Chapter Four: Making Amends
The problem of Alexia Tarabotti occupied his mind for the remainder of that evening, and the evening following. It was, to his mind, quite the tidy little conundrum.
The girl was a preternatural, and he had not known. He, who prided himself on knowing everything that was significant to be known about the supernatural community and the daylight folk. It was an offense to his reputation that he had not realized who and what the girl was. And it was simply inexcusable that none of the hive queens had sent word around about a young preternatural in London. A young female preternatural at that. Granted, he would not have been interested, not in the usual way, but still...the breach of etiquette was quite a serious one, and he had every intention of sending his more trusted hive contacts notice of his displeasure, as soon as he had resolved the matter to his own satisfaction.
Of course, there was also the matter of Alexia herself. Preternaturals were a rare breed to begin with, and females of the kind were even rarer. Most were men. He himself had not seen a female preternatural in centuries. And he had not expected to find one in such an appallingly normal family of middle-class minor nobility. That was why the young woman had taken him so much by surprise.
Of course, it wasn't Alexia's fault. No doubt she had expected him to be informed of her status. And she had certainly given him several clues in her uncanny knowledge of the supernatural, her acquaintance with the B.U.R, and her unwillingness to touch him. She had known, quite naturally, what her touch would do.
The child had, in fact, been quite courteous. And, his surprise aside, he had been rather boorish. Even amongst the supernatural set, calling someone a 'soul-sucker' would have been quite the height of crassness. Like calling a vampire a 'blood-sucker' or a werewolf a 'moon howler' or something of that ilk. He really didn't know what the insults were among werewolves. Even vampires, much as they disliked preternaturals, referred to them as preternaturals, or perhaps as soulless. 'Soul-sucker' was an unpardonably rude way to refer to a young woman of her class and breeding.
He owed her an apology for his behavior, and for the insult he had given. Even if he forbore to have any further contact with her, he did owe her that. It was, after all, the proper thing to do. And while propriety was rarely ever a concern with him, in this instance it was a matter of honor.
That brought him round to an entirely different question. The question of whether or not he intended to pursue an acquaintance with Miss Tarabotti. Most vampires, hive and rove alike, would not. But he had always been unconventional. And while he understood the dangers of preternaturals as well as any (and better than most), he had never been one to shun them simply for being dangerous.
In truth, he rather liked Alexia. Even if she was a preternatural. She was a sensible, intelligent young woman, with a character and a strength of mind it was somewhat rare to encounter, especially in so young a lady, and in particular one of her class. And being a preternatural, she would neither expect anything from him, nor fear anything from him either. Unless it was the usual sorts of impropriety that a young woman might fear from a man, but in that matter he could easily lay her mind to rest. If she did not already know his preferences, it was a simple matter to inform her.
He liked her sense of humor, her insight, her curiosity. He liked her boldness, refreshing without surpassing the boundaries of correctness.
And, if he were being honest with himself, he had not precisely minded the momentary transformation her touch had inflicted upon him. It had been a bit of a shock, true, but in retrospect, not an unwelcome one. Immortality did have it's benefits, but after as many centuries as he had lived, one did miss certain sensations. To be able to feel again, however briefly, to feel life surging through him, the pounding of a heartbeat that he had not felt in ages, the surge of breath...well, it was not a terrible sensation. Properly prepared, he thought it might be something he could become accustomed to, perhaps even find enjoyable on occasion. After all, it did one good to be reminded of one's humanity every now and then. He had long thought that too many hives became over-insulated, cut off from the world. And drones could only do so much to alleviate the alienation. Even he, with the efforts he made to be a part of society, was at risk of stagnation at times.
Yes, he rather thought he would benefit from a closer association with Alexia. Provided, of course, that he could secure her forgiveness and pardon for the insult he had given, and the error he had made in his approach to her.
He spent the better part of the second evening planning his approach. The situation would have to be handled with a great deal of subtlety and tact, and not a little delicacy. If Lord Maccon's reaction had been honest (and the Lord Maccon was rather too blunt to be otherwise), then Alexia's status was not a widely known one, and her own reluctance to confide in him made it likely that Alexia herself preferred anonymity, in so much as it was possible.
