So, it's very early in the morning, I can't sleep so what else was I going to do but submit to my adoring readers? Chapter 4 is here and oh are you going to hate me when it ends! *grins* I really don't want to give anything away, so I'll just shut up and let you read to your hearts content. As always, all right reserved to Kim Harrison.
I was definitely going to have to do this again sometime, I decided as I drove home from the lights of Cincinnati and back to the Hollows that evening. It was seven before I walked out of the spa intending to go home. They had made her feel like a new woman through the course of the day.
First I had a deep muscle massage that left me almost dead asleep on the table from being so relaxed. The rest of the day was spent between that sauna, some kind of body wrap that I swear looked, felt, and smelled like seaweed, a full body wax, yes I did say full, and no I don't think it was worth the amount of money Ivy had put down for it, and a facial making my flawless skin feel radiant for the makeover that was scheduled later.
The young girl that gave me a manicure and pedicure didn't react even in the slightest to the slashed circle demon mark on my wrist. It was a gift from Al that he gave me when I bought a trip through the lines so I wouldn't bleed to death from his first gift. It's funny when you think of the things that people learn about and the things that are left completely in the dark. The other woman who had pampered my body would have been scared if they could see the unclaimed vampire bite on my neck. This had been the first gift from Al and it was a constant reminder of our first meeting as well as a constant pain in the ass when I got around excited vampires. It pretty much left me to be a play thing to vampires, any vampire, and if I wasn't careful it could even become a shadow, following the vampire that bound me to them like a lost soul.
Once I sat down for my makeover, I wasn't given a chance to explain my hair to the stylist, a tall man with short chocolate brown hair with blond highlights and an entirely too flamboyant outfit and matching attitude. He silenced me, promising that he could handle any disobedient head of hair, and immediately set to work. From his scent I could tell he was a witch, the thick scent of redwood flowing off him was unquestionable. The cosmetic industry was a fantastic place for earth and ley line witches to make a living, even my own mother made some very convincing charms, including a scent masking type that could trick even me. She had proved it when a demon named Minius was this side of the lines masquerading as a human one night. My mother took it amazingly well after the initial shock.
About fifteen minutes into washing, trimming, and attempting to style my hair, it became clear that the mass of red hair that I had inherited from my biological father, Takata, was not going to be tamed. He had tried every charm that he had in his arsenal, but nothing he had was like what my mother could come up with. In the end I could only smile apologetically at him as he left with the look of failure showing lines that I hadn't seen before in his young face.
The last person I was to see that evening was a small woman who brought out a pallet of makeup leaving me clueless. I didn't wear makeup usually so I left myself completely in her hands. When she turned me towards the mirror after applying the last bit of whatever she was using on me I was pleasantly surprised. I was a knock out. My eyes were my greatest feature before, but now the green was somehow greener and they looked larger, and my cheeks held a natural glow to them. My lips were mostly left alone except for a light pink gloss that made them look as though they begged to be kissed.
She had praised me saying that it was not often that she had the chance to work on such beautiful flawless skin that was such a light complexion. I nodded weakly still not completely comfortable with what I had to do in order to have skin like this. The smut on my aura could attest to that. No, I was not so vain that I had cursed my freckles away, but other curses that changed my body had reset my entire biological makeup removing every scar and imperfection except the demon mark on my wrist. The vampire mark may not have been visible, but it still worked perfectly. I was sad to have found out the hard way.
I grinned at myself in the reflection of the rear view mirror for what must have been the millionth time on the way home as I pulled onto my street. I just couldn't get past how sensual I looked, and I knew that Pierce would love it too. As soon as I had parked I was bombarded by a wave of glittering, sparkling, screaming pixies as they all flooded out to welcome me home. The sound reminded me of nails on a chalkboard and it only became louder as they drew closer.
From the belfry, Bis' glowing red eyes could be seen as he kept guard over the church in Jenks' absence. It was his payment for staying as my tenant, though honestly, I wouldn't want him to go even if he didn't guard our home. Al had once told me that gargoyles will attach themselves to a single person when they grew older, if they were exposed to people enough, and work along side them exclusively. Doesn't sound like anything important, does it? It was important though when I was told that gargoyles were engineered to be in tune with the ley lines. Where I have to use my second sight which allows me to see the ever-after while staying on this plane, they could see them all the lines time, all of the time. When he grew older, Trebel, Al's gargoyle, would teach Bis how to travel the lines flawlessly, and in turn Bis would teach me. That was the way it was done, believe me, I asked enough times and it hurts when you don't know what the hell you're doing.
