33. Imperfection

Genre: Paranormal romance, drama

Type: Series
Characters: Leigh, Krisis
Prompt:034. Imperfection

Word Count: 1120 +

Warning: language, nudity

Rating:  M- (coarse language, adult situations, nudity. N.B-Applies to the whole series)

Summary: Leigh has a breakdown and Krisis makes a breakthrough.

034. Imperfection

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Bridgeport, present day

It was a week since they found her, battered and half dead. A week since Krisis killed Vladimir, and they set his house on fire, making it seem like arson. Krisis had almost messed things up by killing Vladimir in the heat of the moment, but Sarah and Rudolf did a good job at making sure nothing linked them to the fire at the Schlick Manor.

The vampire council took mild interest in the arson case. Though Vladimir was one of the oldest vampires in Bridgeport, it seemed age had not made him wiser, but more evil instead and as a result he had acquired a few enemies along the way, all of them happy to learn of his demise. His enemies, including the most senior members of the council, were secretly thanking whoever had had the guts to deal with him. They knew it was one of their own who killed him. Humans wouldn't have the balls or the know how. But they were dragging their feet investigating the matter, hoping it will be a distant memory in not too long.

The Bridgeport Police Department too, was not worried about the case; after all it was just a bloody vampire who had perished. Had it been a human who’d died, they would have given the matter close attention.

Bridgeport did pride itself on being the first town to openly embrace vampires, but this doesn't mean the two races were treated equally, and it’s this blatant discrimination the Frosts were thankful for. If things were different, law enforcement would have been all over this suspicious arson case, and Krisis would have kissed his freedom goodbye.

Only Beau, Vladimir’s brother, knew the truth, and he wasn’t talking to the cops because he left town the same day his brother was killed, taking his girlfriend, Bianca Rubble, with him, leaving Krisis Infinity without a keyboard artist, and a band manager.

Beau was crafty enough to know Krisis would come after him when he was done with Vladimir, and when the tour was cut short, leaving thousands of fans and concert organizers enraged, he knew he was in trouble and had to make tracks, fast.

Because they couldn’t take Leigh to a hospital, they’d turned her room into a makeshift ward, with Jacqueline tending to her 24/7. The few times she’d talked they’d gathered Vladimir had not assaulted her sexually. But the verbal and physical abuse she’d endured at his hands was equally devastating.

Jacqueline was pleased with the progress her patient was making physically, but she informed them, emotionally Leigh was a horrific disaster waiting to happen. She’d even suggested counseling. But Leigh had firmly refused when Devon threw the idea at her. She just wanted to be left alone, in her numbness.

For hours she’d stare blankly into space, half listening to her visitors. She refused to meet their eyes, feeling ashamed. She covered herself in long oppressive clothing, and wrapped large blankets around herself, trying to hide from herself and from everyone, afraid if she peeled off even just one layer, they’d see the sordidness her body had been turned into.

Lost in her thoughts, she’d sometimes remember the hurtful way Vladimir had announced he’d seen her with Krisis under the bridge, and watched her act like a wanton whore.  

Was that why he’d dirtied her, because he’d seen her love for Krisis as something cheap and dirty? Was that even love she felt for him?

God, she couldn’t bear to look at him, afraid of what she’d see in his eyes, the regret, the contempt. She didn't even want him close to her, convinced he wouldn't want her after this. What man would? Shit, she didn't even want herself. She screamed every time she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror.

The nights were the worst, she couldn’t sleep. The moment she drifted off, she’d see Vladimir’s intense eyes, feel his brutal fangs all over her, his hands roaming roughly on her body, and she’d wake up screaming and crying, unable to tell them anything because it was too shocking, too painful to be retold, and she wanted to spare them the horror.

Michaela was the only one who managed to bring a smile to her face when she spoke about Jett Atkins and her plot to get him to notice her. She was the only one she allowed close to her. Leigh found her mindless teenage bubble comforting, and the innocence in her eyes gave her hope, the world could still be right after this...with time.

She gingerly made her way out of the bedroom. The activity in the living room stopped, and she felt their eyes on her, feeling sorry for her, and she couldn't stand it...Couldn't stand the pity for one more second.

“I’m fine!” She waved them off before they could say anything. She was convinced if she heard one more “are you okay, do you need anything?” she’d come undone and cry.

She closed the bathroom door firmly. For a long time she stood under the water, scrubbing herself thoroughly, removing all traces of Vladimir. It had become an obsessive ritual, with her showering at least five times a day. She’d scrub, scrape, and peel at her skin, until her body ached, until she thought she was bleeding. But she’d still not feel clean enough, no matter how hard or how long she kept at it.

After an hour of scrubbing, she turned off the taps. For the first time since she came back, she forced herself to look in the mirror. But she couldn’t, she gagged over the basin, retching, screaming loud heart wrenching sobs. 

Instantly Krisis was in the room with her, and he held her tightly to him until she stopped shaking.

 “Listen to me, this wasn’t your fault!” he told her gently.

“Yes it was! He saw us…at the bridge. He said he followed us to your house. He watched us, and he told me I acted like a wanton whore. Is that why he did this to me? Is that why he dirtied me, and rubbished me and all that’s left of me is this…imperfection!” She pulled away from him then and waved at her naked body.

For the first time since he met her, he did the one thing he’d promised himself he’d never do, he read her thoughts, and he wanted to die right there on the spot with her. He wished she’d told him, allowed him to carry the burden with her, and lessen her pain.

He gently wrapped a clean towel around  her body, and pulled her in his arms again, thankful she didn't push him away like she had been doing these last couple of days, wishing with all his heart he’d never gone on that damn tour!