A/N: Agh, poses hated me for this chapter… They just refused to coöperate and for some reason there was a lot of clipping, so excuse any wonky things you see in the pictures XD

“Oh jeez.” Elubarin leaped up from the plank and hurried over to the bars as Vox brought me back to the cell, a limping, bloody mess. “What did they do to you?”

“Got… beat up again,” I panted. I managed a weak smile.

Elubarin didn’t smile back. In fact, he crossed his arms and started Vox down from behind the bars. “Her face just healed from her crazy brother’s attack a few weeks ago. Give her a break.”

“What – You think I had anything to do with this?” Vox turned to him incredulously. “You think I have a say in if she gets hurt or not?”

“You were obviously there.”

“I’m a prisoner! I didn’t see any of it until Treznor summoned me to take her back here.” Vox turned and looked the wizard straight in the eye. “I swear on my life, I did nothing to hurt her.”

“Swearing doesn’t mean anything to me. Prove it.”

I gaped at Elubarin. How could he say that to Vox’s face? “Stop,” I croaked.

“Prove it? I- The proof is right here in front of you!” Vox gestured helplessly towards the cell door. “If I was one of them I would have the key to this cell. But I don’t because the vampires know I would free you the second they give me that key.”

“Stop!” My voice was hoarse, but effective. “Vox is telling the truth. He never hurt me. He’s on our side.”

Vox turned to me and muttered, “I should go. Treznor expected me back ages ago. Someone will come to put you in the cell soon.” He turned to leave, then faced Elubarin and added, “Don’t you ever accuse me of being one of those evil vampires again.”

The door frame shuddered in his wake.

The next morning

“Oh good, you came back.” If I hadn’t been behind bars, I’m pretty sure I would have jumped into Vox’s arms when he walked in. “I thought you might not, after…”

I trailed off, glancing back at the sleeping Elubarin. Vox followed my gaze and nodded. “That’s why I came as early as I could. I didn’t expect you to be up though. Couldn’t sleep?”

“Uh, kinda, I guess.”

“Or were you waiting for me?” he teased, unaware of just how true that question was. I blushed. A slow smile crept across his face. “‘Cause if you were, that’s… adorable.”

Oh.

“Anyway, in the five minutes I have to deliver your breakfast-” He slid two bowls of porridge-ish stuff under the bars. “-I figured we could work out an escape plan. For all of us.”

“Sounds great,” I said, grateful that he had quickly moved the conversation away from awkward compliments. “What have you figured out so far?”

“This place is swarming with vampires, all the time. They always have guards of some sort outside, but they stay in the shadows, avoid the sun. Means they’re hard to spot.”

“Well, we don’t really need to worry about them until Elubarin and I get out of this cage.”

Vox laughed. “Oh, that shouldn’t be too hard. I can find and steal the cell key. I’ve memorized Treznor’s routine over the years.” He winked and raised an eyebrow.

“Impressive. What are you, a super spy or something?” I joked.

“Something like that.” He laughed again, then headed for the door. “Think of ways to get us out of the castle unseen. I’ll be back when I have more info. I can’t deliver your food everyday; it might looks suspicious.”

When the door clicked behind him, I leaned against the wall and tried to wipe that stupid smile off my face. He called me adorable.

***

It was frustrating, to say the least, to live in a room with someone who disliked Vox. After risking his life to save me from the vampires once, he wanted to do it again. How could Elubarin not respect that?

“You know the history between me and Vox,” I told him as we ate our porridge. “Why are you so suspicious of him?”

“I despise vampires. I wouldn’t trust anyone in this castle – especially someone who brings us oatmeal and doesn’t bring a spoon with it.” He frowned down at his bowl like it was Vox himself.

“Oh, stop it,” I chided, half jokingly. “He’s as much of a prisoner as we are.”

“Then why isn’t he locked away like us? Seems awfully suspicious to me.”

“He’s just- He’s been here a while, the vampires trust him to do their boring chores for them now.” Elubarin set his bowl aside and scoffed. “Please, just stop tearing him to pieces! He’s trying to free us.”

“Karissa,” he said calmly. “I’m just trying to protect you. That’s all I’ve been trying to do this whole time and you don’t even realize it.”

“I do!”

“No, you don’t.”

All of a sudden my hand was cradling the back of his head and pulling him tightly to me, as if he would fade away the second I let go. I breathed in his scent of musk and wood as his beard tickled my face.

Slowly pulling away, I whispered, “I do.”

“Oh, jeez…” Elubarin leaned back and steepled his hands over his mouth. “That’s not what I meant – I mean, it’s fine that you just, uh, did that, but I didn’t – I wasn’t hinting for-“

“I know,” I cut in. “It’s just… I’ve waited years to do that. And you know you liked it.”

He was smiling a bit now, so I figured it wasn’t a complete disaster yet. “I may have liked it, but you know we can’t be together, Karissa. I’ve told you a hundred times.”

“But why?”

“I can’t love anyone. Love will kill you when you’re immortal like I am.”

“Well, if the person you love will inevitably die, why not enjoy it while it lasts?” I asked softly.

“Tried that. Can’t say I liked it.” Oh, right… He had a family before. He must have seen the way my face fell, because he added, “It’s alright. I’ve had a lot of time to deal with it.”

“Man, immortality isn’t as great as it seems, huh?” I tried to brush it off, but the words came out half-serious.

“It has its ups and downs,” he replied.

***

The next few days passed in a blur. The vampires came and drank a bit more of Elubarin’s blood, but no one touched me. I didn’t see Vox the entire time, but I didn’t see Treznor either. Things weren’t exactly awkward with Elubarin, but we entered a sort of ‘recovery period’ in which I tried to rid myself of any feelings I had for him.

Needless to say, it wasn’t working.

About halfway through the day (as well as I could judge it without sunlight, anyway) Vox appeared outside the cell.

“Quick – take this.” He thrust his hands between the bars and I hastily reached to meet them. A small bronze key dropped into my palm.

“Is this-“

“The cell key, yes.” His eyes darted behind him, like he was worried a vampire would walk in at any moment. A few drops of sweat slid down the back of his neck. “Keep it hidden. Don’t use it until we’re sure we can avoid every single vampire when we escape.”

“Right.” I hurried past an astonished Elubarin and wedged the key between two planks of wood underneath our ‘bed’. “How did you steal this so fast?”

“There was more than one. I took the spare. It almost felt like cheating.” He grinned, but it faded quickly. “I’m so sorry about this, but I have to deliver you to Treznor for another torture session.”

Vox produced the real cell key from his pocket and unlocked the door. It squeaked and grated against the floor as he pushed it open. His hand reached out to grab my arm.

“Don’t!” Elubarin jerked me backwards slightly from behind, his arms slipping around my shoulders.

“Elubarin… I can deal with these beatings, it’s fine.”

He leaned closer, so close his lips were almost brushing my ear as he spoke. “The vampires trust him with a key now, do they?”

“I…” I blinked. I hadn’t even noticed. “You’re looking into this too much. Treznor is probably right outside the door, waiting for him. You’re being too suspicious.”

Was it suspicion… or jealousy? I suspected Elubarin knew I had a thing for Vox. What if he was trying to rid Vox from the picture before he admitted to liking me? I prayed that wasn’t the case. But if it was…

Slipping out of Elubarin’s grasp, I let Vox take me by the arm in a firm, but somehow still gentle grip. “I’m doing everything I can to free you guys,” he murmured.

“I know.”

“Then why can’t he see that?”