"Miss Rachel," a young pixie, Jaxx if I remembered correctly, hovered directly in front of my face smiling as only the truly young can. "There is a box for you inside. Daddy told us to hide it until you were gone then leave it out for you when you came home." He puffed out his chest in a miniature version of his father.
I laughed at the pixie child, "Thank you everyone." there were 'ooh's' and 'ah's' as the sloth of children finally noticed the difference about me from this morning when a few of the young ones waved goodbye to me from the top of the garden wall as I left. I couldn't help but smile in pride. "Do you like it?" a few of the younger girls squealed in delight and darted through my hair giggling.
"Oh, yes Miss Rachel, you look like a pixie princess!" the little girls circled my head like a glowing halo. I could feel their little hands reach out and take hold of strands of my hair, looping and crossing making intricate braiding patters out of my wild mane.
"Alright everyone, inside now," I called wanting to get the girls to stop before they got too carried away. Maybe I would let them braid my hair later, but not out here on the sidewalk. With an ear splitting pitch of 54 pairs of wings and angelic screams of excitement the horde flew off to wait for me at the top of the stairs by the oak door. I sighed, glad they were all well considering the resent loss of their mother, and headed up the path to the steps after them. As my foot landed on the bottom step I paused and looking over my shoulder up and down the street. There wasn't another car out, and the sidewalks were empty, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched. I fumbled my keys more noisily then I would have liked to and finished my climb up to the door. I force my keys into the lock and shoved against the heavy oak door. When I was sure all of the kids had flown in, I locked the door back in place, dead bolt and all.
It was comforting to be back inside my church. Looking up into the large open space of the sanctuary instantly soothed my frazzled nerves. I heard the high pitched yells from the kitchen so continued to make my way across the open floor, passing the corner that served as our interviewing space filled with comfortable professional seating, our stereo system and small coffee table.
Once I set foot in the kitchen I saw a large white box on the middle of the table, much like the note had been this morning. "Who's ready to see what it is?" I asked the hovering group of kids around me. My head almost split open at the din they made with please of 'yes' and 'hurry'. Pixies can be so damn curious. Not wanting to make them wait any longer, of course I was plenty curious myself, I opened the box breaking through the tape that secured the lid and opened the package. Lying on top of the white wrapping paper was a small folded note. I flipped open and read aloud for them all, even if they weren't all hovering behind me to see for themselves.
"'Dear Rache,' must be the gift from your dad." The girls giggled at the sarcastic tone of my teasing voice. I repeated, continuing past where I had left off "'Dear Rache, make sure that you get good use out of this. Ivy said it would be just right since I didn't have a clue what to get you this year. Happy birthday, Jenks.'" Silently, I laid the note down and folded back the paper and pulled out a beautiful little black dress. It was perfect.
I held it up for the girls to clap and giggle excitedly over. The soft fabric was rich; something I certainly didn't own anything else in. It was sleek, form fitting and had one long sleeve that would cover my arm down to my wrist, effectively hiding my demon mark, leaving the other bare. The dress ended at just past mid thigh making me glad that I had gotten every inch of me waxed that afternoon, even if it had been the most painful experience of a lifetime. I had to admit, with their work, and this dress, I was going to be a goddess tonight.
Winking at the kids I rushed to my room to try it on at once. It fit like a dream. I looked tall, slim, sexy, and almost mysterious. Not that I wasn't already tall and skinny as a rail on my own, but that's not the point. I double checked my closet for shoes and chose some of my classic black heels with small rhinestones on the straps. The last thing I pulled down was a small black purse that I could use as a clutch. Before I left, I turned back to the mirror, still grinning at how good I looked, and dabbed a bit more of Ivy's perfume on since I had lost it all during the day.
As I left, I saw that across the hall, Ivy had left her door open. No, it's not strange, but Ivy guarded her privacy well, and the slip up told me just how wrapped up in this case she was. Stepping carefully, I walked to the room and stood in the doorway looking in. Nothing had changed from the last time that I glimpsed it. Photos took up the walls composed primarily of her family, the tasteful bed made up as though never slept in, and the dresser spotless with only a few choice items allowed to claim a spot in plain sight.
There's a reason we don't go into each others rooms. It's dangerous enough to live with a vampire, alive or dead, but when you start mixing scents, you start mixing signals. We had found a comfortable balance in our complicated relationship and I felt that in being here, even just looking at a distance, I was breaking a rule. Hurriedly, with one final look at the room as if in silent apology for intruding, I closed the door.
I leaned against the door a moment longer before returning to the awaiting pixie children in the kitchen. Again, I was surrounded by the kids as they looked me over from head to toe. I walked to my chair and sat down smiling at the eager looks in the young girls faces. "Well, it seems I've got some time, would any of you like to do a special braid as a birthday gift?" The kitchen exploded with shrieks of delight as once again small hands worked through my hair and worked it into a masterpiece on top of my head. I think pixies would make a killing in the salon market with skills like this.
