WE MEET AGAIN
I was late.
Very late.
Mack was not going to be pleased with me.
It also didn't help that I had no
Now, I was rushing down the darkened streets of Chicago, taking my shoe and trying to run while slipping it onto my left foot. This caused me to stumble and I stretched out my arms, hoping to regain my balance.
For a second, I paused but only so I could fix the ring of pearls around my neck.
Once that was done, I trailed down the steps and stumbled once again. This time it was because of the slippery cobblestone, due to this afternoon's winter rain. Not only had it left the streets dangerously wet, but the cold rain had also left a bitter chill in the air and an eerie fog blurring the town.
I missed the sun.
"You're late"
The hardened edge to her tone had me blinking up to Jared. It was when our eyes met that he cracked an easy smile and ushered me in.
"I know I'm late" I hurriedly replied and continued down towards him. "I know, I'm sorry" I apologised and allowed him to place a hand behind me and lead me through the back door.
Jared leaned in, pressed his lips against my ear, "It ain't me that you should be apologising to" he playfully whispered and when I turned to him, he offered a wicked grin. His grey eyes were suddenly darkened with his mischief.
Unsure as to how to react to the expression, I decided to ignore and get up on stage before angering the beast further. However, when I made the move to walk ahead, Jared's arm pulled me back onto his chest. "Michael wants to talk to you" he now eyed me with a strange warning.
I found it strange that he was stopping me from completing my set. Whatever happened to the customers being first in everything? "But you ju-"
My argument was interrupted with the sharp and cautionary look on his face.
Understanding and too tired to argue, I nodded and smoothed down my white dress before rushing to the back of the stage. Though, before pushing past the dark velvet curtains, I glanced over to Leo. He was still playing the drums while Jackson played the saxophone. Gloria's sweet voice didn't fill the room and when I craned my neck, I found that the front stage was empty.
Was she late too?
"There you are" again I was pulled away from the trance as Mack's hand pulled me along. When I turned to him, I anticipated his rage but only found exasperation. "Change into this" he ordered.
It took a second for me to register the soft yet thick, scarlet material he had pushed into my hands. "What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" I questioned, confused when looking down to my short white costume. It was the usual for my dance number.
"Nothing baby, nothing" he assured me and gestured for me to continue.
In compliance, I stepped around the screen and shrugged out of the jacket and then slid out of the white dress. I then slipped into the gown that he had given me and walked out, patiently waiting for his approval. This was a disappointment when he only grew more agitated and seemingly unaware. "Today, we have a special guest" he murmured hastily, raking his hands through his already messy hair.
"Here" Gloria then joined us and I watched as she took off her pearl headband. He then placed it over my head and smiled approvingly. "For good luck" she explained.
"Why aren't you up there?" I crossed my arms and cast her an accusatory glare.
Her eyes brightened and she took both my hands in hers, walking backwards towards the steps that led up to the stage. "We've got a guest" she informed me.
I pursed my lips as my eyebrows knitted together. "Who is this notorious being that has you all so riled up?" I questioned speculatively. They were all acting strange, especially Michael, well Mack – who was usually as cool as a cucumber but something had them all frazzled.
"Oh I'm sure he'll catch your eye" she smirked when applying the dark red lipstick to my lips.
Mack suddenly reappeared from behind us. "Go on, go on" he urged us on. "No time to waste" he wildly looked between us, still dazed and distance. "Gloria help her with the vocals" he ordered and waves us off.
"Sure thing, boss" Gloria saluted him playfully and I smiled in response when she linked her arms with mine.
When we got up on stage, our usuals took their stance and welcomes us with their clapping. A few of them offered loud wolf whistles.
As Gloria let me go, I stepped over to the microphone and plastered on tonight's mask. My head slightly bowed as I peeked up at the audience from my eyelashes. "Pipe down boys…" I teased in a lowered husky tone while my fingers were then wrapped around the microphone. "I ain't that special" I added and tried to peruse through the crowd, trying to find the mystery man.
"Let me show you how special you are!"
I was distracted by the loud exclamation from the man in only a shirt and black slacks. "Don't make me throw you out, Mr. Black" I warned.
"You wouldn't dare" he challenged.
Placing my hands onto my hips, I stared straight down, locking gazes with his darkened orbs. "Try me" I retorted with a raised brow.
He soon realised that I would not let him win so he broke the stare. "If I promise to sit down, will you sing my favourite song?" he pleaded, placing a hand onto his chest.
