"You must. It is the only way. Know that you impressed not just Lucas and me over what you did last night with the girl," Gaspard's tensed a little at the mention of her, "every vampire who witnessed it was shocked and awed by you." He then added with a small smirk, "You should have seen Marcel's reaction when you were inches away from the blood pouring out of her wrists."
Gaspard chuckled lightly. "I don't know even how I did it. One moment I was over-whelmed with the need to taste her blood in my mouth, and the next I was standing so close to her and bandaging her wound; I could feel her ragged breath upon my skin."
"Ah, yes." His smirk faded into a thoughtful frown. He opened the door and let out a sigh. "I must go now. The sun will be up soon. Think about what I said, Gaspard. I know you don't want to go back. But I want you to know that I can try to help you through whatever future troubles you may have."
Gaspard nodded and put his hands in his pockets.
"Oh, and if it’s any consolation, you passed the test."
Gaspard could have laughed. He didn't know how he did it, and nor how anyone would have allowed him to pass considering how things went that night. He just smiled and crossed his arms.
"You've completed your first half of training," Gabriel returned a slightly devilish smile as he exited out the door and disappeared into the night, that was soon to be dawn, without a sound from his swiftly moving boots through the thick forest.
Chapter 14 Mistrust
Gaspard and Jocelyn were together in the stables as always.
Jocelyn sat on a bale of hay while Gaspard sat in a rusty chair, cleaning the horse's saddles and bridles. Being one of the hotter Paris afternoons, Gaspard had unbuttoned his vest and rolled up his shirts sleeves up past his elbows. It was quiet, as was expected for this time of day, no one would be caught dead outside in the heat. But this was Gaspard and Jocelyn’s favorite time together. Little did they know that an un-expected, and un-welcome in some cases, visitor would be showing up to break up their usual "alone" time.
"Oh dear, don't tell me your becoming a common stable-hand now," a sarcastic toned voice sounded from the stables doorway.
Jocelyn turned to look at the visitor giving a polite smile as Gaspard continued to clean the horses’ equipment, why should he care who was there?
"Well hello, Olivier, I haven't seen you around for a while," she spoke casually.
"Yes indeed, I have been quite busy," the voice trailed off momentarily, "and who is your… friend?"
The tone in which 'friend' was spoken made Gaspard glance up slightly at this Olivier person. He snorted slightly out of amusement as he took in the tall, overly skinny piece of flesh that was supposed to be a man. He looked back down at the saddle with a content smirk on his face.
"This is Gaspard. He's our new stable hand." She stifled a slight giggle as she seen not only the smirk on Gaspard’s face, but also seen him flex his nicely muscled arms at Olivier tauntingly. "And this, Gaspard, is Olivier; a friend of the family."
Gaspard now looked up fully at Olivier, his face now clear of emotion. Olivier looked back as casually as he could, unable to stop the feeling of jealousy as he looked at Gaspard, and stealing a quick glance to Jocelyn, slightly curious.
"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance," Olivier finally spoke, taking a step forward and offering his hand in greeting.
"Like wise."
Gaspard grasped his hand in reply firmly, a shadow of his former smirk appearing on his lips as he seen Olivier wince. Jocelyn made a noise as if to clear her throat, not wanting to know how their 'meeting' would progress for the time being.
Gaspard dropped his hand a few seconds after he heard Jocelyn, knowing Olivier couldn't possible pull his hand away. Taking his seat, he made as if he were concentrating on his work, but was in fact listening very closely to what they would say to one another.
"So, what brings you here?" She asked nicely, wanting to draw their attention away from one another.
"Business. Your father wanted my opinion. Or rather help, on a certain matter."
"Oh? And what does it pertain?"
"This and that," he spoke airily, flipping his hand dramatically as he spoke.
Gaspard became slightly curious, not knowing why, at what this 'business' really was. And sadly, knowing Jocelyn, he knew she wouldn't press the matter, she could not care less about her father’s work. It's not like Victor ever told her anything about it anyway, which made Gaspard ever the more curious as the affairs. He was slightly shocked as it was that she even asked at all, but he took it into account as just being polite. All in all, he was rather pleased with how they spoke to one another, at least the way Jocelyn spoke to him that is. Olivier was a little too friendly toward her for Gaspard’s liking, but he would let it go.
