4. Stranded
(Karin POV)
Don snapped into action at once, glancing from his watch to me. 'I am so sorry. We can probably still make the flight if we run…' He fixed me with an urgent, enquiring gaze, holding out a hand to take my bag.
Damn. It seemed like only moments ago that this strangely appealing dhampir had stepped into my life, and now suddenly our time was up. We wouldn't even be sitting together on the final leg to Pittsburgh.
'I can't… run, I mean,' I stuttered, feeling strangely off-balance. I wasn't ready for this (whatever this was) to be over yet. I needed to stall for time. 'The whiskey on the plane, the wine. I think I am literally going to pee my pants.' It wasn't an elegant excuse, but it would do. 'Do you think you could go ahead and see if you can hold the flight while I use the bathroom?'
Don raised his eyebrows slightly but didn't argue. 'No problem,' he replied, stuffing a huge handful of crab fries into his mouth before binning the rest with a look of deep regret. He turned to me with a crazy grin, his cheeks so swollen with food that he reminded me of a chipmunk in autumn, and mumbled something nearly indiscernible (it might have been 'think of waterfalls') before turning to sprint towards the departures desk.
I looked after him with a shake of my head then hurried towards the ladies' room, trying to untangle my racing thoughts. As soon as I shut the door behind me I made my way to the sink and turned on the faucet, letting the cold water pool in my hands and splashing some over my face as I observed my flushed cheeks in the mirror. What was I doing? I should be rushing to see Sonya right now but I couldn't kick the feeling that I was supposed to miss that plane.
Don Kardos was childish and overconfident, but he had a deeper side as well that I'd only just begun to glimpse, and I simply had to find out if there was something more between us. My warning signals were telling me to stay well away – he was a guardian, we lived on opposite sides of the country, and I was meant to be here for Sonya not for me. But, then again, I was at a point in my life when I had to be a little bit selfish. I'd established a great career in my twenties, I'd travelled and had lots of fun, but now I wanted something… more. Maybe, just maybe, I could find that with Don? I dried my face and hands quickly then headed back out into the terminal and set off at a jog.
Don was waiting for me near the departures desk but strode forward to join me as I approached. 'I'm sorry, Karin, but they couldn't hold the flight,' his mouth was set in a thin line. 'I hope that doesn't ruin your plans with Marie.'
Marie? Oh yeah. I nearly forgot I'd given Sonya a fake name. 'I'm really sorry – I tried to hurry but there was a long queue,' I apologised, dipping my eyelashes to mask the lie. 'I'll give Marie a call and let her know I've been delayed – I'm sure she'll be okay about it... But are you going to have problems with work?'
His expression relaxed. 'Not at all. I usually arrive at Court a day early when I return from leave so I can readjust to the nocturnal schedule – I'm actually not due back on duty until tomorrow night. I did have plans to catch up with a couple of guardian buddies when I got back but that can always wait for another time.'
'Thank God. I'd hate to cause you any trouble,' I looked up at him sheepishly.
A broad smile spread slowly across Don's face. 'Somehow I don't believe you, but I'll accept the apology anyway.'
I grinned back at him and there was a brief lull in the conversation before Don reminded me of the practicalities of our situation. We were still stranded.
'So how do you want to get back to Court then?' he asked. 'The girl at the desk said all flights to Pittsburgh are fully booked until tomorrow morning, so we can either wait around here in case there are any cancellations or find somewhere to stay tonight and book the next flight out at 8:30am?'
I didn't fancy holing up in an airport waiting room all night so I opted for the alternative. 'Let's book the morning flight,' I announced decisively. 'I've got a project I'm working on in Philly at the moment, anyway, that I wouldn't mind checking in on. You can come along if you like and see what people do for a living in the real world. We can sort out somewhere to stay later on.'
It would be expensive. We'd have to pay seats on another flight, accommodation and cab fares, but I had savings, and whatever we got up to tonight I had a feeling it was going to be worth the cost.
'Great!' Don replied, suddenly enthused about our upcoming adventure. 'So we'll just relax and enjoy the night. Take it as it comes. Go with the flow. See how things pan out...'
I rolled my eyes. 'Yes, Don. I get the point. You can shut-up now.'
'Yes, Mi'lady,' he replied with a smirk, shouldering both our bags and heading for the bookings desk.
(Don POV)
I felt invincible. Just when I was least expecting it, a strong, independent moroi with a wicked sense of humour and a body to die for had just walked into my life, and by some miracle she seemed to be as interested in me as I was in her.
Admittedly, it wasn't unusual for a woman to look twice at me, but those stolen glances rarely amounted to anything more than a fleeting encounter on the dance floor or a brief casual affair. I was typically the 'rebound guy', nice to play with but not a viable long-term investment.
