Devil's Cub
Chapter 11
"Quistis, are you going to be alright here? You know Joshua will be at the ball." Mrs Trepe nodded encouragingly at her daughter, smiling hopefully.
Quistis, facing away from her mother, gazed out of the window. She rolled her eyes at the last comment. She fixed a brave smile on her face and turned around. "I'll be fine, I just feel that if I go tonight this headache will get worse."
Mrs Trepe examined her daughter's features closely. Her pale cheeks were flushed and her eyes a little more brilliant. She seemed to look ill. Though she doubted that Joshua would mind. But if Quistis would insist on not attending Mrs Lanyon's card party, she would have to accept that.
"Mother!" Saria's impatient summons rudely interrupted Mrs Trepe's train of thought. She patted her eldest daughters shoulder absentmindedly.
"Anyway we have to go now. Bye!" She smiled quickly and sailed out of the door.
Quistis sighed and placed a hand on her forehead, she would have to leave soon. Holding out her hand, she studied it dispassionately. She noticed with dismay she was trembling. Glaring at her hand she breathed deeply a few times until it was steady. Nodding with satisfaction, Quistis moved over to the table, sitting down she brought an empty sheet of paper in front of her.
A pen in her hand, she began writing hesitantly.
Mother,
I intercepted a note from Seifer Almasy to Saria, detailing a runaway. I do not feel that Almasy means marriage for Saria and that he would not behave right by her. I am sorry but I can't just stand back and watch that happen.
She paused and looked up absently.
I am leaving soon to tell Almasy that his attentions to Saria are unwanted. I am NOT running away with him. Please tell Saria I'm sorry.
Quistis
Ps I locked my room on purpose; I don't want Saria to destroy all my belongings.
Pushing the note away, Quistis stood and checked her watch. It was time, taking a deep breath, she stepped forward.
The car drew to a stop under the orange street lamps. Humming softly to himself, the driver tapped the steering wheel and checked his watch. It was just midnight and the street was deserted, he peered out of the windscreen. Tendrils of ice were forming on the glass. He shivered and turned the heat up in the car. At the same time, he saw the glowing digits of the clock.
Cursing, he drew on his gloves with his teeth. The man grunted and shoved the car door open. He got out and shut it quietly, his breath misting in front of his face. The autumn night was cold. He hoped that whoever he was there to pick up would come soon. His brows puckered in confusion, the street seemed fair respectable and most of Devil's Cub's friends lived in the expensive part of town. Who was he there to pick up? The driver shrugged to himself philosophically, it wasn't his business to know, and all he did was to do the job. He'd been given a fair wage for this one, and he was respectable man.
"Excuse me?"
He jumped and swung round to see a figure in a dark coat, obscured in darkness. The driver squinted to see the person's features. They seemed to become aware of his scrutiny and stepped back, away from the soft light cast by the streetlight. All the driver could see were some slim fingers gripping the sleeves as they crossed their arms. The figure coughed politely.
The driver flushed and walked over to the back door of the car hurriedly and opened it. He stood, waiting for the person to get in. The figure moved closer, "Thank you but I assure you it isn't necessary." The voice was low and it was hard to hear.
The driver nodded professionally and moved back to the front of the car and got, inwardly wondering at his mysterious passenger. The back door shut with a dull thud.
"Ready?" the driver questioned half to himself and started the car.
Quistis leant back into the leather seat and tried to relax her stiff muscles. Closing her eyes, she tried to stifle the small voice that was dancing around her thoughts saying that this was a really bad idea.
"At least I can always become a boxer." She murmured quietly to herself, a small smile curving her lips.
The driver had switched on a tape and was humming along to a song playing. He had seemingly adopted a what-I don't-see-can't-hurt-me attitude. For that, Quistis was grateful, she didn't know if she could cope with the odd stares of a curious driver as well as having to deal with an angry Seifer.
Doubt wavered in her mind, did she really know what she was getting herself into? Seifer Almasy was a dangerous man, she'd heard of his exploits. It's the only way, she told herself firmly.
The car had been driving for a while now. Looking out of the windows into the pitch black landscape, Quistis suffered a moment's misgiving, maybe Seifer had been meaning to take Saria to Winhill. If so, she'd quite possibly just ruined her sister's chances. Quistis almost giggled at the terrible irony. Trying to save her sister from ruin, she'd ruined her chances of a material happiness.
Groaning, Quistis flopped back again and closed her eyes.
What seemed like minutes later, Quistis opened her eyes, blinking rapidly. She shook her head to clear the fog in her mind that remained from her sleep. Wondering how she'd ever slept, she sat up and looked out of the window. The grey sky was lit with pink fringes of dawn.
In the distance, the sea sparkled with the first light of dawn.
Quistis sighed with relief, then frowned. Seifer was going to take Saria to Esthar. He is an asshole.
"We've arrived at Wray." The voice of the driver interrupted her thoughts. "I was told to drop you off at the Inn."
The car drew to a stop outside an Inn, the street was mostly silent, with only a few signs of life stirring. Murmuring a quiet thanks, she slipped out of the car and into the building.
After passing through the dark doorway, she emerged into what seemed to be the bar. The only occupant was a thin, balding man who stood beside the counter, wringing his hands. He was staring in an abstract fashion at the floor.
Noticing her entrance, he looked up "Miss Saria Trepe?" he questioned in a reedy voice.
Quistis nodded, too nervous to trust her voice.
The man nodded too and stood up painstakingly with popping of joints. "This way." He motioned for her to follow him, coughing.
He led her up some narrow panelled stairs to a light room, facing out towards the sea.
Quistis stood admiring the view, it had been a while since she had seen the sea. When she turned round, the man had disappeared, leaving her alone in the small apartment.
With a fatalistic shrug, she discarded her coat on the back of a chair. Standing with one hand leaning on the back of the chair, she quickly ran over what she would say. Nodding she moved over to stand by the window, her back to the stairs.
A black car came to a halt in front of a small Inn. The door opened and a tall man got out languidly. He exchanged a few words with a person inside the car. He slammed the door casually and watched as the car drove away with a slight smirk.
The pale morning light caught his blond bangs as he swept them out of his eyes. Stretching, Seifer Almasy walked inside.
"Barret?" he inquired. The other man looked up "My Lord." He bowed his head and stood up. "Just upstairs." He made a move to walk in front.
Seifer motioned with his hand "No need, I know where it is."
The thin man bowed his head again but said nothing. He sat down at the bar and picked up a newspaper.
Seifer strode over to the stairs and walked up in a relaxed fashion.
So they will meet soon… Please review and tell what you think, I was very encouraged! Just loads of stupid work to do at the moment…Thanks to reviewers so far!