"Only if you buy me a drink afterwards" I replied.
He nodded in compliance and sat back down. "Sure thing doll" he winked. I rolled my eyes at his confidence but couldn't keep the smile off my face.
Jacob was a friend - a very good friend but he was also a flirt.
Still, he was my best friend and he was the one to help me get this job where I could do what I wanted. SO, for that, I would gladly sing his favourite song.
On that note, I nodded towards the drummer and he began to start with the slow and seductive beat. With that, I caught as Mack turned down the lights but turned on the bright white spotlight on me.
Showtime…
My mind-set was falling back onto the show and I swayed along to the sultry beat.
"The lights are on, but you're not home
Your mind is not your own
Your heart sweats, your body shakes
Another kiss is what it takes…" I began, my eyes now fluttered close as I lost myself in the music. "You can't sleep, you can't eat. There's no doubt, you're in deep…" my eyes opened again but I wasn't really focusing on the crowd.
"Your throat is tight, you can't breathe…Another kiss is all you need" this time, I trailed down the steps, remembering what was required for me by hyping the crowd. "Whoa, you like to think that you're immune to the stuff, oh yeah. It's closer to the truth to say you can't get enough."
When I caught one of the customer's eye, I ran my fingers through his hair, making his head loll back. "You know you're gonna have to face it, you're addicted to love" I sang, smirking when he lazily smiled up at me.
"You see the signs, but you can't read
You're running at a different speed
Your heart beats in double time
Another kiss and you'll be mine"
I continued walking through the crowd and pulling couples to their feet and leading towards the dance floor. As for the single men, I teased and continued my seductive trail through them. "A one-track mind, you can't be saved. Oblivion is all you crave..."
When I moved to the next booth, I directed my stare onto my best friend. If I focused on his other more rowdy friends, they may take my advances more personally. Rather than giving them the attention they asked for, I sat on Jacob's lap and stole his hat, placing it on my own head. His hand was now placed on my hip and I whipped my head around in time with the beat. Our noses grazing as I leaned in and let my lips caress his. "You know you're gonna have to face it, you're addicted to love" I sang and then pulled away from him, a pleased smile on my lips.
"Your heart sweats your teeth grind…Another kiss and you'll be mine" I sang, spinning away from him so I could begin to make my way back towards the stage. However, this was interrupted when I felt gentle fingers slip up my wrist and then thread through my fingers. They were strong and firm but still sent a cold chill through my spine. As I made a move to turn to face the accuser, the person held my wrist and pulled me back, whirling around so I met the piercing blue eyes.
Mr. Notorious…
"You…" he murmured and suddenly, the music stopped, the audience's appraisal died down and the world stood still. His dark, musky forest scent had my head swimming and my thoughts reeling. The white silvery flecks that flared within his bright blue eyes had my breath hitching. His close proximity made me want to clo9se in but also to run away from him. The wry yet secretive smirk he now adorned acted as both a warning and an invitation.
"Isabella Marie, ladies and gentlemen!" Mack's booming voice startled me from the trance I had been in. Whatever I had been feeling was now diminished, now replaced as I felt my chest hollow out with something unfathomable.
It was only when I caught Jacob's speculative eye that I realised how close we were. I hastily unravelled from his hold, forcing a smile when walking back down my path, hurriedly distance myself from him. After one more smile flashed to the audience, I walked around behind the curtains.
It took a second for me to register the footsteps closing in. I spun around, gasping and clutching my chest but finding relief at the sight before me.
"Wonderful…" he commended and cupped my jaw so he could kiss my cheek. When his warm touch gentled and I felt the other hand snake around my waist, pulling me close, I dodged the kiss he was presenting and pulled away from him.
"I-I need some water"
Before he could protest, I withdrew and rushed down towards the bathroom. When I looked at the row of mirrors, I pushed the door closed behind me, falling back with a loud exasperated exhale. My fingers pushed back my tresses and I spun back so I could lock the door.
I then went over to the sink, turned the tap and cupped my hands so I could splash the cold water on my heated face.
The task consumed many minutes of my time before I brought up my trembling hand onto my forehead. The tremors continued down my shoulders, racking my form. I stumbled back onto the wall, my control slowly slipping from the quivering fingers…
Suddenly, the cold wetness was no longer from the water but it was now from the heavy pelting raindrops. I was no longer in the bathroom as the peeling green paint was now replaced with the darkened forest. The toilet cubicles were now replaced with towering trees and the toilet's linoleum floor was now an unstable, rocky earth.
