Note: This chapter is dedicated to Tobie and all her beautifulness! I love you honey, and I miss you oh so very much! (when you get a chance…tell me how your momma found out…)
In the rain
The pavement shines like silver
All the lights are misty in the river
In the darkness, the trees are full of starlight
And all I see is him and me forever and forever
And I know it's only in my mind
That I'm talking to myself and not to him
And although I know that he is blind
Still I say there's a way for us
-On My Own from Les Miserable-
The elevator started moving again with a jolt, I watched Josef's tall form hooking the small wire back into the camera. I was still pressed into the wall, not sure if my body had the strength to move or not. I squeezed my hand into a fist again and felt the dried blood. I tried to not think about the way it felt when he licked blood from my hand, it was far too vivid and I didn't particularly want to walk back into Mick's apartment all hot and bothered.
I could taste the blood in my mouth from the new cuts along my tongue, French kissing a vampire is a difficult task, but I think the blood made Josef enjoy it all the more.
When the elevator doors opened at the top level I didn't move. I don't think it's possible for my muscles to work at this current moment. All of my attention was still focused on the fact that I had just willingly made out with Josef. I saw his hand out reached for me, when I took it in my own his normal uncomfortable coldness was somehow soothing to me. I slowly followed behind him, looking at the floor the whole time. Once we got to the door he stopped at turned back to me, without a word he reached to the back of my head and pulled the clip out of my hair. I felt it hit my back like a wave of water.
"You should leave it down."
And that's all he said. When he pushed open the door, I pulled my hand from his grasp. He looked back at me but didn't say anything. When I finally walked in after him, Lizzie gave me a worried look.
"Qu'est-ce qui est arrivé l'amour ?"
I shook my head at her, Mick and Beth's eyes were now on me. I know they don't know French, but I saw Josef stiffen and knew he understood it.
"Rien, n'inquiétez-vous-en…"
Lizzie glared. "Tell me or I will hurt you badly."
"Later Elizabeth." I watched her reaction to my using of her full name. She was taken back; I could see how much it worried her.
Mick's attention turned to Josef; I knew he could smell the blood on me. I saw him open his mouth to say something in anger towards Josef. I put my hands out palm up so he could see the blood. "Relax Saint Mick, the blood is my fault not his." Beth stifled a laugh but I could see the clear confusion on Lizzie's face. I didn't want to be here anymore, surrounded by them. I wanted to be alone, just to curl up in my bed, maybe with Zena, snuggling with her soft body always made me feel a little better.
"Lizzie, I'm gonna go…I'll take a cab home or something."
She shook her head. "No, I'm going with you." She started walking towards me and I put out my hands again to stop her.
"No, stay here, hang out with Beth, I need to be alone right now, I need to think…"
I turned and walked out of the apartment faster than I thought possible. I pressed the button on the elevator hoping its doors would open soon so I could get to safety.
I felt him before I heard him, his cold hand on my shoulder turning me to face him. He didn't say anything; he really didn't have to, for once his face showed everything. He was concerned for me, that part was obvious. But there was something else there too, fear.
"So, even the great Josef Koston can be afraid?"
"Only when the time calls for it."
I shook my head. "What could you possibly be afraid of Josef? I doubt whatever threat Mick put against you won't actually happen."
He shook his head. "I'm not scared of Mick…I'm scared I've messed up."
I scoffed. "Well you have lived for 400 years, that's bound to happen…"
He shook his head. "No, I mean with you…I can see that I've pushed you to far…and I'm sorry."
I sighed. "You pushed me to far from the first time you pinned me against the shelves in the storage room…"
He nodded. "I know that now…"
The elevator doors opened, I stared at them, wishing for the comfort of total aloneness on the ride down. When my eyes turned back to him, he was still staring at me. He let go of my shoulder and took a few steps back. I walked onto the elevator; he stood there, just staring at me.
"Goodbye Athena."
The doors shut before I could ask him what he meant by that. Goodbye just sounds to permanent for me.
………….
Translations:
"Qu'est-ce qui est arrivé l'amour ?"- What happened love?
"Rien, n'inquiétez-vous-en…"- Nothing don't worry about it.
