Miranda watched Andrea sleeping as a dog in her bed, sprawled out on top of her Egyptian cotton sheets, she'd wrapped her cut paw up courtesy of Omri sharp pointy thing cutting her, and she remembered it was always on their mantelpiece in her old family home. It was silver and her late father's.
Omri had a lot of explaining to do. He wasn't just a dusty stuffy rare book dealer. He'd lied to her, all these years. He'd hurt Andrea. He'd called her a wolf walker.
A wolf walker. She'd make him tell her what that was.
Told her as he reluctantly left Andrea in her bed that Andrea was very dangerous and to call him when it wakes up.
Andrea was not and never would be to her what Omri called her, Andrea was not in anyway an it.
Omri was wrong, Andrea had fought that other thing in her garden, she was hurt for her.
Blue eyes flickered over sleeping Andrea who started to transform back to her normal self, watching transfixed as Andy's body lengthened and reformed and was lying curled in her bed, prone, how many times she had imagined Andrea here in her bed, her pink lips tilting upwards on her naked figure.
Admiring her body without being noticed. Her eyes usually roamed and raked over Andrea at Runway often, just there Andrea had clothes on.
Omri attacking Andrea with herbs made her skin damp from perspiring, Miranda saw her shivering, covering her up with a throw.
By her dark brows contracting, she was dreaming, Miranda smiled discovering Andrea talked in her sleep. It was endearing. Wanted to know Andrea's many quirks.
Miranda heard it come from Andy's slack lips. A moan.
Wonderful was she dreaming of her. Gisla who tricked her. Miranda wondered was Gisla pretty? Or was she very beautiful? Or was Gisla warm like Andrea. Frowning at who was it that Andrea thought she was in bed with that night? Was it Emily?
Emily didn't seem to be attracted to Andrea.
Emily would never admit it to anybody but she actually liked Andrea, beneath her seething disdain for the Ohioan, Miranda suspected the snippy redhead really missed her at Runway. Greatly as she did as well.
Emily often hissed about the Midwestern bloated cow to Serena but with an edge of fondness in her voice, speaking lowly about her incase Miranda overheard her and Andrea had a few months ago, thoughtfully given Emily all the designer clothes from Paris, Roy had informed Miranda of this, when Emily sent him to collect them for her.
Miranda had been half tempted to be there, in her car when Andrea met Roy and gave them. It was the same day as the sidewalk wave.
Miranda hadn't done so, wishing she had the courage to, she didn't know how to re-approach Andrea after Paris. Feeling petty and still slightly hurt, a large part of her did want Andrea to feel a little badly about her discarding her treatment in Paris. Leaving her for the grubby New York Mirror.
Maybe it was Serena she wanted to bed?
Serena always talked to Andy at her desk. They were friends, they went to basketball games together. Even Emily was put out by the pretty Brazilian's attention to Andy as was one blue eyed dragon who saw Andrea just as engrossed with Serena.
They were playful and goofy together and shared Sci Fi jokes.
Serena was vivacious and stunning and she could be a model if she tried it, but Serena was just not interested in pursuing that. Nigel wailed about this to Miranda.
Serena's face and body should be on magazine covers and Time Square billboards. She could sell cosmetics and lingerie with a smile. Serena just thought Nigel was making fun of her.
Serena was stubborn, she only wanted to be admired for her brains not her average to her looks.
Serena had a large family back home in Brazil and to her, she wasn't even the best looking. Her sisters were really gorgeous.
Serena's little home was called Casa dos Lobos, it was huge.
Andrea and Serena hit it off instantly. Both didn't care what they wore or who designed it.
Miranda shuddered at hearing Andy admitting to just give her a pair of slouchy faded blue jeans and Serena insisted she'd never worn make up before, only when she arrived in Manhattan.
Serena insisted she had to, everybody looked so chic compared to plain her.
Told Andy seriously, she came to New York to find her mate. Her chuchuzinho, told that meant her little squash, passionate about finding her quietscheentchen to snuggle with. Andy's high school German was rusty but quietscheentchen, it meant rubber duck. Serena was searching for that.
