Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, they own me. Special thanks to Toby Whithouse and BBC3 for the playground.
Alex had long since sent Tom upstairs to bed, finally convincing him that he needed to sleep somewhere other than propped up in the stairwell. He had kept watch while she gathered a few things to keep her interest and then, seeing her settled, he bid her goodnight.
She had gotten fairly engrossed in the novel she was reading so she nearly didn't notice when there was a light knock on the thin wood door. She used her finger to keep her place and stood to face the door.
"Yes, Hal?"
"I would like to return across the hall, if that isn't too much trouble."
Alex stared at the door handle and faltered. He could have opened it himself and accosted her at any moment, if he had wanted to. She reasoned that it was safe and turned the handle, swinging the door out towards her. Light and steam billowed into the close hallway. Hal stood politely on the other side, dressed in fresh clothes and clean-shaven. He looked better than he had in weeks and Alex caught the scent she had almost forgotten. Citrus and cedar and completely old fashioned. She realized it was probably his shave crème.
"How do you do that without a mirror?" Once she said it, she felt silly. Why did she always feel ridiculous around him? He cocked a smile at her.
"Practise," he set the cleaning supplies on the floor just outside the door then gathered the bundle of his soiled clothes, tucked neatly into his towel. "Are you ready?" he asked her. She turned to allow him to pass. Once out in the foyer he kept to the inside wall and waited for her to open the metal door to the cellar room.
Holding the door open she turned to motion him in, only he had visibly tensed.
"Well? What is it?"
Hal shook his head, panic crossing his features. Swiftly looking up towards the vent for the laundry, he took a deep breath, attempting to steady himself. Only unbidden, his fangs unsheathed. Alex heard the subtle whisper and gripped her book, ready to brandish it as a weapon if she had to.
"Hal?"
"He's here. I can -" Hal had clenched his eyes shut, shaking. "Force me – quick!"
She did as he asked, reaching out to grab his elbow and pull him towards the door. His muscles were coiled tight as a spring. She pushed him through the threshold with a slight boost of power that sent him staggering into the room. He was thrown off-balance slightly, which gave her just enough clearance to hook the handle and yank the door closed. She latched the lock lightning fast and then waited. Would her powers work through the door? Could she really keep him from breaking it down?
But there was nothing. Silence.
Alex cautioned an exploratory "Hal?"
"Yes, I'm here," he sounded out of breath. "So is Mr. Nave."
"In the house?" Her voice came out a hushed refusal.
"No – just outside."
"Oh," she was relieved, but in turn somewhat disturbed he could smell someone all the way outside. "Shall I go investigate?"
"No!" He abruptly commanded. And then gentler added, "I don't trust – I'd rather you stayed."
"I can shout for Tom – he'll hear and -"
"No – let him sleep for now." Hal's voice sounded very close on the other side of the door. "Hopefully Nave can't hear us, but it's no use taking that risk unless you have to. Let him think we're all asleep – maybe he'll leave."
"So I guess your phone chat didn't work, eh?"
"Apparently not."
"Are you...?" Alex let the question trail off, unsure how to phrase it.
"It is significantly less tempting in here," Hal gave a short laugh, relieved. "The scent of wolf is a powerful mask. This room lacks the ventilation besides."
"So you sensed him through the ventilation?"
"Somewhat. Initially it was..." This time Hal was the one to be at a loss for words.
"What?"
"I heard him."
Alex was silent. She heard absolutely nothing. And then she realized exactly what Hal must have been able to hear. "My God. That is creepier than half the shite you shouted from the chair. Jeezus Hal, really? Vampires can fecking hear blood?"
"A heartbeat, but yes."
"Can you hear Tom?"
"Yes."
"Right now?"
"Er, no. That is a bit far."
"Wait – so Nave must be right next to the house then?"
"It would appear so."
An hour had passed with nothing but silence. Alex had returned fully engrossed to her book when he asked through the door, "So what do you think of Jane?"
She was startled, but set the book on her knee. She rolled her eyes, even though he couldn't see her. "Pure nutter that one," Alex huffed. "But that Blanche still has less class than she does. What a boring, stuffy tart."
Hal sounded amused beyond the door. "And Rochester?"
"Rochester needs to pull his head out of his arse."
"Ah. The modern woman's take on Jane Eyre. Classic."
When he didn't continue, she prodded, "So are ye just bored or do ye want for something?"
"See?" Hal pointed out, victorious. "It is compelling."
"Maybe. A bit. What do you want Hal?"
He snorted. "I'm having second thoughts about tea."
"You think you want to give it a go then?" She asked encouraged, before realising, "Unless you jest wanted to see me away from the door, that is." Still though, she noted her spot in the book and set it gently on the stair beside her.
"No. It's the cement floor. Something warm would be nice."
"Nice? Goodness. You do just want me away from the door."
"I do not have a way to convince you otherwise. But I give my word I'll stay in this room."
"Your word? That's all well and good but I ain't worried 'bout you," Alex replied.
"And if he gave his word as well?"
Ales considered for a moment. Then, without announcing herself she rent-a-ghosted upstairs to turn on the kettle. In the blink of an eye she was back at the bottom of the stairs.
