Chapter 10
The morning of the twenty-fourth had Sophie out the door early to get her hair and nails done, then heading back to the apartment to get dressed and put a few touches of makeup on.
As the time neared and still no sign of her lover, Sophie guessed she would be meeting him there. With silent reverence she slid the diamonds studs into her ears and the necklace around her neck, fastening each and adjusting them just so. After moving a few things into her new white clutch and after repeatedly checking the clock, Sophie made her way out of the apartment and down to the curb, where she waited only a moment and suffered some appreciative and questioning glances before a black limousine pulled up and a man dressed in uniform opened the door for her and helped her in.
Sophie gazed out the window as they drove to the outskirts of Gotham, where large pine trees were tall and dressed with snow. Up a winding road they turned, and soon a mansion came into view, with trees that were wrapped with white lights. The sun was beginning its descent in the sky, and the car carrying Sophie was the only one there as it pulled up and she was helped out.
"Thank you," Sophie murmured as she looked up at the building and marveled. Garland of evergreen was draped around the front, gilded with lights and baubles.
Sophie nervously touched the side swept chignon of her hair resting against the right side of her neck, and fingered the diamond at her neck before approaching the two uniformed men at the door with guns not so hidden under their jackets.
"I'm Victor Zsasz's guest," she introduced herself at the door, watching their eyes widen as they looked her over and then opened the large oak doors before her.
The inside was overwhelming and beautiful. There was a grand entryway with white walls and doors on either side of her that farther along led into a large open space that was fairly empty but for mafiosi in tuxedos touching their ear pieces and reporting in to confirm uninterrupted communication.
Sophie swallowed and looked at a door to her right that was half way closed, letting anyone look into the room and enter if they wished. The first door was a sitting room with ornate sitting areas cushioned with red velvet. The next room was a library, and Sophie slipped inside, breathing a sigh of relief at the emptiness of the room.
She took a moment to text Victor, and after returning her cell to her clutch, she began to study the books that lined the walls, running her fingertips over their leather bindings.
The door opened and the closed, and she felt his heat at her bare back.
Sophie turned, heart racing and found Victor looking handsome as hell in a black on black tuxedo, with his black diamond skulls glittering occasionally under the chandelier above them. His eyes were impossibly dark as he gazed at her, eyes roaming over her appreciatively from top to bottom. Black eyeliner and mascara, a rosy rouge on her lips that complimented her natural color was all that she had done for makeup, afraid to look caked on. Her dress was skin tight and snow white, long sleeved and open in the back to just at the small of her back, with a shimmer of marquise shaped rhinestones accenting the natural curves of the dress. A slit started at the middle of her left thigh and that's where the dress fanned out down to the ground, ending just at her black strappy heels.
With a swift movement of hand he had locked the door behind him and was in front of her in the blink of an eye, pressing her against the book shelf, fingers trailing up her hips and to feel the skin of her bare back. His nose was pressed to where her neck and shoulder met, and there he inhaled deeply and rumbled in his chest pleasantly.
"Merry Christmas," she whispered, and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
Then his lips were on hers, leaving her breathless, and his fingers were slinking their way under the slit of the dress at her thigh, pushing it up and she felt his hardness against her lower abdomen. Sophie felt herself being lifted, one of his thighs between hers and she was feeling drunk on kisses.
Her hands were just parting his suit jacket, feeling the harness hidden there when there came a cackle of voices from the speaker in his ear. Victor let out an animalistic sound against her neck, and then his hands were lowering her, and he was stepping back.
Sophie breathed heavily and pulled her dress back down as Victor eyed her and re-buttoned his jacket.
"Guests are arriving, mingle as you need. Continue to address yourself as my guest if asked. I will meet with you again as time allows it," he growled and with a long appraising look he was unlocking the door and slipping out to do his job once again. Sophie couldn't help but smile to herself as she re-applied her lipstick and watched through the open door as women in lovely dresses and men in nice suits trickled in.
Lovely music began to play, violins and cellos from deeper within the house and Sophie slipped out to mingle silently, taking in all the sights.
Uniformed servers offered her a glass of champagne which she took and hors devours which she indulged in as she walked. Every now and then she caught glimpses of Victor, and most of the time he was shadowing and older gentleman with gray hair, a young blonde woman in a ruby red dress at his side.