My heavy breathing was not only from the fear but also caused from the memory of me running as fast as I could. Each lunge restricted by the peach gown which was now ripped and dirtied with the forests' mud and the blood now caked at the hem. Beads of perspiration dripping down my neck and my whole body now heated, causing air to break through my weakened lungs.
My tired limbs caused me to stumble frequently. When I found myself falling, I raised my hand and braced it on a nearby tree to balance myself. The faltering stop allowed me to hear his voice…now menacing and even more enraged. "You may run but you cannot hide" he cried out, not too far away from me.
"I will find you"
The promise now echoed from five hundred years ago and broke through time, finding its way back to me. The tremors strengthening as it dawned on me that his vow had become a reality.
I'd always known that he would find me.
Niklaus was known for keeping his promise.
Yet somehow, I had blinded simply myself with the idea of escaping. I had fooled myself into believing that the world was big enough. Regardless of I had tried to put ten thousand miles between us and now he was ten feet away from me.
If he wanted, he coul-
Terror spiked again, disrupting my thoughts when I heard a low knock on the door before the handle was rattled. Finally, it gave way and slowly creaked open, my breath hitching as I stared at the peeling paint. Suddenly, the moment that I had built up was closing in and I wanted to close my eyes but couldn't.
Fortunately, the fear only crumbled slightly with my relief when I caught sight of Gloria. "You okay sweetie? I got worried when I couldn't find you" she eased herself through and made her way towards me.
"I-I'm great" I plastered on a convincing smile then turned away to wipe my wet cheeks. I hadn't even noticed the tears streaming down my cheeks.
Oblivious to my inner turmoil, she moved up beside me. "So, what did you think?"
"Of what?" I blinked away the tears and willed the shivers away.
She hugged me and placed her chin on my shoulder. "Our new addition" she beamed.
"He is…intimidating" I decided with another false smile.
She laughed and moved around to sit on the counter. Her dress riding up as she released a boisterous laugh. "Money and power does that to a man" she sighed. "All he needs is the love of a good woman" she winked and nudged me with her elbow.
"If you like him so much, why don't you go for it" I snapped. The hurt look that crossed her features drew back my rage and I dropped my head with a low sigh.
"You okay, honey?"
I nodded eagerly, "I'm just tired"
"Well let's get a drink to liven you up" she hopped off and pulled me towards the door. "We've got tables"
-XxxxxX-
Five hours.
Five hours of me sneaking in drinks in hopes that they would numb me. Five hours of pretending that my life was not hanging by a thread. Five hours of me trying to distract myself with serving other customers – all but one. Five hours had passed by with me trying to ignore the penetrating gaze.
This was all well and good until my thoughts were interrupted by cluttering, followed by a louder crash.
All heads, including mine whipped to where Richard – another usual – who now had his face planted onto the table. The glasses that had once been on the table were now broken and a few shards had dug into his cheek, causing the thick scarlet blood to drip down the table and to the floor.
My past simply sat there – alone yet contented. Smartly dressed in a charcoal suit and a white shirt. His face read an air of calm as did his posture. One arm was draped over one side of the chair while the other continued to hold Richard down.
He tried to squirm away from being held down by the neck but failed miserably. I glanced at Mack and then at Gloria, desperately seeking their help but they gave none.
Bright blue eyes locked onto mine – proud and sadistic and I took an involuntary step to stop him. This, however was stopped when an arm was wrapped around my waist, pulling me back.
I glared down at Jacob but he remained decisive.
My eyes trailed back to the man everyone feared. His eyes met mine again and a small smile lifted his lips as he let go of Richard. The look in his eyes suggested that he was trying to send me some kind of message.
When I looked away, I promised myself to never look back to him.
After that, I was surprised when he never called on me. It had been useless to keep myself on edge because he never asked for a drink – well at least not from me.
Did he remember me?
Of course he did.
Maybe he wanted me to wait. It would make sense knowing that he wanted to sit and watch as the fear continued to stir within. He probably enjoyed witnessing the silent torture he goaded. This was the way he would get his revenge – through this unbearable terror that continued to eat at me, slowly driving me to lose my mind.
I needed to get away and make sure he lost sight of me.
If we were to fight, I knew I would only be able to have him down for a few seconds before he captured me and killed me.
