A.N. Here we go, the new chapter 2. I decided to cut out the secret room because I don't want to focus on Elyssa for this story; I think we've wrapped her up pretty well for now. I'll get to the whole Old Soul/previous life story line, though.
x xxxx xxxx xxxx x
Dinner was fairly uneventful. Sabrina had apparently left for home at some point in the duration of his nap, which suited his feelings perfectly. He wanted to stay as far away from that human as possible.
Noting the beginnings of a headache, Anthony took a long swig from his water glass before grasping the quartz crystal he always kept in his pocket and silently muttering a short incantation. Immediately, he felt the blood start to flow more smoothly through the area, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
The only shocking part of dinner was that none of the Daybreakers seemed hostile towards him. In fact, though they seemed wary of him, they treated him with the usual polite, but friendly, reserve one uses on a stranger. Even the agents who had debriefed him employed a fragile courtesy that made him blink as they passed the green beans.
So maybe Elyssa was right, he thought, surreptitiously scanning the faces lining the long table as they laughed together. Pushing the unappetizing food around his plate, he felt a contrary anger fill him. I kidnapped their leader's soulmate and was going to hand her over to the Redferns. How the hell can they be nice to me?
Elyssa, who was sitting across from him, smiled serenely, and he forced himself to smirk a little in return. He could only assume that she had been acting out of some sort of misspent kindness by seating him near Thierry and herself. A show of silent approval that would make the other agents more trusting.
He frowned as it suddenly occurred to him that perhaps no one outside of the inner circle and their best field agents had known about the kidnapping. A general panic concerning the situation would have dangerously hindered the search, particularly with representatives from every branch of Circle Daybreak present. If anyone besides the core agents of the Vegas circle had known about the kidnapping, word would have spread across the world like wildfire.
Anthony sent a considering glance towards Thierry who appeared unshakably calm and self-possessed. The only clue to a change in his demeanor was the hand that he gently rested on Elyssa's at intervals. The sight made Anthony's eyes burn slightly and he quickly looked back at his plate as Soleil's laughing face appeared before his mind's eye.
He tried desperately to shove the image away from his mind, but it merely came to a sharper focus. He could do nothing to stop the waves of pain that pounded over him, flooding him until he could barely breathe.
Elyssa glanced back at Anthony again and saw his face strangely blank as he stared at his plate. Frowning a little, she looked up to meet Poppy's concerned eyes.
Is he okay? Poppy asked telepathically.
Elyssa shrugged almost imperceptibly and turned back to Anthony, who hadn't moved. Moving her eyes back to her foster mother's, Elyssa watch them glaze over just before Anthony jerked in his chair. His own hazel eyes swung to Poppy's and he nodded slightly as if in response to something she had said.
He seemed more composed, but he still looked a little shaky and people were going to start noticing soon. Thinking quickly, Elyssa leaned towards him across the table. Hey Anthony, she said quietly, but loud enough for the people around them to hear. Now that you're done, can you come with me for a second?
He froze for a millisecond before forcing one of his trademark half-grins. Whatever you say, my lady.
Rolling her eyes as the people around them stifled chuckles, she stood and motioned towards the door. As Anthony moved towards it, she felt Thierry tug on her hand, forcing her to stop. When she looked at him, he grinned at her and stood slightly so he could reach her cheek. The minute his lips brushed her skin, the entire room went still. Feeling herself turning beet red, she rushed through the doorway, nearly plowing down Anthony in her haste.
Where's the fire? he murmured, shaking with silent laughter at her flushed face. Despite his seeming good humor, Elyssa could easily see the pain hidden in his eyes and decided to ignore his comment. Not waiting to see if he followed, Elyssa began walking down the hallway towards the main staircase. So, where are we going? he asked.
Elyssa smiled at him. Anywhere but in there. How bout showing me your room?
Shrugging, he gestured for her to proceed him up the stairs. It's really not all that exciting. I'm guessing it looks a lot like the other agents' suites. At the top of the stairs, they shifted positions easily and Anthony took the lead down a side corridor which fed into the wing housing the agents' quarters. How did you spend the rest of your day? Elyssa asked, breaking the silence.
Anthony glanced at her and raised an eyebrow. Well, the highlight was that final psychological exam.