So then, he would first have to secure her willingness to meet with him in private, or at least in some form of temporary seclusion. Such things were possible at some of the larger parties, particularly if he enlisted the help of some of his drones. He would have to be cautious, and choose his helpers and his timing quite carefully, but he had no doubts about either his own ability to manage the situation, or about the skills of his young men.
He would need older drones, whose discretion he could trust and who would not inquire too closely into his personal affairs.
A full moon party would be the ideal time. B.U.R would not be in attendance to be suspicious, as Lord Maccon and his second-in-command would both be indisposed. Too, full-moon parties were often large, noisy, chaotic affairs, wherein one could easily slip off for a few moments or an hour if one so desired.
He summoned his most trusted drones and apprised them of his intentions, then made arrangements to gather the necessary information to complete his scheme.
The night of the full moon found him attending the Lord Devonshire's party. It was in general the sort of affair he rarely attended, and never on a full moon night. Middle-class ton gathered together in quaint respectability, engaging in only the most genteel and subtle of indiscretions. Parties like this were not where he went to indulge in his more notable misbehavior, nor was it the sort of place where one could find the most delicious rumors of scandals or new gossip, or new fashions.
It was, however, the place where he had been reliably informed that Felicity Loontwill, and perforce her elder sister, were to be in attendance for the festivities. The Lord Devonshire's townhouse, furthermore, was a large and multi-roomed sort of estate, ideal for his purposes.
He arrived fashionably late, and well after his drones had made their own entrances. He made his greetings to the host, found one of his young men in the crowd, and, after two glasses of champagne and more inane conversation than he cared for at this juncture, made his way to the drone's side. "My dear lad."
"My lord Akeldama." The young man favored him with a bow.
"And how are you finding the festivities, this lovely evening?"
"Quite well my lord. I've just been meeting with the newest members of society. A Miss Felicity, here with her older sister. She's quite a charming young thing, my lord."
"Well, by all means, do enjoy yourself, my darling lad. I fear I have business elsewhere at present, but I trust you can find your own entertainment."
"As you say, my lord." His drone favored him with a polite bow (and a subtle tilt of his head to indicate where his chosen companion might be found), and turned off in the direction of the dance floor.
Akeldama returned to the refreshment table. He had made it known, in his own subtle way, that he was currently entertaining a fondness for treacle tart. His presence the novelty that it was, his hosts had not failed to supply some of the very dessert. He filled a plate, made passing greeting to some figure or another whose name he did not trouble to remember, then turned in search of Alexia.
She was not hard to find. She was, as usual, alone, standing in an out of the way corner, watching the younger set as they cavorted and mingled.
Akeldama made his way over. He had intentionally chosen one of his more somber suits of clothing, and he was intentionally very careful to avoid attracting attention. He did not want Alexia to find an excuse to make herself scarce before he had properly engaged her, after all.
Fortune, it seemed, was on his side. Alexia was involved in watching the dancers, and made no notice of his approach. Perhaps the plate of food, which he would not ordinarily carry, had disguised him with more effectiveness than he thought.
He stopped, far enough away that she would not feel threatened by his proximity, yet close enough to maintain some privacy. "Miss Tarabotti. Alexia. I had hoped I would see you here."
Alexia turned, her whole demeanor one of icy politeness. "My lord..."
It was the height of rudeness to interrupt, but that was by far the least of his concerns. "Alexia, do pardon my rudeness, dewdrop, but I had wondered if perhaps we might have a word, you and I. In rather more privacy than this, hmm?" He flashed her a smile, keeping his fangs carefully concealed.
The faintest of frowns creased her brow. She smoothed it away quickly, but not before he saw it, and the carefully concealed hurt in her eyes. "I do not know that it would be wise, my lord, especially given the nature of our last exchange. In point of fact, I rather think it would be a waste of both our evenings. Certainly, there is little enough enjoyment here, but I would not wish to spoil either your evening or mine revisiting your opinion of me."