New York had plenty of bath stores where she could purchase a duck for a bathtub.
Both Andrea and Serena had lunch together every Wednesday in the cafeteria and both ate carbs without a care or caution, Serena had as healthy an appetite as Andrea did.
Both had sweet tooth's. Nigel made a comment it was a miracle both weren't the size of baby Orcas.
Miranda heard Serena had been over to Andy's for dinner and had also helped paint her apartment one Saturday and they met up for coffee. Wasn't that just sweet, Miranda scowled her opinion and also learned Serena also went out on most Fridays with Andrea for a Sagres cerveja.
Andrea cooked for her. Serena had gushed at Andy's culinary skills who blushed at her praise, that put Miranda in a sour mood for a whole day, everything Serena did for her snowy haired boss wasn't right and Emily was also very nasty-almost vitriol towards Andrea as well.
When they hugged over scoring tickets to the Knicks, Miranda had coolly insisted Emily type a memo to all staff on no tolerance of interoffice hugging.
Emily had been snide to Andrea to go enjoy netball. Serena teased her, it was not netball, it was NBA.
Miranda shook her head about Serena. Maybe they were just friends. Miranda hoped they were just that only, not friends with benefits.
Perhaps it was that tawny haired clacker who wore tight blouses that showed everything off, or at the Benefit Vicky had it all up and out the top, Vicky, she use to always stop by Andrea's desk for pens and ask for help downloading apps on her IPad. Miranda knew it was easy to do. The clacker was just flaunting herself at Andrea. Blatant flirting over stapled memos, any chance she got.
Taking advantage of Andrea's lovely nature.
She always brought Andrea a yoghurt or a granola bar in thanks to helping her with her pc problems.
Miranda took to calling Andrea into her office to take notes when Vicky was around. Putting a stop to Vicky's making eyes at her assistant over yoghurt and granola. Vicky could take her generous muesli and get back to work.
Heard Vicky often mumble in sympathy to Andy. ''Dragon duty.''
Andrea had always obediently joined her boss in her office when summoned. Most times Andrea was adorably clumsy with her notepad and many pens, jotting down riveted by Miranda's every word about hemlines or beadwork.
Miranda would watch Andrea moisten her mouth, pressing her lips in cute concentration about a photo shoot or a note to the Art Department or her monthly Editor letter.
Sitting down onto the mattress, letting out a sigh to herself, if only Andrea knew those moments were excuses to be around her, to have Andrea near and close.
Omri had said not to touch Andrea, to be careful of her. Andrea would never hurt her. Physically at least. Hurting her heart that was another matter entirely.
Miranda's ivory fingers brushed across Andrea's damp skin, not listening to Omri, contacting her face with her fingers gently caressing her. Miranda felt it happen in her as she saw everything happen that night.
Connecting to Andrea intimately in her memory as Miranda was now watching through warm brown eyes as Andrea was at a bar with a pretty African American girl who leaned in and kissed her cheek in greeting.
''Hey you.''
A small amount of jealousy at her doing that to her brunette so freely, not that Andrea was hers though, but still Miranda liked to think Andrea was hers in a way. Even if she left her in Paris and Andrea probably in every way hated her, over coffee and fetching for her and enduring Miranda just being Miranda.
''Lily!''
Andrea's face was rubbed clean of her lipstick by Lily affectionately, who laughed at her.
''What are you drinking?'' Andy showed it. ''Dullahan's own brew.'' Lily made a face at it.
Andy went to order one for Lily who asked for something else. Lily wanted pretty with a cocktail parasol. Andy didn't think Dullahan's did parasols for drinks.
Lily sipped her parasol cocktail.
''To another day surviving her.'' Lily folded her arms at Andy slung back a pint. ''I don't get it, Andy, why you just won't quit?'' Lily mused. ''I would've quit over Cerulean and discovering when picking up a Patricia at the spa that she's a St Bernard.''
Andy snorted at that, as she sat on a bar stool as loud music blared. Lily shook her head amused at the errands her friend was sent on. ''Let's not forget, getting her eggs benedict and the coat toss.''
