15: Missed calls

I refused to leave my room the previous day, not even when Sebastian banged and broke down my door. I could not face Xavier, not after the awkwardness of our encounter. To make it worse, I was throwing up blood for most of the day, a valid reason for Sebastian to leave me alone, but not without suspicion.
Currently however, Sebastian and I sat in the empty dining room area for what was dubbed as my first lesson: table manners. Yes, I know, not very exciting. But it seemed to get Sebastian's endorphins going as he happily explained to me the rules of the table.
"Right, first, unfold that napkin on your table and then neatly place it on the surface of your lap, taking care to smooth out the edges."
I followed carefully, unfolding the napkin and smoothing the fabric out.
"Good girl. Next is the chalice test. On Saturday we will be using golden chalices, and not the silver goblets you are used to. So, I'd like you to get used to the feel of the slippery surface so that you do not spill anything. Grasp at the stem-"
"The what?" I questioned looking at the chalice strangely.
Sebastian let out a sigh and then began nearing me. He took my hands in his and then gripped at the long vertical 'stick' like section of the chalice.
"This is the stem of the chalice." His face was now so close to mine, and so I focused solely on the gleaming golden chalice in front of me, ignoring the blush creeping in on my cheeks and the loud thudding of my heart.
Sebastian then let go of my fingers and straightened up.
"You see, your hands should not be too far from the cup of it, that would make you look stupid and highly uncivilized."
"Who on Earth is going to be staring at my hands?" I asked.
"Everyone."
Right, I forgot. I was the 'hybrid freak'.
"You need to be the epitome of decorum at the meeting with the Vampire Council, otherwise, you will not be able to be taken seriously as your mother's daughter. On that note, I would also like to inform you that you are to wear her crown and her necklace as her new representative."
"Great, so my head will be itchy the whole day as well. Any more requirements Sebastian?"
Sebastian frowned and crossed his arms over his chest. "I don't appreciate your sarcasm… not when it’s pointed towards me."
"Well I don't appreciate this. So many rules, so many formalities."
Sebastian then took a seat opposite of me and placed his interlinked hands on the table. "Look, if you don't like the rules, then work hard to be queen and change them. But the only way you are going to achieve is if you impress the council. God knows what they have in store for all of us."
"The vampire council seems to be quite the 'End all be all' around here."
"They are the oldest vampire nobles, sworn off of any ties to the crown in order to 'represent the people'. But we all know they only represent the nobles. Lesser vampires such as myself and other non-nobles, including those who have been turned from being human, are all yet to feel the effects of the promises of equity and liberation. We have no standing within the government, no say in anything and most of us are suffering because of it."
By now Sebastian was quite angry himself, and it became just a little clearer why Sebastian had so much of his hope invested in me. Perhaps he was tired of living out his centuries as less than the nobles.
"So that's why you agreed to help my father... and me?"
Sebastian looked up and then nodded, "Yes, that's partially why. I also respected your mother and her brother. So, in essence, I respect you as well. So, don't disappoint me."
I was honestly going to ask him whether I had ever disappointed him but decided against it. I knew I had... on multiple occasions.
Sebastian began moving into the next section of table etiquette: asking others to pass me various items on the table, the names of the utensils, and so on, and so forth. I was near bored to death when Liam began waltzing in with a large smile plastered on his face.
"Ah, it's my *little pet*! I haven't seen you in quite some time. You were out for days, then you skipped lunch yesterday, dinner as well, and finally breakfast. It seems you’re picking up Xavier’s bad habit."
I almost choked on my saliva at the mention of Xavier, but managed to recover fast enough, not wanting to reach the afterlife and have to explain that my own spit killed me. *What an honorable death*.
Liam then began to lean down, as if to kiss me, and Sebastian immediately widened his eyes in urgency and warning. I got the hint, quite clearly, and then began to speak.
"You saw me yesterday. Now, if you'll excuse me, Sebastian and I need to finish our lesson."
This left Liam quite stunned and his mouth began gaping. "I'm sorry, are you chasing me away?"
I hesitated, not wanting to hurt his feelings, but Sebastian sent me a heart-shattering death glare and I began nodding. "I-I'm afraid I am."
Liam glanced down at me, tilted his head, as if still trying to figure out what was going on.
"Phoenix-" It was the first time he'd called my name, and immediately I looked up at him as well, staring into his confused brown eyes, "-but... I thought."
"What did you think, Liam, that you could carry on stringing her along, calling her your pet? That's not going to happen. She's not your plaything. She's your rival, now start treating her as such." Sebastian said sternly.
"And what if I don't want to." Liam growled.
The whole room froze around what had just left his mouth, he did too, and then, after a few moments, he placed his hands over his lips and widened his eyes. It seemed we weren't the only people shocked by his utterance and he eventually began storming out of the dining room, his shoes beating brutally against the surface of the floors.
"Well then..." Sebastian began. But nothing he could say would have cleared the air. So, instead he said, "Right, I think it's time for a break. Don't you think so too?"
I nodded. Perhaps a break would be enough for me to get over what Liam had said. Surely, he wasn't implying what I thought he was? He barely knew me. Then again, he probably knew me more intimately than anyone else.
I was about to stand up and leave the table when Sebastian called after me.
"Yes, Sebastian?"
He reached into the pocket of his long, black coat and then pulled out a familiar looking smartphone. My eyes gleamed as I gazed upon the glimmering blue cover of it.
"My phone!" I yelled out and then snatched it from his hands. "How'd you get your hands on it?"
Sebastian folded his arms and then said, quite sternly, "I'd prefer it if you'd refrain from asking such questions. Instead, just be grateful. Oh and, by the way, you have been receiving quite a few calls from someone named... what was it...?" Sebastian stared off, trying to recall the name of the person who'd keep calling.
"Oh yes! Demetri. He said his name was Demetri Forbes."
---
... So that just happened.
Stay safe! Stay healthy! Sending you all my love!