I could not let that happen, so I needed to get away.
That was why, the second that it struck midnight, I dropped off the last drink and raced behind the curtains where the costumes were.
I wasted no time so I left the gown on but added the jacket on top. I then placed the dress I brought over my arm and began to head towards the exit.
I knew the second that I thought of the plan, that it would be too good to come true. This was only confirmed when a hand was placed on my shoulder. "You can't leave yet" Jared said, pulling me back so I would now face me.
"And why not?" I asked in a wavering tone because I already knew of his reason.
His green eyes burned into mine with an unreadable emotion. "He wants you" he said firmly and tilted his head to where everyone was sat, listening to Gloria's wonderful voice.
I played the innocent. "Who?"
"Who do you think?" he ordered and spun me by the shoulders so I could look through the curtains and to the person who had been waiting for me. His fervent stare was directly on me and another cruel smile quirked up his lips.
He then stood up languidly, making a show of every move as he stepped down and languidly walked away. I watched his every stride as he made his way through the parting crowd and turned to trail down the ending hallway.
"Where is he going?" I gulped.
"He wants you in the private room" he directed with a small push.
I began to protest with a shake of my head. "But…"
"You can't say no to him" Mack interjected and now pulled me away from Jared and wound his arm around mine.
"I doubt that he would even understand the word" I mumbled and actually made Mack crack a small smile.
After leading me through the crowd, he stopped a few feet away from the hallway that the unwelcome visitor had gone down. "Go now" he ordered with a dangerous gleam.
"Okay, I'm going" I assured and hesitantly took a step down the path.
I didn't get very far because another arm was wound around my waist and I was pulled back onto a muscled chest. His fevered lips were on my neck, trailing kisses up and then onto my cheek. "Were you leaving without me?"
"Actually…" I unwound myself from his hold. "I have a customer to attend to"
He released a shaky breath and peered down at me, trying to read through me. "It's him, isn't it?" he speculated with narrowed eyes. When I made no reply, he nodded and placed a comforting hand onto my shoulder. "Be careful Bells" he glanced behind my shoulder and then back to me. "He's not a good guy"
"Oh believe me, I know" I nodded, wishing at that moment that Jacob could just take me away from here. Though, that would only endanger him too and I couldn't risk that. I knew what happened when you run away from him – those around you pay for it.
"Take care" he whispered.
"You too"
After a kiss on my forehead, he exited and I was left alone once again.
There were no more obstacles but it still took a while for me to find myself. Once I did, I drew in another deep breath that gave me the courage to follow after him to the private room. However, each step only left me feeling heavier and my legs weighting me to the ground. I seemed to simply be dragging myself along and I doubted that I would even live to see Klaus get his revenge.
That was the thought that prolonged as I stood before the door, staring at the brass doorknob and praying for a miracle. I could only wish for something or someone to save me…but I had nothing and I had no one.
My erratic train of thoughts was interrupted when I heard the shifting behind the door. It was an enough incentive to have me turning the handle and slowly pushing the door open. A low creak made me wince but also made the shifting footsteps stop.
I could do this.
Maybe I could save myself.
When I took a step inside, it took a second for me to find him. This time, he was standing but casually leaning back onto the far wall. His dropped gaze steadily met mine and that same smile returned, this time small and timidly amused. "You kept me waiting…" he huskily whispered.
Somehow, I found the strength and courage to reply and even match his playful demeanour. "Am I worth waiting for?"
His smile widened and he stood. Again, his moves were deliberately slow and calculated. From how he slipped off his jacket and then how he reached up to loosen his tie. Both clothing items were then discarded to the leather sofa to his side.
This time when he walked, he stalked. Leisurely prowled towards me – like I was his prey; which in truth I was.
This was why each step he took towards me, I took one back. The game continued and my breath seemed to quicken with each passing second. As he continued to close in, I mindlessly dropped my head to study the maroon carpeting while waiting for my inevitable death.
Rather than simply ending it, he slid his hand up to cup my jaw and then tilted it up so I could meet his gaze. The greyish blue eyes burned fiercely with mirth and a conflicted anger. The emotion only animated the grey into a dangerous silver.
He raised his hand and I cringed, waiting for the blow.
So, it was to my surprise and relief when he simply placed it by my head, so he could close the door behind me and push me further onto it.
"Hello again, Isabella"
A/N: What did you think? Want more?