By the intent way Victor followed him, that man must be Don Carmine Falcone. From far away, he really just looked like an old man, Sophie mused. When she looked at the girl next to him, Sophie admired her dress and the way it matched her classic red lips. Her eyes though...they were a bit glassy, and nervous as they darted around at the people she was introduced to, nodding at others as her arms remained intertwined with the Don's. He was much too old, and she much too young, and the way he touched her...it made Sophie's skin crawl.
A slow dance was played by the string quartet, and the Don led his counterpart to the floor and spun her around. Sophie watched as Victor melted into the shadows, and then when she couldn't see him again, she turned to look at the crowd, sipping on her champagne.
Most faces she didn't recognize, but some made her skin start to feel creepy crawly again, politicians, local celebrities, well known heads of business, all people in high positions of power in Gotham. Sophie recognized the shock of red in a black hairdo on the extremely well dressed and tiny black woman that had been at Mooney's. Her eyes were following the Don and his partner, looking...hungry. Sophie's eyes continued their dance over the crowd, when she spotted Doctor Romalotti, chatting up a young redheaded server.
Her stomach twisted, and Sophie tried to disappear somewhere, but not before Francis seemed to feel eyes on him, and his landed on her.
Sophie couldn't escape as she found herself blocked in by people chatting and watching the dancers when Francis had pushed his way to her, face drained of color and angry.
"Sophie!" he snapped, and with a bruising grip on her elbow he pulled her into a corner, away from the crowd. "What are you doing here?!"
"I could ask you the same!" Sophie hissed back, "Not enough debts, Dr. Rome?"
"I happen to be childhood friend of Carmine's," the doctor snapped at her, and then looked down at his feet, losing his fire. "It's only because we've been friends for so long, he doesn't put a stop to my….debts."
Sophie yanked her arm out of his grip and frowned at him, "Friends in high places, huh? And here I just thought you just happened to fall in with the wrong crowd," she said hushedly, trying to not draw any more attention to themselves as a few in the crowd around them looked over their shoulders at the raised voices.
Doctor Romalotti scratched the back of his head, and then looked at her again, seriously.
"Sophie, what are you doing here? Why? This is just putting you in more danger, dragging you deeper into the lion's den."
"I'm Victor's guest," she said, lifting her chin, feeling defensive. The doctor let out a disgusted sound and stepped back from her.
"Oh don't act like you're any better than I am, Francis," Sophie spat.
"He's dangerous, Sophie, so so dangerous," her friend whispered.
"You are too, in your own way," she reminded him, "Now have a good night Francis, I know I'm going to," she said with finality, and then slipped through the crowd, away from him and all her fears.
As the night went on, Sophie found herself in the library again, cautiously removing books and running her fingertips over the pages. First editions, nearly all of them from what she could tell. She breathed in the smell of parchment and leather, the noise of the crowd rising and falling in a world far removed from her.
"Ah someone else who appreciates the finer things," came an oily voice behind her, and Sophie turned to find a young man had silently entered the room and was standing not two feet from her.
His hair was as oily as his voice, frightfully pale skin and a hooked nose, and a deceptively meek smile on his thin lips. His icy blue eyes were dancing across her figure and he took a hobbling step forward. A bone hadn't set right in his leg, Sophie concluded and watched as his hands nervously straightened his ornate, but rumpled suit.
"The Don has a lovely collection," Sophie said, her calm voice surprising even herself.
"Ah, that he does. The Don is a man of fine tastes, yes, yes he is," the little man said, ending with a shrill giggle.
"Oswald Cobblepot, close friend of the Don's," he introduced himself, and held his hand out.
He was so eager for acceptance, and very squirrely in his demeanor.
Sophie moved the book to one hand and took his hand, shaking it, "Sophie," she introduced with a small smile.
"Being a close friend of the Don's," Oswald began, coming closer, "I don't believe I have ever had the pleasure of meeting you before, Miss Sophie. I never forget a beautiful face," he praised.
"No, I don't believe we have met, Mr. Cobblepot," Sophie said with a smile, and returned the book to its place on the shelf.
"Oh, Oswald, please," he clucked, "A beauty like you shouldn't be hidden in this place, can I escort you out to the crowd? Maybe for a refresher on your champagne, my lady?"
Sophie giggled despite herself at his proper language, and she could tell the way his face immediately darkened that he felt slighted. He was obviously very paranoid of his gait, and Sophie, feeling contrite stepped forward to take his arm, surprising both of them.
