34__Vice Versa

Kamilla was smiling even before she’d opened her eyes. Reaching her arms above her head, she stretched in the huge bed, gasping when her body ached in the most delicious way.
Cracking her eyes open against the morning light, she looked around the room, taking in the empty spot next to her.
The sound of running water came from the bathroom and Kamilla turned her gaze that way.
She bit her lip and burrowed into the covers as she stared at the bathroom door all the way across the huge room.

Damn. Last night had been unlike anything Kamilla had ever imagined in her life. She sat up in the bed, her hair tumbling down over her shoulders, covering her naked chest. She swallowed as she thought of Viktor behind that door.

What was it with the two of them? Did fighting somehow turn them on? Kamilla pursed her lips in thought, but quickly shook it off as she reached for her thick gown by the bedside. It was more than being turned on with her and Viktor. Far more.
They were both helpless against the bond between them. Viktor had as little choice in their “marriage” as she did, so he also couldn’t fight his desire for her… just as Kamilla couldn’t fight her desire for him.
Feeling a sharp pang of pain in her heart at the realization, Kamilla looked up at the dresser and stared at herself in the mirror.
She sighed. Yeah, that’s right.

It was just the forced bond between them.

As long as she was still with him, the worst thing Kamilla could possibly do for herself would be to let her emotions get away with her. Because if that bond got broken… she’d be the clown left with a broken heart. A broken heart and a Vampire King who felt nothing for her.

Straightening her back and lifting her chin, she decided to play it cool. She’d go to the bathroom while Viktor was in there and show him how unaffected she was. Sex was just sex. Right?
Tightening her bathrobe belt, Kamilla walked right to the bathroom door and turning the handle, silently threw the door open.

Viktor was patting his face dry with a towel, but stopped when the door opened and turned to face Kamilla.
She opened her mouth to say a very nonchalant good morning, but froze from head to toe when that smile… that big, charming smile spread across his face.

“A good morning to you, Kamilla!” said Charming cheerfully.

Kamilla’s jaw dropped open. How on earth...? "Ch-Charming??"

Leaning on the counter, Charming smiled pleasantly at her, unperturbed by Kamilla’s shocked expression.
“My lady, I must say, I never thought I’d see my beautiful country again! Oh, how good it is to be back!”
Reaching forward, he picked up the mouthwash and raised it in a toast. “Here’s to coming home!”

Kamilla tilted her head at him. “That’s… mouthwash, Charming. To clean your mouth.”
Charming smiled at her and peered at the red liquid in the bottle. “Is it then? Well… ha-ha… good thing I didn’t take a swig of this.” With that he looked at her and giggled so adorably, Kamilla couldn’t help the smile that curved her mouth.

She knew him by know. His smile was nothing but a façade to hide the sadness Charming really felt.
Walking over to him, she curled a hand around his arm and looked up at him.

At the sincere look in her eyes, Charming’s smile dimmed. He sighed. “I’m… okay, Kamilla. I’ve been doing this for a long time, you know.” He smiled at her.
Kamilla’s mouth turned down in sadness. “Why did you wake up this time?”
Charming slowly shrugged. “I wake up because Viktor goes to sleep, Kamilla. You should wonder what triggered this and made him disappear into himself, forcing me to come out. Until we figure that out and help our good man, I must be here to protect him when he needs to disappear. It’s what I’m for.”

Kamilla released a shaky breath. “Charming, this… this is starting to scare me.”

He patted her hand and slowly nodded. “Yeah… I know.” Charming cracked a crooked smile and looked at her. “Imagine how scared I was the first time I woke up within Viktor. I woke up in clothes that didn’t feel like mine, with people I didn’t know calling me Viktor when all I knew was that my name was Prince Charming and I had a horse as a castle somewhere. This body isn’t even mine!” He laughed. “I can’t get comfortable because one day… at any minute at all, I could disappear forever. Just the way I appeared. That, Kamilla, is real fear.”

Kamilla felt her chin tremble as she blinked slowly up at him when he smiled down at her.
Reaching up, she brushed back his hair, feeling a sudden need to protect Charming who had a smile as pure as that of an innocent child. “I wish I could keep a smile on my face no matter how sad I am, Charming. Your ability to do that is remarkable."

Charming smiled at her words, his blue eyes sparkling in the morning light like freshly polished sapphire jewels. “Tell you what, Kamilla. You get ready and while I’m awake, I’ll take you on a tour of my beautiful country! I know it like the back of my hand! Even the tiny nooks and crannies where all the ruffians and hooligans gather, though I be a gentleman.”
Kamilla chuckled and nodded. “Okay. You finish up in here, I’ll find another bathroom!” At his nod, she quickly left the bathroom to put together an outfit.

Kamilla was trying to pick a pair of sneakers, distracted by thoughts of Viktor and possible reasons why he’d gone to sleep this time when she heard a loud slam.
Her heart in her throat, Kamilla jumped up and looked at the bathroom door.
“Ch-charming?” she called.
When there was no answer, Kamilla felt her pulse kick up.

Hurrying over to the bathroom door, she pushed it open, her searching gaze landing on Charming.
Kamilla gasped. Charming was plastered against the glass shower, staring wide-eyed at the mirror over the counter.
“Charming?” Kamilla called gently as she inched towards him.

The look of horror never left his eyes as he slowly straightened, still staring into the mirror.

“Kamilla…” he whispered, staring at his reflection. Kamilla glanced in the mirror but saw nothing but Charming’s reflection.
“What’s wrong?” she asked urgently. “Charming, what’s wrong?!”

Charming frowned at the mirror. “I… I see him. Kamilla, I s-see Viktor in the mirror. I see him right now.”

Kamilla’s eyes slowly widened. “What?” she whispered.

Two identical streams of tears trickled down his face as he stared at the mirror. “Viktor.”
Kamilla rushed forward and curled a hand around his arm. “Charming, are you okay?”

Kamilla felt the tension in his arm increase as Charming gasped, blinking rapidly as though a bright light had been shone into his face.
He slowly tilted his head, popping the joints in his neck before releasing a shaky breath. Kamilla was staring up at him, wondering what the fuck was going on. Charming looked down at her and she looked at the floor in confusion. How on earth was Charming seeing Vik—

“Kamilla.”

Kamilla gasped, her eyes widening in shock as her gaze snapped back up to his face. “V-Viktor? What the fuck? Viktor?!”

Viktor was staring down at Kamilla, the confusion very clear in his eyes. His other arm came up and he touched a finger to the tears on his face before looking down at the glistening liquid on his fingertips.

He slowly turned to look at Kamilla who was still frozen from shock. “Kamilla. What the hell just happened to me?”