Blue Devil Rising
Part Three:
Turning again in the mirror she stared at the black dress she had purchased that afternoon. It was strapless and hugged her chest and hips flaring out at the bottom. Giving anyone a good look at her legs. She wore flesh tone hose and black heels that were decorated with a simple rhinestone on each buckle. Shrugging on the matador coat she flipped out her ash blonde hair. Grabbing her purse she left the bedroom and a found her taxi was waiting. Making sure she had her key and wallet she left the house and locked the door. Stepping into the taxi she was aware of the leg that showed.
"Where to lady?"
Kat told him and he rolled away from the house. The traffic was thick so she sat back and watched the flow of cars. That's when the longing hit her. The hunger to be in her car again and tearing down the roads of Germany. She felt the rumble of the engine under her as she shifted the gears. The acceleration of the car as the NOS and gas mixed and pushed her forward. The stars blurred and the car seemed to literally fly. Yes that was freedom.
"You're here lady."
She blinked and looked out at the glittering lights and grandeur. Women and men in fine clothes made their way up the broad steps to the mass of media. She stepped out and clutched her purse as though it might save her. Taking in a breath she made her way across the damp street in between the cars, she made her way up the steps. There was no one on her arm and she felt a pang of loneliness. As much as she and Brock were opposites they were still together. They had spent the majority of three years together and only recently had fallen apart. As much of a jerk as he was, he was still her love. And as she stood in this foreign place with no one waiting for her, she wanted him.
"You look a little lost." Turning her head she gazed at the handsome face of a tall man in a sharp tuxedo. He had dark hair and brilliant blue eyes that showed a strong heart and quick mind. " Perhaps I can help?"
She smiled, " I am overwhelmed is all."
He smiled. " I like the accent, German right?"
She nodded. " Yes."
"Well then let me welcome you to America and show you in." He offered his arm and she took it lightly. " What's your name?"
"Katriel Burn." She glanced at him. " You?"
"Cameron."
They approached the two door men and were waved through without a pause. Inside there was a coat check where Cameron took their coats and got separate tickets. Kat took out the press badge in her purse and clipped it to the edge of her jacket. The room beyond was swollen with too many people with too much money and too much spare time. A string quartet played soft music while people in white jackets served imported champagne and exotic finger food.
"Is there someone here to meet you?" He asked as they made their way toward the room.
"No. I wasn't exactly supposed to be here, it was kind of a last minute thing." She felt her chest tighten as they came the edge of the room. Breathing became difficult and she felt dizzy.
Cameron leaned close, " I'll keep an eye on you then. But if you will excuse me I have someone I need to speak to." He gave a her a nod and departed.
Kat pressed herself to the wall and watched the swirling wash of glitter and glamour. There were reasons she had moved to Europe and there were reasons she had moved to a small town. Now she faced those reasons head on and was trapped. Her palms were slick as she wiped them on her dress before managing to quill the shaking. Pulling in a deep breath she pushed away from the wall and waded into the ocean of bodies. Inside her purse she had the tape recorder going and was moving around the room. Catching bits and pieces of conversations.
Moving through the double set of ball rooms she found a list of events for the evening. Quickly she found the ones that were relevant to her story and planned her time. The sooner she could get out of here the better.
**
Most of the evening was full of old men getting up and giving lengthy speeches about the Police department and so on. Kat found herself bored in minutes and found enjoyment only in the food and the way light shone of crystal. While her mind was preoccupied with the laws of light and crystal, she listened with her sub conscious to the speeches. It wasn't until the near end that one of the speakers grabbed her attention.
"Now if you will join me in welcoming Mr. Cameron St. Paul." The Master of Ceremonies started to clap as the man stood up.
It was the one who had escorted her in. He shook hands with the M.C. and then took up the podium. His presence filled the room and captured every single person. Even the waiters stopped and listened as he spoke. What he said Kat didn't hear all she could do was stare at him and feel her heart turn to a warm puddle of hormones. She did catch enough to figure out he was in the shipping business and had relocated to the city only a three years before. He went on about how the S.F.P.D. had been helpful with the recent dock union problems and their work in making the docks a safer place to work and do business. It was pretty much the same stuff everyone else had been saying all evening, but for once it sounded good.
As he finished the crowd erupted into applause and shouts from around the room. Kat was able to restrain herself from clapping and shouting. As he looked around the room he paused at her table and smiled. She couldn't stop the grin that spread across her face as he looked at her. Her blood went hot as he smiled once more and stepped down. Had it been her imagination or had he winked at her? For once she didn't care.
**
The rest of the night she kept searching the crowd for him. Never seeing the man for more the a couple of seconds at a time. He always seemed to be talking to someone or followed by a group of admirers. More like swooning high schoolers rather then wealthy business people and police officials. As the clock chimed two in the morning Kat felt her body grow tired and had to give up the search. It was long past time for her to go home and she still had that story to write. It was as she was digging around her evening purse for the ticket that he appeared again. Silent and smooth like a ghost or viper snake.
"I believe I have your ticket." He held it out and she took it with trembling fingers. " Can I offer you a ride home?"
"I don't want to disrupt your night." She answered nodded to the party behind them. " You are very popular this evening."
He smiled a little and handed over his ticket to the waiting girl. " I have had enough of them now I would like to get to know you."
Kat blinked once and felt her cheeks warm. " Sounds like a plan to me."
Cameron lead her out of the party and to a waiting stretch limousine. Once inside they pulled away from the building and into the night.
