Sands and Victoria Evening 3 part 3
Victoria:
He's leading me around the house and as we speak softly. I am keenly aware
that we are being watched. The clan house is very beautiful with its
marbled floors and plaster walls. It's supposed to be a haven for our kind,
but I am uncomfortable here. Andre seems kind and appears to be a genuine
friend to Sands, but I hope he returns soon. "Another war?" I ask snapping
out of my private thoughts. "When was the last?"
Andre: "More than a thousand years ago," I tell her. "Sands is the history aficionado. You should ask him about it." We pause at the end of the walkway where the hall gives way to a balcony overlooking the main ballroom. "Before you, my dear, is the cream of vampire society on the East Coast. But below, in the bowels of this sprawling mansion, are the Guardians. They are the strength of us." I look at her. She is almost as tall as I. "And you must wonder, where are the brains? Well, you see, we have leaders, but they do not mingle with the rest of us for the most part."
Victoria: I look at the crowd of vampires below us. Lovely. Like dolls, well groomed and elegant. Some more so than others. "Is Sands a Guardian?" I ask as I lean against the balcony my hair falling to one side ."And who is the leader here, of this house?" I am learning so much. My blood boils as I think of how little I actually know. Another reason to despise Connor McCloud.
Andre: "I don't think the question about Sheldon should be directed to me. Ask him about himself. As to the leader, why we have two: Lilith and Abberline."
Victoria: "I'm sorry, did I offend you with my questioning?" I touch his forearm gently with my hand. Andre is a good friend to Sands he doesn't give away all his secrets.
Andre: "Offend?" I have to laugh, "My skin is tougher than that, my dear. Who is your sire that you know nothing of us, if you don't mind me asking?"
Victoria: I blink hard unsure of what to say. I have spent so much time in hiding that the words do not come easily. Yet, for Sands they dripped off my tongue like honey. "A very distasteful Scot, of whom I do my best to avoid. It would go rather badly for me if he were to find me again." I smile weakly.
Andre: "If Sands is on your side, then I am on your side," I assure her, "and there's not many who would lift a hand against either one of us." I think about what she said earlier. "Which makes it all the more disturbing if the Viscalli actually attacked you today. There must have been several of them." I'm hoping she'll tell me the details. Maybe I should see Quinn, too. I came unarmed, except for my sword, and that is upstairs in my guest room.
Victoria: I smile again, he's an easy person to like. "Thank you, that is reassuring." I look again at the crowds below, chatting, laughing, drinking from Baccarat stem ware. "Sands and I met at the opera. While he and I were walking to is apartment, both of us thought that we sensed someone watching us, although neither of us mentioned it at the time." A smirk appears on the corner of my lips as I think of last night. "This afternoon, when he and I were making our way down Park Avenue to my apartment, is when the trouble began. First it was only one, then three, then five."
Andre: This news sends a cold shiver of apprehension down my spine. "Perhaps we should arm ourselves." I purse my lips thinking about this. "What is your weapon of choice, Victoria?"
Victoria: "I don't have one. When I was alive I had four large brothers to fight my battles for me. " I turn and rest my buttocks against the banister and cross my arms. "I am however a very fast leaner, any suggestion for a southern lady?" I ask slyly.
Andre: "It's usually easier for women to learn firearms," I told her. "They have the advantage of coming in several sizes, and they can hit a target from a great distance. My preference is the sword. I've never much liked guns. They're loud and there's no beauty in them." I look her in the eye. "I am a worshipper of beauty."
Victoria: I laugh. "Yes, you've built a rather successful empire around that notion."
Andre: Before I can respond to Victoria, I sense him. Sheldon. He enters the ballroom below us, creating an instant sensation of silence. He's looking for us. I'm reluctant to call out to him. I'd rather watch him, one of my favorite past times. He has a way of effecting those around him.
The people become aware of the disturbance in their midst. They turn in pairs and small groups to join me in watching him. Only Abberline and Lilith have more of an effect.
"What?" Sheldon asks. He is scanning. I'm bad, not calling out to him. Then he senses us, somehow, and his eyes raise to meet at first mine, then Victoria's.
Victoria: Something distracts Andre's attention and the room grows silent. I become aware of the silence and turn to look at those below us. It's Sands. He is beautiful. He look up and spots the two of us. My arms are folded across my chest. When his eyes find me, I feel that spark shoot through my body. I feel a little more at ease knowing he has returned. I smile for him and wait.
