(Mick POV, present tense)
As the door to the ballroom opened a wave of hot humid air broke on our skin. I had to resist the urge to shiver. I stood there for a moment until Josef tapped me on the back with his elbow. I cleared my throat and walked into the room. Before we'd taken three steps a couple approached us and introduced themselves, or at least to Josef. It was perfectly alright by me, I didn't even want to be there.
Two or three months ago I was approached by someone on the donation committee for the new hospital. There was a leak somewhere in the committee; he hired me to find it. When I found the leak I helped him take care of the problem. When I dismissed payment and called it pro-bono that's when I got one of these invitations. I of course had no intentions to go; but Josef, who had already donated rather generous sums, asked me to go with him. So that is why I was present at a Charity Fundraiser for which I had no interest.
Josef began greeting aristocrats while I lingered at the edge of their awareness. The room was decorated with such taste I wondered how even a hospital could need more donations. All the women wore gowns and tiaras and the men, Josef and I included, however unwillingly, wore tuxedos.
It took all of about twenty minutes before I was board stiff. The sticky air seemed to cling and weigh me down. Even the ceiling seemed to press down on me. I excused myself as politely as I could and went out onto the terrace. The crowd was large and as I moved I seemed only to be churned through them. As I walked I smelled something, faintly, and only once. A smell so brief it was gone by the time I realized it. It pulled at my past and reminded me of both dark and beautiful times. My head swung around as I searched for the source of the beautiful scent. When I found nothing I dismissed it as my own fancy and continued making my way toward the door.
As soon as I saw the stars I relaxed. The cool evening air played across my skin and I heard Beth call my name, "Mick I didn't know you were coming!"
"The feeling's mutual." Beth and I talked and eventually Josef came around too.
However the smell came back, stronger this time. As a breeze floated past it seemed to flood my senses. My heart skipped a beat at its potency, she was close. Her scent was alluring, it was everywhere. I knew I wanted it to be hers so badly that I could easily have fooled myself into believing it was. But as I heard her laugh, I knew it was her.
Memories assailed me. Things I wasn't yet, or would ever be, ready to face; but it had to be her. Josef put a hand on my shoulder, "you alright Mick?"
I brushed it off and my eyes scanned the crowd. That smell, nothing compared to it. I didn't believe it was hers, even though I think I wanted to; but it was the exact same. Every element I'd worked so hard to push away, was there, the same and unchanged even though I hadn't been able to recall it for years.
Then I heard her laugh, floating in on a breeze. Out of my peripheral vision I knew Josef heard it too. His head swiveled to scan the crowd, I was already doing it. I heard Josef whisper when I spotted her. His voice was unbelieving, "oh my God." In the exact moment I picked her out of the crowd she turned from the person she was speaking to and caught my glance.
Oh my God indeed. As she caught my stare she didn't turn away she just stared right back at me. Her expression turned from laughter to blank. It was only a moment's blank; but it held everything I didn't want to see there: fear, anger, hurt, betrayal. She caught my glance and held it as steadily as I did hers.
She hadn't changed at all in the thirty years since I'd seen her last. Her hair was brunette with blonde highlights, never quite one or the other. It was pinned back from her face; but I knew it could run down to the small of her back. Shiny and silky though thick, always thick, I knew the feel of it through my fingers. I'd forgotten over the years but it all came flooding back.
Her smile, her beautiful ever-present smile, I knew the way it made me smile back. She thought everything was funny, even if it wasn't. And those beautiful bright green eyes, they weren't hazel, they weren't blue green. They were the greenest shade of green I knew, dark and penetrating. Her eyes contrasted fantastically with her flawless tan skin, just the most gentle of coppers.
She wore a stunning sparkling dark blue dress, a slinky gown, the slit up the right leg came up to her mid thigh. It fit the contours of her body perfectly, clinging and giving in all the right places. The dress brought out the light in her eyes. With it she wore diamond jewelry, nothing over the top, a long pendant necklace, and hoop earrings. On top of it all she wore black satin stiletto heels, maybe the longest I'd ever seen.
But I didn't see any of it; I caught it all out of the corner of my eye. As soon as I saw her face I couldn't tear my gaze away; because I didn't want to. She had that effect on me, and everyone else she met.
At first there was reflected in her beautiful eyes the fear that both broke my heart and made me want to protect her forever. Then I saw her swallow and smile. She broke our stare and turned. She seemed to fly. I feared she would expose us both from the way she glided across the veranda, and up the stairs. She drew other stares as well. No one could resist her beauty. Everything about her was beauty to me, it wasn't as much as a coincidence as you'd think. However her every single trait sung beauty to me in ways I didn't know the word could mean. A sunset, the stars, flowers, they could all be described as beautiful; but none or all of them deserved to pale in comparison next to the woman I didn't have the imagination to dream of.