For now.
"And what, pray tell, are you doing here?" Oliver questioned Jocelyn.
Gaspard paused, forgetting to breath-- which wasn't necessary but he had done it for so long before his change that it still felt like a part of him-- as he waited for her reply.
"I come here every day," she said simply. "But why? It's so... dirty."
Gaspard rolled his eyes. This place doesn't look half as bad as your hair, he thought to himself shaking his head slightly at Olivier's slicked-back hair.
"I enjoy the company."
Jocelyn smiled, looking at Gaspard for just a moment. If she looked for more than that she would have blushed. Gaspard felt like his heart faint a beat. A smile appearing on his face, overjoyed at what she had said. Even if this sleaze didn't catch on to what she meant, it had meant the world to him. But, he didn't dare glance up at Jocelyn, instead he glanced at Olivier, noting by the expression he wore that he had in fact caught on to what Jocelyn had really implied.
"Well, if you'll excuse me," Olivier spoke a little huffy
"Of course," Jocelyn smiled, "It was nice seeing you."
Jocelyn's comment was platonic, but it was obvious that Olivier took it for more then what she would have ever meant. Gaspard's eyes narrowed at Olivier as he watched him leave, and as soon as it was just him and Jocelyn once more he turned to face her.
"Now that he's gone, I have something I'd like to ask you."
"You can ask me anything," Jocelyn teased, but her heart was really thumping quickly as she wondered what he must want.
"Would you...would you care to go horse-back riding with me?" Gaspard finally stuttered.
Jocelyn was shocked, but not angry shocked. She smiled widely at him before she was able to find her voice to speak.
"That would be lovely, Gaspard!"
Gaspard grinned back, and then looked down, clearly embarrassed but happy she had accepted.
"I'll get the horses ready then!" He exclaimed happily, but in his gruff, shy voice.
It didn't take Gaspard long to pick two horses, brush them down, saddle and bridle them and take them outside. Jocelyn waited patiently, watching him as he did so. They were both overjoyed to be doing this, and their shyness was clearly trying to get the best of them; as neither of them talked until ten minutes into their ride other then Gaspard offering to help her into the saddle- and she accepted his help.
The beginning of the ride may have been quiet, but it was enjoyable. The trail they took that wound in the small forest took them through all the beauty of the trees. It was a sunny day, but under the shade of the tree's it was pleasant, and it seemed from the sounds around them, the birds were enjoying it as well. After a moment, Gaspard looked across at Jocelyn and was surprised to see her looking at him. Overcoming his deep urge to look away, he smiled.
"Who taught you how to ride a horse?" he asked.
"My mother," she smiled, but Gaspard could tell she had some sadness in her eyes at her mother’s mentioning.
"Oh good, I was afraid it was your father. I'd feel bad for any horse he sat on." Gaspard teased, trying to cheer her back up. His joking seemed to have worked, because she started to laugh.
"Yes, I don’t th
ink my father has ever ridden a horse actually."
They both looked straight ahead at the same time, Jocelyn blushing and Gaspard just being his usual shy attitude around her.
"Who taught you to ride?" she suddenly asked, still looking ahead.
“Oh, no one really. I kind of taught myself when one of the horses got loose."
They both laughed as they remembered when one of the old mares had escaped the stables when he had first started working at the Mansion. Jocelyn hadn't been there at the time, but it didn't take long for the story to run through the mansions workers. Apparently, Gaspard had caught up with the loose horse just enough to hop on its back. But he was only half on the whole ride back to the stables.
They continued down the long trail until they came to the end that led out to the mansions grounds. The trail they had taken actually circled around so they ended back at the stables. To both Jocelyn and Gaspard’s surprise, someone was waiting for them at the stables, leaning against the wall with his arms folded in a sort of angry fashion. Gaspard tried to keep his cool as he dismounted the horse and helped Jocelyn down from hers, wondering what he was doing back. Just as Gaspard was leading both horses back inside, their spy spoke up.
