Literature and Boys.
I don't know if my Nikola characterisation is spot on, but it will get better with time. Italic means they are speaking in another language. I could find out how to write it in Serbian but then I'll have to put the translation up as well so this is simpler for a whole conversation.
The hum of the people around her did not distract her from reading. The book in her hand was well-worn, showing that it had been read many times over. If asked, she would have happily admitted to the fact that she had read that particular book at least two dozen times, and that someone had read it before her at least as many times. However, the first person to intrude on her quiet atmosphere was not there to talk about her book, but to offer her an alcoholic beverage that they had bought for her. She, of course, politely declined, but did not feel the need to inform them that she was merely sixteen.
She did feel slightly flattered by their intrusion, if her faint blush at their flattery was an indication, but she did not have time for them. She was too young, to busy, and far too bright. They were not interested in a conversation of the mind; they were simply interested in her face.
The light emanating from the fire place off to the side was yet again blocked, making Prudence sigh before looking up, thinking she had to disappoint yet another male. When she looked up, however, she found the man studying her literature instead of herself. When the lettering of Borges hit the light, he smiled a very crooked smile before sitting down in the adjacent armchair.
Prudence was mildly shocked at his boldness of taking the seat but said nothing and instead, waited for the man to speak first. In the mean time she simply sat and studied him. He had dark brown hair that was slightly spiked, a three-piece suit in a dark grey and astounding blue/green eyes.
"'Like all those possessing a library, Aurelian was aware that he was guilty of not knowing his in its entirety'. Are you guilty of such things?" His words came out in fluent Serbian, something one could only do if they had visited the country many times.
Prudence smiled challengingly at the man before answering in the native tongue of the land she was in. "If you mean library in the literal sense, then no, I am not, and if you meant library in the figurative, sense, as in 'a library of knowledge', then I like to think the answer is still no."
"Interesting." The man sat in contemplation for a moment, his eyes boring into Prudence's. Finally he spoke again. "My name is Jovan, and may I say, you speak beautiful Serbian."
She knew he had lied about his name, but decided to play along. "You may say such things. My name is Madeline. Are you perhaps, from here?"
'Jovan', who had just reached out to signal the waiter, turned back to face her, his charming smile still in place. "That I am, and yourself? I know you're not from Serbia because I would have noticed you before now."
"No, I am from Britain," admitted Prudence as the waiter came and poured her more tea and gave Jovan a glass of wine. "A friend of mine has business here and her Serbian is appalling. Last time she tried to show me she had improved she attempted to say 'I can speak Serbian now' and instead made a pass at me."
"Well, she would be entertaining in the workplace."
"Oh, she would be a riot all right. That is the problem, unfortunately."
"I hardly say it is unfortunate, now I have met someone who seems to love Borges' work as much as I. Admittedly, I have spent some time in England myself." Jovan picked up the book from where it sat on the table and thumbed through it, stopping at certain pages to read a quote he particularly liked. "His references to human life are astounding, aren't they?"
"They truly are. I have lost count of how many times I have immersed myself in his works. The Threatened One is by far my favourite, thought the Theologians is also an excellent piece of work."
Jovan closed his eyes as though contemplating before he spoke in a deep, calm voice, his eyes boring into Prudence's eyes. "'Do you want to see what human eyes have never seen? Look at the moon. Do you want to hear what ears have never heard? Listen to the bird's cry. Do you want to touch what hands have never touched? Touch the earth.' Though, I must admit, I know one thing that can rival all of those." He reached out a hand, wishing to brush it against her cheek as he looked at her.
"That sounds like a line."
Prudence's head snapped around, recognising the American accent. Standing next to them was Ashley, wearing her customary tight, dark jeans and leather jacket with black boots, opposed to Prudence's black slacks, wool jacket, in a dusk pink, and sport shoes. She was smiling widely at the fact that Prudence was blushing.
Without realising, the dark-haired girl had moved towards Jovan as he spoke and he, in turn, had moved towards her, bringing them close. When Ashley had appeared, however, Prudence had sat back and Jovan had put his wine glass down before standing, as a gentleman does when a woman joins the table.
"Can he understand me?" Ashley asked, pointing to the Serbian man.
"Why do you not ask him?" inquired Prudence, sipping her tea.
"Can you understand English?" Ashley questioned Jovan slowly.
"Speaking slowly would not help me if I couldn't," assured Jovan in fluent English.
"I see you have spent more time in English speaking countries than you insinuated." Prudence smiled softly, hearing the almost non-existent Serbian accent.
"So sorry to have deceived you," apologised Jovan, taking his seat and sipping his wine elegantly.
"No, you left it to assumption." Prudence waved it off calmly. "It is perfectly acceptable. Ashley, you should sit."
The blonde took the only available seat, looking at Jovan, as though assessing whether it was safe to talk in front of him. "Mum sent me to find out if you had set up the connections. We are meant to be meeting in an hour."
"Of course," replied Prudence in her calm voice, sitting her tea down and tucking her book away in her handbag, ignoring the way Jovan purposely brushed her hand as he handed it back. It was his smirk that told her it was no accident. "We should start preparing for the long hours ahead. It was a pleasure speaking with you, Jovan."