She winced. Fun times. Sorry about that. Is this it? she asked as he stopped in front of a door.
He nodded, sliding the key into the lock. As the door swung open to expose the room's painful nudity, he muttered, Home sweet home.
Elyssa slipped past him and wandered over to the carefully closed curtains on the far side of the room. Tugging them open a bit, she stepped back. Nice view.
Anthony moved to stand next to her and, grasping the curtains, pulled them further back to better see the view of the sunset. Black mountains were backlit with pink and orange light as the last of the sun faded from view.
he agreed belatedly, his voice barely above a murmur. Feeling Elyssa move away, he glanced away from the window and saw her heading towards the door to his bedroom. There's nothing in there.
Ignoring him, she stepped through the doorway and disappeared from view. Sighing, Anthony forced his fist to unclench around the fabric and let the curtain fall shut as he followed her across the suite. In his bedroom, he saw the closet door standing open and wandered over to lean in the doorway. What in the name of the goddess are you doing?
Elyssa glared at him over her shoulder. Closet space is important, Anthony.
Crossing his arms, he shook his head in confusion. What is it with girls and closets? he muttered to himself.
Don't worry, you have plenty of room, she said as she inspected the shelves of his walk in closet. Pushing past him, she stood in the middle of the floor and surveyed the walls around her. You could put a few posters over the bed. Maybe move the dresser over there, she added, pointing. That would open up the room a lot. he cut her off, running his hand through his hair. Why did we come up here?
Starting at the change of topic, she turned back to him and shrugged uncomfortably. You looked like you needed to get away for a little while. I thought this might distract you.
He stilled, his eyes locked on hers. I see. Elyssa held his gaze without a shade of fear or reserve in her eyes. I was thinking about Soleil. He heard the words tumble out of his mouth and wanted to wince at the involuntary admission.
But instead of smothering him with pity and condolences, Elyssa just nodded calmly. I understand.
He barely prevented a scoff from escaping his mouth. You do?
The corner of her mouth turned up a bit at the thinly veiled disbelief in his tone, but she hid it well and merely nodded again. Sometimes it feels like the memories are going to swallow you whole. You miss her so much it feels like you can't breathe right, and it pounds at you until you feel numb from the pain. But you still pray for that pain because it's what reminds you you're alive.
He stared at her without responding. Is she talking me? he wondered, remembering the file supplied by the Night World. Mother: dead. Father: dead. Foster parents: dead, it had read, so clinically that even he--submersed in his own guilt--had been forced to look twice.
she said carefully after a few minutes of silence. I know you don't want to hear it yet, but the pain does fade.
Clearing his throat, he spoke quickly to break the tense pause that followed her words. We need to get you back downstairs, or Thierry's going to go nuclear.
Agreeably following his lead in the conversation, Elyssa giggled a little, but got up to join him near the door. He would not go nuclear.If he can't find you, he most certainly will. He'll probably think I stole you away again.
Her smile faded and she shook her head. He would never think that. He-- Anthony stopped her softly with a wry smile. Yes, he would. I don't expect him to trust me yet. I'm surprised he even allowed me to join Circle Daybreak. So let's not test him, okay?
Biting her lip, she nodded and led the way out of the room. Anthony glanced back at the fading sunset once last time before shutting the door on the sight.
x xxxx xxxx xxxx x
Sabrina pushed the food around on her plate as the noise of her parents chatting about their respective days flew around her head. Usually, her father's cooking could coax the pickiest of stomachs into ravenous hunger, but right now she felt as if she'd swallowed an anvil.
It was all that stupid boy's fault, anyway. What was he doing, dropping her on the ground like that? She tried desperately to hold onto the anger that had filled her earlier, but the task was much more difficult in the midst of the stark reality of her human life. The harsh light of the dining room showed the details in an unbiased view, and she knew that Anthony wasn't at fault. He had, after all, caught her as she fell.
Maybe I was just too heavy, she thought with a wince.
She really should have been more grateful to him for catching her. After the way she'd treated him, she was surprised he made any effort to help her at all.
But he kidnapped Elyssa! she argued with herself.
But if Elyssa wasn't upset, she supposed it wasn't her place to blame him for any transgressions. Especially considering she was wrong about both Samantha and Marissa. Shame filled her as she thought of her treatment of both women, making her skin feel almost itchy or too tight. Her one comfort in the entire situation was that Anthony had been just as belligerent as she, while neither Marissa nor Samantha had ever fought back.