Lily nudged Andy's shoulder. ''The hissy fit over not flying out in a hurricane. Andy I don't know why you didn't tell her what I'd suggested, call housekeeping, I'm sure they had a broom she could borrow and fly back on.''
Miranda winced.
Her first few months she'd been horrible and demanding and demeaning and also belittling to Andrea.
Andy almost grumbled her displeasure at Lily. ''Lily.''
''Fine I will not besmirch La Priestly again.'' Lily knew not to do that in front of Andy about her. After the taking her phone from her. Making fun of Miranda wasn't cool with Andy ever.
''So you know, I don't take back all the nasty thoughts I have about her though.''
Lily believed putting a leash on and worming a unicorn or getting diamond dust for a bath was easier than putting up with Miranda Priestly impossible whims, Lily mused at her oldest friend. Poor Andy and her crush.
''Is Nate still mad at you about her, the dragon lady.'' Lily asked carefully, trying to be a good friend to both Andy and Nate.
Andy shrugged her answer. ''Yeah.''
Nate was sleeping at Doug's this week, using the excuse it was because of his early shifts at Bubby's Pie Company, Nate was being so childish to her. Andy knew it was because Nate was resentfully blaming her for being committed to her job and he was still sulking about her missing his birthday party, and her having no time for him anymore.
Nate had kept accusing her. ''Miranda this. Miranda that.''
They were living like timeshare roommates not like a happy in love couple. Andy didn't mind this in all honesty. She needed a break from Nate to sort her feelings out. Feelings that weren't concerning Nate lately.
Lily shook her head at Andy. ''It is so obvious, why you don't quit, Andy.''
''Is it?'' Andy pretended to have no idea what Lily was talking about. ''Lily don't.'' Lily sipped her drink gingerly, staring behind Andy. This bar was lively in the East Village, Santiago one of her moody artists recommended it.
''Tell me about your gallery?'' Lily talked about art for ages as Andy drained her pint.
Lily drank her last drink, offering her lumpy couch to Andy who refused her.
''One more. I'll catch a cab Lils.''
Hugging Andy goodbye. ''Be safe. Call me about the trials and tribulations of being under the dragon.'' Lily winked and left her at the bar.
Miranda felt the buzz of what Andrea drank, finishing her last drink, it was getting late as Andy noticed a few odd patrons frequenting Dullahan's, a few with porcelain skin paler then Miranda with ruby red lips.
The bartender set down another drink for her.
''No. I didn't order another. I'm good.'' Andy protested this, still holding her glass. Politely declining it.
As if reading her thoughts, the bartender answered. ''She bought it for you.'' The bartender named Declan indicated the buyer of Andy's drink.
She.
Andy's dark head turned, her surprised eyes searching the crowd, she swallowed dryly at her, as Andy saw her pristine white hair and her amazing figure walking right over to her.
Miranda.
Andy had delivered her dry cleaning and the Book earlier this evening without messing it up. Grasping at straws now. What had she forgotten to do for her? What did Miranda need from her?
Andy had like every other week day delivered the dry cleaning and the Book and tonight had ordered dinner for two as requested. It was a date night as Emily had whispered and had shared with Serena that it was a rare occurrence which Andy had overheard.
This date night had Andy in a bad mood all morning, Andy didn't want to think about him with Miranda doing anything involving a bed and not just because Stephen was always a prick like about his favorite dish duck
He didn't deserve Miranda as a date. As a wife or as a partner. When Andy could give her so much more…
Andy would never resent her work or show up drunk at a Benefit like he did
Burying those thoughts down darkly as Andy dialed a favorite restaurant of Stephen's. Ordering the duck, Miranda didn't even like duck.
No way in hell was she picking up condoms for him.
Why was Miranda here at a downtown bar, buying her a drink and not back at the townhouse with Stephen or going over the Book.
Had Stephen and she argued, had he ruined their date night and she followed Andy here.
Miranda saw her own eerie likeness approaching her sleekly and determined, in a sensual seductive way Miranda only dreamed of doing.