Time passed quickly as the young girls finally finished and went out to the garden to gather a few of the small white flowers from their mothers' memorial to decorate my hair. I was truly moved. Moments later, as the last of the flowers were set in place and secured I felt the tickling sensation when there was a tug on the line.
"I guess that means Pierce is here." I grinned up at the girls and winked. "Stall him." I ducked back down the hall and into my room one more time to double check my appearance. Satisfied, and in awe of the marvelous work the pixie girls did with my hair when a professional stylist was defeated, I walked to the kitchen, head held high and a slight swish in my hips.
Pierce stood in the kitchen with his back to me as he talked to the pixie children that darted around him unable to settle for a moment. He looked good; very good in fact. He had on a black suit with shiny black shoes. The pixies around him stilled letting him turn and face me allowing me to see his shirt was dark blue shirt striped with thin vertical navy line and had the collar left unbuttoned and open flashing a small portion of his lightly darkened skin. I could practically see the red in his cheeks as he looked me over slowly.
He shook his head clearing thoughts and smiled, moving to stand before me and took my hand. He purposefully took my demon marked hand in his, knowing that it lay there just under the thin rich clothing, a sign that he didn't condemn me for it. "Mistress witch, you are looking exquisite this evening." He kissed the back of my hand softly then brought his eyes to meet mine with a heavy gaze. "I am of a mind, that all other gentlemen will be wishing they had such a lovely lady on their arm tonight."
I couldn't help but laugh and beam at his compliment. "Thank you, Pierce. You are looking very nice tonight yourself."
His eyes darkened for a moment. I almost asked what was wrong, but he answered before I had the chance to form the words. "Yes, Al said that this is what the men of your time wear in place of top hats, opera coats and gloves." He sounded almost bitter at having to speak about Al, much less admit that he had accepted the demons assistance.
"Well, everyone has to be right at least once, right?" I joked trying to make him smile. When that didn't work, I decided to change the subject. "So, where are we headed tonight? I'm starving."
That worked. My comment snapped him out of his gloomy mood and he offered me his arm with a smile that lit all the way to his eyes. "Then we shall waste the eve' no longer, milady." I chuckled and picked up my purse. We left waving our goodbyes to the kids as we walked out the door into the early evening air.
The air was pleasantly cool giving my exposed skin chill bumps. I didn't mind, tonight was going to be a good night, I could feel it. Pierce walked me around the car and I didn't say anything as he opened the passenger side door for me, we were on a date after all. We had decided that Pierce still needed a lot of practice in the driving department, but he could handle the basic idea of driving, even if he hadn't quite mastered all the rules of the road. I silently prayed I would avoid the emergency room tonight as he closed the door with a secure thump and went around to the drivers side.
Pierce slid in beside me and once again looked me over, a smile still on his face that made his dark eyes sparkle in the dim light. "It is strange to see your hair this way." He caught the hurt look I shot him and reached out a hand caressing my cheek. "Strange, but lovely. I am of a mind that I prefer it the way it was however."
That made me smile, but only a little. The kids had worked hard on it and I was grateful for their efforts. "Well, I guess that's alright then," I winked at him. He turned forward grinning and started the car. "Now, where are we going?"
Pierce didn't say where, but by the time we hit Cincinnati I recognized the rout he was taking and knew where we were headed; The Carew Tower. It was the best restaurant in the city, and almost impossible to get into. Well, tonight I was going looking and feeling amazing with a handsome, turn of the century gentleman.
Once we found a parking space along he busy city avenue and made it into the building, a tall broad shouldered no-nonsense looking man stood next to the elevator with a podium where a large book set open on it. "Name?" he asked in a stern voice.
Pierce straightened next to me, trying to seem like he had done this before. "Yes, good sir. Pierce I believe is the name you are inquiring about?"
Silently the man scanned the page after giving Pierce a strange look, then nodded and motioned to the elevator before us. "Welcome to the Cruise Tower, Mister and Misers Pierce." I blanched when he addressed us as Mr. and Mrs. and attempted to correct him. Unfortunately, Pierce only smiled and thanked him then hurried us into the now open and waiting elevator, complete with an uptight young man to press the buttons for you. I was lucky enough to get to ride the elevator all by myself here when I had summoned Pierce back from the ever-after, when Al had kidnapped him right in front of me. I got to press my own damn buttons then too.
The man in the elevator greeted us and pressed the top floor button. I was tempted to reach over and hit another button just to see if his head would explode, but I chose to force it down. Like I said before, I was on a date. Besides, I had something else questioning in my mind.