"Couldn't agree more, talking to a beautiful, young lady always brightens a usually dull afternoon." Jovan smiled his crooked smile at Prudence's blush. As she reached into her wallet to pay for her beverages, he held up his hand. "I will pay your bill, my fair Madeline."
"I could not allow you to do such a thing," countered Prudence politely. "I have been sitting here, waiting for my friend for almost three hours."
Jovan just smiled at her in a charming manner. "Then I must pay for the time I was not graced with your presence, as well as the time I was."
Prudence cleared her throat as she blushed, but before she could reply and make his argument irrelevant, Ashley cut in.
"Aren't you a gentleman?" The blonde stood, smirking in amusement as she took Prudence's wrist. "Sorry, but I really need to take my friend from you. Hopefully, we'll run into you again. See ya."
"Good bye, Jovan," added Prudence before she was roughly pulled out of the pub.
"He's hot," whispered Ashley as they walked off, though she made sure Jovan heard her.
He had been mildly surprised to have seen Prudence Watson in the Serbian pub but then he realised she probably worked with her father in the Sanctuary and was therefore there on business. She had, of course, confirmed his suspicions. Though she did not say Helen's name, she knew she had been referring to her and her horrid grasp on the Serbian language. One of the few languages she was never able to learn.
He had to chuckle at the fact that she knew he had used a fake name, though he doubted she knew his real one, otherwise she would have used it without hesitation.
The moment he had spotted her in the corner, he had wondered what was stealing her concentration so effortlessly. He had been impressed when he saw it was the works of Jorges Luis Borges, one of his own favourite writers. He remembered reading that exact copy countless times. He truthfully had not meant to alter the quote he remembered from The Theologian but he had simple said what was running through his mind, and done what his body wished to do. He could not deny he had contemplated whether her cheek was a soft as it appeared but he would not normally act of such trivial thoughts.
She was more intelligent than he expected. Not just of the mind, but of social engagements. He had spotted her sending back drinking from potential suitors, though he was able to calculate that she was only sixteen, but she declined them all, seeing them as having no skills in an adequate conversation. He then saw it as a challenge, to see if he could manage not to get brushed aside like all those others. He also did want to see what she was reading.
The fact that he could immerse her in his words helped his pride, and her blush did not help. She was so innocent, and her invisibility obviously became harder to control, almost like a camouflage reflex. He had noticed locks of her hair, as well as her neck and hands became translucent at times, especially when her blonde friend began teasing her, though never as bad as when they were saying goodbye.
He decided she was intriguing enough for him to attempt contact on a regular bases. Until that opportunity arrived though, he was going to sit and enjoy his wine.
"He... he..."
"I thought you might like that he was coming with us," chuckled Prudence, looking at Ashley with amusement.
"He looks like Adrian Brody!" exclaimed the blonde, staring in awe at the man standing in the group of 'werewolf' hunters. "Mum, check him out!"
Helen looked at the two girls before looking at the man they were looking at. She smiled softly, her eyes scanning the man up and down before she nodded. This caused the two girls to laugh.
"Alright, they all speak English, so there should be no communication barrier, and our guide said he will take us up the mountain but he does not know where the den is, so it is up to us to find it."
Helen nodded again, this time in a serious manner. "Thank you, Prudence. We should head out then. It is going to be a long journey."
"Oh, excellent, as we walk, I can tell you all about Jovan," teased Ashley, looking at Prudence, who was blushing, instead of Helen, who she was addressing.
"Jovan? Who's he?" Helen looked from Ashley, who was smiling smugly, and Prudence, who was blushing deeper.
"A total hottie who was hitting on Prudence," exclaimed the blonde, making the young genius make a noise of protest.
"He was not 'hitting' on me! We were simply conversing about a common interest of Borges work."
"Then why are you blushing?" Helen inquired as they walked towards the rest of the group.
"I am blushing because of Ashley's insinuations and also that he was extremely attractive," admitted the young girl, feeling her face go hot and her neck turn invisible, scaring some of the hunters. Thankfully, these men were no strangers to Abnormals, so it did not cause great panic. She quickly explained to them that they were moving out before turning to Ashley. "Excited for your birthday weekend?"
"Don't try to change the subject!" snapped Ashley as they began walking. "Tell us everything, from before he appeared to when I did, and tell us what he said to you before I joined and before we left!"
"You don't know?" questioned Helen, looking confused.
"Even though he spoke perfect English, they were both speaking Serbian."
"I did not realise he spoke flaunt English," explained Prudence calmly. "It is understandable for Jovan to speak to me first in Serbian, seeing as it is the native language. By the time he discovered I was English, and therefore, spoke that language more proficiently, he had already been shown that I could speak his language."
Ashley smiled like a Cheshire Cat. "But why did he speak in Serbian right before we left when he had been speaking English."
Thankfully they were travelling through a thick set of trees for Prudence turned almost completely invisible. "It is not of importance."
"That would explain why I can see the Adrian Brody look-a-like through your head," joked Helen, chuckling at the young girl's discomfort. She was clearly looking forward to informing James that his only daughter had started liking boys. Not only had she pointed out the handsome young man that they were to work with, but she had been flirting with another in a pub. Her old friend was not going to be happy with this turn of events.