She was stiff as a board and regal as a queen. Sitting in a black leather chair, back straight, head held high, palms flat on her thighs and eyes boring a hole through the wall, she reminded me of a statue I'd seen once in the Louvre. She wore black leather pants, a flowing purple shirt with an empire waistline, high-heeled black leather boots, and half a dozen gold necklaces around her slender neck. Even stiff and clearly displeased, she took my breath away.
She appeared not to have noticed my entrance, and I took the time to pass a critical eye over the other occupants of the room. Beside Promise on the leather seat was a tall blonde man. His hair was long and pulled back in a ponytail. He wore a nice button up shirt and black slacks. He was clean and put together and I instantly knew this was Promise's Niko.
On the other side of the room, pacing anxiously was a young man. His dark brown – almost black – hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail. He wore a black leather jacket and torn jeans with a threadbare t-shirt. His gun was clearly visible on his hip and he smelled horribly of Auphe. This must be the brother, Caliban.
Beside him was a mocha skinned, frizzy red haired, freckled girl whom I assumed must be Georgina, the psychic Robin had told me of. She was dressed to largely resemble the classic image of a gypsy crystal ball reader, and was staring right at me, apparently the only one who had noticed my presence. Unbidden, a shiver ran down my spine. Psychic, right. I would have to keep an eye on her.
I smiled at her, just to be friendly, and she gave me a small grin and wave back. This attracted the attention of lover boy (Caliban), his attention attracted Niko's. When Niko's focus suddenly wandered, Promise went, if possible, even stiffer.
Slowly, she turned and then all attention was on me. Robin threw an arm over my shoulder and Ish shouldered past us both. I shrugged Robin off and stepped forward as Promise and Niko rose from their seat and Caliban came to stand by his brother. Georgina King, New York's psychic sweetie, hung back by the book cases that seemed oddly out of place in a room belonging to Robin.
"Promissory," I said, voice tense and shoulders straight, head high. It would be a cold day in hell before I let my childe intimidate me, in front of her anyway.
"Anjuila," Promise deadpanned, as if to say, you insisted on full names, you pay the price. She knew I hated my full name. Anju was what I went by. "May I introduce my prospective consort, Niko Leandros."
Niko stepped forward and took my hand, pressing a kiss to my wrist. "Charmed, milady."
Hmm…. cute, manners…he was a vast improvement of Promise's last consort.
"Likewise," I intoned, touching my fingers lightly to his cheek as he stood.
"Milady," Niko said. Eventually, I'd tell him to stop the milady stuff, but for now I'd enjoy the formalities while they lasted. It would be a while before I had people bowing down to me again. Centuries, probably, if I had to wait for Blake to find a consort in order to get a little respect again. "Allow me to introduce my brother, Cal and our friend, Georgina King."
Caliban just sort of nodded at me. Georgina however, glided forward and took one of my hands between both of hers, concentrating intently on my palm. The chill of my skin seemed not to bother her. No one interrupted her either.
"Hmm…" Georgina made small contemplative sounds while she stroked my palm lines and twisted my hand this way and that. "Ah."
"Oh?" I queried.
"You have an incredibly long life line. How long have you been on this Earth, Madame?" she asked politely.
"Please, call me Anju, Mistress." Mistress was the proper address for a powerful psychic. Somehow I doubted she'd ever been called it before. From what Robin's told me, she usually does readings in an ice cream shop for the people who live around that neighborhood. The likelihood that she'd ever met someone who knew the etiquette (or had the good grace to use it at least, I thought, shooting a sharp glance over at Robin) was slim.
"Then, I insist you call me George."
"Alright, George. To answer your question, I was born in 1192 B.C. and Changed in 1173 B.C."
I heard sharp intakes of breath from Caliban and Niko. Caliban smelled of wariness and caution, Niko of curiosity and respect. That was good. I liked that Promise's consort was respectful of my age but not fearful of it. That boded well for his ability to handle the responsibilities of marrying my Promise.
"That's a very long time to walk this Earth alone," George murmured, sadness and pity coloring her voice. I wondered what she'd seen, my past, my present, my future, all of the above? "Always, always alone. You could be surrounded by all your Childer and all their Childer, and still be so alone." She spoke loud enough only for myself to hear and I wondered if she knew the reason. I suddenly hoped she did not I really wanted this girl to like me. But I knew she did.
"Well, Georgie, if you would stop molesting Anju's hand, we have things to do," Promise snapped.
George dropped my hand with a nod of acquiescence to Promise and a small, sad smile to me.
Psychic Playtime over, I turned my mind to the matter at hand.
A/N: I know it's not the longest, but I promise I will have more of it posted before the break is over. Please please please review! It inspires me!