Usually the travel time between the Haven and the mansion is about fifteen minutes on a good night. That even allows for a minimal amount of traffic when driving at the appropriate speed limit, a practice I always enforced.
Except, that is, for tonight. Tonight when the door of the car closed behind me, I leaned toward Billy in the front seat and gave instructions. Very specific instructions, at that.
Drive. Fast.
Billy was never one to disobey an order, especially a direct one from me. He had known his place since it was acquired. I didn't have to worry about disobedience, even when it came to matters such as these.
Tonight, I reached the mansion in six minutes. It was a feat I didn't expect to achieve again.
Not waiting for the door to be opened I slid from the car myself, taking the steps to the mansion's entrance two at a time. The door was held open but I didn't stop to nod a greeting, only paused in the hall to take one quick glance around.
"Sire?" Billy's voice came to me from the doorway, but I was past listening at that point. Not bothering to yet take off my coat I took the stairs two at a time again, closing the distance between my destination and me with the same certainty I had for years. I'd never once doubted what I'd find after ascending the steps and opening the door.
Not just a door. Her door.
I could feel a pulse I didn't need racing in my fingertips, the heat instantly warming the metal door handle. I wanted to wrench the door open so it would slam, see the satisfying, shocked expression on her face, and…
Dammit!
Locked. Could she not be in there? But why had I thought she would be? She'd clearly taken time to get herself ready for an evening…what sort of evening would she have prepared for here? It wasn't like her at all.
And yet I still knocked. I don't know why I did. It was some sort of last attempt for a cause I didn't completely understand. She wasn't going to be there, and there wasn't anything left to do but…
The door opened.
I wasn't prepared for that. But I was fortunate enough to have a calm expression by nature. Looking upset wasn't something I knew how to do.
So when the door opened and I found myself staring into the surprised expression I'd just concocted in my mind I was perfectly able to appear as calm as I would at any given moment. As though I were waiting for an appointment, watching out a window, or waiting for the updates on the stock market.
Yes, of course. Think about anything but…
…Lillie.