She came up the stairs quickly, so gracefully. She came to Josef first. "Josef!!" she cried with her happy voice. He could barely throw open his arms fast enough. To me she was beauty to others she was still the most beautiful girl in existence. Even Josef loved her.
"Lynn!" he cried as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Oh Josef it's been far too long!" she said smiling as naturally as it came.
"I see you two know each other," Beth said with a surprised grin.
"Beth darling," Lynn responded with a smile. She disentangled herself smoothly from a putout Josef and put a cheek to Beth's with a kiss.
"It's good to see you Sarah," Beth said with an unconscious smile. Lynn had that effect on people, she made you smile. Her smiles were like the essence of happiness that dispelled gloom with an afterthought.
"I told you, call me Lynn," she said with a smile.
Finally her gaze arrived to me. Her full-blown smile turned to a sweet smirk. I had been watching her so intently I hadn't done as much as close my mouth. I tried to swallow then realized how dry my throat was.
"Well Lynn this is my good friend…"
"Mick Saint John," she finished. I repressed a shudder. It had been thirty years since she had said my name last.
Beth rolled her eyes, "I swear Lynn you know everyone."
"Can't help it," she spoke to Beth; but she looked at me. "I been around the block a few times."
For a moment no one spoke. I wondered what to say. What could I say? What was the truth?
"I missed you Mick," she said with a smile.
As always Lynn never disappointed. "Glad I wasn't alone," was all I could manage to get out. Lynn moved quickly and placed a quick kiss on my cheek. I know it sounds slightly scandalous; but if anything I swear it told me things were just business.
As her cheek brushed against mine so gently I reminded myself to stop hyperventilating. My skin felt warm, like the ray of the sun, before it started to kill me. I really had to push to stop breathing through my mouth. Her skin was perhaps the softest thing I'd ever felt, even as I'd pushed my lips to her neck no! I pushed away the memory, not now.
She was still smiling. "I met Mick and Josef a long," she stressed the word, "time ago."
Beth smiled, "that's how I feel about them too."
Josef, who had placed himself firmly at Lynn's side, looked over at Beth as though she were missing something. "A really," he drew out the word, "long time ago."
Beth looked confused for a second before she her lips formed an 'oh'. She looked surprised. "You too?" she asked Lynn.
Lynn gave Josef and I disbelieving glances, "wow you guys suck at keeping secrets."
While Beth's shock was impressive; but I think my own made hers pale in comparison.
"Well I should probably get back. It's been lovely to see you all. Beth let's grab lunch sometime. Joe I'll visit soon I promise." Her grace was unmatched; but my heart was wrenched from its contented place in shock. I was happy she'd been here. I was happy it had been an event out of my control that meant I hadn't broken. However it still left me in that same place. I didn't want her to leave.
She didn't even glance at me as she turned away and left the three of us staring after her. I swallowed and wrenched my head away from where she'd glided through the crowd. My heart was in my throat, I could feel it going a hundred miles a minute. Her scent hadn't left with her it still swirled through the air, still impressed where she'd brushed against my jacket. It was intoxicating to me, I could feel my head start to spin, I had to get out of there.
"I should get going," I managed to mutter before I started almost running through the crowd. I had to get out of there.
I could still hear Beth as I went, "was it something I said?"
Even Josef's reply before he started following after me. "It wasn't you, they have a history." Even across the room I wanted to scoff, that was putting it mildly.
(Lynn POV present tense)
My heart was racing. As I walked away I had to slow myself so I wasn't running. I needed to get out of there. However before I could make it to the door I almost lost it. I ducked quickly into the ladies room before I had a full scale panic attack. I went straight to the sink and splashed some cold water on my face. I couldn't seem to feel it, it was like my mind and body were detached.
I splashed more water and managed to spill some onto my satin heels, albeit I couldn't gather up the drama to care. I splashed more water onto the back of my neck and then dried my face. A woman walked past me looking absolutely scandalous. She probably thought I was drunk. It scared me how close to the truth she was. Mick was like my own personal drug. Everything about him was designed to seduce me.
It was just like he said to me that night, "don't feel bad. Everything about me was made to hunt you."
As I raised my head my senses went haywire and I knew I was crazy or he was standing right behind me. I reached into my clutch and grabbed my lip gloss. Sure enough as I looked into the mirror he was standing there right over my shoulder. I took as inconspicuous a deep breath as possible. Sure I was blown away…he didn't deserve to know that.
"Evening," I said as calmly as I could all the while raising my eyebrows.
"That's all you have to say?" he asked, equally as calm. It infuriated me to no end he seemed to in control. A young woman stepped out of a stall and took in the scene with raised eyebrows, swearing in French. I tried my best to seem in control; but as though I was greatly enjoying the attention. "Excusez-nous s'il vous plaît un moment?" I asked.