"Ah, but my dear, it is precisely our last exchange which I wished to discuss. I fear, my dear Alexia, that you have received quite the wrong impression from that unfortunate exchange, and I wish a chance to correct the egregious blunder I have made."
He raised the plate. "I do believe you were partial to treacle tart? If you would permit me to be so crass as to offer you this token of my intentions?"
She studied his face for a moment. "And you offer your assurances that I...I am at no risk?"
"None at all, princess. For reasons I would be more than happy to expound upon, if you will grant me a few minutes of your time."
After a long moment, she sighed. "I suppose Felicity will not notice my absence for a while. And Mama is busy with the Squire. And I did wish to see Lord Devonshire's library while I was here. He is rumored to have a fairly extensive collection of volumes. Poetry mostly, for the Lady Devonshire."
"Quite true, little tulip. Quite true. Shall we adjourn then, to the quiet of the library?" He did not offer her his arm this time, conscious of the reasons she would refuse it, and the even greater reasons why she might see it as a subtle insult, now that he knew what she was.
The library was not far, just down the hall, and quite deserted. Akeldama entered first, to deposit his plate. He ushered Alexia inside, shutting the door behind her. He did not trouble to lock it, knowing it would be a dangerous impropriety. Besides, his drones would be watching, and they would see that he remained undisturbed.
He turned to find Alexia watching him with wary eyes. She had not sampled the treacle tart yet, which spoke more about her unease than her earlier words had.
How to put her at ease? He considered his options, then extended a careful hand. "If you would permit me the liberty, my dear?"
Alexia studied his hand, then raised her gaze to his face. "I was given to understand that most of your sort find contact with those of my persuasion...uncomfortable. Certainly, you gave me no evidence to the contrary at our last meeting."
"La. A moment of surprise only, my delightful little rosebud. I promise you that. You see, no one had informed me that London was host to a preternatural. Particularly such an absolutely lovely specimen as yourself. Quite the surprise, you were. And, you must understand, darling Alexia, that I am not much used to being taken by surprise. Particularly in regards to a matter of such importance to the supernatural community. I confess myself quite mortified at being caught so dreadfully unawares. But, as to the matter of your being a preternatural..."
He took a chance then, and stepped forward to take her hand in a gallant gesture.
His fangs retracted. Sensation swept over him, along with a feeling of weakness. His heart thumped in his chest, and his lungs expanded with in-drawn breath. His face heated as blood rushed to his cheeks for the first time in uncounted years. His vision dimmed to the normal levels for a human.
Being prepared for it, he could appreciate the changes. Sensation was indeed a novelty, and not an entirely unpleasant one. He felt more awake, more aware, than he had in years. Perhaps even centuries. He smiled, and relished the feeling of running his tongue over teeth that were no longer sharp and pointed, but neat and even.
"Lord Akeldama?" Alexia's voice was concerned.
He looked into her dark eyes. "My dear Alexia, you cannot comprehend how restful I find the miracle of your company." He released her hand then, gracing her with a smile that was slightly more somber. "As it happens, my dear, I find it...quite refreshing. I enjoy feeling mortal again, even if it is only for a moment, and only in your glorious presence."
She stared at him, clearly taken aback. "I had thought...I was given to understand that most supernaturals were...uncomfortable, being in contact with a preternatural." She curled her hand close to her, wrapping her arms around her waist defensively.
"La. Most are. But I am not most supernaturals." He shrugged eloquently, his hand describing a languid arc through the air. "I find your touch to be...well, it is rather like being drenched in ice water, following a long period of immersion in a lukewarm lake. Such a shock to the system, naturally enough, but quite bracing. Invigorating, even. And, one might even think, necessary to wake one up. To get the blood flowing, as it were."
He offered her a winsome smile. "In point of fact...it is an experience I find myself quite interested in repeating."
That earned him some relaxation, and a slightly raised eyebrow. "Are you always so forward, my lord?"
"Akeldama, my dear Alexia. I must insist. And quite frequently. It is in my nature, little dewdrop." He smirked at her.
"In that case, I feel I should be concerned for my reputation, and quite possibly my virtue." She studied him with an upraised chin. "And yet, you led me to believe I was safe."
