Author's Notes: As I mentioned in my letter this is the weird scene of Calli undercover I was considering using as an epilogue. Mostly due to the fact that it really has no point whatsoever. It was fun writing her as a woman confident in her powers and in herself, to a point. But it has absolutely no plot, even compared to the original story.
My driver didn't want to be there. I could feel it coming off him in waves. He didn't want to be driving and he didn't want to be driving me and, more then anything else, he didn't want to be pulling up to this building. It was distracting and I found it difficult not to say something. I don't know what I wanted to say but the feelings bubbled around in my mind trying to form words and it took more and more energy not to let them come out of my mouth. Getting out when the man outside opened the door was a relief. Even if it did present a whole new set of problems.
As I stepped out I tried to be confident. Tried to hold my chin up high. In the end I was forced to push it all down and dip into the deep well of dark power within me to slam a tight shield of complete self assuredy. That helped. I could feel it. Could feel my whole body relaxed and I felt my hands slip off my skirts and settle at my waist. Suddenly the people around me dressed in their finest didn't look beautiful anymore. They paled in comparison to me.
The man at the door of the hotel looked me up and down with a glare. I stared down my nose at him with my false security despite him being taller then me. He then looked down at his clip board and waited.
"Caroline Mason," I told him. He flicked through the list and then opened the door for me. The first step was done. As I stepped through the open doors I felt better. He had believed me. He had looked at me and seen Caroline Mason. That was enough. Only problem was that every hurdle I jumped I was presented with an even harder feat.
I walked like a zombie as I put all my attention to slipping back into that well and pulling out a chunk of power. Then I pushed it all out so it filled the whole building with one singular message. I am here.
Immediately I felt a presence tapping at me, I opened myself and felt Shuldich settle into a corner of my mind. He was confident and that helped. He was completely sure that this would work. I had to have that surety. He let me latch onto it for a minute before pushing me aside.
You can do this, he told me, I know you can. You know you can. I don't know if he put any power in those words but I did know I could. Perhaps being told I did did it. Perhaps he was playing mind games with me. I didn't care.
I scanned the room I entered out of instinct. Scanning faces looking for someone I recognized. Then again I doubted anyone would recognize me even if I did know anyone, I barely saw me when I looked in the mirror before leaving. In that glance of the room I saw so much and so little.