She seemed slightly validated when I spoke to her in her own language, though more than a little surprised, "um… oui."
"Merci," I returned an innocent smile. She left the room with pursed lips and as I returned my gaze to Mick it irritated me he hadn't bothered to turn his away.
"French?" he asked. "Latin, German, Spanish, Arabic, and Greek weren't enough?" he asked with a sweet smile. That smile, I felt my knees grow weak. I wasn't scared when he got angry, I didn't flinch when he was upset, but when he flashed that smile my way I lost all control.
"Mick, if you're going to corner me in a ladies room you better have something more interesting to say than 'what's up'," I hoped I didn't sound as cruel as I meant it to be.
"Well it seems like there's a lot to be said," he grinned.
I tried not to smile. "Not from my point of view."
He sobered up, "what brings you to town?"
"I'm here for a few weeks helping with the charity balls." Mick smiled again.
"Maybe I don't know you as well as I thought," he was still smiling.
I reached for my purse, "damn straight."
Mick pretended to look surprised, "ooh, swearing. If I know you at all that means your feeling a bit touchy."
"You don't know me at all Mick," I tried to walk past him. As I went past his shoulder he flashed me a glance and leaned over slightly enough I would have to touch him to get past him. My irritation was real as I put on my 'what?' face.
He looked me straight in the eyes and didn't say a word for long moments. "Can we talk?" he asked.
My heart might have skipped a beat; but I was angry enough his smile couldn't break me. "We have talked Mick." He opened his mouth to speak; but I spoke faster. "Mick, nothing has changed."
(Mick POV present tense)
I was practically running blindly for the door. I made it through and half way down the hall before Josef came after me from the ballroom. He called out my name; but I couldn't really hear it. I made it down the hall across the lobby and into the parking lot before he caught up with me. Not that I made it hard, once I hit the parking lot I put my hands on the hood of a car, and put my head down trying to catch my breath.
"Mick!" Josef called running up to my side. "You okay?" he asked, clearly alarmed. My head was spinning from how fast I was breathing.
"What's she doing here?"
"Take it easy Mick, take it easy," Josef's concern was obvious.
But the whole night I couldn't get my head on straight. Everything I'd pushed away came rushing back. Everything I dimmed away was blazing through my mind. It was hard enough to say no to her the first time. How could I do it again? Then again, I was the one who said goodbye. What had changed?
(Beth POV present tense)
I was meeting Lynn for lunch the next day. After Mick's sudden disappearance and Josef's strange explanation my reporter senses were tingling, I was intrigued.
Lynn didn't eat; but she still sat there entirely composed as I ate. Finally after some girl talk I got down to business.
"So what was up with your disappearing act last night?" I asked.
She shrugged off my question, "nothing just people to see, things to do."
"Please. Josef told me you and Mick have a quote on quote history. Come on, dish. How do you know Mick?"
She looked at me for a moment as though summing me up. "How much do you know about vampires?" she asked me. The way she said the question made me feel like a child.
"Just the basics," I admitted.
"Do you know how siring works?" I nodded. "A sire's job is to teach his creation how to feed how to survive without getting caught, after he turns them of course." She nodded and bit her lip uneasily; she seemed unsure how to proceed. "What does this have to do with Mick?" I asked.
She gave a short laugh without any real humor, "Mick was my sire."
My heart skipped a beat. Not my Mick. The Mick who was a rogue from his own kind, refusing to feed from humans? My hero? It couldn't be. "Mick?" I stuttered.
Lynn nodded, "don't be so surprised. He had a life before he met you. Back when Mick was just any other vampire, feeding on humans to survive, I was a victim. He turned me; on accident admittedly. He showed me the ropes and over time I fell in love with him." She spoke matter-of-factly her voice free from all emotion. "Mick didn't return my sentiment."
My phone rang. I picked it up irritably, this was really possibly the worst time. It was work, I had to come in. "Hey I just got called. I have to go in to work."
Lynn smiled understandingly, "okay. I got the bill."
I looked at her disbelievingly, "you didn't even eat!"
She smiled. "That's okay I had fun talking to you anyway." I gathered up my stuff.
"Oh I forgot. You left your coat at the party. I grabbed it; but I left it at my house."
Lynn looked relieved, "great I'd thought I'd lost it. Can I come pick it up?"
"Sure."
"What's your address?" I pulled out a piece of paper and as I pressed the pen to the paper I got an idea. It may have qualified for stupid; but I did it anyway. I could sense the issues between her and Mick and I think I hoped they could work them out. The pen flashed across the page and I handed it to Lynn.
"I'll swing by soon," she promised.
"Great, I'll see you then," I smiled, trying not to look like I was lying. But I wouldn't see her soon because that was Mick's address in her hand.