A Droplet Is Never Enough (2)

Ari was terrified and confused. They were sharing a moment then in seconds Alaric had turned frightening; grabbing for her throat triggering some instinctual need to get away. Somewhere in the back of her mind a thought floated up that this wasn't the first time she'd almost been devoured. But that felt wrong. That hadn't been what happened.

With Benjamin's help she managed to get herself back in the wheelchair before wheeling out of the room. The feral cries of Alaric still echoed in her ears. She used the sleeve of her shirt to dab the blood from her lip, unsure whether to be weirded out or concerned.

Benjamin frowned. "Are you alright, Madame? Is there anywhere else you may have accidentally gotten hurt?" He wheeled her down the hallway at a quick pace, a saddened look on his face. "He isn't always like that. He has a very bad condition. Without his Medication, he turns a bit rabid. My utmost apologies."

She shook her head, waving off Benjamin's apology. "I'm fine. Just a little shocked. He told me to go but he seemed sick and I was worried." But she hadn't listened because she had genuinely wanted to help. Ari craned her head back to look at Benjamin. "Will he be okay?"

"He'll be alright after I give him his medication. That will also be something you'll learn to keep track of as well." He wheeled her into the old fashioned elevator, then down the hallway on the correct floor where her room was. "Are your nerves too jumbled up to sleep? I can make us a cup of tea, then you can chat with me and my husband?"

"Tea would be great. Somehow you said exactly what I was thinking." Ari rather enjoyed the old butler and his husband's company. They didn't ask any difficult questions or seem to expect anything out of her.

It was like having friends again, which beyond Rooster, she hadn't had in awhile. She rested her chin in her palm, content with letting Benjamin push her along. "Anything you make is bound to be gold and not even a good scare could make me pass up that offer."

Benjamin chuckled in that medium leathery tone that sounded like a whistle of air through trees as he wheeled her back down to the dining room. There, his blonde haired companion sat already with a steaming hot kettle, pouring three glasses of tea. It was almost like he'd anticipated they'd come... that or he had heard them from afar.

"Welcome back." The blond haired man said with a nod of his head. He didn't seem as hyper as he was earlier.

"Thanks." She tried for a smile but it was watery, like she couldn't quite muster enough energy. Taking over to wheel herself up to the table to claim a hot steaming cup for herself. "I'm surprised you're still here. Do you live here too?" Ari needed something other than the thought of a sick and feral Alaric in her head.

Rafael pressed his hand against his cheek, golden hair spilling forward over his shoulders. "No, I tend to travel a lot actually. I'll be spending a few days here for me and Benji's anniversary. Did. You want to attend when we recite our vows?"

Her brows rose and her eyes widened. The tea was forgotten for the moment as she clasped her hands together barely suppressing a girlish squeal. "Is that a real question? Of course! You two are adorable and there's nothing I would rather do more."

"It isn't that big of a deal where you have to bug people to attend. We've said them once already. Look how long we've lasted." Benjamin rolled his eyes and Rafael shook his head.

"Maybe she should be the one to give him his pills." He randomly said.

Benjamin's soft look vanished. "Absolutely not. She isn't here for your entertainment."

Ari looked between the two of them. "Um, I don't think he wants me in there."

"If she's going to be his personal secretary, don't you think she needs to learn to deal with that in case we aren't around to help?" Asked Rafael with a raise of his brow. He bobbed his head up and down to a beat no one could hear but himself.

Benjamin inhaled deeply, then glimpsed over at Ari before grabbing a broom and sweeping; clearly he was trying to ignore Rafael.

She took a long sip of tea letting the smooth taste of lavender calm her. Rafael had a point even if she didn't necessarily like it. She could also understand Benjamin's hesitance for sending her back up there. "What if I go to give it to him and you can wait outside the door in case I need help? That way I can get used to it and Benji doesn't have to worry." He was pretty old afterall. Ari wasn't trying to be the source of a heart attack.

"I'm fine with that. See Benj, there's no problem at all." He beamed, perking more up as he rose from his seat. "Let's go then."

"Please be careful Madame. I count on you. We all do." Benjamin bowed his head at her quickly.

Ari was pretty sure Benjamin was just being kind. Really all of them. She wasn't someone rich or overly memorable and she certainly hadn't done anything for them to bother caring. But she smiled for his sake anyway.

Alaric probably wouldn't hurt her. When she thought about what happened, she could tell that he tried to restrain himself and pushed her away as much as he could. Not to be an asshole for once but for her sake. The least she could do was make an effort.

Things couldn't get much worse anyway. Ari was already stuck in a wheelchair. "I will. It will be fine. This is my job now like your husband said. I should do this."

The phantom feeling of hands around her neck made her throat tighten but she swallowed the feeling and steeled her nerves. The tea party was short-lived much to her dismay. She rolled over to the butler with her hand out. "His meds please."

Somehow even though Rafael had suggested, they both looked at one another shocked when she agreed to go. Benjamin didn't hesitate though. She made the choice and he wasn't going to push her around, as the butler, and tell her what to do.

Here, Alaric had told him to let her make her own future. "You know. I'd tell you no, but the day he said you'd be living here, he said to let you make your own difficult choices because you were probably tired of rich and poor people telling you what your future would be. Telling you how to live your life."

He pulled the medicine down from the cabinet then placed it in her hands, pushing her fingers around the deep plum colored bottle. "My apologies again Madame. If you need any assistance, don't hesitate to call Rafael."

"Of course. You'll definitely hear me." Ari smiled again, giving Benji's hand a gentle pat. He was definitely growing on her already. With that said, Ari began to make her way back upstairs. Back into the old elevator and up to the floor with the long hallway. The only door leading back to Alaric in his crazed state. Slowly she wheeled herself in front of the door remembering how he hated the squeaking from the wheels.

Slapping her cheeks lightly and shaking her head. "You can do this, Ari. Strong independent woman." Pushing out of the chair with her unsteady legs doing their best to hold her up, she leaned heavily against the doorframe, giving a single knock before pushing inside, clasping the bottle in hand.

"Alaric?" She called out softly, "I know you told me to go but I brought your medicine. Don't be angry." The room was dim and vaguely she wondered if he was still locked up in the bathroom. Ari used the wall to support her weight while walking in and shutting the door. "Benjamin was worried but this is my choice."

When the door opened, Alaric was slumped against the wall with his head tilted down, each breath rattling like a rusty old air conditioner unit trying to circulate. "Benjamin can give it to me." He wheezed out, lifting his head momentarily to glimpse her way, seeming more tired than he had before she left. "You must not value your life. I'm sure you've realized you could've died the last time you were in here, yet you stupidly come back. Where are your brains? In your ass?"

He pushed his feet against the floor, trying to stand, but he fell back down. "Turn around and just set them on the floor. I don't need you looking at me like this."