Chapter 3 You're Strange

The gentle breeze swept in through the open window, fanning across Faye's sleeping face.

The sweet scent of flowers tickled her nose, and her eyes fluttered open to a white and high ceiling with a diamond chandelier.

She slowly turned her head and looked out the window. She couldn't see anything but trees dancing to the movement of the wind.

Then she let out a sigh.

What.. happened?

She looked around the large bedroom, then sat up on the bed. She came face to face with a full length mirror, then narrowed her eyes at the blood stains on her dress.

"Oh.." she breathed. "I fainted."

"Please...it hurts."

Her words repeated in her mind like a haunting echo, and she brought her knees to her chest; covering her ears and closing her eyes tight, in hopes that what happened was simply a dream.

She knew it was stupid of her to think that way. Afterall, she was sitting on a king sized bed- in a large room fit for a princess.

There was no way it was all a dream. The problem was that she had no idea what to classify it as- a nightmare or a pleasant dream.

"You're awake."

Faye jumped at the unfamiliar voice, then pulled the blanket to her chest like it was some protective cloak.

Her eyes fell on the gorgeous young woman who walked out of a room; her hair golden and her eyes green.

She shared the paleness of Faye's skin, and when she caught Faye staring in awe, a grin tugged at her lips; revealing fangs.

Faye's eyes broadened, and her breath hitched in her throat.

Vampire?!

"W-who are you?" She stuttered.

"Who?" the young woman furrowed her brows. "Me?"

Then she grinned further and plopped down across from Faye.

"I'm Mabel." She introduced and stretched out her arm for a handshake.

Faye stared at her, studying her grin and the look in her eyes. She didn't seem dangerous nor hostile.

But what was concerning was the fact that the strange and beautiful woman was not part of the people she was introduced to in the living room.

She reluctantly reached for Mabel's hand and held it in a weak and quick handshake before withdrawing and looking away.

It was Mabel's turn to study Faye. She cocked her head to the side, grinning further as Faye's eyes darted around the room in avoidance of her.

"You're strange." Mabel said, then crossed her arms. "You don't smell like a Werewolf to me."

Faye froze; Mabel's words hanging over her like a taunting coo-coo clock. She then slowly turned to look at Mabel who was now grinning ear to ear.

Mabel watched Faye's iris tremble and her fists clench.

"I must be unto something here." She deduced, then leaned closer to Faye with a sinister grin. "Your reaction says a lot, y'know."

Faye's heart dropped in a loud 'thud'.

D-does she know..?

Her stomach churned, and her hands flew to her mouth as she gagged; struggling to ignore the nausea that left her in a state of discomfort.

Mabel's smile dropped at Faye's reaction, and she watched her with a blank expression. Her green eyes trailed down to Faye's chest, then she lifted her hand from the bed and touched it with her index finger.

"Your heart is beating awfully fast." Her voice came out cold and flat, lacking the friendly tone she started with.

It held venom to it instead.

"Are you hiding something from us?" Her eyes met Faye's in a cold and demanding gaze.

Faye's heart bounced violently into her throat.

Their eyes remained locked, Mabel's piercing gaze bearing into Faye's soul like a knife through butter.

Suddenly, a smile tugged at the corner of Mabel's lips and she let out a loud and hearty laugh.

Faye blinked, her mind going completely blank.

Mabel's laughter only increased when she glanced at Faye's befuddled expression, and she smacked Faye's arm.

Faye had no clue what to say or how to respond to the crazy woman seated before her.

I miss Gwen.

She mused, and her eyes went to the door in hopes of Gwen suddenly walking in with her kind smile and calming aura.

Mabel let out a loud sigh that signaled the end of her outburst, then wiped the tear that ran down her cheek.

"I'm sorry for scaring you, Hun." She apologised, and a soft smile tugged both corners of her lips.

Faye's eyes widened a bit, then her brows burrowed.

"You're the one who's strange." She muttered with an unconscious pout.

"I thought it'd be fun to rile you up a bit." Mabel shrugged, shooting her a slight smirk.

"I've been through enough riling up today already." Faye muttered again and hugged her knees to her chest.

"Today?" Mabel's brows furrowed, and she let out a chuckle. "How long do you think you were asleep for?"

Faye paused, then furrowed her brows.

"What do you mean? Hasn't it been just a few hours?"

Mabel burst out laughing again; smacking Faye's arm in the process.

"You silly girl!" She managed to say between laughter. "You were asleep for three days!"

Faye's jaw dropped. "Three...days?"

"You should've seen everyone." Mabel chuckled. "One minute they're petitioning for your head to be cut off, and the next they're running around looking for a Doctor."

Faye gripped the blanket as she stared at Mabel.

"For me..?"

They were worried..?

"I've gotta say, Emris shocked me the most."

Faye's ears perked at the mention of Emris' name.

"Was he worried too?"

"Oh, he was more than-"

"Mabel." The deep and familiar voice shot through Faye's ears like music, and the room was once again filled with a scent Faye had grown to love in a very short time.

Emris walked into the room and slammed the door shut behind him; provoking a gasp from Faye as her hands flew to her ears.

Mabel glanced at a shaken Faye, then at an unbothered Emris.

"Be careful with your noise, will you?" She rolled her eyes. "And it's Auntie to you."

"When you act like one, I'll treat you like one." Emris said and Mabel narrowed her eyes at his audacity.

"If you don't mind," Emris started. "I'd like to talk to her alone."

Faye's eyes widened, and she snapped her attention towards Mabel; vehemently shaking her head.

She loved his scent, his voice, his eyes- okay she loved everything about him, but she knew he did not like her at all.

What if he's plotting to kill me?

She latched unto Mabel's arm and begged with her eyes, hoping she would get the hint.

Mabel looked between a desperate Faye and a stone faced Emris, then let out a sigh.

She couldn't do much for the poor girl here.

"I'll be right outside the door." She got up from the bed and Faye watched in horror as she walked away.

The second Mabel closed the door behind her, Faye's heart knocked against her chest like a landlord asking for rent.

Emris took a step forward and she jumped out of the bed like a bunny out of it's hole and ran over to the open window.

Emris stopped, then shot her a look. He took another step forward and Faye gasped.

He's going to kill me!

His eyes widened when she hoisted herself up on the windowsill.

"What on earth are you-"

And she jumped.