But this thing with Karin seemed like something different. I can't remember the last time a woman opened up to me about something deeply personal, and then bothered to listen when I shared part of my story too. And then there was the fact she intentionally missed a plane flight just so we could spend a few more hours together. She tried to make it seem like an accident but I knew she was lying through her teeth (or was it 'lying through her fangs' for a moroi), and I was beginning to feel strangely turned-on by Karin's constant attempts to deceive me.
Okay, I had to admit I'd done my own share of lying too. There actually was a cancellation on the 6:00pm flight that could have gotten one of us back to Court but I couldn't bear to say goodbye to Karin so soon. Honesty might generally be considered a good basis for establishing a new relationship but, in this case, I felt the ends justified the means.
After we'd arranged our flight for the following morning, I gave Mikhail a quick call and told him not to expect me for drinks.
'No worries, Don,' Misha assured me. 'We'll catch up some time through the week and you can fill me in on what you've been up to while you were away. Sonya's got a girlfriend coming around to stay soon too, so maybe we can go out on a double-date if that works for you?'
Not likely. If things went well with Karin tonight I didn't want to screw things up by being seen out with another woman. I might have been around the block a few times before but I never broke my cardinal dating rule. One at a time is fine. Two or more = man-whore.
'I'll let you know when I'm back. I'm sure we'll have plenty to talk about,' I finished up the conversation lightly, pocketing my phone and moving back to join Karin who was waiting for me at the cab rank.
It was nearing 4:00pm by the time we were dropped off on Broad Street in the city. The sun was still well above the horizon line but Karin didn't flinch as she stepped out into the afternoon light, casually fishing for a pair of designer sunglasses in her bag before leading me north-east along the busy sidewalk towards an unusually-large, modern-looking building on our left.
'Wow – did you design this?' I whistled, gazing up at the domed glass roof of the Kimmel Centre that stood proudly among the period-style buildings that surrounded it.
'Considering I was only eleven when this was built, no,' she replied with amusement, 'but I have spent a fair amount of time in this part of Philly, so I'm happy to play tour-guide if you have any questions. We're actually heading down the road a bit. I figured we could both use a walk.'
'Very thoughtful of you,' I nodded in appreciation, stretching the stiffness from my back before falling into step with her. 'So what kind of architect are you, anyway?'
'Now that's a good question,' she glanced across at me thoughtfully. 'If you'd asked me that a few years ago I would have said I design new-builds. Until recently I mostly worked with owner-builders, helping them draw up plans to make their dream home a reality. I can't stand the one-size-fits-all approach that so many people go for these days, so my focus has been on helping people design meaningful living spaces that are a true reflection of themselves.'
Hearing Karin talk about her job with such earnestness was refreshing – a lot of moroi girls I'd met at Court seemed to almost view work with disdain, simply accessing Daddy's line of credit when they wanted something beyond their means, but this woman was clearly as dedicated to her career as I was to mine.
'But lately I've started to… diversify,' Karin slowed to stop outside a beautiful old theatre, indicating towards several arched doorways that revealed a softly lit lobby within.
'Hmm?' I asked, not quite following.
'This is one of my current worksites – I've got a contract with the Academy of Music designing sets for the operas and musicals that are staged at this theatre. Do you want to see some of my work?' her voice was eager but slightly guarded like she was afraid I would say no.
As if I wouldn't want to see it?! 'Definitely. Lead the way!'
We stepped inside and headed for the front desk, which was manned by an elderly, moustached gentleman wearing a waistcoat and bow tie. 'Hi Harry. How're things?' Karin asked warmly, walking around the counter to grasp his broad, liver-spotted hands.
'Better now,' the old man beamed, kissing her on each cheek before eyeing me suspiciously. 'Who's the young buck? A beau of yours?'
She laughed like a peal of church bells, crystal-bright. 'No, Harry. Don is just a work colleague,' she answered, casting a sidelong glance at me. 'He's interning with me actually – wants to learn from the best. Is it okay if I give him a quick tour?'
Another lie. Damn, she was hot.
'Of course, of course. Anything for you, Karin,' Harry consented readily, pushing us towards the stage door. 'You know where the lights are. Just give a holler if you need anything.'
The instant the door closed behind us we were left in pitch darkness and I felt Karin's hand slip into mine as we moved our way along what appeared to be a narrow corridor.
'Not scared of the dark are you?' she asked sweetly.
Impudent girl. 'Not likely.' I retorted, freeing my hand and instantly tripping over a box. I heard her scoff and followed the sound of her footsteps until the space opened out around us, my eyes finally adjusting to the dim surroundings.
'Stay there a minute,' a voice ordered, and seconds later a bluish-grey wash of light filtered out across the stage as Karin re-appeared from behind a curtain.
'Wow. This looks morbid. What's the show?' I asked, taking in the scene.