''Andrea.'' Gisla smiled at the beautiful mortal. The one she'd searched for. It had taken centuries of waiting for her. She had smelled her arriving in the city months ago and Gisla had tracked her and found her at last.
Gisla had watched her for a time, controlling her need to mate for longer then she liked, restraining herself but tonight she had to taste her and share her curse.
Miranda could see the tiny mistakes, her almost perfectly copied blue eyes shimmered strangely as she took a seat by Andrea, brushing her knee with her manicured hands. Miranda didn't wear red nail polish. Couldn't Andrea see that? Didn't Andrea know it wasn't her?
Stroking her knee as Andy shivered at who she thought was Miranda touching her all of a sudden.
Almost inhaling her drink through her nose, Miranda was touching her. Her. Miranda's fingers use to lightly brush Andy's knuckles over taking a cup of coffee but never like this.
This wasn't accidental but planned, Miranda wanted to touch her.
Usually at Runway, Miranda was very haphephobic, no one without a wish for instant job loss, touched her and Andy knew the no touching rule from Emily's list of Miranda's many rules.
Clearing her throat, ''Miranda. Do you need or want something?'' Andy's dark surprised eyes pierced into hers. Her big brown eyes smiling beautifully at her from her dimpled cheeks.
Miranda saw her reflection, Andrea was smiling at her. Thinking it was her.
Miranda saw it. Andy wanted her. Feeling the liquor sliding down her throat as Miranda's startled eyes widened at who it was Andrea wanted to sleep with that night and believed she was sleeping with.
Her.
False Miranda's face, leaned closer, into Andy's face, her finger grazed Andy's lower lip. ''Yes I do need and want something actually, what I want is someone…you. Andrea.'' Gisla said it the same way, the real Miranda did. Gisla was now close to her face huskier and drawn out. Miranda saw her eyes sparkle strangely.
''I also really want to taste this.''
Andy's mouth was slowly contacted by Gisla's mouth, pressing deeply to her lips, connecting with Andrea, Gisla was sharing a kiss that lingered through Andy's bloodstream. Nipping the lower lip, with a tug, slicking it with her moist darting tongue, breaking the kiss suddenly.
''I like this taste. Take me home Andrea.''
Andy's eyes were huge. Really? Alright if Miranda wanted this. Wanted her. Still in apt disbelief, thunderstruck and shell-shocked that Miranda had kissed her, licked her lips, like in her dreams, Andrea just mutely nodded at her, mesmerized that Miranda wanted to spend a night with her.
Fading out.
Miranda's shocked blue eyes now met opening chocolate brown eyes, waking up in her bed, leaning up and cupping her face as Andy's mouth puckered and slowly met hers.
Kissing Miranda. This time knowing it was the real and only Miranda for her.
A wolf walker was in his sister's bed and he put it there. Tame or untamed, Andy was still dangerous to be around. Rip anything apart dangerous. Eat anything alive. Miranda did not realize her former assistant she mentioned before to him, her Andrea had fangs now.
She was not to be trusted.
Omri made pancakes, for his nieces and also for Miranda who was very mad at him. Earlier, she'd come down for the first aid kit and Omri was on the receiving end of her silent treatment.
Ignored the aromas of breakfast he'd just made, she usually once loved his fluffy pancakes, turning her nose up at warm Golden Lyle syrup, Miri just gave him a few icy glares. Which Omri knew very well Miri's silence could be inflicted on him for hours, bollocks, Miri could go days not talking to him.
For hurting Andrea. He was protecting her from that thing that was now upstairs in her bed. When she woke up, he would make sure it wasn't anywhere near his little sister ever.
He was protecting her and the twins, couldn't Miranda see that.
Cassidy didn't touch her pancakes on her plate. ''Uncle Omri how is that dog that helped us and saved Mom tonight, Andy?''
Omri saw Caroline chewing her breakfast but just as interested in how that was even possible. ''Well Cassidy, Caroline, I think it's time to tell you about what we Princhek's have done for centuries. We hunt werewolves and other creatures like the one upstairs with your mother.''