Goodnight My Love
Part Eight
Caribbean Blue ghosted across the packed night club as the patrons drank their imported wines. Enya's haunting voice dimly rose above the chatter as they all talked and laughed. On the second floor Lilly watched with intent eyes, searching each face for nothing in particular. There were nights when she couldn't push aside the memories, this was one of those nights. When everywhere she looked, she saw a familiar face, heard a laugh that reminded her of someone. So she stood at a window and watched her domain with haunted eyes. Just in case one of those familiar faces showed up.
Usually she liked to stand in the crowds, move around and feel them. But tonight, there was something wrong tonight. Lifting the crystal glass to her lips she sipped the bitter-sweet wine and looked around. Her gaze stopped at the stairs and she leaned closer to the window. Sonny had his arm around a girl that looked a little young for him. It wasn't her age that had caught the Toreador, it was her jewelry. The emerald flower glowed with it's own radiance in the dark light of the club.
Lilly recognized the necklace and drank in the features of the girl. She was in her early twenties with dark hair and pure black eyes. Her build was slight but not weak, thin without being a stick. There was no tension to her or anything remotely harmful. A change from the usual that came here. Lilly saw a timid sadness that came only from having a secret. Sonny spoke to her and departed, Lilly saw him heading for Julian's table. The girl sat down at the bar and one of the tenders served her. She didn't make any small talk with the people next to her. Instead she sat and stared out at the club, searching for something.
Lilly descended to the main floor and watched the girl intently. Under her cool hand the wood was smooth and warm. Pausing one step from the floor she took one last moment to watch before acting. Moving between the crowds she tried to read as much as possible. The girl was simple and human and held no danger to anyone. Regular was one word to describe her. Without realizing it the Toreador leader found herself inches from the girl. She turned and their eyes met; it was then that Lilly saw what had drawn Sonny to her.
A soul so deep and so trusting that it was breathtaking. No walls or barriers prevented you from seeing what was inside. There was no deception in her, no lies or falsehood. She was exactly what you saw.
"You okay?" She asked in a voice that was light.
Lilly pulled in a breath and tore her gaze off the girl. " I was admiring your necklace."
Her hand went to the emerald flower and her eyes softened. There was a flash of love and then shyness in the dark depths. "Thanks, it's a gift."
"He must like you a lot." Lilly regained her composure as the girl blushed. " What does he do?"
She hesitated, watching the woman, there was a look of uncertainty for a moment. "He's in law enforcement."
Lilly smiled and took the vacant seat next to her, one of the bartenders handed her a fresh glass of wine. There was a moment of silence. " Have you been going out long?"
"A few months."
More silence. "My name is Lilly, I own the place."
The girl looked up with startled eyes and smiled, " Really? I have always wanted to come in here and take a look. But....Well I just never felt I could."
"I've never heard that one." Lilly arched a brow, "What changed your mind?"
A hand went to the pendant, " He did." She smiled, " He gives me a confidence I've never had before. It's like a piece of myself has been returned."
Lilly felt herself go cold and shivered; fear cut deep into her gut as she gazed at the young woman. Her eyes bright and happy with memories. In order to cover her shock, the vampire took a sip of her wine and couldn't swallow it. Rising from her seat she moved to leave when those eyes turned to her.
"You seem worried," Becky spoke gently looking at Lilly with a searching gaze. The light of understanding flicked on and it was like she seemed to shrink. Her shoulders hunched and she literally seemed to grow smaller. " I am sorry, I have said something strange haven't I?"
"No, no, it's not you." Lilly choked the words out. " Please excuse me, I have some business to attend, please enjoy yourself."
Once in her office, she slammed the door shut and leaned against it. Her hands clutched at her throat as she felt the memory of the necklace. Going to the window she stared out at the girl and shivered again. When Lilly had first owned the necklace, she had said those exact words. In the same tone of voice and in the same way that the girl had just done. For a moment Lilly had been seeing herself in that stranger. The vampire could only hope it wouldn't end for that girl like it had for her three hundred years ago.