"He whose words I've been trying to ignore. You still doing alright otherwise?"
"Yes. Although... I've been in my own head far too long. It's refreshing to converse."
"So you want to talk?" She asked. There was no reply. "Hal?"
"I was wondering if you had any leads. On your unfinished business?"
Alex rolled her eyes. Not this again. "No. No, not really. Would I still be here reading your musty old books if I had?"
He reluctantly huffed a short laugh. "I suppose not. It's just... I'm sorry. I have been... indisposed and unable to uphold my promise to you."
"Hal – no offense - but I really don't think you could help anyway."
"Oh." But he added, "Any particular reason why?"
"If I knew how you could help then I probably would have a lead on my unfinished business, wouldn't I?" She retorted, evading the question. Hal did not add a response beyond the door. In the silence, the slight percolating of the kettle could be heard. Any second it would turn to a whistle.
"Are you going to get that?"
Alex took one last cursory look at the locked door, before popping back upstairs. She turned off the kettle and poured the hot water into a cup. She eyed the tea, but on a whim just returned to the basement.
There was no indication of anything different with the door. She stood just outside of it, unsure.
"Hal?" He gave an affirmative. "Is Nave still here?"
"I do not know, actually."
"You'll know if I open the door though. Won't you?"
"Yes."
Alex closed her eyes, holding the tea cup tight. "I'm not opening it then." She appeared on the other side. Scanning the room, she momentarily panicked as Hal was nowhere in sight. The slightest of movements made her turn however to see he was just beside the door, sitting cross-legged with his back straight against the wall. He inclined his head.
"Just water then? Probably wise. Thanks."
She handed the cup to him, cautiously. He merely took it and cupped the hot ceramic in between his hands.
"Are you going to actually drink that?"
"Perhaps. Why? Should I not?"
"No – it's just... if you do then won't you have to..." She didn't finish her thought.
"Eventually I'll have to go back across the hall, yes."
"How is it that you don't have to? Eat or drink I mean."
He smiled, "I thought we explained the basics to you?"
"No I mean – of course you don't have to. But..."
"Not eating or drinking helps. I'm keeping myself weak. Which, in theory makes the process easier on you and Tom."
"Is that it then? Shit – maybe I shouldn't ha' given you the water," Alex crossed her arms and looked down at him.
"I lost blood earlier today, did I not?"
"Yeh...?"
"I wasn't really thirsty for water until then."
"I don't understand."
He smiled, "I don't really either." Taking a tentative sip from the cup he gave a slight shrug and added, "Physiology. We all know what I'd rather be drinking."
Alex grimaced. He sat the cup on his knee.
"This time..." Hal turned away from her. "It was so much worse with Leo." He shook his head. "I've had considerably less however." He tested another sip of water, then looked at her again. His gaze was calculating, "I think it is waning."
"I think I'll reserve my judgment on that one, thanks." She crossed one boot over the other and leaned against the door.
"Fair enough." He cocked his head. "I don't suppose I could convince you to sit down?"
"Nope." And she dropped her hands into the pockets of her jacket for good measure. He just continued to look up at her, chin tilted. Then, seeming to have made up his mind he spoke softly.
"Alex... I know what happened this afternoon. Upstairs." She kept her face impassive but her mind was racing. Did that mean he had been in control when he had her by the throat? The thought chilled her. His eyes were piercing, searching. She met them and did not look away, challenging him to keep going. "It is what I am. Brutality. It's a part of me. It's always there, under the surface."
"But it's not all you are." She seemed to catch him off guard. "Tom believes in you. He really does."
"And yourself?"
This time she did look away. She couldn't answer him.
"Why do you stay here Alex?" She titled her face back towards him quickly and he continued, "You've already admitted that you don't think I can help you. So what is keeping you?"
She shrugged and tried to act like his question hadn't bothered her. "Beats wandering the streets. At least you can see me. "
"You would find others eventually. Ones that could see you."
"What? Like more vampires? Now there's a lot to throw the towel in with." She at least had gotten a half smile out of him.
"Indeed," He raised his tea cup slightly in mock toast to her before taking another drink. "There are other ghosts. And occasionally humans."
"Are you telling me to go befriend a medium? And here I thought we were getting on so well." She cocked a smile. He drained his tea cup and set it back on his knee. He regarded it for a moment before his expression again turned somber. When he again spoke his voice was soft, almost as if he were merely speaking to himself.
"I shouldn't still be here."
Alex wasn't quite sure what he meant, but he added, "I was meant to perish. Along with the others." She started to shake her head but the intensity of his eyes meeting hers stopped her. "I wish I had. I was prepared to end it all."
She took her hands out of her pockets and tensed, unsure. Hal just leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes. His words were so soft she barely heard, "I don't know if I can keep fighting this."
Slowly, she sat down beside him. Close, but not touching. He didn't say anything further and neither did she.
Next door to Honolulu Heights, a man watched from a darkened window as another man tucked himself into the shrubbery at the back of the house. He watched, hoping the man would re-emerge and continue on his way.
When he did not, the watcher stepped into the depths of the empty house. It wouldn't do for the illumination of his mobile to be seen.