Andre: I sense Victoria. It's as if she just turned a switch when she sees him. A smile plays across her generous lips, her eyes sparkle. I look back down. Sheldon is heading for the stairwell, the only jean-clad person in the ballroom.
"I think you're about to have some questions answered," I tell Victoria.
Victoria: I don't really want to hear what he says, although I know he is speaking to me. My attention is focused on Sands as he hurries up to greet the two of us.
Sands: I hate these snooty crapheaded one-dimensional shits. At least I'm not too young to know better. I wind my way up to the second level, then down the hall and onto the balcony where Victoria and Andre are standing there like two fashion-plates waiting for the paparazzi to snap their picture.
"Miss me?" I ask, placing a quick kiss on Victoria's cheek. I have a gun under my coat and extra ammo in the pocket. I'm feeling better already. Let the Viscalli come on now. I can't help but smile.
Victoria: "You know I did," I reply and then quickly turn to place a hand on Andre's arm. "Although Andre was wonderful company and cleverly kept me out of trouble with Cerese." I know what he did, if he hadn't I might have tried to take a swing at her. Not that that sort of behavior is very lady like, but then again she wasn't much of a lady. "Find out what you needed to know?" I ask.
Sands: I see Andre is interested in what I'm about to say. His killer instinct is coming out. I raise my brows. "They hadn't heard anything about it," I tell them. "If it's an organized attack on all of us, they'll be prepared now. If it's just me." I lift my jacket to show her I'm armed now. "Now if we come across some unwanted company, I'll dust them."
I can't help but smile. I'm in my element when it comes to disposing of enemies.
Victoria: He's got a rather large weapon under his coat. "Andre was just saying that I should learn to use one of those things." I move a little closer to Sands. "Can we go now? This place makes me uneasy," I whisper in his ear.
Sands: I smile at Andre. "Thanks, brother." He smiles, but I can see he's preoccupied. "What?"
"I do not think you should go out alone if you've already been targeted," he says in his velvety Spanish-tinged voice.
"We have a car," I explain.
"I'm thinking about when you go home tonight." Andre tilts his head to the side. "Even if you don't go tonight, you will eventually. What do you think you will find?"
I frown. "I sort of wondered about that myself." I look at Victoria. "And if they know who you are, then your place is probably being watched, too." I wonder if I should tell them what Quinn and MacGreggor suggested about the motive of the Viscalli.
To Be Continued
Andre: "More than a thousand years ago," I tell her. "Sands is the history aficionado. You should ask him about it." We pause at the end of the walkway where the hall gives way to a balcony overlooking the main ballroom. "Before you, my dear, is the cream of vampire society on the East Coast. But below, in the bowels of this sprawling mansion, are the Guardians. They are the strength of us." I look at her. She is almost as tall as I. "And you must wonder, where are the brains? Well, you see, we have leaders, but they do not mingle with the rest of us for the most part."
Victoria: I look at the crowd of vampires below us. Lovely. Like dolls, well groomed and elegant. Some more so than others. "Is Sands a Guardian?" I ask as I lean against the balcony my hair falling to one side ."And who is the leader here, of this house?" I am learning so much. My blood boils as I think of how little I actually know. Another reason to despise Connor McCloud.
Andre: "I don't think the question about Sheldon should be directed to me. Ask him about himself. As to the leader, why we have two: Lilith and Abberline."
Victoria: "I'm sorry, did I offend you with my questioning?" I touch his forearm gently with my hand. Andre is a good friend to Sands he doesn't give away all his secrets.
Andre: "Offend?" I have to laugh, "My skin is tougher than that, my dear. Who is your sire that you know nothing of us, if you don't mind me asking?"
Victoria: I blink hard unsure of what to say. I have spent so much time in hiding that the words do not come easily. Yet, for Sands they dripped off my tongue like honey. "A very distasteful Scot, of whom I do my best to avoid. It would go rather badly for me if he were to find me again." I smile weakly.
Andre: "If Sands is on your side, then I am on your side," I assure her, "and there's not many who would lift a hand against either one of us." I think about what she said earlier. "Which makes it all the more disturbing if the Viscalli actually attacked you today. There must have been several of them." I'm hoping she'll tell me the details. Maybe I should see Quinn, too. I came unarmed, except for my sword, and that is upstairs in my guest room.