"Shouldn't you be working, Gaspard?" Olivier asked in a snide tone.
"He was giving me riding lessons, Olivier," Jocelyn intervened before Gaspard could voice his smart remark. It was obvious Olivier didn't know she could ride before, as he accepted her answer; but not before one last comment.
"I did not know his job obtained to such things." He glared at Gaspard who was still outside. "Either way, there seems to be a rather large mess in the stables, so maybe he should get back to his main reason for being hired."
Gaspard wanted to snarl at him, but fought back his urge to kill Olivier. Olivier left after he spoke that last line, leaving Jocelyn and Gaspard to find just what he said would be in the stables- a rather large mess. If Jocelyn hadn’t been there, Gaspard may have run after Olivier and knocked him out. He had nerve. Too much for Gaspard’s' liking.
Olivier headed into the mansion, brushing past the butler at the entrance and headed straight for Victors office. He had gone there when he left Jocelyn and Gaspard the first time, but he was too curious to leave them and went back to the stables as soon as his meeting with Victor had ended. And boy was he glad he had gone back, now he needed to tell Victor his suspicion. He knocked on Victor’s office door in a rather impatient tapping manner, leaving Victor to answer in a somewhat irritated way. Olivier wasted no time in introduction, in no short being a bit rude as he started right away with his accusation.
"I think that Gaspard fellow is not human," Olivier stated, still a bit heated after the encounter.
"And, what, do you propose he is?" Victor asked impatiently, obviously missing the silent hint Olivier was sending him.
Olivier let out an exasperated sigh. He tries to respect Victor, but sometimes he had no patience with him being so thick. And not literally, even though that was an issue in itself.
"A vampire!" he hissed back, his patience lost.
"Oh, that's preposterous! Stop rushing to such bold conclusions. I would have never hired a vampire you fool! Now leave. Our business is done. Go report back to the others," Victor waved him away, not wanting to leave his seat. It was his home after all.
Olivier's jaw clenched for a moment before he sighed and gave a curt bow before leaving the mansion, giving one last glance at the stables before leaving the mansions grounds.
Chapter 15 Courage
A weeks passing from the death of Elijh showed Jocelyn and
Gaspard spending more and more time together. Even though the time spent was in the stables or around the Mansions grounds, both of them enjoyed it immensely. Whether they would be talking while Gaspard worked, or the times when Jocelyn just sat and watched him brush the horses in silence, the air between them was electric. Both of them could feel it, but neither would speak up of their feelings. No matter how much time they spent together, it still did not relinquish the shyness of how they felt for one another.
Not once since Elijh's horrible death did Jocelyn dare to bring him up in front of Gaspard. In fact, she never brought his name up at all as she felt half responsible for his death. She had convinced her father to give them the jobs, knowing all too well of the deaths that had been occurring to their workers. Why did she dare to risk these strangers’ lives? The answer is all very simple: Gaspard.
Even though she didn't know him then, there was a connection between them that she wouldn't dare to give up. Elijh had died and she felt at fault, but no matter how bad she felt about what had happened, she didn't want to take her actions back. Gaspard turned out to be better then she had imagined. The connection between them was even more desirable to have. Jocelyn’s crown of silence over Elijh was not taken for granted. Gaspard was forever grateful for it, and the bond he felt to her was strengthened even more.
It wasn't until late Saturday evening that Elijh's name was brought up in his presence, but not by Jocelyn.
One of the fellow mansion workers, whom was lucky enough to not have perished yet, had given Gaspard a message to meet Victor inside the Roux' Mansion- he had to discuss a 'certain matter' with him. Gaspard felt his heart fall to the pit of his stomach, hoping that Victor would not bring up Elijh's death, or worse yet, question him about what had really happened. It was obvious he couldn't tell him the truth, but he was a horrible liar. Jocelyn who had been in the stables with Gaspard at the time, walked with him to the mansion. She was wondering the same as Gaspard, but unlike him she didn’t know the truth.
They walked in silence, Gaspard being unsure if he could talk from being so uneasy about the meeting, and Jocelyn just respecting the probable seriousness of the occasion.