The stage was decked out as a kind of gothic imagining of Victorian London. Balconies rose up on either side of the set, against a backdrop of terraced houses and shop-fronts, and in the centre of it all stood a large, barred prison-cell.
'Sweeny Todd, of course,' Karin grinned, thrilled at my look of faint disgust.
I stared at her blankly and shook my head. 'Never heard of it. I haven't been to a show since an ex-girlfriend dragged me to a production of Grease in... 2004.'
'Seriously? You haven't been out to the theatre for over a decade? You really have no life.'
'Thanks for reminding me,' I gave her my most injured look. 'It's been a busy decade. Mass strigoi attacks, regicide, a new queen, you know how it is.'
'Alright,' Karin looked at me with bemusement. 'So you've got some catching up to do. Consider this the start of your education,' she gestured out to the set and began her lesson.
'So, there's an urban legend that Sweeny Todd – a simple barber – is wrongly imprisoned, and the judge that sentenced him raped his wife and adopted his only child.
'Charming,' I said with a grimace.
'But… when Sweeny is finally freed he comes back to Fleet Street to have his revenge.' Karin flicked a switch on the remote in her hands and the prison set began to revolve, swinging around to reveal an open-walled, two-story house. The lower level seemed to be a bakery, and a staircase on the left lead to an upper room, sparsely decorated with an old-fashioned reclining chair at one end.
I followed Karin as she mounted the stairs, continuing on with her narration. 'Sweeny rents the room above Mrs Lovett's pie shop and sets up his own barber's shop, where he becomes famed for giving the closest shave a man can have.'
She pushed me into the chair and I lay back, enjoying the drama. 'Cozy,' I grinned up at her, unzipping my jacket and half-closing my eyes as I acted out the role of a satisfied customer.
'But the only trouble is,' Karin continued, reaching over to a low table and picking up a prop razor, 'Sweeny gives some of his customers a much, much closer shave than they are expecting.'
I felt my heart begin to race as she drew closer, lowering herself over me and pulling the top of my shirt down to fully expose my neck. I stiffened slightly with anticipation and the tiniest hint of fear. It wasn't the razor in her hand that I was concerned about – that was just a ruse. Karin was adding an extra element of danger to the story, baring her fangs provocatively as she stared greedily at my throat. She was playing with me and enjoying every second.
Her voice dropped to a whisper. 'Sweeny Todd was free to cut any throat he wanted and nobody would ever find out… because dear Mrs Lovett downstairs was always pleased to receive an order of extra-tasty filling for her pies.'
I swallowed heavily as Karin's lips came tantalisingly close to the sensitive skin beside my adam's apple, feeling the warmth of her breath, but just as she raked her fangs lightly over my bare neck my world turned upside-down. The barber's chair tipped backwards and I found myself tumbling down some kind of chute, landing awkwardly in a pit of large foam blocks. I was in Mrs Lovett's pie shop, in 'the oven', and Karin was looking down at me in triumph from the barbershop above, peal after peal of laughter rocking her body.
I couldn't believe I'd let a moroi get the jump on me. I was so entranced by her that I didn't even notice her pull the lever beside the chair that dumped me so unceremoniously in this landing pit. My pride was sorely wounded. I considered running back up the stairs and pinning her to the chair so she could have a taste of her own medicine but decided on a more fitting punishment. I remained in the oven and groaned quietly, pretending I was injured, then sunk down lower into the foam and waited silently until she came downstairs to investigate.
'Are you okay?' Karin asked gingerly, peering into the oven.
Without a word of reply, my hand shot out and I dragged her in after me. 'Nobody is eating this customer for dinner!' I declared, tickling her mercilessly – her giggled, thrashing protests useless against my superior strength.
Wrestling with her until I'd gained a position of dominance, I pinned her against the foam, slinging a knee over her thighs to stop her from wiggling free. My left forearm secured her chest and shoulders, and I held my right hand steady – poised threateningly over her ribcage, ready to attack. 'You know, I actually think you look like the tastiest morsel in this oven,' I teased.
My prisoner gasped as I swooped down, play-biting her neck, but as soon as my lips touched her I realised I'd put myself at a disadvantage. Lingering there for a moment longer than I'd intended to, her scent was absolutely intoxicating and the second bite turned into more of a kiss. She was already breathing in short, hard pants from our struggle, clawing at my arms and shoulders, but when my lips made contact with her skin she dug her fingers sharply into my biceps, and her breath escaped in a little moan that completely changed the situation.
I pulled back to look into her wanting eyes and a split-second later, my lips crashed down on hers.
Author's Note:
Loved writing the Sweeny Todd scene. Set design was one of my career dreams when I was at high-school. I didn't do that but have played in the pit-orchestras for many productions so this was a good chance to put my own interests into the character.
Pashing with a hot dhampir in a hidden foam-pit is also now my new fantasy life-goal.