Part Eight
Caribbean Blue ghosted across the packed night club as the patrons drank their imported wines. Enya's haunting voice dimly rose above the chatter as they all talked and laughed. On the second floor Lilly watched with intent eyes, searching each face for nothing in particular. There were nights when she couldn't push aside the memories, this was one of those nights. When everywhere she looked, she saw a familiar face, heard a laugh that reminded her of someone. So she stood at a window and watched her domain with haunted eyes. Just in case one of those familiar faces showed up.
Usually she liked to stand in the crowds, move around and feel them. But tonight, there was something wrong tonight. Lifting the crystal glass to her lips she sipped the bitter-sweet wine and looked around. Her gaze stopped at the stairs and she leaned closer to the window. Sonny had his arm around a girl that looked a little young for him. It wasn't her age that had caught the Toreador, it was her jewelry. The emerald flower glowed with it's own radiance in the dark light of the club.
Lilly recognized the necklace and drank in the features of the girl. She was in her early twenties with dark hair and pure black eyes. Her build was slight but not weak, thin without being a stick. There was no tension to her or anything remotely harmful. A change from the usual that came here. Lilly saw a timid sadness that came only from having a secret. Sonny spoke to her and departed, Lilly saw him heading for Julian's table. The girl sat down at the bar and one of the tenders served her. She didn't make any small talk with the people next to her. Instead she sat and stared out at the club, searching for something.
Lilly descended to the main floor and watched the girl intently. Under her cool hand the wood was smooth and warm. Pausing one step from the floor she took one last moment to watch before acting. Moving between the crowds she tried to read as much as possible. The girl was simple and human and held no danger to anyone. Regular was one word to describe her. Without realizing it the Toreador leader found herself inches from the girl. She turned and their eyes met; it was then that Lilly saw what had drawn Sonny to her.
A soul so deep and so trusting that it was breathtaking. No walls or barriers prevented you from seeing what was inside. There was no deception in her, no lies or falsehood. She was exactly what you saw.
"You okay?" She asked in a voice that was light.
Lilly pulled in a breath and tore her gaze off the girl. " I was admiring your necklace."
Her hand went to the emerald flower and her eyes softened. There was a flash of love and then shyness in the dark depths. "Thanks, it's a gift."
"He must like you a lot." Lilly regained her composure as the girl blushed. " What does he do?"
She hesitated, watching the woman, there was a look of uncertainty for a moment. "He's in law enforcement."
Lilly smiled and took the vacant seat next to her, one of the bartenders handed her a fresh glass of wine. There was a moment of silence. " Have you been going out long?"
"A few months."
More silence. "My name is Lilly, I own the place."
The girl looked up with startled eyes and smiled, " Really? I have always wanted to come in here and take a look. But....Well I just never felt I could."
"I've never heard that one." Lilly arched a brow, "What changed your mind?"
A hand went to the pendant, " He did." She smiled, " He gives me a confidence I've never had before. It's like a piece of myself has been returned."
Lilly felt herself go cold and shivered; fear cut deep into her gut as she gazed at the young woman. Her eyes bright and happy with memories. In order to cover her shock, the vampire took a sip of her wine and couldn't swallow it. Rising from her seat she moved to leave when those eyes turned to her.
"You seem worried," Becky spoke gently looking at Lilly with a searching gaze. The light of understanding flicked on and it was like she seemed to shrink. Her shoulders hunched and she literally seemed to grow smaller. " I am sorry, I have said something strange haven't I?"
"No, no, it's not you." Lilly choked the words out. " Please excuse me, I have some business to attend, please enjoy yourself."
Once in her office, she slammed the door shut and leaned against it. Her hands clutched at her throat as she felt the memory of the necklace. Going to the window she stared out at the girl and shivered again. When Lilly had first owned the necklace, she had said those exact words. In the same tone of voice and in the same way that the girl had just done. For a moment Lilly had been seeing herself in that stranger. The vampire could only hope it wouldn't end for that girl like it had for her three hundred years ago.