Chapter 2
Magdalene felt the usual melancholia settle over her as she went back to her dressing room after rehearsal. She was used to it though. It was a part of her now.
The only time it seemed to lift these days was when she was singing. When she was singing the weight on her seem to lift away. She forgot about the cruel world she lived in, the oppression of the Largo's… and even her own captivity.
She sat at her dressing table and looked at her own reflection in the mirror. Every time she looked at herself she was reminded what those strange but lovely eyes had cost her.
Mag pulled the pins out of her long dark hair, letting it fall around her shoulders.
Her mind drifted back to the other night in the graveyard. Meeting him… talking to him… she had felt more alive than she had in a long time. It was an addictive feeling… a dangerous feeling…
Graverobber loaded up the zydrate gun and pressed it against the girl's thigh. She couldn't have been more than 18… with blonde hair, blue eyes and generous curves.
Usually he would have taken her up on her less than subtle hints that she would consider alternate forms of payment. However this time he just couldn't summon up the interest.
Ever since the graveyard the other night he hadn't been able to get Mag out of his head. Even given that moonlight was particularly flattering he had never met any woman quite as beautiful as the singer.
It kept telling himself that it was just lust… just physical attraction. And not that she had actually managed… in just one meeting… to get under his skin.
Magdalene pulled her cloak around her as she stepped though the back door of the theatre into the crisp air. Usually she would have taken the car but she was in no mood to be escorted today. Besides… maybe the cold air would help to clear her head.
She was so lost in her thoughts she didn't immediately notice the footsteps behind her. When she stopped they stopped and when she sped up they got faster.
Mag kept walking, fighting down her rising panic. It was also she could do not to break into an all out sprint.
It wasn't till they were alarmingly close that she gave into the urge to run.
Her cloak streamed out behind her, hair tumbling out of its pins as she bolted down a dark alleyway. She didn't even notice or caring which way she was going… only that she lose whoever was following her.
Eventually she had to stop and catch her breath. Once she did she noticed two things… that she could no longer hear anyone behind her… and tha6 she was completely and utterly lost.
"Mag?" said a familiar voice behind her.
She turned, a feeling of relief washing over her as she saw who it was,
"Graverobber" she said breathlessly. She didn't know why but she suddenly felt safe. Somehow she knew he wouldn't let anyone hurt her.
His eyes took in her disordered hair and general disheveled state.
"Are you all right? What are you doing here?" he asked, voice clearly concerned.
"I… I am now" she said. "Someone… was chasing me… and I was so frightened…" she said, her usual composure slipping.
He felt an uncharacteristic urge to hold her, to comfort her, to make sure she was safe.
Somehow she ended up with his arms around her, her tears soaking the shoulder of his jacket.
The shaking of her body stopped as her sobs slowly started to subside.
She looked up at him, eyes wide and rather startled. Actual kindness was not something that she was used to.
He knew he should let go of her... but having her this close… was playing havoc with his self-control. Knowing he shouldn't but unable to stop himself he lowered his head and kissed her softly but firmly on the lips.
She was taken aback by her own response… by how fiercely she kissed him back
He wasn't expecting it either. He found himself deepening the kiss, hands sliding around to rest on her lower back, pulling her against him as her arms wound around his neck.
Reluctantly she pulled away, knowing one of them had to stop this before it went any further. Already she felt rather dizzy in a most pleasant way.
She looked at him. From his expression he was just as reluctant to stop kissing her as she was. Mag couldn't help blushing slightly as she saw the heat in his gaze.
"It was good… to see you again… but I… should get home" she said, not meeting his eyes.
"I'm not letting you walk home alone. It's not safe" he said softly but firmly. It was true. Whoever had been following might still be out there. And she didn't have a clue where she was.
"I could use to show me how to get to the GeneCo apartments from here…" she admitted. "I uh… wasn't really paying attention to where I was running…"
He smiled. "It's not too far… you at least ran in the right general direction" he said, offering her his arm. She took it with a smile and let him lead the way.
Though it was a good half hour walk to the GeneCo apartment building it seemed to pass like minutes.
She told him about her life at GeneCo. Rehearsals… performances… parties… the Largos. And although she never said just how sick of it all she was he could hear it in her voice.
In return he told her about his life. Avoiding the authorities… Zydrate… junkies…. surgery. She listened intently, those remarkable blue eyes fixed on him as he spoke. He couldn't remember the last time he had talked to someone who was actually interested in what he had to say.
All too soon they reached the apartment building.
"Thank you… for seeing me safety home" she said with a warm smile.
"You're welcome" he said, voice slightly surprised. Politeness wasn't something he was used to either. Not surprising he guessed, considering the kind of people he usually associated with.
The women he knew were scalpel sluts, prostitutes, runaways or those few rich girls, like Amber who happened to be addicted to the knife.
Mag was a completely different creature to any of them. And that made her damn near irresistible to him.
"Goodnight Graverobber…" she said softly as she reached the door. He watched as she disappeared into the building.
"Sweet dreams Magdalene…" he whispered.