Victoria: I smile again, he's an easy person to like. "Thank you, that is reassuring." I look again at the crowds below, chatting, laughing, drinking from Baccarat stem ware. "Sands and I met at the opera. While he and I were walking to is apartment, both of us thought that we sensed someone watching us, although neither of us mentioned it at the time." A smirk appears on the corner of my lips as I think of last night. "This afternoon, when he and I were making our way down Park Avenue to my apartment, is when the trouble began. First it was only one, then three, then five."
Andre: This news sends a cold shiver of apprehension down my spine. "Perhaps we should arm ourselves." I purse my lips thinking about this. "What is your weapon of choice, Victoria?"
Victoria: "I don't have one. When I was alive I had four large brothers to fight my battles for me. " I turn and rest my buttocks against the banister and cross my arms. "I am however a very fast leaner, any suggestion for a southern lady?" I ask slyly.
Andre: "It's usually easier for women to learn firearms," I told her. "They have the advantage of coming in several sizes, and they can hit a target from a great distance. My preference is the sword. I've never much liked guns. They're loud and there's no beauty in them." I look her in the eye. "I am a worshipper of beauty."
Victoria: I laugh. "Yes, you've built a rather successful empire around that notion."
Andre: Before I can respond to Victoria, I sense him. Sheldon. He enters the ballroom below us, creating an instant sensation of silence. He's looking for us. I'm reluctant to call out to him. I'd rather watch him, one of my favorite past times. He has a way of effecting those around him.
The people become aware of the disturbance in their midst. They turn in pairs and small groups to join me in watching him. Only Abberline and Lilith have more of an effect.
"What?" Sheldon asks. He is scanning. I'm bad, not calling out to him. Then he senses us, somehow, and his eyes raise to meet at first mine, then Victoria's.
Victoria: Something distracts Andre's attention and the room grows silent. I become aware of the silence and turn to look at those below us. It's Sands. He is beautiful. He look up and spots the two of us. My arms are folded across my chest. When his eyes find me, I feel that spark shoot through my body. I feel a little more at ease knowing he has returned. I smile for him and wait.
Andre: I sense Victoria. It's as if she just turned a switch when she sees him. A smile plays across her generous lips, her eyes sparkle. I look back down. Sheldon is heading for the stairwell, the only jean-clad person in the ballroom.
"I think you're about to have some questions answered," I tell Victoria.
Victoria: I don't really want to hear what he says, although I know he is speaking to me. My attention is focused on Sands as he hurries up to greet the two of us.
Sands: I hate these snooty crapheaded one-dimensional shits. At least I'm not too young to know better. I wind my way up to the second level, then down the hall and onto the balcony where Victoria and Andre are standing there like two fashion-plates waiting for the paparazzi to snap their picture.
"Miss me?" I ask, placing a quick kiss on Victoria's cheek. I have a gun under my coat and extra ammo in the pocket. I'm feeling better already. Let the Viscalli come on now. I can't help but smile.
Victoria: "You know I did," I reply and then quickly turn to place a hand on Andre's arm. "Although Andre was wonderful company and cleverly kept me out of trouble with Cerese." I know what he did, if he hadn't I might have tried to take a swing at her. Not that that sort of behavior is very lady like, but then again she wasn't much of a lady. "Find out what you needed to know?" I ask.
Sands: I see Andre is interested in what I'm about to say. His killer instinct is coming out. I raise my brows. "They hadn't heard anything about it," I tell them. "If it's an organized attack on all of us, they'll be prepared now. If it's just me." I lift my jacket to show her I'm armed now. "Now if we come across some unwanted company, I'll dust them."
I can't help but smile. I'm in my element when it comes to disposing of enemies.
Victoria: He's got a rather large weapon under his coat. "Andre was just saying that I should learn to use one of those things." I move a little closer to Sands. "Can we go now? This place makes me uneasy," I whisper in his ear.
Sands: I smile at Andre. "Thanks, brother." He smiles, but I can see he's preoccupied. "What?"
"I do not think you should go out alone if you've already been targeted," he says in his velvety Spanish-tinged voice.
"We have a car," I explain.
"I'm thinking about when you go home tonight." Andre tilts his head to the side. "Even if you don't go tonight, you will eventually. What do you think you will find?"
I frown. "I sort of wondered about that myself." I look at Victoria. "And if they know who you are, then your place is probably being watched, too." I wonder if I should tell them what Quinn and MacGreggor suggested about the motive of the Viscalli.
To Be Continued