The ride was quiet with not even that annoying elevator music to accompany us. When we reached the top floor the man held down the open door button for us. When we stepped off he then straightened releasing the button and gave us a curt nod and partial smile before the doors closed allowing him to descend back into the lobby.
The restaurant was a large circle room that spun slowly so you could see the entire city as you dined. I had been here three times before, and I was hoping that this time would be as pleasant and memorable as the first.
We only had to wait a moment before a matron Dee, dressed in a full tuxedo, came up to us. The man was dressed in a full tuxedo and had his black hair cut stylishly yet still looked professional. He greeted us and smiled, the warmth reaching all the way to his stormy gray eyes then escorting us to a table looking out over the city that was even marked with a nifty little sign that said 'Reserved'.
Pierce, ever the gentleman, held my chair for me while I sat. Personally, I always thought the practice silly. I either sat too soon or got jabbed in the back of the knees with the seat causing me to fall into it. This time I managed to time it almost right, but still sat down too soon to keep from hurting myself leaving Pierce to scoot me in the rest of the way.
I was so glad we could be of amusement of the matron Dee that stood quietly by as we seated ourselves with a smirk on his face. "Welcome, madam and monsieur, to the Cruise Tower. Have you dinned with us before?" he looked between us one at a time expectantly.
Pierce glanced at me and opened his mouth to answer, "No, we haven't had the pleasure." I cut him off. I didn't wanting him to feel too much like a fish out of water.
The matron Dee beamed a wide smile and went into a long list of what everything on the menu was tonight as well as the wine and dessert list before he even handed them to us. Pierce just smiled at me while the man shot ahead. While we waited for the end of the rant, a young woman came to the table and set down a glass of ice water for each of us. She was rewarded with a firm look from the matron Dee before we had a chance to thank her, and scuttled away. When he had finally finished, Pierce held out a hand for the menu stating firmly yet gently "Everything sounds impeccable. The lady and I will require a few moments to ourselves to decide." With a little half bow, the man walked away.
I relaxed and looked across the table at Pierce smiling. "I didn't hear half of what he said." Pierce chuckled and we opened our menus to decide.
The restaurant wasn't nearly as full as usual, but then again it was still early evening for most everyone. Humans would be pouring in soon, and closer to midnight Interlanders would come to dine. There were very few businesses that didn't have the license allowing both flavors of patrons to mix under the same roof. The few that didn't were usually vampire safe houses or rude, mostly considered racist, human establishments.
The evening passed pleasantly. Once we had ordered, we settled into a comfortable conversation about things that had changed since a hundred years ago as opposed to things that had remained the same. We had little else to talk about since we couldn't talk shop and the mention of Al was strictly avoided. Only once our meal was done and we were left with companionable silence did I remember what I had wanted to ask earlier.
"Hey, Pierce?" I asked calmly, my eyes focused on my painted nails as I spoke. "Before, when we were downstairs and that guy called us Mister and Misers what was all that about?"
I watched him size up the question. He rolled the slender base of his wine glass between his forefingers and thumb as he visibly thought about how best to answer me.
"Rachel," he started. That made me nervous. He normally didn't use my name when we talked, at least never in that serious tone. It just wasn't like him. "I've had a pleasant evening, a memorable one that I will hold precious to me."
My eyes narrowed a little. He wasn't answering my question out right. Something was wrong. He leaned forward resting his elbows on the table and brought his folded hands to his mouth as his eyes continued to search the table top for the answer.
Sighing, he finally looked ready to talk. He brought his eyes to meet mine and lowered his hands onto the table. "Rachel, you are an amazing woman and a talented witch. I feel deeply for you, as you know, and want to be able to lend my strength, my support, and my knowledge to you for as long as you need me. Which," he paused and swallowed visibly, "I hope will be indefinitely, if you would have me."
My jaw hit the table. Was he serious?
I grabbed my water glass and downed half of it, welcoming the sharp pain the cold water brought to my over heating system. After a moment, hands shaking, I could look back in his concerned eyes. My voice croaked a little as I asked, "Are you asking me to marry you?"
And cut! That's it for Chapter 4! I'm right aren't I? You hate me now for ending off on a note like that. Don't worry! I actually have the next chapter already written, I just have to go through and make sure it's right. If I have any mistakes, it's ok. I have a horrible memory and this is a fanfic after all. Any ways, Chapter 5 coming soon! Be sure to R&R and I'll see if I can get it uploaded for you all. If I don't get reviews I of course will automatically assume no one's reading it and doesn't care. *pouts* but let's be honest, we know that's not true.