Part Three:
Turning again in the mirror she stared at the black dress she had purchased that afternoon. It was strapless and hugged her chest and hips flaring out at the bottom. Giving anyone a good look at her legs. She wore flesh tone hose and black heels that were decorated with a simple rhinestone on each buckle. Shrugging on the matador coat she flipped out her ash blonde hair. Grabbing her purse she left the bedroom and a found her taxi was waiting. Making sure she had her key and wallet she left the house and locked the door. Stepping into the taxi she was aware of the leg that showed.
"Where to lady?"
Kat told him and he rolled away from the house. The traffic was thick so she sat back and watched the flow of cars. That's when the longing hit her. The hunger to be in her car again and tearing down the roads of Germany. She felt the rumble of the engine under her as she shifted the gears. The acceleration of the car as the NOS and gas mixed and pushed her forward. The stars blurred and the car seemed to literally fly. Yes that was freedom.
"You're here lady."
She blinked and looked out at the glittering lights and grandeur. Women and men in fine clothes made their way up the broad steps to the mass of media. She stepped out and clutched her purse as though it might save her. Taking in a breath she made her way across the damp street in between the cars, she made her way up the steps. There was no one on her arm and she felt a pang of loneliness. As much as she and Brock were opposites they were still together. They had spent the majority of three years together and only recently had fallen apart. As much of a jerk as he was, he was still her love. And as she stood in this foreign place with no one waiting for her, she wanted him.
"You look a little lost." Turning her head she gazed at the handsome face of a tall man in a sharp tuxedo. He had dark hair and brilliant blue eyes that showed a strong heart and quick mind. " Perhaps I can help?"
She smiled, " I am overwhelmed is all."
He smiled. " I like the accent, German right?"
She nodded. " Yes."
"Well then let me welcome you to America and show you in." He offered his arm and she took it lightly. " What's your name?"
"Katriel Burn." She glanced at him. " You?"
"Cameron."
They approached the two door men and were waved through without a pause. Inside there was a coat check where Cameron took their coats and got separate tickets. Kat took out the press badge in her purse and clipped it to the edge of her jacket. The room beyond was swollen with too many people with too much money and too much spare time. A string quartet played soft music while people in white jackets served imported champagne and exotic finger food.
"Is there someone here to meet you?" He asked as they made their way toward the room.
"No. I wasn't exactly supposed to be here, it was kind of a last minute thing." She felt her chest tighten as they came the edge of the room. Breathing became difficult and she felt dizzy.
Cameron leaned close, " I'll keep an eye on you then. But if you will excuse me I have someone I need to speak to." He gave a her a nod and departed.
Kat pressed herself to the wall and watched the swirling wash of glitter and glamour. There were reasons she had moved to Europe and there were reasons she had moved to a small town. Now she faced those reasons head on and was trapped. Her palms were slick as she wiped them on her dress before managing to quill the shaking. Pulling in a deep breath she pushed away from the wall and waded into the ocean of bodies. Inside her purse she had the tape recorder going and was moving around the room. Catching bits and pieces of conversations.
Moving through the double set of ball rooms she found a list of events for the evening. Quickly she found the ones that were relevant to her story and planned her time. The sooner she could get out of here the better.
**
Most of the evening was full of old men getting up and giving lengthy speeches about the Police department and so on. Kat found herself bored in minutes and found enjoyment only in the food and the way light shone of crystal. While her mind was preoccupied with the laws of light and crystal, she listened with her sub conscious to the speeches. It wasn't until the near end that one of the speakers grabbed her attention.
"Now if you will join me in welcoming Mr. Cameron St. Paul." The Master of Ceremonies started to clap as the man stood up.
It was the one who had escorted her in. He shook hands with the M.C. and then took up the podium. His presence filled the room and captured every single person. Even the waiters stopped and listened as he spoke. What he said Kat didn't hear all she could do was stare at him and feel her heart turn to a warm puddle of hormones. She did catch enough to figure out he was in the shipping business and had relocated to the city only a three years before. He went on about how the S.F.P.D. had been helpful with the recent dock union problems and their work in making the docks a safer place to work and do business. It was pretty much the same stuff everyone else had been saying all evening, but for once it sounded good.
As he finished the crowd erupted into applause and shouts from around the room. Kat was able to restrain herself from clapping and shouting. As he looked around the room he paused at her table and smiled. She couldn't stop the grin that spread across her face as he looked at her. Her blood went hot as he smiled once more and stepped down. Had it been her imagination or had he winked at her? For once she didn't care.
**
The rest of the night she kept searching the crowd for him. Never seeing the man for more the a couple of seconds at a time. He always seemed to be talking to someone or followed by a group of admirers. More like swooning high schoolers rather then wealthy business people and police officials. As the clock chimed two in the morning Kat felt her body grow tired and had to give up the search. It was long past time for her to go home and she still had that story to write. It was as she was digging around her evening purse for the ticket that he appeared again. Silent and smooth like a ghost or viper snake.
"I believe I have your ticket." He held it out and she took it with trembling fingers. " Can I offer you a ride home?"
"I don't want to disrupt your night." She answered nodded to the party behind them. " You are very popular this evening."
He smiled a little and handed over his ticket to the waiting girl. " I have had enough of them now I would like to get to know you."
Kat blinked once and felt her cheeks warm. " Sounds like a plan to me."
Cameron lead her out of the party and to a waiting stretch limousine. Once inside they pulled away from the building and into the night.