SPOV
*Sunday evening*
It was late evening when I woke up in Adrian's room again. I got out of bed and gathered my things, I don't know why I'd taken that nap, but I felt much better now. I would think he'd compelled me but Daniel had been around too. Adrian wouldn't risk exposure just to get me to take a nap, would he? No, that was silly. I guess it was the side effects of whatever drug Tim had given me.
I still hadn't decided how to deal with that situation, and now I would need to return to Vegas to begin work there. Perhaps a few days of silence on my end would lull Tim into thinking he was safe. Talking to him would be easier if he wasn't afraid or suspicious to begin with.
Adrian was sound asleep on the living room couch and remained so while I removed the cameras left in the house. I decided to look at the poolroom. It was strange that other people knew about a part of my life that I didn't. I stood there for a few minutes but nothing beyond a few brief flashes came back to me. I didn't see my cross anywhere but I saw the broken window. Some blue thread caught on the jagged edges confirmed my suspicion that it had been Tim's escape route.
I walked to my car and drove to an ATM nearby before heading to a deli to get some dinner. I hadn't had any lunch and I needed the food to recover from the havoc that drug had caused to my system. I bought some cookies, muffins, and sandwiches for Adrian. He was still snoring softly on the couch when I got back to Clarence's house- I was glad I'd left the door unlocked. I put the box on the coffee table, wrote him a short note, and placed it in an envelope with enough cash to fix the window. I didn't know how else to express my gratitude beyond words scribbled on a paper and I probably wouldn't see him again to thank him in person.
I was tempted to wake him up and talk for a bit before saying goodbye. But if my history with him was any indication, I would loose track of time and be even more late in getting back to work. I walked a few blocks to where I'd left the Red Hurricane and drove off.
Sometime later I sped along the highway- enjoying the open roads, the stars and the balmy night air. I had just reached the hotel in Vegas and obtained a new key card for my room when I was called in to clean up a Strigoi incident.
There had been three dead Strigoi, which was easy enough to deal with. Unfortunately, there had also been a dead Moroi and a Guardian, along with four dead humans. A badly injured Guardian had called in the incident but a few human witnesses had already captured the fight and its aftermath on video. Luckily, they hadn't uploaded it or sent the video to anyone or I'd be covering up until morning. I'd had to explain the deaths to the authorities, ensure Moroi bodies didn't end up in human morgues, erase all evidence of the supernatural from human (and phone) memories and then fill up a mass of paper work for the incident. I'd been beyond exhausted when I finally got to my room.
Frazzled after everything that had happened the last two days, I was unable to sleep. A warm shower and soothing music (a gift from Aunt K) had done nothing to nudge me towards much needed sleep. So, despite my sincere intention to stop all contact with him, I'd texted Adrian back hoping he was still awake.
APOV
*Sunday night/Monday early morning*
Katherine left an envelope of cash with a list of window repair companies ranked according to both price and customer reviews. And a note that I had been excited to read- but was far less personal than I'd hoped for. I shouldn't have been surprised. Ever since I'd told her that her text had been flirty, all her communication had begun to look like business memos.
Adrian, I hope the money will be enough for the window repairs and tips- if not then let me know and I'll transfer more to you. I didn't know how else to thank you for everything last night and the wonderful breakfast this morning. - K
She had added a personal touch with the box of delicious food but I still felt the need to talk to her, and her note had done nothing to assuage that. I began to eat a sandwich, maple bacon with pulled pork and chilly dressing. For someone who didn't eat much, her food selection was always scrumptious. Perhaps she picked the things she subconsciously wanted to eat but constantly denied herself. The macadamia white chocolate cookie had just screamed something that she would enjoy, as had the orange pecan muffin.
I decided to call her but she didn't answer. Perhaps she was asleep, it was past 10 pm after all. I could only hope she would call me back. Despite my intentions to let her sleep, I couldn't resist the urge to call her again. After the third call with no answer, I gave up. I was too awake thanks to my long nap, so I put on some music and mixed paint to start a new piece. Clarence had let me convert one of his guest rooms into a studio.
Hours later, I stopped. The painting looked like something that could fit into the jungle in Avatar with its glowing shades of amber, gold, brown and green above pools of murky blue. Maybe it was a message from my subconscious- I felt better for having painted it but I wasn't sure what I felt when I made it.