Victor, whom was waiting in the rather large dining area, was conversing with his wife, Luciel, as the duo entered the front doors. Hearing their arrival, he went to meet them in a small sitting area next to the entrance. Occupying a large chair for himself, he motioned for Gaspard to take the seat across from him. Luciel, who had followed closely behind, took her place behind Victor’s chair, after giving Jocelyn a rather crude look, with the same scornful expression she always wore. Jocelyn stayed in the doorway, watching her father as Gaspard took his seat, as she desperately tried to ignore her step-mother.
"Gaspard," Victor stated in a slow monotone voice, "It has been a week since..." he paused for a moment, as is trying to choose the most delicate words, the strain showing on his face.
"The death of your friend," Luciel said in a rather malicious tone, having enjoyed taking the liberty of stating the issue, an ugly smirk on her Hawk-like face.
Gaspard’s jaws tightened, not only at the statement, but at her sheer joy of saying it. He glanced side-ways at Jocelyn, surprised to see her eyes narrowed with utter hatred for Luciel.
"Ah, yes," Victor said calmly, clearly oblivious to the hostility in the air. "Either way, he is no longer with us. Now, as I have seen, you, Gaspard, have done a rather fine job of the stables. But, be that as it may, with the… happenings of Elijh-," Gaspard flinched slightly at his name, "And our short-handed crew, you must now do both jobs."
"It’s too bad your friend had to go and die," Luciel's sarcastic comment slicing through the air.
Gaspard felt the blood (from his latest meal of a very small dying rabbit) boiling in his veins as he tried to control his temper against what she had just said, and in the tone she had said it. He could not show his fangs here, especially not in front of Jocelyn. He shut his lips to such a fine line, that his lips were barely visible. But before he could even do or say anything more, Jocelyn spoke up, making him jump slightly out of shock.
"How DARE you mock the dead?!" she exclaimed in a soft but severe tone. "Do you have no respect for anyone but yourself?!" All the hatred for Luciel bubbling into the spoken words came out clearly for even her slow witted father to realize. Luciel stared in utter shock, her eyes wide a
nd mouth agape. With her beak-like nose and hair pulled back into her signature bun, she looked like a baby bird waiting to be fed. After a brief moment, she shut her mouth tightly, gave Jocelyn a rather dirty look, and walked away, her nose stuck in the air indignantly.
Gaspard, now looking back at Jocelyn and Victor, was unsure of what the look on Victors face implied. But as he seen Jocelyn look away as if she were a scolded dog, he knew she would be in trouble for sticking up for his friend in such a bold way to Luciel. Jocelyn left the room quietly, Gaspard hearing her leave through the large front doors.
Half forgetting Victor was still there, Gaspard turned to face him as he started to talk again.
"So, that's all I needed to say to you. Do both jobs and that's that."
Victor then left the room, not as quietly as Jocelyn had, as moving his large body out of the chair was quiet the task. As soon as he left Gaspard jumped up and rushed out of the house, nearly knocking Jocelyn down as he walked outside. He hadn’t expected her to be waiting right by the doors. He hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say, or if he should say anything at all. Instead, he went and sat down on a nearby bench, underneath a large tree. To his surprise, Jocelyn followed and sat down inches away from him.
"Are… are you ok?" he asked quietly, starting to reach out as if to console her, but stopped himself.
"I would like to say I am, but I can’t."
For a few more moments they sat there in silence, Gaspard speechless once again.
"I cannot stand that woman!" Jocelyn stated suddenly, angry tears running down her cheeks.
Gaspard started a bit, and then shook it off as he watched her. Then, unexpectedly, he reached out and brushed one of her tears away, then redrew his hand as if he would get bitten by a hidden snake. Jocelyn flushed from his touch, and then hurriedly wiped her remaining tears, feeling silly for crying in front of him.
"I am sorry," he apologized in a soft voice, looking anywhere but at her.
"Don't be." She smiled, laying one of her hands on top of his.
Looking at one another, they both pulled their hands away, their embarrassment getting the best of them. An awkward silence landed between them, and for a while it seemed as if neither would say anything.
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