Sighing silently, Sabrina pushed a piece of her chicken further into the small mound of rice on her plate, burying it the way she wished she could bury the last week of her life.
Aren't you hungry, sweetie? The sound of her father's voice made Sabrina jump and she glanced up to find concern filling the green eyes that mirrored her own.
No, she thought, but forced herself to smile. Yeah, I'm just a little tired. Hoping to alleviate his worry, she stuck a forkful of corn into her mouth. It tasted like sawdust.
Maybe you should go to bed early, her mother added, looking more concerned than before.
Yeah, I think I'll do that, Sabrina assured them with a false brightness in her voice. I just need to finish up some homework first.Well, if you're too tired to eat, why don't you go finish it now and get in bed, her father suggested, setting down his own fork.
Absurdly grateful for this permission to leave the table, Sabrina nodded. Good idea, Dad. Standing, she carried her plate and glass to the sink and set them both on the counter.
Don't worry about your dishes. I'll do them for you tonight.Thanks, Mom, Sabrina said, her first genuine smile of the evening gracing her lips. Her parents really were wonderful people. Night, guys.
She hugged her mother and kissed her father's cheek, then Sabrina trudged up the stairs to her room without another word. After she washed her face, brushed her teeth, and changed into her pajamas, she considered calling Elyssa, but figured her friend would want time with Thierry. She also vaguely remembered Elyssa mentioning a big dinner to end the conference, which Sabrina really didn't want to interrupt.
So, she merely crawled into bed and turned off her light, willing unconsciousness to take her away from her confusing thoughts. But sleep remained elusive until the early hours of the morning.
x xxxx xxxx xxxx x
Are you coming to the meeting tonight? Elyssa asked, biting into an apple. People milled around them on the school terrace, but their own table remained empty aside from them.
Sabrina attempted to blink the tiredness from her eyes and form a coherent answer. Wow, is it Friday already? When Elyssa just stared at her, the apple poised between her mouth and the table, Sabrina forced a tinkling laugh. Strangely, it sounded perfectly normal. This week is going so quickly, you know?
The confusion left her eyes and Elyssa smiled back. I know. It feels like everything happened just yesterday
Unfortunately, Sabrina knew exactly how many days had passed since Elyssa's kidnapping. She hadn't gotten a good night's sleep since the day of her friend's return. Instead, she tossed and turned every night, unable to force her mind to stop thinking long enough for her to fall asleep.
But, of course, that wasn't what Elyssa was referring to. She was talking about finding out Thierry was her soulmate. And she was apparently waiting for her best friend to respond.
Quickly, Sabrina opened her mouth to break the silence. Yeah, wow. To her own ears, the words sounded just slightly unenthusiastic, but she hoped Elyssa would blame it on her obvious exhaustion.
I know, the blonde sighed happily, fiddling with the stem of her apple.
Sabrina smiled as she watched Elyssa's eyes glaze over a bit. She'd never seen Elyssa get mushy over anything before Thierry; she was too practical. Now she was acting like a giant melted marshmallow.
Another sigh brought Elyssa out of her Thierry-induced stupor and she smiled dazzlingly at Sabrina, who smiled back somewhat indulgently. Shut up, Elyssa said, throwing a napkin at her friend.
I didn't say anything, Sabrina protesting, laughing as she held up her hands in mock self-defense.
The laughter died away, and Elyssa's forehead puckered as she glanced at Sabrina's lunch. Aren't you hungry?Not really, Sabrina muttered, moving her fork through the cold vegetable curry; leftovers from the night before that she hadn't eaten at dinner either.
Elyssa shrugged acceptingly and finished her apple. So, you're coming to the meeting, right? she asked as the first bell rang.
I don't know Sabrina began, only to wince inwardly as disappointment filled Elyssa's eyes. if I can make it on time, she finished. But I will definitely be there.See you tonight, then, Elyssa called, waving as she hurried away to class. Sabrina smiled wanly and waved in return, only letting the smile fall from her face after Elyssa disappeared inside.
Great, she thought, shoving her untouched lunch back in her bookbag. I guess avoiding him isn't exactly an option.