I was in the middle of a shower when my phone chimed. I hastily finished my shower- it was past 1.30, no one would text me at this time unless it was important. A surprised but happy smile formed as soon as I saw whom it was from.
Didn't see your calls, is something wrong? – K
Just wanted to check in on u, how r u now? –A
Tired from the drive and catching up with work but all good otherwise –K
Can I call u? –A
She didn't respond for long minutes, and I thought she'd fallen asleep mid text since little dots indicated she'd been typing. Perhaps it was a good thing. I needed to go back to keeping my distance from her- the way I'd been doing before I woke up in her hotel room. My thoughts of staying away faded on seeing her text:
Only for a bit. I need sleep –K.
I initiated the call surprised at how nervous I was. Ok, I'll keep my distance after this call. Besides, she probably isn't even in Palm Springs anymore- it should be easy to stay away. She answered on the second ring.
"Hello?" Her voice had a husky note to it from sleep. I didn't know what she usually slept in, so in my imagination she was in that short black halter dress from the hotel.
"Hey Little Kat, what are you doing up so late?" Something about her voice made me keep my voice low too. I was toweling off as I talked to her. I could imagine her blush if she knew the state I was in. It would have been fun to tease her but I didn't want her to hang up on me.
"Just got back a while ago, something came up as soon as I arrived." She sighed. I wondered if she knew how sexy she sounded on the phone tonight. One of my hair products was empty so I chucked it into the trash... and noticed the lacy toffee colored fabric inside. I fingered it and sucked in a sharp breath when I realized what it was. I wished I hadn't seen that- now all I could think of was Katherine sprawled on my bed wearing that with matching panties.
"Hot dinner date, Kat?" I hoped she wouldn't detect the huskiness in my voice. I tried to distract myself by opening a bottle of moisturizer one handed but succeeded only in knocking a lot of other products off the counter.
She sighed again, "No, just some unexpected problems because I had to push back a lot of things from today… well yesterday technically."
I was trying to retrieve things from the floor when I noticed something behind the laundry basket: a keycard for the Venetian in Las Vegas. It was near the Witching Hour. I'd wanted to go the casino, and cheesily enough take a gondola ride with my now ex-girlfriend. But with Strigoi Belikov trying to get to Rose, and her unwillingness to kill him regardless of how many others died- it hadn't been safe. I tamped down the mix of pain frustration and longing Rose triggered and focused on Katherine.
"Can't be all bad if you're in a fancy hotel in Vegas, what are you doing there anyhow?" I hoped she wasn't outside too much at night. Vegas had a Strigoi problem, most large cities did, and though they preferred Moroi and Dhampirs most of their victims tended to be humans like her.
I gave up trying to do things one handed, turned off the lights and got into bed instead. Her low soft voice and sighs were making me think of bed and snuggling. The soft jazz tune coming through from her end didn't help either.
"So that's where my key card is. Any chance you have my cross too?" I could hear a smile in her voice.
"No, haven't seen it but I'll keep an eye out. Are you moving now I know where you are?" I asked her uncertainly.
"No, not this time. I'm only here a few days and I like the Italian theme." She admitted. I remembered an afternoon I'd spent helping her sketch the Coliseum. Despite all her travelling, she hadn't been to Italy- one of her dream destinations.
"Where will you go after that?"
"I'm not sure. I hope to go back to Palm Springs. I'd like to finish my semester if nothing else." She yawed softly. I knew I should be letting her to sleep but I couldn't get enough of her sleepy mumbly voice.
"What mischief are you up to in Vegas?" I asked in an effort to prolong our talk.
"You really want to know?" She asked sleepily.
"Definitely do." I replied still speaking softly.
"Hmm ok, I convinced a powerful super secret agency to believe my version of events and saved myself from getting in trouble again. Now I've been assigned to research a ghost and his past because he is near someone whose safety is critical." I chuckled at her attempt at humor. She was good- she sounded dead earnest even in her sleepy state.
"My guess wasn't far off then, you do work for a secret agency- a supernatural one! Hard to believe you'd get in trouble though. What did you do?"