"Thank you, Oswald, I'm not accustomed to being called 'my lady'. I'll take you up on that escort!," she said with a smile, and the raging shadows of his face immediately dissipated.
She kept apace with him as he hobbling led her to the library door and out into the entry way. Sophie noted he received ridiculing looks and some of recognition from the mafiosi as he led her along, merrily.
Sophie felt torn, had she made a terrible mistake? Yet he seemed lonely, but she wasn't ignorant of the fact that he seemed quite dangerous in that moment when he had felt slighted.
"You never did tell me how you know Carmine, dear Sophie," Oswald chimed, inclining his head to bat his eyelashes at her.
Sophie smiled thinly, "Oh, didn't I? Well, I don't know the Don, personally. I am Victor Zsasz's guest," she replied.
The smile on his face remained for a second, before his arm slipped from hers, and his smile began to waver in place, blue eyes now darting amongst the crowd.
"Oh? Zsasz you say? How surprising! What a lovely creature he's brought us!" Oswald squawked, "If you don't mind Miss Sophie, I just saw someone I must talk to, please, have a wonderful time," the little man ended with a nervous giggle, and then hobbled away, quickly.
Sophie watched him go quietly, and then a server was politely asking for her glass, and replacing it with a full one.
"Hello," came a feminine purr to her right.
Sophie turned and was met with that shock of red hair.
"I don't believe I know you," the lithe woman purred again, and slid up to Sophie's side, eyes roving over her unabashedly, judging.
"Sophie," she introduced herself, and held out her hand, clutch under her left arm and champagne glass held delicately between her fingers. The small woman had long, sharp nails and she shook Sophie's hand sharply with a laugh, "Fish, Fish Mooney," she greeted.
"You know Penguin?" Fish Mooney asked, her pupils dilating and constricting as devilishly as a cat's.
"Penguin?" Sophie repeated and frowned, feeling at great unease with this woman.
"Yes, our dear Oswald," the woman said with anything but fondness.
"Oh, well, yes, I just met him," Sophie said, looking off in the direction he had gone, but the little man had disappeared just like Victor always did.
"Let me tell you a secret, don't trust him," Fish spat, "He only wishes he was high society,"
Sophie pursed her lips and took a sip of her champagne, ignoring the deadly stare the woman leveled her way.
"How do you know the Don?" Fish purred.
"Oh, I don't know him. I'm here as a guest," Sophie admitted, "This is all new to me."
The woman's smile grew into a Cheshire cat grin, "Oh, really? Who's guest are you, honey?"
"Victor Zsasz," Sophie said softly, and felt like she had done something terribly wrong.
"Oh Victor?! I thought he only favored whores, but you don't look like one of those," Fish tutted motherly-like.
A blush flamed across Sophie's cheeks and she fought the urge to fidget under the woman's scrutinous glare.
"Don't know the Don, you say? Well, I happen to be a favorite of his," Fish gushed fakely, "Let's go introduce the two you, the man loves a pretty face,"
Then the woman's claw like hand was weaving its way through Sophie's arm and leading her through the crowd, and up a grand staircase to a loft above the shining marble floor where the quartet played and a few couples danced.
Sophie felt her heart sinking and her color leaving her as Fish pulled her along. Victor was coming into view, staring at the couple the Don was talking to. Sophie could clearly make out the Don's lined face as she was brought closer, and the young, unlined face of his pretty date.
Fish buzzed with energy and glee at her side as they waited politely for the couple in front of them to finish their greetings, and then Sophie was being pulled and pushed forward.
"Don Falcone," Fish greeted, subdued and sweet, "Merry Christmas! I trust your evening is going well? I wanted to introduce you to this lovely dear I just met."
Sophie smiled nervously as the Don looked over her, and his eyes smiled at her, "Well hello, I don't believe we've met," he said with a planted smile.
Sophie could feel the intensity of Victor's gaze, and knew that he was acutely aware of Fish's clawed hand at her back.
"Good evening, Don Falcone," she greeted, "I'm Sophie, it's a pleasure to meet you," she said with a wavering smile.
The Don took her hand and kissed it, "How did you come to be at my party Sophie? Don't get me wrong, I'm very pleased that you've joined us," he said with a laugh, and his date flickered a glance at Sophie, before her eyes were once again staring at the woman at Sophie's side.
