This Mask is Not Me

"Of course it's real" She murmured, smiling at him.
"No, you don't bother me at all" She said, smiling. "I'd rather hang out with you then them. You're not taking away my freedome" She murmured, smiling at him. She knew he was upset, which made her sad.
"Listen, I'd rather be with you then any one of them" She said softly, pressing her lips to his cheek, to try and reassure.

Vaix blinked, then smiled at Shaye's statement. He gave a sigh, then let his head fall limply onto the bed, looking up at her with a weak smile, the best one he could manage at the moment. He was a bit upset, and he would continue to be until Shaye was better, but it was nice to hear her reassure him that he was still loved. Vaix was sure he needed that more than ever right now.

Shaye smiled at Vaix and leaned over, brushing her lips against his cheek, before lying back down and curling into a small ball. It was how she was most comfortable. She was careful not to lay on her arm, but besides that she was fine. She closed her eyes, not asleep, but not fully awake. She was tired, the running around in the snow had tired her out more then she had anticipated.

Vaix watched her with the same smile as before, seeing her lay beside him and curl up into a small ball. She looked so small and vulnerable, even if she was healing and fine. Such an innocent, perfect thing, it made him wonder how Lana could have even thought to hurt Shaye in the first place. He continued to watch Shaye as she dozed, smiling weakly as he marvelled over both her internal and external beauty.

Shaye smiled against the blankets, finally succumbing to the sleep that had been threatening to overtake her for a few minutes now. She sighed, content.

Keith lay on the couch, he opened his phone and sent a quick text to Roxa, telling her he was stuck downstairs, as Vaix wouldn't let him pass the bedroom right now. Flicking on the TV, he found himself watching the news.

Vaix continued to watch her sleep with a weak smile of contentment.

Roxa blinked as her phone vibrated, she was in her room, Iggy still sleeping on her bed, and her reading on of the magazines in the cabin. She reached into her pocket and looked at the text. She sighed and texted one back asking if Vaix had hurt Keith in anyway, and if he needed her to come get him.

Keith grabbed his phone off the couch cushions as soon as it went off. He smiled as he read Shaye's text. He quickly replied that he was fine, and just chilling watching TV.
He sighed and stretched out, wondering if Shaye was alright. He knew Vaix was taking care of her, he wasn't worried about that, he just didn't like not being informed about these things.

Roxa sighed as she read Keith's text, the worst of her worries disappearing instantly. She smiled, then texted him back that she was glad he was alright, and if he'd managed to get any info on Shaye yet from Vaix.
Iggy sturred slightly, opening an eye to look up at Roxa sleepily.

Keith glanced at his phone. Shaking his head he quickly texted Roxa back, saying 'no he didn't know anything'
He glanced up the stairs, deciding in a second what he needed to do. Standing up, he walked quickly up the stairs, pausing outside Shaye and Vaix's room. Steeling his nerves he lifted his hand, knocking on the door gently and waiting to see what happened.

Roxa shook her head at the answer, then sighed and texted him back one last time. 'You should ask...' as all she said. Then stopped as she heard the knocking, she bit her bottom lip waiting to listen to the result as well.

Vaix's head snapped up when there was a knock at the door, the scent said it was Keith and another lo growl built in his throat. He narrowed his eyes, then kissed Shaye's forehead as she slept, standing slowly and making his way over. Opening the door and glaring out at the older vampire before him. "Yes?" he mumbled rather darkly.

Keith winced a bit, seeing the hostility in Vaix's eyes.
"I just wanted to know how Shaye is" He murmured, careful to keep his posture and body relaxed. He heard his phone go off, but didn't bother to look. He looked at Vaix with pleading and sorrowful eyes. He knew his friend was insanely protective, but this was his baby sister. He waited, hoping and praying that Vaix either came out and spoke to him, or even allowed him in. He waited, half-expecting a door to slam in his face.

Vaix stared at Keith for a while, not saying anything. He swallowed, the aggressive hostile look never leaving his eyes for a second. Then with a sigh, he stepped aside for him, "she's sleeping." He growled back, "so speak softly, and don't you dare lay one finger to her..." He narrowed his eyes again, even letting Keith in the room was a tremendous jump for him, but Keith making physical contact with Shaye was intolerable for Vaix at the moment. Keith would lose the hand if he tried.

Keith winced a bit, not allowed to touch her, but at least he was allowed in the room.
"Thanks" He said, his mouth suddenly dry. He carefully made his way into the room and sat down in a chair, as far away from Shaye as possible. He couldn't see her face, but she looked alright. He waited for Vaix to say something, or flip and try to kill him.