"I exposed a Cyclops that was scheming and selling contraband to innocent people. I didn't mean for the agency to find out but they did- I messed up and left evidence behind. There would still be no hiding from the people I work for- not for long but this time it was my stupidity."
"Cyclops- do you mean the one from X-men or from Greek mythology?"
She was quiet for a while. I thought she fell asleep. "The Greek ones, of course." She finally replied.
"Damn those Cyclops just can't stay out of trouble can they?" I played along. "But why would you be in trouble for that? Sounds like something you'd get a promotion over."
"Because I was somewhere I shouldn't have been. I defied orders even if it was to promote the greater good. There are some that think I framed him to get his job. Then there's another group that thinks I purposefully leaked the information to the enemy to gain favor with them."
"So did you do it- frame him or leak the info?"
She snorted sleepily. "No, I do have ethics. But then who'd believe the trouble maker over their darling Cyclops?"
I chuckled softly, "I would, well if you were the trouble maker I would. Is the research your punishment then?"
She sighed. "No, it's more of a test to see if I can be trusted or perhaps to keep me busy so I don't create more mischief- regardless they've decided I've been too unpredictable- 'my loyalty is too questionable'- to take over his assignment." I smiled at the thought of her creating mischief- I didn't doubt her ability to do it but she was a stickler for rules usually- unless she was trying to help someone, then she'd break into tattoo shops if need be, or drug people (as she had obviously been planning to do with Tim).
"What else does this supernatural secret agency do besides keeping track of ghosts?"
"Oh you know the usual, save humanity from evil, conduct research to increase human welfare, make sure no one finds out about the supernatural or about the organization and its agents."
I chuckled again it was a refreshing change for her to be the one making up absurd tales. "So just ghosts or do you save the world from goblins, werewolves, and leprechauns too?"
"You didn't mention vampires- we encounter those quite a lot. It's amazing how much mess they can create. I just got back from cleaning up after them." She sighed, a hint of frustration in her sleepy voice.
I knew she was joking and being playful especially considering her 'assignment' was to research a ghost. Still something nudged the back of my mind. I ignored it. She couldn't possibly know about the Moroi or the Strigoi- or she would have recognized me for what I was and kept her distance.
"Do they now, want to tell me about it, Little Kat?" I asked genuinely curious about what 'mess' vampires created in her opinion. There were so many stereotypes about my kind. None really came close to the truth except for the part about us drinking blood.
"Ugh no! I'm trying to relax and fall asleep. Last thing I want to do is remember work right now," she grumbled sleepily. It was adorable- she could keep up an act even as tired as she was. I was glad that last night's events hadn't scarred her- she still had that streak of levity.
"You're right of course. You're on a break." I said gently and began to feel bad for not hanging up and letting her sleep. "You know I've never done this before," I blurted before I could stop myself. I meant the words- I hadn't had late night calls with a girl just to talk about random things- not without the intention of turning it into something else. My imagination had shifted into her wearing one of my shirts but mostly unbuttoned with that lacy lingerie set under it.
"Hmmm?" was the only response.
"Nothing Little Kat, I shouldn't be disturbing your sleep." I was listening to her slow deep breaths and the very soft jazz tune playing in her room.
"I've never done this before either." She said so softly that I wouldn't have heard her if I weren't a Moroi.
"Done what Little Kat?" I'd whispered back. I didn't know what she wanted to tell me but I was sure we had both been talking about two very different things.
"Doesn't matter, Adrian. Thank you for the call." She sounded sad- sleepy sad.
"No thanks needed, Little Kat. I'm here to listen if you want to talk- about anything." She didn't reply.
"That was my cue to hang up, wasn't it?" I asked with a smile in my voice.
"Only if you want to Adrian," she mumbled. I didn't so we remained quiet for a long time listening to each other's breathing and rustling of sheets as we tried to get comfortable in our beds. If I tried I could hear the steady beats of her heart too.
I wanted to ask her why she was so sad or how her week had been, what she was really doing in Vegas, how the meeting with her family had gone, what she thought of my painting, which album she was listening to, I had so many questions but I held it all back. Her breaths were much deeper now- she was asleep for real. As long as I didn't open my eyes it was almost like falling asleep together. I cut the call and fell asleep soon after.
