Page 52 of Beasts

“She's in the security room.” Oliver exclaims as he gets everyone to follow him down the hallway. They know where I am! I go towards the door and start banging. I just want them to feel reassured that I'm definitely here and they're going in the right direction. On the other side of the door, I can hear a voice. “Amelia?”

“Oliver! They broke off the handle. I can't open the door.” I hope he can hear me.

“Amelia stand as far back away from the door as you can.” I barely hear Nolan's words as I take a few steps away. I jump when both Oliver and Nolan bust the hinges of the door and break it down. They really are strong. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, thank you, but can we get out of this room? It stinks!” I usher the guys out into the hallway and we start walking back towards the drama hall.

“Hold up.” Nolan exclaims, stopping everybody in their tracks. “We found Amelia. She's safe now. What the hell are you doing thinking that you can go out on stage?” Nolan seems particularly angry at Oliver and I suppose I can understand why.

“It's just a stupid play. They insisted I play a part.” Oliver responds.

“Whether or not they insisted you should have said no. If I'm not mistaken, I have heard that you're playing the part of Prince Charming in an adaption of Snow White. I might have been young when I last saw that movie, but I'm pretty sure there is a kiss scene too. There is no way that you'll be able to handle that in the middle of a stage play.”

“Nolan-” I try to interject.

“Amelia, don’t. I understand that you don't really know what's going on, but you have no idea how intolerable Oliver can be of people touching him.”

“He’s really-”

“We can't even bump into him on a good day. I absolutely cannot risk you guys.”

“But Nolan-”

“If he hurts someone in the middle of the stage, especially you, what are we going to do about it? You're literally showcasing that there are vampires living amongst us to over five hundred people!” He's so adamant, he's just not gonna stop. I look over at Oliver standing beside me and I can understand the look on his face. Usually it's the face of someone being told off by a parent, but in this case Nolan and Oliver have been best friends for a very long time and Nolan has protected him that whole time too. Maybe they're more like siblings. Either way, Nolan needs to understand that Oliver has changed. At the risk of ruining his costume, I grab a hold of Oliver’s collar and pull him into me. He's a little stunned, obviously, but he lets himself crash into my lips. A moment later, I let him go and push him back. As I look at the completely astounded faces of Nolan and the triplets I gesture back towards Oliver.

“See? He's completely fucking fine. Lay off him a little, would you?”

“Exactly how often have you guys been practicing this?” Hendrik snickers. If looks could kill the glare I'm giving him now would put him six feet under.

“We've got a play to put on. Why don't you guys see if you can find a seat?” I grab onto Oliver's hand and pull him along with me towards the main drama hall. When Mr. Fasoli sees us, he's very pleased, which is more than I can say for Amanda and Brandi. “Are you ready for this?” I whisper to Oliver.

“You’re here, so I'm ready for anything.” Before I walk off to my position, he grabs a hold of my wrist and pulls me back. “That being said, I'm a little confused at the moment.”

“Why?”

“When you kissed me earlier, I felt nothing.”

“I mean, ouch?”

“No, no. Not like that. I mean, I didn't feel any…urge, come over me.”

“Was it like, because of yesterday? I mean, technically you've ‘eaten’.”

“No, that's never happened. I'm never full.” I wonder if this has something to do with what Seth said.

“I guess there really was a reason why Seth wanted you to bite me before this play.”

“I'm a little confused. I mean no offense, but you're just a human. I don't understand where this power you have is coming from and I don't understand why your blood has been able to make me feel so…normal.”

“Right, I forgot to ask Seth, what's a Fallen?” Oliver narrows his eyes at me, but doesn't answer directly.

“Before I answer that, why you asking?”

“Apparently my mother was a Fallen, which makes me half one of those, whatever that is.” Oliver's mouth gapes open as he steps back and runs his fingers through his hair.

“Holy shit.”

“Seriously, you can't have a reaction like that and not tell me what a Fallen is.”

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