Vaix was still at the door, he closed it behind him and took a couple steps into the room. His eyes never leaving Keith for a second. He sighed, still unbelievably tense, and hostile. "You want to know what Sven explained to me right?" he asked as calmly as he could manage. He glanced at Shaye for a second, then back at Keith again.

"It would be nice..." Keith murmured, taking his eyes off Shaye to watch Vaix. "Look, I know your super stressed, but she's my sister, and I need to know..." He trailed off, feeling immature and bad. It was true though, Shaye was his family, and he wanted to know if she'd be okay.

Vaix frowned at Keith's demand-like sounding statements. He sighed however, looking back at the sleeping figure on the bed, for a long while. Then opening his mouth to speak. "Did Shaye tell you yet? That she'll never have full use of her hand after she heals?" He glanced over at Keith with a frown, then shook his head, "you wouldn't believe how scared and stressed she is about that..."

"Yea, she told me" Keith said, hanging his head. It was hard to imagine Shaye like that, but he was doing his best to avoid letting himself dwell.
"Is she? She wasn't freaking out at all when she came outside" He said, shaking his head and running his fingers through his hair. He glanced at Shaye again, a sad look in his eyes.
"Is there anything else?"

Vaix only nodded to Keith's first question, and to the other he replied. "Most of what Sven told me was how to treat her arm. As it heals tighten the bandages around her fingers, apply some of the gel from the Aloe Vera before putting on the new bandage, and use some of the cream on the night table if she's in pain. Her arm cannot get wet, and if it does you must dab it dry, never wipe..." He watched Keith, with almost a suspicious look, "but I'm taking care of her healing for now..."

"I know. I was just curious" Keith said, noting the defense in Vaix's attitude. He was fine with that, he hadn't expected to be let near Shaye, or her arm for awhile. He glanced at his sister again.
"Thanks for telling me" He murmured in a soft voice. Shaye looked so fragile right now, it was hard to see. Normally she would be bouncing around, laughing, but now, now she was basically motionless.

"It's no issue," Vaix muttered back. Walking over to Shaye slowly and siting on the bed with her, laying a loving hand onto her shoulder as she slept, then giving a sigh. It was hard to see Shaye this way, so small. It made him nervous to have anyone around, but as said before, he was still bouncing on and off the border with Keith. He was sure if Roxa had poked her head in here, it would be rather messy, and even more so with Iggy. His eyes closed in exhaustion, though his other senses continued to watch Keith.

"Well thanks anyway. I'm going to go see the others now" He murmured, and stood, carefully leaving the room. He wasn't going to get anywhere with Vaix, and since he couldn't talk to Shaye, there was no point in sticking around.
"Can I check in later?" He asked him, glancing once more time at Shaye. He wanted to talk to her, hug her, but he couldn't right now.

Vaix opened his eyes and watched Keith as the vampire moved, he swallowed once or twice nervously, then blinked at Keith's question. He stared at Keith for a while, then gave a hesitant nod, "yeah sure..." his voice was gloomy, as if he was in doubt about agreeing to any such thing.

Keith sighed and slipped out of the room and down the hall. Knocking once on Roxa's door, he slipped inside. Shaking his head he sat down on the floor, leaning his back against the wall.
"Hey" He said, once he was comfortable.

Shaye's eyelids flickered when the door was closed. "Hm?" She murmured sleepily, glancing around. Her eyes grew a bit wider as the scent of Keith permeated the room.
"Hey, was Keith here?" She murmured.

Vaix blinked as Shaye stirred and spoke to him. He looked over at her lovingly. "Yeah, I explained what Sven told me. You just missed him..." He hoped saying that wouldn't make her feel bad, that was not his intention, it was just truth.

Roxa looked up as Keith came in, she smiled warmly. "No bruises or scrapes from being so close to Shaye?" she asked curiously, then jumped as Iggy suddenly came to life and jumped to Keith, wrapping his arms around Keith's legs and sitting on the floor in that way.
"I didn't even know you were awake you stinker," Roxa laughed at Iggy.
Iggy just grunted.

Shaye sighed, "Oh, okay" She murmured, sitting up and running her fingers through her hair. She was a bit sad that she had missed her brother, but she supposed she'd seem him again soon anyway. She continued to play with her hair, enjoying getting out the many tangles and knots from the day. She glanced at Vaix, smiling at him softly.
"So anything else happen?" She asked curously.

"Nope, suprisingly I only got growled at a lot" Keith said, glancing down at Iggy, shaking his head a bit.
"Just wasn't allowed to so much as consider touching Shaye, but I sort of expected that to be perfectly honest"