Chapter 9

Roller Coaster

Buffy was tormented by her confusing emotions. She felt as if she was on an emotional roller coaster. One minute she was up, the other minute she was down. She took a deep breath trying to force her confused emotions into some kind of order. Her mind drifted back to the fight she had with Julian. Over the years, she and Julian had sparred in no holds barred fights, but she had never deliberately tried to hurt him. Part of her had instinctually not wanted to hurt him; on the other hand, he had hurt her when he chose Drusilla over her. Drusilla. She cannot wrap her mind over that one. What was she doing here? Was she a doppelganger? Does she belong to this universe or the next? Buffy wished she could go back and calmly ask these questions, but her anger was swift and fierce, not only at Julian but at the entire situation. All she could think about was how tired she felt. Since these murders had happened, she felt as if she was operating in a fog. A fog that she could not get out of. She shook her head in despair. If she wanted to do her job properly, then her head has to be in the game.

"Are you alright?" Victor asked, giving her a sidelong glance as he maneuvered the car through the heavy traffic.

"I'm fine," she said, turning to look at him. "I can do my job," she said quietly.

"That's not what I asked," he said gruffly. "I asked if you are alright." he said, his eyes gentle with understanding.

Buffy gave a heavy sigh, and with a shrug, she said, "Sure."

Victor patted her clumsily on her leg. "What are you going to do?" he asked.

"My job, I guess," she said as she surveyed the road judiciously. "If it was Drusilla doing these murders, then we will find out. The evidence will tell us."

"And if it's her?"

"Then let God have mercy on her, because I wouldn't. And my own husband won't get in my way," she said fiercely.

Tuesday 2:00 p.m.

Connor entered the restaurant right on time. He followed a hostess to a table at the back. He looked around for a minute, making sure that he wasn't recognized. He was sitting for fifteen minutes before he heard a voice whispering in his ear, "If it isn't the feebs." He flinched as a hand brushed his shoulder.

A woman sat next to him, keeping her hand lightly on his arm. "Your heart is beating awfully fast, Connor. I didn't mean to frighten you," she breathed.

"You didn't," he stammered. "I just wasn't expecting you."

Her eyebrows rose in inquiry

"I -I meant this soon," he said with a stammer. Connor looked away quickly. God, she unsettled him.

"I have a gift for you," he said.

"Really?" she said

"Yes," Connor squirmed; he could drown in those eyes.

"What is it?" she said bouncing up and down in glee like a little child.

"Not here," he chided looking around with a frown.

"Can I have a hint?" she asked, smiling sweetly.

Connor leaned in and whispered a few choice words in her ear.

"Oh goody!" she squealed, clapping her hands in delight.

Connor's eyes lit up with relief. She liked the present.

Julian sat at his office desk brooding. It was not an emotion anyone who knew him had seen lately, especially since he had met Lissa. But right now, he felt that Lissa was his problem. He had never known a person that had frustrated him as she did. What does she want him to be? He can't be her lapdog. His own people were questioning things, believing that she is the one that rules the city. He had to show them – He was the Prince of the City and Lissa was his wife. In the marriage, they are partners, but in running the city, there is only one leader. And he was that leader. Loving someone doesn't have to make them weak.

For the last couple of weeks, even before the murders happened, he had noticed small little things that made no sense. He had chalked it up to being over-tired. Even Lissa had mentioned that same fact. To him, it seemed that he was battling both Lissa and being the Prince. But Lissa had to understand that she can't continue to undermined his authority in public as she does. They were a team, and they had to stick together. He sighed as his mind went back over the ugly scene. In the last hour, his office had been inundated with family members telling him that he had to apologize for something he never thought he did wrong in the first place. First, it was Daedalus, then Sasha and then his kids, who heard all the way in Los Angeles and San Diego. His kids. He had to smile. What miracles they were. Two sons. He had never thought he would get the chance at having more blood children, especially when he gave that up to be Kindred. He had of course tried contacting Lissa through their link, but she was avoiding him. He had even tried the old-fashioned way, the telephone, but she wouldn't answer that either. The only thing he was getting was a voice message, stating if it was he, he could go to hell. But doesn't Lissa understand he was in hell already? Maybe a hell of his making, but a hell nevertheless.

He had tried to understand but now he was angry. It was all Lissa's fault. They wouldn't be in this mess if she had taken the time to actually listen.

The telephone rang. He sighed. Back to work.

"Hello," he said, putting the receiver to his ear. After thirty minutes of conversation, it was time to go back to work.

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