CHAPTER 18

I awoke the next morning feeling Sonia's warm breath on my neck. My left arm 
was around her, holding her to me, and her bare bosom was pressed to the 
side of my ribs, her left hand resting on my chest.

We had made love almost halfway through the night, and it felt different to 
me. I never felt this way with the Succubus. I really did love Sonia. It 
felt good, no, wonderful, last night. I looked down at her, and slowly 
pushed a strand of her hair away from her face, which had plastered to her 
skin from sweat.

Feeling me touch her, Sonia's eyes fluttered open. She smiled and touched my 
hand, "Hi..."

I smiled back, clutching her hand, "Hi. You okay?"

"I guess... still a little shakey..."

I stroked her cheek and kissed Sonia softly, and started to pull her close 
to me when a huge pound on the door sounded, followed by that -dare I even 
say it- patented scream.

"SONIA TIME TO GET UP!!!!!!!"

It was Jake. Sonia let out a sharp yelp and rolled out of bed, putting on a 
quick shirt and slamming the door shut before Jake nearly opened the door 
after fumbling with the lock. I quickly got up and got dressed.

"Go away Jake!!!" Sonia told him.

"NEVER!!!" Jake shouted, pushing on the door. Sonia looked over towards me 
and gave me the 'Ya got 30 seconds' look.

"Where?" I mouthed.

Sonia looked around, before finally saying, "Closet."

I stared blankly at her for a  moment, but rushed in there, turning into a 
bat and hanging from the ceiling in case someone looked in there.

I heard the door open and Jake ran in here, "The sun's up Sonia that means 
ya have to get up!!!"

"Shut up, Jake," Sonia said.

Jake grinned and walked out. Sonia walked over to the closet, "Alucard?"

I flew down and landed on her shoulder, nipping her ear. She almost 
panicked, but when she realized it was me, she calmed down. I flew off of 
her shoulder and turned back into my normal self.

"Don't do that," Sonia said, wiping at her ear, "I actually thought there 
was a real bat in my closet..."

I rolled my eyes, "We'd better get out of here before your Grandfather finds 
me in here..."

Sonia scoffed as she got into something better to wear, "Right..." she then 
paused, "Do you think anyone heard us? Y'know, last night?"

"How well do your brothers and grandpa sleep?" I asked.

"Grandpa sleeps like a rock, but it depends on how tired Jake and Gabriel 
are that I'm worried about..." Sonia said. I put a hand on her shoulder and 
we walked out of her room.

"I'm sure no one did..." I said.

Jonathan was already up by the time we walked into the kitchen. Sonia 
quickly put some water on the stove to make tea.

"Good morning, Grandpa. Sleep well?" Sonia asked.

Jonathan looked over to her, "Fairly well... yourself?"

"Great," she replied.

He glanced over at me, but didn't say anything, and I refused to make eye 
contact. I heard a lock fumble, and open. Gabriel crawled out of his room, 
rubbing his eyes, his hair thrown in all directions. Jake snickered at him 
and sat down at the table next to Jonathan.

Sonia gave Jonathan his tea, and the two creatures she called 'brothers' 
some milk. She then put a plate of rolls on the middle of the table. Jake 
grabbed two and devoured them hungrily, swallowing the milk quickly.

She looked towards me, "You want anything to eat, Adrian?" she asked, using 
my real name around her siblings and grandfather.

"I'm fine," I replied simply, shaking my head slowly.

I turned to go back to my room when Gabriel spoke up, "Grumpy Golem, 
Rapunzel was screaming last night."

I stopped in my tracks, and I heard Sonia fumble with the plate she was 
holding, almost dropping it. Jonathan turned to Sonia, "You okay, Sonia? Did 
you hurt yourself training yesterday?"

I let out a silent sigh as Sonia said, "Uh... yeah. My back was hurting. I 
don't remember screaming last night though... I was either asleep or Gabriel 
had a bad dream..."

'C'mon, buy it, buy it...' I pleaded silently. Gabriel shook his head, "I 
wasn't dreaming, Rapunzel."

Jake then spoke up, "Yeah, I heard it, too! I even got out of bed to go see 
Adrian to ask him if he'd check on Sonia to see if she was alright, and he 
wasn't in his room."

I froze again; dammit, this didn't look good...

Sonia turned to look at me, "Did you come to see if I was alright, Adrian?"

I forced myself not to stutter, "Yeah, for a little bit. I put some pain 
ointment on your back. You were asleep."

Jake blinked, "Then why did I hear you screaming too, Adrian?"

"What!" Jonathan roared, standing in his chair without his cane. I smelled 
fear coming from Sonia, and my face paled even more so than it already was. 
I wanted to run. I admit it; I was AFRAID of Jonathan.

Jonathan looked towards Jake and Gabriel, "Go to your rooms, boys. It'll 
only be for a minute."

He grabbed his cane to support himself better and stood straighter after 
Jake and Gabriel ran into their rooms and closed the door. I turned to see 
Sonia better, staring into her eyes. She had a tear streaming down her 
cheek, and I wanted to just run to her and hold her.

Jonathan smacked his cane down on the ground, diverting both of our 
attentions to him.

"Sonia... come here..." he said solemnly. Sonia couldn't help but obey. She 
slowly walked over to him until she stood next to him. She lowered her head 
in shame.

"Look up at me," he ordered. She did so.

Everything was silent for a moment before Jonathan made a quick movement and 
slapped her face. Her face flew to the side, and instinctively lifted a hand 
to cover the mark. I became enraged, but I couldn't do anything.

"You dare sleep with that... that MONSTER!!!" he shouted at her. Sonia fell 
to her knees, cowering.

"Grandpa, please..." she pleaded.

"He took you away from me! He stole your innocense!!!" he continued to 
scald.

He was about to shout again when Sonia lifted her face and shouted back, "I 
wanted him to, Grandpa!!! I love Adrian!!!"

All of us were silent, and Sonia said again, only softer, "I love him..."

Jonathan narrowed his eyes and turned slowly towards me, "...Get out of my 
house."

"Grandpa, don't... please," Sonia pleaded, her words turning into sobs. He 
ignored her.

"Now," he said to me firmly. I bowed my head in compliance, and headed for 
the door.

As I opened the door and started to walk out, I heard Jonathan growl at 
Sonia, "Get me your whip..."