SEVENTEEN: At His House

SHE TRIED TO remember. Cornelia really wanted to recall the events of what happened to her. Lucien sat on the edge of the bed next to her, "You really don't remember what happened?" He asked, and a look of distrust passed his eyes.

Then she saw something else, something akin to an apology tainted with regret. Just as quickly as it appeared, it vanished. His brown eyes turned into something unreadable once more.

She softly shook her head, and then images began flashing in her mind. "I don't why I left house, but there was something like a pull which lulled me out." She started softly while looking at her fingers. "I..." The words died down in her mouth as more images began flashing in her mind.

A loud, horrified gasp left her mouth, and her hand flew up to cover her parted lips. Her blue eyes were brimming with tears, and a look of sheer terror passed them.

"I was going to die. I really thought I was going to die." She told him and her shoulders trembled with her silent sobs.

Lucien was patient with her, and when she threw her arms around his waist and hid her head in his chest, he didn't shut her out. When her tears wet his shirt as she told him of her horrifying night he listened.

She pulled away, looking up at him, "They weren't like regular wolves though. They were huge, like really huge."

After she was done telling him everything she remembered, Lucien let her hold his hands, allowed her desperate attempt to draw safety out of his body, and there was a surge of pride with that last idea.

"If I tell you that you cannot tell anyone about what you had just told me, will you listen?" Lucien's eyes held hers as he asked the question.

She furrowed her eyebrows, "What? How? I mean... Why don't you want me to tell people? What if others are attacked too?"

Lucien let out a tired sigh at her frantic attitude. "Ms. Cooper." His eyes then felt on their held hands, "No, Cornelia, you're talking about giant wolves one that attacked you while the other stopped it. Do you think anyone would believe such a tale?"

"Why won't they? I'm not lying!" She exclaimed offended pulling away from him. Her eyes then squinted, "Don't you believe me?"

"I believe you're not lying, but how will others take it?"

She paused for a second longer, and Lucien wondered if she was contemplating what he said. However, she looked up at him with a look of suspicious, "How come that I'm here? How did you find me?"

Lucien gave her a small smile, "I found you unconscious in the woods, it's was close to midnight, and you were bleeding."

Cornelia pulled herself farther from him, "And why did you tell the police? Or maybe take me to the hospital?"

"I didn't want to make a scene before I spoke to you first. Luke is a second year medical student and he's pretty good at it. He assured me that your wound will heal quickly."

Cornelia still found it strange, and she couldn't stop the unsettling feeling inside her. It didn't make sense that he would take a midnight stroll. It was too much of a coincidence.

"I think I should leave. I mean..." She cleared get throat, but kept her eyes away from his, "I don't even know how my dad is going to react."

Lucien nodded his head, "I'll drive you." He said after standing up.

Cornelia wanted to argue, but really she couldn't go back home on foot. Suddenly, she remembered that she had left her house in a nightgown. When she looked down, a groan of embarrassment left her mouth. She clutched her eyes shut and her lips were pursed together.

Lucien did his best to contain his chuckle, finding her adorable in a way, but he shook the thought quickly. "I'll get you a change of clothes first."

Cornelia shyly nodded and Lucien left the room. She got up and walked towards the mirror at the corner. She gave her reflection an assessing look, and a deep frown formed on her face.

She was dirty with mud and blood, that was the first thing that pulled her attention. She looked down at the first stuck between her toes and her toe nails and she grimaced.

The blood on her hair and nightgown was a completely different story, and along with her paler-than-usual complexion, Cornelia looked like some corpse bride.

A new wave of embarrassment washed over her, mixed with a lot of shame, at the prospect of Lucien seeing her in that state.

She gave herself a reprimanding look, "Is that really what you're worried about right now?"

"I leave you for a second and you're talking to yourself." Lucien said with a light tone.

She turned to him, startled, ignoring the blush rising on her face, she shrugged. "They say talking to oneself is a healthy feat on occasions."

Lucien handed her the clothes along with a towel. "You can take a shower before we go." He then gestured a closed door, where the bathroom was.

Cornelia and Lucien left his mansion together. She found it strange to walk around the mansion when it was so empty. It was already morning but no one was around. When they exited the mansion, she turned to Lucien with a questioning look, "Where's everyone?"

"They're out." He said then opened the passenger door of his car for her to get in.

She got in and the drive was somehow silent. She didn't understand what was happening anymore. Her head was a mess, she wasn't sure what she should tell Jerry, or how she should take what happened last night.

If it wasn't for the wound on her neck, she would have thought it was just a dream, that she had imagined the whole thing.

She recalled the black wolf that had saved her, and a shiver ran down her spine. She stole a glance at Lucien, and she got that feeling that he had answers, at least more than what he was showing.