"I-" Sophie began, knees feeling weak and shaky.
"Carmine! I see you've met my co-worker and friend, Sophie!"
Sophie blinked rapidly as Francis slid between her and Fish, and his arm was going around her shoulders.
"She's as a close as a daughter to me," Francis continued and after giving Sophie a wink, he was shaking the Don's hand energetically and then engulfed in a hug by the Don.
"Francis! Good to see you! So you're responsible for bringing this lovely lady to grace us with her presence? Fantastic!" Carmine laughed.
Sophie caught Fish's surprised and perturbed look as she slunk away, then once again turned to the Don, sending beseeching looks over at Victor who was as still as stone.
"Sophie...she's my occasional helper," Francis said with a lilt to his tone, and once again squeezed Sophie around the shoulders.
Carmine's eyebrows frowned, "Oh! Well, what a pleasure to meet someone who's done me such a gesture of kindness!" Then the Don was putting her face in his hands and kissing her cheeks, and that muscle in Victor's jaw was jumping.
"It's been my pleasure," Sophie stuttered.
"Well you go on, Sophe," dismissed Francis, "The gentlemen have to talk, and I haven't met this pretty lady yet, hello my dear!" the doctor gushed, and Sophie took the opportunity to nod at the Don and then flee.
Francis had warned her, the lion's den he'd said. If only she'd known there be so many lions…
Sophie was recovering in the library, leaning against a shelf as a couple made out on the chaise lounge against the far wall. She held her head in her hand and breathed deeply, slowly, and thought of Victor, shaving in her bathroom, and her heart grew calm.
It really hadn't gone too badly, Sophie thought to herself, just as the evening took a turn.
There was a commotion from outside, shouting and the couple on the lounge broke apart, their heads turned to the wall of the sitting room next door, listening. Sophie looked out the open door, and saw people leaving the sitting room in a hurry, running towards the back, hissing about not being seen.
Mafiosi in black tuxedos went towards the front door, guns drawn and Sophie backed away from the door. The couple on the lounge adjusted themselves and hurriedly slipped out into the hall and towards the back just as the front door opened, blue and red flashing lights filled the hall and the gunfire started.
Sophie thought of Victor, of Doctor Rome, and pressing herself into a shelved corner, took out of her phone and texted them: 'GCPD. Run.'
Then inside, she began laughing. When had the police become the enemy? And hadn't she seen some law officials here as well? What kind of raid was this?
Sophie jerked as gunfire sounded outside the open door, and then Victor was slipping in, shutting the door nearly completely as to not draw attention, and making his way towards her with great strides, a gun in each hand.
Gun powder dusted his black suit, and blood spatter was on his right cheek.
"Are you hurt?" he snapped, eyes assessing for damage.
Sophie shook her head, while her own eyes studied him for damage. Victor's hand came arching toward her, hitting a panel above her head, and suddenly the bookshelf was swinging inward in the middle.
"You will follow this path to where it ends. It leads to a shed far from here, and a road not far from that. Stay hidden from the view of the road, but wait there. Either myself or a car will come to get you. Do not make yourself visible."
Sophie stood her ground, "And you? What about you Victor?" There was a thud of bodies hitting the floor, yelling outside, and bullets hitting the walls, but none came through the heavy plaster.
"You will listen to me now, Sophie. You will obey me."
"I'm not leaving you here to die, Victor," she hissed back, green eyes flashing.
"TO THE FLOOR! HANDS UP!" came a yell from the now open door.
A gun pointed Sophie's way, and as she watched the young officer's hands twitch, she felt time slow. A shadow crossed her vision and Victor turned to stand in front of her, raising his arms and firing rapidly at the officer in the door, and the one who had come up behind to offer back-up.
When he turned back to her, he was miraculously unharmed, and Sophie began to cry as she ran her hands over his chest, feeling for wounds.
With a gun still in his hand, Victor was pushing her inside the darkened passage.
"No, no, I want to stay with you," she warbled, nearly losing her grip on her clutch, which had been held in a cramp like vice under her armpit.
"You distract me," he hissed, "Now run, Sophie, and live. Do this, for me, now."
" I love you, I love you Victor," Sophie breathed, and then stepped back.
He slammed his fist against the panel again, and he was turning and firing as the door closed between them.
Sophie kicked off her heels, grabbed them in her fist and ran.