This time when he asks a penny for my thoughts I just give him an apologetic smile before turning back to the conversation. There is little my dwelling could fix at the moment so it was better to just settle in with Erik and Adele while I figured things out. At least here I wasn't being hunted. Scratch that, I was being hunted but they would have no clue I was holed up at the house of a thousand year old vampire. I consider what he had told me. He must have seen the rise and ruin of many civilizations. The world was never a stagnate place, kingdoms rising, falling, rebuilding over the ashes and monuments of others. In the present day it felt as if the world was frozen, not expanding, but just because all was well on one side of the world did not mean the same for the other. How fascinating his history must be.

Adele surprises me over and over. Her quip of behind closed doors makes my cheeks flame red but I laugh at it. Sweet and saucy. "Well, Ill be sure to keep that in mind if I hear any bumps in the night," I throw in teasingly, still blushing, but I could throw mischief right back at her. What amused me most was the way Erik seemed to try diligently to ignore Adele, no doubt as nonplussed as I was. I felt as if my face might break into two with my grinning. Maybe my skin would melt right off too. I tuck my dark hair behind one ear during his little prelude, the tip just as red as my face, unused to his reaction.

It wasn't that I had never been hit on. I had dated, I had had romantic interests, it is just that I am still unsure in the beginning phases of things. There was also the fact that Erik just saw me beat up, filthy, a bit mad with my random laughing, and was still throwing around remarks such as that. A millennia he has lived - how was I any different to be one of the few who caught his interest? I suppose in that many life times that he would see many different looking people but a lot would appear the same. I could trace the heritage of a few people just by their facial features, but hadn't done much study in such an art so it was very few.

My steer in the conversation is a moot point as he spins it back on me and I flush again, my lips pressed in a sort of pleased smile. Could he hear my heart rattling in it's cage? I sure hoped not because it was SLAMMING so hard I felt as if it would drown out any voices. Boldly I hold his gaze with my own forest eyes, trying not to squirm beneath his words, though I catch myself shifting just a little, fingers pressing a bit firmer into Darwin as a grounding tool. Adele was really no help at all despite her early fluff about bedroom activities. "What ways would those be?" I smartly reply, my own gaze challenging, as if daring him to say something in front of Adele. I raise a brow then in a 'cat got your tongue?' manner.

I'm not sure what kind of answer I want from him on that. Such things would be... complications. It helped knowing that he was aged enough to be a formidable ally and obviously could take care of himself. His words about my shop make my face soften and I reach out a hand to grasp his gently, gratefully. "Thank you, Erik. I would love that. I... can't right now though." I let go and draw my hand away, glancing down at it thoughtfully. "I was born with an affinity for earth magic which led to my love for creating potions and remedies and such. Plus I see the way this world works." My words are fierce, a passion in my voice. "The way the downtrodden are further degraded and abused by the government. People hurting but given pain medication to cover it up. What I create cures the problem or at least treats what it cant in a more naturalistic sort of way that won't have any undue side effects. But I can't right now because I'm stuck under a freaking curse that prevents me from using it without my magic draining to the brink of fainting." Frustration laces my voice as I curl the same hand I had grabbed his with into a fist.

"I have some shadow magic too. I never had it before but a little over a year ago I traveled back home to Scotland because my parents both died." Murder, but I didn't say that. Not just yet. My story was already wild. "It started manifesting then. Anyways, this curse I'm under makes it so I can only use shadow magic safely." Which totally cut me off from what I loved. Not everybody brings problems. I give him a half smile that says I didn't truly believe that but I dont answer. Hard to change my thinking now after everything. "What do you mean we?" My brows are almost to my hairline I am so surprised. "Erik, it'll be daylight. Unless I'm mistaken, one of the key things about being a vampire is that sunlight kills. Wait.. don't tell me you just glitter?" I tack the last on with a sly smirk.