“Making sure you’re safe,” she corrected.
I glanced at Gwen and frowned. “Safe from what?”
“From people wielding stakes, for one.”
“Is that an actual concern?”
“Not usually, because Cillian is discreet and no one knows about you yet. However, the fact remains, people don’t like vampires, so care must be taken at all times. Then there’s the fact you’re a fledgling, which means I need to make sure you don’t suddenly lose control and maul people in public.”
“I ate before we left,” I huffed.
“Yeah, well, with young vampires you never know when hunger will strike.”
Luckily those pangs held off as I had my Pretty Woman moment. I stood on a small round dais as Yvette measured me. Pretty sure she knew more about my body by the time she finished than my doctor. With my statistics taken, next came the dressing me up, and stripping me, only to dress me again, as Yvette had me try various styles and colors. Articles of clothing I’d have never dared look at let alone draped my body with. Hues that seemed much too bold.
After two hours of it, I started to get bored. Yvette had run off to grab more pins and I was told to stand and not move in the half-draped ball gown.
Gwen scrolled her phone.
“I don’t need anything this fancy,” I groused kicking the satiny fabric.
“Yeah, you do,” Gwen replied without looking up.
“Where am I going to wear something like this? The kitchen?”
“Cillian might be somewhat reclusive, but there are certain occasions and events that even he doesn’t avoid. As his protégé, you will be expected to accompany him to some of those.”
“What kind of events are we talking about?”
“The kind where people dress up and fake liking each other even as they plot to take each other down.”
“Sounds awful.”
“It is. But it’s also necessary. A man in Cillian’s position needs to assert himself every so often to stave off those who would try and steal what he’s accomplished.”
“Why does he need me for that?”
“He doesn’t, but those he associates with might find it off if he kept his protégé hidden away, especially given how long it’s been since he last created one.”
“Do other vampires make them more often?” I’d learned I could be open here because Yvette knew Cillian’s secret. Apparently, she dressed quite a few other vampires who also lived in our city.
“Some like to surround themselves with sycophants. But usually, the older vampires don’t want to deal with the drama and the risk of discovery.”
“How is it a risk?”
“A fledgling’s erratic behavior can bring unwanted attention to their maker.”
That made sense.
Yvette returned and another hour passed of me being a Barbie doll dressed and undressed in fashionable items. When Yvette finally declared us done, I was more than ready to go back to hiding in Cillian’s house and I wasn’t shy about telling Gwen.
“Can we go home now?” I asked as I sank into the Lincoln’s plush leather seat.
“I just have one more stop to do. It won’t take long, and you can stay in the car while I run inside.”
“Sounds good.”
We drove about fifteen minutes before she pulled into an alley and parked, leaving the car running.