"And you are, my dearest little primrose. Quite safe. For you see..." He took her hand again. "I cannot bite you, for upon contact I have not the proper equipment. And as for your other virtue...permit a moment of indelicacy, sugarplum, but...if it is a matter of your virtue as a maiden, you need never fear me at all, contact or not. For you see, in such matters...you do not have the proper equipment to interest me."
"I do not..." She blinked, then went wide-eyed and blushed furiously. "Then you...you prefer..."
"La, darling, it is no secret that I only take male drones." He grinned at her discomfiture.
"Oh...well then...I see. I had not heard…." Her blush deepened. Then she tugged her hand free, turning away to compose herself. Akeldama let her. With his supernatural abilities restored, that much blood in her face made his fangs tingle, irregardless of her nature.
There was a minute or so of silence. Then Alexia spoke, in a quiet voice. "I know what terminology is used to describe my kind, Lord Akeldama. The man from the B.U.R. who came to explain things to me was quite...quite blunt about such matters. Nonetheless, there are terms which I find I am offended by."
"And that is quite reasonable, my dear. Quite reasonable indeed. We all have our particular sore points. And I am dreadfully sorry to have caused you such distress, Alexia. Indeed, I am nearly prostrate with shame, that my startlement should have led to such a grievous insult on my part."
"I should, perhaps, have informed you, but I did so enjoy your company, and I feared that if you knew, you would no longer enjoy mine." Alexia's voice was small.
"Nothing further from the truth, sugarplum." She turned to him, her expression still uncertain, and he smiled at her. "I did say it did I not? I am quite old enough to know whom I shall be friends with, and I feel we are destined to be very good friends indeed."
At that, she did relax, and a smile crossed her face. It made her look startlingly beautiful, dark complexion and all. Had he been the sort of man to seek the company of women, he would have been intrigued.
He answered her smile with one of his own. "That's better, princess." He studied her face. "Am I forgiven then, my dear?"
She nodded. "I believe so, Lord Akeldama. After all, I should hate to be deprived of your company. You are quite refreshing yourself. And associating with you is quite...educational." A light flush darkened her cheeks.
"Happy to be of service, my dear. And being that is the case, if it is not too forward of me...might I request the pleasure of contact with you again, at a future date?" He lifted one hand, careful not to presume too much, though he could not keep the hopeful note out of his voice.
Alexia frowned. "I...I should hate to make a spectacle of either of us, but if it is of such interest to you...perhaps in private audiences such as this? Perhaps, when it is only us, you might call me by foolish nicknames and take my hands at your leisure, if you will affect at least some measure of propriety in public?"
"That is more than acceptable." It was more than he thought he would garner from her. "And now, my dear, I believe you have a plate of treacle tart awaiting you. And you and I, we do have so much to catch up on!" He settled across from her as she took a seat at the small table. "You simply must tell me how your sister is faring, and who you have met in the past weeks, and what gossip you have heard!"
That earned him a light laugh. "Well, I did make the acquaintance of a young lady. She is older than Felicity, but younger than I. Her name is Ivy Hisselpenny, and she has the most extraordinary taste in hats..."
If Alexia's description was at all accurate, extraordinary was not the word he would use. He said as much, and was rewarded with a delighted laugh and rueful agreement. The talk moved on to other people, and to gossip, which he was happy to confirm or deny, and even some he had not yet heard, which was a novelty.
By the time the treacle was consumed and Alexia excused herself, Akeldama was quite content. The rift between them appeared to have been well mended, and he was in possession of entertaining news to share.
Akeldama bid his drones and his host a good evening, and went to seek a different venue for the remainder of the evening. After the shock of being temporarily restored to human, he was in need of a rather less restrained crowd in order to restore his equilibrium.
On the whole though, he was most certainly looking forward to their next encounter.
Author's Note: And there you have it. Rift mended.
Those of you who are VERY familiar with the books will recognize that I am not directly quoting Akeldama's lines in the book. It is somewhat deliberate, and I hope you will bear with me. In the meantime, I have tried to remain true to his character, and I hope I have succeeded.