s.

“The first dance is about to begin,” Locke announced. “I wanted to share it with you.”

Hope smiled faintly. “Oh. So Romulus and Remus?”

“Those are the names they chose?” Locke asked. “How… unusual.”

“Chose? They didn’t have names before?”

“Selena is… well, she’s a bitch, my apologies for the language.”

“She didn’t let them have names?”

“No. Humans to her are too unimportant to have names.”

“Where is Selena?”

“That’s a good question,” Locke said. “She should be here. She’s the hostess of this party.” Locke looked around the room. His intuition was telling him that something was very, very wrong here. “The music is starting.” He turned to Hope and smiled, forcing all bad thoughts out of his mind. “May I have this dance, love?”